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Michael Burke
1 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:01:56
Gbamin doesn't make the bench.
John Cook
2 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:09:07
Word is Gbamin out for 3 to 6 weeks. Don't know what injury it is...
Ian Lloyd
3 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:10:20
Can't get my head around Schneiderlin being the first on the team sheet?!? Daren't pick him last season, so we sign 3 new midfielders and then start picking Schneiderlin?!? Absolute joke!!!
Dermot Byrne
4 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:13:59
Is that a bit over-cautious?

We will see...

Dave Abrahams
5 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:14:45
John (2) yes been on another thread all afternoon, out for, according to different people, two to eight weeks, with no news of what the injury is, or how it happened.
Neil Lawson
6 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:17:01
Wouldn't it be great to be surprised at the team selection for good reason for a change? So far, two very ordinary performances (and that is being polite). I hope that I am proved wrong but it is hard to see anything different tonight.

Given the expansive way in which Villa play, surely this is the perfect platform for Kean. Glad I haven't got Sky. Fingers crossed as always.

Ciarán McGlone
7 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:17:47
This is going to be another hard watch. I hope I'm wrong.
Kieran Kinsella
8 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:22:06
Great shame if he is out for that long as he played well last week. After the late return to pre-season, the last thing he needs is a few months out injured. Hopefully Delph will be back shortly as another option instead of Wacko Bird Morgan.
Jim Bennings
9 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:23:09
Another low-scoring away draw at best?

Can't see many goals in this team.

Derek Knox
10 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:24:45
Is fucking Schneiderlin another who has pictures of Silva, in a compromising situation? I can't stand the bastard, not hopeful at all with that jerk in the side at all.

In the unlikely event of him proving me wrong, I will apologise to all TW.

Dermot Byrne
11 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:26:54
Jim 2-1 to us. We score two, one by Calvert-Lewin and they get one back at 80 mins.

10 mins shitting ourselves and then top of table.

Dave Abrahams
12 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:29:13
Dermot, can’t you just make 2-0 and give a nice calm last ten minutes?
Mark Frere
13 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:32:51
Derek and Ian, who is Silva supposed to select in place of the injured Gbamin? I'm no Schneiderlin fan... but there clearly is no one else fit to play that role. Morgan played quite well towards end of last season, although I hope Delph is selected instead when fit. The holding role has never suited Davies either.
Ian Lloyd
14 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:36:38
Mark (13) maybe try something a bit different for a change and try mix it up with Iwobi given a Start? We are so defensive (especially away from home ) it’s unreal

Why not try something and try to go 2-0 up after 30 mins and then shut shop?

Ciarán McGlone
15 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:36:54
I'm not sure Silva actually has a plan B. Surely a manager who's seen the first two games would want to do something different.. the thing about winning while playing badly is that it doesn't last if you continue to play badly.

Anyway.. let's see how we get on here. Not confident though. Too many passengers and a formation that doesn't suit our forward.

No doubt they'll all click and we'll win 10-0.. and I'll happily take egg on my face..

Fingers crossed.

John McFarlane Snr
16 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:37:22
Hi Derek [10] I'm disappointed with your response to the news that Morgan Scheiderlin has been selected for tonight's fixture, and if apologies are in order then I think that they should be extended to Morgan Scheiderlin. He's not my favourite player but he plays for my favourite team.
Anthony A Hughes
17 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:42:14
What's up with Gbamin?
Mark Frere
18 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:51:38
Ian, I never mentioned anything about not giving Iwobi or the likes of Kean etc a chance to start. Every team needs a holding midfielder for the balance of the team though and you were moaning about Schneiderlin's selection. There simply isn't anyone else available to play that role - period!

I would've (like you) liked to have seen Iwobi (if fully fit) and Kean start tonight as seen as Richarlison had a real stinker last week and Lewin hasn't scored for many games.

Terry White
19 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:53:56
Derek (#10), I'm with John, Sr. (#16), your comments are disgusting and totally uncalled for in relation to an Everton player and its manager.
John Hammond
20 Posted 23/08/2019 at 19:57:44
Think we'll win this but no clean sheet. We've been both excellent and fortunate in defence so far. Cracking atmosphere at Villa Park. COYBs!
Christy Ring
21 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:11:37
What pissed me off is, Silva and our club never mentioned a thing about Gbamin being injured, and Schneiderlin is the only replacement we have, because Delph who is injured, surprise, surprise, and Baningime not in his plans.
Annika Herbert
22 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:23:46
John @16, very well put! I fully agree with your comment.
Ian Lloyd
23 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:25:31
Can we score 2?!! Doubt it...
Richard Cusworth
24 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:32:16
So let's see what we are made of. Before the goal totally in control. But yet again when in good positions there is a lack of conviction and belief. They get one chance... Goal... That's football. Last year, if I remember right, we didn't win a game we went behind in. The next hour will tell us a lot...
Ian Lloyd
25 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:33:18
Can't hit a barn door – get him off!
Danny Baily
26 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:41:09
Gomes having a stinker.
Paul Setter
27 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:42:31
This is muck. If we could make 11 subs, that would be ideal.
Ian Lloyd
28 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:44:48
So pedestrian, so boring, no penetration.

No good playing pretty pretty sideways passing with no end outcome.

To win games, you have to score goals and to pick a striker up front on his own who at best will score 4 goals a season is unbelievable.

Even Carragher can't believe all the signings are sat on the bench.

I despair...

Ian Lloyd
29 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:47:38
And whilst I'm on a rant, we will not progress or move forward if he keeps insisting on picking Schneiderlin, Calvert-Lewin etc etc.

😡

Mark McParlan
30 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:50:15
Why don't we start our new £30million goalscoring Italian international wonderkid striker? Oh, sorry, that would be stupid. Let's stick with our 5 goals a season forward instead.

Get Kean on, get Iwobi on. How can it be any worse? By this point, Walcott is looking like the potential gamechanger.

Also - does Gylfi Sigurdsson actually exist? I'd like to open the floor to debate and fresh ideas on this hot topic.

Ciarán McGlone
31 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:50:17
I'm surprised at the comments above. This is without doubt a cracking game. Everton dominated early on and Villa came into it later in the half. End to end stuff... we've played some great stuff with all the players putting in a decent shift.

My only concern is Mina. Looks completely lost at times, left for dust aplenty... no idea what he was doing for their goal... a penalty waiting to happen.

I'd go 4-4-2 not sure which midfielder I'd hook though.

Entertaining.

James Fletcher
32 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:51:23
What's the fucking point in having a superstar director of football if you then flat out refuse to play any of the players he's signed...? Team cohesion is important but when they're all playing shit that's the time to make changes.

Also wtf has happened to Gomes?!?!?

Steve Ferns
33 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:51:36
What a nightmare. We'll be lucky to escape with a draw. We have been dreadful since they scored. Gomes is having his worst game in a blue shirt and suddenly can't pass. Schneiderlin has been as poor as some of you say he is. Mina looks shaky. Keane lost Wesley for the goal. Calvert-Lewin made a hash of a good chance to give all of his critics enough ammo to shoot him down for another month. Richarlison has done nothing. Digne and Bernard have been decent in getting down the wing but have yet to craft anything of real substance.

No wonder Marco has a face like thunder. I expect changes for the second half. Simply not good enough.

Kieran Kinsella
34 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:51:54
Thought we started pretty well. Never a penalty for me. There was contact but it's because they both went for the ball and the Villa man got it ahead of Richarlison. The goal was a nice move from Villa, we failed to stop. After that, we seemed rattled. Some of our players seem to get rattled when things are going well and they either hide (Sigurdsson) or get testy (Gomes, Mina, Richarlison). We could do with Delph for his experience and leadership.
Pete Hughes
35 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:52:08
Really don't know why this club bother playing away games?
Ian Lloyd
36 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:52:43
Ciarán - Are you watching a different game?!?
Paul Jones
37 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:53:53
We are only allowed 3 subs but the performances of Gomes, Sigurdsson, Calvert-Lewin and Bernard demand changes. Whole side needs a rollicking really. Only 4 of our back 5 are performing okay. That's 4 out of 11.
Frank Crewe
38 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:55:19
I'll be amazed if Calvert-Lewin comes out in the 2nd half. Put Kean on. Maybe Iwobi for Bernard as well.
Tommy Carter
39 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:55:26
Interesting to see how a goal can change a game.

We were completely on top, overwhelmingly so. Then Bernard plays a terrible pass and they break. Mina was poor in both initial reading of the situation and reactionary defending. Why Keane doesn't step up is beyond me.

Then wham. Villa all of a sudden look like the Hungarian Magyars.

Mina generally had been bested by Wesley. Surprisingly he's been outmuscled repeatedly. He seems to lack a lot of power for such an enormous guy.

Clearly we have more ability than Villa. Let's hope the Blues can do me proud in the second half.

Michael Nisbet
40 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:55:37
Schneiderlin has been our best player so far. What a through ball for Coleman, and Calvert-Lewin should have scored. Gomes is having a nightmare, and needs to be subbed. We do look lacking in leadership. We were by far the better team until Villa scored, and now we look entirely lost.
Richard Cusworth
41 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:56:08
Well again going behind has affected us far too much. Time for some harsh words in the dressing room. No leaders out there to get a grip after the goal. Really missing Gueye tonight and that pace to cover and close in the middle. Now 45 mins to prove we are the better side... We have to for belief's sake turn this around. Still think we have the quality to do it. The mentality... Not sure.
James Fletcher
42 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:57:30
Cue exactly the same team coming out 2nd half.
Lewis Barclay
43 Posted 23/08/2019 at 20:59:46
Can't Richarlison play on the left?

I'd be tempted to put him there and give the Villa RB a real hard time for the first 15 of the second half. Maybe bring Walcott on the right and Kean for Calvert-Lewin.

Steve Ferns
44 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:03:04
No changes. Let’s hope that they react to a half time dressing down.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

45 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:03:30
Small margins.

We were totally dominant up to their goal, playing excellent football throughout the team.

A poor pass between Gomes and Bernard leads to conceding a cheap free-kick 70 yards from goal. The same two players not alert enough to prevent the quick taking of the free-kick. Still a lot for Villa to do, but Keane lets him man run off him...and with their very first touch of the game in our penalty area they score.

Goals change games and they grew in confidence and we lost control.

Posters have been sticking it to Sigurdsson and Schneiderlin already this season, but for me – as he did for the majority of last season – Gomes continues to be not just peripheral, but a liability. He has been woeful in the most basic of plays.

We can still win this game, but when you get chances like Calvert-Lewin's from the excellent play of Schneiderlin and Coleman, you HAVE to take them.

Ernie Baywood
46 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:04:05
We're on top, just lacking something in the final third. I wouldn't be touching Gylfi – he's one of the few who actually has the ability to change that.

I'm comfortable with Kean serving his time on the bench. But he needs 30 minutes here – game looks made for him. Iwobi too. Inject a bit of urgency into the attack.

Ian Lloyd
47 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:05:25
No changes?!! Unbelievable!
Danny Baily
48 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:08:24
What is Gomes still doing out there?
James Fletcher
49 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:09:38
How badly do players need to play before they are subbed let alone dropped?!?!?!
Teddy Draper
51 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:14:05
We appear to have certain players who could do really well at Championship level.

As I've said in the past, this club has no ambition and a manager who has the football intelligence of a solitary corn flake.

Ian Lloyd
52 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:14:44
10 minutes gone in second half and playing even worse than the first half and yet still no changes?!? Clueless wonder...
Christy Ring
53 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:17:11
Cannot understand what Silva is waiting for. He has to change it. We're toothless upfront.
James Fletcher
54 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:18:29
Should've made the changes at half time – if I performed this badly at work I'd expect to be sacked, not just told to go home for the day.
James Fletcher
55 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:19:42
Gomes is currently on a "1", how the fuck can Silva not see this?!?!?
Geoffrey Hall
56 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:20:59
Dominic Calvert-Lewin his not a Premier League forward.
Pete Baker
57 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:21:05
Gomes not tuned in tonight, he looks to be lacking fitness! I think you could of took one of five off and no one could argue! Something not quite right when you buy all those players and not one starts!
Ciarán McGlone
58 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:22:00
I'm no fan... but Sigurdsson wasn't the one to be taken off there.
James Fletcher
59 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:31:52
It'd be nice to see us break with some pace occasionally rather than just dicking around until they get their entire team behind the ball.
Jim Marray
60 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:36:15
Gomes isn't in this game, we still can't cross a ball and maybe 8th place again.
Ian Lloyd
61 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:38:37
8th place? Be lucky to finish in the top 10

He is clueless.

Lewis Barclay
62 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:44:36
How can Coleman get a yellow card for something Grealish has done all game?
Danny Baily
63 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:45:00
8th?! I'd bite your hand off for that!
James Fletcher
64 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:47:16
We've looked a hell of a lot better since the changes... begs the question why they didn't start???
Ian Lloyd
65 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:48:33
Again... can't hit a barn door.

Pete Hughes
66 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:50:26
One goal in 270 mins... absolutely pitiful.
James Fletcher
67 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:50:52
4 very good chances and can't finish any of them.
Jim Marray
68 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:53:11
After he scored last night in Europe again, I say bring back Lavery.
James Fletcher
69 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:54:05
3 shots for them...2 goals

Jesus fucking christ

Ryan Sydow
70 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:54:54
Calvert-Lewin can do one, so can Walcott. Why we don't play Bernard instead of Sigurdsson in the latter's position and put on two powerful wingers is beyond me!
Richard Cusworth
71 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:55:04
An hour ago I said we would learn a lot in the next hour... We have... We are going to be a mid table side overtaken by Leicester, Wolves and West Ham. We will get better and the only crumb of comfort is this is a young side with potential to grow. But anywhere near the top 8? Absolutely not.


James Fletcher
72 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:55:49
If Richarlison, Gomes or Sigurdsson start the next game, then I genuinely have no idea what the point is of a manager as he doesn't seem to do anything other than rinse and repeat the same shit.
Jim Bennings
73 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:57:02
Well I did say there were no goals in this team didn't I?

It seems only the people in charge at Everton (I include Brands in that) think that repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results is not the first sign of madness.

Money they have spent to lose 2-0 to the team that finished third in the Championship?

Absolute shite... and it looks all for the world like yet another season of mediocrity, let's be honest.

Ciarán McGlone
74 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:57:03
As suspected... Mina is an utter liability.
Kevin Molloy
75 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:57:06
This was a huge game for Marco Silva. Win it and you could see us challenging for top six. Lose it and we look set for another season of under-achievement. Brands said Marco is great at improving players, which may be true. But is he any good at building a fucking team? — that's the question.
Marc Carpenter
76 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:57:10
That sits at Silva's door. Shocking ping pong around the edge of their box. No one trying to beat a man. Clueless.
Trevor Peers
78 Posted 23/08/2019 at 21:59:01
Another year, another clueless manager. The signs were there in the pre-season friendlies we don't know how to score, all that money down the shitter.
George Cumiskey
79 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:00:15
Absolutely garbage, 3 games 3 dire performances. The odds on Silva getting the sack must've been dramatically cut. Poor team selection, poor subs, and tactically naive.

If Calvert-Lewin, Sigurdsson and Schneiderlin are selected next match, I'd sack him there and then.

Jim Bennings
80 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:01:00
Where there ain't no goals in your team, then – let's be honest – you don't win games.

We relied too much on Sigurdsson and Richarlison last season and now this season, unless Kean does something, there's fuck all there.

This ranks alongside Fulham away in April as another disgraceful result, and add Millwall, Brighton, Southampton last season.

Too many shockers... far, far too many.

Frank Sheppard
81 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:01:06
And to make it worse, Silva will give an incomprehensible post-match interview. He should be worried, very worried... I thought it would be Bruce or Hodgson as first sacking, perhaps not.
Danny Baily
82 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:01:06
On paper, it's a good side. In reality, I think we rate some of our players too highly.

We've got enough about us to stay up, what's the point of finishing any higher than necessary, I suppose? Biggest game is on Wednesday. Strongest side needs to be out.

Ian Bennett
83 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:02:05
Poor from 1 to 11. No pace at the back, poor in possession and no cutting edge up front.

Typical Everton, get the right back booked after 6 minutes – and then give him rest of the night off. Absolute amateur hour in game management and unsettling an opponent AGAIN.

Paul Jones
84 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:02:45
Everton never let you down. Or pick you up. Season after season of meltdowns when we should have won. Could have won? Transition... yeah. Permanent transition. Like painting the Forth Bridge, the end marks the beginning of the same cycle. The sound of a farting balloon to mark the deflation of any early season optimism. Just like last year. And the year before. And...
Graham Coldron
85 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:03:34
In many ways a typical Everton performance on Sky. The most galling aspect is that a large part of me fully expected this.
Christy Ring
86 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:03:40
Forget about top 6, bottom 6, totally deflated, shambles. We've scored 1 goal in 4.5 hours, and Silva's favourite son Wallcott? enough.
John Reynolds
87 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:04:32
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose...
Mark Andrews
88 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:04:52
All hail (fail) Marcos toothless toilers. "We'll huff and we'll puff but we have no pace or vision".

Silva is stealing a living in this league. If the board thought that Silva was the answer, they asked the wrong questions.

I hoped Calvert-Lewin would develop, he showed a few glimmers last season but he's actually worse, mind you, we don't get the ball forward to him anyway, we're too busy playing across the middle.

This will be yet another season like the dozens before. Heaven knows what will happen when we play a decent side, Villa just pulled our pants down, let that sink in... VILLA!

Colin Glassar
89 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:05:16
On a bad run? You want to break your duck? Play Everton, we always deliver! Going to be another frustrating season if this mentality doesn’t change radically.

Terrible slow, dour, boring football. We’ve started the season even slower than usual.

Michael Fox
90 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:05:22
I'm not a "glass half-empty" guy but I've played and managed in teams for 50 years. The bottom line is Marco is not up to it. You can say what you like but he makes bad decisions and can't seem to read a game. I was screaming at the telly and he's not listening. Bye bye, Marco.
Kieran Kinsella
91 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:05:31
This is my non-hysterical opinion. I am puzzled as to why Gomes is highly rated. Not just based on today but since he has been here, I haven't really seen much to impress me. Richarlison and Sigurdsson to my mind just don't get on the ball enough, and the former is very inconsistent. That apart, we do lack pace at centre-half but I rate the players we have and they're doing their best.

Silva I am still on the fence with as I have been since he arrived at Hull City. I don't know if he can turn it around but I also don't know if he is the loser some on here seem to imagine. I just don't know. Everyone and everything else I would say rates somewhere between adequate and good.

Kevin Molloy
92 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:06:22
Paul @84,

Brilliant.

Jim Bennings
93 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:07:50
Already though, how big is that Lincoln game on Wednesday?

If we turn up with our usual dickhead attitude then they will fancy their chances of doing us, they gave us a right scare in January at Goodison and almost got a replay.

Lose that one then the mood will sink rock bottom again.

James Fletcher
94 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:07:56
If we could finish the most simple of chances we'd have bagged 4.
David McMullen
95 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:08:17
100% Everton. Need to get a monkey off your back? EVERTON!

All blues know we were never going top.

What garbage.

Paul Burns
96 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:08:58
Wonder if people still think Brands is a genius.

For fuck's sake, get some proper coaching staff in, sick to death of this predictable shit.

Don Alexander
97 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:11:29
Maybe the stats fans can find summat to take pleasure in, what with 65% possession in the match an' all.

Another horrible bore-fest. What do they do at USMFF? Or are they all newly buying into the "We Get Everton" mantra nonsense always promulgated by our newly re-established chairman as the results and performances disappoint, decade after decade?

Is Moshiri still a slave to the "GET EVERTON" mantra he bought into?

Jeez, I hope not, but until those who've sponged a pay packet by merely saying they "Get Everton" are wholly dispensed with we can expect more of the same.

Cristobal Aguirre
98 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:12:59
Playing in this way it is a relegation battle for sure. We have a striker who is goal allergic and the manager insist with him. I do not understand why we tried to change the game with schneiderlin and Gomes as the midfielders. It was too obvious that bernard should have stayed and Kean should start always. Even Tosun is more dangerous than DCL. The team selection should be always the follow: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne; Delph (Gbamin), Gomes, Richarlison, Siggy (Iwobi), Bernard and Kean (Tosun).
Mike Allison
99 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:13:17
Funny what other people see. I didn’t see anything wrong with Mina and thought he did well. Gomes was the worst I’ve ever seen him be. Our problem is how tentative we are once we’re in the final third.

In the end the goal line clearance to stop Calvert-Lewin, Iwobi hitting the post and Walcott’s howler are what’s made the difference.

And outswinging corners. It’s been years now. So easy to defend, so hard to score from, especially when the plan seems to be to get everyone to make the same run. What could I earn as a set-piece coach?

James Fletcher
100 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:14:28
Gomes and Schneiderlin should never be playing together. Both are far too keen to just play crab football amongst themselves killing off any attacking momentum. Play one of them and put someone in the midfield who will actually move for the ball.
Ian Lloyd
101 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:15:16
Paul (96) Here fookin here !
Neil Lawson
102 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:16:17
It's puzzling. We bought new players, presumably because it was felt that we could improve in certain areas on the pitch. So we pick the same team and ignore the new (fit) players.

When Kean and Iwobi joined the fray, there was some discernible improvement. Like so many, I am utterly frustrated by Silva's apparent reluctance or inability to alter his tactics and to address the threats and weaknesses of the opposition. As matters stand, it is difficult to find any optimism for the coming months.

Joe McMahon
103 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:16:50
Don't worry, we are The People's Club.
Billy Roberts
106 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:17:25
Draw 1, win 1, lose 1, repeat to fade or win1 lose 1 draw 1...or lose 1, draw 1, win 1 ???
Without looking at our next 6 fixtures can anyone argue with that as a realistic prediction? I say that without looking and even if the sequence isn't right I bet the points total wont be far off.
We are just above depressingly crap.
Tom Roberts
107 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:17:25
I had lots to say but having read a few posts before me I have nothing to add. Luckily for me I was still living in Liverpool in the early '80s so have witnessed us lift the First Division trophy, The FA Cup and also The Cup Winners Cup.

I now live in Dallas, TX and after my family miss going to the match more than anything else. This result to me was no surprise. Any chance we get to make a statement and progress we fuck it up. Always have and always will.

I genuinely feel for the generations who have not witnessed EFC success because we are light years away from those days again.

I really could type all night but today was the final nail in the coffin, for me. I wish you boys and girls all the best but I'm done. My dad will be turning in his grave right now at the ineptitude of our ONCE great club.

Gerry Ring
108 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:17:41
Shocking stuff. It looks like Silva has his favourites & plays guys irrespective of form.

Look at Walcott!! Waste of space. As for Schneiderlein?? He gets selected because of his salary. We offloaded McCarthy without having back up. Silva is living up to his form, which is a mediocre manager at best.

He appears to be managing by numbers.

Certainly not good enough for Everton!

Ray Smith
109 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:18:04
Embarrassing.

Top 6 no chance.
Europe no chance.

Jim Bennings
110 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:18:04
I expected nothing better this season than last.

We start playing when the season is already over and there’s only pride to play for, it’s been the same for years, the Martinez first season aside.

We had a pathetic pre-season with too many pussyfoots about in parks with no real intensity.

We took too long to sign players that we badly needed and ended up with a even bigger novice of a striker than the wastefully poor DCL, when we needed yes Moise Kean, but also a more experienced hand at the helm as a forward.

Another abject pile of shite but we are constantly being told to be patient year in year out.

But wait, how many more seasons can we keep on being patient for?

David McMullen
112 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:18:55
Paul Burns what planet are you on?

We can't finish look at the players. When we move them on.. we will be better.

I'm concerned we still have the same sh!te that are proven failures.

Cristobal Aguirre
113 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:19:59
Take Llorente as Free transfer.
Kieran Kinsella
114 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:20:12
Cristobel 98

"I do not understand why we tried to change the game with schneiderlin and Gomes as the midfielders"

"The team selection should be always the follow: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne; Delph (Gbamin), Gomes,"

Given that both your certain started Delph, and his backup Gbamin were injured, we couldn't field that team so Schneid was bound to play. In terms of the subs. What would you suggest? Take both the central midfielders off and just have four at the back and six up top? Surely we needed the midfielders to counter mcGinn, Grealish etc?

Michael Fox
115 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:21:10
People, get up off your knees, what we need is a leader. It's up to Brands to find that leader. And maybe he will.
Jamie Crowley
116 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:21:27
I had no problem starting Morgan. Steady in front of the back four was needed, because I thought Villa would play a more open game.

But they counter-attacked. Every single dead ball was played quickly and with the purpose of bombing forward in transition.

Morgan was flat footed and slow to react. This wasn't his type of game.

It was so obvious. But what did Marco do? Sat on his hands. He should have subbed Davies in to chase down and break up the Villa counter.

If I were Tom Davies, and I'm dead serious about this, I'd put in a transfer request. Marco doesn't rate him, and is too blind to see when he actually needs to play him.

Absolutely disgusting display today. Sickening to the core.

Gerry Ring
117 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:23:18
The interviews by Silva are as inept as his teams performance. He has very little passion and appears to have his “losing” speech ready at all times.
Ian Riley
118 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:23:21
Aston Villa put this team together over the summer! We looked dog average at times. We had £70 million of talent on the bench. Calvert-Lewin is a sub at best, not starting. Silva, play your best players. You bought them because they're better than what we have.

Our attitude was wrong. Turn up: we are Everton Football Club. No, we are Everton, never won anything for nearly 30 years.

Mid-table here we come! Learn from tonight Silva because we should be beating promoted teams.

Sam Hoare
119 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:23:29
Oh dear. Just like that, a decent start to the season becomes a poor one.

Many celebrated when we signed Gomes but I (and a few others) had serious doubts. He needs to create a lot more given the major deficiencies in his defensive game. Him Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson make for a very slow and porous centre. If Gbamin is out for months, that is terrible news. Missing Gueye a lot.

Hardip Singh
120 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:23:48
Anyone who has played the game at any level, please tell me if Bernard is Premier League quality, soft + outplayable. Brazil were trounced 7-1 in the World Cup Final, by athletes, no coincidence Bernard played 90 mins.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

121 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:23:51
Tonight's performance doesn't augur well for upcoming fixtures in our benevolent start to this season.

Totally dominant until a succession of sloppy plays led to the opening goal which greatly changed the course of events.

From thereon in we played with a great deal of naivety and an almost total absence of guile.

Genuinely good teams - which is what we looked in the opening 20 minutes - just shrug off going a goal down, get back into their stride and recover the game to win. We just become shambolic, immediately.

I was shocked to hear in commentary that it is FOUR YEARS since we have won a game that we were losing at half time.

Add that to our inadequate away record and unless that radically changes we are not going to make a dent on our ambitions of cracking the top six.

Silva also has to improve his 'substitutions by numbers' policy and not make premeditated changes but rather those that are needed WHEN they are needed, however many minutes are on the clock.

Iwobi impressed when he came on, but Sigurdsson should not have been the one to give way. Gomes was awful and it would have been easy to rejig the side if he had been withdrawn.

The one player who showed and played the range of passes required with the technical ability to pull it off was the much maligned Schneiderlin.

It's going to be a good while longer before we see this Everton team in with a chance of claiming top spot, no matter how briefly.

Disappointing isn't the half of it.

Pete Baker
122 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:24:29
Trying to be positive, it looked a bit better when Moise and Iwobi (I'm not a fan of him) came on. Coleman great energy as usual! I think our real problems are in central midfield and a lack of energy, Delph is not going to help this either!

We just don't seem to have a structure to create chances … a top 6 team against a probable bottom 6 team would create so many more clear cut chances!

Peter Laing
123 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:24:41
Result aside, where was the VAR for the foul by Grealish against Richarlison? Premier League instructing referees to overlook decisions that don't affect the top 6??
Jim Bennings
124 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:25:04
I wonder where the “DCL doesn't get the service” brigade will be tonight?

Well, guess what guys, he had a fookin great chance that most other Premier League Number 9s would happily gobble up, but, surprise surprise, Cilla, he bloody missed it.

We missed a trick not getting the vastly underrated but very useful Ashley Barnes from Burnley.

Shoot me down, but that lad knows where the back of the net is, far more than our lavishly paid bunch of tossers do!

Kevin Molloy
125 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:25:05
and this team has now had it's steel removed. when things start getting really bad, as they will once Mina/Kean meet decent forwards, there will be no bloody minded cussedness from that lot.
That first goal was an absolute horror. Gomes turning his back on play, dashing to get back, no understanding between the centre backs, Keane letting that guy have the freedom of the penalty area to stroke the ball home.
And we can't say this is unexpected, we've looked utter wank all preseason
Tommy Carter
127 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:25:47
Make no bones about this, that result tonight is a disaster. We had an opportunity to go the first dozen games of this season unbeaten. Because guess what, when the winter months roll around things are going to get very tough.

We made a poor Villa side look very good for much of that game. This Wesley guy looked like Drogba against our defence. And I'll tell you this, he'll score no more than 20 premier league goals in his entire career.

I like Silva but he got this wrong tonight. Calvert-Lewin has fired blanks in his opening two starts and offered no threat tonight. They see Kean and obviously assess that he isn't ready to start, but Cenk must be. And cannot have done any worse than Calvert-Lewin this evening yet he wasn't even on the bench.

Walcott is useless. That's all there is to it.

Gomes; tonight exposed Gomes in a way that flatters him little. Almost everything he did he either did it badly or wrong. He should be dropped for the next game to at least give him some time to take perspective.

I love football, but one thing I hate is when poor footballers are made to look good by good footballers. Mings, Wesley, Douglas and that idiot Neil Taylor have each got a cigar on tonight and we have entitled them to that.

Poor showing, Blues. Really so disappointing.

John Reynolds
128 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:26:03
To be fair, it was a pretty classic case of the result not reflecting the balance of play. The tiniest of deviations on a few occasions and we could've/should've won by a couple. Not a reason to lose the plot just yet, but we were far too predictable and ponderous in the final third.

Onwards and hopefully upwards. In hindsight, it's easy to criticise the selection, but it was the sensible one and, even though Iwobi and Kean didn't change the result, they both offered glimpses of a brighter future.

Ray Smith
129 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:26:24
Silva has just said it’s a tough place to come too!
We havn’t played them during his tenure?
Forget Lincoln, Wolves next, what better starting fixtures can you get?

Kieran Kinsella
130 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:27:12
Jamie 116

I would agree on Davies. For one thing he has energy which is more than can be said for Gomez. It's obvious Silva is stubborn. Last year we had the fiasco of the zonal marking. OK, finally the penny clicked but it took what 9 months? I suspect now he is sticking to his guns regarding certain players e.g. Gomez, Rich. Maybe he will be proven right, maybe not. I do recall though Brands saying it would be a 3-5 year job and not a quick fix. In fairness, these two are only 12 months in. For some of us it has been 5,10,20, 50, 80 years invested and we are frustrated but in fairness the people managing the club now haven't been there long and it was a complete mess for the past 20 years.

Colin Glassar
131 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:28:01
Mina was my MotM. The rest were utter garbage.
Derek Thomas
132 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:29:44
Mark @ 14; Every team needs a holding mid fielder? Thats the problem, I'm not sure they do, nor a No.10 or a No.8 or a box to box, or left side attacking M.F.er or any other individual.

It never changes, over the years I've been saying 'The game is won and lost in the Mid Field - always was, always will be.'

The Mid Field is a UNIT, not a collection on individuals.

The manager(s) have bought a collective of individuals to fill these newly coined positions. He's playing mid field bingo hoping to pick the right numbers and some how strike it luck.

Not Uber time just yet, but if I were Moshiri, I would not be a happy bunny.

Silva's like one of those Polaroid pictures as it faintly develops and you're not sure just what you can see, its still very faint but I reckon its...hasn't a fucking clue.

Kevin Prytherch
133 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:29:58
Positives -

We looked far better when Sigurdsson came off and we had 2 up front.

We rarely looked troubled at the back - they didn’t exactly pressure for their goals.

Negatives

Schneiderlin is only good when we are organised defending or in control of a game. He is a liability when chasing.

Sigurdsson anonymous again. Him and Calvert-Lewin do not work when teams set out to defend.

3 shots 2 goals for them was it??

Calvert-Lewin will never be the striker we rely on for goals. (Saying that, if we continue to play the way we do, he is still a vital cog - I believe him and Kean can cause damage to a lot of poorer teams)

Gomes - turned into Schneiderlin.

High hanging crosses - all game.

Wasteful finishing - Calvert-Lewin and Walcott should hang their heads in shame.

Cristobal Aguirre
134 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:29:59
Kieran Kinsella 114.

It that case we should start with Siggy as second midfielder or even Davies instead of Schneiderlin and Iwobi in the Siggy place. Schneiderlin can be useful just in a team which is trying to save a result. And in this kind of matches we should try to attack since the first minute. Of course if we have some players out for injuries or suspension we have to make some subs but Schneiderlin and DCL sadly are not good enough in a team which pretend to reach Europe. I will always support our players but the most important is the future of our beloved club.

James Stewart
135 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:30:55
Only Everton could turn in such a pathetic performance as that.

Inept team selection and tactics, Calvert-Lewin again... Walcott again = more glaringly misses.

Silva is not getting the best out of a talented squad.

Ernie Baywood
136 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:31:28
People dismiss possession like it doesn't matter. It doesn't decide games but it gives you a platform. The problem wasn't that we had more possession – it was that we didn't do anything with it. No-one was prepared to take a chance to create something or have a shot. No point in the possession if you're not going to do anything with it.

Individual performances across the board were nowhere near good enough. Maybe Iwobi is the only one who I'd say takes anything out of that. Took players on, made things happen, swung his foot at shots. The game really isn't any more complicated than it always was – someone still has to do those things.

Gomes had a nightmare game. The positive is that he's so much better than that performance.

Schneiderlin played to his potential, which should tell us that it's never worth picking him. There's always an alternative to playing a guy who simply slows things down and gets in the way. To be honest, I'd play with 10 ahead of Schneiderlin. He's completely pointless. Sell him for whatever you can get. Offers nothing.

Calvert-Lewin needs something. A new style of coaching? A new club? There's ability there but it's starting to look like we just hope something will fall to him. We can do better than misguided optimism.

And what to do about Gylfi? Just hope his quality eventually shines through? He's proved it every other time in his career.

Oliver Molloy
137 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:31:54
Got to take your chances to win matches and of course we are not very good at taking chances.

Calvert-Lewin once again showed why the majority of Everton fans don't rate him as our Number 9.

One goal from 3 matches against very ordinary sides says it all.

Silva has his work cut out, who do we play next!

Christy Ring
138 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:36:20
Last season, Silva played Schneiderlin beside Gueye, now he's playing him instead of Gueye. He won't start Kean, or Iwobi, still has faith in Wallcott, and Richarlison was at his best on the left, now on the right?
Shaun McGough
139 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:36:21
Idrissa Gana Gueye — all that needs to be said.
Mike Connolly
140 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:36:26
If you look at the previous matches, we were lucky to get away with a draw at Palace and Watford were worthy of a point at least. These are supposed to be the easier games. Well we are in for a rough ride this season...
Sam Hoare
141 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:36:27
I've supported Calvert-Lewin often but he's got to be putting chances like that away. If he hits the whole left side of the goal there from 8 yards out, then we equalise and knock the wind out of Villa. He'll have better nights for us but that was a really poor and a really pivotal miss.
Ron Sear
142 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:37:00
It should be so simple. A defender gets the ball, he instantly passes it to the space a midfielder is running into, the midfielder places the ball onto the foot of a striker! But no, this Everton we are talking about.

Give the fans a little pleasure in the accuracy with which the defenders interminably pass the ball to each other horizontally across the field with only the odd error to let a striker thump one past Pickford.

Why oh why before the kick-off did I know this was going to happen when watching yet another away game against a technically poorer team?

Eddie Dunn
143 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:37:57
Gomes made so many mistakes and then got booked. I wonder if he is carrying an injury and is frustrated at his inability to move quickly enough?

Such a disappointing night, when we could have made a statement of our intent by going top for a while.

The positives are Iwobi and Kean... the negatives are Silva's conservative approach.

I suppose the next few games will tell us if we are to witness another season like the last or take a step forward.

Hardip Singh
144 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:38:55
Post 100, absolutely correct. Schneiderlin + Gomes, a recipe to be overrun. Undoubtedly the poorest game by Gomes in his Everton career, however he attempted passes, predominantly forward if attacking.

Besides one pass in the first half, unable to recall any positive contribution from Schneiderlin. If his role is to solidify the defence, where was his presence when Villa attempted 2 meaningful attacks. Gana not only destroyed opposition attacks, would also attack the opposition box.

Any chance of Morgan taking a risk? Pure complacency and pedestrian from a team with the incentive to be top for the first instance in 12 years. Anybody recall the 6-2 trouncing by Villa when we carried ‘chunky Norman'? In context, this was despicably a greater calamity tonight.

Coleman, captain? Time running down, show some aggression and be booked, mindless, the only purpose served was three more mins wasted, excellent captaincy. Stems from safety tactics by management, no other reason Calvert-Lewin is our great No 9, no predatory instincts, will not reach double figures, yet inexplicably will start for EFC as their pinnacle!

Sure bet these players will enjoy their Bank Holiday weekend!

Mike Gaynes
145 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:41:36
Sam #141, at least he put it on frame. Walcott couldn't even come close. His miss was worse.
Ciarán McGlone
147 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:43:06
Mina MotM, Colin?

The guy wouldn't have looked out of place on rollerskates in a remake of that Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em scene...

Truly awful player.

Anthony A Hughes
148 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:44:29
Gomes, Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson have no pace or dynamism in midfield.
It's far too slow and ponderous and we rarely get enough bodies forward to outnumber the defending team.
Tony Twist
149 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:45:51
Just typical Everton. Embarrassing, utterly pathetic.

'Pathetic' is a good word to describe the mindset that surrounds the footballing side of the club. No fighters within the team, they are like spoilt little rich boys that just allow things to go wrong if things don't go to plan.

Pre-season was awful with even Wigan showing more of a clue of how to play football. No excuses for that defeat.

Chris Jones [NZ]
150 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:46:19
2 seconds!! We were asleep for the whole bleedin' game. Gomes was so off the pace, he was still playing Watford!

Schneiderlin in a 2 doesn't work for me – let him sit, but play 2 in front of him. Not sure what the story is with Gbamin, but, bloody hell, we missed him even on last weeks form. I can understand why Marco was after Doucoure. Nothing through the middle.

On a more positive note, Kean looked sharp and Iwobi made a difference when he came on.

Hard to believe that the starting 11 was pretty much the team that went on that superb run against 5 of the top 6 at the end of last season.

Andrew Keatley
151 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:46:31
So much wrong with the team, the squad, the performance – but if we could find a striker who can magically score 20 goals a season, then everything will be all right! Yes, the problem is Calvert-Lewin! Get rid of him and we'd clean up!

At least half the team were bad tonight, and a few were embarrassingly bad. DCL is not the biggest problem at this club or in this team – not right now anyway – and I think those of you still laying into him are missing that key point.

Robert Williams
152 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:46:45
''Blues go to sleep for 2 seconds...''

Which particular 2 seconds of the 95 minutes are you referring to, Michael?

I'm not sure about 'going to sleep' but from what I saw they were not even awake for 2 seconds!! What a shower, top to bottom – management included!

Richard Lyons
154 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:48:22
Talented squad? Rose tinted glasses more like...

Bernard? Not good enough.
Calvert-Lewin? Not good enough.
Sigurdsson? Not good enough.
Rest of the team? Not good enough.
Manager? Nowhere near good enough.

All that optimism when we signed Kean, Iwobi etc... but the reality is flat, boring, predictable crap. And we get beaten by relegation fodder.

Thanks, Everton, for ruining yet another promising evening.

Someone, please, give me genuine cause for optimism!

Brian Murray
155 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:48:34
If Schneiderlin and Calvert-Lewin start even one more game in an Everton shirt, that's a total dereliction of duty by Silva.

We are all for a young innovative manager, especially after 11 years of small-mindedness, but he clearly can't or won't learn from his mistakes. He subs too late and safety first all the time. I wouldn't give his chances of being here after Xmas.

Colin Wordsworth
156 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:48:40
Early days but a quality manager is kicking his heels and unemployed. Pay Silva off and make a call for Jose and show some ambition!
Geoff Lambert
157 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:48:53
Horses for courses... donkeys up front. Oh dear.
Christy Ring
158 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:52:58
Probably get slated, but Silva couldn't wait to get rid of McCarthy, but I'd have him any day as our defensive midfielder, ahead of Schneiderlin.
Darren Fellows
159 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:54:56
Hardip,

I was at that 6-2 trouncing; it was horrendous. Pat Nevin was awful, Tony Cottee scored, if I remember correctly.

We just lack a quality out-and-out "push his granny over to score" type of player. I just hope that Kean is that man but, on a positive we are creating chances and are yet to see the best of our new signings. I think Iwobi could be an inspired recruit

COYB !!!!

Kevin Prytherch
160 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:55:37
Geoff @157 – I wrote in the Horses for Courses article that we needed to tweak our team against different opposition and that persisting with the same team against opposition who looked to defend just didn't work.

One solution I offered was to have Kean and Calvert-Lewin up front. I believe we looked far more dangerous when this happened.

I also agree with Chris @150 – Schneiderlin is only good when he is surrounded in midfield. When we chase the game and effectively have 2 in midfield then he might as well not be there. He literally doesn't move from his position in front of the centre-backs. Silva should have realised this far earlier. Personally, I would have plumped for Kean and Davies at half time for Sigurdsson and Schneiderlin.

John Reynolds
161 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:59:19
Colin #156,

“Pay Silva off and make a call for Jose and show some ambition!”

Good that you've retained your sense of humour and are still cracking jokes, despite that setback.

Tommy Carter
162 Posted 23/08/2019 at 22:59:30
@158 Christy

Come on. Seriously? McCarthy is finished at the top level of the game. Might as well wish for Joe Pie Eater Parkinson to come and stick his left foot in.

It's easy, just bring Mo Besic, Jonjoe Kenny or Kieran Dowell into the side and we'll win the league. But Lookman, because he's the new Pele, isn't he. The best players in the world are often the ones who don't get a look in, hey?

Simon Dalzell
163 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:02:20
A multitude of problems.The biggest by far being the manager.
Anthony Murphy
164 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:02:30
Not an obvious one, but occurred to me that maybe Joao Sousa will be a big miss.

Tonight showed why we put in a late bid for Doucoure.

Mike Price
165 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:02:38
Tony Twist #149 correct! Abject, utter disgrace.

Silva completely out of his depth, no force of personality and Moneyball recruitment. We need men, winning personalities and our only winning character is Delph. There's not a single winner in that squad apart from him and it's a disgrace that the personality of this squad hasn't been torn apart because we are spineless and weak.

I really hate them, but Liverpool have obviously recruited better quality and what really sticks in the throat is that they've recruited better characters too.

Silva is a dead man walking already and we all know it, it's just a matter of when.

Mike Allison
166 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:06:26
Jim (124), here’s one! You watched that game and thought Calvert-Lewin was the problem? He was one of our better players.

He didn’t ‘miss’ it, it was blocked on the line.

Ashley Barnes?!!?

Justin Harris
167 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:06:35
Anthony @148 absolutely spot on!!
Mark Dunford
168 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:07:48
I enrolled with NOWTV to watch it with no buffering or ads. False optimism.

Awful game. Not a single good point. Villa scored with each meaningful attempt.

One day I'm hoping to see an Everton team which shoots at every plausible opportunity. Kean and Iwobi offer hope, but no one else.

Sigurdsson is now far too cautious though he used to offer hope (recall his goal at Leicester) and there is no-one else. Gomes & Schneiderlin rarely shoot; Bernard – despite being our only goalscorer this season – rarely shoots. And sadly also Richarlison (not a real threat this season, yet) are just too cautious.

Calvert-Lewin could be a good centre-forward if he could score. It has been a major problem for far too long and isn't one that troubles successful teams.

Kase Chow
169 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:07:54
That was absolutely crap

Decent first 10-20 mins and then awful.

That was Gomes' worst performance in a blue shirt and Schneiderlin was and is totally 1 dimensional. And I'm yet to be convinced that that dimension is any good.

I'm a fan of Siggy but he's not a No 10. I don't see why we can't play him in a 2 like he did at Swansea?

Also why couldn't we have taken off Gomes, dropped Siggy into his position and put Bernard at 10 and Iwobi on the left?

The whole thing was crap. And pray tell, what does Walcott do in training to warrant a place even on the bench?? He's awful. I defended him a little bit last season as he was a goal threat but even that has gone. He's in the squad because he's an elite footballer. I could hoof it over the bar from 6 yards out – an elite footballer is there because he dispatched those chances into the net.

Silva, sort out this crap: played 3, scored 1 and that 1 was a deflection.

How are we into ANOTHER season without a proven goalscorer?!?! This is shocking

Gregory Kelly
170 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:08:28
I spent the hour before the game watching the cricket. The effort Ben Stokes put in to trying to rescue his team was phenomenal. I just don't see that commitment to the cause in the current Everton side or those of the recent past. Seamus has it but who else?

Oh for a Mick Lyons or an Alan Ball. I don't pretend to know the answer. I have the impression we have become a home for talented journeymen. Come on, Gylfi, pick up the mantle... glory awaits.

Kunal Desai
171 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:08:49
That was dire, but as like most seasons, I expect Everton to accumulate enough points to finish 7th or 8th this time round. Do I think they will challenge for 6th? No chance.

Despite what people say, I don't think our recruitment has been strong or sufficient enough through from central defence, midfield where creativity is severely lacking, and another established striker.

Julian Exshaw
172 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:10:40
The rational side of me is telling me that this is the start of the season, that new players are getting fit and that with a bit of luck we may have won tonight. My other side is saying that this was insipid rubbish.

I wasn't the least bit convinced by us last week against Watford, I thought for most of that match we were hanging on. Against a really average Villa team tonight we were toothless, ponderous and frankly abysmal after a promising beginning.

We have some good players and I believe a competent manager who showed at the end of last season that he has the wherewithal to develop us. So what is causing this early season blip?

I wouldn't say alarm bells are ringing quite yet but we need to get this sorted asap.

Anthony A Hughes
173 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:13:01
Gbamin injured, Delph injured, Kean not ready/match fit, Iwobi not match fit.

Nothing like going into the season fully prepared and raring to go. The drawn-out Zaha saga, last-minute bids for Doucoure. Stinks of mismanagement from Silva and Brands.

And yes, Brands has reduced the wage bill but reducing the wage bill doesn't improve the team or win you games.

Jury's still out with Silva and the Messiah.

Christy Ring
174 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:13:29
Tommy @162,

Bullshit, what does Schneiderlin offer? And just a question: why was Delph bought? He's on bigger wages than he was at Man City, an attacking midfielder, as is Gomes?

Alexander Murphy
175 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:13:51
A performance right from the dreadful spell last season.

Disjointed, passionless... and I can't be bothered adding anything more.

Night TW's.

Tony Everan
176 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:15:42
Play the best players from the start. Never mind playing a tactical game that will counter opponents. We have got the players to take out the likes of Aston Villa and we need to get them into the thick of it. One goal in 3 games is just not good enough.

Play with Richarlison, Iwobi and Kean. We need forwards on the pitch who can score.

From the fucking start!

Blake Olsen
178 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:19:50
What a piss poor performance... we are dreaming if we think we are going to break the top 6 with an effort like that. We made them look like Man City.

How can we spend so much money and this is what we have to show for it? Can't put 100% of the blame on Silva as the players were terrible.

Simon Dalzell
179 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:20:53
I said previously that Silva is the biggest problem. I should have mentioned that Brands is not far behind.
Tommy Carter
180 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:23:44
@174 Christy

Delph has won 2 Premier League titles in the last two years whilst James McCarthy played a grand total of 7 games for a poor to average team.

Do I need to comment further?

Christy Ring
181 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:26:16
What are the positives from tonight? None, and then listen to Silva talking utter rubbish.
.
David Connor
182 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:27:46
Absolute fucking dross.The sooner Sigurdsson, Walcott and Schneiderlin are gone, the better. I don't want anymore half-hearted shite at our club. If Sylva wants to be at Everton next season, he needs to get fucking ruthless or else the likes of them will see him sacked.

Calvert-Lewin needs to be dropped in favour of Kean. It's obviously clear that Kean is far better than him. If he doesn't start next week against Wolves, they will wipe the floor with us. Then the pressure is really on at the start of the season.

Same old story. That's Everton for you, I'm afraid. It hurts to see us struggle. Does it hurt our over-rated over-paid so-called players? I very much doubt it. Wasters!

Gavin Johnson
183 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:27:58
Grim!! No one wanted to take responsibility, instead trying to walk it in goal. The only players who had a real go were Kean and Iwobi. I've always defended Calvert-Lewin but he's never going to be an elite striker. If we're not going to play Kean as a No 9, we need to move Richarlison back there.

Villa won the game in midfield. Gomes was especially bad. And don't even start me on Walcott.

Terry White
184 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:28:35
Christy (#181), I am disappointed in you. A post without mentioning McCarthy?
Mike Price
185 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:28:41
The interview from Silva reminded me of Martínez. He wants the sack and the payoff.
Dave Abrahams
186 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:29:32
We haven't been very good in the first two games but I expected them to improve game by game; however, the very poor passing, hardly any movement, and lack of fight is hard to take.

Villa were a poor team but gave their all; not any Everton players matched them for effort. We had better chances, all missed, but no way were we better than Villa.

Some of the many stupid fouls given away were pitiful with Colman's lashing the free-kick at his opponent – pathetic, wasting valuable time when we were chasing the game.

We should be used to being let down by this team but there doesn't seem to be any anger when we are losing, they just accept it.

It's going to be a long hard season, so hard to take year after year. The hope is fading early this season... I hope they buck themselves up very quickly, but they are mercenaries who have come for the money, and most have no affinity to or for the club.

Another long miserable weekend after tonight.

Peter Gorman
187 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:30:53
I'm reasonably sure that Villa are a shit side atm, so failing to beat them with a piss poor performance to boot is bloody worrying.
Eric Paul
188 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:32:04
Geoff Lambert,

If you think our problems are still with DCL you are wrong. I agree, it wasn't his best game but even his worst performance was better than all the £30m+ players in blue and he had our only shot on target.

That said, I think a large part of our problem is behind the scenes with Boa Morte (which translates to 'good death') and Ferguson.u

Gavin Johnson
189 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:36:05
It was shit tonight but people saying Silva and Brands are the problem are talking out of their backsides. Talk about a knee-jerk reaction.
Danny Broderick
190 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:36:06
Not a great performance, but the stats will tell you we deserved something from the game. 2-0 flattered them massively. We only had 1 shot on target from our 12 attempts and 64.5% possession, that’s why we didn’t get anything from the game. We are not good enough going forward.

The biggest worry for me is our midfield. We all know DCL’s limitations, he should have scored the chance he had, but he is a young striker doing his best with very little support throughout the whole 90 minutes.

For our midfield 5:

Schneiderlin = shite. He only has 1 gear - reverse. Stealing a living.
Gomes - quality player but was well off it tonight.
Richarlison - i’m not a fan of this lad. Runs around a bit, gets the odd goal, but his general play isn’t good enough. A passenger when he is not on form, like tonight.
Sigurdsson - same as Richarlison. Just doesn’t do enough. Gets the odd goal, but doesn’t link things together like a quality number 10 should. He was a passenger today.
Bernard - the best of a bad lot. Surprised he was taken off. He is lightweight though, he doesn’t give enough end product.

Our problem is our midfield, they don’t know how to attack. Any threat we have comes from our full backs. Watching Gomes and Schneiderlin doing square passes to each other while we were losing 1-0 was painful. No urgency or drive from midfield at all. And what did Sigurdsson offer tonight?

I feel sorry for DCL. Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero would struggle to score playing in front of our midfield, certainly the way they played tonight. DCL has his limitations, but Kean didn’t get any chances created for him tonight either. Hopefully Iwobi is going to help in this respect, because our midfield looked woeful tonight...

James Hughes
191 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:36:52
Absolute madness switching to 4-4-2 and putting Schniederlin and Gomes as the midfield pair. They nulify things as a pair in a 4-2-3-1 let alone relying on them creating on their own!

We will get better but tonight proved yet again we are missing someone in the middle of the park that is not just a leader but a relentless narky bastard too. It was weak.

It's probably already been said but why not play Bernard or Iwobi centrally?? Both look to beat a man and drive into the opposition box, something that Gylfi simply does not do so surely would be worth at least trying?

Stephen Brown
192 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:38:33
Bottlers! Enough said!
John Reynolds
193 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:43:42
Simon #163
“A multitude of problems.The biggest by far being the manager.”

Simon #179
“I said previously that Silva is the biggest problem. I should have mentioned that Brands is not far behind.”

Calm down fella. Why do we always need a scapegoat? Marco did enough last season to show he’s capable, even if he’s not quite Howard Kendall or Alex Ferguson yet. As for dragging Brands into it...?

The players on the pitch tonight didn’t quite do it. That happens in football. We’re not the finished article yet. It’s hard to be patient of course but knee-jerk reactions will get you nowhere quickly.

Paul Jones
194 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:44:17
I watched enough cartoons growing up to know I had to avoid stepping on banana skins. They're slippy, and they will bring you down.

I've read enough stoner fiction to know that smoking a banana skin is a fruitless endeavour. It's smelly and has no soporiphic effects.

If I was appointed Everton manager tomorrow would I be brainwashed into thinking that banana skins are healthy or unavoidable? Or is that a prerequisite for the job?

Jamie Crowley
195 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:45:05
Magic -

Firstly, great name.

Secondly, have you been watching Marco’s Everton?
We don’t do anything in the middle mate! The area just north of the opposition goal 20 yards and in?

It’s a barren wasteland!

I actually think our players aren’t shooting because they are instructed to play it wide.

Marco fixed his zonal marking woes. Not playing through the attacking middle will be his death if he doesn’t change his ways. We are too predictable at the moment. It’s a carbon copy every time down the pitch. The opposition doesn’t even worry about defending the top of their own 18.

Where did our one post shot come from? Iwobe cut into the MIDDLE and actually shot the fucking ball!

Clearly he’s not gotten the memo!

Tony Williams
196 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:48:24
An absolute total disgrace.
Steavey Buckley
197 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:52:12
Everton's problems began at the start of the season against Crystal Palace, and carried forward against Aston Villa tonight, of not looking likely to score. This situation began when Everton sold Lukaku but bought Sigurdsson instead of another proven striker.

The more the goals have dried up, the more Everton will struggle, even against lesser teams such as Villa. Everton could be revitalized but, with the midfield looking pedestrian without Idrissa Gueye, Everton are not as sharp as last season.

The manager has done his best to get the best players available but getting them to work effectively as a team will take some time. Something he may not have.

Liam Reilly
198 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:53:56
Gomes – shocker.
Calvert-Lewin – nowhere near Premier League standard (how can he miss the whole left hand side of the goal?)
Digne – his passing was so poor in the final third.
Bernard – sub player, in my opinion
Walcott – how many fucking years will it take before he has some composure in the box?
Richarlison – stay on your feet!

I hate this club sometimes.

John McGimpsey
199 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:56:08
Calvert-Lewin can't believe people believe he is a footballer.

Richarlson needs some time on the bench.

Why buy new players and not play them, ffs???

All ToffeeWeb can see this, why not the bellend in the suit?

Peter Laing
200 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:57:08
One goal from 3 games. Sigurdson missed a gilt-edged chance against Palace, Calvert-Lewin and Walcott tonight. Sea change needed now by Silva, wholesale changes to the front line. Calvert-Lewin has had plenty of chances, started the season and played in the run-in during 18-19 season but he's not good enough for this league.
Magic Mike
201 Posted 23/08/2019 at 23:57:56
Jamie, thanks...I think the ToffeeWeb signups must've had a meltdown with so many people clambering to have a moan that it scewed the details and gave me someone elses info! Just updated, and it's popped in my alias but I like 'magic' so it's all good plus I think I might get ribbed on here for adding Mike on the end! :D

You're spot on with your 'barren wasteland' comment. It's staggering how little we manage to break opposition lines in this regard OR even worse at least fail while trying to do so.

What epitomised and highlighted this failure for me, was when the intelligent Iwobi came on and was looking for players to link with in areas that he would be used to at Arsenal but with us just saw empty spaces or players so flat footed they may as well been in concrete.

Paul Jones
202 Posted 23/08/2019 at 00:00:14
The performances so far reflect the poor planning and preparation for the start of the season. It took us more than the first half of last season to become defensively organised. Now I expect it will take a similar amount of time for us to find an offensive strategy to make more clear chances and finish clinically.
Tony Everan
203 Posted 23/08/2019 at 00:00:56
In the 3 games, the one player that should have made a decent impact when he came on was Tom Davies.

He ignites some positivity onto the midfield and into our way of playing. I will be hoping that Tom is bashing Marco Silva's door down this week, demanding a start.

Trevor Peers
204 Posted 23/08/2019 at 00:03:20
Steavey, surely the manager could've bought 2 strikers in the summer.

There seems to be a total failure of responsibility by Silva; he knew we needed goals but totally ignored the issue. Buying a 19-year-old kid to head up a team with European ambitions is laughable.

As for Sigurdsson, he'll be off in January. He deserves and will find a better club than us to play for... Good luck to him, we just waste the guy's talent.

Kenn Crawford
205 Posted 23/08/2019 at 00:03:55
Total shite! What does Schneiderlin bring to the game (besides his mrs)? And how long are we going to put up with this sub-standard manager? He is clueless, keeps picking players who should not be at the club, never mind on the pitch.

I got up early hours Saturday morning to watch this, that's another 3 hours sleep I will never get back.

Sorry, I cannot find one positive from this game.

Anthony Murphy
206 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:10:14
It worries me that we find it extremely difficult to come back once we go behind. I can't remember the last time we won when conceding first.
Steavey Buckley
207 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:11:19
Trevor, the only proven striker available was Lukaku, but he wanted to go to Inter Milan. No other club in the Premier League had a striker good enough and available and at the right price.

Having someone upfront who can turn half-chances into goals are as rare as hen's teeth. Everton are in for another struggling season, especially, as the midfield has slowed down to move the ball quickly from midfield to attack.

Gary Hughes
208 Posted 23/08/2019 at 00:12:45
Everton has become a byword for mediocrity over the course of Kenwright's tenure. The only time a manager gets sacked is when we start to drop below mediocrity & flirt with relegation, then the alarm bells start ringing. Other than that mediocrity is perfectly acceptable.

We are about to watch another season crumble before our eyes thanks to another second rate manager. Will anybody be genuinely surprised if Lincoln turn us over? Sky are licking their lips at the prospect because the losers are coming to town & are desperate please the viewers.

Will anyone at the club even care? Just a collective shrug of the shoulders probably. The same will happen in the FA Cup come January & then right on cue at the arse end of the season we'll string some decent results together because we're already out of everything and it no longer matters... then rinse & repeat.

Has there ever been another club with such an ill-suited motto? No wonder they tried to ditch it a few years back.

Roman Sidey
209 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:13:37
Can people please stop calling Calvert-Lewin a "young striker" when defending his abysmal record and talent? He's nearly 23 years old, in his 4th season at Everton and 6th as a pro, and played almost 150 professional games, over half of which are in the Premier League. He should he better than this. At 23, you should definitely still be improving, but he is still learning how to do the basics and failing miserably.

Most of the rest of the squad is shithouse too.

Kieran Kinsella
210 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:13:48
Trevor Peers @204,

Who the heck is gonna take 30-year-old Gylfi Sigurdsson on his massive wages off our hands that is “better” than us?

Kieran Kinsella
211 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:18:45
Gary 208

Firstly, Bill Kenwright hasn't been in charge for years.

Secondly, Allardyce pulled us away from our flirt with relegation and finished 8th only to get sacked. We've had five different people managing the side in five years. I don't think failure to sack is an issue.

Trevor Peers
212 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:26:20
Kieran.

He'll probably end up on loan to a European club, just like all our other misfits.

Dave Williams
213 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:27:55
We played fine until the first goal then shockingly poor after it. Okay, Silva was stripped of midfielders but Sig is 30 with no pace, Morgan is nearly 30 with no pace and Gomes was totally out of sorts with poor passing and silly fouls.

This lot should never form a midfield trio and we allowed Grealish to run the show. These three do not give us the young and vibrant midfield Silva wants so why didn't he play Tom? He would have got stuck into them and driven us forward.

I thought Mina was one of our better players and Iwobi looked promising. Kean needs creative players to help him whereas we had nothing creative all game.

Just like the first half of last season, the manager seemed bereft of ideas and unable to inspire his team. He picked up in the last dozen games but has to sort this out much quicker this time.

Very, very disappointing and, as posters say above, the Lincoln game looms large — lose that and the wolves will be circling in more ways than one!!

John Raftery
214 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:30:29
Our biggest problems are in midfield. Gomes and Schneiderlin are too static. Schneiderlin played his normal game of square and backwards passing but Gomes was truly awful tonight. Sigurdsson was creating problems rather than finding solutions.

All three lack pace and dynamism. They are too slow to cover the defence and too slow to supply and support the attack. For a combined outlay of around £90M, we are not getting value for money.

People have urged Silva to play his strongest team against Lincoln. I doubt Silva or anyone else would know what our strongest team is at present.

Fran Mitchell
215 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:32:59
Silva isn'the manager. We can talk about players, but at the end of the day our players are better than Villa's. But Silva is once again not getting them to play adequately.

Remember when Klopp arrived at that lot, he immediately had them playing a certain way. It flopped at times, but you could see a method being applied. You could see that Klopp energy being transmitted to the players.

With Silva, we just seem so passive. We seem like anti-Klopp.

Jamie Crowley
216 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:37:23
Holy shit Batman!

I just looked, and in three games we have only SIX shots on target. Two a game!

That is absolutely Big Sam material right there, folks!

Fucking hell, that is awful!

Bjoern Haall
217 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:40:53
Okay, here's my thoughts. (I only watched the game from minute 10 to 35 aprox.)

Calvert-Lewin – he has no confidence. He's a striker and should put chances like that into the net.

Richarlison – plays for himself, no teamwork or sacrifice.

Sigurdsson – a man of Hugin and Munin without the vision.

Gomes – brilliant at times but too fucking slow.

Bernard – please use both feet...

Schneiderlin – please show yourself.

We got a good back four and a competent keeper. But please learn how to be creative and fast in the attacking phase.

Gary Willock
218 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:45:26
If Silva thinks Schneiderlin is the answer to ANYTHING, I'm afraid I'm joining the #SilvaOut brigade right now! He's been shite for most of his time with us, and as part of a “two” he's simply a liability. Gana was so good he just helped hide it a little.

Depressingly, none of those in contention here are good enough for a ‘two'. It's why Silva HAS to change it, or we could be in real trouble again this year. My fear is he's too stubborn and, just like Martinez, he'll just persist again and again.

We need to go with a three in the middle. For me it's:

Pickford
Coleman Keane Mina Digne
Davies Gomes Delph (or Bernard)
Iwobi Kean Richarlison

Next 3 games are massive for Silva – he needs to show he can change, or we should change.

Kieran Kinsella
219 Posted 24/08/2019 at 00:56:50
Interesting comment from Iwobi on hitting the post “I thought someone might follow up.” With four players who claim “striker” is their best role on the pitch, it is a fair point he makes. Welcome to Everton, Alex.
Simon Dalzell
221 Posted 24/08/2019 at 01:09:25
John Reynolds #193. With no due respect. This is NOT a knee-jerk reaction. You obviously have not read my many posts on Silva last season. He cannot pick the correct team. Tactics are poor, and he is like a rabbit in the headlights when it comes to substitutions.

Scapegoat? Don't be ridiculous.

As for Brands. Do you think the way we have bought and sold is looking good?

Phil Rouse
222 Posted 24/08/2019 at 03:17:39
Absolute dire football. Nothing will change while Silva is in charge. He is clueless. Championship manager at best. Nothing will change while he is in charge.
James Darbyshire
223 Posted 24/08/2019 at 03:30:17
I don't get two holding midfielders, especially Schneiderlin. Villa were an open book there for the taking and we once again couldn't finish our fucking dinner. We create chances but if we can't put them away, it's going be another long season.

Mina... wow, where to start... basically, he has the positional sense of Phil Jones's jaw pictures and unless him and Kean start to click we are fucked up-front and fucked at the back. Worrying times...

Annika Herbert
224 Posted 24/08/2019 at 04:12:59
George @79, good point and one I fully agree with!!
Paul Ward
225 Posted 24/08/2019 at 04:56:01
Ciaran McGlone,

You were surprised by some of the comments and thought the game entertaining. No word about what a toothless shower they are or the shocking performance of Gomes, just 3 mentions of how bad Mina was. I doubt if every body seen it that way.

The only thing you did get right is "I'm not sure Silva actually has a Plan B." In my opinion, he hasn't. I'm beginning to think he is a one-trick pony like Martinez.

Ryan Sydow
226 Posted 24/08/2019 at 06:11:07
I think Bernard is wasted out left and Sigurdsson, sorry but, for me, for that sort of money, I want a player in that position to persistently be unlocking defenses and putting strikers in on goal – he's doesn't. I think Bernard will and then that allows Iwobi to start on the left.

Schneiderlin – no thanks too sideways.

Davies and Gomes all day long until Delph and Gbamin are back.

Calvert-Lewin? Sorry, mate, you have had your chance, time to move over for the 19-year-old.

David Chait
227 Posted 24/08/2019 at 06:28:57
Silva has dropped dramatically in my estimation. Whatever he does in the next game shows him either to be reactive or Martinez-level stubborn. This result was on the cards with the lineup he put out.

Sigurdsson and Richarlison aren't firing and Calvert-Lewin never will. If we went behind, there was every chance we would lose.

The game was begging for Davies at half time. But no. Take off the only attacker actually playing decently in Bernard, take of Sigurdsson (who is by far the most creative in spite of being out of touch) and leave us with the most pedestrian midfield possible.

Paul Rimmer
228 Posted 24/08/2019 at 07:01:15
The problems lie in midfield. There is simply no creativity or goal threat and just shift the ball wide. Gomes was poor last night and the team didn't click – I think he was missing Gana. Schneiderlein basically does nothing and Gomes is thinking he has to be the defensive midfielder and creative spark. I include Sigurdsson in that problem – off form.

We lack a leader on the pitch too and therefore Delph or Davies have to play. Bit of a shake-up needed so I'd play Davies and Sigurdsson behind Iwobi, Bernard and Richarlison with Kean up top. Deeper Siggy can dictate play and is still a goal threat from distance. Richarlison needs a kick up the bum too.

Joe McMahon
229 Posted 24/08/2019 at 07:05:15
I got corrected on this site a few days ago for saying the Reds fans just laugh at us, and we should rejoice they still haven't won the Premier League (they will this season).

That's fine, after decades of rotting, we can all be happy that we have a 6-goals-a-season striker, ain't won anything since 1995, ain't won at Anfield for 20 years, the list is endless.

Paul Burns
230 Posted 24/08/2019 at 07:09:21
Unbelievably, there's an even bigger problem at Everton than Silva. A lot of our fans nowadays are morons who will put up with anything. The parasites who have ruined our club have exploited this to the full to make themselves multi-millionaires while lowering expectations.

Reading some of the posts on here sickens me at the lack of a basic understanding of what is required to construct a successful team. I'm flogging a dead horse with my posts intended to rouse a reaction. Everton are on the verge of death unless everyone wakes up and realises how far the rot has set in.

Ian Lloyd
231 Posted 24/08/2019 at 07:16:19
Paul 230 - 👍🏻
Steve Brown
232 Posted 24/08/2019 at 07:19:26
It does make me laugh. The glee and relish with which the usual suspects come on here within a heartbeat of the final whistle to slam the Director of Football, the manager (Championship-level now apparently), Calvert-Lewin of course. They are nowhere to be seen when we play well or win – completely silent.

Massive improvement needed in the attacking third, but Kean will help that. Switching to 4-4-2 was a bad call from Silva and he is making some mistakes in selection and tactics while he beds in the new players. Schneiderlin and Walcott should have limited game time, while the shape of the team will improve if we switch to 4-3-3 with a fit Delph. I would consider dropping Sigurdsson and Gomes needs to improve.

But a bit of perspective on one defeat, as much as some enjoy coming on to vent. You are like the incoherent drunk in the corner of the pub gabbling nonsense.

Ian Lloyd
233 Posted 24/08/2019 at 07:22:35
Steve 232 – start talking sense, pal.

Another fan happy with shocking mediocrity.

Gavin Johnson
234 Posted 24/08/2019 at 07:33:33
Villa overran us in centre midfield and it's clear that Gomes and Schneiderlin are too slow, especially with Sigurdsson in the No 10 role. Gbamin is injured so this should be a real opportunity for Tom Davies. One thing Davies always gives is high energy.

Simon Dalzell – if Silva and Brands need to go, who do you think Everton could attract to replace them?? Given it was a major coup for Everton to attract Brands who has an elite reputation as a Director of Football. Surely you think he's doing a better job than Steve Walsh?!

Darren Hind
235 Posted 24/08/2019 at 07:43:52
Steve Brown

You need to listen mate. the knowledgeable are speaking.

They will have missed the poor performances from Coleman and Digne. They will not be concerned at the alarming way three ordinary teams have carved open our central defence to get clean through on our goalie. They will ignore the truly abject performances of Gomes, Schneiderlin, Bernard, Sigurdsson and Richarlison.

Walcott missed the best chance of the game, but that hardly merits a mention... it makes no neverminds. Digne missed a golden opportunity, but come on... it was on his wrong foot... what do you expect?

And so what if footy fans up and down the country were laughing at Richarlison's effort as he ignored his team mates in better positions, or when Sigurdsson did the same to offer that acutely embarrassing attempted chip?

Where you are going wrong, Steve, is you don't understand where the REAL problems lie. Calvert-Lewin missed his first chance of the season last night. That's the thing that REALLY matters. All we need to do is give him his P45 and we'll deffo get top six.

You, Steve, are simply not ignoring the desperate performances of every other player.

How are we ever going to win trophies with fans who simply don't understand the whipping boy mentality?

Sam Hoare
236 Posted 24/08/2019 at 07:46:03
Ian @233, where does Steve say he is happy? He is talking total sense as far as I can see. Unlike those who want to use every loss as an opportunity to start having a go at other fans!
Ian Lloyd
237 Posted 24/08/2019 at 07:54:19
Sam – so it's ok for Steve to sarcastically have a go at fans then for giving their opinion? Saying “the usual negative suspects” etc etc?

Carry on believing Silva knows what he's doing if you want and believing we are top 6 material.

Let's reassess at Xmas.

Sam Hoare
238 Posted 24/08/2019 at 08:04:33
Ian,

Steve was saying that there are certain posters who mainly come on here when we lose to slam everyone and I agree. I've no truck with those who are finding fault with last night, as Steve himself was.

As for Silva, I still rate him but I'm not at all impressed with how he's started the season. I've never thought we would necessarily be top 6 this season as there are still big holes in our squad (even bigger without Gbamin now). Silva needs to improve quickly or surely his performance will not meet with Brands's and Moshiri's targets.

Ian Lloyd
239 Posted 24/08/2019 at 08:10:33
Ok Sam / Steve – points taken.

I apologise if I mis read / construed your posts.

I'm just so frustrated – year on year spending millions and very little progress (from what I can see ) in terms of league placings and style of football.

Apologies.

Ciarán McGlone
240 Posted 24/08/2019 at 08:24:29
Paul..

Gomes was awful. I didn't feel like commenting on the rest of the players as the second half was mostly dire.

The comment on Mina was specifically because of the praise he has got as being a competent replacement for Zouma. He's not. If you didn't see it that way, then fine...

Perhaps you missed his absolutely naive breaking of the line for the first goal, his moving into space to close down no-one, and him creating the space for the through pass... perhaps you missed him constantly grabbing opposing players in the box or being left for dead or completely out of position. If you didn't see how problematic he will be, then fine.

The false dawn of having sorted our central pairing needed commenting on.

Despite the second half, the other players are capable of better. The rest will improve. I don't think he will.

Trevor Peers
241 Posted 24/08/2019 at 08:26:44
We will get past this awful game and no doubt win again at home, but there's no getting past the fact that Silva is a very mediocre manager and we're stuck with him for this season, maybe next because we need stability.

Our away form will remain very poor and chances of a cup victory are very slim indeed. Nothing much has changed despite spending millions, it's not easy to find the answers. Hopefully he gives the 4-3-3 preferred system a go, because his present system is a busted flush.

Tony Hill
242 Posted 24/08/2019 at 08:33:22
People are rightly annoyed and frustrated but that sort of performance and result can just happen, especially against promoted teams.

Iwobi and Kean are hugely promising. Win against Lincoln and Wolves and we’re happy again. But we must get steel and pace in midfield, certainly.

Martin Berry
243 Posted 24/08/2019 at 08:41:14
Settle down, folks, it's early days. We have some exciting players, Marco will have to look at the "blend" to get things right, and the players will learn from this.

It's a long season; no need for jerkin.

Sam Hoare
244 Posted 24/08/2019 at 08:54:09
Ian @239, I'm pretty certain everyone on here is frustrated.

We spent a lot of money badly (Bolasie, Schneiderlin, Walcott, Klaassen etc) but I think it is now being spent better. Many thought it would take 2-3 years to undo the damage of Walsh, Koeman and Allardyce, and they are right.

I don't know whether Silva is the right man but I think our form in the last third of last season showed he can improve players and build a successful system. But obviously he has to maintain it and we've started this season poorly. Beat Lincoln and Wolves and we won't be looking too bad but slip in either of those games and it's a bad start to the season.

Tony Twist
245 Posted 24/08/2019 at 08:54:12
It has been the same for years and it is the one thing that hasn't changed even with Brands's more competent approach of buying players. We lack men on the pitch. We lack players with footballing brains that can't accept defeat. We have far too many players that, when faced with a choice of the tough route or the easy route, they always take the easy route.

Players who tend to make the wrong decision, it showed last night, you can see it in the goals we conceded and in the chances we missed. Players who are desperate not to look stupid, and possibly lack the ability, who back off rather than engage the charging midfielder for fear of being passed. Players who don't steady themselves and just hit and hope (Calvert-Lewin, Walcott).

This is due to a distinct lack of coaching. We are a fine-weather team, if everyone is in their happy place, then we can take on the best and compete; if not, it is headless chickens and ultimately cheap and easy defeats, like yesterday's embarrassment against Villa.

I see little progress with this by the master coach Silva.

Mark Brennnan
246 Posted 24/08/2019 at 09:03:00
Where are the goals going to come from?
Terry Farrell
247 Posted 24/08/2019 at 09:05:20
Everton ruining my weekend is not unknown... but starting on a Friday?!!!!!!!
Allan Board
248 Posted 24/08/2019 at 09:08:16
Very predictable and not sure why so many are surprised. Give the players as much abuse as you like, but it's the coach who picks the team and dictates the tactics and style of play.

Just a couple of things: I have seen Under-10 teams transition quicker through midfield (Gomes and Schneiderlin are too slow) and lack of goalscorers will destroy this club.

If Silva is sorting the back 5 as a priority and then moves onto midfield etc, then okay, but forget this season and expect 7th to 10th place. Football is a tough place to work in, so Silva is already on borrowed time. Get the team scoring or go Marco!

Gary Hughes
249 Posted 24/08/2019 at 09:08:36
Kieran @211,

Kenwright is still the chairman and, as far as I'm concerned, the mentality at the club will never change with him there.

The point I was making was about the acceptance of mediocrity, and that these sorts of performances are quite normal and don't cause any undue concern... and never will. If you want to split hairs about the timing of Allardyce's sacking, then that's up to you... but just remember he was another mediocre second-rate manager who was second-choice behind the current mediocre second-rate manager.

I've seen absolutely nothing to suggest Silva is the man to take us forward — and to think we chased this fella for nearly a year...

Clive Rogers
250 Posted 24/08/2019 at 09:10:09
Mark, 246, that is the worry because it doesn't look as if it will be from Richarlison and Sigurdsson at the moment. They are both out of sorts. Siggy is 30 in three weeks and looks burnt out to me. Calvert-Lewin is not going to score and Bernard has already got his one for the season.

Don't know about Silva, but it's giving me sleepless nights.

Kim Vivian
251 Posted 24/08/2019 at 09:22:31
One moment summed up last night for me. We had a free kick in the second half, in their half by about 10/15 yards I'd say. Taken by Schneiderlin... 4 (possibly even 3) touches/passes later, it was with Pickford. Why oh why can't we cross into the opposition penalty area from these dead ball situations?

I play (or used to play) a fair bit of squash and the only opportunity you get to have an uncontested shot is at your service. It is an opportunity to go straight onto the offense. No way would you simply lob to the opposite court and allow your oppo to easily structure his/her reply. These tippy-tappy free kicks are a waste of time when you are close enough to goal to actually set something up.

Also, someone seems to be offering instructions to our players that attempts from outside the penalty area are forbidden. Or am I not seeing something here???

Coleman's yellow?... for taking the obstructing fella's feet out from under him. Deserved yellow, but the best moment of the match apart from Iwobi's near-miss against the post. Calvert-Lewin really does put in a shift and wins a lot of stuff. If we could put someone – Kean! – in alongside him and take away the main responsibility for goal scoring from him, it could pay healthy dividends, as well as drawing a few goals from the man himself.

So disappointed with last night's result. We weren't abject for 90 mins and did play some decent football but it was like a light being switched off when Villa scored.

Downer on a long weekend. Ugh.

Mark Tanton
252 Posted 24/08/2019 at 09:22:48
So what changes must Silva make to his starting eleven? Where to start?

Surely Sidibe is knocking on the door to replace the ineffectual Coleman, who charges up the pitch only to cut back and walk until he can find someone in the half way line?

Surely Iwobi has embarrassed the starters with his substitute appearance showing what actual power and presence is.

Surely Kean, although raw and a bit wild, showed enough (when he wasn't hacking in frustration) to replace the emasculated and ineffective Calvert-Lewin?

God knows who else, perhaps Davies in for any of our pedestrian central midfield.

George Cumiskey
253 Posted 24/08/2019 at 09:32:26
Mark @ 252 we can only hope for those changes but you wouldn't bet Marco putting out the same team next week.
Chris Gould
254 Posted 24/08/2019 at 09:46:39
Mark,
I'm looking forward to seeing a fit Delph come into the lineup. I think his passing and leadership will make a big difference to an otherwise lifeless and ineffectual central midfield. One can hope!
We miss Zouma and Gueye, and we can't keep banging on about our form at the end of last season because they were a huge part of that team and are no longer here. Our starting 11 is currently worse. We went 2 steps forward and 3 back.
That's not to say that it can't and won't improve quickly once Delph, Keane, and Iwobi get up to speed. Looks like it will be a while before Gbamin shows us what he can really add to the squad.
Why Gomes, Richarlison, and Sigurdsson are struggling is anyone's guess. I think they all need someone like Delph ordering them about the pitch and demanding more quality.
It's too early to get down in the dumps. I wish we had a top 6 team to play next week. The players may just need a bit of fear and excitement to wake them from their slumber.
Duncan McDine
255 Posted 24/08/2019 at 09:47:48
At least we had a nice curry before we sat (stood) through that rubbish... although my bumhole would probably disagree this morning. We did well for 20 mins, but fell apart when Gomes and Bernard started making silly mistakes (I thought they both played well up to that). I’ve never seen a player’s head drop like Gomes after a couple of dodgy passes - the fella clearly isn’t strong enough mentally. He then chickened out for the raining 70 minutes by simply passing sideways to Schneiderlin - who can only pass backwards. As others have said, the midfield need to find some balance for us to get anywhere this season.
Mark Tanton
256 Posted 24/08/2019 at 09:51:26
I can’t wait to see Delph either, though it doesn’t seem something that is imminent, sadly?
Mick Conalty
257 Posted 24/08/2019 at 10:14:03
Garry #249. I am afraid to say it but you are spot on with your comments on Kenwright and Silva.
Keith Gleave
258 Posted 24/08/2019 at 10:16:07
On the three performances so far this season, 6th is a fantasy and matching 8th highly unlikely. There is no creativity in midfield, no pace in attack and no ability to finish.

It's obvious that Silva cannot change anything when he makes substitutions, nor surprise teams with a different set-up. My view of him is the man who sells the king new clothes. I have to say he would never have been my pick for manager and I hope Brands has made a list and is sounding them out.

Stan Schofield
259 Posted 24/08/2019 at 10:22:22
At the beginning of every season, we as supporters have hopes that there'll be big improvements and that we'll finish higher up the table. But, after a few games, the reality kicks in, and we realise that the most likely possibility is finishing midtable again, with points between 45 and 60, the season having the typical ups and downs of a midtable club.

Why is this? Firstly, we are buying good players, but often they are injury prone and/or seem to lack mental robustness, despite obvious technical skills that they have.

Perhaps, to have a good chance of getting better players who are more solid physically and mentally, we simply need to pay top prices, which we don't and probably can't. Secondly, given the players we have, to get consistent good results would really need coaching of the highest calibre, to get them to gel as a team, since when a team gels it helps individual performances and vice versa. Silva looks a good coach, as evidenced by a number of good performances last season, but that doesn't imply he's of the highest calibre to get the team to gel consistently.

As such, unless we pay top wack for players and get the best coach available, it's difficult to see us progressing from the current state of consistent midtable. Not a disaster in itself, but very disappointing for Evertonians who have seen top sides in the past. So, in reality, the Villa result wasn't unexpected, and shit happens more so for midtable clubs than for top clubs.

We'll also have some really good performances that will raise our hopes again, only for those hopes to be dampened again by the inevitable ups and downs of being midtable. This is the most likely thing, but it's also possible that, once the new signings have bedded in and get over injuries, Silva will be able to get more consistent better performances. But it's more hope than expectation at present.

Paul Smith
260 Posted 24/08/2019 at 10:42:36
Duncan, it would be rude not to partake in a curry whilst visiting the midlands. They know how it's done properly, pity the same can't be said for Everton and football.

Not singling out Calvert Lewin but on 70 mins he pulled out of a tackle outside of our 18-yard box, which he should've made - maybe he was worried about an infringement. Anyway, It typified the half-arsed mentality and lack of application and professional skill by Everton throughout the game.

The midfield is awful, Gomes was putrid (strong words) but he was that bad. Nothing going forward through the middle at all, everything goes through Digne, who if not on form renders us toothless. Coleman can not cross and the corners are often high and to the back post for the lofty and powerful Bernard – a dog's breakfast.

Delph might well be the most important acquisition we made during the summer; keeping him fit will be vital because that midfield scares the life out of me.

Rob Dolby
261 Posted 24/08/2019 at 10:46:39
We where pretty average last night. Coleman played well. Schneiderlin did okay. The rest of them were terrible. Do we give Villa credit for that or was it just a collective off-night?

Villa sat deep and hit us on the counter, Palace tried the same thing. Once they scored, we forced passes all over the park and looked terrible.

Saying that, we still had 3 good chances to score. Calvert-Lewin's and Walcott's should be buried and Iwobi had hard lines.

Another disjointed performance from us. Gomes had a 'mare, Sigurdsson and Richarlison just haven't got going this season at all.

We have to start playing Kean and Iwobi.

Colin Malone
262 Posted 24/08/2019 at 10:51:41
Gomes had an off day but was our only creative outlet. It's time for Sigurdsson to drop back along side Gomes and give Iwobi the Number 10 position.
Eugene Kearney
263 Posted 24/08/2019 at 10:52:27
I made it to Goodison Park for the first ever time in my 59 years last weekend and I had been full of the joys of Everton all week - until Villa scored last night.

Then 70 minutes of "Oh my Gods".

My guts are still tingling in despair.

Brent Stephens
264 Posted 24/08/2019 at 10:57:25
Apparently Calvert-Lewin has one banjo for sale – as new (and the cow is still laughing). DCL was, what, 5 yards or so out when he missed. At least he's young and still developing!

And those other misses - Walcott is not a finisher (rarely a starter; old but still developing apparently!). Snowflakes I think is the word used?

Digne's miss was with his right foot but still little excuse – at least his contribution is usually much better than that.

Sigurdsson, Richarlison – this was dire. And I just can't believe how bad Gomes was. Didn't get to bed till 3:00 – and lost my credit card (if you've got it, please use it to buy that banjo off DCL).

Frank Crewe
265 Posted 24/08/2019 at 11:21:40
Another let down. Friday night games really ruin the weekend. It's bad enough losing on Saturday because it ruins Sunday but losing on Friday wrecks Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

So it was amateur hour once again. Another let down. Calvert-Lewin was useless. About as much dynamism as a wet lettuce. Missed an absolute sitter. He should not ever be first choice again. I wouldn't even put him on the bench. Tosun hasn't left yet so if he stays put him on the bench instead. Our only tactic was to get the fullbacks down the wings to get crosses in. Once Villa nullified that we were finished.

There is no point in going through how lousy we were because it was obvious for all to see. We need to change our tactics. We have to get our forwards nearer to the goal and that means 4-3-3.

On Wednesday we should be playing our strongest side. No "resting" players. Although I wouldn't mind seeing Sidibe instead of Coleman. He had a mare last night. I want to see Gomes, Sigurdsson and Shneiderlin as a middle three. Gomes and Schneiderlin as defensive midfielders and Sigurdsson supporting the attack. The full-backs can provide the width.

Finally I want Iwobi, Kean and Richarlison as the front three. Bernard is a decent player but he's simply too lightweight and his passing leaves a lot to be desired and pushing Richarlison and Iwobi out wide under our current set up isn't getting the best out of either of them. Iwobi, Kean, Richardson would give us the pace, strength and dynamism we need up front. Not to mention it will get us more shots on goal instead of endless crosses that are simply repelled by big centre-backs.

Silva has to be brave. If we lose to Lincoln on Wednesday it will put a massive downer on the rest of the season. We bought these players to play so let's see them on the park.

Pickford
Sidibe - Mina - Keane - Digne
Gomes - Sigurdsson - Schneiderlin
Richarlison - Kean - Iwobi

Derek Taylor
266 Posted 24/08/2019 at 11:22:03
'Also rans' for the umpteenth season running, I have no doubt. As someone asked the other day,'what happened to Phil Walling and his perpetual 'seventhish'? Seventeenish more like it on last night's showing.

But let's be sensible, we've lost our best two players and replaced them with 'jobsworths'. And how do you expect to have a decent season without a decent striker?

Last night was like an echo of a Martinez display. Defenders playing it across the back from standstill positions, nobody running into space with any progress via long balls badly directed. And all those crosses from the wings so easily intercepted by the opposition.

Rough times ahead as we await big changes of manager and coaches around Christmas. Woe is me. And the rest of us.

Len Hawkins
267 Posted 24/08/2019 at 11:23:11
I think in the pre-match waffle sums up Everton when Mings was asked about our forwards he said "we have done our homework on their strengths and weaknesses."

I bet that took a couple seconds: strengths = 0; weaknesses = 100000's

Darren Fellows
268 Posted 24/08/2019 at 11:39:48
Firstly, I think Bernard should move from out wide and play a central creative role behind Kean.

Pickford
Coleman Keane Mina Digne
Richarlison Gomes Delph Iwobi
Bernard
Kean

But most of all, I'd like to see a bit of passion. We should have put Villa away, there is no conviction. We controlled the game for 20 mins and should have been 2 up but at least we are creating. I just hope we react to this poor result in the correct manner.

Anthony A Hughes
269 Posted 24/08/2019 at 12:05:13
Calvert-Lewin does work hard and runs around a lot... but then so does Niasse.
Nitesh Kanchan
270 Posted 24/08/2019 at 12:57:33
This was the game Kean would have fancied to start and score and get off the mark against a relegation fodder. Instead, now Silva will pit him against a solid Wolves side to get that first goal. Absolutely ridiculous decision by Silva to not start him, that would have got him going.

We played so bad was also due to our profligacy in front of goal, the whole game and the players' mentality changes when the other team gets the goal, else the frustration sets in and then safe sideways and sloppy passes.

Iwobi, Tosun, Kean and Davies should all get their chances now after just 1 goal in 3 games. It won't be a bad defeat after all if Silva has learnt a lot from it. We needed that to be honest. Adeniran or Baningime should also be in the squad to challenge Morgan's place until Gbamin gets back.

Raymond Fox
271 Posted 24/08/2019 at 12:59:41
Disappointed but not surprised with the result. We played average but the score could have been very different, we didn't take our chances and so have to take the medicine.

When we are away, whoever we play, I always think the home side gets one-goal start. It shouldn't be, it's just a pitch the same as Goodison is... but that's the way it usually pans out!

It's not taken long for reality to set in, has it, we are likely to be mid-table like we are most years.
We have a squad full of slightly above-average players, with a manager who the same can be said of, ability-wise.

Dave O\'Connell
272 Posted 24/08/2019 at 13:04:26
I can't believe what I'm reading on here. Anyone who thinks Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a Premier League striker is on a different planet! He should have buried the great chance he had, never mind it was blocked. How many times has he had opportunities and blown them?

Absolutely criminal that we never replaced Lukaku with a proven Premier League striker. Hang your head, Everton — joke of a club

Clive Rogers
273 Posted 24/08/2019 at 13:12:54
Brent, 264, Calvert-Lewin is not developing, he is getting worse. He has not scored in his last 14 games now and looks more and more like what he really is, a midfielder pushed up front because he has height. He has completely lost confidence in front of goal. He is a League One player.
Dan Nulty
274 Posted 24/08/2019 at 13:15:52
I hope that wasn't an average performance otherwise it means we are in for a shocking season and some even worse performances.

I genuinely cannot remember a time when our midfield and strikers were so anonymous. Gomes was quite simply having a mare and I don't think he could have played worse. One point in the second half when he didn't give the ball away found himself in front of goal under no pressure from 25 yards and chose to pass. He is a good player, for me it shows his mental frailties which is why he didn't make it at Barca. Hopefully he will be able to draw a line under it and show us the quality we know he has.

Calvert-Lewin underlined why he should not be a starting striker and suggests to me he needs some serious finishing training. Yes, he is young but I think there are younger strikers in the league who would have finished his chance.

What concerns me is how long Silva waited to make the changes. He needed to take one of Gomes or Schneiderlin off and I don't understand what Tom Davies is doing not to be given a chance.

As someone said on the live thread, Mirallas would have got that Walcott chance on target, I am sure. Need to try and palm him off next window.

Dave O\'Connell
275 Posted 24/08/2019 at 13:18:45
No matter what anyone says about Mirallas, he is a better player than Calvert-Lewin and Walcott yet they're still getting chance after chance and flopping every time.
Mike Corcoran
276 Posted 24/08/2019 at 13:20:38
Can we get the psychologist that turned Sterling into a decent player working full time with the squad?
Rob Marsh
277 Posted 24/08/2019 at 13:21:22
Frank #265,

I'd be playing that 4-3-3 also, but the problem is that none of them are ready to play in any formation at the moment, they're all so underwhelming as individuals and as a team.

There isn't a single one of them who would make it into the Man City or Liverpool teams at this time.

I don't think the formation matters that much, it's the players themselves have to find some balls from somewhere.

Brent Stephens
278 Posted 24/08/2019 at 13:21:58
Clive #273,

When I wrote "At least he's [DCL] young and still developing!" I was being ironic.

I do think he actually did develop reasonably well in the latter half of last season – but he's got a long way to go yet if he's going to get a tune out of that banjo and cow's arse.

Gerry Ring
279 Posted 24/08/2019 at 13:24:28
Frank #265.

We need to stop deluding ourselves about our signings being better than what we already have. To suggest replacing Coleman with Sidibe misses the point completely. Our problem is that our midfield is rubbish, we have no strikers as of yet, and we have a manager who appears to “pre-decide” before each game what changes he will make irrespective of the performance.

He continues to play Schneiderlein, Walcott & Calvert-Lewin even though all have shown they are not good enough. He discarded McCarthy without giving him a chance and the same applies to Davies, whose days are numbered, it would appear. To be looking at dropping Coleman to solve the problem is bizarre!

Mike Corcoran
280 Posted 24/08/2019 at 13:26:04
Sum up the performance in one word?

Nyarkoleptic

Derek Knox
281 Posted 24/08/2019 at 13:36:17
Brent, it's all about timing, that cow keeps moving, I don't know if it's an aversion to banjoes, or the banjo-player!

Besides the banjo-player can't strike... a note!

Frank Crewe
282 Posted 24/08/2019 at 14:11:51
I hope Calvert-Lewin is watching Tammy Abraham today. Might pick up a few pointers regarding what a real striker can do.

@Gerry 279

If a player is lacking form and you have a replacement you drop the player and pick the replacement. No player gets a free ride and that includes Coleman. He's done nothing so far this season. We brought in a decent player as cover, something we all wanted, in the summer so let's see what he can do because I doubt he could be any worse.

Also players aren't bought because they are necessarily better. They are brought in to add depth to the squad and give the manager options. Obviously the current 11 are playing poorly so the new players are entitled to show what they can do. That's the point of having a squad.

Clive Rogers
283 Posted 24/08/2019 at 14:21:31
Brent, sorry. Still depressed from last night. Calvert-Lewin has lost confidence in the box and needs to be omitted for a spell.
Kieran Kinsella
284 Posted 24/08/2019 at 14:25:35
Gerry @279,

I agree on signings. We tend to celebrate any new arrival as being obviously better than the "dead wood" then before long the "new" guy is part of the dead wood. For example, we had Gueye, Gibson, Osman and people were saying they were deadwood. Then we brought in Besic and McCarthy who people started calling deadwood. Deadwood striker Jelavic replaced with Kone, Niasse, Tosun.

I think part of the issue is that partly due to money, partly due to standing in the game, we rarely get top players. So we roll the dice on players who could be top players barring some deficiency and we hope to correct that issue -- and fail.

For example, Gomes and his depression/confidence, Bernard and his weakness/lack of goals, Siggy and his integration into a team that isn't entirely built around his set plays.

So here we are again with the new batch, Iwobi, can't score, Gbamin can't keep possession, Delph can't stay fit. And we are hoping against hope they all shake off their flaws. But history isn't on their side.

Roger Helm
285 Posted 24/08/2019 at 14:26:47
It has been like this ever since Moyes left and seems to have got in the club’s DNA - no matter who we buy, nearly all the players seem too slow and weak, both physically and mentally, to compete in the top half of the EPL. We haven’t had a leader on the pitch since the days of Cahill and Neville.

Something behind the scenes is wrong although I don’t know what. I hope MB can get a handle on it.

Kieran Kinsella
286 Posted 24/08/2019 at 14:32:51
Roger 285,

Talking of slow and weak, did you see Shane Lavery scoring the other night in N Ireland versus Qarabag? Absolute determination there, just powered by a defender (sent him flying) ran half the field, wonderful finish. I realize it's a much lower level than the Premier League but, in terms of his physique and attitude, I could see why the kid was compared with Rooney. Sadly, most of his mates who stuck around have the backbone of a jellyfish that has just been steamrolled.

Brent Stephens
287 Posted 24/08/2019 at 14:43:16
Clive 283. No problem mate.
Brent Stephens
288 Posted 24/08/2019 at 14:46:19
Derek, the problem is that either we train with static cows or the wrong type of banjos.
Andrew Dempsey
289 Posted 24/08/2019 at 15:01:22
Darren #268,

Loving the look of that team. At least the striker will get some support and more people running beyond, which Sigurdsson isn't capable of.

I admit, this is a very risky attacking team. But, it looks more like a top 6 side, bustling with pace, energy and movement off the ball. It needs to be given a go.

Sigurdssson and Calvert-Lewin need to be on the bench too, with a point to prove, coming on for 10 mins, maybe, if needed.

Hugh Jenkins
290 Posted 24/08/2019 at 15:15:11
Do coaches actually do any good?

Are there good and bad coaches?

Can a good striking coach, coach a good player into being a good striker?

I ask these questions because our striking coach is non other than the "Legendary" Duncan Ferguson.

I am assuming he is working constantly with Calvert-Lewin to "improve" his finishing.

If it isn't working, is the coach's fault or the player's?

Or, as many claim, you can't successfully coach a striker, it has to be born in you.

Will be interesting to hear your opinions on this.

Drew O'Neall
291 Posted 24/08/2019 at 15:27:15
Let’s have a bit of measure.

Gomes isn’t fit after his ankle and he’s ‘doing a job’ for the team, possibly with the aid of painkilling injections after not training and not being expected to play.

Villa were at home for the first time back in the Premier League and there was a cup final atmosphere.

The players everyone else is bemoaning the manager for not picking aren’t match fit and anyway haven’t pulled up any trees when given a chance.

We have to get Sigurdsson fit. He and Gomes are the difference. The idea of dropping him for the unproven Iwobi or one of our most effective outlets in Bernard, are preposterous.

We have to work patiently back to the team which was having success towards the back end of last year, not throw it all in the bin and start again. That might take another 9 months to gel.

Let’s accept that we lost our best player in Gana and we have still dominated the teams we’ve come up against but are yet to really click.

When Sigurdsson, Gomes, Richarlison and (presumably) Kèan are fit, we will be a different proposition but until then we might have to be patient.

I for one will be happy with a few 1-0’s until then.

One criticism I will make of EVERTON is being unaware of Wesley during the transfer window because, at £22m, he demonstrated to Calvert-Lewin and our Italian protege exactly how to play as a lone centre forward in the Premier League.

John Boon
292 Posted 24/08/2019 at 15:28:41
Not too much to add what most faithful fans have been commenting on. However, we should never have lost to what can only be described as a poor Villa team. What is the point of signing new players and NOT playing them?

When Silva made his subs it was still too late because it does take time to slot into any game. What I found frustrating was that he didn't take off the right players. Calvert-Lewin should never have even come out for the second half.

We now have a decent period of time to get the new players fully blooded. We definitely need more speed in midfield and hopefully Kean can be given a few complete games to show us just what he is about. He has already shown promise. Amongst all the dross, I was really impressed by Mina, in both tackling and distributing.

Despite everything I still think we have the basis of a decent team. Hopefully we are not just waiting for one more window to open. If everything stays like Friday, loyal fans will be jumping out of open windows; yes, it was that bad.

Andy Crooks
293 Posted 24/08/2019 at 15:32:03
There are some on this thread who see themselves as the most discerning of Evertonians. Only THEY are proper Evertonians because they bravely call out shite when they see it. Anyone who calls for some perspective after three games will apparently settle for mediocrity.

Well, for those who will not accept mediocrity, and who accuse others of doing so, can I ask this? In what way will your unacceptance be manifested? What the actual fuck are you going to do about it, other than come on here and cry?

We all are entitled to our views and I thought last night was disappointing. However, those who think that any of us are not disappointed really need to think before hitting Submit. There is an odious culture of always having to apportion blame.

Those who see themselves as better Evertonians should let us know of their plans to change things. I will join you. When do the protests, marches etc start?

Kieran Kinsella
294 Posted 24/08/2019 at 15:38:29
Dave 275,

"No matter what anyone says about Mirallas, he is a better player than Calvert-Lewin and Walcott"

Seriously? Mirallas the guy given a heroes welcome at Panathinaikos who was so bad they told him to clear off? He had a couple of decent spells about 10 years ago. On that basis, we could say Danny Cadamarteri is better.

Rob Marsh
295 Posted 24/08/2019 at 15:46:55
Clive # 283

You're probably right in saying that Calvert-Lewin has lost confidence, but the bigger problem is that he's not a natural finisher and even with confidence high you're only looking at 5 goals per season.

He'll do okay in the Championship; but the age he's at now, if he hasn't got, he'll never have it.

Drew O'Neall
296 Posted 24/08/2019 at 15:49:14
Well said Andy @ 293.

I'd add to that those who think it's as simple as picking a different team from their vantage point of their couch or their seat.

No-one knows what Silva is really up against in terms of fitness challenges.

It's naive at best and arrogant and stupid at worst to stand there and say you should pick X, Y and Z and that would fix everything, especially after the credibility Silva has banked following the final few months of last season.

Kieran Kinsella
297 Posted 24/08/2019 at 15:54:15
Frank @282,

I am not knocking Abrahams at all here, but up until today he has been getting hounded on social media and subjected to racist abuse by Chelsea fans who think he is crap. So, rather than Calvert-Lewin looking up to him as a "good striker", I'd say it's more a question of comrades in arms as both are young guys trying to make their mark in the game and being hammered by fans.

Lee Paige
298 Posted 24/08/2019 at 16:16:10
Calvert-Lewin has a good heat map.
Brian Williams
299 Posted 24/08/2019 at 16:25:26
Andy #293,

I am going to protest about last night's performance by going to a bbq this evening and getting quietly pished! Had the performance last night been good, I'd have got noisily pished.

I DO NOT fuck about when it comes to protests!

Ian Lloyd
300 Posted 24/08/2019 at 16:30:24
Dave 272 – completely agree

I had a look at Calvert-Lewin stats:

81 games in total - 10 goals

And I'm not just picking on Calvert-Lewin, I don't think any of our superstars would get in the top 6 teams

Alan J Thompson
301 Posted 24/08/2019 at 16:31:35
Gerry (#279);

In part, I agree that Silva seems to play anyone except those who were here before him but the argument falls down when you think of Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Walcott, Calvert-Lewin.

Having said that, I don't understand how Davies seems totally out of Silva's thinking, even allowing for him sticking almost to the same team each week, that is, keeping on with players who seem totally out of form.

Frank Crewe
302 Posted 24/08/2019 at 16:43:52
Keiran @297. One of them is making a mark. The other one is making a mess.
Tony Williams
303 Posted 24/08/2019 at 16:52:11
Paul Burns, (230) 100% Spot on.
Derek Knox
304 Posted 24/08/2019 at 16:52:22
Lee, true about the heat map, but the problem there is, it went blue when in or near the vicinity of the goal!

Sacre Bleu. :-)

Frank Crewe
305 Posted 24/08/2019 at 16:58:34
Drew @291,

I don't buy this 'not match-fit' stuff. Apparently Richarlison isn't fit because he played in the summer. Iwobi isn't fit because he didn't play any games in the summer. Although I assume he had a pre-season with Arsenal considering how late in the window we bought him. It would appear that, if a player has a tournament in the summer, he's not fit for the season, yet a player who misses a pre-season isn't fit either. So playing or not playing in the summer produces the same result. Unfit players. Ridiculous.

As far as I'm concerned, any player on the park or the bench is fit to play 90 minutes of football. If he's not fit, he should not be picked. So I won't accept "carrying injuries" as an excuse for lethargic displays.

Andy Crooks
306 Posted 24/08/2019 at 17:00:46
Tony Williams, you agree with Paul, that a lot of our fans are morons who will put up with anything? You are quite happy to endorse that view? Fucking shameful stuff.

I guess you and Paul will be marching with torches to the ground to show fucking Moshiri that you are proper blues who take no shit.

Tony Hill
308 Posted 24/08/2019 at 17:22:54
The real problem fans are the ones who wet their pants after three games. The Crystal Palace we comfortably outplayed have just beaten Man Utd. Such is the turmoil of early season games.

George Cumiskey
309 Posted 24/08/2019 at 17:26:11
Well, Drew @ 291, all our problems are because we're starting with half a team of unfit players?
Brent Stephens
310 Posted 24/08/2019 at 17:29:55
Tony, note that Silva has been here more than three games. And the players at his disposal bar a few new signings (as per other clubs).
John Pierce
311 Posted 24/08/2019 at 17:38:21
Tony, that’s erm well, yup can’t quite get on board with that comment. It’s not early season turmoil. United have been horrible for some time, that kind of result isn’t a product of three games, more to the point nor are Everton’s performances. The problems are recurrent and the same tropes under Silva’s tenure.

Let’s not ignore three very mediocre efforts against poor teams.

Tony Hill
312 Posted 24/08/2019 at 17:43:03
I said above, John, that annoyance and frustration are proper. Foolish panic, from some, is not. Man Utd trashed Chelsea two weeks ago and were being hailed as a resurrected team.

Drawing large conclusions from three games is bonkers. I'm happy to agree we were poor, of course.

Tony Hill
313 Posted 24/08/2019 at 17:55:37
Brent, @310, yes, but we were fine at the end of last season. We must take a longer view. If we’re shite over the next few months then fair enough.
Harry Hockley
314 Posted 24/08/2019 at 17:55:57
Everyone is allowed to put their opinions across. So how are some saying to apologise if we say we don’t like Schneiderlin? Jog on with that.
Harry Hockley
315 Posted 24/08/2019 at 17:59:19
Drew @291, what are you drinking? And can I have some please?
Drew O'Neall
316 Posted 24/08/2019 at 18:02:00
Frank @ 305

‘As far as I’m concerned any player on the park or bench is fit to play 90 minutes of football.’

Well that’s very convenient for your argument but it’s wrong and that’s proved by any amount of testimony.

Sometimes, more often than understood by fans, professional footballers are playing hurt or debilitated in some way.

Look at Keane playing in one boot two sizes too big for most of his first season as he fought off infection as an example. Another one is former Arsenal player Sabri Corzola who nearly lost his leg to gangrene.

‘If he’s not fit he shouldn’t be picked’

Who do you pick then? You’re only allowed to register 25 senior players. By your rationale you would only have Davies and Schneiderlin in the whole matchday squad.

Regarding your first point about tournaments and no tournaments, the point is about rest.

You have to give bodies time to heal after a season. There’s a difference between healing and match fitness. Yeah they could just remain ‘match fit’ from playing a summer tournament but then they are more susceptible to injury later in the season. They have to be completely rested, then fitness rebuilt. This takes weeks.

Staggering as this may seem, Everton and other professional football teams pay physios, doctors and other medical professionals thousands of pounds for the advice they follow and, frustrating though it is that we can’t get a tune out of our expensively assembled squad, your layperson’s opinion counts for nought.

Brent Stephens
317 Posted 24/08/2019 at 18:02:25
Take that longer view, as you say, from when Silva started. One step back, one forward, one back. Let's wait and see the even longer view.
Mike Gwyer
318 Posted 24/08/2019 at 18:03:40
Tony

Palace beating Man Utd means fuck-all to the fact that we were shite. We have no striker, but worse for me, we cannot play football when we go a goal down. As 11 men, we just seem to say "Fuck it, there is no way we are going to score 2 goals."

So yep, great for Palace but that results means jack shit for Everton.


Tony Hill
319 Posted 24/08/2019 at 18:05:41
Well, we shall find out.
Andy Crooks
320 Posted 24/08/2019 at 19:49:40
Mike @318, I agree with you. We are mentally fragile and I don't know why. I never expect us to come back from a goal down. Someone who knows more than me should write an article about it. We concede a goal and the game is over. I think we lack a Roy Keane.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

321 Posted 24/08/2019 at 19:56:18
Just returned to these pages after last night's defeat and there are some pretty sordid and sweeping posts directed at fellow blues which has absolutely nothing to do with legitimate observations of the manager, his tactics, his selections, the team or individual players.

Keeping to the football, last night was a disappointing result and performance. No question. But as someone who leans towards optimism and positivity, I can't align myself with those condemning everything and everyone associated with the club as some have.

The first 20 minutes, we looked every bit a top-six side from back to front. I thought we just had to breath to win this game, such was our control.

We were calm and unflustered in our possession and passing in every corner and situation of the pitch. There was good movement off the ball to open up good angles for the man in possession. There were some speedy and excellent transitions the length of the pitch which cut Villa to ribbons. The home side was being run ragged.

But then poor passing between Bernard and Gomes resulted in a cheap foul 70 yards from our goal. Both switched off. A quick free-kick caught us out of shape, but still Villa should not have been allowed to score such a soft goal.

No problem. We're playing well. Just do what good teams do when going behind: stick to the plan and you will get your reward.

Sadly, the remaining 70 minutes exposed us as not yet belonging to that elite group. We never got the control or dominance of that opening 20 minutes back again.

It's not a new phenomenon. I was shocked to hear in commentary last night that it is FOUR YEARS since Everton has got up to win a game that they were losing at halftime (2-0 down away to WBA that we won 3-2).

Genuinely good teams, teams with just modest fighting spirit, are capable of better than that.

The issue for me is a perennial one which has more to do with individual personality and character than actual ability. An absence of narks, players with a streak of nastiness, a driving desire to win and turn any situation into a winning one.

It's to be expected and it's frequently demonstrated on these pages that individual posters have particular players they will only champion and players they refuse to see any merit in, no matter how badly or well players from either sphere perform.

I am no different. I also have players I rate higher than others. But I also consider myself fair in my game-by-game assessment of the team and individuals. And, over the 90 minutes, I thought the following:

Pickford, Digne and Coleman were exempt from any severe criticism.

Keane the poorest of the centre backs, but not radically hopeless. Mina the most imposing centre back (and certainly not a hapless accident waiting to happen, as some claim), even though up against a physical centre forward well up for the challenge.

For me, Schneiderlin was the pick of our midfielders. Held position well. Mostly played the right ball for the situation. Displayed the most varied and imaginative range of passing for the game situation.

Gomes was WOEFUL. No fitness issues for me as some claim in his defence. I am yet to see the great play maker some make him out to be.

Bernard, Sigurdsson and Richarlison flickered rather than illuminated the game and were subbed out, but given how poorly Gomes played all three potentially offered more on the night than the Portuguese.

Calvert-Lewin is a player I have constantly defended, but he HAS to start taking the few chances that fall to him as per last night or the legitimacy of questioning his worth to the team will only grow.

The same might be said of Walcott. Iwobi looked the best of the subs and as mooted by some looks like the alternative for Siggy's position (rather than play Bernard there as some lobby for).

Other than the chance he created for Digne, I thought last night was Kean's least impressive minutes of his cameo appearances to date.

Given what I wrote earlier about the absence of nasty narks, I fancy Silva can't wait to get Delph fit to add some bite and leadership to the team.

Now if in the eyes of some the above assessment makes me a moron, someone meek, submissive and too easily accepting of mediocrity of what I want for Everton FC, then so be it.

But such casual and dismissive labelling of fellow Blues by some carries absolutely zero weight for me. Rather, it exposes the shallowness of the posters to make such claims.

As we showed in the final third of last season and in 20-30 minute spells in the first 3 games of this season, we have some talented players who can bind well as a team.

To lobby to sack the manager and label players as championship level at best after just 3 games IS reactionary and hysterical IMHO.

Tony Hill
322 Posted 24/08/2019 at 19:58:21
Andy, it goes deeper. It’s an entire climate and culture, ingrained over decades. We don’t expect to win, it’s not part of our constitution. We are too busy being classy and sensitive and lovely.

I think the present management will change that. If we don’t run them out of town.

Gavin Johnson
323 Posted 24/08/2019 at 20:14:04
Andy Crooks - Nobody is jumping the gun by being concerned about the result, but those saying Brands and Silva should be sacked after 3 games after the run in form towards the end of last season are frankly being OTT. Silva did enough last season to suggest that form will settle down.

Also, you are doing the same thing that you are accusing the so-called happy clappers of doing: Inferring that you are being more discerning (your words) because you won't accept a couple of bad results while others will accept mediocrity. I don't believe that's the case.

All I'll say is that there has to be a certain amount of realism. So we sack another manager and Director of Football. Brands is also on the board now. How many millions would that cost?! Answer, an absolute shit load.

Just saying sack the people buying and picking the team is just a populist reaction. The thing about the populist stance is that they never have the answer when it comes to the finer details. So, in other words, what is your solution once we sack them?

Kevin Molloy
324 Posted 24/08/2019 at 20:31:53
How very effing frustrating. Silva has had a problem with performances away from home for the whole of the time he's been here. It's not something which has just emerged. Even when playing well last season, we got played off the park by relegated Fulham.

I think it comes down to mentality. You've got to be strong mentally to go to an away ground and spoil the party. The good managers manage to do this, and usually quite quickly.

People have mentioned that mauling we got from Villa, the 6-2 one. They were a pretty decent side. I do remember though Howard taking over Man City not long afterwards (a crap Man City at that), and within a few months they went to Villa with the cameras in a relegation dog fight and battered them. I remember thinking 'God, I wish we had him back'.

Andy Crooks
325 Posted 24/08/2019 at 20:41:18
Gavin, I think you need to re read my posts. I entirely agree with you. I would probably be considered a happy clapper. Honestly, Gavin, please read my post @ 293 again.
Derek Knox
326 Posted 24/08/2019 at 20:44:27
I don't understand any of the criticism or shouts for Brands out, how could he possibly know that two of the signings would pick up injuries so early on?

Besides he is NOT picking the side he would have been given a directive to get players in, which he mainly succeeded in doing. Most of the new players were not being played anyway.

I can however, understand people's infuriation with Silva, when we go a goal down the whole pile of cards, which he has chosen by the way, generally come crashing down. We shouldn't need to have a Roy Keane, Neville or Cahill type character to spur them on.

These are professionals, and very well paid at that, they should be able to roll their sleeves up and socks down, and try to avoid the embarrassment of being beaten on their own merits.

Not someone to hold their hands, and point them in the direction of which they should be well aware of going. I have said on many occasions Silva is too predictable, stubbornly resistant to mixing things up a bit, and the result is not only boring, but repeated too often.

Andy Crooks
327 Posted 24/08/2019 at 20:44:45
Good post, Jay, detailed and well argued.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

328 Posted 24/08/2019 at 20:46:14
Ehrm...Gavin @ 323.

When you address Andy Crooks in the manner you have, I rather think it's a case of mistaken identity on your part.

I don't see Andy making any of the claims you attribute to him.

Gavin Johnson
329 Posted 24/08/2019 at 20:56:09
Andy, my apologies. I've been at a BBQ most of the day, so I've had quite a few beers.

Yes, I agree with your post wholeheartedly.

Another observation about last night is that, while Schneiderlin wasn't as bad as some people were making out (Gomes was much worse), I think Schneiderlin should be the one who makes way for someone with better energy, so Davies or Delph while Gbamin is injured. Alternatively, we just drop Sigurdsson for Iwobi or Bernard. McGinn and Grealish highlighted just how slow that triangle in the centre of the park actually is.

Tommy Carter
330 Posted 24/08/2019 at 20:59:37
I see Jonjoe Kenny put in a consistent performance today.
Brian Keenan
331 Posted 24/08/2019 at 21:04:29
Everton are too toothless and lack the imagination to be a winning team. The club doesn't try and breed the necessary skill known as it is sometimes cruel to be kind. Everton allow defeat as often as Everton fans think they are going to beat the opposition when the team they're playing have not won a match recently or they're in a lesser league when Everton are trying to either rise to a proper league standing or win a trophy.

Everton die too easily in front of Evertonians and Evertonians are sick of leaving ashamed regarding this issue. I have heard that this term is called Everton. I have heard it's the players, not the manager. I have heard that it's the style of the managers who Everton recruit and this is the approach of the board in not getting in the right players.

Which of these reasons are going to help Everton win the league? I believe that today‘s manager needs time. I wish Everton trained its players to become winners like Moyes in one-to-one sessions. I also believe Silva needs to grasp Tosun by the ears and pin down and free in centre of goal bearing on.

Everton in today's football should not be playing through the midfield; with due respect, they need to be showing more muscle helping out the backline than playing sideways.

Everton are too slow in building forward play. I believe Bernard should be in the middle, not waiting until the other team has gone down to ten. I hope Calvert-Lewin scores soon and Kean becomes a great goalscorer. Iwobi, I believe, should be a nice lad to have around Goodison Park.
Conor McCourt
332 Posted 24/08/2019 at 21:15:28
Jay 321- I would agree with the majority of your match assessment and some great points.

I do think you have been a little harsh on Gomes, not with regards to last night but this season in general. In the first game I felt we were dominating the game until his injury and when he went off the team seemed to totally lose impetus.

He apparently didn't train for most of the week yet made himself available. I like that he was determined to play despite not fit. I thought he was decent again in the first half against Watford but looked tired and became more ineffective in the second half.

Last night, he was shocking and I agree that Silva would dearly love to have Delph. It seems to be me that if Gomes doesn't perform others are either incapable or unwilling to take up the mantle.

This happened last winter also and while he wasn't missed after his stupid red card the team were already on a role at that stage.

I would also say you have been quite kind to Sigurdsson who has been a passenger in all the games. I was really impressed with Iwobi and he should have already had two assists but not for poor finishing. This bodes well going forward.

Gerry Ring
333 Posted 24/08/2019 at 21:21:59
Frank #282. It appears that you are on a solo run in your assessment of Coleman in the last 3 games. The general consensus is that he is one of a few players performing well. He is carrying forward his pre season form.
Si Cooper
334 Posted 24/08/2019 at 21:25:43
Jay Wood (321) says it very well for me.

The other thing I would add is that Villa have got some decent players; Mings, Engels, Guilbert, McGinn, Grealish, Jota and Wesley all rose to the challenge.

Gomes is better than that performance and Sigurdsson has to get more involved as a creative force.

Everyone else was a 6 or 7/10 performer for me if you watch the game objectively. Definite room for improvement but not disastrous as some are making out.

Bill Gall
335 Posted 24/08/2019 at 22:00:40
The concern I have with Silva, is his constant moving of Richarlison from a central attacking position, that he done well at last season for Everton and Brazil,to enable to bring in DCL as a #9 who I believe has some good points but overall he has reached his limits in this position.

As I have followed Everton since the early 50s I have been privileged to see some of the great and some of the not so great #9s and I do not think that Calvert-Lewin at this time in his career is showing enough to show if he will improve.

At this stage of the season I can not accept the excuse that some people are talking about, and that is lack of fitness. If a player is not fit he should not play as this may cause a serious injury, and this is fully the responsibility of the manager and his coaching staff

I still believe that at #9 we should have gone for someone more robust that would have upset the defense, as we have had a few before (Hickson, Royle, Ferguson and even Rooney had that nasty streak) and I may have been one of the few that got exited when D Simone (pardon the spelling) was mentioned.

As we will have to go with what we have got my preference would be Richarlison in the middle with Iwobi on the right wing and, if we got a couple of goals, move Richarlison left and bring on Kean.

As was previously stated, we started really well yesterday but, once they scored, we had no-one on the pitch or sidelines that was able to motivate the team..

It is a little early to start calling for changes, but it is strictly up to Silva to start showing if he is up for the job.

Brian Wilkinson
336 Posted 24/08/2019 at 22:53:31
If Delph is not fit for Wednesday's game then we have to start with a strong starting 11 against Lincoln.

I would stick with Pickford in goal, same starting defence then the rest for me would be Davies, Iwobi, Delph if fit with Kean leading the attack.

I would bench Calvert-Lewin, Sigursson and possibly Richarlison, with Walcott not in the squad.

I would even consider Tosun getting a starting spot alongside Kean and change from the lone striker.

Gavin Johnson
337 Posted 24/08/2019 at 22:58:43
While I think it's OTT to be calling for Silva to be sacked after 3 games, I can understand it on one level. People who were sceptical with the appointment in the first place are just having their views confirmed.

However, in Brands's case I'd really like any of the posters with negative posts to say what he's done that is so bad?? I don't get it at all.

He's been cleaning up the mess of Walsh, Koeman and Big Sam, and in my view doing a largely successful job attracting a higher calibre of player than those we were signing under the previous management.

Yes, he got to fixated on focussing on signing Zouma and should have looked for an alternative earlier, there were variables out of his control, like Arsenal signing Side Show Bob from Chelsea. Personally, that's the only thing any one could bring up for moaning about him.

Sam Hoare
338 Posted 24/08/2019 at 23:05:52
I've calmed down now. Jay @321 is spot on.

Gbamin is going to be a big miss and we are seriously short of athleticism in the middle. Delph will have to hit the ground running and stay fit.

Gavin Johnson
339 Posted 24/08/2019 at 23:09:15
Sam, I think you're completely right about Gbamin. I'd also go further and say what a difference Doucoure could have made had we signed him.

Wouldn't you also consider giving Davies a run in the side?

Si Cooper
340 Posted 24/08/2019 at 23:16:25
Gavin, Davies will run all day for us, but he won't be quick about it and he won't be knocking many out of his way.

To be a truly effective force in that role, I think he needs a proper weights program to bulk him up and improve his speed.

Gavin Johnson
341 Posted 24/08/2019 at 23:23:00
Si - before the season started I would have loaned Davies out to a lesser Premier League club or, like Jonjoe, a club in Germany to get a season playing, week-in & week-out.

They change quickly in football. Now, I would play him in Schneiderlin's role cos, while I think you're right about Daves, he still has better energy and mobility than Schneiderlin. That said, I would still be playing Delph instead of Davies, but he's been a sick note up to now and will probably break down again, no sooner he returns.

Kieran Kinsella
342 Posted 25/08/2019 at 01:23:28
Andy Crooks out! Andy Crooks out! It’s all your fault for buying Vinny Samways. Oh sorry mate, been at a bbq too
Gavin Johnson
343 Posted 25/08/2019 at 02:51:28
I'm happy to amuse you, Kieran. I'll also share with you that I'm dyslexic so I usually have to read a post a couple of times anyway. Throwing beers into the mix makes it worse, but I'll take your comment as jokey banter, mate.
Kieran Kinsella
344 Posted 25/08/2019 at 04:35:38
Gav

No hard feelings, mate, I've had a few myself.

Don Alexander
345 Posted 25/08/2019 at 05:02:02
Tony Hill (#322) I fully agree, the inertia has been ingrained over decades, and to me that places those in charge of our club as 100% accountable, to solidly loyal supporters, as to why our desperate scenario continue to exist.

I don't believe in ghosts. I 100% recognise a CHAIRMAN shyster as being 100% responsible for reducing our club to the level of Leicester and Wolves.

Darren Hind
346 Posted 25/08/2019 at 07:20:50
There's myth being created here.

It wont be long before people are talking bout "THAT miss".
In over half century of watching Everton I have never heard any miss discussed as much as this one.
In fact there re two myths being created. The chance has already become chanceS. apparently DCL has missed load of others.

"Five yards out" says the fool who clearly doesnt know what the six yard box is.

"An open goal" Says the guy who seems oblivious to the fact that there was four men on the line all ready to break their necks to keep it out.

Two of my passengers driving back from Birmingham called it the worst miss they have ever seen. Really ? it wasn't even the worst miss of that hour - Wallcott's doesn't seem to count though.

Lets be clear here Calvert Lewin should have scored, no two ways about it. A confident striker would have done. . . but any reasonable person who watches this team, knows this is the first real chance he had had for about four fucking months. Anyone who claims they have not seen the worlds top strikers miss worse chances is deluding themselves.

The band wagon is gathering strength. I notice some of the people who very recently supported DCL are now ingratiating themselves with the "majority" and telling the old side splitter about the cows arse and a banjo.. . I've just watched the game on the box and Jamie Carragher has clearly latched on to it. Even he was talking about all these mythical missed chances.

Top teams will create average of half a dozen chances a game. Their strikers know that if they miss one, another is just around the corner. . We have five "creative" players who have been little more than passengers in since the season kicked off.
Anyone who thinks Kean or Awobi can come into this current Everton team and score freely, is not only being unfair to the lads. They are deluding themselves.

Calvert Lewin will never be a Jimmy Greaves those who complain about that fact simply demonstrate their ignorance. You don't teach natural finishing, otherwise there would be fucking hundreds of them.

It's a really good idea to fuel the Jamie Carraghers of this world. To howl and exaggerate every chance that doesnt hit the net. to ignore the cause and focus on the symptom rather.

One of the new boys will be given his chance up front soon. Lets see how quicky we can blame him. Lets see how quickly we can exaggerate and invent "missed chances". Lets see if we can put a big fuck of monkey on his back. . Lets see if we can make the knot in his stomach tighten a little further on the rare occasion one of the passengers actually creates a chance for him

Chris Leyland
347 Posted 25/08/2019 at 07:52:06
A laudable defence Darren but he still missed it. I'm not a Calvert-Lewin basher as I can see what he brings to the party with his tireless running and his harrying and hassling of the opposition back four but the fact is, he isn't a finisher and that is what we need given the paucity of chances we create.

The fact he isn't a finisher isn't his fault but you don't have to be a top finisher to have made a better fist of his attempt just as you don't have to be to have done better if you were Walcott who actually had time to a touch on his woeful miss.

You are right that there is the a real lack of chances being created. As such, when they are, we need our forwards to bury them otherwise we are in for a long hard season.

Trevor Peers
348 Posted 25/08/2019 at 08:28:03
Bill @335
Your suggestion of playing Richarlison up top with Iwobi and Kean seems to be Silva's way out of our present goal drought. We'll see if that formation is used in the up and coming games.

Silva has to sort this out quickly because the way we played at the back end of last season has been sussed out. His conservative approach is no different to the football Koeman and Allardyce were serving up, we're back to zombie football, let's see if Silva can save his job again with a change of tactics.

Steven Astley
349 Posted 25/08/2019 at 08:44:10
Darren, now that you've had chance to step down off your soapbox I'll summarise in a few sentences for you.

Calvert Lewin isn't good enough for Everton Football Club. He is barely good enough for the Brighton HA's and Burnley's of this division. Its fans like yourself that drag the club down with their lowly ambitions and persistence with players and things that are just not up to scratch, "but hey, let's stick with them because they put a shift in".

John Reynolds
350 Posted 25/08/2019 at 08:47:04
Well said Darren, agree 100%. A baying mob with pitchforks is just what a fine young man needs when chances are few and his confidence might be ebbing. And as other reasonable voices have pointed out, DCL is not being deployed as a striker, but rather being asked to lead the line to bring others into play.

It was interesting to hear Peter Crouch talking on the podcast about his barren spell across the park and how following Benitez’s instructions affected his goal scoring. The fans and the media were all over him but Rafa was very happy. Dominic is doing what’s being asked of him, probably to the detriment of his own game and certainly his popularity with a big section of the fanbase.

Graham Lloyd
351 Posted 25/08/2019 at 08:58:37
OK - first post on TW after many, many years of reading so before adding my 2 cents worth I'd first like to thank the likes of Lyndon and Michael and all the others for all the great content now.

Appreciate that all three performances so far have been pretty average, but do some people on here really think that sacking the manager is the answer this early in the season? After the awful post-derby run ended last season, we turned a corner and were playing some great stuff and doing what previous managers couldn't do in beating a few of the top 6 sides. I thought (unlike with Koeman) that Silva showed resilience and ability to take the bad run, turn the corner and then get the team performing at a level we all expect.

Whilst I have no idea whether Silva can evolve into a manager that can lead the team that competes at a level above the 'best of the rest', surely just changing manager every couple of years just removes any semblance of stability.

Trevor Peers
352 Posted 25/08/2019 at 09:03:42
Everton have become so predictable with the present conservative system, Villa just sat back let us have possession for 25 minutes and then boom they hit us on the break. It's so easy for the opposition it's become embarrassing.

That has to change if we are to move forward, DCL should be taken out of the firing line now for his own sake, otherwise it could completely ruin his confidence. It's happened before to much more experienced players like Jelavic and Johnson, both ruined by playing the lone striker role at Everton.

Rob Halligan
353 Posted 25/08/2019 at 09:05:35
Let's imagine for one minute, that the boot was on the other foot and that chance had been down the other end, and it was Wesley who had that chance, but it was blocked on the line by four of our defenders. We'd all be screaming "great defending by our lot", because you know what, that's what defenders do, they defend their goal!!

I'd hate to be Marcus Rashford this morning. He only had the goalie to beat from twelve yards and still couldn't get his shot on target.

Darren Hind
354 Posted 25/08/2019 at 09:22:55
Steve Astley,

You did make me laugh out loud.
You single out a player who has never been more than a stop-gap for you bile and the irony of exonerating all that dross around him is completely lost one you.

I know and see Calvert-Lewin's shortcomings. However, unlike you, I see all the rest of the players' shortcomings too. I know they are not top six players and again, unlike you, I wont be apologising for them.

The only thing I find myself apologising for these days are Evertonians mug enough to think we lack ambition because of ONE player.

People like you hand the fun to kopites on a plate.

David Thomas
355 Posted 25/08/2019 at 09:28:19
Darren,

Do you honestly think fans who are questioning Calvert-Lewin's place in the team are expecting him to be like Jimmy Greaves?

Dave Williams
356 Posted 25/08/2019 at 09:39:16
Well said again, Darren. Posters are missing the point – we didn't lose to Villa because Calvert-Lewin had one shot which was cleared off the line. We lost because our midfield lost control and failed to create good chances. Walcott's came at him too high on his wrong foot, likewise Digne.

Picking on Calvert-Lewin goes back to the days of Osman etc and why people need a whipping boy is beyond me – why not support and encourage your own players? Silva is struggling to find his best team from what is available, just like he did last season. We can't score which was also a problem last season.

Kean starting won't make much difference because we are not creating chances. Against Villa, our midfielders were back to the tippy tally 3-yard passes of the Koeman era because no one wanted to take responsibility. Morgan won't put himself in the firing line and did little all game. Gomes lost confidence after a few poor passes and Gylfi yet again seemed off the pace and contributed nothing summed up by his ridiculous chip from 50 yards or so which dropped gently into the keeper's arms.

This was the area where the game was lost, not the young lad busting a gut working for the team. Play Kean and Iwobi with Calvert-Lewin, get rid of the short sideways or backwards passing and instruct the team to get amongst it, work at some pace to win the ball and then attack.

If DCL then can't score then maybe the critics are right but for heavens sake give him a chance. I still think he has it in him to be a very good CF.

Darren Hind
357 Posted 25/08/2019 at 09:41:58
No David. TBH I don't. Most of them won't even know who he was.

The point remains though; I have seen dozens and dozens of posts from people asking why he doesn't do what people like Aguero, Salah and even Fowler do/did. It's like they think they have spotted something nobody else has seen. They don't seem to realise they are stating the blindingly obvious... again and again.

It winds me up that, when I try to share the blame around and point out the problems throughout the rest of the team, some blinkered clown comes along and tells me its MY lack of ambition which drags the club down... Oh the fucking irony.

Anyway, I'm off to get my barbie started. I don't want to be in a bad mood before the people I've invited get here.

Us blues have got to try and salvage something out of what has so far been a twat of a weekend.

Derek Thomas
358 Posted 25/08/2019 at 09:44:47
As Darren @346 states... and I've said before; there are bigger problems than Calvert-Lewin and better players than him would / will struggle with the lack of support and service.

Not too long ago we had 3 No 10s, now we have none. All we have is, out of form / injured / not fit / I've got my contract now, individuals. Playing (badly) in all of these modern individual mid field positions.

NO MID FIELD UNIT - be it of 3, 4 or 5 players.

It used to be said, why do we have five in Mid-Field, the answer was; because we don't have a four good enough. So if we struggled with five, why do we expect a permutation of ones do a decent job.

Dave O\'Connell
359 Posted 25/08/2019 at 10:18:22
Kieran @294, Tell me then what has Walcott done for Everton.
David Hallwood
360 Posted 25/08/2019 at 10:24:38
I must admit I haven't been on TW since that embarrassment on Friday night, and I can't be bothered to wade through all 325 posts.

But taking the cue from the ones I did read, mainly about Calvert-Lewin. Why has he been singled out as it was a shit show from every player. Furthermore, I'll sit down with any critic of DCL and watch all three games, to count how many times a midfielder bust a gut to get in the box; I'd be surprised if happened once.

What's the point of DCL holding the ball when no ones giving him an option? Silva's got to realise that 4-2-3-1 which we've played since Martinez isn't working, it's too predictable. Currently we have nothing going through the middle, we hit the wings asap and then what? Cross the ball to DCL who'll be all on his lonesome.

It's weird to say this, but the international break can't come quick enough.

Peter Mills
361 Posted 25/08/2019 at 10:24:54
Darren #357. “Us blues have got to try and salvage something out of what has so far been a twat of a weekend”.

That's exactly what I did yesterday, travelling up to Padiham to watch Marine play in the FA Cup Preliminary round. All was going well, the Mariners going 1-0 up.

15 minutes to go, the softest of headers was bouncing gently towards Marine's goalie, who just needed to pick up the ball. Instead, he waved it into the net.

The salvage operation turned into desperately clinging on for a replay.

Mike Oates
362 Posted 25/08/2019 at 10:27:22
The loss of Gueye has had a massive impact to the team, he was the midfield energy, he was the one that got the ball back, covered for Gomes, covered the back 4.

Gbamin has come in, unproven, but probably will reach a good standard, but now looks out for a couple of months. We will totally rely on Delph coming back in and hopefully doing that No 6 role as no one else can do it. As well as covering for Gomes defensively he also has to help shore up a defence weakened by Zouma's departure. Can he do it, we'll find out, if not we are either goosed or Silva does a major switch in formation.

Upfront - it doesn't matter if we have the best clinical finisher in the game, if he doesn't get the service he will never score. At the moment we have gone back to being slow, deliberate, hoping one of the full-backs delivers a quality cross, because there isn't the movement, quickness of mind in Sigurdsson, Gomes, Schenderlin, to play through a congested middle.

Outwide - neither Bernard nor Richarlison are capable of beating a man.

There is a team there somewhere, it's what formation Silva switches to, to accommodate the players we have, and hoping that we keep the XI players fit to play. Losing Delph, Gbamin to injury, having to wait for the likes of Moises Kean, Iwobi, Sidibe, Richarlison to get match fit, in what as a very lean squad is causing so many issues.

Against Lincoln he has to play his all his new players, 100% ready or not, get Delph on the pitch, and try possibly a 4-3:-3 formation. He cannot rely on Gomes and Schneiderlin to defend and create in a 2 man midfield, they can't do it. Give Sigurdsson, Bernard, Coleman and Calvert-Lewin, a rest and a wake-up call, and try out Kean, Iwobi, and Sidibe.

My team would be : Pickford, Sibide, Kean, Mina, Digne, Davies, Delph, Gomes, Richarlison, Kean, Iwobi, assuming Delph is fit, if not helplessly Schederlin again !

Drew O'Neall
363 Posted 25/08/2019 at 10:35:28
I've just re-watched the highlights. We banged on the door for a long time and they caught us on the break for both goals. We were the superior team, in control and just couldn't finish. I don't know the stat for shots off target but it was high... and it wasn't just Calvert-Lewin!
Tommy Carter
364 Posted 25/08/2019 at 10:43:17
@360 David and others

I don't see Calvert-Lewin being singled out for harsh criticism. I see the harsh reality of his 3 performances so far this season being discussed.

He hasn't looked a threat at all and this for me was his big chance to really grasp his opportunity. In my opinion he has failed to do so.

He has not had an abundance of chances created for him but generally his all-round contribution has even been quite limited. If he backed himself he would even deviate slightly from a game plan and go looking for opportunities and try to make them happen. He would ruthlessly demand more from his team mates. He would gobble up a half chance, such as his effort ‘off the line' against villa.

He hit the target but he never looked like scoring. What disappointed me further was when Iwobi hit the post, Calvert-Lewin stood statuesque in the 6-yard box. This for me is not the activity of a player looking to seize the opportunity he has.

True, others around him have been very poor but they have all shown at various points throughout their time with Everton (with the exception of Mina) that they have an ability to perform for our team.

I like Calvert-Lewin, he has many qualities. But he is not top quality. I'm happy for him to be a squad player with Everton.

Andrew Ellams
365 Posted 25/08/2019 at 10:44:00
Lots of talk about player shortcomings, what about the manager who repeatedly shows his inability to manage games like this one with his poor selections and woeful substitutions? Or the owner who has sent the club backwards with numerous bad decisions over 3 years. These are the main reasons why the club will fail to move on again this season.
Kevin Molloy
366 Posted 25/08/2019 at 10:52:31
Gomes has come in for a lot of stick and clearly he had a poor game. But the way we are set up, the whole game seems to go through him. He must have been on the ball every 90 seconds, how exhausting must that be. For me, he is clearly a top player, his passing alone can be superb. Remember Phil Neville in the same position, this guy mostly just seems to know what to do with the ball.

I think one of the problems we currently have is that Morgan does not enjoy showing for the ball, and thereby giving #Gomes more options. I don't mean to be having a pop at Morgan for that, it's just the way his game is. Ironically Gueye used to be the same, until he gained a new confidence in the last six months and would show much more for the pass.


In contrast to Gomes though, I can't remember Sigurdsson in the game. I'm still not sure if that is a fault solely down to him, or if the system just isn't working. But we can't afford to just carry someone who doesn't affect the game for half an hour at a time.

David Price
367 Posted 25/08/2019 at 11:51:41
I wondered how long we would have to wait before we saw the so-called raw talent that is Kean. he is a different class to Calvert-Lewin and, even though he MAY not be fit, he is what we need right now.

We invest millions and don't play him – what an absolute mess. Him, Iowbi and Gbamin should be on the team sheet. Makes you wonder who's running the team.

Get Jose!!! Before we become a laughing stock... Sorry, Silva, you're are not a good enough manager. Nice guy though. 😂

Len Hawkins
368 Posted 25/08/2019 at 12:22:21
Can I just take the pressure off for a second. If you all feel dejected after Friday night, then I can trump that by being dejected too after Friday, plus Saints losing at Wembley yesterday, rounded off by my home town club Southport getting beat at home. I had to throw all the washing lines tow ropes and belts away followed by sharp knives and razors. I'd need a brewery to take the pain of that lot away.
Dave O\'Connell
369 Posted 25/08/2019 at 12:45:16
We should have paid what Palace wanted for Zaha, somebody who runs and upsets defenders.
Dave Williams
370 Posted 25/08/2019 at 13:23:31
We have that type of player, Dave. Two were sat on the bench most of the game!!
Tony Abrahams
371 Posted 25/08/2019 at 13:51:39
I can't agree that Silva is a nice guy when he keeps making thousands of Evertonians have to endure Schneiderlin, a player I personally don't want to watch even if my ticket was for free.
Justin Doone
372 Posted 25/08/2019 at 14:10:22
I'm trying to stay positive, so...

For the 2nd time in his career Schnides played a very good forward ball. Well done him.

DCL still getting into good positions and his shot was on target.

Gomes played well with little or no support.

The wingers all tried hard and played reasonably well but their crossing, passing and shooting needs to be better, faster, sharper and more accurate.

Mina made some good tackles. Pickford some good saves.

Coleman probably my MotM for guts, effort, trying to defend high and got forward well. Just lacks that quality final ball.

Dave O\'Connell
373 Posted 25/08/2019 at 14:13:50
Dave 370, fair comment. I haven't seen enough of either to judge yet.
Justin Doone
374 Posted 25/08/2019 at 14:17:09
Cup is to avoid injuries.

Not concerned if we lose or draw, in fact let's be honest and say another cup upset is on the way.

We need our defenders and goalkeeper unit to be better, so they should all start. Good test for Mina.
I'd give final warnings to DCL and Schnides. Perform, score and generally contribute positively to v the team or be fine

Tommy Carter
375 Posted 25/08/2019 at 14:20:40
@371 Tony

Schneids wasn’t too bad on Friday. And he is not a Silva signing. He was an expensive Koeman/Walsh signing who currently has no kind of resale value worth considering. It’s right in these circumstances that Silva picks him I think.

I’m sure if Silva had the chance to have kept Gana and dispense Schneiderlin then he certainly would’ve done. But nobody wanted to pay big money for the Frenchman and Gana wanted to leave.

Gbamin has clearly been identified as a replacement for Gana and was to be given time to settle in. To play Schneiderlin in the interim period is clearly the plan and not such a bad one, a French international who performed to a very high standard in the premier league with Southampton.

The only other options would’ve been to have kept a player that didn’t want to be at the club or to have signed a ready made replacement. Not the option the regime chose because they must fee that Gbamin will come good and will be worth the bedding in period. They couldn’t have accounted for him getting a terrible injury

Raymond Fox
376 Posted 25/08/2019 at 14:51:11
Fans get too high when we win and too low when we lose.

I know it's hard when you're very attached to the club, because we take it personally. Our three results were predictable, though, a draw with Palace – it doesn't look too bad when they win at Man Utd; we beat Watford then get beat at Villa. They were no way two goals better than us, in fact, the result could have been very different. As they say, though, look at the scoreboard!

The midfield is the engine room of any team and ours is largely misfiring. Villa's first goal was a cracker, so simple and that is the sort of play you very rarely see off us.

It's very early days yet and we will get better I've no doubt, but Silva needs to change his selections because we have only one way of playing at the moment and the opposition are ready for us.

The injuries to Delph and Gbamin are doing us no favours, and it will interesting to see what Delph brings to the party when he gets to play.


I'm confident we'll be knocking at the door come the end of the season, as usual, but top six I'm not getting my hopes up about achieving that.

Kim Vivian
377 Posted 25/08/2019 at 16:27:59
Jeez - Just watched the cricket. I feel resurrected now ... Ben Stokes please come and play for Everton.... or show us some fire... Get in England cricket.
Derek Knox
378 Posted 25/08/2019 at 16:35:50
David Price @367, Get Jose? Hose B, would do at the moment!

But you have a point, while I have never been a great fan or believer in Marco Silva, I actually thought he was proving my skepticism totally unfounded towards the end of last season.

After a joke of a pre-season, in terms of preparation, mind you the squad know a lot about chocolate, cuckoo clocks, and White Water Rafting (always a handy combination in a Prem game of Football) and a few decent acquisitions in the Transfer Window.

I thought, looking forward to the new season, where my optimism was further enhanced by a kind fixture list, here we go, things can only get better.

Three winnable games later, where we have only seen glimpses of the new boys, the fitness levels have to be questioned, why so many injuries, even from players who haven't kicked a ball in the Prem yet?

He is sticking with the same boring and unproductive formation with basically the same players, standing on the touchline shaking his head, with arms folded like Tweetie Pie. It's like a designer of a piece of machinery, who has selected every component, then expressing his disgust at it's stuttering performance as if he had no part in it!

I think questions have to be rightly asked, when Moshiri came on Board, it was like a prayer had been answered from above, at long last we could start to compete with the Big Boys at The Top Table. It was patently obvious that Moshiri knew little about Football, but that didn't overly worry me, because he was providing long awaited funds.

Roberto Martinez (who was already on board) started off okay, but then went into decline, but who advised him to head-hunt Kloghead Koeman, at considerable cost in compensations, with both the departure of Roberto and the money to Saints.

We all know what happened then with Koeman/Walsh and the writing was again on the wall, more compensation! Then Allardyce, things seemed to be getting worse instead of better. More writings on the wall for probably the most disliked Manager we have had, oh, and more compensation.

In the meantime, Marco Silva was again, as with Ku-Klux-Koeman, being head-hunted from Watford. Why, who had been in Moshiri's head again? Oh more compensation claimed, but not as far as we know paid, unless it was covertly hidden in Richarlison's fee.

Getting back to Jose, not Hose B, would he come if offered? Would he stay if things weren't going to HIS plans, playthings and pacifiers have been known to be forcibly ejected from the Mourinho perambulator before now.

In summation Marco Silva is not doing a lot to endear himself with the fans, in either his team selections tactics and most importantly results, or lack of them. While I don't think at this juncture it would be prudent to dismiss his services, (more compensation) I just hope there is a change of tactics, on and off the field, which of course should be reflected in results.

Steve Brown
379 Posted 25/08/2019 at 16:57:07
Darren @ 235, I have slept on it and re-evaluated. You are right.

It wasn't the shocking performances of Gomes, Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson and Richarlison that cost it the match. It wasn't the open goal that Walcott missed. It was the miss by DCL from his one chance with the keeper and four defenders lined up to block him. Can't believe I got it so wrong. :)

Bill Gall
380 Posted 25/08/2019 at 18:21:41
Trevor #348,

Going on the first15-20mins of yesterdays game Silva has his tactics rite the problem I see is he has the personnel wrong. I am not against Calvert-Lewin but I just believe he will not improve, and that is why I wondered why Richarlison is not being used as the central striker, a position that he proved successful at last season, with Everton and Brazil.

Yes we need a better striker and I believe that was what Kean was bought for,but at the same time due to his age and inexperience with the premier I think Silva is doing okay bringing him in later but not by putting him under to much pressure by using him to chase the game.

The criticism of Calvert-Lewin is undeserved as the player is doing his best; my criticism is with Silva for using a player who will not improve no matter how long he plays. and not using a player who was successful at that position

Rob Marsh
381 Posted 25/08/2019 at 20:15:57
Bill # 380,

Calvert-Lewin only has his current place in the team because of his "Target man" attributes, else he's not even as good as Niasse as a pure goal scorer. Also his youth is helping him stay on the pitch, Silva believes at any moment he could win the lottery and DCL will transform into Gary Lineker.

For all Tosun's faults, lack of pace being the main one, he's a better finisher than both Niasse and DCL and should be playing ahead of them. And another one who can finish better than DCL is Mirallas. That's how poor we are upfront at the moment.

Eric Paul
382 Posted 25/08/2019 at 21:24:18
Rob Marsh,

Why do you think we still have Niasse and Tosun? Niasse is not even a footballer and I doubt if anyone will take him even on a free as for Tosun as you point out is not a bad finisher but has zero pace. A striker without pace is not worth a carrot again no one will take him unless on a free

Danny O'Neill
383 Posted 25/08/2019 at 21:40:35
3 games in and we're in sack the manager territory!!

Tottenham lost to Newcastle so clearly must sack the manager.

United lost to Palace so must clearly sack the manager.

We are 3 games in. You simply cannot judge; unless obviously you have an agenda where you are looking to justify the judgement. Sky sports & the treat every game like a cup final mentality has bred an unwelcome hysteria into the modern supporter.

I'll maintain my traditional approach; see where you are at Christmas and don't get too worried about league tables prior to that. It's served me well; if we applied this "2 games in and we're doomed" strategy, Moyes would have been gone 2 or 3 years into his 11 year reign and "Sir" Howard Kendall would have been gone early 83-84 as the leaflets demanded . just before he went on to be the most successful manager in Everton's history.

We're such a wise bunch us emotionally charged supporters!!

Andy Crooks
384 Posted 25/08/2019 at 22:42:21
Steven, @349 so it's fans like Darren and I guess me who are dragging the club down with "lowly ambitions"? That suggests to me that you have higher ambitions. So what the fuck are you actually doing to achieve them. Have you any protests planned? I asked some others the same question but they seem to be keeping the details of their march on the Liver Building to themselves.

Coming on here and being the better Evertonian, an Evertonian who is not "dragging the club down", is just spouting meaningless nonsense. Let's hear your ideas, how you plan to take this beyond the site. Tell us what to do, because believe me, Silva is not going to read this thread and think, "Holy fuck, now Steve's annoyed as well... better buck up my ideas!"

Criticism of the coach, the players the board is fine. Criticism of Evertonians who are not slashing their wrists after three games is utterly lamentable.

Derek Knox
385 Posted 25/08/2019 at 22:55:10
Danny, I don't think people are knee-jerking purely after 3 games, it is an accumulation of events/non-events. I am not saying any team has a right to win every game, but we would have been expected to get a result against all three.

By a result I mean all three points, considering the amount of money that has been spent under Silva's reign, there have only been limited signs of improvement towards the end of last season, but the League position still ended up worse than anticipated.

His intangibility to change things around a bit too gets under peoples skin, his attitude towards both Cups last season was also a bone of contention and a disgrace.

Personally I don't think we would achieve much by sacking him, at such an early stage, but if performances don't improve and results too, people will be baying for his blood. Let's hope we can beat Lincoln on Wednesday or the pitchforks, torches will be out in force, and there could be a lynching at Finch Ranch!

John McGimpsey
386 Posted 25/08/2019 at 23:41:58
Hahaha... the Calvert-Lewin defenders are so daft it makes me cringe...

At one point in the game, we were attacking just outside the left side of Villa's box and, instead of running toward a gap, he backtracked into three Villa players. The man is shite... end of — just like Davies.

Grow up, Blues! I and thousands of others are sick of this crap... close the door on the way out — and take Blue Bill, and the fraud Ferguson with you.

Rob Marsh
387 Posted 25/08/2019 at 23:42:46
Eric # 382

There's clubs who'll take Tosun, it's the price we're asking that denies a move or loan, we still value him.

I stand by what I said, either Tosun or Niasse given decent chances to score will do so much more than Calvert-Lewin. Tosun definitely out of that three.

I'd would much rather have had Tosun in the box against Villa than what we had on Friday. Take your choice a striker with a lack of outright pace who has reasonable chance of putting in a decent shot or one with pace who kicking a ball around on Goodison Road can't hit the side of the main stand from five feet?

Brian Porter
388 Posted 25/08/2019 at 23:48:13
Watched MOTD, and MOTD2 and couldn't help noticing the various commentators talking about so and so's new signing. It seems other teams have been signing new players in the summer, and here's the big surprise, they are PLAYING them. None of this needing time to settle or adapt to the Premier League. They bought them and they play them and two or three of them scored as well.

Just when is Silva going to ditch the cautious approach and get Kean and Iwobi in as starters and let them show us what they can do?

Ffs, I think Norwich's new signing, Pukki, has scored 5 already. That's more than DCL will probably produce all season!

Gavin Johnson
389 Posted 25/08/2019 at 23:48:57
If DCL had the finishing ability of Tosun he'd be one of the best strikers in the league. Such a pity we can't combine their attributes, but such as it is, one of them can't score and the other one isn't fast or strong enough to get into the positions to score as a lone striker.

Until Gbamin returns and integrates into the faster style of play I think the key to get us shooing and scoring more goals is sorting the formations of Bernard, Iwobi and Sigurdsson, and first things first is dropping Sigurdsson and playing either Iwobi or Bernard as the No.10. against Lincoln. I'd also give DCL and Kean 45mins each

Derek Knox
390 Posted 25/08/2019 at 23:55:55
Brian @388, I know what your saying and tend to agree, but in the case of Pukki he was with them all last year in the Championship. I believe they got him (wait for it) on a free transfer from Brondby. He did have a spell with Celtic before going to Schalke.
Michael Kenrick
391 Posted 25/08/2019 at 23:58:53
Sorry, Andy, but there are no Evertonians on here who are "slashing their wrists". Or will you provide evidence to the contrary? You're falling into Darren's trap of spouting ridiculous hyperbole and I don't think that does either side of the argument any good, tbh.
Gavin Johnson
392 Posted 26/08/2019 at 00:14:31
Brian #388, I don't know about all the other teams but perhaps they bought them earlier in the summer and they had a run of friendlies under their belts. Our pre season was dreadful, and a large part of which was because we were fielding the likes of Frazer, Williams and Hornby, and deadwood like Niasse. All of which either have no or no immediate future at the club.

Maybe Brands could make an effort into doing our incoming business earlier, but the drawback might be that we have to pay bigger fees. Brands seems to prefer hard negotiations either to get a better price or because he'll go the extra mile with his main targets

Andy Crooks
393 Posted 26/08/2019 at 00:27:36
Fair enough, Mike, an unfortunate and over the top comment which I will take back. However, I stand by my view that it is unfair to suggest that Evertonians, any Evertonians, are dragging the club down and lack ambition.
You posted a piece I wrote last season calling for Silva to go, so I am no happy clapper. Friday was poor but I think that Darren makes a fair point when he argues that Dominic's miss was not the main point of the match. Who knows how it will go, Wolves is a really big game.
Si Cooper
394 Posted 26/08/2019 at 01:08:44
‘Everton have become so predictable with the present conservative system, Villa just sat back let us have possession for 25 minutes'

Possibly the most laughable comment I've ever seen. Villa were chasing shadows and unable to retain possession in that period, and it wasn't by choice.

Within something like the first 6 minutes we'd had 2 decent ‘shouts' for a penalty.

I was surprised we (and the commentators) didn't make more of Mings ‘running interference' for his goalie, and I can't see why hip on hip contact that knocks you over isn't a penalty. Would have been two soft ones but I thought we were in the age of zero tolerance with VAR and the ridiculous handball edict.

The challenge by Grealish on Richarlison would have got you a free kick anywhere else on the park all night, including the one that Grealish was smart enough (and back on his feet) to take quickly.

Justin Doone
395 Posted 26/08/2019 at 14:10:34
There isn't a good miss but when you completely miss the target from less than 12 yards... It happens but it happens to often to Walcott.

I'm not convinced anyone else would have put the chances away either and that's the problem.

Can Kean be the scoring machine we need?

George Carroll
396 Posted 26/08/2019 at 21:08:26
I have been an Evertonian for 75+ years and seen the highs and the lows but I do wonder whether we now have a different breed of Evertonians. You cannot fail to notice how quick people jump on the bandwagon of blaming the Manager, our Micheal Kenrick never misses a chance to have a dig which sets the tone for the comments that follow.

At the moment, people are saying it's the end of our hopes, forgetting of course that Spurs, Man Utd, Chelsea, Wolves etc also lost. I do wonder do we compare ourselves to Man City and our Neighbours who both have far and away the best teams in the Premier League?

If we think we are going to match them soon, well think again. We are far behind them due to Manager's being hired who were not up to the job and a Board that frankly didn't have a clue and allowed a Chairman to issue ridiculous contracts both to managers and players. Now thank goodness we have Brands and Silva, have patience and let them build a team worthy of NSNO.

Andy Crooks
397 Posted 26/08/2019 at 21:23:15
That is a good post, George, my God, you must have seen a lot of football, some really great some really, really... not great. As far as your comments about one of the editors goes I would say this:

When Michael agrees with me, I think he is a top editor, when he doesn't, I think he is not. Neither he or Lyndon sit on the fence. Michael's, as the match goes on commentaries, are unique and heartfelt but, If you look at this thread, if he is setting a tone, many of us are not following it. What he and Lyndon provide is nothing like any other fan site.

Tony Abrahams
398 Posted 26/08/2019 at 21:44:43
I always say that the only thing worth getting old for is to gain a little bit of knowledge along the way, and George @396 looks like he has gained loads on his very long road watching Everton.
Tony Abrahams
399 Posted 26/08/2019 at 21:55:02
Tommy @375, if Schneiderlin wasn't bad on Friday night, I must have missed something because I never saw the team warm-up, or maybe I just expect more from a midfield player.
Dermot Byrne
400 Posted 26/08/2019 at 21:58:33
George bang on. Not sure MK sets the tone, he posts reasonably on his site. As does Lyndon imho.

Jumping on bandwagons and all that. We all move with trends and views to some extent. But thankfully most of us have the common decency to realise that what we express is sometime half right, often half wrong but in the end some footy banter rather than a battle of our own egos.

And in the end, if it became a game when some fans did actually know it all, then it would be time to pack it in as they would own the club from their success at the bookies!

David Pearl
401 Posted 26/08/2019 at 22:06:02
Tony,

I recon you might of missed his covering tackles, positioning and playing the balls that Gomes refused the risk on. Its available on catch up.

Tom Bowers
403 Posted 26/08/2019 at 22:10:21
I am sick of reading about these ''sluggish'' Everton performances.

Haven't we seen so many of them over the years and far too many last season? But yes, they still keep coming.

Tony Abrahams
404 Posted 26/08/2019 at 22:27:42
I couldn’t watch that again David, but Morgan Snhiderlin hit one good pass to Coleman, off the top of my head, and I personally think Gomes head went because Snides offers next to nothing.

I’ve never seen a player pass the ball on so quickly, and then offer nothing once he’s got rid. He never tries to turn out when it’s tight, fuck just give it back to we’re its come from, even though the space has been reduced, and I thought Gomes didn’t want to give Morgan the ball at times in the second half the other night, because he knew he’d only get it back right away.

Covering tackles that’s good, but such little drive, and never drawing a man in before he passes the ball, is definitely not the way to play in midfield.

Dave Abrahams
405 Posted 27/08/2019 at 00:26:08
Tony (404), glad you are enjoying your holiday, but you are correct, IMO, about Schneiderlin.

One little episode on Friday's game, him and Gomes, who was also very poor in that game, exchanged four or five passes in the first half. Gomes was on the left nearest to the touchline, when Gomes finally gave the ball back to Schneiderlin who had loads and loads of space to play the ball to two or three Everton players over on the right, he gave it right back to Gomes.

Schneiderlin doesn't want responsibility, does the very least he can do. He doesn't do a lot wrong because he gives the ball to the nearest Everton player to him. He is a phoney, if he had played in the street with me, when I was a kid, I'd have fucked him off. Football is to be enjoyed and do the very best you can, not pass on the responsibility to someone else.

I'm glad you enjoyed George Carroll's post, so did I. First time I've seen a post off George, I hope I see many more.

David Pearl
406 Posted 27/08/2019 at 00:36:06
Tony,

It's surely Gomes's role to stride forward with the ball, picking out the pass. Not that he could pick out anyone on Friday. Schneiderlin has a lot more to offer and does take the easy option more often than not.

Then again, every single thing he does is under a microscope, nearly everyone on here is just waiting to jump on his back. Same with Walcott.

The whole team just hasn't hit that intensity required yet. I'm hoping when they do, we go on a roll. Confident that Iwobi and Kean will get their starting spots soon too.

Michael Kenrick
407 Posted 27/08/2019 at 03:39:22
Hello George (#396),

Thanks for giving me the kudos for building the bandwagon, setting the tone, and driving the herd of cats that are TW posters along to my agenda... as if!!!

Funny that you call me out for "never missing a chance to have a dig" about the manager? In truth, I hardly ever mention him. I think I'm still giving him time (although I'm increasingly wondering why?).

I made a couple of mentions in this match report because (1) his team selection was baffling to me (although we did not know about Gbamin); and (2) I find his timing of subs is absolutely infuriating. Not sure anyone who was on the fence or giving him the benefit of the doubt would suddenly find themselves agreeing with me... but if you say so, George.

There is a belief among some Evertonians (perhaps the older ones) that we are all cut from the same cloth, that we all think and act the same... or worse, that we should. A quick perusal of any thread should disabuse you of that old-school thinking.

Some do try to force their thinking on others: a classic example is regarding Calvert-Lewin, who some believe should never be called out for his abysmal finishing, with at least one poster slamming everyone who dares to point out this basic flaw, with 'bandwagon and 'scapegoat' not far behind.

I just give a bit of added colour to what I'm describing is all, George. I've never told anyone they have to follow along, sorry.

Steve Brown
408 Posted 27/08/2019 at 06:03:50
George @ 396, thanks for your wise and balanced post - really good. The editors do have to give an opinion in their match reports and that sparks the debate and discussion. Where there is inconsistency is in the editorial approach to posts, as highlighted by the editor's comment above.

Every poster should be able to evaluate the performance of the team and the players. When that descends into relentless and illogical abuse as in the case of DCL - a young, developing player - those who push back hard are categorised as "forcing their opinion on others". Those who are doing the relentless bashing are not castigated in the same way.

The key to what is deemed acceptable seems to be whether the editor likes the player or not. That is to be expected I suppose because it is all about opinions, but Lyndon is more balanced in this regard.

Mike Gaynes
409 Posted 27/08/2019 at 06:16:21
George #396, I thought I remembered your name from the very distant past on TW... contributions from our most senior contributors are always welcome, so it's nice to see you back.
Tony Abrahams
410 Posted 27/08/2019 at 06:35:29
David I take your point about Gomes, but let’s be honest about Snides, being under the microscope, because as you said mate, it’s simply because he should be doing a lot more.

If you work hard at Everton, (this rule probably applies to every club in the world) then regardless of your ability, the fans will usually respect you for your honest endeavour, and that is why him getting a game for us, is so very hard to swallow for me.

Alan J Thompson
411 Posted 27/08/2019 at 07:32:39
George (#396); "If we think we are going to match them soon, then think again."

That is the problem, George, we want to match them but we appear to have a Manager who is playing the same system that he did on Day 1 and his record seems littered with barren spells and losses to clubs who do not seem capable of even matching our 8th place finishes. Meanwhile, those clubs who are filling positions 4, 5 and 6 seem to be maintaining their positions, in all competitions, while undergoing transition periods under new managers.

I would be more encouraged if we occasionally saw some indication that he can implement something other than this one system or even occasionally rested/dropped under performing players.

Darren Hind
412 Posted 27/08/2019 at 07:34:24
George

75 years... Fantastic support, Sir.

I think you are being a little harsh on the editor here. I remember when I first visited TW and the infamous MOB were in full swing.

Michael Kenrick clearly hated the fact that Moyes with his "glass ceiling mentality" was our manager, let's face it, he wasn`t alone and during the latter seasons of his reign grew increasingly frustrated. He moved through the ranks of many dissenters to the point where he right at the forefront of those leading the charge.

In fairness to Micheal, it all kinda stopped there. If anything, I think he has given the managers who have followed Moyes far too easy a ride.

Its a difficult one for Michael and Lyndon. If they stay silent, They would be accused of being fence sitters with nothing to say. If they express an opinion they leave themselves wide open to claims of taking sides.

Always a pleasure to hear from people who have forgotten more than the rest of us know, George.

Darren Hind
413 Posted 27/08/2019 at 07:52:59
Michael

"Legitimate criticism" ? You really are having a laugh.

For criticism to be legitimate it has to be fair. For criticism to be fair it has to be even handed.
I know you don't live in the UK and would have trouble getting to games, so I will leave match day abuse out of this. I would simply ask yo to do what you suggested George should do . .read these pages.

If Everton dont win, one man will dominate almost every thread. He will be mentioned more than all the other players put together. It doesnt seem to matter how bad the rest of the team have been. A blind eye is turned. The game against Villa is a classic example. Richarlison, Benard and Sigurdsson were truly truly abject. Digne missed a great chance, Wallcott missed the best chance we have had this season. Take those facts into consideration. Then have a look through your threads. Your live forum . .Although we all agree that we have a real problem scoring these players barely get a mention. Calvert Lewin has shouldered virtually all the blame for us not scoring. His chance was a good one, but with four players on the line it was nowhere near the formality its been made out to be

Legitimate criticsm ??? Its not even consistent. One minute people are complaining he doesnt get chances because he lacks the ability to get in where it hurts and get the chances. the same people will then accuse him of missing a shed load of imaginary chances . .it cant be both.

When people who have previously supported the player suddenly start talking about Banjo`s and Cows arses after missing his first chance of the season, you know a bandwaggon is gathering strength.

I know you will refute the claim that people who have progressed to the first team come in for more stick than players who have come in for big fee`s, but I have seen too much of it to know different, so have many other posters. More examples will be found on another current thread. I`m staggered people are saying Tom Davies should be in league1 and could not do better than those superstars midfield, players who so shamed the club and all of her supporters will their gutless, wittless, spineless, couldntgiveafuckery last Friday . .judging TD on merit ? my arse and if they are their criticism is not legitimate because they are not extending it to the other players.

I dont care if people say players coming through are not good enough, not as long as they are being even handed and comparing them to other players currently in the squad. I simply dont get the hammerings they give them. If you dont think the guy is good enough blame the fucking manager . .there is no mileage whatsoever in hammering the boys.

Trying to "force my thinking on others" or standing up for the players who are being destroyed by this poisonous onslaught

Brian Harrison
414 Posted 27/08/2019 at 09:52:52
Darren

There is no doubt you certainly defend our young players, I think we all like to see young players come through and for me especially home grown scousers like Tom and Jonjoe. Although he isn't home grown DCL came from Sheffield and joined our youngsters in the Under 23s. I remember the great Colin Harvey making his debut and for a while he was criticized but not for long.

But I don't think fans go out of their way to critisize youngsters, maybe we just perceive that to be the case. Certainly I can think of many of the current squad who have come in for more criticism than Calvert-Lewin namely Schneiderlin, Mirallas, Niasse and Sandro.

I do believe that it is very hard to lead the line in the Premier League, and sadly for Dominic not scoring in 14 games is only going to increase the pressure. I personally believe for his own good Silva needs to take him out of the firing line for a few weeks and try and restore his confidence then bring him back.

John McFarlane Snr
415 Posted 27/08/2019 at 10:56:33
Hi Darren [413] You have expressed your views in a more eloquent and colourful way than I would, but I agree with you and I would ask, "What happened to 'we win as a team and we lose as a team'?

Like any other supporter I have my favourite players, and some less favourites, I may at times criticise players of both groups, but I never play the 'blame game'. criticism and praise are applied in equal measure.

I know that Michael takes the view that it's 'perhaps' the older Evertonian who thinks that we should all think and act the same, I challenge that statement because it's based on supposition. I believe that the big difference is whereas the older supporter could vent his spleen to his mates in the pub (maybe eight or ten), today's fan has a world wide audience. I'm old enough to appreciate that it's not the players fault if he isn't up to the standard required, and vilifying him at the match or online serves no purpose.

Darren Hind
416 Posted 27/08/2019 at 11:35:50
Brian

The criticism which Schneirderlin and Mirallas receive stems from them being sent home for having a. . lets be kind and call it a, "not very professional attitude". No fan will accept that, especially given the fact that these two have previously shown they are gifted footballers. Their performances for Everton have been a disgrace to the profession.
I don't accept that either of them have come in for anywhere near the kind of grief DCL and Davies. Just read the last three match day threads. Davies didnt feature and is still getting slaughtered on a current thread.
Mirallas despite taking a fortune from the club has been forgotten.
I think the same could be largely said about Sandro. He signed a very lucrative contract and virtually disappeared - out of sight meant he was, out of mind.

This is ingrained into the culture of our club. I cant believe anybody would deny Hibbo and Ossie didnt come in for the treatment over a sustained period of about ten years. . Again, they only ever gave 100% and between them, They won more games and accumulated more points than all of the superstars who have followed them will ever manage.

I cant/wont accept the argument that the players who come through our ranks only receive "legitimate criticism" The evidence is quite simply overwhelming - I wont go through the list of abused players again.

I do think there is a certain absurdity about hammering players coming through. Not only is it a mindless and destructive practice which can only ever have a detrimental effect on our club. It doesnt even target the right people.

If you don't think a player is good enough. blame the fucking manager/s. He's the one who puts him in there in the first place.

Brian Harrison
417 Posted 27/08/2019 at 11:51:54
Darren

You are right don't blame the player blame the manager for picking him. As I said in my post Silva needs to take DCL out of the firing line, as his confidence must be at a low ebb. Funny the only young player not to have got much stick was my school mate Tommy Wright. He went on to play for England and a nice guy as well. But I don't believe that anyone is above criticsm whatever age or whatever fee was paid. Once selected they then represent our club and while on the pitch should always be supported, I have never booed an Everton player in my life. First it just undermines the player and also gives the opposition a lift so how booing players benifits us I have no idea.

But once the game is finished then I see nothing wrong in offering opinions on all the players, and this is surely the reason for these sites so people can give their opinions. And of course there will be massive differences of opinions from one player to the next, but thats what makes ToffeeWeb interesting.

Brian Harrison
418 Posted 27/08/2019 at 12:18:44
On the subject of booing your own players, I think the worst instance I can remember at Goodison was when Dennis Stevens made his debut.

Catterick sold Bobby Collins to Leeds which most of us didn't agree with and bought Dennis Stevens from Bolton. Every time Stevens touched the ball a section of the crowd booed him, thank heavens it stopped in the end. But he never really hit the heights that Catterick had hoped for.

The year after we sold Bobby Collins, he won the PFA player of the year, not one of Catterick's best decisions.

Matthew Williams
419 Posted 27/08/2019 at 13:00:47
Disappointed yes,but we have another 35 games to put things right in the league.

My main concern is Wednesday night in the League Cup, we can't even afford to draw this away game Marco,s o please play a strong team and just get it won. I'll even take going through by the shithouse route (penalty shootout).

Just WIN IT !!!.

George Carroll
420 Posted 27/08/2019 at 13:51:55
Thank you to those who sent me such kind words. I had no intention of vilifying Micheal, just that I thought his headlines and odd comments were unfair to Silva but he is entitled to his view as I am to mine.

I do not accept that older Evertonians think "we are all cut from the same cloth". You only have to read the comments to know we are a broad Church.

though there may be a few agnostics here and there... NSNO

Mark Tanton
421 Posted 27/08/2019 at 14:16:15
Two interesting comments from Silva in his press conference just now, both of which suggest he is running short on patience with the current personnel in the current formation -

“Alex and Moise both understood what I wanted”.

“Fabian is an important player for us, he can play number 6 but other positions too. Maybe it is time to change the way we play.”

Ray Robinson
422 Posted 27/08/2019 at 15:25:31
Not sure that local lads get any more stick than any others to be honest but to me, it feels worse because I so want them to succeed. I think that we have to accept that the Everton crowd can be merciless, so passionate when being supportive but so undermining to confidence when things are going badly. Personally, I've never heard worse abuse than that which Simon Davies and Tom Cleverley got – both reasonable players whose confidence was destroyed by the crowd.

As Brian points out, It serves no purpose. Save the abuse for the players who don't try (few and far between) and those with the wrong attitude (Mirallas). Incidentally, Brian, I do remember Tommy Wright coming in for the odd bit of abuse himself but nothing compared with Sandy Brown!!

Fraser Auld
423 Posted 27/08/2019 at 17:41:24
Just back from holiday, haven’t read through all 400 posts so apologies if i’m repeating others but.

There is no way you can get away with Mina, Keane, Schneiderlin, Gomes and Sigurdsson all playing at the same time right down the spine of the team.

That has to be the slowest, least dynamic group of players, collectively, playing down the centre of the pitch in the whole league.

They’re not bad players individually (except schneiderlin, don’t get me started on how he is still here - let alone still getting in the team ) but it’s not the right balance to have them all lumped in together. Far to one paced.

Please never start this five together again!

Eric Paul
424 Posted 27/08/2019 at 17:57:32
Fraser
So who would you play down the spine.
Jay Harris
425 Posted 27/08/2019 at 19:23:00
Fraser,
Mina and Keane have both played a large part in keeping clean sheets despite having a weak MF in front of them.

Although I don't rate Schneiderlin I cant say he's had an atrocious game recently and why people single out Sigurdson who was our leading scorer last season is beyond me.

Ray,
I totally agree with you. The turnaround in form last season was enabled by the crowd getting behind the team. No player deliberately plays badly and most don't need to be told theyre having a bad game.

We keep getting told that if we don't have expectation we are accepting mediocrity but I would also advocate some patience and heartfelt support would go a long way in the rebuilding process.

Fraser Auld
426 Posted 27/08/2019 at 21:12:23
Eric - was really just observing they’re probably the five slowest players in the squad and don’t think that’s the right balance, particulalry in midfield. Maybe you don’t agree or maybe you do but don’t think it’s an issue?

Jay, don’t disagree (schneiderlin apart), wasn’t saying they’re bad players or criticising individual performances. Was more a comment on silva and him needing to get a balance in the team with players that compliment each other, not all share the same main weakness in their game. Didn’t think that would be controversial.

Michael Kenrick
427 Posted 28/08/2019 at 04:10:56
I guess I've dropped enough hints and veiled suggestions that I disagree with Darren's self-motivated campaign of teflon-coating for the young and impressionable homegrown youngsters. But he only gets worse and worse with his invective against those who dare to point out the failings and backward progression of these would-be stars — ligitimate criticism is what I called it, and that's what it is.

Darren, most people are just reflecting back what they see during the game. It's not a vendetta. These players are not being singled out, as you wrongly but repeatedly claim. No more than the other poor players whose criticism of their mistakes you miraculously ignore in your desire to bang one particular and increasingly boring drum. If they weren't making obvious and horrendous mistakes, I don't think you'd see anything like the number of comments being made.

Everton fans want to see good football. They are not stupid, as you try to make them out to be. They see the mistakes. They see the failure to perform to the required Premier League standard. Inasmuch, I totally support and will fulsomely protect their right to comment thusly on these pages.

Why do you try so hard to belittle them? To devalue their opinions, while elevating your own into the stratosphere of some godlike divination that we are supposed to kow-tow to? Sorry, lad, but it ain't gonna happen. In the words of the Old Bard: Thou doth protest too much.

Darren Hind
428 Posted 28/08/2019 at 07:33:44
So if people deem a player not good enough. He is to blame and not the manager who selects him, Michael?

And its ok to mercilessly hammer them but wrong to defend them?

If you were to have a TW poll about whether players coming through took much harsher criticism than the big signings... Do you think I would be in a minority or majority?

I`m not attacking individuals point of view, I`m attacking what I believe to be a culture... It's something I would love to change, so yes I guess I do have an agenda.

However, you have my word I will not be using this website to do it in future.

Paul Birmingham
429 Posted 28/08/2019 at 18:42:14
Just back from Rhodes, I watched the game in a bar.

For me it was typical EFC, and the lack of cutting edge and switching off at key moments was very frustrating.

It’s still early days but the preseason signs that were evident are now becoming facts.

I hope that we can find the right balance by the time we play Wolves.

That game last season is very fresh and they dismantled us at home with ease.

But we need a fighting spirit and a Peter Reid, gutsy middle fielder, presence to give and take and keep the shape together.

May be Delph if fit can take that lead but the lack cutting edge is gonna cause us big problems if not fixed soon.

Final word and condolences to Bury FC, and their fans.

Terrible news and the EFL, must take account as this could be the start of many lower league clubs, folding.


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