Ancelotti happy with 'vital victory'

I notice that Ancelotti is putting an emphasis on spirit, motivation and workrate. He now knows only too well that this is vital if Everton are to get into Europe when playing Aston Villa. The lack of it was why Aston Villa won the last time.

It is only this that is going to give Everton the percentage chance to get through, since they are always prone to a goal against and limited goals for. The same defensive formation will continue, with a counter-attacking option.

I liked Carlo's remark: "Now we want to act, not have a reaction", it shows that he is expecting his team to be up for every game. The Premier League is a very, very tough league, and the entire team needs to be switched on from the 1st minute of the 1st game to the last minute of the last game.

I am pleased that Carlo is now emphasising the importance of these games and I hope he can get the lads to focus on the task and get the job done, but having seen an encouraging victory followed up by a languid display so many times this season, let's hope he has finally got the message through to his charges.

I think Carlo is asking things of this team that they obviously can't do. Will to win and spirit don't go hand in hand unless the pressure is completely off. This hopefully new batch we get have to have the Godfrey mentality. No more Sigurdsson, Gomes, Keane 'nice guy' bullshit. Gets us nowhere.

Seriously, if we don't make Europe, this season will end up like death by a thousand cuts.

Seriously, Get big Dunc to give the pre-match kick up the backside in the changing room before going out. Make sure he tells them that their continued contract with the club is at risk if they fail to perform. Its stand-up or **** off conversation. Every match is a must-win.
Anyone who thinks they don't need to hear it, or don't think it applies to them should stay sitting down.

Christine #6,

Normally this would be the case, but at Everton they have to be jollied along and encouraged. If the backroom staff and players are threatened or pressurised, enough of them are likely to down tools and allow the pressure to flow back on the manager. They would not care a jot about Europe and may not want the extra power that qualification would give to the manager. They have conducted themselves this way with Ancelotti's predecessors, helping them on their way out.

That is why Ancelotti is shouting 'spirit' and 'workrate'from the roof tops, unlike other managers, so that the pressure comes from outside the club and Europe becomes a public agenda. Ancelotti is cute enough not to define 'Europe' – it could mean Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League.

They all would increase Ancelotti's power and he would be better able to act as you suggest. It's more a fight for Everton's consciousness, than a battle for Europe. With a bit of luck, Ancelotti will achieve his objective.

Jerome, you can't possibly know any of that - just speculation. An opinion, maybe but with no way of backing it up. None of us knows what Ancelotti or the players, individual or collectively are thinking.

The contrast between Ancelotti's and Moyes's post-match interviews shows the difference between a successful manager and a status quo manager. Moyes shies away from comparisons and objectives. Ancelotti is all performance targets and objectives, trying to set the agenda for the next game.

I think we should get Bill to give the pre-match talk, jolly or kick, it will all be the same, where he reads out the season's fixtures and according to the result they all have to shout; for a win, "Oh yes we did", for a loss, "Oh no we didn't" and a draw,"Look out he's behind you".

He'd be a natural, getting the show on the road which it is where it's been this season. And after the game, players could be nominated for Widow Twanky and the Horse's Arse!

The only person it might be unfair to is Mr Ancelotti.

He wants us to grasp the nettle and be proactive for a change. Allan is finding full fitness and decent form, Tom adds some energy into the middle, Doucouré will be more ready this week. Even James may make an appearance.

There's no reason that we can't go to Villa and be very confident and go for it. A Top 6 finish should be a serious and achievable target now that our strongest players can help the push.

According to Carlo, VAR wasn't available at West Ham, as if it were then Joshua King's goalbound header would have resulted in a penalty to Everton. I did see this floating about on other sites but from what I've seen, which is limited I cannot see a handball, however, surely it's mandatory for all Premier League matches to have VAR in operation? Perhaps, Carlo's comment has been lost in translation?

Just seen a clip of the incident and it does appear to strike the hand of the West Ham defender.

https://twitter.com/EvertonNewsFeed/status/1392451229033410563

Barry #12
I think Carlo meant that there was no explanation of the non-decision from the VAR officials rather than VAR itself not being available.

Brendan @13
I tend to agree with you, however, the quotes from the Echo report suggest differently. Nevertheless, it could have cost Everton, dear, had the Hammers equalised. Seeing as the broadcasters seem to show any controversial incident a zillion times, I'm amazed that it was missed entirely.

"I think the VAR was not there at the stadium. At the end of the day we won, but imagine if West Ham had equalised at the last minute after that mistake?

"It was a big mistake, a huge mistake. It cannot happen with VAR. It cannot happen.

"Nobody said nothing to us, apologised or said sorry. It was enough to say, 'Sorry, we made a mistake'."

Link

Barry#12.
That link doesn't work mate. Brings you back to this thread.

See if this works Brian @15
Handball?

Yeh that's sorted it mate, nice one. Looks like clear handball to me!

Ray #8

Yes you are right it's my opinion. The proof will be evident or not if Everton can qualify for Europe. They have qualified for Europe before and it did not seem to matter. I do think that it will be different with a Manager with European Competition experience and a changed format. I have followed Everton since the sixties and my opinion is based on the necessity for change.