West Ham United vs Everton

When he fucking plays!

He's got to be up there with the most unreliable of players. His playing level only adds to the infuriating level of frustration!

Is he worth having in the squad? Yes and no I suppose...if you have a spare 80k a week knocking about that you don't mind paying on the off-chance he decides he's fit enough to play.

Great to have Doucoure back. His energy and strength has been sorely missed

This is the proverbial must win, how many times this year has this been said, but this game is the one, and to build a head of steam for the run in, all of which are winnable, bar City, as Pep will be building up the Champions League Final.

Nows the time Everton, please!

I know he was poor last week, but my player of the season would be Godfrey. Honorable mentions for Duke and DCL, James with some memorable moments, that's about it.

Pat , I am not hoping we can offload him because he is the one player who has top four blood in his veins and a top four head on his shoulders. But as you say , if only the rest of his body came up to scratch !

If he goes it will like losing a stunning girlfriend who only wanted to see you sporadically . To be replaced by the steady , reliable, girl next door .

He's the best passer and finisher, percentage wise, Everton has had for as long as I can remember, the ecstacy and the agony.

It's the total frustration and makes building a reliable first 11 very difficult, but let's hope the West Ham, the squad are up for it and get the win, which is needed.

4-4-2 with pace on the wings.

If Ancelotti doesn't do nothing about it in the summer, apart from his usual talking that fixes nothing, then we'll all know our destiny for next season. That really pisses me off.

Pickford
Godfrey Keane Mina Digne
Doucoure Allan Delph Richarlison
Sigurdsson
Calvert-Lewin

James Rodriguez is a super skilled professional footballer. Most skilled player in our squad and a hero in his home country. Players do not chose to be injured. He tweaked a calf muscle in the warm-up. Anyone who actually played football would know this can happen.

And Nicolas, hilarious to read you giving it to James and you propose Delph in the team and the double negative 'if Ancelotti doesn't do nothing'... lol!

As for Rodriguez, he's possibly the best player I've seen in Blue since the 80s. There's only really Kanchelskis and Arteta to rival him off the top of my head. In 20 PL starts he's scored 6 goals and made 4 assists. Those stats aren't bad. But he simply makes us tick when he plays.

He gets on the ball, he's always got time on the ball, and his passing range is extraordinary. We should enjoy him while we have him, because talents like him don't come along very often. If we can get a decent right-winger next year, we can play Rodriguez at Number 10 and manage his game time better.

An ex-Real physio said recently, it stems back to a serious calf tear years ago, prior to him coming to Europe, which wasn't treated well enough and left weakened muscle tissue, which can't stand excessive use. Basically, in 4 games, out 4 games.

I suspect the Premier League pace, physicality, and extreme weather conditions are contributing to his problem, which unfortunately are here to stay. The calf hasn't got the strength to support a programme of 40-odd games a season.

Seems you can't see the real situation.

Rodriguez could probably be our most skilled player but, if he has played half our Premier League games, it's too many. That speaks for itself.

Of course, when he has played, he is very important; I love seeing him on the ball, but just a tweak on the warm-up?! You serious?! If that were the case, why has he played just half the Premier League games this season? Nothing tells me the records getting over.

So yes, Ancelotti must find a solution somehow (supposing the board will help him invest of course) that meaning bringing other players on other positions probably. If not, Everton will be the biggest loser.

I don't really care much if our players are heroes in their countries, all I want is Everton to win. And to win, we need reliable football players. And the stats don't show this season that with regard to James. He had brilliant appearances but far too little playing time for what a supposed star should give a team, in my opinion. We lack players up-front, I think, and that probably doesn't help him, but his physical deficit is evident.

On another subject, I've said repeatedly we need to ship off Delph ASAP, just referred to Sunday's game on him.

Take your sunglasses off, mate.

NSNO.

PD: thanks Mike

I read a few posters saying they wouldn't mind losing as they'd rather West Ham get Champions League than the usual suspects. I disagree as I read similar remarks about Chelsea in the mid 90s, and Leicester more recently.

I don't have any Ill will to West Ham, but I'm an Everton fan so I couldn't really care less who finishes above us, I just hope to finish above as many as possible.

James is a wonderful player. But part of me would love Archie Knox to go at him when he whines about his “little injuries” and give him The Monty Python Arthur Pewty “Are you a man or a mouse?” treatment. He seems like a Daniel Sturridge type who will only play if he's 100 percent.

Do I regret signing him? No. But I do wish he had a bit more courage. The much-maligned Michael Keane played through a very nasty injury two years ago.

I feel James could be much more than he is if he had more guts. Perversely, if he had, maybe he wouldn't be here, but so be it. On a pure talent level, it seems he has done less than he could have because he's a bit of a cry-baby.

Muscle pulls, strains and ligament injuries don't allow you to function and you can't mask them with a couple of Ibuprofen.

To me, it's a bit harsh to say the lad lacks courage, he's a cry baby, unless we know we are comparing like with like. I think we just have to accept that he has long-term fragility due to previous injury history and hope the club can get as much game time out of him as possible.

Have to say I don't know what Sturridge's injuries tended to be.

Aha, maybe a part in the 'Wizard of Oz' in a Christmas Panto would sort him out, where he could play two parts. No doubt he would emerge from that stint with Courage and Heart in abundance.

In many ways, I am looking forward to the game to see if we can make a last-ditch attempt at retaining hopes of a European spot but, as David @6 said, "iI's the hope that kills us".

The other side of me can't wait to see the end to this disjointed season: Covid, no fans, flattery to deceive, hopes shattered almost weekly, 'relegation fodder' home form – to name just a few reasons.

What ever happened to Fortress Goodison? The walls have been well and truly breached by handbag-swinging marauders and powder-puff attacks and we have succumbed to it on too many occasions.

Where is the pride and passion of our players, that steely determination to keep it Fortress Goodison? I can't see how the lack of fans can be totally the reason, but admittedly it can often work as the '12th man' but has been the opposite this season – like we have lost two men!

If the Hammers don't come near us and don't ruffle Gomes and his hair, and Sigurdsson doesn't have to move much, then we will run riot. Let's hope it's Davies and Allan at least before them two...

But seriously, if we don't show some skill, we are going to get beat by an in-form side, with something to actually play for. The desire to excel is there, what we lack is confidence.

If the squad play like we, and Ancelotti, know they can, we could possibly win, but 0-0 will be a good outcome.

My team for West Ham (4-3-3):

Pickford
Godfrey Keane Mina Digne
Davies Allan Doucouré
Richarlison Calvert-Lewin Sigurdsson

This is a ‘do-or-die' encounter –nothing less than a win will be enough.

They have in Antonio a player who, when he clicks, can be unplayable, but he's inconsistent.

Let's hope the away Everton show up!

Having watched the Brighton & Leeds game prior to ours against Villa, the contrast was vast. Brighton and Leeds – intense non-stop energy, urgency, accurate passing, one-touch football. Closing down instantly to win the ball back as a team. High press, and high fitness levels from every player. A massive desire to win by sheer hard work. This level of intensity is standard for both these teams.

Not once this season have I seen anything like this from Everton in any game; our desire is non-existent and our fitness and energy levels are very low. Everton play at walking pace, stroking the ball around in random patterns. Pass accuracy is extremely low and balls are mainly played to static or jogging-pace teammates. We only control areas we are allowed to and don't contest or fight to regain the ball.

The only reason I can see that we have won games is that the opposition's missed chances have allowed us to. Compare any of the Top 6 to us and we are nowhere near that level. Something massive has to change at this club in regards to fitness and intensity training.

On paper, there's only one winner but, as we've seen so many times this season, anything can happen. It might be time for Ancelotti not only to tell us he's frustrated but to actually show us. Drop Holgate, Gomes, Sigurdsson, Iwobi and Richarlison:

Pickford
Keane, Mina, Godfrey
Coleman, Allan, Davies, Doucoure, Digne
Calvert-Lewin, King

I love him and don't want him going anywhere next season. As with every season for the last decade, there is a lot of shite players to move on, we all have a list, but I wouldn't have James in the bracket of Iwobi or Bernard.

Manchester City didn't abandon Aguero because he's a bit of a crock and you only get half a season out of him.

You have alternatives but players like James fit into a squad, rather than relying on them to be part of a first 11.

That said, If he does go I won't shed too many tears, as long as we get a worthy replacement (who can stand the rigours of the Premier League). Unfortunately, there's no guarantees.

On to West Ham, with Doucoure and Allan back in the central positions we are a different team. Our back four will be altered positively with Keane and Mina back in. I'd like to see Tom Davies start in a midfield three, and King to be given a run on the right side up front.

Pickford
Godfrey Keane Mina Digne
Davies
Doucouré Allan
King Calvert-Lewin Richarlison.

Keep the slow and sideways boys on the subs bench and see what happens.

Yes, his injuries are frustrating but seeing him at Goodison has got to be better than watching Sigurdsson and Gomes stinking the place out.

And we won at Anfield. Good season on the whole. Let's hope we can keep the European hopes alive this weekend and take it right to the wire.

4 or 5 in the next phase alone, Then the same again in my opinion. I know that's asking a lot, but that's how bad this disjointed squad got and was never going to be fixed quickly.

We are better (for some reason) away from home this season and a couple of players eg Gomes, Richarlison, Iwobi, Keane, Mina, Iwobi, Holgate etc... know they are playing to secure another season at the ‘Goodison Home for the Useless and Infirm'.

Regarding teams who do play all out, full of effort for ninety minutes, unless they have a good strong squad, they can't keep it up season after season, as Wilder found out at Sheffield Unt, he confessed early this season that he couldn't have asked for more from his players over the last three seasons, getting promotion then getting up to finish in the top eight last season, but they were absolutely drained after a few games this season and now they are relegated, with Wilder sacked, his reward for giving the club a great few seasons, so keep your eye on Leeds and Brighton next season. Everton Strollers should be okay, they have more than conserved their energy, wouldn't dream of wasting too much of it.

Glad The Duke is back, our closest thing to the Keane and Viera when they used to eat up the midfield space and owned the middle third.

Will definitely be a grinder this game, as James is out and depends on if Coleman got the legs to play full thrust all game and if Iwobi dares go past is man three times in 90 minutes, as not got a consistent cross or a pass on him - yet. And no left winger too. But, Carlo has still got us in amongst the Sky 6 after one summer transfer window so plenty to play for.

Pickford
Coleman Mina Godfrey Digne
Doucoure Davies Allan
Richie DCL King

I hope that the Duke is in good shape and can make a difference if selected. As for the line up I will go with Gary # 73 above but I can't remember the last time we had a starting 11 that did not include Siggy and or Gomes. A much improved performance is needed to take anything from the game but here's hoping.

The Premier League certainly did their bit for our neighbours this week by slotting the rearranged Man U game in for next Thursday, two days after the Leicester game. Hopefully, Man U will pick a weakened team on Tuesday against Leicester and the first eleven on Thursday.

But, that would mean playing Keane or Holgate, so I'd rather not. Back 4 with Mina and Godfrey in the centre for me.

No excuses and it's well over time for Everton to this game and go for it.

Gonna check the odds...

We're away from home.
The Duke is back.
Our record at the Hammers ain't too shabby.
Spuds lost.

Don't you dare fuck this one up Blue Boys!.

All those mercenaries who went to play in China eg Hulk, Arnaoutovic, Witsel, Tevez etc... should've been banned for life from Uefa comps

There is a reason why the word "gossip" is used in these columns.

Bit harsh on poor old Tiyas Browning and Li Tie. But I'm pretty sure Arnautovic's agent releaks the supposed interest from Everton from years ago every time he wants to boost his bank account.

I put this somewhere else, but Manchester City:

Walker - 30
Gundogan - 30
Aguero - 32
De Bruyne - 29 (so 30 next season and never blessed with pace, just an incredible footballing brain)
Mahrez - 30

Of course you can't rely on James Rodriguez to play every match just as Manchester City haven't relied on Aguero for the last several seasons.

But if the squad depth is sufficient then you have players of that quality that can come in as required and when available. When not, you have alternatives. Right now, we are back to the squad and players of the previous seasons that failed us.

But this is a game that really counts for something, so I won't be surprised if our slackers totally bottles it! As usual...

I can only hope CA and Brands have made it clear by now, that an injection of youngsters will be enough to keep us off the drop next season, since the current squad flatters to deceive by keeping us half-way up there, but never further!

It seems clear that many Evertonians have seen enough of the Italian and regard him as a man of the past whereas Moyes has served his penance for walking out and would be feted as the next man at the helm.

Discuss.

The "walking out" was not really an issue an orchestrated "well done Davey enjoy your time at somewhere ambitious" politely applauded at GP bore witness to that. His comments and pursuit of Baines and Fellaini may have surprised a few but others who had his measure expected nothing less.

The real issue was he was recognised as a dour loser living off every excuse known to man and one decent season at WHU in this oddest of seasons does not obliterate Utd, Sociedad, Sunderland and WHU first time round failures.

Be civil war if he was re-appointed

All I know is that Moyes was a better manager of Everton than most before him and ALL that came afterwards, including the present incumbent. Only Catterick and Howard1 were in the same street.

But talk of him returning here is well off the mark. Comebacks in sport never work.

That is a superb summary for me. Tells us all we need to know about Moyes, about Ancelotti, about our very possible future. In the space of a few lines.

My brother in law is a Mackem and mention Moyes name and he froths at the mouth.

We have to look to the future, not the 60s, 80s or David (won nothing) Moyes. No wonder we are seen a little Everton living in the past.

Rant over 🤐

His current team might smash Everton tomorrow, they may qualify for Europe ahead of Everton even if we win tomorrow, but sorry, the ship has sailed for David Moyes with Everton. As if there weren't enough reasons to question whether I should continue to pay to attend matches at Goodison, the return of the Ginger One would cement it for me.

Reads like sexual harassment, that, Derek! 😉

No, I've never done that but not really a ‘thing' in manufacturing I don't think. I know people will often follow a good boss but that's a bit different.

If it were an option for me, though, I think it would largely depend on how well my previous employer had treated me / my team. Considering how well Moyes was treated, I'd say any underhand stuff would be very selfish and disrespectful. That would bother my conscience.

Not looking forward to tomorrow's game as I think they are on the crest of a wave and we very definitely aren't. As always, it's COYB though!

Football League Second Division Winners 1999-2000.

And that's about it!! An outstanding record for any top manager.

Better than Carlo Ancelotti? I don't think so, but good luck in trying to persuade me that Moyes is better!!

Like I've said before, he wasn't perfect. The FA Cup Semi-final against Liverpool was the time he should have gone. But Jesus he wasn't as bad as some on here say.

Moyes still has the ability to organise an ordinary set of players, just like we have at the moment, and win a lot of games, as we will no doubt find out come Sunday evening. So his contribution to Everton was important.

There's no way we want him back of course, but we look so lost at the moment, it has becoming totally embarrassing.

The term Dour Davey arose from his penchant for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory or from losing leads late on due to a safety-first attitude.

During Moyes's time at Goodison, there were only four 'super' clubs – now there are six, plus Leicester City, and many more clubs that are better run and able to give most teams a game on any given day.

Moyes was right for Everton during most of his tenure. Personally, I felt he should have left Goodison following the FA Cup Final defeat to Chelsea in 2009. But, as you say losing the 2012 FA Cup Semi-Final was far worse.

He was probably stepping into the hardest job in football, following in the shoes of Alex Ferguson. He was given plenty of money at man Utd, but seems he didn't know how to spend it, otherwise they wouldn't have finished in their lowest ever Premier League position, and he wouldn't have been given the boot. The job was too big for him.

Had he stayed at Everton, a job I'm sure was his for life, he would have then had the money when Moshiri came on board. Though I shudder to think of the fans' reaction if he had signed a contract for life??

After Walter Smith just having players facing the same direction was a triumph. The Club had suffered from Johnson and Smith and anything had to be better.

Ancelotti started with a better side but the baggage/problems of the time beween Moyes and Carlo was weighing the club down.

Ancelotti has had the difficult task of fans wanting an ocean-going super-sized oil tanker turning round on a sixpence.

Either we want quick crack-papering fixes or we are patient enough to see a radical overhaul that moves EFC into a promising future into the future!

Moyes would never have handled 2019 EFC because our expectations are far higher than 2002 when just not being embarrassed every week was the norm!

His so called failure (in my opinion) was that once he'd done that, he couldn't take us further. He is almost scared of winning and seems to enjoy playing down ambition.

I agree with Barry; my turning point was the semi final against Liverpool. I was angry that day that we changed tactic when the game was there for the taking if we kept doing what we were doing. I also reacted badly to the Wigan FA Cup match.

He made some great signings at Everton in the context of helping us punch above our weight on a limited budget. But he failed when given the biggest platform in world football. He embarrassed himself in Spain and got relegated with Sunderland. He has gone back to West Ham after an unpopular first stint.

To judge him being a success or failure based on his current tenure at West Ham since December 2019 would be like calling Ancelotti a failure after 16 months. Time will tell, let's see where both parties are in 12 months.

Final defence of Moyes, he was good for us at the time. He done what was needed. The fact he needed to move on, more so we needed to move on, wasn't his fault, it was a fault of the club.

Repeat the above but with Kenwright's name in there and you have 11 years of Everton.

Moyes has his mojo back and, if the Dildo Bros at West Ham don't get ideas above their station (Stratford on The Jubilee Line - sorry couldn't resist it), he will serve them well.

We all know that Boys Pen Bill would have had him back when Silva got the taxi... and probably still will have him back in a heartbeat now... but, thank God, he isn't in total charge.

Moshiri will stick with Ancelotti... how long for? Who can tell...? I mean, who foresaw the last 18 months? So who knows what will happen in the next year or so???

At one time, Rooney and Ronaldo were comparable in what they provided for Man Utd. They are about the same age but everything has changed. Rooney looks about as fit as I am, while Ronaldo continues to light up any league he plays in. Most teams would still be delighted to have Ronaldo in their starting eleven.

Minor note. I don't know why David Moyes gets so much coverage on ToffeeWebbers' posts. He did fine with us but he has long gone and he now coaches another team. Forget about him because I am sure he has forgotten about us.

There is a very interesting view on Rooney and Ronaldo. Both of equal potential and talent but one was pretty much finished at 32 because of lifestyle, the other still a dominant figure in European football. Now lets not play down Rooney's standing in football or his achievements, but had he looked after himself better, what could have been?

I don't get the obsession on age. Very few teams win it with kids alone. Even Ferguson's United needed a blend of experience to support the young players.

On Moyes; I guess its because he got such a stay at Everton. Not me, but for my brother and son's generation, he's pretty much what they grew up with and all they knew apart from my tales!

Anyway, Carlo might just might get to grips with this club and start making his mark meaning not the Everton way by employing sons or brothers or ex-players if they are qualified or not.

If Moyes makes the top four, I have a feeling a tear-stained telegram or carrier pidgeon congratulations will be on its way from L4. Or maybe a fixed fax machine message! Nelly still tromping about. I'll say no more.

Most teams are doing badly now playing at home and one of the most likely reasons is that there are no biased fans influencing the decisions in the way that they have in places like Anfield.

Just a general comment, I'm not saying that having old players is bad, only that we should avoid buying them when they're old.

Martin, great points. What you are alluding to is that in Rugby, the officials are actually good and know the game. So the key word in the video assistance is assistance.

From a purist view I have no idea why football has messed this up so much as it's really quite simple. Rewind 2 years. We're all watching replays on the screen and can see the decision and have all been on the wrong end of many.

It's simple and plain to see. The problems football has with VAR as I see it are three-fold:

1. Poor officials who make poor decisions regardless.
2. Suspicious pundits because it threatens their livelihood - if it's clear to see what is there to debate and analyse?
3. The rules need looking at. Particularly the offiside one. That's not VAR's or the officials' fault.

On that last point, what ever happened to the daylight rule regarding offiside? I liked that as it gave advantage to the attacking player.

Let's hope today Everton have the stomach to battle and win the game.

If we qualify for Europe, it may give just one or two of our promising youngsters a chance to shine and they may make the step up. We may sign one or two players in the summer who wouldn't have joined us. We may be able to increase the depth of the squad a bit. It can easily be a catalyst as much as it could be a burden.

So slipping up may not provide any answers and could create negativity at the club, which nobody wants to encourage.

Everton is a proud, and professional football team, I expect 100% from all involved, in every match. Anything less is totally unacceptable, shows inherent weakness, and should never be tolerated as a blessing in disguise.

2-0 to the Hammers.

@Martin. Once again, you hit a key point. Transparency. We hear the officials discussing the decision in Rugby and understand why. In football they are still being cloak and dagger, discussing their indecisiveness within the confines of their Steve Round like headsets. Who knows what conversations of wisdom are going on there?

@Ralph. I unashamedly want Europe of any flavour. I didn't care whatsoever in 1984 that we'd qualified for Europe's 3rd tier competition and played in Dublin and Bratislava in the earlier rounds. I'm up for that!

Football is probably the nearest most of us have to an extended tribal group which we support no matter what objective evidence or rational evaluation suggests. I moved away at 17 to go to university and have lived in the South East since I began work. But while my roots are in Liverpool, I now have no remaining family or friends there, but my adherence to Everton and many of its past and present aspects is unchanged.

I continue to have affection for Duncan Ferguson, Howard Kendall, Andy Gray, Kevin Campbell, Derek Temple, Michael Arteta, Steven Pienaar and David Moyes. (It's not worth mentioning Alan Ball!) I consider that Cenk Tosun, to give just one instance, has done his best, which admittedly isn't that great, and, if he leaves Everton, I shall hope he succeeds elsewhere and look benevolently on him.

Everton FC is not like the dollar-driven cesspit across the park (it is no surprise that the worst atrocities in English football history are irrevocably associated with it) nor the vile meat grinder at Old Trafford. I'd still rather see a First Division with Wolves, Burnley and West Ham than one where Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd thrive and seek advantage through every on- or off-pitch despicable ruse they can come up with.

I note with dismay that there will be absolutely zero consequences for the Shit Six. Minor fines paid off by a single Champions League match – which they will now be allowed to play next season.

Everton are going to have to break down West Ham and fight for control of midfield. Above all, individual players are going to have to be professional and workmanlike, the complete opposite of the last game. This is what I want.

Sorry to say it, but we could get an Everton side that is not bothered and will put further pressure on the Manager.

The so-called Super 6 are overrated. Man United is a dodgy Cayman Island registered company in the guise of a football team. In footballing terms, Chelsea have revived under Tuchel but Arsenal are languishing. Man City have dominated for a few years but the marvellous retired football commentator, Stuart Hall, used to call the stadium "The Theatre of Base Comedy" due to how hopeless they always were. "End of the pier" stuff.

Lifetime Man City fans must have felt they've been dreaming for the last 10 years.

I believe that the above is the minimum we should expect or accept from any of our Teams. If they can also add skill, cunning, tactical nous and win the game then that will be a bonus.

What we have been watching for a lot of the season has fallen woefully below these standards. Clean the slate and let's see what we are made of. COYB.

I know for sure that I would have much preferred the dreary pragmatism of Moyes over the reckless chaos of Martinez, the incomprehensible arrogance and gross ineptitude of Koeman, hapless befuddled and inflexible Silva, or the sheer horror of Allardyce and his pet demonic little twat imp.

Moyes is gone and I wish him well, he tried his best and delivered a team that wasn't shite.

I take your point about the other buffoons privileged to even get near our door, never mind managing us.

He came in and stabilised us at at time we were truly dire. Not like today's dire but in real dire straights. I for one, will always be grateful and give him recognition for that, as I did at the time.

The frustration came later when we wanted him to push us on. I appreciate there is an argument that he didn't have budget and what could he have done, but he proved beyond Everton that he isn't a winner. He's a stabiliser and likes being the underdog. The moment there is expectation he plays it down, which is why he's never won anything.

On one hand I'm grateful he stopped the rot and turned us around in circumstances that many others would not have been able to do and put us on a respectable footing.

On the other, disappointed he played down the expectations of a generation of Evertonians and made them accept mediocracy and averageness as the normal.

For me it's not vitriol, just football. I discovered we are actually related as both our Grandfathers were brothers so we're practically family by the way!

His Grandfather left Ireland for Scotland, mine for Liverpool.

For this reason, I hope Seamus and Tom will feature (even if they don't always start) as they are a couple who, even when not playing well always display what I'll call ‘the Ben Godfrey' attitude.

We can only speculate what he could have achieved with Moshiri's investment. Admittedly he would have found it difficult to attract the sort of players that Carlo has but, when he signs a player, you know it's money well spent and he knows how the jigsaw fits.

I only have the highest respect for the man.

The only real importance of today's game is after Carlo's criticism following the Villa game; will we see a more energetic approach from minute one of the game? I think the days of players being concerned about what the manager says are for many sides long gone.

Do you think that Delph or Besic or Bernard or Iwobi are really hurt if they aren't selected? As long as they are collecting their obscene amounts of money – that's their only concern. Once a lot of these players have their 4- or 5-year contract in their pockets, then if they don't perform the problems are the clubs not theirs.

We see lots of posts asking Brands to clear out the deadwood, when the real question should be: Why did we sign these players in the first place??? We have zero chance of moving on any player with more than 12 months left on his contract, because the clubs that would want these players couldn't get anywhere near paying them the money they are on at Everton.

I saw yesterday that Middlesboro saying that Bolasie's wage demands may make any chance of them signing him impossible. He isn't alone. Celtic have raised the same issue over signing Jonjoe Kenny. Tosun is another one; Besiktas said they couldn't afford his wages.

So anybody thinking we will be moving some of the deadwood on, forget it – it wont be happening, and that includes some first-team regulars that are obviously not good enough.

It's very concerning if it is because he physically can't do it, or is worried about adopting that simple position.

Or, Is it sending a blunt message to the manager and staff that I am not 100% and I'm not happy you are asking me to brush it aside and play.

Either way, it's no wonder he is out today.

We didn't spend the money on big names but we were well organised and no soft touch for most of the Premier League. And always had an engine room. This is a lot more than can be said of Teams under the Managers that followed.

Good Luck to David – as long as it is not at our expense.

The record away has been good this season and especially in London but Everton have been rather poor lately so I wouldn't put money on them getting 3 points.

The problems are still there and it will take a big performance to beat a resurgent Hammers team.

But I recall spending many afternoons not being happy, just hoping we hung on. In fact I very often detached myself from the match until it was over and let someone else tell me the result. There were also some dark results and cowardly performances under Moyes. I won't research but many Arsenal fixtures spring to mind. I also recall his second season when, although not threatened, we finished one place above the relegation zone having been humiliated by Manchester City on the last day of the season.

I could also say the same about Howard Kendall. Easy for my generation to romanticise about his first tenure in hindsight. But there were awful teams, performances and results in the 2 plus years leading up to when his team finally took shape and kicked in.

It always takes time to build your own team and be judged. As we judge Moyes over 11 years and Kendall (first term) over 6, I personally won't judge this manager over 16 months.

Happy to accept that I was underwhelmed by the early years of Howard Kendall's first spell, but the gradual introduction of better players – plus the purchase of Reid & Gray to cement the competitive spirit – changed things around.

I also recall that, when Kendall was struggling early on, Bob Paisley observing that he felt Howard was creating the base of what would be a very good side. At the time, I wondered if Bob was being polite or patronising – but how right he was.

To Moyes's credit, he came here after the dreadful days of Wally Walter and built some very decent squads, which achieved some high positions in the league. His squads were super fit and well organised. Still no trophies though and his tactics when playing away at the top teams were similar to those deployed by San Marino at international level. It was almost a damaged limitations exercise. He just wasn't capable of any flamboyance or ambition against teams that were seen to be superior to us.

His mentality was all wrong... he was more than happy to go along with the 'plucky little Everton' tag. There was the 'Knives to gunfight' comments when referring to us playing away at the top teams. His comments about Baines being the second best LB in England behind Ashley Cole. Everything was played down and he just didn't 'get' Everton - strange really, as Moyes is at the perfect age to remember the period in the 1980s when we were arguably the best side in Europe.

He failed miserably at Man Utd when he inherited the league champions. He just didn't/hasn't got the imagination or know how to manage a club challenging for major trophies. He failed in Spain also.

To summarize, he did a lot of good things here but he stayed two or three years too long and he's not a man of much integrity. I certainly wouldn't want him anywhere near our club again.

Andy Gray; many would say an inspirational signing the missing ingredient needed at the time.

A 28 year old with a dodgy medical record. 28 in those days probably equating to 32 in today's game. But what a character, presence and experience to add to the squad.

Obviously will be watching but feels more out of duty and habit rather pleasure! Hope I'm surprised at 6pm

"The It's a Knockout presenter was imprisoned in 2013 after admitting indecently assaulting 13 girls - one as young as nine - between 1967 and 1985.

The humiliating defeats in Lisbon and Bucharest. The semi-final defeat to them, the 2nd half capitulation to Chelsea in the final, the crap cup runs, the negative tactics and substitutions etc

It certainly hasn't improved much since he left but despite the shite spoken by messrs Martinez, Ronald, Sam and Silva, at least we've never heard the “let's get to 40 points first” inspirational speech since he left.

For all the comparisons made between Moyes and the present incumbent just ask any player in Europe who'd they'd like to play for. I think you all know the answer.

Apparently Sammy Lee is a great lad.
My mates from the bully, all good judges of character, wont have a word said against him.

P. S.
Moyes is a horrible, phony c**t

I always try to look on the positives when comparing Everton with other teams, but I also have to be honest. I am NOT going to point out any individual players, but on a general level both Wolves and Brighton look far more energetic, lively,and certainly faster than we ever do. Unfortunately I have found this in almost any Premier game I watch. More obvious is that other teams seem more determined to win than we do. Are Everton as fit as most other teams ?

This is all a far cry from our positive start to the season. It is as though ALL the energy has been drained out of the team and in unison they all seem to be saying "Just let this season end" mind you I find myself saying the same thing.Perhaps I am just turning into a grumpy old man. Please Everton convince me today that I am wrong.

As for today's game,I fear the worse,but let's just give it a real fucking go eh Blues!.

Since then we've been looking for a manager to get us from B to C but unfortunately B has become a bit of an island. HMS Ancelotti is the biggest and best boat we have bought to get us off this desert island but unfortunately it's got a few leaks and engine trouble that need work, especially because the waters that separate B and C are very choppy , shark infested and full of expensive shipwrecks .

The parts are being ordered as we speak and are on the way next month.The relaunch is scheduled for mid August 2021.

If we do win it I expect Carlo will be lauded and ginge lambasted. May the best team win - Everton!

RE the ongoing Moyes discussion, for me amongst many:
Everton 1 West Brom 4
Everton 0 Bolton 4
Everton 1 Blackburn 4
Dinamo Bucharest 5-1 Everton
Everton 0 Wigan 3 (FA Cup)
Everton 0 Oldham 2 (FA Cup)
and the FA cup semi v Liverpool (as other has said we had it in the bag, and he sat on 1 up)

Ruining a proven goalscorer (James Beattie)
Andy Johnson running to the corner flag to get the ball
3 wins out of 23 games v Liverpool

Years of having the piss taken and vile verbal abuse by "the best fans in the world"

So 11 years, and 4 million a year in the last few years, he can **** off.

With Leicester getting smashed by Newcastle we could be doing our lovable neighbours a favour.

With your last paragraph in mind.
I hope we get twatted

All I want is this pandemic to be over to get to Goodison again. Be it Ancelotti, Dunc or Phil Neville in the dugout and playing Lincoln City or Real Madrid!

We're on the right path, just needing some clicks to let the sunshine more! NSNO!

Who's goings to create and score on the day? Why King isn't started, I don't understand. It would be good to bring him in when we are not losing.