Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

KITAP1 at home seems to work in reverse, with our opponents always doing the pinching.

I think Lyndon has the 11 right for this match.

4-3-3

Pickford
Coleman Godfrey Mina Digne
Davies Allan Doucoure
Rodriguez DCL Richarlison

Quite possibly best 11 we can put out with our current squad?

I wonder if Carlo would have been so pragmatic and defensive with his home selections if there has been 40 000 demanding fans turning up to watch . I think the absence of fans has allowed him to be miles more conservative than he would have been .

Edit: yes, with that team, four at the back, and Richy out of the centre a way.

Leeds 8th as I type.
Fulham drawing at OT.

I'm sorry but I can't quite get my head around Carlo's latest statement that we don't have the player to set up and try and attack in home games.

I've just seen Southampton last week score three in two home games, Palace have just scored three against Villa yet we have numerous international players (some of which signed by Carlo himself) but we can't actually set a team out to go and win?

I can't be having that one sorry.

Another mediocre finish is on the cards by the looks of it despite a season that initially promised much, once again it's the likes of Leicester that have walked through the open door of opportunity.

Carlo and the players need to give the fans what they want in this one!!

Leeds finish against WBA so we probably need four points from the next two games just to keep them at bay. Not to mention Arsenal who have two easy games left.

UTFT

With this set of poor players we can only play one way. Defend and hope for a counter attack or set piece. I'll be at the Old Lady tomorrow hoping that we give some of the youngsters a chance and not make Wolves look like Barcelona, can't wait for this season to end.

So many wasted chances, if we had a half decent set of players where could we have finished.

At least if the young prospects get a chance to show what they can do, it will
give us all something new to comment on after the game.

Finishing 7 -8-or 9 is of no real concern.

Hopefully West Ham and Spurs will go on double defeats and Everton can take at least 4 or 6 points from the last two games.

Sunday night was not acceptable and is at the moment unforgivable and how many teams would do the hard stuff win 13 always and be generally very poor and unreliable at home.

The mentality and belief shown in certain games v the RS, Spurs, West Ham has never been consistent enough this season.

Everton please pull the rabbit out of the hat, as the summer transfer plan, could be seriously impacted by no European competition.

Perhaps we have a better chance of doing something against Wolves who have been flaky in defence. I am looking forward to cheering our team on from my seat in the Park End.

Everton letting you down is one of life's great certainties and persisting despite the continual disappointments is our badge of honour.

If Carlo wanted attitude and commitment, then why has he subbed or dropped Tom Davies at every opportunity? At least he tries to get forward and never hides, unlike the usual suspects.

I just hope that everyone 'lucky' enough to be at the match tomorrow takes a good size 70's throwing cushion, gives their lungs some much needed exercise (immediately the Newton's Cradle passing along the back line starts) and practices their loudest booing for next season's 'Everton that' fixtures.

In other words I hope you all enjoy a typical home match.

COYB.

Other than taking 4 points off tge RS its been another typical let down season..

However theres always next season...

Whatever I wish for, the opposite will occur. If I get clever and wish for the opposite of what I want, something altogether different...usually not in a good way...will happen.

On Sunday, we will roll over, a la Leicester 5yrs ago and City...deserved champions...will have a nice little pre CL Final run out.

Then finally, I can forget all about football - yeah right, like that will happen...well at least I won't have to get up at god know when to watch us being shite.

Oh, and full marks to those twats at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions in the league - all doing their best to get the rs to 4th.

You could argue that teams cede possession to Brighton knowing they're profligate in front of goal, vulnerable to the counter and porous at the back. Nice passing but so were Wigan, so were Swindon so were Mike Walkers Norwich. Potter may be a great coach but I need more evidence beyond just style and 40 points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4t013wZh6A

I know he did well in Sweden and I'm inclined to think he is good, but I'd like to see if he can get them into Europe or win a cup. But regardless we have a manager so Potter has plenty of time to prove himself

Now we are at the end of the season, apparently everything, we did get some quality players in, we started to play half decent football, although that was very short lived, and now on the eve of the penultimate game, I again wish it was all over.

I have never felt that way before, and always viewed and previewed games with distinctively blue-tinted spectacles, so much so, that I hitherto often questioned my own sanity, but I still never felt the way I do now.

I know this Covid pandemic, and disjointed season has had a lot to answer for, and the suspension of home crowds has definitely had an effect, but there are few sides in the Premiership that have played as poorly at home as we have, brutally honest, but nevertheless true. Are the players missing us that much? I don't think so, or is that just another excuse for their overpaid under-performances?

This season has had ups and downs like no other but our home record is a disgrace. I still back this manager but expect to see major changes with regards to players for next season. We have an awful lot of players who need moving on.

But like all of us Blues, the hope that springs eternal will convince me that next season will be better. A return to those enjoyable days of the 80's would be very much appreciated.

I will await the next transfer with bated breath and sincerely hope we can get some, young, pacy quality players in to replace some of the dross currently masquerading as Everton players.

Here's hoping

If Carlo can't get a reaction from the players after what he's said to the public, then either we rid half of the team or he's finished.

Do you really think Dom will get to a bigger club than Everton right now?

I know he's improved as a six yard box striker and he's good with his head but for me he's nowhere near top 5 or 6 quality and for as many as he bundles in he tends to miss.

Most of the best sides now don't play to the strikers head with crosses all the time, it's all intricate one touch football and Dom's biggest weakness is with the ball at his feet.

To be honest he reminds me much of James Beattie.

A fairly good target man if the service is there but he's not really got that next level to his game to make it at a top side.

I may be naive but I honestly believe it will be a totally different story with our support there tonight. Better players play up to a crowd, not-so better players shrink in front of a crowd. Imagine giving James a stage, he'll love it.

I cling to the hope, it's all we have in the end as Blues. UTFT

God, we have forked out a lot of money to be a defensive long ball team. If big Sam was charge at this point in time there would be a demonstration before tonight's game.

George #37, enjoy the game tonight and hopefully, it will be the first of many in the years to come

I think the only style of play from the so-called top clubs that would suit him is Manchester United but with them having so many attacking options already he won't be going there.

The way we play with the big number 9 it's pretty much stuck in the past in many ways, to be honest I think even Chris Wood of Burnley would have scored 15 goals for us this season.

I'd like to see players getting in behind more often rather than just working it out wide (usually to Digne) or Seamus Coleman (has this fella ever learned to cross a ball in 10 years though?!).

We've tried with most of the same players with, is it 4 managers before Carlo(?) and failed. Can I suggest the heap of crap we have been served, over the past 5 years or more, is most likely something to do with a significant number of the players than the manager.

So, Carlo, get rid of all of those you think are shit and replace them with players with character and self-pride rather than the pitiful ones who you have probably already put a cross against.

Then we might be going somewhere!!!

Carlo's comments are an indication that some players are like a cancer on the squad. Draining he life out of those who are committed and want to achieve something. Teams will never achieve anything unless there is unity of purpose and confidence that teammates are fully committed.

He has seen enough to know more than a few will never be fully committed, even if they say otherwise. Carlo wants them to depart ASAP.

This is when he will need a magician, as many are on up to 6 million a year contracts and would rather do a Besic than up sticks.

He should tell Marcel Brands to join the magic circle, because he needs to sell or move on about five or six players on big contracts of varying lengths. Then refresh the team with new quality, younger and hungrier blood.

The reality is that magic doesn't exist, to move on players is going to mean a financial hit, to get the necessary replacements in is going to cost big money.

The last window was a tricky one for Brands but it was a cakewalk compared to what this summer's will be.

Meanwhile, let us hope for at least 4 points from our remaining two games,

'Carlo Ancelotti: Everton manager says unhappy players can leave Goodison Park amid criticism over commitment. '

Reported in the Guardian and Sky Sport.

On the other hand, if the team put in yet another terrible display and the result is a negative one, what do we learn from that?

That the manager believes that Everton are unable to play attacking football on a regular basis is a terrible indictment of the current players, and whilst that statement is understandable to some extent, it isn't what many of us expected to be uttered by any Everton manager including Big Sam.

For all those who are able to attend tonight, I hope that it's a good performance and a good result, but whatever happens we won't be able to tell until the beginning of next season what effect if any Carlo's statements have made on the squad.

All the rest seem happy as Larry on big wages at a big club doing very little something I get because of dedicating my life to pretending to work for decent money - can't stand hard graft.

My wife has rougher hands than me I flatly refused to do the washing up from day one.

The thought after 15 months that you get to visit the Old Lady and soak in the ambiance just makes me happy.

As a kid I'd get to GP as the gates opened & I'd just love being there watched the ground fill & the atmosphere build.

Win, lose or draw Goodison is a special place, have a great day & I look forward to your report.

George enjoy your day, I hope it all goes well for you, your daughter and your grandson,a few pound on 4-0 will make the night even better.

After the public utterances of dissatisfaction with regards to players' lack of attacking ability, attitude, motivation and the rest, I am keen to see how the players react.

Those who want to be here next season will respond. Those who don't give two figs will be shown the proverbial cushions by those at GP this evening.

Going public with those criticisms will work or backfire. We will see.

That's funny lol

It's all about maintaining standards. Dear old mum didn't have her boys doing the dishes and as the old adage goes " mum knows best" 😆😆

Our best ever Premier League points tally of 72 saw us finish fifth. This season we'd be guaranteed third with that total, maybe even second. Even a moderate home record (ie four more wins against...well, take your pick of teams from the bottom half) would have pretty much guaranteed a Champions League place.

As a few have already pointed out, we've had numerous opportunities to shoot up the table with games in hand against poor opposition and I can't remember us taking a single one all season.

Whatever problems the squad has in terms of lack of pace, lack of youth etc I still think mentality is our main weakness. We certainly didn't look short of creativity in the first four games, when there was no pressure or expectation.

Win % Comparison:

Howard Kendall I - 54. 1%
Carlo Ancelotti - 46. 8%
Roberto Martinez - 42. 7%
Colin Harvey - 42. 6%
David Moyes - 42. 1%
Ronald Koeman - 41. 4%
Marco Silva - 40%
Joe Royle - 39. 8%
Howard Kendall II - 38. 9%
Sam Allardyce - 38. 5%
Walter Smith - 31. 5%
Howard Kendall III - 26. 2%
Mike Walker - 17. 1%.

'I think Ancelotti is going to be shocked how hostile the crowd can be towards their own team.'

Carlo Ancelotti, an Italian, whose entire playing career was played out in front of hostile partizan Italians? Who has managed Parma, Juventus, AC Milan and Napoli in his home country; Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and now Everton. He 'is going to be shocked how hostile the [Everton] crowd can be'..?

A very quaint notion. He's seen it all and then some.

A fine example of posting a comment without thinking it through.

Our four best performers this season?

Wikipedia

List of Everton Managers

It was Steve Carse on another thread that alerted me to it's existence and mined the data to give a up to date view.

Ancelotti's career percentage is 61. 8 and last season in italy was 41. 2

I'm no master tactician but it drives me to distraction the amount of negative amateurish play shown by a supposedly Premier League outfit. When Pickford has more time on the ball than the misfiring midfield it is a mockery of what this club has stood for over the last 150 years.

I said it in another post that I wish Usmanov would get more involved and clear out the failures off the pitch as well as on it, he is supposedly a ruthless Russian £Billionaire and he didn't get to that level by being nicey nicey unlike the current teary eyed figurehead of this once great club crying his eyes out at the drop of a hat. What a Pity his Uncle didn't make the bleeder walk instead of taking him on his bike.

Doucoure and Godfrey probably our best 2 players across the season as a whole but no credit for Carlo there as he admitted to not knowing anything about either of them before they came in.

How do you know that Kevin? ,". Not when our chap is on a million pounds a month"

How do you know that Kevin? ,,,1,16:01:30,,213.205.192.39,ok,23848,05/19/2021 16:01:30,Tomrichards2@outlook.com,reader,,,no 1156070,40816,toffeeweb,19/05/2021,Alan J Thompson,thommoat31@bigpond.com,"So he tells it as he sees it which is not something you're used to and after bleating about listening to Bill with his microphone and script in hand telling us this will never happen again we don't seem able to handle it. What did you want, an ill prepared gunfighter?

What gave you that impression?

If we accept that apart from the odd game, Pickford has, ''settled" since the "Van Dijk Derby", there are still a further 6 outfield players that are not "Carlo's".

Since it has also been openly admitted by Carlo and Brands that neither Doucoure nor Godfrey were asked for by Carlo, then his players, in this season's team are James and Allan.

So, in percentage terms, 2 from any starting 11 gives him just over 18% and if you include the 7 on the bench then 2 from 18 gives him just over 11%.

Hardly his "team" then, by any stretch of the imagination.

If, as has been suggested he gets in another "4 or 5" this closed season, his situtation at the start of next season will be possibly 6 or 7 out of a first team squad of perhaps 23 players so even then the percentage of his men will be just over 30% ( if 7 of 23). That is why many have been saying he needs to have several transfer windows in order to establish "his" team and it is unfair to judge him before then.

Andrew, using your logic only two of the players are Ancelottis players?

Do you not think it fair to
judge him when he has formed his own team?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/gossip

Carlo is 4th.

Off-topic, did anybody hear something about the Celtic CEO's home being firebombed?

If Wolves and Burnley win tonight we finish the season with the 4th worst home form. That's the team with England's no. 1 goalkeeper, a member of the France squad, 2 current members of the Brazil squad, James Rodrigues and a striker that's scored 4 goals for England so far this season. He's not exactly been landed with Rochdale's first team has he.

All the results count, good and bad.

Yes, some players have seemingly gone backwards since the bright start to the season despite some backs to the wall wins on opponents grounds but if that is the Carlo plan it needs ruthless consistency that we have seen so little of in the Goodison games.

They would have been booed off in quite a few of those games had crowds been present and I am sure that anything like the Blades game should have 6500 fans booing.

Quite honestly there has been little to remember this season by and thankfully it ends soon with no real excuses as to why everything went belly-up.

One could say scoring goals can get you rewards but Everton have not scored enough except for DCL. City, Manure and RS always seem to get something when it matters because they have goals coming from more than one person. This situation is the first order of business for Carlo next season.

I've seen 11 & 11.5 mil. per year quoted maybe ten times by now. Haven't gone forensic but on probability, guess what, he's probably on around 11 per year.

p.s. some more "Gossip" quoted by Mike seems to concur.

If this team doesn't start well next season they are in serious trouble.

Yes he was firebombed early on today seemingly. They had to evacuate the premises apparently.

He was the former CEO, and left a short while ago I think.

Jonathan #108, your standard for our new manager is obvious. Win less than half their games at effing Swansea.

One relegated from the Prem weeks ago.

The other whose sum total of coaching grownups is two low-scoring seasons in the Championship. (Swansea average barely over a goal a game and are as exciting to watch as grass growing.)

I'll just sit here and roll my eyes for a while.

So you're the legendary "Steve Cooper advocate" Rob Halligan has spoken about. I'd never seen anyone make that suggestion so I thought he was exaggerating but wow, here you are.

However, yes, if next season starts like this one is ending, a whole lotta people are gonna be in a whole lotta trouble.

Confirming that you DID 'think it through', still posted the comment you did @ 78 and evidently believe you are making an astute observation really doesn't surprise me at all, given your TW posting history.

Any credibility you might have had (I know, I know) just went out the window with that. Great achievers, both. Except you say “could” succeed! “Could”. Words fail me.

The sub-headline would be "Allan, James Rodriguez spotted at Heathrow, no baggage".

See that baldy brother out of east enders is goosing the barmaid again.
Duuurty bastard

Weren't Moyes, Martinez, Silva up and coming managers. Might as well throw in Eddie Howe while you are at it. It's changing managers every season or two that has put us in the position in the first place. If Carlo cannot put Everton right nobody can. He can attract players who would otherwise give us shrift since our record of unbroken failure doesn't appear to be working. We stick with Carlo end of.

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Don't mind you doing a straight copy and paste, but at least get my name right. :)

Kieran @ 116, as Rob H will confirm it was actually Ian Edwards who was the legendary Steve Cooper advocate. Jonathon isn't only ridiculous in his views, he is unoriginal!

Jonathan @ 108, your original line when Ancelotti was hired was to try to call him the Italian Walter Smith. Given Carlo's win rate is 48.6% compared to 31.5% for Walter, you have quietly dropped that line.

UTFT!