When you're down at the bottom, you just don't get the breaks

Abdoulaye Doucouré is fit and starts in a 3-man midfield
Frank Lampard's inconsistent side take on Premier League leaders Manchester City in the evening televised game at Goodison Park.
After the games last night and this afternoon, Everton's position in the table has further deteriorated, with Newcastle going above them as they secured another win, this time at struggling Brentford. Burnley and Watford both drew away from home.
Richarlison and Gordon start with Dele Alli and Demarai Gray on the bench. No Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Central midfield is bolstered by Abdoulaye Doucouré, with the Frenchman thrown straight back into the starting XI after recovering from an injury problem that has kept him sidelined for the last 5 weeks.
Alex Iwobi and Jonjoe Kenny are also retained despite poor performances last weekend, with Vitaliy Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson on the bench.
Both teams entered the field showing unanimous support for Ukraine under Russian aggression, with "He ain't heavy, he's my brother" playing in place of the Premier League anthem.
Manchester City kicked off and looked to deny possession to a Toffees side that did not offer much of a high press. Gordon was in too hard on Foden to give up a dangerous free-kick that De Bryune curled in but the City attackers committed a foul,
Everton were sloppy with possession on the rare moments early on when they had it, Sterling almost setting up a City strike on goal before Gordon was fouled, then Richarlison. From that free-kick, Coleman won a corner. Gordon's corner was cleared but Van de Beek put a great cross back in that Stones beat Richarlison to.
At the other end, Holgate did well to stifle Gundogan but Van de Beek then gave it away needlessly. City wanted the Everton press to find spaces but it wasn't happening as Stones gave up a throw-in. But a good spell from Everton got them to finally close down and put in challenges in the final third, although with no end product.
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Gordon made a superb run down the left and cross that Ederson almost spilt. City tried to force Everton to break shape but they were holding well in defence, if failing to make much use of a ball that was rarely theirs in possession.
Foden did well to eat Kenny and win a corner that City played short. But Doucouré's challenge on Laorte was considered to be too robust. Another dangerous free-kick was swung in by Foden and a deflection caught Diaz by surprise.
After more great play from Gordon, Doucouré and Iwobi tried to play through a packed Dee and failed, Richarlison losing possession to allow another City attack. But Richarlison was then fouled by Laporte. Gordon's delivery wasn't quite deep enough and it all broke down, needing a fine tackle by Kenny to stop a City break.
A smart throw by Pickford was perfect for Van de Beek to play forward into Gordon's path but he overhit it way too hard and a great opportunity to build again, just evaporated. A deep crossfield ball to Gordon was then also overhit.
More great work by Gordon won the ball back but Doucour and Iwobi wasted the chance. Allan went down inside the area, too easily said the referee, causing Van de Beek to get frustrated and get himself booked.
De Bryune saw a sight of goal but his ground shot was saved by Pickford. Allan did brilliantly to win the ball and play in Jonjoe Kenny who had to shoot with his left foot and could only hit the side netting.
Foden danced into the packed Everton defence and won a corner that Laporte headed over. Richarlison did the same thing at the other end before he was then gifted an incredible chance that he lashed straight at Ederson.
Everton looked to break but Iwobi had gone way too early. Richarlison then did well to draw a foul that allowed Everton to build an attack. Iwobi tried a smart ball to pay in Gordon but Stones stretched to intercept. City broke at pace but Van de Beek worked tremendously hard to win the ball back and then broke down another City surge.
Gordon went on another great run down the left but with absolutely no support! The ball was easily recovered by City and another attack built but Silva's shot at Pickford was weak. Better forward play edged closer to the City area, Richarlison getting a really soft call in a very dangerous spot but the refereed instead forcing Everton back 5 yards.
Gordon went for the top corner with his free-kick but it was always going over. However, it underlined the excellent fist Everton had made of the half, going toe-to-toe with City pretty much all over the field.
The second half started in similar fashion, Coleman playing an excellent ball to Doucouré, but he couldn't hold it up. This allowed City to push forward until they were caught offside.
Allan did well to win back the ball in midfield but Richarlison broke to early to receive it and was flagged offside after he shot at Ederson. Iwobi beat Cancealo down the right and won a corner. Gordon played it short and it lled to a City break that Van de Beek was again back to cover superbly.
Doucoure and Richarlison tried to break down the left but Iwobi lost possession. Everton were really competing well in midfield and preventing City from getting much penetration into the Everton area. But City were pushing them harder in what was a pretty competitive game.
City worked hard to finally create a chance for Foden that Pickford saved well. Allan hassled the linesman and won himself a stupid yellow card after fouling Bernado Silva. The wicked free-kick in by Foden was repelled by Richarlison.
Much more of the play was now around Everton's area but Richarlison did well to thwart Stones, while Gray and Towbnsed warmed up off the Everton bench. But each City attack was looking more and more ominous, Everton penned in their own half.
A clearance to Stones was returned with interest, Pickford pushing it over the bar. 65 minutes gone and Lampard was again late with his subs as Everton had been flagging a little under the pressure for 10-15 minutes. But Everton were defending effectively without getting far into City's half. They really needed something more before Pickford had to pull off a tremendous double save, the first a low shot from De Bryune, the second a vicious follow-up from Bernardo Silva.
De Bryune danced around the Everton defence and chipped a cross in for Foden to head onto the roof of the Everton net as City got closer and closer. Van de Beek went down, forcing Lampard to bring on Dele Alli.
But the pattern of the game remained unchanged, City pushing Everton back into their own half, looking more and more seriously for the breakthrough. But Everton finally fashioned a break, Doucoure to Gordon who Stones forces behind.
It was becoming increasingly desperate as Gray came on for Gordon. Rodri's shot was blocked, De Bryune was stalled. Everton stemmed the one-way traffic for a brief respite with 10 minutes left.
A wicked ball in was cleared by Keane before a horrible cross was deflected behind the off-balance Keane and Foden nipped in to score.
Richarlison got behind the City defence and was blocked up by Ederson. As it fell and bounced, it seems to strike Ridri's arm in the City area, leading to a long VAR review that concluded it was NOT handball. But it sure looked like it was. Everton robbed yet again.
Gray came on and, after some silliness with Foden and Coleman, he won a corner but Everton could do nothing with it. With 5 added minutes, Everton tried to force some sort of a reply. Stones spent most of it getting his dislocated finger fixed. Then Dele Alli's only contribution since coming on was to tumble into Ederson, seemingly breaking his back.
But it was all too little too late after they had allowed City to dominate the second half and win the game with one jammy goal.
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT, Saturday 26 February 2022
Everton: Pickford, Coleman (c), Holgate, Keane, Kenny, Allan [Y:57'], Doucoure, Van de Beek [Y:27'] (71' Dele Alli), Gordon (77' Gray), Iwobi (88' El Ghazi), Richarlison.
Subs not Used: Begovic, Patterson, Townsend, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Rondon.
Manchester City Ederson [Y:87'], Joao Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Laporte, De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan (77' Mahrez), Bernardo Silva, Foden [Y:89'], Sterling (77' Gabriel Jesus).
Subs not Used: Walker, Ake, Grealish, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Carson, Slicker.
Referee: Paul Tierney
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Reader Comments (273)
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2 Posted 26/02/2022 at 16:44:15
3 Posted 26/02/2022 at 16:46:43
4 Posted 26/02/2022 at 16:48:04
Tough one but probably the best line-up we got.
COYB!!
5 Posted 26/02/2022 at 16:48:12
6 Posted 26/02/2022 at 16:52:33
7 Posted 26/02/2022 at 17:05:22
I reckon Norwich and Watford will go down, I have not been looking at the other teams below us, Leeds or Brentford are the ones to keep an eye on.
Need to try and grind a result out today, even a point, easier said than done, but possible.
8 Posted 26/02/2022 at 17:13:42
[BRZ]
9 Posted 26/02/2022 at 17:21:44
I always prefer points on the table rather than games in hand, but the likes of Brentford and Leeds are currently in freefall and remain in striking distance of one single win.
If that could come today, that would be a huge fillup.
Eager to see how a trio of Allan, Doucouré and Van de Beek work together.
10 Posted 26/02/2022 at 17:24:41
11 Posted 26/02/2022 at 17:26:53
12 Posted 26/02/2022 at 17:30:42
13 Posted 26/02/2022 at 17:30:47
[BRZ]
14 Posted 26/02/2022 at 17:33:46
What a mad world.
Let's forget that and have a good game to enjoy.
15 Posted 26/02/2022 at 18:23:46
No mean feat to get this team to seemingly buy into that plan.
With City's quality you'd still make them favourites, but the fact that we have a plan gives us a chance.
Keep thinking the approach feels a bit Mourinho-ish? Early on at Chelsea he used to love finding a way in the big games.
16 Posted 26/02/2022 at 18:24:06
More of the same please.
[BRZ]
17 Posted 26/02/2022 at 18:25:35
No KITAP1. No fear. No inferiority complex. We have been the better team.
City turning back time and again. Only 1-2 they have found dangerous positions between the lines. Foden's brilliant take down to get beyond Kenny the only time they've really got in behind us. Corners well defended.
Holgate looking solid with good distribution. Allan having a stormer. Doucoure looks good in this set up. Richy mostly holding up the ball well. Give Gordon the room and the right ball and he will burn off his full-back.
Given the opposition and who they have on the pitch, never mind who they can call on from the bench, we've kept them very quiet.
Can we go again for another 45 minutes?
Delighted with the performance. Hopeful of the result.
18 Posted 26/02/2022 at 18:27:04
And would somebody ask this inconsistent Ref why he has given a yellow card albeit he seems better than those we usually get.
19 Posted 26/02/2022 at 18:45:59
20 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:10:22
21 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:10:49
22 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:11:45
Needs replaced.
23 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:15:33
24 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:22:42
25 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:24:57
Frank did what he could ditching Gbamin and dropping Gomes but still too many weaklings in this squad.
26 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:28:08
27 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:28:56
They could only have decided it was on the sleeve line. It's a shocking decision. That's a handball under every possible variation of the rule that there has ever been. Ever.
28 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:29:37
29 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:29:47
On to Spurs away. You never know!
[BRZ]
31 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:30:22
City clearly the better team in the 2nd half. Won it with a fortunate goal, not from craft.
Disappointing result, but an encouraging performance going forward.
Play to the level of the 3 home games under Lampard and we will be fine.
32 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:31:22
34 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:33:05
And he should have given it. About 38 thousand people saw it. How didn't he?
35 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:34:19
To paraphrase what they say, "Where there's brass, there's muck; and the more brass, the more muck!" Says it all about the Premier League and VAR.
36 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:36:43
An offside given before the penalty. Man City could not believe their luck. Took the goalkeeper forever to find the spot for the freekick. Ref wasn't giving the offside, VAR decided he had to. Something wrong there.
37 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:38:24
If an Everton player did the same thing, it would be a penalty, it's just another way the league makes sure the strongest teams stay up the top.
38 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:40:50
Everton must now complain long and loud to all and sundry about this rather than their usual fear of doing or saying anything to rock a corrupt and inefficient system. It has to stop NOW!
39 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:44:27
40 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:45:42
Today was cruel. We played well.
41 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:46:58
Info picked from another site. Still a blatant penality though.
42 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:48:01
The offside was in the ensuing play, which is why the game was stopped and Ederson was sent over to our left wing to take the free kick after the review.
We watched VAR. They didn't check offside, they checked where it hit the arm.
Don't let them off the hook. It would be rewriting what they just did to us.
43 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:49:32
Premier league has tried to clarify the position being about the handball with no reference to offside.
Premier League clarify that the VAR team didn't think there was conclusive evidence that the ball hit Rodri more in the red area of the arm than the green. Nothing to do with offside pic.twitter.com/h6QhS6SEaW
— Simon Bajkowski (@spbajko) February 26, 2022
44 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:50:19
I know you are right. Wrong info from another site.
45 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:50:49
46 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:51:10
I'm not picking a fight and thought we got fucked, but that's not what they are reporting over here.
They went back to Richarlison's run just prior to the handball, and judged him offside. Ergo, the play, is null after that as it was seconds later and well within the build-up period.
That's the report. I don't like it, but that's what they're saying and it does make some degree of sense.
From my view, Richarlison – if he was offside??? – was barely offside and it didn't warrant the play coming back. In fact, the left-back for City I thought played him onside.
47 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:52:57
We lay down too often and I think we should bitch to the high heavens and make our case continually.
48 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:54:22
It seems that they didn't judge whether it was handball or not. They judged whether the ref had made a clear and obvious error.
If he gives the penalty, they would have confirmed it. Because he didn't, they stuck with him.
And yet you have a ref who must have seen it as everyone else did. And presumably let it go to VAR – he indicated as much on the pitch as we surrounded him before the game had even stopped.
Again, I suspect we're going to be narrowly on the wrong side of a dividing line in history. They'll review what happened there and conclude that it should have been a penalty and make adjustments.
49 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:55:45
50 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:56:47
51 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:56:47
We watch what VAR watch. They didn't review the run from Richarlison.
52 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:56:54
City I think put the pressure on us after the hour or so... but no disgrace: we fought well, played well. If we play like that against the teams round about us, then we should be able to get the points we need to get out of trouble.
I thought Allan and Van de Beek and Doucouré were excellent and Pickford was superb. All the team played with spirit and for long periods, stopped City in their tracks.
What really pisses me off totally is the arrogant bastards we have for referees. This feller took the biscuit for sheer pomposity, poor decisions and plain corruption, or incompetence... maybe both!
53 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:56:58
It is that mans profession, his specialist job to get those decisions right. This one was an easy decision, no debate in the studio or from anyone that it was clearly handball.
Investigation needed.
54 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:57:18
55 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:58:46
On the penalty, if his arm isn't out, he cannot control the ball like he does so should be given. If an attacker did that just before putting the ball in the net, you'd expect it to be chalked off.
The manager now has to channel that feeling of injustice and add the real positives demonstrated in the overall performance. If he can, and injuries don't derail us, then consistent application should get us enough points to survive.
56 Posted 26/02/2022 at 19:59:20
The ref was more confused than Keane. He wasn't going to give the penalty, then under protest went to VAR, who came up with an offside. Then the Ref gave the offside freekick from the wrong place. It was a definite penalty and VAR and the Ref went to lengths to not give it.
Completely fed up. I need a drink.
57 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:00:43
Ernie – I'm telling you what NBC said the reasoning was for the VAR decision, and they said that explanation came from the Premier League. To be clear, I think we got fucked.
58 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:01:33
59 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:02:40
60 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:03:29
I don't think it works that way if you are offside when the ball is played. Personally, from what they showed on Sky after looking at the penalty shout, I thought he was onside.
61 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:03:43
Whether Richarlison was offside in the build-up to the handball was not investigated as we on TV see what angles they used to make a decision. At no point do they use an offside to make the decision.
62 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:05:23
63 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:07:20
64 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:08:58
Of course, the ball can be seen to hit noticeably lower than where they say the line is, but that's corruption for you.
65 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:11:34
We were robbed.
66 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:11:41
Second half, you could see them tiring and we were dropping deeper and deeper and starting to get happy to just clear the ball at every chance. As opposed to the first half when we were brave in getting on the ball when we could.
I was calling for subs – I think the delay in changes was the one bit Frank got wrong but I could also understand his nervousness in changing players who were being very accountable defensively, for players who might not have the same level of accountability.
Goal is a monumental fook up. Yes, he's wrong-footed by the deflection but surely you adapt better than that terrible effort?
Disappointing end but positives at least.
And then there was VAR which has contrived to make a decision no-one agrees with. There aren't many opportunities in a game to get it so wrong that everyone knows it. That's an impressive level of cock up.
67 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:12:25
Today's match is a training video for how a referee can influence the outcome of a well-contested game by shading decisions on fouls, contact and whether to show a yellow card or not.
Disgusted by the shameless manipulation of the Premier League, heartened by a decent show from the players and positive coaching.
68 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:12:30
I felt sorry for Keane because up to then he'd been strong in defence. I thought Richarlison was excellent, he held the ball up and covered acres.
After such a performance, albeit a defeat, you have to shake your head and wonder how we could have been so bad earlier in the season with practically the same set of players. It goes to show you the influence of good coachers, not necessarily from a tactical point of view, but more the ability to motivate and inspire.
69 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:12:49
70 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:14:56
Not looking for what happened - looking to find what you want to have happened.
71 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:16:23
Two shots on target says it all. Should have started with Gray and Dele Alli. We need to start with 11 and leave Iwobi out. Lampard will take us down if he doesn't put attacking players first.
Leeds may save us as they look spent.
72 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:16:36
73 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:16:48
74 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:17:52
The point of VAR is to help the on-pitch referee. He should be telling them he couldn't see enough to make any decision, not guessing and challenging them to find a clear and obvious reason to overturn his decision. This is the reason why the conversation between the officials should be broadcast, as it is in other sports.
75 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:21:27
Pat #21
Dele Alli and Gray should have been on earlier in the second half. Surrendering the midfield like that to Man City was asking for trouble. Tottenham didn't and made them pay for their high defensive line.
Everton had the players but Frank delayed putting them on. Everyone knew what was going to happen at the beginning of the second half.
76 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:23:53
3 in midfield gives us a far better balance. Allan is twice the player in a midfield 3, Van de Beek has got an engine to rival Doucouré.
How have we dismissed Kenny for so long? Even Keane and Holgate did well for all the game except the goal. Unfortunately, Keane must be in double figures this season for mistakes leading to goals. Some of the comments of Holgate getting 0/10 are based on bias and not the actual game.
We invited pressure in the second half and the wingers didn't offer as much of an outlet as the first half. Overall though, apart from Pickford's double save, there wasn't that much from City.
Despite the loss, I'm confident we won't go down.
77 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:25:49
We gave our all today; we can't ask anymore than that.
78 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:26:47
Supporters at the game and more especially those watching from the comfort of their armchair now follow the usual hyper critical so-called “analysis” of the professional TV pundits who are plundering a luxurious living from the TV companies.
We hone in on certain players, replay every moment that suits our cause, highlighting what he should or should be not done etc – in this case, Michael Keane, conveniently abandoning all rational appreciation of the fact that the game is played by human beings. They are not robots.
As such, in a highly physical ball game played at some speed, they are susceptible to the vagaries of a ball striking a body part, ricocheting somewhere you would not want it to go, and, lo and behold, falling to an opponent who taps it in.
Michael Keane was instrumental in keeping immensely talented footballers at arm's length for almost the entire game, but to criticise him and highlight his being off-balance for a split second as “his mistake” causing the goal is beyond credibility.
Of course we are all entitled to express opinions about what we see at a football match but at least let it be a rational criticism and not let disappointment etc cloud that judgment to such an extent that players can at times be victimised or in some cases vilified.
79 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:27:45
We were the better team in the first half. They turned up the pressure in the second and you're only as strong as your weakest link.
Still, we showed a lot of fight. We just need that same commitment away. Encouraged by that performance, although we really need to start creating more. Hopefully having Gray back will help.
Leeds and Brentford are rapidly being sucked into the bottom 3. No need to panic yet…
80 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:29:53
Good spirit shown but that doesn't stop you getting relegated. We need points and not sob stories. One surprising thing from the match was the response for the possible penalty with about three Everton players surrounding the referee, we need much more of that.
Unlucky blues but every game now has to be that intensity, even then I don't think it will be enough.
81 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:32:20
Today, his and our team did us all proud and we clearly should have had a penalty. But there is much to admire, and surely things can only get better.
Not happy but much much better than I expected. Will buy my season ticket for next season next week and I look forward to more committed displays like today.
82 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:33:28
83 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:39:37
VAR reviewed a handball decision and incredibly didn't give it. We all know that if we were a goal up and City had the same claim, it would have been awarded.
Can we please stop debating the offside though because it wasn't a factor.
84 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:43:57
No complaints about any player today. We can definitely debate when Gray and Dele should have been introduced as we were getting penned in, but I don't think it was the most impactful event that lead to the outcome of the game.
If it was me, then I may have introduced Gray for Iwobi earlier and moved Gordon to the right. But that's just my opinion for the spirit of debate and I doubt I could have managed a better game than Frank today! :)
85 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:47:20
87 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:47:45
We had one player off balance trying to clear a ball awkwardly that went to a City player to score, and then we have someone who was not even at the ground make a dubious decision that denied Everton an opportunity for a point.
Hats off to Lampard and his coaches for the preparation of this game against one of Europe's top teams, that usually and all the hangers on, want them to do, and that is score for fun.
Congratulations to all the players for their desire and effort to show that they are a team who will work for each other. Let's take this to another level when we play away from home.
Even though some results never went our way, this display if kept up, should ease our relegation worries.
88 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:51:55
I feel very proud to have Frank associated with our club. His words were pure class considering he must have been raging.
89 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:54:50
90 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:55:43
The two players I thought were in the running for MotM were involved with the tight margins that change results: Richarlison worked his plums off tirelessly throughout the game but missed a good chance in the first half.
Then Michael Keane, not my favourite player, was having a very good game, even adding some aggression to his game before the ball seemed to spin away from him and he was unbalanced and City scored the goal we denied them for most of the second half.
Tiredness made us retreat backwards giving ground to City who got two lucky breaks with the goal and the very obvious penalty not being awarded, not our day.
Other teams are getting the points to escape the drop, some are still losing to give us hope but, unless we start getting some points, and decisions, it is getting more worrying with every week, especially if luck continues to look the other way where we are concerned.
91 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:56:13
With 4 gifted players competing for 3 starting places in both attack and midfield, there should be healthy competition with the ability to make adjustments during the game.
Play to the strengths of that midfield and attack and we will not end up being sucked down. Pull together and the team has the ability to do more than enough to stay up.
92 Posted 26/02/2022 at 20:57:08
The City goalkeeper gets booked for kicking the ball away time-wasting, then he immediately does exactly the same thing following the card and nothing happens. This excuse of a referee needs investigating.
93 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:00:46
I didn't think we would get anything today, but how the fuck that stonewall handball wasn't given is just sickening, so disappointing.
Here's what I think: Spurs will beat us and the next three after that will determine if are good enough to stay up. Wolves and Newcastle at our place are absolute must-win games, Watford away, we must not get beaten. If that doesn't happen I fear the worst.
Just hearing the Leeds genius has left his post!
94 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:01:39
Richarlison, brilliant centre-forward play, he will always have more than 7 touches in a game, love him.
Townsend should have started or come on for Iwobi, who tries without success. He'll never be a winger while he has got a hole in his arse.
95 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:10:28
I can't remember anyone else being booked for just a few words to a linesman, as most players argue with the referee and linesmen every game without being booked, unless it is consistent.
Was it worse than what I thought?
96 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:12:02
From the Keane "penalty" at Brighton, Gylfi sat down "offside" against Man Utd, the 2 penalties not given vs Spurs (this season, and Dele's handball a couple of seasons ago) and City's today, the list goes on and on.
All of the above Checked by VAR and all going against us, despite evidence and discussion to the contrary. We need to start rocking the boat, otherwise it'll be relegation if we're not careful.
Sick of the nicey nicey People's Club bollocks. Time to go all "Alex Ferguson" on the refs and FA until we start to get things going our way!
97 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:17:25
That a penalty wasn't awarded is an absolute travesty of justice. Fucking stinks!
98 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:19:39
That a penalty wasnt awarded is an absolute travesty of justice.
Fucking stinks!
99 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:22:02
100 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:23:34
101 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:24:38
We deserved something out of that game.
102 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:27:16
Speaks volumes that within weeks a young determined manager with his own choice of coaches can visibly transpose such qualities and fitness into a squad. Let's hope it continues.
There's been referee bias to Sky-babe teams ever since they bought in, but today's VAR decision was seriously worse than erroneous.
And I thought our Michael had a good game notwithstanding his momentary imbalance that presented the very nimble and skilful Foden with his chance. It's what I call bad luck, not bad play.
103 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:27:31
Midfield looked far better with Donny and Doucoure doing well and Allan had a tremendous game. Iwobi also played very well and what a great double save from Pickford!
I know Keane and Holgate are error-prone but I'd put their goal to bad luck with the deflection wrong-footing Keane – no-one's fault.
It was a shame Dele couldn't get into the game as we need to see if he still has something to offer or not.
Huge shame we didn't get a point but, if Frank can get us to play like this both home and away, we should stay up – is that a big “if”?
104 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:30:09
What does "stand up to these decisions" actually mean?
Once the onfield ref and the VAR team have made their decision, that is unfortunately it. We can't change it even when, as today it was manifestly wrong.
Today, we nearly got a draw, perhaps that would have been unfair on City who bossed the game, but Keane's stuck in treacle moment and the VAR fiasco made me feel we were unlucky.
We showed spirit and fight, we need to show this spirit and fight away from Goodison against lesser opposition and grind out some draws on opposition territory.
The result wasn't fair to our effort, but was probably a fair reflection of the game's balance.
105 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:53:47
I thought we tired because we had tried to compete with City. I also think we have now got a manager, who his going to try his very best to change the players' mindsets.
Lampard definitely fills me with a lot of confidence, and I think our players will definitely benefit from him, given time. This is how I felt about Michael Keane today, despite his mistake, and just hope the players take a lot of confidence out of today's game.
106 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:56:06
107 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:56:11
Michael Keane was very unlucky, wrong-footed by the bounce. Still some here can't wait to have a go. He did well overall.
Some VAR officials are either incompetent or corrupt. Either way, it needs to be sorted out. We need to highlight this, not too obviously though.
Be nice to hear Lampard or any manager or pundit say occasionally "No I don't think the VAR official cheated or is useless, I think they just made a mistake."
He's not saying it but he is saying it.
108 Posted 26/02/2022 at 21:58:02
Nowt will get said, it will get buried underneath "Abramovich this, Abramovich that." Cheating fucking VAR disgraceful decision. I'm seething.
109 Posted 26/02/2022 at 22:05:15
Anyone who doesn't think there is corruption amongst these so called professional referees must at least be disturbed by their standard of officiating?
This is how I understood Lampard's take on today, and he didn't hold back on naming who he thought was responsible for making such a horrible decision either.
110 Posted 26/02/2022 at 22:24:07
We need a bit of luck. A suprise result in the last two would have been a big step toward safety. There's still hope, but with each week it's fading.
111 Posted 26/02/2022 at 22:29:53
At least today we showed fight and a desire to play. Corrupt refs aside, that was a point today against one of top 3 teams in the world.
112 Posted 26/02/2022 at 22:35:38
Otherwise, it's a loss, obviously, but not not like Leeds shipping tonnes of goals or Brentford who have hopefully run out of steam. Nature of defeat means the players won't be on a down going into the next match.
113 Posted 26/02/2022 at 22:37:02
It was inevitable that we would tire, City pass their opponents to exhaustion. Tired bodies make crucial mistakes, unfortunately for Michael Keane who played well.
I dont like to harp on about referees, but the performance by Tierney had me suspicious long before the non-penalty. City got every 50:50 decision, and the decisions to award yellow cards were totally inconsistent. His display spoke more of corruption than incompetence.
114 Posted 26/02/2022 at 22:39:21
Obviously it'll not overturn the event but it might prevent another one happening so easily. You never know, we might actually get a penalty...
115 Posted 26/02/2022 at 22:43:59
116 Posted 26/02/2022 at 22:53:30
We did it years ago under Moyes over the supposed diving of Andy Johnson and it actually did appear to make a change. It costs us nothing so its worth doing it, whats the worst that can happen? Get our media team to put a video of all controversial decisions since VAR was introduced.
117 Posted 26/02/2022 at 22:54:42
I just hope this mistake doesn't knock Michael Keane's confidence, because although Man City played without a centre-forward, I thought his starting position was as good as I've ever seen it, and this will always be the most important position on the football pitch imo!
118 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:01:14
Just seen it on Match of the Day. The pundits can't believe a penalty wasn't given, and neither can I. It stinks.
119 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:03:09
120 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:12:43
We matched them virtually the whole game. I thought the Ref, who seemed to be okay to start off, letting the game flow, got worse and worse and some of the decisions all in City's favour, were at best poor!
The penalty claim, which was witnessed by thousands and even VAR felt something was amiss. The ref never even went to the screen, but gave an offside... What?
121 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:19:14
We are in a fight, but let's do exactly that. They play like they did today and we'll win more than we lose.
122 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:20:59
Good atmosphere today and the midfield l thought excellent along with Pickford, Richarlison and Gordon. We all know our weaknesses. Looking forward now to seeing Patterson and Mykolenko on Thursday.
123 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:23:05
Everton Football Club were the biggest voice when it come to corruption that was the breakaway European Super League, and by god they're paying the price. The people in charge of this game have to be suspended.
124 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:23:14
125 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:25:12
The earlier results were bad enough. Then the VAR decision after a much better display from us than expected.
What are these officials looking at? Any of the top 3-4 would have been given a penalty.
It's just happened in the boxing as well with Catterall seemingly getting robbed of the decision v Taylor.
I am beginning to hate weekends.
126 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:29:33
This result in my view is a positive in view of the way Everton battled and didn't lie down and die for City.
City and Pep, know they were lucky.
If the first half chances were taken, I reckon today, bearing Everton kept the same approach for 96 minutes, Everton would have won.
The lasting for me is the City goal. I've spent many hours as many do on TW, but the goal today, told a story.
Same old, and so next season, Everton must start with at least one new good centre-back, from within the club, or bought, to support Mina or Branthwaite.
10 tonne weights and 60-second response players can't be carried for eternity for any team in football, at any level.
127 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:31:57
128 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:32:04
Over to Kavanagh, another shitty arse who is swayed by the “stars” on the pitch. He is an A1 coward for not giving that penalty, he's got Pep on his mind. He's thinking,
"I live in Manchester, what should I do?"
The sweat is flowing off his forehead, "Err... I'll go with Paul on the pitch, his call, not mine."
Kavanagh and Tierney should be banished to a Sunday league for the rest of their careers after those performances tonight.
129 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:33:37
In all fairness, Keane was okay today, as were most of them, even Iwobi.
Holgate always gets me biting the guy in front's seat back, he is so casual, he is a bit of a liability. I wouldn't mind if he had anything to back it up, but not for me I'm afraid.
130 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:51:00
If we continue to play like that we'll be okay imo.
131 Posted 26/02/2022 at 23:55:46
In fact, City took the piss out of him all afternoon, just as soon as they realised he would book Everton players simply for tackling hard. In added time, they were just laughing at him as they rolled around wasting time.
One of them wasn't even on the pitch while he got treatment and Tierney stopped the game. He even booked Alli while Ederson faked injury in the last minute.
And don't be fooled by Guardiola, the master of cheating, although his one-time apprentice, Arteta, is rapidly catching up.
132 Posted 27/02/2022 at 00:24:25
He'd be banned from going anywhere near them for months and then would be terrified of giving anything against them for the foreseeable. Why are we so fucking compliant and nice? We continually get shafted with barely a whimper.
133 Posted 27/02/2022 at 00:34:38
Then when the decision comes through it says "no penalty", no mention of "no penalty, offside".
Only one who mentioned offside was Pep after the game.
Well and truly shafted yet again.
Have a feeling Boreham Wood will be on the receiving end of this.
134 Posted 27/02/2022 at 00:50:20
'Just made a mad dash from Goodison. All I can say is that I was lost for words... which is not a good place for a commentator to be. So sorry for Everton, who were terrific. Best Goodison atmosphere for ages... and they deserved bettter.'
Well, indeed. People at his level recognising that there's something not right here. It's an outrage.
135 Posted 27/02/2022 at 00:56:54
Everton should pursue this matter and make some noises about it because that was corruption at its worst. Too many L's appearing on our form table and we need a positive putting in there. Spurs are a good team and Kane is fantastic but we just need to get something from that game.
Can't fault them yesterday though, as they played their hearts out.
136 Posted 27/02/2022 at 01:23:50
The NBC game commentators, who had been outraged at the no-call and were mystified by the delay, got the word right after the final whistle, as both benches did. The commentators were sheepish and apologetic. And the reporter interviewing Pep after the game still hadn't been told it was offside. He found out from Pep and was shocked.
The communication after the play was as poor as the ref's work on the day, but the fact is that Richarlison was a half-step offside and VAR got it right.
137 Posted 27/02/2022 at 01:45:12
I wasn't at the game today but watched it in a post-rugby shit pub with no sound on the commentary etc. What I don't understand about this 'offside' scenario is that there were no TV replays of the alleged lead-up to the incident. Zero.
I find this rather odd. In fact, I'd go further and say I've never seen anything like this where – if, as you say, the player was offside – it wasn't then shown on a TV replay so that everyone was clear about the rationale of the decision.
Here in the UK on our er... longstanding flagship programme, Match of the Day, there was absolutely no mention of anything about offside. If it was – as you suggest – such a clear and obvious thing, I'm a bit surprised Lampard would come out punching in the way he did.
138 Posted 27/02/2022 at 01:47:56
Be that as it may be, the Premier League official statement said it wasn't given as missing the handball wasn't a “clear and obvious” error.
Nothing about the offside – that was their official explanation. So why does that contradict what the ref was allegedly told?
139 Posted 27/02/2022 at 01:53:07
ps: According to BBC MotD the penalty claim was overturned due to insufficient proof. No mention of offside.
140 Posted 27/02/2022 at 01:57:50
No offside shown or given in the play up to or right after the handball. VAR statement with explanation after the game that the penalty was not given due to the incident being judged as not being handball, including why it was considered so. No mention of offside.
I wonder how the VAR official could relay the offside point to the ref, then straight after the game, "forget" the offside element and state that the decision was due to consideration of the technicalities of the handball???
As to the benches being told – Lampard was interviewed after the game and made no mention of offside.
I can't find any VAR shots/stills of an offside. I'd like to see some, with the lines officially imposed by the VAR team, if you have a link? All replays I've watched do not show Richarlison being "clearly" offside.
141 Posted 27/02/2022 at 03:01:06
1) The Richarlison offside was not looked at by VAR (and from what I've seen, he wasn't anyway).
2) The decision was shown as "Decision No Penalty. No handball by Rodrigo". If the decision was offside, it would have said that.
3) Play was halted when an Everton player was offside in the ensuing action after the handball. Play was restarted in that position and the ref was gesturing Ederson over to that side of the pitch.
4) The referee confirmed that it was purely a decision on the handball.
5) The Premier League have since confirmed that the decision was based on the handball call and not an offside.
Why does it bother me that people are peddling this? Because it rewrites history. There was something between incompetence, corruption and a complete process failure tonight and we copped it. Don't let them off the hook.
142 Posted 27/02/2022 at 03:17:53
As Ernie says, potential offside for Richarlison was not even considered by VAR. I also don't think that Richarlison was offside.
Look, if Everton turn up with that attitude and effort all season, we will have no problem. Problem is, we don't know which team will turn up away from home.
143 Posted 27/02/2022 at 03:19:02
NBC had a shot that did look like Richarlison was offside but where they erred is they assumed this was the reason for no penalty and presented it as fact when the Premier League have since confirmed it was based purely on match-fixing and not offside-related.
144 Posted 27/02/2022 at 03:34:56
That is eight goals that we have conceded this season that were directly a result of his errors. The sooner we get Ben Godfrey back the better.
The VAR decision appears to me to be corrupt.
145 Posted 27/02/2022 at 04:45:17
Have to agree. Holgate mindlessly let it deflect off him, Keane reacted like a geriatric. Doesn't matter what they did right, the Chuckle Brothers cost us the game
146 Posted 27/02/2022 at 05:43:36
Not the best centre-back pairing by any stretch of the imagination, but I am struggling to think who else we could have had with the injury situation as it is.
Mina brings that touch of class and assuredness, but he is more injured than available, Godfrey should be back soon, Branthwaite can stake a decent claim but needs experience, but will Frankie Goes to Hollywood drop both Stan and Ollie Chuckles?
147 Posted 27/02/2022 at 05:52:18
Honestly mate, I'd put Tosun and Rondon back there. At least when they screw up we can say “they're not centre-backs” whereas, with the Chuckle Brothers, we say “they're centre-backs but we have to accept they'll give away one or more goals per game”.
148 Posted 27/02/2022 at 06:01:25
150 Posted 27/02/2022 at 06:16:48
151 Posted 27/02/2022 at 06:42:12
And I thought the rule had been changed or reinterpreted so that you are only offside if you actually touch the ball or interfere with play – and haven't we all been there to be over-ruled on the argument that being offside is interfering?
If nothing else, all the Officials concerned should now be demoted to either the lowest levels of League football, non-League, or just dismissed for, at best, incompetence. But whatever, there needs to be a wholesale inquiry into the appalling standard of refereeing in England.
Perhaps a start maybe four linesmen or assistant persons who are consulted before VAR and, if true, are from somewhere not geographically close to either team's base.
152 Posted 27/02/2022 at 07:03:27
Does it even itself out over a season? Behave yourself.
153 Posted 27/02/2022 at 07:05:35
I, myself am originally from Dundee, although I have lived down here for donkey's ages, but have supported Everton since the days of my boyhood hero, Alex Young. Having said that, I am not a referee or ever have been, but something needs to be done across the board about the poor (corrupt) standard of refereeing.
Furthermore, it seems to be worse in the Premier League, where they have the 'dubious benefit of VAR' too. Where surely decisions are more important with so much at stake for the lower clubs who could get relegated via improper decisions, wrongly sending them through the trapdoor.
Let's hope we are not one of them!
154 Posted 27/02/2022 at 07:14:53
I thought all officials were asked if they had a preference, association, or supported any team – which then basically ruled them out of those teams' games. Hence questioning why Mike Deane gets games for a team where his sons(?) are season ticket holders.
Geography would just be a double indemnity given honesty seems an almost rare commodity in these affluent days.
155 Posted 27/02/2022 at 07:18:45
I had Leeds down as a must-win. Looking at the remaining fixtures, we might expect to beat Watford, Palace and Brentford (we could potentially add Newcastle to that list but they are flying at the moment).
I've been wearing the sandwich board since those missed opportunities at home to Brighton and away at Norwich. There just aren't enough opportunities left for my liking.
My point was that there's far too much pressure on the aforementioned matches. We really need to pick up a few unexpected points, and it's worrying that that's not happening.
We're all squabbling about VAR when the comet is hurtling toward us.
156 Posted 27/02/2022 at 07:28:10
You're not suggesting that we overlook what may be a case of incompetence or corruption and taking appropriate steps on the basis of league position, are you? Improvement on the pitch and scoreboard must get priority but not necessarily to the exclusion of other factors which might affect both of those.
157 Posted 27/02/2022 at 07:37:27
I suppose what I'm saying is we're running out of time for our own bit of luck which turns things around. We need one of those decisions to go our way (it's happened, look at the Goodison derby last season).
It's not happening now though. That's what's disappointing.
158 Posted 27/02/2022 at 07:48:26
The penalty not being given was typical of the refs favouring the bigger club. Whether they are totally corrupt, or afraid of the big name coaches, or under pressure from the Premier League to keep the status quo. Whichever it is, it is wrong. The VAR system encourages such thoughts.
In the rugby, the ref goes "upstairs" and we all watch on the big screen and hear the conversation. If this was the case in football, we would all know exactly who is deciding what. Clarity and accountability is what we need.
I was disgusted with City's players time-wasting – so much for all of the fawning over this wonderful team.
The extra man in midfield made a difference and I hope Frank continues with it against Spurs.
As for Keane, he had played okay until his clumsiness. However, his same clumsiness cost us an own-goal a few weeks ago – the lad is poorly coordinated for an elite athlete.
Still, I feel more confident after watching us and believe that we will dig our way out of this hole.
159 Posted 27/02/2022 at 07:55:11
I don't know who Holgate thinks he is but he has an arrogance in defence that verges on suicidal defending, you can get away with that very rarely in the Premier League, and certainly not against the better sides.
Holgate – Room 101 awaits!
160 Posted 27/02/2022 at 08:07:41
That's the problem. The ref doesn't have to make a decision like they used to. He can just let VAR come in. And VAR won't overrule (in theory) unless there's something clear and obvious.
Did Tierney claim to VAR that he thought it could have been sleeve? And VAR agreed that wasn't worth overruling as being a clear and obvious error?
So they've all got an 'out' that gets them off from making a decision.
In the meantime, we get a game that is less fair, less accurate, and more disrupted.
In theory, it could work, but it introduces too many problems. We'd be better off without it. I suspect Tierney gives that penalty without VAR.
161 Posted 26/02/2022 at 08:14:19
Don't look at the table now, let's see where it is end of March.
I thought Allan was great, especially first half. Gordon continues to develop. Jonjoe Kenny had another good performance and I particularly liked Van de Beek's contribution. Despite the result, much to be positive; carry that into the Tottenham game.
Frustrating that it was a defensive cock-up straight from the school of 10-year-old defending. Planted like a tree, so no mobility or ability to adjust and just put a foot on it. I've been told off in the past for picking on the player, but he is costing us goals.
Anyway, I'll take the positives. Play with that ability and belief and we will be okay.
Once again, it's not VAR that is the problem. It is starstruck and incompetent officials who favour the Top 4. That is what needs to be addressed.
Frustrated but positive. No need to panic just yet, they have shown what they can do. Just do it consistently and we will pick up points.
162 Posted 27/02/2022 at 08:27:40
The ref is to blame, not VAR. He's a coward and should be sacked.
163 Posted 27/02/2022 at 08:30:52
In my view Holgate and Keane were both unfortunate and in part contributed to the goal, but we know that they are not a top class pairing. But in this game they had previously performed well and were unlucky to concede in this manner.
The Manager was right: mistakes happen and we should move on. However, I also feel that maybe Pickford could have dived and smothered the ball at Foden's feet. At the very least, we would have been given a free-kick. Just a thought.
164 Posted 27/02/2022 at 08:31:28
How they didn't give that goes back to the incompetence of the people monitoring.
Scratched record. Make them accountable and have them explain their thought process live so all can hear. Have them explain themselves like in Rugby. That will focus the mind.
And just in general, improve the standard, which should include less recruiting of "groupies" akin to those who used to faint at the Beatles and scream at Take That.
165 Posted 27/02/2022 at 08:45:13
If they're going to have VAR, don't be effing about whether the attacker was half a bloody inch offside, look if it was a goal or not and look if it's a penalty or not. And show it on the big screen in slow motion, like they do in Rugby League. There's no place to hide then, for either the Referee or the VAR man.
If they can do it on the telly, let's all see it at the match. That Referee was incompetent, or corrupt, or both.
VAR gives the referee and the man in the VAR room, a place to hide, or be corrupt, which is what I think happened yesterday... corruption.
As for the team, There are a couple of players in defence, who are letting us down with silly mistakes or clumsiness... or both. I'm sure Franky boy has them taped but he won't say owt, and that's fair enough. He'll want them replaced in the summer... assuming that current events don't leave us skint!
Play like this away from home, or against teams at home that we should beat, then that'll do. This season's remaining games, if we play like we did last night, should see us safe... hopefully!
166 Posted 27/02/2022 at 08:49:37
167 Posted 27/02/2022 at 09:04:20
Everton will get nothing because of their stance on the Super League last year. Newcastle will and have had numerous corrupt decisions go in their favour already, the brown envelopes are in full effect. Well said Frank and well done Ashley.
Hope City win nothing. Pep needs to go to Specsavers.
Leeds and Brentford will finish below us and also Burnley, Watford and Norwich are gone already.
However, football is secondary to Putin's atrocities in Ukraine – got a feeling that bastard is going to end up in a bad way.
168 Posted 27/02/2022 at 09:09:57
So, just watched Liverpool get a dodgy handball penalty, hard cross, moving his hand away from the ball, Liverpool, penalty.
Dodgy dive outside the box, into the box, Liverpool? Penalty. Offside goal. Goal after fouling the keeper.
Two decent goals. But when you're committed to attack early on, you leave lots of space.
This space is for Everton not RS, so, penalties? Denied two nailed-on penalties in two consecutive games in critical timings.
Just saying.
169 Posted 27/02/2022 at 09:10:04
Petition needed If someone can do it, to remove Chris Kavanagh from his job and investigate into his decision-making. Disgrace to football. Changes needed, Premier League need to get head of Referees to talk to fans and explain decisions, it cannot carry on that they are just protected.
Ashley Cole had every right to ask the referee and was told to go away then booked.
Best league in the world but unfortunately worst officials in the world.
170 Posted 27/02/2022 at 09:16:40
Corruption – plain and simple.
171 Posted 27/02/2022 at 09:21:29
Didn't mention the game or result, but it is after all just soccer.
In-depth analysis of Abramovich though... What's Chelsea worth? Pluck it out.
10 x Ogliarchs = Putin's singular $200 Billion wealth (reputedly). Money talks.
172 Posted 27/02/2022 at 09:26:55
173 Posted 27/02/2022 at 09:56:00
We were absolutely robbed, why wasn't Tierney told to go look at the monitor? He didn't because it was a total cop-out. Guardiola talking crap about it being offside, which VAR admitting it wasn't.
We didn't deserve to lose, the midfield were outstanding as was Richarlison. I couldn't fault any of the players, they gave everything. The goal was so unfortunate, a flick off Holgate's boot, which left Keane flat-footed. How some comments can criticise and blame both players is totally wrong; both players played well, and don't deserve the criticism.
If we play like this for the rest of the season, we should definitely be safe, especially if Calvert-Lewin is back and Richarlison returns to his best position on the left.
Lampard will probably get fined and suspended for telling the truth, and the FA will back the two corrupt officials. Why oh why don't they follow how professional the Rugby Union are, where the ref and the fourth official discuss and show any controversial incident, and everyone in the stadium can see and hear everything, and the decisions are always 100% correct.
174 Posted 27/02/2022 at 10:12:49
175 Posted 27/02/2022 at 10:22:02
Guardiola alluded to this, then Lampard said in his interview, that he asked the ref was Richarlison offside, and the ref said No.
VAR didn't get it right, Mike G, but it never will under its present guise, imo. Definitely not whilst we have got so many mediocre officials who are that poor and inconsistent that the feeling of an ulterior motive often comes into my mind when watching football.
The ref who never gave the penalty from the comfort of his studio will give a penalty for a very similar incident whilst officiating out on the pitch before the season ends in 11 weeks. This is something I'm certain of, and when he does, watch the Liverpudlian media pounce.
176 Posted 27/02/2022 at 10:34:28
It wasn't offside but a free-kick was given? Why? Surely with the game having been stopped, it's a drop ball. It was a penalty for all to see but wasn't given. Just total incompetence all around.
The boys showed spirit yesterday and deserved something out of that. New White Hart Lane next Monday and I'll be in the crowd. Carry that spirit forward, Blues, and you'll get something. Then we build momentum in March.
It's sad to say, but such is the way of how the officials work, they owe us one, so we'll probably get a soft decision through instruction. It's not how it should be, but often how it works.
Just be consistent and make the right calls, especially now they have the technology. Don't fear it; embrace it.
177 Posted 27/02/2022 at 10:38:50
Regardless, as Danny @155 says, we have to start picking up some unexpected points sooner rather than later. I saw enough in this game to convince me that is not the forlorn hope that it appeared to be not so long ago.
Our team was full of fight today against one of the world's best club teams. Allan for my money was the best player on the pitch –- he played like a man possessed, ably assisted by Van de Beek and Doucouré. That midfield, if we can keep it fit, will lead us out of trouble. I also thought Dele Alli played well when he came on.
Also a special mention for Richarlison – he played his heart out.
It was also heartening to see Ashley Cole having a go at the officials at the end of the game.
I think what happened on the managerial scene in the past 12 months knocked the stuffing out of our players but I think this team has rediscovered the will to fight.
178 Posted 27/02/2022 at 10:55:50
Other crowds get more credit, (they have always been so desperate for credit!) but once Evertonians get behind their team, everything changes.
Now we have just got to beat Boreham Wood, and hopefully get a decent quarter-final draw, whilst our confidence hopefully begins to grow.
179 Posted 27/02/2022 at 11:02:42
I just watched the game, having been working yesterday. I thought the midfield looked good, with Doucoure back Allen seemed much more comfortable. Kenny had another good game and Gordon was excellent until he tired and faded.
Little threat up front so the ball just kept coming back.
No comment on the ‘penalty as I think it has all been said!
180 Posted 27/02/2022 at 11:24:42
To blame Holgate and Keane is just not on for yesterday's defeat. City had us under the cosh for much of the 2nd half. It was always going to be that there would be one bobbling ball and/or a player off-balance that would create a tap-in for one of the most lethal players in the Premier League.
I cannot get on their backs for that goal yesterday. They were giving everything against the best.
Those saying Mina would have made the difference should look back at his last game when he gave nearly every pass to the other team.
We know we need a better back line but yesterday was one hell of an effort against a team looking to bounce back from an unexpected defeat.
COYB.
181 Posted 27/02/2022 at 11:46:24
This prick in Stockley Park will cost Everton millions of pounds in Premier League position. Worst-case scenario, he could cost us our right to be in the Premier League.
What happens to this prick?
182 Posted 27/02/2022 at 11:48:22
The more you think about it (I know some people don't even need to think about it), then it's clear that Kavanagh has cheated Everton, because if he took that long to make his “decision”, then why didn't he just send his mate to the monitor?????
I don't think anyone could have done much better than Holgate and Keane yesterday, except in that crucial awful moment, and agree that it's sometimes better to just concentrate on the positives.
183 Posted 27/02/2022 at 11:49:08
184 Posted 27/02/2022 at 11:50:51
We played like that at Old Trafford... then what happened?
We played like that against Arsenal... then what happened?
We played like that against Leeds...
The reason we are in this mess is because these players are so inconsistent.
185 Posted 27/02/2022 at 12:10:01
Just popped into my local high street (Uxbridge) and genuinely forgot that righteous self appreciating bunch were in town. The perils of living at the end of the M40 with 2 train stations having direct 20-minute access to Wembley.
Going to have to put up with them later and no doubt get myself into a few debates. Wish me luck as I'm a singleton.
The weekend that keeps giving.
Let's paint Uxbridge Royal Blue in April.
186 Posted 27/02/2022 at 12:28:57
187 Posted 27/02/2022 at 12:29:58
This is pure stupidity in my opinion. This has to stop.
Some people say that the teams over a season will get some benefits and have some against them but some get more than most. It shouldn't go back to the referee when someone else is paid to arbitrate.
188 Posted 27/02/2022 at 12:31:47
Take the set-up, for instance, the number of defensive players totalled eight... fucking eight! No wonder their goalie had fuck-all to do.
Why not go into the game with a balanced side... five defensive players and five attacking players? Why not attack teams instead of inviting them on? This shite has been going on at our club since Bobby Bullshit!... we need to be braver and play our best players from the off and attack teams with a balanced side.
So for me it's Allan or Doucoure... not both! We need offensive players too in our midfield to start. I'd rather ship goals and have a go, than lose 1-0 without laying a glove on our opponents!
And the endless back passes to Pickford still frustrate the fuck out of me!
So be braver, Blues, a balanced team that at least gives it a fucking go would be a really welcoming change... it may be the making of us!
189 Posted 27/02/2022 at 12:37:38
We should have attacked City more, you say? And got a spanking? The blueprint to play against City is there to be seen, and we played it brilliantly.
Also, Allan or Doucoure? Ermm... have you seen our midfield when it was just Allan? Yesterday was the first time we have had a coherent midfield, and Allan was brilliant, and that is because Allan needs another runner with him; together they make a good midfield. Alone, they leave too much space and are easily dominated.
You'd have rather been 'braver' and lost 6-0? Really? You'd rather we played like Leeds?
190 Posted 27/02/2022 at 12:39:57
191 Posted 27/02/2022 at 12:47:26
Who are these offensive midfielders you are thinking of, Matthew?
With the players we currently have, I thought that was our best 3 and we should have got a point.
Tottenham next Monday. I will be in the crowd and full of optimism based on yesterday and, what I'm seeing Lampard and his backroom staff trying to install into the squad in terms of mentality.
192 Posted 27/02/2022 at 12:47:59
Seven defensive players plus Iwobi (hopeless), we seem obsessed with playing only defensive players in our midfield and I am fucking sick and tired of it... one only from now on, please!
Jeez, no wonder we're in the shit... we never learn... whoever our opponents are (even City), attack them – still the best form of defense in footy.
193 Posted 27/02/2022 at 12:52:44
Attack the best form of defence? Yes. But an easy statement to make.
Against a team like Man City, you risk being massively exposed. It's a balance and we almost got it right yesterday.
Personally, I don't think Iwobi was too bad yesterday. All down to opinion, but did you judge him on yesterday or just your pre-judged opinion? Genuine question.
194 Posted 27/02/2022 at 12:58:04
"Best league in the world but unfortunately worst officials in the world."
Spot on there mate !
195 Posted 27/02/2022 at 13:05:45
196 Posted 27/02/2022 at 13:07:10
197 Posted 27/02/2022 at 13:07:56
"So for me, it's Allan or Doucouré... not both!"
For me, it's precisely because we had both, alongside Van de Beek, that we played so well in midfield (for a change). That middle three was superb yesterday. Suicide to go "brave" against a team like Man City.
198 Posted 27/02/2022 at 13:14:58
If we stay up, Lampard and his team are going to deliver for us. As others have said, Cole's reaction was everything we've been lacking in terms of attacking the smug establishment view of Everton's rightful place. That fella's made a big difference already.
A wounding outcome to the game but massively encouraging overall. I'm going to whisper this but, even if we did go down, I have changed my view of our longer term fate and I would now expect us to bounce right back with Lampard and still to be a force afterwards. But we're going to stay up.
That first half was proper, proper Everton. Two or three astute additions and we'll be well on our way.
199 Posted 27/02/2022 at 13:20:34
It was typified by an incident in the 1st half. The ball broke kindly to (I think) Sterling on their left wing and the break seemed on but Kenny came all the way over from our left wing and kicked the ball out from Sterling's feet.
Another incident – Iwobi pressed from our right wing near the edge of their box, chased and harried their player right until the left side near the half-way line – then, when Man City switched flanks, ran all the way back to our right side to help out Coleman near our box. He must have covered 150 yards in that lung bursting run.
If they can keep up that intensity for the rest of the season, we should be okay.
200 Posted 27/02/2022 at 13:30:20
You were doing well then until you said "whisper it quietly"... don't friggin whisper it at all!!! It would be the end of us. Play and apply ourselves like that it won't be even an issue. Coyb
201 Posted 27/02/2022 at 13:31:33
202 Posted 27/02/2022 at 13:40:37
203 Posted 27/02/2022 at 13:42:53
204 Posted 27/02/2022 at 13:50:34
205 Posted 27/02/2022 at 14:18:56
I hope they don't get a new-manager bounce.
[BRZ]
206 Posted 27/02/2022 at 14:20:29
Yes, the form table, depending on how far you look back, still makes dreadful reading.
1 win and 3 points in 4 PL games under Frank.
1 win and 3 points in the last 7 PL games.
2 wins, 2 draws, 13 defeats and just 8 points from 51 in the last 17 PL games.
Relegation form, indisputably.
BUT! There is clear evidence to me under Frank, as was the case yesterday, that there is greater energy and purpose in the team than was the case under Benitez.
There was no fear. No inferiority complex by Everton facing City yesterday.
Their winning goal came from luck, not craft.
We were denied a stonewall penalty.
We won't be playing teams the quality of City every week. We gave the best pressing and possession team possibly on the planet a game yesterday.
The new coaching setup has quickly instilled a more aggressive and purposeful playing style, as well as lifting shattered confidence.
The post-match reactions and comments of first Ashley Cole and then the manager himself clearly signal a winning mentality of two men fighting their team's corner with passion.
Sensible comments by Lampard yesterday, about not being too wrapped up in the league position in the next 2-3 weeks. He is aware that results may contrive to see us fall into the bottom three.
But equally he knows the way the team is starting to perform, together with the 14 remaining fixtures, we have more than enough to climb the table.
I for one agree with him.
208 Posted 27/02/2022 at 14:38:05
They're in serious trouble whoever they get in.
209 Posted 27/02/2022 at 14:43:09
210 Posted 27/02/2022 at 14:48:52
Seriously though, managers have a tough time as soon as the results go belly-up, no matter how many good things you did before.
Everton's defence hasn't been much better than Leeds's but they are in a bigger freefall than us and have really struggled with the loss of Bamford and having to play Ayling in the centre-back role.
211 Posted 27/02/2022 at 14:59:30
Spurs away next in the league, which ''Everton'' will turn up?
212 Posted 27/02/2022 at 15:01:16
Allan and Doucouré are completely different players. Allan breaks up play, Doucouré is box-to-box. Our midfield three yesterday against City were the best combination I've seen this season.
Allan for me was Man of the Match, how many times did he dispossess De Bruyne, and in their half?
Apart from the shambolic penalty decision, the amount of cynical fouls that City players got away with, and always do, including two from behind on Richarlison, and not a notion of a card from Tierney, was abysmal.
213 Posted 27/02/2022 at 15:01:42
Well, we beat them soundly because we were a cohesive team. But now, some on here are saying that we beat them only because theyre shite!! Maybe theyve become shitter partly through the hammering we gave them, which could have damaged their confidence.
Similarly for Brentford, who we trounced because we were an efficient unit.
We lost to City through bad luck and very bad officiating. Very bad officiating in the Barcodes and Saints games as well, and it bloody well hinders us.
Three home games under Lampard, all very good performances, possibly the return of Fortress Goodison and the start of a different approach to our game. 7 goals, 2 conceded.
No doubt Liverpool keep beating teams with their high pressing only because those teams are shite? No, they do it because theyve become an efficient unit. Just like we might well be starting to be.
214 Posted 27/02/2022 at 15:07:00
215 Posted 27/02/2022 at 15:08:28
The game hopefully has started to show the correct direction for the future by the manager and his coaches. Without going over previous comments, I just agree with what has been said about the players and the penalty fiasco.
The best comment I thought came from Jim Beglin, who never seems to be on Everton's side. The talk about the arm and where the sleeve ends, he said, "How can you judge it if a player has a long sleeve shirt on?" End of argument.
For quite a while, this is the first time Everton have lost and my weekend was not ruined. It's amazing what commitment and effort can do.
216 Posted 27/02/2022 at 15:11:36
4-5-1 / 4-3-3 is the way to go with either Richarlison or Calvert-Lewin up top.
If we can repeat the performance levels of yesterday until the end of the season, we will be fine and we might just win the FA Cup.
Lampard is making a positive difference!
217 Posted 27/02/2022 at 15:20:39
218 Posted 27/02/2022 at 15:47:52
219 Posted 27/02/2022 at 16:11:48
220 Posted 27/02/2022 at 16:44:33
221 Posted 27/02/2022 at 17:18:57
Leeds United 0 - 1 Newcastle United
Aston Villa 3 - 3 Leeds United
Everton 3 - 0 Leeds United
Leeds United 2 - 4 Manchester United
Liverpool 6 - 0 Leeds United
Leeds United 0 - 4 Tottenham Hotspur
222 Posted 27/02/2022 at 17:42:12
Assuming they're all fit:
Begovic
Patterson Holgate Branthwaite Mykolenko
Alli Onyango Gomes
El Ghazi Dobbin Gray
223 Posted 27/02/2022 at 17:50:02
224 Posted 27/02/2022 at 17:58:38
So, I will go with Garys team except for Townsend and Rondon instead of Alli and El Ghazi.
Begovic
Patterson Holgate Branthwaite Mykolenko
Townsend Gomes Onyango
Dobbin Rondon Gray
225 Posted 27/02/2022 at 18:21:00
226 Posted 27/02/2022 at 18:21:56
227 Posted 27/02/2022 at 18:32:14
Ajays team should have enough though with a few of those players pressing for a starting place on a regular basis. Mykolenko may not be up for it given the situation at home.
228 Posted 27/02/2022 at 20:03:26
I know Keane and Holgate have had a good bashing and in some games rightly so, but yesterday was not one of those games, absolutely no way can you blame Keane for that freakish deflection, it is on a par with Pickford diving full stretch to make a save, only for a deflection to take it another direction.
Overall every single player did their job, like I said weeks ago, I hope we manage to sign Van de Beek, covers every blade of grass, can tackle, pick a pass out, chase back and makes our midfield so much better.
We are heading in the right direction, cartwheel practice taking place as I speak.
229 Posted 27/02/2022 at 20:13:11
230 Posted 27/02/2022 at 20:19:42
231 Posted 27/02/2022 at 20:20:00
"I would expect the Cup game to be very physical and Boreham Wood will give it everything."
Even the Kitchen Sink, but being in the Plumbing Game, I hope you will be there to sort any problems out! :-)
232 Posted 27/02/2022 at 20:22:28
I don't blame Holgate or Keane for the goal. Keane however is naturally slow footed and was unable to adjust to what happened. Other players might have done.
I'm still going with bias/corruption for the VAR decision. There is a shot from behind the ref's point of view, from a sort of left midfield perspective. He leans to try to look past a player but he cannot see the contact at all let alone judge where it hit on the arm.
The same of course cannot be said for Kavanagh. Disgraceful.
Stan @ 213 - good post.
233 Posted 27/02/2022 at 20:30:22
234 Posted 27/02/2022 at 20:48:20
235 Posted 27/02/2022 at 20:49:28
Whilst genuinely taking nothing away from his performance, it was a catastrophic mistake imo, and ended up giving Foden, one of the easiest goals he will score this season.
Its gone, there is nothing to dwell on but the positives, especially because our defence gave us a very good platform yesterday.
236 Posted 27/02/2022 at 21:17:55
237 Posted 27/02/2022 at 21:19:46
238 Posted 27/02/2022 at 21:55:13
Sure a meet up is in the pipeline.
239 Posted 27/02/2022 at 22:23:59
240 Posted 27/02/2022 at 23:19:27
Begovic
Patterson, Keane, Branthwaite, Kenny (or Mykolenko, if he feels up to it).
Townsend, Gomes, Onyango, Gray
Rondon, Dobbin.
241 Posted 28/02/2022 at 01:47:07
For the Boreham Wood game we should start with our strongest side possible and, hopefully, if we establish a comfortable lead we can make up to (I think) five substitutions. On too many occasions we've struggled against, so called, lesser sides and ended up chasing the game.
Just on the Video Assistant Referee, Kavanagh: I believe he comes from... Greater Manchester!!
242 Posted 28/02/2022 at 04:43:25
However, as diasppointed as I am when I even think about the game, I get more annoyed when I think back to the start of the season, when we made a far bigger mistake than any against Man City.
Why on earth did we appoint Benitez? He is responsible for the situation we are in today.
243 Posted 28/02/2022 at 05:54:43
I called 4-3-3 with Van de Beek, Doucouré and Allan, and on Saturday it pretty much worked. If it hadn't have been for a dreadful mistake and shocking official decision, we'd have got a deserved point.
I did think - although it was a howler, I should also point out that Michael Keane did have a good game. Credit where due.
244 Posted 28/02/2022 at 06:39:34
245 Posted 28/02/2022 at 08:00:04
246 Posted 28/02/2022 at 08:03:31
247 Posted 28/02/2022 at 08:31:21
Jack @240, I reiterate Mark Ryan's comment. Get the game won then bring in fringe players. Don't risk chasing the game against a dogged team that are up for the night of their footballing lives.
248 Posted 28/02/2022 at 08:48:14
We see it all the time with a deflected shot that goes in. The keeper moves one way, the direction in which the ball is travelling, until suddenly a deflection sends it the other way. The keeper has all his weight on the side the ball is travelling until the deflection completely throws him.
Even with the Man City goal, Pickford looked like he was starting to move to his left as the ball was travelling across the goal, so even the deflection threw him a little as he hurriedly tried to adjust his feet and move back to his right.
249 Posted 28/02/2022 at 08:54:24
Try a three of Alli, Doucoure and Townsend instead, Gray and Gordon supporting Richarlison up top... balanced!
Be the fuck braver... as them penalty loving fuckers lift their ninth League Cup... jeez, whereas we show nothing but contempt for that competition... you couldn't make it up!.
250 Posted 28/02/2022 at 09:04:35
Doucoure and Van de Beek certainly give us more movement in the midfield sector and I could see us playing with Alli as the third midfielder, particularly in situations where we go with either Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison but not both.
Alli is due a goal and no better place than White Hart Lane for him to get up and running!
251 Posted 28/02/2022 at 09:59:16
My team for Thursday... 4-4-2:
Pickford
Patterson
Keane
Branthwaite
Mykolenko
Gray
Doucouré
Gordon
Townsend
Calvert-Lewin
Richarlison
Should see us through, methinks.
252 Posted 28/02/2022 at 10:06:49
I think though, that Allan needs to go on an anger management course. You can't go on getting booked every game.
253 Posted 28/02/2022 at 11:27:55
We have needed three in midfield all season to make us less of an easy touch. We have been far too open.
Finally we have three suitable players capable of making the team solid in and out of possession. Moreover, they are not purely defensive midfielders. I would keep all three of them in the team for the rest of the season, providing they can stay fit.
254 Posted 28/02/2022 at 11:32:09
255 Posted 28/02/2022 at 12:00:37
256 Posted 28/02/2022 at 12:24:29
Another way of looking at it is that we've scored 7 in the last 7.
We have goals in us, even without our main striker being fully fit.
It's the concentration and mistakes at the back that are costing us.
257 Posted 28/02/2022 at 14:13:20
As you say, the midfield is too defensive so hopefully Lampard will lay into the 3 of them for spending time tackling City players and providing passes to Everton players in the City half.
I believe a manager picks a team – and I emphasise 'team' – to suit the opponents. Saturday, we were playing one of, if not the best team in Europe who have been scoring 2, 3 or 4 goals a game and the team Lampard put out proved it was the correct one to get a result from your opponents.
The next game, you may see a different opponent, so there may be a different team selection. The one thing I noticed and,like many others, I complained that our midfield in other games had no control and were usually struggling. Saturday was the strongest we have seen for a long time.
258 Posted 28/02/2022 at 17:53:01
How can a midfield three of Doucoure, Van de Beek and Allan be regarded as defensive? Allan had a great game because he had legs around him which released him to go forward. In a two, he's half the player but with the immobile and error-prone Gomes, as has been proved time and again, it's an absolute disaster.
On Thursday, we need to start with our strongest side.
259 Posted 28/02/2022 at 17:59:25
260 Posted 28/02/2022 at 19:15:07
You say we had three defensive midfielders against City, our best midfield display this season. If we had played your choice, Doucoure, Alli and Townsend, that wouldn't be brave, we'd have been unbalanced and swamped, and we weren't playing an average team, we were playing the best: Man City.
I see you picked Calvert-Lewin for Thursday night, Lampard said last Friday, he's out for 7/10 days.
I'd mix it up, play our new full-backs, Branthwaite, Onyango, Dobbin and Rondon, but Allan, Richarlison and Doucoure should be rested, no disrespect to Boreham Wood, but we don't need to play our strongest side, especially when we're playing Spurs 4 days later.
261 Posted 28/02/2022 at 19:44:48
I agree with you in principle but you can't just throw a bunch of kids in against a very good Boreham Wood side.
I would however give Patterson, Branthwaite and Mykolenko a run-out.
Midfield is difficult cos we don't have the numbers or the quality but, with Allan and Van de Beek both nursing knocks, I would play Doucouré for 45 minutes to get an edge in the game with Onyango and Gomes (surely he can show up in this game). Front 3 should include Dobbin and Tom Cannon should get some minutes.
262 Posted 28/02/2022 at 19:50:00
263 Posted 28/02/2022 at 19:57:55
264 Posted 28/02/2022 at 20:06:18
Or maybe Leeds have made a panicked decision whereas we acted with due diligence? I'd rather us make the right managerial decision (which I think we have) than a poor managerial decision followed by potentially poor recruitment decisions during the end stage of the mid-season transfer window.
265 Posted 28/02/2022 at 20:17:29
266 Posted 28/02/2022 at 20:17:44
Begovic
Patterson
Kenny
Holgate
Branthwaite
Doucouré
Gomes
Iwobi
Townsend
Dobbin
Rondon
Onyango, Welch, Price and Whitaker on the bench maybe. Unlikely to see Cannon even on the bench.
ps: I assume Mykolenko won't feature much because of the situation in Ukraine. Kenny, credit to him, is doing a good job anyway.
267 Posted 28/02/2022 at 20:24:50
Yes, I agree. It does seem that getting rid of Brands said that Moshiri was all behind Benitez. Only to suddenly change his mind. By which time – well he had no time.
268 Posted 28/02/2022 at 20:27:13
Even though we are fighting relegation, this is a real chance of reaching the next round, so we should not waste it by putting too many of the young kids in. It's the FA Cup that is known for surprises – we don't want Everton to be one...
Everton players will have enough time before the next game to recover.
269 Posted 28/02/2022 at 20:33:25
Lampard as a player won four FA Cups, so it's a competition he clearly likes. I'm sure he would love to win it this season although obviously avoiding relegation will be his first objective.
I also think he will start with a pretty decent team, get the game won after an hour, then make the permitted five substitutions. Five regular starters for five kids or squad players after an hour sounds good to me.
270 Posted 28/02/2022 at 21:13:27
271 Posted 28/02/2022 at 21:39:44
Sounds good to me and would earn a lot of kudos with the support, neutrals and most importantly, Mykolenko.
272 Posted 01/03/2022 at 08:52:54
273 Posted 01/03/2022 at 12:39:54
Forgot all about him.
I bet Frank, like the rest of us, is looking forward to a time when he doesn't have to weigh up who is better out of Rondon and Tosun.
274 Posted 01/03/2022 at 13:05:15
We seem to be playing a different sport at times, old habits die hard at our club, an endless array of back passes, giving the ball away cheaply, poor set plays and delivery in general, no pot shots from range, an obsession with playing two holding midfielders... or more... fucking madness!
I just can't see any new decernable style to our play, whoever the Gaffer is, there's never a fast start or any surprises or joy to our game.
We also treat the League Cup with contempt every fucking season as our loveable neighbours pick up their ninth... sigh.
We'll beat Boreham Wood on Thursday, but it won't be pretty but then just lose with ease at Spurs next Monday... nowt will ever change here unless we go braver and take a fair few risks in our style of play 'cos as it stands currently folks...we are just boring, safe and soulless!
275 Posted 01/03/2022 at 20:05:37
276 Posted 01/03/2022 at 20:05:46
Anyway, more important that Leicester beat Burnley tonight. Though, I have to say that there's no way I can see City winning the Premier League title at the moment, they look toothless.
277 Posted 01/03/2022 at 20:14:35
I share your frustrations. We share a city with a team that wins endless silverware versus our 27 years (and that was after a few years without nothing). But apathy surrounds the club; Kenwright still fawns over the '60s and tales of Ball, Royle and Kendall. Forget major trophies, that lot have won the league cup 9 times, we have never won it once.
The 27 years (including the Kenwright era) have seen us lose ambition and status and retain a terrible dated image that is not helped with Unsworth and Ferguson just hanging around for years.
But I do feel the appointment of Frank Lampard (and his coaching team) in the long run will be the best appointment we have made in the Premier League era, and that only happened after a fan protest (so no apathy or acceptance there).
278 Posted 01/03/2022 at 22:32:22
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1 Posted 26/02/2022 at 16:40:43
I expect some improvement on last week.