Surprised to see all 3 of Siggy, Gomes and James starting this one. I thought Siggy might have been benched after going 120 minutes v Spurs.

Evidently King hasn't impressed enough or not yet up to speed for Carlo to trust him with a starting berth.

Strong looking bench even with the 3 academy players.

I saw what you did there 😄

No easy games these days and Fulham are fighting for their lives so expect a rearguard battle.

Everton going for speed at the back given that Lookman has been playing well recently.

Other results good for us over the weekend so surely they won't choke again with a chance of moving up given the games in hand despite City being one of them on Wednesday.

He gives us an option from the bench, if we need to change our system. If Fulham sit back, then we need to go through them, so makes sense sticking with the tried and tested formation.

We have seen it before where a team sets up and we struggle to give Calvert-Lewin decent service, I just think this system could work.

Agree. Keane and Mina left out together is quite a step – Holgate is not at his best yet. Mitrovic misses the game though.

However I can't help feeling, like other games this season, that this is one we expect to win easily – and we all know how those games turned out...

No room for complacency.

Not 100% on Holgate and Godfrey together yet but hope I’m proved wrong!

Midfield will be where it is won and lost today, fingers crossed 3 points and Allan gets a few mins under his belt.

If King was killing it in training, he'd be playing! It's like Jay says, he obviously isn't impressing enough yet.

The deep defence of set-pieces is a disaster waiting to happen an all... change needed!

The peaks and troughs continue... like a gamestop chart.

One game too far.

We have 2 quick centre backs playing, but seem to drop deep and defend on the edge of our area. Surely with a faster defence we could defend higher up the pitch and close the gaping hole between our midfield and attack.

I don’t think Gomes has played a successful forward pass. Davies the pick of the midfield again.

Sigurdsson needs to be in that number 10 role or nowhere. Games like this are not to his strengths.

Holgate and Gomes have got lucky a couple of times.

Fulham?

This has a whiff of Newcastle about it.

Right from the off the energy, the movement, the pressing - all was absent. The only one playing anything close to his game is - not for the first time in recent weeks - Tom Davies.

Whereas Fulham have all the space and time to pass and receive the ball, we are under pressure all over the pitch if and when we get the ball.

Mason Holgate is nowhere near the levels he was last season. Doucouré looks half a yard slow in everything. Gomes is being Gomes. James flickers but hasn't yet sparked. Sigurdsson anonymous. Richarlison starved.

If we get three points out of this game – any which way it offers itself – I'll take it. But that ain't happening based on that first-half performance.

Wake up, or lose Everton.

Fulham playing like the home team.

I'd bring on King or Iwobi for the start of the second half. This is a must-win, and hopefully a half-time special will see the Everton players get some fire and belief in their tanks.

Fulham are fighting for their lives and all credit to them but Everton must win this game to keep in touch at the top.

Come on, Carlo, only James the magician is working, doing his disappearance act, but the others are doing their best to out-act him... ridiculous!

Best not to expect anything, lift you up then knock you for six. Make me eat my words.

Holgate is a liability with his lazy attitude and useless passing.

There will be words in the dressing room, I expect us to get on the ball more second half and take the chances that will come our way.

COYB.

I'm just glad we are not behind, because we have been very poor, very lacklustre, which could be the result of our system, playing extra time the other night, or the weather, and most probably a combination of all three. But we definitely need more width, and more players further forward, if we are to get anything out of this game.

I'd get King on for either Gomes or Gylfi. Possibly Iwobi for Gomes or Gylfi too. It's just not working.

Gomes just offers nothing at the moment, like nothing at all.

Sigurdsson can only play one position and Richarlison needs more support.

This is shocking from Carlo, why he didn't change anything is beyond me.

We have had a 100% record against Fulham in the league, now we will stay 3 points behind Liverpool.

Whatever system Ancelotti had planned for this evening, it's certainly not come off. Time for a change.

This is a shambles from Ancelotti.

Miracles happen, but this will be the parting of the Mersey if Everton, salvage a point.

Damning performance and typical of what this season has become, with a Jekyll and Hyde performance in context of the last couple of games.

Tom was in my view unlucky to be hooked, I'd have taken off Gomes, and for me this lad's got talent but no motor and not enough desire to get stuck in.

Again, another massive chance to make a statement and Everton decide to spew it.

Scary in view of the next few games, and hope eternal.

The hope does kill you.

I see James finally got himself out of the game.

Fucking disgusting that, from start to finish, and it starts from the manager. Let's call it how it is. That's on him, that result.

Holgate is fucking crap and is never a Premier League centre back, why start him? Mina and Keane have been rotated and rested plenty, they are your best pairing. Godfrey plays instead of Coleman. It's been working, why change it?

Then Carlo picks 5 centre-mids. 5!!!!! James, Sigurdsson and Gomes are the same player. They're slower than an amputee relay team and he plays all 3?!! It's a fucking joke. That's the type of shit Koeman did. Trying to play 3 Number 10s and no striker.

Whilst the players are shitbags, this one is on Carlo. Firmly!!!! That starting 11 was a disgrace. It's like he still thinks he has his old Chelsea squad. We barely have 11 half-decent players yet he's rotating. Play your best 11 every game, especially when your squad players are Championship at best!!!!!

He keeps banging on about the project and no rush but look at the table, this season is a real opportunity and he's just fuckin not arsed one bit. He's in no rush but we are!! Europe is there for the taking. I'm sick of the rotating now. Fuck off and play your best 11 baring injuries. If James isn't fit, fuck him off and stop picking him. Decide on Sigurdsson or Gomes and play the width that we do have. 5 centre-mids and Holgate at centre-back is unforgivable here.

This was the game we needed to win. Man City is a write-off. You get your points here and City is a bonus. Resting players ready for City makes no sense at all.

I've had enough of this fucking club. Seriously, it's weak to its very fibre. You've got teams like Leicester and West Ham having a go coz they sense it's now or never and we offer up this shite.

I'd set the fucking whole thing on fire and claim in the insurance.

Shit bags.

0/10 for the manager. Pathetic.

Today he was done over from the inside by a bunch of crooks without masks.

Disgraceful performance but what to expect when three midfielders all run like they have got concrete blocks dragging behind them.

I shall light a candle for us against Man City before the game starts in midweek.

First win at Goodison Park for Fulham says it all, records are there to be broken, hey, Carlo? An absolute disgrace.

Do these fuckers actually even want to win something in their careers?

Gomes absolutely a liability in every sense of the word, offers zero of anything, weak in tackles, no goal threat, aerial ability and physical ability zero.

Sigurdsson, been a decent goalscorer for us, but sadly the legs won't last out another season at the top end.

Coleman, legs gone, untidy on the ball, best years have passed.

Holgate, no good, been on the scene for four years or so but just not really what we need, too cocky without the ability to back it up.

I could go on and on really because we have a group of players that seems to hit a glass ceiling every time something is achievable.

I half-figured it was going to happen. Our players had to be exhausted, short rest, and a chance to draw level on points in 4th with games in hand. Just lined up perfectly for Everton shitting the bed.

I've a feeling we'll struggle against Man City. Whether the season comes down to a success or "just another season" will probably come down to the derby.

Final comment: I had to watch on my phone in a PF Changs (chain Asian restaurant over here). So it was a bit like watching miniatures play kick oval admittedly. But, not sure if it's me, but Mason Holgate looked awful to my eyes. I mean a real liability. Where is that swashbuckling kid we knew 1.5 to 2 years ago? He was our worst player Wednesday, and our worst player today from what I could see. He needs a rocket up the ass.

Gomes and Sigurdsson were like two OAPs in midfield, out-run, out-fought and both passing the buck on a regular basis.

Neither taking the risk of a forward pass, in fact a real act of cowardice, Sigurdsson does a wonderful version of an old-time traffic cop, directing the traffic with a wonderful pointing movement.

And the subs, leaving those two imposters on whilst dragging Tom Davies off, bewildering. There was absolutely no pace at all in that team, we were overrun all over the pitch.

Why on earth does the manager change the back four every week? I just don't get it. Holgate is a liability every time he plays, his positional sense is awful.

The whole game, Richarlison was feeding off scraps, unfair on the player and the team.

Stop tinkering, Carlo, it's not working.

You could see this was going to happen from the first 5 minutes! No width or pace!

Trying hard to not over-react as there plenty to play for but questions about the attitude have to be asked?! These players are just not winners?! Shame as I thought we were getting somewhere

Carlo definitely not beyond criticism for this shambles either!! Poorest yet!

So gutted!

Pathetic!

Top notch...!

Are these players only turning up against the better sides? Clearly shows many of these players are bang average and produce the odd performance now and again.

I think finishing 7th is now in the balance.

The back four needs to be settled. Decide in your best back four and leave it. Do Man City, Leicester City, Man Utd etc piss about with their defence? No. Just pick your best back four.

If he can't see by now that Sigurdsson, Gomes and Rodriguez can't play in the same team, then god help us. It is so blatantly obvious, I can't understand how they can't see it!

Sigurdsson or Rodriguez plays... just one of them. Only in the Number 10 position because that's their position.

Richarlison can't play as a striker on his own. Doesn't work. Has never worked. Again, how they can't see this is beyond me.

Removing Coleman and Davies and leaving Sigurdsson, Gomes and Rodriguez on the pitch tonight?!?! I just can not see that at all.

Sigurdsson captain?!?! Never. He has improved his play recently but he is a coward without the ball. He is weak. He is not a leader on the pitch.

They'll probably get something on Wednesday but therein lies the problem. Clearly they have the talent and can be motivated for certain games but, in other games, the motivation is non-existent and the tactics and selections from the management are inept.

Shithouses tonight – the lot of them.

How we can go from the Man Utd and Spurs performances to this effortless lacklustre crap, I have no idea. The home form is a cause for concern and is not good enough.

I'm prepared to call time on Holgate now. He's a big strong boy who looks like he can play a bit - so you can understand why we might persevere through his development years. But it's a facade – he can't play. Those strange, no-step tap passes with the ball back in his stance can fuck off. Nowhere near the level and I doubt very much he ever gets to Premier League level.

As for the rest, played out of position, or without options to play to... it gets hard to judge. They didn't look interested but you can look like that when you've got nowhere to go.

Carlo gets the worst criticism. I wondered after 10 minutes whether he might make the required changes. Get proper options out wide and revert to a normal midfield. Get Holgate out of the side and get a striker up front. He made none of those changes. Instead, he put Sigurdsson on the left and our best winger up front where he is habitually ineffective.

At half time, he still didn't improve the side. When he finally made his subs, he managed to remove the only two players who you might imagine would fight to get back in that game.

Poor all round. You can argue that "Typical Everton" is a defeatist attitude we need to move past, but there's a reason why that view still pervades. It was classic "Typical Everton". "Easy" home game so the foot comes off the pedal.

Ancelotti might have Chmpions League wins on his CV but he is way out of his depth with our mid-table players. He's not improved the team. The tactics are negative. The team selections are bizarre and negative. The transfer business is baffling (offensive players sold and just King brought in). He's lucky there are no fans in the ground so he's getting away with it.

I don't even believe he cares. Extra time winner against Spurs and he sips his coffee and appears to not give a shit.

The Managerial appts since Moshiri arrived have been disastrous. I was petrified we were going to get Moyes back. But I would take him back in a heartbeat. Look at the West Ham team he's building. Can you imagine Ancelotti signing Bowen or Benrahma? He'd probably play Nolan up front with Rice just behind.

Either let's just get the rest of the season over with, accept it's going to be painful, and then boot him out after the last game. Or sack him now and let Ferguson have the rest of the season.

Played way too deep, even with our younger centre-back pairing. As per the Man Utd game, we left Digne completely exposed. Sigurdsson started up front as a false 9 for the love of god!! Perfect opportunity for Richarlison to score a few and get his mojo back and was left running after shadows all game.

And then, of course, Carlo can never change the game with his subs. Embarrassed doesn't cover it.

Once again we blew it at home. No excuses.

I'm very fucking angry that a team and management team that I have defended with optimistic belief have delivered such a load of shite, the likes of which I have never seen since Mike Wanker's days!

I upset the missus and gave her years of ammunition by rushing our Valentine's Day dinner to watch that shite.

Fuck off, Everton! Grrrrrrr...

Angry, and it shouldn't be like this. La Vie, C'est La Vie... but with Everton, it's permanent.

No excuses, and I hope the absolution of the mess tonight is honest and forthright, and for the Man City game, Everton actually turn up, kick City and put in a shift.

For me, this was the worst game in Carlo's tenure... but the trials and strains of the last few dates for him and his family, since Friday evening, have been massive.

Sticking to football, this was the chance to get the home record improved and arguably the best chance of points for a while.

Taking a pause, and transcending the negativity, but the next 5 weeks, with the toughest run of games, will show where this Everton squad is.

Golden rules: never under-estimate the opponent, and in match-time, heed the signs.

Tonight was like a practise 11 match of Fulham vs Woking... No offence, Woking, you're a decent club.

That's the anger and angst to bear this week – and a tense week it will be.

But, knowing this team, they could turn it around on Wednesday although Goodison Park has become for this season Everton's Achilles heel where Everton rarely win.

Last note, no more trio of the slowest players in any Premier League squad in midfield.

André's at best a last-resort sub; Sigurdsson at best a false 9, and James is pure class in a good midfield. James has to be accommodated as he can see and pass like none since Sheedy.

I felt sorry for the forwards, who rarely got a sniff of a chance.

I'm not tempting fate and I don't revel in the days preceding a derby, as form goes out the door.

Surely starting on Wednesday, Everton can regain lost pride, as tonight in my view, Everton didn't turn up.

That's down to the manager and coaches, who must take responsibility for being naive – and I'd add unprofessional – for setting up the wrong team and terrible mindset.

For me, now's the time to appoint a new Captain of the first team. Seamus is a diehard, but the part can't be eclipsed and, for me, his decision-making now is becoming a big risk, but in my view Gomes doesn't give 10% of what Seamus gives on his bad days.

No squad can carry a player who makes one or two decent passes every game or two, with the odd decisive pass, even 6 or 8 games, and basic attributes in competing and tackling are nil.

Rant over, very pissed off, but in a way, it was on the cards and was a nap, in some aspects.

John Mitchell & Viv Busby we're reborn tonight by Mola and Maja?

Well done, Fulham, you played Everton off the park, tonight, from start to finish.

Saying that – and notwithstanding our squad depth limitations – we put out the wrong team and wrong formation tonight. Sigurdsson as a false 9 was an odd choice and abandoned partway through the 1st half. Sadly, the fatigued Richarlison struggled up top and the shift pushed Sigurdsson out left, where he always stinks.

The Holgate & Godfrey combination did not work at all. Digne was dreadful. Doucouré looked like someone who'd run a 10-km race before kick-off, exerted no pressure, got nowhere near any Fulham player, and I was amazed he stayed on the full 90 minutes.

Davies didn't look at it either but at least was trying to get involved and be progressive. With no energy, legs or movement anywhere, Rodriguez struggled to orchestrate.

So Ancelotti dropped the ball here, albeit under difficult circumstances. Some of those players cannot have shown much in training beforehand so putting them out there was a mistake. Rather, a decision should've been made to drop reliable in-form players.

Nkounkou couldn't have been worse than Digne, or King than Richarlison. If Allan was fit for the bench, then he could have started instead of Doucouré. Play Keane alongside Godfrey and stick Holgate in defensive midfield instead of Tom. Play Bernard in place of Gylfi.

So, we were too conservative and put out a slow, tired team against a desperate outfit that is energetic and can ping the ball about.

Reading anything more into events tonight is a bit short-sighted.

Firstly let me highlight the good: Tom Davies!

This kid is playing very well and was the backbone of that team until his ridiculous substitution – this is going unnoticed by many.

Ancelotti looked clueless on how to influence this game and his usual plan of Ali like "Rope-a-dope" letting them use us as a punchbag and bouncing back to get the win backfired tonight, just wait till Man City get us in the ring!

The team, other than Davies and Coleman were gutless tonight, James didn't want to know and the rest of them were sideways crabs. Ancelotti watched in a daze, did nothing and put out a team that did likewise.

Poor! Piss Poor!!

Coleman looked finished, Holgate can't pass, and Sigurdsson and Gomes can't tackle and have no pace. You could tell the goals were coming from the first minute. Couldn't believe there were no subs at half-time.

It's not good enough to beat Spurs in an entertaining game if we can't battle against a side like Fulham. From the off tonight, we struggled to keep possession. Sloppy, predictable passing. Always trying to play directly to feet.

Richarlison didn't get into the game at all. Digne was isolated and got bullied off the ball. Holgate showed why he can't be first choice. He also showed he can't be considered to play in midfield.

Tom Davies was the only bright light in the 1st half. He tried to play on the turn. Shame none of his teammates could be bothered to give him options.

It's easy to blame Ancelotti but the players have to show more desire. We will no doubt look a different side against Man City. On the current evidence, we will lose that game too.

I'm a big fan like most and think he's a great guy. But, you can't lose twice to Newcastle then give Fulham a record breaking win and, unbelievably, allow the likes of Bruce and Scott Parker to out-think you? What's the point?

Here's the thing: Which game should we have been holding back the best we have available for? The one against the rampant Champions-elect? Or the one against a bottom-three team totally adrift of safety after a weekend when results mostly went our way and 3 points would have gained us real momentum and top 5 spot?

Frankly, Man City on Wednesday shouldn't have mattered. Steal a point, brilliant, bonus. Today mattered much much more and this club failed again to recognise what matters most, and when.

You could tell from Duncan after the amazing Spurs result that the management, and I think players, felt that the cup was all that really mattered. Then came the draw and we all see how quickly that optimism can evaporate when your number comes out of the hat against the best team in the land at present.

Carlo may have expected slightly more from the players though his post-match interview didn't suggest that; he too seemed resigned that we were tired, so he won't have been too surprised by the result.

Of course, beat Man City midweek in one of two games in hand and it's all back on, I guess. But, if they can't get up for Fulham at home as the opposition are too lowly, then it's a disgrace that they can for a match vs Man City.

King on from kick-off, 4-4-2 and attack a team who haven't won at Goodson, ever. Play your best back four because, heck, we've had an extra day to recover from cup exploits and after all we did start Davies who ran the equivalent of a couple of marathons midweek and never once stopped that running.

I wish Carlo would have just stood up and said “I got it wrong and we were badly setup, too negative, no pace in midfield and no drive going forward”. He's a hero and I still think we are lucky to have him but he's isn't god, he's fallible... and boy did we see that tonight.

Awful team selection: 4 central midfielders 5 if you count James.

This meant no out-ball and no-one to pass to once we got in possession.

Just crap. Just when we get a chance to get above Liverpool we screw it up, as usual.

So difficult being an Evertonian...

Of tonight's team, only Davies, Godfrey and maybe Doucouré deserve another chance.

You can't play Rodriquez and Sigurddson in the same team, both just slow the game down and it leaves us with no width at all. He dumped Sigurddson as the false No 9 after 20 min of not one attack; played him left, brought Rodriquez inside, and Fulham targeted Coleman as most teams do now. Doucouré was a physical wreck tonight, clearly not recovered from Wednesday.

All-in-all, an Ancelotti disaster night, with poor selection, useless formation and too late substitutions. He just spouted that we were physically shot and we didn't play to the game plan – same excuse vs Leeds, West Ham and Newcastle – Carlo at home, please go and attack with width.

Tonight should have been a front three of Richarlison, King and Iwobi. Behind them Davies, a fit Doucouré or Sigurdsson and Digne wide. Back 4, Holgate (provided he wakes up!), Mina, Keane and Godfrey. Forget Rodriquez, clearly not up for the Premier League intensity, injured again... oh dear.

City will take us to the cleaners on Wednesday!

Glass half-full - quarter-final (maybe more), semi-final, and just a few wins from top 4 with just 16 games to go.

Glass half-empty – shit teams not only keep beating us, but they are making us look like relegation fodder and fools when they do. We will miss a golden opportunity because of this issue.

Carlo has massively improved our points total, but other than a few games here and there our performances sometimes seem as bad as always if not worse. Ball is a hot potato, no players to give it to.

Hopefully it's just going to take him time, but I think we need to find a way of beating lower teams quickly or it's mid-table mediocrity and “what could have been” once again.

Some final thoughts:

- Without a hard working right-midfielder in front of him (we don't have one), Coleman gets torn to pieces.

- This league needs pace, power and athleticism; playing all of Sigurdsson, James and Gomes together leaves us short in this area.

- If James wants to be a “quarterback”, then you've got to play with pace and width.

- Rotating the back four is madness... pick your best four and keep it now until the end.

My team for next two (all being fit):

Olsen
Holgate Mina Keane Godfrey
Doucouré James Allan
King Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Iwobi needs to come back into the mix off the bench too. He hasn't lived up to price tag, but he has attributes to help us keep the ball.

Otherwise, if too tired after the midweek game, then how can these players think they are fit and good enough to play regular midweek games in Europe???

Like teams in the seventies – a team that flatters on a good day but will disappoint when expectations are modest.

It looked like the players had never played footy before. We got lucky only conceding 2. Some really dire half-arsed performances. They can't have worked long on the shape in training.

The fundamentals of competing for 1st and 2nd balls just wasn't there. Tom Davies was unlucky getting the hook as I thought he was our best player in the first half.

Dropping the 2 senior centre-backs was a massive mistake. Godfrey and Holdgate are nowhere near the same level with their passing.

We needed fresh legs after the midweek game. So frustrating watching a team that will probably get relegated totally dominate us from start to finish.

I can't see us getting anything out of the next 2 games... in fact, playing like that, I can't see us scoring a goal – nevermind winning.

Moshiri's been taken again... which was obvious from the outset. The entire structure is a complete shambles.

Not just hindsight. The selection looked awful before kick-off. How can a manager with his CV get it so wrong??? Not just selection, but in-game management also.

We seem to have had a string of managers who cannot react to situations. Of course, rotation has to be done in the current climate, but who in their right mind would have played Holgate and Godfrey together as centre-backs? At least one of Keane or Mina had to play for their ability, experience and being a goal threat. Lord help us...

Holgate thinks he's made it, swanning around like lord muck, passing to the opposition.

Surely King should have started, the balance was all wrong. Doucouré looked tired, Tom was doing akay and was taken off. James can be world class, but is so lazy. He bottled it tonight, and didn't even have the nous to limp off.

Sigurdsson was as bad as anyone. Why oh why wasn't the team changed at half time??? Mr Ancelotti, your career record is impressive. Today, you were catastrophic. Certain players should be ashamed.

Form goes out of the window before a derby???

Really? Really?

That's trite nonsense. We always finish below that lot and we never beat them. That tells me that form doesn't go out the window at all. In fact, the results always go with them and they usually finish above us.

I hate respinning the usual media phrases rather than just thinking about it...

1. Thou shalt not play Sigurdsson and James in the same team.

2. Thou shalt ensure Doucouré and at least one of Allan or Davies are on the field at all times.

3. Thou shalt not fuck up the balance by ensuring the correct ratio of passers to run-makers (Richarlison on his own is not enough of the latter).

4. When thou hast stumbled on a winning formula and thou loses a player, thou shalt not change thine whole formation; thou shalt just replace the missing player.

Fulham came out with a purpose and Everton just didn't have a man in the middle who could really get at them and kick his own teammates up the ass to get them going. Hate to say it again but a Peter Reid or Alan Ball type would make a difference to this anaemic bunch.

Fulham will go down because they won't play a team who allows themselves to get mugged the way Everton did today. Carlo could be blamed to some degree for thinking the games against Spurs and Man Utd spelled a new Everton era but 8 goals against in those games plus mediocre performances before that against Championship bottom feeders showed up Everton's frailties.

God help us in the next two games.

I'm no football manager but Fulham have nothing to be afraid of. They are bottom 3 and can play with a free hand. They know our weaknesses, press and you should win. Again we let a less superior team run us! This was coming from the first 15 minutes and everyone could see it but the management.

Our best chance of fop 4 someone said. Not a chance! Top 4 teams work hard, run down lost balls and play each team as if they are top of the league! Today told us mid-table is all we can expect and deserve!

I give up.

Looking at today's game, I would swap our players for Fulham players. Maybe Carlo is not the man; he may have won heaps of things but I think he is coming to the end of his career.

Fans think Carlo will attract top players and get us into the Champions League. I for one would not like going into Europe with the shite we have.

Dreading Man City now...

Their second going in just as the subs were made didn't help.

Diabolical, disgraceful, rubbish!

Carlo, I think the burglars took more than your safe — they also stole your brains.

Disgraceful performance. Ancelotti got it absolutely wrong tonight. Absolutely wrong. Three holding midfielders against a team who are in the bottom three at home and not a starting striker. Terrible tactics. But to not change anything at half-time was just horrific decision-making.

From the first whistle to last, there was no desire, no heart and absolutely no bottle from the players tonight. It looked like we were in the bottom three tonight and not a team that is supposed to be competing for top 4. No wonder the media look way down over us. We give them a reason to do it. Just a happy go lucky club that goes over the top when we win a game. Rather than keeping professional and focus oncthe next game. That's what top teams do. Something we are a million miles from.

Looking at some of them players tonight, they are a bunch of arrogant shithouses. Who think they're Billy Big Bollocks because we drew at United and beat a poor Spurs defence despite conceding four ourselves. No boundaries at all.

I never ever want to see Sigurdsson and Gomes in an Everton shirt again. Even if one of them scores the winner next week they still need to be fucked off at the end of the season. Poor players and deadwood players.

Holgate is not as good as people say he is. Just a bang average centrer-half at best. Coleman and his rally calls can do one too. Another player we kept for far too long like Osman, Distin and Jagielka come to mind.

James and Richarlison are good players on their day but it's only when they're arsed.

The club's mentality is still rotten to the core. I understand it is a 'project' season but, fucking hell, at least should be beating the likes of Newcastle, Fulham and Leeds at home.

Top 4 is over as far as am concerned. Just don't see the players having the bottle or mentality to compete for something prestigious. Especially the FA Cup. All I want for once is to see every player on the pitch give 100% on the pitch and look forward to opportunities to overtake the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea in the table and believe that we can actually achieve something. But I cannot see it. Especially with some players at the club and their egos.

Let's just get the next two games out the way and hope we put an effort in at least.

We'll probably at least have a go at City but I've got players I've played with who would have done better tonight. We' would have at least put in some effort and tried to win the ball back. As bad as I've seen.

We can't play Sigurdsson, James and Gomes together, everything is just too slow.

Maybe I'm missing something but I really want to know is it ingrained in Everton to get so far then fail or is it yet another blip? I genuinely want to know after decades of "It's just the Everton way."

That was the worst 90 minutes I've seen from an Everton team in a long while.

Out-played, outf-ought, out-run and out-thought.

West Brom, Newcastle, Fulham, Leeds, sides we expect to win against have all outplayed us this season. You could add more to the list but the point is we again start slowly and struggle to retain possession. We help teams push up against us as we are too static. 

Without criticising individuals, we all know there is a lack of pace, energy, movement. "Backwards", a recurring theme. Players run back, the ball is played back, over and over. 

Today was a bad day. Team, subs, general play. But we have too many days like today. Gomes, Sigurdsson, James. All have good qualities but the three playing together isn't working.

They are too similar in lacking athleticism and need 'out' options, ie, other runners. When we had to dig in and fight against Leeds Utd, Man Utd, Spurs we play so much better. Attack quickly in numbers, defend quickly in numbers.

Maybe Carlo's player profile got nicked, but I can't understand starting the 2nd half the same after playing so poorly in the 1st half.

Another bad, backwards day!

It was also the performance of a tired team. A team knackered both physically and mentally. You play that game over and over again and I think you'll get the same result. They all looked like they had lead in their boots. Their bodies and brains just weren't reacting.

Maybe Carlo should have thrown in his squad fillers but, looking at him and his staff, the look was of acceptance. The tank was empty.

Not an excuse – just my take on things.

Carlo’s team sheet and tactics were in that fucking safe. That’s the only explanation for that Chernobyl of a fucking team selection.

My advice, any time you have a good feeling or the slightest bit of optimism about Everton just expect the opposite. This loser mentality is entrenched in the club and I genuinely don't see it ever changing.

Carlo is telling the players to fight for a win every two or three games. The rest of the time, they can fuck about sideways and backwards like sheep frightened of the collies.

Manager, coaches and players cannot be defended after watching that very poor performance.

Everton 0 Fulham 2. And we were lucky to get the nil.

That was awful, but you could see it coming straight from the first whistle.

Surprised at the starting line up including all 3 of Gomes, Sigurdsson and James. Two coming back from injury, the other played the full 120 minutes vs Spurs. None of them you can describe as capable of playing a high energy pressing game. So it proved.

Surprised also that Carlo didn't retain at least one of his 'go-to' centre-backs, Mina or Keane, but instead partnered Holgate and Godfrey together for the first time ever. It didn't work.

Someone above already used the word that crossed my lips about Mason Holgate. Liability. And not just today, for me. He is way, way off the standards he set last season Far too casual and lackadaisical in all he does.

Mason was lucky to stay on, quite frankly. Keane was as good as anyone with his forward passing when he came on, but that should not be his key role in the team.

Coleman and Digne were largely pinned back all game and so neutered. That came about because Fulham were very effective and relentless when we had the ball, whereas they had all the time and space in the world to play as they liked when in possession.

Surprised that, of the two holding midfielders who both also played the full 120 minutes vs Spurs, that Tom Davies was hooked and not Doucouré. Of all the Everton players on the pitch, Tom was the only one showing anything close to what he is capable of. Looking to receive the ball. Retaining it. Moving it on. Moving it forward! Getting in amongst them to close them down.

Doucouré, by contrast, looked half a yard off the pace all game. I honestly cannot recall one meaningful positive moment by the Frenchman all game.

Sigurdsson and Gomes improved marginally – very marginally – in the last 15-20 minutes, but nowhere near enough to what was required. Surprised and not impressed how quickly James wanted to be subbed out after a nothing tackle.

Up front, Richarlison had absolutely nothing to feed on. King's movement and finish for his disallowed goal was nice to see, but otherwise he was another grey man on the day.

I can only presume Iwobi is back to not impressing in training that Bernard got the nod in front of him. Iwobi had a very good game down at Fulham and his pace could have kept Fulham penned in a bit more than was the case and given us width.

The hard lessons learnt from the Newcastle game, which I'm sure they would have been reminded of during the week, seemingly forgotten.

Fatigue cannot be used as an excuse all for this performance. Winning teams overcome that. Embrace it. Expect it. Because playing twice a week means you are competing on many fronts because you are winning.

Winning teams don't miss opportunities like today. We've done it four times at home this season when a win vs Leeds, West ham, Newcastle and now Fulham would have seriously consolidated our position and made us genuine contenders for a top 4 finish.

For me, this is not about lack of technique, technical nous or fitness. We've shown we possess those qualities. This failing strikes me as more psychological, that we fold so easily as we have in those fixtures.

But let's also praise Fulham. They were excellent. Everything we wanted to see from Everton. They looked like the team challenging for a top 4 place. We looked like the team floundering in the bottom 3.

Everton. They don't half make us suffer.

Why not go out and try to win this one? Play your strongest team and a formation that works. Rest players against Man City then.

Sometimes you wonder: Is football fixed? How can you go from playing well to that?? That was the worst performance I've seen.

If we can't beat Newcastle or Fulham at home, who will we beat at home. No home league win since 19 December. Man City is going to be really ugly.

I remember the West Brom game. We were outplayed for long periods and our saving grace was their player being sent off. It papered over the cracks. Fulham away we were blessed to win it and they missed a pen.

Gomes tonight ran 12.5 km. The furthest of any player, but in a useless fashion. Most teams are dominating us and even Spurs on Wednesday night should have been 2/3 up before we scored.

I'm not paid Carlo's wages to sort it out but how come every ToffeeWeber can see exactly what I can see and yet we lurch through that 1st half knowing that, unless we change it, the inevitable is going to happen.

There were no leaders there tonight. I felt sorry for Coleman and Davies. They tried and have fighting spirit. I'm repeating myself from previous posts about Holgate. He looks as if he just doesn't care, chewing gum and smiling when we are 2 down.

A tactical sea change is needed. Allan will help but Carlo needs a good look in the mirror.

Takes guts and courage, let's see what transpires, on Saturday. Everton are over due in years for a performance at our old ground.

In football, teams don't give up up the ghost before the game and teams need to have deep faith and belief in their ability.

As in life and supporting Everton, to see each of the days with hope.

Facts show we have beaten Liverpool a few times, not enough, but now they are on a low, but typically Everton are now the inconsistent team.

Let's see, what this week brings.

Embarrassing... and there can be not one excuse from anyone.

On some level, we probably all knew that another abject performance was a big possibility and that in itself is pretty damning. Is Carlo the chief architect of this shit-show – or are the players just happy to let the opposition out-run, our-muscle and generally out-manoeuvre us?

However many underperforming players we seem to move on, this lethargy and lack of energy and intensity seems to remain. When was the last-time that we dominated a side from start to finish in the way that Fulham dominated us tonight? Pathetic.

Our club motto should be, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to win a game”. Apologies to Ms Lazarus.

In today's game, and the other two games mentioned, the right wing was the weakness. The Everton defender getting sucked in and the opposition play is able to run onto the released ball unmarked and untracked to cross unchallenged, even having time to shoot unchallenged, as was the case with the second goal.

Midfield was totally played off the pitch, with both James and Gomes both pushed deep, showing a weak stomach for the physical challenge. James even wanted to be subbed in the end. Sigurdsson supporting the attack was never going to get back and Richarlison never does. Fulham pushed up as they liked into midfield. In the final minutes, we were spared the sight of the whole Fulham team attacking, with Everton players looking on from the opposition penalty area, at least Davies, who was subbed, did try to put up a performance. Doucouré was poor and Holgate is still in post-injury form.

The attack consisted of long balls and wing play. Fulham, when attacked through the centre in the first half, looked vulnerable, but this only happened once in the whole game.

Everton relapsed back in to what Ancelotti calls 'no spirit', something as fans we are all well used to having seen Everton's progress flounder so many times as a result of it. These players do not deserve to p!ay in Europe. Lucky it was not 5-0.

I will be giving MotD a miss.

The consolation I take is the warped pleasure and hysterical laughter that sometimes occurs after placing an insane wager which predictably goes astray. Richarlison to score any time in the game. I did that.... I fucking phoned up and did that!!!

Laughter subsides.. another happy Monday. Back to normal Blues.

By the same token, as fans, we see comments like "this is not good enough", yet one goal changes everything (recent examples Man Utd game, we got a last-minute equaliser, but to that point... and then Spurs, a totally out-of-form side, it was all shite until we won late on in extra time).

0-2 vs Newcastle and 0-2 vs Fulham is worrying – we'll still finish great and in a good position, but had we not turned some of the results we have had positively, where would we be?

I can't actually remember a game we have dominated this season where I think we've "lost" points, but can we say the same the other way, where opposition teams will feel the have been robbed? Yes, most definitely.

This is the game we really needed to get 3 points from. Forget the Man City and Liverpool games. Piss poor home record. I can't even remember our last 3 points at home.

We can not play 4-3-3-, and especially without Calvert-Lewin. I don't even know what formation that was. Richarlison by the side of or in front of Sigurdsson meaning Gomes was covering left as Doucouré was covering right. That meant our midfield was wide open and ensured no width going forwards.

Carlo will attract players again maybe in the summer. Hopefully then he will have no fucking excuses because l have none for him. If we start off slowly we usually finish just as badly.

I'm also not having this "Gomes, James, Sigurdsson, Richarlison whatever can't play together" bullshit. They can if we have balance in the set-up. What we do always need is one of Mina or Keane at the back because it makes us impotent on corners and free kicks, both for and against.

Carlos charm is wearing thin on me. How many fucking times. Sort it out. Stop gifting points to shite teams and go out to win each game. No excuses. He was missing Calvert-Lewin. That's all.

A well and truly cleanup needed! Only 2-3 of current squad are worth keeping. The rest should go including our coffee-sipping-not-giving-fuck-all manager! Get Graham Potter in who actually knows what he is doing and has ambitions!

I have had enough of this club. Gomes, Holgate, Sigurdsson, Davies, Iwobi and even Richarlisson are not good enough!! You can't go places with this bunch of shite players! Get rid!!!!!!!!

We got very lucky against the RS at Goodison and they hate us for what happened to Van Dijk so it may be tough to escape with a point again and we cannot possibly hope for anything against Man City on this performance.

No two games are ever alike they say so who knows what will happen but it just seems like they keep blowing it.

Changing the back four is a no-no. Just look what has happened to Liverpool in recent weeks mainly through injuries which Everton haven't had.

Whilst it is unfair to question one area of the team the rest today were just on another planet.

The hardest thing the starting eleven did was take the knee for Black Lives Matter.

Everton should also take the knee for ''Everton Fans Matter''.

No words can really explain what we saw today.

I'm not going to go overboard about Ancelotti but his team selection was so obviously flawed. The potential problems were obvious to all except him seemingly.

One of the worst home performances I've ever seen in 60 years. Thank God I got my money back on my season ticket for today's match. Utterly pathetic.

Scary that, more than most, Everton bottle the big games... if our FA Cup semi-final record is a benchmark for success, then it's a tough road ahead, and that's a fact. But we live in hope.

Thinking back, today was their day like our day at Elland Road when Rooney won us the game in 2002 after I recall 49 years since Everton's last win at Elland Road.

But until, in every game, every Everton player gives their all, for 95 mins, then it's snakes and ladders, and I live in hope eternal.

Josh King to bag a couple this week!

He looked floundered in the post match BT interview and the questioner actually said “Everton didn't look physically up for it, was it due to their 2-hour match on Wednesday?”, which Ancelotti quickly agreed with, as he seemed short of ideas.

Then, in the second interview with the BBC, when asked what was the problem tonight, he responded it was a physical problem after 2 hours on Wednesday!!!! To me, it smacked of a guy not at the races tonight.

He went on to say he wanted to control the ball so he packed his midfield. Well, you can only control the match if you can move the ball forward through midfield, or through your wingers or full-backs overlapping, and on to your forwards. He had only one forward who couldn't even keep hold of any ball pushed up to him and his full-backs were pinned back and his midfield were either sitting on the back 4 deep line or were 2 yards short of pace to keep up with the game.

I felt tonight that the players didn't have a clue what they were supposed to be doing, where to play, who to mark, who was to show for the ball...

I hope Ancelotti recovers quickly, as I didn't think I saw a game tonight where Carlo was ever in control of it.

This time around, they're down there with us and, to me, that makes them more dangerous. They're usually guarding complacency if anything going into derbies; this time they'll be hungry and I believe more up for it.

Today's game showed one of his weaknesses and that is a reluctance to change when his game plan doesn't work. It is difficult to name any two players who were having a good game after the first 20 or 25 minutes.

It may have been the game against Tottenham that made some players slow, but the manager should have changed a couple of players before they scored and not waited till after they scored. That gave them a boost, and an incentive to go for the three points.

We do not have a great squad but we have enough players in the squad that should have made this game against Fulham competitive; we did not. The question for the manager is: Why not? ... and Who's fault was it? To accept compliments, you have to accept criticism.

That's 50 games for which they need to be fully fit, injuries aside, and they all know it.

So don't ever give me "tired" from a squad of obscenely paid 24 professional players please, or their very comfortable ever-present, Kenwright-selected "coaches".

The truth is that they're just not fit enough, they're just not ambitious enough, they're just too comfortable on big money "doing it the Everton way". Which, to them (and just about anyone younger than 35) means turning up hoping to hell not to win anything to thereby increase the club's profile to such an extent that it might become attractive to winning players who'll terminate the chances of comfortable non-entities on the pitch and behind the scenes.

They really piss me off.

In the 1st half, we were simply not on the pitch. It was not our level, I don't know why, but I can just say that it was not our level. In moving the ball, in possession, in counter-attack, in challenges, in intensity. By far, one of our worst games ever!!!!

The same performance as always when we have a suppossedly easy game. We lack quality, we do not have wingers or fast players. Our midfielders are the slowest of the league and Ancelotti insists on a defensive approach in our home fixtures.

Absolutely disgraceful but also absolutely predictable. And to make things worse, I am sure we will see the same story in all our “easy” home fixtures.

Let Fulham enjoy it. They will still struggle with relegation. No other team will let them play like that.

Taking off Davies, who was the only midfielder putting in an effort, and bringing Sigurdsson back into midfield... unbelievable, what does he see in him?

As others have said Sigurdsson, James and Gomes together doesn't work, and was Seamus playing worse than Holgate? Definitely back to the drawing board, Carlo, for our next two games. Hopefully Allan, Doucouré and Davies in midfield for the Man City game and Calvert-Lewin back, but a huge setback tonight.

"We all know Ancelotti is not leaving so calling for his head will not change things."

You're right: calling for his head won't make the club change things... however, if Ancelotti turns out more performances like that in the coming matches, he might just put enough seeds of doubt in the Board.

Brands himself hasn't had his contract renewed and it's up this summer; this would be an ideal time for a full clearout. It's not impossible Carlo could go, this Everton side is looking very mediocre and too willing to ride its luck rather than act to influence the future.

Duellists, well I'd say we have all around duellists: Davies, Allan, Doucouré, Godfrey, consistently, aerial duellist Keane, blocking duellist Mina, and then you can split out the game of football in context of this Everton squad, but too many pretend footballers who'd be better equipped selling the Echo on the street corner.

Seriously, a massive U-bend scale result tonight, ahead of a tough run of aways and Man City at Goodison Park.

Surely this is gonna be a Man City 2012 result aka in this case instead of Darren Gibson, Josh King, but any Everton player, and Everton win the game.

Let's see which Everton team turns up, but hearts and minds are made in a team game by the manager and coaches.

Hopefully lessons will be learnt tonight.

The entire backroom staff look like they had given up after 30 minutes. The players looked tired and distracted. From the off, the stench of gloom hung over the place.

It was so bad, I was even hoping Iwobi might come on.

It's a squad game, and rotation excepted, today there was no passion, belief and guts to win this match.

For 90 minutes, Everton's players stood off Fulham and made them look like Vintage Barcelona.

Let's hope for better desire this week from the players and they are up for every duel and play for 97 minutes.

Any change in this line-up is a downgrade. Gomes should be sold immediately along with Pickford, Coleman (really sorry for him), Delph, Sigurdsson, Iwobi, Bernard and our players on loan except Kean and Branthwaite.

Aarons would be my key target plus two wingers, Isco and Olsen. Our line up next season should be:

Olsen, Aarons, Keane, Mina (Godfrey), Godfrey (Digne); Allan, Doucoure (Davies) Isco, Loftus (Rodriguez) Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin (Kean).

The players were too relaxed. Maybe they thought we started off from the last match against them 3-0???

They have achieved something never achieved by any previous Everton regime in the league. Losing at home to Fulham.

What we got was some weird defensive set-up that invited Fulham to keep possession and attack us relentlessly. Worse still, these have been Carlo's tactics at home for most of this season in the league.

Managers don't like to change their tactics, as we have found out in the past with Silva and Koeman even Martinez. Therefore we can expect more of the same from Carlo each time we play at home. What an absolutely disastrous season at home in the league we are going to have to endure, unless there is a change of emphasis, to attack at home.

King should've played up front with Iwobi or Bernard on the wing. Only one of James, Gomes and Sigurdsson should have been in midfield. Elementary mistakes from a manager who should know better, but he has made and continues to make some horrendous mistakes.

Poor management decisions, poor team execution... hard to say which had the bigger effect. This could become a St Valentine's Day Massacre on how to blow 3 games in hand in a week... and if anybody is pinning their hopes on the cup game – dream on.

City haven't lost for 15 games, do we see Everton going there and doing a Fulham? Do we fuck.

The Liverpool manager, and since a week is a long time in football as well as politics, it could even be a caretaker manager – anyway, whoever it is, they haven't won in 8 games is it? We'll turn up, just like for Bruce of Newcastle, and gift him 3 pts.

If it does nothing else, this result should cheer up our neighbours across the park and their customers... makes it all worthwhile really...

And deep down, is anybody really surprised? No! That's the sad part... it's expected, nay, even compulsory maybe.

There's xGs and stuff... ladies and gentlemen – I give you... xBs: Expected Bottles.

For me, now more than ever, it is time to appoint a new Captain as there is fuck-all leadership on the pitch, and especially when it's hit the crisis, and no ownership of responsibility, which is in most games in patches, and tonight, the whole match.

This is a serious issue, and the club will surely address. A few more like tonight, and it will be a tough end to this season.

But all considered, I hope the Ancelotti family are safe and well in view of the disgusting events last Friday.

Everton are on the up and, if the Achilles of winning league games at Goodison Park can be overcome, then, that is real potential and possibility, for this season and the future.

I am surprised that other Evertonians were surprised by the result. I have learned never to expect the normal.

I also won't be surprised whatever happens in the next two games. Remember we have donated points to the mighty Newcastle and now Fulham, and we should be really worried because we still have games against Sheffield Utd and West Brom.

Should have freshened it up, Iwobi and King starting, possibly Allan, but when you take off Coleman and Davies, who were the only ones at least putting a shift in, then poor management. If anything, Holgate should have got hooked off, but to be a goal down and put a centre-half on is crazy.

Cannot do anything about the starting line-up once selected, but the three subs needed were so obvious: Allan, Iwobi or Bernard along with King. Why put a centre-half on, when you are chasing the game? Sacrifice a defender, but to put another defender on at home changed nothing.

I spent many years in the Upper Bullens with my late father sat in front of 2 old fellas who were the real-life versions of those guys in the opera box from The Muppets. My dad finally had enough one day and asked them why they bothered coming... they had no answer.

Tonight was an appalling performance, agreed. More appalling is the fair-weather support by those on here who seem to feel they are part of the obvious 'clique' in this site and therefore entitled to their mundane rhetoric.

Fuck You, ToffeeWeb. There are simply better balanced Blue sites now... thankfully.

Bookmark deleted.

Too many below-par performances tonight, but special mentions for Holgate, who was awful again, and Rodriquez, who we all know is technically one of the best we have all seen... but, fuck me, he is a real pussy when things aren't going well.

We all don't know the full story of how the manager and his daughter are dealing with the burglary so he gets a bye from me.

We did look knackered.

We cannot all agree, some will see things differently, some will agree, some will argue til the cows come home and be adamant they are right. I try to give a balanced view and see other posters' views.

What I put down comes from the heart. Often I may be wrong, but once I have vented what I saw, that is it for me, got it off my chest, forgotten before the next game.

For what it is worth, I thought Fulham played well tonight. Sometimes you have to take it on the chin. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I would have freshened it up tonight. Any of King, Iwobi, Bernard, Allan could have started.

The shocker for me was putting a centre-half on, after going a goal down. For me, we should have taken Holgate off, played with one less defender, and put either Bernard or King on earlier, then put Allan on. There was no need to put another centre-half on.

Never heard of you.

If you're dumb enough to check into the Live Forum when it evidently upsets you, rather than focus fully on the live game, then more fool you.

Plenty of good content and positivity on TW. Always.

Always find it amusing when a poster grandstands and announces their 'retirement' from the site.

You won't be missed by this poster because you weren't even noticed.

I half-expected this performance, no matter who was picked, or whatever tactics were utilised. It seems we still have far too many players who can't get properly mentally prepared for the ‘lesser' games. Whichever XI started, they simply had to be more switched on and sharper from the off. History tells us that this squad isn't good at upping the tempo of their play at will.

Whether it's the coaching, the players not giving the opponents the respect they should, or both, it has to be seen as unacceptable. Even if we were to win the next 2 games, I'll still be disappointed we didn't win this game.

You have to wonder whether the players feel the same or whether they'll celebrate like they've won the cup if we end up with 2 points out of a possible 9?

Fulham are a decent side. They outplayed us tonight. They've drawn a lot of games which they should have won. Their league placing belies their ability. They have some very good individuals, notably Ademola Lookman. I've watched his recent performances on TV. He's a much-improved player.

Having said that, I'm sure that, on another day, with everyone fit, a different attitude, formation and battle plan, it would have been our victory. With the exception of Man City and one or two other teams, that's how fickle the Premier League is right now. Little separates those chasing Europe from those trying to fend off relegation. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.

Just because we've strung together a few decent results, people blind themselves with the false hope of a new dawn. The fact of the matter is that we are still at least 3-4 players off being a force to be reckoned with. Ancelotti knows as much.

It will take time. We could still pull off a Cup shock against Man City. We could still go to Anfield and beat Liverpool. Bigger surprises have happened in football. Admittedly not with the same approach as we had tonight...

Tonight was a shock result, but not entirely surprising. The mark of how far we have come under Ancelotti, is how the squad responds in the coming matches. Nobody has a divine right to winning matches. Give Fulham the credit they deserve. Put this setback behind us. Learn from it and every player prepare to do battle to make amends.

Why?

And Pete, you're opinion chimes with others and I'm confident most of us respect your right to express it.

We were that dogshit poor, we made them look like a decent side.

We also made the team they were 10 points behind look like a decent side too.

Today told us more about our season rather than the game. Firstly, no settled back four. Have one and build on it. A settled back four or five can bring success and structure to the team. Look at the team across the park. Back four unsettled by injuries. Whole team suffers.

There are games we carry players. Richarlison and James today were absent today. Davies tried but was let down by senior colleagues. Either we think we are good enough to perform at 60% and win or we just can't be arsed? Work rate at whatever level of football is crucial to getting results.

After the awful events the manager has had this week, you would think the players would have made his life easier and performed today.

Finally, our bench is poor as we can't drop certain players due to effort or form. This has to be addressed come the summer.

As much as we get a look-in at the top four, we are miles from it. Let's not kid ourselves, we are work in progress but still building on the foundations. An interesting few months ahead for our manager.

Sorry to hear about the Ancelotti house being burgled, the person or persons who did it are real arseholes. As are anybody who burgles someone's house. Stay safe all.

You are one of the clique I am referring to. Your reactions may not be the negative ones I am referring to but they are very indicative of this 'club' within a club on here...

You've not heard of me?? Of course you haven't because I am just one of the fans... driven to comment for the first time on here by the crap I have seen written tonight.

Who are you, Mr Brazil?

My point is... why make this a fan site if it is the same folk banging on every week?

Just start a WhatsApp group if you can't handle truth from new blood.

I think you're missing my point, which is that – excepting City and a couple of others – there is not much difference in quality between the top and bottom teams in the division. That's why I'm saying results like tonight's are not that surprising.

Teams like Fulham, Burnley and Brighton are hitting form and playing decent stuff. It's not all kick and run like say, old Wimbledon style. That's why I said Fulham are a decent side. If you look at their results, they have drawn with so-called top sides and won against a couple. Nobody's battered them. Scott Parker has got them playing.

Unfortunately for us tonight, they had a game plan which ran all over our non-existent midfield and they executed that plan with precision. We could play them next week and overturn this defeat. I'm trying to point out that this is true of virtually all Premier League teams at present.

I can't. I can't see where it would come from. Clever through ball from James to Gylfi? He'd have to turn back due to lack of pace. Gomes never scores. Digne's crosses are a threat? But to whom would he be crossing? We didn't even have threats from corners with Mina and Keane out. What could Richarlison possibly do with no runners around him? I don't understand how we would ever score a goal with that selection. Not even a lucky one.

Surely a prerequisite to picking a team is understanding how they could possibly play together? How was this ever going to work?

There was a genuine chance today to push on for a second-place finish and even that could not motivate this set of players, too little desire and intensity and need to win throughout. I placed my reverse bets accordingly, hoping I would lose my money today but the bookies and punters aren't stupid, the odds on the Fulham win were narrowing all the time.

It has been a shitty and harrowing week for Carlo but – for all the good he has done and for all the quality players he has brought in – he seems unable to motivate these players with any degree of consistency. Too often, there is little or no desire or intensity, as Michael Kenrick rightly pulled them up on at the start of his report.

Gomes, Sigurdsson and James all in the same team against mobile and motivated young lads? Not for me thanks,

I am with Trevor Peers and others on this: too many luxury players in blue there for my liking. I would sooner we had Lookman than James on that showing, that's for sure. A very sad day indeed.

Tony Abrahams and I commented before this game that Fulham have been playing well, conceding few goals and very unlucky. Their points tally doesn't reflect their performances. That doesn't excuse our non-performance but they actually are decent enough opponents.

I thought you'd flounced away for good?

So, let me get this right.

Your 1st post, declaring you are taking your leave of the site, is just that. Your first post ever on here, the open forum?

Am I missing something profound here?

The Brazil location you need everyone to know about is akin to the owning of a library card not making you Yoda.

I will give you the last word..

COYB

We were out-passed, out-fought, out-worked and totally dominated by a side that is in deep trouble in the Premier League. We made Lookman look like Ronaldo. Coleman was totally embarrassing and made to look like a Sunday league veteran.

Champions League? You're pissed if you think this clueless bunch will ever get there. And as for our "World class" manager, he had no idea how to stop us getting ripped apart on the right.

Totally fed up with this club ruining my weekends. Feel for Tom Davies. He was the only one other than Doucouré who was trying and he got hooked again. Seems to be the default sub.

We need a total clear out. Get rid of Sigurdsson, Coleman, Gomes, Bernard, Richarlison (he's been terrible all season) and rebuild.

Trouble is he's prone to pick some crazy teams and is just about the worst decider of second half subs we have ever had to suffer.

No doubt if we have too many of these appalling displays, it will all be down to Pickford – not the midfield posers our genius manager likes to pick.

They're becoming increasingly incomprehensible.

Impressed by your football-free content, mind... whilst berating those who do talk about the footy.

My thoughts on the players are

Olsen – A No 2 all day long.

Coleman – given a difficult game by Lookman but kept at it and hit the post. Still, he needs to be a back-up right-back now, and not first choice. Played a really decent cameo as a right-midfielder vs Spurs. We need a new right-back for next season; it would be Lamptey for me from Brighton.

Holgate – appears to me anyway to be pissed he's not a first choice centre-back after last season. He missed pre-season training and has not kicked on this season. Looks lax on the ball and has a tendency to the rash challenge that will one day end up in a red card. Still the best alternative to Coleman right now.

Godfrey – despite looking knackered tonight, my Player of the Season and, as far as I am concerned, a better defending left-back than Digne. He would be my left-back for the rest of the season. With Digne ahead of him.

Digne – gets himself involved too often in a running battle with his opposite number instead of concentrating on his job, as tonight with Tete. When he's 100% on it, he's excellent. Right now, he looks better in left-midfield than at left-back. There is no partnership at all with him and Richarlison, as there was a while back with Bernard, despite the covering Richarlison does in front of him.

Keane – should be first choice centre-back every game unless injured or possibly nursing an injury, which might explain why he's being rotated and didn't start tonight.

Davies – playing well and did better than most of them tonight. Trying to play forward and not playing the safety-first option of most of his colleagues.

Doucouré – looked jaded and a yard behind the play most of the game... and who can blame after the Spurs game? Covered the space vacated by James and unable to influence the match at all.

James – unable to get into the game and, in my humble opinion, got himself subbed; I hope I am wrong on that one.

Gomes – appeared to have more energy than most of them and kept showing for the ball but only made one really good pass forward with a flick to Digne over the Fulham defence... was that the only time we got behind them?

Sigurdsson – one of his anonymous games, that we were all hoping were behind him. Why he wasn't rested and James allowed the No 10 role (or was it false No 9 role?) mystifies me.

Richarlson – starved of service and could not get into the game at all. After scoring against Spurs, I was expecting a lot more and I suspect so was he.

King – I liked his desire to get involved and he was a foot away from having a legal goal. I hope he plays versus Man City.

Bernard – I would have started with Bernard after the Spurs game. He must have felt up for it and maybe with him and Iwobi wide of Richarlison and King we would have had a lot more energy upfront.

Carlo Ancelotti – Not a good moment for him, given the burglary and the fact his daughter was alone in the house at the time. However, being a professional, he will be very disappointed with the performance and result, as we all were.

Fulham – thoroughly deserved their win. They had energy and an appetite for the game that Everton so sadly lacked.

Two big games coming up – will the real Everton please stand up! COYBs!

ps: Sometimes I wonder if Carlo is like that jockey who does not want his horse to get into the mix too early and waits until it really matters???

It was you who decided to make this about you.. My first post didn't refer to any one person. I was annoyed by the Live Forum crap I have seen many times. And I referenced 100s of days at Goodison Park.

You came at me... So Clarice... quit pro quo.

I made a point of this being a 'clique' and you snapped back that you never heard of me. I mean... who isn't getting what here??

The Live Forum features some who are little more than hooligans. I left about three minutes into the Spurs game due to the inane psychosis. A few in there are alright: Mike, Colin, Derek, but others seem like the type who'd mug you down dark alleys...

Godfrey – heart of a Lion.
Olsen – just a bit better in stature and appropriate.
FA Cup quarterfinals and we are way beyond this time last season, points and outlook...

Negatives:

We could be top spot if our season kick-off form had continued...
With our new horizon with Carlo comes a heavier fall.
Do you want Marco with the last bit of Moyes... or Carlo with the last bit of Marco...?
We have fucking progressed!

I didn't like that line-up today. For me, being an expert and all (sarcasm folks), Gomes, a Sigurdsson who's played 2 hours in mid-week and a returning-from-injury James, just didn't seem to offer enough legs to the team; but I thought that against Leeds too, and Everton won that!

What's happened to Holgate? I actually thought him and Godfrey would be a good idea today, but it didn't work out that way. For me, Digne has just come back from an injury, rest him after the midweek. Play Godfrey there, or take a chance on Nkounkou, at least for part of the game. Play King wide, put Richarlison in the middle from the off, and have Iwobi on for more legs.

It was a home game. I like Ancelotti, he is good for the club in many ways, but I just didn't understand that line-up today, so – maybe it is just me, and that's how football is, as it is not an exact science. But still, it's not the losing of a game, but the manner of the way it happened. I can understand the tired legs, but thought we could have come up with something better than that.

I guess it proves that this squad, not team, is not ready for the next level; and some!

You have made it very much about you.

In reply, I have defended TW, the site, from the blanket condemnation of negativity you accuse TW and its 'cliques' you claim exist.

For someone who now admits your first post was literally just that – your first post ever on the open forum – and you used it to declare you were leaving TW (when in truth you have never been a contributor) and telling TW and all and sundry to Fuck You...

Well, it's been entertaining in a very comedic and surreal way.

And still not a single word from you on anything footy related.

I'm not sure Carlo could have put out a winning team. Digne hasn't been in form for a while, Holgate neither, Coleman still has heart but not the legs, Nkounkou is untried, Mina is hit and Miss. James just didn't fancy it, Richarlison was pissing about offside, we don't have depth to cover all of their shortcomings.

Yip, you may be right Kieran, still need a fair few in as the squad... just seems to be exposed when the fixtures pile up.

We don't know how much the team selection is also down to squad management, I guess.

But being at home, well, I just expected more! As an Evertonian, I should know better!

I still think Ancelotti is the man for the job but, the moment I saw the team, I wondered who would be playing up front with Richarlison and the answer was nobody. I couldn't tell you if Fulham's defence is any good as we didn't bother them and they didn't need one until the last 10 minutes.

Gomes spent the first half giving hospital balls to Davies. James was nowhere to be found, as was Sigurdsson, and Richarlison just didn't want to know. Holgate and Doucouré were absolute rubbish and I'd be happy if Holgate never plays central defence again, he just stands around watching.

It says something when, if looking for an Everton MotM, that the best were Davies and Coleman who were the only players putting any effort in, or one of their replacements in Keane who showed more creative idea than any of our much-touted midfield.

While I think Calvert-Lewin needs to work on some of his finishing, I doubt I will criticize ever again the work he does up front and he was sorely missed tonight but how do you hope to score goals if you don't put an attack out on the park?

Disgusted!

For someone who told all and sundry on TW to "Fuck You" and that you were deleting the TW bookmark and forever taking your leave of the site, you seem to be having trouble finding the exit.

Nice debating style. Liken another poster to the RS rather than genuinely engage. I think you'll find that won't go down well with the Ed's.

From a tactical perspective, poorer teams have sussed us out, press high and give the back four no time, high line of defence and everyone marking a man when they lose the ball.

The selection of James and Sigurdsson together should never happen. Two passengers when the cover is needed,; you can get away with one, never two...

Holgate for me is a weak link and always has been; last night ,he was utterly dreadful and frankly looked as if he couldn't care less. In fact, he personified the back four and midfield.

Going back not forward, no-one taking responsibility, no service to the forwards. You could count on one hand the number of times anyone in midfield played a killer pass. In fact, I don't think I need hands.

Carlo should have played King from the outset instead of Sigurdsson. Keane should have been in for Holgate, Allan should have had a half. We are losing and a centre-half is put on... Carlo – what were you thinking?

But above all, it looked as if we didn't want to know: no desire, no drive, no point. There is something still wrong in this squad, a lack of moral fibre... fight, steel – and it's either wrong players or wrong tactics. You can point at the manager but this has been with us for quite a while now and it's like moving deck chairs on the Titanic: it makes no difference.

So why is it some weeks we see brilliant movement and desire and other weeks, in lesser games, we don't? Commitment, attitude, arrogance, but above all, a total lack of commitment and effort. Not good enough. How do you coach players like that?

Answer... you don't. It was lazy "couldn't care less" football, played by players who didn't take responsibility to go forward.

If Josh King is not going to start when Calvert-Lewin is injured, when is he going to start?!

The match commentators plus myself were puzzled when, in the opening minutes, a Fulham free kick 40 yards out saw our entire team make a defensive line in the 6-yard box.

Jeckyll and Hyde Everton. We don't know who is going to turn up at home games, but the manager should explain himself on team selection and tactics.

We had a great chance with games in hand to fill a top 4 spot if we had got this game right, but now that is cast in doubt because we just don't know which team will turn up.

I just knew we'd struggle but didn't think we'd be that bad – it's becoming a habit.

Why we started Richarlison and Sigurdsson after the 120 mins against Spurs is beyond me. We could've started with a completely fresh frontline with King and Bernard coming in alongside James.

Yet again, when some above us drop points, we go and shoot ourselves in foot.

Fulham played well. I'm not suggesting we should have battered them. The minimum requirement is to match the opponents for effort. Anyone suggesting they were tired needs to give their head a wobble. Our season looks like it will taper off with a whimper. I will predict an 8th placed finish. Out the cup in the next game. Another year passes by and we are also-rans.

No decent player would want to join this bunch of wasters.

It's the hope that kills you.

Roll on Wednesday

I couldn't post last night because the site crashed for me, just as well now, because I would have been banned for life with what I was going to say... but Benn Chambers says it a lot better than I could.

I wonder how the Happy Clappers will spin this on the run-up to the Man City game?

He likewise always looked for the forward ball to strikers who were again fast and linked up well and destroyed the opposition defence with two very well-worked goals.

The opposition looked lost and in a malaise and appeared clueless... sometimes passing back to the keeper from the halfway line.

Congratulations, Fulham, on that performance – you deserve to stay in the Premier League. As for the opposition... I'm speechless.

It's that simple.

I wish it was. Nobody will succeed at Everton with Kenwright still stinking the place out.

Strange formation (not that I could work out what it was), strange tactics (ditto) and the players in a strange mood from the onset.

Strange.

The only positive I can cling to is that we haven't got all week to dwell on this and debate it.

We could have been sitting pretty. We're not.

I was thinking 4 points from the next 3 games (including last night) would be a decent return this week. We're Everton, why do things the easy way? It's going to have to be 4 points from the next 2 games then rather than having 3 of them in the bank already.

I for one won't be watching after last night and feeling more upset and embarrassed this week.

Liverpool not playing well at the moment but you can guarantee that Carlo will play a team similar to last night and try for a draw.

Wow, that was bad. Carlo got that game so wrong and it's solely on his shoulders.

Now... team for Wednesday:

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

And, dare I say, Richarlison

If these players cannot play two, sometimes three games in so many days, then they should not be paid thousands!

Already, we've seen numerous big-name teams tumble down the table, performing well below expectations, and some heads have rolled as a result. More, surely, will follow in the coming months.

Maybe back to basics time again:

Olsen
Holgate Mina Keane Godfrey
Iwobi Allan Doucouré Digne
Richie Calvert-Lewin (or King)

Unfortunately though, I don't think Carlo is ever going to drop Richarlison or not play one of James and Sigurdsson so, it'll be 4-2-3-1 with exposed full-backs, and isolated striker.

Can you imagine what would happen playing Bayern on a Wednesday and a Premier League game at 12:30 on a Saturday? Gutless, but we just are nowhere near there when we have one or two injuries or we're asked to play two games a week.

Of course players are tired, but this tenfolds when you've got nobody in front of you running, and tenfolds again, when you're getting asked to do jobs that don't really suit you, and this was obvious after 10 minutes last night.

Gomes played in the same team as Sigurdson at Leeds, in a game that Everton played very well in, but the difference was we had balance, whereas last night we had none.

I'd find positives, I'd say our three midfielders have got to be Allan, Davies and Doucouré, and I still think we're getting closer to being a good team, but I'm not the manager, and I've got nothing positive to say about Carlo Ancelotti after last night's atrocious display.

My only advice to those posting "We'll beat these" is don't do it. Unwarranted "positivety" is delusion.

Martin Mason, sorry to hear you have issues with drink but it does explain things.

Ian, I'm not about to jump ship for yours yet but last night was absolutely unacceptable from such an experienced manager and I'm not even going to try to excuse him. Taking off Davies and, to a lesser extent, Coleman was stupid and made us slower and less attack-minded.

We were sooooooo predictable last night, even with minutes to go – passing sideways or backwards. There was no visible attempt to take hold of that match and go for even a draw – let alone a result. It was cowardly from the players and the manager. We used to take the mickey out of Liverpool, saying that not only did the players know who was going to receive a pass, the whole crowd did, they were that robotic. We were robotic last night but we won't win anything like that.

We are better than we were... We should be better than last night, and Newcastle, and West Ham etc.

Your points, Ian, were totally correct last night (and in a few other games... but not all). All I would suggest is you drop the continuing Allardyce analogy. We get what you're saying but it's past its sell-by. We are well rid of Allardyce – Ancelloti certainly isn't over-achieving and is getting some games wrong, but he's 10 times the manager that charlatan is.

One final word from me – I expected Richarlison to lead that team from the front last night; he let me down even more than Carlo did. He needs either a kick up the arse or a spell on the bench. He should earn his ego.

This needs to be a watershed moment. If not, then it will be bye-bye, Carlo.

I’m lucky that I hate drinking in the house, I’d never drink again if the pubs didn’t open, and although life is beginning to drive a lot of good/bad men insane right now, sunshine is hopefully around the corner, and that might come sooner than expected Martin, because if Everton win next Saturday night, that thing I said about never drinking again will be a big whopping lie, because I’ll spend my night drinking, singing “WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED!!”

I have written in the past few weeks about "something wrong at Everton". We seemingly have everything in place: Owner, Manager, Players... even other teams doing their best to help us up the table, but "something" not only stops us helping ourselves but seemingly puts us to sleep against very very ordinary teams.

Newcastle doing the double over us, Fulham (they are an average team, hence their League Position) , the sheer laziness of last night... complacency, incompetence from manager to players.

But worse was the absolute lack of any drive from anyone at Everton to see it was not working and to do anything about it.

I really thought that Holgate was going to be a regular after last season; not only is he playing woefully but he constantly turns his back to the play and to the ball, and strolls around chewing his gum. He is in good company though. I do not understand how anyone in any employment can do such bad work and seemingly not care about it.

I run Yellow House, a Charity using creative techniques with young people. I do a regular session called "Consequences" where we take an "action" that one of the young people have made. Then, using theatre techniques, we look at the consequences of the action and then redo the action knowing what the consequences are.

I would love to do some workshops with these lazy men. I would not accept some of these attitudes or performances if they were in Yellow House. A sense of reality needs to be shoved in the face of many of the Everton employees – who is going to provide that, I wonder?

Give him a few more transfer windows... bla bla bla.

I'm sorry but it doesn't work like that. In terms of punching above their weight, all of these managers in the Premier League are way outperforming Carlo:

Brendan Rodgers
David Moyes
Graham Potter
Scott Parker
Chris Wilder
Dean Smith
Sean Dyche
Marco Bielsa

It will be interesting to see the comments after the next few games.

Holgate was woeful and should never play centre-back for this club again.

Davies seemed to be the only player trying to pass forward; maybe he was subbed because there was nobody for him to pass to so no point keeping him on...

Fulham were very good value for the win, though we made it so easy for them as they had all the time and space in the world to play.

I think Man City will absolutely spank us midweek, though who knows which Everton team will actually show up.

Shockingly bad, embarrassing to everyone associated with the club – we will never win a thing with most of these players. (Please prove me wrong!)

I do have faith in Ancelotti but I fully accept it will take time to make the changes needed. I can only hope he knows what he needs.

Great post George McKane.

Holgate is embarrassing himself – gum, red boots, fucking hair and eyebrow cut. If you're going to draw attention to yourself, at least back it up with some good football.

I also find James overplayed sometimes in our own half when the ball was just cleared out. You don't need to play a killer pass in every single situation. Just clear the ball.

With 2 goals down, we still play the ball backwards and sideways? Just throw players upfront and cross the ball into the box!

It's an absolute embarrassment. The club is crying out for a ruthless owner/manager/captain that simply won't accept defeat. And until that day comes, don't expect anything else. How dare you.

It's just worse given that those heights of performance and results we've at times achieved this season just serve to raise our expectations (last night, justifiably so) and then accentuate the depths we can fall to.

If I can be allowed to get over this one so quickly and look for the positives and look forward, with just one point already made previously by others - while Mason has unfortunately regressed, Tom has been a revelation of late (as has Dominic). Tom has been far more than a stand-in.

I'm with the sentiments expressed by Tony #257. We'll be back!

I'm sorry, but hard work is the only thing I fully expect every week. It is a non-negotiable. Requires zero talent to work hard. Some of them need to hold their hands up and be honest that they just don't care.

Yesterday's shambles was totally unacceptable from everyone. Gutless, spineless, defeatist – everything under the sun – but no-one can deny we are making advances. Our midfield needs a total rebuild. I know Gomes, Davies, Sigurdsson etc have improved recently but yesterday showed just how limited they are.

We are lacking strength in depth, eg, at right-back, right-wing, centre-midfield, striker(s). Yes, this does mean a couple more transfer windows, like it or not.

As for that list of managers – would you be happy if any single one of them came in to replace Ancelloti? Cos I think personally I'd finally give up and walk out on the love of my life, Everton FC.

I don't know what it is about Everton but we seem doomed to forever struggle. If Carlo goes, someone else will come in and do exactly the same – lose games we should win, blow chances we should take, win the odd game to build our hopes. In 50 years watching the Blues, I have never (with the exception of 3 years in the '80s) expected us to win.

Carlo fucked up last night – the players were shite as well – but it was Carlo's call and Carlo's fault – no excuses from me.

As for happy clapping up to the Man City game, I say, without reason or expectation – Up The Fucking Toffees!

We have got some good players in our squad now, and some who still need moving on, and some others who might or might not be good enough. Although I'd lay the blame entirely at Carlo Ancelotti for last night, I still think we are moving forward, considering where we were when he took over just 15 months ago, when our mid-table monkeys couldn't beat anyone.

They say it's the hope that kills you but they're wrong. It's Kenwright. Long has his stench suffocated this once great club.

I watched Redknapp make his comments on Sky, on Saturday afternoon and I thought "You cheeky bastard"... but do you know what – he was right. Again. Like that horror Rodney Marsh was.

It's utterly despicable and Evertonians deserve so much more. But it won't change until He is gone and his cronies with him. Enough.

Arsenal were dominating the Premier League with David Dein at the helm until he left, then it all collapsed when he left. No coincidence?

Every club needs a strong non-bumbling leader – doesn't matter if Pep is in charge and Messi is on the pitch!!

I'd love to know the reasoning behind those two being taken off when they, and Godfrey, seemed the only players putting any effort in.

I know constantly playing matches is not easy for anyone, but we've got another “two big ones” in the next 6 days, and I just hope our manager doesn't get it so badly wrong again.

He rightly called the players out for their attitude against Newcastle, and they responded well, so hopefully now the boot is on the other foot. Ancelotti can pick a team and a system which can help us really compete in our next two fixtures.

As for Gomes, he should be ashamed... once of Barcelona, he's just pure lazy. He never, ever shows for the ball. It's not even difficult.

And then add Sigurdsson into the mix and it's like playing with 8 men – which is exactly what it looked like last night. But, like I said, it's acceptable because that's the culture. I'm absolutely done with it. Thank God I had the '80s...

Carlo is no different to Moyes in that regard – plus a few other fools.

Like many of his teammates he's not good enough and his cocky arrogance has got him through a lot of games, we were solid in anyway.

A right-back is essential this summer and yesterday Carlo should have spotted the damages a lot earlier than he did.

Yes it's Kenwright. Nobody will succeed whilst Kenwright continues to stink out the club.

But that doesn't let Carlo off the hook. He was never the right choice for the club.

One day, Kenwright will be gone.

Not slagging him I'm genuinely intrigued to know what his thinking and mentality is to Everton.

The big actor has conned us all for so long. Bring any manager in, and his players, yet once you're okay with losing, which we are... it's all gone.

Bil Satis Nisi Kenwright.

How many times do they have to give the ball away outside their own area, playing it out from the back?? They simply are not good enough to do that, the skill levels are abysmal.

And has Davies improved or the rest just dropped to a level that makes him look good?

Football is a simple game being made to look hard by incompetents from the top down.

He's not good enough to start in a team looking to challenge top 4.

We won't be challenging this season anyway but, looking forward, he will make the bench if lucky next season. Personally, I would sell him.

Sigurdsson and Gomes are in the same boat, along with Seamus (sadly) — that's almost half of last night's starting outfield players who won't start next season.

Until then, there will be more games like last night.

With the benefit of hindsight, Carlo trusts his players to deliver, but this is a squad being replaced with good reason. In a season to come, I would expect many to have gone: Coleman, Sigurdsson, Pickford, Holgate, Iwobi, Gomes and more could probably be added. Take your pick with Richarlison even..

With the exception of Coleman, others have flattered to deceive, with the odd sprinkling of brilliance interspersed with anonymity... Lost in action.

Carlo is not stupid: he knows he has to work with what he has got until he can replace; he has to get the best out of them. Frankly, some days that's not going to happen, as he has found out... as others before him did. But he has to make them step up or ship them out.

Every game he plays with what he has, he gambles because there cannot be any trust in the players he sees given the performances they give. To those on this site who believe the manager is to blame, they are not yet the team he wants but the team he has. His skill to motivate can only take some players so far.

If you looked at the past 10 years of players bought by Man City, you would see a club with vast amounts of money willing to gamble on an additional 10, 20 players with potential – of whom, 2 or 3 make the grade, as well as a huge outlay on quality players with consistency. They play at higher levels.

We do not have that. On Wednesday night, we have to counter that with quality for one night only, with fight to run harder and compete. If that Everton show up, we will have a match, an even contest. That is Ancelotti's hope, that is our expectation. If we are to lose, then let them know who we are, let them know no prisoners, stand up and be counted. For yourself. For us. For our dreams.

Regarding Carlo, I'm getting the impression it's a case of turning up and hoping for the best. I have looked several times at the clip of Carlo when we got the 5th vs Spurs and that doesn't look like a person who cares.

I almost feel like, even when there are the occasional good results, it's in spite of Carlo and not because of him. What seemed like a great win vs Spurs now looks like a corpse being kept alive so it can be tortured at a later date.

Seriously good post that. Fantastic.

Hairs on the back of the neck stuff.

I wonder how much he blames himself for last night? I got in my car about five o'clock, it was blowing a gale, and when I shut the door, thinking about the game, I thought "Plenty of pot-shots tonight, Everton!

He's done this before, Newcastle away was similar, when I felt that Kenny and the young French fullback both got exposed that day, and sometimes when people say a player is shite, even though they might be right, sometimes it starts with the manager.

Have Coleman's legs gone, or was it because he never got enough help? Digne, who is definitely a player, suffered in a similar way last night, and sometimes/often a system can definitely make you look bad, especially when you're already a little bit tired.

We needed width with King up front and Iwobi and Richarlison on the flanks for an outlet, instead the game was compressed in the middle and they overran us.

The number of time Gomes for example looked up for a forward pass option but there was non.

Carlo got this very wrong as Fulham had a game plan and were energetic and deserved their win. Everton's extra time should not be used as an excuse – we had 4 days in between. We have 3 before we play Man City, God help us if we play the same way.

I appreciate games are coming thick and fast but I think you need to keep a solid, regular core throughout the team, especially at the back and in centre-midfield.

Keane and Mina are our best centre-back pairing so keep that going, Godfrey has played his best football at right-back so keep him there.

If we are to include the mercurial talent that is James, then play him centrally in a No 10 playmaker role. Having him out wide does no favours to the full-back behind him.

Midfield is an issue but then we've always lacked pace and energy through the middle. Gomes, Davies, Sigurdsson and even Allan are all plodders and similar in style. With the present squad members, that area will be difficult to resolve to any real effect.

Fair play to Fulham – they are made up of rejects and journeymen, but they dominated the game from the first whistle to the last. I thought when we got to half-time level, that we may have dodged a bullet as they could and should have been a couple of goals up... but Ancelotti stuck with the same players and, more importantly, the same formation that failed in the first half.

That's 4 defeats in a row at home in the league, and it was the same story for those games as it was last night, with us starting slowly and getting worse the longer the game went on. I mean, we can't say we deserved to even get a draw in any of these games, so if you let Fulham and Newcastle dominate you at home, then you haven't got a hope-in-hell's chance of qualifying for a European place.

I am a fan of Ancelotti but last night was far from good enough, and he needs to get us playing more on the front foot than the back foot. The stream I watched last night had Stephen Warnock as co-commentator and, when Seamus was taking a throw-in, Warnock said you can hear the frustration in Seamus as he screamed to either Richarlison or James or both "Change your body language". Neither were up for it last night and both could have been hooked as could many others last night, well before Davies and Coleman were hooked.

Well all our eyes will be on our next 2 games, to hopefully see a reaction from yesterday, but it will take a monumental change for us to get anything out of the next 2 games based on yesterday's performance. I mean, if Fulham can dominate us I dread to think what Man City and the other lot will do to us. Without Calvert-Lewin, these games could be very embarrassing for us fans and, while last week I was full of optimism, I am afraid that has turned back to pessimism but that's what this club has done to me over decades.

Finally, I know many on here have slated Mina and Keane, and suggested because both are slow, that's why we sit so deep. Well, last night, we had our 2 quickest centre-backs playing and I have to say give me Mina and Keane. When Keane came on, he put in more forward passes than the whole back 4 had done all night, he played one delightful ball through to Richarlison, and even managed to have a header on target.

Davies & Coleman – whatever their shortcomings – were clearly trying and looked unhappy to be subbed.

The commentator on the stream I was watching claimed that, at one point, Seamus was shouting at James and Richarlison to “Improve your body language”. Did anyone else hear this?

Aside from the fatigue excuse, playing Gomes and Sigurdsson and James in the same 11 doesn't work. I'm sure Carlo knows this.

Remember our discussion we had, when after 19 games we had 33 points? You reckoned that, after 38 games, we'd have 66 points (I predicted 55 points) – which is a fair assumption to make – for a reasonable football team.

We've played 3 games since then, and added 4 more points. If we keep this rate up, then, with 16 games left, we would have approximately 20 more points, giving us a total of 57 points.

After watching that abomination yesterday, I don't think we'll get more than 50 points come the end of the season. We have to play Man City twice, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and teams like Brighton, West Ham, Spurs, Wolves and Burnley will all give us problems.

At the end of the season, when we look at our points tally, and performances, we have to ask ourselves is Carlo Ancellotti any better than our previous 4 managers?

Or will the usual excuses come flooding in: "He inherited a bad squad", "He needs at least 2 years." ... blah, blah, blah.

Barry, do you still think we'll have 66 points at the end of the season?

ps: We have the worst goal difference of the top 10 teams.

With the exception of Iwobi playing down the right (I think there's a better player in there), with better players, you're 100% spot on.

Any chance of you giving us the Grand National winner, mate?

I was honestly most disappointed in the team selection, very disappointed by the performance, and actually not that bothered by the result in the end, because, once the manager failed to change things whilst we were still in the game, I personally didn't think the result was ever in doubt.

Let's be honest, how many players would you seriously like to see with us next season?

Defence: I'd stick with most of our defenders but have a serious look at Coleman (age), Holgate (attitude), Digne (defensive weaknesses).

Midfield: Doucouré, Allan and James to stay.

Attack: Calvert-Lewin

That, I believe, is eight (8) players I would definitely keep. The rest? Gomes, Sigurdsson, Davies, Bernard, King, Richarlison, Pickford. Some I'd keep as squad players but most I'd try and move on, if possible.

As for Iwobi, Delph and Gbamin, I'd cancel their contracts if necessary.

Do we practice passing in training, or are our players colour blind? Because they don't seem to be able to pass to each other.

Why oh Why do we keep passing it backwards? We must be the slowest team in the Premier League. I am disgusted with that performance. Sort it out, Carlo. There have been too many of this type of performance this season.

When we got it back to two each at Old Trafford, there was only one team interested in getting the winner. So if it's Fulham or Man Utd, the mindset can't and won't change... which is fine as long as – when you find a winning formula – fuckin leave it alone (defence especially).

I haven't a clue why the likes of me has to point out something so obvious to a veteran experienced manager who has forgotten more than I will ever know. Apparently.

Ancelotti probably thought, the team he picked would do enough without the need for Allan or King, but he was wrong. His failure to redress in any way the disjointed midfield, the Holgate complacency, and the bewildering choice of substitutions, left me wondering what on earth he was thinking.

Somebody should ask him...

In case you hadn't noticed, we have had a new billionaire owner for 5 years who has another billionaire backer pulling the strings. This new owner has gone through 5 managers, spent hundreds of millions to be in exactly the same place as when he took over.

I don't give a fuck whether Kenwright is still here or not, he is only a bit-part player at best. Start pointing the finger where it should be pointed. Moshiri is in charge – it's his so-called trainset, as some keep going on about. So the people to blame now are our owner our manager and the players.

Lots of truth in your post, as usual.

Just one thing. I've read your post twice, and usually you are so astute, but Christine – are you absolving Carlo from any blame for last night's fiasco?

I've got it down as another black mark for Carlo. He's got a few now, usually against the lower teams and at Goodison Park. After all, he selects the team and the tactics and use of the substitutions. He has got them all wrong too often, and I know how poor the squad is.

By the way, he has got a few good marks as well.

Your good judgement has been restored. Oh ye of little faith, that's me.

5 years next month he came in and has presided over one disaster after another. The sooner he gets his stadium built and sells up for his huge profit, the better, as far as I'm concerned.

Do you think Moshiri should be doing the training sessions?

Pick the team maybe?

Can't work your post out, tbh.

I don't think the stadium will get built. We are a joke.

I can't believe how gutless the team is at times. With Man City and Liverpool coming up, we should have been out to steamroller Fulham. Disgrace.

Agree with all of your post.

Harsh to start blaming Moshiri. Last night was down to the manager and the players

Still a lot of work to do with this squad. Despite me purring like an overly content Cheshire Cat in the lead up to this game, I did say, that due to the thinness of the squad and continued limitations of some of the players in it, we will continue to have the odd "Newcastle" moment.

Well, I didn't expect it last night and I didn't expect it to be worse.

I'm still not going to even try to analyse the mess that was yesterday. The manager got the formation wrong (if there was one), the tactics wrong (if there were any) and the mentality was all wrong (back to fragile). It was bad enough that it started that way. How he failed to identify the blindingly obvious as it very quickly unravelled and change it is beyond even a mere mortal like me.

But we are in a much better place than December 2019 and, once the rawness of this goes away – quickly as we play Wednesday – many will see it that way too.

I now can't wait for the Man City build-up thread to start so it can replace what's on the TW front page as the headline. Funny what a difference a few days and a game can make; I didn't want the Tottenham one to go away.

They say those you love the most are capable of hurting you the most. Never a truer statement.

We played too deep, Richarlison was isolated with no service or support, and finally, we cannot field a team with Sigurdsson, James and Gomes in the starting 11. They aren't athletic enough.

I can actually see an Everton backs-to-the-wall performance against Man City and punching a point. That would be so Everton...

After about 15 minutes, it was clear that a change in formation was required but nothing was done and the game was lost.

Disappointing... but I still think that we are on the right track and Carlo is the right man for the job.

And a good morning to you too sir!

As previously said, I might be wrong; you might be right! Only time will tell. I said on track for 66 points, not reckon – there is a subtle difference.

I am sure you hope I am right though, Sean!

However, mate, you seem to want to engage me on a bit of an online argument... not interested in that. Just discussion. I don't do the keyboard warrior thing.

It's a really weird season, very unpredictable, so who knows? We are 3 points off 4th, with games in hand and in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

I am sure we both want Ancelotti and Everton to be a success!

You and I have seen many games over the years but I can't recall one as bad as last night's, the ones that spring to mind are the Bradford City and Tranmere Rovers FA Cup games, and the Ian Rush, Glenn Keeley [5-0] drubbing. There will be others no doubt, locked away in the back of my mind...

Regarding last night's fiasco, yes, Carlo Ancelotti must accept some blame for his team selection, but I think to blame him for the lack of effort is unfair. I'm trying to imagine his pre-match instructions if he was the culprit. I think it would go something like this:

"Let's have none of this self-pride and motivation nonsense, stay as far away from your opponent as you can, don't attempt to tackle, but, if you do accidentally win the ball, pass it immediately to a member of the other team."

I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that, once a player crosses the white line, the only influence a manager has is to convey instructions verbally.

Ancelotti has no experience of taking over a mid-table club and improving it. He's way out of his depth and it is showing badly at home.

I would have thought he might have been better served to tell Duncan Ferguson to go in and give them what for at half-time... this lot need a real kick up the backside after that performance.

Anyone that cared wouldn't make the same team selection and tactical errors re West Ham then Newcastle then Fulham.

It is very admirable of you defending Carlo, but people have a right to their opinion. Everton are not Bayern, Real Madrid, PSG, Juventes etc. We are Everton. We do not have the quality in the squad for rotation.

I don't buy this "resting players" nonsense. Every professional sportsman would rather be playing than training. He luckily hit a good combination with the back four, a few clean sheets, Mina and Keane getting a couple of goals, and what does he do? Rotate!

The defence has gone downhill since then, conceding 9 in the last 3 games. Yesterday, he subs Davies, who was the best in midfield (of a bad bunch) and Davies's reaction said it all.

Coleman comes under criticism, yet what other player had a shot at goal, and actually hit the woodwork? Seamus at least moves forwards, instead of sideways or backwards.

Carlo will lose the dressing room judging by players' reactions recently. Rotation is affecting players' confidence, and their form, and Carlo does not see this. His decision-making is very questionable.

Why didn't he start Allan and Josh King? They were on the bench, so are fit to play. I'm afraid we have another Martinez-Koeman-Silva type manager...

Are you saying Carlo has lost the dressing room?

If so, he has to go???

Didn't you get Carlo's little smirk when you slowed it down!

You're quite correct: I do hope you are 100% right, and Everton reach 66+ points. I also wish Ancellotti the best of luck. But, after recent performances, and Carlo's decision-making and team selections, I don't believe Carlo is the man for Everton.

I measure his performance on results and, in our recent discussion, we looked at the second half of the season, and how many points we thought we'd get. So I am using the last 19 games as a yard-stick, to see if our performance do improve or deteriorate – and with the teams we have yet to play, I am not optimistic. Cheers.

Davies and Coleman were fuming coming off, and who can blame them. They were wearing their hearts on their sleeve, he put Sigurdsson back into Tom's position, a total waste, no effort whatsoever. Holgate was a disaster, and James couldn't wait to be subbed.

Fulham were always going to be up for it, but sadly we have passengers who don't put their foot in. I can't see how some are blaming Moshiri; he's spending his money trying to get it right.

The gist of this thread covering last night's game isn't really about Fulham, though, it's about how poor Ancelotti and his team were. That's the much bigger concern for most of us.

The vaccine we need is clear everyone out. Bring in 15 players that have had nothing to do with the club. (No mix-and-match with the players already here). And then hopefully eradicate the virus that has hampered the club for years. If not, it will be same old Everton for another few decades...

No, I'm not suggesting anything of the sort. What I'm saying is that he can't be held responsible for every decision a player makes. For example, he has no control over a player who misplaces a pass, or a player who shoots when he should pass.

Yes, he is responsible for the player being on the pitch but, when the player crosses the white line, the manager has virtually no control whatsoever.

I personally go with D, all of the above. I would also add in another (excuse) for our poor home form - lack of fans / atmosphere. Convenient, true... and, in true Everton fashion, we once again blow a glorious opportunity when the chips are down. So, looking at last night's debacle, it is clear that a number of things went wrong. Formation, personnel, fatigue, mental fragility.

Ancelotti says his ambition is silverware and I believe that he is true to his word. He has also questioned whether this current squad is ready to match his ambitions; on Wednesday, they answered that question but were again found lacking last night.

Personally, I think Carlo deserves to receive backing; he needs more money and a bigger clearout of the squad. We need a new keeper, right-back and a forward for starters. Probably another midfielder / wide player. He's been here for a year, there has been improvement but it has been staccato, it's bound to be.

You used to post on a regular basis but that's the first time I have seen a post from you for ages. I agree with everything you say in your post.

No worries mate, we can easily mis-interpret things on here.

I respect your opinion and many share it. For the record, and I have gone on record saying this, I thought that team selection was just not right yesterday. He definitely got it wrong there.

But yes, we all want the same thing to a large degree.

Mr Duncan Ferguson.

I'd say what Peter wrote is probably the best thing written on this thread. It depends on how we see things, of course, but it resonated with me that post Peter, even if I was shocked with our manager last night.

I don't even think Chester Zoo could take that Big Elephant in the Room from us.

I did fancy Toffeemen, ridden by C Ancelotti, but just heard it's been withdrawn from the race. The horse is too unpredictable, and was pulled up in several previous grade 3 outings. There are fears now, he'll unseat his rider in future races.

For Grand National, Burrows Saint (Willie Mullins trained) is 20/1 now, but word from the stables is odds will shorten nearer the race.

Since Moyes we've had every combination – manager with promise and who had won silverware but presided over relegation; Big name in the game but unproven as a manager in Koeman; firefighter and charlatan in Big Sam; untried rookie in Silva. All disasters in their own right, accompanied by a billionaire without a strategy.

Fast-forward to Ancelotti, proven as he's won everything in the game. However, Everton is his biggest challenge as there is so much that needs to be put right. I honestly believe that he's giving the players a chance, he did the same after the lockdown. He's been fair, he's shown them faith and discarded those who he knows have nothing to offer. Many of them are on big contracts that well pre-dated his arrival. This is the modern football: players rule and can work to rights and have a manager sacked in no time at all.

Patience is a virtue and it is in short supply at Everton. It's also in short supply if you look at Arsenal with Arteta, Ole at Man Utd, Jose at Spurs, and dare I say Klopp at Liverpool.

Back Ancelotti – at the moment, we have no alternative.

But, there again, I've stopped trying to work out his thinking on all aspects of team selection and substitutions. His replacement of Davies and retention of Sigurdsson to take up the former's role, including dropping into the back line, was classic Ancelotti. In the space of 2 minutes, Sigurdsson had been changed from being a false No 9 to a false No 5.

"It's always a pleasure going to Fulham, especially when the suns out, with that little walk along the river, which will never be taken for granted ever again!"

The last time we played at Fulham with fans allowed was just like that – a walk along the river, through the park, on a sunny day. Brilliant.

But hopefully the nightmare will soon be over for everyone, as the sun slowly begins to shine once again!

Stop it Brent, you've got me thinking about the greatest city in the world imo now mate. I wouldn't want to live there, but it's been a long time since I've been the smoke now, but I'm being positive for the club of many firsts, and here's hoping we're the first fans back at Wembley, watching “Who's our captain?🤔” lift the cup!

If Carlo is to remain and improve us, he has to change tack in his thinking immediately and at least try to crush the opposition at home by earning the initiative in taking the game to the opposition. We may not have the players at present to win every time that way, but it is his duty to at least try.

Persist with playing the same tactics at home, Carlo, especially against weaker teams, and it will be your downfall; it just has to change. All our hopes for him will be shattered by these dreadfully negative tactics. The signs aren't good, it's your call, Carlo!!!

I would be more interested in what he told those players at half-time, and how he told them. Whatever he said must have upset them because they got steadily worse and, after the substitutions, no better. A bad night by the players, aided and abetted by the manager, and a much worse night for what seems to be the only people who care: us!!!

I don't think I have seen many games as bad as that one last night, John, in terms of attitude, application and effort. It left me in a bad mood and I should be too old for that.

Anyway, as I said last week, if Carlo has his way, he will be here for the next 10 years. Obviously nothing can be taken for granted in football, but he wants to see silverware arrive at the club, he wants to get the club to the level Man City are at, and he wants to leave his own legacy at the club. He and all his family love the city of Liverpool, and hopefully what happened last Friday evening hasn't put them all off living in the city.

Looking at the game last night and just to brighten the mood, well I blame Ted Lasso!! Who's he, you might well ask. He's the manager of a fictional Premier League club, Richmond FC, in a comedy series on Apple TV. Ted is an American football coach who takes over this fictional club staring relegation in the face.

One game they are playing Everton away, with everyone in the club not giving them a cat-in-hell's chance of winning, seeing as they've never ever won at Everton. Scenes showing the crowd before the match were actually filmed outside Craven Cottage. Needless to say, Richmond won 1-0 and they all celebrated like they'd just won the league.

I'm only using the Craven Cottage connection, but if ever there has been a bad omen, well for me this was it. It was written in the stars, as well as by Apple TV, that we would lose last night!!!

Oh, and by the way, Richmond were relegated... so sorry, Fulham!!

I am one of the worst critics while a game is being played, even if we are winning; this is because I get too exited. But, after watching the game over again, I believe Ancelotti thought his tactics were right in using more players in the midfield, but how can you explain that, 3 days before, these same players who controlled the game against Tottenham couldn't win a ball or pass to a player???

I listened to Dion Dublin and Don Hutchinson: they both said Fulham played exceptionally well and it seemed Everton players were suffering from the cup game. I remember Don Hutchinson saying he fancied Fulham before the game for the same reason.

I believe that a fully trained professional with 3 days rest should not be tired... but, not being a fully trained professional, who am I to know??

My feeling is that Ancelotti got his tactics wrong and was reluctant to change it with the players he had. Yes, I get mad watching the game; yesterday, I did something I have never done before and that was to stop watching after the first goal.

We are still on track for what Ancelotti's ambitions are and that is a place in Europe, and any discussion of him being fired should be left until after the season is over; even then, I still believe he will be Everton's manager.
,

Great viewpoint, Peter (335). One slight disagreement: the fans. That's a level playing field for all, but very sound assessment all around.

I have memories of the cemetery near Chelsea from the Phil Neville penalties FA Cup tie. I could only get one ticket so gave it to my son. Had to walk a few miles to find a pub that would actually let me in as they have this horrible rule about away fans so you don't get let in near the ground. That is clearly due to their own fans not trusting or restraining themselves, rather than the behaviour of away supporters.

Watched with a few locals and left with us losing as I had to get back to the ground in time to pick the lad up. As I was passing through that cemetery, I heard a roar and guessed by the sound it was the away contingent. Checked the phone – Baines!

So I now had to pace up and down that cemetery for extra time. Couldn't look at the phone, and pointless as I could hear anyway. When penalties came, I could gauge by the different tones who was scoring and missing. Torturous. I have no shame in admitting, I looked at a gravestone of a lady, put my hands together and asked her to give us her blessing.

I've lived in London for over a decade now. Not without its faults, like any city, but, for me, also the best city in the world. Just about has the edge on New York (and I love New York).

Thanks for bring me down off the edge, ToffeeWeb. Is it Wednesday yet? I need kill or cure.

Everton had over 6,000 fans in London for a midday kick-off, brilliant support. I remember a Chelsea supporter saying to us on the tube, that her daughter stopped watching the game because she was mesmerised by the Evertonians that day, Danny. Although it must have been awful missing the game, I bet you the noise from the fans gave you loads of satisfaction, even if you was in a cemetery!

Oh, they have.

The cemetery is Brompton.

I live out Uxbridge way.

I've said previous Tony, I've watched Everton in some very odd places but I'd forgotten that one until the chat on here reminded me. Okay, I didn't watch them, but celebrating in a cemetery probably wasn't my finest moment.

I'm not a fan of his either, but I'm surprised he hasn't been blamed for global warming by some posters on this site?

It's great that you're supporting Carlo but I'm not having it that he's not responsible for that shit show last night.

The first 11 he picked was a major fuck-up; 5 midfield players who between them let Fulham's 3 central players take the total fucking piss. I was onto it after about 3 minutes; after 15 minutes I was screaming at the TV for Ancelotti to change the shape of the Everton team... pull either Sigurdsson or James out, and get some fucking pace on the flanks.

Now Carlo might be a stubborn fucker who sticks to his guns – fucking great when you're managing Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, but this is Everton and we do not have such an in-depth squad which allows rotation. For fuck's sake, put your best 11 on the park and get the 3 points.

I'm no fucking happy clapper and being honest, I hate that comment anyway, but last night's match was down to Carlo and he had ample time to change that horror show that was unfolding before our eyes; well for me he had 87 minutes to start thinking about changes it was that fucking obvious.

I can't ever recall going to Earl's Court before a Chelsea or Fulham game. When we're finally allowed at away games, maybe we can meet for a pint at the Durell Arms. I'd have no chance of dragging me mates to anywhere else!!

"I would be more interested in what he told those players at half-time, and how he told them. Whatever he said must have upset them because they got steadily worse, and after the substitutions, no better,"

Dave, my informant (a well-fed lady) tells me that at half-time he sang them a few verses from his favourite Italian composer, Alfredo Catalani, known for the soaring aria 'Ebben… Ne andrò lontana' (which I believe translates as "Well then, I'll go away") by La Wally, one of the cast. I kid you not.

Where did I say that Carlo was not responsible for that performance last night?

This would have been issued today anyway, regardless of the result yesterday, because it's news from Liverpool City Council and not Everton FC.

Rob<,/p>

It was your reference to "Carlo out" and "Carlo moaners"...

For me it was Carlo.. all day fucking long.

It was his shit show and he should've changed it; I saw Dunc have at least 3 chats with him in the first half and Carlo did his usual shoulder shrug – now I seriously doubt Dunc was asking him if he wanted a coffee...

All but 2 of them are below him in the table - the ultimate indicator of performance. The two that sit above him: Rodgers and Moyes. Rodgers who managed a single point from his two games against Ancelloti and Moyes who has an average points-per-game ratio of 1.69 to Ancelloti's 1.68 this season.

We are all angry and hurting after last night. The manager got it wrong but there's no need to spout such utter drivel.

Rob.

I'm no "Carlo out" moaner but for me last night was his problem. I've no agenda and I would be the first to say that Carlo has taken Everton to another level. But for fuck's sake...

For me, I know he's got personnel issues that most of us would get time off work to resolve... and maybe he should have handed last night's game to Dunc.

That is 3 very winnable points gone. End of.

I also agree that maybe he could have took a few days off after his house was broken into. I said elsewhere I also found it unbelievable that Klopp didn't take time off following the death of his mother, and the fact he couldn't travel home for her funeral must have been very traumatic for him.

Jonathan was spot on. Considering the available budgets and personnel, Dinosaur Don Carlo is failing.

The truth can be brutal. Especially when you take into consideration that things actually went downhill after that.

All so unnecessary. I thought there had been a change of mindset after the Spurs game. It's not as if it's the first time, or even the second, third or fourth.

Players badly let down by a foolish set-up which surrendered possession, initiative and eventually, the game.

As a card-carrying Carlo supporter, I too am frustrated that some alternate plan using some youth against Fulham was not chosen. That was some tired shit, end of. And it is not like we weren't aware of the coming strain when Man City postponed originally.

While I can understand the frustration with the variance in performances, I certainly don't get the level of invective hurled at the players and coach. I'll take my share while it's shite... but thinking this is a fatal flaw exposed is misguided at best.

I know they are in weaker leagues but the lads still have to score. Tosun scores 2 on his debut tonight. Kean is scoring most weeks, even scored playing on the right yesterday.

I just don't get it.

He has; a couple of supporters on ToffeeWeb have said he is just full of hot air.

Really good intelligent post. Very well said.

Good perspective, Chris.

What the hell went wrong, only the staff and the players know... but anything like that in the next two games has to bring up serious questions about Ancelotti's present capabilities.

Jekyll and Hyde is one thing but that was ridiculous after the two games previous. Did someone spike the water??

I have used it often, myself, coming in from West Wales for games in the Fulham & Chelsea area.

Carlo made a mistake with his line-up last night and especially his substitutes, to take off Davies and Coleman who give everything and, as Steve @349 said, moving Sigurdsson from a false No 9 to a false No 5... baffling.

But I still think he's the best man for the job.

The amount of hate and vitriol you seem to have for this man suggest something beyond a sporting affiliation. Did he run over your cat and not stop to apologise, or something?

In your post at 384, you mention "budgets". How do you know what budget he has been given to manage this squad, over and above what was previously contracted by other managers?

For that matter, how do you know what budgets those other manager have been given?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are not a member of the board of Everton Football Club, nor of West Ham United Football club, nor of any other football club currently operating in the Premier League and in competition with Everton Football Club?

So, please, by all means continue, to spout your one-man battle to have Carlo Ancelotti removed as the manager of Everton FC, but don't try to do it on the basis that you have inside information on the terms and conditions that various managers in the Premier League are operating under.

After reading repeated posts from Ian, we are all members of the bored.

Again, Seamus is an obvious target for scapegoating. While age is against him, the same standards of forward play don't appear to apply to Godfrey and Holgate.

I thought Carlo might use him on the right side, as he did so successfully against Spurs. The way things are going I'd expect to see Seamus moving on next season.

However, I can see why he probably made the subs he did, even though I probably wouldn't agree with them. Firstly Davies. I'm a huge critic of his but was surprised to see him subbed. Probably should have been Gomes. I think CA was probably aware that Sigurdsson can score a goal when needed whereas Davies hasn't shown that he can.

Secondly, Coleman. It's all good and well yelling at players and putting in maximum effort but he was getting beaten almost every time and aside from his run and shoot, offered bugger all in the match.

While Ancelotti shoulders a lot of the blame, there is no way a group of professional players should be unable to react in a match they're losing. At 0-1 it looked like they only needed goal difference to win the league, and at 0-2 it looked like they were winning 2-0. I think my TV has two burnt lines permanently on the screen from where Holgate and Godfrey passed between themselves all night.

BUT. how many of us would have said that it wasn't good enough to gain a single point out of Newcastle h&a, Leeds h, West Ham h, Fulham h? Add to that only a point at Burnley. Very few if any, I guess.

Carlo appears to be a great person and his background together with the inadequacies of the squad should cut him some slack and time to mould his own team. But he just has to throw off the cloak of negativity if we are to make any meaningful progress to be the team we all want it to be. Tactically we drop off at the front and organise our midfield to sit in front of the back four, thereby exerting no pressure on the opposition who then have free reign to do as they please. That has to stop and Carlo is responsible for it. That isn't anything to do with personnel - certainly not in those 5 games - it might be different against City, the shite, Utd, Chelsea etc. This all adds up to a massive wasted opportunity in a season when top 4 is up for grabs.

The remaining games till the season's end will tell us as much about Carlo as we already know about his players. Come on Carlo, I really want you to be successful.

I am also one who is not the quickest to be too overly critical of Ancelotti but for the Fulham display I feel that he has to take most of the blame.

(1) I was correctly critical of the team selection. The major problem was that at least one of the two, Keane and Mina, should have started.

(2) Substitutions were wrong. Coleman and Davies had at least worked harder that most of the other players on the field.

(3) We had a ready, hopefully eager, replacent for Calvert Lewin. Why sign a ready made sub and NOT play him until it is too late.

(4). I observed that Fulham played well.. YES, but mainly because we allowed them to play. You should not look at any team's position in the league until you have beaten them.

( 5 6 7 8 9) and so on Does Ancelotti sufficiently psyche up the players when we are playing so called weaker teams.

Or am I living in the past?

I was in University in London in the 70s and I still have friends there, living just off Parsons Green. They are mad Chelsea fans. The last time I visited from Canada, about 2 years ago, they gave me their season tickets so that my daughter and I could watch the game (v Watford). It was really exciting for my 20 year old daughter to watch a game live with me for the first time. I think she found it somewhat surreal.

We drank in both the Duke after the match and had a really good interaction with some of the local Chelsea fans. Great day all round.

After the opening 4 games of the season, generally the results and performances when he starts speak for themselves, especially at home. We never win, we don't create and are consistently very poor.

The way to get the home form back on track is to drop him.

Those who talk of sacking Ancelotti and particularly those who keep bringing up stopgap manager Fat Sam, take a fucking moment to consider how idiotic such talk is. Consider the possibility of how badly your comments (some repetively posted after every poor performance, or setback) are going to age if we actually get into Europe by league finish, or win the FA cup.

You can't predict any results in this league, apart from perhaps City winning every week, and they'll probably beat us tomorrow night.

All this talk of players seeming disinterested, I think comes down to numerous things - fatigue being one of the biggest. Fulham had more time to prepare and we played 2 hours of 6-5 football a couple of days before - this was pretty much guaranteed so I don't understand why anyone is surprised at what appear to be 'bad' results under current conditions.

The league is a mess, the games are unpredictable, City will win the league and we'll finish outside the top 4.

I posted before the game about the odds on an Everton victory being 21/20.
Couldnt work out why the odds were so big.
I know now.

Didnt have the bet.
Crafty fuckers these bookies

Their fans found it hilarious by all accounts

Klopp and his lot are 27 or so points worse off than last season, he's got to shift blame.

We will probably be playing Sigurdsson as a forward tomorrow despite Ancelotti having had three transfer windows.

He has basically admitted that he had nothing to do with the signing of Godfrey.

It's looking more and more like he's going through the motions, getting paid a fortune and seemingly uninterested when we score a late goal in extra time.

Out home points total is the same as Newcastle and Burnley who are fighting relegation. In the last 5 games form table we are 4th from bottom.

Apart from DCL we have no player with more than 5 league goals. Richarlison has 2. What does this suggest about the tactics??

Next three home games after City are Southampton, Burnley and Palace. Anything less than 9 points is failure.

He goes about his business professionally to encourage players to think, to improve, to grow individually and as a team.

Thats why he rotates, plays different formations and why he doesn't scream and shout with every bad pass. He trusts his players to learn and improve. If not their out.

He'll bring in a few more top class players in the summer and we will grow again next season. We don't have the team or squad to really challenge or expect too this season.

Everton was never a quick fix, but we are going in the right direction. Throwing toys from the pram with every loss or dropped point's isn't the right way, it's not Carlos way and the sooner we can get fully behind the whole team the better.

A win or loss against City doesn't define or finish the season. It may well help cement who is and isn't worth keeping for next season though.

It's ok to criticise poor performances and result but calling for the manager to go... come on.
Who else can take us back towards the top, attract the top talent we need to supplement the promising youth all in a year?
We don't live in a wizarding world. A bit of stability and patience please.