Everton vs West Ham United

Frankly, I find discussion of line-ups, transfers and so on to be pointless in this context.

I know a lot of decent fans who have already lost interest and more will follow.

Keep locking down by all means but let's accept the consequences.

I fear for the future of League One and Two teams, and non-league teams. They are part of local communities and not part of the manufactured Sky product. No-one flys in for their games and stays in hotels for these teams. The nearest to me, Accrington Stanley, need fans at games for the income.

The authorities will find a way to gift the title to the RS again.

Cynical through watching years of favouritism for them and Man Utd.

Really put bias apart we should be just thankful for our health, I know I am. Everton's Carlo resurgence can wait another year.

We are still a little threadbare on offence with very little in reserve.

Sigurdsson picked up a nice goal in Sheffield but we cannot expect him to score regularly these days.

The crowds are certainly missed at all the grounds but I have no doubts about them all returning in due course once these vaccines are distributed albeit in about 6-8 months.

It remains to be seen how “in sync” the Premier League is with Public Health England in view of the continuation of the Premier League these coming days and weeks.

Let's hope 2021 is a good one for Evertonians, and in the next game, let's beat West Ham!

To me, Joe's fear of smaller clubs going extinct is of much greater concern.

We are a particularly ferocious and committed brand of fans on here. I know many people who've followed for at least 40 years but who can't persuade themselves that what they're watching at the moment is real football. I understand that and I think it will be compounded if we have another suspension and consequent compression or congestion which devalues games.

There's another factor: the lifeblood of the game, at least the version in which I am interested, demands that young fans be bred through the full match day experience. Lose that for long enough and you will, soon, lose a generation – at least of match-going supporters.

I share your view of the lower leagues – that will in itself be disastrous for the culture of the game.

Obviously by his absence and no word from the club something has a slight pong about it. Is it me or have we signed another pig in a poke? Mmmmm...

The extra money for a good placing, and a possible involvement in European Competition, probably outweighs his wages and limited appearances. Then there is the hidden revenues from gaining a few million Columbian Everton supporters.

Great to see Richarlison back and shame about the crowd absence but it had to be so. I don't know how lower league clubs survive in the first place and it would be nice if a percentage from all Premier League transfers could be levied and go into a rescue fund for them.

https://westhamfans.org/content/hammers-game-against-everton-be-postponed

It's come from a West Ham forum at 7:15 tonight and I don't know if it's all guesswork but I know the Premier League have said they wish to continue.

Dave (above), I felt the same about James. As the redshites favourite German would say, he's maybe a little bit injured?

Teddy @15, have you watched James? Of course the Spanish media would say they have joined basically worse teams. That's blatantly obvious, as bad as it sounds, they left Real Madrid.

He's shown to be class in the games I have seen and, if I don't see him again, I will be disappointed... but privileged to have seen such a gifted talent in our kit.

The Colombian paper Marca had a piece last week suggesting James isn't playing because he spends all his time on Instagram and partying. So his "lifestyle" means he is not match fit. No idea of the veracity of the allegations but his unspecified "injury" seems to have been at the "hopefully in two days he'll be okay" point for weeks.

With that being said, I remember a similar scenario with Tony Hibbert where every week he was not "match fit yet," and it went on like that for about two years until finally his contract ran out. So, it's not the first time we have seemingly minor issues drag on and on.

His calf injury record is poor, he spends significant periods of time out with calf issues: 18 days, 18 days, 21 days, 33 days in the above period – obviously a weakness in that area and we are paying for the issues at the moment, over 20 days out in December already.

After a 2-year loan deal, Bayern never took up the option to buy him even though when he played his goal and assist count was very good. It's getting him on the pitch that is the issue.

The postponement of the WHU game is, at the moment, heresay on a WHU fansite.

Seriously though, we knew James would miss periods when we bought him. The fact he's got a dodgy injury record is basically why he plays for Everton and not Champions League royalty.

Hopefully he'll be back quickly. We can win, and win pretty, with him in the side.

I don't really buy any of that nonsense, but he does seem to be the footballing equivalent of a luxury sports car - breaks down easily and doesn't like to be taken out of the garage unless everything is 100% purring.

I feel for them.

He's from Bootle and sounds like he's after a role on Hollyoaks, the nutter.

McCoist, why am I not surprised? Do you remember back in the '60s & '70s, it was always the Everton - Celtic connection and the other shower. Two massive results for Liverpool, Klopp won't be showing his teeth, just his true colours. 😣

I was fairly annoyed by the postponement thread but if we can all agree to hate the Red Shite all is forgotten.

I hope he is simply adjusting to to the rigours of the Premier League. He makes such a difference when on his game, fingers crossed.

Can't get my head around his fake accent mate. I respected his career too after he went abroad like so many are afraid to do and he done very well for himself.

He is obviously too good for Bootle now though, is Mr McManaming.

Tony, they got a couple of VVD shouts in and as mentioned above even called out Richarlison's "assault" on Thiago.

It will never end.

Naughty, nasty Everton.

The commentary we have just had to endure whilst watching Liverpool was beyond belief. Ally Mcoist: 'What a wonderful run by Mane, unfortunately he was offside'.

Seriously!!!

Aah well. Let life unfold.

Now, I know Walcott did have an injury which kept him out for a while at Arsenal but he was never the same when coming back. It appears now that James could be a similar case after starting well.

It may be unfair to be critical too soon so let's hope he comes back to prove us all wrong as he obviously has class.

Richarlison hasn't looked that sharp this season; now would be a good time for him to find that cutting edge. Having said what I've said, how can he be left out of the team even when he is below par, his defensive play and work rate make him hard to drop.

I was just relaying a story to see if any of you had any knowledge of the same thing mate.

It's the last thing I want and my feelings for the shite were pure sarcasm. I can't bare their alien-like division from the rest of us and the fact the media sell their souls to their remote control flicking fanbase with utter nonsense and any reason to favour them.

The thing is. now James has been out, and Everton have been winning, it may work in Everton's favour as he will not always be considered an automatic starter, which actually could suit the team over a season, plus give the opposition more to think about instead of just cutting the supply line to James, thus, rendering the creativity null and void.

Calvert-Lewin has suffered as a consequence though, but it is a team game after all.

I'd like to see Richarlison used in a more central role from time to time, just to mix things up.

My only major gripe this season is I wish Mina and Richarlison would cut out the feigning of injury, rolling round clutching parts of their anatomy that haven't been touched – it's a real pet hate of mine and has stopped me watching any football outside of Everton by and large.

I don't care if the opposition do it, but I was brought up on Watson, Reid, Gray etc. love my boxing and just cannot stomach grown athletic men acting like that!

I remember Fellaini going on a one-man mission and really roughing up the Stoke hardmen, despite him getting banned, and somehow not sent off if I recall rightly. I would have preferred Mina acting a bit more that way against Man Utd, which would have resulted in him and Cavani getting sent off I suppose, but that's more palatable than seeing a 6'5'' colossus do his impression of Tiswas's dying fly!

Nice to get that off my chest!

Stephen Vincent – 50

Just saw your post after posting mine, edited it to include reference to your post. Glad it is not just me mate, it really has put me off the game as a whole!

James was that much of a gamble we took him for free and he took a wage cut; huge gamble that.

And a top level footballer doesn't play because he uses his thumbs too much using Instagram. More stupidity from he clowns

I have a TV supporting half rednose neighbour who hates Pickford now. Actually thinks he meant to do Van Dijk. Mentions it every time I fail to avoid him.

I do get a bit reactive to all things Red and I need to be on the lookout for that Scouse wit/sarcasm. If there is any confusion just consider it the fault of your retarded American football friend.

All the best, lad.

Interesting conundrum as the team has played well and been more defensively solid, but we sacrifice a supply chain and outlet.

Similarly, having Rodriguez in place of Sigurdsson in the Number 10 flanked by Richarlison and probably Iwobi right now will put the opposition more on the back foot.

We lose some of the defensive solidness we've had of late but offer more going forward and provide more support to Dominic, from which he was benefiting from earlier in the season.

I only ever played football at Sunday league (Huyton & District). I was always taught by my dad and lads I played alongside that players who showed a weakness simply received lots of hard challenges as they were seen as an easy target.

My dad was convinced that the Argentina team that played England in the 1966 World Cup had a lot to answer for regarding the introduction of play-acting and feigning injury. Makes my blood boil too.

I am all for well-spoken scousers and people who want to better themselves but, like Bellew and Carrrrrrragher, they can't keep it up and it's so fake its cringey.

McManaming takes it to another level, it's almost foreign.

Hopefully it’s helped our players develop a bit more of a thick skin, because you’d have to be thick, if you didn’t get on this very biased agenda!

Don't get me wrong, 28 years in the Army serving & living abroad and now living in London I have a flakey accent at best.

But he makes me cringe with his high pitched screech of a Scouse accent.

Tony. They won't let it go. Ever. Bitter reds.

What was ACTUALLY happening on the pitch was that the RS where absolute shite all night, but no mention of that, just how great they are, how strange.

Like a lot of other supporters I make New Year resolutions, usually fail to keep them, the first one I will loose will most probably be broken on new years day, as I don't want another pundit to mention Pickford's tackle on VVD, and am wondering on the anniversary day of when it happened will there be a national day of mourning, with Liverpool players wearing black armbands,

The RS and The Huns, siamese twins seperated at birth. In hell.

At times the two of them stopped watching the game to enthuse about Liverpool's net spend over 5 years and john Fenway having a big a gaff with a fucking big tv set.

Jesus, I nearly puked my Glenmorange back into the glass!

I love my boxing - any era, and yes the Peter Reid era was a loonngggg time ago now, but boxing, though changed has always had intrigue and participants that are the real deals - from John L Sullivan to the modern day.

I trained for quite a while at Franny Hand's gym in Liverpool just off London Road, loved the fighters there!

I watched V Klitschko v Danny Williams last night, you see the punishment what Williams takes in order to achieve his dream, and it puts modern day football players in a very poor light for me, but I am boxing biased!

Neil Copeland- 64

Glad there are others out there that think this. I will always be an Evertonian, but wish this playacting was confined to other teams, though we are much better than most. I played for school teams, had a wee stint with Michael Ball's old team Redgate Rovers and played as a teen in the Zingari league - if players had acted like modern day pros - they'd have been ostracised by there own teammates.

I soon discovered boxing after this, plus like my weekends free for drinking, so my 11 a side career was put to one side!!!!

I live outside the country usually - has play acting crept into the amateur leagues in Britain?

I only watch our games or the lower divisions. I cannot bring myself to watch the shite or the other Sky babies.

e couldn't believe it, the owner of a club actually watching his investment, I mean it was only 2 in the afternoon and he probably had a fuckin Cosmo in his grasp, but fuck me this commentator was creaming in his pants as he told the tale.

So far he's had the perfect storm in English football, but his last season at Dortmund didn't go well. Relegation zone at Christmas but eventually recovered to finish 7th (ish) prior to him leaving.

I'm always suspicious of someone with a nervous smile who laughs when they are inwardly angry. Great when things are going his way but I predict a very entertaining meltdown if they don't.

Popcorn ready.

It was a tough job after a heavy night, getting up at 05:45 to find Man City called off.

I'm getting too old for all this burning the candle at both ends lark, all you get is a little more light and loads of wax everywhere.

I do hope it gets sorted out if there is anything that has been under-handed. One solution (and we would let the matter drop) is to give us De Bruyne and Aguerro as a goodwill gesture for any inconvenience caused. Simples!

Muscle injuries can be a nightmare to get over, especially for athletes. People just need to chill. Remember there was no transfer fee.

Especially when the ball was driven into the box and De Gea saved the cross but pushed it back into play. He should have caught it but Richards said how amazing he was to push it straight to Maguire... REALLY???

I’m not sure how successful Neville’s predictions are but he said last night’s game between the toon and rs would also be cancelled. We’ll wait and see.

The rest should have helped as Doucouré and Calvert-Lewinespecially must have been exhausted but have no comparable replacements. But West Ham (especially with Antonio back) are similar to us with a counter-attacking threat and dangerous from set-pieces. Expect a classic KITAP1 from Moyes.

No team this season has won 5 matches in a row. Would be a lovely time to become the first.

Don't you just love the oft used phrase from our beloved so-called expert commentators and summarises: "There was contact so he is entitled to go down". Think that is properly defined as "cheating".

Olsen
Holgate, Keane, Mina, Godfrey
Iwobi, Doucouré, Davies,
Sigurdsson
Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.

I fancy Sigurdsson to score again in this one as well as Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. 3-0 it is then.

In the meantime, until we know for sure that the game is going ahead I refuse to get too psyched over tomorrow's match so no prediction, but simply can't stop the anticipation. Definitely winnable and think that Coleman for Holgate is the right shout for this one despite Mason's form.

No postponement, and win to kick the year off please, gents.

Nobody has pointed out anything about them that isn't felt by most Evertonians.

I wouldn’t mess with the defence it has been a lean, mean defensive machine. Then there is enough going forward with those players to grab two or three goals.

It’s games like this I thought we would really miss Allan, but Tom Davies has stepped up to the plate recently. I will be really hoping that he can continue his good form consistently.

Same goes for Iwobi and Sigurdsson, they’ve really stepped it up a level these last few weeks, our good form will be dependent upon them maintaining that high level of energy and performance.

The short break may have done Richarlison a bit of good. I think he can raise his game. He has been good but we know he can be great. If Richie starts firing on all cylinders he could be the catalyst for a top four finish.

Prediction; If Davies, Sigurdsson and Iwobi can maintain their good form I think we will win.

Everton 3 West Ham 1

Here's a thought, Have more than decent alternatives lined up in January that can take us to the next level. Fair play if they can bust a gut and carry on the words commitment and bottle don't go hand in hand with Gomes and Sigurdsson. No more sitting on our hands just hoping cmon Marcel be creative.

We definately need a midfielder and I don't doubt his class at all but his appearance record again, isn't very good.

If he does come here, hes another option and hopefully a quick fix that stays fit?

Our midfield is shaky against the top sides and someone with brains and great technical ability can free up more space for Dacoure to back up the attack with his pressing.

If Khedira showed us what he is capable of for half a season we would see a great player.

Surely any opportunity to possibly improve the starting 11 can't be missed, even if it is short term.

I think season will finish, maybe late but the vaccines will ramp up in March and hopefully the spread will start to ease off late spring.

James, maybe we are looking to sell him for a good profit before going after Messi or Ronaldo?

On to Everton. If we win it may be seen as an advantage, if we lose it wasn't. The truth is we will not know but we should be looking to play a high tempo game from the off to test them.

Maybe Richarlison come in for Calvert-Lewin as striker and Bernard to start? We can't play Siggy as a midfielder, he's a forward or No 10. He gets caught out of position and can't tackle.

Start the 4 centre backs, hammers have some big lads that are dangerous from set-pieces.

Get the points on the board early just in case the Premier League is suspended.

I hope the game goes ahead tomorrow, 3 points and we are right back in mix. COYB

Normally this would be another good news story but in current times aren't elite athlete's supposed to be keeping away from the general population in their sports bubbles?

I'll confess I'm confused and don't know all the rules or circumstances but I would not want Carlo or anyone coming down ill derailing a promising season.

I can hear the cries of, "only Everton" now.

I expect West Ham to play in the same manner as they did at Southampton and I would start Seamus at right back as this will be a game where we have more of the ball and he provides a better attacking option.

Will take a 1 - 0 here and now as West Ham are hard to beat.

Actually I would give him an MBE seeing how easy it is to get one these days and by the way, why did it take so, so long for Jimmy Greaves to get one??

COYB. Let's hammer the Hammers.

I hope he was dressed appropriately, wouldn't want the homeless to think he's Pierre Cardin!!

Staying relevant, Danny O'Neil (63) had a good point that certainly affects Everton's goal production. In Calvert-Lewin, we have one of the best headers of a ball in the league as well as proving that he has also improved in all aspects of the game. His mini drop in production is due to the fact that in the last few games he is NOT getting decent crosses from either left or right byline.

Irrelevant, Paul (44) Amusing point but it is so unimportant about McManaman's accent as to make me laugh. As a scouser now living in Canada, accents don't mean a thing. You are actually the "snob" for thinking that it does. I worry more about spelling his name right. Most commentators talk through their respective "arses", no matter how they speak.

To me the most irritating by a mile is Michael Owen who just loves hearing himself speak. Unfortunately for me, the only response is the "mute" button which I don't get to quickly enough.

But it's been a while since he's been at his best. He's not looked that great since the 17-18 season for Juve and since then he's not played a great deal.

He's got some pedigree but, at 33 and his best years behind him, I'd have doubts about whether he'd hit the ground running. And even in his prime, he was a slow mover whereas we need a bit more dynamism in the middle for when Allan is out. But then pickings can be slim in January and maybe a short term loan on reduced wages makes sense with a player Carlo knows? A 'no' for me personally.

He could be another Gareth Barry, so if we got him on a free (like he went to Juventus) and with no silly contracts it may just tide us over. I have watched his clips via Google/Bing and he does appear to have the speed of a Racing Steamroller but could be a decent anchor man in midfield.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=sami+khedira&docid=1390

If he comes in on a 6 month loan deal, it's not much of a gamble is it?, and he may do well enough to give him a short one-season contract. He could be a more valuable squad player than Delph or Gomes is. Carlo will know all about him so there's no-one better to judge.

I would hope though that we are scouting some younger <24 quality, mobile and athletic centre-midfielders and will sign the best one in June.

Good on Tom for doing that. Shame on the people running the show for evolving the "Economy" to a point where this is needed in a nominally premium western country - and I exclude any effect of the current circumstance of this year.

More shame for the sly normalizing into acceptance of the growing "Need" for ongoing charity in lieu of proper support.

Quick – hide behind the couch and hope he does not see us!!

Contract is up in June. Fee would be nominal. Not exactly building for the future though and, like Rodriguez, we might only see him fleetingly because of injury record.

Joe McMahon - 124. With my dodgy left knee the winger would here me coming from outside of the stadium!

I never cottoned on that I was an Everton fan. And as I got to talking to the American redshite, he started banging on about the "assault by Richardson" on Thiago. The guy announced how much he hated Rich, and thought he was a filthy player.

I honestly was there to hang with the Mrs., and didn't want to say anything, but just couldn't help myself. I told the guy I thought Richardson was the single most underrated player in world football, and if he played for Liverpool he'd be "the best winger on the planet." 'Merican speak with that "winger" bit.

Dude looked at me and said I was probably right.

At that point I decided not to strangle him with that scarf he was wearing. Lucky man.

I took a great, great deal of pleasure in that result yesterday. It was wonderful.

I hope the West Ham game goes on. I don't want to see a stoppage. 2-0 Blues.

We need to start fast and on top against the Hammers. They are well organised and will look to park the bus and frustrate.

That was the point about McManaminG ironically and it was relative to the point that other fans were speaking about commentary.

Does a thread legally have to remain on its original issue? So many threads have the same comment over and over again in different words.

This thread has been healthy and nobody is arguing over what tactics Carlo Ancelotti should take note of.

Just a bit of fun while also exposing some truth about media bias and phoney posh speakers.

Plus I wasn't alone in noticing how fake the Bootle diplomat sounds.

If Tosun was trusted, he'd have started a game. Do we all expect Calvert-Lewin to not miss a single game from now till the end of the season? Unfair on him.

Surely we need another forward? Fingers crossed we find homes for Tosun, Besic and Bolasie. And loans for Delph, Gordon, Kenny. And we keep Bernard, who l think has been short-changed this year.

We also have 3 or 4 players to come back from injury and they all can give us a jolt. However, none of them are forwards, goalscorers.

We need Brands to work some magic and go for it.

Back to West Ham, and it will be a tough game, but definitely winnable.

This season, they've surprised and achieved some good results, but I feel that they can be beaten, but Everton need to keep a good steady tempo for 90 minutes which they've managed to achieve the last few league matches.

Win ugly, a wins a win, and good incentive looking at the table which is very tight across the top 6.

However, he does need more support here and I hope Carlo has someone in mind as the present support is not up to snuff and Richarlison seems to be missing games here and there.

The good news is that Moyes still leaves his subs far too late... Lanzini and Yarmalenko got on late in the last game against Brighton and made a difference, but had they been on 10 minutes earlier, they might have got the win.

Hopefully he is not fit enough to start. They don't have a bad side to be fair.

Like you say Antonio is dangerous but I think Soucek needs to be watched from set pieces more so.

He is very dangerous in the box and we have to give them as little as possible in our half.

The effort that Ancelotti is putting into giving all the squad playing time, some enforced, even playing them out of position, doesn't look like a Manager that will be looking for to bring anyone in.

As for the Italian press they have always had an obsession with Everton, which will go of the Richter scale now that Ancelotti is Manager.

Eddie (137); yes Antonio on his day is dangerous. In honesty, so are West Ham. Hopefully Moyes will put his shackles on them and restrict their freedom.

Jamie; don't start me. You should have asked him his opinion on Robertson's shithouse scrape down the back of Allan's leg that went unpunished. I've just got PTSD and reminders of Aldridge claiming a red card was not enough in terms of punishment for Richarlison. Let's not go there, they are pathetic and boil my blood when I even think about them!

Interestingly it made me look at the highlights of the Derby and in relation to Calvert-Lewin and discussion of his supply chain, look at the second equaliser. James with a sublime pass into the channel for the overlapping Digne who then delivers a perfect cross for Calvert-Lewin to leap like a Salmon and bang it into the back of the net.

Tom Bowers (113); no. Just no. We don't want the cursed Manager of the Month award!!!

Khedira; I'd take him. I don't care for age and pace is something we've all discussed previously. I'm in the camp that pace of mind and thought can often trump physical pace. His pedigree speaks for itself and he would only be a temporary signing, but one that would bring World Cup winning quality to the squad. He was part of a Germany team (die Mannschaft) that in years to come will be talked about as one of the greats, just too soon right now.

Will; sadly there always has and always will be homeless people. That doesn't make it right, but through a combination of personal, social and economic reasons, it is an unfortunate aspect of society that we all wish didn't exist.

Here's hoping that our steady turnaround continues into the New Year and that a place in the Top 5 makes us all feel like Toff snobs looking down at the rest of the league!!

Please, those that watch Under-23 games say he's not ready. Fans and coaches said the same about Bale and Rashford until they were both given a chance and the rest is history. Just give him his head.

I was listening to Mack the Man on BT Sport, and I found it odd he was emphasizing the G at the end of the word.

As for accents, I lost a lot of mine when I was in the forces, but then again I've never had what one would consider a broad scouse accent.

Born and educated in Toxteth by the way. So I am far from being a snob.

I'm another who thinks Tosun is better than generally allowed on here. Contrary to received wisdom, he's scored some good goals for us and he has a decent, instinctive football brain. He was shite when he came on against United. Most of them were shite from the start. I wouldn't mind giving him a go either.

One of the things I'm liking about this regime is the potential retrieval of "lost causes". Sigurdsson and Davies are promising in that regard; early days, but we might be able to save ourselves a lot of money.

I think we grind out a 1-0 and that would mean five wins on the bounce, who would have thought of that a month ago.

Happy New Year fellow blues.

The consistent improvement in Keane, Mina, Coleman, Holgate, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Sigurdsson etc shows me we have a management that knows how to handle players. Obviously not a big champion of youth (yet) but this is a good notch or two above anything we've seen here for years.

Off-topic, Marine AFC are holding a raffle to recoup some of the gate and sponsorship revenue lost when their upcoming FA Cup immortal with Spurs was forced behind closed doors. First prize in the raffle is the chance to manage the club for a game. Let's jump in, y'all!

That pass to Coleman for Calvert-Lewin's goal against Palace, the lobbed pass to Richarlison against WBA, by way of example.

Whether he's injured, lazy or doesn't like the cold he's still worth it. We're winning at the moment without him, but he's what we're aiming for.

Of course there have. That's only part of what I said. Not getting into a deep one now, but basically charity is now a much bigger part of things, and previous system resources always seem to have "No money".

BTW, great comment on James, agree wholeheartedly.

I'll join y'all midafternoon my time.

The fact that he never won owt at Preston, Everton, Man Utd or Real Sociedad and so far at West Ham (did he have a spell at Sunderland? That's how interested I am in him...) his winning must have been in the Glasgow Boys Brigade Football League.

COYB.

Side fact. Someone drank too much and kept barracking Andy Gray. It went too far and turned nasty. Andy Gray can take care of himself!

I recall the press being full of his affair with his trainer's wife, Mrs Brown. He got some stick in the dugout when he was boss of Derby after he had the boot from Man Utd. I was in the Park End and it was embarrassing to see.

He famously quipped that he was 'the only manager sacked for falling in love' and that there were no regrets because she was worth '20 Man Utds'.

Man Utd might well have gone on to better things after they beat Liverpool in the '77 FA Cup Final but that's life.

Makes you realise how sanitised things are now, every comment scrutinised. Cavani has just been banned (rightly or wrongly) but it's part of the reason the likes of us know feck-all about the inner sanctums of our clubs. The presser is our only portal into their world.

Like a boxer who chose not to hear the bell, Reidy snarled and hacked his way through them, inspiring teammates to join the fray. Deep Joy.

Evertonians were sick of seeing their players bullied by RS down the years. Those massed in the Anfield Road end did not give a flying fuck whether Reidy had read the rule book, or not (he clearly hadn't). Every one of us was in there with him.

Mordor (unsurprisingly) was in a state of utter outrage. How dare somebody give them a taste of their own? HOW FUCKING DARE THEY???

Even today, I can remember the look of utter contempt Reidy gave the hysterical kopites as he walked away, scanning all four stands in Mordor. How they hated him.

Seems daft to talk about an incident that happened over 30 years ago but, as it's New Year's Eve, I thought I would go public on something I have done privately for years... The Peter Reid Award for not giving a fuck for who he pissed off.

My vote goes to a player who has not enjoyed the best of times, either on or off the pitch. Someone who has his fair share of critics, but someone who has sparked the greatest outpouring of outrage since Mason Holgate threw the Brazilian over the Mordor main stand wall.

Jordan Pickford has had some hair raising moments, but let's be fair here. The tackle on St Virgil turned out to be the gift that may never stop giving. The side-splitting hypocrisy voiced by an agenda-driven RS media has been comedy gold, ex dirty bastard players all trying desperately hard to be more outraged than the next fella.

It's been one of the high points in a shitty year. Such is the extent of their outrage, I'm beginning to suspect it may never subside.

The Peter Reid Award for 2020 goes to Jordan Pickford.

If I don't see Midnight, have a great New Year.

Absolutely spot on.

Happy New Year to you, and to all ToffeeWebbers!

Feed Bergkamp, I mean Calvert-Lewin again. Still enjoying watching replays of the Keane ball over his shoulder, control and finish.

I don't think Moyes's tactics have changed much since he left, so I'm hoping with Coleman's Moyes insights, Ancelotti will have a good plan prepared.

Going to look for a clip of that but your prose has brought it to immediate life.

It was Reid's wanting to please Howard, more than any other factor I think, that made that team what it was. And as Darren says, he really did run into a brick wall for him.

Kicking Graeme Souness very hard at Anfield takes a certain spirit, I think we can all agree.

Post of the day. What would we give to have him snarling in midfield. One of my all time greats.

You kicked an Everton player in them days and there was a queue to retaliate. And we all know who was at the front of the queue. Every time.

I had a feeling then we had a real player that sometimes his skill and passing ability are not mentioned as much. Never thought when George Wood nutted him in the knee in the snow, breaking his leg, that he would become a Goodison Great eventually.

"Dry January" – does that mean not posting on ToffeeWeb for a month or something much less challenging?

Happy New Year!

Wait for the news to come out about Kyle Walker at man city. He arranged a party for Xmas in London and 19 Premier League players went, and up to now 11 have tested positive, resulting in the Fulham match getting called off tonight, and Man City other night against Everton.

Sancho from Dortmund hired a private jet and went to the party too.

Great idea and that should be a TW annual award.

If there's any truth in it, we should be awarded the points plus all expenses incurred for club and fans on the day.

Jeez. I'm getting in a taxi in about 10 minutes. Debated long and hard.

Jeez. I'm getting in a taxi in about 10 minutes. Debated long and hard.,,michael.kenrick@gmail.com,1,20:18:57,,82.2.50.200,ok,19747,12/31/2020 20:18:57,overdrive,reader,,,no 1118903,40290,toffeeweb,31/12/2020,Mike Gaynes,,"All the best to him, hope he's able to build a solid career.

Jeff, if there is truth in - if... then we would also need to know why Man City used that as an excuse if they knew, whilst also having the required number of alternative players available... and how much the Premier League knew.

I rather think it will eventually be spun that Man City merely informed the Premier League of the numbers alone, then they made the decision to postpone.

But we'll see – maybe.

All the best, All – I'm away.

If it was a member of the backroom staff at Man City they would be sacked on the spot. This arrogant person will get a fine of no consequence and a short suspension.

Man City will be very lucky if they don't forfeit the 3 points and Everton are awarded the win for this game as this postponement was all of their own doing.

Everton and Spurs Reality checks..

If it is true that any Manchester City player and others partied in London, we won't find out the truth via the printed media.

Wow! You really are a little "testy". To quote yourself, "Just a bit of fun"... Exactly what I was doing (115). I didn't really think you were a snob but it obviously does bother you at least a "little bit" about how people speak. Personally, I am more concerned about what they have to say.

To be fair, and to show that I do read all posts, I will requote your words again (168): "All the best of health and happiness to you all."

Well said, I totally agree and, with a smile on my face, I think you could have said "youse all".

Happy New Year from one Evertonian to another true but very sensitive Evertonian. Keep Smilin'! (I dropped the "g" to prove I am a true scouser.)

Phil, (above on the Sancho rumour) would a private jet be allowed out of Germany during the flight ban or has it happened before the ban?

My mate has a daughter in Germany, he can't travel to or bring her here for the holidays and he has tried everything.

I wish he knew Sancho now.

I got that one earlier today, it is believable, but obviously not as yet verified. Thing is with Social Media, it can spread like wildfire, and can often as in Chinese Whispers get exaggerated out of proportion, but the version above is exactly as I got it, so possibly is true.

The repercussions on this will be massive if it turns out to be the case. Thankfully Everton are the perceived innocent party for once.

1. Reidy, having had serious blood drawn on his shin in the game against Bayern, sought retribution. He (mistakenly) found the perpetrator, nailed him, stood over him and said “Have some of that, you Nazi bastard”. Came the bewildered reply, “I'm Danish”.

2. In a crowded, belligerent mass of Man Utd fans at Old Trafford, 1985, when we were trying to win the league, I was caught up as our team was entering the ground (remember, we beat them 5-0 in October), Man Utd fans spitting, banging on the coach windows, very angry.

Reidy, playing poker, never looked up. Just picked a card out of his hand, with a grin on his face, and pressed it against the coach window. The 5 of Diamonds.

He's fat, he's round, he's worth a million pound! The Peter Reid stories are brilliant and bring back loads of fond memories.

Darren, The Peter Reid Award is genius. Thoroughly deserved by JP for bringing down St VVD.

I didn't see that coming! As inspiring a speech as we could wish for in the trenches. Up the Blues.

One issue now is whether he would be eligible for a work permit under Brexit legislation. Same with Khedira.

Personally I hope not! But things have changed a bit now.

I think that's round about page 980 – I'm just about to get to that.

Now we are back up there again, they are reeling the VVD crap out again.

Please let us all know mate, once you've had a good read.

From the few fragments I've managed to read, I reckon things are going to be a bit less simple with freedom of movement going down the bog.

Certainly for transferring in superannuated players.

But you, me, and Boris haven't got to the small print yet.

You're the lucky one. I got the I-Spy Book of Brexit and Big Chief I Spy in the Big Wigwam in Fetter Lane London, and he said “It's um big crock for um Premier League clubs. They're um fucked.”

And I reckon he should know!

I'm advised by my legal people I need to apologise to any Native American correspondents on TW for my clumsy phraseology.

I should make it clear that the translation came straight from Little Plum (your Redskin Chum) from The Beano c.1955.

Be careful you don't get siouxed...!

Looking forward to a year when Calvert-Lewin wins the Golden Boot, Everton win (that is, actually win) the Premier League and Klopp gets found on a park bench with a bottle of meths.

At the strike of midnight, Marcel Brands as we speak is stroking his white cat after fixing Bill's fax machine with bids for a striker, a pacy full-back, a winger, and a top goalie on the way to Finch Farm as we speak. Coyb, do it, Marcel!

I'm just back in from my first footing - Scottish granddad, my pop. Pissing down and right parky.

Happy New Year!

I've looked up Cains Jawbone, now and I might wait for the Ladybird edition too. Or maybe the I-Spy version! With the pictures.

Here we are 2021, new year, new decade. New Everton, perchance?

I Hopi so!

Maybe it wasn’t all that bad after all...

Patrick @ 191; 'twas ever thus, I remember all the southern papers being upset in 1963 and saying we were too rough, couldn't really play football like their darling Spurs, and more or less kicked (and bought) our way to the title... erm too tough?? Dave Mackay??

Happy New Year to you!

Beryl Reid - Marlene wasn’t it?

You are the life blood. We fans are your building blocks though we can't attend we support your love and commitment.

To a happier 2021 and glasses over half-full! Up the bestest fans and team.

Nothing will happen to Man City; we will not gain... not that I really wanted to.

I just hope we don't get – in a Premier League / Government... stitch-up of 'one size fits all, we have to be seen as doing something ' postponed again.

That's a bit gloomy son.

Cool your boots man.

Look on the bright side. We should snot WHU tomorrow. Fuck Man City. Yeah, it's as bent as shit. Nowt we can do about that. But things can swing quite quickly.

Don't waste positive energy on negative emotion, there's things to like or so I'm told!

Reasons To Be Cheerful.

Edit; I've missed breakfast, so pondering on bacon butties for dinner.

Life can be harsh for sure. And it’s pretty shite currently. This time of year can be tough.

Things swing.

Go and pen a stanza or two on “cheerfull”. It bloody helped me. It’s great, no bugger notices!

Man the fuck up people, yes there is a pandemic, yes times are hard and people are dying, but put it into context with lots of other illnesses, wars, time periods etc and stop being so bloody weak. Where the hell has the British spirit gone !?

Hopefully, the winner of the 2021 Peter Reid awatd will dispatch that snidy scrote Andy Robertson into Row Z.

You either fight it, and endure the hard times that come with that. Or you put it into context and live with it, with all the hard times that come with that.

In Melbourne we spent the best part of 8 months fighting it. It wasn't pleasant and we'll pay the price forever.

The UK hasn't tried long term hard restrictions. I'd argue the UK has put the virus into context and decided to live with it. The result is needing an emergency approved vaccine.

Neither option is easy or more courageous than the other.

Sweet... and we need more of it, ie, a bit of nastiness.

COYFB!!!

I've not heard of any others up to now, but I'm sure there will be, Bolasie, Tosun etc.

Great post.

I'm not a Scouser, but many tell me that I have a Scouse accent – so in sympathy with all Blue Scousers out there I will for once drop the 'G.'
Hope to see you all at Oodison Park soon!!

Same defence tonight is a must. Tinker with midfield options if he thinks we need to. This fella knows his stuff. Coyb.

The issue is to do with inserting the ‘g’ unnaturally in order to sound ‘posher’, more credible, more informed, more educated, etc. It’s to do with the speaker being pretentious.

In Macmanamanamanamam’s case, he’s both pretentious and a talker of absolute bollocks. That’s the issue with him.

Seemed to work for us anyway!!

I have been lucky to be in Peters company on a few occasions, and he is still as passionate a Blue as you could wish to meet. He told me he failed the medical but Kendall said sign him and I will take full responsibility. The strange thing was that having stuck his neck out to sign Peter, he struggled to get into the side. But that changed after yet another poor display from Everton, his brother rang the Ian St John phone in on Radio City after the game and St John didnt know the caller was Peters brother. His brother said Kendall needs to get Peter Reid back in the side, he went on to say Peter was 100% fit and was better than any of the current midfield which he was. St John then said to the caller you seem to know a lot about Peter Reid to which he said well I should do I am his brother. As they say the rest is history.

My feeling would be that the first indicated a 4-2-3-1 moving to a 4-4-2 when they attack through the centre, whereas the latter was more a 5-4-1 moving to a smack in the gob when the ref wasn't looking.

Maybe it is wishful thinking but players over 30 playing high intensity gegenpress every week sounds unsustainable.

Klopp's Dortmund fell apart in spectacular fashion.

You my friend are rapidly becoming one of my favourite posters.

You may not go in for the spirit lifting artistry George brings to these boards... but make no mistake. You do lift the spirits.

All we need now is for George himself to post and we are good to go against these "Cockney Fuckers"

That aside It strikes me that the Liverpool accent has changed noticeably over the last 40 years.
Most of my parents & older cousins (typically 70+) still speak with a Deeper/slower drawl - much like Paul McCartney still does.
In contrast the younger scouse accent of today seems very high pitched (both male & female) - and very different to that heared in Old Swan when I was growing up there in the 60s & 70s.

Rob #245] Was your Sunday side managed by Stan Boardman?

With Bootles finest it seems to be the INGS that are so annoyING. I can't help callING him McManamING because of it.

Fits perfect because hes also a bit of a Ming as the local kids would say.

Its bad enough seeing how dominant their numbers are as pundits nevermind how awful they sound.

Have BT ever had an ex blue on?

No!!

Ouse, Orse, Ere, Ome. Deffo a lazy accent!!

I'll never forget when they showed the top 6 a few seasons back when we were 6th. They cut 6th out and showed Man U who were 7th.

Horrible ignorance I have tried to repay them with.

My Grandparents on my mothers side spoke rather neater than the rest of us. It was natural from them and they had always tried to not sound too common so to speak.

My nan had more O's on the end of NO compared to most local nans.

We used to laugh at them for it (lovingly) and my nan would joke at my pronunciations.

Big Joe sounded more natural to me but he wasn't afraid to use common language either.

I know he went to grammar school and was well educated. I imagine he always sounded rather posh in the dressing room for a scouser.

He gets the natural vote for me after meeting him and reading about his upbringing.

Steve above, it could be age too. I grew up in a rough area some may say but i've tried to sound less of a local tit the older i have got.

Everybody thought they spoke funny, except in Liverpool, where they talked like us!

We had a teacher, called Peter Moloney, who made a good living outside of teaching, in show business, with an act all about talking Scouse.

As a born and bred scouser living in Canada I watch every Blues game and while I don't really care what Macamamanam ing has to say I find EVERYTHING that one of his partners in RED has to say annoying to the point that I have to press the "mute" button to cut him off. That is Michael Owen. I just don't know what his accent is but I do know that he just loves the sound of his own voice as he dominates with his drivel ridden opinions.

Speaking of accents though, the most annoying to me is that professional scouser and celebrity red shite, John Bishop. What a contrived and forced fake accent from a bloke who so far as I'm aware grew up in Winsford and Runcorn. Where did his scouse drawl come from?

He’d been a Paratrooper and a Trappist Monk before teaching I think.

I remember a line from one of his poems about ‘goosegogs’.

They’re like gear little plums only hairy.

Bloody odd, the things that pop into your mind!

Totally agree. It strikes me at away games how forced and contrived the scouse accent of some groups of young lads seems - cringeworthy, like when some try to present themselves as "more scouse" than others.

Timeless.

Good to see a thread on Toffeweb has a friendly brain picking theme.

The humble atmosphere around our recent run has been good on ToffeeWeb too.

Social media would be a hype machine at the moment but its been smart on here.

No real hype or chest out arrogance like another club we know. Just humble and enjoying it.

Everton have beaten all the London clubs this season although the win against the Hammers was in the cup so it would be nice to complete the Prem. sweep today.

West Ham are a better team this season but still have a lot of flaws although Everton are missing some men and so it should be an interesting game albeit tough.

One hopes the return of Richie makes a difference but a good start is always a boost to how the game goes unlike the Manure and Leeds games where they started poorly.

Olivier to the life!

Just 2 minutes in and I've had 3-4 tear-inducing, laugh until my sides ache moments. Looking forward to the rest.

Now I know the inspiration of your own humour!!!

Annoys me when commentators refer to Owen as Scouse.

Hes not even fuckin english

I look for signs and make my own interpretations. I am led by me.
For a moment - - 13.25 - - I turn my head to the window
Rain drops separated like jigsaw pieces not yet clicked together
White cloud - - blown by coastal winds - - strewn out over a blue blue backdrop
All around me on my writing room wall - - postcards, posters, photographs, sunflowers.
To my left - - another desk - - Everton mugs full of pens, a glass snowflake paperweight with Goodison inside - - Littlewoods Clock clock - - two tin footballers - - one in Royal Blue and one in Amber - - Howard and Alan.
13.39 - - I must get myself some lunch and begin my preparations for the game.
Strange.
It’s cold and wet outside and here I have a comfortable settee with a Royal Blue throw over to keep me warm.
Hot chocolate will be made with cream and marshmallows
Feet up - - build up - - interviews - - comments
Things I would never see before a live game normally
But Wow would I wish to be out in the cold
Wrapped and gloved up
On my way now to The Dark House
An hour to get to the bar - - hand shakes and Happy New Years' to everyone
Lemonade for me now days
But to be with my friends - -Tangled Up In Blue - - to be able to talk and debate and argue and laugh
The Joys.
Now in a New World we have to change our Joys - - New Delights

“Sky rockets in flight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight”

We can send out “posso” waves to each other over The Astral - - let’s do it.

Everybody is entitled to their opinions and to opinionate
Go For it.
But let’s start the New Year - - The New Vison - - By Bringing Joys - - criticise the play/score - - but leave each other alone - -give one another space and freedom - - let’s have no slagging of individual players - - there are enough people to call me names - - I am not going to call myself and add to the bag of woes that some people want us to carry around.
“Dare to love yourself
as if you were a rainbow
with gold at both ends.”
I honestly believe that things are looking better at Everton.

Just a few weeks ago things seemed to be floundering - - falling - - fresh and new starts draining away - - but it seems everyone has pulled together - - - we - - here - - us - - we are part of that everyone - - is Everton not burnt on our hearts - - in our blood - - in our soul and spirit - - it is - - look ahead - -to the future - -we cannot change the past - - but we can make our futures:

“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
- - Emily Dickinson - - A Great Evertonian.

There are enough worries and problems in today’s world - - last year - - only a few months ago my wife and family were told I was going to die - - obsoletely NO CHANCE - - when I was recovering I watched all of the first weeks games on an IPad in my hospital bed - - with tubes and things shoved up almost every part of my body - - machines clicking - - keeping me alive - - but I asked to watch Everton and I had Doctors and Nurses and Support Staff all asking how were Everton doing and then watching bits with me - - Everton (like my family and friends) was part of my fight to live - - and you gang - - Come On - - Come On.

Remember who we are - - We Are Everton.

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

Forward Blues - - Friends - - I am sending Cosmic Bluetiful Wishes to you all on The Astral - - just look out of your window and you will see me in the clouds - - high above you - - just like Everton.

Best New year wishes to you All - - Up The Blues - - We Are The People.

Nothing stays the same, so fingers crossed for a good start to 2021.

And as you say "criticise the play/score - - but leave each other alone".

Lovely reminder of Moloneys style and wit on that recording. I remembered a couple of those jokes from his lessons. The docker and the Santa ones being just a couple.

He was a clever man who wore his learning lightly, and a good man, as well as a good teacher, who wouldn’t have corporal punishment at any price, which made him a rare thing at our school. A tough cookie too. You wouldn’t want to get in his way on the rugby pitch!

He lived near us near Walton Vale which came in handy when we got sent home when it snowed, which happened a fair few times, believe it or not. I got the occasional lift because the buses stopped, in his little 3 wheeler. One of those jobs that opened at the front.

He was in Walton hospital at the same time as my dad, who was getting his farmers attended to, and they knew each other. His joke to my dad was, I can show you my scar but please don’t show me yours.

Yes, Everton are in the mix at the top but we all know how that can change with 3 point games even after a good run as we saw after the derby match when things went pear shaped for a while.

From what I have seen so far this season the league is up for grabs as the usual suspects are dropping points against lower teams unexpectedly.

Everton seem to have shored things up at the back despite having Seamus and Lucas out and one hopes they can build on that but they need to be stronger in midfield and offence if they are to stay in the top four.

Interesting decision tonight. Keep the back 4 or go with Seamus? I'm in 2 minds but edging towards stick.

Reid was fantastic as was Trevor Steven and many of that team. But for me it was Kevin Sheedy.

May 2021 bring us back together again.

My wife and I met a friend last night - the wife of my buddy Steve Ashcroft who passed away now almost a year and a half ago.

We met at the "British Pub" in St Augustine, FL, and I rang in my first ever "English New Year" at 7 pm EST here. We had a fantastic time, and it was nice to stroll down memory lane and reminisce about my mate Steve. He and his wife, Jacqui, always rang in the New Year here in America early, doing it up "British style" at the British Pub.

Why do I mention all of this? Firstly to say Happy New Year. Secondly to tell the Blue world on TW I spent my New Year's in British style, in memory of my Blue mate. It was a very Blue New Year, and it was wonderful.

Here's to a brilliant, happy, healthy, successful, and safe 2021 to everyone.

Now let's go kill the Hammers and win the league.

Happy New Year, and I look forward to getting you banned.

That last bit was 100% a joke. Cheers sir!

Another celebrity red at it yesterday, Brian Reade:

"The worse thing I saw in football in 2020 was Pickford's tackle on Van Dijk.

Second worse thing was Millwall fans booing taking the knee.

100% phoney Brian Reade. Full of his own self importance. Never liked him since he hosted the benefit concert for The Casa at the Philharmonic. The comments he made to certain people in attendance were a disgrace.

Jamie, is it a year and a half since Steve
sadly passed? Wow, where has that gone? I remember you posting on here about it, but that seems lime a few months ago.

Happy New Year and hope to all TW'ers out there let's just hope things both on and off the field go better from now on in.

'the ball was there ( Ithink). I let him have it. That ll teach you to grab goden balls by the golden balls' I said, standing over him as he lay there crying

I wonder how our upwardly mobile presenters
would say 'Jawbone of an ass ' ?
I would like us to be employing more scouts. I
think there are probably lots of good, young
players in the championship and other leagues
here and abroad. S.Ked. has been a good player but over 30 and going over the hill. We need younger players with energy and zip Who've got Duracell batteries. Need another forward and a winger, not a whinger.