Premier League — Week 18

2 players from the game who'd be good for us are Neto, and Pereira. Would be good alternatives for Richarlison/Iwobi.

Interesting as both manager and team have rightfully received plaudits for the past 2 seasons.

But as soon as things aren't going their way, both the players and more worryingly, the manager, looked void of ideas. Only know one way to play? Only has a Plan A?

Leeds likewise I would argue. Play one way and hope it comes off, which explains their recent two halves to every season dilemma.

Declan Rice would be a wonderful addition to Doucoure and Allan in midfield. McNeill has lovely delivery too, would be a good alternative to Richarlison on the left.

Do you know if VAR looked at it? As I say, it didn't say on MotD whether they did review it or not. Seems madness VAR was brought in for clear and obvious mistakes and this was clearly a foul outside the box.

Wolves had a shout when the defender patted the ball back to the keeper with both hands, but then we're straying into interpretation of the handball rule, which these days requires a diploma.

The defenders are always questioned but there he was with his nonce in exactly the right spot in space for the trajectory of the falling ball.

The Spurs player in front of him jumped a lot higher but the ball curved over him. The Spurs defender behind was as close as he could be without fouling. Yet the pundits always say it was the defenders at fault for the goal.

I'm always curious – other than preventing the cross, how do you stop goals like that from being scored against you?

Listening to Souness using language like "our" and Keane with his "hope", why not just get a couple of supporters in?

But, to your question, when I was playing and coaching, I would say and used to say, you don't always have to win the header, but you can do "enough" to put the forward off. Block the run, make a decent challenge; just do enough.

I think you're right: that provides enough vague latitude that allows the defender to feel he could or should have done more to prevent every goal conceded.

I'll be giving this one a wide berth. Hate the fucking pair of them.

These two clubs should be fucked off to play each other every week in the Isle of Man Super League or something... If ever two clubs and their followers deserved each other, it's these two.

No goals and plenty of injuries please... long-term if possible.

It's annoying when pundits are presented as neutral, when they clearly are not.

I prefer having Cahill, Osman and other Evertonian pundits for Everton games. Mainly because they actually have more knowledge. Other pundits knowledge regarding clubs outside the Sky-6 boys club is so poor that all they do is come out with long repeated cliches and zero insight. And during the game really present zero interest in doing more than the minimum.

In regards to the 'biggest game in the world'™️. Dull, again. Hopefully stays this way. a dull 0-0 will disappoint everyone so much in their advert for the 'best league in the world'™️

In other news. That Ndombele goal was ridiculous. Unbelievable.

His view – as usual – Liverpool the best team in all respects while league leaders Man Utd should consider themselves fortunate to be allowed on the same pitch etc. etc.

Total bollocks. Like listening to a bloke in the pub. How do these people get these jobs?

Personally I prefer impartiality from the commentators. I'm terrible at watching Everton and usually have to wait a day or two before making rational comment. I couldn't do it at the time or I'd just sound like one of those fan zone people.

In fairness, Michael, that's respect to you for your on-the-day in-the-moment matchday reports!

2 points off the champions with a game in hand. 5 points off top with a game in hand.

Good place to be.

I thought Pogba, Fernandes and Rachford were poor for United in three key positions. Liverpool had Allison to thank for two very good saves and Thiago looked good in midfield; up front nobody impressed for them.

They are missing the lad from Wolves. When was the last time they won, was the Villa game in the cup against their reserves?

A Man Utd win would have seen them go 6 points clear of Liverpool.

Hopefully, if that does happen, Everton will do the decent thing and ask Uefa to let Liverpool have our seat. I'd really not want to contemplate how unfair they would think it all was if they had to slum it in the Europa League whilst we sneaked into to the top competition through foul means.

Because it was the Sky darlings, they use words like 'intriguing' and 'tactical battle'.

It was dull. Boring. Uneventful.

Liverpool's front three, after 24 months, finally seem to have lost their spark.

Good result for us. 2 points behind them with a game in hand. We've won more games than them despite playing 1 less. 5 points off top

My feeling however is that City will win the league (win their games in hand and they go top - yet one of them is against us)

So, while some may be saying it's a chance to rest players by not playing today, we are going to be in a catch-up situation soon, with us being two games behind all teams around us.

This one going down to one of the most nervous last week and days of the season.

Could it go down to goal difference too?

How good is this De Bruyne?

Best player in the Premier League by a country mile.

Surprised me, that one.

I see Leicester with the magnificent Harvey Barnes and Vardy, and then some very good players.

Surely we can finish above Leicester? Champions League music is so close, the league is a 1 in 6 chance too for us.

As thousands of Evertonians know already: Come on, Burnley: sign Kenny. Come on, West Brom: sign Tosun. Come on, Roma: get in Bernard.

If needs must, throw in Simms in the deal as he is a few years off and will be a good player, but we can finance someone who will do it today and for the next few years. Anything to allow Brands to give the nod for a quality signing and Carlo more immediate quality to choose from.

Yes, De Bruyne is my favourite non-Everton player to watch now and has been for the past 18 months. Until this season he was just my favourite player to watch, but now I enjoy watching Everton players again.

John stones gets his second!!

But then they done the same with Salah.

Don't anyone dare ask what are Green Shield Stamps!!

I think aswell as the mini fixture pile up, our main problem will be the goal difference. It will be a lot less than all the teams around us. Maybe realistically we will have to wait for the summer window, to hopefully bring in a couple more proven goalscorers.

That was indeed the finest of free kicks from Sterling.

Yes, great watching De Bruyne, so much energy, skill in all aspects of the game and a rapid thinking football brain to go with it.

Then again, it's great to watch the whole Man City team linking up and creating a nearly perfect football picture.

Making phoney 50p pieces, youse must have been posh! It took me ages to file down ha'p'nies (half-pennies) to act as shillings for the electric and gas meters. You'd get a couple of days out of a shilling then.

Mind you, getting a bit posh myself calling them shillings – better known as a “dogs knob” – a bob!!

Many Evertonians rightfully are enjoying watching glimpses of what James can see and deliver.

On their day, City demonstrate the difference when you have many of those types of players, who see things that us mortals don't, in the same team rather than the odd one.

I still think they are the most consistent good-to-watch attacking team over the last 5 years. City play well when unhindered but get into them and they can melt. Deffo the in-form team, but they can be beaten.

Shame there's no crowds but, when Everton get to play them, I hope that a proper job is done and Everton stick it to them and beat them. Their defence is their Achilles but getting the ball off them enough, is a challenge.

Let's hope the Owls FA Cup game goes ahead. Everton are doing well.

Souness said in post match debate.

"That is not difficult to do."

He was talking about the outside of the boot cross from De Bruyne.

Bitter?

They can only give praise to their own.

And they call us bitter?

That's the best line to ever come out of Twitter. I'd buy that person a pint.

Did anyone's ma/da sing while they were filing the coins on the back step, so the neighbours couldn't hear? Pouring water on the step so the coin didn't get too hot?

The neighbours were all doing it themselves, by the way.

Unless you are Graham Souness and play for Liverpool obviously!

Like who gives a monkey's arse!!

There's something about that which seems to do us down, if we end up in a top-four spot.

But we've got Carlo. Here's hoping.

The key to finishing higher will be four away games. Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool & Chelsea. I have all these as losses. I think 72 points will be needed to finish 4th.

Mark: As for Liverpool, they are hit and miss at the moment but I don't think anyone is expecting them to drop out of the top 4. A title win will be much more of a challenge though. Here's hoping they fall flat.

But to add 'they are all now getting into a bit of rythym' is well wide of the mark.

This is the form table since game 12 up to and including this weekend's games, when we started our recent 5 wins in 6 games v Chelsea.

Current PL Form Table

We sit TOP of that form table. One point clear of both City and United. 4 points clear of Arsenal (who have played a game more, due to our postponed fixtures v City and Villa).

SIX points better off than Liverpool. NINE points better off than Spurs. ELEVEN points better off than Chelsea. All in the same time frame.

We've acheived that with a tough run of fixtures during the most congested period in the football calendar, with many key absentees that you suggest will work against clubs such as Everton. And we've done that without our leading scorer and one of this season's standout players scoring a goal in any of the victories.

It is natural that supporters tend to navel gaze and look primarily at their own club's results and performances in isolation. It's more informative to take a wider view and recognize just how well we are performing against the Sky Six.

For example, whilst their home record continues to keep them in contention, Liverpool's away form is extremely ordinary. The 7-0 demolition of Palace a complete outrider. That was only their 2nd away win all season in nine games on the road. Contrast that to our six away wins.

Only United and Leicester have won more PL games than Everton's 10 this season. And both have played a game more.

Each season I also like to keep track of a mini-league of ALL games between Everton and the Sky Six. The current standing in that is the following (position, games played, points):

1 L'pool P 6 Pts 12
2 Spurs P 6 Pts 10
3 EVERTON P 5 Pts 10
4 City P 5 Pts 8
5 Arsenal P 6 Pts 6
6 United P 6 Pts 6
7 Chelsea P 6 Pts 2

Everton and City have played one game less than the others due to their game being postponed.

To add some further snippets of info, in ALL the games played in this mini-league of 7, Everton is the only team to score in all their games. United and Chelsea have failed to score in 4 of their 6 fixtures against the other 6 clubs. City remained goaless in 3 of their 5 fixtures. Our only defeat constitutes United's only win in this mini-league. Us, Spurs and Liverpool are the only teams in this mini-league to win 3 games.

Taking the very best clubs as the benchmark, in games against them - as we are doing in the wider PL standings - we are more than holding our own.

And arguably we've got players returning from injury to make us better.

I repeat a refrain I've used once or twice in recent weeks.

We're doing all right.

No answer to your knock-down argument!

Is Eddie Howe still available...?

My biggest concern about our push the a CL place though is goals and goal difference. Our GD is a lot worse than the teams around us, and we don't score the same amount of goals. I feel being realistic it gonna take another summer window, and hopefully the arrival of another 2 proven goalscorers. Another striker and a goalscoring midfelder at least is required. Teams around us have goals, pace and quality. Everton require more of all 3. We have waited for 29 years to qualify for the CL, another season won't kill us, and maybe will be more prepared and ready.

We would all like a couple of additions especially on the goalscoring front but Richy is yet to catch fire this season and JAmes should have more of an impact in the second half of the season.

Plus the postponements have given the treatment room a bit more time to get players such as Allan and Gbamin? up to speed.

'I'm not sure exactly what point you are trying to make.'

My point couldn't be clearer. I responded to Robert's claim that ALL the usual suspects are 'getting into a bit of rythym' when, in truth, Everton's 'rythym' is currently better than all of them. And in some cases by a considerable margin.

That's with a number of absentees, something Robert also said that a club like ours would struggle to keep up with clubs boasting deeper squads.
During the most manic month of the fixtures.
Coming through a number of tough games with 5 out of 6 wins.

Strangely, having had it spelt out, you choose to ignore that, echoing Robert's sentiments by stating:

'It's here and now that's the important part surely. The teams around us are all bang in form apart from Liverpool.'

I repeat, nobody but NOBODY is more 'bang in form' than Everton, 'here and now'.

And the above is all without referencing the second part of my earlier post which (again, quite clearly) demonstrates how well we are doing when all results only in games between the Sky Six are taken into consideration.

To further clarify the point I was making that you apparently missed, I will simply repeat the words I ended my earlier post with:

We're doing all right.

That's all very well, but imagine how much better it'll be when we stop playing shite!

If we had the same results as last season, we would be sitting in 7th on 28 points. So in terms of fantastically performing better, I am not convinced.

Yes, we only got 21 points in the 21 fixtures we haven't played and Sheff United and Fulham (read Norwich) at home should be 4-6 points this season not 0 and similarly 3 at Brighton rather than 0. So I am sure we will improve but we need to pick up 20+ not just 9 on last season's performances.

Interestingly they who we do not name, have dropped 21 points since they lost at Watford just before lockdown. At this rate of decline they could be relegated in 22-23. Oh please let it happen. They are now 2 points clear of City and 31 from us. All the top 7 are doing better than last year, except for one team - 😁👍 Even Arsenal are 5 points up on last season. And some ginger haired manager has dragged a EastEnd club out of the relegation mire. Now when has he ever done that before?