Premier League – Matchweek 35

Fair play once again Man Utd fans not accepting the running of the club. Protests tonight, same as the Kopites when they were on the brink.

Take note if you all want to us to join the 21st Century, no matter what league we end up in.

Chelsea finally go ahead through Alonso only for Ronaldo to score with a tremendous finish. So simple, so devastating. Make you weep.

Hopefully this will tire Chelsea out for Sunday. They have been all over the home side.

Man Utd player stamps on James, nothing from the VAR.

Utd player stamps on James nothing from VAR

Don’t want to be all doom & gloom tonight but Chelsea are bossing this game at Man Utd. I can’t believe Utd got a goal …. How on earth are we going to keep these out Sunday?

Finished 1-1.

Chelsea's danger is down the flanks.

You would expect Burnley to beat Watford ahead of our game - so it's simply a no brainer no matter what the result to be honest - we MUST beat Chelsea for any chance at all.

As much as Moyes has done well at West Ham you can’t ever see him winning a trophy, there’s just something that says he’ll always be the runner-up, the nearly man

Admittedly not related to Everton, but for the same author for the same newspaper to do such a complete turnaround in his thinking, in such a relative short period, shows how little notice we all should take of these hacks and opinion formers.

https://twitter.com/PeterJMacca/status/1520019275620179968

Link

Funny but but the worse Everton get, the less I watch anything but Everton. I used to watch all the international games Euro games but gave that up long ago. More recently I used to watch most prem games except those involving RS and Arsenal, this year I watched very little early on except Brentford, but now it's just Everton. I think my broader love of the game has died entirely so now it's just my Everton obsession.

Kieran, same here, I used to enjoy watching all sorts of games and MOTD regardless of whether it or not we were on. Not sure if I am falling out of love with the beautiful game or just sticking 2 fingers up to the rest of them and completely obsessed with Everton.

Another "Same here".

At one time I would've watched the highlights of even a string of 0-0 games on MOTD, Everton included or not. Plus England... and any teams basically, any league. Not now.

I haven't watched TV for years. There are other ways to see MOTD but I haven't watched that for years.

I don't know what discourages others, but for me the whole scene away from the actual game time has become an oily, politicized and overly slick business that I don't want to deal with. Poor punditry, overt bias, celebrity worship of players and managers, engineered talking points. It's a plastic product.

The minutes of actual play is all I watch now. Even then I often have to mute the commentary. Then there are the increasing refereeing and VAR controversies.

Everton and some PL by online methods, highlights, radio commentaries and the Live Forum for me.

Barry - for the above reasons and more, I'm also very selective of what I read, only seeing things like that if someone cites it as you did. Much mainstream media is off-limits now as it's crap.

Hoping Liverpool stick a few goals on Newcastle. Their fans doing my head in since their takeover.

Paul. I take it you are in some bubble miles away from here? Are you sure? Il take that as PMT – pre-match tension, or delirium.

Pretty local, Brian.

Another dodgy decision goes Liverpool's way... the game has truly gone now.

I thought Milner won the ball, although I do agree the game has gone. Offside goal now for Newcastle? I’m in the other room though, I'm not watching any football until 2 O’Clock tomorrow.

I would like to see Newcastle get at least a draw give City more incentive to beat Leeds

Milner won the ball, but followed through and caught Schar. No foul given and the RS score. Mason Holgate wins the ball, but followed through on a spurs player, and gets a red card! Both cases looked at by VAR. VAR at its finest, favouring the so called big six teams.

VAR checking the club badge.

So let me get this right. If you push a player in the face, both players get a yellow card? Even the offended.

Just trying to understand the rules.

Please god don't let this happen. They are quoting the Lisbon Lions already. I'm not even going to quote my city's name in the headline they might use.

They are making sure the RS win, an F1 style final day showdown has been ordered. It’s the reason VAR exists in its current secretive form, and like FFP, it gives the elite an impenetrable stranglehold.

Christine called it right, there will be a few inconsequential penalty decisions against them before the end of the season to massage the stats.

He seems alright now. Gobshite

Posts 10,11 12.

Same here. I thought it was me.

Totally off topic, I keep trying to sign up to be a patron on the site. It keeps coming up error. Anyone got any tips?

Rob (19) - Didn’t see it that way at all. If anything Milner wins the ball cleanly and Schar is late and kicks Milner. This is part of the problem with the way the game has been broken down by VAR and analysis; in any other era it’s a clean win of the 50/50 by Milner and nobody bats an eyelid.

In terms of the Holgate red card v Spurs, it is frustrating, but the issue is follow-through and endangering an opponent - and the VAR system gives referees the chance to gauge “intent” - which almost always looks worse in slow motion. The system is not working.

Probably right, Andrew. The half time analysis showed a different camera angle, which did show Schar catch the underneath of Milner's boot.

Am I the only person that doesn't rate Saint-Maximin all that highly

Re; same here - me too.

I'm with you Andrew. I think there is a reason he is at Newcastle now as opposed to where they envisage themselves being with the investment.

Otherwise, he'd be somewhere else??

Like a lot of good players, for me he doesn't have the consistency to be great.

They've fuckin won this league haven't they?

Totally expect Leeds to stun Man City later just to stave us off and kill the Mancs hopes.

Calma Jim. I'm off out to watch the football with my boy and his mates with him back home safely.

The alarm is set for 4am tomorrow morning. Tomorrow is all that matters, not what others do today.

I think Leeds could get something today - although if the prem/sky et al want to guarantee their last day showdown, then maybe not

Tony Abraham’s ( or any blues ) our John is a guest on the pitch at ht as he’s 70 tomorrow and Everton’s first mascot. We are in the black horse Walton before the match and a spread laid on in the farmers ( clubmoor ) after it with Everton cake and bunting. Not sure we will be in the mood but there you go.

Watford 1-0

Love Watford. 1-0.

Watford 1-0

Watford I love you (for now).

Ooo stir a hornets nest. Cmon yellows

Burnley getting a bit of a smacking at the moment. Should be 2-0

Decent effort from the Hornets. Burnley letting some long balls through. Need a second for the nerves and goal difference.

Brian, that’s such a nice bit of news.

shit penalty for Burnley/ good outside the box VARgreat

Nerves are gone, have to see my old floozy Stella

Holy crap. Just now tuned in and Watford beating Burnley.

That would be very, very welcome.

Brian#35, that's brilliant.

Tense and nervous times eh. So, just to cheer you up, I give you this:

Neil Parish MP has resigned after being caught watching porn on his phone in the House of Commons. He told the BBC that he had done this twice, but the first time was accidental after looking at a tractor website.

That has to be the best excuse ever given, and I recommend that if anyone on here is caught banging a quick one out at work, they use the "tractor website" defence. You'll still lose your job, but you'll give the HR department a massive laugh.

Watford need another goal, nice to see that their first goal was an own goal by Tarkowski,

Michael, that's great!

He'll never hear the end of it.

How does one get from a tractor website to porn?

My God they'll say anything.

Can you not exercise a modicum of control and just wait until after the session is out? Jeez man.

Family website. Sleezy politicians.

Off topic, but it appears that agent Mino Raiola has died. It was reported the other day, later followed by reports of it being a false story, but now it’s being reported he had died.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61259954

Maybe the Right Dishonourable Member had typed in Animal Farm and Google sent him to a tractor website. Get me coat. Come on Watford btw.

Well the mp obviously had a good ploughing one way or another

Rob, ESPN and Sky and many other outlets are now reporting it too. He was furious the other day at the premature reports going around of his death, posted a pretty funny tweet. But this is genuine. Apparently he had been desperately ill for months.

I read somewhere that Raiola owned the Miami home of Al Capone, who died there in 1947..

Poor fella, very young too

That "Tractor" website reminds me of the time I was Offshore Survey Manager for a company in Houston a few years ago and had some young Engineer Trainees to look after onboard our Lay Vessel. I was explaining a job we did off Newfoundland where we had to install our manifolds and structures, pipelines into deeply carved football pitch size areas ensuring that any future iceberg dragged safely past the area. These were called "Glory Holes" which I typed into the ships computer on Images for them...AAAAGHHHHH - I should really have known better, but that is exactly what they were called...

shit -1-1 watford

Ah, crap.

1-1

Watford were just playing for the points and were punished / no changes by Woy

Oh no. 1-2

2-1 to Burnley

Burnley winning 2/1

How did Watford not get a pen, maybe 2 earlier? No attempt to play the ball, anywhere else on the pitch its a free kick!

1-2

OMG – Burnley winning!

Argghhh, 1-2!!

Jesus. Leeds or us it seems

Damn. We had a slim chance ahead of today, but I think that's us done for now.

The fightback begins in August.

Shows what happens when you leave tired players on...

Not been watching the game but it must be said, Burnley have been showing more fight in recent weeks than we've managed all season. Tough stretch ahead.

That's it, we're down now! Unbelievable capitulation from Watford!

Bollox, just caught the score, I thought it was still 1 - 0. That's us done I think, goals win games, Burnley have a better keeper, defenders and more goal scorers, Dyche was holding them back.

We have never replaced the goals of Lukaku, and please don't say we have DCL. FFS sake, that sinking feeling.

Burnley used all three of their subs to change the game around, Watford never used any, that even surprised the commentator.

We have to hope for Leeds to crash and burn as Burnley are on a roll.

Eddie, we needed Dyche and Bielsa not being sacked. Neither will go dopwn as they have satrted winning. Burnley have taken 10 points from the last 12.

Fair play to Burnley.. this game vs Chelsea tomorrow is possibly the biggest in the clubs history. Yes, we went to Rotterdam and won but this one could be cataclysmic. Especially if Leeds scab something this evening.

Bollocks - three wins on the trot for Burnley since showing Dyche the door. They've warp speed out of danger. Gutted Watford just caved in in the end after leading for so long.

You'd expect CIty to beat Leeds later so we'll be 5 point adrift with games in hand - no pressure then tomorrow!

Even a draw is too little.

Bollocks - three wins on the trot for Burnley since showing Dyche the door. They've warp speed out of danger. Gutted Watford just caved in in the end after leading for so long.

You'd expect CIty to beat Leeds later so we'll be 5 point adrift with games in hand - no pressure then tomorrow!

Even a draw is too little.

I've given up hope on catching Burnley now, they are five points ahead with at least two more wins in the fixtures left.

Leeds now are our only hope but with a five point lead it's a long shot.

I'd say if we don't win tomorrow we are all but gone.

Isn't it amazing what a team can achieve when it fights and competes.

Even depleted as it is by injury, our squad and team is better than Burnley's. Tactics, spirit and motivation are the difference. We will really have to find something here.

If Leeds get anything today, it’s over. 5 point gap in 5 games = not a chance. City win and we miraculously get something tomorrow and there is still hope. Wouldn’t bet a £1 on it tho. Think we are going down.

So Leeds will get a point against City meaning the shite win the title and Leeds pull away from us. Nightmare scenario all round. To say tomorrow is crucial is an understatement.

That hurt. I watched it all. 83 mins: 1-0 Watford. They were pathetic, but I suppose we have been on the whole.

Still mathematically possible but I think we all know it's settled now.

Goodbye Premier League, I never liked you anyway.

Let's be honest, this has been coming for years. A great club destroy by clowns. I gave up hope after the Burnley defeat so I suppose I'm used too it now.

Lets not forget Arsenal away, last game. Everton don't do goals, it's over. Burnley and Leeds have better players, we have had many injuries and no Sigurdsson. Rotherham it is next season then.

I feel sick. Villa beating Norwich will mean they’ve put to bed any lingering concerns and will have their flip flops on next week when they play Burnley. I think Leeds will find an extra 4/5 points.

Joe, don't agree about better players. They do have better guts.

I am amazed at the amount of Evertonians still hanging on to hope of other teams giving us a helping hand, it ain't going to happen. Plain and simple, Everton have to win all their games and here lies the problem, they aint good enough. Only ourselves to blame if we are relegated. It has always been the way of the premier league era, Everton not doing the necessary. It would be typical if it mirrored last season, last game of the season and Leeds clinch the position above us. Everything regarding the club is second rate. We have been on borrowed time for ages, now we get to the crunch and we crumble. I expect Leeds to get something out of City later also.

The time for Evertonians to get nasty towards Kenwright/Moshiri should be drawing ever so closer.

2 goals in the last 7 minutes there for Burnley. We're going down in the most Everton way possible. With it feeling like the entire universe is conspiring against us.

Please excuse the excessive self-pity.

No surprise to to me - Burnley on a roll and it all started when they beat us - that tells you everything.

Burnley have players with experience of fighting off relegation. We have first choice players who have actually been relegated; I think its Pickford, Doucouré, Keane, Richarlison and maybe Rondon-although not first choice.
Its looking grim but still we fight on!

I think we'll know tomorrow. As soon as Burnley equalised, I re-read Sam Hoare's article. It's starting to look fated. Win tomorrow and the sweet pain goes on. This is soul-destroying.

We need a lucky break, a new hero, something, anything.

Can someone please order a taxi (a big one) for Kenwright, Sharp, Unsworth, and Dunc. Z Cars, Good Times, 27 years, Grand Old Team, Tales of the 60's and 80's, The Peoples Club, 27 years (plus add on as many as you want). I'm sick of them and their Cozy FC. Ahh, butb they bleed blue, so what- Bunch of Wankers! They have all been part of this demise over the last few years.

How is Moshiri gonna sell us in the Championship, with this awful squad and debt. I just have no more words.

It’s in our own hands and until it isn’t we have every chance. Need to believe.

UTFT

The loss of status will be hard to take.

Plus side? No more hiding in fear from MOTD. No more being a laughing stock, week in,week out. No one notices or cares what happens outside the Premier League.

If we make smart choices, we might even have something positive to play for beyond January.

If there's a clause that allows us to jettison Lampard and his team, I think we should use it. An experienced championship manager, capable of assembling a squad of proven championship players, will be key to getting back to the PL within the next 5 or so years.

Make a mess of next season and we'll be trapped down there (or worse, just ask Ipswich fans).

We don't need luck, we need to be professional. It is winning football matches one after the other. If Leeds get something from City this evening then kiss the premier league goodbye though I can't see this team winning two games on the run which is the bare minimum just to stay in it. Everton throughout the season have failed to put pressure on these teams and it's the same now. Just amateurish by the club and a true reflection of the huge drop in standards.
Pathetic Everton and it is pathetic hoping for over teams c*cking up.

Note to mr kenright. For once I’d forget about your usual jolly first class train journey tomorrow. I think you have been rumbled even by your happy clappers. Best stay with the cast of cats and keep Jenny safe.

I said a couple of weeks ago Burnley would survive and that my hopes were pinned on Leeds, that hasn’t changed right now ….. if City win tonight then Leeds have Arsenal away and then Chelsea at home ….. Watford were that woeful today we should beat them, we still have 3 homes games left …. We can get 10 points from Watford and the home games and that could be enough

Even if we come back up your just cannon fodder for the rest of the league, you might stay up for a season or 2 but it’s a yo- yo existence for most of the promoted teams.
Absolutely depressing future, I’m gutted.

Odds on for relegation at the mo

At least Marine won promotion today - well done lads

Any business run the way our club is run would be doomed to failure. Our fate could be all but decided by next weekend. What absolute clown’s the owner and board of directors are.

Oh bugger, it’s all or nothing tomorrow.
Like others at the beginning of this thread, I only watch Everton these days and no other football - having said that I can’t bring myself to watch the match tomorrow and am playing golf at 12, really hope that I see we have got a win in the 19th hole.

Lose tomorrow and I would be straight on the phone at the final whistle asking Dyche to take over at the end of the season, ready for the battle in the Championship.

When people call for the Dyche who left Burnley 4 points behind us, you KNOW the fans share some of the blame for where we are.

We can’t cling on. It’s life Jim but not as we know it ( sorry Stella kicking in I’m numb

City ahead

Goal for city

Nothing has changed. It’s still in our own hands. 4 wins are possible. Look at Burnely, 4 wins all season and now 4 wins out of past 6 and 3 on the bounce. All our remaining games are winnable. It ain’t over til it’s over.

It's dawned on me really that it's May tomorrow and we are FIVE points adrift, FIVE points!

This is actually worse than 94 and 98 respectively.

Win tomorrow is a must, Leeds got a tough couple of weeks ahead, we need to start winning back to backs

1-0 Man City. I haven’t even got the enthusiasm to cheer that goal.

I’m a little disappointed with Everton this season

Gary @122. Okay, some of the fans' judgment maybe a bit skew-whiff there, wanting Dyche, but fans only influence so much. Having said that, our chairman got much much longer because of the oxygen given him by the happy clappers "one of us" brigade.

That spelled disaster as soon as seeing his face on the big screen getting clapped. It was only going to end one way. He's so out-of-touch with the modern running of a Premier League club.

Jim 127, this season has been worse than those years throughout. We went 4 months with only 1 league win.

Chris 126, it's not mathematically a done deal yet, but it is over now. The focus has got to be on planning our route back over the next few years.

On what planet have we ever put a two- or three- – never mind four- – game winning streak together when the pressure has been on???

Sorry, that scenario totally alien to these gobshites.

Kieran #130 - a bit over the top, that!

Our boys will be starting a cup run tomorrow. Win 6 ties and you lift the FA Cup. Not a cup run but Premier League survival should be assured by not losing any of the remaining 6 games and winning at least 3 of them. Those 12 points should do the trick nicely. Talk of changing the manager if we fall into the championship is, in my opinion, shortsighted. Why endure yet another change and if successful would you want a Premier league ready manager to take over when we get back to the Premier league? Stick with Lampard and his coaching team whatever our fate. Tomorrow I feel a win coming, but must not lose, COYB.

Inevitable.
They will fold like a pack of cards tomorrow.
The club is rotten and this will be the outcome.
Supporter of 50+ years and never so disaffected with Everton and the way it operates.

It is. Still in our hands. But we need someone to ‘switch it on’. Like now! Someone to have 5 games of pure inspiration. I’m thinking Salvatore Schillaci for the Italians in 1990. Never heard of him before and very little since..

John 135, what are you smoking?

Win, I reckon we'll stay up.

Don't win, with the bold moves Farhad's been making, liquidation is not out of the question, which should help with focus in the team talk.

we might not win tomorrow, but we need Chelsea to know they've been in a game.

Watford and Norwich are down and it's us or Leeds to join them. Lose tomorrow and down we go, win and there is a little glimmer of hope. It's the hope that kills you with Everton.

Looking forward to the lap of appreciation after the last game. Maybe we could just chase the useless twats down County Road.

We need to go back to the basics in attack.

We need the manager to stop playing Gordon and Gray as 'inverted' wingers cutting inside onto their strong foot.

We need Gordon playing on the right side, getting crosses in.

We need Richarlison on the left, making runs with either Rondon or Calvert-Lewin as a focal point to the attack.

Get the ball into the box and keep putting it in the box at every opportunity. Get their defenders facing their goal and force errors.

What's the betting that The lump of lard that can't trap a bag of sand scores the winner????

Everton have been the third worst team in the Premier League this season. The table doesn’t lie.

Should we go down it’ll be because we deserve to do so.

Should by some miracle we stay up, it’ll be because we deserve to stay up, due to Leeds being worse than us.

It’s as simple as this.

The whys and who’s to blame are for after the last game. Needless to say, either way, I’d expect Kenwright and Co to feel more pressure, protest and support fury than they have ever felt in their sorry lives! Us fans need to mobilise as soon as the final whistle goes!

If we had just beaten Burnley we wouldn't be in this mess. We would have been well clear of them, and their confidence would have completely gone. But, Everton being Everton, we couldn't hold on for 45 minutes.

Geoff Lambert - I’m hoping he goes on a maisy run in the last minute beating 5 players and smashes it into the net for the winner only to then realise that he isn’t playing for us anymore and he’s actuallly scored an OG

Neil, Chris definitely itely, Yes it is.

it’s the next game that counts and Everton must get something from tomorrow’s game.

There’s been many twists the last few days and no doubt more to come.

Everton must get at least a point and ideally a win, v Chelsea, and if City can beat Leeds, there’s a different dynamic and perspective.

UTFT!

The Burnley match – 2-1 up and managing to lose – is the result that will send us down.

Leeds haven't played too bad here but, Christ, they have some fuckin horrible supporters.

Both Leeds and Burnley look more ready and up for the fight more than our poor excuse for a team sorry Club!! The "cancer" has spread theought the club, the U23s battered, U18s beaten and even the girls' team will be lucky to avoid the drop.

How the hell have we let this wonderful club become such a shit show? Everyone employed with this club should hang their head in shame. We, the fans? They don't deserve us.

People's Club (sic), my arse.

No, Paul Hewitt, Lampard never managed the game when we were in front. Lampard showed his inexperience. Burnley were fucked, we had them by going in front.

We should have played the game out like we started against Liverpool, time-wasting, into Row Z whenever we got the chance, into Row Z. The players have been fucking shite all season but it was Lampard who lost that game for us, in my opinion.

I have said it before, I do not believe he is the man to take us forward and I think he will be let go at the end of the season, or he will choose to go.

Come on, Blues, you can do it. Put two fingers up to all the gobshites, dickhead pundits and corrupt officials and show them who we really are.

UTFT

Fat lady warming up but not her time to enter the stage just yet. If City can do the honourable and win today, Leeds then have Arsenal away and Chelsea at home – just as bad a run in as us. They could potentially get zero points from these three games and still be on 34 points with 2 games left.

We simply have to get a result tomorrow - stranger things have happened and we've beaten Chelsea at home recently (admittedly not under Tuchel). As with the Man Utd game, I'm confident we can get something tomorrow, just a question of what.

First up, Man City need to put Leeds to bed, then we can focus on tomorrow.

I've looked at Leeds remaining games, and they could actually lose them all, so we might have a chance.

2-0 Citeh

2-0 City. Come on Everton you have been given another chance to get out of this mess. For fuck's sake, wake up and start playing like your lives depended on it.

Paul, I guess Leeds supporters are saying something similar about our remaining games and prospects. We both have Arsenal, Chelsea and Brentford. You better be right, mate!

The garbage thrown at Grealish in the corner is ridiculous and no stewards doing anything about it.

People, or rather kids, who are throwing things on the pitch, stick out like a sore thumb, yet the stewards doing fuck all about them. Leeds should take action against these fucking worms.

If there's a route out, it's that Leeds haven't been down there like us, Burnley etc this season and may shit their pants now that it's suddenly very real for them too.

Goal difference at the moment gives us an extra point over Leeds. That could be important. Not time to do a lemming yet.

A lot of fans lining up to say we're dead.

We're not.

Chelsea are beatable, as are Palace and Brentford. Watford are pony at home, and Leicester will be coming off a tough away match in Rome three days before.

Leeds have no easy games in the run-in.

If we pick up seven points in our home matches, and somehow beat Watford away (doable), we're probably safe.

By all means worry.

But let's not give up, boys and girls.

I'm pretty sure that Kenwright shares your sentiment, Keiran!

If only he was the Chairman at Palermo FC... sigh.

We have to take our chances.

Ultimately, the league will not lie at the end of the season. We are not where we are because of others' results, we are there because of our own.

Like many Evertonians tomorrow, I will be making the trip and I hope the team turn up with me. I wish they had even 25% of the passion I and others have. It really breaks my heart.

Anyway, that aside, big day tomorrow for other reasons. And someone else amongst the many will be making a long trip to Goodison.

For those who read on here regularly, its Brian Murray's brother John's 70th Birthday and to celebrate "Everton's first ball boy", he will be on the pitch before the match.

To recall, from Becky's article, here's a picture:

Link

I'm going to meet at the Black Horse on County Road for a drink before we go and beat Chelsea. At the end of the match, I hope John goes over to the Gwladys Street as he did in 1963. Come and join.

I hope you don't mind Brian!!

Top Post, Rob …. I'm of them same optimism

Danny, I hope for your sake it goes well.

Everything you post on here is eminently sensible, and you're an absolute class act.

You're absolutely spot on, by the way - we've three home games left, and the fans, who have been magnificent lately, need to absolutely bring it tomorrow.

I can see Burnley losing against Spurs and maybe getting 4 points against Villa. A draw at home to Newcastle.

In terms of ourselves, a draw tomorrow and a draw away to Leicester, win away at Watford, win against and Brentford, draw against Palace, a loss against Arsenal.

Leeds a loss tonight, loss against Arsenal, loss against Chelsea, 4 points against Brighton and Brentford.

Burnley on 39 points, Everton and Leeds on 38 points, we stay up on goal difference, à la the 1997-98 season.

Well, City have done their job, it's up to Everton now to see if they have the fight in them to save their season.

No problem, Danny, and you mentioned you may struggle with return trains etc. Crash in mine if you want – not worth paying hotels rubbing salt in the weekend wounds. Obviously hope that's not the case. coyb

Danny #163 top man. I hope you have a great day tomorrow and are singing all the way home,

As always I am looking forward to the game, tense as I guess we all are but we can win.

UTFT

Like all the optimists on here, I think we are still in it, we might need snookers but we can escape this starting tomorrow, and carrying on from there, Everfuckinton!!

Think we'll stay up as long as Leeds don't get a freak result in the next two. If they lose both as expected we will have four games to get level or better from a 5-point deficit and then a two-game 'play-off' to remain in the league.

If we can't do that we deserve to go down.

Have renewed optimism following Leeds getting thrashed. But we’ve got to probably beat Chelsea. A draw will probably not be a bad result, but with the points difference being five, it’s two games we’ve got to win to overhaul Burnley and Leeds.

Paul 166. Not sure how you think we will win at Leicester. They outclassed us at home. Leeds play Chelsea 3 days before the cup final so expect a very weak Chelsea team.

Going by our recent performances I see just two wins. Away to Watford and home to Brentford.

We have only scored 1 goal since 12 Feb that wasnt a pen or a deflection.

Since Lampard arrived we have had less possession every game except Boreham Wood.

No recognised striker on the pitch and Richarlison is up front on his own.

We are clearly going down and well before the last day.

Thought I would try and give us all some hope;

Everton 1 Chelsea 0
Leicester 0 Everton 2
Watford 2 Everton 3
Everton 4 Brentford 1

Everton 1 C Palace 1

Arsenal 0 Everton 1

Those are results of each game when it was last played at the same venue.

UTFT

Rob @173
I think we need to win at least 2 of the next 3 games to stay in touch and given our poor away results this season, we need to win tomorrow. That Burnley defeat and their win today has put us well and truly on the back-foot and the fact that Watford were leading so late in the game is a real kick in the nuts for us. If we go down, so be it, it might be the best thing in the long run, but I wish we weren't anywhere near this position.

Whatever happens it has to go down as being one of the worst season's to be an Evertonian.

Neil #175

Brilliant. Hope... I'm now speculating exactly how far up the table we can climb! 😊

Brendan #177, nailed on 12th I reckon 🤪

Barry, I totally agree.

That Burnley game should go down in infamy.

If we'd played against them, in the second half, the way we did last week, we'd be pretty safe. But, then, if Richarlison had put away some of the chances he had that game, we'd be just as safe.

I think the Leicester and Watford away games, for different reasons, are opportunities.

Leicester will put EVERYTHING into the game in Rome on Thursday, so we have to catch them cold. And Watford are just fucking egregious, as we saw today - also, we owe them a humiliation for what they did to us.

Tough, for sure.

But those two games are winnable, as are our remaining home games. The Burnley result today gutted me. But we can't despair.

Just read that Watford didn't make any subs.

Ian #180, the match report that I read briefly thought that was a major factor with the Watford players running on dry.

Hi Ian, I stated a possible draw against Leicester and not a win.

Burnley made 3 subs, Watford 0. Crazy

If we gonna to start playing it has to be tomorrow.

We cannot wait for Leeds to drop points. We thought Burnley would after they fired Dyche and look what happened without a manager.

Yes Chelsea are a very skilful team and they should have blown Man Utd away but if we can get a solid performance on defence who knows what can happen.

They have the situation in their own hands no matter what Leeds do.

Was watching the Watford game and even the commentator was expecting Woy to make a change before Burnley equalized, and couldn't understand at the end of the game why they never made any.

Paul 183. Apologies. Although I think a draw is beyond us.

The Burnley result stings but it hasn't really changed the equation. It pretty much saves Burnley but we only ever needed to catch one team, and Leeds looked more likely.

10 points from now will likely be enough.

Of course we haven't looked capable of that kind of return.

But one game a time... if we can beat Chelsea it's 7 needed from the next 4 games, which are all pretty winnable looking at them in isolation. That's a form turnaround but not impossible.

If we lose against Chelsea it's 10 from 5 games including probably needing something at Arsenal away. That's pretty close to relegation being a done deal.

A win v Chelsea gives us some hope. And it's our only hope. But that was already the case before Burnley's goals.

At least Watford are pretty much out of the equation. They might even be down by the time they play us.

Ian (183) - “Beyond us”? You think a draw away against Leicester is beyond us?

Less than likely? Perhaps. A big ask? Could be. “Beyond us”? Hang your head in shame.

Our fans need to show big energy and ambition to give this club the best chance of retaining our Premier League status and your posts create a vortex where positivity perishes.

Paul 193, it has to be 3 points tomorrow. Even then, we've left it too late. The jig is up.

Every game is winnable and it’s still in our own hands. The results today changed very little.

We need to win to keep control of our destiny but Leeds are unlikely to get more than 3-4points and it’s not over by a long way yet,

We need to put the negativity to one side and get behind the team. Make Goodison a bear pit and give the team a lift. We can do this!

UTFT

Neil, yes it's in our hands. But points on the board are much more valuable at this end of the table. Even chasing Europe we wouldn't make up this gap.

Danny, agreed that it’s better to have the points. I would say that relegation is a much bigger incentive than Europe or at least it should be. I just hope the players see it the same way.

It’s extremely difficult and getting harder by the week but it is doable. We need to stay positive and have belief otherwise there is no chance.

UTFT

Honestly guys…. Relegation does not rest in Chelsea tomorrow. We are playing the European champions who are currently third in the league. I’m getting behind the team but we are certainly not down if we get beat.

I think realistically we will lose against Chelsea, Leicester and Arsenal.

If we beat Palace at home, Brentford at home and go and stuff Watford away, there’s 9 points.

Burnley have Villa twice, Newcastle and Spurs. I expect a defeat at Spurs, a defeat against Villa away. I think they could pick up a win against Villa and a win against Newcastle. That leaves them on 40 points.

Leeds have Arsenal, Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford. I don’t think they are getting anything against Arsenal or Chelsea. Maybe they get a result against Brighton but Brentford will be a hard game for them aswell. I fancy a draw against Brighton and loss against Brentford. 35 points.

I fancy us on 38 points with them three wins to survive. Leeds, Watford, Norwich to go down. If we can just perform in those three vital games I think we can be fine. If we can pick anything up against Chelsea tomorrow, Leicester away or even Arsenal away then great, but let’s have it right, out of the games left, Palace, Brentford and Watford are the ones we should be focusing on.

Graeme, agreed although I think Leeds will pick up 4 points against Brighton and Brentford but that still leaves them below us via goal difference.

Also, I fancy Burnley to draw against Newcastle who are playing well and seem hell bent on a top ten finish. That would also put Burnley on 38 points.

If Newcastle play how they have played in the last 5/6 games then yes they should technically beat Burnley away. They look a different team. Crazy what a few half decent signings can do….

Instead of signings ‘for the the future' and players like Gray and Townsend. We sold James and got Townsend in, when you think about that now… it's crazy.

I thought Leeds played okay and are capable of winning any of their last games. They are better than us at the moment. We need to improve, we need to find goals. We can be better than Leeds.

I keep faith that our players will turn up, find some belief and win four games. We need to play the very best that this team is capable of. Time for heroes.

How the fuck did the VAR not give Watford a penalty last night for that blatant foul on Joao Pedro? Another in a list of daggers in our back and of course a blow for Watford. Also have to mention Roy Hodgson's piss-poor management as his team tired very quickly and he does not make one substitution.

Burnley are fighting like mad, as poor as they are, and credit where due – that cross was a good old fashioned bit of attacking wing play and a goal Andy Gray would be proud of.

No way that yellow card for Bowen was right. Should have been a red for Ramsdale, he was out of control and forced Bowen to take evasive action, although it looked like he made contact.

If Brentford beat Southampton next, then the Saints may well be looking at the drop if they lose on the last day. Stranger things have happened…..

Mike, the bookies will give you 150/1 for that to happen.

Funny chant by the Brentford fans towards the Man Utd fans……….”We’ll race you back to London, we’ll race you back to London”

Meanwhile, Man Utd penalty for a shove in the back on Ronaldo.. Seen those not given recently!!

Brentford game moved to 4-30 ko. More time for getting tanked up !

Bastards at Sky, they don't give a flying one for the fans. The 4:30 pm kick-off has messed up all my travel plans.

Get the fuck in. Villareal 2-0 Red Shite. Cmon !!!!
I

Come on, Yellow Submarine!!!

Oh no! The quadruple trophy is wobbling on its base...

Lads - have you learnt nothing over the years? Expect a dodgy pen second half for the away side in Spain

But Chris, that will only bring them back within a goal at 4-3. Emery hasnt released the hounds yet and all they need is to contain that first asthmatic burst and then the Reds start bitching at one another.

I'm watching it in Spanish.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!

Can someone more savvy on refereeing please educate me.

I've never understood this ball first thing. It can still be a foul if the challenge take the player out??

I thought that was a penalty and I'm not being biased. Maybe I don't understand the rule.

Danny... yes, it can still be a foul if you get the ball first. Not true years ago, but true now.

Getting a first touch on the ball doesn't give you license to do whatever you want after that (go over the ball, come through with a second leg, shove or elbow).

It's a judgement call by the ref, no hard-and-fast formula.

I had that exact call last night. Gave the foul AND a yellow.

Geoff - re Southampton, I’ve got a bluey on at 80/1

Jammy Bastards

The stink just gets stronger...

Say what you want but the rs are a great team.

Paul, no, they stink. It's official.

Must have had triple strength of their inhalers at half time

OK, that does it - FIX!!!!!!

Only City can beat these. Madrid will get battered

Paul, this is no place for reasoned debate, where's your hateful bigotry? Disappointing.

I don't have one Will. I don't count them as rivals anymore. There miles ahead of us.

Well there is that! Just keeping it flexed though :)

In my 70 years I have never seen a goal keeping display like that Villa Real goalie, an absolute fuckin disgrace must have been on a back hander.

What was the score, I don’t watch the gobshites.

Rob, Villarreal lost 2-3.

Cheers Will. I was watching Bournemouth v Forest. Bournemouth won 1-0 and are promoted.
Ah well, another champions league final I won’t be watching.

Me too, Rob - I just kept up with the other one by text commentary. Maybe Forest win the play-offs now...

I don't watch them myself lads but at 2 nil down I just had to.
Unbelievable lucky team !!

Fulham bounce straight back up, Bournemouth took one more season to bounce back. I reckon if we do go down, we won't be down for long.

As for the other lot, fuck 'em. I've got a handful of decent RS mates, but the rest of their fans are gobshites one and all.

I'd rather walk alone.

How on earth will we catch them up? How many cups have they won, how many finals have they reached since we last won anything?

Everton FC have so badly underachieved, we should be right up there with them … I really do despair being a blue sometimes.

City and Real Madrid putting on another display extra time 5/5

Carlo Magnifico to beat the RS again in the final

Penalty to Real Madrid and they score 6/5 to Real

Bill (237), City had the game in their pocket two goals ahead in the last minutes only for Madrid to score two in a minute and go into extra time.

It looks like Real are now favourites to snatch this game but I hope I'm wrong, City could have done without this extra 30 minutes and could lose their momentum in the league.

Man City may be able to score but their defense is questionable…

Dave, I agree. I've been watching it from the beginning and thought it was all over when Mahrez scored.

City’s heads will be down if this stays the same and their next game is Leeds on Saturday. Our luck is certainly out this season.

If City lose this, they should get rid of Pep at the end of the year and bring someone new in. He was brought in to win the Champions League and he will have been a spectacular billion-pound failure. He appears to be a big-game bottler.

Good ‘ole Satan has left it late again tonight I see. They are the poxiest fucking shower of bastards in the history of sport. This happened in the late 70’s when every team in Europe went stale and they started pinching trophies (along with the other massive clubs like Forest and Villa FFS). It’s absolutely astonishing how lucky they are. Beyond belief. City had this won, missed two sitters with 3 mins to go and now Captain Henderson and his mob will caffeine Madrid to death.

https://backpagefootball.com/why-liverpool-wont-win-the-premier-league-this-season/126313/

City play Newcastle at the weekend.

Jay 242 - City play Newcastle next. Leeds has Arsenal away.

If City lose tonight, it’s 50-50 whether their season implodes in the space of a week. They could bounce straight back or heads might go - hard to call.

City loose or throw it away

Oh my they have got beat they are bottler’s

Chris I stand corrected. They already played Leeds thank god. I was looking at a fixture list and didn’t connect the dates. I just hope City get even more determined to win the league but they are looking very vulnerable this season.

He's shit that Ancelotti, zombie football. Especially when we beat Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal away. That was the worst. Darren Hind was right all along.

Jay,

They will fuck up one of their reminding 4 Premier League games – guaranteed.

Well, city threw that away. 5-3 up going into added time, and stung with two goals in a minute. Fantastico Carlo to work his magic on the RS again.

Very exciting semi-final. How down must City be after that though? I almost feel sorry for them, but then I remember that I actually couldn't a flying fuck for any of the Sky clubs.

I hope Real sucker punch the Shite in the final too.

Graham

I wonder if his recent absence is the nearest we will ever get to him admitting he was wrong?

I hope City can recover to finish their title quest as winners, and for Real Madrid to beat Old Nick in the final.

Huge blow to City to not manage that game out but ruing some good goal scoring chances missed.

If Aguero was still playing for them, they'd have had this tie sewn up in the first leg.

But also shows what total belief and fight can do for a football team. Fair play to Real Madrid over the two legs.

Now for Everton to get tuned in for Leicester.

Graham, Ancelotti the "has been"? Man of the past?

Paul, bring it on. We can do this, same spirit and approach.

UTFT

The fabled quadruple trophy, like Carlo, raised an eyebrow as it watched on tonight.

Brent, a dinosaur, he’s finished

Well, if City can blow a game like this in the 90th minute, I am glad it's Real Madrid v Liverpool.

They fell away in the game in Manchester and they did the same here.

I do believe they are not the same team when De Bruyne isn't on the pitch despite scoring first. Jesus is a waste of space and Sterling should have been on from the start.

This however, may help City concentrate fully on the remaining Premier League games…

Going to hear these Liverpudlians now, because they'll definitely fancy their chances of beating Real Madrid. Never heard them for a couple of days after Everton beat Chelsea, because even though they're going for everything, they are absolutely desperate for us to go down, but now it'll be all about themselves again, so let's hope Man City, Chelsea and Real Madrid, have other ideas.

That was a great game, I enjoyed it as much as last week (probably more) until Real Madrid, went very cynical once they got the lead, but Man City did something that was unforgivable, because you can't relax until the final whistle has gone sometimes, and maybe their manager was to blame?

Neil "a dinosaur, he’s finished".

Just what some were saying a year or so ago, Neil! The fat lad is still singing.

Top 10 Champions League bookies favourites prior to the start of the tournament:

PSG
Manchester City
Bayern Munich
Chelsea
Liverpool
Manchester United
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Juventus
Atlético Madrid

Brent, he certainly is - loud crystal clear!

As long as the Red Shite are doing well there is nothing better than seeing Real Madrid constantly get the better of them. They wanted City not Real. The shite shall receive the brown plate special for their exceptional year. After winning the final I'd like to see Carlo give the Plopp a slap on the back, with a heavy rock!

I don't think any team can feel confident against Real Madrid, Who did they beat to reach the final? PSG, Chelsea and now Man City – 3 tough teams.

Pep's substitutions were about bringing on fresh legs and trying to see out the game but Carlo's substitutions changed their formation with more attacking players so Real Madrid were set up better to get the winner in extra time. Pep was out-foxed by Carlo.

Rangers looking strong in the Europa.
Have a 2-1 lead into the 2nd half.

Just watching Leicester v Roma. Very poor compared to CL. Roma winning 1-0.

Rangers through to the Europa final, fair play to them. I only watched a bit of it, and they look like pretty average team but had loads of spirit. Played a bit like we did against Chelsea.

Shows you don't have to be amazing to reach a cup final.

Spirit indeed Michael. It kept them going when Liepzig were playing the much better football, and it can never be underestimated how important it is when a team play with loads of spirit, especially when they are backed by a very passionate crowd.

On this basis Everton are already halfway there, and not many clubs can genuinely say that in this country, even if we do seem to be miles away right now!

West Ham out, so will our kick time against Brentford revert back to the original time of 2pm?

Nice to see John Lundstram doing well.

I watched him for the U18s away at QPR years ago and was impressed. A good footballer who was comfortable with the football.

Good to see he's made a career in the professional game and now has a European final to look forward to.