Desperate Blues roll over for desperate Cherries

And so, the final curtain is drawn on a dismal blighted Premier League season with Everton playing a pivotal role in Bournemouth's ultimately forlorn fight to avoid relegation.

Michael Kenrick 26/07/2020 348comments  |  Jump to last

With Calvert-Lewin shooting blanks, Carlo Ancelotti finally gives Moise Kean a chance to show what he can do

And so, the final curtain is drawn on a dismal blighted Premier League season with Everton playing a pivotal role in Bournemouth's ultimately forlorn fight to avoid relegation.

The Cherries needed to win and saw Watford lose at Arsenal but West Ham could not beat Aston Villa. Eddie Howe's aide became the first team to beat Everton at Goodison Park since Carlo Ancelotti took charge last December but ultimately it wasn't enough.

Everton meanwhile looked as dradful as anything they had servedup since the restart, despite having lifted spirits last Monday with victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. They surrendered an 11th place finish and an addition £2½M for the transfer kitty based on finishing place payments in the Premier League.

Mason Holgate, Yerry Mina, and Jean-Philip Gbamin were all ruled out, as was Fabian Delph even though the veteran midfielder returned to training this week.

Article continues below video content


Moise Kean was given a rare start with Jarrad Branthwaite retaining his place. Calvert-Lewin, Gordon, and Simms were on the bench, with Iwobi dropped entirely from the squad.

The Cherries got things going, looking to play forward, Everton calmly thwarting their efforts until the visitors won an early corner, cleared by Keane. The Blues tried but failed to play out from the back and were under attack again fro another corner that fell to King. Pickford saving his sot.

Everton responded with a decent shot by Coleman cutting in that needed stopping by Ramsdale. But King fed Wilson for a fine shot but Pickford was out very smartly to swat the ball away, a very good save from Englan's number 1. But Branthwaite brought down Wilson for a dangerous free-kick that Brooks drove into the wall, but as the ball came down, Richarlison appeared to elbow it sideways, Ref Chris Kavanagh pointing to the spot. Josh King lashed it into the corner.

More Boure=nemouth corners followed in quick succession, Everton struggling to find any rhythm. Another handball but this time less deliberate from Digne, VAR deciding not to give a second penalty that could have really embarrassed the dozey Blues.

at the other end, good work by Kean set up Richarlison but his shot was blocked. Walcott got through on goal but took an extra touch while Ramsdale narrowed all the angles to stop his shot.

The visitors continued to make all the running, a Wilson header needed saving. A rare Blue excursion upfield saw Sigurdsson overhit his cross and Gomes foul his man. The drinks break came and wen with no improvement from an increasingly poor Blues side.

After the half-hour mark, the Blues had a spell of better possession, controlling the midfield but not really creating the final ball needed. Finally, Walcott went on a mazy run, ignoring Kean's movement and feeding Sigurdsson whose strike was rising above the goal.

Branthwaite was superb, stopping and dispossessing Brooks, but there was very little to admire elsewhere. But suddlenly Walcott got behind the defence and Kean was goal hanging at the far post, firing in gleefully from 1½ yards for only his second Everton goal.

Digne then put a lovely cross on Kean's head at the far post but the Italian could not impart enough power into his header. Bournemouth won another less threatening free-kick but it was delivered in superbly Lerma and Solanke rising and heading it together well past a despairing Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal. A little bit too easy, with Branthwaite possibly needing to take more command of the aerial ball in?

After the break, Everton didn't look much better but at least Moise Kean ran down a lost ball and crossed for Richarlison's header to be deflected behind. From the corner, Ramsdale gathered and the Cherries surged forward, Pickford once again needing to stop a fine shot from Wilson.

Walcott and Coleman were called off by Ancellotti, replaced by Sidibé and Gordon before the hour mark, the intensity of the game having become moribund at best. Gordon did his best to fire in quality balls but the Everton forwards just weren't awake to the possibilities.

More changes: Bernard for Davies; Baines for Digne; Calvert-Lewin for Kean with 20 mins of this borefest to go. Baines, making what would be his final Everton appearance, saved an almost certain goal with what looked like an illegal challenge but the ref seemed unconcerned.

Stanislas ran in on goal and fired a low shot that should have been meat and drink for Pickford but it slipped far too easily under his gloves and into the net for a most embarrassing scoreline that further underlined the desperate state of this hapless Everton team. But it wouldn't be enough for The Cherries as Aston Villa drew at West Ham to stay up, condemning them to the Championship again after five seasons in the Premier League.

And so a horrible season for Everton came to an appropriately horrible end with Ancelotti surely wondering just what he has to do to get a tune out of this lot.

Scorers: Kean (41'); King (pen:14'), Solanke (45+1'), Stanislas (80')

Everton: Pickford; Coleman (57' Sidibé), Keane, Branthwaite, Digne (70' Baines); Walcott (57' Gordon), Davies (70' Bernard), Gomes, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Kean (70' Calvert-Lewin)
Sub not Used: Stekelenburg, Virginia, Baningime, Simms.

Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Kelly, Rico, Steve Cook, Smith, Lerma, Gosling, Brooks (64' Stanislas), King (88' H Wilson), Solanke (64' Billing), Wilson.
Subs not Used: Boruc, Ake, Danjuma, Lewis Cook, Stacey, Surridge.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh
VAR: Graham Scott

Share article:

Reader Comments (348)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Tony Everan
1 Posted 26/07/2020 at 15:20:31
Happy about Moise Kean starting, makes it a bit more interesting. I feel like we haven’t a chance to look at him properly. He played well when he started against Newcastle so I want to see more of that. It would do him the world of good to have a decent game and bag a goal (or two).
Alan J Thompson
2 Posted 26/07/2020 at 15:37:42
A nasty rumour doing the rounds that we may finish with three keepers on the pitch; another first for Goodison, surely?
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

3 Posted 26/07/2020 at 15:39:09
There was footage on the club site of training mid-week ahead of this game.

What was noticeable was the absence of Calvert-Lewin in the game practice. Carrying a wee knock maybe?

But glad to see Moise Kean get a start.

Brent Stephens
4 Posted 26/07/2020 at 15:43:22
Jay, interesting on Calvert-Lewin. He's on the bench. Maybe a slight knock explains that.
Robert Tressell
5 Posted 26/07/2020 at 15:47:42
Really good news for Kean. Fingers crossed for the lad. Hopefully Simms and Gordon will get on the pitch too – for a handsome win. And I do expect a win.
Christy Ring
6 Posted 26/07/2020 at 15:56:22
I see where Allan came off the bench and scored for Napoli, so not only can he tackle, he can score as well.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

7 Posted 26/07/2020 at 15:57:56
Good stream here if anyone is looking for one.

Everton v Bournemouth

As per usual with these streams, just need to click a few times and close various windows that open up to get to the full screen option.

Ernie Baywood
8 Posted 26/07/2020 at 16:23:19
I'm finding myself almost wanting us to concede from one of these short passing moves around our own goal. Just to prove it's absolute madness.

Christy Ring
9 Posted 26/07/2020 at 16:41:24
Can't understand the ridiculous plan of playing it out from the back.
Steve Ferns
10 Posted 26/07/2020 at 16:58:59
Christy that's not something to expect from him. He's scored 12 in over 260 league games.

As for the game. I expected a tough match. They need to win much more than we do. They were always going to have more desire and we just needed to weather the early storm and work hard. We didn't do that.

We've been poor. Sigurdsson has been anonymous. Except for a gorgeous pass in the move for the goal, Gomes's passing has been very poor. Davies has run around a lot but not done much. Branthwaite was too easily beaten for the second goal. I can't blame Richarlison for the first as he's a forward and shouldn't be defending his own box.

Why is Carragher commentating on our game? He's enjoying winding up the Everton fans and saying how terrible we are. Yes, we are bad, but not as bad as he makes out.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

11 Posted 26/07/2020 at 16:59:08
Messy from Everton.

Just a modicum of control would get us a result here, but too many players not matching Bournemouth's (expected) intensity.

We need to get a grip down their left. Other than his part in our goal, Seamus is having a mare.

If Richarlison could match Moise Kean's performance up front we would also be in a better place. The Brazilian is very poor today. Kean doing very well in his hold up play, his distribution, running and positioning. Nice he got the goal.

Having brought the game level so close to half time, very poor to then concede again.

I don't believe Bournemouth can maintain this level of intensity all game and they can easily be opened up, but we certainly need more intensity and control than we have displayed in that first half.

Dave Abrahams
12 Posted 26/07/2020 at 17:00:55
There are some very, very poor performances out there today, has anyone took Gomes pulse, is he breathing, Sigurdsson, Walcott, Richarlison and Keane experienced players? Good job Davies and Digne are alive and having a go, no chance of Kean getting any service with the players around him, although he is lively and doing okay.

Five subs won’t be enough today and when you you look at the bench it just fills you with more despair, what a fuckin’ absolute shambles of a mess Ancelotti has got to try and sort out. Rubbish and plenty of it on that field today.

Steve Ferns
13 Posted 26/07/2020 at 17:01:13
Jay, he’s having a mare too often. His form was always consistent and now it’s erratic. Is it his declining ability? Is it the armband weighing heavy?
Graham Coldron
14 Posted 26/07/2020 at 17:03:51
Bearing in mind how long it takes us to sign any player this could be a major issue in bringing new players in. At the moment, some of them are playing like somebody who is in the last week of a job that they hate. Bournemouth were obviously going to have a real go at winning this match so why not meet them head-on?
Mark McParlan
15 Posted 26/07/2020 at 17:26:56
This is a desperately sad day for all Everton fans. Probably the last chance we have to see one of our greatest ever full-backs pull on the Everton shirt. His final farewell. A class act throughout his Everton career. Served with dignity and honour. It's heartbreaking how the fans won't be there to see him off.

Goodbye, and thank you for all the memories Djibril Sidibe.

Phil Rodgers
16 Posted 26/07/2020 at 17:58:43
They might not be the worst players to wear the shirt but the majority of this lot are the most spineless, gutless set of pathetic wankers we've ever had. Thank God this season is over. The only positive is that there is now have the opportunity to get rid of the lot of them.
Steve Ferns
17 Posted 26/07/2020 at 17:58:43
We played like a mid table side on their holidays. A spineless performance. They did nothing to show they can raise their games next season. Carlo would have his greatest achievement if he can achieve with this sorry excuse for a club.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

18 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:00:43
Jordon Pickford. Oh dear.

Not that the defeat is only down to him.

Where is our nark? The man who just does not accept performances like this who takes command of a game and drives on his team mates?

Plenty of 2nd half possession, but no pace, no guile, no invention to open them up.

Big changes needed in our midfield, as everyone knows.

Tony Hill
19 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:01:00
What can you say? Terrible, naturally. I imagine that neutrals must be wondering how we're not among the relegation crowd. So am I.

Watching us is a true embarrassment. You keep hoping but, my God, we're bad. If we don't get something together quickly then we will indeed be with the strugglers next season.

Steve Ferns
20 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:01:10
Phil, don’t be surprised to see many of them playing next season. The problem is we don’t have the opportunity to get rid of most of them.
Joe McMahon
21 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:01:22
Cheer up, it's a "Grand Ole Team"
Liam Reilly
22 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:02:29
12th. Behind Southampton, Burnley and Sheffield United.

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!

Kevin Hudson
23 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:02:48
Battered at home by a relegated side. Not one of them, not even “Carlo Magnifico,” look remotely arsed.

Absolutely no soul left at the club. No identity, no plan.

Same shit next season obviously..

Tony Twist
24 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:04:31
I have just done an Everton and wasted so much money, I have just bought the new Everton home shirt! I am not going to wear it until they do something to be proud of. I am disgusted by my club. They are a pathetic excuse of a football club.

Some on the forum were laughing at Bournemouth 's expense because Villa had scored! That is just the lowest of the low. There is no-one at the club exempt from blame for this season.

Mike Price
25 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:05:13
Utter disgrace. Pickford is the next millstone on a huge contract that we can't get rid of, just like so many of the others.

Ancelotti was not the right appointment... Wilder or Dyche is the type of stepping stone we needed and you can guarantee we would not have been getting the shambolic, spineless performances we've just had to endure.

David Connor
26 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:05:45
What a useless bunch of fucking shithouses we have at our club. Huge clearout needed – starting with that useless thick fucker of a goalkeeper. He is woeful. Easier said than done though. Probably struggle to give most of em away considering their huge pay packets. What a joke we are.
Dave Williams
27 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:05:52
How many sideways and backwards passes did we play in the game? Most of them were clueless as to what to do with the ball and no one was moving off the ball to give an outlet.

Tom did okay, Moise showed signs of genuine ability but yet again we have a manager who plays Gomes and Sigurdsson together making the most ponderous midfield pairing in the division.

As for Pickford...!!

Gavin Johnson
28 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:05:59
What an embarrassment!! The only positive is that we won't have to endure this midfield next season and Moise Kean scored.
Joe McMahon
29 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:06:15
This is the biggest points gap behind Liverpool. I'm sick of having to face non-matchgoing kopites all the time.
Kevin Prytherch
30 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:06:35
Carlo has missed a big opportunity to play some more of the U23s in these games. We have learnt nothing from seeing Sigurdsson, Gomes, Iwobi, Bernard and Walcott stroll about the pitch.

I can only imagine there is absolutely no hope of Baningime and Adeniran ever making it at this club. If they aren't trusted in meaningless games with no fans, they won't be trusted next season when we have fans and when there's something to play for.

The ironic thing is, if Carlo has or started with Baningime, Adeniran, Gordon, Branthwaite, Davies and Kean in the team then no one would have been bothered with a 3-1 defeat. They would have accepted it as a chance to see what some young fringe players could do. Instead, we've trundled the same passionless shower onto the pitch to prove exactly what we already know – that they are overpaid and have no desire.

Brian Williams
31 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:06:53
I posted on here, a while before the lockdown break, that we'd finish 10th on 48 points. I was wrong by a point, and two places.

The places are more reliant on other teams so I can handle that. But I knew, and I hate knowing it, that we are just lacking in so much that we weren't ever gonna do much better than I predicted.

It's soul-destroying to watch a team, who'll be playing in the Championship next season, out-play, out-think and out-fight us. Lost their last five away games. We've not lost at home under Ancelotti. What the fuck else did we expect today?

The manner of the defeat was demoralising and embarrassing though. Nobody could get this squad performing at a decent level, NOBODY!

Brent Stephens
32 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:07:51
A win today would have been welcome but wouldn't have changed anybody's analysis of the weaknesses at the club. Looking forward to the window, now.
Jamie Crowley
33 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:09:18
We are utter shite. Meaningless game, but Lord we are woeful.

Happy for Villa. Really am. Rest of it is shit. We will be battling Villa against relegation if we don't improve.

Shaun Robinson
34 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:09:19
Don't know which of these is the more laughable – finishing 50 points behind Liverpool or 5 behind Sheffield Utd and Burnley.
Alan Rodgers
35 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:09:34
Another pitiful, spineless display and we dropped another place to 12th. Even Carlo can't get a tune out of this lot.

At least Watford went down, which briefly put a smile on my face.

Liam Reilly
36 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:09:38
It's not Ancellotti's fault, Mike.

He's bought none of them and I'd be willing to wager, he'll be encouraging his DOF to get rid of most of that shite.

Derek Moore
37 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:09:47
Title should have been "Everton popped by cherries".

We seem to plumb new lows on a very regular basis don't we?

I didn't see all of today, but that makes me one of the lucky ones. What a way to finish a season where the RS ended their drought.

See you all in eight weeks because I'm stupid, the club take me for granted and I don't know any better. My only hope is a significant number of the gobshites that we play for us are gone. Take care ToffeeWebbers.

Annika Herbert
38 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:09:54
I can only hope very few of those that played today are ever seen in an Everton shirt again. Absolutely disgraceful performance
Jamie Crowley
39 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:10:01
God above.

12th place and we didn't even hit 50 points. Disgusting.

That's SO UNACCEPTABLE for a Club like Everton.

Ernie Baywood
40 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:12:17
Hope we can find a left-back in the summer as I suspect that's the last we've seen of the two that played today.

Leighton Baines has been one of the best Everton players since the 80s. I still rate him above Cole as the best of the Premier League era. Always classy too. Good luck with whatever you do next, Leighton.

Digne deserves better and I imagine he'll get it.

As for the rest, they should be thankful that we can't replace every one of them in one summer.

Colin Glassar
41 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:12:25
Pickford (I’ve given up on him) Sidibé, Davies, Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Walcott all need to go ASAP. Some have no heart, others lack the necessary skill needed at this level.

Brands and Carlo have to earn their pennies now. No more shit, uninterested castoffs from other teams. We need a major overhaul or we are fucked next season.

Rob Watson
42 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:13:41
Tom Davies and André Gomes have to be the slowest negative players in the League, great at passing backwards and sideways.

Somebody please tell Pickford to focus on saving shots and clear the ball when you have to. The defence played okay but they are not Barcelona, thy need to realise their limitations and clear the ball.

We have at least five players who can go; if we cannot buy then use youth, they have more passion and desire than this lot today... embarrassing!

Martin Berry
43 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:14:41
I cant see any improvement under Carlo from Marco using the same set of players, this does not bode well.

That said, I hope (?) that Carlo wants and gets the players to allow him to play a different style.

What we have witnessed since lockdown is a disorganized mess and changing formations and tactics, also an inability to play any decent football during this period, and that must be a worry.

Michael O'Malley
44 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:15:46
Joe @29,

And they're a rather large group.

Andy Crooks
45 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:15:50
I would have liked Bournemouth to survive. Fair play to our lads they played their part, but to no avail.

If West Ham had won Villa would have, surely, have had a legitimate reason to have our team tested; just to check... unlikely as it is, if one of the second rate cunts had a backbone. Sadly, every fucking one of them does not get the concept of shame.

Pickford, at least made my day. This utterly laughable man is the England goalkeeper. God almighty.

Joe McMahon
46 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:16:48
Midfield is worse than 97-98. Kean still gave me hope, but Calvert-Lewin doesn't. Gonna be another struggle (as usual) next season. Arteta was always going to be better off at Arsenal over our shit rotten club.
Jamie Crowley
47 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:18:06
Trying to be reasonable, we're only getting 2 signings to change our fortunes. Two players that can come in and make a difference.

For me, that means two changes:

Sigurdsson preferably sent out and transferred with a replacement CM.

Davies kept and utilized in a back up / substitute role with a replacement CDM.


Other "squad" changes:

If we don't get in a CDM, I'd bring in a second CM and play Holgate at CDM. That may or may not happen.

Gordon starts.

Either Theo or Iwobe are transferred.

Richarlison stays wide left

Calvert-Lewin and Kean "platoon" ('Mericanism) to keep one another hungry. The player who plays better retains his position.

Kenny comes back to fight for a RB starting role

Pickford, if needed, could be transferred to free up funds to get the necessary two CMs into the squad.

All the deadweight is written off a loss / bought out / transferred out of the club

Alan McGuffog
48 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:19:20
Jamie...

What have we achieved in the last 30-odd years (okay an FA Cup win in 1995) that makes 12th place unacceptable?

The only decent thing about the club is the fanbase. Oh, and our history.

Colin Glassar
49 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:19:42
Martin 43, this is not Carlos's team. These are not his players. This is some god forsaken hybrid he's inherited from a string of losers who bought losers.

Ancelotti has always had leaders on the pitch. This pile of shit couldn't even lead a conga dance.

Justin Doone
50 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:20:01
A really poor result.

The difference being one team attack swiftly with pace, movement, direct running and options. We don't.

Happy to play keep ball of are leading comfortably but we don't have the players to hurt teams when we fall behind because they all continue to dimly hit us on the counter.

Happy Branthwaite played again, he had a good game and continues to look more comfortable on the ball than Keane. But both got done for pace and movement, we need a new centre back with genuine pace.

Gomes a poor game. To slow in thought and foot. Sloppy passing.

Gordon did well when he came on but then stopped receiving the ball and came to narrow.

First time this season Moise Kean looked like he had a football brain. Good pace but needs to release the ball sooner when he did well to hold it up.

The rest hit and miss. Not good enough.

Barry Connor
51 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:20:04
I would never wish for any Everton side to lose, but the one good thing about today is that perhaps this loss (plus the other desperate results which saw us not even cracking 50 points) will persuade the doubters in the club that Ancelotti needs to be given his head in the transfer market in order to put right past failures.

Also, soooooo sad if Leighton departs. Exemplifies what we need now.

Brent Stephens
52 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:20:22
Kean's performance was interesting and tantalising.

What if we'd given him more game time before now, starting games?

What does today's performance mean for him in the immediate future?

Calvert-Lewin is still the preferred choice up front?

Michael Lynch
54 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:20:48
Not sure why Ancelotti is getting a free pass from so many fans - we've been as bad under him as we were under Silva, possibly worse. Wrong man for the job if he can't get anything from such an expensively assembled squad.
Frank Sheppard
55 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:21:13
Not only no points, but I cannot see any positives other than the season is finished. Is Carlo wondering why am I here ?
Rob Dolby
56 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:21:55
If we keep half of these players, I would take 12th all day for next season.

Minus Richarlison, we are down.

Massive job on his hands after Koeman's reckless splurge on shite mediocre players.

Michael O'Malley
57 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:22:49
Our goals scored and negative goal difference is absolutely pitiful. That was a woeful season even by Everton standards. We have an atrocious record against top 6 and an even worse one against bottom 3, embarrassing.
Colin Glassar
58 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:23:46
You call that a squad, Micheal? That’s a disaster of a team.
Graham Hammond
59 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:24:30
Marcel Brands should have the decency to resign. Seeing him shopping again in Liverpool City Centre will be too much for me to take while he is still at the club.

12th place for fuck's sake and all because we have bought shite. Where would we be without Richarlison?

Credit to Marcel Brands for bringing in Branthwaite at relatively low cost but not good enough overall.

Kunal Desai
60 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:24:42
More garbage served up yet again.

Everton need to be very careful how they tread next couple of seasons. 6 years of steady regression. We are no longer a solid 6-7th place club and have moved down into the next tier of solid as a solid mid table club that offer nothing.

Get the recruitment wrong and we could well be firmly seeing finishes in the bottom 6 and worse.

Jamie Crowley
61 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:25:20
Alan @ 48,

We've investede £500M into players I believe since Moshiri took over? There or thereabouts.

Just a basic ROI dictates a better finishing position. Ignore history, look at the money, mate!!!

Roger Helm
62 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:25:29
Worst finish for 16 years. Poor players and Carlo Ancelotti doesn't seem to know how to organise them.

Branthwaite, Gordon and Kean are good prospects for the future but, other than Richarlison, the whole team needs to be replaced. But do we have the money any more, and which players would want to sign for us at the moment?

Gavin Johnson
64 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:26:43
Jamie. We might end up with 2 signings but the consensus has been that we will get a CB, CM and RW. I know it's only one more player but 3 first teamers who are the right signings could make a real difference. We could also bring in another RB in on loan and then it's 4 changes.

Personally, that's the business I'd expect us to be doing. Although I'd go for a 2nd CM if we don't get Gabriel. That sounds positive in light of today's result, but I reserve judgement on next season until Ancelotti brings in his own players.

Tony Everan
66 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:27:02
Maybe it is a good thing we got beat. It rams home the undeniable fact that we have the worst midfield in the league. including the relegated clubs.

Now we have to rebuld it, starting with two proper and quality central midfielders. Then Gomes needs to get fit, he is only 80% at the moment, he needs to be much sharper.

A good few of them need to be told to move on if they want to play football. As some of them will not find a place in the new team.

Martin Berry
68 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:28:31
Colin #49,

Of course they're not Carlo's players but he has not done any better and that's the worry, as I thought we would be better organised, show more spirit and effort, but I can't see it.

Of course Carlo needs a window, after that we will see what he can do. Here's hoping...

Allan Board
69 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:28:39
As expected. Bunch of Wankers our lot.

Now watch the money men and Vandervalk fuck Ancelloti over in the transfer market and he will leave too.

Relegation written all over Everton. I try not to let it get to me, but Everton are a joke, folks. Is there a point to this club anymore?

Going fishing and on holidays to forget this shit. bAnd yes, come September I will, like everyone else will be back for more.

Rob Jones
70 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:28:49
I'm 31, so have no real memories of Everton as a great team, so the history doesn't mean so much to me. I'm proud that we've got nine league titles, won the Cup-Winners' Cup, and have had spells of dominance. But it doesn't mean as much to me as it does to you lucky men and women who lived that.

I'm more worried that we have no future. Tom Davies is bang average, let's be honest. He's an honest grafter, he never hides. But he's not good enough for the club. But - he cares.

Other than him, and maybe Seamus and Leighton (thanks for your years of service), I don't see a single player who gives a crap about the club, the fans, or has any professional pride (Anthony Gordon may, in time, but thankfully, he's too young to be tainted by association).

There's not a player on that pitch today who I'm absolutely certain will be at the club next season. Marcel and Carlo have no allegiance, so they'll see no issue in selling our best three players (Richarlison, Digne, Holgate) if it raises money to 'revitalise' the team. But I'm terrified of more cast-offs like Delph, Walcott, Iwobi.

If Carlo's such a great tactician, I'd just have him sell who he can, keep the gems (please try to) and replace the losses with loans and the youths.

Michael O'Malley
71 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:29:26
There's not one player we can look to for inspiration.

In the past, when we were bad, we had Kevin Campbell, Big Dunc, Wayne Rooney but this present shower are all wet lettuces.

Jamie Crowley
72 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:32:44
Gavin @ 64 -

We do not need a CB!

Keane, Holgate, Mina, Branthwaite. That's 4 players who will be okay while we rebuild our midfield.

It's midfield we need massive, massive help in. We have to correct that first and foremost. The back line will do.

That sounds like settling. It's simply prioritizing.

Bill Fairfield
73 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:33:20
They start next season with this squad at their peril. The worst squad of losers in my lifetime. Totally and utterly embarrassing. There is not a manager on the planet that could get anything from this lot. Deadbeats.
Julian Exshaw
74 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:33:20
The season practically died for me the night we lost to the Red Shite kids in the FA Cup. It has hardly improved since then, in fact it has got worse.

As Silva didn't possess the pedigree of Ancelotti, he was an easy victim, a scapegoat for the players' failure. I still feel that although he had his faults, bad luck, bad buys and average players let him down.

Ancelotti in contrast has a CV that is second to none. Surely he will turn it around we thought. He can't and hasn't because he is lumbered with a squad which just can not perform on any kind of consistent basis. It's only consistency lies in the production of the same rancid football which we have been forced to endure over the last few weeks.

Ancelotti may well turn this around but does he have the stomach for it? Who can say?

The roots of inadequacy are sinking deeper and deeper into the soil and soul of this great club. It's tragic.

Andrew Keatley
75 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:33:38
I didn't watch more than the odd second of today's game – it was always destined to provide a far less enjoyable experience than trying to follow all the action from around the grounds.

Good luck to everyone trying to pick the bones out of this season, but considering the mess of a squad we currently have, and the position Silva left us in, I'm going to accept 12th and hope that a rebuild is already underway.

Joe McMahon
76 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:33:55
Roger@62, 100% agree.
John Pierce
77 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:34:52
That was desperate. We made a team, that's not won away since December, leak goals as a habit look like a solid outfit.

We were soft, lacked tempo, ball pace was slow and and most of the team couldn't trap a bag of cement.

You can frame the game in more prosaic terms if you like, etc. However, for me that was pathetic.

There was a 10-minute spell were we passed the ball in a big oval through the defenders and midfielders. Each pass was weary with no pace, the players often needed more than one touch to readjust and we went nowhere.

In the ultimate free hit, no pressure game not on player decided to take a chance, gamble or risk a high reward play. Too many players can ‘only' play in one system to accommodate them. Messers Keane, Coleman, Sigurdsson & Gomes are one-trick ponies.

Whilst it won't happen, I'd love a new broom, a full sweep of the decks.

I'll move on to Ancelotti whilst I'm still on board: I have to say, whilst his tactical changes often are welcome, his ability to get more out of this lot is looking off the pace.

A monumental six weeks.

Tony Shelby
78 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:35:04
Look on the bright side:

You’ve got 6 weeks to find a different sport to follow which would mean you not having to endure this unremitting bucket of monkey spunk ever again!

Ray Said
79 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:35:06
I cant stand Pickford and blame him for spreading panic amongst the defenders – poor technique, lapses of concentration, flaps at crosses and butterfingers – but who could we flog him to?

A decent goalie would be worth 10+ points more to us so could be a quick fix but who would take Pickford? None of the clubs playing Champions League footy. Arsenal – they have spent big on a goalie. Spurs? West Ham? Would he move to them?

I honestly would take any reasonable offer to shift this terrible liability.

Ian Riley
80 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:36:05
The best thing for this club is for Carlo to resign. It's like having the chef from the Ritz Hotel at my local fish and chip shop. The team are not good enough to implement Carlo's methods.

Under Ferguson we had a higher tempo to win the ball and battle for the cause. Yes, the football wasn't great but we made it difficult.

Now we are strolling round with no purpose. We are Everton not Manchester United or Real Madrid. You need to earn the right to stroll around with arrogance.

I want Carlo to succeed but 3-5 players must come in quickly. A season of normality for Everton. Achieved nothing again. Not relegated so some credit but thank goodness it's all over.

Barry Rathbone
81 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:37:12
Poor old Carlo. I honestly don't think he realised how shite the situation was when he signed the contract.

He must sit there wondering how to tell Moshiri 95% of the crew need replacing and then ponder on the likelihood of it happening (he must know it won't).

The only saving grace is big payoffs are the norm here.

Peter Jansson
82 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:37:20
Our players are not good enough. Unfortunately it seems like what we need is more tempo and fighting spirit. This has not yet really happened under Ancelotti. One game here and one game there yes, but the back to this pathetic pedestrian football with players having less winningmentality than me playing backyard football. Totally pathetic this.

This bunch of players are not good enough, and will never be whatever manager you put in there. Trying to outplay other teams with slow backwards- and sideways passing is never going to work. To be honest, with this bunch of players, I prefer Duncan Ferguson being a manager scaring the shit out of them when not fighting enough. Nothing else but fighting is going to do it. Occasionally Richarlison show a glimse of genious and thats it.

Ancellotti, can you let all players go a boxing match with Duncan Ferguson so they wake up or something? This was horrible.

Dave Abrahams
83 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:37:44
I'm glad Villa stayed up but sad to see Bournemouth go down and watching their goalkeeper crying at the end made me think how many of our players would give a second thought if it was us going down. We might find out at the end of next season.

Another depressing day at the end of a very depressing season. Thanks for nothing, Everton.

Gavin Johnson
84 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:37:44
Jamie, I agree that we don't need a CB if we don't sign Gabriel. But Gabriel would be a massive upgrade on Mina and Keane and we'd move one of those two on if we do succeed in signing him.

Otherwise I agree and I said the same thing on this thread and earlier this week, especially when you also consider we have Lewis Gibson and Gbamin who can also play CB.

John Pierce
85 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:38:32
JaC - for my money a new CB is a must. It dictates how higher or deep we play. For the rest of the team to be affective we have to play much much higher. Keane and Mina are the same player. One needs to go. The simple question is who’s easiest to move and who has the best value atm?

For my money it’s Keane, £20m and that goes towards a new quick left sided CB.

Peter Jansson
86 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:40:48
Pickford has to go, he is the root of many of our defensive problems.

Also he has to stop kicking long quick balls for counter-attacks. That has never ever worked. Why is he still doing that? And why can't anyone tell him to stop?

Any player or manager, whatever, tell Pickford to fuckin' stop with his quick long-ball attacking stuff.

Steve Ferns
87 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:41:41
Jamie C, we do need a centre-back. Branthwaite is not ready for first team football, even if he's a great prospect. He was easily beaten on the header for the second goal.

Keane was poor today. He's poor every game unless the midfield sits on top of him and he sits on the edge of the box. He's simply not good enough. He couldn't do a job for any top side as he can't play in a high line.

Yerry Mina's injury record is very concerning. Also concerning is the quality of his performances. He's disappointed me.

Mason Holgate did very well. But as well as he did, he's still young and he still has to improve. I believe he will do, for sure.

Gibson is another exciting prospect. But he's not first team ready. He can't be expected to just step up and immediately become Premier League level.

We need a first team player to compliment Holgate. I'd also get rid of one of Keane or Mina, and allow Branthwaite to be fourth choice. Gibson is probably best getting one more season on loan to improve in the Championship.

Kevin Molloy
88 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:41:55
He's had his feet under the table now for six months, so our form against the relegation fodder of the last few weeks has been concerning. You would have hoped by now he would have been able to put more of a stamp on things.

Don't get me wrong: this squad is the worst, but even so. You can say, "Oh well... they had nothing to play for" — neither did Arsenal or West Ham, but they didn't get played off the park by a load of shite.

Bill Watson
89 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:42:54
I posted a while back that it's just as well we're clear of the relegation dogfight as this crew would have rolled over in a must-win game.

Home defeats against two of the relegated clubs and doubled by Bournemouth. This must be some sort of record!

Beaten away by Villa and very lucky to salvage a point in the home game.

What a car crash of a season!

Will Mabon
90 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:50:38
What a great headline, with two fitting uses of the word "Desperate".

Best move of the day.

John Hall
91 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:57:03
These definitions probably sum us up after what we had to watch today:

Racehorse (trained to race and compete): Digne.

Yearling (comparable in development to a very early adolescent and not yet fully mature physically): we have a few... Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Gordon, Holgate, Branthwaite – all have potential.

Mule (the offspring of a donkey and a horse, typically sterile and a beast of burden): we got loads of them, Walcott, Keane, Sidibé, Iwobi, Bernard, Gomes, Sigurdsson, Davies.

Ass (another name for a donkey but with generally considered more stupid than a donkey): we certainly have one between the sticks who has a tongue as long as an ass): Stand up, Jordan Pickford. The other one is called Bill.

Good luck and best wishes for a stellar professional in the next phase of your career in whatever you choose to do. An honour to watch you, Leighton. A true blue with more heart than all the mules mentioned herein.

Seamus has given great service and wish him well also but your best days are over.

Pep, Klopp and Ancelotti, all put together, would struggle with this lot.

If anyone disagrees please try sending mail responses to the following: blue freeloader players at tuffshit.com.

Derek Moore
92 Posted 26/07/2020 at 18:57:56
Jesus, I only just saw the goals!

Look, water is wet. Fire is hot. And we'll never win anything with Pickford. The third that he dived over, that would be poor at any level of football right down to a park game.

"He's Englands #1".

Yeah, well so was that clown David James. We've got the modern game's version. Brands, Get Rid!

Mal van Schaick
93 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:02:31
What a shambolic performance. I would agree with those who saw negative passing and very little creativity. The usual story of a poor midfield that has lacked direction most of the season. Davies, Gomes, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Walcott and Iwobi don't cut it for me. Get rid and rebuild.

It will be interesting to see if and when the clear out takes place and which players we recruit. This will show the owner's and manager's intentions for next season and ambition for European qualification. Another season like this and we will in big trouble.

Kieran Kinsella
94 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:03:24
Handballs earlier this season were given by VAR for anything they'd seemingly done away with ball to hand and any hand contact was a pen. I'm in favor of ball to hand exceptions but how can a rule suddenly change mid season?

I enjoyed the first half. The second half subs did nothing and everyone else threw the towel in. Coleman was up for it to his credit but had some mishaps. Kean played well. That was about it for positives.

David Pearl
95 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:04:04
We got no rhythm, no heart beat, we got no soul.

Can you buy a soul? I don't think so.

I'm not sure about Ancelotti and have lost faith in Brands.

Oliver Molloy
97 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:04:37
The best thing about this season for Everton – it's over. Who can be surprised we lost? This current team would find it hard to beat Bournemouth under normal circumstances, never mind a team fighting the drop!

Too many of the players just not good enough and we are stuck with them. I really hope we can sign decent competition for Pickford and I also hope he loses his England spot – something needs to happen to wake this fool up.

The Italian, like every manager that takes the Everton job, has his work cut out for sure. We definitely need new players but it's the mentality of the team that needs to change if we are to compete.


Hugh Jenkins
98 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:05:16
The whole season has been disappointing and the last few weeks more so.

Add to that the enforced break in the season due to Covid-19 and that our newly signed replacement centre-midfielder has had two major injuries one on top of the other, whilst our "creative" centre-midfielder had his foot pointing backwards not so very long ago and one way and another the season hasn't really been disappointing, its been disastrous.

Hopefully though, out of this disaster, we have acquired a world-class manager who, with a little luck and a fair following wind, will, with a few additions to the squad, be able to meld together a team that from next season will restore some pride to the name of Everton Football Club and start to sow the seeds of success that we have waited for, with agonising patience, since the mid-1980s.

If it doesn't start to happen thus in September 2020, I despair that it will ever happen at all.

Darren Hind
99 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:05:30
Steve Ferns

Spot on. Those claiming we don't need a center half because a youngster has shown promise are asking too much of the boy. I thought he had both his limitations and experience exposed today. One for the future. Not one to be exposed to the predators lurking around the Premier League, not before school's out at least.

I was happier with young Kean today. Played with his head up. Looks a different proposition when he does this. Looks like somebody, somewhwere has been working with him.

Abject season from players who don't give a fuck. Lamentable season from the management. New lows have been plumbed this season. That in itself is some statement.

Anybody who thinks Brands and Ancelotti will solve our problems in the coming window is living in cuckoo land. Our current targets are testimony to that. The stench of hamster shit is becoming overpowering

We don't need a fancy manager, we need a team of scalers to scrub and scour the place from top to bottom. It would help if we had a manager who knew where to find the scouring pads.

Bill Gienapp
100 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:06:07
12th looks bad – and it *is* bad – though this was also an oddly competitive season. 49 points was good enough for 8th under Allardyce and he thought he deserved a parade, but whatever.

Anyway, on to next season. If we can get the summer recruitment right (always a big "if"), I do think we have a legitimate core to build around. Branthwaite continues to impress. Gordon has been a bright spot since the restart. We all know Holgate's quality. Calvert-Lewin faded badly and some will never be convinced by him, but he's improved every year. And this was exactly the sort of performance Moise Kean needed to end the season on. Obviously the goal was nice, but I was impressed by how involved he was in general, including two truly outstanding passes that could have been assists.

Throw in Richarlison and Digne, who are elite players, Keane and Mina, who are capable enough defenders, and Gomes, who I suspect will be a lot more consistent and effective with the right midfield partner, and you have the makings of a pretty decent squad.

(As for Pickford, I've defended him up to this point, mostly on the basis of us having seemingly greater needs, but at this point... I dunno.)

Tony Williams
102 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:07:02
This has been happening season after season. What makes us think next season is going to be any different? Brands still signing players of the calibre he has signed previously.
Bill Gall
103 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:09:16
What do we do now.? Anyone who supports Everton has known that a number of players, going on today's performance about 75% of them need replacing with someone with a higher standard. 2 major problems: (a) Who is going to buy them? And (b) we have been linked with a number of good players in the transfer window, but so have some of the top 8 clubs for the same players. Who will the player choose us or a top 8 club?

I believe we should give Ancelotti and Brands a chance but at the same time Ancelotti with his reputation should have got more from the players he had. It seems we are now depending word on the new stadium as a plus to sign new players, but that may not come until October.

We may have a billionaire owner but under the Financial Fair Play rulings this may not be the advantage we hoped for. There is also the losses that clubs have got through the pandemic that may affect the prices of the players we will want to sell, on the other hand, it may lower the prices of who we want to buy.

As sad as it may sound, I think 7 or 8 of the players who played today may still be here at the start of the season. Who they will be is open to discussion, and may be decided on who we sign.

Jamie Crowley
104 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:09:37
Sir John Pierce and Steve Ferns,

This is a bit risky of me to take issue with two knowledgable football Blues, but I fell safe knowing my crowd (you two) won't shoot the American.

I hear what both of you are saying, and my counter-argument is you're both arguing from an idyllic position that isn't grounded in reality.

Could we use a centre-back? Yes. Of course.

But we are in a position of prioritization with limited funds. The and funds should be limited, we've over-spent like drunken sailors!

centre-backis not a priority for me, two centre-midfielders is. Do we eventually need a more pacy centre-back? You're both more knowledgable and say we do, so I bow to you on that point.

But I would bet the house, wife, and kids that we would perform much better as a unit in the short term (and long term) if we prioritize two midfielders now, before we look at the centre-backs.

Jay Harris
105 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:11:11
Everton have perfected the art of sideways and backwards passing and the opposition have learned that you only have to mark or kick Richarlison out of the game and Everton have no threat up front.

I was actually ashamed today that we hardly troubled a Championship goalie and defence that ship goals like a sieve.

Tom Davies worked his ass off but with 2 passengers alongside him in Gomes and Sigurdsson he couldn't do much.

Michael Keane and Pickford showed that they have no bottle and cracked under very little pressure.

Theo made the goal but was otherwise totally anonymous.

My only positive today came from seeing Moise Kean showing us a little bit of why he was so highly rated. Strong, skillful, rapid and hardworking. Just needs to work on his heading ability and he will be useful.

As for the rest, the only players I would keep are:

Coleman (in decline but you can't deny his determination);
Branthwaite (looks very cool under pressure just needs more experience);
Digne (arguably our best player);
Richarlison (the other side of the argument);
Davies (good squad player);
Anthony Gordon (good squad player);
Calvert-Lewin (good squad player);
Jordan Pickford (good deputy goalkeeper).

The rest of them need replacing and then clearing out of the club.

Pat Kelly
106 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:16:15
You have to wonder why Ancelotti took this unenviable job. Leaving aside the enviable salary, what's in it for him?

If he wants a challenge, he won't get a more difficult one. Was he that ill-informed about the dearth of talent in the squad? And the lack of finance to do much about it.

Did he do his homework? Or just look at his contract?

Ian McAvoy
107 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:16:48
Shocking and unacceptable. This was the most unprofessional display from a top flight team I have seen in years.

I know you can't change a team overnight but at least six of these first team squad players need to be offloaded or frozen out between now and September without question.

Need a midfield that blends ball winning with finesse. Need a proper right winger. Need a real centre forward. The attitude of most of these players was shocking. Not happy with this squad at all. 🤬

Kieran Kinsella
108 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:18:13
Phil Neville was banging on about his time at Valencia and how Gomes is best used in a forward position coming into the box and scoring goals.

His record of 12 goals in 8 years helps explain why the Neville got sacked at Valenica.

Fraser Auld
109 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:18:36
If this turd of a season meant Brands getting rid of Iwobi, Walcott, Bernard, Sigurdsson, Delph, Mina, Pickford, Davies and the prospect of better players coming in, I'd feel optimistic for the new season.

Worried though that we'll only get shot of a few of them and have more of the same next season. Feels like every season for the last 2 or 3 years we've wanted to sell half the team but can't because of high wages or fees that we paid.

Brands needs a massive summer; heard that somewhere before...

Brian Harrison
110 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:18:42
If you had blanked out all the players faces and which manager was stood on the touchline, then this performance was the same as we have seen under our 4 previous managers. Seems we change players and manager but still put in such insipid performances on a regular basis.

Maybe this club we support is no longer one of challenging for trophies, but maybe we should be grateful that we are safe from relegation.

I put all my faith in Ancelotti because if he can't change the mindset of this club, then I think our supporters will feel nobody will be capable of getting us to challenge for trophies.

My slight concern is that when Carlo first came it was great to see how close and how animated he and Duncan were on the touchline. But of late there seems to be very little interaction between the two of them, today I don't think Duncan could have sat any further away from Carlo. I hope there hasn't been a rift between them as, in our current predicament, we need both working in tandem.

Thankfully this awful season has ended, but it will take some drastic changes to hope to see any changes given we have just 6 weeks to buy some decent players and get them bedded in before the new season begins. Also, how they arrange who to play in pre-season games will be interesting.

Gavin Johnson
111 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:19:43
Ideally, we'll being in a centre-back and 2 new cntral-midfielders, a right-winger, plus a right-back on loan again. That would be 5 new signings. Now I don't see that happening and really hope we bring in Gabriel, Allan and Ünder and a right-back onloan.

If we don't bring in Gabriel, I would try and pursue Rabiot to play alongside Allan. There's only so much we can realistically do in one summer and if we don't get our 1st choice centre-back target I'd make do with Holgate, Keane, Mina, and Branthwaite until next summer. I think we'd cope given Gbamin could also play there if necessary.

Jay Harris
112 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:21:11
Jamie,

As a born and bred scouser and a regular at Goodison Park for over 50 years I totally agree with you.

Branthwaite was outstanding again today and just needs to get more experience at this level. Although he was beaten for the goal, he was up against 2 Bournemouth players so someone else was not doing their job and besides that, he rescued us a few times with assured and calm defending.

I believe we can park a new centre-back for a season and let Branthwaite, Gibson and Holgate grow into those positions.

I say that because there is a limit to what we can spend and we need 2 or 3 top class midfield players as a matter of urgency to score goals, create more assists, win the ball, keep the ball and pass accurately.

PA Greenhow
113 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:22:58
The whole squad, without exception, should be told their future at the club is under review after that shocking excuse of a season. You want to play here? Prove you're worthy, find a new club, or train with the U18s.

Sick to death of these morons thinking they're doing us a favour by turning up.

Martin Mason
114 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:23:05
I disagree that we were hapless, we were far worse than that.
Kieran Kinsella
115 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:23:06
Jamie

I agree, centre-back could do with an upgrade but it's like replacing an old carpet if your house has no roof. If we get a centre-back with better ball skills he can get it to the midfielder, then what? They pass it back to him. So we kill ten seconds on the clock then they repeat it over and over till they get caught in possession.

I almost fell out of my chair once today when Sigurdsson dropped deep and asked for the ball. That was it though, he and the rest soon went back into hiding

John Davies
116 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:24:28
Disgraceful. This is truly the worst Everton side I have ever seen in 60 years of supporting my football club. Weak, effortless, cheats & cowards! They all need shipping out – but how on earth does that happen? We are truly up shit creek without a paddle.

And If Carlo Ancelotti thinks we want to watch the dreadful, slow, sideways & backwards football of the last 6 games then he needs to be shipped out too. What a horrible, soul-destroying time to be a Blue.

Raymond Fox
117 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:27:38
Nothing changes except managers.

We go out and buy more often than not surplus to requirements players from well, anywhere, it's a long list. Problem is what top player near his peak would want to come here? The club is a train wreck that seemingly can't change course.

Moshiri has put loads of money in and has been let down badly by so-called knowledgeable football people such as Walsh and Brands, you can also add the managers who have not exactly covered themselves in glory either. If I was in his shoes, I would be tearing my hair out, he deserves better.

I can see two or three of our best players wanting out also, I wouldn't blame them.

Martin Mason
118 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:27:56
But I won't be negative. Improvement will be difficult but we know from 1984 that it can happen with just a few new players and a change in attitude.
Mike Doyle
119 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:28:29
Agree with Jamie #104;

If we can only have one priority area – midfield is it.

Under Moyes, and in recent seasons, we have been used to finishing between 6th and 8th. However, we are now officially a mid-table side and if our Board are serious about aiming for top 6 then most (all?) other areas of the pitch need remedial action too.

But, being optimistic, this will take 2 seasons (4 x transfer windows) at best.

Brent Stephens
120 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:28:38
Jay #112:

"Although he was beaten for the goal, he was up against 2 Bournemouth players so someone else was not doing their job."

Yes. And was the guy who scored actually not the man Branthwaite was marking? The man he was marking ended up between Branthwaite and the scorer? If so, then Branthwaite was not culpable in that goal.

Kieran Kinsella
121 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:29:10
Troy Deeney saying Watford need an audit of the players managers AND owners! Got to give credit to him, he's very in tune with fans and the regular people.
Paul Tran
122 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:31:03
Well, if I was Carlo, I'd get in a locked room with Moshiri and Brands.

I'd point to Moshiri "Do you want me to do this job? Do you want this club to succeed?"

Points to Brands, "Right. You. Get me as much money as you can for Pickford, Mina, Gomes, Bernard, Iwobi. Do everything you can to get rid of Sigurdsson & Walcott. Don't even think about buying any players unless they're 'promising kids'. Sort out that academy and join it up with the rest of the club."

Points to Moshiri, "I need at least two central midfielders, a solid keeper, centre-back and a wide player. I'll get them if you tell me the budget. Don't even think about you or him (Brands) getting involved."

I hope he's had that conversation already.

Brent Stephens
123 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:32:49
In fact, looking at the replay, Solanke was Davies's man?
James Flynn
124 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:32:50
Talk about an eventful year!

I'm going to say that two tough, pacey mid-fielders will change us for the good.

Back-line and front-line are good enough for now.

And some strong talk of getting in a 'keeper will do fine for me.

First, the midfield.

Jeff Spiers
125 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:34:44
Brian@110. Totally agree. I've repeated myself a few times on here. There is some thing definitely rotten deep in the bowels at this club. I'm afraid Ancelotti will walk.
Brent Stephens
126 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:35:08
Paul #123 totally agree. My guess at his demeanour on the touchline was in effect sending your message.
Martin Mason
127 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:35:35
I agree that Moshiri has been let down badly but because of his own mistake. He should have helped Kenwright into retirement with a big Thank You when he came on board. Everybody with a part in our barren years should have been swept out, replaced by professionals untainted by this period. Once the rot sets in, it can only be stopped by major surgery.
Carl Manning
128 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:37:00
Carlo hasn't done any better with the players since taking over from Silva? We were bottom 3!

Years of steady regression and money wasted on players with no character. This comes from the top. Moshiri needs to back Ancelotti (not Brands) and give him full, complete, absolute say, on who comes in.

A bad start next season and it is going to get incredibly toxic.

Mark Wilson
129 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:38:46
Poor result today, but strange to see someone posting earlier that they advocate Dyche or the no mark from Villa as our manager above one of the best coaches in the world, some of our supporters are just plain weird.
John Davies
130 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:38:53
James #125. Back line & front line are good enough for now?

Sorry, mate, but what on earth are you watching?

I agree, we are even worse off in midfield but we are not good enough in any area, not just midfield.

Hope someone at the club knows how to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Gordon Crawford
131 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:39:23
Every good or great team has a strong spine. From goalkeeper through to striker, we are lacking that strength.

Sadly I don't see us getting a better keeper, so I think we are stuck with Jordan.

Our centre-halves sadly lack the pace we need at times. We could do with another one in, but it's not top priority for me.

But it's in the midfield where we are truly lacking. Gomes can be quality, but we are not seeing any of it at this moment in time. But he could do with some real quality beside him, someone who can run with the ball, make a tackle, find that killer pass or even have a shot (on target). Here's hoping we find someone.

We also need a proven goal scorer, someone who can consistently get you 15 to 20 plus goals a year. Gold dust, I know.

Kieran Kinsella
132 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:45:09
Moshiri is another Tony Fernandez. Rich, eager, naive and mislead by fools masquerading as experts.
Tony Hill
133 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:46:48
Just 6-7 weeks before the new season. This is not the normal re-build period over the summer. It will be on us in a flash and we can't afford another mess with late scrabbling for a couple of signatures.
Darren Hind
134 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:46:53
Careful, John Davies.

We don't hold with that sort of honest, accurate assessment around here.

Tony Twist
135 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:48:22
Two new powerful, fast, skilful (and younger than 25 years) box to box central midfielders and a quality right winger required please.

But the most important thing is that Everton Football Club need to go back to school regarding the game of football. The fitness of the players is sub-standard, the training of the players is sub-standard, the mentality of everyone is sub-standard (no more "Well, we lost, it is only a friendly" or "Well, there is no crowd or nothing to play for, so it's not surprising we lost" and "Well, we expect to lose to the top six teams").

Improvements are required all over, not just by buying a couple of players. Everton think the hard work is done buying expensive players; it certainly is not. Players always need to be taught how to play football.

I can't see us achieving much over the next 6 weeks, we are on a knife-edge – it may be onwards and upwards but just as likely to be down and out next season. The pressure is on.

Martin Mason
136 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:49:04
The major difference between now and when we bought Alan Ball is that then we were the only club who could buy Ball. Now there are 50 clubs in Europe who compete with us for each player. To buy well, we need to either compete with Man Utd and Man City or just get lucky.

We have no chance and it may be that to kick start the team we need to pay for a couple of older players of proven quality. In 1984, it was Reid and Gray.

Craig Walker
137 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:50:31
Can somebody tell me why we take goal kicks by putting two or three defenders in our box, playing triangles until one of them panics and launches it? Invariably, they find touch or the opposition. Why do we do this in particular when we’re losing, wasting valuable seconds in drawing nobody out and losing it anyway?

I don’t even want to comment on our problems and what a disastrous waste of an opportunity Koeman, Walsh, Silva and Brands have overseen. I’m tired of it now. To make it worse, our neighbours are now the best team in the land by a mile.

Let’s have more false dawns next season!

Stay safe TWers!

Rob Halligan
138 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:51:30
For me, goalkeeper is the hardest position to play in. Make a mistake and you're punished. Make a great save and the whole world loves you.

Every goalkeeper makes mistakes. De Gea in the semi-final last week made two horrendous mistakes to gift Chelsea a couple of goals. Allison for Liverpool against Arsenal made one to gift Arsenal their winner. Fortunately, for Man Utd and Liverpool, their goalkeepers' mistakes seem to be few and far between.

We have now seen a catalogue of errors by Pickford costing us not only goals, but points. FFS, he can make absolute world-class saves then go and make an absolute howler. That third goal today I'd have been embarrassed to concede when I was playing.

Pickford must now clearly be worried about losing his England place, and Carlo certainly needs to sign a top-quality goalkeeper for next season.

Mike Gaynes
139 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:52:19
Rob, you available?
Karl Meighan
140 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:54:53
I hope that Brands and all them other dickheads who have a say on who we buy fuck off, they obviously haven't got a clue what a good footballer is.

We are overloaded with players who are slow have piss poor technique, unable to pass or control a football, and have very little skill.

There are maybe 4 or 5 who I would keep and it wouldn't take a big bid to persuade me to sell any of them either.

Martin Mason
141 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:55:10
Gomes was at fault for the Solanke goal, not Branthwaite. He watched it go over his head.
Benn Chambers
142 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:56:58
That performance, along with the entire season, was fucking disgraceful. Them spineless shitbags are lucky the fans have been barred from attending matches. Spineless, gutless twats.

Pickford is a joke and he finds his own ineptitude funny. Get rid before his price plummets even more. Lössl is better; if you can't get a new goalie, start the season with Lössl.

Coleman is finished. He can no longer get up or down the pitch. Can't beat a man anymore and was never the greatest defender anyway. His strength was attacking. That's gone and so must he. No room for sentiment. Get rid. Him in a defence with Keane and Pickford behind him, is a recipe for disaster.

Keane is no more than a squad player and a back-up at centre-back but, given his age and the fact he's English, he'd still command a reasonable fee. £15M upwards I'd think. List him and take the money before what value he has, plummets. He's not good enough for where we apparently want to go. He's a bean pole. His lack of pace would not be tolerated by any top 6 team and must not by us either.

Walcott is neither a winger nor a striker. It could be argued he's not a footballer either. Offers fuck all with or without the ball. A hefty wage to boot. List him and take what you can. Just clearing his wage is worth a Bosman. Plus, he's got Plaits, the fuckin divvy.

Davies is a nothing. He does nothing. He offers nothing. Doesn't score. Doesn't assist. Doesn't carry the ball. Can't tackle. Can't shoot. Get rid. I don't care if he's a blue or one of our own. So am I but you wouldn't want me blowing out my arse in our centre-midfield so we shouldn't tolerate him either. He's a Championship player.

Bernard the Hobbit. Weak as piss. Touch of an angel but then the kiss of death for his end product. Another one who doesn't assist or score. A passenger in most games. He was a free so you'd get £15M upwards for him and he's still held in high regard from his time in Ukraine, send him back there because he's turning our flanks into fucking Chernobyl.

Sigurdsson is all too often, too happy to accept no responsibility and hide. I want my centre-midfilders to demand the ball and dictate our play. You only have to look at Grealish to see everything Sigurdsson isn't. Another who needs listing and take what we can get. His wage is another hefty one that could be far better spent on a sand bag.

Gomes is still playing with a fracture and I won't be told otherwise. I've seen land mine victims with prosthetics who are better than him at the minute. He's had a bad injury and we've sold his ideal partner so I'll give him next season to fully recover, get fit and hopefully we'll see the old Gomes when he is no longer surrounded by turbo cunts in every direction. If there's no immediate improvement, leg him as well.

Add to them, Delph, Bolasie, Sandro, and Iwobi and list them and get what you can. They can not start the season with Everton.

Welcome back Gbamin, Kenny and Lössl and sign a pacey centre-back like Zouma or Gabriel, get Allan or Højbjerg. Offer Watford whatever the fuck they want for Sarr and try and swap Kean for Lozano and we might start to resemble a team again.

I can't take any of this shite anymore. I've had enough. I'm bored of mangers getting hired and fired and signing absolute fucking shite. Our squad is a mismatch of shite. It's like taking the dog for a walk and picking up all the turds you find in the park and emptying them all out in the back garden when you get in. That's our team.

Enough is enough. You've got the manager, you're paying through the nose for him so get him the players he wants and needs or just jib it. If you's can't be arsed, then I can't. If we were any other business other than a togger team, the owner would torch it and claim on the insurance.

Roll on the new season because this Covid-19 has fuck all on our midfield.

Ray Roche
143 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:57:23
Martin, that cross was 4 ft over Gomes head. No way that he could reach that.
John Pierce
144 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:57:25
JaC - you give me far too much credit!

Let's say we keep what we have at centre-back and buy two top notch midfielders. Their better technique will allow us to keep possession and we in theory can build play up because we keep the ball.

That is, for me, neutered when your back line isn't high enough. All that great work from those new midfielders is nullified because they are doing it in their own half. As a result, they take less risk because the rub is losing possession in your own half on transition. Even your top players will recognize the low reward from it.

Whatever ails our midfielders would be significantly remedied with a higher line. Even Gomes and Sigurdsson would be better playing in the opposition's half. They can take risk knowing the defenders are quick enough to recover. It's especially pertinent when you play low blocks.

Mix in a keeper who gives everyone kittens it's a must to upgrade there too.
For me, replace that spine with quality and look for a free transfer or two. That tactical shift will get more out of this lot, I think it's key to what we have.

Colin Glassar
145 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:57:33
Carlo should organise an open top bus tour so the people can show their disgust at such a shameful shower of shite!
Brent Stephens
146 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:59:30
Martin, it looked to me as if Solanke got away from Davies.
Rick Pattinson
147 Posted 26/07/2020 at 19:59:39
Do not put any blame on Carlo – he's one of the best managers on the planet alive today – it's this shite team. A team of mercenaries... a team of lightweights. Absolutely disgusting as they have been most of the season. I'd keep Pickford, Digne, Holgate, and Calvert-Lewin. The rest can fuck off.
Rob Halligan
148 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:01:20
Mike, I think my age might be against me, and I've also got dodgy knees and a sore Achilles. Other than all that, I would certainly give it a try!!

One thing I'd get rid of is these goal kicks in the 6-yard box. Seriously, what is the point of them?

Mike Gaynes
149 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:02:55
Steve, John P and Jamie, I'm just fine with shopping for a new centre-back and selling off one of ours -- when, and only when, all our other transfer business has been completed.

To me, that particular position is our very lowest priority... behind all four midfield positions. Without some steel at defensive midfield, talent in the middle and pace on the outside, this club is going nowhere.

Replace the engine first... then the tires.

Jason Wilkinson
150 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:04:06
Not a shock really. Everton have been on the beach for the last three weeks. I hope there is some spark that will ignite some desire in the forthcoming season.

My prediction is a battle for survival until March. 40 points achieved then another coast to the end of the season.

Colin Metcalfe
151 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:05:34
Gordon #132, I've got to disagree with there about Jordan – I think he has risen to a priority to be replaced, Carlo must see his nervousness and his erratic behaviour must be a nightmare for the defenders in front of him.
Patrick McFarlane
152 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:07:44
Martin #128,

I agree with you wholeheartedly, a new broom sweeps clean and all of that – even if the old guard isn't guilty of anything other than incompetence, the need for a fresh start at Everton is apparent and has been for a number of years.

The gap between the Mersey clubs has probably never been as wide in terms of points gained in a single season. We can't just accept a 50 point deficit between the clubs as just one of those things, last season it was 43, the season before it was 26. To think we were ahead of them for a couple of seasons not so many years ago, but it seems the more money we've spent the gap keeps getting bigger.

We have to realise that this squad for whatever reason is just incapable of competing with the top ten, in fact, it finds it difficult to compete with most of the league most of the time.

As fans we really do have to adjust our expectations that we currently have - this isn't being defeatist – it's being realistic. it's time to bring in players who can battle and scrap because the current crop has few if any of that type available.

As a club, it's time to assess what its priorities are going forward and for those in power to recognise that failure is being accepted all too readily and too easily.

We may get lucky and sign the right calibre of player(s) and that will tease out the abilities and confidence of the younger players but in all likelihood, we will have a similar group to start all over again in September – it is not beyond the realms of nightmares that we could in 12 months be suffering even more than we are today if there is another year of inaction at board level.

One hope is, that if Manchester United can end the season in 3rd place, we too could galvanise ourselves and challenge next season, but that is more of a hope than an expectation. The hope is running out, it's time for the owner to do something other than throw money at the problem.


Pat Kelly
153 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:07:48
Benn, #143, spot on.
Rob Baker
154 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:10:28
Hard to fathom where to start but I just knew our snowflakes would roll over and let Bournemouth tickle our belly.

I'd start by loaning Davies out to a Championship club immediately. He is utter garbage and lacks all the skills of a quality midfielder.

Next, tell Sigurdsson, Walcott and Iwobi that they can leave immediately as they will get no game time next season. Tell Yerry "Sicknote" Mina to sort himself out with injuries as he is a joke.

Finally, sell Pickford to any of the promoted clubs and get a Neville Southall Mk II from somewhere.

Mike Gaynes
155 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:11:42
Benn #143, couple questions.

"Welcome back Gbamin, Kenny and Lössl"?? What the hell for? How do any of them make us better? Have you even seen Lössl play? Ever?

"...sign a pacey center-back like Zouma" Did you actually watch that guy play this season? Sign a guy who anchored one of the most erratic defenses in the Premier League? Just because he played for us before? Thought you wanted quality.

"...hopefully we'll see the old Gomes..." When have you ever seen anything in the "old" Gomes that was any better than the current one? Last fall? Last year? At Barca? No. He is what he is. Fully healthy or not, this is as good as he gets.

Darren Hind
156 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:12:39
Branthwaite will learn that when you allow the blocker to get in front of you, you are effectively taken out of the game.

He'll learn a lot more from his experience than he would reading daft-arsed posts like #124 and #147, blaming the smallest player on the pitch, for "losing his man" when he has clearly been told the edge of the box is his zone.

Take away the whipping boy and this footy lark clearly becomes a bit of a challenge for some.

BTW, Benn, spot-on. Too many people think they can solve our problems with a single bullet. Your machine-gun approach would be far more effective.

Robert Tressell
157 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:16:28
What a crap season. Glad it's over.

There will be no overhaul this summer, though. A few in a few out. Part of a longer term rebuild. Shame for Baines that he has no medals to show for his considerable talents. A magnificent footballer.

Jerome Shields
158 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:18:42
The negatives in goal, the midfield, and forward line are well versed and need addressed soon as possible and when it is feasible to do so. The positives where Branthwaite's solid performance and Kean, who looked like a forward, giving clear definition to the attack.

When Kean went off, Everton never looked like scoring, Calvert-Lewin was always two yards away from where Kean would have been and challenging.

I will mention Pickford though, who is clearly not dependable and I have doubts he ever will be. I also thought Baines was really good and Good Luck to him.

Brent Stephens
159 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:19:23
Mike #156, was it you in fact who warned us when we were signing Gomes that his performances in Spain left a lot to be desired? His leg break was terrible but his performances either side of that have been very mixed.
Andy Crooks
160 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:23:30
Steve Ferns, I would ask that every Blue looks at your post @ 87. Keane has looked good after lockdown. Why? Has he suddenly become a Premier League defender? Has he gained an extra yard (fuck me... 2½ yards) of pace? No, he has had our team built round him.

Mostly, teams are built round some sort of maverick who can spin magic out of thin air. Not us. We defend deep because we have to. Because we have a centre-back who would have made me worship him in the Northern Ireland teams that did so well.

He looks great in a shit team and is rightly loved for it. God almighty Carlo, surely this is not the Italian defensive master plan?

We are basing our tactics on defending deep. It affects everything we do. Sign a centre-back. Before a striker, before a midfielder. Sign a centre-half to play alongside Holgate and see how we go from there.

Tony Everan
161 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:24:16
Benn @143,

Thanks for that subtle and nuanced critique. Crying with laughter here.

Brent Stephens
162 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:27:24
Swansea take a goal lead to the second leg against Brentford in the promotion play-offs. They seem to have the momentum with them: moved into the play-off positions at the end, while Brentford blew their chance of automatic promotion. Cracking goal from Andre Ayew.
Joe McMahon
163 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:30:27
Two model pros leave the Premier League today.

As well as Leighton, a mention has to go to David Silva, what a magician with the ball he is! Several Premier League titles, and Euros and a World Cup winner of course.

I hope (as always) to see such a player in an Everton shirt.

Craig Walker
164 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:31:36
Rob. I'd have Southall as he is now over Pickford! He'd command respect and organise his defence better. He certainly wouldn't have a smile on his face after making a howler or losing a game.

I didn't like him since the away defeat at Newcastle a few seasons back where he was more concerned with mind games with the Newcastle fans. We threw away a 2 goal lead with his histrionics. I still have nightmares about the Origi blunder.

I genuinely can't think of many Everton midfielders down the years who regularly start games who are worse than Tom Davies. He's even worse than Simon Davies. A dreadful footballer. Yet again, under no pressure he passes a ball dead. Schneiderlin was better. What does he offer? People defending him saying he tries. It's like something you'd say to an under 8s player.

Walcott, Iwobi, Bernard, Sigurdsson, Mina, Delph, Sidibé aren't at the level we need. There are players at Bournemouth and Watford who are better.

It isn't going to be easy next season either. Leeds have a great manager and a hostile away ground. Chelsea have money to spend. Man Utd have improved. Wolves and Burnley will be hard to beat. Some might be distracted by Europe but talk of top 6 seems fanciful unless there is significant player turnover.

I only see hope if Usmanov gets on board and we start recruiting much better than we've seen. The jury is out on Brands. It takes more than making Kean's mum feel welcome. I don't see a lot of improvement over Walsh.

I've seen some bad Everton teams down the years but even the bad teams had a Big Dunc, Barry Horne or a Hutchinson that had some spirit or a hatred of losing. This lot have their huge salaries and not a lot else.

Thank God this season is over.

Will Mabon
165 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:32:22
I may be in a minority here, but I did see some promise in Gomes. Some very smooth and tidy performances, very good distribution. He is a player that needs to spend time concentrating on his position on the field, and what is developing.

He is not a chaser and a battler. Paired with the right defensive midfielder/enforcer, he may have much to offer, assuming the injury has not permanently compromised him. Some of the passes he made in his periods of form have been largely unseen in this team for some years now.

Lately, however, he does appear to be infected with the strange malaise pervading just about the whole team. This is what needs addressing above all else, I believe.

Benn Chambers
166 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:33:31
Mike Gaynes #156

Make him mistake, I don't particularly rate Kenny but he's more mobile than Coleman. He's just getting started and Coleman is finished. My preference is a new right-back all together but there is other more pressing areas at centre-back, both wings, defenive-midfield, centre-midfield and a forward.

Re Zouma, I judge him based on how he performed for us and he was superb and made Keane better as his pace got us out of trouble a lot. Again, I'd prefer Gabriel but Zouma is a huge improvement on every defender we have and the season we had him, he was top class, especially in the second half of that season.

And Gomes, his first loan season, he was a class centre mid with a superb range of passing and seemed to get us up the pitch a lot more than he does now. Would we have signed him if he did fuck all? Would Barcelona have signed him if he was as bad as you say?

He was outstanding for Valencia hence his move to Barcelona. He's been dreadful this season, as has everyone. Selling Gueye has left him with Davies and Sigurdsson either side of him, that's like choosing between malaria and Ebola.

I'll reserve judgment for next season when he has quality around him, hopefully. If there is no improvement, then get rid.

Kieran Kinsella
167 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:37:58
Carlo is in a for a rude awakening if he thinks these players are bad. Given he didn't even know Luke Garbutt existed whilst out on loan, I can just see his face when preseason starts and he sees all the unfamiliar ones: Sandro, Bolasie, Pennington, Dowell, Broadhead etc. He will realize the sell-to-buy plan is utterly hopeless and pack his bags...
Tony Hill
168 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:38:47
I thought Kean showed his promise today before he tired. There's a player in there – his pass for Walcott was lovely and he showed strength, touch and proper effort.

There are some good things happening, or with the potential to happen. Not many, but some.

Jack Convery
169 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:41:57
Lest we forget, this lot lost to the RS Kids.

Despite Moshiri's money, we are a club in decline on the pitch. Since the 1st season of Bobby Brown Shoes, the decline is speeding up, season on season.

The football served up has been turgid, spineless, pointless crap. No recognisable style, no identity. We can't compete with the so-called big 6 when we play them. Away to them, we are truly awful. Our recent record against the RS is truly shameful.

In the last 10 years, we have not had a captain on the pitch. Jagielka and Coleman are far too nice to be a captain.

The recruitment is truly astonishingly bad. Injury-prone players bought, who then don't play because they are injured – no shit, sherlock. Top 6 rejects – bar one definite exception Gareth Barry - have been useless. Walcott and Iwobi from Arsenal - what was the point?

Two goalkeepers recruited, who the season before were relegated from the Prmier League. A good goalkeeper organises a defence with the leading centre-half. Pickford can't organise his own concentration levels.

Prices paid have been way over the top for the majority of them too. £45M for Sigurdsson, £28M for Bolasie, £25M for Klaassen, who the week before we bought him, was totally anonymous in the UEFA Cup Final. £25M for Tosun... I could go on and on.

At one point, I swear we had 3 people making decisions on their own as to who Everton should buy. Walsh bought Gueye, Koeman bought Klaassen and I suspect Kenwright bought Wayne Rooney. How can a club be run in such a way?

Maybe this is what Scneiderlin – another waste of money – was getting at when he said of Nice, that it was good to come and play for an organised and well-structured club.

I despair of Everton, I really do, and to think we have 6 weeks in which to build a spine, get some leadership, pace, stamina, intelligence and – most importantly of all – FIGHT into the team.

You will truly be Carlo Fantastico if you can sort this club out, Mr Ancelotti. I pray that you will because the alternative does not bear thinking about.

Benn Chambers
170 Posted 26/07/2020 at 20:44:09
Mike Gaynes #156,

Lössl - yeah mate, I have. I've seen him play. He's no Oblak but I've seen Pickford play as well. Go and get yourself a bottle of Jean Paul Gaultier aftershave, or just google a picture of the bottle. that's Pickford. I'd rather anyone in goal than that little chav. He's a clown.

Lössl is a decent back-up and ideally, I'd sell Pickford and get a new number one but, believe me when I say, I'd rather anyone in goal than that fuckin liability, Pickford.

Tony Twist
171 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:04:32
It is back to basics for Brands and Carlo, it's creating a team not buying individuals, a much trickier proposition. We need to buy characters, the heart beat of the team, a winners attitude or the likes of Digne and Richarlison will be off.

As far as I am concerned I have seen nothing (and it kills me to say this) to suggest that we are better off than if we had got Moyes back. Shocking.

Eddie Dunn
172 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:06:56
Well, that game was a typical Everton performance since lockdown. The players have been playing from a hazy distant memory, occasionally they rouse themselves as if waking from a coma and do something good only to then close their eyes and drift back off into the depths of darkness.

They have not responded to the changes in routine, to the lack of incentive. They never believed they could make the Europa League places. A mishmash of last-chance salooners and last pay-chequers with a few youngsters thrown in to the mix to cut their spurs.

It seems that Calvert-Lewin read the good reviews and a possible England call-up and decided to get a fancy hair-do and forget everything he seemed to have learned pre-lockdown. Perhaps he shared a barber with Theo. Theo has made a living out of having pace but no end product. Of being able to get himself in on goal only to hit the keeper or bottle out of a tackle.

Today, Kean showed some nice touches, bringing others into play, something that Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison have forgotten about.

Contrary to many above, I thought Gomes and Davies and even Sigurdsson were trying hard to make it work. There were missed passes as usual but we were always likely to be undone by the speed of the Cherries' forwards. None of our midfield are quick and only Digne and Branthwaite have any pace at the back.

Keane and Coleman were always going to struggle. It's simple really: we need a quick centre-half, a right-back, and a quick midfielder. The rest will take care of itself.

Oh, and after today, I will join the chorus for a different goalie. Pickford has climbed our list of liabilities.

Steve Croston
173 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:11:33
On the plus side though, at least Carlo knows who to get rid of now. Today was an absolute embarrassment.
Robert Miller
174 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:14:36
I think that's about if for me.

I've been a lifelong Blue. First game was 1981. We lost 4-1 to Middlesbrough; I knew then this wasn't going to be one long walk in the sunshine. Two brothers - both red; didn't matter.

It was and always will be Everton.

But, put simply, I can't find any joy in it any more. It's not just the results, it's not the continuous raised expectations and dashed hopes, it's not even the poor performances. It's because we seem to have an ingrained culture of players not caring that I cannot bear to watch.

I have got 5 kids - 2 teenagers and 3 little ones. All Evertonians. But why would I want or expect them to sit through season after season of this third-rate, lacklustre, don't care shite? Why would I invest our time and my money?

We've got better things to do. Like just about anything other than this.

So I'm not going to renew the season ticket.

To be a football fan is to be in love with an idea. An idea that an alchemy of endeavour, skill, luck will lead to success with all the highs and lows along the way.

I love Everton and I won't stop being a Blue because you can't. But I have better things for me and the family to spend our time and money on.


Jamie Crowley
175 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:19:13
Mike Gaynes -

when, and only when, all our other transfer business has been completed.

Yes.

All these people shouting for a CB to change our fortunes, please answer one question.

How did Leicester win the entire League with two CBs about as mobile as cement, yet have one of the most fun, dynamic, counter-attacking teams I've seen?

Huth and Morgan did one thing - defend. They did not play a high line, they did not do anything flashy. They partnered, they played in position, and they were rock, rock solid.

All the while they had a great midfield.

We need midfielders. You can win, in fact an entire league campaign, with CBs that aren't pacy and don't play a high line. It's been proven in the very recent past.

We have to bring in midfielders. Bringing in a CB, for me, is like trying to out-think the room. When something is this glaringly obvious, don't try to out-think the room.

Bill Fairfield
176 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:22:47
How many more times does Carlo have to pick the same miserable failures before he's convinced that they haven't got the the football nous to play his brand of football. The last three seasons have been a complete waste of time and money.The coming season feels like its the last throw of the dice.
Kim Vivian
177 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:25:19
What a mess this season has turned out to be one way or another. We all see our weaknesses and have different opinions about what and/or who we need, and should go after or off load, but a question to all...

If you could choose ANY 3 players from the current Premier League to try and integrate into our existing squad, who would you choose? Any 3, no cost constraints, no FFP considerations, no wage constraints.

Carl Taylor
178 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:25:52
Nothing to build on, absolutely nothing. No character, no pace, no fight, nothing. Think about when Royle took over from Walker? He saw 'The Dogs' in midfield, Big Dunc and Rideout, Limpar and Stuart

What on earth is Don Carlo looking at? Richarlison? Digne? What else?

We need character, we need pace, we need fight.

Gomes needs a Gana to function. When he functions, he needs pace out wide to find. The defence needs a fighter, but they're all easily bullied. Again, no pace. Up front, Richarlison needs support and I'm afraid both Kean and Calvert-Lewin are squad, at best, players.

This is going to be a slow, painful progression, if we have the resources to back the manager. God help us if we are so poor in the midfield that Tom Davies starts another match.

Derek Moore
179 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:30:58
Ndidi, Kane, De Bruyne @ Kim Vivian.

I only didn't choose a goalkeeper because I don't particularly favor any of the keepers in the Premier League except for Alisson. And I don't want him.

Alan McGuffog
180 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:35:03
Good thing about the game today... Pickford reminded me that we need Weetabix.

For the older contributors.

Soren Moyer
181 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:35:48
A goalie, a centre-back, 2 pacey midfielders and a right-winger needed urgently! For now!!!! Oh, and a striker who can score goals please.
Joe McMahon
182 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:40:52
Soren, don't write off Moise Keen just yet, he has only started 2 games. But yes we need more options upfront, all top 6 score goals. We also somehow require a keeper that instills confidence. The goal difference is shite.
Mick Conalty
183 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:51:45
Everton and Liverpool used to play in a tournament known as the Lancashire Cup. This was arranged to enable a derby game. As Liverpool were in the 2nd Division (happy days).

We will soon have to re-instate that competition – only this time we will be in the Championship.

John Pierce
184 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:52:02
Ja C –- your model is five years out of date. Since then, more teams press high up. Moving the average position of the back line much much higher. Even your bog standard Premier League outfit press.

Just look at today. Bournemouth, one of the worst teams in the Premier League, stopped us from playing out. Only teams with exceptional ball retention, like Man City, could in theory play with slow centre-backs.

It's the whole team that has to attack and defend as one, in my opinion, dividing it up into neat batteries of defenders, midfield and attack is dated.

The whole team must play higher.

John Reynolds
185 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:52:31
Bainsey has too much self-respect to hang around with this pack of pricks for another year. We’re Doomed!
Alex Winstanley
186 Posted 26/07/2020 at 21:58:18
If either of the following players start next seasons first game, I will not be visiting Goodison (if we are allowed back) for a long time!

The list is: Pickford, Sidibé, Coleman, Sigurdsson, Davies, Bernard, Walcott, Delph, Iwobi.

We need better than this crop of crap. Get rid and sign quality mentally tough winners. Moshiri may be able to afford to waste money but I can not!

Paul Birmingham
187 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:02:41
The club has fallen, and fallen. The football equivalent of hell we've endured for years, and forgetting the RS, the demise of EFC is not mythical but fact.

Carlo, Brands and the rest and whoever they are, and whatever it takes, will need to have their finest hours in the next month.

We've done the highway to hell as a club and how we try and get out is going to be some feat.

Getting the same tune and note out of this squad for back to back games is proving impossible. Getting new blood will be tough and of the right quality, even tougher.

I'd cut the end of season holidays, this squad needs to get real. New Captain and Vice Captain, and new goalkeeper, are must, then to build a new spine.

The club at board level must know that this saga of underachievement can't carry on.

But what's the solution... back to basics, and to install some genuine belief and passion, from a squad of players who will fight for the EFC cause and want to win.

Losing after giving your best isn't an issue in any football match; to go through a whole season, and scratch out 13 wins, and not many notable wins, the inconsistency, and lack of effort, has set an all-time low for me.

The positives this season not much but a great signing, in we've got a world class, proven manager whose a winner across Europe. Let's hope coming to EFC, won't be Carlo's, Waterloo. The board must back him, get the big Uzbek in and back him to the hilt.

Tomorrow, the tightest transfer window starts, let's hope the deal makers for EFC have done their homework, and won't be pulling in last-minute wonders. Evertonians know a last-minute wonder signing, and we don't get many.

Time will prove.

Mal van Schaick
188 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:08:46
Can somebody please paint forward pointing arrows on the Finch Farm training pitches for pre season, and scrub the sideways and backward ones off.
Bill Gall
189 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:12:00
This is a critical moment for Everton in the next transfer window. Never mind who we should buy, the question is what do we have to offer to bring in quality players?

We have just finished this season with more teams above us than below. We are 50 points behind the league leaders, and to put that in its meaning, they have, take a breath, won 16 games mathematically more than Everton.

So what can we offer that other teams cant offer to bring in quality players? We have a first-class training facility, but an old stadium past its sell by date. We have designs for a new stadium waiting for approval that will take 3or 4 yrs to build. The only trump card we have is a first class manager in Carlo Ancelotti, but will that be enough.

Please don't say we have a great history as history is what you read about in books, we need to look to the future not the past.

It seams after every season ends, we say we are in a new building phase, isn't it about time someone got a grip, and started building with new concrete instead of old straw.

I watch a lot of football but to say who Everton need, I will leave that to the supposed experts. The one thing I would like to see is the bringing in of ambitious players in the 21 to 24 years old, and not waste a huge payment on an older player near the end of his career.

Over the season it has shown that good coaching can win games, and as that is the only asset in Carlo Ancelotti we have, let's make sure we bring in the best ambitious young players that will come.

Colin Glassar
190 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:15:04
Everything that can be said has been said. Once again, EFC find themselves at a crossroads. We either make the correct moves this transfer window or next season will be another nervy slog.

The midfield needs to be completely overhauled. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but Gomes is the only one I would keep. We need width, we need speed, we need courage, we need creativity, we need leaders, we need everything this current midfield doesn't possess.

I'll give the defenders, and forwards, some slack as they are given no cover or service. Ancelotti has a massive task ahead of him and I don't envy him as I feel a growing section of the TW posters are beginning to turn.

Peter Jansson
191 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:15:23
I think these are the most important things we need to do.

1. We definitely need a new goalkeeper. He is the man that should calm and structure the defence and take good decision. Pickford will never be that man. Let's sell him before the market realize he is not England's No 1.

2. We definitely need 2 central midfielders. And these guys need to have to be quick all-around players with hardcore winning mentality. Guys that hate to lose any game, like the game today for example.

The man to keep in midfield is Gomes. I think he can get better again next season. He will improve with a new players in midfield.

I think these are the most urgent positions to strengthen.

If we go on, we need to replace Coleman/Sidibé and we definitely need a better winger. A winger that produces either passes or goals.

I don't think the problem is centre-backs. We have several decent and good centre-backs. With a better midfield, they will be better off, no matter who plays.

Think both Kean and Calvert-Lewin can improve and become pretty good. Their job will become easier with a better midfield. Anthony Gordon will also improve and become a class player I think.

Richarlison, we definitely need to keep. He probably has the highest capability of all players we have. Will also get more space with a better midfield.

Brian Wilkinson
192 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:15:24
I am hoping Carlo has played a master stroke by playing the same players, over and over again. It strengthens his cause of bringing the players in he wants.

He will struggle to offload half of that shite, but if he can get those midfielders in, it is a start.

Look on the bright side, least we have Bolasie and Sandro waiting in the wings... only joking before someone bursts a blood vessel.

Mike Price
194 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:31:26
We've had a few very lucky wins this season which is very unusual for us! I'm very relieved we dodged a relegation fight without our home crowd to influence anything because, with this spineless bunch of losers, we'd have been in serious trouble.

Whoever sanctioned giving Calvert-Lewin a massive new contract after a short spell of decent games, when he still had a couple of years on his old contract should be fired. That's the sort of decision that has plagued this club for years... substandard, characterless losers on inflated contracts and now we couldn't give him away.

Jason Lloyd
195 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:33:49
For me the moment that we brought in a DOF was when you had decisions by committee and statistics replace a manager who would say, "You need to work your guts off for me or you are gone, I brought you here."

Moshiri is an absentee owner and our performance is a reflection of the mismanagement of the club, Ellis Short style.

Only two things will change the situation.

Remove DOF and give manager full power hire and fire.

Remove Kenwright and Moshiri cronies. Bring in a CEO who has full control to hire and fire. Make them accountable for the stadium delivery and doubling revenues by 2024.

James Flynn
196 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:36:45
John (131) – "James #125. Back line & front line are good enough for now? Sorry mate but what on earth are you watching?"

Same games as you and everyone else.

Unless something's on that the Club is keeping secret, we'll only have 2-3 important signings. Minimum 2 of them have to be specifically for the engine room. We cannot continue with every opponent getting at our back-line with ease.

We shore up the midfield for next season, then yes the defenders we have are good enough for now. Pickford is a disaster waiting to happen, but my guess is that Carlo will make-do one more season, he gets the mid-fielders he wants.

Do we wish for better than Calvert-Lewin and Kean? Sure, why not. But they're the 2 we have. Someone Gana-like is what we're missing. Gomes and Sigurdsson are both skilled ballplayers who need a teammate doing the dirty work.

They in turn moving the ball forward to Kean and Calvert-Lewin. None are the best, but they're good enough for now as Carlo transforms the squad. Besides, none of them are going anywhere before next season.

We get 2 pacy, mid-field fighters this window, I'm good. They'll make the players behind and in front of them good enough for now.

And next time you have an opinion on anything I said, come at me adult-like. Aim the boohoo, poor me, little boy hysterics elsewhere.

Sam Hoare
197 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:36:49
Extraordinary really to have somehow spent so much money making us worse.

It's going to be extremely hard to find buyers for most of our high earners. Who out there is going to pay Bernard £120k per week? Or Sigurdsson £100k per week? Or Walcott £100k per week? Or Mina £120k per week? Or Gomes £115k per week? Or Pickford £100k per week?

We are stuck with a lot of these players and it will fall to Ancelotti to get a better tune out of them. But considering how terrible we've been after he had a mini pre-season before the restart it does not bode well.

This ship has leaks all over but at least if we can get some control in the middle of the pitch then that may breed more confidence. I'd love a new keeper too; for a while I've been saying that Pickford (contrary to mythology on here) is actually one of the worst shot-stoppers in the Premier League; but it won't happen. Centre-midfield, right-wing and centre-back will be addressed. I'd love a right-back too (Matty Cash from Forest would probably not cost more than £15M and immediately adds more dynamism on that side).

Andrew Clare
198 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:45:46
What is so worrying is that Ancelotti hasn't been able to get any response from these players. We really should have seen some sort of improvement by now. Since the season resumed, we have been worse than ever. I just can't see any green shoots of recovery.

We look like relegation candidates for next season and remember we are only a few weeks away from next season. Will 3 or 4 new signings make much difference? I am not so sure. I hate to say this but will Ancelotti be gone by Christmas?

An older manager along with players reaching the end of their careers on a massive contract is a recipe for disaster. Everton are just like that once beautiful Atlantic Ocean liner that has now become a rusting hulk beached on some distant shore lost and forgotten.

Something is wrong, very wrong with our club.

Sean Kelly
199 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:46:34
Bill #194 Exactly. My sentiments summed up perfectly. No comment.
Patrick McFarlane
200 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:47:12
Sam # 198
Despite the salaries, they can't or won't be motivated!

Bernard Anicio Caldeira Duarte £120,000
Yerry Mina £120,000
Andre Gomes £112,212
Jordan Pickford £100,000
Gylfi Sigurdsson £100,000
Theo Walcott £100,000
Richarlison de Andrade £90,000
Lucas Digne £90,000
Fabian Delph £80,000
Seamus Coleman £70,000
Leighton Baines £65,000
Michael Keane £60,000
Cenk Tosun £60,000
Oumar Niasse £55,000
Moise Kean £53,173
Alex Iwobi £50,000
Cuco Martina £35,000
Tom Davies £25,000
Mason Holgate £25,000
Beni Baningime £8,000
Dominic Calvert-Lewin N/A
Jean-Philippe Gbamin N/A
Djibril Sidibe
Loanees
Guaranteed annual salaries.
Yannick Bolasie £3,900,000
Sandro Ramírez £3,380,000
Muhamed Besic £1,560,000
Luke Garbutt £1,456,000
Jonas Lossl £1,456,000
Kieran Dowell £780,000
Jonjoe Kenny £780,000
Shani Tarashaj £780,000

Payroll Spotrac

Mike Price
201 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:52:00
The ultimate humiliation is that Liverpool's manager and coaching team are reportedly on a lot less money than ours. Calvert-Lewin is on more than Arnold and the list goes on... we are the most unprofessional, abject institution in the entire football pyramid.
Robert Williams
202 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:52:10
So much to criticise, so much negativity on the field, so little to be optimistic about, so, so disappointing. So what? It'll never change at Everton. So fucking pathetic and so so so much a waste of time and money. So adios losers!!
Kevin Molloy
203 Posted 26/07/2020 at 22:57:37
I think the problems at the club were touched on above. Absentee owner, with a penchant for splashing the club's cash willy nilly. The contrast with the Moyes years could not be starker (the last remnant of which, bar one, took his leave today).

Kenwright must be deeply ashamed of how he delivered the precious cargo of Everton into the hands of a world class nincompoop. But at least he paid Bill his top dollar and allowed him to stick around, so it's not all bad news.

Tony Everan
204 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:01:17
The last time we looked like a team, we had Gana in midfield and Zouma as Centre back. It's so glaringly obvious what we need to be a team again. A ball-winning combative midfielder with a great nonstop engine.

We will need strength in depth for the midfielder too as Delph and Gbamin cannot be relied upon to be fit. Two quality central midfielders are needed. Mentally strong fighters.

The reality is now that other positions need renewing too, starting with a new younger and dynamic right-back.

John Boon
205 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:08:38
Having read all the posts, it is obvious that we have almost a whole team who should not be playing next season. The main concern should be, are there any other teams stupid enough to buy these unwanted players?

It is very easy to be disappointed and angry after such a display. I still want Ancelotti to be given a fair crack at doing something positive for Everton. New signings are essential. We don't have any speed in midfield.

Moise Kean has to be given more time to play as I did see some positives about his play. We need more youngsters like him, Branthwaite and Gordon.

It is difficult to be too optimistic but after watching for many eons I don't really have ANY choice. Therefore, my final message for this dreadful season: CYOB. The future is ahead and we will surprise everybody by being GREAT in 2020-21. I really would like such a surprise.

Andy Crooks
206 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:09:05
Just watching MotD: "Pickford deceived". What deceived him? The opposition wearing football boots? This panic spreading cretin is the place to start when trying to find buyers for the really poor specimens we have bought.

Look at the top goalkeepers we have had. Then, look at the not so good, then, think, fucking Pickford. He is utterly lamentable. With many goalie, it is a confidence issue. Not here, this clown oozes confidence. Unfortunately it is without any basis in reality.

Who could replace him? My late mother-in-law's next-door neighbour for a start.

Dick Fearon
207 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:09:13
I was hoping and praying our supposed genius of a manager would sub Gomes and or Sigurdsson. Instead, he dragged Tom Davies our hardest working midfielder.

I hope this boring pointless passing back to the keeper is not part of Ancelotti's game plan.

Jerome Shields
208 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:13:04
Ancelotti can only put out the players that are available and hope they have the ability and character to play in the formations he decides tactically are suitable on the day and throughout the game. This tactical formation has to be based on a strong defensive leaning and on playing the ball from the back, given the character and the ability of the players he has. But, given the character and ability of some of the players, no formation, under any manager, is guaranteed to work.

Everton before Ancelotti were known for a weak defense, a midfield that could be overrun and ineffective final third play. The tactic to beat Everton is let them have possession in ineffective areas and put them under pressure in effective areas by playing a defensive high line.

This is done by being confident that Everton's attack is blunt, that Sigurdsson can be made anonymous, that Gomes can be pressurized out of possession and that Davis will lose possession. This also has the effect of pinning the right- and left-backs back. Richarlison is only effective if he can attack the ball or have an effective ball to run on to.

The outcome was an assured two or three goals for Bournemouth. The latter likely given the known Pickford stats of at least one clanger per game. Another factor is a lack of fitness for some players.

So effective was Bournemouth at this game plan that, if it hadn't been for the threat posed by Kean, the result could have been even worse.

The defense has improved, though unsupported by midfield in this game and Branthwaite is a discovery. The midfield is hopeless in its present form, with questions over the ability and character of all the players in it, with the exception of Gordon. The forward line is still starved of effective final third play.

At least with Kean leading the attack it had a recognizable shape too it, which quickly evaporated once he was subbed, which was the right thing to do since Kean had not played a full game all season.

Ancelotti even with his experience will take a further two years to sort Everton out.

Derek Taylor
209 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:23:14
You have to be at least in your 30s to recall the excitement of Everton winning more than a corner. Like it or lump it, meaningful stats go back only to the birth of the Premier League and that was almost thirty years ago. The FA Cup stands for nothing and the so-called League trophy less than that.

Surveying my own extended family, scoucers all, only my youngest great grandkid deigns to wear the blue and white scarf I bought him at birth. He's only five now so by no means a convinced Evertonian!

We are an old-fashioned, unsuccessful club, lucky to have avoided the relegation most similar teams have suffered. My son says we should thank Uncle Bill for that. Just shows what he knows about it!

Enjoy what's left of summer and thanks for the companionship over the years. I doubt I shall be back,


Anthony Murphy
210 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:28:55
I have a very uneasy feeling about our situation. All I will say at this point is that I think we are in danger of presuming all will be okay because we have a manager with an amazing track record. Honestly, we need to wake up.

Ancelotti came to Everton because he was offered the kind of money he simply couldn't turn down – he has nothing to prove. Can he turn it around? Who the fuck knows, but one thing I do know is that if he can't, we will be in real trouble and he will disappear and not look back once.

We need to stop presuming his past success will automatically work for us. As always, let's be patient, let's give him time and funding, but let's also fold away the Carlo Fantastico banner for now until he is responsible for something worth admiring with Everton – not past glories.

Graham Hammond
211 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:32:43
Mike # 202, Strikers generally tend to earn more than defenders in Premier League football but I take the point you are making about what they earn and what they contribute to the cause.

In defence of the club, Calvert-Lewin was doing better earlier on in the season and I think his pay increase and a new contract were designed to keep him at the club and ward off the attention of other (potentially) interested parties which makes sense even though I am not particularly a fan of the player or his qualities and attributes.

My big worry going forward is Richarlison and our ability to keep him at the club and his current importance to the team, even if we can keep him in the coming weeks, where would we be if he picked up a bad injury next season?

I would have liked to have seen even more of Moise Keen over the last few weeks but sadly we have had to endure Calvert-Lewin looking jaded, disinterested and basically not up for it. Let's face it though, he has not been alone.

Phil Lewis
212 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:39:41
Another dismal display. These days it's harder to make a case for who we should actually keep! As the majority deserve to be shown the door. Where do we start?

For me it is obvious and has been since I first laid eyes on Jordan Pickford. Another howler today. He is a total liability. I have said several times on TW, sell him now, as soon we will be unable to give him away.

If Ancelotti cannot see his flaws, or is compelled to retain him for contractual reasons, then at least make contingency plans in time for next season and recruit an experienced solid dependable keeper. Every successful team builds from the back starting with the most important position, goalkeeper.

Surely there are plenty to choose from for a nominal fee. In the short term, the likes of Ben Foster at 37 years old could probably be secured from relegated Watford on a 12-month deal for next to nothing. Even at this late stage of his career he's a damn sight better keeper than Pickford.

Personally I don't believe Pickford to be capable of improvement, but who knows, signing a proven keeper could be the kick up the arse he needs. The fact that he continues to be an automatic choice, regardless of abysmal performances, is getting beyond a joke. With his idiotic manic grin, becoming a trademark of his mistakes, he's laughing all the way to the bank!

Jay Harris
213 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:43:11
I'll go further than that Jerome.

All teams know if they mark or kick Richarlison out of the game we have nobody else who can score.

No-one in midfield or on the wing can score goals. That, together with toothless defending in midfield, is the hub of our problem.

John Raftery
214 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:46:53
Andy (207),

Your comments about Pickford are spot on. I have seen every keeper we have had from Gordon West to the current incumbent. Pickford is one of the worst I have seen, arguably worse than the likes of David Lawson and Dai Davies.

With Pickford, we are not talking about a temporary spell of bad form. He has been very poor since he returned from the World Cup two years ago. A priority in the next 6 weeks must be to find a reliable replacement.

Mike Keating
215 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:49:22
Spot on Sam @ 198

“Extraordinary really to have somehow spent so much money making us worse.“

I was hoping Bournemouth would hang on and stay up. I couldn't even be arsed to watch this pile of shite. Ancelotti has got a mountain to shift.

Sean Kelly
216 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:49:23
How can Mina, Mr Brittle Bones – and Bernard, Mr Soft each earn £130k per week; nearly as much as Baines and Coleman combined £65k + £70k = £135k per week. Who in god's name sanctioned that? Whoever it was should be fucked off out of this club and sectioned. Total madness.
Kieran Kinsella
217 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:49:38
Burnley and Wolves were above us the past two seasons. Burnley have one Everton-like contract: Danny Drinkwater, who'd fit right in at Goodson. He's on £100k a week; two players are on £50k and the rest less.

Wolves have two earning £100k, one £60k and the rest £50k or below. £50k at Everton is like minimum wage, and we have a whole squad of deadbeats like Danny Drinkwater.

Jamie Crowley
218 Posted 26/07/2020 at 23:54:12
Patrick MacFarlane -

Bernard Anicio Caldeira Duarte £120,000
Yerry Mina £120,000
Andre Gomes £112,212
Jordan Pickford £100,000
Gylfi Sigurdsson £100,000
Theo Walcott £100,000


There's your issue!! The rest of the squad aren't killing us financially, they're paid a reasonable wage by Premier League standards.

I didn't even realize we pay that much in wages for Bernard. Insanity.

I think Theo and Gylfi have only a year left on their contract? I'd definitely buy their contracts out. I really would. I'd sell Jordan as well. Not enough value for that kind of money. Someone will take Jordan.

Colin Glassar
219 Posted 26/07/2020 at 00:05:37
Patrick 201, That list is shocking
Max Murphy
220 Posted 26/07/2020 at 00:18:16
Repetitive I know, but we have sunk to the absolute depths of disgusting rubbish. I have called for this club to be relegated on many occasions. We do not deserve to be in the Premier League. No one ever responds. Do they agree now???

For those on this site who were salivating after the Sheffield United fluke win (this can happen in life), where do you stand now? You repeatedly insist Ancelotti needs more time, you're only fooling yourselves. He will change nothing.

Bournemouth at home????!!!! Nothing will change. We are a disaster, and an embarrassment to fans, an embarrassment to the city, and an embarrassment to football itself. You're dead, Everton.

Tony Everan
221 Posted 27/07/2020 at 00:24:36
Graham 212

You are right to be worried about Richarlison. If the likes of Mbappe, Neymar etc make a move , the £100M + merry go round will start. Richarlison will be targeted.

He is under contract and Carlo hasn't signed a player yet, so he will be told to trust Carlo to turn us around next season and things will be very different. I don't think he will agitate for a move if he can see big changes and the necessary signings happening.

This transfer window has massive implications for the club, one way or another.

Justin Doone
222 Posted 26/07/2020 at 01:29:16
Lot's of differing opinions on player performance so I'll simply say Branthwaite and Kean were our 2 best players.

Richarlison, imo is our only top class player but he's looked peeved the last few games. Is he, in his own head, off somewhere else or just shattered?

I don't know what Carlo is expecting or demands players to do and to know their roles but the last lot of subs destroyed us. We had no game plan that I could tell after that.

Maybe he was just going easy on them so they could have a bit if fun, must have forgot that winning is always better mentally.

Before transfers, I expect a top coach to get more out of the players and demand more running and fight. We have looked better defensively despite the farting around at the back.

The hardest truth is we are still slow and clueless in possession going forward.

So my concern is Carlo. Is he just experimenting or have we seen all he can do? For an experienced Premier League winning manager, he hasn't had the impact I had hoped for.

Although I can understand the benefits from playing out from the back I'm surprised we do it so often as we are poor at it.

We don't have a Hazard, Lampard or Drogba to turn too. It should be a very interesting transfer window which may tell us who's really in charge and what demands are being met.

An average C- school report from me so far.

Gavin Johnson
223 Posted 27/07/2020 at 01:59:33
It's grim to see how we've wasted so much money. We have to get it right with acquisitions this window. If we do with the incoming 3 first teamers, there is going to be an upturn but we have to be realistic in that it might just be a top half finish, but again that's based on Brands & Ancelotti getting it right with incomings.

We then build on that with the likes of Bolasie, Walcott, Sandro, Pennington, Dowell and Connolly being out of contract next summer and again bringing in 2-3 quality players.

Besides from waiting for pIayer contracts to run down, Brands is also going to have to move on at least 2-3 of the deadwood players on this window. There's plenty of choice between Sigurdsson, Delph, Davies, Walcott, Bernard, Tosun and Pickford, and those are just the names of the players I particularly dislike. I know there's a few more players other posters would add to that list.

Out of the aforementioned, I really hope we mange to offload Sigurdsson this window. He is the poster boy for everything that's gone wrong in the transfer market under Moshiri. His large wages, and him offering nothing in a 4-4-2 mean he has no future at the club. We know that, the club knows that, and he will know that. Let's hope he does the right thing and goes to another club for less money rather than endure another season of purgatory with us.

I'm sure his agent will be looking at there will be some offers, but it will be at a significant loss to him and us practically giving him away. Is he going to move to another club for less money though?

I don't know what else to add other than it's grim and going to be a very big window to just build the foundations for success, so in other words, it's ground zero, lads.


Jim Harrison
224 Posted 27/07/2020 at 02:04:54
Pickford needs canning. I have generally been of the mind that he was having a slump, but too often he is beaten too easily. He's unlikely to be sold, because of his cost, but if a suitable veteran could be found to give Jordan a season on the bench to try and reboot it maybe helpful

Nothing on display yesterday changed anything else for me. Gomes could be a key player, as long as he gets a couple of supporting players around him. We need a right back.

Bernard should be cashed in on. Signed for free. Big wages. Looks great one game in 5, and even that is being generous.

Graham Hammond
225 Posted 27/07/2020 at 02:07:50
Tony @ 222,

I think you are right in what you say, I do not think Richarlison will agitate for a move. That said, if one of the really big boys comes in for him before we show a bit of ambition and strengthen ourselves (as we need to do) then we have a big problem.

If I was Richarlison, I would not be overly impressed or pleased with the players I currently have around me and would want things to be addressed swiftly in the coming weeks to keep me happy.

No decent player worth his salt wants to be in a team with players of lesser ability and just as importantly, with players lacking desire and a will to win and succeed. Apathy is not acceptable for Everton or when wearing the blue shirt.

Lester Yip
226 Posted 27/07/2020 at 02:39:31
My thoughts and observations:

1) Baines, you'll be missed. A quiet, loyal and consistent professional that the team can count on. Best full-backs for a very long time. One of the best buy by Moyes.

2) Kean had a good game. Higher work-rate and showed how good he can became. It seems to be an easy tap-in goal but I wouldn't be surprised our other forwards might have been 2 steps away, make a desperate lounge and just missed the cross. It shows he knows where to position. Have high hopes on him to get better next season.

3) Pickford got a lot of criticism. The 3rd goal could have done better. The first two can't really do much for any goalkeeper. But he pulled off a 1 v 1 save at 8' 52", and another save at 47' 21" both attempted by Wilson. So overall I feel it's a reasonable performance. I wouldn't mind if we can raise some funds by selling him and replace with an older, stable head. It would be great if we can find another Nigel Martyn.

4) I know people get frustrated and want to sack most of the first-teamers that we know it won't happen. I agree with Jamie (#47) if we can find 2 good replacements for midfield this transfer window, it would be a very good outcome. We can't afford to have another mistake in this coming appointment. So I can see why names like Højbjerg start linking with us.

5) Our neighbour took a few seasons to buy off players from Southampton to slowly transform the team. The final touch is the big buck moves for goalkeeper and centre-back. I will give Carlo time to get it fixed.

Kieran Kinsella
227 Posted 27/07/2020 at 03:15:06
Lester,

The problem is there is never a guarantee someone will make it. But somehow the RS struck gold and got it 100 percent right with Van Dijk and Allison. If either of them had been a Kepa or David Luis they wouldn't have won the league. But miraculously they took their one shot, blew their money and got it absolutely right. That very rarely happens.

Graham Hammond
228 Posted 27/07/2020 at 03:44:53
Kieran 228,

We are probably going to be limited going forward (unless Richarlison is sold) as to how much we can spend on one individual player. Brands basically said as much, telling us all that we cannot compete for players in the £60M bracket.

Stupid in my opinion because even if it were true I would never advocate telling the world that you cannot compete at the top table, it simply puts players off and marks you down as a club lacking ambition.

What sticks in my throat, are the stupid signings we have made. Sigurdsson, for example, was never a wise or well thought out purchase. Not all signings need to be top dollar. On the day we have lost Leighton Baines it just reminds me why the hell did we not go in for Robertson when he was at Hull? I despair.

It was bloody obvious what qualities he had and what he would bring to his next club and for what, £8M. When I think of all those responsible for bringing in 'talent' over the last few years at Everton it makes me livid.

The RS got their recruitment right in recent times, I don't think we could have got ours more badly wrong if we tried.

Kieran Kinsella
229 Posted 27/07/2020 at 04:14:59
Graham,

Good point. As I recall, Robertson was one linked with us before the RS move. Ideally you get a few Van Dijks for big money, some Cahills, and a couple of Colemans on the cheap.

But, based on our recent record, I could see us going in for Chris Woods and Jesse Lingard at £50 million each. Prove me wrong, Marcel.

Steve Brown
230 Posted 27/07/2020 at 05:22:47
A pea-heart performance from a demotivated squad. The only upside is some of them have surely ensured their exit this summer.

The only bright spot in the game was to see Kean show some of the qualities we hoped for when we signed him. He was alert to the movement around him, showed good link-up play and was pacey and physical. Apart from that? Baines was excellent when he came on. What a player he has been. It is so sad to see him retire as he could do a good job for most Premier League clubs right now.

The midfield was abysmal to a man yesterday - 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 it doesn't matter as this group are poor in every tactical set up. Our priority is a central midfielder and central defensive midfielder as we cannot rely on Gomes or Gbamin properly returning from their serious injuries. Ideally, we need a centre back with pace to play a higher line. That would mean selling Keane or Mina to finance it but it is essential if our high press is to work. Branthwaite looks a great prospect but he needs time to develop, probably on loan as we did with Mason.

And we have one saleable asset that we should cash in on this summer to generate funds for the rebuild ahead - Pickford. He is a great shot-stopper on his day but his attitude is atrocious and his positional play poor. He swallowed the adulation after the last world cup whole and his game has not improved an inch since. If Chelsea or Man Utd come calling, then sell!

Then it is the next phase of the clear out, provided we can do it. Sigurdsson, Walcott, Bolasie, Besic and Sandro all need to be cleared off the wage bill. But who would take any of them?

Big job ahead for Carlo!

Phil Smith
231 Posted 27/07/2020 at 05:57:00
A lot on here saying that Keane is rubbish and has to go. Not sure what games you've been watching recently, but he's been an absolute rock for us of late.

Midfield is a total shambles and don't get me started on flappy in net. Defence has been the only positive since Carlo took over.

How on earth did Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison get 13 goals each in the Premier League with that mess behind as support. Did any midfielder score more than 2???

Darren Hind
232 Posted 27/07/2020 at 06:12:12
"Ancelotti has a massive task ahead of him and I don't envy him as I feel a growing section on TW are beginning to turn"

On TW ???.. Only on TW ???

Come on. We all know how this film goes, We've seen it often enough

Just a recap: Moshiri goes out and gets HIS man. He thinks he has done a great job. Why ? Because the overwhelming majority of the fan base tell him so. The new manager thinks he's died and gone to heaven. He earns beyond his wildest and is forgiven for everything. There is no accountability. He's on easy street as long as he can get us a place higher than the useless fecker before him.

After a window (the one which was going to cure all our ills), we are still stinking the place out. Still we forgive. Still we accept. Still we send the owner a very clear message that we are very happy with his choice. "We just need another window... or four"

After while, somebody notices the Emperor is not wearing any clobber. He calls him out. Others begin to notice this too. Before you know it the entire fan base is singing "The King is in the all together!" We then follow that up with a few hearty verses of "Moshiri is a Cheshire cat".

Mike Gaynes
233 Posted 27/07/2020 at 06:38:50
To all those calling for Pickford's replacement, I ask the same question I always ask... and replace him with who?

Remember, it must be somebody better than Pickford, who makes fewer mistakes, whom we can afford, who would actually want to come to Everton. (And no, that doesn't include Dean Henderson, so forget it.)

And to all those insisting that our views here on TW make a difference to the club, I ask the same question I always ask... are you kidding? This is a chat board, folks. A chat board. The only people who read our comments are us. There is nobody at the club monitoring our opinions. Nobody. Okay?

Paul Tran
234 Posted 27/07/2020 at 06:56:18
Mike, I'd tell Brands to find a fee for Pickford. I'd head down to Southampton and tell Fraser Forster well pay him slightly less than what Celtic refused to. For the next 2-3 years we'd have a decent, experienced keeper with presence and gravitas who would settle the back four.

Next!

Darren Hind
235 Posted 27/07/2020 at 07:03:29
We could always check and see if Andy Crooks's late mother-in-law's next-door neighbour is available?

Failing that, Rob Hal is kicking his heels since they wouldn't let him go the match. We might be able to afford him?

Karl Meighan
236 Posted 27/07/2020 at 07:11:46
Well, for a start, they should never have bought Pickford; they should have offered Burnley a bit more and took both Keane and Heaton the Villa Keeper who is injured at the minute. It would have cost less and saved points.

I don't dislike Pickford and believe he has lots of improvement in him and there are areas that need improving far more.

Let's hope Carlo still has friends at Chelsea, they have about a dozen midfielders all better than we have.

Dick Fearon
237 Posted 27/07/2020 at 07:16:17
Have we employed another flop at the top. Look across the park and see Klopp transforming average outfield players into world beaters. From Van Dijk to Firmino and everyone in between, he has them playing out of their skin.

I cannot point to a regular first teamer of ours and say any aspect of his game has improved under Ancelotti.

Danny Broderick
238 Posted 27/07/2020 at 07:18:38
Bournemouth's young goalkeeper, Ramsdale, looks like he has got potential. Could be one to consider if we let Pickford go, and he would definitely be a realistic target and within our price range.

There comes a time when you have to say enough is enough with certain players. That may be a goalkeeper or defender consistently being at fault for goals, a midfielder not creating enough or tackling enough, or a striker not scoring enough.

Pickford is definitely in the category of players who are underperforming and basically not doing their job well enough.

I've just checked his Premier League stats – in 145 games, he has conceded 216 goals. It's simply way too much. He's had 37 clean sheets in that time, so he does have his good days. But it's just too easy to score past him.

Of course, he played in a dreadful Sunderland team. But as bad as our team has been at times over the last few seasons, this season is our lowest finish. Let's say we have been a mid-table team - he is still conceding on average way more than a goal a game. Yesterday was a case in point. For every great save, you are wondering when the next mistake is going to be made.

He's got ability, but the manager will have to either back him or sack him this summer. We can't afford to have a keeper who is best and frequently described as ‘erratic'.

Paul Swan
239 Posted 27/07/2020 at 07:29:47
As I asked on the Live Forum yesterday, name one player Ancelotti has improved in this Everton squad? Surely even one or two of this bunch of no hopers must have woken up and thought one of two things; right I'm in the last chance saloon here and I must impress this guy or right, we have a world class manager here, just work hard follow his advice and the rest will follow.

But no. We see the same poor decision making, the lack of basic technical ability and above all a complete lack of motivation and heart. They get away with it game after game.

Take a look at any of the behind the scenes Everton official video of this team arriving at the ground before any matches. One common theme from each which jumps out at me is the lack of communication, togetherness and, god forbid, even humour or joking amongst the squad. They seem to be a gang of nervous, dour individuals with no cohesion or team spirit.

This has not changed under Ancelotti, in fact it has probably got worse. They look like frightened boys playing in the men's league. Take away the myth that it is the crowd getting on their back which leads to this – that has been completely blown out of the water now.

I am not saying Ancelotti is not a great manager but, history tells us that timing in football cannot be underestimated. There is the right man at the right time which the RS have stumbled on currently and, I have to say it and risk being slaughtered, we had in the Moyes era given the club's position. But equally there is the wrong man at the right time which we have witnessed in abundance for too many seasons now.

There is also the wrong man at the wrong time and as next season is already knocking at the door, the malaise we are in at the moment means one or two signings are not going to change things around as most believe will happen. My biggest fear is that Carlo Ancelotti is part of the problem at this club and not the solution.

Tony Twist
240 Posted 27/07/2020 at 07:37:07
To be honest I don't think Pickford is the problem. Having said that if we were offered a swap deal with say Pope then I would jump at the opportunity.

I think we are quite similar to the RS of a few years ago were they require two players I think we need three. Two strong, fast box-to-box central midfielders and a right-winger that is a threat with goals in him then we will be there or thereabouts.

However, I have been thinking this for ten years plus now and we just don't get the right players. There are things we have to sort out without spending a fortune and that is reducing injuries to virtually nothing, improving the fitness of the team, improving their mental strength and the biggy, getting them playing as a compact in defence, incisive in attack football team.

There is an awful lot there that will make us stronger without spending fortunes. Now is the time to nurture and grow that belief before what stars we have will move on.

Mike Gaynes
241 Posted 27/07/2020 at 07:42:30
Paul #240, I'll give you four. Keane, Digne, Holgate and Sidibe all have played better, both individually and collectively, under Carlo than they did under Silva last fall. And our overall defensive performance reflects it.

Holgate in particular stepped up his performance level dramatically in January/February, and Keane has been playing the best football of his life since the restart in June.

We are a significantly better club defensively under Carlo.

Chris Hockenhull
242 Posted 27/07/2020 at 07:50:27
Mike (234),

May I state to you that actually there are spies in the camp looking at what is said on this site and things put on here DO go back to the club.

I won't go further on that but you'll have to trust me.

Tony Abrahams
243 Posted 27/07/2020 at 07:54:12
Let's think about this... No let's really think about this... I mean not a little bit, we really need to think a lot more.

It's definitely the manager's fault, because the recruitment over the last few years has been brilliant. It's definitely the manager's fault, because the players are that good they could play in slippers. It's definitely the manager's fault, because anyone with half a brain could transform us.

Duncan did it, thank fuck, the players could just about run by the end of his short spell in charge, but it showed us the way forward, and is definitely another reason why it's all the manager's fault.

Jerome Shields
244 Posted 27/07/2020 at 08:17:29
Jay #214,

Totally agree. You could put the kettle on for what the opposition tactics will be with, against this squad of players.

Ancelotti could only build the defence and hope for the best, especially with Pickford in goal. Kean offered an alternative to Richarlison, but even he needs a reasonable supply. The opposition could still mark Richarlison with the same attention knowing this.

I also blame the actual fitness of the squad which is unduly influenced by recovery regimes set out by Medical Services, which suits certain players.

It also was obvious to me especially in the case of Walcott and Gomes that they were avoiding injury.

Darren Hind
245 Posted 27/07/2020 at 08:24:32
Tony

You forgot to say it is definitely the manager's fault for playing the ugliest football in the league.

What you cant blame the manager for is, fans who haven't worked out the difference between defending better and defending in greater numbers.

I`m just glad the wily old fox wasn't here earlier. The speed with which other managers have sussed his one-dimensional outlook has been alarming. I`m sick to death of being played off the park by players who would never get near this club.

Terry McLavey
246 Posted 27/07/2020 at 08:27:54
Beaten at home by a relegated club, the lowest point in our history, It has to be one of them? We occasionally have glimpses of a resurgence that fade as quickly as they arrive.

How many managers have we had that can't mold this shower of mercenaries into a unit.

I've supported this club for 60 years and have never gone into a match thinking we'd lose, now I never expect to win let alone score.Shame on you Everton, you are such a disappointment to your very loyal fans.

Martin Mason
247 Posted 27/07/2020 at 08:34:15
Today I'm going to take a step that I never thought possible. I'm going to stop being an Everton supporter and decouple all of the emotional attachment that entails including visiting web sites and watching them in any form. I may stretch this to cover all soccer.

Best wishes to all of you.

Joe McMahon
248 Posted 27/07/2020 at 08:42:31
Mike @242, Pickford certainly isn't in that small group. He is just awful. The only occasion we keep a clean sheet is when he doesn't have anything to do. I'm sure any other keeper would have us with a better goal difference and a few more points. The 3rd Bournemouth goal is just classic Pickford.
Tony Abrahams
249 Posted 27/07/2020 at 08:42:52
Best wishes to you, Martin, and completely understandable, mate.

It's not often I've agreed with you on these pages, but reading your posts over the years, I often think that you are definitely someone I'd have genuinely liked to meet at an Everton game one day. Life is full of contradictions, so I hope Everton can improve and rein you back in, Martin!

Tony Abrahams
250 Posted 27/07/2020 at 08:46:42
Fair points, Darren, maybe Ancelotti is confused that a club of Everton's standard, has got so many of the players you mention actually wearing blue shirts.
Robert Tressell
251 Posted 27/07/2020 at 08:49:58
Some perspective. We've been sliding down the table in aimless fashion for a while. We have had a lousy recruitment & development strategy. We've had a mixed bag of managers who were not the right man for the moment.

We've therefore finished a poor season with a whimper. Albeit, the emergence of Calvert-Lewin, Holgate, Branthwaite and Gordon as proper first-team players and a bit of promise about Kean.

Yes, the squad is a mess and there's something wrong with moral. But the noises being made are encouraging. There will be no overhaul. There will be 2 or 3 strategic signings plus some for the U-23s. That will improve us.

Next season we will be in transition still. The objective will be top 6 2 and we will get there by grinding it out. Carlo has shown he can do that even with this shower. With a better first 11, he will be quietly confident.

The following season we lose a fair bit of deadwood in free transfers. We go again with the same strategy. Carlo himself has said 'evolution, not revolution'.

We set our sights higher and try to nick 4th or try to win the Europa League (Martinez 's strategy).

The football will not be glamorous until we have a first 11 with suitability talented players.

If we try to jump straight to Champions league we will fall short and waste money. Stick with Carlo while he builds something.

Darren Hind
252 Posted 27/07/2020 at 08:58:10
Derek @210

You'll be back.

If you want a glimpse at your future, I suggest you You-tube the Al Pacino scene from The God father.

"Just when I thought I was out... They pulled me back in"

That applies to you too, Martin. I`ve lost count of the number of people who`ve told me they are turning their backs forever on this club. None of them have managed to do it.

Robert Tressell
253 Posted 27/07/2020 at 09:11:29
Joe at 249 (and various others).

I agree re Pickford: 3rd goal was poor. However, I would describe his one-on-one save as pretty incredible.

I'm not expecting an upgrade this season.

Julian Exshaw
254 Posted 27/07/2020 at 09:19:45
As there was so much going on yesterday, the national media, by and large, chose to ignore our pathetic display. Leighton Baines got all the plaudits, and rightly so.

I think the danger is that we have assumed with all Ancelotti's experience and class that he would be the answer to our prayers. Someone used a restaurant analogy yesterday which I find summarises the situation:

Ancelotti is our Michelin chef, used to working with the finest ingredients, quality Argentinian steak and Italy's finest wines. Suddenly he finds himself trying to serve up gourmet food with frozen beefburgers and oven chips!

My point is that we are expecting miracles from the poor man but what can he do with this squad? His frustration is there for all to see.

What kills us as fans is the notion of having to have patience yet again, the eternal wait, the eternal hope for better days. It seems as far away as ever.

Kenny Smith
255 Posted 27/07/2020 at 09:25:47
Disgraceful. I know Bournemouth were fighting for their lives but come on there's no excuse for that performance at all.

We are rotten from the back to the front. We have zero spine to the team and are gutless. You couldn't give some of those players away.

I don't know where we go from here but we're in real danger of finishing a lot lower than 12th next season if we continue with this lot. The vast majority of that starting line up are Championship at best and that's where they belong.

Massive 7 weeks ahead for Brands.

Jason Li
256 Posted 27/07/2020 at 09:36:31
One major positive... no new injuries!

Shop door is open, SALE NOW ON.

(Plus we can throw in a Delph or Sandro for you too if you're the first buyer)

Anthony Murphy
257 Posted 27/07/2020 at 09:43:38
Julian, I agree, but if all you have is frozen beef burgers and chips, you serve your customer beef burger and chips – maybe show your culinary skills by adding a tasty relish and a side salad.

We are being served dogshit sandwiches.

Brent Stephens
258 Posted 27/07/2020 at 09:46:53
Julian #255 "Ancelotti is our Michelin chef, used to working with the finest ingredients, quality Argentinian steak and Italy's finest wines. Suddenly he finds himself trying to serve up gourmet food with frozen beefburgers and oven chips!"

Whoever came up with that, Julian, knows his onions. Lovely analogy. And just think of what the buyer previously paid for some of those beefburgers and chips at Paddy's Market. Anyway, the kitchen will hopefully be restocked and we'll see what happens after that.

Tony Everan
259 Posted 27/07/2020 at 09:48:36
Martin! 248

Give Carlo a chance to offload some players and get 4 or 5 of his own choices in. (There will be 2 or 3 major signings but there will be a couple more than that through loans or player trades)

It's very hard to imagine, I know, but it is possible we will be a much more organised outfit next season as “Carlo's team” starts to emerge from the ashes.

Keep the faith.

Robert Tressell
260 Posted 27/07/2020 at 09:51:04
It took Jurgen a while to sort out the mess across the park. And that was after Brenda had, in fairness, done a cracking job reinvigorating a very stale side.

Next season could be very dull and infuriating. However, we should be there or thereabouts for 6th.

Ken Kneale
261 Posted 27/07/2020 at 09:57:34
Robert,

Liverpool were nowhere near in the desperate state we are in with characterless players who have seen off manager after manager without any personal culpability.

This club has had the lifeblood sucked out of it and that seems to pervade at all levels of the set up from boardroom down.

Patrick McFarlane
262 Posted 27/07/2020 at 10:38:48
Liverpool in a mess, when did that happen? That club hasn't finished lower than 8th place since they were promoted nearly 60 years ago. During that time they've never accumulated less than 50 points in a single season. Of course, as local rivals, we compare ourselves to them all of the time, but it isn't useful to us, in fact, it's probably counter-productive.

I don't know how we can turn Everton's fortunes around but perhaps we should try and emulate the other lot in one significant way - by ensuring that all of the focus of all the various departments is on the first team and the club adopts an attitude that every result matters. As fans, we can also treat any and every opponent with respect as beating the so-called smaller teams has the same points value as beating the big guns.

The silence from our leaders is deafening, but we'll probably hear next week, what great fans we are and how loyal we are when many of us would prefer to hear what great players we have and how dedicated they are - that might take another few years to hear though.


Julian Exshaw
263 Posted 27/07/2020 at 10:40:49
Brent, it was someone who mentioned McDonalds. I just put an extra spin on it! I am in no way anti-beefburgers or oven chips incidentally.

You and Anthony @258 are right though. There must be some initiative from the manager even with the poorest selection provided by others. Big window ahead.

Joe McMahon
264 Posted 27/07/2020 at 10:45:44
Robert, Liverpool haven't been in a mess since the 60s. Where did that come from? Just have a look at their trophy haul since our FA Cup win 25 years ago.
Brent Stephens
265 Posted 27/07/2020 at 10:50:03
Julian #264, "I am in no way anti beefburgers or oven chips incidentally."

Me too, Julian; one of my weaknesses! Except when the "beefburgers and oven chips" are players! And I'm not paying £15 for a lousy burger just because it's got a bit of relish and curled-up lettuce!

Brent Stephens
266 Posted 27/07/2020 at 10:53:51
Joe, I don't think Robert said the rs have been in a mess since the 60s. The reference to the 60s seems to have been added by Patrick. Having said that, it's many decades since that lot were in a mess.
Patrick McFarlane
267 Posted 27/07/2020 at 10:58:20
Brent #267,

I think Joe was agreeing with my statement – that the other lot haven't been in a mess at all for nigh on 60 years.

Brent Stephens
268 Posted 27/07/2020 at 11:01:33
Patrick, that's the way I read Joe's intention. It just seemed to have implied something Robert hadn't said?
Lenny Kingman
269 Posted 27/07/2020 at 11:02:07
We are a significantly better club defensively under Carlo.

Yesterday's result doesn't suggest that. Beaten easily by a team that have found themselves deservedly down with the dead men at a lower level. The years ahead in all departments look grim indeed,

Derek Moore
270 Posted 27/07/2020 at 11:07:16
Just watched it on catch-up. Unacceptable really.

One thing that was very obvious was how much we need our home support allowed back in the ground. We've long been a terrible away team – 38 points taken from our last 38 away league games. Without home support, Everton now look like the away at team at Goodison!

We drew 1-1 against Villa, Southampton and got deservedly hammered 3-1 right there. Two points from a possible nine at home, and frankly lucky to have that many.

I'm sure the ownership and management cannot and will not be happy with that performance. As many of the posters here through their own workplace experience would guess, there seems to be a glaring lack of accountability at all levels. I'm grateful to whomever pointed out that Moshiri is starting to look like Tony Fernandez at QPR. I had that fear when that crook Allardyce was appointed – who allowed him to buy Tosun and Walcott? – and looking at the quite frankly ridiculous wage bill I'm even further convinced. This bloke will eventually grow sick of quite literally setting fire to money.

But set fire to money he must because we're dreadful. Almost uniformly so. Been told for the three years he's been here that Pickford is young, and could still improve. To my eye, he's not any better than the day he got here, still prone to enormous lapses of concentration. Walcott is who we thought he is. Sigurdsson has made a mockery of the fee we paid for him. And on it goes.

We are so devoid of any pace in the defense or midfield and teams have sussed it. We essentially have to invite teams onto us when they're in possession to hide Keane, and with the ball we have few options to break down an opposition that works to get back. That's why set-pieces are so important for us.

You can't win games if you can't score goals. The top six all scored 60+ times this season, the big two scored 187 combined! We scored 44. To make any progress, Ancelotti will need to solve this by creating more chances or getting someone lethal to finish the limited number we fashion (or preferably both).

Kean looked so sharp – the only real positive from today – that it has me puzzled why we haven't seen more of him. He should be part of the answer.

Bainesy will be missed but I can't blame him for wanting to move on really. His departure is a sad end to an utterly forgettable season.

Joe McMahon
271 Posted 27/07/2020 at 11:10:18
Guys, just to clarify, yes, I was trying to illustrate in no way shape or form could Everton's years of mismanagement and mistakes be compared to our trophy-winning neighbours.
Kevin Molloy
272 Posted 27/07/2020 at 11:12:05
We seem to be reaching the status of pariah club in the eyes of the match-going neutral. The amount of money we have spent is starting to attract attention when coupled with these gutless shithouse displays.

"What is the point of Everton? Why don't they just merge with Accrington Stanley" are two of the more printable comments.

Paul Joyce the match reporter designated to cover the blues for the MSM finishes off his match report with "It's just a shame Bournemouth couldn't play them every week."

Brian Harrison
273 Posted 27/07/2020 at 11:17:10
Well, if there is a football God, he certainly has a perverse sense of humour when it comes to Everton. We have spent more time in the top flight than practically any other club yet, as for collecting trophies, we have to have to be of a certain age to have seen us win the league, and our FA Cup victory has disappeared into the long and distant past.

We have been let down so often that we now accept mediocrity as the new norm, in fact we no longer expect to win a trophy. Playing away means if it's a top-6 club, we will get nothing, and on a good day might get a draw with one of the bottom half of the league.

Now you would think that would mean fewer fans going to the game, and given our away record, it would hardly be worth anyone buying a ticket. But nothing could be further from the truth: we even have a waiting list for season tickets, and our full away allocation is taken for every game. So maybe we have become so used to failure, that we expect nothing less.

It's no wonder we sing "If you know your history" because we have won nothing in the last 25 years, how long can our long-suffering fans keep selling out Goodison Park? Surely there must come a time when we as fans say enough is enough.

I have indoctrinated both my sons into this awful cult and, for the last few years, my grandson has also fallen foul to joining us. I have said before that following Everton of late is like being a heroin addict: you know it's doing you no good but you just can't stop yourself. I have had a season ticket for over 50 years... you would think I am old and wise enough to say "Do yourself a favour and give up this habit" but I just can't. At least heroin addicts have clinics they can go to for help, maybe our charitable organisation could have counselling for effected fans who can't give up the habit.

Paul Burns
274 Posted 27/07/2020 at 12:35:59
The whole club are amateurish, the board are in a coma, there is no plan A never mind any others, there are players not up to the standard required at this level getting games under multiple managers, they don't even look fit.

Yet if we had a game next week, fans would be on here juggling the same group of deadbeats into a different shape and, somehow, expecting different results.

Ancelotti was a mistake, its a retirement gig for him but, fairs fair, a genius couldn't get a tune out of that rabble.

A new stadium is not going to change the total lack of ambition and professionalism witnessed during the last 2 decades at Goodison, the present regime are reminiscent of one of those third world group of lunatics running banana republics into the ground for their own ends the world over.

The only way anything will drag us out of this Groundhog Day nightmare of false dawns is a total revolution, some bloodletting as the old guard are finally dragged out screaming from their ivory tower and a proper, new, professional management team transform the club and remove the dead hand of Kenwright once and for all, he's done enough damage and turned too many people's lives to misery with his bullshit for too long.

Liam Reilly
275 Posted 27/07/2020 at 12:42:56
Patrick #201,

Bernard Anicio Caldeira Duarte £120,000
Yerry Mina £120,000
Andre Gomes £112,212
Jordan Pickford £100,000
Gylfi Sigurdsson £100,000
Theo Walcott £100,000
Richarlison de Andrade £90,000
Lucas Digne £90,000
Fabian Delph £80,000

This deserves its own thread. If this is true and the 'Brazilian Wizard' is our highest-paid player, then we are seriously in shitsville.

Of those 9 top paid players, it's only Richarlison and Digne who are good value. Jury's out on Gomes because of the injury, but the rest are just going to be impossible to get shot of.

Laurie Hartley
276 Posted 27/07/2020 at 12:59:09
Only watched the first half of the game on Optus – that was all I could take really. Sad to say that is the beauty of not getting up in the middle of the night anymore

My verdict on the situation – Moshiri has to make Carlo king in this transfer window. He will buy the two midfielders he needs.

Then it's all on him. If he can't make it work after that, it doesn't bear thinking about.

Chris Perry
277 Posted 27/07/2020 at 13:02:56
We have a truckload of shite to dump over the summer, that is more than clear for anyone, even those wearing blue-tinted specs. The fault lies at the Heart of the club, we have too many never has-beens on the coaching side and involved in the club.

But the biggest issue is Kenwright. This buffoon allowed Moyes to create an over-aged squad, which Martinez inherited then filled with ex-Wigan crap, followed by Koeman who simply was like a kid in a sweet shop, bought too many of the same thing, nothing fitted, but pissing $45 million on the Icelandic Alex Nyarko and 20 Number 10s!!!

Then Fat Sam who bought Tosun and Walcott. Then Silva... I mean, come on – £35 million for Iwobi, Arsenal fans are pissing their pants they took £55 million from Everton for two of their worst players!

Get rid of those who play the pedestrian way, Keane, Coleman, Sigurdsson, Walcott, sick-note Delph, Pickford, Bolasie blah blah blah... I can't wait until 12 September – when we unveil more shite purchases and still retain the deadwood.

Dave Abrahams
278 Posted 27/07/2020 at 13:06:31
A lot of fans are under the assumption we will have a few clubs lining up to sign Richarlison for a fee of £80M upwards. I doubt that very much but, if one of them are daft enough to offer a ridiculous amount for him, I have no doubt Everton will snatch their hands off for it.

I'm basing my post on the overall form of Richarlison. When he scores, some of them are outstanding and he justifies being played; but lots of games he is not in the game, got his sulking, indifferent head on. There have been plenty before the lockdown and some stinkers since the game resumed.

He is definitely far from being the world class player some on here think he is. 13 Premier League goals all season, in an admittedly very poor team, is not a great deal from someone who is supposed to be the real deal.

Steve Brown
279 Posted 27/07/2020 at 13:10:48
We should probably allow Ancelotti to take a pre-season and actually sign a player before we sack him.
Andrew Clare
280 Posted 27/07/2020 at 13:11:23
The players that we have bought – with the exception of two or three – all have one thing in common: they couldn't cut it at the highest level so they were sold on. There is no need to name names as we all know who they are.

Now, it looks as though we are going to buy Allan – a fantastic player in his prime – who is now in the twilight years of his career, not wanted by Napoli, who have finished 7th in Serie A, a league that is no longer of the high standard that it used to be, won for the 9th year in succession by Juve.

No doubt we are going to sign others nearing the end of their careers or who can't cut the mustard with their current clubs on ridiculous wages to join the players we have on ridiculous wages. It's not looking good for the future.

How long will Moshiri continue to fund all of this without any success? We have been dreadful since the restart with the exception of about 30 minutes against Sheffield Utd. The whole club is a total embarrassment.

Liam Reilly
281 Posted 27/07/2020 at 13:14:00
Couldn't disagree more Dave on Richarlison.

Only Brazilian who has outscored him over the last 2 seasons in the top 5 European leagues is Neymar (28 versus 26 goals).

Neymar plays in a one team league and Richarlison plays for a side with no backbone.

Soren Moyer
282 Posted 27/07/2020 at 13:16:24
Joe #183. I know but really sick and tried of babysitting! We really need a proven goal scorer if we want to go places.
Tony Abrahams
283 Posted 27/07/2020 at 13:16:25
There-in lies the biggest issue with regards to recruitment, Andrew, because I can't remember the last time we signed a player who had a bit of devil inside them.

Jim Harrison
284 Posted 27/07/2020 at 13:23:36
Dick @238,

Klopp did nothing in his first half-season after taking over from Rodgers. Results marginally improved and I think they finished 8th? 2 places worse than the previous season.

He has completely reshaped the squad and spent a fortune doing it. It all clicked in the past two seasons in particular with the addition of two high-quality, very expensive players. He has bought well, and coached well. But it didn't happen instantly.

Carlo has to be given a crack. He can be criticised, of course, he has not got through the half-season unblemished himself. But to write a guy of his quality off by comparing him to a manager who has had 4½ seasons (at a club that finished 2nd the season before he took over?) and who has spent at least £400 million during that period is probably a tad premature.

Jim Harrison
285 Posted 27/07/2020 at 13:34:19
Liam @276,

Bernard's on a package as he signed as a free agent. Chelsea were in for him but his demands were too high. Like silly, £200 grand plus shit, if I remember right.

Not to say that he is earning it, just why he is on so much.

Tony Abrahams
286 Posted 27/07/2020 at 13:43:25
Klopp got to two cup finals in his first season, Everton have played in two cup finals since 1995. That's obviously not Ancellotti's fault, if anything it just shows me how hard of a job he's got. I doubt he could get to a cup final with this squad, but hope is all's some of us have got, and it just shows me how important the next seven weeks are going to be.

If we don't recruit well, it doesn't even bear thinking about, because a team without any real character is only going to get even worse.

Paul Tran
287 Posted 27/07/2020 at 14:00:16
The team is a visual representation of the club as a whole. Leaderless, too many people who don't appear to know their jobs, too many who don't appear to be accountable enough.

Off the pitch, I'd like to know specific roles & success measures for Brands & Barrett-Baxendale, with the consequences for success or failure.

On the pitch, I'd like a stated aim of European qualification, with the club & team management's communication all geared towards this.

From up here, we look like a club happy to bumble along, not at all desperate for success. What I see on the pitch reflects that perfectly.

That attitude has to change from the top and throughout the club before we start debating about players & managers.

Darren Hind
288 Posted 27/07/2020 at 14:03:49
Carlo a Michelin chef ?.... Sigh

The game has moved on since the finest waiters in the world were making his steak and chips appear a culinary delight. We may as well dug up Fanny Cradock.

Paul Tran
289 Posted 27/07/2020 at 14:11:57
Doesn't matter who the 'chef' is when the restaurant has holes in the roof, the management talks about anything other than food, does an annual makeover the punters don't like, and the waiters keep dropping the plates.
Gavin Johnson
290 Posted 27/07/2020 at 14:20:19
Paul Tran, you're absolutely right. The issue has been the money squandered on the deadwood we now can't move on. Is that Ancelotti's fault?! Absolutely not.

Talking about food. The manager is having to serve up a gumbo dish of flavours from the last 4 managers. The flavours clash and he needs time to find his own ingredients to serve his own Michelin dish.

Until the man brings in some of his own players, starts the season afresh and isn't picking up a relegation bound team. Which we were under Silva. How can people call for him to be sacked?! Besides which, they'll be no transfer budget for Dunc because it would take a whole window budget to pay Ancelotti off.

Let's get some perspective and at least see where we are by Xmas when he's had enough time for us to clearly see whether it's failing or working.

Darren Hind
291 Posted 27/07/2020 at 14:44:02
Which begs the question, Paul; If it doesn't matter who the chef is. Why on earth would you bring in the most expensive one with the least experience when it comes to dealing with clumsy waiters?

The depressing thing about this whole charade is that the dog's dinner we have been served and will continue to be served is all so utterly predictable.

Brian Harrison
292 Posted 27/07/2020 at 14:46:43
I said a few weeks back that our choices of DOF have been a disaster, and, using a food analogy, as I have said before, no use having a Michelin chef if we let the kitchen hands buy the ingredients and write the menu.

Maybe Darren Hind is right and Ancelotti is past his sell-by date; I don't subscribe to that and seeing as we have let lesser managers spend fortunes, let's at least give Ancelotti till next season before we torch him.

Jamie Crowley
293 Posted 27/07/2020 at 14:53:15
Robert Tressell said above, and he's right.

There will be no overhaul of this squad.

And frankly there shouldn't be.

Over the last 4 years we've had what, 5 managers? How many new players did we sign and bring in?

People, what we need more than anything else is consistency.

1-2 Additions in midfield, and allow these kids to grow. That's all we're getting, and frankly, it's probably the best thing for us presently.

Sam Hoare
294 Posted 27/07/2020 at 14:55:34
Darren, I think you have to judge the chef more when he's had the chance to source some of his own ingredients and maybe had a bit of time to turn said restaurant around. Personally, I'm not expecting the food to be fancy but I reckon it could prove more effective.

Also, just because the sous-chef had a good week or two does not necessarily mean he knows how to run a prominent kitchen long term! He needs to go run a smaller kitchen elsewhere first.

On another note, the recent tweet from the club re Sidibé makes it pretty clear that he won't be coming back. Coleman and Kenny at right-back next season or will Carlo want to bring someone else in?

Tony Everan
295 Posted 27/07/2020 at 15:13:11
I think we should bring Jonjoe Kenny back and give him a run as first-choice right-back to see if he can cut it; the loan will have improved him. With Seamus as back-up and to play some games to give Kenny a break.

It's one less thing to sort out and will help with resources for elsewhere.

Rob Birks
296 Posted 27/07/2020 at 15:21:39
How the bloody hell have our neighbours sold Lovren for £11M? 31 years old and shite. They've had him since 2014 for £6 million.

We are doing something very wrong at senior management level.

Tony Abrahams
297 Posted 27/07/2020 at 15:25:43
We tried the most experienced, Darren, but he wasn't given much time, and if Ancellotti continues to play this type of football, once he's signed a few of his own players, then I'd be intrigued how you could find it utterly predictable? Because I'd be genuinely shocked if this is all he has to offer.

I want us to defend better, but a counter-attacking style would genuinely suit me down to the ground, because Everton have been a dog's dinner for years.

Not wanting to give Ancellotti any time surprises me, but it shouldn't really, not by the way you can already see into the future, mate. I just hope you're wrong, even if it sounds like you've seen enough already.

Jay Harris
298 Posted 27/07/2020 at 15:28:24
Rob,

They have the name and the clout.

We have dishwater that needs throwing out.

Tony Abrahams
299 Posted 27/07/2020 at 15:30:21
That's what happens when your team gets to the top, Rob, it's why Everton have been overpaying Man Utd and Barcelona for years.
Darren Hind
300 Posted 27/07/2020 at 15:41:17
Rob Birks.

They always get top dollar.

Jamie C can tell you all about this crew. He was predicting this shit years ago.

Dave Abrahams
301 Posted 27/07/2020 at 16:18:48
Liam (282),

Fair enough. I checked Richarlison's record since he started football:

As a goalscorer he scored 18 goals in 66 appearances in South American football; he scored 5 goals for Watford in 38 games and 26 goals for Everton in 71 games; he's listed as having 8 assists with Watford and Everton.

To be honest, that doesn't look too good to me, and having watched him quite a lot for Everton, as a complete all round footballer, it doesn't make me despondent to think about him leaving. There is nothing really special about his general play. I doubt we will get the high price some Everton fans think we will get for him and I can't think any fans of opposition clubs will go crazy with delight if he goes to them.

Jay Harris
302 Posted 27/07/2020 at 16:25:40
Dave,

I am surprised at you. Your eyes should tell you far more than statistics.

Richarlson is the only hope we have right now. Other teams put 2 or 3 players on him or try to kick him out of a game. It is an indictment of the rest of the squad that they can't take advantage of the space this frees up.

He is the only consistently reliable goalscorer we have and he has scored the majority of his goals playing on the left-wing until recently.

IMO, if we lose him, we might as well give up.

John Pierce
303 Posted 27/07/2020 at 16:46:27
To be fair to Lovren, he has told the world repeatedly he's the world's best defender – that's why on his broad shoulders Croatia reached the final of the World Cup and the RS won the Champions League. Shameless self-promotion. 😜
Brent Stephens
304 Posted 27/07/2020 at 16:49:13
Jay #303, the other thing about Richarlison for me is the extent to which he tracks back and gets in a challenge. I would love to see his stats for yards covered.
Paul Tran
305 Posted 27/07/2020 at 16:50:34
Darren #292, well that's a very good question. Because if we're going to be a more rich, more wasteful version of 'plucky little Everton', we should have gone for Sean Dyche, who would definitely have us playing with more purpose and is an unknown quantity with better players than he currently has.

Carlo's only worth the money if Moshiri changes the mentality of the club as a whole. My suspicion is that he wanted to do this with Koeman, who gave up when he didn't get the striker & centre mid he wanted that summer. My hope is that, a few years into owning the club, he realises that he has to bulldoze through internal resistance to change the club.

My worry is that he thinks lashing out money on Ancelotti will sort everything out. It won't. The club has to change. He has to lead that change. If he isn't up for that fight, he'll be wasting a lot of his own money.

John Pierce
306 Posted 27/07/2020 at 16:58:15
PT - Q:

Is Moshiri a leader or figurehead with money?

I see little evidence of the former.

Dave Abrahams
307 Posted 27/07/2020 at 16:59:26
Jay (303), yes I never go by stats, I always let my eyes tell me how good I think a player is, I just checked to make sure of Richarlison's goalscoring record, not impressed by it.

I think the main reason opposition get stuck into him is to upset and provoke him, Dominic gets plenty of the same, he picks himself up, gets on with it and gives plenty back.

Richarlison goes out of the game, he should get more fouls but his previous play-acting goes against him, he's not as bad as he was, play-acting but he still does too much of it. He did next to nothing yesterday, not for the first time, and by the way, he gives lots of stupid fouls away himself.

I wouldn't worry too much if he is sold, Jay, as long as the transfer fee is used to buy a replacement; not many players are irreplaceable.

Paul Tran
308 Posted 27/07/2020 at 17:03:04
John, the evidence that he is a figurehead with money, who is unable or unwilling to change the flawed existing ethos the club has. Bumble along, spend money randomly, underachieve, shrug shoulders, talk about community work.

If he can't be the leader, he needs to find someone who can. Someone who isn't worried about throwing people out if they don't want to do the work needed to change this club. Someone with the balls to say that 'The Everton Way' is a fig leaf for lack of real effort and accountability. An insult to those of us fortunate enough to have seen Everton teams with a winning attitude.

Ken Kneale
309 Posted 27/07/2020 at 17:06:57
Paul – hear, hear. I have had exactly that conversation with another family member this afternoon. He has to rid the club of the pervading mentaility and sadly, I see no sign he has the ability or inclination to do so. Perpetual purgatory is on the cards.
John Pierce
310 Posted 27/07/2020 at 17:14:01
PT - sadly I believe you're right. See little evidence of him leading change, I see lesson him thinking well I know fook all about running a club lets get someone who does.

His board and club appointments to date have been weak and show little evidence of change, his in field appointments feel like moments of panic and vanity.

He seems to be the biggest stumbling block to change

Karl Meighan
311 Posted 27/07/2020 at 17:17:00
If the squad isn't overhauled, be prepared for a relegation fight.

As for the kids, we have got possibly 1 or 2 average Premier league players in the making. If any of them ever play for a Club in the top 6, I will be amazed and shocked.

Paul Tran
312 Posted 27/07/2020 at 17:24:21
Yes John, this is the legacy of the lazy thinking of the Moyes era, where the popular view was that if we had 'money', we'd be successful. I'm pretty sure Kenwright believed it, and I'm increasingly certain that he's convinced everyone in the club that's the case, including Moshiri.

Reality is hitting us and none of them know what to do, because they're all too comfortable to want to change things.

Moshiri needs to act, or bring in someone who can. And if Kenwright & DBB tell him 'that's not The Everton Way', he should tell them to do one.

Mike Gaynes
313 Posted 27/07/2020 at 17:26:04
Paul #235, I haven't seen that guy play in a couple of years now. If you think he's better than Pickford, all I can say is he must have improved a hell of a lot at Celtic. At age 32.

Chris #243, I'm the trusting type, so if you say so, I will. I have always had suspicions... like when I came on here and promoted a Costa Rican fullback who had just ripped the US apart in a World Cup qualifier. Moyes signed the guy, Bryan Oviedo, a few months later. We'd never signed a Costa Rican before. Hmmm....?

Joe #249, no, that wasn't classic Pickford. He gives up very few goals through his hands, certainly fewer than De Gea or Kepa or other more-celebrated keepers. Most of his bad goals are from poor positioning, not leaky hands. And he sure did make a hell of a save on that breakaway. But, as I said, I'm open to suggestions about who would make us better.

Sam #295, your point about Carlo is perfectly prepared and plated. And regarding right-back, I'm pretty certain the position will be near the top of his shopping list, although as always I will scream that we need 3-4 midfielders before addressing anything else.

Dave #302, I'd agree with you that Richarlison is not world-class -- yet -- but everybody here seems to be continually agitating for us to add players with pace, passion and "edge", and Richarlison is that guy more than anybody else on the club.

Steve #280, concise common sense like that is not welcome here.

Paul Tran
314 Posted 27/07/2020 at 17:35:12
Mike, Forster doesn't have to improve one iota to be better than Pickford. As good as ever last season, and excelled in the Champions League and Europa League games.

If we're at the profit & loss limit, it makes sense to get a fee for Pickford and bring in an experienced, solid replacement, even if it's for 2 or 3 years.

He's a much better bet than praying that Pickford develops a brain, presence, positional sense and an attention span beyond a goldfish.

Tony Abrahams
315 Posted 27/07/2020 at 17:35:31
The Everton Way hasn't produced any silverware for 25 fucking years, I've just read Kenwright saluting Baines, and guess what? He always supported the work in the community.👍

Dave Abrahams
316 Posted 27/07/2020 at 18:33:12
Mike (314), yes, I hope Richarlison makes it to being world class, he's got a long way to go in my opinion.

As for pace, passion and edge, well I think Holgate matches him at least for pace, and uses his passion and edge better and in a more controlled way. He also plays for the team.

Richarlison is more of an individual and plays for himself more than the team, he can become a captain.

Ian Horan
317 Posted 27/07/2020 at 18:41:51
Kenwright needs to go, bring in David Dein hard-nosed business driven football man. Credibility and also closes out deals quickly. He is no longer involved with Arsenal, even as a consultant to Moshiri.

This, the Everton way, is dated!!!!. Split the EitC and Everton Football Club and drive a professional results-driven football club.

Darren Hind
318 Posted 27/07/2020 at 18:55:59
It has nothing to do with seeing into the future, Tony. For me it is about seeing the blindingly obvious.

Those arguing against calls to sack him need to ask themselves who they are arguing with. My point is and always has been, that he should never have been given the gig in the first place. He is an appalling fit.

We wanted somebody who could build a team from scratch. He has never done that. We wanted somebody who could work with players who were nowhere near top class. He's never done that either.

We needed somebody who has proved he could drag a team from the bottom half of the league into one challenging for honours. We needed a hungry young manager looking to prove himself.

After years of zombie football, we needed a free spirit to lift the club out of the never-ending darkness. There is no way on this earth this fella will ever do that. His idea of a free spirit is going into a doubles bar and paying for a single. He is a fish out of water. You only have to look at him to see he is totally lost.

We are asking a leopard to change its spots. We are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. We are cutting the jigsaw piece with scissors desperately trying to make it fit. We are making complete fools of ourselves.

He isn't just a bad fit. He is a bad fit we are stuck with. The size of his contract means his removal is highly unlikely. Sorry. I don't think he will ever succeed and if I'm honest. I have to admit that that belief is so strong, it feels more like a certain knowledge.

Those saying give him a few windows are deluding themselves if they think top talent will sign for this club because Carlo Ancelotti is the manager. They won't. They will only come here if the big boys don't want them. Young lads will never be impressed by somebody who used to win things.

For this old dog to succeed he is going to have to learn a bunch of new tricks. Think he can? Do you see the required desire?

Lucky to have him? What is this, TalkSport

Graham Hammond
319 Posted 27/07/2020 at 19:03:05
Jamie #294,

I would respectfully have to disagree with you and say that the team and the squad does need an overhaul and as far as I am concerned, the more changes the better.

There is a horrible toxic apathy amongst the current squad which needs to be removed and changed because right now we are relegation fodder if you take Richarlison out the equation, he could quite easily be sold in the coming weeks or injured next season, either of which would leave us fucked.

I believe we need to lose players of (possibly) superior ability who are currently going through the motions at Everton and being paid very well for their (highly dubious) efforts in the process and bring in more hungry players, players with a will to win and succeed, players who give everything and despise losing, it is players with a very strong, deep-seated will to win that will give us back our identity and the consistency we both crave.

Was Henderson ever a quality, top drawer player? Not in my opinion. But hunger and will to win? Always.

The way forward for me is to get some of the very high earners out the door, pay up their contracts if necessary but certainly subsidise their wages elsewhere, losing Schneiderlin was a step in the right direction, the process must continue.

We need players who understand the club, what is required when you play for Everton and what is required when you pull on a blue shirt. Getting shut of Sigurdsson and Delph would be a start and two more steps forward.

Mike Gaynes
320 Posted 27/07/2020 at 19:16:25
Paul #315, I didn't see Forster this year, you did. "As good as ever" is coloured by my memory of what a useless lump he often was at Southampton, but if he pulled it together this year and did the job in Glasgow and Europe, amen, I'm all for him.

I'll say this, you've made the first sensible suggestion I've seen here. I've had too many pitches for Henderson (ain't happening) and trainwrecks like Fumbles Fabianski.

If we're gonna sell Picks (which I doubt), I'd still rather go across the Channel for a top young keeper who can establish himself as a mainstay... Sam Hoare and I have both posted several names we like. Forster would be a stopgap.

Gavin Johnson
321 Posted 27/07/2020 at 19:19:16
I really don't see how Carlo Ancelotti is past his sell by date when he's shown a better level of game management than the previous handful of managers including Moyes.

There's been a number of occasions where he's got us points either by changing the formation or with substitutions in games we'd have lost under the previous managers.

Tom Bowers
322 Posted 27/07/2020 at 19:26:57
I agree Graham the overhaul must begin now. Too many mediocre performances throughout the season speaks volumes and some of them weren't even up to Sunday league standard. Okay that may be an exaggeration but they were somewhat embarrassing far too often.

Everyone posting here has their own opinions about who should be discarded and who should be brought in and it will as usual be fascinating reading in the coming weeks.

I for one would take Zaha and Grealish at the right prices as both now seem available. Grealish has real quality which we need in midfield but alas he will go to a ''bigger'' club.

Zaha is a real live wire and Carlo could be the one to bring out the best in him on a more consistent basis and we could let Palace have Walcott.

On the other hand, Carlo probably has lots of contacts abroad so that may be a better option than what's available in the Premier League.

Tony Abrahams
323 Posted 27/07/2020 at 19:48:11
Talksport? Adrian Durham would be made up with that post, Darren.
Colin Glassar
324 Posted 27/07/2020 at 20:06:36
Ancellotti isn't the problem, Kenwright and his sidekick are!

Moshiri seems just as clueless as Boys Pen Bill when it comes to running a modern football club and the appointment of a world class manager, like Ancellotti, reflects his desperation after hiring a string of expensive duds.

Carlo can walk away from Goodison with his reputation intact, no matter what happens, similar to Van Gaal after leaving Man Utd. It's us, the fans, who will have to face the consequences of decades of bad management.

None of us know if Ancellotti can turn this club around but we'd better pray he can as the alternative is worrying in the extreme.

Paul Tran
325 Posted 27/07/2020 at 20:12:52
Fair enough, Mike. I'm unknowledgeable when it comes to European players, so there may be some out there at a reasonable price that may cope with the English game.

My thinking around Forster is that he could well be a 2/3 year stop-gap while we rebuild the rest of the team.

We don't need a superstar keeper – I'd like one that's experienced, consistent, reliable. I have no issue with older keepers if they're good enough.

We'll get a decent fee for Pickford; there are always managers who'll think they can iron out players' faults. My only worry is the data boys will recommend we spend £25M on David Von Schotstopper because of his one good year of stats in the Bundesliga and ignore a good Premier League experienced keeper that'll cost next to nothing.

Robert Miller
326 Posted 27/07/2020 at 21:00:34
Every single one of our squad is mid table standard at best.

But for too many of them we have paid top 6+ prices and continue to pay top 6+ wages.

This is not only why we're not delivering the results required. It's also why the mentality and attitude isn't there. These players know it's never going to get better than this and there are no consequences for underperformance.

Ancelotti, even with another Moshiri splurge, isn't going to be able to change this quickly.

So I think it's a case of what incremental change is going to make the biggest difference and might also focus what talent we do have to raise their game.

I think a new spine has to be the catalyst for change. 1 rock solid leader in the back 4. 1 creative midfielder who can control games. And 1 forward who can give Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin a run for their money.

I think we can live with Pickford for another season. The rest of the make weights either have to step up or do one.


Kevin Latham
327 Posted 27/07/2020 at 21:25:48
We currently have the most gutless and cowardly Everton team I can remember in nearly 60 years watching them. I always believed that effort and application are the very basic entitlements to wear the jersey, but what in the name of God do we have here?

A keeper who sticks his tongue out and laughs when he makes a mistake – yes, we can all remember Big Nev doing that, can't we?

Midfield players who either have no bottle whatsoever and don't even break into a trot, or run around and then fall over. Puts you in mind of the likes of Peter Reid, Bally, Bobby Collins and Howard.

And though it pains me to say it, a centre-forward who, although he's got better, doesn't seem to want to put himself about and get amongst the defenders. Shades of Andy Gray and Big Dunc.

I'm not comparing the old and modern as players but I'm certainly questioning their attitude. And neither am I saying that effort is everything, but some of this shower we have now put more effort into their hair than their game, their performances are completely unacceptable. I think we're in danger of becoming the side nobody outside the club cares about, if we're not there already.

So we can talk about signing Grealish and the rest of them... but be honest, Carlo apart, what is the attraction in coming to us? No good just offering big wages, we have enough mercenaries who won't break sweat as it is.

It's heartbreaking to see what Everton have become, but we have one of the world's greatest managers in Carlo and, although it will be a long haul, my belief is that he will turn it round. But he has to change the mindset from not being arsed about losing to going out there with a burning desire not to accept second best.

We need players who won't accept defeat, competitive players who can play, but mix it when they have to like those older players I mentioned did. I just can't be doing with this ‘easy going, bottle it when it matters, surrender monkey' attitude which we've seen too much over the years – and from the top down.

I'll always be proud to be a Blue but they test your bloody patience, don't they!

Graham Hammond
328 Posted 27/07/2020 at 21:32:39
Tom #323, You interestingly mention both Zaha and Grealish. Unfortunately for us, with the financial restraints we now have, the ship has probably sailed (for us) on both these two players.

The time to have gone for Grealish was when he was a second-tier player, Villa would have sold then for a huge fee (he would have still been a punt for us) but now he will rightly want to move to a better club than Everton currently are.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but we really should have also been in for Zaha when he left Man Utd, he left Old Trafford for peanuts but clearly there was a player in there somewhere and he was worth a punt then given his (then) tender years. He is a very decent player but now I feel we have to prioritise and look at bringing in a pacy centre-back and a quality defensive midfielder.

If we are looking at the wide positions then I feel McNeill (left) and Sarr (right) would be better options given their respective ages. We got our hands badly burned with the purchase of an ageing Sigurdsson and as Steve Ferns has rightly pointed out, players in their late twenties are one serious injury away from being finished at the very top level and for whatever reason are simply much more prone to injury in the first place.

We are currently left with too many ageing 'stars' on massive wages as it is, Brands has shown in the past that he has had great difficulty moving these players on and off the payroll. Lessons to be learned.

Graham Hammond
329 Posted 27/07/2020 at 21:46:49
Well said, Kevin Latham! The toxic apathy which is now present and prevails, week-in & week-out, had to be removed from the club if we are to remove the threat of relegation going forward.

Twist the pack, Carlo, it has to be done and you have a matter of weeks to do it.

Mike Gaynes
330 Posted 27/07/2020 at 22:46:47
PT #326, my concern is the exact opposite... that we'll overpay for an experienced Premier League keeper just because he's an experienced Premier League keeper. The suggestions here are always for keepers plying their trade in Britain. I've always felt there are much better keeper values out there in Europe -- or even the US, which has provided Premier League clubs some of the best keeper buys in history (Keller, Friedel, Howard).

Me, I want a potential superstar if we're gonna shift Pickford. Two that Sam and I both like are Onana at Ajax and Drągowski at Fiorentina.

Justin Doone
331 Posted 27/07/2020 at 00:59:58
I'm surprised some fans think Seamus is a weak link and lost his pace. He was never as quick as King or Wilson and there's probably only a few defenders in the league that could keep up with those two, who I'd happily have at Everton.

Apart from the youngsters, Seamus and Keane have been our best two players since the restart, helped by a deeper defensive line. Seamus's biggest failing has always been his final ball. He can't cross and his passing is 50:50. Kenny can, but do we have anyone that would score with frequency from such deliveries.

FFP can be torn up, nothing to fear, it's another failed attempt at cost control to keep the rich clubs rich. They need all FAs to agree to something much simpler like a salary cap but that isn't going to happen.

So spend spend spend, or don't. Football isn't about money and it's certainly not about my own but what Everton have failed at is to align players, recruitment and playing style to what the manager needs.

Another positive: Moise Kean, seems to have genuine lightning pace. Something that has gone from Richarlison's game (or was that only because he played against our slow team).

Now imagine Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Kean all scoring 15+ goals in the same season. That would improve results and get us challenging.

However, I acknowledge the style of play and service into the forwards would have to be far better and more frequent. That is why a genuine top-class midfielder is needed.

If we only get one top-class player, for me it would have to be a creative but hard-working attacking midfielder. I had hoped Bernard, Sigurdsson or Gomes could be that player, but they are not good enough.

We need goals to win games, that is the priority. Oh, where is the next Hutchison or Cahill for us?

Jim Harrison
332 Posted 28/07/2020 at 02:16:13
Darren @319,

But he isn't building a team from scratch is he? And neither would any other coach because that just isn't realistic. No coach employed by Everton at this stage would be tasked with that.

And your prediction that it will all end in tears or that you will be proved right in the end? Probably will. How long it will take to come true? In general most clubs end up binning their managers after a while. Even the successful ones. See Wenger, Pochettino, Mancini, Carlo himself, Jose.

Side note: Anyone else thought we could have done with Morgan Schneiderlin seeing the season out with us before leaving?

Tony Abrahams
333 Posted 28/07/2020 at 07:39:42
I’ve just read that post again Darren, and I see the opposite of a lot of what you wrote.

Martinez, had a great season then went downhill with the general feeling that he wasn’t playing to some very good young players strengths.

Koeman, did he even ever have any kind of strategy?

Allardyce, not wanted in the first place, so was never going to be given time.

Silva, poor start, but ended the season brilliantly and could have carried on moving forward if Brands had recruited better last summer. Had to go in the end because he looked out of his depth, especially because he had no pace at the back to play the way he really wanted?

Ancellotti, his team got totally embarrassed at Chelsea just before the lockdown, he’s gone more defensive since the restart, but for the first time in a long time, it’s finally on the players.

Ferguson done great, I don’t think he could have kept it up because the players were already on their knees after 4 games, and we have got way to many on easy street, and looking at the wages they earn, very little personal pride.

It’s finally on the players, look at Sheffield Utd, they showed us when they can be bothered, they are nowhere near as bad as they have been. And finally after four years of unadulterated shite, we have found a manager, who knows how to manage (my opinion) and has used this free hit to show everyone, that it’s all about the players.

Dan Nulty
334 Posted 28/07/2020 at 07:46:30
I think I understand where you are coming from, Darren. It shows how poor we are that you believe we shouldn't have appointed a proven, World-class manager to get us out.

Personally, I think he proved that he could do it given our form after he joined. The blame for our predicament lies squarely at Kenwright's and Moshiri's feet. Buying shite and paying over the odds for it in the last 4 years.

Hopefully that will stop now if Ancelotti has some sway.

For me, if he leaves, it will still be Everton with the shite reputation, not Carlo.

Annika Herbert
335 Posted 28/07/2020 at 08:23:17
Paul@ 315, I am all for replacing Pickford if we can get a quality replacement. But Forster most certainly isn't it. I have watched him pretty closely recently and he is prone to the exact same gaffes that Pickford seems to regularly make.

If he is so good, why were Southampton so happy to loan him out and why were Celtic his only option?

I agree Everton need a more reliable keeper, but I am also sure it isn't Forster.

Paul Tran
336 Posted 28/07/2020 at 08:45:25
Main reason, Annika, is that these days, clubs find a young keeper from Europe with amazing 'stats', shell out millions based on the hope that he'll be as good over here and that they'll sell him at a profit if he's brilliant/a flop.

We're short of money due to profit/loss limits. We can create some by selling Pickford and bringing in a cheaper, more mature reliable option.

The stats boys don't seem to have a view on how a stable, mature, reliable keeper makes a difference to a back four, to the expectations and assurance he can give the rest of the team. Maybe they 'can't' measure it. I can see it. We don't have it.

Forster fits that bill for me. I haven't seen any Pickfordesque rushes of blood, poor positioning and shows of 'strength'. Just a reliable keeper.

We have to be canny this window, buying and selling with value in mind. Not our usual thing, but it may catch on one day.

Mick Conalty
337 Posted 28/07/2020 at 08:46:50
Has Boys Pen Bill given his thoughts on the season yet?

And how he is going to take us foreward to be a great team?

🤔🤔🤪

Steve Brown
338 Posted 28/07/2020 at 09:09:34
Darren @ 319, so we need a young, hungry manager (again) who can:

a) Build a team from scratch;
b) Work with players who were nowhere near top class;
c) Has proved he could drag a team from the bottom half of the league into one challenging for honours;
d) Is a 'free spirit to lift the club out of the never-ending darkness.'

I am more likely to walk round the corner and see a unicorn crossing the road than we are to find someone with that profile!

But good to hear a name if you have one.

Darren Hind
339 Posted 28/07/2020 at 09:40:49
Jim Harrison,

Always with "who's right" or who gets to say "I told you so".

It's clear to me that having nailed your colours to too many rotten masts, you have far more fear of being wrong than I do.

Let me tell you something: Nobody has to wait to deliver I-told-you-sos. Ancelotti has already let us down. Not many Evertonians would have believed that, after the zombie football served up by Koeman and the anti-football served up by Allardyce, we would find a man to come and give us even uglier brand of football... What we are watching now is as bad as anything I have seen in 60 years.

If the "wily old fox" gets us playing the dazzling football Spurs and Arsenal fans witnessed under Wenger and Pocettino, or the ruthless power Chelsea fans saw under Jose then you can compare him with those "failures". If, like them, he gets us to a Champions League final, or wins us loads of trophies, then comparisons will be fair.

Until then, if we are going to compare Ancelotti to anybody, it should be with people who have done this job. So far, he simply doesn't deserve to be compared with Davey Moyes. Comparisons with Big Sam or Koeman are fairer. He is working with a lot of the same players... Unfortunatey he has adopted the same approach.

This "being right" lark you always come back to... Let me tell you this: If Ancelloti gets us playing football we can be proud of, I will be the first to put my hands up and say I was wrong. My team is far more important to me than "being right". Only those who actually give a fuck about "being right" bang on about it... Know what I mean?

Fuck trophies. My bar isn't that high. Right now, I would settle for an end to this miserable shite which has been served up in the name of football for years and which so shames the good name of our club.

I'm coming to the end of my rope with this club, or should I say the self-proclaimed positives who seem to have attached themselves to it. They suck the aspirations from the soul of this club. Too many believe that, by accepting, supporting, and excusing this shit, they are being positive. Too many seem to think a new manager shouldn't be accountable for our play, or anything else, until he has had time to at least father a couple of kids. Too many think that, by railing against shit, you are not supporting your club and you are the one being negative.

The football world is ridiculing us. The are mocking us. They despise us, hold us in contempt for the soulless prideless passionless shite they have to endure every time we are on the box. And what do we do? We tell ourselves we should be grateful. consider ourselves lucky, We engineer convenient little snapshots demonstrating that we are marginally better (for now) than we were under the last guy.

You clearly resent and despise my criticism of these fraudsters, Brian. As do many others on this website. You in particular tell me so every time another one is wheeled in... but trust me, that cuts both ways. In fact, your displeasure doesn't even come close to the resentment and loathing I feel for the never-ending excuses which so readily tumble from the keyboards and mouths of so many.

Yeah I know. "Give him more time..."


Tony Abrahams
340 Posted 28/07/2020 at 09:48:50
I don't, Jim. He'd have only got the blame for the team's complete lack of effort, mate.

The fee told us everything; I just hope the writing is on the wall for a few others.

They were saying Delph was nearly fit about a month ago but I read Ancelotti saying he's told him to concentrate on being fit for next season instead of constantly having problems with different niggling injuries.

Brian Harrison
341 Posted 28/07/2020 at 10:07:55
Darren @340,

You started this post replying to Jim Harrison but towards the end of your post you mention a Brian... is that me you are referring to or another Brian?

Laurie Hartley
342 Posted 28/07/2020 at 10:13:14
Darren - how about a small compromise? Let's set Ancelotti a deadline to improve what's going on on the pitch.

I will give Ancelotti till the beginning of next year (1 January 2021) to come up with better performances provided he gets two new midfielders of his own choice in this window. (And just to be specific, you can nominate what constitutes better performances.)

If, under those circumstances, he doesn't come up with said better performances, I will post “Darren Hind knew all along – Ancelloti was the wrong appointment”.

Ken Kneale
343 Posted 28/07/2020 at 10:32:20
Iain 318 – a very interesting thought...

Would he genuinely be interested given he must know Moshiri?

Jim Harrison
344 Posted 28/07/2020 at 11:26:25
Darren @340,

Pretty epic that. Not sure how you get so riled up about the 'being right' stuff; not sure I am with you there.

Brent Stephens
345 Posted 28/07/2020 at 11:40:37
Darren: "Ancelotti has already let us down."

He's only had about 20 games. It takes time to build a team from scratch if you're starting with players nowhere near top class.

Paul Tran
346 Posted 28/07/2020 at 11:55:09
Surely it's more nuanced than this?

We have been just as bad to watch under Carlo than the last few managers. Actually feels worse to me because of expectations. We're not paying big bucks for promise here.

I have put up with us being average most of my life, but the current lack of excitement is shocking. The enjoyment I get from engaging with Blues on here and Twitter is more fun than what I see on the pitch. That must change.

Ultimately, we're currently a badly run club, seemingly unwilling to improve, with a big-name manager. I think its reasonable to call out Carlo for the shocking stuff were watching. It's reasonable to call out Moshiri for throwing money at a business without significantly correcting its flaws.

It's also reasonable to give them a summer to start putting it right. And reasonable to expect pace, purpose and entertainment from the off next season.

Joe McMahon
347 Posted 28/07/2020 at 12:09:54
I am also concerned about Carlo, and what is realistic. The big-name managers already mentioned always inherit Champions League quality squads in the first place. Pep or Klopp would struggle with this midfield, keeper and lack of goals upfront.

The only exception I can think of is the Leicester story, and Ranieri was still sacked the following season. Wolves seems the only model for us to follow, shrood managerial appointment with very well planned and thought out recruitment.

The recruitment at Everton has left us with a very expensive low-quality squad. I don't think any manager could turn this crackpot club around, we will struggle to get shut of so much deadwood, gonna take at least 4 years. Thanks, Moshiri!

Dave Abrahams
348 Posted 28/07/2020 at 12:11:05
Paul (347), not much to argue against there Paul, but I think that Mr Moshiri and his money should have been guarded and much better spent than it was, especially by the man who introduced him to Everton.

After all, he had spent considerable time with Mr Moshiri and knew the nature of the man. I think he had a duty to look after “his friend” considerably better than he did. He's let him down badly in my opinion.

Paul Tran
349 Posted 28/07/2020 at 12:15:34
The real issue, Joe, is that Moshiri appears to think that the manager will turn the club around. He won't.

The club will turn around when Moshiri wakes up to the fact that he must instil good habits, commitment and accountability throughout the club. Or find someone who will.

I'm coming round to the view that either Moshiri is thick as mince, or there are people in the club blocking significant change.

Tom Bowers
350 Posted 28/07/2020 at 12:22:07
Carlo has been a great manager. His pedigree proves it. However he is human and not a miracle worker. Trying to make a silk purse from a sow's ear is nigh impossible and so far that is what he has been trying to do with this miserable bunch of wetnaps.

He has had his indoctrination so now he knows what needs to be done to get anywhere with this club. They have some quality to work on along with some good young players but really need more class in midfield, that is evident for all to see.

The midfield ''four'', no matter who started, has been all over the place. Tackling has been weak and closing down very slow and lethargic. Davies and Sigurdsson are not the answer and Iwobi has been very disappointing. Gomes coming back from a bad injury is still getting to full match fitness and so is Gbamin who we have yet to really see.

I think, by Christmas, we can be in a better position to judge Carlo.

Paul Tran
351 Posted 28/07/2020 at 12:28:16
Yes Dave, that's a very good point. Worth bearing in mind that Kenwright rarely spent money, so may not be the best guide for that.

My view is the Kenwright genuinely believed only a lack of money was holding us back and that he's convinced Moshiri of that. And as a result, Moshiri took his eye off making significant changes to how the club is run.

That's why we're where we are now.

Patrick McFarlane
352 Posted 28/07/2020 at 12:39:00
My real concern about the club is not the manager, it's the owner. How much pressure is he putting on the playing staff in relation to the style of play, the purchases, and other footballing related matters?

Carlo, for some reason that I can't fathom, is allowing the same inane tactics that previous managers have employed namely this passing it around at the back malarky. Even when we are trailing this suicide football is almost inviting the opponents to nick another goal.

Carlo wasn't in charge last summer, yet today we are again linked with Zaha, a player who we are led to believe was contacted personally last season by Mr Moshiri.

Everton FC has been dysfunctional for a very long time, but it appears that the club has reached new levels since the arrival of Mr Moshiri's millions. Is he responsible for our demise or is he, just like us, completely dumbfounded as to how bad we have become?

If he is as dumbfounded as we are, then he has the power to effect change, we don't.

Tony Abrahams
353 Posted 28/07/2020 at 13:35:54
Wasn’t there supposed to have been a meeting just after or even before Silva was dismissed when Moshiri, was supposed to have asked the players very softly if there was anything they needed?

These players must have been privately laughing their heads off... incredible if true, but something is wrong, because there is very little hunger amongst this team.

Ken Kneale
354 Posted 28/07/2020 at 13:42:49
A number of posts identify we are dysfunctional – on the pitch, off the pitch and very much so within the hierarchy.

I am more than willing, as Paul T outlines, to take the 'reasonable' view on the manager but that surely includes it being reasonable to expect progressive football from the word go.

We have regressed so far as a club, it is pitiful... so good football at least would be a starting point for a complete rebuild. I don't feel hopeful on the early signs from Carlo

Phil Lewis
355 Posted 29/07/2020 at 11:40:48
People suggesting Zaha and Grealish can see no further than the end of their noses. 'Flash in the pan fancy Dans' the pair of them. Both much in the mould respectively of Bolasie and Sigurdsson and little more effective. Drifting in and out of games.

We need men, not boys. Strong players who can punish teams. Not tricky dickys with their fancy flicks.

If Idrissa Guye was interested in a return, I'd have him back in a flash. We need to give our team a solid backbone.


Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads


© ToffeeWeb