Premier League — Matchweek 21

That Palace free-kick reminded me of Leighton Baines!

Palace struggle to score, but the way they play, considering the squad they had 2 years ago, just shows what progressive management can do.

They are inconsistent, the struggle to score, but they play football that supporters can get behind.

And what a free kick!

Just watched Harry Kane about to pull the trigger. Within seconds he was surrounded by 4 players like a swarm of wasps protecting the hive.

City concede because they're pissing about at the back again.

Spurs now 2 up!!!

Ederson with the assist again! 2 in 2 minutes!!!

Ederson is one crap keeper.

I wonder if they will fire Pep, and maybe they will be another team after Pickford?

Rare to see this from City.

Boos ringing out at the Etihad on the half-time whistle.

Will the mainstream media report the boos? Thought only Everton did that…..

City off sorts for weeks now.

Tottenham ironically doing Arsenal a favour.

Gaps in midfield. Sound familiar?

Great hard work by Kane for that second.

Hate this playing from the back by keepers.
Just get it out the danger zone.

I can't see Haaland ever breaking Dixie's record.

Dave, I agree with you. Do we ever see a week without a mess-up by otherwise very good keepers?

It's not their forte, big guys that mostly can't adjust their feet quickly enough and aren't outfield players.

Bill, great isn't it. Never to be beaten :-)

Nick,

Danny's friends (The Beeb) say "Jeers of frustration from Manchester City fans but a lot of that was aimed at referee Simon Hooper."

So that's yes and no.

City will win this now.

2-2😳

Football eh?

Grealish shoulda belted that in.

City turned up for the second half.

I wonder if Pep can tell Lampard what he said at half-time?

Well. We have a match.

Ferguson to Blackpool supposedly.

What a 20 minutes of the 2nd half.

Poor by Lloris again. Should never be beaten on your near post like that.

3-2

Through the eye of a needle.

Brilliant by Mahrez.

Has history repeated its self with Man City? Malcolm Allison had a very good team that were more or less where Arsenal are now.

So the addition of another very good player must make it even better... Enter Rodney Marsh, proving that No! was the answer.

A hard-working, unsung, 'Water Carrier' (Connor?) was ousted and the mercurial undoubtedly gifted Marsh was In: Total team balance upset – City lost the League that was theirs in all but name only.

50 odd years on and we have Erling Haaland.

What a half time team talk!

Am I correct that we passed an opportunity for Mahrez and went for Sigurdsson instead?

Bill, you may be right about Dixie, but it was nearly 90 years ago. But a record that may never be beaten but unfortunately pointless given our current predicament.

Gundogan for Gundogan.

Mahrez M.O.M

Joe I was just getting at these pundits who kept saying he was on track to beat Dixie's record

Unbelievable team. Best in this country by a country mile. Probably the best in Europe as well.

Instead of the no-hopers, never will be's, has beens, Man U rejects etc… that we are always linked with, any chance we could get any of those Man City players?

Steve Walsh found Mahrez, for Leicester, but along with Koeman, Moshiri and Kenwright, did a lot of fucking damage to Everton.

City's bench tonight………..Walker, Ruben Diaz, Phillips, Cancelo, Laporte, De Bruyne, Ortega, Bernardo Silva and Foden. Just 2 short of a team that would probably beat most other teams. God knows what that bench tonight is worth?

Why was Steve Walsh so bad Tony? He found Gueye didn't he? Who brought in Sigurdsson for 45m? And Rooney? And who wanted Klaasen? Who sold Lukaku (and Stones) and never replaced him? Good clubs that are well run don't just hand over millions and millions to a manager, like it was the 70's or 80's. They have a plan….Moshiri came in and we had no plan, all thanks to Bill who thought he knew better. If he was so good he should have put the brakes on but he didn't did he?!

When you think about it for a minute, then how are clubs supposed to get close to City, if the league, won't let very rich owners, bankroll their club?

The road to success, has been reduced into a very narrow path, but we have been there before, and survived for many years with nepotistic poisoning, so I'm sure we will rise again, and much quicker than anyone can envisage🤞🙏

I'm still shaking my head at the time Walsh, turned up in Italy, carrying a big leather briefcase, thinking he was Tom Hagen.

95 years, Joe

Ha, before my time Dennis.

David (24) Ferguson? It might be even worse for Blackpool I think Mick McCarthy has been given the job.

If Bill Kenwright is watching Pep tonight, listen to what he says you fat fucking parasite.

There is a man just like Alex Ferguson who is a fucking winner and who doesn't rest on winning 4/5 PL's but wants to continue to win BECAUSE THAT IS HIS DUTY TO THE CLUB AND ITS FANS.

What do we have - “we've had some good times” Bill Kenwright.

One FAC final in 28 years.

FUCK OFF KENWRIGHT. JUST GO. NOW

City, are a different class, on that showing, and Pep knows his players strengths and weaknesses better, than most managers.

I think that performance will turn them up and consistent for the second half of this season, to slug it out with Arsenal, and win the title.

Soree!

Derek #29

If that's correct...my memory is shot.

As I recall it...City weren't particularly good but brought in cigar smoking, gold clad Malcolm Allisson who spent a lot of money on players who weren't that good. If I had to draw an historical parallel...I'd pick Koeman coming to Everton.

And although it's early days...I see Haaland to City as possibly more similar to Lineker coming to Everton.

City went through the gears after what I presume was a half time rocket in the proverbial. Notwithstanding, they just showed how good they are in comparison to a team challenging for Champions League.

Different class when they turn it on. I love watching Gundogan. 32 years old and still performing and purring like a Rolls-Royce.

Have to respond Michael @17 as the BBC has irritated me again on several counts this morning. I think I may be getting old and grumpy.

City leading wolves 1-0. Haaland the scorer, but how on earth were City not awarded a penalty for a foul on Grealish? We thought our (non) penalty against city last season was a stonewaller, well this was about as stonewall as you can possibly get. Grealish knocks the ball past a defender and gets a boot down his calf for his troubles, as well as being tripped. Referee not even referred to the pitch side monitor. What exactly do these VAR officials see that they cannot think that's a penalty?

Jason Mcateer saying 75% of Manchester City's games are boring and tedious. Richard Keys moaning that City are playing walking football and if he was at home he'd be watching Leeds v Brentford. I can only imagine they are trying to be controversial. It's not one of City's vintage performances, but Wolves have literally every player behind the ball and haven't entered the opponents penalty area, and City had an energy sapping comeback game on Thursday. I thought it was a stonewall penalty on Grealish, but the panel felt it wasn't a foul.

Mcateer is a rs. He criticises everyone except his beloved rs. Keys just dislikes everyone by the sound of it. Punditry alongside, VAR, referees, free agents, agents, bling, social media, wags, corporate sponsorship, prawn sarnies, lfc, female commentators (some of them are decent pundits), Jim White, martin Tyler etc…. Have killed my love for the game.

Oh and, bill fucking Kenwright, Moshiri and that woman with her ‘Operation Goodison' announcements.

Wolves getting battered. They and Bournemouth have notably worse goal difference than us.

In our grief, we should not lose sight of how bad some around us are (yes, including those who have beaten us).

This is still all to be contested. We need to lift our heads out of our arses - all of us.

To classic simple excellent goals, one each for Arsenal and Man Utd.

Who knew it was so simple, so easy to score such wonderful goals? Frank???

Michael, it's about confidence too, but you are absolutely right about simplicity. It's true in everything we do.

Enjoyable half of football, Arsenal are a bit frenetic, but no less enjoyable to watch because of it.

Zinchenko more like a midfield string puller than a left back, he shows up all over the pitch getting involved

Nketiah is another player Lampard wanted but Arsenal refused a loan deal. Lampard has always been linked to the right players, we just have been incapable of supporting him.

Watching Arsenal vs Manure a proper game of Premier League football unlike the dross that has been served up by our pathetic 11 since Christmas.
I think Arsenal appointed Arteta the day we sacked Silva, we have had 3 permanent and 2 interim managers in the intervening 3 years, shows what you can achieve with a bit of patience and faith. Surely we must have been close to getting Arteta.

Great game this.

You'd get pretty good odds on us to beat Arsenal

Any ideas why after all the years with us Arteta prefers Arsenal to us ?? I could never understand how he was all about the arse with hardly any mention of us at all ??

Cracking game.

I know it's really sad but right now I would be happy with a 3-2 defeat to the Gunners if we played with the same passion that Manure just have.

Tony @58
You'd get pretty good odds for Everton to beat Aldershot never mind Arsenal. Surprised me when the commentator mentioned it's 19 years since the Gunners last won the title. They will be hard to stop with those energetic young players. I'm not sure if the commentator said it was Arsenal's youngest Premier League [average age] line-up today or the youngest ever Premier League line-up, it must be the former I would think?

Terry - maybe you sort of answered it. Those years here is probably why; he had plenty of chance to understand Kenwright and how it all "works".

Well after watching that game I think next week Everton should just bite the bullet and put their youth team out./ And then you realize we drew with City at their ground., what a crazy league.

Terry@59, as frustrating as it is Arsenal are a different world to Everton. Regular Champions league football, PL champions 3 times and have won the FA cup a crazy amount of times, and something like 8 times since our 1995 win. Oh and The Emirates Stadium.

Bill @65
Next week we'll be fine, it's the week following we all have to worry about. Mind you Everton v Arsenal has some very good and very bad memories for Evertonians, so you never know.

Barry, that team is just getting started, what a squad. Trossard immediately looking like he belongs.

Michael #51

It is amazing what you can accomplish when you actually have a shot on goal, especially in a premier game and not just at F.F.

I think we'll beat Arsenal. I spotted chinks in their armour. Gueye hattrick.

Joe #66, when Arteta was appointed I'm pretty sure Arsenal were 12th and I don't know the exact figures but I'm fairly sure that their net transfer spend isn't that different to ours in the intervening 3 years.

The Gooner's now have the big MO. as the Yanks say...a very good side in the making.

I see both Dack and Shankland scored too...wish we fucking could,just seen Hammer's goals,so poor at the back and again so sloppy with our passing!

The misery continues...

Colin, put the bottle down now, that's enough.

Colin, please just stop✋

I can only cling to my delusions, Will. They're all I've got left.

Remember when Arteta started at Arsenal and Morgan led the hate campaign against him? The fans booed him and Twitter went into meltdown after each Arsenal game? Could Lampard ever turn things around like Mikel did? I suppose we'll never know.

I'd rather have you in our dugout than Lampard Colin...at least your positive!

Stephen (56) - And signing a list of first-rate talent. Arteta no more has a magic wand than any other manager.

One thing I notice from his time with us. His players are fit for all 90 minutes.

Terry (59) - He had a choice in 2019 between managing Arsenal or managing Everton. I doubt it was a tough decision. Plus, maybe he's a grudge-holder.

The one thing I remember about Micky playing for Arsenal was after that 3-0 win when Roberto came and Arteta scored that OG for us. Whenever he touched the ball, he was booed, which I thought odd.

At that point, Moyes had already said that the "Arteta money" went to the banks. Hardly Arteta's fault. But I remember him being booed that game. And afterward, Micky was boiling mad about something and Baines was trying to talk him down from it.

He DOES speak well of Moyes and what he learned under him too, not just Pep.

Anyway, great game today between Arsenal and ManU.

Have to hand it to him, Colin, he's a real deal coach/manager for sure.

I never have expectations against Arsenal. I know we've had results but they are a bogey team for sure - I fear how the next game could go. But, you never know. They will eventually lose and we will eventually win.

Arteta's team definitely reminded me more of Arsenal under Wenger, than they do of a Guardiola side. Arteta also definitely looks like he's trying and succeeding in bringing about a great team spirit. Arsenal's players are definitely starting to feed off the Arsenal supporters, and this is what Everton's players have got to do. They only have to fight, and we will respond.

Stating the obvious here, Arteta hit success when he identified Auba and Laca as the problem and got rid. Then his plans were followed.

I only caught the last 20 minutes.

Great game.

I have to admit, Arteta has surprised me, but when I look at it, it seems he planned his post playing career out very well. Focussed, meticulous and passionate. Schooled under the best.

I take my hat off to him for proving me wrong. I had a suspicion he was a good number two but might struggle in the pilot's seat.

Oh and he's at a functional club. That helps!

Everyone's bubble and run of form has to burst at some point. Here's hoping for that turn next time out both for Everton and Arsenal.

Barry (62) while miracles do happen it is sad how far ahead of us so many of these teams are.

For example, the best modern sides are very fast and effective on the break. Players can control a ball coming at speed and use it to effect. We lumber around in midfield, any 'strikers' we have give up making runs, and eventually the ball gets passed back. Often we then lose it through an unforced error and we're chasing the game again.

It also helps when you've got fast, clever players like Saka, Martinelli and Odegard.

Throw in the beast that is Partey and Zinchenko and Jesus and you have a top quality squad compared to our bunch of misfiring wasters and rejects and nearly men

And Ancellotti couldn't wait to leave once he identified our problems

Tony@84, correct one of the most successful managers in the game, escaped at the first opportunity (after taking many millions of course).

For what it's worth, I do like Scott Parker. He is passionate and has a record of promotion from the championship and his teams are not all hoof ball. But any manager is going to struggle with this weak squad.

For me Odergard is the key to them doing so well, just like Bruno is driving the Toon, and De Bruyne drives city. Successful teams have threats down both sides, and in the middle both offering it and orchestrating it.

We're so obsessed with wingers, we neglect just how important the proper number 8 / number 10 is. We had a pretty poor man's version in the Icelander who can't be named, but since he's gone we've nose dived. I don't believe it's a coincidence at all. He was a threat and he therefore took players away from the wide men. Stop Gray and you stop us.

Iwobi, despite showing bits now and again is not an answer for it. Frank has put all his eggs in the Iwobi basket after Dele and VDB failed, and it's a spectator mistake. If there's one position I hope we strengthen (outside needing real modern fullbacks) it's this position. Kudus / ndiaye or someone similar please!

We should have worked out a deal whereby Davide stayed and Carlo managed remotely by phone. We would be in a better place.

James # 77. Arteta leaving was another BK smokescreen, just like Rooney. I have far more respect for Arteta than I have Rooney, but BK knows how to cast the villain, just like Richie last season I suspect

I see the Italian Dinosaur fanboys are rewriting history. Conveniently forgetting losing to Liverpool's Youth Team and also about 7 home games in a row in his last 6 dreadful months.

Ian, I agree. Imagine the "Messiah" Pep with this team - I would rather watch reruns of Eldorado than that boring rubbish, and we'd still lose

Arsenal v Man u - now that is the standard of Premier League games I want to watch

Italian Dinosaur? Jesus Christ.

Ancelotti saw what the players were. When James wasn't able to stay fit, he realised that the team was absolutely incapable of creative attacking play, and he changed system to maximize. We finished mid table.

He jumped ship and went on to win the Champion's League and La Liga with Real Madrid.

Two successive managers with the same players took us to relegation battlers, and now relegation fodder.

Ancelotti was a glamour manager and with hindsight, was absolutely not what we should have gone for, we needed a good manager who would build something and Ancelotti was never going to stay for a long time.

But to call him a Dinosaur? jesus, hindsight has shown just how bad this team is and he was getting so much more out of it despite the problems.

If Ancelotti isna dinosaur, what the heck is Lampard?

He called the players two faced cowards. He was spot on.

I didn't think it would be you but I knew there would be incoming for that

Have you had a latte today Ian?

I didn't think it would be you but I knew there would be incoming for that

Have you had a latte today Ian?i

Ian E, you're a contrarian my friend. Keep it up, it makes me chuckle.

I think odregard played more one - two's today, than our team have played all season, Gary.

He just Ran, Passed and moved, and was constantly and cleverly recycling the ball, and it must have been very infectious to every Arsenal fan inside the stadium.

Everton recycled the ball well for 20 minutes yesterday, but had nobody in the wide areas to really go and get at West Ham, and then once the hammers, started closing the space and playing with more aggression, it just became so easy for them.

Everton slowly wilted, and just didn't really have any answers, once West Ham, started getting a little foothold in the game, and then the composure went out of our game very quickly and the simple mistakes also started.

We lacked professionalism, became sloppy and just didn't know how to respond, and this was a really bad sign, that screamed “has anyone really got the guts for a fight”

Once this happened I was just waiting for West Ham to score, and already had a sickening feeling in my stomach

Ancelotti an Italian dinosaur...don't make me laugh.
Its not as if he's won anything since leaving Everton is it.

I think I remember us beating Liverpool for the first time in how long at Anfield.

How do you view that loss too Liverpool's youth team Ian?

I've viewed mine previously and happy to do so again but would be interested in yours.

Moyes' run in to the coveted Champions' league qualification was awful and only happened because of the failure of others. Yes, you can only beat what's around you, but it wasn't great.

Since leaving us, the Dinosaur has won La Liga and the Champions League.

Like many managers, I don't think Ancelotti is or was the cause of Everton's problems.

According to sky sports, the Everton board are undertaking a “review” of why the previous review turned to shit. They do love a review our lot, don't they.

If Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland were still around instead of saying, let's put on a show they'd be saying, “let's have a review”! Absolute clowns this shower.

The Italian dinosaur knew his bosses were completely round the bend, and also never had a clue.

He took a £5 million pay cut and scarpered, with one of those clauses in his contract that must have made him feel like Santa Claus!

If it's to be believed, there are no relegation clauses in our current players contracts. If Everton go down the answer to that question about what will Everton do? Will obviously be go into fucking administration.

Seven managers, two caretakers, and the same lunatics in the boardroom, suddenly started talking about stability. Unfuckinbelievable.

Moshiri's managers;

Martinez - skilled at taking teams down by way of planned negligence.

Koeman - talented only with players signed by an excellent DoF such as Les Reed who worked wonders at Southampton. Instead Moshiri saddled us with Steve Walsh.

Sam Allardyce - ripped Moshiri a new one, pay-wise.

Silva - hoodwinked into the job but soon discovered the awful truth re our vacuous "leadership".

Ancelotti - left the moment he too realised he'd been hoodwinked.

Benitez - did appreciably better than our Frank, with next to no money.

Frank - long since realised what all his predecessors realised when it comes to whomever it is that impersonates ownership and accountability.

It's a grim CV - someone/s deserve the sack.

There were a couple of other no-marks whose names escape me, They apparently worshipped Kenwright.

Colin 95 the voice of reason!

Colin, don't worry, I'm sure the board will have a meeting tomorrow to discuss the findings that came out of the review.

In the cold light of day though Don, none of those managers ever really played 4-4-2, except for that Italian dinosaur, who changed his system from a very boring and dull, but effective 4-5-1, and started trying both Richarlison, and DCL, together up front. All of a sudden the team started sinking like a stone, and he was off.

This “Getting beat by Liverpool's youth team” is wearing a little thin. Their team for that day was……

.Adrian (8), Milner (4), Gomez (7), Phillips (7), Williams (7), Lallana (7), Chirivella (7), Jones (8), Elliott (7), Minamino (6), Origi (7). The number is brackets is the player ratings. That team only included THREE teenagers, Elliott, Williams and Jones, so hardly a youth team. The likes of Adrian, Milner, Lallana, Minamino and Origi had plenty of first team experience behind them. It was only the wasteful finishing by us for the reason losing that day, FFS, we should have been at least 3 up by half time. Yes, it was a very unfamiliar looking RS team, and yes, it probably was our strongest team, and yes we probably should have won, but it certainly was not “Liverpool's youth team”.

Ian

You are a disgrace to critics of Carlo's appointment.

He may have fleeced the club and forgot to take his slippers off while he was here. He was always the wrong appointment and yes, He did serve up football of the lowest scientific order...But Dinosaur ?
Not only is it an insult to all those older than him, its also a notion which has been blown out of the water since he went back to his silver spoon existence...

Get some meat on the bones lad.

Laughed out loud at the appropriately numbered post 101

Ancelotti Hoodwinked ????

Thats a bit like saying Tesco security guards hoodwinked Antony Worrall Thompson when they caught him sneaking out without paying for his South African Pinotage

Darren, why do you keep picking on Don Carlo Ancellotti? Probably the GOAT when it comes to managers. We were lucky to have him and he did miracles with a bunch of misfits. His squad was arguably weaker and more pathetic than this one, in fact it was.

Don Carlo was offered the world by our real owner on his boat in the Med only to find out later that kenshite had emptied Moshiri's piggy bank by buying Jenny a new handbag. The win at Mordor alone puts him amongst the three greatest Everton managers of all time imo.