On a Hiding to Nothing? 2021-22 Season Preview

Some hope!.

Hopes.

Hamez will be gone by Oct.
Richie will be gone by this time next year
DCL will be gone in next 2 years if we don't make Europe.

Our director of football is directed by the foolish interfering owner.

We've blown it. The board are utterly useless, the mega rich owner is utterly clueless throwing his cash around like monopoly money and the playing squad are bang average to a man with zero depth.

In last 6 years we've had 8 manager's !!!! We're an utter basket case of a club headed in one direction.

A fool and his money are soon parted, and Mr mosheri is a fool and he's half a billion quid light as a result.

Townsend and Gray look good additions improving the pace and hopefully the final third play. As lyndon says additions are needed. I think we do need a right back and a attacking midfielder.

Gbamin staying fit would be a exciting bonus. Alan and Doucoure are key performance wise and hopefully Holgate can get back up to speed. Still think Everton need a professional finisher up front, but I think the emphasis will be on more scoring options instead.

Everton will play similar to the Ancelottis defensive formation. Maybe Benitez will be able to give offensive play a boost and stop a walk through Everton midfield.

This is the season when Everton get Real. Thats my prediction.

There comes a time in every adult's life when you just have to realise you're being repeatedly shafted by treachery and/or incompetence and simply put false hope aside to for once look in the mirror and ask yourself, "Is this what my life has become?"

Possibly melodramatic admittedly, given we're only talking about a football business, virtually everybody but those in charge thinking of it as an intimately inclusive band-of-brothers/sisters though, but that's where we are - considered muppets by the boardroom, endlessly paying, decade after decade on the face of never realised hope.

Roll on the new season - as if, because aged 66 I've "got" Everton since 1963, but have had to do for the past thirty years under a non-existent rainbow of hope.

Who's the one boardroom incompetent present throughout those thirty years folks?

Might that bugger bear responsibility, whilst we now otherwise muse of the capabilities of DoF's, managers, coaches and players all of whom for decades have been signed under his ownership/chairmanship?

Spot on

It’s so sad and so depressing. We are so utterly shite

Nick (6) - "I’m absolutely done with Everton. Cooked" You'll be missed. Yet given you're here and on other recent threads, you can't know how much we truly miss you, if you won't FUCKING LEAVE. All the Best, Hugs and Kisses, etc.

Don (8) - 2 notes:

"repeatedly shafted by treachery" made me laugh. Nice phrase. Good stuff.

But this one, "under a non-existent rainbow of hope." Sweet. Cap doffed. Hope that wasn't cribbed, rather it came off the top of your head. A song could be written around that one.

Jerome (7) - Should have responded to yours first, just couldn't pass up the hysterics around your post. Anyway, agree on all of yours.

While I don't foresee us being worse than last season, it's hard to see significant improvement, especially when the top half of the league is more competitive than ever. But you never know what might happen.

At the moment, we look like a mid table team at best, but virtually the same squad hovered around the top six most of last season, until floundering in the last ten games or so.

The damage has been done by previous managers and their choice of players, some of them moved on now, and some others to be moved on in the future.

What isn’t acceptable to the club and fans, is players downing tools and not trying. They should give their all.

I’m looking forward to this season. Who knows Benitez may bring about some silverware after years of us waiting for some.

You don't necessarily need stars but you do need fitness, team spirit and work ethic.

If Benitez can instil those 3 qualities in the very many players coasting their way through an Everton career he will have done very well indeed. Not for next season particularly but for the longer term good of a club that has seriously lost it's way.

Whatever the case, we're a 6th to 12th sort of side, with the likely finishing place being 8th to 10th. Whether we go higher is, sadly, more likely to be down to how few goals we concede rather than how many Rodriguez creates (if he even stays at all).

Heart, character, work ethic, team spirit and possibly some clever tactics are what’s needed for a successful season and none of us has a clue how those things will pan out. One thing I’d say is that high wages and big transfer fees seem to have a negative effect on them.

What we need is for Benitez to boringly do his job. It lacks excitement, but a return to the Moyes-like days of 6th-8th and quarter-finals would be an improvement on what has happened since he left.

The Moyes teams were not expensively assembled, but they added up to more than the sum of their parts. For the last five years or so, we’ve added up to way less than the sum of our parts and decent players have looked really poor. Nearly every player in our squad can play a lot better than they did last season. If that happens, perhaps things won’t be so depressing.

Either way, positivity will be more useful than negativity.

If you think you’re beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win,
But you think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost,
For out in the world you’ll find
Success begins with a fellow’s will,
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or later, the man who wins,
Is the one who thinks he can.
–Walter D. Wintle

Read Don (8), he sums our current situation up very well.

The Chairman has overseen our 30 year demise.

Give Rafa a chance, he’s already got one hand tied behind his back.

One game at a time.

Leicester. Probably still the ones to beat and challenge the top four but for how long?

West Ham. We'll see if they and Moyes can repeat. Both have form of doing an Everton even better than Everton when there is expectation.

Tottenham. Who knows how it will go with Nuno at the helm and talisman Kane on his way out?

Arsenal. Scraped above us late on last season by 2 points. Jury still out on Arteta the manager and back at a fan-half-filled Emirates (even though they always declare full attendances every week when it clearly isn't!!). If we think we can go toxic early, they do it weekly.

Leeds. Second season syndrome? Sheffield United anyone?

Villa. Some good signings and a good team. But lost their talisman in Grealish. And more expectation on their manager now. Previously it was just survival. After last seasons 11th place exploits despite what they've spent, there is much excitement (those who know, know I have family). Another crowd that has big expectation because of history and can go toxic quickly.

So, contrary to the majority and before a ball is kicked, I'm not as pessimistic as some. None of those clubs are dead certs to finish above us. I'm drinking another cup of optimism, but it's all to play for as they say. Roll on Saturday.

Lots of teams have strengthened or have settled sides who understand the system their manager wants them to play. So as well as the obvious candidates to finish above us I would potentially add Southampton, Brighton and Burnley to that list. I’m not being a doom monger just a realist and would expect us to lose Richy and Kean before the close of the window also. The club is in some kind of fiscal crisis due to its previous profligacy and hence Benitez has been appointed to keep us in the PL until BMD gets built. I can think of no other reason for his appointment unless Moshiri has a perverse desire to piss off a large proportion of the fan base.

As always I will be cheering the team on (if they ever issue my season ticket). I can’t ever see Benitez being lauded or accepted by the majority of our fans for a whole raft of reasons. I find it curious that some posters seem desperate that ‘we’ welcome him with open arms when 12 months ago they would have viewed his potential appointment with scorn and derision. Ancelotti’s reign was far from perfect but this turn of events feels like going to bed with Sophia Loren only to find she has pissed off and you are waking up with Bella Emberg.

I sincerely hope I am wrong and Benitez succeeds and prove his Evertonian credentials by doing a dance of joy at Anfield to celebrate a win for us, then I remember he is a
Kopite lover and always will be.

Same squad that threw away a great position and crumbled against hard working teams last year will do the same again without additional character being found.

Uninspiring signings that we are pinning our hopes on that all of a sudden they look like quality players when for years they have been average at best.

Star player allegedly being told that he is surplus to requirements.

Brazilian striker hasn't had a break from footy in about 2 years.

Getting humiliated against United in a pre season game where the goalie looked like a headless chicken and players where beaten after 10 mins.

Purse strings pulled in after 5 years of waste.

New manager that 99% of fans didn't want.

Rival clubs continue to strengthen whilst we don't.

Face masks advised in stadiums.

Despite all of the above can't wait for the season to start!

Hopefully Kean's transfer will release some funds to secure incoming players. Still seem light up front and clearly need a right back and left sided midfield.

Top 8 IMO would be an achievement, we have a manager who actually wanted to manage us. Not a come for the money couldn't give a fuck mercenary.

We need solid battle hardened pros to turn this club around, something that HK realised when he signed Reidy et al.

We missed a trick with Ings IMO, much better finisher than DCL who appears more interested in dressing like a circus clown with his mate TD than football.

Some may say that Benitez's influence on Finch Farm allowed the perennial pre-season holiday mode to raise its ugly head during preparation for the Man Utd match. But what the Florida Cup showed was that Benitez's coaching benefits from competitive play. I expect the team to be better when involved in competitive play.

It is good that Benitez got a taste of a lapse at Finch Farm in pre-season and will be on guard during International breaks. The longer he can keep Everton in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, the better. Benitez has the advantage of an increase in dependable, less injury-prone players in the dressing room, to counter any turns in loyalty and effort, which previous managers found themselves on the receiving end of. Benitez is not the 'laissez-faire' manager that Ancelotti was, as Lyndon correctly described.

Opening day given a hiding at home 1-4 by Arsenal, live on Sky although I was watching from Asia. By the end of that season I'd be watching Everton in the Barclays trophy in Bangkok having finished 4th (I got to see Kroldrup play!).

Looking at the results that season, we went 3rd in the league on 19th September, briefly sat in 2nd (after the Carsley derby) but never dropped lower than 4th despite 1 win in the last 5 games (including the 7-0 hiding at Arsenal when Moyes joked they were still pissed from clinching 4th)...

Of course if there are more significant outgoings than incomings between now and the end of the window, it might be different, but maybe not having high expectations won't be such a bad thing.

The dealings Mr Brands manufactures in this short time frame will go some way to shaping our season especially with regards to making a serious challenge for the top six.

Kean,Rodriguez,Iwobi,Gomes,Delph,Kenny, maybe even Mina may be sold if he wants a move and we have a pacy quality replacement lined up.

If we can do outstanding business in the next 19 days the situation could look completely different. It’s “watch this space” time.

It’s crunch time for Marcel Brands, he has to to really earn his corn. What’s he made of?

I wonder if we have reached a commercial peak for football. With most the Spanish and Italian clubs largely in turmoil, there is a big reduction in clubs competing for transfers. Barca can't even afford to keep Messi on half his wage, let alone shell out and buy. It's a near impossible time to do what we are trying to do, offload players to create some income.

As a result, I'm with the consensus of somewhere around 10th. Any better than that and Rafa will have earned his corn. But I think the greater chance is player and fan unrest and somewhere bottom half. Hopefully not too bottom half. Maybe the poster above, who said going into a season with so little hope, at least leaves room for an upside

Can the others take a leaf out of his book and step up from their timid, pedestrian, unimaginative football?

On the other hand, I can imagine us winning a trophy under Benitez. He's got form in that regard.

Where we should be, had it not been for idiots spending like the proverbials drinking in a brewery. Interview with Rodgers on SkySports site today. Interesting that he also mentions that quite a few signings he doesn't even see or know about beforehand. Gives a profile to the recruitment guy and hey ho!!! Sound familiar? So why could/can we not manage that? The money we have spent should have set us up for years, if spent wisely. A fool and his comes to mind!

Like all Blues, I hope JPG is the player we hoped we’d signed but I’ve got a bad feeling that he’ll be another disappointing recruit. Very harsh, based on a few cameo roles, I know, but it ‘s just a gut feeling I have. Hope I’m wrong. I’d equally love Moise Kean to adapt and be like a new signing but, again, there’s been too many false dawns to have any hope there.

I don’t think Josh King or Bernard is a loss or the other one we can’t mention. We must have saved wages from these three.

To not have a right back signed last year was a mistake. To have made no progress on this a full season later is madness.

I looked at the starting XI for the team which lost the final home game of two seasons ago to relegated Bournemouth. Pickford, Keane, Digne, Gomes, Davies, Coleman, Richarlison and Kean all started. Branthwaite, Sig and Walcott were the others. We’re not radically different now to then and that was one of the most woeful performances I can remember.

I hoped to see the back of Holgate. Keane, Gomes, Delph and Iwobi.

Absolutely farcical management at all levels of the club. It's compounded by, in typical Everton fashion, winning a derby behind closed doors and then waiting for the fans to return before launching what looks like the most miserable campaign in prospect for well over a decade.
This season won't go very well because it has virtually no prospect of going well. I'm actually not sure that the FSW err incumbent Everton manager could succeed even with tremendous amounts of resources and a long and distraction free pre season here.
Benitez prospects for even modest success after the shitshow of a summer we've had and the players we've (not) signed aren't very high in my view. Scarily, all the profligacy and poor decisions of previous years are really starting to come hometo roost and at a wholly inopportune time. Someone somewhere mentioned us being in the early stages of doing a Sunderland, and I can't really satisfactorily refute any of that either. The parallels are there.

Many Evertonians have sort of written the year off in their head and have sort of placed us tenth or so and playing essentially KITAP1. I'd like to gently point out that might well be midtable hubris at this stage.
In the situation we're in - in terms of financials, the largely unchanged playing group and the alarming lack of managerial continuity - it's not hard to imagine a set of circumstances where things are just instantly not very good and then get a lot worse. Indeed, you can almost see it, anticipate it if you like.

Indeed that's my prediction. I rather suspect things will go badly, and then very badly and will quickly spiral out of Benitez control. And then all bets really will be off. There won't be any more champions league winning managers in the Everton seat for a long time after Benitez goes, put it that way.
If the Benitez card does fail, then I'm really not sure what cards - if any - the present ownership structure would have to play. So this really has to work. But it won't.

COYB!

As I now live in the East Midlands, I will spend my little time and energy on supporting my local club, AFC Rushden & Diamonds, a community owned club in the Southern League!

However, I would enjoy a surprise successful season as when Rooney left!

More aggressive, switched on defending.
More line or through balls instead of the breath-taking cut back.
More quick pass and move play in transitions.

I think we'll stay this time - 6th.

Even a knife to a gunfight is more useful than a big gun that only fires blanks.

Our FFP ineptitude means that Rafa joins just as it seems that we are about to resume our old 'small club' status. Oh, the irony.

Jump forward 2 seasons and it may well be Everton in the same scenario under the management combo of Ferguson & Unsworth in the hot seat.

But just maybe... It's pretty much the team that started so well last season and then didn't really string a consistent run of games together from about October. Plus Godfrey. And Townsend and Gray, who I think add to the squad. The starting XI this week could be the same as started against Spurs last year.

Coleman is a year older, but then so is Calvert-Lewin, so is Godfrey, so is Davies. Sigurdsson is less available, but Gomes is another year beyond his ankle injury and Gbamin appears to be fit.

So the difference is that we signed an ex-red manager?

I don't like that, but he can't be worse than the last guy?

Our big weakness has been a lack of goalscorers throughout the team. I hope the adversity gees the players up, particularly James.

I have a feeling the season will not go as badly as some think and we will end up around 8th.

Having improved the squad with a second goalkeeper, a freebie, and another at an astronomical £1.7M, that does appear most likely. I really don't remember the last time when I didn't at least think that the unlikely does sometimes happen.

Mediocrity? Unfortunately, and may be even at best.

For most of last season, Everton were boring to watch and, in my view, were lucky to finish the season where we did. So, largely with the same squad of players, I fear more of the same this season.

My one positive thought concerns the appointment of Benitez, who I think in time will at least bring some much-needed organisation, even though that was sadly missing on Saturday. I would, however, like to offer the manager two simple suggestions:

(1) Please play with three midfielders so that we are not constantly overrun. I would be happy to see Ben Godfrey moved forward.

(2) Please promote young Branthwaite, as soon as he is fit and ready as I am a great believer in having a balanced right- and left-footed centre-back pairing.

Do that, Rafa, and things may look a little better.

While I don't think our away form last year will carry over to this season, I'm hopeful that our home form picks up and we take points at home from the teams we should be taking them from (Brighton, Burnley, Brentford, etc...)

Overall, I'm a bit pessimistic about our season.

I'd like to see Doucouré build a solid partnership in there with Gbamin, probably with Gomes. If the backwards and sideways passing starts again this season, I expect the crowd to turn nasty very quickly.

Defence is a major problem: erratic goalkeeper, slow centre-backs, and over-the hill right back. I think I'd prefer Godfrey to partner Mina here as Keane is a liability – I've never seen a professional footballer flap so much with the ball at their feet, also turns like the QE2.

Walter Smith days are here again.

I thought Keane had a generally fine season last year, and I heartily disagree that he's a "liability".

Potentially we can judge Gbamin to see if he is the midfield commander we need rather than the injury prone player we know.

I'm expecting a more settled team and formation so we can judge the partnerships, tactics and general game management.

For me this is Pickfords make or break season. Great if he proves himself as a mature commanding presence otherwise he's a gonna.

Godfrey and Holgate prove they are 1st choice or simply squad players.

James and Allan will leave if not already departed. Delph, Siggy likewise.

We may see some youth player's step up but I'm not expecting Rafa to be generous in giving kid's much of a chance.

Other than that we save money by not splashing the cash and stay within financial restrictions.

Or my preference..

We challenge any punishment the league tries to hand out and go for broke bringing in quality players in key areas we desperately need.

RB, CM, CAM / creative forward.

Other player's can still be judged ie Gbamin and Pickford, but in the knowledge we have a better 1st eleven and squad than we currently do so it's less of a rebuilding job.

Staying still is akin to a backwards step. We all know it.

I'm happy with Grey and Townsend. Exactly the position and type of players we have needed for a very long time. Pacey, energetic, attack minded.

I'm hopeful of a few more.

Experience has taught me that every senior player on the books is disliked by someone. I openly admit that there are some players I favour more than others, but I've never vilified an Everton player, nor will I in the future.

I may well show frustration and disappointment but, as long as they're wearing the Royal Blue shirt, I'll do what supporters do, and 'support them'.

Hoping your family are all well during this dreadful period, and I'm looking forward to sharing a bottle of Guinness with you.

Just done this on the BBC website - here is my prediction for the upcoming season:

https://ranked-list-images.files.bbci.co.uk/premier-league-table-2021-final-8e0922eb60de6979beeca42d5bd70fd2.html

Predicted final position: 9th
FA Cup: 5th Round
Carabao Cup: Semi-finals
Top scorer: Calvert-Lewin

Yes!!!!!!! That'll do. Magic! Brilliant!

And that's because the only consistent thing about Everton teams for at least a decade is that we are the least committed team in the Premier League. We lack application, the will to win, a system, and team spirit. Whatever is wrong will not be solved with money – it will be solved by clearing out Finch farm.

I couldn't disagree more with your assessment of Michael Keane's performances during his time at Everton.

Keane can't tackle (he is far too nice), panics in possession, reads the game poorly, can't carry the ball out of defence, and has got to be one of the slowest defenders I've ever seen. However, on the plus side, he is good in the air and has a smart haircut. Godfrey should be made captain now and installed at centre-half with AN Other (but not Mason Holgate!).

Well I can't think of anythi...oh wait..

Link

I’m positive that this season Everton will work harder as a team with and with out the ball.

But what they do in terms of shooting and working the goal keeper will be a concern as in my book Everton the last few seasons are guilty of overplaying in the box and miss opportunities.

But being potentially written off before the season starts and it will be a tough season, as it always is, will be too early.

Hope eternal.

We need to lobby for a trophy for being mid-table and binned early from the cups – what an end of season that would be!

If I wasn't already feeling pessimistic enough, this thread has made me totally depressed.

Now you can well argue that defending deep is absolutely essential when Keane is in the side; he is by no means quick. However, we played that way many times last season and I thought he was excellent.

I expect, hope, our tactics will be flexible, maybe even innovative, this season. I doubt we will play a high line against Man City or Man Utd or actually against many teams, so, Keane defending deep and hitting Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin with half-decent passes will come as quite a relief.

Certainly easier on the nerves than our lamentable knocking it round our own half, passing it back to Jordan who lumps it up field to start a new attack for our opponents.

I'm absolutely shocked given the money they have now that Burnley haven't improved their squad.

If you don't score, you can't win; if the opposition scored first, we were always struggling.

It's shaping up to be a 'stay in the Premier League' type of season, in which I fancy Benitez to ring the most out of what he's been dealt. He might not be flavour of the year but I think he's a good manager.

Mark 44. Ancelotti leaving pulled the rug from everyone. We have all been misled on 'the project'. I honestly thought that we had a genuine chance of closing the gap with Ancelotti in charge. If Benitez closes the gap without money he will be a miracle worker.

Utft

"LetzgiveabigGoodisonwelcometothenewmanagerRAFFAAAABENITEZZZZZ!!!"

(fireworks/lasers/whatever)

I mean I wouldn't dream of booing or anything but I can't see myself responding with any real passion.

'YEAH COME ON ON RAFA LAD!!" would just sound odd coming out of my mouth.

Actually I had a look round the Everton 2 shop in the week and asked an assistant "are there any Benitez t-shirts?"

Link

Just as we began to get it sorted, we lost Gueye and Zouma, and I don’t believe Everton have been able to really play on the front foot sine then, except maybe for the first few games of last season, and then it was play ugly, defend deep, and scrape a draw or a win, but even the poor teams had to much for us, if we even thought about opening up.

Rafa will improve the players, he has to. Boom and bust every season needs to stop! I believe 3 more signings will be made before the transfer window closes. Players will go as well which is right!

The fans will be key this season. We can make goodison a fortress with an atmosphere that is positive and gives the players belief! no booing at matches at our players! Don't come negative!! Rafa is a top manager, get behind him! No expectations, my backside, top 7 in the league and semi final in the FA cup!!!

UTFT

Allan, Iwobi, Davies, Doucouré, Gomes, Gordon and even the defenders don't chip in with enough goals where the teams above can score from pretty much anywhere on the pitch. The game plan is get the ball to Calvert-Lewin but, as last season showed, when teams man-marked him out the game, we had no Plan B or focal point and looked like headless chickens.

Our squad may have cost £250M+ but the value of it is nowhere near... which is why literally nobody is buying the players we're desperately trying to shift. It's a squad with little end product with players that fit different systems but don't work well together.

You know, like the good old days when we would pull a last minute rabbit out of the hat with the likes of Segundo Castillo, Philippe Senderos and Denis Stracqualursi.

"Royal Antwerp right-back Aurélio Buta is wanted by Celtic, whose hopes of luring him to Glasgow have been dealt what can only be described as “a blow” by reported interest from Everton. The Angola-born former Portugal youth international is reported to be available for less than £5m and is apparently viewed by Everton scouts as an upgrade on Jonjoe Kenny, who is currently first in line to Seamus Coleman’s right-back throne."

The Fiver has been uncommonly accurate in the rumors it has reported, so this might be worth some weight.

Mina has given us 6 in three seasons, Keane 8 in 4, Holgate 2 in 5, Godfrey zero.

Life would be so much easier if we could count on just one goal every three or four games from a corner. We have GOT to do better in that particular area.

Jamie #91, the Strac is still gettable. He's playing third division in Argentina right now. Somebody should call Brands.

That was what the Leicester fans did when their team were in dire straights not so long ago.

Just booked meself in for therapy after your post!!

We had hope last season and nothing!! Football has that way of surprising us! Strange most of you will be telling ya mates "couldn't care less", "no good".

Well, all of us will be watching Saturday from the ground, getting up middle of the night to watch or listen to the radio around the world, sneaky look at ya phone shopping with ya families at the score!!

We can moan all we like but we are stuck with them till we die!! Too late now!! Just cheer the lads on, goals will come, players will come good!! They need us more than ever!! Give a thought to those who won't be returning back to their seats on Saturday! RIP fellow Evertonians!! How lucky we are!!

However, Everton being Everton, have let every man and his dog know we are close to the wind, with our FFP. It reminds me of the Warriors film, when the girl in the subway says, "Those over there," where he replies, "I know they are there, but now they know I know."

A bit like what Everton have done, letting the Premier League know, instead of blagging our way to signings, and acting all innocent, after the event.

We're the ultimate footballing box of chocolates - so who knows what we will get Vs Southampton and how the crowd will react to it.

I'll be getting my spec early, bus fare home in my shoe, in the digital Boys Pen, aka, The Live Forum.

Strange days indeed.

I genuinely admire stoicism and you seem to exhibit it in spades. However, the boardroom is stuffed with people now only bothered with appeasing the psuedo-football-"intellect" of the world's least successful major club owner, whilst creaming him to the max on their exorbitant contracts.

Without wanting to seem condescending at all, I respect your sentiments.

11th-14th place finish. Watch this space, exciting times.

2 hours trying to get it into the Google Pay app without success

170 in queue on phones

Email query will be 'replied in 28 days'

Utter carnage on Saturday trying to get in.

I expect at least a couple of loan signings shortly. If we can't find a buyer for Kean, I think he will go on loan as he doesn't seem fussed about staying here. That will reduce our wage bill hopefully enough to bring in a loan player or two. One of the other players might also go on loan to allow us to bring in a striker and a right-back. I'd love to see an attacking midfielder come in but that might require James to depart which seems unlikely given his wages.

The squad is not that bad albeit there are a lot of “ifs” against players' names. If Pickford performs like he did for England, he will be an asset.

We need a right-back and will be weak on that flank if we don't get one. Digne is as good as most and Nkounkou will hopefully be given more time by Rafa. Our centre-backs are decent and I just hope Rafa settles on a pair rather than constantly rotating like Ancelotti did.

Midfield depends a lot on Gbamin. If he stays fit, he will be a huge plus for us as he looks a really good player to me. Doucouré and Allan need to get up to speed and it will be interesting to see if Davies continues to progress in that deep-lying role. The boy has plenty of critics but, with a settled team around him and with Gbamin to help, he could become a very good player who cares about the club.

Richarlison needs to up his game from last season and I think he will with Gray around as he will cause trouble for defences and open up gaps. Calvert-Lewin will score 20+ again and Townsend could be the bargain of the season if we can give him enough of the ball.

James?? I'm not a fan because of his apparent attitude to hard work and showing some desire and guts but, if he can play like he wants to prove he still can, then he transforms the whole team.

We have a few youngsters – Dobbin, Simms, Nkounkou, Onyango, Whittaker, Branthwaite – who might just break through this season and I hope Rafa gives some of them a chance.

We have a better and more committed manager than last season who will be desperate to do well. Most important will be us! We can help the team to win tight games if we make an unholy racket and cheer our team. Booing, negative chants, anti-Rafa crap will only make the players buckle and then we will be in trouble. Positive support and very noisy might even get James to play.

Reading what I have typed, it is full of “if” and “ might”. Hope springs eternal and all that but you just never know!

Given the delayed issue of these tickets, I suspect that there is a background issue. How very everton.

'We are aware of an install issue for Android users when attempting to download their Season Ticket into Google Pay. The cause of the issue has been identified and all users affected will receive new links via email today.'

Honestly, I remember they sent everyone someone else's season tickets a few years back and now this. The lack of attention to detail is shocking.

Less than 2 days before a sell-out match and they still have thousands that can't access their tickets. Absolutely ridiculous. It will be chaos on Saturday, I'll be getting there early!

Despite our once fabled nickname, football is not a science and full of ifs, buts, maybes and thank gods interspersed with moments of magic.

It's why we love it and will all be there on Saturday, be that in person, in spirit from afar and, for those who have passed, in soul.

I'm up for this season. I think the manager is from what I've seen. I hope the players are.

That's the other one. A game of eternal hope!!

You’re not that positive!

No doubt you have found fault with Alex Young and Kevin Sheedy for not bombing around for 90 minutes as well. Any manager with an iota of intelligence would be ensuring James wanted to stay as he is quality footballer and was one of the few reasons worth watching us last season.

Good post, better to look on the bright side of life, especially since a ball hasn't been kicked in earnest yet. it seems the only problem will be getting into the ground to see anything of what we've waited 18 months or more for!!

Obviously Kenwright's and Little Miss Dynamite's fault!!

I also noticed he has got more comfortable playing the ball out of defence against a higher press.

In some games he was very good but in others he clearly didn't enjoy it. I understand the comparison with Young and Sheedy but they played in sides which were good enough to support them – indeed Kendall bought Pat van den Hauwe to shore up the left flank so that Sheedy could do his best work without exposing the defence.

I would be happy to see James to just play a positive role but not disappear for an hour or wimp out of the physical stuff. It could be that if (that word again) GBamin stays fit, it could be just what James needs.

Wonder if James will be given a start on Saturday. If he does and plays behind Calvert-Lewin will he stay there or keep dropping deep?
Richarlison and Gray either side. Allan and Gbamin behind. And l would also play both Mina and Keane. Had enough of hearing they are not fast enough. Didn't hurt ltaly playing 2 slower players.

Starting the season with lower expectations. Whether that suits or not is anyone's guess.

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2212661/doucoures-new-midfield-role

The stats when he played last season were played 29 won 15 drawn four. I think there is room for improvement with Doucouré, playing more advanced will see him more effective for us.

Formation wise does that make a 4-2-3-1 a certainty?

Pickford
Coleman Godfrey Mina Digne
Allan Gbamin
Gray Doucouré Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

I feel Benitez is on a hiding to nothing anyway.

He's inherited a quite lazy average group of players that for many now have failed under several managers but we are told they are class players.

No for me now we've had too many managerially changes for the problem to be the manager, the problem lies with the players.

We can spend any money and unless we offload wastes of space like Moise Kean, Mason Holgate, Cenk Tosun, Fabian Delph, Andre Gomes to name a few and take in a good amount of money, then our new managers hands are already securely tied.

Regardless whether it was Ancelotti or Rafa starting this season, it's a team that looks like it's going to struggle badly for goals again.

All we can do is get behind them, after so many years now of mundanity supporting Everton, it is hard yes but it's either support them or get a new interest in life isn't it?

Interesting call, given all the other midfielders combined scored 4 goals between them (I've included Gray and Townsend in that number based on their stats last season). There must be a term for that strategy, but I am struggling to think of one that isn't rude.

If only...

Maybe if Rafa plays 3 at the back we could try for Hudson Odoi on loan.

Delph is still training away, Richarlson looks to give the squad a massive boost with his presence. DCL looked to be training by himself

Rafa finds himself in a similar position to that of Moyes when he got the West Ham job for the first time. I am absolutely certain that he will get more out of this squad than Carlo did, indeed, I am pretty sure that Carlo gave up the ghost on the current squad well before the final game of last season. His CV never suggested that he could improve the players he was working with having spent most of his recent managerial career in Madrid and Munich.

So lets get behind the manager and the team over the coming months and come next May, hopefully, we will have made progress and be in a position to say goodbye to more of the awful signings whose contracts have expired.

To those who say that they are done with or had it with Everton FC, all I can say to you is "once a blue always a blue"

So, 60 points and a top 8 finish.

Apparently only 1 in 3 fans opted for the digital type season ticket with the rest paying the extra fiver for a physical card.

This either tells us that the age of the average visitor to GP is pretty high, or we have the most sceptical fan base on the planet - I paid the fiver by the way!

Everton reassurance

Certainly looks like Richarlison will start and DCL won’t. James, Kean and maybe Gomes being discarded perhaps.

Another instance to illustrate my point that anything can happen in football, is the 1984/85 season when we lost the first 2 games and won the League by 13 points which = 6 wins and 1 draw. I suggest that relegation talk should be put on hold until a little bit later in the season.

Tony (121), that is a very good starting XI, with the option of Gomes, Davies, Kean (if he stays), Townsend and Gordon to come off the bench. However, the glaring weakness is Coleman, IMO. We all love the guy, but he was past his prime and no longer a top quality RB 2 seasons ago. No way should we be relying on him this season. That Buta lad looks very promising on YouTube, and he is cheap!

Unable to buy merchandise where it's wanted, unable to stream games to folk, and worst of all messing about the fans who fork out good money for season tickets. Oh and we still await to sign Coleman's replacement three years after we realised we needed to.

I just have to accept the present reality or every season will prove to be very frustrating. As much a we would like to we just cannot have the same expectations such as winning the Premiership. However it is realistic to expect the team to provide "GOOD" football. Other than the early part of last season we played the worst and most boring football imagineable.

At the least I honestly have hopes for an interesting season where we provide the fans with exciting football. It is fair to expect much improved "Home"results, hopefully not too many boring 1-0's. It is fair to expect a couple of good cup runs. It is fair to expect that we beat some of the so called top teams. For me it would be more than fair to expect us to beat the RS twice.

Yes I would be extatic if we won any trophy, but realistically we are not financially equipped to do so. Perhaps in the not too distant future we may be backed by an influx of cash. Unfortunately it is an indictment of the present football system that "MONEY" is such a major factor. I just have to accept such a fact.

My fellow Evertonians have to realise and accept that the present Premier League will never again be won by a team that does not have "MEGA" money. Personally I just want to have a season where we win more games than we lose and play football that is pleasing on the eye. Perhaps I am being pessimistic. Up to the last ten years I have always had the highest expectations and winning the Prem was a realistic goal. Now my inner self says "GET REAL".I just want to beat Burnley, Brentford, Palace and Newcastle etc etc. OH and of course Liverpool.

They have had the best part of three months to carry out a dry run and test the process.

Shouldn't really be a surprise, no planning, no contingencies whatsoever.

In any corporate world, people would be held liable. Not EFC do as you please, no respect for fans and treat them with utter contempt.

I don't think they had any trials before their games either, though I suppose a pre season friendly could count as a trial. It's a new system which no doubt is bound to encounter a few hiccups, but yeah, let's all knock the club for implementing it.

I brought the previous seasons season ticket to a game once (don't ask me how!!) and had to pay the full price for a paper ticket. I did get a refund when I went and produced the correct season ticket card to the box office.

It's understandable to be pessimistic given the weird events of last season and also what has happened since.

All most of us understand is that, despite a fairly good start to last season, everything started to crumble somewhat on the back of some pretty mediocre performances, particularly at Goodison, and Ancelotti just couldn't get things on track.

The question is, why are many fans already writing off the this coming season just because Rafa is now in charge?

A little bit of cautious optimism is normally the order of the day until at least 7-10 games in to see if he can change the mentality of some of these players and get a more solid defensive strategy, especially the closing down in front of the back line which was so weak under Ancelotti.

The infusion of Gray, Townsend and Gbamin may help out especially with James, Delph and Sigurdsson arguably having uncertain futures.

I am worried, however, that any injuries to Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison may cause a lack of serious offense unless Kean can do the necessary under the new gaffer.

Regardless, I will be in my home city for the day, see my brother and cousins, go to the Goodison Supper Bar and worse case, sneak in for the last 20 minutes when the open the exit gates!!

And then travel back home on the back of a 2 - 0 win!!

Coleman said: “In terms of setting long-term targets, we’ve done it before. I personally would like us to come in every day, give 100%, make sure we’re doing all the right things on a daily basis whether that’s coming in on time, little things like that we need to do to make sure we work hard weekly.

Seamus:Massive Disappointment

Romelu Lukaku is apparently officially a Chelsea player again.

To glass-half-full and pessimistic, we need to add hysterical bleating.

The fellow who wrote that post needs to be medicated. But this one piece of it was brilliant. What a description!

Why I always say, "Read the threads."

All clubs have their share of idiot supporters, but from what we have seen over the years of the majority of RS support, it is the phoens that are smart, not the supporters.

I expect an intelligent group like the EFC supporters on here, using smart phone apps, to glide through the turnstyles, without a hitch.

The good news. Rafa is putting players who don't want to be there or who are not fighting on the sidelines. This is important, loaning players out is not the solution it is part of the problem.

The solution is obvious any one not playing well and wanting to stay for their massive salaries from the motherlode needs to be kept away from other teams then they will realise if they don't take a paycut they could end up being the 'forgotten men.

LFC did this with Brendon Rogers (BR) when he was sacked he was NOT offered the remainder of his full salary he was given 2 choice one off payment less than he would have earned or his yearly salary while still tied to the club. Eventually after 1 year BR resigned and took the Celtic job, LFC saved £2M.

If Tosun was still at finch farm unseen by other clubs do you think he would staying to the end of his contract - no way.

Keans way out of EFC is either take a salary cut NOT a transfer fee cut OR play really well for us. Wake up Kean, PSG cannot afford you after Messi, Inter will want you for peanuts and Roma have no money just the ability to stir up unrest in our squad. The same applies to Richy.

So where will we end up this season. Rafa was not my first choice but he has sound tactics. Defence starts at their goal line. He wants fast unpredictable play and determination. He has so far being trying to build a team the DANGER is that if you have too many new players nothing works. The EFC players apart from one (Iwobi) are technically sound and fit but they need new and better tactics. If Rafa avoids the mistake Moyes made when he had a massive clear out and the baby went out with the bathwater and we had to rely on reserve players (Osmond) only staying in the top flight by goal difference on the last day of the season. So don't sell Kenny for £5M UNLESS you have another back up for Coleman.

Final position 7/8

It was Osman I was talking about and the season was 2003/4. We finished 17th but up until the last 2 or 3 games we were in deep trouble and it was Osman (who I am told does sing very well) who scored most of the goals that got us out of trouble.

I do recall a young Osman being the one bright spot during the run in.

If you look at the match report from the April Newcastle game (click on the link below) you will see we were deep in the relegation zone and we gained 13 points from January (midpoint of the season) to the end of the season, out of a possible 38.

That season was the only time in 50 years that I really feared for our top-flight existence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003–04_Everton_F.C._season

Newcastle 4 - 2 Everton

Either way they were dark times.

We should have had a free-kick. They get one moments later. Then they rolled the ball forward and least 10 yards from where the alleged foul took place.

And to cap it off, our keeper, Coco the Clown, fails to keep out a pretty harmless strike from distance.

I'm positive. I had a great day yesterday!!