Premier League — Matchweek 26

In between my usual rants at BBC Breakfast this morning, really interesting report on a young English manager (born in Belgium) doing well for himself at Reims in France. Ambitions to coach in England.

Here's a link to the website report.

Will Still: The 30-year-old English boss proving a hit at Ligue 1 Reims

Just thought I'd put it here for those interested in the broader football world.

That's an interesting story, Danny.

Reims have been producing / developing good players for a few seasons now – and Arsenal's Balogun is doing very well there on loan.

Didn't realise they had a very young English (Belgian) manager / coach.

One to keep an eye on.

Ivan Toney has been told that his imminent suspension from football due to his betting scandal won't start immediately, and he has told family and friends that he will be available for the forthcoming 1-1 draw game versus Fulham this coming Monday.

Wow! Where did our Ant learn that trick?

I bet he couldn't do that again if he tried.

Brilliant Rob - took me in that did! UTFT!

Well at least someone is scoring less goals than us, as the BT commentator keeps telling us

Shit. Bournemouth 1-0 against the Gunners after a goal inside the first 11 seconds

Amazing how other teams go away from home and don't completely shit themselves like we do.

Bournemouth instantly lead at Arsenal, we pat ourselves on the back because it was 0-0 after 40 minutes.

Potteur probably pissed his pants a little bit there. Should be 2-0 Chelsea look tight and Leeds playing for the counter so far

Joao did he nor get that in. Smashed off the crossbar. Potteur is sending an assistant to look for a gypsy psychic to lift the curse.

Danny and Robert, that's an amazing story. The kid is a football vagabond, just trying to break in and get a foothold somewhere, strange things keep happening, and he winds up running a Ligue 1 club without even having the job requirement of a UEFA pro license. How many clubs would pay a 22K fine for every game their manager works, just to keep him in the job? For that matter, how many would give such a young guy this shot in the first place? Good for Reims.

Just reading that Billing's goal is the second fastest in Prem history.

Wow, Chelsea really do look awful.

Onana said in The Echo today that Everton is a “mythical” club. Did we just conjure this all up from hearsay and legends?

can Bournemouth hold on? will Leeds knick a winner?

potential for a very very bad set of results for us here

Arsenal stats against Bournemouth are hilarious. 86% possession. 12 shots. Said it the other day but there isn't a team in all four divisions that gets as little luck as we do. Same with Southampton at Chelsea. We turn up and they turn into fucking Brazil with goals going in from everywhere. Every season. Jeezus Christ what is Glenn Hoddle wearing …..

Nick

It's hardly luck mate.

If possession won football matches Roberto Martinez would have won 20 league titles on the spin.

It's what you do with the possession you have and when you don't have possession can you defend like a professional football team and not like a bunch of pissheads coming out the Grafton like we do.

Ekoku saying O'Neil didn't expect that goal but it looked to me like they planned it. Five guys were on the left side of the center line at kick off and all sprinted into the box anticipating that cross from the right. I thought it was very clever catching Arsenal cold

Jim, I don't mean this season. Every season for 30 odd years. Name me once we've turned up at Arsenal, Chelsea et al and got lucky and/or they were shite.

Sod off Bournemouth. 0-2 FFS

Well worked corner from Bournemouth

Two goal lead. At the Emirates. Just our luck.

Victor Gyokores scores again I see. Playing at Coventry- half an hour from me- not considered good enough for Everton though. He will be when he's scoring against us next season.
Wasted millions on Maupey and could have had him instead, young,solid quick,powerful.
Like I say, pretentious Everton again. We only buy other clubs shite, and never look down the leagues. Moyes bought plenty of lower league stars for their clubs,and most did OK.
With the money has come ideas above our station and delusions of grandeur. What a fuck up. It needed a leader with a plan- we got the twat Kenwright.

Fuck off Arsenal!

Bournemouth playing cleverly. Deep defending and occasional counter attacks. Kind of how we tried to play under Frank but they are executing much better

Oh My days. B'mouth two up at the Arsenal. We need three points tomorrow

Arsenal pull one back.

2-2

Arsenal draw level.

I'm at a local Game - Horsham v Haringay - and so far I've met 5 Evertonian's I didn't know. ALL say play simms! UTFT

Arsenal giving me palpitations here

Arsenal on turbo charged heat now.

Strange feeling to be cheering like fuck today for a team that battered us in mid week. 🥴

Arsenal are in the mood. Surely they are going to score many more.

See West Ham struggling down 3---0

VAR switched off today, or is it a no pens for arsenal rule?

That's the fourth VAR review for an Arsenal penalty.

Chelsea have finally woke up. Come on Spurs!

It's certainly turning into an entertaining day. Chelsea still holding on.

Make that five!

Brian #32, you always have an eye for irony, mate!!

Irony is the most positive thing I can come up with lately Mike.

Wolves 1 up! 😩

RS will get 4th now you see,

Even a point for Bournemouth here however is a huge result sadly.

Wolves are practically out of it I think so they don't concern me.

Mainly a bad day for us, Leeds and West Ham.

Think I'd rather Leicester win later, can't see them going down.

Best comment today by the report on the Villa v Palace game.
Red Card. Doucoure gets his second yellow. Another late challenge from the Palace midfielder who catches Chambers on the studs with his shin

Bill lol

Bloody cheating Bournemouth kicking the ball at the Arsenal goal. Thank God we don't stoop to that kind of gamesmanship
.

West Ham 4 goals down

Bill

What is going on at WHU? On paper they should be nowhere near relegation. Surely it can't be all on Moyes?

Get In Arsenal

Arsenal win it all ... They are going to be champions with the character they are showing. But yes damage done at Wolves pulling away.

Finally

If the Arsenal game today shows anything it's the gulf in quality between us and...........

Bourneouth.

What a finish.

Wow.

Bournemouth really unlucky to lose but hey that's not our problem

Brilliant!

Now THAT'S Fergie time right there.

Well obviously Wolves result will see us relegated

There was so much time wasting by Bournemouth, they deserve everything they got………..FUCK ALL!

Only the Wolves result gone against us really - could have been a lot worse. Bournemouth showing fight.

Dale#59.
It's not the Wolves result that'll see us relegated, it's our own.

Kieran
not sure what is going on but after all he is their manager and definitely skating on thin ice. Apart from the Wolves game teams are staying in touch.

Rob, you're right, talk about Karma! Arsenal deserved their victory. Only the Wolves result was a bummer. Up to us tomorrow to make a difference.

Does anyone else think that the Arsenal assistant coach looks like an older Lucas Digne?

Brian if either Soton or Leicester win we are fucking done. Stick a fork in us. And a draw will only delay the inexorable I mean what's the point of even watching?

Dale, enough of the false optimism...

Saints would need to win by 3 clear goals to go above us. We are strutting our stuff at the very top of the bottom 3.

Every other team around us aren't going to get the results that we all want, but today hasn't been such a bad day for us has it? Obviously the only thing that matters is what we do and if we fail then that's tough and we have to accept it.

I honestly believe that a psychiatrist could make a fortune on this site, when other teams around us are ahead or level. This isn't a new thing from some it's been going on for absolute years, even when we were challenging for Europe.

By the time I tuned into the Arsenal game, they were already one down, but even though they weren't playing well and Bournemouth were battling like crazy, I stuck with the game and in the end Arsenal nicked all three points.

What I will say, is that Bournemouth showed how to battle, even if it was doomed to failure on the day, our team could learn a little from them on the road, because I still feel we have more quality than them, it's often the application that's lacking.

Barry, that lack of application, spirit and commitment etc, has been 90% of the problem for years.

Will, at least we're at the top of something, eh?

Mike, it's the perfect platform for tomorrow's progress - a real springboard.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Richarlison back on the bench for Spurs today, and got a measly five minutes towards the end, whilst Danjuma never got a kick today. Danjuma left Villarreal cos of a lack of games, and will no doubt return to Villarreal after his loan spell still with a lack of games. Richarlison must surely regret going to Spurs, but as they seemed to be the only team in for him last summer, at least he has got his wish to play a few minutes in the champions league. Can't see (NOT) big six club Spurs being in the CL next season.

Rob - shades of Pienaar so far but with even less game time.

Definitely, Will. I somehow doubt we will get him back though, even on loan. As for Danjuma, he could have got regular playing time with us. His move to spurs was only a loan move, and if Richarlison is struggling to get a game, then Danjuma had no chance. I doubt his move will be made permanent in the summer.

Iheanacho is the poster child of systems creating player value illusion. That's two goals prevented with his low football IQ.

the fact that Danjuma hasnt played, and that they played Moura in his place in the cup why the heck did spurs hijack the transfer? simply to do one over on us?

All in all, a mess that seems to've benefited almost no-one.

Often talk of sabotage signings which can sound crazy but this one has kinda got us on two fronts; you do wonder... not that we're a threat to them this year.

Fran - snap!

Southampton are very poor (still can't believe we allowed Lampard to continue so long that we lost at home to them).

Hopefully Southampton can get something in this game, we need Leicester and Palace and West Ham to remain in the relegation scrap more than we need the bottom team to be consigned to relegation.

Ward-Prowse misses a penalty.

Playing for a move ;-)

Fran, the draw is what we need; minimum points for all of 'em.

Yay for now. And if I may, Levy judges a successful acquisition by an increase in transfer value and he can hold a stable with the stature of managers he hires.

1-0 Southampton

Offside

Onside

Oh...

VARside.

not sure Will, I think I'd prefer a Southampton win. the teams below us aren't the issue, it's the ones above us we need to be concerned about.

If Leicester lose and we win tomorrow, we'll be just 1 point behind Leicester and 2 above Leeds, 1 above West Ham.

if we fall behind Southampton, we have no hope either way.

At some point we have to stop worrying about what other teams do and worry about what we do. All the results in the work don't matter unless we actually manage to score and win.

Fran 89. Wont the teams below us become teams that are above us if they keep winning? Shouldn't we be worried about that too?

Fran, it's getting awful tight either way... we'll be onto algorithms next.

A Leicester win for me. We're not good enough to haul the likes of Leicester in. It's Leeds and Forest we need to focus on, and hope Bournemouth and Southampton don't go on a run.

Correct, Chris, that's all we can really control. Surrounding failure is the next back-up/hope though.

Grant, like I said, if we fall behind the teams below us, were screwed and won't be saved by results of others.

as it stands, if bounemouth and Southampton lose every game from now until end of season, we still finish 18th. so for me, we should focus on getting more points than those above us.

Leicester are very much in it. They are massively dependant on Maddison,.and Rodgers has lost the fans, and it seems.the players.

On paper they're too good, but they keep losing and them going into a death spiral would be great for us.

West Ham will probably sack Moyes after that 4-0, I'd imagine they'll improve with a a new manager bounce - if they find a manager.

Leicester, it appears, won't sack Rodgers cause his pay off is too high and they're skint.

Leeds are our best best to go down in our place, but keeping Leicester, West Ham, and Forest, and Palace who are in a woeful spell, in the battle means we're always one win from survival. if too many get away, and it becomes a fight just between 2 teams, I fancy our chances much less.

Fran 95. You said if Leicester lose and we win we will be just a point behind them. You also said if we fall behind Southampton we have 'no hope either way'. What if Southampton win by enough goals tonight to over-take us? Are we screwed?

Fran, Leicester's owner has just paid off all their debts which will allow them to strengthen their team without worrying about P+S next season. They're far from skint. Covid affected the owners revenue but the appear to be sufficiently financially secure to reinvest in the club.

A concern for me is, we will have played a game more than most in the battle, after tomorrow; a position we generally haven't been in much in recent seasons, always seeming to have that spare game that we usually wasted.

Plenty on the plate for sure.

Grant, if we lose tomorrow and continue to, yes we are screwed.

results only go for us if we win if we win tomorrow, I think a Southampton win today suits us.

if we lose tomorrow, it doesn't matter about other results cause we'll go down anyway.

Fran 100. Alright then.

I've looked at the remaining fixtures and worked out we get 30 points. Sad times.

Reality is, both angles apply right now. We are in the bottom 3. We need more points over the remaining games than at least one team currently above us, and the two below. After tomorrow we have one game less than them to do it.

So we need to win tomorrow :-O

I still cant decide what is the best result for us in this Saints game, but I am leaning towards wanting a draw or Leicester win. I know Leicester will only have 24 points if they lose today but I just cant see us finishing ahead of them.

How many chances does Iheanacho need to score? He's missing chance after chance.

Ha always has, Rob, but that one was ridiculous. Absolute gift and he wasn't even close.

Need Leicester to win. Simple

Hardly matters though as we'll be cut adrift soon enough. Can't score won't score.

A draw works for me - that way a point disappears

Leicester, please get your act together, how many chances are you going to spew v Soton?

And the referee, needs to change his gigs, the fekkn Soton player Alcaraz,, should have been a straight red card for that lunge early doors.

Still hold firm, and believe, and tomorrow and Everton will beat Forest.

NB I've also a hunch West Ham, will dip soon, with their fixture pile up..

UTFTs!

Rob, Mike - he's so overrated.

I think it could be any three from palace in 12th who could go down. It's like a mini league of it's own now.

Geoff, the bookies don't agree. They seem to think it's the current bottom three, with Leeds and Forest the only other teams in the mix.

Danny #113. West ham are right in the mix.

I know mathematically we're not down but we really, really are desperately crap and objectively deserve relegation. Yet quite worryingly Everton players seem tremendously blaze' about the entire caper judging by comments I've seen.

I understand fans doing the "it'll be alright on the night" thing to preserve sanity but games are running out and the cushion of previous years when enough teams were guaranteed to be worse than us have gone. The Brentfords, Brightons, Wolves and others have upped their games beating us with some ease leaving us with nowhere else to go..

It just seems personnel at the club don't seem to understand the ACTUAL peril there's no urgency there is a gentle meander to defeats with nonsense like "we were fine for 40mins". I mean wtf???

Going down with a whimper I'm afraid.

I watched the Ars/Bournemouth match. They put up a far superior display against the Gunners than we did. To say tomorrow is vital is an understatement.

Julian, like at lot of grounds we've lost before the games actually starts. The club really does need a couple of psychiatrists, and has done for years. Does anyone know do we have a sports psychogist?

What Barry posted @115 is one of my concerns, with Mr Dyche, it's alright trying to keep things calm in the public arena, but surely it should be made clear to the players, how important it is for the club to start winning football matches on a more regular basis? We keep getting opportunities to build some sort of a run but it usually stops almost as soon as it begins. Tomorrow's game sees us effectively start the next round of fixtures, despite it being played on the same weekend as the other matches.

It's really difficult to assess which teams will eventually make up the bottom three teams this season, with only six points separating the bottom sides and Crystal Palace in 12th place. Any sort of good run could see any of the teams climb the table and onto safety, but can we do similar, we have to hope we can, and we really shouldn't indulge in self-defeatism, although it is the lack of goals that is responsible for that state of mind. Dyche's outward 'calmness' may work for the press conferences, but I'd much rather see some urgency out on the pitch from our players, can Dyche motivate them to show it?

I've liked some of the stuff people who know Dyche have said, but he can only do so much. These players have got to find it in themselves. They really shouldn't need motivating tomorrow.

Apart from their brief golden years around the turn of the '70s/'80s, Forest are a smaller, provincial club. Let's be EVERTON tomorrow.

Will@121. How about we don't be Everton tomorrow. We might win.

Everybody from Palace down are catchable. It's good if Bournemouth and Southampton keep winning as they're the two worst teams in the league.

The concern is that I honestly believe we're the 3rd worst team by some distance which means we will only stay up if teams above us don't get the points they should. Scary times.

Will@121, slightly harsh, those Golden years did bring 2 European Cups of course.

Paul, I meant traditional, real Everton.

Joe, I'm biased and unreasonable, what can I say.

Real Everton turned up against Arsenal at Goodison, just need them to overcome their travel sickness now.

UTFT!

All in all today's results went well for us, we need to capitalize on it tomorrow however and that's something we've failed to do in our recent history. A win would give Dyche a 50% win rate which would be fantastic, but we all know how poor our away form is.

The door is open to move up if we can just score against Forest

"Real Everton turned up against Arsenal at Goodison..."

They did - and that team for even most of the remaining games would save us, no problem.

Same players, same manager, same goal... so what's to stop us? Belief.

Will, the obvious answer as to what's to stop us is our pathetic lack of end product. We should have beat Villa but couldn't score, we should have beat Leeds by more. Pre-Dyche we should have beaten Wolves too but our forward players especially one now wearing stripes couldn't hit the net to save his life.

Will, the games away from home seem to strike the fear of god into our players. Overcome that and we will be ok.

Having said that, for the first 40mins at The Emirates we did ok and had McNeill scored with his chance in the second half we may still have salvaged something.

Neil, correct mate yes and we would have beaten Arsenal by more too. In fact it goes back to early season games against Forest at home and Leeds away in particular.

Watching the highlights before I head off. Really liking that Mac Allister Brighton player.

Okay, a slight adaption, but my mother's maiden name was McAlister!

Totally irrelevant, but he looks a really good player.

Safe journey, Danny. Hopefully see you in the ground.

COYB
FTRS

Satan's offspring now 3-0 up and heading for the Champions League as Spurs and the Bar Codes start to fade.

Oh dear and to make things even worse you know who gonna get CL 4th spot. Its so infuriating, they are everything we are not.

The shites game being reffed to a different standard to ours it's fucking criminal..doesn't want to issue reds or yellows, yet in our game yellows handed out like confetti...

All falling into place again for fucking Satans mob. The shower of twats

6 fucking 0 - unreal, please, you up there - do something

Man Utd played well for 40 minutes.

How can Gakpo cost less than Gordon? Our scouts/DOF got to at it in the future no matter what division we are in, we don't have Toons money to piss up the wall..

7-0 Thought united might of beat them today que 4-0 versus Madrid.

So far our point is the only point won by an away team this weekend. See Mr Moshiri and company, goalscorers score goals and win points, having none available leads to dropping points on an all too regular basis. Bet the bastards lose next Saturday lunchtime to make our lives harder,

These cretins will go on a run now and probably get 3rd. Horrid scumbags

Kunal, it's so frustrating but to score 6 PL goals in one half is just not known.

How I wish that score was the other way around.

Joe, for all the hate one thing they always do is buy quality forwards.

Another day in the life of Everton fans that just drives home the sheer size of the gulf in class between the two teams in the city.

We celebrate a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest which means we have now won 2 of the last 30 away games, while that lot twat United 7-0.

Hey ho though, we've got the new stadium on the horizon.

Unfortunately the last really decent striker we had was that gobshite of a director of ours. I'm 63 and was contemplating whether i'd live to see us win the league again, now its will we ever beat/play the shite agin FFS.

Kevin @149
I always thought Kenwright was over-rated, he was championship level at best :)

if you thought Klopp was insufferable before today .

Erik Ten Bob must have run over a nun on the way to Analfield.

I don't care what they have or or haven't done today.

I'm about three quarters of the way home from our match and until the wife messaged me, I'd hadn't realised they were playing.

More interested in Everton v Brentford rather than Lucifer's children

Make a note those of you who continually tempt the gods by writing the shite off the CL return leg will finish Madrid 0 - 4 Liverpool.

Absolutely nailed on.

Cheers Barry@154

I needed cheering up ffs. On second reading of your post - I see what you're trying to do there

Danny, what they did today matters but I really can't find the words to express why. It's like some sort of fucking witchcraft shit.

Anyone notice the other lot who had at least 3 goals as a result of unlucky deflections from Utd players? What a bloody lucky shower.

Andy (157),

True enough, I think we've got the anti-witchcraft bastard working for us!!

Did anyone notice how unfortunate deflections gifted the other lot at least 3 goals against Man Utd? Why don't we ever get that element of luck?

I was amused reading the article on the BBC about tonight's Brentford v Fulham fixture and reference to the Prawn Sandwich Brigade, stealing a Roy Keane reference from years ago.

Traditionally I believe the West London rivalry was viewed as Chelsea v Fulham, but I think that went years ago and most Chelsea fans don't even bother themselves about Fulham.

I know QPR fans that see Brentford as rivals. That makes geographical sense. But it looks as though a new rivalry is emerging in these part of the woods.

Very pleasant parts of the capital. Both located on the Thames and a really nice day out.

Okay, it doesn't sound as dramatic as El Classico, but The Prawn Sandwich Derby has a ring to it. Sadly, at least we can watch it without worry as it has no bearing on our season.

We've scored 19 goals all season and that lot scored 16 just in their home games vs Man Utd and Bournemouth.

Andrew @160
They only got six points for scoring that number of goals we've managed to earn 3 times that many for our paltry total. Just joshing!

I've been unkind to Tim Howard due to his bad threads and distanced Everton commentary but today he met the standard of a good pundit. Discussing the RS blowout he offered that Man Utd could not retreat to deep defending at 3-0 and 4-0 due to reputation and rivalry. I'll give him a chance from here as long as he doesnt cream for Leeds again

Just looked at the two teams tonight and genuinely believe if we had either Toney or Mitrovic up front we'd be top half too.

No other changes necessary! Am I living in cloud cuckoo land?

As I was typing, Brentford miss a sitter.

I was actually about to comment on the save from the Fulham keeper just before that.

What Pickford should have done yesterday and got a strong hand on it.

Another good save. Fulham number one keeping them in it early doors.

Brentford score within 5 minutes and it could have been 4 already.

Did Mike Tyson just hit that Brentford player

We ain't beating Brentford. There miles better than us.

Paul, it's pitiful isn't it. How can Brentford have so many more points than Everton FC.

Our fecking Chairman with his "What would Everton do" quote. Everton was once a huge name in the game, but now run to ground over many years by the board and the selfish narcissistic Kenwright.

Paul, stop it. We can beat anyone at Goodison. We beat Arsenal a few weeks ago.

Joe, Brentford had a vision and strategy. They had a plan to build that stadium years ago.

Their coach / manager has been at the club since 2016, first as assistance before taking the main gig.

Consistency and working to the plan.

We've been playing revolving doors.

Fulham back in it.

Deserved equaliser for Fulham.

Nice free kick and follow-up.

What's taking the FA so long to look at the charges against Toney?

Danny, I know- I know it's a Monday. But it just makes you think, the years lost when we could have had real success, instead of just making up the numbers of being in the Premier League. As we know even that's under threat.

Taylor's a quilt. If that was us, we're down to 10 men, Lukic should be off.

Correct call from the ref — there was still another Fulham player ahead of the tripped Brentford player.

Bill,

I guess because Toney has denied some of the 263 (?) charges means any suspension cannot commence until every charge has been looked at.

Though he should get an immediate suspension for the charges he's accepted, which can then be extended if he is to be found guilty of every single charge.

This stage 2 years ago, after 26 games, we were 5th with a game in hand and only 4 points off 2nd place.

How did it all go wrong so quickly?

Decent game, Brentford v Fulham..

On Saturday, If Everton can keep the ball on the deck and can get wide and make good angles they can be beat Brentford, and after an initial strong rush them approach by Brentford, Fulham have gradually taken control of the game bar a few bursts and rash tackles, by Fulham.

No daft free kicks, and that win on Saturday will happen.

Good signs at Arsenal in the first 38 minutes and all the game yesterday at Forest.

Overall a massive step change improvement in belief and attitude since Sean Dyche took over.

UTFTs!

Rob, what do you think if he is found guilty of 50% of the charges? Will he still get a 6-month suspension

Paul, we did get bodies forward rather impressively for good periods of the game. Your mention of angles speaks to me. Dyche's lines and spacing yielded chances v NF so at home we could create some problems for them if Onana will get in the mood.

Bill, I don't know how many he's accepted?

If he accepted 50% of the charges, that's an awful lot, about 130, so I would think more than a 6-month ban for that. He could be facing possibly a 12-month ban if he's eventually found guilty of the vast majority of them.

Kieran, that seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?

Carlo polished turds and got us playing pragmatic footy once the pretty stuff dried up. He'll go down in history as one of the best managers in world football, so it's no surprise that we've suffered since his departure.

And to think that many fellow Blues thought he was shite!!

We will need the 2 quickest central defenders against Brentford – they nearly always leave their 2 strikers up-field for the long ball.

Bill 177, it was a second yellow foul by Lukic, whats the position of the rest of the Fulham team got to do with the severity of the foul?

Agree Dale, hopefully Onana, being at Goodison, will get his match frequency tuned in for the whole game.

He's got ability in his locker, but as many have said this season, he goes awol, in almost every game.

No team, can sustain any player not, playing for the shirt the full 96 minutes, in any game, in any league in the World.

All for one, and one for All.

UTFTs!

Duncan, nicknamed the Italian Dinosaur by some. Unbelievable!

Damn fine interception and field long dribble by the Fulham RB

Agree Rob and yet Tony Kay got was it a lifetime ban for the game I believe he was Man of the Match.

Oh, a penalty for Brentford… Toney goal.

Exactly Rob… and we think of ourselves as a knowledgeable fan base with a high football IQ.

I'd have the Donosaurus back in a heartbeat.

Toney doesn't even look at the ball when he takes the pen, just eyes on the keeper.

Why was that a foul against Willian? Wissa jumped into Willian and went down. Willian just stood there.

See our player out on loan, Kean, was sent off after 40 seconds - did Dunc ever manage that?

Don't think so, Dennis, but he did sub Kean after about 40 seconds at Old Trafford. 🤣

Rob, good spot, I thought the same, he conned Taylor, deffo Brentford will be playing the game like Villa did, taking the piss.

I've not checked the referee, for Saturday, but hopefully, this time we will get a decent referee.

Credit to Toney, some effort that shot.

Perhaps he could sense a red card for Kean that day, Jeff, & took preventative action!

I've called it out since a couple of years back, but I really like Brentford's manager. Their scouting system seems to be quality as well, using the Danish links as well as tapping into West London grass roots.

Ancelotti. If you give a manager of his quality the tools, he'll do the job. Since leaving Everton the dinosaur has added another La Liga title and Champions League win to his portfolio.

Paul, I'd say Toney would be off this summer if it weren't for this betting scandal hanging over his head. Nobody is going to want to buy him if he's suspended for a few months.

Paul 196, there isn't a decent ref in the league, I'm struggling to think of one ref that I think is even average.

Brentford unbeaten this year going into March , someone's going to end that run.

Jeff 186
Brentford were looking for a red card claiming he was the last Fulham defender stopping a goal scoring opportunity

Bill, my view is they where pointing out he was on a yellow and that tackle deserved another.

Rob, yes agreed, and I think for the success Brentford have achieved so far thus, his ban will have a massive impact on their commercial and revenue plans, forecast etc.

But I'm wary of them, and they took out the RS, with no trouble without him, at Brentford in January.

Hopefully the hard graft and efforts of the Dyche era, will come good for Everton, this weekend.

I still believe West Ham, will implode and also Leeds and Palace, but Everton, can't rely on other results.

Nows the time to deliver.

UTFTs!

How can Toney still play when he's admitted the betting charges?

Jeff, as you may have observed in our game at Forest refs give yellow cards out like confetti but the second one is as rare as hens teeth. And as I am typing Brentford score

Paul, I think he has appealed in some way and the FA are having a meeting soon to decide his fate. They say the ban won't commence until April probably. Joey Barton got 18 months, but they are expecting only about six months for Toney, including the summer break ! Barton will be asking why did finish my career, and let this player off much more lightly ?

Two players currently on loan at these two clubs, Manor Solomon at Fulham and Kevin Schade at Brentford.

why can't we make loan signings like that?

Brentford is going to be a really tough game on Saturday.

Brentfords manager must have the sorest jaws in the league on that chewing gum

Brentford are an example of how to build a team. They are not filled with spectacular players, beyond say Toney and Henry, I reckon few of their players would land on many of our 'we should sign x' transfer wish lists.

But they have a group of players that fit into a system and buy into the style. Players like Wissa, Mbueno, Jensen, Pinnock, Norgaard are solid, effective, hard working and fit into the system which allows others to shine.

we, however, build, or attempt to build, based around signing 'game-changers'. seeing us overpay for underperformance, and targeting players out of reach. it's why we didn't sign a striker, it why we don't have options on the bench.

Scrapped their academy and set up a B Team.

Energetic and press, so the midfield is going to need to have it's wits about it.

But, they as much as I give them respect, they have mistakes in them.

We can beat them.

Whomever was responsible for making public the charges against Toney were wrong. If he's admitted guilt for some part of the charges, he should have been suspended pending further enquiries or the matter should have been left until the summer without any public announcements.

Fran,

How many years did they spend in the lower leagues to build up their club?

Danny,

Scrapped their academy and set up a B Team.

Apparently there's a bit more to this story, after closing their academy in May 2016, when the club withdrew from the Elite Player Performance Plan and Professional Development League and launched a new Brentford B team. The team plays friendly matches against senior, U23, U21 and academy teams, with a squad of players aged from 17 to 21.

Owner Matthew Benham revealed in July 2016 that, with the club needing to focus on the first team and its new stadium, "the B team seemed like a simpler and more attractive option".

However, following the first team's promotion to the Premier League in 2021, the club reopened its academy in time for the start of the 2022–23 season, under the Elite Player Performance Plan, while retaining the B team.

The reopening of the Brentford academy in July 2022, saw the creation of a new U18 team and it took part in the EFL Youth Alliance South East Conference, the EFL Youth Alliance Cup and the FA Youth Cup. The club's new U18 team feeds into the B team.

Not clear how their B team differs from our U21s – except that they don't play competitive matches, only friendlies?

I didn't realise that Michael.

I've said before, my Hayes & Yeading boys used to train on the same pitches as the Brentford teams and we used to arrange training matches.

It's a good point on their approach to the B Team. My thoughts are to have them play in the football league. It would need restructuring of the league and the probable likelihood in my view would be Premier League clubs sponsoring or partnering with lower league clubs.

I don't think we are in the same mindset as Spain.

One of the biggest arguments against under 21's football, Michael, is that although they play in a league, it's not really that competitive.

I'm not entirely sure, but this elite player performance plan, might explain why most coaching seems to come from the same hymn sheet?

If you sign up, you get a grant off the FA each season, which contributes towards the cost of running your academy, but I'm sure I've heard this only happens if club's adhere to certain stipulations, with regards to how you coach the players? I might be wrong.

I mat be in the minority but I don't see a lot wrong with the youth policy at Everton. We are scouting for young players in an area of Elite clubs like the 2 Manchester teams and our neighbors.
The problem I see is the one we are all complaining about in Ownership and Board.
With the change of managers and the struggles in the premiership the new manager's seem reluctant to give the younger players that extra step to improve their overall knowledge of the game by playing them in the first team.
Supporters have to understand the Rooney,s of this world are few and be thankful they got to see him in an Everton shirt, and support young players when they are given a chance, as they would need more than 1 game to prove their potential.

Anyone give a fuck about Dortmund v Chelsea ? I'm on a Potteur deathwatch.

Dale, if Chelsea lose or draw, then Potter is gone!

Nice Rob I'll start the popcorn. Early comentary directly mentions the toxi crowd atmosphere undoing the long term talk heard fro mgt. Dig it.

Dale, we don't want Potter sacked until the 19th March!

I was thinking that, Mark.

Double-edged. I dislike Chelsea a lot but Dortmund are Klopp's former side, their fans sing "that" song and are my Schalke's (the Konigsblauen – Royal Blues) local rivals. The Revier Derby as they call it.

I'm just watching it fairly relaxed though.

It may be now or never Mark. Terzic smart to play for possession and unsettle the crowd

Bwaa haa haa.! Off the post [curls moustache]

This delaying raising the flag for offside is just plain ridiculous now.

I thought Sterling was offside when he broke through just then, but when the goalkeeper saved his shot, and the flag still didn't go up, I thought he must have been on. So to then raise the flag when, I think it was Havertz put the ball away, was just plain ridiculous.

They wait in case they get it wrong and get it wrong in doing so.

Sterling lucky but it never touched the defender. It's on 1-1. Looks like the defender did toe the ball into Sterling. Very lucky.

Bwaa haa haa !!! [curls moustache again]

The Chelsea players in the box should have ruled that out. Hmmmm.

Well if you miss try try again

That delay on the offside flag is ridiculous.

Well, unbelievable stuff with the penalty. Encroachment? Does it not count for the Chelsea players too? Two of them were ahead of the Dortmund players.

I'll have to rely on the referees amongst us to clarify.

Making this up as they go along.

Should VAR intervene if a players encroaches into the penalty area when a penalty is about to be taken? I know, or I think I do, they can intervene if the goalkeeper is not on the goal line, but surely not if an outfield player encroaches?

I want Chelsea to win just to shut that twat with the drum up.

No other reason

any clubs that allow any drums or horns, etc. should have to start the match by defending a penalty awarded to the opposition!

best I can find. An encroachment occurs, When players other than the one taking the penalty kick or the defending goalkeeper enter the goal area during a penalty kick. The result of committing this offense is usually the penalty kick being retaken.

I was dismayed to see Arsenal had a drum behind those knobby blokes with the stupid big flags last week. Pricks!

That irritated me as well Mark. Crystal Palace imitators.

Still confused about that encroachment decision as the Chelsea players encroached ahead of the Dortmund ones.

Oh well, it's Dortmund and I follow Schalke.

And Harry Potter survives so no new manager factor for the 18th.

The official for the Brentford game are……..

Referee: Simon Hooper. Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Mark Scholes. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: David Coote. Assistant VAR: Richard West.

Danny @
The commentator said that because the Dortmund lad who cleared the ball was one of those who had encroached the area, that led to the penalty having to be re-taken. I imagine if a Chelsea player had encroached and put the ball in the net from the rebound the same would have applied.

Thanks Barry. That makes sense.

I suppose I get confused despite having followed and played football all of my life. I still don't get that offside flag 2 minutes after the offence. In fact I don't get the current offside rule when a lose thread on a shirt, a player's flowing hair locks or a shoelace warrants offside.

There should be a fifth official at football matches to ram the drums over the drummers heads and straitjacket them with their own instrument.

Thanks Rob, good to know the match officials for Brentford.

Danny, a good perspective.

I don't think there's any Fifa, or UEFA, rational standard on the rules of the game.

Until the EPL, FA and EFL, agree a common standard of rules, and equipment to facilitate the rules and qualified officials, the fraudulent concept ideals of decision making, and inconsistency, will never change.

Football was 30 years ago, a fairly simple game to follow, understand and accept.

For me!, there's a call for a Football sporting ethics fine ( on the park, in terms of football), for any team, and at the moment, the team I'd hit hard is Villa.

The Arsenal fans, I know, also said that they had the same view, as when they beat Villa at Villa Park, 4-2, and they soused Everton 2 weeks ago in fixture time.

Each to their own, but the game is going OTT, in that UEFA, and FIFA, are going further away than ever, in having a common standard for UK, European and World Football.

But the focus, is on the real matter of beating Brentford, whom are no mugs, on the park.

Sean Dyche will understand the importance of Saturday.

Come Saturday at 3 p.m. for 95 minutes, and Everton FC, to deliver victory.

This is a decisive game in this season, to date.

UTFTs!

The penalty kick come under the encroachment ruling and it does not matter what team the player who encroaches is from

Bayern - PSG had about 5 frenzied minutes but settled down and now PSG almost converts on a mistake by Sommer that was cleared off the line.

It could take off anytime…

That Spurs v Milan was a terrific game of football, I thought, with both teams giving everything over 96 minutes, no goals but end to end football kept me riveted all through the match and refereed by a competent official.

It was Dave. Amazing save by the Milan keeper. Jordan should speak to him about how to parry with a strong hand and get it away from danger.

I thought Milan were very composed and controlled.

Bayern looking dominant.

Any one think PSG will be looking for a new coach. I think this game showed that teamwork can beat high priced individuals.

Gents,
regarding the retake of the penalty kick. the FIFA rule is 14 and regarding encroachment by the defending team:
"If, before the ball is in play, one of the following occurs:
a team-mate of the goalkeeper offends:
if the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded
if the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is retaken
a player of both teams offends, the kick is retaken unless a player commits a more serious offence (e.g. 'illegal' feinting)"

Interestingly, if the goalkeeper offends and the kicker misses, it is not automatically a re-kick unless the GK actions "clearly impacted upon the kicker." No guidance to us refs as to what the heck that means.

Thanks Jim,

From that read out, it seems encroachment is okay as long as the penalty taker scores?

I can accept that as, with the offside rule, I'm all for giving advantage to the attacker. Or penalty taker in this instance.

Let's not go down the offside track. The current interpretation frustrates the hell out of me.

But I would question if the Chelsea players who encroached ahead of the Dortmund ones could potentially be accused of interfering with play?

In honesty Jim, that extract demonstrates to me how we make the simple game I played and watch complicated!!

Danny (244),

What I noticed about the Milan goalkeeper and plenty of other ‘keepers is the way he came out of his six yard area on many occasions and caught the ball, very good anticipation and made sure everyone knew it was his ball.

That is a limitation of Jordan's, in my opinion, Dave. He doesn't command his defence or his box and stays rooted on his line or in that 6-yard box most of the time. Great shot-stopper that has given me breathless moments, but that aspect of his game is often frustrating.

Very randomly, just watching the Eurovision programme. Obviously it's great that Liverpool is hosting an international event. But they keep referring to the "Liverpudlians" in terms of the citizens.

Maybe it's me, but I object to that as it inherently associates us with them. I never describe myself as a Liverpudlian. People would get the wrong impression.

I might just be bitter. Please advise.

Danny, Scouser is a better term.

Actually when meeting new people I often say I'm from Liverpool “and to prove it, I support Everton”. Does the job of both distancing and positive affirmation.

The Originals 1878, Larry!

They are the tourist attraction.

Just hope Dyche has had a think about his tactics for the second half and implements them.Gray disallowed goal will keep him in the minds of Brentford.Dyche hasn't been able to get a tune out of Onana, needs subbed this half to provide a threat.The only one on the bench is Davies, or maybe offer the Defence more protection by putting Holgate Infront of it.Such are the choices for Dyche.