Ancelotti loving his introduction to the Blues

Wednesday, 15 January, 2020 109comments  |  Jump to most recent

Carlo Ancelotti used the occasion of his first Annual General Meeting to express to Everton's shareholders how much he has enjoyed his first few weeks at the club.

The Italian was appointed as Marco Silva's long-term successor just before Christmas and has overseen three Premier League wins in four, with just those defeats to Manchester City and to Liverpool in the FA Cup marring his honeymoon period with the Blues.

He spoke in glowing terms about his first impressions of the club, its training facilities and it's supporters and reiterated how important it is as Goodison Park is united behind the Toffees but creates a hostile environment for visiting teams.

"Every day is fantastic,” he said from the stage of the AGM. “It was fantastic the first day when I was at Goodison Park, it's still fantastic and so thank you very much to everyone.

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"It's a new experience for me to be here, I have never been in a meeting like this but it's very interesting to see how all of you love this club so it's really exciting for me to be here. I think that I've found a fantastic club with fantastic history, with fantastic tradition and I've found also a fantastic family and this is really important for me. It's a really exciting moment for me.

"I try to do my best every time. Honestly, I love my job. I love to do my job at the best of my possibility. I really like to have a straight relationship with the club, a straight relationship with my players and a straight relationship with all the supporters of this club.

"The fact that I found a lot of good things, the passion of the supporters, a fantastic training facility - one of the best training facilities that I've ever seen - so there are a lot of conditions that allow me to say we can have big ambition.”

"Of course, we have to stay all together,” he continued. “It will not be easy, it will take time, we have to be patient. I think that the connection that the supporter has to have with the players, with the team, is really, really important.

"We have to improve this with a better quality of football and to show the spirit of the team during games, we show a sense of belonging of the players, and the supporters have to be there because it's very important that Goodison Park has to be our house, our home, where our players can show all their best quality and, at the same time, Goodison Park has to be a difficult place where the opponent comes to play."

 

Reader Comments (109)

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Si Pulford
1 Posted 16/01/2020 at 06:33:58
Legend. He exudes class and confidence. Now we need to trust him and his methods. Also remember his track record and the fact he actually knows what he’s doing. The amount of melons on here after the Brighton game saying ‘Carlos substitutions nearly lost is the game’ was incredible. They didn’t, they saw us home and effectively won us the game. He’s Italian so we can expect a manager that actually knows how to hold a lead for the first time since early Moyes.

We just need to trust our affable, professional, hugely successful manager.

Either that or put our beer down long enough to tell ToffeeWeb how it _should_ be done.

Karl Masters
2 Posted 16/01/2020 at 06:46:49
I think there are a lot of Evertonians with battered and bruised confidence after the goings on over the last few years.

After years and years of knowing what our Club was during Moyes and no money, suddenly we’ve had billionaires DoFs and 5 or 6 different Managers, a new stadium finally on the horizon, but also some dreadful football.

I think we now need to enter a period of stability. Give this man a chance to build something properly. There will be rocks in the road as they say, it might be bumpy at times, but keep the faith, Evertonians. This fella is the real deal.

Peter Warren
3 Posted 16/01/2020 at 07:10:26
I’m made up with Ancelotti and have high hopes but his substitutions did nearly cost us the win against Brighton - suddenly we lost the ascendency. Obviously, he’s new to Everton and the players so will take him some time and I think most fans because of his track record and fact we are crap will give him a lot of time but I don’t see the need to think of him as a Messiah yet.
Bob Parrington
4 Posted 16/01/2020 at 07:44:34
Si - Well stated. Karl - Yes, all of us are probably battered and bruised but we have to try to reduce the level of negativity going forward as I believe you are implying.

Onward and upward but remembering the adage "Rome wasn't built in a day"

COYB and NSNO

Tommy Carter
5 Posted 16/01/2020 at 08:03:17
Ancelotti is an unbelievable manager. He exudes class, he’s a winner.

Only Everton could possibly mess this up

Tony Abrahams
6 Posted 16/01/2020 at 08:53:59
That’s what everyone else are probably saying Tommy, especially our neighbours who were pretty lenient with the stick I thought, although I’m only speaking for myself because I definitely expected a lot more from them.

They know we have Ancellotti, they know how good he his, they will privately be a little bit cautious because of this, quite possibly starting those little whispers, that say only Everton could fuck this up.

Carlo, Carlo, Carlo, is what we should all be drumming into ourselves right now, especially when the man says it’s not going to be a quick fix, because “we” more than anyone should know this, and with Usmanov lurking in the shadows, we should all become more positive after hopefully hitting rock bottom at the beginning of 2020.

Mark Boullé
7 Posted 16/01/2020 at 09:31:31
What a fantastically straight speech from Carlo :)
Joe McMahon
8 Posted 16/01/2020 at 09:34:31
Peter @3 that's one way of looking at it. But the subs choice wasn't exactly screaming top 4 quality. What was he supposed to do? We don't have Aguero or Salah et al to score a second goal, we don't even have Rashford.

Carlos CV suggests he knows what he's doing.

Alan Rodgers
9 Posted 16/01/2020 at 09:47:51
Thank God we didn't get Moyes, currently trying to get Stones, Barkley and Joe Allen into WHU !!
Finally we have a top manager. It was a massive coup to bring Carlo to Everton
Mike Gaynes
10 Posted 16/01/2020 at 09:50:30
Not just his record but everything he does suggests Carlo knows what he's doing -- and that he doesn't care one bit whether we agree with his weekly game decisions.

This is a wise old head who knows exactly how big the challenge is, and he won't thrown by the inevitable setbacks -- or by our panicky reaction to them.

Clive Rogers
11 Posted 16/01/2020 at 09:59:10
Carlo has been a breath of fresh air after Silva who stuck rigidly to his 4-2-3-1 formation from his first game to his last. Even when he made substitutions he stuck to it. Carlo tries different systems and players. Long may we keep him.
James Hughes
12 Posted 16/01/2020 at 10:03:28
With Carlo and Brands now handling the recruitment the club can move in the right direction. A step up from Allardyce and Walsh.
Tony Everan
13 Posted 16/01/2020 at 10:42:42
Love Carlo Ancelotti, the club has been crying out for a respected class act. It's a real coup for EFC.

His history as a player and manager means players and staff will look up to him, respect him and his decisions. We will be more of a unified force because of Carlo's appointment.

When it comes to transfers Moshiri and Brands have to listen and back Carlo. Nobody is in a better position to make the final call.

Kris Boner
14 Posted 16/01/2020 at 10:58:17
Bob - the complete saying is “Rome wasn’t built in a day but it was burnt in one.”

Which I’m going to take that we have to give a man of Carlo’s class time to build his Rome here at Everton, because it takes a hell of a lot less time to panic and burn something down than to build something great.

Shane Corcoran
15 Posted 16/01/2020 at 10:59:33
Si, #1, football is all ifs and buts. If Murray's toe poke goes in then Carlo's subs don't "see us home". I'm glad he's here but let's make things so black and white.
Jay Evans
16 Posted 16/01/2020 at 11:38:28
Carlo Serial Winner - 1
ToffeeWeb moaners - 0

This man has forgotten more about winning football matches than ANY OF US will ever know.

Ifs and buts my arse. If me auntie had balls she’d be my uncle.

It’s absolutely hilarious that people are questioning his substitutions already.

Full support Carlo.
Onward Evertonians 💙

Carl Manning
17 Posted 16/01/2020 at 11:38:37
We all know the next 4/5 games on paper are winnable. What Carlo has done so far is win games that we are generally expected to win, this hasn’t happened for a while. I’m with Steve F in that I think this guy could get us very close to 6th this season. So I believe we will get a double figure points haul the next few weeks.
He is the biggest star at our club! People in Madrid can’t believe we have him. I get asked every Monday after the weekends games “how did Ancelotti get on”. He is a legend to Real Madrid fans for delivering la décima. He is a bonafide managerial superstar and amazingly, comes across like a complete gent to boot! No wonder the majority of his former players talk so fondly of him.
Like DCL said in an interview, the players were in awe of him when they first met him. I expect him to improve the midfielders having been a world class one himself. The players must have YouTubed the hell out of him when he arrived and seen the guy walked the walk!
We should feel nothing but excitement that this man has joined us. He was by far the most qualified man for the job.
Jay Evans
18 Posted 16/01/2020 at 11:42:03
Carl 17 spot on. I forget sometimes what a top midfielder The Don was in his playing days. Ruled the roost didn’t he.
Dennis Stevens
19 Posted 16/01/2020 at 11:52:05
Above all else, Moshiri has finally got real quality in as Manager & secured him on a long contract to ensure some much needed stability over the next few years as the new stadium is built. At last, we have somebody who is capable of working with what he has got in a pragmatic way to get results. I don't expect to see a repeat of the last few manager's desperate need to try and get "their" players in to fit their fixed idea of how football should be played, leaving us with an overblown unproductive squad.
Steve Ferns
20 Posted 16/01/2020 at 12:33:34
Well Said Carlo. If we can just win the next four games, of which West Ham away looks the hardest, then we can really climb that table and achieve a modicum of success this season.
Steve Brown
21 Posted 16/01/2020 at 12:36:59
Jay @ 16, spot on. I know some supporters find the reality that we have hired one of the all time great coaches disturbing after years of hiring mediocre managers from lower premier league or championship clubs. It is reflects itself in claims that a) he should not have been hired b) praise of Carlo is criticism of Duncan c) winning more as a player and manager than we have as a club means nothing d) he should be sacked after two weeks e) he is a fraud. These may be early indications that we are indeed already living up to the assessment that 'only Everton could fuck this up.'
Phil Smith
22 Posted 16/01/2020 at 12:39:39
I think under a different manager those substitutions could have lost us 2 pts. With Carlo, he knew how to use these people just to steady everything and see the game out as we were obviously tiring.

I think people are in a negative space about the club and rightly so, but this guy KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING. That's the difference between him and some of our other recent managers. Allardyce would have done something similar - playing percentages but giving strong information to those coming on of what to do to see the game out. It comes with knowledge. People need to just take a breath, shut up a wee bit and let this guy work his magic.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

23 Posted 16/01/2020 at 13:01:04
Jay @ 16 and Steve @ 21.

It is perfectly feasible to be fully supportive and totally in favour of Carlo Ancelotti's appointment (as I am) but questioning of his tactics and substitutions (as I was against Brighton).

That is not to elevate me as having superior football knowledge than Ancelotti. That is plainly ridiculous.

That doesn't make me a 'TW moaner'.

I cannot deny the evidence of my own eyes. The substitutions and tactical tweaks Carlo made v Brighton progressively stopped us playing our football in their half, forced our defence deeper and had us playing on the back foot with little or no out ball as our play became compacted in our own half.

It was the single most sustained period of attacking football Brighton had in the entire game and they carved out very good equalising opportunities as a result.

I understand the need of subbing out tiring players or those carrying a knock. I understand throwing Mina into the mix to counter Brighton's own substitution and the aerial threat of Glen Murray. I understand the idea of 'protect what we hold'.

But the final 20 minutes of that game were a lot nervier than they needed to be and Carlo Ancelotti's substitutions contributed to that.

It's a perfectly fair and legitimate observation to make.

To express that view most certainly does not make me (or others) ambivalent about having Carlo Ancelotti as our manager, tactically superior to him or a TW moaner, ta very much.

Brent Stephens
24 Posted 16/01/2020 at 13:06:29
Re the Brighton substitutions. Surely sometimes a coach just tries something not knowing if it will work. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't. Does Ancelotti play dice?! Does God play dice?

Mike Benjamin
25 Posted 16/01/2020 at 13:35:02
It will be interesting to see if he makes similar substitutions in the future against that level of opposition.
Jamie Crowley
26 Posted 16/01/2020 at 13:47:23
"Of course, we have to stay all together,” he continued. “It will not be easy, it will take time, we have to be patient.

Can this be pasted next to the TW logo in the banner at the top of every page on this site?

I seriously love this man.

Peter Warren
27 Posted 16/01/2020 at 13:48:53
Jay 23 agree entirely. I find comments like the first paragraph of 22 from Phil v funny. C’mon if you actually watched the match we were fortunate after his subs - reflected in Pickford making a good save and Murray miss in dying minutes by inches when he should have scored. We were lucky.

Overall the Brighton game, we fully deserved to win and was a good performance overall particularly in light of mood going into the game. Credit to Ancelotti (and his team) for that and so far so good with Ancelotti (aside from Derby) but no matter how good he is, it will take him an age to get us right and for him to understand our players. He’s only been here 4 weeks and as I say he’s no miracle worker and he’s not the messiah.

If the opinion that he got lucky with his subs on Saturday make me a TW moaner so be it!

Carl Manning
28 Posted 16/01/2020 at 13:50:06
Jay we only seem to talk about him having 3 champions leagues. He also won twice as a player. So he has won the European cup or it’s replacement 5 times. He’s been a winner his whole life which is why I genuinely feel he is not with us for the money. He wouldn’t want to go out with a big blemish on an exceptional career
Jamie Crowley
29 Posted 16/01/2020 at 13:54:42
Briefly, my observations in my time as Blue, of the managers, their playing styles, and the overall fan reaction as such.

Moyes - dour and not adventurous - fans appreciative but not happy

Martinez - possession and didn't defend well enough - fans wanted out

Sam Allardyce - boring - fans didn't want in the first place. Cue vitriol.

Silva - Not enough attacking intent, not good enough defending, tactically naive. Nice man, needed to go

Carlo Ancelotti - knows how to attack (more shots in the League than any other team since he took over), not afraid to shut up shop and defend when warranted, understands and knows the balance of the game - Everton fans are the most intelligent on earth, they appreciate that balance more than any other fanbase.

We have our fit. It's time to let the man do his work.

James Hughes
30 Posted 16/01/2020 at 13:55:44
Steve F #20 I think the Watford away game will be the bigger ask. Since he took over Nigel (the ostrich) Pearson has got them winning games. Four wins out of the last five games and the only defeat has been to the RS. Moyes will have the incentive but can't see him getting the result
Carl Manning
31 Posted 16/01/2020 at 14:23:33
Jamie I agree massively. Look at Ronaldo’s numbers at Madrid under Ancelotti. They were the most prolific of his career. He’s an attacking coach without it being all guns blazing. He encourages the percentages but will also allow players with real talent to play their natural game and not be restricted.
David Pearl
32 Posted 16/01/2020 at 14:24:18
I wish l could forget Koeman. Someone please pass the Johnny Walker red!
Michael McCarthy
33 Posted 16/01/2020 at 14:30:50
Read his book.
Raymond Fox
34 Posted 16/01/2020 at 14:34:54
Its very simple really, we have a manager that we know is of the very highest class.
We will only get to the top of the tree if he is given players that are of the very highest class.

He wont be successful if he has to make do with second rate players.

Dave Abrahams
35 Posted 16/01/2020 at 14:35:54
Here’s another melon who thought every substitution Carlo made increased the possibility of Brighton getting the next goal, how many of you saying Ancelotti knew what he was doing were not looking anxiously at the clock in the last ten minutes.

Another quote was the players must be made up that Carlo has taken over the reins of the club, how many of them set out to show their mettle to the new manager in the game versus Liverpool? Four? Three? Or even less.

Carlo Ancelotti has been a great manager and I’m delighted we have got him to oversee our future and of course it is early days, he doesn’t know the players like we do, yet, I’m confident he will get to know them, find them out very quickly and sort them out, in the meantime, in the game versus Brighton last Saturday, to me, the changes he made looked like costing Everton two points, that they didn’t was more by a very good save by Pickford and a poor miss by Murray. Until the subs started Brighton had hardly been in the game, apart from a very good effort that hit the bar.

I think we all want Carlo Ancelotti to take us we’re we want to be, but will not be blinded by what we saw and comment on it, whether it pleases people or not.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

36 Posted 16/01/2020 at 14:54:10
Nice interview with Carlo on the club site:

Link

All very positive. Laughs at the fact that he has his own fans' song already, that he needs to learn it, that he likes to sing, but only when he wins trophies. And he hopes that will be soon with Everton!

John G Davies
37 Posted 16/01/2020 at 15:01:47
In Ancelotti's first four league games, Everton FC had more shots on goal than any other Premier League team in the same amount of games.

That gives an indication of his playing style
Steve Brown
38 Posted 16/01/2020 at 15:18:55
Jay @ 23, I also thought at the time he had gone defensive too early with his subs against Brighton. But I could see the logic his decisions and it worked, so he has right. Just about.

But the criticism he got was hugely disproportionate to his decisions and I summarised some of the comments I saw on TW in my post @ 21. I think we are so conditioned to seeing mediocre managers make stupid selection and substitution decisions that we are over reacting to every thing we see on the pitch. Carlo will make some wrong decisions, but he will make far more right ones.

Jerome Shields
39 Posted 16/01/2020 at 15:23:05
Ancelotti is only the start. There are still alot of others factors within the Club to be sorted out. Ancelotti will be
successful, the extent of that success will be limited to the extent these factors are sorted out.

Ancelotti is well aware of the problems at Everton before he started and probably is even more aware now. He does have the experience and certain high standards, which will mean he will address problems or
roadblocks on his performance head on, unlike previous Managers. Who where not capable, who did not try and got away with it or did not feel that they could.

Billy Roberts
40 Posted 16/01/2020 at 15:33:45
David@32
Forget Koeman?
See Jamie @29
Your omission speaks volumes Jamie, it's a pity we can't write Allardyce out of our history also.
Jerome Shields
41 Posted 16/01/2020 at 15:37:18
It's interesting that the Board did not hide behind Ancelottis experience and reputation, they just wheeled him out at the AGM and let him speak for himself. This is the first time Ancelotti has ever spoke at AGM of a Club he managed, as he said himself.
Jamie Crowley
42 Posted 16/01/2020 at 15:54:38
Hahaha. Billy @40 - I totally forgot! Oh my God that does indeed speak volumes. Just a footnote in the page of history.

Koeman - forgotten. Fans wanted to move on. Shite incomings, shite tactics, shite.

Ray @ 34 - I don't entirely agree with that, and it depends on your definition of success. I personally want to see us more economically sound. Ergo, 1-2 players in and before Carlo's contract is up, a Top 4 finish. I think that's absolutely attainable, especially if Gbamin is half as good as my initial impressions, and Gomes comes back even 90% of the player he was.

Dave Abrahams @35 - I'm convinced Carlo is going to see games out. I truly believe he's thinking "get a point minimally". With where we are in the table, and yes now we are thankfully looking up, we still need to grab as many points as possible. With our current squad and the way this season has gone, I'd rather see us take a point trying to protect, usually getting three full points, than walk away with zero. And the fact I'm saying that as it's completely counter to my DNA, says a lot for me. I've no right preaching to a Blue with your pedigree, but I think, internet mate, you're going to have to live with it for a while.

Jamie Crowley
43 Posted 16/01/2020 at 16:03:23
I should have said:

Koeman - red Christmas Tree. Fans - Goodbye, sir.

Ian Jones
44 Posted 16/01/2020 at 16:38:55
Jamie, we should perhaps acknowledge Koeman's 4-0 tactical victory against Man City. Apart from that
Dave Abrahams
45 Posted 16/01/2020 at 16:39:24
Jamie (42), yes I understand every point is important in order, first of all to retain our place in the premier league, and I was happy with Everton’s performance for most of the game against Brighton, but if Carlo continues to play the games out in order to get the points, then he will receive plenty of stick when he comes unstuck, which of course he will.

I also understand the poor squad Ancelotti has inherited, especially in midfield, which at the moment is practically non existent, Jamie I’m just criticising the last twenty minutes of one game, I don’t expect things to change from what they have been up to Silva leaving, in a few weeks. It will be judged one game as a time as far as I’m concerned. Mr. Ancelotti got plenty of praise for his first two games in charge and rightly so, they were not perfect in those games but gained us six vital points and he will be judged, fairly, on all future games, same as he was judged on the Brighton game.

Jamieas for you and me as Everton fans, I read all your posts, learn from them, laugh with them, disagree with some but you are totally entitled to put your opinions on ToffeeWeb as anyone, we are all equal on here, years supporting the Blues have no entitlement over fans who are younger and have less time as a Bluenose, Jamie I’ve never met you, hope to in the future, but we are mates.

Mike Gaynes
46 Posted 16/01/2020 at 17:33:14
Jamie, if you ever get the chance to go to a game with Dave, just jump on the plane and go. It's a wonderful experience. He's a walking repository of Everton lore.
Tom Bowers
47 Posted 16/01/2020 at 17:43:27
It's looking more and more that there will be no incoming players this month so we have to surmize that Carlo is satisfied with what he has to see out the rest of the season safely.
It could also be that the board are not willing to spend any more money until some players are off loaded and also to see how things are when the injured midfielders return.

Not such a bad thing however given that there may not be any real class players available just yet.

Max Murphy
48 Posted 16/01/2020 at 17:51:42
Alan #9, "Thank God we didn’t get Moyes." — I wonder what you’ll say Saturday at 5pm after West Ham trounce us?

A good speech does not make a good manager. I believe Carlo Ancelotti is a good manager, provided he has a half-decent team to work with. Unfortunately Everton are not a half-decent team.

An indication of our performances can be measured on how other teams get on against our recent opposition. Watch out for Aston Villa away at Brighton. I believe they will win there – like they did at Goodison.

Not a moaner – just a realist.

Peter Thistle
49 Posted 16/01/2020 at 18:41:10
Did he learn English from the same tutor who taught Martinez? Everything is "Fantastic"!
Darren Hind
50 Posted 16/01/2020 at 18:47:19
As long as I watched or comment on football. I will never understand the "in (fill in the blank) We trust". You may as well come on and say. I don't have the ability to think for myself, so I'll let someone do it for me.

I've seen this phrase appear about goon after goon. Turns out all that trust was totally misplaced because none of them were up to it

Lets be very clear here. Fawning all over Ancelotti and trying to shout down criticism of his mistakes serves no purpose. Its simply an effort to stifle debate. An exercise in "mustn't grumble".

Winning trophy's in different countries is highly commendable and we have ourselves a deeply knowledgeable football man. . . but he doesnt know EVERYTHING !
Yeah. He does know more than anyone who posts on here. He knows more than most of his peers but you'd need to be a bleeding idiot to believe he doesnt still have much to learn. He's proved that on a few occasions already. He has made errors that people on here would not have made.

I've got no problem with people blindly supporting him, denying his every error, but please. Dont try to shout down others with the daft theory that he is always right and they are always wrong. Dont expect others to applaud when he does well and stay silent when he doesnt. That way lies the death of football debate.

Those who are claiming we should not judge him until he has had 4-5 windows are perfectly at liberty to refrain from doing so themselves, but they can not tell others when to form their opinion. You will not get many people logging off for a couple of years in order to come back to give their measured, considered opinion. He is getting the big bucks NOW! and he will be judged now

Get a counter argument or get used to it, This "He knows more than you" argument doesnt cut it. Never has

Jay Evans
51 Posted 16/01/2020 at 18:52:57
Jay Wood (BRZ) no offence meant mate, honestly.

Unless I’m mistaken I wasn’t referring to a comment you had made before my first post. In fact re-reading this thread I don’t think you posted before me so I wasn’t aware of your opinions on Carlo‘s subs.

At no point during the game on Saturday -including after the substitutions - did I feel like we were going to concede. Quite strange really as I am usually a bag of nerves at the match.

John Raftery
52 Posted 16/01/2020 at 19:14:54
Tom (47) I agree we are unlikely to see any big signings this month. Brands made it clear on Tuesday that we will not be signing players merely to fill a gap in the squad unless they meet the standard required. As we know it is harder to prise those sort of players from their current clubs in January than it is in the summer.

The immediate priority therefore is to continue the process of offloading the surpluses and thereby increase the scope to bring in quality players in the summer who will improve the squad.

Brands also made the point we need to move from signing around half a dozen players in the summer window to bringing in two or three. For me that confirmed we will not see the scattergun approach repeated this year.

Mike Gaynes
53 Posted 16/01/2020 at 19:16:36
Awww... c'mon, Darren.

Disagreement, by you or anyone else, is not "shouting down". (Unless it's in all caps.)

Nobody is trying to stifle debate.

And maybe I missed something, but who claimed "we should not judge him until he has had 4-5 windows" and thus we need to wait years to express an opinion? Guess I overlooked those posts.

Chill, mate.

Bill Gall
54 Posted 16/01/2020 at 19:32:41
It is not surprising that we already have negative comments on here about the manager. We could sign Messi and there would be supporters complaining on here that he is to small. Complaining about the use of substitutes in a game you won, it is beyond believe.
To go for the full 90min plus in a game without getting some chances of an effort on your goal in the premiership is nearly impossible, that you did even if some chances were created by a mistake, is a compliment to the team and manager that you kept a clean sheet.

You start the game with 1 point, goals can get you more, but you need your defense to keep them, and I believe we have the rite manager to do it.
I often believed that if Martinez and Silva had brought in a top defensive Italian coach, who seem defensive as soon as they are born, they would have done better. But with their demise we have benefited in getting one of (THE) premier managers in Europe, who has a difficult job in bringing Everton FC, back to the top and will answer his critics in short time.

Robert Tressell
55 Posted 16/01/2020 at 19:35:42
I was totally bitten by the Serie A bug in the 1990s - the quality of players, tactics etc was superb. In many ways we're still behind in England where a good engine and physical attributes is valued over ability / intelligence. Our young players like Davies and Holgate should learn a new dimension to the game from this man. Certainly hope so. We just need to find a Savicevic from somewhere...
Steve Ferns
56 Posted 16/01/2020 at 19:37:11
Bill we just lost to Liverpool’s third team in the cup. We played well for 60 minutes against Brighton and then lost a grip of midfield and the substitutions didn’t appear to help with that.

I agree with Darren Hinds and Jay Wood. If we’re not allowed to voice concerns about our triple champions league winning manager why not disable comments and just add a like button, instead change the thumbs up to a clapping symbol.

Steve Ferns
57 Posted 16/01/2020 at 19:42:31
Robert I’ve not heard that name in years! Dejan Savićević was some player. Didn’t he play in midfield with our Carlo?

Edit: No. Carlo left in the summer of ‘92 as Savicevic came in.

John Reynolds
58 Posted 16/01/2020 at 20:07:10
On the Brighton changes, they strike me as classic pragmatic Italian catenaccio when the opposition began to chase an equaliser. I saw lots of it when Trappatoni was Ireland manager, had to sit through all the home games of two qualifying campaigns. Trapp implemented it exclusively and it was hard to watch. Carlo is much more forward going but it has its place.
Dave Lynch
59 Posted 16/01/2020 at 20:18:48
I don't want to upset anyone or cause a war on here...but Carlo knows probably more about the game of football than most of us put together...probably.

He has not only played and won at the highest level, he has managed and won at the highest level.

I will never criticise a man with a record like his, why would I? I have never managed at any level, I have played at a decent amature level but that's about it.

Give him 2-3 years and we will be winners again, of that I have no doubt whatsoever.

Carlo is warming to us and the club, once it's in his blood he will be truly be one of us. Let's rejoice in the fact that we have a manager that actually knows what it takes to make us successful once again.

We've waited long enough FFs.

Peter Laing
60 Posted 16/01/2020 at 20:22:46
So far Ancelotti has been everything that we hoped Koeman would be. Moshiri really nailed his colours to the mast when he appointed Koeman - huge pedigree in the game as a player that we all hoped would translate into managerial success. The appointment backfired and we have been counting the cost ever since with one bad appointment after another. Ancelotti has given Everton hope and a new slate, yes he's got a massive task ahead but really is there anyone else in the game at the moment that could breath life into the stricken patient that Everton have become ?

There will be twists and turns along the way, setbacks and some rude awakenings as we witnessed against Liverpool. Ancelotti is communicating with the fans, yes he's being rewarded hansomoly but he's saying the right things. Something Koeman never did, with him it was the pay cheque only that was important.

My feeling, judge him after 3/4 transfer windows, Moshiri has got his man and finally I truly feel we are heading in the right direction.

Tony Everan
61 Posted 16/01/2020 at 20:26:27
Carlo, like the others, will ultimately live or die by the quality of his signings. He will need a bit of time to get the players in he wants, to improve the team. It's harsh to demonise a manager too much before he has had the chance to do that, and then shape them into what could reasonably be called 'his' team.

There is a difference between slagging off and opinionated, constructive criticism. The latter is healthy.

John Boon
62 Posted 16/01/2020 at 20:32:45
I don't ever think that constructive criticism is ever inappropriate. Often other fans may disagree with your particular point of view. Let us remember that ToffeeWeb is a site for Everton fans to express their delight or disappraval of happenings around Goodison Park.

However there should be some limits. I never see the necessity to hurl verbal often personal obscenities at any player or the manager. Unfortunately there are also those pessimists who are eagerly waiting for the manager to do something that they don't like so they can join the, "I told you so brigade". Up to now Ancelotti along with Dunc has been a breath of fresh air in a previouslt stagnant atmosphere. However he still will need time to make his mark Give him that time.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

63 Posted 16/01/2020 at 20:34:54
Sorry Bill @ 54, but this doesn't wash with me:

"Complaining about the use of substitutes in a game you won, it is beyond believe [sic]."

A number of people made the perfectly legitimate OBSERVATION that Carlo's substitutions v Brighton changed the dynamic so that instead of playing mostly in Brighton's half as we did for 70 minutes of the game, with each substitution we progressively started playing deeper.

The team became more compacted in our half and we had no out ball through midfield to Richarlison and DCL. This clearly resulted in Brighton gaining the ascendency for the one and only time in the game, as demonstrated by the good opportunities they had to score an equaliser.

To label such observation as 'complaining' or 'negative' against the manager is to be a wee bit loose and free with the lexicon.

Plenty, such as myself, fully understood the need to replace fatigued players (Bernard off for Delph on 72 minutes), make tactrical changes (Walcott off for Coleman on 74 minutes), or a possible combination of replacing a player carrying a knock plus a tactical change (Digne off for Mina on 85 minutes).

Each in their own way perfectly legitimate substitutions to make. But unlike yourself and apparently others, I will not be in denial as to the collective consequence of those three substitutions.

I am fully supportive and hugely delighted Carlo Ancelotti is our manager. I believe only good on the playing side will come from his appointment.

Nor do I claim, and nor have I seen anyone claiming, that they know more about football than Carlo.

I am ALWAYS delighted that we kept a clean sheet. But again, I won't be in denial and say as Jay Evans claims @ 51 that "At no point during the game on Saturday -including after the substitutions - did I feel like we were going to concede."

The last 20 minutes of a game we had dominated until then were far more nervy than necessary as, in my and others' opinions, we most certainly did look like we could concede. And the overriding reason for that was a direct result of the substitutions and tactical tweaks that invited Brighton onto us more than at any other time in the game.

Darren Hind
64 Posted 16/01/2020 at 20:45:27
Mike

I did not, have not criticised the substitutions at Brighton. but I understand why people did. The reasons were screamingly obvious.

In the very first paragraph on this thread those who did were referred to as "Melons"
Then we were given the latest score "serial winner 1. ToffeeWeb moaners 0"
then we were told "its hilarious that people are questioning his substitutions already"
Then we have the claim that people were calling for him to be "sacked after two games" another claim that people are calling him a "fraud" I havent seen either of these claims. Have you ?

I wont pull up every post but there are clearly some who think criticism of Ancelotti isn't acceptable. Thats just a shame for them, because he will get it anyway.

In my opinion Those who DID criticise the substitutions against Brighton are spot on. Just as those who criticised the decision to try to play out of defence using two bollards in midfield against the worlds most aggressive press at Mordor.

This was no classic Italian shut out. it was a series of poor substitutions which turned the faithful into a collective nervous wreck because they completely surrendered the initiative to a team who had offered nothing all afternoon.
The substitutions didnt win us the game. The crossbar and poor finishing by Brighton got us off the hook.

I'd rather We/the club criticise and talk about errors and hope we learn from them. I have never been a fan of sweeping them under the carpet and denying they happened.- They have a nasty habit of resurfacing and repeating themselves when you do that.

The comment on waiting for several transfers was a general response to numerous calls for us to do just that.

This manager will be given less time by the public BECAUSE he is Carlo Ancelotti. Not more

Jamie Crowley
65 Posted 16/01/2020 at 21:07:52
Darren -

The only thing I'd add, not like I know better, but rather just something to chew on:

Carlo is going to experiment. I didn't see near as much of the playing it out of the back with Brighton as I did with Man City. He saw it didn't work and tweaked that.

Maybe he realized what a heart attack the defensive subs ended up being in the Brighton game, and now he'll tweak that moving forward? Just like he tweaked the playing out of the back after the Man City game. Who knows.

The calls for patience, for me at any rate, are a recognition of this man's depth of knowledge and approach. He needs to go down a much longer experimentation checklist before he has something that he thinks will work. And it will always, with Carlo I believe, be an elastic, ever-changing situation.

And that, for me again, is why I love the guy. There's going to be a lot of bumps in the road, but I believe, more than any Everton Manager I've seen, he will get it right in the end.

I made a comment, and I think I may have posted this before, about who I'd personally want as a manager. My single most important barometer is this:

Does the manager have a system, or does he develop a system with the players at his disposal?

Carlo is the latter. And that will make all the difference.

He's not above reproach or criticism, but when the criticism becomes caustic and full of vitriol, it's not doing anyone any good. Especially Everton at this exact point in time. We need to be more forgiving, and let Carlo do what Carlo does. And give him the time to do it, and the leeway to tinker while he figures it all out.

I didn't like the subs at Brighton at all. But honestly, and you'll not like this, Carlo can basically do whatever the hell he wants right now as far as I'm concerned. Play that Toffee Lady at striker for all I care. I'll forgive him as he explores, tries things, see what works and what doesn't, give players chances in different positions and situations, all of it.

Why? Dude has pedigree. Dude is smart. Dude's a winner. Dude is a stud.

Andy Crooks
66 Posted 16/01/2020 at 21:12:00
On Michael's match report I made the comment " strange substitutions". Had it been Silva I would have been much more direct. But, I thought I was treading on eggshells. New coach, great coach, above criticism, needs time, fickle fans. However, the substitutions were, in my view, Ancelotti - like but open to question..

What is wrong with that? This is what we do. Should Ancelotti have a beyond criticism period?

John Reynolds
67 Posted 16/01/2020 at 21:13:53
Darren, as it happens I’ve agreed with practically every word you’ve written over the past few weeks and didn’t see anything other than the MOTD highlights of Brighton so I’ll accept your view that the subs were dodgy/questionable. It’s easy to rationalise anything in hindsight after the result is recorded.

I was one of the 16% who voted against Ancelotti’s appointment in the ToffeeWeb poll. That %age has since been derided as wanting Moyes. In fact, I leant towards Arteta and had a slight concern that Carlo’s heart might not be in it once he recognised the scale of the work ahead of him.

He’s not beyond criticism but he does deserve our full support in the medium term at the very least.

Brian Harrison
68 Posted 16/01/2020 at 21:15:01
I think what we also need to focus on was the first 65 minutes, were we dominated most of the match. I think its unbelievable that we have for the first time in our history appointed a World class manager. I thought Carlo was over cautious with the substitutions and yes we lost our attacking threat because of it. But in football results are king, most red supporters are saying they are not playing as well as last year, but they are running away with the league.

Nothing wrong with legitimate criticism, we as fans have always done it and thats never going to change. But I think some think the guy has hardly had to many training sessions and we are critical already. But I think most are absolutely delighted in his appointment, you will always get the ones who criticize regardless, just so they can come on and say I was right if it doesn't work out. All I would say if this doesnt work out where we go from here as a club I don't know.

Dave Abrahams
69 Posted 16/01/2020 at 21:27:03
I wonder what the reaction, to those subs, would have been if they had been made by, Martinez, Koeman, Allardyce or Silva? The subs never settled the team, they completely unnerved them and just invited Brighton to attack, their goalkeeper was playing on the edge of his area and running yards outside the area to play the ball to his teammates. I won’t mention the tactics in the second half of the Liverpool game, because there wasn’t any. Ancelotti is a great manager but he is not infallible, no manager is.
Mike Gaynes
70 Posted 16/01/2020 at 21:43:30
Darren #64, of course I read all those posts. And all I'm saying is that none of them constituted "shouting down" or "stifling debate". It's an accusation that is simply unfair.

And although Peter at #60 just did make a liar out of me by saying he feels Ancelotti shouldn't be judged until "3/4 transfer windows", nothing in his post constituted shouting or stifling either.

Nobody can shut down debate here. You're setting up straw men. Just because somebody disagrees with your opinion doesn't mean they're trying to prevent you from expressing it -- and I should know, because hey, who has disagreed with you more times over these many years than I have?

And in case you were wondering, I too disagreed with a couple of Carlo's actions so far, but in my view he's not going to judge his players by previous performance under other managers -- he's going to run them out there and see for himself, sometimes in lineups or situations we expect to go badly because we've seen them before (Schneiderlin!!!). As Jamie says, he's going to experiment. But long term I do expect him to create great success here. So I guess I'm a happy clapper too.

Enjoy the debate -- and please don't accuse people of trying to stifle it. Ain't happening.

Don Alexander
71 Posted 16/01/2020 at 22:09:31
Our Daz (#64) nailed his CA colours to the mast just prior to Carlo's appointment (doom likely - salvation unlikely, a.k.a in betting circles as "the muppet's safe bet", as were Martinez, Koeman, and Silva).

In fairness Daz then did his level best to un-nail his colours immediately CA was appointed but, if prior form is to be a guide, our Daz has but one opinion of our present manager and, if Dazza's correct, we should all have been worried before his reign actually began.

I don't think Dazza's correct, yet, and as a fan I hope he never is.

I'm way more worried about Moshiri being able, or not, to provide CA with the few players minimum needed to get us to the top six and, never mind for this season at least, top four.

You don't appoint a gourmet chef and then give him just beans and bananas to get to Michelin star standards after all.

John Reynolds
72 Posted 16/01/2020 at 22:25:16
Hey Don, beans, bananas, nuts & grains are the future. Steak & foie grad are so last century...
Paul Birmingham
73 Posted 16/01/2020 at 22:26:55
There’s a long hard road ahead, but having Carlo as manager, has lifted the spirits around Everton, and the grey clouds are slowly lifting.

The most optimistic Times since Howard’s Way, let’s hope Carlo, can bring back the good days and success.

Turning over West Ham, is a good match to start a winning run.

Hopefully, one or two signings this month, and let’s see.

Darren Hind
74 Posted 16/01/2020 at 23:07:30
Mike

Peter didnt make a liar out of you, he simply illustrated that you have missed a lot of posts from People saying the same thing.

There are people on here who clearly have a problem with criticism of Ancelotti. You don't even need to leave this thread to see that. Its ok to praise him before he has done anything but those offering legitimate crticism are told to reserve judgement.
Football doesnt work that way. A manager doesnt get a half term report. he gets half hourly ones. He gets judged on everything he does from the moment he signs on the dotted.

I also see a few people making nasty claims that their are negative people waiting to say I-told-you-so. Its bollocks. The only people who worry about others saying I told you so are those who are desperate to say it themselves.

Don Alexander

I love that you follow my posts so studiously, I love that you labled me not a true fan,after reading my article, but most of all, I love that you try to sneak onside with the entire article in your last two paragraphs. I dont think its me trying to unail my colours . .do you ?

Paul Johnson
75 Posted 16/01/2020 at 23:38:24
Sorry Darren I have to disagree with the everything he does after he signs on the dotted line. I am sure that most people on this site have moved into a new job somewhere in their lives and as we are all aware there is a bedding in period where we get to know who we are working with and what processes and systems exist in the work place. No matter what profession every organisation does things differently. so we find our way no matter who or how experienced we are. Just because you are more experienced doesn’t make you right as less experienced doesn’t make you wrong. As the saying goes it’s is what it is’ and we will all make mistakes as we find our way.
Where I find the issue is not in the individual performance or lack of but the willingness of people to either find fault or support without truly knowing someone’s potential without giving them the chance to actually get on and do the job. So my point is everyone gets it wrong somewhere when new. But surely they should be given a chance to prove their worth without being undermined within days/weeks of coming into a new environment, with new colleagues, new team.
Surely we have to have patience, I know how hard this is as like a lot of people on this site I have seen great times and I have also seen us scraping the bottom of the barrel (Mike Walker) but this guy is the real deal but like all of us when we have found ourselves in a new job, he needs a little bit of time and patience.
John Keating
76 Posted 17/01/2020 at 01:00:17
Had Ancelotti had like for like replacements on the bench that could have maintained our dominance I'm sure he would have used them

Unfortunately he has to work with, and use, what he has been left with
No doubt there will be times when his substitutions backfire and the I told you so brigade will be out in force

At present he's doing OK, league wise, with what he has. There will, for sure, be step backs along the way but as long as we see some sort of improvement this season surely that's enough.
It could be worse, Silva could still be here!!!

Jack Convery
77 Posted 17/01/2020 at 01:35:12
If DCL had finished the one on one he had V Brighton the subs issue would not have cropped up. If If If Lucky generals Napoleon called them - they are like gold dust and to be treasured.

EFC are always knackered entering the last 15 minutes - or the last 90 minutes when at Mordor. Fresh legs were needed. He put them on and we won. Yes it got squeaky but we won.

If it gets squeaky again v WHU and we win GREAT ! and if it gets squeaky next time we play the RS and we win - FANTASTIC !!

Mike Gaynes
78 Posted 17/01/2020 at 01:50:34
DH #74, no disagreement with anything you said there. We'll just have to disagree on whether those posts are attempts to stifle discussion. I believe they actually further ignite it.

And -- as usual in my debates with you -- I'm right. 😉😛

Simon Harrison
79 Posted 16/01/2020 at 02:50:30
Jeez Fellas, now I remember why I only lurked for so long before feeling confident to 'join in'.

Carletto has been here 27 days, his contract is for FOUR and a HALF YEARS!!! Do the maths! That is less than 2% of his contract time. of that he has inherited a squad, that we all now recognise is abject, with possibly several exceptions, though I doubt more than two, or three at a push.

Brands and Carletto have (probably) decided rather than trying to buy in new talent, of the correct quality, to get to the summer transfer window; I'll hazard a guess that they think the return of Gomes, Gbamin and Iwobi will give them 'options', and will be like three new signings. Unfortunately, the quality will be unknown until they return to playing again. I.e. Will the injuries hamper their playing ability, or will they be as good (or the same) as before?

Re The thread and posts; I agree that constructive criticism is healthy, I agree that 'artificial harmony' also stifles creative and productive debate, as does a toxic environment. So be happy to agree to disagree without insults and put downs, or even an air of superiority. We're all desiring the same thing after all. Success on and off the pitch for Everton. Challenge decisions, selecion, tactics whatever by all means, but remember we all have the same Love of the same club, so go easy on each other.

Personally, I rate Carletto's appointment as the best thing since Moshiri took over, and before that, the Kendall years. The FA cup win, just made me pine more for the Kendall years...

As long as we keep gaining points and closing in on 6th/7th position, and we offload more debt (I.e. Players) off our books the better.

The AGM didn't fill me with joy due to the financial implications and also the insipid level of inspiration the Chairman and CEO gave me. However, it did at least in part, Brands and Carletto together make me hope for a more successful football team. Yet, as I say 'hope' we'll have more success, but that relationship will take at least a year to come to full fruition I think.

The overriding problem with EFC, in my humble opinion, is the infrastructure, and the existing financial mess we find ourselves in, which needs to be sorted, before we even think about sitting at the top table again.

The players are what we have, it will take time to coach, train, improve, or remove them.
It will take financial room we haven't got as of yet, to bring in Europa/Champions league quality players. Lets not just buy for buyings sake, a mistake previous mangers have made.

BMD should be online for the start of the 23/24 season, if approved. Yet, EFC need to be far more creative and demanding in their commercial workings. Increasing our revenue streams and income is key to going forward, and even relying on European football would be foolish. Yet achieving that goal would be a kick start to the above.

All in all, until the start of next season, we won't have any other driver than to just win as many games as possible or gain as many points as possible and get that 6th place.

It's going to be hard fo the rest of the season, so we need to unite behind the team (every player!) and try and 'push us' up the table. NOTHING else matters this season. Pick up your baton, bang your drum we are Everton! Support the team.

I have faith in Carletto, I have faith in Brands. However, I also believe they will both make mistakes, it is how they deal with them, and what they cost that will matter. BUT not for a while yet for me...

Simon Harrison
80 Posted 17/01/2020 at 03:00:11
Well said Jack @77, penalty four minutes in, bang, one nil.
Penalty for the push on Holgate bang two nil
Richi scores, three nil
DCL score 1v1 four nil
DCLs non-goal is a goal five nil

What subs?

I thought Carletto made his subs when required and in the best fashion possible.

The 'hit and hope' strike from Trossard would have been a wonder goal (and I still think JP had enough to stop it, if it was more accurate)

As for Murray, well if Sidibe, Delph AND Mina had actually closed down and tried to tackle Maupay; or even why did Delph and or Sidibe actually not bother to close Maupay down for 20-25 metres..? I guess that was Carletto's plan or instruction to his players.

The simple fact is, yet again, the players were gassed out for the last 15 minutes...

Phil Teece
81 Posted 17/01/2020 at 03:28:11
Strongly agree with Jamie at 26
Phil Sammon
82 Posted 17/01/2020 at 04:14:39
Simon 80

‘The 'hit and hope' strike from Trossard’

That’s a bit unfair mate. It was a cracking strike that had Pickford beaten all ends up.

You seem to give Everton the rub of the green in every scenario you itemise. We should have had two pens and we had one legitimate goal. Brighton had two fantastic chances to score also. Let’s not pretend we were robbed of a 5-0 romp.

Mike Reddy
83 Posted 17/01/2020 at 04:48:17
Being a fan of Everton FC for more than 30 years and living in South Africa, watching as often as I can is exciting. Getting the best performing coach may not generally by always the best solution for any club. Some clubs will adapt to some managers and others won't. In my personal view I think Everton got it wrong by choosing Ancelotti. He mostly work with clubs which are doing well.

I still think David Moyes would have been a better choice for Everton. With no financial resources he did wonders at the club. I don't think Everton will achieve such with this manager. In a matter of time he will either be fired or resign. To go to a bigger club. After all he was fired from Napoli. Soon you will see the hard work which Furgeson has done recently will be destroyed. After all Everton is a people's club. Just my opinion.

Darren Hind
84 Posted 17/01/2020 at 05:31:07
Ha Ha Mike 78

You are right. It did provoke debate. Looking back. There was no criticism of Ancelotti on this thread until people started to attack it. It appears some posters are getting their defence in first.

Lets concentrate on the West ham game. Its going to be more difficult than some will make out, but definitely winnable

Andrew Dempsey
85 Posted 17/01/2020 at 06:24:31
I don’t think he has the desire or tactical acumen to make Everton a successful side.
Modern football and the way it is now played at the elite level, has passed Ancelotti by.
He belongs to the most recent previous era of great managers who are now, basically, Dinosaurs, alongside Wenger and Mourinho.

These three men are now dots in the rearview mirror of the accelerated modern game. None of them will be offered the very biggest jobs from the top end of the table, anymore.
That’s why Ancelotti is here. That’s why Mourinho is at Spurs, another club that never wins anything.

The profile of Coach/Manager we need is someone more like Ralph Hasenhuttl (just in case you were wondering).

Ancelotti is full of professional pride, and I’m sure he’s excited and up for it.
But this job will break him. It’s definitely a younger man’s game, trying to make Everton decent again.
If he signs Lewandowski then I will eat my fedora.

What we need is 12 players out - 6 or 7 in. Massive wages, rebuilding a team from scratch. It’s going be tough.
The amount of money is what makes me not trust this whole situation.
The way his deal has been setup, with supposed bonuses for avoiding relegation, the length of the contract.
Him and his team aren’t taking any chances. It’s huge money all round, whether he brings success or failure.
If we were a serious club, he’d be on a two year deal. Show us how good you are, and then you’ll get the two year extension.
But no, it’s four and a half years!
When it goes wrong here, and he’s sacked, his reputation won’t be tarnished too much, you know, because Everton is a difficult club to manage etc etc

He can retire to Vancouver, go skiing, chill out. It might slightly annoy him that it didn’t go better at Everton, but it’s not really going to effect him that much, he’s still one of the most successful managers of all time either way.

Steve Shave
86 Posted 17/01/2020 at 07:14:59
Simon Harrison (79) thank you for posting one of the most measured and sensible posts I've read on here for a while. Objectivity, realism and positivity. Take a bow, son. I was going to comment but your post said all I wanted to say and probably more eloquently so. PERSPECTIVE!
Phil Sammon
87 Posted 17/01/2020 at 07:27:00
Unreal.

We land Carlo Ancellotti and have some fans moaning we didn't get David Moyes or Ralph Hasenhuttl.

It's all about opinions, I guess... Crazy opinions.

Stephen Brown
88 Posted 17/01/2020 at 07:31:40
Debate is great, it's what this site is for! Although the premiss that Carlo Ancelotti is in some way a negative or mistaken appointment at this point is way too negative in my opinion!

In that logic — Is there a manager out there good enough?

Jay Evans
89 Posted 17/01/2020 at 08:20:11
Love debate and love discussion on TW. No one is immune from criticism, including our manager.

There are undoubtedly some negative posters that could benefit from a happy pill or two though.

Naming no names.

Steve Croston
90 Posted 17/01/2020 at 08:38:04
Mike Reddy #83... What are you smoking man, I want some!
You have got to be a stone cold, raving loony to suggest that now we have Ancelloti in place that Moyes would have been a better appointment. I really wonder at some people.
Moyes is now, and will always be, yesterday's man. He is a firefighter and nothing more. To be seen as an upwardly mobile and progressive club (as our new owner and fans would like) and to attract top quality players, who do you think is the better fit?
I suppose you would like Barkley and Stones back too?!?
Moyes indeed!!! I'll remember to look back at your post whenever I need cheering up with a ridiculous story.
Dave Abrahams
91 Posted 17/01/2020 at 09:21:52
Simon (79), plenty of common sense in that post.
John G Davies
93 Posted 17/01/2020 at 16:23:18
A building company has been struggling for years, buying cheap materials not fit for purpose for years on end.

A new owner buys the building company and invests a lot of money. This in turn encourages a top, top tradesman to come in and manage the company. Everyone knows the new manager is in the top ten all time managers list.

The new manager knows it will take time to turn the company around as he is expected to work with the surplus, below standard materials.

Should the manager be judged on the standard of building while using the sub standard building materials? Or is it fair to wait to judge him when he has top class building materials on site?

Mick Roberts
94 Posted 17/01/2020 at 18:47:57
only thing that can fuck ancelloti up is brands with his pathetic signings
Pekka Harvilahti
95 Posted 17/01/2020 at 21:21:30
By the way, I was there at the Brighton game in the Gwladys upper with my brother-in-law against Brighton. Not a great match but a win is a win and it was the first win of the six matches I ever saw at Goodison. It was my 60 birthday on the day and a good one as I recall. We had some beers and wine and Winslow was was packed so we got to the next Everton pub. Very nice people there from Belfast as I recall.
A lovely evening and a great dinner. We stayed at Adelphi, it's a pity that it's not so great as it was during the days when Everton was in it's prime.
Maybe this was off the topic, but there you go. Hope you don't mind.
Steve Ferns
96 Posted 17/01/2020 at 21:26:08
I didn’t mind at all Pekka. It was great to hear you had a great time. When was your last game? Have you noticed much change since you last came?
Pekka Harvilahti
97 Posted 17/01/2020 at 21:42:39
But for Ancelotti, if he can't do it at Everton nobody can.
The guy is a winner, even now, with a shit team, he's won 3/4.
I know that for most of his career he has had the very best of the players but let's see can he get some of them to Everton and make those that are here already to feel they are also as good.
I like his attitude towards Everton, he really seems to appreciate the fans and the club in a way that Koeman never could do or understand.
Pekka Harvilahti
98 Posted 17/01/2020 at 21:53:36
Steve, I had a terrible games at Goodison because I brought my daughter Laura there two times and we lost them both 2-3 against Villa (2008) and West Ham (2016). How unlucky can you get? But I think Laura is a strong person and she has not forsaken Everton for such a 'little' misdemeanors.
The next job is to convince the boyfriend to follow the pack.
Steve Ferns
99 Posted 17/01/2020 at 21:59:03
I hope next time Laura goes she sees a thumping win and you can convert the boyfriend to the cause.
Pekka Harvilahti
100 Posted 17/01/2020 at 22:12:52
Yeah, hope lives eternally. I have really liked your analyzes about Everton squad. You must really have some inside information or is from the stats sides only?
I like to think about the right team for a day but Ancelotti will do it in his own way.
I saw him playing for Rome around '86 and he was always in the middle, dictating the game.
Carl Manning
101 Posted 17/01/2020 at 22:33:07
To put David Moyes in the same conversation as Carlo Ancelotti is an absolute joke.


Brian Williams
102 Posted 17/01/2020 at 22:35:40
Here's another one for you then, Carl. The Mirror online has a headline of "David Moyes determined to justify why he chose WHU over Everton."

I spat my drink out!!!

Carl Manning
103 Posted 17/01/2020 at 22:37:42
It was when he said he was glad to be home at his press conference! Like he thought that would hurt us!
Carl Manning
104 Posted 17/01/2020 at 22:46:24
Brian, I just read it and he says he rejected us in December!
Steve Ferns
105 Posted 17/01/2020 at 22:48:07
Pekka, Too much time spent reading all things Everton. I need to find a less stressful pastime!
Brian Williams
106 Posted 17/01/2020 at 22:52:56
Carl. I'm sure he did. 😂😂😂
Steve Ferns
107 Posted 19/01/2020 at 13:18:06
Reports that the nutter in charge of Napoli wants to sack Rino Gattuso and wishes he could do the Italian thing of bringing Don Carlo back. I wonder if the Napoli fans are thinking the same. Seems Rino's passion and discipline oriented approach has not worked at all.
Francis van Lierop
108 Posted 20/01/2020 at 14:00:20
Reports furthermore from Italy that the Napoli boss, Aurelio de Laurentiis (the nutter, as Steve above put it) really wants Carlo back. Gattuso, has lost four of the five matches since taking over from Carlo.

Napoli are in free-fall.

Steve Ferns
109 Posted 20/01/2020 at 14:18:42
Francis, the usual situation in Italy is that Carlo would be on gardening leave now. Then they could bring him back in and put Gattuso on gardening leave. It's been known, in Italy, that the same coach has been sacked three times in one season by the same club!
Brian Wilkinson
110 Posted 20/01/2020 at 19:01:28
What a shame our former managers messed up big time in the transfer market and the amounts of compensation paid out on our previous Managers which is hampering Carlo from bringing in his own team.

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