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Andrew Keatley
1 Posted 21/12/2019 at 11:32:50
Holgate back in defence. Sidibe, Delph and Sigurdsson return.
Michael Lynch
2 Posted 21/12/2019 at 11:34:05
Are we back to one up front with Richarlison and Iwobi on the wing?
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

3 Posted 21/12/2019 at 11:38:47
Quite a few changes:

Pickford, Sidibe, Mina, Holgate, Digne; Delph, Davies, Iwobi, Siggy; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Stekelenburg, Coleman, Baines, Keane, Bernard, Kean, Tosun

Eddie Dunn
4 Posted 21/12/2019 at 11:40:30
Well what is the point in playing Digne? He will simply breakdown at some point and we will waste a sub.

I hope Delph is fully fit or the same applies.

Arsenal have Lacazette on the bench... madness! They should put two strikers up against our backline.

The good news is looking at the Arsenal defence. Surely we can score against that lot.

Mike Powell
5 Posted 21/12/2019 at 11:55:36
Should of stuck with Baines and let Digne rest untill 100 per cent, how long will Delph last before he is injured, that's the Moaning out the way, COYB let's beat these were not to far behind them in the league
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

6 Posted 21/12/2019 at 12:14:44
On the recall Digne, we don't know the extent of his injury. Baines at 35 has played 2 consecutive games.

My concern going into this game was, with all the injuries and sickness, Duncan was seemingly limited on how to freshen the team up and give some a break.

Let's hope his medical staff have advised him well.

Ciarán McGlone
7 Posted 21/12/2019 at 13:17:39
Fairly even match with little quality on show.

Very few of these players should be exempt from an Ancelotti clear out.

Conor McCourt
8 Posted 21/12/2019 at 13:24:27
i think the don + mikel went to the bar at the break after both realising what they have just signed up for.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

9 Posted 21/12/2019 at 13:26:58
Not a great spectacle.

We are actually getting into some good positions, but our delivery into the box from open play and dead ball situations is woeful today.

Get that right and we can win this.

Mina much improved from Wednesday. Sidibe doing OK. Digne still off it, both defensively and with two dreadful corners. Delph a solid anchor at the base of midfield. Tom as ever trying to make things happen.

DCL battling well. Richarlison looks just a tad off the pace. I saw him on his haunches and looking groggy just before half time. Is he carrying the bug that struck others down this week?

Tosun for Iwobi I could understand more if he was pushed up front and playing close to and alongside DCL, but if anything he appears to be playing deeper and behind him. Can't figure out what he is meant to do from there.

Arsenal carry very little threat, but still we need to avoid getting caught cold because they can counter attack with devastating effect.

A little more pressure on Arsenal on the ball. Keep getting into good positions around their penalty area. Better delivery into their box and we can win this.

Simon Dalzell
10 Posted 21/12/2019 at 13:39:30
I don't understand why Bernard didn't come on for Iwobi. Tosun?
Johan Elmgren
11 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:05:41
OMG, we are poor... Where is the Big-dunc effect? We are playing like a pub-team.

And the officials suck bigtime again. How they are getting paid to do this is the ultimate question...

Stonewall penalty denied by both the moron on the pitch and the moron behind the screens... Goalbound shot stopped with the arm raised above the head when sliding... Absolutely mind-boggling... Penalty all day.

Johan Elmgren
12 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:08:41
This Kevin Friend-dude, is he a gunners-fan? Pathetic refereeing...
Simon Dalzell
13 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:08:50
Tosun taken off.Why was he ever ON ???
Andrew Keatley
14 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:26:34
Hard to know what to say after that performance, but in terms of quality on and off the ball I’d say that we’ve not had many worse showings over the last six years. The saving grace was that our defence were able to cope with the equally abject Arsenal players.
Kieran Kinsella
15 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:29:57
Good enough. Credit to Dunc for stabilizing the ship during a fun of games that terrified us towards the end of the Silva era. Not pretty, but effective. Yes, Arsenal are "there for the taking" as some claim but so are we if you look at our league position. He's had a lot of injuries to deal with and I think the skeleton crew are probably a bit burned out after their efforts in the last 3 games. Overall though, I am content wit that but naturally hoping for big steps forward once Carlo settles in.
George Cumiskey
16 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:31:11
Terrible terrible performance one of worst of the season, awful substitutions thank your lucky stars Ferguson never got the job till the end of the season.
After Tosun, Siggy was the worst player on the park how he stayed on for the full game was a mystery and Tom Davies wasn't much better.
Carlo has a massive job on his hands.
Gerry Quinn
17 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:34:55
Everton interim manager Duncan Ferguson on BT Sport: "We wanted three points but what a fantastic performance from us. I couldn't have asked anymore from the players - they've been fantastic for me.

"It was a bit scrappy and we were a bit leggy after Wednesday but we fought it out and we got a point and a clean sheet."

On the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti: "It's fantastic for the club for someone of that pedigree to come in at Everton. I haven't spoken to him yet but hopefully I will tonight over a couple of glasses of red wine."

2 points to make - what Everton was he watching, and shouldn't he have said WHITE wine in CAPITALS?

Michael Lynch
18 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:36:04
Our players aren't good enough. Putting Ancelotti in charge of them won't change that.
Steve Ferns
19 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:36:49
Wasn’t a great game. But we’d have taken 5 points and undefeated after 3 games. There’s much room for improvement but at least there’s a base to build on for Ancelotti. Thanks Duncan.
Stephen Brown
20 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:38:10
How much would we get for Tosun ?
How much would we get for Siggy?
How much would we get for Keane?
How much would we get for Kean?

Dreadful display from both teams but I’d have taken 5 points from those games beforehand but the cup penalties hurt the most !

Fraser Auld
21 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:38:18
That was the worst arsenal team I can remember. A semi decent team would have wiped the floor with them.

Started well, Richarlison and dcl look good together. Lost momentum when Tosun came on and richey went out to the left. On reflection surely Dunc will think he should have brought Bernard on for Iwobi.

Injuries and illness contributed but it was a scrappy, listless performance with the ball - big job for Carlo!

Tony Hill
22 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:43:00
Appalling from both sides. Ancelotti seemed to age during the game.
Paul Smith
23 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:43:00
Thought Tom was one of our better players along with Sidibe & Mina. An absolute shocker quality wise; wtf has happened to Digne ? Kean is awful. Moise Keane has done nothing ever, I wasn't fussed to see Iwobi going off but for Bernard not the really poor Tosun and Siggy is so poor it beggers belief. CA must be anxious and knows he's taken a huge risk with his reputation I can only think he's been promised a Kings ransom to buy a new team.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

24 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:43:14
OK. Well done and thanks, Duncan Ferguson. Unbeaten over 90 minutes in all of his four games, but this was poor fare today.

On too many occasions in promising situations our first touch allowed the ball to get away from us to cheaply turn it over to Arsenal.

On too many occasions our delivery from open play and dead ball was woeful. As a result, there was little or no threat on the Arsenal goal.

I have absolutely no qualms with Duncan, for the 2nd week running, subbing out the sub. His call to bring Tosun on for the injured Iwobi early on, but tactically the Turk added nothing. If anything, it blunted Everton's threat up front.

Under Ferguson, playing DCL and Richarlison in close proximity to each other has kept the opposition defence honest and worked well for us. Bringing on Tosun broke up that speedy and intelligent partnership with the Brazilian pushed left.

All good if Tosun assumes the Richarlison role in playing close to DCL, but he didn't all game. He was either wide right or deeper and behind Dom and not in close proximity to feed off our number nine's knock on and hold up play.

Just 5-10 minutes into the 2nd half I was calling for Tosun to be replaced. That he finally was I totally agree with. He was contributing NOTHING. If anything, he was being detrimental to our cause.

The positives, Sidibe, Mina, Holgate, Delph, Davies and DCL had decent games (but not faultless). Richarlison bust a gut for the team, but wasn't at his best attack wise. Digne was poor, Siggy peripheral, Keane skittish and Italian Kean failing to stir the crowd in yet another brief cameo appearance.

Carlo Ancelotti has got a big job on his hands.

It's going to be a fascinating watch seeing what he does with this squad - and club.

Kieran Kinsella
25 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:44:40
Carlo's presser perfectly describes my opinion of Dunc. He said he had done well with discipline, organization and motivation which are SOME of the key ingredients. If Dunc had all the ingredients he'd be the new boss but he has done well to address those issues. Moyes had similar strengths, Marco was more about style, hopefully Carlo is the whole package but I think he's smart enough to see the value someone like Dunc brings to the dressing room.
John Raftery
26 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:45:34
‘They never do well with these horrible lunchtime games'. Did we not beat Chelsea a fortnight ago in a lunchtime kick-off?
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

27 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:47:07
Andrew @ 14.

"in terms of quality on and off the ball I’d say that we’ve not had many worse showings over the last six years."

It pains me to say it Andrew, but we most certainly have had many a worse showing than that in recent years.

Michael Kenrick
28 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:47:55
You're right, John. Guess I was scrapping the barrel for excuses to explain that utter dross.
Brian Hennessy
29 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:50:25
Great summary Jay, pretty much as I saw it. Our passing and ball control today was shocking.

I can see why Dunc played Digne as asking Baines to play again today might have been too much but if it was up to me I would bring Baines back in for the next game.

I think Carlo's thoughts will be he needs to sign some players quickly in the January window.

Mike Oates
30 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:51:20
We effectively played Arsenals U23’s, and what a good bunch of players they have coming through, compared to our paucity. Something has to change at the Academy, U18’s and U23 levels, we aren’t producing the goods.

It was a lot to ask 3 games in a week, 2 against good / quality opposition. You could see DCL had nowhere near the same energy level and playing 3-4 players after long injuries, sickness wasn’t ideal. The irony was that Arsenal were there for the taking and we couldn’t rise to it. Brighton took them to the cleaners 2 weeks ago and we never got near them today.

Ancelotti has the biggest challenge he has ever faced, so few quality players, so many poor players and unfortunately a problem with so many injuries, far too many than there should be. Gomes and Gbamin are one offs you can’t do anything about but frequent muscle injuries to Delph, Walcott, Schneiderlin, Sidibè, Bernard, and Mina isn’t right.

Anyway thanks to Duncan, restored passion, fight, and unbeaten over 4*90 min matches all Top 10 teams wasnt expected. Over to you Mr Ancelotti - can’t wait to see what he does for Burnley at home.

One last point why is our passing so bloody poor, Davies can’t pass ever ever and his control is shocking

John Raftery
31 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:51:59
Some ridiculously negative comments after a hard-fought draw. The players have had a tough week with only two days of recovery compared with the five days Arsenal had to prepare for this one.

Very happy with the draw and the performance. We need to keep in mind we are in a relegation battle with a squad of limited ability and beset by injuries.

Jim Hillier
32 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:55:40
Poor, very poor. But not Silva poor. New era starts against Burnley? I really hope so
Steve Brown
33 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:57:20
Good luck, Carlo, he will need time to rectify the recruitment mistakes of the last three years. Sigurdsson, Keane, Schneiderlin, Martina, Niasse, Tosun and Walcott have to be off-loaded but honestly who would take them?
Eric Paul
34 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:58:21
You can't be happy with that performance, John.
Eric Myles
35 Posted 21/12/2019 at 14:58:30
Both pundits, Wright and Osman, so one of each, agreed that Everton should have had a penalty but, as soon as I heard Lee Mason was the VAR ref, I knew we'd get nothing.
Michael Kenrick
36 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:00:46
"Very happy with the draw and the performance."

Sorry but that was a dreadful game, and a dreadful result against a team 'there for the taking' as the saying goes. The failure of any of them to raise their game was a huge disappointment. The lack of quality all across the park was criminal. How anyone can be happy after watching that utter dross defies comprehension.

Raymond Fox
37 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:01:21
Okay, it wasn't a outstanding performance but it's another point. They are in the same boat as us quality-wise, so it was as good a chance for 3 points against Arsenal as we have had in years.

Nevertheless, if I was offered 5 points against the run of games we had I would have taken them gladly, so a well done for that.

We need 2 or 3 top quality players from somewhere but I can't see that happening in January, although they will probably get a few journeymen in to shore us up.

Simon Dalzell
38 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:03:14
Sorry John # 31. The criticism is well deserved. Appalling stuff.
Jim Hillier
39 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:03:54
There is a big difference between saying you'd have accepted a draw before the game, and saying that was a decent performance. It was poor, very poor, even if we might well have been even poorer under Silva.

Still give a thumbs up on balance to Duncan's brief caretakership, and the lift in spirits (fans and players alike) that it brought.

Christy Ring
40 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:05:26
Thanks Dunc, you done a superb job, and unbeaten during your short time in charge. You brought the pride and passion back. Disappointing today, but I think we were flat after Wednesday night.
Drew O'Neall
41 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:07:45
Michael @ 36

You can’t get blood out of a stone. The same players have been asked to go again and again at a much higher intensity than they have been used to.

The players who have been playing don’t have the required levels of stamina and the ones coming in (Delph, Sidibé) aren’t match fit.

He wanted to bring on Bernard but I suspect he was feeling it in his warm up hence the decision to introduce Tosun.

It’s going to be a tough Xmas period and there will be more games like that while we recover the squad. Hopefully we’ll continue to pick up points.

Tony Everan
42 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:07:51
Our passing, control, first touch and creativity were appalling. However Arsenal were worse, we were better than them today, just, and doesn't say much at all.

The bigger picture is: 5 points and unbeaten, from Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal is a good return in the dire circumstances we were in 3 games ago.

Duncan has done himself and the club proud. Big thank you to the big man.

Jerome Shields
43 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:09:02
Yes. It will be interesting to see what Ancelotti does. I bet he is thinking overtime at the moment. Some of these players are going to get one big shock. , Whilst other players will trive.

He will not accept below-par performances.

Paul Jeronovich
44 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:09:21
Bad game but, put into context, beating Chelsea and drawing with Man Utd and Arsenal with Ancelotti confirmed will do for me. COYB
Kase Chow
45 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:12:25
We would have lost that under Silva. Either we'd have switched off in defence or we'd have found some other way to lose it, so let's take the positives.
Alan McGuffog
46 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:14:26
Hope to God we have Usmanov cash behind us because so many need shipping out, involving our cutting losses. Dreadful set of individuals. We need to start again and, if Davies is the best it can produce, why not just dispense with the Academy? Or follow Liverpool's scouts around and see how they do it?
Kieran Kinsella
47 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:14:33
I guess it's actually a compliment to Dunc that so many on here are focused on the "poor" performance. His remit was to keep the seat warm. Because he has had good results, expectation levels have risen. So all the criticism is actually roundabout praise. Maybe? Hopefully? Have a heart lads.
Stephen Brown
48 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:15:04
Does Carlo bring a fitness or conditioning coach as we must be the slowest and unfittest team in the league?!

Kean looks like he's put on about 2 stone since he arrived?! Look at the picture when he signed!

Also, can Carlo insist on practising dead balls?! Digne and Sigurdsson were really bad today!

Well done, Dunc, for steadying the ship!

Kieran Kinsella
49 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:19:37
Stephen Brown @48,

"Siggy were really bad today," today? I am pretty sure he left his dead ball skills in Swansea. The guy has been absolute clown since he rolled into Goodison.

Tony Everan
50 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:20:38
Stephen 48

I was thinking the same about Kean, looks like he has put more than a few pounds on. On the Deliveroo diet?

Kieran Kinsella
51 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:21:54
Tony

Maybe Kenwright can hook us up with the "Green Goddess" from TV AM to get the squad into shape.

Jim Bennings
52 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:23:47
Great news on Ancelotti and he’ll already be weighing up how many players he needs to replace in this team because not one position in our team is a safe one.

Our passing was abysmal and we can be thankful that were up against a worse team in Arsenal.

Davies, Tosun, Sigurdsson and Delph are four of the slowest players I’ve ever seen in an Everton shirt.

Lucas Digne seems to have had a full body replacement with Mitch Ward over the summer, he’s been total rubbish all season and Baines must play at least one of the next two matches.

Only Sidibe came out of that match today looking like a Premier League footballer today.

I’m just praying that Ancelotti keeps us up and then has a total wipe out in summer and replaces all the players not good enough and gets proper genuine match winning quality in.

Tony Abrahams
53 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:24:49
The year that Moyes got us to 4th, a full-strength Everton team were knocked out of the League Cup by an Under-23 Arsenal team, so I'm just glad we got a point today.

I was listening on the radio when Tosun came on and I actually said to my step-son, "I bet you he gets taken off" – which is not about being right, but just knowing that certain players are just not good enough for Everton.

Let's hope Duncan is given a much bigger role to play under Ancelotti because he's earned it, and let's hope the week's rest and some fresh ideas off Carlo can reignite our season, which has been so, so, so very bad.

Kieran Kinsella
54 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:27:32
Jim Bennings @52,

On what basis were we "up against a worse team in Arsenal"? Current league placing? Squad net spend? Record in the last four or five years? Overall history? They are presently a "better" team than us by any metric you care to mention so, while no-one is saying today's performance was amazing, you should at least have some context.

Stephen Brown
55 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:30:06
Kieran 49,

Very fair point! That was always one of his main strengths too! Without that and his goals, he's offering very little!

Who would take him off our hands though? Would we get £15M for him? Would someone pay his wages?

The same applies to Tosun, Keane, Schneiderlin?! Walcott could attract USA money?

We can write off Niasse, Martina etc but it would be nice to get some of this money back before our next spending spree! Hopefully this one has more thought and planning attached it!

Tony Abrahams
56 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:31:23
Alan @46, I've heard that the new mantra for any Liverpool scout is athleticism, and they recently got rid of an 11-year-old child because he wasn't athletic enough. Not a criticism, just stating something I've heard recently, and after 3 games in six days, maybe it's a good job Tom Davies has got a great big fucking heart.
Alan J Thompson
57 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:35:27
What an awful game that was between two aimless sides. The only thing on the park worse than them was the referee who was bloody awful. Neither side seemed to have any plan or idea of what to do and while I haven't seen any stats, did either side have a shot on goal?

It wouldn't have surprised me to read that both Arteta and Ancellotti had both declined the job as the only plus is that they can't do any worse. I suppose Dunc now goes into the history books as an undefeated Manager while Mr Brands won't be getting any time off in the foreseeable future.

Dave Abrahams
58 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:37:06
Arsenal had won one game in the last twelve in all competitions before today's game, they were putrid and Everton were worse than them.

We got another point, which was the only decent thing about today. The least said the better, except to say Sidibe had a very good game. Disgraceful performance, absolutely pathetic.

Tony Everan
59 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:37:38
Kieran, Stephen,

Sigurdsson has been a major disappointment: slow, not direct at all, no goals, no extra quality than any other player from dead balls. He is a player , at 45m , I was hoping to equate to Erikson at Spurs but he is a million miles away from that.

As soon as Gomes or Gbamin are fit there is no place for him in his current form. Maybe Ancelotti can coax something out of him? Since the summer break he seems a different player. Has something happened to affect him back in Iceland in June/July.

Jerome Shields
60 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:38:29
Well done, Duncan, five points with a poor side, with injury problems as well. No way Silva would have achieved that. At least Ancelotti got a look at some of our so-called regulars, and experienced what we have had to endure. 'Perserve and endure' like the Indian in The Outlaw Josey Wales movie.


Pete Hughes
61 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:39:10
Jim Hillier #32, "not Silva poor" – you clearly saw differently from 39k fans and millions more at home?!?!
Jerome Shields
62 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:41:02
Ancelotti will need to make sure Moshiri has a stiff drink before he gives him his first opinion of Everton.
Joe McMahon
63 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:43:10
Duncan has done well. But Chelsea in a bad patch, even Bournemouth won at the Bridge. Also, the worst Man Utd and Arsenal teams I've seen in decades. That said, we didn't get at home by Norwich. Be good if Carlo can keep him on the staff.

I still can't understand why Carlo has agreed on Everton though. He doesn't need the money but this will be the worst squad he's ever had to work with.

Jim Bennings
64 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:44:05
Kieran 54

I've watched enough Everton v Arsenal games over the years to see a great Gunners team to a bloody awful one, I don't think I've ever seen them produce so little going forward – and it wasn't because we were that good because we passed like a nervous Mastermind contestant.

Two poor teams that need major surgery, one glance at the league will tell you that we are in a fight to stay out of the bottom three and on today's evidence it's going to be a real tussle to just get over the 40-point mark.

I'm quite satisfied that we got the point in the end in all honesty because we were that bad; Arsenal will no doubt be kicking themselves also.

Ancelotti won't want to suffer these players for long, I'll tell you that.

Tony Twist
65 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:45:57
It can't be blood and thunder all the time, especially with a seriously depleted squad. Hopefully the new manager will have appreciated the good work that Dunc has done and not divert too much from that in the future but add to it so we can beat teams with less full-on effort.

Thank you, Dunc, for doing some sterling work as interim manager.

Kieran Kinsella
66 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:46:27
Jim,

I agree on the last point. But, if Paul The Esk is correct with his financial analysis, it's going to be a tough gig reshaping this team.

Steve Shave
67 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:47:15
Utter dross, embarrassing really. I thought Davies and Sigurdsson were awful, Tosun stank the place out. Had to endure that utter wanker Allardyce slagging us off on TV as well. They will pick up under the Don, I hope.
Jerome Shields
68 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:47:26
That was the worst Arsenal side I ever seen. Good luck to Arteta. He will do well to last beyond the end of the season. Arsenal are not a job for a beginner and the Arsenal Board will get lynched.
Jerome Shields
69 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:52:34
Kieran#66

There has to be Usmanov money somewhere in the equation. Ancelotti is no dupe.

Eddie Dunn
70 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:52:46
A solid enough haul of points from difficult games but the sqaud is so average. Once the adrenaline wore off we were left with sick/tired average players. The lack of pace through the team costs us every game. Keane is terrible and so slow, Delph half fit(and slow in mind and body), Davies, simplt knackered, but slow at the best of times, Tosun - almost a statue. Now the new beefcake, Kean, can't get going- like Lukaku after a summer in LA. Siggy (like Schniedes) completes the slow march of average players.
Only Richarlison(sick?) Sidibe, Mina and DCL looked to have pace. Digne(unfit) couldn't put a cross in to save his life. Pickford though, was on form.
So much to sort out, but it is no coincidence that mst of this squad have let their coach down regularly. Duncan looked relieved to get out of the hot seat because this is going to need a lot of work.
Sigg, Schniedes, Tosun, Keane etc won't get quicker. We have more passengers than Merseyrail.
Kieran Kinsella
71 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:53:30
Tony Everan 59

I don't know on Sig. But. we've seen on Merseyside in the past some top players just turn into complete crap overnight. Harry Kewell and Nigel Clough spring to mind. Given Sig's age I don't know if it's worth the trouble to give him another oil change. He may be for the scrap heap.

John Pierce
72 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:56:20
Big up for Duncan. He stopped the bleeding, reset the team based on hard work and heart. Ancellotti should be thankful, ‘tis the season after all, that he has a platform to build from.
Barry Rathbone
73 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:57:51
Hopefully a man of Ancelotti's experience can see mediocrity runs through this squad like letters through Blackpool rock and the requisite changes begin in January.

The mass clear out Shankly instigated on taking over at Liverpool creating an empire has been needed here for decades. The Moyes remodel into "non-entity Everton" should be dispensed with asap.

Hope he realises he has to hit the ground running because fans will accept a few poor results if they see "something" happening but same old same old will see the knives out for him before summer.

Kieran Kinsella
74 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:58:31
Jerome 69

That's my suspicion/hope. Maybe we can get USM to pay over the odds to have their name on our boot laces or something. Maybe that or Moshiri is going to disregard the FFP penalties given the fines amount o less than the rewards based on the City/PSG experience.

Steve Brown
75 Posted 21/12/2019 at 15:59:45
Tony @ 59, he got married in the summer. Maybe he is a bit too fat and contented now. Mind you, I thought he has been only marginally less crap since he arrived - a massive squandering of money.
David Pearl
76 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:04:03
I didn’t catch all the game. Didn’t even catch what subs came on apart from Tosun. What l did see was no service to the front 2. From what l saw l would of taken Digne off and put on Baines for some service. Still enough quality on the field to create a shot or two. Anchelotti can’t start soon enough.
Peter Neilson
77 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:05:55
Well done to Duncan for getting 5 points I don’t think we’d have sticking with Silva. Having said that Arsenal look dreadful, like us a mid table team at best. Both new managers have big jobs ahead. For us Carlo can start by making sure Gylfi is nowhere near the first team never mind captain. His yellow card was his only contribution to the game.
Ryan Holroyd
78 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:08:04
Happy-ish with a point seeing as we've been decimated by injury, and a sickness bug.

Sigurdsson's legs have gone. He's finished.

Jim Bennings
80 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:12:32
Southampton steamrollering Villa, they look like a team capable of avoiding the drop (Danny Ings was available when we squandered £27 million on Tosun).

Norwich also winning means every game now we must pick up points in, Burnley will be a huge game especially with two hard away games at Newcastle and City to follow it.

Dermot O'Brien
81 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:14:16
Martin #18. Very true. But hopefully he will attract and bring in the players who are good enough.

Moshiri seemed to be talking a lot to him when ever the cameras were on them. Leaning forward and distracting him from the game, like a used car salesman when the engine starts rattling.
Overall DF did a good job. Tosun for Iwobi was strange, but what do I know.

Niall McIlhone
82 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:22:23
Agree with all of that Eddie@70. As I write, Southampton are 3-0 up at Villa and Norwich are up on Wolves- we are in a battle here to wrest ourselves from the drop zone and the injuries to Gbarmin and Gomes have left us with stop gap midfielders.
On the positive side, I thought Sidibe put in a good shift today as did Mina, DCL and Richalison, but we badly lack creativity in the final third, Tosun looked awful, this was his big chance, he just blew it.
At very least, Ancelotti and his backroom team will address the team shape, one can only hope that he has the feelers out for a top CF ( Cavani please !)and a creative midfielder.
Duncan has greatly surprised me, he has been ruthless, and has shown us much more than Silva did in terms of in- game management. Thank you Big Yin, I for one eat humble pie for wanting you gone along with the Silva back room. I hope Carlo can benefit from your ability and passion, God knows we need a bit of that in the pitch!
Brian Williams
83 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:22:55
Today was one of those where, rather than one or two having a real off day, most of the team had an off day.
Normally reliable palyers were making very basic mistakes time after time. Was it fatigue after playing so hard on Wednesday evening?
The players certainly seemed flat and lacking in both energy and creativity.
If one thing, among lots of others, is glaringly obvious it's the lack of pace and athleticism, especially in midfield, where Delph, Sigurdsson and Davies (who tried hard) are all too slow I'm afraid.
Joe McMahon
84 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:26:40
Jim Bennings, please don't. Sigurdsson, Bollasie, Klasson, Michael Keane, Tosun over 150 million for that pile of crap. Added to the existing very average championship squad, yes we are in trouble. Huge task ahead for Carlo.
Andy Walker
85 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:29:04
I can’t see Sigurdsson and Davies getting near Ancellotti’s preferred team. I have never seen two midfielders that are so easy to sell a dummy to in the centre of midfield. Add to that Davies’ ability to repeatedly fall on his arse and/or foul the opposition and we have as ineffectual central midfield as I have ever seen play in blue for nearly 50 years.

Tosun? Has he ever had one single good or even half decent game? Make it easier, what about one good 20 minute period in any game? If he has I haven’t seen it.

Iwobi did himself a favour by getting injured so at least he didn’t repeat his Wednesday night performance.

Keane came on and looked shit. No change there.

Digne should have been hooked for Baines. He’s not been remotely close to the Digne from last season for whatever reason.

Sidibe is not good enough and apart from a couple of decent crosses in his whole Everton career to date has looked poor.

Delph is injury prone fortunately so at least he doesn’t get to show us his mediocrity every week.

DCL and Richarlison at least always put a shift in and created the odd opportunity. Some hope there.

Pickford made one excellent save today and looked solid, but we know he’s prone to a howler.

We have a squad that’s lacking in every position. I think it speaks volumes that when their new, world class manager sat in the stands watching them today, most of our pllayers bottled it instead of rising to the occasion. They haven’t got the mental strength required and many are not top EPL quality players ability wise.

Ancellotti will have seen it for himself. Let’s not forget he’s been used to working throughout his career with many of the best players in the world, not some of journeymen and has beens that steal a living at our club. Their days are all hopefully numbered, as indeed should Brands’ be for his own transfer market failures.

It’s going to be a revolution as long as Ancellotti is given free reign (no Brands sticking his useless nose in) and cash to spend. Or, it’ll be a disaster of epic proportions if Ancellotti is expected to polish a squad that mostly consists of blue shirted turds.

Kieran Kinsella
86 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:33:51
Jim Bennings

re. Soton/Norwich, one of my concerns being in relegation under Silva was that we were the only team down there seemingly unable to get the odd surprise result. Dunc has changed that much at least.

Allan Board
87 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:36:59
Well done Duncan on a job done. Got your team all wrong today though mate. Baines instead of Digne, Holgate in midfield with Davies next to him, 2 up top, no Siggy, Bernard should be playing 10.
Hope Moshiri likes spending again because there is no way in this world Ancelloti will put up with 10/11 of this squad, will use them to stay up and then discard them.
As other's have said, the lack of pace is truly alarming. Hence why Dunc went route one.
I am not expecting a quick fix, could still be in and around the bottom half by April.
However, I bet the chat over the pasta and olives between Carlo and his lad would be entertaining tonight!!
Kieran Kinsella
88 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:39:20
On a technical note, I don't think I've ever seen a game before where both sides had caretaker bosses and newly installed managers sitting in the stands about to take the reins. Not surprising it was a bit of a damp squib as I am sure there was a fair amount of anxiety from both sets of players wondering what new guy was thinking.
Mark Boullé
89 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:40:16
Where the hell is Gbamin anyway? We've heard nothing, not even a return to light training...?!

He only had a thigh injury, how bad can it be? He was due back in January wasn't he...?

Kieran Kinsella
90 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:42:25
Mark

It wasn't just a strain, he burst open his quad didn't he? That's a major injury. Can even be career ending. I think Jan was the timeframe to start exercising again if the surgery went well but I don't think it was anticipated he'd be playing again any time soon.

Brian Williams
91 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:43:42
Mark. I once "only" had a thigh injury similar to Gbamin's. I was out for six months, on crutches for three, and never played competitively again.
George Cumiskey
92 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:45:19
The worse Arsenal team I can remember and we never even put them under pressure.
Duncan done well to get a bit of passion out of them in his first 3games, but today showed his lack of tactical nous with his selections and substitutions.
And I'm really pleased he never got the job till the end of the season.
Jim Bennings
93 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:45:40
Kieran

It look like a game with two caretaker managers for sure and almost had the feel that it was two teams that were just not wanting to lose the game.

Arsenal will go their own way Under Arteta, good luck to him but our concern is here at Everton.

Hopefully Ancelotti can weave magic and somehow change the mentality on the pitch too.

We must keep putting in endeavour each week, I said yesterday you will get no good football from these players they are not good enough, but endeavour is needed to battle to safety that’s the priority until Carlo can sign his own players.

Christine Foster
94 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:46:01
Having sold up in France in the past week I was looking forward to going to Goodison today but alas could not acquire a ticket.. so had to satisfy myself with a morning shopping in Greathomer street market in the morning and a small drink in The Mons where I watched the game virtually on my own..
I can understand why, that was so poor, not sure why Coleman and Baines were dropped but how they were missed., what a poor game from two side who were more interested in not losing than winning, how on earth we managed to land the calibre of manager we have especially on that showing is frankly incredulous.
After reading much on TW that borders on wrist slitting, doom mongering and frankly a less than overwellming response to a new manager of such pedigree, (one I hasten to add, I am not party too) I was hoping we played like a team fighting for their places.. They didn't.. And it was lethargic at best, abysmal at worst..
What our new manager made of it, I cringe to hear, 5 so he is going to have to work his magic ASAP..
The next game at home will be interesting, hopefully I won't be alone in The Mons to see it!
Frank Crewe
95 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:52:56
A terrible game but a couple of weeks ago I would have considered it a good point so I can't complain too much. Dunc put some pride back into them but now it's time for Carlo to put some craft into them.
hopefully he'll start getting them organised and maybe bring in two or three new faces in January to freshen up the squad. It's a new era under a new manager. Lets hope it finally works out for us this time.
Jamie Evans
96 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:57:04
Dismal dreary . bore fest terrible headline and match report.

Talk about glass half empty.

Thank you Duncan and Welcome Carlo.
And thank you Everton Football Club for this appointment.

Merry Christmas ToffeeWebbers.

Drew O'Neall
97 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:58:28
Reading some Evertonians’ analysis of that game was far more depressing than watching it.

Running our club really is a thankless task for poor old Moshiri et al.

So many ‘fans’ ready to throw out another baby every time the bath’s run!

Peter Jansson
98 Posted 21/12/2019 at 16:59:06
We have to be satisfied with a point. But I don't get why Baines get more playtime? Digne has been useless most of the games this year. I think he is one of the most frustrating players to watch as he is good to get in position, but he is wast and waste good opporunities all the time. It seems he has forgotten how to pass, cross, take free-kicks corners and about everything. And what is it with the long freethrows that does not work? Baines is just so much more quality even though he is 35.
John Keating
99 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:01:18
Well done Dunc for getting us 5 points I doubt we would have got had Silva still been here.
Absolute dreadful performance from both teams but more disappointed with us.
The passing was abysmal.

Ancelotti has a mountain to climb with the players we have and can only wish him luck

The only good thing about the present is that he has a week to look at the squad and more important the players get a few days before Burnley to recover as for sure Burnley won't give them an inch.

Not sure why Dunc made the changes he did as they certainly didn't increase the tempo of the game. Too many well off the pace.

George Cumiskey
100 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:04:13
Why do we have to happy with a point against one of the worst Arsenal teams that we've ever seen ?
Jay Woods
101 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:07:54
That was an opportunity wasted. It should have been a win and again Dunc has made it slightly more about himself with the sub, not that I'm accusing him of deliberately seeking the attention it brings. But a man's gotta know his limitations, and today Dunc's were laid bare. Welcome Carlo.
Roger Helm
102 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:08:24
Just a thought - we have actually got Ancelotti’s signature haven’t we? He’s not just now on a plane somewhere getting as far away as possible from Goodison?
Anthony Dove
103 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:08:30
Apart from Mina and Torreira no one on the pitch today, including the ref, should get paid
Brian Murray
104 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:12:18
Err... Frank Crewe (#19),

Err.... gotta excuse you but, with Richarlison and/or Digne, there's no top 4 quality including the daft goalie and the iffy centre-halves.

Gary Willock
105 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:17:02
Massive amount of injuries and Illness, but yet we’ve STILL taken 5 points from Chelsea, United and Arsenal, and given a full strength Leicester a proper game.

Sure, some of the simple passing, final balls and basic decision making has left a bitter taste that it could have easily been an extra 2 points - but after the Derby we’d have ALL taken that.

Football is fine margins and confidence. If (and it’s not easy in January), we can add 2-3 decent players we could be a really good team, and a match for anyone. If we balls it up we need to be aware that we are not too good to go down.

Time to stick with Carlo no matter what. He’s here for 4 years, and we need to now trust him. Hopefully he can attract an extra 10% on the quality of players we can get, and in this league that’s the difference between top 4 and bottom 4

George Cumiskey
106 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:18:15
Jay Woods well said, exactly right.
Ed Prytherch
107 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:20:31
Carlo is bringing in an Italian nutritionist. I hope that he does not put Keane on a pizza and pasta diet or he will look like rhino by the end of the season.

Steve Ferns
108 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:23:34
Ed, the Italian nutritionist is his daughter’s husband. Don Carlo likes to keep the Family involved with his son on the coaching staff, and his godson as fitness coach.

Everton will go from a family club to a Family club, if you know what I mean!

Stan Schofield
109 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:32:57
There's the usual negative hyperbole on this thread. Yes, it was a shit game, utterly crap. But what do people expect? Silva was being criticised for ineffective organisation before we had the injury crisis (and a crisis it truly is). Big Dunc has worked wonders, and so have the players. Those players have 'delivered' (as people like to say these days) during Big Dunc's brief spell as caretaker. To expect them to produce entertainment today, given the efforts they've made recently, is pretty naive. Yet some folks make the whole thing sound like a disaster.

We have a very good squad, but with some players who still need shifting out, and several more, of top quality, bringing in. It is certainly not necessarily a case of complete rebuilding, as many drama queens would have us believe.

Many on here sound like the media, which is a shame, because the media generally talks shite, as it's certainly doing at the moment when discussing Ancelotti joining us.

When well organised as a team, and barring the ridiculous injury list we have at the moment, we are still, overall, 'top part of midtable' and trying to achieve the next level of competing at the top of the table and winning trophies.

Ancelotti is, in my opinion, the perfect appointment for us, and nothing that he's seen today will have surprised him in the slightest. He knows what the aims of the Club are, and there's every chance that he sees us competing at the top far sooner than the four-and-a-half year duration of his contract.

Kieran Kinsella
110 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:36:40
I imagine Baines was dropped not just because of form but because he is 35 years old and has played a lot the last week after about 12 months of non participation. Once you reach a certain age you have to manage yourself carefully.
Roger Helm
111 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:46:21
Well done to Duncan - with a poor-quality, injury-depleted squad, we have one win and three (normal-time) draws against top sides. It shows what organisation and motivation can achieve. Hopefully with a new manager and some recruitment we will soon be on an upward trajectory.
Tony Mace
112 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:49:58
That was up there with the biggest pile of pedestrian turgid shite I have ever witnessed in 50 years of watching EFC

Ancelloti is now on the sick list

And Ferguson waves a fist in the air and calls it a brilliant display!!!!!

Utterly shite

Michael Lynch
113 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:51:15
Citteh v Leicester is a cracker, the complete opposite of our game - incredible skill and pace, particularly from City. Two best sides in the league, and no I'm not bitter.
Michael Lynch
114 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:52:28
Jamie Vardy is something else. I wonder if he fancies working with Carlo Ancelotti?
Gerry Ring
115 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:52:58
Credit to Dunc for steadying the ship. If Silva was still here we’ed be relegation fodder. We definitely lack quality in the midfield. We don’t have anybody with a bit of vision or composure to pick out a pass. We look too cumbersome. Sigurdsson is finished. Just watched Vardy score against City. What a player!
John Raftery
116 Posted 21/12/2019 at 17:57:13
The result took the club three places and four points above the relegation zone. The fact that after eighteen matches we have been able to beat only two of the fourteen teams above us confirms we are not in a false position. Indeed but for the five points gained in the past fortnight our situation would be a great deal worse: we would be in the relegation places.

When a manager takes over a poor team losing games the first thing he must do is stop the rot by turning probable defeats into draws. Ferguson has done that. We could not have expected much more from a squad severely depleted by injury and illness.

Mike Powell
117 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:00:56
Absolutely woeful game of football, two poor teams, on that performance think we need at least eight players
Andy Walker
118 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:01:17
Stan, I expect our players to be able to pass the ball to another player in a blue shirt when neither they or the receiving player are under any type of pressure and the other player in blue is less than 20 yards away, usual 10 yards.. That’s not too much to ask in my opinion.
Joe McMahon
119 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:11:03
Mike@117, we do but who on earth is going to take the existing shite off our hands. They won5want to leave either and they wont want to take a pay cut.

On that subject Arteta took a pay cut to join Arsenal and Rooney when he came back was earning 60k per week more than Salah, who notched up over 30 goals!

Bill Gall
120 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:20:54
I think if we would have made the same amount of effort to get Vardy, that we made to get Zuma in the summer, we may have got him. Anceloti may be able to coach Kean into a system were he can use his speed to get into scoring positions.We may have a new manager and owner who will splash the cash, but watch Everon kept back by the FFP rules.
Michael Williams
121 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:25:01
I agree. This Arsenal team was "there for the taking" as many have written. However, we performed like a team playing it's third game in six/seven days with an injury-depleted squad that has been pressing and running their guts out the last two games. Plus this team is just not very good.
Dave Abrahams
122 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:27:12
Andy (118), absolutely correct, most of the Everton players today were like amateurs, with apologies to thousands of amateur players, with their passing, lack of movement, very poor awareness, alert to nothing, no apparent energy to try and win the game, do they think the last two league matches before today have made us safe from going down, it was really unbelievable, at no time did they look like they were going to up their game and get better, never mind threaten the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Anyone who watched it on TV and thought it was a poor game, believe me it was ten times worse being there and seeing the wretched, woeful attempt at anything resembling football,for 95% of the game, I couldn’t wait to get out of the ground as soon as the final whistle had gone. You are going to earn every penny of your wages Mr. Ancelotti.

Conor McCourt
123 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:34:16
Bill I agree with you about Ancelotti being important for Kean. I wish our fans would not put him in with some of the shit we need to get rid of.

Kean is a young lad who is still struggling with the Prem like more experienced players like Fabinho and Keita have. Had we better options we could give him time to adapt.

I'm confident we will see better signs in the second half of the season with Ancelotti a known admirer in charge. Next season I'm sure he will be unrecognisable.

Eddie Dunn
124 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:34:19
All the PL teams have had and will continue to endure a punishing schedule of matches.
EFC's players look tired. We also have had a sickness bug of some kind. These things take a while to get over, so I'm willing to forgive Siggi for his particularly slow game.
I presume Baines was feeling a few aches and pains after Leicester and that is why Digne played.
Boy Digne is a shadow of the player of last season.
Nonetheless the whole squad looks tired but fitness has been a problem all season.
Other sides(Leicester) continue to play with verve and pace, Liverpool have had a gruelling sequence of games but I bet they will return and continue to grind out results.
I hope Carlo appoints the right staff to get this group a lot fitter.
In fairness, both teams seemed very anxious under the microscope and as the BT pundit mentioned, perhaps they were all worried about making an error, so always went for the easy option.
I'm glad we have Burnley on Boxing Day and not City.
Still Duncan has steadied the ship. As for his subs, he was at least trying things. Marco was always leaving it too late and then always doing like-for-like changes.
I expect to see some tactical accumen on view from now on.
May you all have a pleasant Christmas!
Clark Hughes
125 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:35:49
Proud of Dunc, but a pretty dire showing today. Extremely low energy and quality lacking in final 3rd. So, new guy in and no doubt signings to come next month - fellow blues, who’s on your wishlist?

Giroud? Ibra? Grealish??

Jim Harrison
126 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:37:01
At the end of the day, the performance will fade in the memory. We have had enough shite matches to forget, this is just one more, bad times for those poor souls who had to watch in the stadium!!

But, precious point gained. Under Silva we lost far too many games where we were actually the better team but lacked incisiveness. If you can’t win, don’t lose.

Martin Mason
127 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:45:57
I agree with DF that it was actually a good performance all things considered. Mind you what does he know?
Brent Stephens
128 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:48:02
I haven't read any posts yet. Have there been any reports of illness in the squad? Looked as if Richie was throwing up on the pitch, somebody said at the game. And did Siggy and o miss the game last week through a bug?
Derek Taylor
129 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:53:40
As somebody said on the way out, 'This new bugger's made no difference ! '
Chris Corn
130 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:55:00
Extremely poor game today. Two ordinary sides slugging it out. However, just over two weeks ago we were in the relegation zone and staring at the abyss. We've taken five points from a run of fixtures everyone expected us to get cut adrift from and have some breathing space. Job done Duncan. Enjoy your tutelage under a triple CL winner. 👏

Stan Schofield
131 Posted 21/12/2019 at 18:59:06
Andy@118: The players aren't misplacing passes on purpose. And there are many games where there are far fewer passes misplaced. Of course we'd like passes to be well placed. That happens more when we play well, and happens far less when we don't.

Martin Mason
132 Posted 21/12/2019 at 19:01:26
One thing today's game showed for me is the lack of quality in the squad. We are no better when we have all players available and no worse when we have lots of injuries. What transfer budget could solve this lack of quality?
Mike Doyle
133 Posted 21/12/2019 at 19:02:06
Eddie 123] problem is that Everton’s players have looked tired when playing 1 game per week.
In terms of fitness & conditioning we look feeble compared to others.
Liverpool’s players look in superb condition which probably explains why they score so many goals in the last couple of minutes.
Brent Stephens
134 Posted 21/12/2019 at 19:08:24
Silva was a poor manager, with a poor squad. And we rightly expected the worst from the Chelsea, Man Utd, Leic and Arsenal games.

Under Duncan, we got more out of those games than we'd previously hoped for. We lost to Leic only through penalties, which can be no fault of Dunc's - so I'd count that as a draw, and overall unbeaten over the 4 games (aye, I know what the record book says).

You can see from the four games what sows' ears Silva was trying to stitch into silk purses. Some excellent individual (and team) performances but some dire stuff through lack of consistency.

Ancelotti really has his work cut out to get this lot playing all the right notes, in the right order, and in time with the conductor.

I hope Carlo was told he was watching the U23 game prior to the main game.

Stan Schofield
135 Posted 21/12/2019 at 19:13:22
Mike@133: How tired players look depends on how well the team plays as a unit. Liverpool players looked to be struggling with Klopp's pressing style until they started to gel as a team. After that, the same level of effort produces better results, the ball doing more of the work.

There have been plenty of Everton games where the players have shown high levels of performance, i.e. those games where we've played well, where the effort they put in looks easier and produces greater dividends.

When we play badly, folks are always looking for individual factors to explain the bad performance, when in fact it is more complex than that (even though football is a simple game), with the various factors interacting in indeterminate ways.

Hugh Jenkins
136 Posted 21/12/2019 at 19:13:41
Martin 132 and Mike 133.

It will probably be surprising how a few players in key roles will be able to lift the overall performance rating off the entire squad.

Firstly, as noted by many, will be the need to get the players as fit as is possible.

Then a few crucial key players in key positions can literally transform a team from looking a shambolic squad of misfits to potential European Cup winners.

The questions is, can Carlo Ancelotti identify the key positions and acquire those key players quickly enough?

That is the gamble the club are taking and why he is reportedly being paid a king's ransom to manage us.

Jay Harris
137 Posted 21/12/2019 at 19:23:58
Well that was 5 points we didn’t look like getting under Silva and at least we got our first clean sheet in a while.

However I think both sets of players were scared of losing so n played it safe.

I thought Sidibe and Mina were both outstanding but Digne and Iwobi very disappointing.

Duncan has done what was asked of him now comes the long term fix hopefully.

Jim Harrison
138 Posted 21/12/2019 at 19:34:22
Brent 134

It’s not a poor squad!! Yes there should be at least one more CB and the striker issue still hasn’t been solved, but outside of that it’s a decent set of players who should be challenging for a European place.
Too many have been off form this year, but how they have been utilised is also of consequence.
In Digne and Sibide we have two excellent attacking defenders. Our midfield, who knows how good it could be? We have only seen them play together for 5 minutes!!
Up front, Richarlison and Bernard both quality, DCL has his moments. If Carlo can get Siggy back on form there is more than enough skill and pace to trouble any team in the league.
Silva wasn’t up to it. He produced some great moments, but needed everything to slot into place for it to work. Like Bobby before him, he was too stubborn to make changes when things were not going to plan.

George Cumiskey
139 Posted 21/12/2019 at 19:38:04
If Carlo can get Siggy back on form. OMG.
Brent Stephens
140 Posted 21/12/2019 at 19:46:03
Jim #138 - I was looking to use as few words as possible so tried not to go into lots of qualifying clauses etc. It is a squad with some limitations, that Silva couldn't overcome, and that in any case need to be rectified with some signings. I don't think all in the squad are poor, just that overall it's not yet good enough.
Stan Schofield
141 Posted 21/12/2019 at 19:46:38
George@139: For heaven's sake, Siggy was in good form last season. Scored 15 goals, and the midfield with Gana and Gomes was class, easily one of the best midfields in the Prem. This season, his form has slipped badly, but a lot of players' form has dropped off and the team hasn't gelled.

There's no reason why Siggy can't get back on form. A bit of balance and perspective is sorely needed on this thread.

Terry White
142 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:02:13
Stan (#141), let's not forget that George C. is negative about EVERYTHING Everton, not just Siggy.
Stan Schofield
143 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:15:17
Terry, very true! 😂
John Boon
144 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:17:58
Disappointing to only get a point against a poor Arsenal team. Very lifeless game but we have been far worse in a number of games. I think this may have been the right game for Ancelotti to see because it will help him to realise that he really does have a job on his hands.

This season appears to be a write-off after pre-season optimism. Sadly this has been the case for far too long. Hopefully the new man will be able to recruit far more wisely than any of the last three. For this season, sad to say, but I will be satisfied if we can move away from the relegation zone and start to play some exciting football on a consistent level.

Jay Tee
145 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:18:49
Don't know why Tosun was brought on and don't know why he sulked off straight down the tunnel. He had around 50 minutes to prove himself and he could not do it.

Alright, he ran around but he was totally ineffectual at closing down for most of his time on the pitch. Not good enough, along with 4 or 5 others. Get rid. Niasse would have done better, at least he hassles the opposition.

Charles Brewer
146 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:18:54
We didn't lose. We didn't look like losing. With referees and VAR watchers who don't have white sticks, we'd have had (at least) one penalty, and Luiz and Saka would have been off the park and we'd have had another 10 or so fouls from the assaults on Calvert-Lewin every time he went for the ball – not to mention quite a few for the snide nudges on Tom Davies. I still want to know what Davies did to get a yellow, all I could see was he piled in front of an Arsenal player to try to block a pass and the two collided.

There was a distinct lack of quality in midfield, which was significantly addressed when Holgate moved back in to midfield, splitting up Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin destroyed the effective relationship they had been building. I think there is a far better chemistry when Holgate and Davies are in midfield than any other combination at the moment.

It's a pity Dunc hasn't got another game because he will surely have learned a great deal from today's display. I think he got it tactically wrong with Sigurdsson currently a candidate for the 2019-20 Schneiderlin Award for Being Useless. Putting Iwobi, Delph and Sigurdsson together is a mistake because none of them have speed or a decisive pass amongst them which again throws all attacking responsibility on Davies.

I found the reversion to Silva tactics in a whole range of places very odd. For the first time in Ferguson's reign, we saw them trying to play it out from the back, fine if you are City, but all it does for us is guarantee 11 players between the ball and the goal, Pickford's hoofs sometimes go out but far more often they cause all sorts of problems with a quick switch upfield.

Oh well, let's hope Carlo can work out where the problems lie and fix them.

Bill Fairfield
147 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:19:20
90 minutes of utter garbage.

Carlo, please choose a captain that's worthy of the armband.

George Cumiskey
148 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:23:51
Take off the blue-tinted qlasses, lads, and comment on what you've just witnessed.
George Cumiskey
149 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:27:45
And tell me the positives you took from that match.
Jim Harrison
150 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:28:29
Stan 141

Couldn’t agree more. And he improved in his game under Ferguson, has been ill since.

He is quality, but again needs to be utilised effectively.

Jimmy Hogan
151 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:35:36
What's Ancelotti going to do with that lot? He's used to working with superstars...
Bill Watson
152 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:36:13
Can someone tell me why highly paid professional footballers seem incapable of taking decent corners?

One appalling corner, that's delivered to the first man at a height of around 4 feet is, maybe, excusable but two in quick succession isn't. Maybe if Digne was called in for extra training it may concentrate his mind.

We had absolutely no creativity in midfield so, all in all, a decent point but far, far from the standard expected. Dross.

Steve Ferns
153 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:39:00
George, I witnessed a side that had 6 of 7 central midfielders missing for the last few games, and other injuries across the squad. The team is patched up and playing 3 games in 7 days, some of them not 100% through injury and illness. All in all, the result was acceptable, even if it was not the best performance. I don't know what you were expecting?

Let's hope that we can recover in time for the Burnley match in just 5 days time, and Carlo can work some magic.

Mike Gaynes
154 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:39:21
Terry #142, spot on.
Paul Birmingham
155 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:46:13
In context a points a point, better than a loss, and I'm grateful for the resurgence since Duncan took over from Marco Silva.

Today was arguably one of the worst games this season in that the basics got lost and the effort and legginess of the squad caught up, and lack of nous stood out miles.

Arsenal were there for the taking but it seems this was a game too many today, for this Everton squad. I thought we'd do a Chelsea on them, in terms of approach and play; it didn't start, and didn't happen. No spark, no nous and so it was a very tired performance.

I'm sure Don Carlo will have seen enough to know what a massive job he has taken on. Hopefully he'll have his own scouting network to tap in to, as to improve we need players, with energy, skill, heart and desire for every game, not just one in three games.

Proud as hell that we have at last got a proven world class manager. Today I pray is the start of a new beginning at EFC.

Farhad and his business partners must be serious about taking Everton up, and to be consistent regular competitors on all competition fronts.

Today shows the massive gap between where we are and our aspirations.

Let's back Capo Dei Tutti, and La Familia to the hilt, and believe, as this is the chance and the time to make Everton great again, after years in the abyss, and in the increasing dark shadow of Old Nick.

This is the challenge of Don Carlo's career, without doubt, and 100% solid support will see us start a new era, with genuine optimism and hope.

I sense today many of this squad will realise the clock has run out of time in terms of age, fitness and drive.

Onwards and upwards.

All Have A Great Christmas.


Stan Schofield
156 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:50:54
George@148: Since you've told us to take off the blue tinted glasses, I'm now telling you to try wearing some.
Steve Croston
157 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:52:16
Carlo will have seen enough today to know he needs a BIG cash injection for players in January and the next 3 transfer windows.

I think we all know that Iwobi is useless and that Sigurdsson is not far behind either. If our new gaffer can get a tune out of either of those 2 pathetic excuses for footballers, then he will have earned his crust. But I can't see it.

It was pretty tepid stuff today and I think the Ferguson factor may have petered out fairly soon had he been left in charge. However, we have a bona fide genius at the helm now, so with a bit of luck we will edge up the table soon, and maybe also get something from our now seemingly annual 3rd round FA Cup trip to Anfield.

NSNO etc. Happy Chrimbo chaps and chapesses!!!

Ian Linn
158 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:59:30
We looked tired today and played poorly but we got a point.

Looks like the slide is arrested, we have to crack on and get some victories.

Hopefully the injured players will get back and we'll score a couple of players in the window.

Paul Tran
159 Posted 21/12/2019 at 20:59:57
They looked knackered, some looked like they'd been sent out without being fully fit. Back to the general malaise the team has had all season. A disappointing game, but as Martin Mason mentioned, they've got into the habit of not losing, which is important.

I've always thought this is a half-decent squad that has been poorly managed by too many managers. It will be interesting to see what Carlo does with them and whoever he brings in. I expect some much-needed experience and nous coming in next month.

Richard Mason
160 Posted 21/12/2019 at 21:06:32
It was a really poor game to watch, the players looked fatigued and a touch nervous.

I have to say the last two games with Baines taking the corners, we looked a lot more dangerous.

Richard Duff
161 Posted 21/12/2019 at 21:30:56
Kean has now failed to score under three Everton managers. Will he next week?
Colin Malone
162 Posted 21/12/2019 at 21:58:54
Why is Sigurdsson so bad?

Confidence? He took no responsibility in midfield. He did not want the ball; sorry to say this but he's been hiding in games.

Digne? Playing as though he wants away. Bring Baines back.

Derek Knox
163 Posted 21/12/2019 at 22:30:02
Good point there, Paul Tran. I also previously thought that we didn't have that many bad players in the squad, and with a couple of exports and couple of imports, we could be an improved side.

Today's shambolic performance, which I am hoping was just a one-off, exemplifies that Carlo has a lot to sort out with this bunch. I know we have been desperately unlucky with injuries, both short and long term, but that does not excuse some of the performances.

I really liked Alex Iwobi when he first came, and although I felt we had not only overpaid for him, but he was a last-minute addition,, which smacked of desperation by Brands to appease the fans.

Iwobi has been awful the last few games, and doesn't look like a £2.9M player let alone 10 times that amount. That game was there for the taking today, but as it turned out it could have been Arsenal nicking the points.

Gavin Johnson
164 Posted 21/12/2019 at 23:02:41
I think people should give them a break. Who really thought they'd put in a performance like Chelsea, after two hard-fought draws against Man Utd and Leicester before they did us on penalties, in less than a week when the squad's on the bones of its arse?! Of course they're knackered, and Sigurdsson and Digne weren't even fully fit. Let's hope we can bring in some bodies in the upcoming window.

Ibrahimovic on a 6-month deal. Steven N'Zonzi on a 6-month loan. And Jarrod Bowen for £5m and Josh Bowler would be realistic signings who could make a real improvement before we do the real business in the summer.

Eddie Dunn
165 Posted 21/12/2019 at 23:14:24
Steve F @153. I know it's been hard for the lads and perhaps the sickness bug has weakened some but three games in a week for athletes, mostly in their twenties, really is not that difficult.

Cast your own mind back to your twenties. Personally, at the age of 22, I was playing footy 3 times a week. Admittedly not at their level but I wasn't a pro athlete. Other clubs are coping with it.

I have thought our team has been lacking fitness for ages. Liverpool just won the World Wotsit Cup thing beating both thier opponents by being fitter in the last period of the game. Simples.

Nicholas Ryan
166 Posted 21/12/2019 at 23:22:08
Isn’t it supposed to be one of the things that separates the good teams from the bad that you can play like complete horse-shit for 90 minutes, but still get a result?!
Neil Green
167 Posted 21/12/2019 at 23:30:44
Gavin@164: Josh Bowler already belongs to us, he's out on loan.
Gavin Johnson
168 Posted 21/12/2019 at 23:37:19
I know mate. Bowlers out on loan with Hull. Jarrod Bowen is out of contract in the summer and Hull rate Bowler. Giving them Bowler would give us an advantage in getting Bowen who, for me, is the best young player outside the Premier League since James Maddison.
neil green
169 Posted 21/12/2019 at 23:50:05
Sorry, Gavin, I misunderstood what you meant.

I totally agree regarding Bowen, he would surely improve our toothless attack.

Eric Myles
170 Posted 22/12/2019 at 01:02:11
MK #36, I think the players just wanted to show the new boss what he's let himself in for!!
Eric Myles
171 Posted 22/12/2019 at 01:07:26
Colin #162, I think Digne always plays better when he has Bernard in front of him. Like our old Baines - Pienaar combo, they seem to connect with each other.
Mark Wilson
172 Posted 22/12/2019 at 01:08:03
We have taken five points from three games when I very much saw none coming our way. Duncan has given us back some spirit and deserves his chance to learn alongside Ancelotti whose arrival has to be the game changer we are desperate for.

And then today there was a grim nil-nil with Arsenal. Turns out it was helpful. Carlo will have seen first hand the mess he's got to work with, albeit a slightly less messy scenario than a few weeks ago.

He will have watched Michael Keane come on and shin a ball into touch then place a cross field pass into the Bullens Road stand whilst under no pressure. He will have seen how the nice guy that is Tosun really is a nightmare waste of £27M. He will also have spotted that Gylfi Sigurdsson has somehow become so ineffective it's scary and he will like us wonder what the hell Moise Kean is all about.

It's a massive statement this Ancelotti appointment. He's a winner and a class act but he's never faced anything like this I bet. The crows were so low after twenty minutes you could almost hear Carlo tut tut and watch him shake his head at the antics on the pitch. Poor stuff with barely three or four exempt.

Time for yet another fresh start. I can't bring myself to get excited as there have been way too many false dawns at this club. Game by game, Carlo has to change that feeling.

Graham Hammond
173 Posted 22/12/2019 at 02:01:54
Yet again we got shafted by the officials and lost two points as a result. This season refereeing decisions have cost us a lot of points already and if our 'luck' with injuries continues it could all yet cost us our place amongst the elite. I am fucking sick of it. Thank you once more Kevin Friend and Lee Mason.
Tom Dodds
174 Posted 22/12/2019 at 05:44:54
On a slight tangent... I was at the match yesterday and on the big screen notice board there was a constant advert on there for ‘MEGAFON', who where the ‘match sponsors'!!

Megafon of course is USM (Usmanov) owned (well 56%) by him.

Methinks it was a (more revealing) hint to prod Ancelloti that if there's any regrets about being there/here, he (Usmanov) is watching over!!?

Just a big thought!

Derek Knox
175 Posted 22/12/2019 at 06:11:17
Gavin @ 168, yes Jared Bowen has always impressed me, how many times has that come up that we are interested?

Yet we have done nothing but waited for him to prove he is consistent, and his inevitable cost to rise. Whether he would even be considered by Carlo is another matter, but we have a lot more deadwood to clear, plus with the injury situation a lot of players to come back.

Frank Fearns
176 Posted 22/12/2019 at 07:00:18
There's only one thing our new overpaid nomadic mercenary has to do and that is, come the last match of the season, that we are not sitting in the bottom three. The way they played yesterday was woeful and was relegation standard. The old saying "can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" comes to mind BUT BUT how I would love to be proved wrong.
Richard Mason
177 Posted 22/12/2019 at 10:49:45
I just listened to Ancelotti on Everton website. He said Everton have a good squad but he wants to bring more quality into it.

Interesting times ahead. I'm really looking forward to the Burnley game.

Peter Dodds
178 Posted 22/12/2019 at 11:23:53
“Up in the stands, Ancelotti chewed thoughtfully on the stem of his glasses, like an eminent anthropologist observing a primitive tribe attempting to use basic tools”. James Gheerbrant, Sunday Times today.
Brian Wilkinson
179 Posted 22/12/2019 at 13:45:44
Steve@153, I just took off my Blue tinted glasses and was about to reply to George, however you stole my thunder and saved me typing everything you hilighted.

All I can add is the players were aware of Ancolotti watching and went safety first, trying not to lose or over complicated play.

Brian Wilkinson
180 Posted 22/12/2019 at 14:00:51
Eddie @165, you hilight our neighbours being fitter, that is correct; what you do not hilight is our neighbours are blessed on the injury front.

I can go back to the mid-seventies when I first attended Goodison, well over 45 years, and in all that time I cannot recall Liverpool ever having long-term injuries where a player is out for months, certainly not two or three players at the same time.

You need luck in football, the first being avoiding injuries, do you think this super-fit Liverpool side would still dominate games with Firminho, Salah, Mane and Origi in the sick-bay, and with Lallana and Milner having to play as strikers?

That is what Everton have had to do in midfield. That team has played three games inside a week, with the same players, three players coming back from illness and injury and others plugging the gap.

I for one can forgive yesterday's performance with fatigue.

Stan Schofield
181 Posted 22/12/2019 at 14:17:12
Peter @178: Journalists aren't the brightest kids on the block. If they had intellectual substance, they wouldn't be churning out shite.
Brian Wilkinson
182 Posted 22/12/2019 at 14:24:44
I will also add to the above, when has a bad decision gone against our neighbours that has cost them that game.

Surely in all that time you get bad decisions or injuries from time to time.

We are just an unlucky club, two world wars ended two Championship-winning Everton teams, you have the 63 team and the Tony Kay ban, you have the 70 team and Brian Labone injury, add to that the 85 team banned from Europe, the injuries long term to Southall, Heath, Bracewell, Snodin, Parkinson, Oviedo, Coleman, McCarthy, Gomes, Gabadin, the list is endless.

Throw in the 77 cup semi, the 84 Milk cup final, the Clattenburg Derby, Hutchinsons no goal, Ferguson's Villarreal goal, the VAR decisions this season.

One team is blessed with luck, the other cursed.

Alan J Thompson
183 Posted 22/12/2019 at 15:25:06
No comments section on the "Tired Blues" segment? A shame as the picture looks like Ancellotti is thinking, "How do I get out of here?" while Moshiri looks like, " I hope nobody told him where the exit is".
Dave Abrahams
184 Posted 22/12/2019 at 15:27:20
Peter (178), looking at photos of our new manager sitting between Moshiri, who knows next to nothing about football, and Kenwright, who pretends he does, it looked like he was bored out of his skull. You could almost see his brains coming out of his ears.

I wouldn't have swapped my seat in The Upper Bullens with Ancelotti's for all the tea in China.

Phil Greenough
185 Posted 22/12/2019 at 15:38:34
Dave, he reminded me of the Queen attending official functions. Let's not kid ourselves, Ancelloti will have watched vids of Everton, so I don't think he will be as surprised at the performance of the team, as some on here purport.
Steve Ferns
186 Posted 22/12/2019 at 15:47:02
Phil, Duncan said he's already watched the last four games. No doubt they'll be full length. He'll spend today watching more and more. He's brought in his own analyst, Simone Montanaro, who no doubt will have been ploughing through everything. He'll be giving Carlo the full run-down.

Phil Greenough
187 Posted 22/12/2019 at 15:53:40
Thanks for that, Steve. That's typical.
Eric Myles
188 Posted 22/12/2019 at 16:03:19
Dave #184, Ancelloti was bored 'cos Kenwright was telling him his Uncle Cyril and Boy's Pen stories.
Dave Abrahams
189 Posted 22/12/2019 at 16:16:01
Eric (188),

If Ancelotti was a docker, he'd have turned his cap back to front, that's what dockers did when they were getting told ‘porkies' and Billy Boy is full of them.

Colin Malone
190 Posted 22/12/2019 at 17:55:15
Eric @171.

Digne hasn't signed the contract he has been offered. I've also read that Lyon are interested. His persona has changed as well as his form. In my opinion, his heart's not there.

Eddie Dunn
191 Posted 22/12/2019 at 19:30:48
Brian Wilkinson, I'm sure our Red neighbours have had injury problems, as do all clubs, we are just more aware of our own.
For example Lallana was out for ages, as was the Ox, who picked up another one yesterday. Matip was out as was Lovren.
One thing to remember though is fitter players are less likely to get caught on the ball or to pull muscles...because they are better athletes. Usain Bolt would not have won all of his medals had he been injury prone.
Justin Doone
192 Posted 22/12/2019 at 22:35:40
Happy Christmas to Evertonions everywhere!

Thanks Duncan for your passion that helped gain a very valuable 5 points against 'Big 6' opposition that many were worried about. Several players appeared to take note and duly gave that extra effort.

I'll praise Calvert-Lewin for being more aggressive in a positive attacking sense.

Davies for continuing to be here there and everywhere looking for the ball and a quick forward pass.

Holgate for being immense in defence and midfield. So many important tackles, blocks, headers and good forward distribution.

However besides from the general teams woeful passing, poor crossing and general lack of cohesion against Arsenal I was really disappointed to see so many backwards passes that Duncan had appeared to have eradicated.

Delph, Sigurdsson, Digne, Mina and Sidibe all guilty of slowing play down and passing the ball backwards. Shame on them, they killed any momentum we built up.

We reverted back to every corner and free-kick failing to beat the first defender. Was Digne carrying a knock because he was took off corner duty after 2 poor attempts?

Did the new manager being at the game become an issue for individualised trying to impress rather than continuing to play as a team for Duncan?

Ancelotti will know it's a big job – perhaps his biggest challenge to date – but, despite my lack of enthusiasm about him before the official announcement, I'm slowly encouraged by his experience improving clubs and winning trophies no matter their previous stature.

Welcome and good luck to all, NSNO.

Tony Abrahams
193 Posted 22/12/2019 at 22:54:08
I believe Ancellotti is staying in The Titanic, and his first words to Moshiri were, “It might have been cheaper trying to raise the ship itself than the money it's going to cost you raising Everton!”

I believe Kenwright was smiling, and shaking his head, whilst telling our owner, “I told you we should have went and got Moyes”!

Dave Abrahams
195 Posted 23/12/2019 at 16:07:44
Justin (192), in Sidibe’s defence, twice in the first half he stopped and put his foot on the ball, then passed it back, for the simple reason there was absolutely no movement ahead of him, another constant fault of the team under the last three managers, not including Duncan or Unsworth.

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