Everton blow more points with goals gifted to Kane

Pickford, Holgate, Keane, Godfrey, Digne, Allan, Davies, James, Sigurdsson, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Virginia, Olsen, King, Nkounkou, Coleman, Broadhead, John, Price, Welch.

Well, go look yourself.

As long as any combination of 3 out of these 6 is played, it's 3 too many in weaknesses in midfield.

As usual I've set my expectations low for tonight. Hope I'm wrong.

I'm surprised to see Niasse on the bench though! 🤪🤪

Still shows Calvert-Lewin in the Everton line-up.

But Martin tells us every aspect of the club is improving. Doesn't that make you proud to be a Blue?

James and Sigurdsson can't play together, at least unless we're showboating. 2 keepers on the bench.

OK, I'm being negative, and we are injury ravaged. COYB

Love your posts Dave, Always have done. but no offence. I think I'll continue to swerve your tips

And some fans complain we didn't start King.

Only at Everton.

COYB

I thought I saw a ine up where he wasnt playing.

Fuckers bound to score now.

Had two messages saying DCL is playing. Looks like the OS has lead quite a few up the garden path.

Cant not have a little saver on Richie now

Get yourself a coffee lad. You're talking utter shite

Hope you are up for this tonight. Liked your post the other day

Remember this: Life is a caberet old chum

Confidence needs to be there.. but we can win this. Rodrigues doing the silky stuff well and Sigurddson not bad either.

The goal we conceded was just a massive cock up. The one really poor moment.

The only problem I see is the reliance on the left side. The guy on the right isn't a footballer. We must have an option that's better than that?

Didnt realise you was a scouse noo yoiker.
Did you watch the games in Denneheys?

Messy goal for them, against the run of play. All started half way into their half with Iwobi playing a dreadful pass that basically took our midfield out of the game.

No pressure on the cross. Teased Keane to attempt to head it. I dunno what Holgate was doing, running off Kane, slipping and of course Keane's touch played the clearly offside Kane on. He's not going to spurn those, is he?

Siggy and James are combining really well, as exampled in the penalty. We've carried all the threat without the finishing. They've barely encroached our penalty area, other than the gifted goal.

Three points on offer here IF we take the chances when they come.

Football of the highest scientific order.

Not often we can say that.

Now hoping we don't just sit back.

For the majority of the game the superior side, only to gift them two goals by the same two players.

A pity, because Siggy's second was such a well-crafted goal worthy of winning any game. Goal of the season contender for me.

Far, far better than what we've seen of late.

I was actually pleased with our attitude and overall game, but we keep cocking it up - again and again and again - because we panic. It's our signature.

Some will blame Holgate, some will blame Keane, (maybe this is why the manager has chose to really protect the defence this season?) some will blame the two of them, whilst others might blame Richarlison, for that terrible miss near the end? But overall a much more fluent display.

I tell you what, for all the critics of the negative football supposedly served up by Jose and Carlo, I agree with you this was entertaining but I'd go further and say our three best performances and the three most entertaining games we've had the season were all against Spurs.

It's just gutting that we've drawn. For all the world it feels like I've watched a really comfortable win.

If I'm giving player ratings so many score high. Iwobi, Holgate, and Keane score nothing. There was no-one in between. Maybe Richarlison but he put in a good shift and was dangerous.

I was happy to see a lot of good forward runs and hard work closing their players down quickly.

We actually created some really good chances but couldn't take them.

I think in general we uped the tempo for the first time in about 6 weeks but to little to late.

Never be a keeper and never be a defender. UNBELIEVABLE!

Iwobi got shown up by an over the hill right back. Seamus with good runs, passing and cross. Keep him at right wing back or midfield.

King contributed to with good movement and runs. He should be starting more games.

Get tonight over with and I may be able to enjoy the rest of the weekend. Chin up blues.

Spurs are poor and Kane accepts gifts.

Despite the result, and the deep frustration, that revives my hopes a little bit that we might kick on next season. We will finish 7th-9th; not great for Carlo, it should be said.

Get done pace and runners around him and he will flourish!

Comical defensively I'm afraid! Keane and Holgate not sure they are the level we want to be ?

Looking at the fixtures I'd say Arsenal and Leeds will both finish above us now, whether or not we finish above Villa will depend on the results against them in two matches.

Our home record has completely spoiled the season.

We have won one home game since December and keep endlessly giving gifts to poor opposing sides, lets face it, Spurs were really poor tonight and we should have won that by at least two clear goals.

Even if DCL had played tonight you could have seen him missing those same chances because he's another that's lacking in that area.

Unless we sign a clinical forward in the summer then it's much the same again next term.

I thought it started scrappy from both teams and showed that generally Tottenham and Everton are not too far apart. The positive being they pretty much had their big hitters on the pitch, we are massively injury plagued. I would argue that everyone fit, we are better than them.

Were it not for the defensive blunders, that's 2 - 0. For the first goal, Keane shows what the likes of me and others are concerned with. He may be much improved this season - he is - but he watches the ball go over his head and stretches for it. Leave it. But then Mason is diving for an imaginary ball when he should be more concerned on marking the space and staying tight to Kane. Second goal; you are taught at 10 years old, height and distance when executing a defensive header. Total lack of communication between the defenders.

Centre back defensive rant over, that was a decent performance against peers. James showed his quality. I liked the way Allan and Davies worked together as the midfield two. We played well and competed just let ourselves down with 2 individual / combined errors.

Harry Kane needs to leave Spurs in the summer. He should be playing in the CL final, not the caribou cup final

It is all very well slamming Keane but straightforward chances missed by our forwards recently have cost us four points in the last three matches.

On Iwobi, anyone who has coached juniors can see that this bloke has zero potential. He's not going to improve. He doesn't have the basics that we teach kids before they're 12. He looks like he learned to play by playing FIFA. There is zero value in having him on the pitch. Pick a kid and play them.

While you continue to play these pricks then you are asking for trouble.

Keane had done ok this season but only when Mina is next to him.

Allan makes a huge difference in MF and he freed up James to go further forward. Pickford, Digne, Godfrey, Allan, James and Sigurdsson all showed up tonight, even Seamus in his cameo performance.

Iwobi is, and always will be, shite!!

Having said that we had chances and should have won. Keane just wrecked any chances of the Euros with Southgate watching.

Europe has gone. The final league position is not going to be much of an improvement on last season. That shows that Ancelotti has failed.

I'm a very big fan of Holgate but his concentration has been poor this season and he has not developed as I'd hoped.

If we play like that, though, for the rest of the season I can live with it.

Keep your best player in his best position, and put someone else in the square peg, round hole.

Why bother with naming the youngsters on the bench, they never get a proper chance.

If we have three of the regular first teamers on the bench, all three get a game, yet last week, we only had Iwobi on the bench, the rest youngsters, Iwobi gets on early second half, Broadhead the last 4 mins.

No wonder Kean wants to stay at psg.

On a final note did Holgate mishear Carlo saying stay close to Kane and thought he said stay close to Keane, in a Michael Cain accent.

DCL/RIchy v Crystal Palace
Iwobi v Brighton
RIchy late in the game today

I'm not really sure where we go from here?

We didnt win the game, but we did try to. I'll accept that all day long

Not a knee jerk post. Ive said the same for a while

Others may think there are other priorities, but our centre backs are good, not great.

Koulibaly alongside Godfrey would make me feel confident.

Come on mate.
Not on the back of a decent performance from the lads please.

The number one priority is still a centre half.

I've backed both Keane and Holgate over the years but if we have to sell to buy a player like Koulibaly then both of those two would be my sacrificial lambs.

Aarons, Koulibaly, Rabiot, Sarr and the return of Kean, or another forward and I'd feel a lot more confident about next season.

Spurs didn't even want to win and were gifted 2 goals from play we should have easily dealt with.

Keane was having his best season 'til not long ago but has shown again that overall he is prone to errors far too often regardless of his manager.

James is absolute class. Joy to watch.

Watching sky after the game they are a disgrace asking Jose about the Pogba interview today. I have been saying to mates for weeks that Sky and Spurs players are setting Jose up for his exit.

They (Spurs players) certainly come across like they are not going all out for him and tonight it helped us dominate them.

Good performance tonight.

It's the fact he's picked that is the problem. He can't play football.

James can do stuff that other players don't even dream about.

Richarlison is lacking when he has a moment to think, much better when he does something instinctive.

My 6th grandchild, a little girl, was born just before kick-off.

More please.

Congratulations mate!

Yes, Iwobi really should have headed those balls out instead of gifting the goals.

To me the cock-ups between Holgate and Keane stem from USMFF. ALL of our central defenders need to take a leaf out of Yerri and Ben's bog-standard manual on central defending and SHOUT for the ball, allowing partners at the split-second to stay ahead of the game and not inadvertently deliver golden chances to England's best centre-forward. That can be practiced in training but seemingly isn't and I wonder why, as ever.

And, as gifted as he is (but he's easily bullied), I just wonder whether others in midfield and attack have become too reliant on James alone to make a pass from which a chance may occur? Tonight when Seamus and Josh came on Richi and others seemed to find a new lease of life in around the Spurs area, thereby entertaining us, limiting Spurs ability to attack, and maybe even win the game.

Hope springs eternal - just about, for now!

But another exhausting, flaccid Europa campaign will be the last thing this squad, even injury free (as if!), need if we're to have an earthly of improving next season.

Congratulations.
Get her name on the season ticket list for the Bramley Moore

£10m for Iwobi, you are seriously having a laugh.

Would love to be there when he tells his grand kids he actually played football and the look on their faces when they watch him on "you tube".

Mind you, I'd love to see the look on Brands face when he watches Iwobi play.

Congradulations

In fact, you look at the way we were setup defensively for those two goals and there wasn't too much wrong. Kane marked, Godfrey covering, maybe just the issue of the other CB being a bit too far from his partner.

But why are they desperately throwing themselves backwards at balls with no threat?

I'd happily criticise Godfrey if he warranted it. Maybe he was slow to react. But the problem was all in front of him with players making bizarre decisions they didn't need to make.

And why run off Kane to attack a nothing ball?

Very inconsiderate of her, Peter!

Congrats, mate.

We deserved to win with a very good performance after the first twenty minutes, with Sigurdsson playing very well and his two goals just gave him the edge for MOTM over James, adding two good midfield performances from Davies and Allan and another good wholehearted energetic game from Godfrey and the same from Colman when he came on.

Another gutless, in this case, substitution from Carlo, taking the energetic and good play from Davies off and leaving the very poor Richarlison on. it should have been a straight swop King for Richarlison who was very poor, is Carlo frightened to upset him by substituting him.

We lost the game through two pathetic efforts at defending, I won't mention one players name, I can't stand the mention of it, the lad frightens me every time I see his name on the team sheet, shiver every time I see him try to defend.

All in all a performance I didn't expect, not because I shouldn't, but it was a performance with effort, fight and determination that we should have been seeing in the last six or seven games, or to be honest every time we take to the field. Now who is that down to?

As for the other fella, I'd let him go for free if it was up to me. Just get rid!

Fine margins, the Old Key Stone Kops end of season cameo performance has gifted Harry Kane a brave, an£ with some luck Everton should have won, based on chances created.

It's not the end of this season but it leaves a mountain to climb. The trouble is now other teams have caught up with Everton. But there will be more twists of fight and who knows.

The best Everton have played for some time, the midfield worked their socks off and all put a good shift in bar Iwobi, who looks like he's lost and wants to hide away on the pitch. The lads confidence is shot and I think he needs to be dropped.

I think the second Spurs goal shows the poor communication but Keane could have cleared the ball with his feet as it was knee level almost when he headed in to a reversing Holgate.

To win at Arsenal. Create history by winning at the Emirates..but defending like that at any level is no5 sustainable to be a good football team.

Vastly improved performance marred only by the 2 mistakes for their goals.
I even thought iwobi put a shift in.

We looked the better team for long periods. Mourinho will be made up getting away with a point tonight.

Kane won't get 2 easier goals all season.
I just wish that we got some of those gifts from the opposition.

Our 2nd goal was top class. Sigurdsson my motm but that could also have gone to Allan, Rodriguez or Tom Davies.

Enjoy the smug chortling.

I guess I should declare that it is your determination that this is evidence of Carlo's failure to which I take offence.

Dave Abrahams, that was a fantastically worked second goal. Sigurdsson's finish was sublime.

I am a great moaner on here and especially when it comes to Siggi but tonight I take my hat off to him.

Not just the goals but the shift he put in, obviously contract time but still did the biz.

Just a shame we havent had so much effort over the season from a lot of our squad.

So close so far, but nice to watch.

We've got 13 points from the last 12 games! Definitely should get in the top 14 this year!

Well done Carlo!

Coleman and King looked lovely when they came on. Richarlison still hasn't found his shooting boots. We need him in the goals as we have little threat otherwise.

Rodriguez is a magician. Siggi took his goal well, but he just doesn't offer us what Rodriguez does in open play. He is one of the best players I have seen in a blue shirt. Always has time on the ball, and finds a blue shirt pretty much every time he passes it. Makes the game look so easy.

Not a bad game all round. Just a shame about the defensive errors.

Err, that Iwobi is really shit isn't he. Yes, quite right, he really is. But he's really, really shit though isn't he and that's why he's really shit. Spot on, mate, ha ha.

No offence.

It bothers me that it is always Tom and in the past it's been an obviously had decision... but today I don't know who I would have sacrificed.

Despite the lack of a goal I thought Richarlison was key. He gave them problems all game. Sometimes that's enough to create chances for others. I'd have kept him on - he was still a potential game winner.

Sigi and James were more obvious candidates but both were having cracking games. Both looked like potential game winners.

So it was down to Allan or Tom. And it's always Tom. But with King nearly winning it I think he probably got it right.

If you feel that you have to take issue with Carlo, then I'd stick with the selection of Iwobi. Seems a good guy, works reasonably hard, but it just baffles me how he's playing Premier League football. Is there really no-one from the academy to the reserves who has some technique and potential? That really worries me.

what part is crap?

Possibly!

If I didn't have a wooden leg, I'd have been a better dancer that Red Adair, or even Fred Astaire! 😜

I definitely don't think it's because of where Tom is from.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear

Life does interfere with footy sometimes.

Tonight had real signs of style again - but we've seen those signs before, many times.

I'm going to close my eyes, grind my teeth and pray. There are signs, there are signs. Perhaps.

Well spotted, Kieran.

Mike G, Sorry to hear about your loss, and a possible other one too, all on top of moving which is a stressful enough event in itself, and takes ages to get straight, when you have moved too, setting everything up, as you would ideally like, getting to know the 'new area' making new acquaintances.

Hoping your neighbours haven't been evicted from hell, before they bought the property next to yours'. I know you will transcend all these unwanted interludes in your life Mike, as you have had many challenges before and come out on top, all possibly what makes you the guy we all know and love.
Take care buddy.

Congrats to Peter and sympathy to Mike G.

He has also played well at centre back a few times in recent weeks. Godfrey and Holgate should be the centre back pairing we build the team around for the next 8 years.

I thought Davies got booked for challenging for the ball and what that rubbish was with a Spurs player rolling on the ground like his throat had been slit and then some sort of dropped ball! Also, I didn't think it was a penalty as it appeared James caught his studs in the turf and the defender fell over him but I did think it was a penalty on Richarlison in first half stoppage time.

MotM - Seamus Coleman just for that second goal, superb football. On the basis of the first half, James but for the game overall, Godfrey, didn't put a foot wrong.

On the opposite side, what does Richarlison think he is up to and while we should never have been in the position he should have put the winner away in the last 5 minutes.

Overall, a much improved performance but two points thrown away. Hopefully, that is the football we shall see in future but imagine what we could do with a fully fit James and Harry Kane.

Another day we might've won it 5-2. Rodriguez, Richarlson and King missed 5, but how many real saves did Pickford have to make. Kane gets two chances, scores two.

King's clever diagonal run and shot...which was well seen by Rodriguez...was as good as you're likely to see anywhere - as was the pass.

Coleman is now only good for 45-60 mins as full power, but this is to be expected.

Brighton and Spurs - the performances vastly different. Two drawn games...which gets you the same 1point each... strange days indeed.

So 8th it is then lads, but not if the flip-flops and sunnies start appearing.

Two very ugly defensive errors cost us, but we need to take the positives from this performance. This is the best I have seen since the opening game, away at Spurs.

My Everton MotM - Sigurdsson! Full of energy all game, took Peno well and scored a great goal after excellent team play.

I am not in any way shape or form adulating Spurs, but Harry Kane who I have always liked as a player, probably why there has been sound bites emanating from the player himself that he wants a move to a more successful side this season's end

Second one you can see Keane screaming it is his ball and yet in a quiet stadium Holgate still runs and jumps for it landing directly in front of Keane who was helpless.

I thought Seamus showed his critics that he is absolutely not past it and also showed Iwobi had effort and hard work can actually put you in good positions.

Allan constantly showed his class for me, always looking to get on the ball, same with James. I have to say Davies too played really well. I've given him plenty of stick when he has performed poorly but he has been really good recently.

Richarlison showed he is not a top striker again tonight. He needs too many chances to score and I can't see us recouping our money unless he improves dramatically.

Overall, I thought we looked a lot more dangerous tonight and hope that bodes well for the rest of the season.

Strangely enough, my daughter was also born just before a match. At 1:15 pm, I was at the coffee machine at Aintree Hospital and casually said to another expectant father, “At this rate, I'll be missing the match.” I was met with a look of utter contempt and the response “I won't be missing the fucking match.”

I managed to get to Goodison to see us (as Champions) beat Man Utd 2-1. I was hoping history was going to repeat itself, but the Chuckle Brothers at the heart of our defence are no Watson and Ratcliffe.

The hard work starts now for me. I've mentioned before that my two daughters married Sheffield Utd supporters, so there is a constant need to provide their offspring with a proper education. Fortunately I have no such problems with my son's two lads in Crosby.

Mike G, all the best, I'll drop you a line.

I feel a lot more positive about the run-in but just wonder why we cannot give King a start when Calvert-Lewin is out? I don't know how he looks in training but a lot of players play better than they look in training. We couldn't do worse than give it a go. 10-minute bites don't prove anything.

Hats off to Sigurdsson for a great finish from a great Seamus run. Brilliant! Our finishing has been pitiful recently so this was manna from heaven. I still think, if we play on the positives of this, we can still make Europe.

I'm worried about transfer rumours though. We still need strengthening all round. We cannot rely on Gbamin to get and stay fit for midfield, and finishing is a problem. We also know we need to cut the mistakes at the back. Spending certainly required.

Carragher is pissing me off big time. He spends 10 minutes reflecting on what looked to me like a no-argument penalty. What a joke! When it's not him, we get the other bitter Red Clown "Macca" on BT Sport, extolling negatives on us.

However, apart from 2 points thrown away, a better performance from most players and good shape to the team. Light years ahead of the Brighton fiasco.

Onwards and Upwards, Blues.

Silva was such a bad manager when it came to recruitment, Iwobi being the worst example, a Championship player at best, he's shoehorned into the side to justify his enormous fee, yet his contribution was zero. Hopefully he'll be sold in summer.

In contrast, Carlo's recruitment has been largely successful, all his recruits played well last night, James linking up with Gylfi being the highlight of what can be a productive midfield.

It's going to be a long hard slog to replace some of the awful players we have bought but, with more additions in the summer, we should slowly see an improvement. Although some of Carlo's tactics remain baffling: King should've been a direct replacement for Calvert-Lewin, he must be given his chance in the remaining games this season.

Hopefully a few more people have faith in our manager. He's only agreed to the signing of 4 first teamers and there all first names on the sheet in terms of getting this team to go forwards and create chances.

The fact we want new centre halves, midfielders and forwards means we should give Carlo at least another window to bring in 3 or 4 players he agrees to the signing of, so it's 2/3rds definitely his team from this summer onwards. As its stands, with so many players who we would happily sell on this weekend, we're competing only just short, considering our results against Leicester and Spurs.

Glad to see Siggy in his best position closer to the box as he scores in the big moments. He does not have that forward pass under pressure when playing deep so always goes sideways to maintain possession but that's not playing to his strength. James does have that pass so can sit deeper and connect the ball from us deep to someone like Siggy or Richie so we can move up the field, as well as the full package in finishing.

Finally, would I keep Siggy ? If we buy runners and create an extra 4 or 5 chances each half, defenders and midfielders that allow us the confidence to win the ball higher up, then definitely as he won't have to play as a deep midfielder anymore. James, Richie and Siggy are our best finishers by a long way under pressure in the in and around the box. Just like Harry Kane, you don't need to be super quick in the box, you need technique, power, accuracy and a clear mind. DCL may or may not get much better at finishing from distance, but Siggy already is at the top level.

I think the Europa League next year would be very difficult for the club, given that we can't even fill the bench for our domestic fixtures. Carlo needs at least three more windows to put right the disastrous management of recent years.

Siggy is definitely an Asset, when in the box.

The pros on TV always say goals are the hardest things to buy in the Premier League.

I can remember Shearer and Sherringham in Euro 96. None of them rapid but good fitness levels. But magnificent (Shearer's favourite phrase) headers and finishers, superb timing of runs and jumps so they never looked like the were under the ball heading or stumbling head too far over the ball when shooting etc.

I'd be surprised if Sigurdsson doesn't get the offer of a new deal. He is one of the few in the squad that can create and chip in with a few goals.

Trying to stay positive. No doubt we'll shoot ourselves in the foot again.

Ian Edwards.

Probably not the time to make what is a sound point based on sound judgement. We played well last night and we should be celebrating a return to football. - Well done to Bobby Mallon for taking it to the common enemy.

However. That said. You should stand your ground against the Posters who think they are entitled to make personal comments against you, simply because they can offer zero by way of a counter argument.

You keep posting about football and let the gang completely lose the argument by attacking you..

"You gave an honest opinion about Carlo...So that gives me the right to have a personal pop at you" ..... WOW what a counter argument.

As to last night's game, I thought siggy was excellent, with a calmly taken penalty and a sublime finish for the second. Also a very exquisite "James style" defence splitting pass to James, which brought a great save from Lloris, but either side of Lloris and it goes in. Agree with many regarding Holgate. Why on earth does he need to carry the ball for twenty yards or so, before turning back and passing the ball back? Frustrating to say the least. Iwobi was iwobi. Does ok for about ten minutes or so, but the rest of the time, until he's removed, is another who turns and plays the ball back, or just runs into an opponent and loses the ball. Could be stuck with him for a while yet, as his contract is not up until June 2024.

Disagree with a few who say we should cash in on Richarlison. Give your heads a little wobble. We need to keep our better players and build a team around the likes of Richarlison, not get rid. By getting rid of Richarlison, we need to replace him, but who with, and then in two or three years time, do we sell that player. Stability is required, not the seemingly never ending vicious circle of replacing this manager, that manager or this player, that player. Having said that, I could have killed Ricky last night for that miss. The more I see it the more angry I feel. Jeez, he only had to roll it into the net.

Was a decent game anyway, and must have been a good watch for the neutral. Europe is slowly slipping away for next season, but while we've still got a chance, we keep hoping.

Clearly we need to go on a run, but if we continue to play like last night (minus the Keystone Cops moments) there's a chance.

Allan playing alongside Tom allowed Siggy to play further forward and his interplay with James was delicious. The fact that Spurs played an open game certainly helped - we may not have looked so competent if they'd been very compact like Brighton. Strange that I can feel positive and hopeful after yet more dropped points.

Who vastly over rates him though? Hes just better than Davies and our performances have been better when hes played, like last night.

I think the non footballer has played more forward passes than Davies and Gomes put together.

This club don't score enough goals and that has been an ongoing problem since Moshiri took over. When you look at how poor our goal difference is compared to the other clubs in the top 8 that says a lot, and if we hadnt started the season scoring goals for fun I dread to think what our goal difference would be. In midfield we have Allan, Davies, Gomes, Delph, Iwobi, Bernard and Doucoure, I doubt they have scored 4 goals between the lot of them. Neither Digne or Coleman or Holgate or Godfrey when played at full back have hardly scored between them. So the pressure on DCL, Richarlison, James and Sigurdsson is either you score because the rest wont. I think if I was Moshiri I would get Ancelotti and Brands in the office on Monday and ask why did we spend a loan fee and wages on King as its quite apparent that Ancelotti doesnt rate him. Seems we are back to what has happened under Silva and Koeman were the manager is allowed to buy players as well as the DOF. Surely no transfer should be done without the manager agreeing 100% with the deal, after all its him that usually pays the penalty for failure and not the DOF.

Last night was probably our best performance for a long time, but having a world class ability to shoot ourselves in the foot, we again threw away a chance of 3 points. Some very good performances last night, I thought Allan and Davies were very good as were Sigurdsson and James. Wouldn't it be a massive disappointment if James were to leave in the summer and not being allowed to see him in the flesh. I am a fan of Carlo but surely he like the rest of us have seen enough of Iwobi to know he is never ever going to be good enough. He is a complete coward when he had the room and time to take on a defender he turned and passed the ball back, mind why would anybody be surprised he is a flop, he couldnt get into a very poor Arsenal side. But like a lot of the deadwood we have signed, no other club will pay him the wages we are paying him so like Bolasie and Besic he will be another who will be here till the very last day of his contract.

This summer I believe is massive, because if we don't recruit well, and we are still around 8th to 10th and Moshiri pulls the plug on Ancelotti, then where do we go as a club. Back to starting all over again as we have done numerous times with more false dawns only to be followed with incredible downs. Also if Ancelotti goes the new manager will have a very small budget as we will be paying for a new ground and no doubt FFP will be back in full swing, so he will be facing the same scenario that Moyes faced when he took over. Having to sell before he could buy, thankfully he bought well and sold well to keep us quite comfortably in the top half of the table, while still more than balancing the books.

I thought both played very well. Maybe Spurs style suited us better than the likes of Burnley.

Bringing a striker on to win a game in the last 10 mins is a positive move and almost paid off only for a save from lloris and Richarleson's miss.

The last couple of games we've been down to zero strikers, yet he still can't get a start. On the limited evidence available, he seems to be quite nippy, he gets a couple of tackles in, he has a couple of half-decent goal attempts; he generally runs around looking keen.
He's got plenty of PL experience. He doesn't appear to be a trouble-maker and he doesn't go moaning to the media. The general impression I have, is that, given a start, there might be more to come.

... So why isn't he EVER given a start?!

I simply don't rate Allan. He is a ball hunter who doesnt know what to do with it when he gets it.

You don't have to score goals or create chances for some to be fawning all over you at this club You just have to be Brazilian.

Vastly over rated

I can't see Sigurdsson getting a new contract and it will be interesting to see if we try to move him on in the summer. I suspect he'll run his contract down personally. Having said that, knowing Everton, we'll offer him a one year extension.

He's been really good of late and that was a great finish on the end of a great move last night, so whatever happens, I hope he keeps up the decent form for as long as he is here.

Written off after 17 league starts Darren?

Peter (220) Many congratulations. Both my daughters were born in the summer, ruling out any possibility of a clash with fixtures!

He does have one major drawback though, he's not a Scouser. ;-)

Keep it up Darren you're cheering me up again mate.

You embarrass yourself - yet again

Everytime I disagree with you. I'm looking for confrontation Sorry Lad, but you did not enter my head...Although I was clearly in yours.

All I read about when Allan signed, was Carlo's ability to sign top players. I actually thought we had signed a top class player who had gone under my radar the way people like you were shaking your heads in wonderment at Carlo's pulling power. Now you come back sneering "nobody was eulogising"..Total tosh - Just go back to these pages...People were buzzing for weeks.

The reality is Carlo bought a slightly above average journeyman. One who doesnt create. One without vision. One who doesnt score. Carlo -characteristically, was looking for a spoiler. Allan was brought in to spoil and protect the back four. An insurance policy.

Intead of getting all personal and shouty why don't you stop and examine the facts. Look at how much protection this ball hunter has offered

Southampton - Run ragged by ordinary players. Lost
Newcastle - Ditto
Man U - lost
Leeds - See Southampton and Newcastle
Burnley - cost us two points

Then he has an injury and our results improve. He comes back and we lose against Chelsea. Burnley and City...

I have to ask, when was the last time we won a game he started ? And if its not the fact that he is Brazilian that has everyone jumping to his defence what is it ?. . . his inability to dribble ? His suspect first touch ? Or is it the fact that he would tackle the lino if he thought he would escape a booking

A semi decent player earning a fortune. No more no less. Anybody watching him and the much maligned TD last night would have a deal of trouble in choosing who cost 25m and who cost nothing.

Keep apologising boys. Keep managing expectation. You`ll never know disappointment when you are prepared to settle for so little.

An insurance policy which doesnt pay out

Gana was also a ball hunter, an expert at breaking up the flow of the opponent, without being great at using the ball himself. He was excellent at his speciality. He was a great signing for us.

Allan is very similar. He's very good at what he does, just like Gana. Being Brazilian is neither here nor there, what's important is his ball-hunting ability.

Tom Davies is also very good, and getting better. He's still developing, and Allan can be a very positive influence for him. Like Gana, Allan is a great signing. In fact, all of the signings under Ancelotti are great signings. Such great signings may be a great sign that we may get more great signings. You can't beat great signings and great signs, so stay positive, it's better for you.

Darren "All I read about when Allan signed, was Carlo's ability to sign top players. I actually thought we had signed a top class player who had gone under my radar".

Just because Carlo might have the ability to sign top players doesn't mean he might never sign players who are less than top class.

Imo.
Allan will be in the starting eleven next season
Tom wont

I'm not sure what Richie is meant to be doing his passing is poor, apart from his knock on's/downs and his conversion rate can't be great; he's a grafter and an asset but I don't see a style.

Saying that we played well, James is the best Everton player of the modern era and he seems to trust Siggy more than the others (is there a partnership there ?) it might help keep him at Everton.

All in all not too bad but we will see this Everton next week or the Brighton Everton - that's the frustrating part we never know who will turn up.

So, how come all these grandkids? Dup! 😜

Tom can learn from Allan eg how to tackle, how to pass, how to keep the ball instead of falling over etc... I'm sure Tom rates Allan far more than you do.

As Stan says, Gana and Allan are similar although Allan is a better player. I thought he and Tom Davies worked well together.

Anyway, we'll have to disagree over Allan. I doubt want to bring another thread into a slanging match.

In contrast, players like Sigurrdson and James are flashy as well as effective with a football, and can change the course of a game with one moment of sublime skill. At such moments, they make football the ‘beautiful game'.

We need both types to be successful. We need to keep hold of Sigurdsson and James. Both have produced some sublime pieces of skill that have changed games for us this season, and they seem to have an understanding.

Allan is our leading tackler this season, he has played in just over 50% of the games. He is doing exactly what he was brought in to do and I thought last night him and Tom were absolutely excellent in the middle of the park.

I think I'm just going to out you down as a wind up merchant from now on, you can't believe what you type and are only looking for reactions. Too many of us are obliging.

We really do need a tough, no nonsense centre back to play along with Godfrey. A fit midfield with the return of all injured players and someone who can grab up half chances like Kane. After five desperately poor games the Spurs game gave a glimmer of hope. We showed we were far better than them but no team can afford to make such juvenile mistakes like we did on Friday.

Still far too much negativity on this site.Considering we have only spent four years outside the top level since 1978, we have had it easy compared to MOST teams.By all means give valid constructive criticism, but stop feeling sorry for yourself with useless moaning. Support even through tough times. WHY NOT ?

Now given that TD is 8 years younger than Allan and has been buggered about by successive managers and is continually subbed (Allan has never been subbed this season) the side by side stats don't look awful, do they?

If you are going to quote stats quote all of them not just the bits you find convenient.

This season is not typical of other seasons, and that's important. The number of muscle and hamstring strains we, and every other club has experienced is way over the odds this season.

I'd hope that we get back to something a bit more like normal, please God, in the future, particularly next season, and the sort of injuries we're seeing become less, including Allan (and Seamus, DCL, Gomes, Delph, Mina etc)

Fingers crossed.

This season is a lousy season to make strong judgements on in so many ways.

No they don't Stephen, which is exactly what I was saying.

Please don't accuse me of doing something I've not done because you misinterpreted my post, which you have.

There are far more stats than either of us have posted but I posted what I felt were the most relevant ones.

If anything, your stats merely support my point, which was that Allan and Davies are players doing a similar job to a similar level.

Allan was bought by Carlo to shore up our midfield. He's a top class defensive midfielder and, by the way, how is he a 'journeyman'? He was with Napoli for the last 5 years.

In one of your earlier comments, you were praising Ian Edwards; all you are trying to do is stir controversy.

Dave #248,

I agree with you about Sigurdsson, hard to see him going in the summer when he still has a year left on his contract at over £100k a week. It would be ludicrous offering him a new contract when he's 33 on 22 September.

"They're all having it again."

😁 😁

The trend of eulogising about a "name" player as per the 2 above is where we are at right now but the next step of really giving it to them when reality kicks in is just around the corner.

Needs to do a lot more for me. Especially as a holding midfielder is about the easiest position on the pitch.

Tony, I think we've discussed this many times with others on here. Personally, right now I believe the "two up top" is a simplistic view of being attacking in the modern game. By doing so, you leave yourself exposed in midfield and get overrun. No point having 2 strikers if your midfield can't win the ball and supply. Right now, the 4-4-2 is outdated in my opinion.

Perfect formation for me, is 4-2-3-1. But as with any formation, you pick one based on the players you have. Don't try and shoehorn the players into the one you want to play. Within reason obviously. Sometimes players have to play out of position.

On a different note, I was reading the Daily Mirror this morning and couldn't find a report on Everton's game last night... Was there a report, to anyone who has read the Mirror, or is it me? I've looked three times?

Be good to put faces to the names. I reckon we would have a ball after the first 10 minutes.

I simply put up an opinion about Allan. That's all. It could easily have been left at that. People could have just disagreed or even silently just shook their head... But no; as per usual on this site, somebody who doesn't like it comes on and makes foolish personal accusations.

I had no idea that Allan's loss rate would be so abysmal. I had an inclination that he wasn't all he was cracked up to be because I had seen him on numerous occasions break ranks to go looking for the ball, leaving a gaping hole between him and our defence. One which has often been exploited.

These foolish stats drove me to look out the official records. I didn't put up an opinion. I put up the facts... The Official Records! What a damning indictment they prove to be. People can argue till they're blue in the face, but the records don't lie.

Talking of foolish stats, what on earth possess people to put up a man's tackling statistics in an attempt to refute the claim that he is a tackling machine? I don't know whether they are presenting the case for the prosecution or the defence!

We need more speedy strong players to support our number ten, whoever it is. Our young players - Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Richarlison, Holgate etc will improve with time.

I think Carlo's signings including King have been good so let's hope there is more to come.

Is it due to simple work rate or are there subtler abilities involved, such as anticipation / positioning, timing, speed of thought / speed of execution, balance, strength, overall technique?

I suppose it is possible to use the term as an insult if you mean a one-dimensional player who does very little other than simply win tackles. However, it becomes a thing of praise if you apply it to a player who does pretty much everything else he is required to do as well as, or even better than, his peers and you are merely highlighting where the player is particularly exceptional.

If you are not careful to define what you mean then you could be spitting out an expletive whilst others read it as a badge of honour.

John Raftery made a telling remark @256 that our formation last night had shades of our early 60s side. I can see James in that team. If he's optimistic about the future then happy days.

So, the question is whether we can replace with better and, within our budget. That includes siggy and others. I think that's what James actually was tbh, but that has given him a kick up the arse, and he's back to being a decent asset for us like 2 years ago.

For me the priority replacements over the next two Windows (ok, a little wishful and unlikely!):

Out: Olsen, In: Romero (Free)
Out: Kenny, In: Emerson (-£10m?)
Out: Kean, In: Sarr (+£15m?)
Out: King, In: Toney (-£15m)
Out: Bernard, In: Danjuma (-£10m)
Out: Delph, In: Rabiot (-£20m)
Out: Iwobi, In: Zaha (-£15m)

Guessing Gomes for Isco, Mina for Koulibaly may be just a little too fantasy unless Mr Usmanov jumps in properly!

I have spoken to the Excelsior and are fine with that, ideally an early kick-off Saturday or Sunday, so that those without a Ticket (probably myself included) can watch the Match in there and meet the rest of you after the game so it doesn't turn in to be a late night. (well it still could be).

I have been a tad disappointed at the last few we have had, because it is virtually the same people who loyally turn up, with very few from the Liverpool/Merseyside Area too, Andy Crooks has been to at least 3, all the way from Belfast, so involving flights and stay over. Although the Abrahams, Tony and Dave got him a Ticket last time, there's effort and dedication for you, and the same could be said of Mike Gaynes. All the way from Oregon!

So come on lads it's not asking the earth, or a great chunk of your time, and Darren, look out for future information and a date at The Excelsior!

You'd keep Iwobi I presume?

We played better last night than most games at home this season and most of our better players were in the side, including Coleman who came on.

When we have won and played well, most of our best 11 have played.
Last night our midfield dominated Spurs midfield. We haven't dominated a midfield at home for several weeks.

Certain midfielders were anonymous v Palace and have put about 6 or 7 good performances in all season.

What do you consider the wingback position requires from a player?

I take your point... it is not his natural position, and the setup exposes him... but, for that money, I'd have preferred someone who can pass, tackle, perhaps even cross etc. At one point this season, he convinced me that he was improving, but that feels like a distant memory now.

He was not the main reason we dropped 2 points, but my God he's frustrating. As for Allan – he may not be world class, but I think he's settled into the Premier League pretty quickly and has improved our midfield options.

Now and again you can see that he can go past players but his overall contribution is sadly lacking, IMO.

So the question is where do you play him? He does not have the vision to play in the James role and is not a tackler and so I just do not see where he fits in to this team. He would be on my list of players to move on at the end of the season along with Mina, Bernard and Moise Kean who obviously does not want to play for us. No point keeping anybody whose heart is not in it. So let's cash in and make a profit.

What with the guys out of contract at the end of the season (Besic, Bolasie and Walcott) plus the money we get for Mina, Kean, Iwobi and Bernard, we should have enough money to bring in a quality right back and a left sided midfielder (Rabiot). I am hoping the left sided Branthwaite can also step up. Then I would give Ageuro a bumper pay packet to come for a couple of seasons.

I believe with these changes and having Doucouré back this would be a pretty formidable team with youth, experience and balance. I am sure Carlo has got his plans and it probably makes sense to keep that close to his chest while we still have an outside chance of making the Europa League.

But there you go, he's a punchbag and will leave.

I can't wait to see the world class players aching to join us in the summer.

A lot of southern players fail to light the place up when they travel north, it's just one of them things that happens in football.

I remember telling a mate, "Don't worry, Joe Cole is a total southerner" when he was gutted the shite signed him. Months down the line, I was told by someone they had seen him walking through Formby a couple of times with his Mrs and her Mother looking miserable.

Tony Cottee wasn't exactly happy here by all accounts.

I imagine if you have a comfortably rich life down south and grew up there, it would be a drop in lifestyle coming north and especially to a smaller club in Iwobi's case.

Football should be a great distraction if you are unsettled but can an unsettled person give his all?

Your post at 316 contains 3 ‘joke' points and one very true one. What are you trying to say?

It is a very Blue Pub too, although some RS do frequent(they have been vetted don't worry). They do a good range of Posh Pies with Chips etc, varying prices are about £10 tops for everything. Beer, (unless it's gone up) is about £4.00 a pint they have several TV's (not transvestites btw) and have BT and Sky. The Manager, again unless he's changed due to Covid, is a guy called Peter from Dublin and a good host on the day. Hope that helps. Neil Copeland, best of luck with the Train Times this time.

"Darren, look out for future information and a date at The Excelsior!"... if you can hook me up with someone as well I'll definitely be there!

Ah, I see. By the way, the Excelsior is a pub on Dale Street, not far from the Birkenhead tunnel entrance.

I was slow typing!

It surely depends what your ‘lifestyle' entails. Let's face it, we live in a relatively small country where the differences in climate are relatively small. Suburbia anywhere is pretty much the same as suburbia anywhere else.

The big differences in leisure activity in this country is probably between coastal and anywhere else, and nowhere in the country in winter is anything like St Tropez! If you need to get awa,y it's not exactly difficult to travel in this country especially if you are mega-rich.

There are two big factors in my view. One is the mindset, about where people think they belong (big city or small town for most) and home is where the heart is attitude. I think it is often the WAGS who don't settle well without their mums and mates being on tap.

The other is London. Unfortunately, in my opinion, we live in a country where one city has been favoured well above all the others for very little good reason and lots of bad ones. We have this ridiculous snobbish principle that the capital has to be the biggest and the best and all the top people need to be based there. Obviously that stems from being the seat of political power but so much more has been concentrated there that could have been spread around this small country that it is criminal.

So London is the big draw, the decider for those who want all city life can offer on your door step. I never fully realised it's pull on people (being immune from it myself) until I lived in Wiltshire and found out how readily plenty of people thought of London as a venue for weekend activities.

I had observed many years before that many manufacturing sites in the north had head offices in the South East despite making no logistical sense. The bosses just had to be based somewhere close to London because ‘that is where the most important people live' and I think that is still a big factor for people.

They had 3 site locations. 2 had to go and it would all be in the one location.
We were the product leaders, we could knock out 100 tonne of product @£22 per tonne ( sample figure to prove the point) per week.
Our nearest rival could only manage 90 tonne @£27 per tonne per week.
The third site, near London, the small original site with all the admin etc - forget them, they were toast.

It was Us Vs Them.
We had room expansion, they didn't.

We got the chop - They were near Cheltenham.
We were in Widnes - Game Set and Match
Cheltenham it was then.

His main role would be as back-up CAM to James, but with a salary of £100k that is a very expensive substitute. We need to create space on our salary bill to bring in signings under FFP, so that is why I include him as an outgoing.

It's written in the stars!

I'd assume the average rich young footballer's lifestyle is full of extravagant ventures and thrills. They like to display a lot of it on social media.

I remember Bilic years back moaning about the differences here with lack of theatres and events blah blah. That has changed since of course but London is the countries hotbed, like you say.

The only time I met Bilic was at the Lime Street ticket office during the week where he was buying a ticket back to London.

And to add fuel to your points I think it can't be helped because it's so natural and ingrained in the nation.

The likes of Iwobi, Lookman, Joe Cole, grew up on the streets of London and now have the money to do all the things they dreamed of as kids there, plus the opportunity to flaunt it in the capital.

I worried about the capital connection the minute we signed Iwobi and have had loads of conversations about the negatives in bringing a southern player here..

There will always be exceptions but we have to know the players character deeply.

My mother had lived through the 1st as well although was only a child but her mother (my Grandmother) lived in Greater Manchester when there was largely cotton as the principal Industry. So she knew how to make a meagre amount of money spin out but still keep a moderate sized family nutritionally fed and looked after.

Most kids today, in some ways thankfully, have never experienced hardship, and are almost equivalent to the silver spoon kids, and offspring of the rich when I was growing up. Having said that, many are devoid of real human values and respect for either elders or society in general. Not all, but very few are cognisant of others.

Let's face it, the whole world is upside down in many ways with such disparity, and from a footballing perspective, transfer fees and commensurate wages and salaries etc have mushroomed beyond all reasonable proportion, to verging on the immoral and astronomical.

Be careful what you wish for! According to Carlo, we aren't signing any midfielder's or strikers as he reckons Kean and Gbamin are going to be our saviours as we push on to win a Top 4 spot.

Let's hope he was just having a pop at Moshiri in a desperate attempt to free up some transfer funds.

The complete opposite in my experience with the young people of my city. The vast majority are good kids, spoiled by a few horrors.

As always, it's how they are brought up. They wouldn't because they are great people but, if any of mine gave disrespect to anyone older, they would be sorry.

Is it confidence or is it courage? I personally think it's both, and when someone lacks courage, then people are always going to give you a hard time, because it's just the way of the world in a tough environment, and I think that's why Iwobi, is copping for a lot of stick right now?

I think Iwobi, would be a decent player if he could play inside, but Ancellotti, never seems to play him there for whatever reason, and prefers to watch the kid struggle out wide.

I live in London but it's dominance has always concerned me. Despite our major cities re-inventing and regenerating themselves in recent decades, all things still point to London. Not healthy for the UK but a vicious cycle as we have a dependency on London to drive the economy that we seemingly can't break.

In Germany, Berlin is the political hub (still shared with Bonn). Frankfurt the financial capital. Munich a very strong industrial base and State capital and Dusseldorf another strong financial services sector and State capital. Wealth and power are shared more evenly. In Italy, the parliament may sit in Rome, but Milan is the economic hub. Now there is a country of north/south divides.

Anyway, from a football perspective, no surprise to me that with the dawn of the Premier League and particularly the influx of foreign players, the London clubs have risen to prominence. Manchester has developed itself as a viable rival and is the defacto second city of the UK. Birmingham only in terms of population.

1) That's a message to PSG and Juve that we hold the cards, so no point ballsing round lowballing.

2) It's a message to Gbamin to keep going – saying “You're a crock, don't bother” benefits who?

3) It shows selling clubs we aren't desperate therefore making sure we don't get “Iwobi'd” on the next buy.

Have some faith, folks, some disappointment this season, but he's no fish.

Interesting post, Si. My sensible cockney mate (proper Londoners are very similar to scousers imo) told me that the only reason he hasn't moved away is simply because it's the land of opportunity, and he's now got kids.

But look at the house prices rising in Liverpool, is it because people are going to be working from home now? Or is this outside investment, with the powers that be looking at Liverpool being a city on the rise again?

Iwobi has had good moments in a blue shirt – but he never looks like he's enjoying it here. He's probably destined to end up at Fulham, Palace, West Ham or one of the South Coast clubs.

The new stadium could be a turning point. Goodison, filled with nostalgia though it is, and its location makes us look very backward and parochial. BMD is quite the opposite.

It makes me sick the rich and famous including many footballers with private chefs. I remember my first car at 20 years old. It was a old rusty Fiesta. A Sheffield United striker a few months ago wrote of his Lamborghini, he hadn't even scored a goal!

The point was about leaving a place where you have everything at your disposal to having less in a place you are uncomfortable.

I think Reality hits a lot of the young southern players that move down here. Like wow, now I do have to be street smart and more responsible.

Robert 349 i agree he has never looked happy. I always look back to the body language and expressions. Same as i looked at some of Spurs players the other night.

Where is the passion, the bounce, the energy? Iwobi comes across like he can't get into second gear and these are all fit athletes.

Tongue in cheek btw guys.

All elite sports have big money earners, and all big corporations have big money CEOs, shareholders, etc. It seems to me that elite footballers, most of whom are working class lads who have made good and earn big money because of doing so, are always targets of criticism. It's as if their working class background and kicking a sphere of leather for a job removes their right to gain big money. Wayne Rooney has always been a target for criticism, as if people resent a ‘rough Scouser' being a genius and earning multi millions.

If we want to have issues with big money, there are much bigger fish to fry than footballers. The only thing that concerns me about big money in football, is the potential for corruption. Apart from that, they can earn as much as they can get from ordinary folks being willing to pay them for entertainment.

I also think that there is a decent CAM in there if he can just gain consistency and composure. As Tony A says, Iwobi's position his behind the forwards as back up to James not as the wide man in a front three or a wing back. Ancelotti only plays him in those positions as we have no other options in the squad.

Clearly the Chuckle Brothers are reborn with Holgate being the stooge to Keane's Comic Capers, to me to you.

The money players earn didnt really become a talking point until Jimmy Hill and George Eastham campaigned to have the maximum wage abolished. The first real talking point after the maximum wage had been abolished was when the then Chaiman of Fulham Tommy Trinder paid Johnny Haynes £100 per week. But he also took the unusual step of paying Haynes £100 per week during the close season which was unheard of. This led to the story often told by Trinder that after paying Haynes the £100 per week for the whole year, an unnamed Fulham player knocked on Trinders door and said if you are paying Haynes £100 per week all year I want the same.
Trinder said you cant ask the same as Haynes he is one of the best players in England and you are nowhere near as good, to which the player retorted I am in the close season.

So quite rightly that rather than clubs making afortune out of the game and giving it to their shareholders, the players got a fairer share of the cake. But like most things the players started to get used to their new powers with the abolition of the minimum wage, they then looked at cricketers who at the end of their careers were awarded a testimonial by their clubs. This was a thank you for long service, and it is worth remembering that players received no money from their counties during the winter and had to take on jobs to make a wage for the 5/6 months when they weren't getting paid by their clubs.

Now with the Bosman ruling the players hold all the power and the clubs are left with little or no power as they once were. But the real cancer in football is the football agent, and we have now reached a point were they become the power broker in all transfers, and before any deal can be ironed out with their client the agents fee has to be agreed before clubs can talk to the player. When you look at what clubs including our own are spending on agents fees its obscene and that money doesnt go back into the game. I remember listening to Simon Jordan on Talksport a few months back and he was saying when he was chairman of Palace he was offered a player on a so called free transfer. But he said the Free transfer consisted of him paying the players agent £5 million and the player £9 million to sign on. So his advice is there is no such thing as a free transfer, all it means is you don't pay money to another club. Riola who is Pogbas agent is telling interested parties he wants £500,000 per week and the fact is some club will pay it. Riola is also Haarlands agent and he is saying his player wants nearly £1 million a week when he is sold. Now he knows nobody will pay that money but the message he is sending out is my player wants to be the biggest earner in world football.

So its no wonder with agents like Riola that the successful clubs that pay the big money are looking to set up their own European league to enable them to pay players the money that agents like Riola are demanding.

Some reds I know were saying to me that Man City's money was ‘immoral'. I told them to get a grip. The only reason they think it ‘immoral' is that LFC are not laying out similar monies for players. The same lads were complaining that LFC wouldn't buy a new expensive centre-half to cover for van Dijk being injured!!!

AIthough, I have been told on good authority too, that you can't get many bags of sand, cement or plaster, in the boot of one of them Playboy's toys. 😜 Like most topics that start on here about Everton football related issues, usually diversify into some other issues, but at least we are all having a meaningful dialogue with the best intentions at heart.

Paul @ 353, " Silver Surfers "? that's you card marked my boy, be in my office first thing in the morning! 😂💙

Thank God the malt extract has long disappeared.

I do think Liverpool is making further progress, building on what it done throughout the 90s and 2000s. Everyone I speak to only has good things to say about it. I should probably wash my mouth out with petrol, but I see it latching onto it's proximity to Manchester and benefiting from our neighbour's growing prominence. If you consider geographically, Liverpool to Manchester could probably fit inside the M25, it makes sense.

I don't like to bash the players for earning the money they do. They are what make the game. I'm no expert, but the days when the money used to go into the bank accounts of chairmen and owners were unfair on players who relied on testimonials to give them a lifeline as they looked forward to post-football as a pub landlord. I appreciate we have probably gone too far and as with everything there was probably a balance that should have been struck, but in principle, I don't have issue with people being rewarded for their talent and ability. I agree with Brian; the real pantomime villains are the agents who have greedily exploited players and clubs alike. We are just the "mugs" willing to pay for it.

You tell that to the kids of today, they don't know how lucky they are! 😋

My grandkids don't believe me when I tell them the stories of what my family went through we were that skint.

When I look back on them days (would not change one day of my upbringing) I am made up I can give my kids and grandkids what they want.

Tony.
Your correct. Ive got good mates in London. All proper men.
Ive made them all Blues

With all these double barrell names I am not so sure its all working class lads at youth level now.

Borthwick - Jackson, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Calvert-Lewin, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

These kids probably knew more about nutrition, bank statements and horsepower at 14 than most working class 21 year olds.

To be honest though I expect any player from anywhere to adore the riches, I just think a well privledged southern footballer has little to admire coming here.

At least thats how it often seems to come across.

I'm a working class militant at heart though, and I just think that as great a job as football, has done in keeping going, and keeping us half entertained, then surely we the “match going fans” must now know how important we are to the beautiful game, and also demand to be treated accordingly!

It wouldn't be hard, they'd start issuing tickets for free if we decided to boycott over pricing, because what Jock Stein said, has been proven so true, IMHO!!

The dynamics of the game are now driven by UEFA and the media companies.

I hope Everton can stay in the run and make into a consistent top 5 team very soon.

It will be interesting when the grounds reopen fully, if the EPL teams, bump up their prices for refreshments and food etc.

I recall the 2009, semi at Wembley and a Pukka Pie was £6.60, a box of x10 chips and 5 baby fish pieces, it was Action Man food was £9.60. My ma8 was starving but each to their own.

The day Everton get close to a fiver I'll not bother with game. Some companies have furloughed, and made redundant their work forces and some companies have not given cost of living pay rices for years.

The games governance body must take stock of the economics.

Unless the EFLs finance teams start looking at the Bundesliga model, as a viable cost model, compared to the EPL, I fear over time the impact of COVID19 and the long term cost burden, which will be carried and paid by all, of UK society, but the average working class people will least be able to afford.

I'm no economist but I know many supporters from Soton, Newcastle, London teams, to Edinburgh who now watch non league teams.

Less aggro, rarely trouble at the game, and the cost it's affordable.

It's a warning sign that a generations love of the greatest game at the top level, is waning.

Let's hope Everton as they generally do can reset the bench mark for affordable EPL football as the burdens of COViD19, are felt down the line.

I always go the chippy.

Regarding being a working class militant, you could imagine football being State-controlled with rigid pricing structures and wages, etc. But then the State would be trying to compete with private profit-making sectors in football structured like football is now, so the State system wouldn't survive, because the private system would attract the best talent. So really, what we have now will remain, neither good nor bad, simply there to be chosen or not chosen by individual punters like us. It's logic, Captain.

See you are spoiling them, how can they have values or value anything, when they get it too easily! 😋💙

Old saying.
"he knows the cost of everything but the value of nothing"

All my kids and grandkids know the value of the things we give them.
Wonderful human beings.

Personally, I listened to the "play station generation" taking a lot of stick for not knowing how tough life can be.

I watched many young men and women of that generation grow up very quickly in Afghanistan.

We all think we had it harder than our respective younger generation. The reality is, if we bring our kids up right, they rise to the challenges presented to their generation. Its all in perspective.

Apologies, I do get defensive on stuff like this.

In my argument I did say a drop in standards doesn't help. Stuart came from Chelsea who were nowhere near the club they are now.

Kevin Campbell came from racial torment in Turkey and again, found a better move than where he was.

I was hoping Lookman was the exception to my argument coming from Charlton to far bigger things but even he proved to be a nightmare to keep here.

Teddy Sheringham was the last one I felt really made a legend of himself after coming from down south but again, he got a fantastic move to be motivated by.

Zaha could be an exception if we are still interested as he has done it before and will be getting a bigger club?

Thanks for the info on the excelsior by the way. 4 or 5 hours for me but would love to come up and say hello.

I washed my kilt before, put it in the tumble dryer, now I can't do a fling with it!

You wouldn't but then again you are pretty thick.

To dispel an age old query too, an American lady whilst over here on holiday asked me one day "Is anything worn under the kilt?"

To which I replied "Hoots lady, nah, everything's in fine working order!" 😂

What I did notice is that Sigurdsson & Rodriguez are on the same wave length - so are Allan and Davies.

If Coleman was five years younger we wouldn't need a right back - but we do. Nevertheless Godfrey could well be the answer in which case we need another centre half to play with Mina. Koulibally would be fantastic. We also need a left footed right winger.

If we can play like that for the rest of the season we still have a chance of Europe.