Everton find their attacking groove to comfortably see off Palace

3 good goals. How many on here said that McNeill can't score goals. This one was a peach of a goal.

Nobody had a poor game, (though Gana did tend towards average).

The Referees decisions were incomprehensible sometimes. Palace came to get their retaliation in first.

The Crowd were up, the sun was shining, the rs lost and the US link I was given off the live forum was a joy to watch and listen to.

Same again please next time Mr Lampard.

this season, in 13 games, he has 6 (5 in the league).

what a transformation.

the lad is just 26 so will continue to improve.

He is central to our attacking play, his running and pressing is what he gets most praise for. but key today was how he did most of his play in the opposition half.

leave Gana and Onana to the defensive side, and leave Iwobi to attack and we have one of the best creative midfielders in the league.

I remember one poor pass in an attacking position. Other than that, alongside Onana, he totally dominated midfield.

Eze, who is an exciting and dangerous player, was made totally anonymous.

Gana pressed, tackled and today,imo was his most impressive performance. In other games he tended to break forward more, lose his position more. Today he was much more disciplined.

This contributed to giving Iwobi and Onana more freedom to break forward when we had the ball.

This is what we need Gana to do. Disciplined positional play in the middle.

Well said.

The doom and gloom has getting a bit over the top.

This is a good team that will improve. Today was a subtle reminder that there's teams better than us, but we are MUCH better off than we were last season.

In the words of a wise man, and to all on TW:

Patience, Grasshopper.

Fran #6, amen.

Jamie #8, Frank said "Patience, Grasshopper" in much longer form:

“I talk a lot about realism and keeping ourselves in check because it can be very up and down. The thing is to try and stay stable and keep working. The squad is pretty new in places and you saw performances from some of those players today. The more they settle, we can move in a good direction. We have to keep ourselves on the ground and try and replicate the energy and the way we played and our idea like we did today.”

McNeil is slow but he can dribble and has that Lothar Matheus like ability to drive forward and score. Iwobis confidence has gone through the roof and he’s playing like his uncle Jay Jay Okocha. Gordon? A work in progress but he followed through and put himself in a position to capitalize on the keepers save. This is and will be a transitional year as we didn’t have the funds to turn relegation strugglers into Euro contenders. But all over the pitch there are positive signs and improvements in individuals of the like we haven’t seen in years. Under our last handful of managers (Carlo apart with DCL) any improvement came from new additions. Frank has drastically improved Iwobi from joker to key man. He also has improved us with new additions at a fraction of the cost of his predecessors.

Yes we will probably endure so more bad runs against better teams but I really think if we give Frank some time and hopefully money he can get us to where we want to be. There has been too much comparison with him and Gerrard. Ironically I think Frank benefited from doing worse last year so survival was seen as a win. Also Gerrard kind of inherited the baggage of Houlliers RS lovefest. And even his sacking came on the back of a red card overturned. But while I’d say he was unlucky I am glad he’s gone as the media loved this race to the bottom between him and Frank.

Now we can get on with our own business without false equivalency. If DCL can stay fit, Patterson return and even Godfrey and Mina give us more depth I think we will do ok and this year ok is ok. Next year we can kick it up a notch.

DCL’s turn and the defender bouncing off him before he finished with aplomb was Haaland -esque. Dom looked buzzing in his interview, there’s plenty more of that to come. Well done lad, excellent performance.

Second goal was a fast build up of fizzing and accurate passing, allowing he ball to be fed to Myko in space, he made the right decision in a fraction of a second to fire in a shot to the far post, Anthony mopped it up. I thought this second goal was the marginal pick of three superb goals.

The third was sublime individual skill from Mc Neill and Iwobi, a thing of beauty.

Very happy Evertonian today.

If only that had been the case in the previous three games.

Of course that brilliant early goal by Calvert-Lewin helped to settle a lot of nerves in the crowd. Now the squad has to keep this work rate up, especially away from home.

Since were going over the top, I wonder if Onana could develop as a Yaya Toure type midfield beast. We shall see.

We're going to be frustrating this season, we all know that deep down, but hopefully we'll see talented players like McNeil, Gordon, Gray and Onana develop in the same way Iwobi has kicked on under Lampard. Very good football for the McNeil goal in particular.

I also like the fact we can't get kicked out of games these days. Tarkowski and Coady set the tone.

But yesterday was just immense, however.

The money we've pissed away over the last 6 years, what a shame in about 2018 we didn't just sign Tarkowski and Coady then – two proper old-school defenders in the Dave Watson, Alan Stubbs, mould.

All the times I have been critical last season of the likes of Michael Keane and Mason Holgate and said they didn't enjoy defending, well look at Coady and Tarkowski – that's what I mean about "enjoying" defending.

The whole team yesterday was transformed, Gordon looked like he'd had a rocket up the arse, Iwobi continues to be Jay Jay Okocha reincarnated, and even McNeil comes on and looks tricky and already has two goals to his name.

Makes a big difference having a proper centre-forward though eh?.

Lampard deseves credit for turning the careers around of certain players, he's done something astronomical with Alex Iwobi's career, "Iwobinho".

I seen this morning also a news bulletin for the search party looking for Wilfred Zaha, apparently cops need to find Seamus Coleman first to see if Zaha is in his arse pocket as it's a place he's frequently visited over the years.

I know Danny won't agree with me but we are a mid-table team at the moment, a big improvement on last season, and like all mid-table teams, you lose more than you win against teams in the top half, teams like Manchester United, Spurs and Newcastle.

We are on a slow but steady path towards a better future and fans need to be patient and understand that our journey towards the top half and then the Top 6 will take time and there will be bumps along the way. However, based upon yesterday's performance, there are reasons to believe that we will get there.

Fulham next week will be another good test.

I enjoy the banter between various writers; please keep it up.

Some lovely goals yesterday. A 10+ passing move for the 2nd, and delightful link-up for the 3rd.

Hope more of the same before the World Cup break.

Welcome to the site, Peter, you took your time getting here. you must be a tidy age seeing you were at that famous Oldham game, our last Second Division game.

Fight, spirit and standing up to the physical challenge. Earning the right to play football and dictate the game.

The challenge now is achieving consistency and doing that more regularly.

Welcome, Peter. We're an odd mix of people with different opinions, similar thoughts and one passion. But one Blue family. Like all families, we'll have our fallouts, but we always unify and come back together when it matters.

Christopher, I'm thinking 7th now, but then I'm a self-confessed idiot and the family are raising their eyes to the heavens at me.

Doing my duty and following Villa this afternoon in return for Mrs Danny putting up with me yesterday.

Dave #20, I love your expression... "tidy" age. I'd like to use that one.

Gordon's started off with Pickford and involved Pickford, Tarkowski, Coady, Pickford again, Coleman, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin, Iwobi again, Gray, Onana, Mykolenko, Gordon.

And Gordon had got the edge of the 6-yard box before the linesman put his flag up. How bad was that?

And McNeil went past 5 players before getting the Iwobi backheel.

Just wished that MotD had not spent too much time eulogising about the goals. I am sure they would have it was Man City or McNeil's was scored by some no mark from Egypt.

My Dad always told me he was at the game in 1951 when we got relegated, but was there at Oldham in 1954 when they got promoted. He always reminded me that I was born a year later and that I would never have his experience of seeing them in the Second Division championship.

Bless him, though he passed in 2004, he has been right so far. His first game as a youngster was the famous 7-4 win vs Sunderland in the cup in the mid '30s.

I have passed the baton on to my son Tom who saw his first game in 1999. Been tough but he loves the Blues and think he forgives me!! The three of us had one game together in 2002. It's what Everton is all about…

Creating memories with three generations of Caruthers is what it is all about!

They may not forgive us for “passing the baton on” for the nerve shredding moments but the highs make it worth it - I just want us to win something again for my boy to see what I saw as a boy in the '80s.

I've just posted an article about the same subject which I'm sure Lyndon is vetting now before publishing.

I also agree with Christine (and others) telling the lynch mob to get off the manager's back - and the team's. Vent your venom at Kenwright and the numpties in the Boardroom.

In the Palace game there was obviously a vast improvement – from the same players – yet before the game there were negative comments against the manager from the usual suspects. You may be Evertonians, but I don't class you as true supporters!

Remember, Frank only joined the club 10 months ago. He inherited a dysfunctional, disheartened team, full of injuries. and facing relegation. And who can forget the passion of the last weeks of last season!

Since then, Frank has had just one transfer window, and hardly any money to start rebuilding our team, and doing a fine job of it. In August, a lot of us were saying we would be happy if we could end up around halfway this season and will need 2 or 3 seasons to be contenders for the Top 6. I see we are sitting in 11th place at the moment. From day 1 I have supported Frank as manager, and used my motto, "In Frank I Trust!"

I am in very poor health right now – not sure whether I will even see the end of the season, but I hope we do well in the Premier League and that Danny sees the Toffees win that League Cup! God Bless the club; the manager; the players; and you, the positive supporters. And now I'll go back into my sick bed.

I took my five year old to his first ever game yesterday and filmed him walking up the steps to see the pitch and his face was priceless. That memory from yesterday will never leave me

Get well soon and hope to see you in BMD in the near future!!

The 3 we scored at WHU in Martinez’s reign were exceptional. Two wonderful free kicks from Baines and a barnstorming Lukaku header. That has to be right up there.

Palace set up with a lot of attack-minded players on the pitch but only 1 proper centre mid. How many times last season did we lose games due to our slow midfield getting overrun? Not this time – we dominated midfield winning the ball back quite quickly.

DCL makes a massive difference, his physical presence helped win back the ball for the first. He won and held up most balls, linking play up.

As much as Mauphey tries, his transfer to us looks like the last loaf of bread in the shops during lockdown, we needed a striker and it was him or nothing.

It's pretty obvious that we need to improve competition in the final third, some of the crosses yesterday where embarrassing for professionals.

Yesterday will give the lads confidence going into the Fulham game, can't wait.

Utt.

Hang in there mate we need more of your wise words buddy. Get well soon.

We all look forward to seeing you back in good health, so we can read your wise words.

For the past week or more I've had a really bad covid, teach me to believe all those that it was safe to take my mask off! So poorly it makes you thankful you got the jabs. Hopefully in a week or so I'll be okay, like you I hope!

You didn't miss much against Newcastle but the Palace game just had me scratching my head and wondering why we haven't been playing like that the previous game? Seem to be our own worst enemies… Hang in there, Bernie, we are short enough of blues at the bottom of the world!

We have the right manager at last and the team will improve. If Frank can get half the level of improvement out of players that he has got out of Iowbi, we might win something. The players will grow in confidence as they see that the way that the team is set up works and good football becomes the norm. Players will be added to get more depth.

I was always of the opinion that Frank's play would be based on good football from the start. The more Everton plays, it is obvious that this is the underlying aim of the manager.

Frank in August told us to forget formations, his play is based on good football, defending and going forward. Even in the last three games,,this was the objective, but some players fell short; they didn't against Palace.

So 3 generations (would've been four if my Dad had been a Blue). Have tickets for 3 of us (# gens) for the games in Sydney next month also.

Enjoy TW. It's often hilarious, sometimes frustrating but all Everton family. There are some brilliant football brains on here, too!

It might be a bumpy ride and success won't be instant. Trying to undo the failings of the last several years won't happen last week, this week or next week. But stick with the plan and see it through.

Off the pitch there is a plan at the strategic level (stadium), but that boardroom clings on.

Bernie, don't go anywhere because once the league settles after Christmas, we're looking up, qualifying for Europe and winning a trophy. And we've got Fulham on Saturday.

Quis Separabit. Slante.

I can't understand why Frank comes under so much criticism - other than looking at points total just now. His improvements have been massive and we need to look longer term.

He seems to understand people and not be dogmatic as a few previous managers have been. It's about getting the best out of players and not letting one's own ego get in the way (IMO). Frank seems to have that understanding.

But this is TW, of course, and there are lots of differing opinions. Fair enough. Let's continue to enjoy them all.

Cheers!

I was also at one of the last games when Sheffield Wednesday beat us I think 6-0 but could be wrong.

But I was at Wembley to see the second-best day of my life – the first being when I got married… ahem!

Conor Coady came out in the press to say the players spoke after the game and said they needed to be more aggressive and be more positive when in possession. Howard often took the players for a Chinese in Southport when things weren't going as well and it always seemed to have the right effect.

I think if Frank and his coaches listened and took on board what the players were saying, then it's credit to them. Managers lose dressing rooms when they don't listen to the thoughts of the players. I also think it's a plus when that happens, as it bonds the players and manager even closer.

There weren't any changes on Saturday in team selection, but the changes in the mindset were there for all to see. A team pressing high up the pitch and keeping that intensity for most of the game.

I think we are capable of beating most outside the Top 3 teams, as long as the team believe in themselves as they did on Saturday, and we don't slip back into our defensive mindset.

Not too dissimilar to us on here and when we meet at the match!!

Peter, it wasn't a clean 6 - 0 but you made me think of standing on the Gwladys Street when we battered Arsenal 6 - 1 sometime in the mid-'80s. Unsavoury chants at "champagne" Charlie Nicholas.

We were 5 hours behind the UK and the result came through at noon: Everton 4 Fulham 0.

So 36 hours of joyous mayhem. Happy days!

Coady galvanising from the warm-up and in the tunnel.

Coady and Tarkowski quickly getting together after Calvert-Lewin's goal to discuss and no doubt starting to think about organising and concentrating the team even though we'd just gone a goal up.

If there was any doubt about where his head was, Anthony Gordon loves the club and the fans.

Frank Lampard has got this club and understands the supporters.

Well, there was a vast difference in attitude between the two games, with the first game producing, according to reports, a meek defensive performance with not one shot on target and the Crystal Palace game quite the opposite with the same players and same manager and coaches, so something changed.

I'm giving Frank the time to build a good squad and time to produce a winning one with good fluent football. I hope he does, it's what we all hope for.

I have my doubts going back to the end of last season with the mistakes he made in games at Burnley and especially Watford with that very defensive performance against a team that hadn't won at home for a long time.

Then the bleedin' head scratcher with Gomes getting picked for the Crystal Palace game at home and nearly every Everton fan wondering what the fuck was he thinking? Thankfully he had the sense to drag him off at half-time and let Dele Alli change the game.

Yes, let's praise him when he gets it right and let him know when we think he hasn't; he's only human and can make mistakes. So carry on, Frank, the trust will come when you prove you're worthy of it – and it will definitely take a lot more than 9 months, as it will with any manager.

Meanwhile, thanks for Saturday. Let's have a lot more of those performances and the results will improve as well.

100% tackles won
87% pass accuracy
53 touches
13 final third passes
4 ball recoveries
3 key passes
2/3 long balls completed
2 assists
2 big chances created

I'm starting to believe we can and will beat those teams around us, which will keep us safe this season. After last season we can't ask for much more than that. 7 more wins, a few draws and we're there.

Fair enough but I think the biggest difference was the attitude, intensity, determination and going forward which wasn't apparent in the three previous games.

I'm not expecting big things off the Blues this season, but I want to see them let the other teams know they are in a game we are trying to win, On Saturday, we did this; I'm happy with that.

I just want those performances to continue and Mr Thelwell to carry on like he has started, bringing better players in than we had before and getting some pretty poor players off the books and wage bill.

Within reason, it doesn't matter who you play. Once you cross that line, you have to show desire, commitment and passion as well as ability and footballing talent. It can work the other way against so-called lesser teams as much as against the better ones.

Either side of the pendulum, if you don't show up, you don't have a chance.

We showed up on Saturday.

Finding that consistency is now the challenge.

I was particularly pleased for McNeil, he has been a bit of a whipping boy on TW but his goal was pure class.

His greatest criticism has been his lack of pace, but raw pace is not always needed when you are playing in traffic like he often is.

He's certainly got what is needed there, good balance, a football brain, and quick feet. I think he will develop into a very useful player for us.

I would make an analogy with boxing. If you start off half-hearted, your opponent immediately gets the upper hand and the confidence to go at you and dominate.

We have all criticized Everton for sitting too deep and inviting other teams on whereas, if you do your defending further up the pitch, you stand more chance of scoring goals.

I did think Palace made us look good at times, but we still showed the heart, determination and class that all the supporters have been looking for.

Let's hope that can be a springboard over the rest of the season and we don't revert to type.

About time we stood up for ourselves

I don't happen to believe that Newcastle are a better team with a better manager; had we showed half the attacking intent against them as we did against Palace, I think we would have gotten something from that game.

I watched the Newcastle v Spurs game and I thought Newcastle and Spurs look very ordinary and I think both will struggle to make the Top 6.

I hope that playing a higher line becomes the norm and we don't revert back to sitting back and hoping to hit teams on the break. Yes, Fulham have got off to a decent start but it's pretty much the same side that played in the Championship last season.

So I hope we set our stall out to be aggressive and put their back 4 under pressure from the first whistle. Now that Calvert-Lewin is available, we now have a focal point to our attack, but he needs bodies round and about him when we have possession.

Run run wherever you may be we are the famous EFC....

I've just watched a funny video on YouTube, fantasy league football recreating the Mike Trebilcock goal from 1966 FA Cup Final, with Eddie Kavanagh in it. Give it a watch if you get a chance, it was filmed on the estate were I live.

Anyway, that was more like it Saturday, good quality goals and a feel-good factor coming back. I'm loving Coady and Tarkowski, sticking up for team mates, makes a change from the timid Michael Keane and constantly injured Mina UTFT!!

While he clearly lacks the incisive view of the game we would like, we are not far from a well-centered team plan. If he can get Iwobi to time his pressure and not leave Onana and Gana guessing, and additionally learn to stay in the line and cover for them, we are not far at all from a system type that serves Newcastle rather well with Guimares.

Overall, the progress is there to see and some decent discipline in seeing out some results could go a long way toward giving the squad a vision of football they can buy into.

We don't expect Frank to put together a defensive juggernaut but we've got enough to be difficult to break down and a couple of sharp counter-attacks into their box and some teams will not go at us full tilt which will give Iwobi a chance to settle our possessions.

Two things: that initial episode of Iwobi and Gordon creating space was important for settling into possession; three games of very intense defending and Onana did not pick up a card in any of them. This is a good run of games ahead; if the squad gets their ruthlessness together, we could come out in form up the table and possibly having a laugh at the shite across town.

My wife, Sheila and I have avoided Covid so far. and certainly don't want it, I just hope you are now recovering and over the worst of it. With God being an Evertonian, I am hoping He (or She) gives me a few more seasons to see the Toffees win a few trophies, though for health reasons, my trips to the UK have come to an end.

Danny at 55 - The answer to the Guards Motto is - "No-one as we were the Queen's Men, and now the Strong Everton Family. Lets get that evasive League Cup for you!

To all my wellwishers out there - Thanks for your posts. I am very proud that I belong to such a vast family of Evertonians in so many countries - USA - Canada - Ozzie - NZ - Ireland - England and even a namesake in Aberdeen! And thank you to ToffeeWeb for making it possible.

To the negative posters - if you think of Clubs like Norwich; Blackpool; etc - well they have no real chance of winning a major trophy, and yet thousands of supporters watch them every week - Why? - Because they enjoy the game and to encourage their team to win now and then. No griping or moaning. So how about being the same? No more talk of 'getting rid' or 'sack the manager' it doesn't help. Being more supportive does.
God Bless you all.

Although the 3rd was good, I think the 2nd goal was the best for a long time. As a team goal, it went from keeper to defenders, through the midfield, ended up with a fullback shooting, getting a save from the keeper, to a forward who scored. I think it took over 10 passes from keeper to scorer, with the Palace keeper the only one of the Palace players to touch the ball.

That to me shows the progress we are making as a team.

Dam it, Bernie, think of Iwobi, written off for years but now he is the comeback king! A few more seasons in you yet mate! As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans".

But sometimes it's having something to look forward to that makes it happen, so I won't give up on that catch-up at BMD!

I drove up to Cambridge a couple of weeks back, helping out family, and neglected to wear my mask... idiot. Before I knew it, I was dreading taking the RAT test. Negative for the first one, but still starting to feel lousy, Positive for the second and third ones... yep, welcome to the club! So, you and Sheila don't get swayed by public pressure, stay safe!

There have been a couple of times I have thought when we are on song, with all our players back, that we aren't a bad team... but for some reason we struggle to maintain the level of performance. Hopefully we are just getting up to speed!

For now, I am savouring the win and the way we did it... long may it continue!
Stay safe, Bernie!

That Covid sounds bad, hope your recovery is well on its way. A win at Fulham this weekend should help, and I will listen out for your screams!

If you keep bullying me, I may take a gamble with air flights in order to meet you at BMD. Remember though, I will always have this love affair with Goodison Park. Why can't they name BMD, Goodison 2 (Too)?

They should rebuild the Boys Pen in the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock (hang on, must be politically correct: The Young Offenders' Rehabilitation Meeting Point) and call it Kenwrights Klangers and give him an honoury season ticket – with obstructed views of course! Seeing as how he loved the place so much!

The Old Lady will slip into folklore, remembered only in reruns of the Palace game, or when 70,000 were in attendance... St Domingo's should be knocked down and rebuilt on site, the sewage plant next door should be painted red and called Anfield load.

But I would like to see the game clocks from Goodison kept at either corner of the field as a tribute to every second played, every golden vision, and every prayer made to it, to speed up, or slow down. If they could tell a story, for they have been witness to elation and heartbreak, pride-bursting moments captured in time.

I wonder, do they still have Littlewoods on them! Must look.'.

Hopefully this works.

The Littlewoods Clock, Everton v QPR, May 1985, at Goodison Park. pic.twitter.com/mnpNolPj8q

— Kathleen (@oldpicposter) June 27, 2020

I think I might be in there somewhere. Not in the actual shot but maybe in the middle of the Gwladys Street.

Times past but Littlewoods clocks are precious artefacts still