James ruled out again

Anyway we can still get into Europe provided other results go our way, and we win by seven clear goals.

James seems to have a permanent problem. The Co!umbians will be thinking he want to Summer off, so as to be ready for Everton's next season, whilst Everton will be hoping he recovers for next season.

A decision over his contract could end the whole lot.

A bitter disappointment. As Allan is.

Carlos next intake needs to be better. I hope he looks to the future this time around. Going back seldom works

As for James... ??? Pffft l wonder how many games he will miss for Colombia?

I have often complained at the ever-changing formation from Carlo but how is that possible when he can't count of his players.

I would rather play Bernard ahead of lwobi, and deffo ahead of any diamond or 4-3-3. Also Allan should stay in the hole and protect the back four.

Likely to be a hard slog on Sunday if we play with no width and allow our full-backs to be exposed. Come on Carlo, get it right.

I for one don't think we will miss Seamus or James as quite honestly even if City put out their second team they will still beat Everton unless we can put up a rearguard action which has seen us scrape quite a few wins away from home this season.

Either way I think we will miss the Euro placings again and that's another thing I won't miss.

It’s a shame because a fully fit James is pure class and could probably ride out the dirty treatment. The trouble is he’s never going to be fully fit over here and because of that he needs a less demanding environment.

We’ll miss Seamus more I thought he was tremendous against Wolves . He set the tone for the team from the first minute and continued to enjoy putting in the maximum effort. He is not as quick or effective as he was in his twenties offensively but all the desire is still there , I will always love the player for it.

Because we expected so much, Carlo has been a huge disappointment just going through the motions for a £Million a month. I'm beginning to feel sorry for the owners who have been taken for a ride. But good luck with BMD project !

I’m willing to see what he produces next season.

The real truth is that too many of signings since Moyes walked out have merely been here to take the piss. I'm sure Carlo can find a few more we haven't yet heard of although Brands will have a few in his notebook, to fill the gaps !

I'd like to hope Ben Godfrey is the blue print for all future signings, tenacious with ability and drive.

Is he back next season? If not, would hate for to miss out on his final match.

Agree with other posters, his fitness has been an issue for years now, f we can bring someone in, who can play more regular, then we need to look at that possibility, we all know he is an exceptional talent, cannot question that, but one game a Month is not ideal.

I’m torn on James. Having worked with many skivers my emotional inclination is like Bobby Mallon’s “get rid.” But then calmer voices like Colin Glassar will remind me he’s our only creative player and he has played 20 times or so with a good number of assists.

And that’s the problem with James. A fully fit, fully functioning James would get into most Evertonian’s first XI. But he’s not fully fit and never will be.

So is it worth keeping the gold dust player that can only play maybe half the matches and we have to build our entire shape around him only to have to change our entire shape next match when he doesn’t play? I’d rather a more reliable alternative personally.

If we want to achieve anything in this league then we need consistent performances and consistent results. That means we need players to turn up consistently and players we can rely on.

Yes
One million percent ,"So is it worth keeping the gold dust player"

Yes
One million percent ,,,1,22:12:11,,213.205.242.59,ok,23848,05/21/2021 22:12:11,Tomrichards2@outlook.com,reader,,,no 1156863,40839,toffeeweb,21/05/2021,Jay Wood
[BRZ],support@empacademy.com,"It appears to me that, season after season, both the wider fan base and the players themselves call these awards correctly.

They've done it again this year. A big 'well done' to all award winners.

Instead it'll be us playing deep for long periods and our forwards feeding off scraps.

In regards to James in general, we can't sustain having a player who plays once a month or subs himself. Our squad isn't big enough.

Anthony #37, any evidence to support your "reckoning"? Do you have the slightest idea what the other players think of him? Or is that just what YOU would think?

No, Pat #22, James was NOT a mistake. Yes, he only played about half the available minutes, and we all wish he'd played more. But when he did play, he was brilliant. He scored/created 15 goals in 26 appearances (not "once a month"), and most of those goals could not possibly have been pulled off by somebody else meeting your description of "decent". He was the key player in the hot start that wound up saving our season. He was MOTM in those brilliant draws against the RS and MU, and his superb pass won us a Derby at Anfield, which is worth a ton of "gold dust" by itself.

I don't care if he played part time. I don't care if he plays part time next season either. He must stay. Must. Keep. Him.

Get shut... But get rid of the other crocks first, please.

Carlo today said to ignore rumors about James being unhappy. He said he’s committed but is on his way back to Colombia today. Now that last part irked me a little, I’d have liked to have seen him show some solidarity and at least hang around until Sunday. But that seems to not be the way of the modern player.

“Fully fit fully functioning he’d get in MOST Evertonian’s teams.” Who are the minority vote who’d leave the fully fit James out? Wait wait don’t tell me, is it Steavie Buckley so Broadhead can play?

James when fully fit would get into any Everton team I've seen in the last 60 years,
but will he be up and running to play from the start of next season?

Colombia appear to be favourites to finish 2nd to Brazil in the North Zone (4 matches)
with potentially another 3 matches concluding with the final on 11th July.

I'd like to think Rodriguez will be back fitter after a rest...but he was much the same at his previous clubs by all accounts.
If it won't respond to rest and, as I'm led to believe, these things aren't really operable...Maybe a pre-season regime will help. But I don't think Everton do that sort of thing now.

And that's before I even start on 'Fatigue'

If we have to pay him Brewsters for10(?) games a season then Brands and Ancelotti should chip in for his wages.

How much longer are we going to be a soft pension provider for over the hill sick notes.

I can still drop a ball on a sixpence from 40yds...if the grandson runs and fetches it back for me...and it's not raining - gis a job as they say

I like him but the no-shows are a tiresome joke now. I hope Brands is in the market for a right sided attacker of quality.

I see that when he delivers on the pitch, they love him. However, I've been in work situations when you love it when the best guy is doing well yet when they go missing, questions are raised as are doubts.

I would be surprised if his team mates aren't posing the question "when you can be that good, why can't we have more of you?"

It's not sustainable.

@Brian 51,
Don't get me wrong, I know where you're all coming from, and from a playing point of view you have a fair argument, however from a value to Everton football club as a whole I believe he's an asset, and one that actually isn't costing as much as some have.
I live in Mexico and I see the pull the guy has in south america from here, hes Hollywood and I for one am glad he's with us.

Agree about the pre-season as we bought Doucoure, Allan and James just before the season began so none of them could have had a normal pre-season because of re-start and they were with different clubs where prep was not ours and their futures were unsure.

Doucoure was in a pre season at Watford which entails probably not knowing who your coach might be from Monday to Friday...

I wouldn’t extend his contract at this point. He has a year left and he’s talking about retiring. See how he does up until Christmas then discuss.

Wolves just found (created) so much more space than Everton with players moving in to positions to receive a pass regularly with options for the passer. For much of the game we didn't seem able to string two passes together. Maybe I am being hard but it has seemed to be like this just about the whole season.

Comment has been made that we play better without the ball than with the ball. If that means moving off the ball to a suitable position to create a pass option then I can't agree with this. There again, why do we look so bad with the ball - is it because fewer options or none are available to the player with the ball to make a pass? . which would indicate that we are worse off the ball.

Confusing? Yes.

IMO, in terms of incoming transfers, we need at least one player who has complete composure to command and control plus some additional pacey, energetic players with
the attributes mentioned earlier.

Meanwhile, back to rationality... we got the guy for nothing. I've never seen a published account of his salary, but even if he's the highest-paid guy on the club, so what? We're paying Bernard and Gomes a combined quarter-million a week for one-tenth of James' production. And if he plays 34 games next season instead of 26, just think what an impact he could have. Worth the gamble? Of course he is, just from a playing perspective. And what he does for Everton's worldwide profile is priceless. We couldn't buy that kind of PR.

I do agree with Kieran, however... no reason to address a new contract at this point. Time enough to do that in midseason if he's fit.

It’s a fair point. I assume Carlo meant “off the ball” defensively because as you say “off the ball” offensively is probably our most glaring weakness.

I wouldn't get too know-it-all if I were you. I've read many a post from you that has backfired.

Tom Davies a "retard" was a gem; now he's one of our most reliable midfielders. Some very questionable remarks about Calvert-Lewin as well.

If there's a brief prevailing wind, you'll go with it. Or insult those who don't.

The fans above who object to James have every right to because they pay for season tickets and witness a player subbing himself and rarely playing with a big Instagram presence. Like you, I know he's a really great player but, for what we need, he's not fit for purpose.

A player not showing up very often on a lot of money is an anathema to many of our fans – and no wonder. It doesn't mean they don't know a good player, it just means they have been sold a pup and they know it.

You make the strong point he did it against the better teams (which is why I wish he was available for Man City) but for another campaign with Watford, Newcastle, Palace, Norwich, West Ham, Leeds, Saints and all, I cannot see him much more than a luxury player.

I'd rather we bought a right-sided player to unlock those sides and tackle back.

Of course, he has undoubted talent. But how best to use it? He obviously needs legs around him, something that Everton have not always had the luxury of this season. He has a good goal and assist rate, but the team is also having to play a certain way to accommodate James at times; this is where the inadequacies of the squad come to the fore.

Me (being an expert and all that) thinks that a lot depends on who Everton sign this summer and how they'll set up next season as to how James will be used. If we play a traditional Number 10, then methinks it should be a position that is shared between both James and Sigurdsson in some sort of rotation, based on who is the freshest, fittest etc.

If Everton go for a speedy winger or two, what then? One up front and James behind the striker? Should he be played on the right-hand side or not? Does that depend on who is the regular right back?

For me, he plays if others are in the team to do his running and covering. He covers more than he is credited with, but it is not really his forte. James should be treated as a player that can be switched with others either starting games, or coming off the bench.

As for getting rid, well, it depends – on a commercial level, if he is attracting a lot of interest in Everton, thus more revenue, then fine. But commercial interests should never trump the sporting outcome.

I have my doubts about a lot of the players and commitments to the cause. James is just one of a number of them. Hopefully my doubts are unfounded and wide of the mark.

Just an aside. Delph has been given a lot of stick and virtually no support on this site and from many Evertonians – maybe quite rightly, but as a lesser player there definitely seems less support for his lack of game time. So I guess it is more about quality than attitude and availability? And yes, Delph has built a rod for his own back at times!

Carthorses like Calvert-Lewin, Sigurdsson, Bernard and Iwobi can come and go every year but are not worth a toss.

"If there's a brief prevailing wind, you'll go with it. Or insult those who don't."

I think that's unfair mate. Mike is not one to follow the crowd. He has his own opinions and isn't one to "pile on." He articulates his points well too. I often (but not always) agree with him but I think you're being a bit unfair in your characterization.

With that being said, I think you, Brian Williams, and a lot of others bring up valid conflicting points on this thread. I'm finding myself agreeing with everyone except the few who say "he's a fraud" or whatever without explaining the overall rationale.

Just imagine if Iwobi had played instead of him 25 times this season. What would that have done to our season? We'd be closer to relegation than Europe. But I get the concerns and frustrations, especially at the business end of the season. But you have to look at the 38 games in totality, not just a spell that's great or terrible.

Also, on the “Tom is a retard” thing that someone else brought up the other day — about 2 years after it was said. My niece / Goddaughter has Downs syndrome. When I read it, I cringed. Because, having interacted enough on here to get the gauge of the man, I knew he meant it in a way that was contrary to how it would be interpreted.

Rightly or wrongly, it was for decades used in the context of someone making foolish decisions. In recent times, there's been more sensitivity to how it might be construed. I'm sensitive to that having had my eyes opened with some nastiness from people to my lovely niece.

But I don't think for one second it was used on ToffeeWeb in a way that was intended to offend or allude to people with disabilities. It was unfortunate, it was old-fashioned but I don't think there was ill-intent and I don't think we need to keep mentioning it.

I am all for watching his brilliance when it happens but feel we are being cheated for whatever reason in seeing him, week-in & week-out doing what he does best. The only answer to me is, if he is not going to be an asset to the team by playing, then get rid sooner rather than later.

Sorry if this upsets some of you experts but this team needs stability and players who can perform every game – not only when it suits them. If we are to challenge for anything, then we need players to give their all for the whole season – just like they used to!

I get your point. He hasn't exactly had the impact say Cantona had on Leeds. But he's here, he has a year left, only Sigurdsson produced anything from the midfield apart from him. If he hadn't been here, where would we be?

Can we get someone better this summer? If so, great; I'm all for upgrades but, as of now, looking at who we've got, there are maybe 15 others I'd sooner ship out.

Andrew, I'll let Kieran speak for me on the "prevailing wind" criticism -- as usual, he says it better than I could -- but I challenge you on the "insult" comment. I do not. I needle, I satirize (as I did with posts 36 and 50 above), and I occasionally ask if it's a nice day on whatever planet the poster is orbiting. But I challenge you to find any instances in my 15 years on this site when I called another poster an insulting name.

I do not remember saying anything "questionable" about DCL. Care to elaborate?

As for my posts backfiring, you betcha. It comes from having opinions and expressing them clearly while being fallible. I was quite happy when we signed Schneiderlin, for example (to be fair, I was right for the first four months). And I was unimpressed with the Michael Keane signing (happy to be proven so wrong this season). I'm not the least bit afraid to look foolish. Happens all the time.

But if you think I'm too much of a know-it-all and that irritates you, I have a solution. There's a little thingie in the middle of your mouse that you can use to scroll past posts that don't interest you. I use it occasionally. Works well.

Finally, to circle back to James, I think in the final analysis it's an academic argument, because it seems certain that he'll be here next season. And I still predict that he'll give us lots of reasons to be happy about that. Hopefully more often than this season.

On backfiring, I was 100 percent on board with Walter Smith. I was also on board with Mike Walker, Joe Royle, Howard Kendall III and no one since until Carlo. God I hope my judgement has improved over the years.

When James has played, he has been committed and added fluency and variation to our play. Everton fans have always valued effort, but that has on occasion led to us lauding donkeys like Stracqualursi instead of thoroughbreds like James. I am happy for him to get a few games with Colombia before we get him back fit and ready to go.

Hopefully, we can use the close season to sign more players who should actually be on the same pitch as him.

We still get an ignoramus like Glenn Hoddle coming out with daft comments although it cost him his England job. Here's to us turning up for once on Sunday. If not, have a great summer. Especially Mr brands!!!

I think your last line nails it.

I think so many posters were saying "Get rid of", I assumed that his contract was for a year. Therefore he is staying: away early to Colombian for some heat and rest; do his bit of international football in the limelight and a productive pre-season.

Just goes to show: never assume, because when you do, you make an ass-u-me.

Andrew #56,

We could be right about pre-season, but it did occur to me that I assumed that the good start this season was because of a good pre-season at Everton. The problem being that pre-season preparation at Everton prior to that was often attacked by posters, including myself, as holiday camps with a break in Europe.

Hopefully Ancelotti's pre-season contributed to the good season start and it will help the players you mention. Ancelotti does not appear to have much faith in warm weather breaks, dismissing them as not necessary. Europe is viewed more as a competition break from the Premier League now.

As frustrating as it has been seeing him sub himself or feel fatigued, I'm with Mike Gaynes. The lad is a superb player, has a problem with his calf that probably can't be cured. I can live with that. I just have to rerun his passes and goals in my head. That win at Anfield...

The two Colombians are very proud of their country, which is still in the throes of the pandemic. We all seemed to like the idea of South American interest in Everton; well, those two remaining in their National line-up is part of the deal. We want happy players.

If James manages the problem and plays lots of games in a short time, then I will have less sympathy if he refuses to do the same for us. Let's just see.

Some over-the-top comments I'm sure are borne out of sheer frustration that we have a world class player who doesn't play enough.

But we need to consider what James is worth to us in terms of exposure and raising the profile of Everton to much wider markets. In short, we need to make James's stay here work for us.

If he wants to stay for another year, good, but that doesn't mean we have to build a team around him. Use him as a trump card for certain games or as an ultimate game-changing sub. Manage his game time for our advantage, for the benefit his fitness and the enjoyment of his football.

In short, James being at the club can be a major benefit to us if he only plays half the games.

The key will be getting that right-sided forward or winger to bring assists and goals so we are not reliant on James as a core player.

If you've ever been to Munich in the winter (I have regularly), it's way colder than here. He spent 2 seasons there.

Down to expectation for me. The player is an incredible talent but he's never playing 90 minutes of every game or every game every season. How many players do in the modern game? Do City fans bemoan Aguero because he doesn't play every game? Set that expectation and you'll appreciate his talent. His contract won't be extended but if we use him and his exceptional talent as a footballer as part of a squad we will benefit from him being an Everton player.

Your sensitivity on a personal level is understandable, although the words in our language are used to convey meaning in context. This battle to demonize some of them in the name of identity politics must be resisted for the sake of our language and culture.

In that vein, I don't know if this helps but, to set the record straight, "retard" was not the word Mike Gaynes used to describe the astounding incompetence of Tom Davies for his part in what Lyndon described as "an act of self-sabotage".

As for Andrew James, who was the one who inserted "retard" into the original thread, and clearly won't let it go in order to sustain his unending attacks on other supporters, sorry but I'm not tolerating that.

And blame it they will because there is little chance that our esteemed manager will see it as an opportunity to blood any youngsters as other clubs do – particularly if those showing most promise are forever out on loan.

If they are good enough.

City with Foden. But who else?

Liverpool with Alexander Arnold.

In the main though, I see the successful clubs bringing players in from elsewhere.

You can afford to blood youngsters once you're there, not when you're trying to get there. Especially if they are not the standard you need. Get into Europe and we attract a different calibre of player. In my opinion.

I agree though, but it's a different grass roots debate.

For God's sake, bleeding well cheer up, the pair of you!

This is bizarre but knowing how much it means to South American players to represent their country, understandable.

Mark my words, James will be running around like a spring chicken in Argentina, no calf or testicular problems will stop him. Will he return “fatigued and injured” is the question?

Brian 26 -Spot on.

Anthony 37 - A very good question

Andrew 63 - Yep.

I think those of us who advocate moving James on do so with the certain knowledge that he is capable of making absolute mugs of us. He's just so frustrating.

And get that defence higher up the pitch. But that requires a change at the back too.

I remember the incident well. It was one of my first visits to the Live Forum.

He incensed a few (me included) when he screamed "fucking moron" at Tom, but he did not stoop to using the word 'retard'.

I think Mike was most definitely playing to a ready-made audience. 20-year-old Tom was already being hammered before he crossed the white line as a late sub. His "moronic" act of "astounding incompetence" was to give away a free-kick miles from goal which 11 players had the opportunity to defend Newcastle scored.

When he is not deserting his post, Allan gives away free kicks such as this with alarming regularity. He's about 29 (I think) which means he is a moron.

Still it gives people the chance to make up ridiculous stats like "He's made the most tackles in the Premier League".

Best pure footballer we have had since an 18-year-old Rooney, imo.

This calf problem seems to have dogged James for a few years now and I am sure Real Madrid would have sent him to the best specialists around to try and cure this problem. So maybe it's something he has to live with. The question is: Can Everton live with the situation?

At every press conference, Carlo is always asked about James's fitness and the answers have varied from a slight strain or fatigued, but he assures everybody he will be fit for the next game – only to find he isn't even in the squad.

For too many years we've carried “injured” players, eg, Andy van der Meyde (we now know he was never injured), Gibson (drunk, mainly), Hibbert (fishing), Walcott (image problems?), Iwobi (just a shite player), etc.

Let's get serious, Everton, and tell us what's really going on!

I even remember someone claiming he's the best Premier League player we've ever had. Not even in the Top 20 on the basis of what I've seen so far. Sure, he has ability but he's failed to show up in games where you would expect him to dominate, he's undoubtedly injury-prone, and he also seems to be prone to sides getting physical with him.

I suspect it's the end of the road for him.

He's another enigma, absolutely the best passing player and showing the most vision and chance taker Everton has had for decades.

But the frustration is total.

Is it psychological, playing amongst several ale-house players, or genuinely has his desire to play football waned, after years of consistent injury?

Brazil 2014, a great World Cup, but it's a long time ago.

Considering James's impact at that tournament and the hype afterwards, another player who's never reached the projected heights of greatness in football is Mario Goethe. He has almost disappeared altogether.

But the club needs to tell us as, without doubt, Everton need a playmaker with a good engine for next season.

James at best will be an impact squad player next season, in my view, as his fitness is now questionable and the stats this season prove that.

Yep, if there's a miracle cure, hopefully Everton find it, as he's a brilliant player on his day.

The billboards around the world last year. The new International office with Jurgen Mainka. His 100 MILLION followers (8th biggest sportsman in the world!!).

Personally, if he plays half the games at his full ability, helps champion the club around the world, and – most importantly – helps us attract other quality Copa American players here, then it's not even a debate on whether he's worth indulging.

We just need more quality in the squad so he's a genuine bonus – not a missed necessity.

As for the fishing...??

Let's see... James won us the game at Tottenham, we hadn't won there in eons. He was responsible for us getting a point a Man Utd. It was his defence-splitting pass that allowed us to get in front at Anfield. Not to mention his brilliant goal against Leicester helping us get a point.

Over the last 30 years, I've watched some absolute dross playing for this club; James is pure class. We haven't had someone who can pick a pass like him in years. Even against Sheffield Utd, he made two gilt-edged chances only for the two up front to miss them.

Iwobi is fit for every single game and hasn't contributed anything in two seasons. I'll take 20 games of James over 2,500 games of Iwobi and players like him who we seem to stockpile.

Mike Gaynes makes an excellent point with regards to his value.

For me, playing him out on the right-wing exposes our right flank which in the modern game requires a player such as hard-working Richarlison when he plays out on the left.

Playing off the striker, where he can be replaced when a more defensive tactic is required, might prolong his playing days and would be worth the additional season.

I just wonder whether this 'fatigue/no show' is all part of a bigger picture – I wonder whether his imminent trip 'home' is part of a bigger picture?

I wonder whether he has in fact been charged with going back home, presenting himself for the Copa America, and mainly attracting other targeted players here for Ancelotti?

I've always had a conspiracy mentality. I do hope his tenure as an Evertonian does conspire to make us a better club – one way or another!!

Maybe it was because Moyes got his tactics wrong? I blamed Fellaini not working hard enough for his team, but the sun supposedly fatigued Hibbert, I'm sure that was the story at the time.

It's not a question of whether he's better than Iwobi, he quite clearly is. The question is: If we are serious about being a Champions League team, will he be part of that? I certainly don't see him starting in any of the current Top 4 sides.

He is capable of genuine moments of class, more so than any player in the squad. But he is also fragile, prone to go missing in games and liable to be physically targeted.

Anyway back to J-Rod

Damn, what a player... but what a bloody crock too. It all seemed to kick off in October when he was debollocked in the derby by one of the knuckle-draggers.

Ever since he's been about as resilient as a kite in a hurricane.

If we could have got him on that pitch 35 times, then I've no doubt at all that he's a player that would hit double figures... but sadly that's unlikely to ever happen, the Premier League is too demanding.

I'd say keep him one more year (providing he's okay with staying here... which I'm not convinced about) – just don't expect him to ever be a regular or push through the pain barriers.

To be fair, it was 105 C at pitch-side. I was fucked just watching.

That and the formation Moyes picked on a blazing hot day.

Played Leon Osman in front of Hibbert as protection against Cole and Malouda.

The marketing launch for his signing reached 400 million people.

Interesting article on how he is helping us grow our fan base in Latin America. Liverpool and Man Utd make millions from marketing in Asia, so recruiting from South America gives Everton the opportunity to leap ahead of them in a massive geo-location where they are not so strong.

Yes, it may cause a bit of an issue with the other players if they see someone getting what could be viewed as 'special' treatment but most players have the sense to know a special player when they see one and would be happy if he makes the team better-except the player that has to drop out for him!

A must-keep player for me.

I agree with you on the extra worldwide exposure James has brought us and as I said in another post he was definitely a risk worth taking. My point was just that I don't think we should be rushing to extend his contract.

He's here next season so the club should see how that goes IMO. I think worlwide interest will wane if he's seen to be continuing to play for a mid-table Premier League club.

If his presence here can help us attract other players to get us near the top, then I'm all for that. But I do think he's a luxury we can't afford... as a mid table club, if you know what I mean, because – at the end of the day – it's success on the pitch which has to come first and foremost for us to progress.

However, some of the top clubs can get by because they have strength in depth much superior, as City do.

James is becoming an enigma. Obviously has great skil and vision but is an inconsistent luxury Everton can't afford.

He, like many others at the club, have not had enough decent games to warrant another season but contracts are contracts and Everton may have to bite the bullet with these underachievers for another season.

Also, and I know football is a game of mistakes, but Lescott allowing one of the best forwards of his day a 10- to 15-yard run onto a cross for the equaliser as he jumped from a static, standing position rather than marking tight and tracking the run. Because he was defending deep in our own box even though the ball and the Chelsea forward he was up against weren't there.

Deep sitting defenders wait for trouble and then try to stop it from a standing position. Familiar ring.

And yes, Hibbert was caught fishing a few times in the Mersey when he was off sick. Four-eyed Mersey mackerel was his favourite catch (pollution and all that).

As Thomas said, Cole and Malouda up against Osman and Hibbert made it even easier.

Darren #85, thank you also -- your effort is appreciated as well. However, your recollection of the game incident is incomplete. Tom's stupid foul gifted a free kick that was the only chance for a game-tying score -- there was no time to advance the ball into our area otherwise -- and then he was the player who failed to properly defend the free kick. It was the dual blunder than infuriated me, not just the foul. Also, to the best of my recollection, the only one incensed was you. I recall no other objections to my ire towards Tom, although I may be mistaken because I was seeing nothing but red at that point.

Andrew James, your accusation of my using that particular word was false. You have also failed to support your accusations that I made "questionable" remarks about Dominic and that I insulted other posters here. Your integrity has now been called into question by the moderator and by me. Care to comment?

Back to James... Tony, great post at #76, and also Danny at #77. You've reflected my views on that issue.

Matt Hunter at #95, great summary of James's work, but I disagree with your comment about the skeptics here not deserving him -- we ALL deserve to see quality football, and the frustration about not seeing his quality as often as we'd like doesn't make anybody undeserving.

Colin #89, we'd all like to know what's wrong with a player who's not on the pitch, but I don't think we have the "right" even if we've paid for a ticket or bet on the game. IMO an athlete's right to keep their health information confidential vastly outweighs our desire to have it. The have little enough privacy in a social media world.

I beg to differ with your view that we don't have the right to know about a player's fitness when that fitness has fans scratching their heads.

James went off the field before the game began v Aston Villa with an injury that was described as a little niggle which didn't feel right (to James) by Carlo; he has played about an hour since, which makes it 60 minutes in six games, the two latest games he has missed being described as tired and then fatigue.

That seems most unusual to me, never heard of those circumstances before, so until I hear different, I repeat what I've said before: I think he's taken the piss out of the club, and Carlo, since he was the man who brought him here and had belief in him that he could do a good job for the club.

Some think he has; I beg to differ again. I think he has come for an easy ride for £4M a year – or, in his case, 50% of the year... if that.

To my eyes, he has rarely looked as involved or committed in later games. Genius moments and contributions for sure - but nothing like the same player as early on.

One of my favourites to watch for many years but I'm not so sure of his intentions now.

Mike G - I have to disagree re. the relevant playing injuries privacy point. He's a professional sportsman. Sexual diseases as an example would be a private health matter. As to the social media aspect; anyone with a following of 100 million plus is not someone focused on their privacy.

Perhaps that clash with Virgil van Dijk at Goodison was more damaging than first thought?

I'm pretty sure calf strain wouldn't be being used as a cover for nut trouble and I doubt he'd still be running around playing football with such unaddressed problems.

Maybe the warm weather in Argentina will help his ball(s).

Keane's foot horror a couple of years ago is a good example of that. He didn't reveal the ulceration until the following season. Did we have the "right" to know why he was "turning like an oil tanker" at the time? He didn't think so. And so we didn't hear about it.

Anyway, Will, I can't disagree that James' intensity slackened as the season went on. But my guess is it was injury-related rather than what Dave describes as "taking the piss out of the club", an expression I've not heard before but which I assume is a Merseyside metaphor for laziness.

Don't know if it's true, but it's certainly true that he missed the Barcodes game two weeks later with a "groin injury"... and it's also true he didn't have a goal or assist for three months after Van Dickhead did him up.

We've got so many bums stealing a living at Finch Farm, but jeez he's not. He's world class.

The Michael Keane one is interesting. I can't believe it possible he could hide that from the club - which if so would imply a decision by all to keep it under wraps and work around it. Which then would all seem very dodgy (and dangerous) indeed.

"Horror" is the right word. I'm not sure we heard the truth there.

Your confusion of "taking the piss" has really made me laugh today... Until. I tried to give you a translation?

"Taking the rise"??? Again no idea what that means.

"Pulling a fast one" – is that any clearer? Not really I imagine because I have no idea how these strange English expressions come about?

Just thought I'd lighten the tone for you as I don't like to see a well respected TW contributor getting involved in spurious shite said on the Live Forum etc.

If your friends Dave + Tony A take you for a top meal and a few bevvys, then both say they have left their wallets at home... ?? They are definitely "taking the piss". I hope this helps!

I think if I had been bigging Mina up all game, I may have been tempted to look for a scapegoat too. Quite what he thought he could do from behind the goal when he slid on his arse, trying to block a ball that was already past him, is anybody's guess

As for Dave and Tony, when next we share a meal and bevvys, they are most definitely welcome to take the piss. See, I used it!

Sorry; I was evidently duped by Andrew's original insertion of that word, replying to your actual comments.

Nobody, except one poster, posted against your take on Tom's culpability in the goal for a simple reason: You were 100% correct in your summation.

Tom was at fault by conceding a foolish free kick, allowing thier centre-halves into our box. He made his mistake worse by running under the header. Very poor.

I get your point. But, as Mike says, they are privacy issues. If someone has say VD, they may not want the world to know. But they could solve this as they did in the old days when players were on drugs, hungover or whatever by saying he “picked up a knock” in training.

You keep forgetting yourself. You didn't even post back then.

There where lots of people who disputed Mike's claims that Davies failed to defend the free-kick. It's still on YouTube. Have a look. Come back and let us know how far you think the free-kick went over his head.

And perhaps you can say why one of our centre-halves did not attack a floated free-kick from the half-way line?

I love how you recall so many debates you were not part of.

I've got agree with you over that Michael Keane injury from a couple of years ago, I think that would come under the heading of ‘Tall Stories' – he was wearing a boot two sizes bigger than he usually wore, was on antibiotics for weeks...

Maybe there are antibiotics that don't make you sleepy but I get them every so often and they slow me right down. Mind you, maybe that might have explained Michael's playing at the time, which makes me think he is still on them.

With one boot bigger than the other, wouldn't he trip himself up every so often? Anyway, it wanted some believing to me, especially the part that no-one at the club was aware of any of this.

With all due respect, the player with VD might not want the world to know about it but it gets around, and every supporter and his dog knew about the Everton player who had it. He was a Championship-winning player with the Blues as well, but my lips are sealed.

I set myself up. I should have known with your years of Everton involvement that you'd have encountered such a scandal. Well now you have to tell us the rest, lol.

You are aware that there are lots of "viewers" of TW who don't actually post anything... ever? Then there are the likes of yourself and I who pop in and out? And the TW fans who really enjoy reading it but wait a while for their debut?

By the way, I have no opinion on that Newcastle game (regarding Tom Davies) except it was a complete calamity of seeing a game out by all on that pitch, that day.

He was a relatively modern player. I'm surprised you don't know who he is, it's a true injury but my lips are sealed as I said. We signed him from ...

[Teasing you now, Kieran!!]

I've agreed and disagreed with many but that's what forums like this are for. I've upset and apologised to some, but that's debate, right?

The beauty of this site is Evertonians both arguing and agreeing about Everton. And discussing the beautiful game.

Skill that we are desperately short of? Most definitely.

Can we afford him in the team on the basis of this season? No.

Very few teams can compete in this league without every single player performing at 100%. If not, they soon get found out.

This squad, as a group, have let the supporters, the club and themselves down, badly this season. Yes, we have had individuals such as Godfrey and Calvert-Lewin, even Pickford, surprising us and possibly themselves... but, as a squad – shite!

We need every player to be 100% committed; seems to me a few, including James, aren't. Give me a committed Tom Davis than a half-arsed James Rodriguez every time.

I remember Frank Lampard being interviewed when Chelsea were winning everything and he played every game every season, or near enough. He said fatigue never came in to it. They all relished every game and all wanted to play every game. Difference between winners and losers.

If I've got this right, the player concerned "middle" initials were co-incidentally "VD?"

Sounds like a right psycho...

I do realise there are lots of people who don't post for a while after registering with TW. I guess there will be some who don't post at all.

But there is only one who regularly takes up trivial arguments from years ago and, no skin off my nose, but he keeps forgetting himself.

Casho,

If its me you are referring to, I'm flattered but you're talking foolishly again.

Can you expand on the poster who forgets himself please?

It would never happen today -- Tom is an exponentially more mature and solid player now than he was 2 years ago -- but that's what happened that day.

Kieran #124, no apology necessary.

Billy #127, I burst out laughing at that one too! Kipper??

Dave #135, you're teasing me too! C'mon, mate, spill.

I saw it, you saw it, many thousands of Blues saw it. Two cock-ups by Tom.

David reckons many people came on defending Tom? Definitely not the way I recall ToffeeWebbers reaction.

Put the posts up, Casho.

He has fabulous ability but flatters to deceive, living off his reputation gained over a few games at the 2014 World Cup. Real didn't want him, neither did Bayern, which says everything really. The hope was that he would want to go out on a high with us but these strange injuries, including fatigue from someone who has rarely played a full game, do not indicate to me that he is interested.

Why hasn't he done the professional thing and got himself properly match fit? Why has he looked so keen to desert his mates half way through a game by trudging off when the going is tough?

It's a shame and I have enjoyed his highlights with us but he ain't interested and we can't afford a passenger in an already sub-standard midfield.

I can't see any way he will be here come July.

You don't defend a last-minute free-kick from the half-way line by standing on your own goalie's toes and inviting the drop down. You hold a high line and keep it. Not drop back before the kick is taken, inviting every opponent into your box.

There are 11 Everton players defending against 8 Newcastle players. Mike's claim that the player who got on the end of the punt was the guy Davies should have been marking is just his way of excusing the lighthouses he had been defending.

What were the other 10 doing? Everyone in the ground could see the punt was going over Tom's head.

There were players far more guilty of not defending that punt than the smallest, youngest most inexperienced player... In fact, there was about 8 of them.

The entire defence stood and watched it ping around our area. Blaiming the late substitute, whose only crime was he wasn't two foot taller, says more about the finger-pointers than it does about the youngster.

Keep going...

It's a shame people want to relitigate it and remind the lad of his darkest hour. He is honest enough to know what he did and it probably haunts him.

First, the 2009 Cup Final 2-1 loss to Chelsea. Everton had a magnificent cup run to the final. The spine of the team was devastated with injuries to Jaielka, Arteta and Yakubu (and Anichebe).

We got off to a flier with the quickest ever Cup Final goal by Saha. England's best referee at the time (allegedly) Howard Webb booked Hibbert on 8 minutes for a nothing foul. Webb had done the same to Hibbert a couple of weeks earlier v Villa in the league at Villa Park. Moyes was carefully nursing Tony back to match fitness. It was a sweltering hot day and, with such an early booking, Hibbo had to tread carefully.

Ten minutes after that inocuous booking Fellani was absolutely clattered near the half way touchline and the offending Chelsea player didn't even get a talking to, never mind a booking.

Yes, the cross from their equalising goal before half-time came from Hibbo's flank. So let's blame Tony rather than Yobo or Lescott who parted like the Red Sea to give the known threat Drogba all the time in the world to score.

1-1 at half-time and Hibbert was withdrawn. As if it needs to be said, Everton were never losing with the lad on the pitch.

Everton did not capitulate in the 2nd half. Indeed, before Lampard got their winner, Saha missed a glorious heading chance to restore our lead.

We brought on Lars Jacobsen for Hibbo (Lars also recovering from injury), the 21-year-old James Vaughan for Saha, and 19-year-old Dan Gosling for Osman.

Chelsea, by contrast, had the luxury of replacing Michael Essien for the then German captain, Michael Ballack.

It was not a case of Moyes bottling it in a big game. Our playing resources were so depleted and it proved a bridge too far on the day against one of the finest teams in the country.

Secondly, the 2-2 home draw with Newcastle last season. This thread is evidence of how entrenched some are and how selective their recall.

We absoutely pounded them that night. Some continue to pedal the myth that Carlo went all defensive for the final 30 minutes after going 2-0 up on 54 minutes.

Did he bollocks. Chance after chance after chance continued to be created. Calvert-Lewin header. Mina header. Bernard shot. Walcott shot. Holgate chance. The barcodes keeper was playing out of his skin to keep them in it. Newcastle were so under the cosh Bruce took off his centre forward and replaced him with another centre-back.

Moise Keane, by now blowing out of his arse, was replaced by Seamus Coleman on 71 minutes, Bernard for Tom Davies on 83 minutes, Niasse for Walcott on 88 minutes without compromising our attacking threat. Newcastle's first shot on target in the whole game came after 80 minutes.

Their second shot on goal – at 90+4 mins – came from a corner Everton had unnecessarily conceded with some poor interchange in our left defensive corner between Digne and Davies, resulting in Holgate clearing up but conceding a corner. Newcastle pulled one back when cooler defending would have snuffed it out.

From the re-start, all Everton had to do was pass it back to Pickford and waste away the closing seconds to ensure the win.

But no. For some inexplicable reason the ball was passed back to the experienced Delph who simply hoofed it not even into touch and not very deep into Newcastle territory. A cheap and unnecessary turnover off the ball.

Tom Davies conceded a foul in the centre circle, 50 yards from our goal. Of course Newcastle were going to load our box and lump it forward into the mixer. Yes, the ball flew over Tom's head. So do orbiting satellites. Twizzle and his amazing extending limbs Tom ain't.

Calm heads did not abound. Both centre-backs, Mina and Holgate, put in sliding tackles which literally saw them off the pitch behind the touchline. Newcastle got off one powerful effort that Pickford defended, but in doing so knocking him backwards behind the goal line. The follow-up shot hit Pickford again, but it was clearly over the line. Newcastle scored with 2 of their 3 shots on target at 90+4 and 90+5 mins.

It wasn't dinosaur defensive tacts by Carlo or the imbecility of Tom Davies that cost us the win that night. It was in-game management by far more experienced and senior players than Tom who should have known – and done – better.

I can't remember Fellaini getting clattered, I just thought as the free man in midfield, he never done enough to help Osman to stop Chelsea getting out down their left way to easily.

I just remember Ashley Cole getting a proper cob-on with Timmy Cahill, who swoped positions with Fellaini at half-time, and made it a much more even second half, until Saha missed a good headed chance; this seemed to spark a very good Chelsea side into another gear.

I agree about the heat, Graham, us English are not cut out for hot weather, another reason why our kids should only play summer football until their teenage years!!

Billy R, I wouldn't be taking the piss, mate, I've never used a wallet in my life!

I didn't know Gosling came on, thanks Jay (148), but I'm sure Rodwell was on the bench and I wanted him to come on for Fellaini who, apart from supplying Saha with the pass to score in the early seconds of the game, had done next to nothing.

Rodwell, young and alert then, could have supplied the extra energy that could have won the game for us, because we were as good as Chelsea on the day. Giving the players who were missing, we never had the strength from the bench that Chelsea had, although Rodwell might have added that extra push...

Opinions eh!! We've got hundreds on ToffeeWeb, long may they continue.

It's well known the starting XI had lost its spine due to injury weeks before the final, but this was our bench for our biggest day out since beating Man Utd in the Cup Final in 1995:

Carlo Nash
Lars Jacobsen
Segundo Castillo
Jack Rodwell (18)
Dan Gosling (19)
James Vaughan (20)
Jose Baxter (17)

I would guess there was barely 50 first team appearances for Everton between the whole lot of them. Jacobsen came on at half-time for Hibbo. Shortly after going 2-1 down on 72 minutes and looking for a goal the best Moyes could do from the bench was switch in Vaughan for Saha on 75 minutes and Gosling for Osman on 82 minutes. 'Gowan, Dan and repeat your last-minute extra-time goal that knocked out Liverpool.'

There is plenty to criticize Moyes for in his 11 years at Everton. That day at Wembley and the cards he was dealt is not one of them, IMO.

I bet we don't get an Instagram snap of Seamus on the P&O ferry going to Dublin.