Lampard: Everton’s problems won’t be solved overnight

Frank knew it is a tough gig; last night proved to him that he is in charge of a team in the worst run of form in the club's history. Miracles needed.

Losing Mina and Gray to injury that has forced us to use 2 substitutes in the first half is nothing but pure bad luck.

If that never happened, or even just one injury, that would of given Lampard more options later in the game, and I feel that, if we were able to finish the 2nd half with Calvert-Lewin, Gray, Van de Beek and Alli on the pitch, that would of been too much for Newcastle to contend with.

The two injuries certainly didn't help... but I think the match really turned on conceding an equalizer so quickly. If we'd gotten to halftime with the lead, I think the pressure would have cranked up on Newcastle in a hurry and the second half might have played out a lot differently.

I think that, aside from our league position, we are in a good place currently with a lot of potential growth in our near future.

It's sad we got to this point, but my overall feeling is optimism. I remember thinking that, if we couldn't do well under Carlo, then we would fail no matter who was in charge; then he left and Rafa came in. I backed Rafa, but he was a huge let-down.

Hopefully Frank gets time and space to make his mark on us.

We gave the ball away cheaply before the injuries, so that's no excuse. Frank is trying to turn our average players into something they are not. We have been down this unnecessary and unsuccessful path before.

He stated we need to find players to come in for the way we set up... Wrong, wrong, wrong!! We simply don't haven't them anyway, so he needs to change how we set up and play.

I hope he quickly changes his tune because we are doing an impression of the Titanic. Over confident in his and the squad's abilities.

I'd be astounded if we stay up. Imagine being beaten by Championship dross like Norwich and Newcastle?

Hand your wages back, lads, you're stealing a living.

Michael Keane
Mason Holgate
Seamus Coleman
Fabian Delph
Jean-Phillipe Gbamin
Alex Iwobi
Andre Gomes
Cenk Tosun

All of the above need to be discarded from the club as soon as possible because they offer nothing, absolutely nothing whatsoever.

The likes of Mina, yes he's our best defender, but he's never ever gonna be fit and he's getting worse by the season, needs replacing.

Allan, look I know he doesn't always get much help in there, but I think he's too slow, too sloppy.

We need a monumental overhaul and that's why we need a manager in place for at least 3 years to begin overseeing it.

What's gone on over the past few years is simply not good enough to maintain Premier League status for much longer.

Everton players are human too, this long run of bad results for Everton would have had an adverse effect on any player, even Messi.

The fact that our players aren't quite up to snuff is obvious, but poor players lacking confidence exacerbates their short-comings and, instead of climbing out of the hole, the hole gets deeper with each passing match. Someone, somewhere said this is Everton's poorest run of league results since the club last got relegated, which is certainly food for thought.

The manager and his staff should try and keep things as simple as possible and adopt a plan which, away from home, might see a return of a few points, but at Goodison, it will be hard for him to resist trying to play an open game, and even harder for the crowd to accept a defence-first policy.

I honestly believe that Everton's only real hope of avoiding relegation is that three teams, namely Watford, Burnley and Norwich get less points than Everton, but the difficulty is how many points Everton themselves can put on the board between now and the end of this season? That's the real concern and I'm glad that it's not down to me to find the correct formula because, everytime I look at it objectively, I come to the same conclusion: our team and squad is barely adequate for the Premier League.

Individually and on their day, we have many players who can perform to an adequate or even good level; but, in the current situation, it's all about team spirit and heart and I don't see much evidence of that being part of the collective –and it's something the manager and his staff can't simply add to the mix, certainly not overnight.

I thought Branthwaite did well in the main and got better as the game went on. I just hope he gets more games as Godfrey will be missing, as well as our Colombian man of glass.

I remember Utd, Spurs, Forest, Villa, Newcastle going down this route with all and sundry making excuses that good players were in the camp they just need a bit of confidence etc. It was mass delusion a grotesque fiddling while Rome burned lunacy.

All relegated of course as we will be given we can't find 3 teams worse than us.

We turned up last night and as per usual when there is a hostile partisan home crowd, they visibly shit themselves.

The serial re-offenders, Keane, Holgate, Coleman (yes because he's gone that way now too) Gomes, a few others too, you wouldn't what to be in the trenches with them.

Newcastle don't score three against anyone, they have struggled for goals all season.

Watford score 5 goals at Goodison Park, when do Watford ever score 5 in an away game?

Norwich hadn't scored a goal for 6 games yet net twice against us in a matter of seconds.

Something is fundamentally wrong at this club, this is why I couldn't even really blame Benitez for this season, because we have long since sussed out these players.

Other players are dependent on his plays.On top of that Gomes under pressure goes deep to get the ball.Loses possession more often than not in doing so and is guaranteed to give away fouls in dangerous positions.Because he is deep the defence is deep and Everton in midfield is a non event Van de Beek offers something better, though his cameo was too late to affect the outcome, since Everton had shot the bolt at that stage.

Fortunately Frank now knows what he can do.Delle Ali was tried, but is not a player to bring into a team whose confidence is shot.It would have been better to bring on Calvert Lewin and to have moved Ricarlison to the wing.Everton may have got lucky, and it would be luck.

Newcastle did what all lower league sides have done to Everton this season. Got control of midfield, had their defensive line move up compacting play and put the ball into the final third capitalising on defending players who have not concentrated enough during training and are error prone.

It's simply going to do a job and not being properly prepared and Individually not being bothered during training.You can't catch up during the game.

If I was Lampard I would be introducing Patterson and Adize just to see what he has got. Fortunately he already knows what he has got in Myko.

In Everton it is about getting the right blend of players and ever evolving tactics.More players with backbone needed, who are prepared to apply themselves.In the Premiership Gomes selected on a previous good performance is a gifted to opposition teams.Their analysts love it.

Moving to the next game, we need to play our best players in the best positions (sounds easy).

If Mykolenko isn’t back, play Branthwaite. Let’s not shoehorn a midfielder in there.

Don’t know who’s the best at right back.

Get Richie and Gordon out wide. Richie is not a centre forward.

Allan and Van Der Beek in the middle, with Ali just in front of them.

4-2-3-1 with the ball, 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 without the ball. Simple yet effective. 3 at the back has never worked for more than the odd game for my entire life as an Everton fan.

Show a little respect to a great servant.

Your post sums it up. Carlo realized these losers limitations so kept it simple the problem was that at the end of his reign and into Rafas they couldn’t even do that as they still contrived to score own goals and make stupid mistakes. The Hail Mary approach of all out attack might be our only hope because if we play conservatively we lose 1-0 or 2-0 if we try to play football we lose 2-5, so maybe if we just go gung ho we win 4-3? Probably not but it’s all I’ve got

I think confidence is a factor but by far the biggest factor is our inability for years to be unable to cope with any team that can muster a good press against our defence and midfield.

Any team that can outwork us and close us down beats us. It doesn’t matter if they are inferior on paper. Until we have the defence and more so the midfield that can cope with that we will continue to lose games.

Opposition managers don’t have to be Hercule Poirot to work out what they need to do to make us spill the ball and give regular goal scoring opportunities.

Van de Beek needs to come into a midfield three and we may create a bit more resilience to the team. His ability to drive forward and distribute from the central midfield position can put teams on the back foot and allow us to keep our shape better.

All is not lost, we need to stay calm, regroup and play a better midfield system. It’s all about survival now and giving Frank a chance to rebuild in June.

I always liked Coleman but to be honest, his aftermath bleatings are boring now.

He channels his "heart and aggression" in stupid ways in my opinion now, picking needless shoving matches with opponents when the game is up.

As a captain, he should have been cajoling the players when it was level last night and we had just lost Mina and Gray, barking at them "we dig in, we do NOT lose this game"

I don't see any of that from him sadly, I see a player that's just sorry shadow of what was a swashbuckling fullback back in the day.

I don't know how good (or bad) Nathan Patterson and Viti Mykolenko are, but you have to start playing the both of them ASAP as far as I'm concerned now.

Square peg left backs and penny-farthing right back Seamus is exposing us so much now it's becoming laughable.

Frank has been here just over a week FFS and we have once again been decimated by injuries.

When was the last time our 3 best players Richy, Doucoure and DCL played together.

More than at any other time the players need us to get behind them and lift them in games not keep telling them how shit they are and criticising the team selection etc.

The two injuries in the first half were a nightmare. For the first half hour we looked comfortable and seemed to be in control of the game. We take the lead, and then proceed to throw it away seconds later. In one and a half games, Lampard loses three key players, players who would have played a massive part in not only defending the lead last night, but also probably helping to re-store it in the second half, had Demarai still been on the pitch.

Just as though it looked when we were getting everyone back fit, the injury jinx strikes again. It never rains but it pours!! 😠😠😠

A lot of people don't realise players don't play bad deliberately and some with a bit of encouragement might surprise people.

We need patience and encouragement and we will stay up.

I reckon we’ll be lucky to finish much above the relegation zone

Maybe he was barking, maybe he has been barking without success for years, or maybe he does not bark as he considers it counter-productive. How do you know what he does?

Whatever he does and however he plays does not warrant you calling him a shithouse.

In regards to the line-up, Frank could not win, if he drops players from the Brentford game, we would have asked why? Me personally, I think Lady Luck deserted us. Frank's game plan would have been to ease Alli, Van de Beek and Calvert-Lewin into the match, the two early injuries put an end to that, with two subs already and only one left, it would have been foolish to throw the third sub on earlier than we could.

The one tweak what I thought we could have done at the time when Gray went off, was to bring Calvert-Lewin on, push Richarlison to fill Grays space, which would have given us a good balance, then the obvious third sub of Van De Beek for Gomes.

Going forward to Saturday, if Gray is injured, we have to start with Calvert-Lewin, with Richarlison switched out wide, bring Van de Beek in for Gomes., Gomes seems to do his best stuff coming off the bench and at the same time Van de Beek offers so much more, can put a tackle in, offers options for players to pass to, and gets towards the danger areas. I said it when we were linked that getting Van de Beek will be a great signing.

God only knows what we do defence wise, the thought of Keane and Holgate holding our centre of defence gives me nightmares. Ideally, I would prefer to have Patterson Branthwaite Mykolenko and either Holgate or Keane, not both as the defence, only due to the speed of Leeds attacking, then you have the "experience outweighs a quicker defence" argument but, with the options we have through injuries, not an easy call.

Roll on Saturday and hopefully an injury-free 90 minutes and a win.

C'mon Jim, there's nothing shithouse about Seamus.

Father time is about to put his arm around him and take him away, but that's not his fault. He doesn't belong in that list with Iwobi.

He would if he supported Everton!

Newcastle have made huge changes which were clearly on show; Frank and Co have been here a week – I've no doubt we will see changes within a month or so.

Every match at home needs to be a rocking Goodison, regardless of what's happening on the pitch.

We have to make it a hostile atmosphere for the opposition and back the team loudly from start to finish.

As fans it's all we can do now to help the team avoid the dreaded r-word.

Be honest, mate, you love to revel in the darker things in life, don't you? Let's wait until the final whistle has gone before we start worrying about other teams and how it affects Everton.

For at least a minute last night, fans of those clubs would have been saying "Oh God, No – Everton are leading!"

That's right mate, I'm sat there with my black cat and ouija board reveling in the dark side, the old crystal ball is looking a bit cloudy tonight though.

I hope there isn't any former Everton centre-halves in there with you, because if there is, that cat won't be safe!

It's called taking responsibility or game management. All the top teams do it or even us in the 90s when we were fighting for our lives. Too nice as usual.

Pickford
Coleman
Keane
Holgate
Mykolenko
Allan
Gordon
Van de Beek
Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin
Townsend or El Ghazi or Iwobi

I was just about to call the RSPCA when the cat went 1-0 up.

Not another free-header from a corner kick? Sake!

I think the problem with getting behind the team is that Holgate for example has played miserably under 8 different managers despite plenty of occasions when people got behind him. At this point, it seems like self-delusion to be all "come on Keane-o get stuck in lad, yes show em how it's done Mason."

I am not suggesting we should actively boo them but I don't think cheering or silence makes a damn bit of difference to how they perform and I single defenders out as they are the ones who constantly let the side down.

It's absolutely disgusting really how many games some of these have had. Look at Ashley Williams – he was in and out after 60 games, Earl Barrett made it to 74, Tony Grant 61, Jigsaw 62 mostly off the bench, Marcus Bent 50 odd, but similarly incapable Mason Holgate is on 100 plus, Tom Davies pushing 150, likewise Michael Keane.

We've always had bad signings and promising youngsters who fail to bloom but have we ever had such poor players who have played so many games? They've played more games for us than Gueye, Rooney, Saha, Yakubu, Martyn, Limpar etc.

Seamus Coleman a shithouse?? Really?? Shame on you. While he may be past his very best, his loyalty to our club is a rare thing in today's World.

His willingness to always give of his best, even if that doesn't work in every game, does not deserve being called a shithouse.

Your values are clearly very different to most Bluenoses. After that comment, I will be sure to give all your posts a swerve.

It's all very well saying there's 17 games to go but that momentum in the blink of an eye turns into 7 games. We need Calvert-Lewin to start acting like an England striker.

I'm not one for stats generally, but if you count the number of great shot-stopping saves he does in a season, versus how many corners and free-kicks we have to defend, they don't compare favourably. He flaps about trying to punch corners away, simply because he is just too small to compete with some of the big players he is up against in the area.

Man-to-man marking or zonal, either way, I fear that he is the weak link when the ball is put in to the box on set-pieces, which is why we concede so many goals from that situation. I would also add that he should never play against Newcastle. He is always distracted when we play them.

I see Rooney has been commenting on Man Utd and what it will take to turn them round – he reckons any new manager will need 3 years at least, throwing his hat in there, me thinks!

Need to line up Saturday with intent, desire and freshness. Assuming Gray, Doucouré and Mina are unavailable, I'd go with:

Pickford,
Patterson, Branthwaite, Keane, Mykolenko
Gordon, Alli, Allan, Van de Beek, Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

The full-backs are a gamble but we've been getting so little from that position in recent times that I think we need to shake things up.

Van de Beek looked impressive on his first appearance; Alli less so. But both are creative in an area where we badly need some.

The three in midfield is a must to ensure we don't get outnumbered there. Allan can protect the back four when the other two push on.

And we must ensure that Calvert-Lewin does not get isolated. But there's enough attacking players out there to avoid that.

I think my main priority would be to find a player that can captain this squad of players we have now. We have no leader on the pitch; with the right motivation, a bang-average team can still win games.

We can't fall to pieces every time things don't go our way, you can see the confidence and energy just drain out of the players... stand up and fucking fight for it – like most people have to in their everyday lives.

We had him in Robin Olsen, did a cracking job when called upon. Pickford raised his game when he got back in, he had to with Olson pushing him. A couple of million and he was ours; instead, we let him leave, brought in a free signing goalie who flaps more than a pair of flare kecks in a storm.

Now Pickford knows the backup is shite, he is starting to drop a little again. Whoever decided not to keep Olsen for backup wants a rocket up their backside.

He's now on loan at Villa.

We can then spend the money on players of lower quality. Then, with all else remaining the same – club, squad, manager, coaches – we can somehow mysteriously improve.

Before anyone quotes it, the one elephant in the room is our 4th-place finish after Rooney was sold. The exception that proves the rule.

Successful clubs lucky enough to have the finances, improve by replacing as necessary the players that can be improved upon. What they don't do is willingly sell their best players. Think Horse-face would want to see Salad or Mane leave at the end of the season?

The problem with the team currently is multi-faceted, we've discussed them all. The team/squad is potentially much better than our position in the table – it's been proven in periods under Ancelotti, Benitez early on. Even to a degree, Koeman and Allardyce.

The management, set-up, fitness and operation of the team need to align with improved spirit, belief and consistency from the players. The technical abilities of the better players are not the problem – the money potentially received for them is not the answer.

I still think it was a miss not trying to bring a real midfield enforcer in to patrol the space in front of the back 4, easing pressure off them, even if just for the remainder of the season.

Holgate looked pretty confident when he gave the ball away for the equaliser.

When the question was put: “Are Derby too good to go down?” – the feeling was actually that Derby were actually “top bad to stay up”. Is that the situation with us, I ponder?

The ESPN piece also told us that Donaldo (Don Hutchinson) was at St James's Park to watch Tuesday's game and concluded that the Everton team offered nothing, and he was genuinely concerned about our relegation, as the players just don't have any fight in them.

I don't agree with Don on that front, as clearly, the likes of Richarlison, Gordon and Townsend were busting a gut, we are just bereft of confidence. I am seriously worried about where this is taking the club.

There is more than enough time for us to get out of the current danger and we need to do that resolutely from within. Panic off the pitch, including from us as supporters, inevitably fuels panic on it.

You are correct: Richarlison, Gordon, Townsend and Coleman, sadly not the player he was, were up for the fight but three or four players out of the players who turned out is simply nowhere near enough.

I leave out Branthwaite because he is still very young but had a decent game once he settled down. Alli and Van de Beek because they haven't had time to settle but will have to learn very quickly. It was very noticeable that Van de Beek became frustrated once he saw there was no running off the ball or players making space that he could use.

Sadly. I don't think we are equipped to fight this relegation battle with the squad we have. Absolutely hope I am wrong about this.

Frustration is one thing, useful for providing drive, but a defeatist fatalistic attitude is quite another. Fortunately, Lampard is well placed to provide that positivity, being a serial winner.

It has been a cultural problem at Everton that we've folded when things go against us, whether injuries or officiating decisions, but hopefully Lampard will just get on with the job in hand without focusing on bad fortune. Luck can be moulded through attitude.

I agree with your comments and I had a decent seat amongst the home fans to assess how each player was performing.

When Van de Beek came on, it was crystal clear as to his willingness to receive the ball, and get the ball forward, but the home team were very energised, and there were lots of dark arts going on with holding and shirt-pulling which the pathetic referee failed to deal with.

As for Shelvey's assault on Gordon, even the home fans sat round me were calling for him to be sent off, apparently he does one of those "tackles" in most home games, and the Geordies see him as a liability?

Tony (#70) I wholly understand your points regarding the" panic" factor, I worry mainly about the apparent mindset of the players, but I do believe Lampard and his backroom team will – just about – be able to get enough out of the remaining games to keep us up, but only just.

I absolutely agree with you about outsiders setting the narrative about fuelling the relegation fear. Look, we aren't stupid, we know exactly the position we are in, and are well aware that we are in a fight to avoid the drop.

But we are the big story for the likes of Sky, a club who have enjoyed top-flight football for nearly 70 years and I have been lucky enough to see all of our top-flight games. It's no story if Norwich or Burnley or Brentford go down but, if we go down, it's a bit like when Man Utd went down in the '70s it's a big story.

I know when they went down many had said they are too good to go down, but they did. I think their players also believed they were too good to go down.

I just hope that the nervousness from a section of the crowd doesn't transfer to this group of players, who aren't the most confident group. So it's up to us to give them that confidence, make them believe they are better than their form is showing.

I don't think we will go down. I think all the clubs up to Crystal Palace are vulnerable and Brentford have played 3 more games than us. A raucous Goodison for all the remaining home games I think will see us stay out of the relegation zone.

Frank needs to tell the players to pretend it's back to Covid days and no-one is in the stadium – we did alright then. Being at the behest of the fickle isn't a sound plan.

The fickle fans weren't in attendance for the majority of last season, yet Everton only managed 2 league wins out of the 12 played at Goodison in the period between 1 January 2021 and May 2021.

The team isn't good enough and we should all realise that as a fact. The behaviour of the crowd can certainly help the players on occasion, but if they can't perform due to a lack of overall ability, there's little we can do about it, no matter how fickle the fans may be.

I must have been snoozing when a point off relegation and in free fall last year.

Without Bamford, Phillips and Cooper to name but 3, Leeds have found a way to adopt and they have scored 3 in both of their last two away games, indeed it's probably the case that they are better set up to play away from home with James playing up top.

Lampard needs to be brave and play all the new boys as some of those who have been around for the past 14 games look like beaten dockets at this stage.

Get behind the team on Saturday!

I won't be accepting of a point against a team one place above us in the league having played a game more than us.

3 points for me. Win this and our game / games in hand on those around us and we'll be fine.

I hope the manager isn't settling for a point and I certainly hope the players aren't going out with that mentality.

I'm very fearful after seeing how Leeds and Southampton performed last night that we could still be on 19 points at the end of the month, which will mean our fate will be sealed.

A losing mentality was allowed to set in after the Watford match, which is when Benitez should have been sacked, and certainly no later than after the RS embarrassment. However, as shown against Chelsea, our youngsters can play with energy and commitment and might now offer our best route to survival.

If the crowd gives its total support and encouragement and we get some of the luck we enjoyed against Arsenal, we can finally start to reverse the losing mindset and the slide towards oblivion. Saturday is for us no longer a six pointer, it's now effectively a 20 pointer.

Playing 4-3-3 (or 4-5-1 depending on how you look at it) is a must against Leeds. We have to stop them getting a grip of the game. And Van de Beek must start. The best way to protect a poor defence is to keep possession and be on the ascendancy as much as possible.

Our defenders are not that bad though. They are victims of the constant changes in tactics, formations and line-up. This has undone all consistency, understanding and their confidence is shot.

Remember how bad our defence was for the Wimbledon game. Once Joe Royle came in and got us organised and settled it all down, our defence was fine. Gary Ablett was not an attacking full-back but remember his run and cross for Amokachi in the FA Cup semi-final? It is all about confidence!

If we don't have a left-back available for Leeds, we have to play Kenny. He will give his all even when played out of position.

I do hope you are right and that the players are not settling for a point, however, looking at them at the moment there are some who appear beaten before they leave the dressing room.

Switching to other comments on the support. That is most certainly not in question. Had we been closer to the pitch on Tuesday, we'd have practically been on it.

The team has our support. I believe they have enough ability in them. That's what they are on the pitch and I'm in the stands. They need to match our level of commitment and passion.

But for shocking refereeing and the double injury blow we would have beaten NCL.

We can beat Leeds.

I also agree that Lampard probably thought our players were better than the results, but he's just discovered he was wrong - which is why he looked so shell-shocked after the match on Tuesday night.

I'm not sure even Big Sam could save us this season, let alone Lampard - who would probably be a great fit for us in any set of circumstances but a relegation battle.

- very poor at the back. Keane and Holgate are just not EPL level while Mina is never fit. You cannot rely on any of them. Coleman is clearly finished at the top level - anyone can see this apart from whoever is in the managers office! What does Patterson have to do to get a game?!

- players who just aren't good enough or do not have enough intensity/desire to play for us. Andre Gomes is a classic example - he is just not an EPL midfielder. too weak, too slow and not enough passion.

- a habit of making costly mistakes every game and generally shooting ourselves in the foot. Conceding before half-time against Villa and letting that quick equaliser in against Newcastle being prime examples

- managers who are obsessed with only having 2 people in midfield and trying to get our bang average players knocking it around like the Dutch team of the 1970's. It's never going to happen!

I like the new manager and think we have to stick with him, whatever happens. If I was him I would seriously be looking at bringing in some of the younger players from U-23's into the first team. Dross like Holgate, Gomes and Keane have had their chance and look where we are - why not give some of the young lads a go? Can't really do any worse can they!

What characterised our performance on Tuesday was the fatal perception that everything had to be done in a hurry. In our situation, perhaps counter- intuitively, we need to slow down. That’s how we’ll save ourselves.

But It’s your middle para that scares me, Eddie - we need Richie and DCL to step up to the plate; we need Dele and Donny to step up to the plate. Add to that we need Allan to shore up the midfield. And Holgate and Keane to stop panicking. And, and, and…

Time passes slowly for the condemned man. Roll on Saturday.

In Frank we have to trust.

I'm totally confused by some posters, I realise the gravity of the situation, but we're not yet rooted to the bottom and cast adrift of the rest of the league, and no match is a foregone conclusion, unless you are City or the other lot playing against most of the division.

I can't remember Evertonians being so pessemistic about the teams chances particularly prior to a home game against would be fellow strugglers not the European Champions or runaway league leaders. Lord knows what it will be like on here prior to the next home encounter with Manchester City.

There are so many posters almost wishing us to go down so they can say they are right.

We have been decimated by injuries this season but still have 51 points available to us and 3 games in hand of a poor Brentford side.

IMO if we get 17 points from 17 games ( a very slight improvement on our record to date) we will be safe in fact I will be shocked if we go down. There I have said it.

The one big factor is the patience and support of the fans. It will not be easy as we have to allow the manager and staff time to find a winning setup and formula but I have every confidence they will do it.

Benitez wastes 29 million on 2 novices, when Everton badly needed another at least another centre half and another player with premier league experience.

The players on the pitch can't pass the ball to each other without giving it away.

The injury list keeps getting longer. It's the better players who are getting injured.

Total agree about the bullying but in my opinion it was the Newcastle fans who led the charge, until their equalizer it was a totally shite football game but we were well in it. After the equalizer their fans led the vocal charge, Shelvey got away with that shocking tackle and we were now seriously on the back foot.

I was at most games in 94 and 98 seasons when we danced with relegation but our support, home and away, was putting it lightly, fucking mental. For me the fans got Everton over the finishing line, as both those teams were poor compared to what we have sitting in the dressing room today.

Keane and Holgate are probably in for Saturday, there is not much anyone can do about that. However, I cannot see how Gomes can play coz he was just totally fucking gash. But whoever plays we have to be united and support the team, we have to generate the noise that lets the players know we are right behind them. We cannot let Leeds, their players and their fans bully us, because that is exactly what they are going to do.

I read that in the Echo. This calling for fan support thing is going too far now, and sounds like desperation. Very unprofessional.

Let’s look at it another way. If DCL had not missed those two sitters against Leeds, or not missed the penalty against Brighton, or how about the penalty we should have been awarded against Spurs (yeah, I know, still had to score it), or if Yerry Mina had timed his run against Man Utd a fraction later, then we could have been about seven points better off.

For the weekend, I would play Branthwaite alongside Keane, as Holgate is a complete liability. Branthwaite played well against Chelsea in his only full game so far, and deserves a chance. I would also give Patterson a run. The game I watched the other week when he played for the U23’s he looked promising, and could form a good partnership with Anthony Gordon down the right hand side. Could the importance of the game be too much for him though? He definitely should have been given a decent run out against Brentford to see how he shaped up.

There are a few big decisions for Frank and his staff to make for this weekend, but I have faith they will get it right, and I’m optimistic we can get out of this hell hole of a mess. 🤞🤞🤞

- Pickford
- Kenny
- Mykolenko (assuming fit)
- Mina (assuming fit)
- Branthwaite
- Allan
- Holgate (in midfield as a stop gap)
- VDB
- Townsend (assuming Gray not fit)
- Gordon
- Richarlison (assuming DCL not fit)

We don't have bags of options unfortunately. I just can't stand Gomes either.

Yes, Holgate got absolutely roasted by St Maximin, but I reckon that Keane would have fared even worse. Keane has been a big part of the problem all year, let’s not build him up as a solution.

Burnley 5pts behind played 1 game less
Watford 4pts behind played 1 game more
Norwich 2pts behind played 2 games more
Newcastle 1pt behind played 1 game more
Brentford 4pts ahead played 3 games more
Leeds 3pts ahead played a game more

I think our position looks better than most of these and on the whole I think our squad is much better than any of these clubs.

Personally it doesn't feel like that to me. We've lost to most of those teams around us and our form is perhaps the worst of the lot, so we lack that crucial ingredient, momentum. Lose to Leeds and I think we are then evens at best to go down.

I like Lampard but worry whether he has the nous to get this bunch of misfits to shape up in time.

It absolutely is. One win since September.

Massive game Saturday. That point against Chelsea feels like an age ago.

G) Begovic
LB) Mykolenko
CB) Branthwaite
CB) Keane
RB) Coleman
CM) Allan
CM) Van de Beek
LW) Richarlison
AM) Townsend
RW) Gordon
F) Calvert-Lewin

Just one win would do wonders for confidence. Spend all week concentrating on defending as a unit as we have plenty of players who can score.

Terrifyingly we play Premier League games without a defence or midfield. The keeper is always ready to throw one in at crucial times Keane, Holgate and Coleman are simply not Premier League standard and the Gomes/Allan combo are as mobile as my garden wall.

It's down to hoping Gordon, Van de Beek, Alli and the new full back don't catch the "Everton 19" virus and we wing it to safety. Just can't see it.

They are simply soft feckers who can't play with the slightest knock. Most footballers are never really 100% fit and many play with some degree of pain most of the time. To see Mina lying on the ground like he did when Newcastle were in a dangerous position, I would have expected him to have a serious injury.

The fact that he was up a few seconds later contemplating playing on told me he wasn't really that badly hurt at all and at the time of the injury, he should have got to his feet and tried to help his team until the ball went out of play.

For that reason alone I have a lot more respect for Michael Keane than Mina. Keanehas many faults but he makes himself available for selection and stays on the pitch unless seriously injured. Mina likes to make us think he is up for a battle but hasn't got the guts or the heart.

Face up to the Leeds game, but learn from the repeat mistakes being made on the park, communication, pp passing, movement, marking, ownership and leadership on the park.

But attitude, effort and belief is needed as this is more than a flirt with relegation, the clock is running and the games are running out.

Hope eternal, and to start the fight back v Leeds.

I, deep down, do not believe we will be relegated. However, I take the foolish view that if I fret about it, predict it, consider every disastrous possible outcome, then it won't happen. My superhero alter ego is Worst Scenario man.

Expect the worst in a positive way! That will save us.

I have not been back since 2012, mostly because of a heart condition that I have had repaired, plus all the travel restrictions. I write my opinions on games but get a better perspective from people who attend the games because I believe that you see more at an actual game than on TV.

Although I was against Benitez, mostly because of his style of play, I thought he may have been able to stabilize the club, but he did not.

I don't know if there is any manager that was available, could have guaranteed to be able to get us out of this mess, and I class Lampard as a risk manager. In saying that, I think he has got a really experienced backroom staff that should help him improve the squad.

In his defense, he has only been here for 2 weeks in which he had to plan 2 games, the first against a standard Premier League team and another fighting relegation. Both games demonstrated to him the task that lies ahead, mainly the midfield and the back 3/4.

The major problem is our injuries that usually end up as 4/5 weeks out and with the number of games coming up this is becoming a problem as one of the fights against relegation will be determined by goal difference.

Regardless what a lot of people are saying, I don't believe in the saying that a team is too good to go down. Everton can not afford to go down.

The couple of games Lampard has overseen, his tactics seem to be keeping the ball on the ground, short passing, and balls quickly fed to the forwards. This is good if you have the players to do it, and hopefully the new signings can help.

As I said, I believe Lampard is a risk signing, and I think he may be able to get us out of this mess and stabilize the club for the future, but not like the previous manager, but by playing with a style that Everton supporters can relate to.

End of an old man's moans.

I'd play 5 in the midfield as that is where we are losing many of our games, with the caveat that a few of them are to break and join attacks.

Some might say we deserve relegation after the catastrophic wasting of hundreds of millions of pounds in recent years and general circus act we have become.

Fingers crossed we get a result against Leeds and start turning things around.

Interesting selection with Begovic instead of Pickford. I do wonder how much of our trouble defending set-pieces is down to the fact that Pickford is not a commanding figure in his box.

It would be interesting to see if Begovic would make a difference; unfortunately Pickford is not likely to be dropped anytime soon.

We can't win league games at the moment, we have lost the last 4 against poor opposition. If you're not worried now, tell me when you will be?

We need to get a back 4 that works together as unit. I don't know how anyone can pick Keane or Coleman as they've been the root of our problems. Dunc had it right, there's always a goof-up with these in the line-up.

I think that Keane must be a hell of a player in training but, when the real game starts, he goes to pieces.

Play Kenny or Patterson, Holgate, Branthwaite and Mykolenko, let these guys grow together. Holgate is a leader, I know most don't rate him but he's way better than what else is available now. We need a leader back there, It's more important than how he actually plays he can't be any worse than that lamppost Keane who will get killed against pace and movement.

The back line needs communication, speed and to be able to anticipate the play. Leeds have speed up front and on the wings, we need to match that.

I also hope that the formation changes to a 4-5-1 or a 4-1-4-1 – we've got to protect the middle of the pitch and have a deep-lying midfielder to protect the back line like a Carsley or Barry role.

I also hope that, once our attacking players get fit and get more familiar with each other's movement, we'll start scoring. The passing was terrible vs Newcastle, the balls were either short or not in the right angle or lane of the attacker.

I think that once we click on the attack, there is lots of goals in this team, we can be dangerous and play some exciting footy, it's just got to mesh, and the sooner the better – time's a ticking...

Leaders lead by example, with their performances and personality. Holgate's performances are erratic and he gives off a persona of being casual bordering on lazy. He is not the slowest player on our team but his reaction time is incredibly slow.

That back four Patterson, Keane, Branthwaite, and Mykolenko has to be given a chance now Mina is injured.

Robert, The midfield options are dire. I think we need a midfield three: Allan (in poor form) Van de Beek (could be a game changer if played from the start in a midfield 3), then another you suggest, Holgate, would he be any better than Gomes?

Maybe… but far from ideal, and Gomes played quite well against Brentford. On balance though he's far, far too slow to be playing against the hyperactive Leeds side.

Whether Holgate is the answer as the DCM in that three, god only knows. It's this slot that l wanted filled in January, it was much more important to get the midfield fighter in than Dele Alli. It's the failure to get this player that will hurt us most these last 17 games. We need bite, fight, and pace in midfield.

I'm not having a go at Dele Alli as I think he will come good, problem is he needs games and we can't afford to give him time just now. He looks to me that he needs three or four matches to get up to speed or a full pre-season.

So it's either Gomes, Holgate or Gbamin to choose from in that last slot if it's a 4-3-3 / 4-5-1.

Gomes slow, Gbamin (What does Frank and make of him? He's been fit again for months and can't get a sniff, even when we are seriously depleted) he cannot be the answer. Then Holgate in the role doesn't exactly inspire confidence either.

Still not ideal by a long way but how about having Coleman on the right side of a midfield three rather than any of the above?

Pickford
Patterson Keane Branthwaite Mykolenko
Coleman Van de Beek Allan
Gordon Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Gbamin was bought for exactly the position we need - and had some classy touches against Hull I thought. But I assume he's finished from a physical point of view.

Next season I want a ferocious midfielder sat in front of that defence - and I want a ferocious centre back right in the middle of it alongside Branthwaite.

I am a fan of Seamus Coleman the man, the person and as a player, he gives his all, but I am so fucked off with him and others coming out with the usual bullshit.

We are seriously weak at the back and have been for as long as I can remember, our senior centre-halves – Keane, Holgate and Mina – have never been near good enough. How the fuck this not been addressed is incredible.

Our midfield also is very weak – no creators, no pitbulls, no leaders. The two new guys… who knows?

I watched the game again today and how the fuck Shelvey wasn't sent off for that tackle makes me fucking crazy mad, it was a deliberate action of stopping Gordon and trying to injure one of our dangermen at the same time. The dirty fucker should never have got away with it. The referee bottled it and the grinning Eddie Howe didn't really see it!

What is even worse is our players just accepted the ref's decision – another sign of weakness, By the way, what's the point of fucking VAR if the ref doesn't get a word in his ear? Fucking absolute joke.

Our players should have been hounding Taylor at half-time, as should our manager – we shouldn't be accepting poor decisions like that.

There is no doubt that the crowd got to Pickford and this happens all the time when we play them – the Barcodes know they can get to him.

We are in serious trouble, in my opinion; I'm not looking forward to Leeds!

I also think we need to stick to one system, but unfortunately the 3-4-3 is no good without Godfrey and Mina fit. So for me it's 4-3-3 and asking Alli and Van de Beek to try and convert to box-to-box. Both have the class, the question is whether they have the heart. Please Lord, give them the heart!

Horrendous decision to drop Gordon if Gray is fit, but it's like Jura vs Glenfiddich, sometimes you've just got to pick.

Pickford
Patterson Keane Branthwaite Mykolenko
Alli Allan Van de Beek
Gray Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Whilst we have been losing all of our games, the teams around have been picking up points, albeit very slowly. Even a draw would be a positive result right now just to get the confidence back because, at some point in the coming fixtures, we could be on the end of severe maulings by Liverpool and Man City.

I don't know what formula Lampard is going to come up with to get a result but he could do no worse than ask Fat Sam how best to set this fragile defence up. The midfield is piss-weak and he knows he can't play Gomes again – otherwise we're doomed. We need everyone to work their bollocks off and not take risks.

We can't afford to lose this game.

If we keep picking the same players who have shown not to be up to it consistently, then we will continue to get the same results. Doesn't matter what formation you play.

I know our squad is thin but we have to try some new players and discard the regulars who have proved to be not good enough. Go to the U23s if you need to and find a few gems in key positions from there.