Everton 1 - 4 Newcastle United

From a perilous position of 19th in the Premier League, Everton welcome to Goodison Park high-flying Newcastle Utd for a huge game in terms of the Blues' battle for survival.

Abdoulaye Doucouré returns after serving his 3-match suspension, while Amadou Onana is also back in the side, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin starting a second successive game. Godfrey returns with Patterson benched and Coleman still unfit to play.

Mason Holgate is suspended after picking up two yellow cards at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

The visitors got the game underway amidst an intense atmosphere as the skies darkened over Goodison Park. Everton tried to press from the off, Botman complaining of a wayward arm from Calvert-Lewin.

Everton were lax with head-tennis is midfield gifting the ball but the outcome was a goalkick. Everton looked to move the ball around with pace but Doucouré had strayed offside. 

Iwobi was then gifted a ball and put in a quick cross just ahead of Calvert-Lewin.  Then Iwobi tried to curl one in the far corner but overhit it past the angle. 

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Everton continued to press but when they got the ball, Gana decided to have his customary pop at goal – this time on target but completely lacking pace. That saw the Toon advance and win a couple of corners that did not really threaten. 

Everton were playing well, forcing a lot of turnovers, with Gana getting fouled  right on the Dee. Gana fired the dangerous set-piece just over. It was very competitive in midfield but Everton could not keep possession when they won it and Newcastle were able to advance and start to exert more steady control, starting at the back. 

Iwobi was gifted the ball and moved ahead in space but his cross was really poor. The Blue shirts tried again to advance but poor passing spoiled all the positive effort. But Doucouré got the ball and tried to feed Calvert-Lewin who could not get around Schar to make his shot. 

McNeil tried a shot from a long, long way  out that Pope tracked all the way. But the Everton players were still snapping away in midfield – just not using the ball well in the final third when they won it and tried to move goalwards, resorting to negative play back to Pickford. 

But the ball went forward again and Everton finally got some traction into the Newcastle area, Calvert-Lewin's shot ballooning off a defender and behind off Iwobi. 

Gana got his first warning for a late tackle on Guimaraes but Everton still tried to play the high press. However, Joelinton got forward and although his shot was parried out by Pickford, it was deflected off Keane straight to Wilson who could not miss.  

That brought an air of grim realism to the crowd as the task in front of the Blues was now rendered so much more difficult. Could they maintain the same level of controlled aggression to win the ball and advance, or would Newcastle now put a stranglehold on the game.

The cause wasn't helped when Newcastle won some more corners, which were at least defended but the tempo was being controlled by them until Gana did a good steal only for McNeil to try another ridiculous distant shot.  

Iwobi put in a better cross but Calvert-Lewin was the wrong side of his marker, who easily won the header. A Newcastle attack caused Panaic, Iwobi heading the ball behind almost out of Pickford's hands. Trippier's corner was repelled. 

Onana became the first player carded for a petulant and frankly idiotic shirt-grab – his first real contribution to the game? Everton got forward but could not create anything, Mykolenko colliding heavily with Trippier. 

A midfield free-kick was lopped in and it eventually won Everton's first corner, taken by Iwobi but too low and Keane on the near post got too much on it. Some terrible giveaways by Doucoure and then Keane stopped any possibility of forward play. Another turnover but Iwobi's cross was easily cleared.

Calvert-Lewin got onto a good pass from McNeil and finished with a lovely chip over Pope but he was flagged offside and it took a while for the VAR to confirm it from some difficult camera angles. Half-time. 

Everton tried to press from the restart but Newcastle countered and Willock's goalbound shot was miraculously blocked behind by Takowski with Pickford beaten. 

Godfrey got forward well and Iwobi crossed but it was too much for Calvert-Lewin to connect with. Everton won a corner but the delivery was just a ridiculous from Iwobi. From a Newcastle counter, Iwobi did really well to shake off Targett and feed Calvert-Lewin who tried to shoot wide of Pope but the Newcastle goalie got his hand to it. 

Later, Keane got around the right side but shot wildly over. Everton were holding midfield for spells but struggled to get forward, When they did, Calvert-Lewin tried to lob Pope again but only found Doucoure whose shot was deflected as the flag for offside went up.

Newcastle countered, Tarkowski catching Longstaff and the Newcastle player accused by Pickford of time wasting. A penalty was checked and rejected by the VAR.  More time-wasting from Newcastle players got the tempers flared. 

An Everton free-kick was played with little guile to Trakowski wide right, who could only loop his tame header toward Pope.  From that, Wilson got forward but fired wide. At the other end, Onana fired well wide.

The game went flat as Newcastle's substitutes destroyed any remaining tempo before they won another corner, Botman forcing another corner off Godfrey. The ball fell to Willock whose tremendous curling shot was brilliantly diverted past the post by Pickford. But any direction or structure seemed to have gone from Everton's game, with Newcastle's stoppages working a treat to stall the game. 

Another mazy run in from the left by Willock past Godfrey saw a simple set-up for Joelinton to score a second to kill this game with 20 minutes left. 

Wilson then curled a simple shot into the top corner past Pickford after everyone backed off Joelinton's run.

More Newcastle corners came as Simms got ready, Pickford saving one at the near post. 

Maupay, on for Onana, won a corner that McNeil sent all the way through to get one back.  

But Newcastle went right up the end on the same route for Isak this time along the backline in from the left, Isak beating three players three times to set up Murphy with a tap-in at the far post and that set up a mass exodus of the Blue faithful. 

With the game well and truly lost, some of the remaining fans gave Gordon a roasting when he came on. Schar took a potshot from a distance to make it 5 but it was ruled out because Burn was offside for his header back out to Schar. 

It descended to target practice for Newcastle in the last 5 minutes of added time, Murphy missing an easy chance. McNeil tried to score direct from a free-kick also, but failed. 

Maupay was booked late on for a foul at the end of a horrible result on what was supposed to be a very different night under the Goodison lights. 

Everton: Pickford, Godfrey, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Iwobi, Gueye (82' Garner), Onana [Y:41'] (73' Maupay [Y:90+5']), Doucouré, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin (77' Simms).

Subs:  Begovic, Patterson, Gray, Mina, Davies, Coady.

Newcastle United: Pope, Trippier, Botman, Schar, Targett (68' Burn), Guimaraes, Longstaff (74' Isak,) , Willock (87' Anderson), Joelinton, Almiron (68' Murphy), Wilson (87' Gordon).

Subs not Used: Dubravka, Lascelles, Ritchie, Manquillo,


Reader Comments (339)

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Paul Kossoff
1 Posted 27/04/2023 at 18:52:47
34 points will keep us up I think. Dyche laughed at the Merseyside commentator when he said that the wide men need to start providing more in creating chances. It's not a laughing matter Dyche, take note. Coyb.
John Dingle
2 Posted 27/04/2023 at 18:55:26
Can't think what Patterson has done wrong, I'd prefer him to out-of-position Godfrey.
Paul Kossoff
3 Posted 27/04/2023 at 18:59:33
John, true. Patterson has just as much pace as Godfrey and is a natural right-back. Dyche has his favourites, hence no Mina.
Bill Gienapp
4 Posted 27/04/2023 at 19:05:12
I can't imagine any world in which Godfrey is a better option at right back than Patterson.
Jerome Shields
5 Posted 27/04/2023 at 19:06:09
Dyche playing it tight, as expected. Doucouré and Onana (who is more physical than Garner) return to midfield. Godfrey returns ahead of Patterson again.

Calvert-Lewin in attack second time out. McNeil favoured to partner Calvert-Lewin rather than Gray, as some suggested.

Simon Dalzell
6 Posted 27/04/2023 at 19:27:53
Disappointed Patterson isn't playing. Good to see Onana and Doucouré back. Feels the same tension as Palace last season. COYB
Jeff Armstrong
7 Posted 27/04/2023 at 19:29:28
Coady could possibly do a better job than Godfrey at right-back. Maybe his lack of pace goes against him, but Godfrey's shiteness should go against him too!
Iain Johnston
8 Posted 27/04/2023 at 19:40:27
4-5-1. Okay, I'll go with at.

COYB...!!!!!!

Ciarán McGlone
9 Posted 27/04/2023 at 19:44:16
Do or die... a generation of future supports on the line here. Let's hope the real club (those in the stands) roar us home.

Fingers, toes and ballsack crossed.

Kevin Molloy
10 Posted 27/04/2023 at 20:19:12
Time to earn your wages, Sean. This is it.
Simon Dalzell
11 Posted 27/04/2023 at 20:19:39
Godfrey at fault for goal. Patterson should be there. Dyche not earning his wages... Not for the first time.
Ernie Baywood
12 Posted 27/04/2023 at 20:38:05
Well we can't fault the effort. But after we work so hard to win the ball we give it away with so little care.

Hard to see what the attacking plan is. It seems to just be to hope something goes for us.

Hopefully something does go for us.

The goal was your classic bottom-of-the-table goal. Poor from Godfrey. Nothing shot really. Wasn't great from Pickford, but a deflection drops straight to the striker.

Gana taking a free kick feels like it sums up the lack of quality in this team.

Phil Sammon
13 Posted 27/04/2023 at 20:46:43
Gueye, Doucoure and Onana are a big part of the problem for me. One of them is fine, two of them is an issue, all three and you are not getting a single chance created out of central midfield.

Tough because there's not really an answer on the bench. I'd put Gray on the wing and rotate McNeil and Iwobi through the middle.

Jerome Shields
14 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:00:38
Thought the team played well the first half and where unlucky to go in 1 down at half time. Godfrey got caught out of position resulting in the goal.

But it is still only 1-0 and a draw is still a possibility. They really have to get to grips with the game in the first quarter of the second half.

The commentators made a big thing of the goal, but it was more luck than good play. Pickford's palming of the ball fell short.

Ernie Baywood
15 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:19:10
72 minutes of no attacking threat and problems on the right side of our defence. No changes.

And goodnight.

Simon Dalzell
16 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:19:36
Godfrey left for dead again. Dyche showing he's not fit. Partly cost us the game picking the hapless Godfrey.

Poor defence. Next to no attack. Why on earth hasn't the 'manager' changed things?

Ernie Baywood
17 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:22:27
And still no changes. Must be going well.

Oh we brought on Maupay.

Neil Tyrrell
18 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:22:36
Onana could have intercepted the cross for the second but he just stops and watches. Pathetic.
Ciarán McGlone
19 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:22:40
We're down I'm afraid. Pathetic defence and zero attack.
Andy Finigan
20 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:26:11
The manager choosing Ben Godfrey over Nathan Patterson and the VAR really have put us up a creek without a paddle.
Pete Hughes
21 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:28:05
Relegation all but confirmed!

Thanks for nothing, Bill and Co.

Gareth Stephens
22 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:28:11
#19 agreed, but we've had some good times, haven't we?
Phil Smith
23 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:28:33
Is this guy for real? He starts again Mykolenko and Godfrey when it's clear they're shot for confidence! Unbelievable “management “.

This guy is taking us down for real. Get rid and total clearout for the Championship.

Ernie Baywood
24 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:33:24
Don't think I've ever seen Goodison empty like this. Just so sad.
Kevin Molloy
25 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:33:44
Our chap's gonna be a billion pounds down, and literally going to have nothing to show for it.

Is it possible to lose a billion pounds in 7 years? Why yes, yes it is.

Who's gonna play in that stadium after we've gone bust, Farhad?

Joe McMahon
26 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:35:52
I think we all agree Frank should have gone sooner, but Sean Dyche will never be the answer. His negativity and stubbornness at Burnley got him sacked eventually with a much better squad than there is at Everton.

I assume, like Kenwright said, other clubs' Chairman will be in awe tonight, as Everton always get it right!

I hope he chokes on his Eggs Benedict in the morning!

Simon Dalzell
27 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:36:23
The VAR is a farce. Adams a toe offside for Southampton.

There's a very ominous ship heading to Bramley-Moore Dock tonight… The Championship.

Christy Ring
28 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:36:52
2 weeks ago, Godfrey was destroyed by Fulham; he took him off, and brought him back tonight. Iwobi shite again but he wouldn't bring on Gray who at least has bottle.

He brings on Maupay, who's as good as Stevie Wonder in front of goal? Tonight's performance was down to Dyche, we're gone.

George Cumiskey
29 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:39:01
Terrible terrible terrible management again, Godfrey shocking not subbed, Iwobi shocking not subbed, McNeil shocking not subbed, Onana shocking.

Dyche has completely lost the plot.

Kieran Kinsella
30 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:39:34
Feel great sympathy for all the fans who went down there tonight and did all they could to inspire the team.

I don't know if Dyche is any good as we've had so many managers fail. I don't care about the side show of Gordon. Just extremely angry that Kenwright has left us on the brink after 30 years of asset stripping, dodgy deals and inept leadership.

How can one person have the power to bring down a national institution? It's disgusting. Yes, we can still survive so I am not saying we are down (as in relegated) but I am saying we are as low as we can go on and off the pitch short of relegation.

Kunal Desai
31 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:42:58
So Monday night it is. Win or bust. Quite simple.
Mark Ryan
32 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:43:45
The problem now is this. Right now, a manager could save our season but next game Sean Dyche will pick the same players and play the same formation. He's fucking clueless.

A good manager, Potter, could save us but we'll stick with Sean "I don't look at the table" Dyche and we'll go down. This could be salvaged. Act now, sack Dyche for fuck's sake, he's clueless.

Danny Baily
33 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:45:55
The manager isn't the problem. The old manager was. We waited too long to get rid of Frank.
Daniel A Johnson
34 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:48:00
Sean Dyche is the problem: he's picked Godfrey and persisted with him.
Kieran Kinsella
35 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:48:36
Danny,

Frank wasn't the problem either, nor Rafa, nor Sam, Koeman, Silva etc.

The problem is at the top – the people hiring and firing managers, the people negotiating deals for people like Patterson on massive fees, or Iwobi, or Gomes, Dele Alli etc and huge wages.

One or more of the managers may have been an additional problem, but who hired them in the first place?

Jerome Shields
36 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:50:08
Absolutely blew it in the first 30 minutes of the second half. Everton right flank exposed in the first half and Newcastle came out to seize control and apply more pressure on it and Everton caved in.

Danny Baily called it right on the previous thread. It will all be decided by Monday. Now after this result they really are in difficulty and the game on Monday is more about Leicester's Premier League survival than Everton's.

For quite a while down Everton's Achilles Heel has been not being about to contain the opposition's play in the first period of the second half. They lose control of the game and the resulting pressure exposes the weaknesses in the defence.

In the run-in, it must be most important that this was addressed and the players were up to doing this. Unfortunately, there are enough of them that are not. The result of incompetent club management.

Gavin Johnson
37 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:50:40
We're going down and, while the club deserves it for years of mismanagement, it's gonna be hard on us fans dealing with the laughter and relegation parties of the RS trolls and playing the likes of Luton next season.

Once we have the fire sales of Onana, Calvert-Lewin and Pickford, let's hope we buy wisely and have enough to bounce straight back.

Neil Tyrrell
38 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:51:06
Never felt worse about Everton than right now. Never. And I've been a Blue since the mid-70s.

Until tonight, I thought we'd survive, just can't see it now. We're fucking hopeless.

Ernie Baywood
39 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:51:09
It's not over. But that game was a huge negative. Not only did we not gain any points, not only will it have sapped any confidence from the team and fans, but we've also lost goal difference... and that could be the difference between us and Leeds.

I don't understand how we can continue with that right side of defence being torn apart for 90 minutes. Or how we can offer no quality in attack and not bring on the only talented attacker we have in Gray.

It took Dyche 4 games to realise Gray needs to play. How has he already forgotten? Gray's not exactly special but, when you don't have a single right-footed free-kick taker, it should be obvious that there's a problem.

4-1 flattered us tonight. Particularly the 1.

Alex Gray
40 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:51:53
Spirit in abundance? You mean run around like headless chickens and do sweet fuck-all else? We replaced Richarlison, James and Digne with Maupay, Gray and Mykolenko.

We talked about replacing Seamus six years ago and today we had Ben Godfrey there.

Craig Walker
41 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:53:47
Let's not say there's another manager out there, again. Guardiola can't polish turds. Damage was done when we sold Richarlison. We pinned our safety on Calvert-Lewin being fit.

Sad to say but we are one of the worst teams in the Premier League. Last season was a warning that we didn't heed. We've been worse this season than last.

I just want it over now. It's death by 1,000 cuts. We have no Cahill, Horne, Watson, Dunc or Richarlison that can dig in and turn things round.

A bunch of Instagram players that talk a good game but are nowhere near the quality we need. I can't fault the effort but basic errors and a lack of ability when it counts is the difference.

For Newcastle fans gloating, I genuinely wouldn't swap. Their owners murdered. Enjoy your sports-washing owners.

We'll be back.

Danny Baily
42 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:53:48
That's what football is about. Changing things up until you find a winning formula. It wasn't working with Koeman. It wasn't working with Frank. And we changed things up.

The trick is to know when a situation is irretrievable; after Boxing Day, there was no way back for Frank, but we persisted. No doubt because we couldn't comfortably afford to sack him.

Changing manager now? No point. We're relegated, and Dyche could have us in the mix for promotion next season.

Daniel A Johnson
43 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:53:50
Dyche is stubborn and arrogant – he hasn't learned from his Burnley mistakes, he's just repeating them, that says it all.

The players obviously don't believe in him.

Bill Gall
44 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:55:09
Once again, a must-win ends up in a defeat, and we still can't score. Who will bet that most of the comments are going to blame Dyche for playing Godfrey at right back and deserved.

What does Scotland's right-back have to do to get a game? 75% of Newcastle's attacks came down their left-hand side and created trouble, and as they say, Dyche fiddled while Everton were burned.

We can all say we are not down until the end, but I bet there will not be many who will place a bet on it.

Dave Lynch
45 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:55:42
No chance of bouncing back up with Dyche.

I pray he has a sacking clause if we're relegated.

One-dimensional, a poor man's Allardyce.

Simon Dalzell
46 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:56:31
Spot on, Alex.
John Charles
47 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:57:05
Sat in the bar after the game waiting for Ratters to come in and tell us how crap we are. My worry is that, for 60 minutes, I thought we played okay but still got hammered.

Dyche is doing Godfrey no favours playing him and Godfrey is doing us no favours by playing.

Feels like the end.

Lee Courtliff
48 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:58:04
I'm very familiar with Dyche due to being from Burnley, I know all about him.

I told people on here about how he just sat and watched Brentford dominate the second half against us and did nothing to change it. But because we held on to the slender lead, it was all okie-dokie for some on here.

Well, tonight you've seen the other side of the coin. The persistence with the Twin Statues at centre-back, the obvious dislike of Patterson and the continued selection of a completely out-of-form Godfrey. What the fuck happened to his pace?

No subs until we were 2-nil down... why? The players had no idea what to do besides launch the ball into the box, which led to numerous giveaways.

I never rated Dyche when my Burnley friends and family were raving about him. I saw him for what he is a long time ago. And I'm being proven right in the most painful way possible.

Daniel A Johnson
49 Posted 27/04/2023 at 21:58:53
Dyche is the kind of guy who sits in a burning house wondering if it's a good idea to call the fire brigade.

Stubborn dithering idiot.

Dave Williams
50 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:00:59
Too upset at that second half to post.
Paul Smith
51 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:03:36
Gana taking a free kick at goal sums up the club. He has a terrible shot.
Kieran Kinsella
52 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:03:46
I am assuming the …£100k a week contract for Iwobi is off the table? What a joke.

If we get relegated, half of these won't care because Sheffield Utd or Millwall will probably be stupid enough to take them off us on the cheap. So we the fans get relegated, the players, board, coaches etc will be off and wash their hands of the mess they've created.

I just pray somehow we pick up the points to win. Then that somehow or other we clear out everyone at the club from board to the lowest man at Finch Farm.

Joe McMahon
53 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:04:41
Lee, I fully agree as my wife's from Burnley and my sons a claret. Brother in law ST holder. Dyche is stubborn and dated. Look at Kompany now! My worry is we are now skint and stuck with this neanderthal as our manager. We are going down, we are in a bad place. Wrexham will over take us in 2 seasons.
Joe McMahon
54 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:04:41
Lee, I fully agree as my wife's from Burnley and my son is a claret. Brother-in-law is a season-ticket holder. Dyche is stubborn and dated. Look at Kompany now!

My worry is we are now skint and stuck with this Neanderthal as our manager. We are going down, we are in a bad place. Wrexham will overtake us in 2 seasons.

Gavin Johnson
55 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:04:53
Dyche has made some mistakes but he's working with the worst Everton team I've seen in my 36 years watching them, so I'm not going to blame Dyche except for his lack of ideas in Doucoure's absence.

Looking over at how bad Lampard is at Chelsea, it's looking like our biggest mistake was not sacking him sooner. Both he and Rafa were both, bad, bad appointments.

Craig Walker
56 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:04:55
Keane, Iwobi, Davies, Holgate etc. How many managers have they had? Could it not just be that they're not very good but keep getting 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th chances?

Dyche is stubborn. As was Rafa and Allardyce. As was Lampard, Koeman. Martinez with his tiki-taka. Even Ancelotti got criticised on here.

Klopp or Guardiola wouldn't make Godfrey, Iwobi, Keane etc. any good.

Barry Rathbone
57 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:05:12
I said pre-match about a 3-goal difference should they turn up and, with Top 4 up for grabs, the odds suggested Newcastle would. Huffing and puffing amidst blue pyros is no substitute for having footballers and we only have 3 and one is a goalie!!

Going at Dyche as though he had real options is for the birds but therein lies a massive part of the problem – delusional supporters knee-jerking at any and every opportunity.

Such a shame Moshiri listens to them – we might not be on the way to the lower leagues if he hadn't.

Craig Walker
58 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:06:37
Well said, Barry.
Larry O'Hara
59 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:07:28
I thought we gave it a go. Newcastle are streets ahead.

If we go for it on Monday we have a chance. Don't blame Dyche though.

Anthony Hawkins
60 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:08:01
Lampard admitted before Christmas he was out of his depth but 'trying'. Now there's little to no escape and the damage is done.

It's not all Lampard's fault – failing to land a striker at any point in the last few seasons was amongst the biggest.

Christine Foster
61 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:09:46
Here we go again, blaming another manager. Hasn't the penny dropped with some of you?

I could make a list of players never good enough for this fight. Tonight, the back four were absolutely appalling. Mina should be back, Patterson... can no-one make a tackle? Tarkowski has been poor for weeks.

There is an inevitability about all this and we all know why; nothing to do with managers or tactics. We are not good enough now. Decisions made off the field and selling the best we have is to blame…

Why? Because the club bought badly, fell foul of P&S Rules, and didn't buy a striker. God help us.

Kieran Kinsella
62 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:10:25
Craig,

"Keane, Iwobi, Davies, Holgate etc. How many managers have they had?"

In Holgate's case, I think Martinez, Unsie, Koeman, Unsie, Sam, Silva, Dunc, Carlo, Rafa, Dunc, Frank and Sean.

So we've had 11 changes of manager and yet, at the weekend, Sean decided it would be a good idea to give him another chance.

Bill Gienapp
63 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:10:48
I try not to engage in knee-jerk reactions, but the Patterson situation has me livid. Like, what in the actual fuck is Dyche doing??
Gavin Johnson
64 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:11:09
Anthony #60, I hear what you're saying about Lampard, but he did have money to buy a striker in the summer and he bought Maupay.

Out of interest, would anyone know if something like a transfer embargo charge would stand if we were relegated out of the Premier League into the Football League?

Daniel A Johnson
65 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:13:24
One thing is certain: the players don't believe they can do it.
Jerome Shields
66 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:13:59
Really a failure to address anything has got Everton where it is today.
Ian Edwards
67 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:15:04
I'm never slow to give an opinion but I really don't know what to suggest or say about Dyche or a possible team at Leicester.

I'm just numb and can't think straight.

Deborah Maria
68 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:17:50
If anyone was in TB3 around 154 and seen anything get in touch with the police it was disgusting. Blue on blue, I thought I'd seen it all but not violence on that scale. I hope the fella recovers.
Mark Dunford
69 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:17:54
You’d have to be over 80 years old to have seen a poorer Everton side than this one.
Kieran Kinsella
70 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:20:15
Ian,

At this point, I imagine Sean Dyche is going to have to see who's up for it.

Mina, Davies, Coady are out of contract in a few weeks. Would they risk injury with no contract beyond June? Onana may be another trying to avoid risk.

Ernie Baywood
71 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:21:09
I don't blame Dyche. He is exactly what he is and we appointed him when he was obviously (to some at least) not what we needed.

I'm not sure we needed a miracle worker to stay up. We needed someone who could mount some kind of plan to get the team scoring goals. Not lots of goals... just the occasional goal.

Really, when Calvert-Lewin was injured, what was the plan? It was Maupay, it was Gray, it was Simms... they're not plans, that's just changing a player every couple of games. There was no plan.

A plan would have meant we would stick with a style and played the crap forward (s) who suited it best. Instead, Dyche did what he always did. Keep it tight and hope for a corner. That's the manager that we appointed.

While we're feeling very low right now, it's incredibly still not over due to how poor the bottom of the league is this year. 33 or 34 points might be enough – which would mean we just need 2 or 3 in the next 4 ahead of having some kind of chance against Bournemouth on the last day.

Jim Bennings
72 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:22:46
The result, the capitulation, it's not even a shock to me anymore, this is Everton of the current era.

I'm at peace now with relegation, I can't even be arsed getting worked up about it.

Let's be brutally honest: look at the Premier League table, the goals scored, the home defeats, the diabolical away form… We deserve relegation, it should have arrived last season but this season it will.

Dyche hasn't brought anything to the table; correct me if I'm wrong but that was why he was brought in.

The absolutely stubborn stupidity over ignoring the right back sitting on our bench and our best central defender in Mina while Keane and Tarkowski are being shredded.

We were defensively better when Coady was there also despite his wobble.

Tonight was the game that's probably told me we aren't winning another game this season.

Gavin Johnson
73 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:25:29
There's still a slender hope if can we beat Leicester away, pick up a draw at Brighton and beat Bournemouth at home on the final day, but who can see that happening, and would it be enough anyway?!
Christy Ring
74 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:27:23
Barry #57,

I thought Dyche was the best man for the job, but I'm mystified by his stubbornness. He replaced Godfrey because he was destroyed by Wilian against Fulham, brought him back tonight and destroyed again.

Iwobi ahead of him totally toothless again, would Patterson have been any worse? And it took him 4 games to play Gray, now he can't get a game?

We were destroyed on the right tonight again, why didn't he change it at half-time with Patterson & Gray?

Dyche is clueless.

Jim Bennings
75 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:28:31
It's not a knee-jerk reaction when you have won 6 games with only 5 to play.

It's purely fuckin embarrassing.

Andy Duignan
76 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:29:15
Shocking second half, absolute disgrace – not helped by the knobheads in the top balcony fighting amongst themselves. Some poor fella going to hospital tonight with a bad head injury because of worked-up fans watching that shite.

Saddest thing for me is my 16-year-old lad saying he doesn't feel like he has one player he really likes in our team. Sad, sad times these.

Bill Fairfield
77 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:29:20
The biggest load of dog turd ever to appear on Goodison Park.

I suppose we'll get the usual cliches from the manager, "We'll fight to the end" bullshit. He reckons he's got good players at the club. Wish he'd name them. Onana strolls round like some superstar playing to the galleries, it's pathetic.

No way out with these no-hopers. No-one is comfortable on the ball. Hoof and hope is all we have. What a sad club we've become.

Colin Glassar
78 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:30:03
I'll repeat what I wrote on the live forum.

In my lifetime there has always been two constants, 1) The Queen, 2) Everton in the top flight. Now both are no more.

I still maintain a faint hope that the latter will not come true.

Craig Walker
79 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:34:28
Kieran.

I know and we were all livid but sometimes even Seamus makes mistakes and gets berated.

The fact is, we have an abundance of untalented players and it's a case of picking the least bad option. Dyche had days to recruit. All our defenders have been calamitous this season. Tarkowski has been the best of a terrible bunch.

Do you think Holgate would be in any of the squads above us? He's Championship standard. Baggies mates of mine thought he was woeful when he was there.

Godfrey is a good athlete but an awful player. Mina is a fraud. Coady is too slow. Keane has too many mistakes in him. Mykolenko has a big heart but is a liability…

Tony Everan
80 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:37:54
Very distraught after that, far too easy for Newcastle tonight.

Sean Dyche needs to learn, Godfrey can't play right-back, we've seen it too many times, he doesn't perform there. It's probably controversial after tonight's showing but I think also damning he's slightly better at left-back than Mykolenko, who is a one-dimensional player. I think Godfrey needs a break though, he needs to regroup.

At centre-back, we have to have someone there who can play football, read a game. Keane is none of that, he is a brave defender at times but has no class. Mina has to step in alongside Tarkowski. Seamus has to come back at right-back; if not, reluctantly Holgate if Dyche really won't play or trust Patterson.

In midfield, Iwobi has to go, I've had enough of him. I know his assists… blah, blah, but I've had enough. He's not brave enough and to me weakens the team. I'd have Gray on ahead of him.

Onana did okay but I'd drop him and have Garner on instead.

For Leicester:

Pickford
Coleman or Holgate Mina Tarkowski Mykolenko
Garner Gana Doucouré
Gray Calvert-Lewin McNeil

It looks bleak after tonight but it's not over, if we can get a win on Monday, we are back in with a shout.

John Keating
81 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:39:19
The frightening thing was, although the better team for the first 20-odd minutes, as soon as the first goal went in, our fight and spirit went out. By the end, the score could have been even more embarrassing.

We were hoping our home fixtures with the crowd could see us through. After watching the last 2 home games, well, that plan is non-existent.

Bournemouth are now safe. I think Southampton are down then it's 2 from Forest, Leeds, Leicester and us. Who would you put your money on staying up?

Robert Tressell
82 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:42:38
Fine margins. Had we got the luck with the VAR that might have been a victory.

No real leader without Coleman. Too many nothing players.

Time to get the likes of Simms, Patterson and Garner in the first XI and playing some proper football now.

There's going to be a big overhaul of a bad squad this summer but those three will be part of it – along with Cannon and Branthwaite hopefully.

Sickening but predictable. The club has clearly been readying itself for the drop since Ancelotti left.

Will Mabon
84 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:51:54
Forget Bournemouth and West Ham, we're not passing them. Only Leicester, Forest and Leeds are possibilities now.

Out of the last 18 possible points, we've gained 3. We realistically now need 7, 8 or 9 from the possible 15 points available, a huge upturn – and those above must fare worse.

Lose at Leicester then it's likely 9 still needed but from 12 points. When did we last do that? Won't happen.

John Keating
85 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:53:34
Thinking about it, it might be best to get any points deduction now and start next season on an even keel
Simon Dalzell
86 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:56:13
Burnley getting rid of Dinosaur Dyche was the best thing they ever did, otherwise they would still be light years behind.

How the hell did we end up with him? Try and score off a corner seems to be the only plan.

The decision to play Godfrey at right-back being one of the worst ever! We all knew this before tonight.

Will Mabon
87 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:56:34
"The club has clearly been readying itself for the drop since Ancelotti left."

I'm interested to know what you mean by that, Robert. I have some thoughts that I don't even like having and can't rationally or factually back, but yours may be more realistic.

Mal van Schaick
88 Posted 27/04/2023 at 22:58:16
The bottom line is that Newcastle are a better team than us. The Premier League table doesn't lie. I'm not surprised by this defeat or the margin of defeat. It's the reality of the situation that we are in.

Having said that, we have lesser opposition, albeit away at Leicester, coming up and there are a few teams around us still struggling like us.

As others say, it's not over until it's over and we will just have to take each game as it comes, hope those around us slip up and try and grind some results out to stay in the Premier League.

Gerry Western
89 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:00:06
I'm of the opinion, having watched Godfrey play at left-back, centre-back and right-back, that he's simply not a defender – regardless of the position he takes up. His positional sense is truly woeful, he can't head a ball and his passing ability leaves much to be desired.

When we signed him, I knew little about him and was curious to learn the views of Norwich fans; not surprisingly, they couldn't seem to make up their minds as to whether he was better at the back or in midfield.

That being the case, you'd have to wonder why we ever signed him in the first place. Dyche has some serious questions to answer as to why he selected him to start. That was one of the worst defensive displays I think I've ever witnessed. He was a one-man demolition job.

Roger Helm
90 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:01:43
Just back from the match and very fed up, it was embarrassing to watch. It is the worst team I have seen in 50 years of following the club.

It is true that Dyche makes mistakes and is stubborn but Pep Guardiola in charge and we would be the same – because the players are simply not good enough. Five years of poor recruitment has led to this situation.

Only Pickford and Calvert-Lewin would be picked for any other Premier League team. As soon as we recruit a good player, like Lukaku or Richarlison, we sell him.

They just look so lightweight and weak against all their opponents, who usually resemble light-heavyweight boxers. They are not even fast to compensate for their size. Doucoure and Onana are tall but seem to move awkwardly, and they can't do the basic football skills. I can't think any of them will be any use in the Championship.

The club being so dysfunctional, they are all on massive contracts (someone seems to think that if you overpay a mediocre player he will somehow play better) so I don't see how they can be got rid of.

Until the whole club personnel is replaced, from the owner and the board down to the trainers, coaches and all the players, I don't see an improvement and a return to the top level. I think it will happen at some point because we are a big club with a huge fan base, but it won't happen soon.

Lee Robinson
91 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:01:57
I absolutely do blame Dyche. To not play Patterson is a disgrace. To persist with Godfrey when he is at fault for at least one goal per game is a disgrace. To drop Coady after a mistake at Anfield but persist with Keane is a disgrace. To not use Mina at any point. To watch Iwobi stink the place out on the right wing every week, the boy can't put a cross in.

His use of Simms is baffelling.

His in play management and substitutions are pathetic.

What is Onana's position? he's had one good game and apparently he was going to get the mighty Stephen Defour in to teach him how to play. I'm sorry but I don't see the hype with him I really don't. Below average all season.

Absolutely set up to fail in every aspect, so rigid, so easy to work out.

Why was Garner dropped? Gray should have started.

Ben Godfrey! Pathetic.

This won't even go down to the last day. Over by Monday night, confirmed by City at home.

Alec Gaston
92 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:02:26
Decent first half, awful second. We are swimming against the tide now – head says we are gone.

I'm not sure the players believe what Dyche is saying or have enough personal fight. We need to pick our best players. I don't mind if they aren't the best in training because those who get picked aren't doing it.

Tony Abrahams
93 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:03:29
When all hope is lost, then it's over, so I'm still not prepared to lose all hope, even now.

Defensively very poor, especially because Newcastle had a lot of strength speed and aggression in forward areas.

No fullback likes the ball played inside them but, when you over-cover as much as Everton's fullbacks have been doing, then it usually ends up with the same result. This is something I was shouting at Godfrey 10 seconds before Newcastle scored their second goal and put the game to bed.

I'm going to bed myself now, and in years gone by, I wouldn't have been able to sleep after watching us get slaughtered whilst getting dragged towards the trap door, but I'm actually quite calm. I only feel sorry for the unbelievable young fans who have only ever seen absolute shite.

Lester Yip
94 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:05:13
I have a faint hope to get something out from this game as a bounce is long overdue and the crowd was amazing. Unfortunately, nothing works for this lot.

Godfrey is not a right back. End.

Okay, we'll sell most of this bunch. Rinse and restart in the Championship.

Frank Sheppard
95 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:05:58
Tonight was not a big game for us. A big game is one you have a chance of winning. We had nil chance of winning this game.

It's really sad that we are so very poor, and have been for so long.

Will Mabon
96 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:06:03
Tony, I find Everton pajamas help.
Henrik Lyngsie
97 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:07:15
We looked good until their first goal. And they managed to take the energy out of the game in the first half. Partly by keeping possession and partly by taking ages with any goal kick or free kick in their own half.

Godfrey seems without any self-confidence at the moment. To play him behind Iwobi was simply a disaster. Iwobi just doesn't defend. Coleman has got the experience to cover for that, but Godfrey got exposed big time.

Really weird that Patterson is not playing. Either Dyche doesn't like him or he feels that he doesn't have the experience to cover for Iwobi.

Actually Newcastle is a strong team these days and I still hope that the Calvert-Lewin, Onana and Doucoure physicality can give us the points we need in the rest of the games.

I know we are short of wingers, but I would play anyone but Iwobi on the right wing. He played against an out-of-form Matt Targett and still panicked every time he should pass or make a cross. He treats the ball like it is a hot potato.

Mike Keating
98 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:07:33
This shower rightly get criticised individually and collectively for poor play and the manager for some poor decisions (or lack thereof).

But at half-time we were not light years away from a talented Newcastle squad who had been instructed to spoil the game with time wasting and feigned injuries which Mr Mariner encouraged by not booking the worst offenders.

I don't understand why Howe went for the bad actor option when he has so many good footballers at his disposal. Nevertheless, had Calvert-Lewin's goal stood on the stroke of half-time, I don't think we would have been humiliated.

But there is a real issue at right-back – we have one who is an international but Dyche prefers Holgate and Godfrey out of position. What the Fuck?

Tony Abrahams
99 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:10:34
There is probably a massive amount of truth in that statement Robert T.

Ancellotti couldn’t get out of the door quick enough and the most divisive manager in the club’s history was given £1.5 million to spend.

We have since done a bit of wheeling and dealing, but it seems our market was buying players that other clubs didn’t really want on the drip, and still we are probably in breach with regards the sickeningly laughable sustainability rules, which are all about trying to protect the status quo.

Eddie Dunn
100 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:12:54
Missed it all, out playing five-a side, just got the stats on the phone. Everything we feared.
Dyche has his very rigid ideas and he has made some big calls but in fairness, if he had played Patterson, we may have got a similar pasting.
The reality is that DCL has always taken five or six games to get up to match fitness.
Seamus is the big miss.
It is not all over, we just need to win our next game.
I am now simply philosophical. If we go down then we will have deserved to.
Perhaps we can still escape. A defeat at the King Power will kill us.
Hope is all we have.
George McKane
101 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:15:38
Read some saying “don’t blame Dyche or the players” - OK let’s blame the guy who runs the chippie in Barnoldswick. I blame Dyche for the past 4 games - picking Holgate - playing Keane whose head is on different way to his body - continuing with Iwobi ( a coward) - Gueye Oonana - poor tactics - bad substitutions - that chippie guy has got a lot to answer for.
Will Mabon
102 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:16:52
Frank, by a small margin of offside, we were all but level going in at half time and not outplayed.

Then, as is now almost customary, we come out for the second half asleep. As we tired (after eventually waking back up) and Newcastle pressed forward a bit, no change in shape, no subs, gradual fear building and tiring more from running around all loose... then almost panic and defence everywhere, Godfrey 10 feet from his centre back half the time, too far forward the rest of it.

We were doing OK, then fell apart - again. God alone knows what Dyche was or wasn't trying to do about it.

Tony Abrahams
103 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:17:04
I came home from Goodison with my youngest son Will, and when I was putting him to bed he was about to put on his Everton pajamas. I said don’t put them on lad, you will end up having nightmares!
Will Mabon
104 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:21:07
Tony :-)
Gary Brown
105 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:21:57
Dyche is the latest mistake in a very, very long line of mistakes. Other than Carlo we haven't got a single manager right since sacking Silva.

Allardyce, Benitez, Lampard, Dyche. That's 3 x anti-football dinosaur managers, and a nice guy novice. All of them repeatedly choosing older, slower players who can't pass.

The tactics tonight of booting it long were just ate up by a simple instruction to head backwards to the keeper. This nullified the Onana and Doucoure coming up behind DCL hoping to get a clearance. Godfrey at RB is utter suicide. There was no plan b.

Unfortunately I think we'll stick with him. Not just for this year, but next year in the championship too. We'll see same “older experienced” players, playing the same panicked, disjointed game. I really do fear even the championship has evolved too far for that now, but we're gonna find out.

Personally I'd sack him now, and go offer anyone of Viera, Rodgers or Potter with “£5m to keep us up”. Surely the latter would fancy it? £1m a game, and a month of his life. Not going to happen, but I can wish. Can't believe I am suggesting another kopite and a failed one at that, but at least he tries to play football, and I'd rather go down trying that than being Wimbledon. I'd even offer Forrest Green £500k to give us Duncan back for 5 games. Or Rooney.

Team wise I'd drop Pickford, Godfrey (from even training), Tarkowski, Gana, Onana. They've offered nothing this year. Team against Leicester….go for goals

Begovic
Coleman (please!) Mina Keane Mykolenko Iwobi Garner McNeil
Mills Calvert-Lewin Gray

Going to bed. Might as well dream there instead. Hopefully it's not a nightmare like 7.45pm-9.30pm was.

Paul Kossoff
106 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:25:22
Tony I find southern comfort helps.
Jim Wilson
107 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:27:53
No brainer for me.

New manager bounce is needed.

Potter to replace Dyche and if we do go down he will get us back up.

The wheels fell off at Utd when Dyche couldn't do the simple thing of replacing Doucoure with Garner.

Tonight, not playing Patterson and dropping Garner for Onana were massive mistakes.

Nothing to lose now, Potter in!

Tony Everan
108 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:30:09
Can’t understand the reluctance to play Patterson when we’ve seen Godfrey suffer repeatedly at right back. He must be getting roasted like a Maris Piper on Christmas Day in training. It’s sad if that’s the case because he’s looked better than Godfrey there when he’s played, despite his mistakes.
Tom Bowers
109 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:31:44
This was predictable given how badly we have been playing this season although we all hoped for a miracle.
Miracles don't happen for Everton and it could be now we are doomed.

We just don't have any arsenal (excuse the pun) to win games and the board has proved how clueless they are.

When Richarlison was let go, the board failed badly to recognize that what we had left was totally useless even though DCL was still here he was never a natural scorer just a target man of average quality.

That left us with a less than average midfield group who are just all at sea when not in possession.

Too many teams get into Everton's penalty area with consumete ease.

This has been the problem no matter who has been the manager since Moyes left.

Any thing less than three points at Leicester will be the end of an era which I never thought I would see in my lifetime.

Funny how the Barcodes have re-invented themselves since they got shut of Ashley and after that brought in Eddie Howe as manager. Howe brought in the likes of Wilson who you just knew was going to do a number on us today.

So why do we still have Moshiri and company ?

Mike Connolly
110 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:31:48
Bunch of phoneys. What team gets a bus welcome like ours. and then cant get motivated. some of these players are only fit to play in the local park with ten people watching. If we go down hope there's a massive flag at the last game of the season with. Your the worse team in Everton history with a team picture on it. Feel sorry for the young ones not seeing us win a trophy and getting relegated
Tony Abrahams
111 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:33:02
I love alcohol, but it absolutely hates me Paul, so I’ve been enjoying these cannabis jellies instead, lately mate. They are absolutely brilliant for pain relief, but because they haven’t all got the same dosage, I’m not taking any chances tonight, because I’m definitely not in the mood for thinking!

That was until I read Tony E, who’s post’s usually give food for thought.

My own view is that the long cross-field pass, has never been so popular, so this means that fullbacks over covering as much as ours currently are, is absolute suicide?

Pete Clarke
112 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:35:38
When your club is owned by somebody who has no interest in football, run by somebody who has idea about football, managed by people who are dinosaurs of football and has players who are bang average at football then this is the culmination of all of that.
What is amazing is that we somehow have 28 points this season and therefore a very very small glimmer of hope of surviving this. Or is this just me not being realistic about football ?
Brett Jonathan
113 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:36:29
Laughing at anyone who thinks Potter would take on Everton with 5 games remaining and almost certain relegation. Seven new managers. Same old players.

Cry foul at the board or one manager after the other all day long. Our players have been shite for years and they are still here. Some have been here for years now and haven't really even played first team football yet.

Paul Kossoff
114 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:37:32
Jim, 100% agree. We are done I'm afraid. Two teams Leeds and the foxes have goals in them, we don't. We can look forward to the announcer next season shouting excitedly, "Don't forget your match ticket for next week's derby game against Preston." Funny thing is I don't get upset and teary like before.
But,Coyb👮
Phil Lewis
115 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:38:19
Abysmal once more.

I cannot fathom why a fit Mina has not been our first choice centre back. Similarly Patterson at right back. Dyche must shoulder blame for recent selections and tactics.

Perhaps inquests are premature, but 'The Fat Lady' is almost certainly clearing her throat for the final encore.

I'm contemplating the Championship now, wishing the season would end immediately, saving further humiliation. We have been in terminal decline for many years now, suffering an insidious illness rooted at the heart of the club. Anyone who has witnessed a loved one in such circumstances knows that the end may often be welcomed in order to cease unnecessary suffering.

There is no point in wishing for a miracle to preserve our Premiership status, knowing full well that we will endure the same fate twelve months from now, if Kenwright and his band of charlatans remain.

My hope for the future now? A complete clearout starting in the boardroom. A final season in the Championship at Goodison, lifting the title and an immediate return to the Premiership playing at our new home Bramley Moor. The emphasis next season has to be on youth. Give our youngsters a chance. They couldn't possibly do any worse than the current imposters in Blue.

I've watched Everton in the top flight now for over 60 years. Never did I ever feel as resigned to relegation in all that time as I do now. But if that is what it takes to turn around the fortunes of our once great club, then so be it.

Brian Denton
116 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:38:39
If those fuckers don't know the meaning of losing, then they're pretty slow on the uptake.

Should be a carnival atmosphere against Bournemouth. Hope it's sunny.

Paul Kossoff
117 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:39:03
Tony thanks for the advice but how the hell do you light them?😀
Peter Carpenter
118 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:40:20
'Spirit in Abundance' up to 70 minutes, yes. I still thought we could get something. But I've never, in 50 f-ing years seen the spirit drain out of a team as rapidly as it does from this one once a second goal goes in.
Tony Abrahams
119 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:41:24
You don’t light them Paul, they just make you glow! Sometimes!!
Michael Lynch
120 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:42:55
Phil @115. Perfectly put. Totally agree with all of that.
Denis Richardson
121 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:43:35
Amazingly we’re still not down and out. Awful result, just like Fulham. Leicester game is even more of a must- not-lose now. Lose Monday and I think for me that would be it.

After this result and performance I don’t even think we’ll beat a Bournemouth side half on the beach last day of the season. We have such an odd collection of players thy barely manage to string a couple of decent passes, I guess the result of changing managers so many times in the last 4 or 5 years.

Even if we stay up by some miracle, just how the hell can we finally get rid of Kenwright and the rest of the board? This shit will just keep repeating itself until then.

Bill Griffiths
122 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:50:06
Hi George(#101), glad to see you are still monitoring things from afar and bringing some clarity to the situation.
My initial thoughts where Dyche was what we needed but have now got my doubts. Can't argue with your comments.
How's it going in Italy?
Joe Digney
123 Posted 27/04/2023 at 23:53:20
Woke up at 3am to watch that.. I’ll never learn 🤦🏻‍♂️.

Came to terms with relegation months back kind of as a defense mechanism, so what will be will be.

Peter Mills
124 Posted 27/04/2023 at 00:01:21
Last night I watched the Sheffield Utd match on telly as they gained promotion. My 4 year old grandson was taken from his sick bed by his dad to witness the spectacle and, of course, I was made up for them.

But as I listened to the Blades fans sing “We are Premier League, we are Premier League” I reflected upon that promised land. It’s purely a money-making machine (although, like any bubble, it will eventually burst); I believe the system, aided by referees and VAR, is corrupt; players and managers are milking the game, pundits are thriving on controversy so it is being manufactured, and it is very expensive to watch. And our opponents tonight did everything possible to reduce the amount of playing time we had paid to see.

I know the history, I have lived plenty of it, but I am less and less concerned about whether we continue to keep our snouts in the trough. A part of me feels that the relegation I have expected for some time might be a lot more interesting than the boring fare we have had to witness for 30 years.

Barry Hesketh
125 Posted 27/04/2023 at 00:06:44
The pedigree of this current Everton was on show tonight.

Pickford league career at Sunderland (relegated) but he is England's number one.
Godfrey (Norwich - a relegated) club)has done little since his bout of Covid
Tarkowski (Burnley a relegated club) good stopper but is slow on the turn and loses concentration.
Keane (failed at OT and joined Burnley a Relegated club) very similar to his partner but I'd say he has more about him mentally than most of the squad.
Mykolenko, Looked a good prospect but is sadly not good enough for the Premier League.

Iwobi (Arsenal reject and possibly the most frustrating player I've ever seen in an Everton shirt)
Gueye (Not that great first time around, but in a poor team, his deficiencies are more apparent)
Doucoure (Watford a relegated club) flatters to deceive, not the worst but nowhere near good enough)
Onana - looks like a Rolls-Royce of a player but performs like a mini-metro

Calvert-Lewin - has to be supplied with the ball more often, else he is little more than a passenger, certainly not a 15 goal plus every season man, but is the best of a really bad bunch of attacking players at Goodison, a survivor rather than a fulcrum.

MaupayProbably the worst signing that Everton have ever made, he can't fit into the system and we can't adapt the system to suit him. So not all his fault.

The rest of the squad is more of the same, one good game, three indifferent ones. Only Seamus is the player who has the heart but seeing as he should have been replaced many moons ago, it's testament to the inability of the recruitment team that he remains one of the most influential players in the squad.

I defy any manager to mould a competent team out of the current squad, never mind a team that shows consistency. It is mostly made up of individuals who for whatever reason can't maintain a team ethic, probably because they are all undermined by their own individual lack of ability.

The fact is we still have a remote chance to survive, but that defeat tonight has highlighted what we all knew prior to the game, and have known for quite a long time, this Everton squad isn't worthy of our support and most will be long gone, whilst we the supporters suffer the slings and arrows of the club's self inflicted misfortunes in the future.

Matt Taylor
126 Posted 27/04/2023 at 00:09:23
@ Jim 107 - you can’t polish a turd.

Potter, Dyche, Lampard, it doesn’t matter who is in charge.

Turns out that we have a bunch of below-par footballers who simply don’t know how to win.

We are nailed on to go down, sadly.

Colin Malone
127 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:13:00
Jim Wilson # 107.
Potter to replace Dyche. No way. English managers / coaches are just not good enough anymore.
Would a foreign coach tell players to launch balls to a 5ft 8inch forward?. NO.
Dyche is a dinosaur.
Gary Brown
128 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:15:16
Brett I’m laughing at you thinking anyone thinks potter is coming, they’re simply wishing it. I wish for lottery win too, but I don’t expect it.

Same players - true. To an extent. 4 of the team weren’t here last summer (6 with subs) and even less 18 months back. We keep getting everything wrong. This manager just the latest mistake.

Brent Stephens
129 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:18:00
A draw was at best all we could have realistically expected tonight. And we fell far short of that. I won't overdo the Godfrey thing - it's all been said.

Getting behind your team on ToffeeWeb, as some call for, is easy but no substitute for getting behind them at Goodison and at away games. Well, the fans do that, get behind them at GP and away games - but to no avail. Great reception by the fans tonight, but all for nought.

We're as good as relegated. That's not defeatism, it's realism. I can't be defeated, only the team can. That doesn't mean I'm not "behind the team". It's just seeing what's in front of us.

Kieran Kinsella
130 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:20:11
If it’s any consolation for those feeling like this is the worst Everton team. John McFarlane told me the last relegated lot only needed a draw at home to already relegated Sheff Wed and lost 0-6
Dave Abrahams
131 Posted 27/04/2023 at 00:23:42
All the deficiencies have been highlighted, quite a lot, we had a go first half and still in the game but once the second half started we quickly ran out of steam and once they scored the second goal the game was lost especially when Dyche took Onana off from midfield and replaced him with a striker, not that Onana had looked any better from his usual performances but it left the central midfield wide open and Newcastle promptly went upfield and scored their third goal.

After Everton pulled one back Newcastle scored their fourth goal which was unbelievable with the Newcastle winger coasting along the goal line past three or four Everton players in dreamland or hypnotised and passing the ball right past more bemused Everton players to his teammate who tapped the ball home, it’s hard to remember such a laughable and poorly defended goal if there ever has been one, it should be shown in coaching manuals in how not to defend a goal.

This goal was followed by a mass rush to the entrances which was bigger than the previous exodus after the third goal, I stayed to the end out of politeness and to listen to inevitable boos after such a pitiful performing cave in by the team.

I will be watching the game on tv on Monday fully in awe of those terrific Everton supporters who will be there again to try and roar some life into these imposters purporting to be professional footballers, really and truly embarrassing in that second half tonight.

Came home and listened to my distraught grandson trying to come to terms with what he had watched tonight, he couldn’t believe the lack of fight and pride in that team who he has watched since a young boy, twenty six now and like loads of his mates and thousands of other young fans hasn’t had one trophy to cheer since he started watching them but will be there next season. The club takes them and all of us for granted.

Ian Riley
132 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:27:37
Stay up for what? Same rubbish next season. Tired of never going to compete for trophies. The players are not premiership standard. We sell premiership players. How fortunate we have been to remain a premiership club for 30 years. Thank you David for the glory years!

This will be no quick fix. Championship football may be the norm for a while. A lot of average players on big contracts may not be moved on. A new manager? Probably, but must be given time. A sad time for us all but we will be back. Yes, it's not over but from tonight's showing I am more sure than I was yesterday relegation is going to happen.

Peter Carpenter
133 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:27:56
At a quick count the starting line up were signed by 5 different managers. That would be 6 if Coleman had played. None signed by the current manager. As the bloke behind me said, 'It's a Frankenstein's mess of a team.'
The club is getting what it deserves. The fans are not.
Colin Glassar
134 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:34:05
Well done Mr Kenwright aka Mr Everton. What a legacy you are leaving behind. Your media pals won’t be able to save you now. Your “admirers” on other boards are laughing at you. Now they are asking themselves, “what would Everton do that we shouldn’t?”.

You are universally despised by the fan base. You will never be allowed near Goodison during daylight hours, not even to get your portrait of yourself from your office. Your stewardship of EFC will be used for years by business schools throughout the land as an example of how to run a business into the ground while making yourself rich.

I’m sure you’ll find some comfort in London amongst your theatre friends. You might even become a regular at a cozy little club like Fulham. But never again will your smirking, obese gob be seen on the big screen at Goodison. And you can forget about ever stepping foot in BMD.

What a fitting ending for a slime ball.

Mark Taylor
135 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:36:35
I'm not old enough to remember the 50's. But I am old enough to remember most of the 60's and this is the worst ever team I've seen, by some distance. I'm not even sure they are good enough for the championship and if we get the maximum penalty for the financial mess, we may not be stopping there.
Kieran Kinsella
136 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:38:21
Dave

That goal yiu referenced where three defenders literally let him stroll past unfortunately reminds of games like the Atalanta one when it’s obvious the players have given up. At the best of times these couldn’t win away now we’ve two away games followed by City. If that defending is indicative of what’s to come City may be D day or R day. But as I posted earlier I can’t see us changing the back like as Mins and Coady are hardly likely to bust their asses knowing they out of contract in a few weeks. Maybe roll the dice on Patterson or one of the under 23s? I hate the phrase “couldn’t be worse” but I think it rings true here. Also I’m not blaming Dyche but he doesn’t help himself. Gray is the one player who occasionally scores and he can create something out of nothing which is useful
when the midfield create zilch. I would play him despite his deficiencies because as I say he occasionally does something versus most of these other losers.

Gareth Stephens
137 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:44:29
"I think we can do it," replied Dyche when asked if they can stay up.

It's delusional. I have no confidence of us picking up any more than a couple more points this season.

Leicester (A) - loss
Brighton (A) - loss
Man City (H) - big loss
Wolves (A) - draw/loss
Bournemouth (H) - draw/loss

#132 Ian, I think you may be right about Championship football becoming the norm. The majority of this squad don't have the quality or fight to keep going for promotion.

Kieran Kinsella
138 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:45:53
Dave

That goal yiu referenced where three defenders literally let him stroll past unfortunately reminds of games like the Atalanta one when it’s obvious the players have given up. At the best of times these couldn’t win away now we’ve two away games followed by City. If that defending is indicative of what’s to come City may be D day or R day. But as I posted earlier I can’t see us changing the back like as Mins and Coady are hardly likely to bust their asses knowing they out of contract in a few weeks. Maybe roll the dice on Patterson or one of the under 23s? I hate the phrase “couldn’t be worse” but I think it rings true here. Also I’m not blaming Dyche but he doesn’t help himself. Gray is the one player who occasionally scores and he can create something out of nothing which is useful
when the midfield create zilch. I would play him despite his deficiencies because as I say he occasionally does something versus most of these other losers.

Kieran Kinsella
139 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:49:16
Colin

Kenshite doesn’t even have theater friends I have it on good authority from a leading actor of a long long running BBC sci fi show that for his sake I won’t name but unlike Everton keeps regenerating itself that he is a tight wad skin flint hated in the industry for low balling actors etc.

Simon Dalzell
140 Posted 28/04/2023 at 00:53:10
Barry (125) That's a perfect assessment of the shite we've ended up with.
Dave Lynch
141 Posted 28/04/2023 at 01:01:15
A terrible thought has just occurred to me.
If Moyes gets the bullet, which I think he will at the end of the season, then ee might end up with him in the championship, a man who's won fuck all managing a team that's never going to win fuck all.
Soren Moyer
142 Posted 28/04/2023 at 01:07:19
Of course it matters who you hire as your club's manager. Appointing Lampard was a big, big mistake and when you replace him with someone who got sacked by Burnley last season, you can't expect any better outcome!
I say relieve him of his duties and put Big Joe Royle in charge for the last 5 games.
Simon Dalzell
143 Posted 28/04/2023 at 01:08:38
I'd much rather have Moyes than Dyche, Dave, and I'm as horrified as you at that prospect. I agree with Soren about the last 5 games, but of course that would never happen.
Laurie Hartley
144 Posted 28/04/2023 at 01:53:14
When you think about it Bielsa said he would come to Everton on condition he worked with the under 23’s for the rest of this season. My initial reaction to that was he must be off his rocker. However, after watching what has transpired subsequently I can see where the man Pep in March 22 called “the best coach in the world” was coming from.

In his own unique way he was telling the owner and us the best way to repair the damage of the past 6 years.

Brian Wilkinson
145 Posted 28/04/2023 at 02:25:39
To be honest I do not think there was much between the teams the first half, some of the goals that are being chalked off by var and their lines are a joke.

When a player is clearly a good half foot offside fair do, but your talking a matter of centimetres, that’s even if the freeze frame is stopped at the exact frame the ball was played.

Go in at 1 all and it’s a different game altogether.

I do not need to tell anybody that our right side has now be mauled twice by Fulham and Newcastle, we can see it clear as Day, once that second goal went in we folded like a deck of cards, shocking second half.

The way the defence is set out is to compact the penalty area, which is leaving both right and left back out of position, as soon as a ball is played from one side of goal, to the other, our defenders are out of position and allowing the freedom of the pitch to their wingers.

It’s not just Godfrey, when Patterson came on the other week the same happened, ball played out wide and our right back in our own penalty area, ball over his head to their winger and ball crossed before our full backs can close them down.

Twice now Godfrey has been absolutely roasted in two home games, but who is giving the instructions for our full backs to stay more central, rather than stay further out wide, to try and close the wingers down.

That fourth goal was shocking, dribbling past three players on the touchline and not one prepared to at worst give a corner away.

There is still time to save ourselves, but on tonight’s second half performance, it is not looking good.

Brian Wilkinson
146 Posted 28/04/2023 at 02:56:59
Laurie, you are absolutely bang on with that one.

Bielsa knew most of the first teamers were too slow and not good enough, given time until the end of the season, he would have coached some of our youngsters, and come up with a forward thinking plan b, for next season.

Now it looks like we will be going with the usual suspects again next season, have to admit at the time I thought he was crazy, but now I can see where he was coming from.

Alan J Thompson
147 Posted 28/04/2023 at 03:17:06
I've just finished watching the game for the first time and have not read any comments but my reaction is that I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

For large parts of the game I thought that if we had played like this for most of the season we wouldn't be where we are and at other times it showed exactly why we are.

I was surprised that Godfrey was in the starting line up and then when Maupay was brought on I wondered what you have to do to get dropped, two of the most consistently poor players. The whole thing seemed to fall apart when Onana went off and none of the substitutions made much sense unless you think just wellying it down the other end makes any sense.

We were on top for the first 25 minutes but only managed 2 or 3 tame long range efforts until 2 or 3 players just stood and watched rather than blocking the shot Pickford palmed out and then what was Keane doing on the back post when it was obvious that he should have been on the player who scored. The next few goals showed exactly how poor Godfrey is at defending.

I'm also starting to believe that VAR is adding to the poor refereeing as it seems they want it to bail out poor officials and the lack of replays explaining how they get to decisions isn't helping. And Onana's yellow was for next to nothing, a shirt pull in a nowhere position when the Ref let far worse things go.

What's left to say? Goodnight to the folks Gracie and let's see Bill out there this season with his written speech on how we will never let this happen again.

Jonathan Oppenheimer
148 Posted 28/04/2023 at 03:45:39
I’m heart sick for all of you who have loved this club far longer than I have. I didn’t watch the match, but I defended Dyche for the most part until now. But Godfrey over Patterson and benching Garner are simply baffling to me. Gray had been poor recently and I was okay dropping him, assuming DCL was on the pitch. But the other changes just boggle the mind.

Regardless, we are terrible. Or at least far from good enough to deserve staying up. I’ll hope for a miracle, but like others I’ve resigned myself to relegation. Didn’t think we’d be here when I fell for Everton 7 years ago, but I’ll be there next year and for many years after that.

There’s obviously some hope that the last year at Goodison sees us move back up, but that all depends on if our young squad is good enough. We will find out if Mills, Warrington, Cannon, Simms, McNeil, Garner, Branthwaite, Patterson, and Mykolenko can form a young hungry squad next season. I assume we sell Pickford for 50£ million, and if the price is right then DCL and Onana, too, but who knows, maybe no one wants them because of DCL’s injury record and Onana’s mediocre season? If there are buyers for Gray and Iwobi, then you have to sell for 10£ million. It’s easy to say we won’t be good enough in the Championship, and I have no idea being an American who’s never watched the league, but it’s not impossible we pull it off next year.

One last chance to find an away win at Leicester like last year, the best away scene I’ve ever witnessed as our incredible traveling fans refused to stop singing. We can all dream of one shining moment this year, no?

Kieran Kinsella
149 Posted 28/04/2023 at 04:03:22
Jonathan

Mate rationally I’m right there with you but the only reason I’m holding out from saying it is the vain hope Rob Halligan, Danny O’Neill, Neil Copeland and the rest of the frequent traveling fans can stay positive and provoke some kind of life into this useless team.

Steve Brown
150 Posted 28/04/2023 at 04:34:53
I’ve just booked a flight to Lourdes so I can pray for Coleman’s recovery from injury.
Christine Foster
151 Posted 28/04/2023 at 04:56:02
It's plain to see, Man U, Fulham and now Newcastle, we are nowhere near good enough. The problem is Everton are a team of nearly men, nearly good enough players who who get carried in a better team. None of them are good enough to form a team, managers including and everyone since Ancelotti found this out, they thought they could get more out of them, fashion them into a team..but despite the occasional splutter, their 100% fell well below premiership requirements. The sparks we had last season to lift us had been sold and not replaced, but the truth is even with them we still would have struggled.
This disaster has been years in the making. A constant purchase of players who were journeymen, of sale of the few who did make a difference, a motely crew that needs disbanding completely and rebuilt once more.
Dyche learnt he cannot count on so many players tonight, I would not be unhappy if I never saw any of the current back four for any of the remains games, Gana, Iwobi, Gray, the same. Maupay? Mother of God. The sad thing is there is little to replace them.
Dyche was brought in to do a job, like Allardyce was, but he has failed and although criticism can be leveled at him, in the end I doubt moving the deck chairs on the Titanci would have made any difference..
Blame the players? Can't really, simply not good enough and never were. Poor Seamus, God bless him, should have been replaced 3 seasons ago..
We all know where the real blame lies, the recruitment of managers, the players, the sale and release of what little we had..
They say you have to hit the bottom of the barrel before you can look up...
I'm looking up at the smug face of good times Kenwright from the bottom of the barrel.. Between them, Kenwright and Moshiri have destroyed our passion, and look like consigning us to the Championship.
Five games..I wish Dyche a few miracles and an end to this season.
Jack Convery
152 Posted 28/04/2023 at 05:24:16
AS I can't sleep, after watching an EFC team raise the white flag ( AGAIN ).A few thoughts.

I don't blame Dyche for the state we are in, the damage was done long ago. However, putting Godfrey at RB YET AGAIN, has to be one of the dumbest things I've ever seen by an EFC manager. Godfrey after Covid and his leg break is nowhere near the player, who played well as LB under Ancellotti. If Paaterson is worse than Godfrey, why did we pay Rangers £15m for him ?

Mina is the best CH we have. Yes he's injury prone we all know that but we also know Keane is not a good CB and when he plays we must sit back due to his lack of pace. Tarks looked better alongside Coady but I'd like to see him with Mina alongside him. It can;t be any worse.

Mykolenko is the only left back we have who is fit, so he picks himself.

Should Colma be fit he plays at RB. If not its a toss up between Patterson and Holgate. Patterson for me.

So for Leicester -

Pickford, Patterson, Mina, Tarkowki and Mykolenko.

The midfield should be a 5. Gray, Garner, Gueye, Doucoure and Mc'Neill.

DCL up front.

As for what happens long term I would suggest the following, even if we stay up.

Moshiri to sell the club as soon as possible. The new owners, to bring in a new Chairman and Board, all based on expertise in football and business.

A new manager to be appointed who is forward thinking. A manager who can build a team and take us forward on the field. I would suggest Graham Potter, A new owner and board might make him take up the reins.

The following players should be shown the door, either sold or just let go. Holgate, Keane, Godfrey, Mykolenko, Gueye, Onana, Maupay, Townsend, Vinagre, Lonergan, Gomes, Alli, Gbamin, Virginia and Iwobi, whether we are relegated or not. These players have demonstrated too many times that they are not good enough for the Premier League. If we are relegated then DCL and Pickford will go anyway.

Begovic, Coleman, Davies, Doucoure, Mina are out of contract. Only Begovic and Coleman are worth a contract extension.

If we stay up we are left with Pickford, Patterson, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Garner, Gray, McNeill, DCL Simms, Nkounkou plus Begovic and Coleman if they stay, Of these I see Gray, Coleman, Nkounkou, Begoviic and Simms as squad players. However if a team is willing to cough up a decent amount for DCL, say £30m plus, given his injury record, I'd let him go.

Youngsters who may come through are Welch (CB), Kyle John (RB), Ishe Samuels Smith (LB), Stanley Mills (RM and Isaac Price (CM), Tom Cannon (St) and Lewis Dobbin (LW).

As we are skint a few bosmans will be necessary !!

At RB I would suggest Matt Doherty ex Wolves and Spurs and Republic International or Semedo the current Wolves RB.

At LB, Raphaël Guerreiro from Dortmund.

MF - Ellyes Skhiri from FC Koln and Florian Grillitsch of Ajax.

ST - Moussa Dembélé from Lyon, Chuba Akom of M'boro, McBurnie Sheff Utd,

Slim pickings mostly but when you have been so mismanged as we have, these are the players you can go after. They are all available as of June 30th 2023 as per Transfer Market.

We will need to buy a couple of CBs, at least 3 Midfielders and a couple of decent strikers. Were that money comes from will be from the sales of the players that go,obviously.

Should we stay up I expect a 6 points deduction, which will make recruitment even more difficult. If we are relegated and get a points deduction, I hate to think what will happen. Maybe the EPL will give us a points reduction if we are relegated, so we officially finish 20th. To show the government they can keep their own house in order !!!

I can hear a blackbird giving it loads outside. He's obviously not an Evertonian, no Evertonian could sound that happy this morning.

Ernie Baywood
153 Posted 28/04/2023 at 05:34:23
I've got to admit, I'm warming to the idea of the Championship if only so we don't have to go through this again in 12 months time.

Because we will, won't we?

And for what it's worth I actually think we'll stay up on the last day. Not because of our achievements but because Leeds and Forest won't see more than a couple of points each.

If we stay up I'd imagine that we won't celebrate this time. I don't think I'll feel like it.

Charles Brewer
154 Posted 28/04/2023 at 05:39:54
Steve, I think the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch lobbed into the boardroom would be a better course of action. The Sacred Flame Thrower of Jericho would improve matters at Finch Farm, while the Sacrosanct Exploding Harpoon of the Gay District of Tel Aviv could be used to some effect on the land whale that is our revered chairman.

Even Jesus would have to say say, “I can do miracles but getting this shower of shit to play winning football is beyond logic and, as St Thomas Aquinas demonstrated, omnipotence cannot transgress the Aristotelian laws of logic, specifically the notion of self contradiction, so sorry, you’re stuffed.”

It wouldn’t make the slightest difference if this atrocious shambles of a club won the next three matches. It’s like the Führerbunker in April 1945 with Kenwright ordering armies which consist of three 14 year olds armed with one bent Panzerfaust to stop Zhukov’s onslaught.

At the moment, I cannot see any way of Everton FC surviving the next two years. The authorities will want to find a scapegoat for their own corruption, so piling all of the sins of the tribe onto one club with an august and proud history will be perfect. Expect fines, transfer bans, points deductions and, in all probability, charges of corruption and criminal manipulation of funds against Moshiri.

We have just seen the wholesale invention of charges from a corrupt legal establishment in New York, where an out-of-time misdemeanour of extremely dubious status has been confected into a federal felony (which the state authority has no right to bring). Does anyone think that the EPL/UEFA with their match rigging VAR, their cementing of “favoured teams” into positions of permanent financial dominance by means of the “who gives a shit” “Champions” “League” competition with its vast revenues would be above the invention of charges?

The destruction of Everton is now well under way.

Jonathan Oppenheimer
155 Posted 28/04/2023 at 05:49:48
Kieran, I had rarely spoken it into existence until now, but as a matter of self-preservation I’m coming to terms with it. If I were truly superstitious, I wouldn’t have, and I feel bad if it affects the morale of those who show up week in and week out. You’re right that they deserve us remaining positive as long as there’s a chance.

If I were traveling with you fine fellows to Leicester I’d surely sing for 90 minutes as loud as I could, whatever the outcome. May you once again do us proud come Monday.

Ian Hollingworth
156 Posted 28/04/2023 at 06:50:49
Well what a surprise that our spineless squad capitulated yet again.
I have never seen a bunch of players give in as quickly as they do.
Yes they lack quality but for gods sake keep going.
We played well for 30 mins and looked like we wanted it.
Newcastle surprised me with their theatrics and time wasting even at 0-0.
Iwobi is a very poor player because for all his talent he has the heart of the lion from the wizard of oz and unfortunately for us that side of his game costs us dearly.
The defenders get a lot of blame but most of their troubles are caused by poor play and decisions from the midfield etc.

A special thanks to Chairman Bill as if we do go down it will be forever attributed to you as your years of leadership has led to our long decline. I hope you are pleased with yourself.

Paul Hewitt
157 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:08:25
Well there is no anger left, no screaming and shouting no swearing no flying objects, nothing, just realisation that this club is going down. And you know what once you do that you can actually except it and move on.
Paul Hewitt
158 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:08:36
Well there is no anger left, no screaming and shouting no swearing no flying objects, nothing, just realisation that this club is going down. And you know what once you do that you can actually except it and move on.
Danny Baily
159 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:17:26
Paul 157, agreed. It is what it is. We'll be more competitive next year in the Championship. We might even have something positive to play for.

The iceberg hit on boxing Day, and we let Frank have a kickabout with shards of ice on the deck for far too long.

Paul Hewitt
160 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:19:28
Except ffs. Accept
Jerome Shields
161 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:21:50
To stand any chance they aleast needed a draw.But there were enough players who were not good enough by a long margin and this was compounded by enough players with prevalent weaknesses.

Godfrey came across as not having a glue how to defend. Keane was his usual self and Taz bordered on being Godfrey.Pickford saving, but palming into a danger area continued.

Actually I thought Onana played well, as did Gueye, but they where pushed deep and overwhelmed as usual in the second half as Everton's Defensive retreated in disaray.Iowbi becoming his ineffectual self, as the high press evaporated

McNeill played well. but any threat was extinguished by bad play around him.Calvert Lewin looked Ok and his rating are skewered by a goal that did not count.

Dyche made the mistake of dropping Godfrey to play Holgate, only to play him again.There was a air of giving up in that decision, with Patterson on the bench.But Dyche as other Managers have found the squad is the remains of what has been sold off, to shore off appalling Club Management at all levels.

It really has now turned into the complete rebuild, we all knew it was, to get Mid Table in the Championship.The reason for no new investment or owners, is not because there are none,but because they are waiting on the bargain that the Club will end up being.I include our illustrious Chairman as one of such rats.

Etnie#166

That could be the final turn of the knife for Evertonians.Relegation has now turned into a release.At the end of the day there hopefully will be a team to support in some type of a Division

Marc Hints
162 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:22:04
I am actually in agreement with others, I want to go down now, because I don't want to go through this again next year, believe me we will
Sam Hoare
163 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:28:27
I feel for the match going fans. They have done themselves and us proud.

It’s not over but the hole is getting bigger and bigger.

An in form Newcastle was always going to be a really tough match and Leicester away may be a better barometer of our chances. If we can get a point there (or hopefully a win!!) along with a decent performance then who knows.

We looked ok for 45 minutes but obviously confidence is wafer thin.

It’s all so deflating and when you look at Newcastle it really clarified how bad a job Kenwright and Moshiri have done. It’s not easy but it’s also not that hard. Bring in a well respected DOF who knows how to run a football club well. Let him do his job! Bring in a decent manager who can play in a style that DOF wants. Recruit sensibly based on actual ability rather than reputation and don’t let the owner be making final transfer calls! Run the club with pragmatism rather than sentiment (ie stop giving jobs to under qualified ex blues).

Tony Shelby
164 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:29:25
I blame Hummel.
Danny O’Neill
165 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:32:32
Paul, at least you got in before Grammar Policeman Michael K got you. He's pulled my collar a few times.

I'm not accepting just yet. Still a few twists in this one despite the distress of last night.

Pete Neilson
166 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:35:56
I thought before the match we needed at least 3 points from Newcastle and Leicester. The way we collapsed doesn’t fill me with optimism for Monday. It was very quiet as we trailed out of Goodison last night. Maybe recognition that we have a truly shocking squad. Only Pickford and Coleman are worth their salt. Onto Leicester then and probably the last roll of the dice.
Ian Bennett
167 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:50:43
Our recruitment strategy of players, managers and coaches has been dreadful for years.

Fans have been happy to see the likes of Mcneil, Maupay etc come through the door. Give them a chance, they're good players. No they're not. They're players that shit teams don't want.

If you used a draft system to assemble a squad, no one else touches about 20 players in our squad.

They're the worst players by position in the league. Yet we are paying some of the highest wages in Europe.

We have had all the money, and not a clue how to spend it. Its been Brewsters Millions. And now we are fucked.

Christy Ring
168 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:56:31
Godfrey Iwobi and Maupay should be nowhere near the squad for Monday, Seamus please be fit and Mills and Garner in, but Dyche will have a different view.
Kenwright and Co. clap yourself on the back for bringing in no one in January, probably cost us our Premiership lifeline, so the only thing ye should do is walk away with your head bowed in shame.
John Keating
169 Posted 28/04/2023 at 07:56:50
A few posters have mentioned players futures next season
We are still skint and still will be next year
Pickford, Onana and DCL will go to raise some money
Iwobi, Gray will be off with Mina.
Simms and Cannon have proved they can score goals at a lower level so will be playing next season
Branthwaite will be back
Patterson will be regular with Myko who will be at his correct level
Keane and Coady can go wherever they want
A big problem for us apart from probable points deduction will be the fact that every team playing us will think it’s their World Cup Final. Can our lot cope with that?
Lester Yip
170 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:01:01
Looking back, it's the Fulham game. We lost the game by not showing enough effort.

Before that we are down to Chelsea and still fought our way back. With that kind of fighting spirit it's possible to stay up. Somehow we just lot it. Is it because of missing Doucoure? Probably.

Against ManU away we know it will be tough so even a lost was sort of expected. But against Fulham we had clearly lost that spark. Now the momentum is gone. A big rally at home still can't re-ignite that spark. I'm counting on Coleman to come back in time.

At least to fight a good fight.

George Cumiskey
171 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:01:05
Paul Hewitt @ 158 exactly my position.
Duncan McDine
172 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:03:50
Who is Kieran's doctor. (That isn't a question.)

On a serious note, we're proper fecked. Main culprit imo is Moshiri, but BK isn't far behind, and between them, they've overseen the most expensive destruction of a football club.

Richard Nelson
173 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:06:37
Charles # 154
Excellent post.. couldn't have put it better myself..!
Joe McMahon
174 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:10:15
Does anyone know how Patterson played when he came on for Scotland v Spain. I know he came on as a sub, but Spain must have been attacking towards the end.
Tim Locke
175 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:11:06
While last night was yet another poor performance I don’t think we as doomed as everyone is saying.

The key game is the next game win that and we should be out. Wolves are safe and could provide a rare 3 away points and Bournemouth last game should be 3 points. Although form would say otherwise there is no reason why we shouldn’t pick up 6 points in the next 5 games and we could pick up 10.

Nottingham, Leeds and Leicester probably only have one win left so with the two wins we will be ok.

John Keating
176 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:17:49
Joe
Patterson only got about 10 minutes at the end but Spain were a bit shellshocked by then and didn’t show much.
Dyche is making a mistake not playing him in my opinion
However next season he will be first on the team sheet, after Simms and Cannon!
Mark Ryan
177 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:22:14
My view, for what it is worth
We might survive but having played crap football
Survive or not it's time for a huge re-set
Thank Dyche and get rid
Try to get Potter, at best a forward thinking manager. Dyche - you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. He is a one trick pony. Apologies fir the hyperbole. Just say, survive or not " thanks but no thanks"
No offence Sean
Let's take the sanction that's coming, take it head on
Get Potter, re-set, take the sanction and survive or not look towards our new stadium without Dyche, without Kenwright and without the likes of Holgate etc
This is not Dyches fault but we need a re-set and he is not the man
Ernie Baywood
178 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:22:25
I think you're right Tim. Leeds and Forest have horrible run ins. I could see us staying up on 33/34 points. Which would be the lowest ever.

Hard to get too excited about though. We either scrap our way to staying in this league and have another crap season full of misery, or we suffer the pain of relegation but with a chance of winning a few games next year.

It's lose/lose now.

Sean Roe
179 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:24:46
We've got no chance against Leicester away from home. They are in a bit of a false position for the players they have and as well as not being able to score, we now seemingly can't defend either. Maddison,Tielemans,Vardy,Iheanacho,Barnes, all more than capable of ripping us apart at will.

There aren't three worse teams than us in my opinion.

Kunal Desai
180 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:25:10
Leicester IS definately the last role of the dice.

One away win all season. It will have to change on Monday night or its done. We are going down.

Colin Glassar
181 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:26:58
Premier league or championship, wherever we end up next season we will struggle if the same, incompetent liars remain in charge.

There is little hope of success in any division until the virus is contained and eliminated.

Anthony Murphy
182 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:34:16
Last night was a disaster - worst possible outcome given the circumstances. The damage this season was done way before last night and although Dyche needs to be in the mix for blame, let’s not forget that we put ourselves in a situation that needed a miracle worker - unfortunately, miracles are few and far between and in reality, our neglect in the transfer window would have left even the very best with a near impossible task. We did show some fight in the first half, but fight only takes you so far. The result last night was not that unexpected and for me the inquest at the end of the season needs to factor in those home games in which we allowed comparative teams to leave Goodison with points - that’s what will relegate us this season

Everton v Forest 1-1
Everton v Leicester 0-2
Everton v Wolves 1-2
Everton v Southampton 1-2
Everton v Villa 0-2
Everton v Fulham 1-3


Joe McMahon
183 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:35:26
Thansk John, and you may well be right with your last sentence.

I'm not angry like a a growing number now, this has been on the cards for a few seasons. A team that does not prioritise goals will need a water tight defence (Moyes Years) or be battling in the wrong end. 25 goals this season speakes volumes. To catch Forrest/Leeds Everton need to win games (3), and I just can't see it now.

Sean Dyche was not the right appointment, years of being a one dimensional manager (as previously stated I see a a fair bit of Burnley). As easy appointmnet for the board with no imagination or research. But we can't do anything about the past (inc the last 3 months).

Paul Hewitt
184 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:35:56
Actually forest run in is easier than ours.
Ian Edwards
185 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:42:13
What an utterly numbing heartbreaking night that was. No heart, fight or bottle in that shower of shit. 6 players that started that game have previously been relegated. That shows in a nutshell how poor recruitment has been.

Buy Championship players then it shouldn't come as a surprise ending up in the championship.

Forest play Saints at home and will surely win. That gives them 33 pts. Leicester have West Ham at home last day and should win. We will need to win at least 2 games to get to 34. I can't see wins v Brighton or Man City. Leicester will have too much firepower and best we can get there is a draw.

I see our only hope is nicking a win at low scoring wolves and somehow beating an on the beach Bournemouth.

As for Dyche as I said on the forum last night I've demanded so many sackings that we need stability. But in all honesty I have no faith in his ability to keep us up this season nor bringing us back up next season,

Why he thinks continually playing Onana, Gueye and Doucoure will create scoring opportunities is puzzling. It just leaves us light going forward. The three of them don't even protect the Defence. All three are total frauds and should be binned.

Teams don't storm the Championship with 3 CDMs and an isolated forward with powder puff wingers.

Martin Mason
186 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:44:39
I have no real downer on the relegation issue as I have seen it as inevitable after the pantomime of recent years. I see staying up as a problem as much as going down because it will come again next year. I've seen 4 Championships, 2 Cups and a Euro Cup in my time so pretty good until the pantomime started. My sympathies go out to our supporters though especially those who travel, the young who have seen nothing and those whose passion is higher than mine and for whom staying up is important. We can still stay up of course but the way we are playing I'm not sure. Our great fans deserve better, they have been betrayed badly by Kenwright and his cronies.
Joe McMahon
187 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:52:07
Ian@185, you get some stick on this site, but I cannot disagree with what you've just stated. We won't come back up (not with this squad with this manager)

Danny @188, you forgot Micheal Keane, relegated with wait for it......the combo of Burnley/Dyche

Danny Broderick
188 Posted 28/04/2023 at 08:54:15
I think I’m right in saying that half of the team that played last night have been relegated with other clubs:

Pickford
Tarkowski
Godfrey
McNeil
Gueye

Maybe Doucoure also with Watford?

When you constantly buy players who have been relegated elsewhere, and then mix them up with a few Holgates, Mykolenkos and Maupays, it’s no surprise where we find ourselves. Can we realistically get 7 points from our games against Leicester, Wolves and Bournemouth? With our away form? It’s looking dubious. I don’t expect us to get anything from City and Brighton.

Can a team that has won 6 games all season win at least 2 from 5 now? It’s looking highly doubtful…

Mark Ryan
189 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:00:55
Ian @ 185 spot on
Stay up or not we need a re-set and we need to let Dyche go whether we stay up or if we go down, either way he has to go. We need a re-set
Dyche - Old dog, no new tricks
Trevor Peers
190 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:00:56
We needed strikers I've been screaming it for years along with thousands of others, our cry went unheard. That's been our biggest failure, not buying any strikers worthy of the the name since selling Lukaku. That's 10 transfer windows without adding any serious goal power how was that allowed to happen?

That's the biggest condemnation of the people who have run us into the ground without a whimper endlessly buying shite midfielder's and crap defender's who can't score or create goals, and the obscenity of paying them huge wages, all contributing to a team that plays without any entertainment or propose.

Little wonder then why we will of have dropped out of the premiership, if you can't score goals in any division the inevitable will happen RELEGATION. The blame firmly lies squarely with the owner and our treacherous chairman who quite simply haven't got a clue. Until they are gone nothing will change. We could drop straight into league 1next season under the control of these two clowns.

Gary Brown
191 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:02:42
Team I would start next season with in championship.

Tyrer
Patterson Tarkowski Branthwaite Nkounkou
Mills Warrington Garner McNeil
Cannon Simms

Bench: Leban, Welsh, Gueye, Dobbin, Gray, Samuels-Smith, Alli (pay the £10m?) ….and whatever other under 23 can step up too.

Complete fire sale on the rest.

Unfortunately Dyche will do reverse.

Tony Abrahams
192 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:10:41
In these heartbreaking times, it’s good to see so many sensible posts.

I go along with Peter Mills, and have very similar feelings to the ones just expressed by Martin Mason.

The most ironic moment of the match came when I was just about to leave Goodison Pk last night, with Anthony Gordon getting booed onto the pitch. The third scouse kid to be slaughtered for leaving Everton, after being stitched up by Mr Kenwright.

My thoughts immediately went back to Wayne Rooney, and how Evertonians were robbed of watching the finest young talent of many generations, so you know who could survive.

Coming to terms with the championship will be very painful, but Everton badly need a reset, and we definitely need to be rid of the Kenwright curse.

The sad thing is, it’s imbedded deeply into the corridors and every corner of our great football club, because this is the only way an inept dictatorship survives.

Denis Richardson
193 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:14:58
One plus side I can think of if we go down is that most of the squad will go. We’ve constantly needed a big clear out and even when we get new players it’s the same as we’ve not had a manager in place for more than 5 minutes for years.

If we go down, there’ll no doubt be many players who’ll ask for a move to stay on big money elsewhere. Pay reductions will kick in on most of the contracts. We also have half a dozen or so out of contract in any case so I can see us shifting 10+ players this summer regardless. No new contracts should be offered to anyone until we know our fait and manager for next season.

New players coming in, all I ask is we get gritty players with flight, pace and a bit of nous about them. Our spine is too soft and as soon as a goal goes in heads drop all round. A few decent, quick and hungry youngsters would also be good to add some pace. Can we also finally have 2-3 proper strikers. All the teams around us have options up front. We haven’t had 2 decent strikers in the squad for about 20 years! We never score enough goals - I wonder why?

Squad rebuild can wait until we know our fait but either way a massive clear out is needed, again. Club also needs to decide on a manager and just leave him in place for at least 2-3 years so we have some semblance of a squad that makes sense. Also, appoint a manager who has experience, not another dreadful decision like Lampard.

All depressing but until the owner and board are changed, an changes just seem futile.

Looking forward to Millwall away next season!

Tony Abrahams
194 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:24:17
I think that is the most sensible post I’ve ever seen from Ian Edwards.

I said to the people around me after twenty minutes, that I thought we needed Demari Gray, on the pitch, and I couldn’t believe he still hadn’t been called upon after another fifty minutes had passed?

I’m beginning to like McNeill, but would have definitely brought him inside last night. He lacks a bit of pace, but he doesn’t lack much else, and it was clear watching Everton, that we didn’t have nowhere near enough going forward last night.

Good positions out wide, but always two spare defenders waiting to anticipate the cross, because only Dominic was in the box. We fought as hard as Newcastle for seventy minutes, but whereas we lacked cohesion, this was never a problem for them, simply because their players have a lot more quality on the ball, than ours.

Danny O’Neill
196 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:29:54
I didn't like how the supporters reacted to Anthony Gordon last night, and the Newcastle supporters just fuelled of it, chanting his name and that he left because we were shit.

The club apparently tried to sell him last summer. They eventually did in January.

Rooney came out recently saying the club tried to sell him to Chelsea. Once he knew they wanted to cash in, he decided it would be a club of his choosing.

I don't recall Lucas Digne demanding to be transferred to Aston Villa.

I remember hearing a radio interview with Alan Ball years ago on a road trip. Saying how upset he was that Everton wanted to sell him and he didn't want to leave. He confided in his dad who told him, if they don't want you, it's time to move on.

We should have learned that it often isn't the player.

Mark Murphy
197 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:31:50
Ian
That post is fair enough.Everything that you’ve said in that post is reasonable and balanced and I pretty much agree with everything there.
I still cling on to the possibility that Dyche will realise our right flank has been found out and he stops playing centre backs there and that DCL does actually get more service to finish like he did last night pre VAR.
There’s at least one more Arsenal home result in us (Let’s not forget Newcastle ARE a good team in form) but I’m beginning to worry now about Dyche himself.
BUT - I don’t think there are any positives about going down to “reset”. Our financial burdens will drag us deeper and every other team will relish taking our “big scalp”
It’s survive or be damned in my view.
Christ, does that mean I’m not a happy clapper anymore???
Oliver Molloy
198 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:39:28
Denis, I doubt very much we will attract players with pace under Dyche...I'd sack him no matter what happens..
He is never going to make Everton great again.
I would go after Potter and let him build a team
Brian Harrison
199 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:41:05
Rather than criticize the players I would instead pay my huge respects to the best fans in football. Last season despite few wins our fans constantly sell out every away fixture and it was the fans who deserved to escape relegation. With few lessons learnt we embarked on yet another relegation fight, and still these magnificent fans still sell out home and away.
Whatever happens this season the fans have been terrific and while there are many people responsible for where we are the fans are blameless.
Coming out of Goodison last night it was quite, maybe as many had left before the final whistle and I can understand why some couldn't bare to watch. While its still possible to avoid relegation the mood after the game was one of resignation.

At this moment my emotions are still very raw so thought best I didnt go into detail about certain players. The only comment I will say is we didnt lose because of lack of effort we lost because we lack quality in all areas of the pitch. As Roy Keane said some months back while commenting on one of our games he said the problem with this team is they have a lot of Championship quality players.

Andrew Bentley
200 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:42:23
When (heart says IF but my head doesn't) we go down then the players that everyone is talking about building a side around will be gone - as they are the ones that other clubs will want to buy and they will be our most sizeable assets - eg. Branthwaite. We have always been a selling club anyway, and with the financial disaster situation we are in, stadium funding, and relegation all together we won't be able to turn any offers down

Everton clearance sale coming up - and we'll be left with the dregs who have got us into this flaming mess

Jim Lloyd
201 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:42:37
Jonathan, Kieran; you are both good Evertonians and you have a right/a need! to say what you feel. Just as much as any other Evertonian. Those top class Blues who travel home and away will have the same mixture of feeling as those who go to Goodison, and those who can't go to either.

Supporters who come from America, North and South, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and all over Europe will all be thinking about the possibility, (a lot will feel its probable.) Those who can't go the match for whatever reason, are as much Evertonians as those who go. So say your piece, your true Blues, as we all are.

Charles (154) Excellent post. Whether we stay up ot get relegated, What's happening in New York is giving our authorities a great example at throwing the book at us ( they're probably still adding chapters to it just for us!)

I just looked at the man who stood on the touchline last night in Newcastle colours and, if I'm right, an Evertonian too. I think he's the man we should have got instead of Koeman.

Anyway, last night I wasn't expecting us to win, but hoped we could nick a draw and we almost gave ourselves a chance of doing so, until CL's fine run and poke was adjudged offside. But almost right from the start, Newcastle had seen the acres of space available on their left (reminded me of the cup final against chelsea!)

All through the match Godfrey was over towards our left and they made full use of it.

There were plenty of examples of poor players on the pitch that we're stuck with and last night we were up against a side who (apart fron their rolling round in agony) were light years ahead of us in class and were well managed. I thought they were an example of what we should be aspiring towards;

but we'll have to wait. Wait until it's all over, one way or another and see where we end up. Then see what happens to us from the extremely fair Premier League authorities and the Independent shower of neer do wells who will decide our fate.

My hopes are that we do get a takeover, or at least investment once our future is known. Whatever happens, as long as Everton FC still lives, then we can support them.

Then see them get rid of Kenwright so he can go and count his millions he's got out of Everton, so that he can go and sit in his museum, and think of all the good times he's given us.

So many top class posts on here.

Andy McGuffog
202 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:43:19
It's a bit optimistic to suggest that many of this squad will successfully negotiate well-paid contracts with other clubs. Where is the demand for players who are unable to control, or pass, a football, or shoot. Wrexham certainly won't want any of them.
Tony Abrahams
203 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:46:25
No Mark, it means you are talking from the heart, whilst also being very realistic imo, mate.

My own view is that even if we survive, what chance have we got of surviving next year whilst being restricted by such a financial straight-jacket, brought upon by the incredible incompetence, shown by the people at the highest levels of the club?

A lot of these players are on champions league wages, and yet how many of them would be missed if the expected fire sale happens?

My answer would be “not many”, but I genuinely don’t think there will be many takers for a lot of our ordinary players.

Players have won trophies and never experienced the passion from the terraces that these players received just for staying up, but I genuinely couldn’t fault many for a lack of effort yesterday, which is probably the most worrying aspect.

Barry Rathbone
204 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:49:12
Shifty Usmanov
Puppet Moshiri
Fans chasing managers particularly Allardyce
BMD millstone

All leading to the mad appointment of Benitez and 5 bob to spend.

Everything after was a delay of the inevitable.

This is it for the foreseeable unless we get big oil money no matter what division we're in. It might satiate frothing hatred to get rid of the present board but it won't make a scintilla of difference without the dough.

Kim Vivian
205 Posted 28/04/2023 at 09:53:16
Under normal circumstances, with this squad, I could live with a drop into the championship with the potential for a reset but the whole club is such a shambles right now that I am struggling to see any optimism from either scenario (relegation or PL survival).

The playing side is where it is at because of the shambles that club has become, and the shambles is becoming worse. Even with inevitable new owners, whoever that might be, we are going to be clobbered and stifled by sanctions surely. With the exception of the appeal of the new stadium it feels almost like our position is irretrievable and the club is nigh on finished. It's going to take a bloody miracle to recover from the total mess we are in.

Seriously hurting after last night. Monday is going to be bigger than massive but as I said, how can we survive even staying up, never mind going down?

Ray Jacques
206 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:01:12
My financial advisor is a Bolton fan. He had more joy and fun watching them live at Wembley winning the Papa Johns trophy last month than ive had in the last twenty years enduring the week to week dross served up by EFC.

Relegation is the inevitable outcome of years of decay followed by a sudden influx of cash that has basically been pissed up against the wall with no plan/business model/ strategy etc etc, followed by a sudden its all gone and we are now being investigated for cooking the books and being in cahoots with dodgy Russkies.

Until its confirmed I will still get behind the team, but the fallout from the big R is going to be catastrophic. Do you really think the clowns in charge will have a plan to get back up?? It will be full on panic mode.

Needs to be a scramble for tickets for the last home game this season as its likely to be the last top flight game at Goodison.

What a sad sad way to depart when I have so many happy memories from the past 50 years even though they are now very old ones.

Sound like Bullshit Bill now, so time to go.

Garry Martin
207 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:06:49
When are the championship fixtures out for next season ??
Roger Helm
208 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:11:53
If we do stay up, what do we look forward to? No money to spend and perhaps a points deduction, how can we avoid another season of misery? Perhaps if we go down we will have a complete clear out of players and coaching staff, hopefully new owners, and start again.
Garry Martin
209 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:12:24
Things seam to have gone wrong since the introduction of Godfrey & Keane, Coady & Patterson need to be brought back in.
Kunal Desai
210 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:13:27
What makes me really angry is what OUR so called custodians have inflicted on to our fanbase the impact on every fans wellbeing and mental health.
It's an absolute traversty.
These bastards should be lynched in public.
Peter Carpenter
211 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:14:15
Last year they came out on 23rd June and the season started on 30th July.
Mick Conalty
212 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:17:00
The bloke carried out of the top
balcony with a head wound, was it Bill Kenwright. 🤞😁🤞
Lynn Maher
213 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:17:17
On the way home from last night’s match I didn't feel angry, in fact I didn’t feel anything. I had a sleepless night, but not about our league position. I have always supported Everton, but what does that even mean now?
Today’s Everton, is not the Everton I signed up to.
Everton were a well run club, with players that would give their all for the club, the shirt and the fans. To me it was a family. My family.
If someone where to ask me now, why do I support Everton, I would not be able to answer. Because I honestly don’t know.
I despise the self serving attitude of this board, and the utter contempt they show to the loyal fans.
The players, with a few exceptions, are really not much better. We give them support that other clubs could only dream of. We don’t ask for much in return. Just passion, fight and effort. All of which seem to be in short supply.
And finally, none of the above will take responsibility for any of this.
So once again, why do I support Everton?

Kim Vivian
214 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:18:23
A thought has occurred to me...

If we get hit with sanctions, fines, transfer embargoes, points deductions or whatever those are obviously aimed at the Club and essentially a "punishment" for the irregularities of the club as controlled by its custodians.

If we were to get new owners, and a total clear out at the top, would there not be a case for sanctions to be targeted at those responsible for the Club's failings, their failings and irregularities rather than the playing side and the fans. I mean, they (besides not being very good at football) have done no wrong. Surely the ignominy of relegation would be punishment enough.

It seems unreasonable, and I can see no benefit, that the playing side, fans and new owners should suffer further for the failings of a few individuals if those individuals are gone.

They should just go after the individuals. It may be a lengthy process but might make others in the future think twice.

James Marshall
215 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:24:54
Spirit, fight, passion, the Goodison crowd - lines trotted out constantly by every manager we've had, and look where it's got us. Nowhere.

You need footballers who can play football, players with a bit of quality - we have a team of players who've been relegated, or are mere journeymen picking up a pay cheque. A lot of the players that were much maligned by our fans 2/3/4/5 years ago were at least footballers who knew how to play the game. I'm talking about players such as Barry, Sigurdsson, Gomes, Delph, even Schneiderlin knew how to move the ball around. Our midfield now is like a cub team, yes a cub team, not even a pub team.

Name our best player, and it's our goalkeeper, the rest of them are useless headless chickens with zero end product and very little footballing sense. Onana shows a bit, but he's all over the place half the time - or on the floor waving his arms about.

One of the greatest weapons in modern football, and the thing that gives a team balance is fullbacks - we keep playing centre halves at fullback and it shows massively. We get pinned back, and have zero attacking threat as a result. It's not rocket science, play fullbacks at fullback.

We will get relegated, of that I have no doubt - the squad is rubbish, a mishmash of players brought in by different people with different ideas, and it's been left to other managers to make them play - it won't work and does not work. We can't score, so we can't win games, so we'll go down.

I wouldn't be surprised if they don't win a single game between now & the end of the season.

Lee Robinson
216 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:36:31
People who say Godfrey isn't a right back or left back are correct, he has been pushed out there as he can't play CB (see Watford 5-2 at home last year for full evidence). He seems to get a free pass because he is played out of position but he is a liability every week, last night was the final straw for him surely, Patterson should be chucking is tranfer request in this morning.

The worrying thing is this was a Brands scouting special, convinced Carlo by all accounts after we missed out on Gabriel to Arsenal. Now for me 5 mins watching the lad you can see he is too small, can't jump, can't use his feet a series of poor signings from Brands who needs to take some of the blame for this, although his role was interfered with no doubt, what he is accountable for is not good enough.

Pat Kelly
217 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:39:50
The storm has passed and the wreckage is clear to see. Rudderless and sinking fast. Apart from the owner taking a financial hit, all his own fault, the directors, management and players will survive very comfortably. They had little at stake and it showed. It's those who have an emotional investment that carry the greater loss. There are more, possibly worse, storms brewing. Don't let it affect your mental health. No one else cares for it.
Clive Rogers
218 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:46:44
Can’t understand Moshiri. He must realise that Kenwright conned him and yet he just sits there letting the club and a big chunk of his fortune go down the pan. It was strange when he left them in charge when he took over, now they are still in charge seven years later and the club is a probable for a disastrous relegation. Moshiri seems to have given up!!
Dave Abrahams
219 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:47:30
I hope we stay up and yes I know we will be fighting another relegation battle next season in the premier league, the alternative is we will be fighting a relegation battle in the championship, that how bad a situation this club is in and we all know the reason why.

In all probability we won’t even be able to move on some players because the wages they receive are that high they will stick with the money they will get, not earn, from Everton and refuse the lower wages other clubs will offer them, that’s if any other clubs are interested in them.

Either way this club is in a real mess and unfortunately it will be a very long time before we sort it out.

Jim Bennings
220 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:48:44
This club is long gone.

Relegation simply puts the seal on a business that stopped functioning years ago with any efficiency.

Andy Crooks
221 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:55:52
Charles @ 174, brilliant but terrifying post. You should be writing slasher movies!
Ian Edwards, we have crossed swords and disagreed many times but I agree with Tony's comments. May I also take back the comments about how you so wanted to be right. You were right and you are gutted, like me.
Lee Robinson
222 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:56:53
Last season I broke down in tears of relief when we beat Man Utd, couldn't watch as we hung on to Chelsea, every night laid awake thinking of scenario's or dreaming of the coming fixtures, it totally consumed me and I was exhausted by the end of the season.

Lately, and last night in particular I kind of feel nothing, a weird numbness, an expectation and realisation of what isn't happening, it's happened, and I think I've come to terms with it, I just want it over.

This isn't a club I identify with, watching Dyche try and assemble a group of players with no dynamism or idea try and fail to muster the most basic sunday league attacking threat has worn me down to total acceptance.

Hopefully a good time to re-build with a good young, hungry, technical fast side that we can enjoy watching next season with some identity at least.

Raymond Fox
223 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:57:02
God, we are not still blaming managers for our woes are we, we have had more high profile managers than hot dinners.
Jesus coudtn't make us a good team, we have a squad full of players that cant score goals.

We are not down yet, but can you see us beating anyone, we cant put the ball in the net.
I fear it will be the same senario against Leicester, they have far more fire power than us, in fact every team has.

Hope springs eternal and all that, I'm hoping for a miracle but I fear its a forlorn hope.

Anthony Dove
224 Posted 28/04/2023 at 10:57:15
It’s not a good look when the stadium is half empty by the final whistle, and It’s not
exactly going to fuel the players’ resolve for the battles ahead. Like Fulham and
and Spurs, Newcastle were well off the pace in the first half but we couldn’t
capitalise. Also, as in the Fulham game once Newcastle got into their stride
we couldn’t cope. Obviously we don’t have the skill but it does seem we can’t
keep up the intensity for the whole 90 minutes.

We can still survive but if so it will probably be with the lowest ever points total.
There are a few here saying it might be better to go down, but that would surely
only be the case if we got a points deduction this season. If we went down and got
a points deduction next season god help us.

Tony Abrahams
225 Posted 28/04/2023 at 11:02:44
Through the depths of despair I’ve never read so many sensible and reasonable posts on one thread for a very long time.

James Marshall
226 Posted 28/04/2023 at 11:09:36
Tony, I was just thinking the same thing - so many of us posting pretty much the same thoughts over & over is telling of the situation we're now in.

It feels as though the majority are realising we're toast. Championship toast.

Still, if we come back up first go, it'll be in the new ground. Oh wait...

Brent Stephens
227 Posted 28/04/2023 at 11:17:27
As the train edged towards Sandhills before the game last night, I could see the new stadium alongside the Mersey, edging higher and higher as the weeks go by. Magnificent. And as we edged towards Goodison, my heart sank lower and lower. I just felt the inevitability of a defeat to Newcastle. As I came away from the game, for me the feeling was now one of the hangman's noose around our collective throats; falling through that trap door of relegation.

A night's sleep, followed by reading some posts that point up the relative difficulties of the remaining fixtures of the few teams at the bottom, and the heart starts to again tell me that we might, just might, slip the hangman's noose. My ballad of Goodison Park? De profundis?

I told myself that Fulham at home was one of our last chances; but a nail is banged into the threatening scaffolding of relegation. Then Palace away, I tell myself the same; yet another nail is banged in. Then last night, the same words to myself; almost the final nail is hammered home, the structure almost complete, the noose in position. A loss to Leicester has to be that final nail, that trap door, the noose now tightened.

My first matches at Goodison. The Boys' Pen. My first season ticket. The new stand in Goodison Road. Alex Young. The league in '64. The FA Cup in '66. The stumbles along the way since then, the faltering steps; but the almost inevitable ability to steady ourselves at the last minute. The moments of triumph interspersed between the moments of dread.

The noose cast aside once more? Or no more?

The trap door under our feet no more? But why is it no longer there?

The moment of truth draws ever nearer.

Peter Carpenter
228 Posted 28/04/2023 at 11:18:36
On the morning-after-a defeat sick-o-meter that rates pretty highly. It was Newcastle. Not world beaters, almost as many managers as us in recent years, no particular star players. They could do what they liked with us in the end.

That’s the most sickening thing, the belief drains so quickly on a setback and we are like a boxer who can’t defend himself, except there’s no referee to step in and call it off. The fans do that themselves; the mass walk-out at the second goal tells you all you need to know. The fans know it, the players know it; all we are waiting for is the mathematical moment, probably before the Bournemouth game even kicks off.

It’s not defeatism, it’s reality. We’ve got nothing to fight back with. The only sign of a fight after the second goal was Maupay kicking one of their players and getting a yellow card. Iwobi even seemed to need some sort of counselling from a team mate after the third goal.

There’s still a slim but getting slimmer chance but it’s going to require some change of form and attitude now. I don’t think we are capable.

Prepare for relegation. You can be sure nobody at the club will have a plan for it except the player’s agents who will be planning escape routes for their failing clients.

Personally, of the 14 players involved last night I would be happy to never see most of them in Everton blue again. The exceptions; Pickford, but he deserves a transfer to a trophy challenging team, McNeil, he’s battled recently, Onana, potential but he’ll go anyway, Simms and Garner, we’ll need them in the Championship.

The rest will be in the fire sale at knockdown prices if there’s anyone stupid enough to buy them.

The optimistic part of me sees a fresh, renewed, young, modern team playing bright football and bringing a sense of enjoyment back to Goodison next season under an innovative, forward-thinking manager and board. That’s the best I can do but how far away is that?

Paul Cherrington
229 Posted 28/04/2023 at 11:24:03
Sorry to say but I think that's it for this season as well. We can't keep spurning must win games at home and expect to stay up. Best stadium in the Championship indeed!

I also agree that it's not about managers. Or even tactics and formations. All valid topics for discussion but I think our troubles lie firmly with the players.

Over the last few years, we have seen time and again that they cannot handle pressure and fail to perform in important/ must win games. We have the odd result when they finally get it together (like Palace last season) but in general they fold like a deckchair when any sort of pressure is applied.

Last night was the same. Must win game, pressure on at home - and they get spanked 4-1. Same as the 3-1 against Fulham. It comes down to mentality, bottle and character - which not many of our squad have. That won't change for the remaining games.

It's not being negative or giving up - it's just a realisation that relegation is upon us. We concede, we don't score enough, players aren't good enough/don't show enough character and our form is poor. We used to rely on there being 3 worse sides than us to get out of trouble - can't say that this season either!

Best we can do is try to take some positives out of going down. It's gonna happen so we might as well. Head in the sand is not an approach which works after last night and the games we have left.

At least we will finally get rid of most of this squad who have let us down so badly over the years. They will be off like rats leaving a sinking ship most of them. Give us chance to rebuild a proper team full of players with bottle, character and better quality.

Will finally give us chance to see some of the best young players in the side too. Might also be nice to win most weeks hopefully and be up at the right end of the table for change!

Mark Murphy
230 Posted 28/04/2023 at 11:34:16
Maybe I’m petty but as an old school mud loving slide tackling left back there was one moment I actually enjoyed last night. Myko and Trippier both slid in on a 50/50 and the crunch was audible. The Geordie fans behind the incident roared and clenched their fists at the aggression shown by their man Trippier..
Who stayed down in agony and limped around for 10 minutes whilst Mykolenko just trotted away smiling.
Well in lad!
Barry Hesketh
231 Posted 28/04/2023 at 11:35:25
Relegation will mean more than a loss of status and revenue it could mean the end of Everton FC as a viable club. If the club manages to survive the financial turmoil that follows relegation, it will not bounce straight back to the top flight, it may take five or ten years to regain that status. That's why the Fulham loss and last night's capitulation's were so shocking, not entirely unexpected but still shocking.

I don't know what's happening at Board level or with the owner, but how can they not make any meaningful statements in this time of 'existential crisis' have they protected the club by doing some sort of deal with football's power brokers in order to ensure the club can carry on trading and 'voluntary' relegation is part of the equation?

Whatever has happened, I really can't get at all excited about facing league meetings with Plymouth, Rotherham, et al in future seasons, but that's where we are heading and like all fans of all clubs we have to suck it up and make the best of it. The bitter taste of this abhorrent failure by the Owner and the board, will probably last until my final breath.

Roger Helm
232 Posted 28/04/2023 at 11:46:50
Let’s not forget that players, managers and directors are here today and gone tomorrow, and this useless crowd will be gone soon enough, but the actual club is us - the lifelong supporters who spend our time and money cheering on the team.

We are in a bad time at present but sooner or later things will improve again.

James Marshall
233 Posted 28/04/2023 at 11:47:02
We'll never win anything in the PL - not the league title anyway so we're really only in the division to make up the numbers, along with roughly about 15 other teams.

Nobody other than City, maybe Arsenal, and possibly teams like Chelsea/RS/Utd have a hope of getting anywhere near league titles any more.

A part of me quite likes the idea of playing in the Championship and at least being competitive. We haven't been that in the league for 30 years or more so at least it might be fun, and not just a pointless stress week in week out.

I'd quite enjoy watching us compete at the higher end of a league for once. Unless we're total shit in the Championship as well!

We'll all still support the team, regardless of what division we're in - the Premier League is not the promised land, unless you're one of the aforementioned.

Tony Abrahams
234 Posted 28/04/2023 at 11:54:32
That and one other sliding tackle that won Everton a throw in near our own corner flag, were probably the only two things Mykolenko did right all night, unfortunately Mark M.

Our fullbacks were dreadful, absolute zero attacking threat, and both of them over-covering, by a large percentage.

Two of our midfielders really fought, but lack genuine quality, whilst the other one who has more quality just stayed on the periphery of the game, once again.

Iwobi, one surging run when he had to much pace and even strength for the Villa left back, which definitely makes me question why he didn’t keep pulling wide and demanding the ball?

McNeil, lacks pace, doesn’t lack honesty, but never had much in front of him, except one centre forward, who was often outnumbered by too many Newcastle defenders.

Tarkowski, aggressive but lacks a lot of calmness, Keane is more calm, but lacks aggression massively.

A mishmash, a team assembled by around five different managers, or two directors of football, with very little style or cohesion.

The only player who can really dribble was left on the bench,

Jim Bennings
235 Posted 28/04/2023 at 11:54:39
Lee 222

The club hasn't had an identity since Moyes left.

It wasn't always great, and I don't want him back but at least there was an identity back then, a few more million, one or two signings away from winning a Cup maybe or finishing 4th and actually reaching the Champions League.

Fans could get behind men like Baines, Jagielka, Cahill, Pienaar, Arteta, Osman etc etc because we got something back from them, we got performance levels to their maximum capabilities.

This lot of 2023 I can't have any connection with any of them, frauds, weaklings, mercenaries, flakes, you name it.

There's nothing left.

Paul Tran
236 Posted 28/04/2023 at 12:01:41
Since Moshiri arrived we've bought two players who can score goals. Richarlison & Siguurdsen.

I was thinking that last night as we were better than the second-most in-form team in the league. We didn't capitalise on our pressure by scoring. They broke and created chances, with players who can score.

If you want to know why we're in the bottom three, there's your reason. Not the managers or their tactics.

Wherever we're playing next season, that's the thing that must change.

Barry Hesketh
237 Posted 28/04/2023 at 12:16:10
Paul @236
To add to your point, I read a snippet that stated that since 2017 and the departure of Lukaku, Everton have spent circa £66m on strikers, I'm not sure if that figure is correct, but the players we signed were Tosun, Sancho, Kean, Rondon, King and Maupay, what a pantheon of legends those names proved to be?
Dave Williams
238 Posted 28/04/2023 at 12:20:29
After Fulham and now Newcastle this defence is shot to bits. If their attitudes are right I’d play Coady and Mina with a fit Seamus as they will be fresh and their confidence intact with a point to prove. If Onana isn’t that bothered then Garner must start. Ok Mina may get injured but if he helps us to three points then we are back in the mix. We can’t allow Vardy and Co to have a run at Ben in his current form. I feel for him because he has rarely looked right this season. If Seamus isn’t fit then play Patterson.
The defending last night was appalling. Why didn’t someone take Izac out before he reached the box? Why hasn’t Pickford been coached into collecting shots rather than patting them to the opposition lining up for the inevitable. Why hasn’t Sean yet realised that if we take off a CM we will be overrun in midfield?
A sad day but we are not out yet!!
Christopher Timmins
240 Posted 28/04/2023 at 12:23:49
Lack of talent in all sectors was always going to be exposed by a team heading for the Champions League.

Leicester and Wolves away and Bournemouth at home will determine our destiny. All three have better attacking options but not significantly better. Perspiration might make the difference.

I have no doubt that Gordon had to be sold and the proceeds from his sale may keep us afloat. The Auditors stated that a Going Concern issue may arise if we were to be relegated. For an Accountant like me it does not get any more worrying than that.

Ray Jacques
241 Posted 28/04/2023 at 12:31:35
Ha ha Barry, they all join the lexicon of great Everton strikers alongside Brett Angell and Rod Belfitt.

My Burnley supporting mates have had a great time this season, thats all I can cling to, but then I watch Sunderland Till I Die and think that more likely.

Moshiri has done an Ellis Simms on us

Julian Exshaw
242 Posted 28/04/2023 at 12:36:36
Anger has turned to despair and unfortunately to a degree of indifference now. The owners and to a degree the managment ans players have drained the soul out of its most important asset and greatest quality, the fans. This is the saddest consequence of this shambles of an organisation. In the final moments of last night's debacle, the tv cameras panned a sea of frustrated and downhearted afficionados of all ages and it broke my heart to see their faces. What the hell has happened to this great club, how can we have sunk so low?
The millionaire owners and players will doubtless move on but what I know will remain forever is the loyalty, support and enduring love these great fans have for this deeply wounded football club.
Daniel A Johnson
243 Posted 28/04/2023 at 12:57:36
Manchester City relegated in 1996.

Newcastle relegated twice in 2009 and 2016.

They are both doing okay its not the end of the world we can and will bounce back.

Andy Crooks
244 Posted 28/04/2023 at 13:23:53
Jim Bennings@ 235, your last few lines sum up our players entirely. They are excuses for footballers, every one of them. The most spineless bunch ever to shame the shirt.
Paul Hewitt
245 Posted 28/04/2023 at 13:30:17
Daniel@ 243. I agree, but neither of them clubs where in the financial mess we are in. And with a £500 million stadium to pay for.
Andrew Clare
246 Posted 28/04/2023 at 13:46:58
The players and the manager aren't to blame for our demise. The owners and the board over the past three decades are to blame. We are the antithesis of our neighbours. They have got everything right and we have got everything wrong since the early seventies ( with the exception of the eighties). Relegation is not a good thing but it will give us an opportunity to have a major clear out from top to bottom. We need people with a clear vision, with drive and ambition to build the club back up to where we belong, we have accepted low standards for too long.
Kieran Kinsella
247 Posted 28/04/2023 at 13:52:59
Paul

Yeah Brands started that crap of buying players who don’t score or assist eg Bernard, Gomes and it’s continued ever since. Not rocket science that goals win games

Christy Ring
248 Posted 28/04/2023 at 13:56:19
Dyche was asked why Mina hasn't got a start and he said Keane was excellent tonight! He probably said the same about Godfrey and Iwobi. The only winger we have that will attack defenders is Gray, and he still just watched Iwobi not even try to take on the fullback? Dreadful.
Andrew Bentley
249 Posted 28/04/2023 at 13:59:56
Clive 218, the reason it looks like Moshiri has given up is that he’s not in charge. It’s clear that it’s been Usmanovs money all along and that he calls the shots. Since the Russia sanctions our situation has got a lot worse - coincidence? Moshiri may well have money in his own right but is it HIS money, or is it Usmanovs?

The whole thing stinks

Frank Crewe
250 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:14:22
I hope the people who run Everton realise that when I buy FM24 I'll have to start in the Championship instead of the Premier League. Nobody thinks about that!
Ray Jacques
251 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:19:43
Daniel, Man City and Newcastle are doing ok because of their state ownership. Both clubs appear well run from the outside and you can see the long term strategy and planning that is put in place both on and off the pitch.

We have the opposite, an owner who hasnt a clue, a chairman who continuously lies and lives in the past, a CEO who should be running the local foodbank.

We wont be ok if relegated.

Kieran Kinsella
252 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:26:11
Some financial considerations. Millwall and Blackburn who we may be competing with next year have wage bills of 8 million. That's the amount we pay for just Keane and Godfrey annually. Watford's wage bill appears to be the highest at 29 million. That would cover wages for Begovic, Iwobi, Keane, Godfrey, Gueye, Holgate and Tarkowski. I mention those players as due to their high wages, age and inability we are unlikely to shift them. But of course we still have Dele in 100k a week, Gomes on 120k a week, Gbamin on 50k, to try and shift. Also assuming we can sell Pickford and Onana, we then have the problem that we'd need to replace them. Not presumably with players of the same quality but with someone. Add to this reports that we have to repay a 150 million loan in the event of relegation. That the parachute payment first year is estimated at about 40 million versus last year when we made 110 million. There's the small matter of the stadium also, and wages for all the other under contract players be it Patterson, Myk, under 23s, manager, coaches etc. The there is the threat of financial sanctions or points deductions, and ongoing talks with the EFL about restructuring payments so relegated teams get less and the other teams get more. Glasgow Rangers anyone? Sunderland blamed Rodwell's 50k a week contract for their financial struggles after relegation. Well on that wage Rodwell would be a pauper at Everton. Outside of FFP going out the window or selling the stadium I don't see a scenario that doesn't involve continual points deductions and periods in and out of (hopefully) administration going on for several years if we get relegated.
Steve Brown
253 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:26:13
Let’s not declare ourselves dead just yet. There are 5 teams vying hard to see who is the most abysmal.
Kieran Kinsella
254 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:26:14
Some financial considerations. Millwall and Blackburn who we may be competing with next year have wage bills of 8 million. That's the amount we pay for just Keane and Godfrey annually. Watford's wage bill appears to be the highest at 29 million. That would cover wares for Begovic, Iwobi, Keane, Godfrey, Gueye, Holgate and Tarkowski. I mention those players as due to their high wages, age and inability we are unlikely to shift them. But of course we still have Dele in 100k a week, Gomes on 120k a week, Gbamin on 50k, to try and shift. Also assuming we can sell Pickford and Onana, we then have the problem that we'd need to replace them. Not presumably with players of the same quality but with someone. Add to this reports that we have to repay a 150 million loan in the event of relegation. That the parachute payment first year is estimated at about 40 million versus last year when we made 110 million. There's the small matter of the stadium also, and wages for all the other under contract players be it Patterson, Myk, under 23s, manager, coaches etc. The there is the threat of financial sanctions or points deductions, and ongoing talks with the EFL about restructuring payments so relegated teams get less and the other teams get more. Glasgow Rangers anyone? Sunderland blamed Rodwell's 50k a week contract for their financial struggles after relegation. Well on that wage Rodwell would be a pauper at Everton. Outside of FFP going out the window or selling the stadium I don't see a scenario that doesn't involve continual points deductions and periods in and out of (hopefully) administration going on for several years if we get relegated.
Finn Taylor
255 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:32:20
Daniel @243... cant really put my mind at rest that we will be 'OK' IF we go down.

Am still hoping for a miracle... it was not so much losing to Newcastle - that was a shoo-in - it was the manner of the defeat and the paucity of ideas by Dyche. But I will be very surprised if we win another game this season.

Relegation - well, who knows? But I'd say if it happens, the domino effect will be catastrophic. Administration? I think so. Then what? Could someone come in and buy us for nothing? Clear the debt and start again? I have seen some strange things happen when businesses go into administration... anyone get any ideas?

Lee Robinson
256 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:38:51
As Chelsea have proved this season, (and Man Utd in recent seasons) is even when chucking big money at something, if there is no plan to that recruitment, followed by a series of poor managerial appointments, you can quickly find yourself in the shit, no matter how big a club you are.

Poor recruitment. The problems started with Walsh, not the worst decision from the board in getting him in following his pedigree with Leicester but it didn't work. With all the money our big roll of the dice ended up with a bunch of overpaid players on big contracts which set us back years. Brands came in and did the same.

Newcastle with their big roll of the dice have done exactly what we didn't. When they have spent big, they have all worked. Bought to fill a required position, right mentality and quality for a system they want to play.

We have been hamstrung with a squad of players who nobody wanted on huge wages who ran their contracts down, which landed us in FFP due to their value dropping to zero (too many to mention).

Teams have also come up from the championship better equipt than us in the last 2 or 3 seasons, Villa, Leeds, Fulham etc, and the group of teams who were always worse than us, has finally and slowly deminished.

Finn Taylor
257 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:47:35
Kieran @ 254 - that's a stark reality. I can see it though.
Brian Harrison
258 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:57:56
Just read that on Talksport Martin Keown said this morning that it wasnt a good look seeing so many empty seats after Newcastle scored their 3rd goal, fans should stay and support their team. Now I have never left before the final whistle in the 69 years I have been supporting Everton and stayed to the final whistle last night. But for anybody especially an ex player criticize our fans for not staying to the bitter end has no understanding of what we have had to endure. I also doubt Keown has ever paid to get into a ground, ever bothered going to a game that he wasnt being paid to watch, ever had to spend hours and hours on motorways or trains just to get to games.
I didnt hear what he said I have only read his crass comments, but if anybody did hear what he said did he say what sort of owner has said anything to the fans about our plight, a board as well as an owner who don't attend games. An owner and board who have overseen 2 consecutive seasons fighting relegation. Does he know what its like to follow a side that has the lowest amount of goals, to be going to games knowing the likelihood is we will lose the game.
Colin Malone
259 Posted 28/04/2023 at 14:59:34
I cannot get it out of my head.
Why did Dyche, against Fulham, continued launching the ball to Maupay, without any success ?
Last night. Godfrey was embarrassing. All the world and he's dog could see. Dyche never changed it. OK he has inherited shite buts that no excuse. His a surviver at best.
Everton football club need winners.
Scott Robinson
260 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:04:34
I personally blame the exit of Ancelotti, which really left the club high and dry - with an excessive wage bill and unbalanced team that was only suited to CA's style of play. We've never properly recovered from that, let's be honest.
Peter Carpenter
261 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:08:19
The entry of Ancelotti was the mistake. He was never really interested, just filling time between jobs. Our star-struck idiot majority shareholder couldn't see that.
Barry Hesketh
262 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:15:30
Didn't Arsenal fans start leaving the Emirates when they went three one down to Southampton and the Gunners are challenging for the title, not fighting the dreaded drop for the second consecutive season, plus they have some of the best players available in the league, whilst we have a bunch of average at best players who don't know how to defend or attack properly. Give it a rest Keown!
Finn Taylor
263 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:18:28
Keown. Needs a reunion with Sheedy in a Southport eaterie asap.
Kieran Kinsella
264 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:18:54
Barry

Didn't Keown himself walk out of Goodison and in fact pull on an Arsenal shirt instead. What a tosser.

Bill Gall
265 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:20:45
Well stark reality has set in. Last night was another of the must win games that failed to materialize and opened the trapdoor a little wilder. What can you say that hasn't been said. The only thing left is the future, either success to remain in the Premier or failure getting relegated.

Both scenarios need major decisions from the top to bottom. The first is up to Moshiri to make up his mind in he either want's to sell, or he just wants someone to invest in buying shares with positions on the board, that will bring in experienced personnel on running a football club. The second is a manager, not brought in as an emergency, but someone that has got some experience in rebuilding in the modern game and is showing success.

We are (hate to repeat it ) going to have a rebuilding time, and I think it should be a manager that is not set in his ways with previous teams, but has studied the modern game and type of players needed.for success.

I am not familiar with coaches or managers in Europe or elsewhere, other supporters may have ideas, but I don't believe S.Dyche is the future for Everton F.C.

Regardless of the outcome of the last few games the future is what matters, and I simply cannot understand why an Owner can be either so stubborn or stupid to not understand where the major problems are. I am not faulting him for his financial help, just his head in the sand attitude in assessing the upper management in the club.

After that lets get a win on Monday.

Mark Murphy
266 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:21:28
Is everyone else getting endless links on the James Rodriguez thread??
Christy Ring
267 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:22:20
Scott #260, I have to disagree completely.

Ancelotti had inherited more or less the same squad. It was Koeman who spent massive money on average players, giving them huge contracts, remember he bought 3 No 10s and no striker after selling Lukaku.

He was the biggest mistake and we're paying for it ever since. Ancelotti saw what he had to work with and ran.

Raymond Fox
268 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:22:32
We will do well to win another game going off our present performances.

We have been mismanaged for a long time and I'm not talking about our team managers although obviously some have not performed very well.

The Premier League as a competition is a sham though, the table has taken its usual shape: the Top 8, with the exception of Brighton instead of Chelsea being 8th, and Aston Villa doing better than expected.

I mean, what's the point when you know you're going to be out-classed again and your ceiling is mid-table mediocrity?

Peter Carpenter
269 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:27:20
Tenure of Everton managers in months under the brainless Moshiri:

Koeman 16,
Allardyce 6,
Silva 18,
Ancelotti 17,
Benitez 6,
Lampard 12.

Anthony Murphy
270 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:30:46
For fuck's sake, Martin Keown. If what has happened to Everton, happened across the park, there would be media hysteria with pundits calling upon the Premier League to step in and rescue them.

Everton fans have been truly amazing – they have sold out home and away for years and have held the board to account in a dignified way when action was desperately required.

Whatever happens to the club, the fans can hold their heads up high and be extremely proud of who they are. Walking out is for so many Blues a last resort – desperate to do their utmost, but when all you've got fails, you walk away – it's not forever – and we will return.

Kevin Rye
271 Posted 28/04/2023 at 15:59:13
Good times, eh Chairman Bill? Who you going to blame now because it certainly isn’t the fans’ fault?
Brian Wilkinson
272 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:00:48
Try as I might, I cannot get away From Laurie's post about Bielsa.

The only one of countless Managers who knew this team were too slow and quite a few not good enough, who had the forward-thinking of wanting to coach the youngsters until the end of the season before then taking over the first-team squad in the summer.

Every other manager has taken the job, thinking they can get something out of these players, who have cost previous managers their jobs. They all go the same way, sacked, due to these bunch of work-shy bunch of cowards.

I can now see clear as day, Bielsa's forward thinking on working with the Under-21s first, to build some of the youngsters for next season.

We keep going round in a debate, we cannot risk youngsters in a relegation scrap, same season after season, they are not ready, need go out on loan, about 5 years running now been the same on ToffeeWeb not ready the youngsters.

No wonder Price left, cannot blame him one bit.

Can you see what you have done to me Laurie, with your sensible post about Bielsa?

James Hughes
273 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:00:58
Kieran,

Keown did not walk out of our club. We sold him for £2M as we were skint – as fekkin usual.

Andy Riley
274 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:03:50
I seriously think there could now be an argument for sacking Dyche right now and appointing Peter Reid or similar for the rest of the season.

I think we are probably down but a possible bounce from that could save us! Continuing with Dyche, I can't really see another win this season now.

Denis Richardson
275 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:13:10
Christy, I've noticed in your posts you really have a thing against Koeman for some reason.

He made some mistakes admittedly, like Klaassen and Schneiderlin, but was also massively undone by Kenwright, being forced to accept the return of Rooney.

Koeman never wanted Rooney back and had to use up £150k/week of the wage bill for his return which buggered up his search for a decent striker during the summer transfer window. His main target and wish was Giroud.

People seem to forget we finished 7th under Koeman in his only full season with us. The following season started out with Rooney coming back and us not having a proper striker (sound familiar?) but 3 No 10s (one of which was an unplanned Rooney), it was never going to work and ended up with the inevitable. Koeman just got more and more fed up – and who could blame him?

Don't blame Koeman, blame Kenwright.

Ian Edwards
276 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:20:06
The new Managerial bounce under Dyche lasted one game.

I would just have a go for the last few games. Play Simms and Calvert-Lewin up front with Gray just behind and just launch it and snap up some loose balls around the box.

I would go:

Pickford
Coleman Mina Tarkowski Mykolenko
Davies Garner Iwobi
Gray
Simms Calvert-Lewin.

I really don't think Davies is any worse than Onana, Doucouré or Gueye. He's a blue and will give 100%.

Mark Taylor
277 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:20:42
I'm reminded of that scene in The Matrix, when Agent Smith is holding down Neo on the railway track, with the train hurtling towards them.

'Hear that Mr Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability…'

Dyche strikes me as an unlikely Neo, with one bound springing us free. There is no point in denying the evidence in front of us, the squad is rubbish. Just how bad is demonstrated by the fact that we sold out two supposedly best players, yet neither have managed to get a starting role. What does that say for the rest of the players?

We may well start next season with a 6- or even 9-point deduction as a welcome to life in the Championship. There has to be a total re-set. In addition to the ones out of contract, we will maybe be able to offload some, most likely to the newly promoted teams looking for Premier League experience. After all, even we fell for that one.

I foresee a core of Patterson, Branthwaite, maybe Mykolenko, Garner, McNeil and Simms. Plus some of the better youngsters, if we have any, and then shopping around in the lower leagues.

Hopefully we can get some money for Pickford, Calvert-Lewin, Maupay, Keane, Godfrey, Iwobi and Onana. The wage bill will have to be cut by at least 70%.

On the upside, we get re-unions with the likes of Plymouth and Rotherham – we haven't played a league match with those two for 70 years.

Mark Ryan
278 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:26:11
If we get relegated, the board will keep Dyche and say "He's got the experience to bring us back up."

If we stay up by some miracle, the board won't sack him because it will cost them to sack him.

Either way the next season is flawed before it starts.

From what I have listened to and from what I have seen he is not what we need.

We need a Potter, a long-term fix. We need to let him do what he did at Brighton and re-set.

Keeping Dyche is like staying with a partner cos you can't be arsed to get rid. I've been there. We've all been there. We need to draw a line in the sand and say "Thanks but it's time to part our ways, bye."

Whatever happens, Operation Goodison needs to become Operation Get Potter, simple as that. The very top clubs won't touch him at the moment. We need to grasp that nettle and get him.

That's my last word on it because I know they haven't got the foresight and I'm wasting my breath.

Lee Courtliff
279 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:26:28
Andy Riley, it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if we sacked Dyche today and saw out the season with anyone else in temporary charge.

I've been consoling myself today with the thought of us having to build a young team with our own players. The likes of Warrington, Simms, Cannon, Braithwaite, etc. A young, energetic team tearing up the Championship next season or League One the season after.

I'd like to see Potter brought in. Granted, the Chelsea job was too much for him, like Moyes at Man Utd. But he did great things at Brighton and I'd much prefer to watch his football than the utter shite Dyche has made a career out of serving up.

I'm resigning myself to dropping to League One within the next few years and it will be heartbreaking. But, then comes the Fightback!! Just like Leeds and Sunderland, etc. Eventually we'll see our team climb back up the ladder and we'll have some great seasons to enjoy.

That's as optimistic as I can force myself to be at this moment. Last night destroyed any hope I had of an escape.

Sean Roe
281 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:36:46
We won't come straight back up if we go down. The players in the Championship are equal to ours in quality but streets ahead in hard work, fitness, character and knowhow.

It is an unforgiving league and far more competitive than the Premier League. At least half the league are capable of going on a run and getting in the top two or the playoff places.

Martin Mason
282 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:37:45
Christopher @240 You are right.

My worry with Everton wasn't them going down but going out of business. How about a rescue take-over by Liverpool? Could anything possibly be worse?

Kieran Kinsella
283 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:38:44
Mark Ryan,

What did Potter do at Brighton to make you think he could get us promoted? Chris Hughton got Brighton promoted. Then under them they finished 15th and 17th.

Under Potter they finished 15th, 16th, then 9th. So for two years they did just as well or badly as they did under Hughton albeit playing more attractive football then they finished 9th which isn't exactly Earth-shattering.

In his one year at Swansea he finished 10th.

James Potter
284 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:48:11
When you think of our remaining fixtures, we've already lost to Leicester at home (0-2), Brighton at home (1-4), Wolves at home (1-2) and lost away to Bournemouth (3-0).

Just read that back again, that is why we are in the position we are and demonstrates how far we've fallen! Given our away record it does seem a bit of a stretch to suddenly turn the form book around.

Our only point in the reverse fixtures being a draw at Man City away bizarrely, fingers crossed Demarai Gray can conjure up a worldy again this time round. But I doubt it.

Scott Robinson
285 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:51:12
Christy#267, Ancelotti signed up to the project knowing full well the players we had from the Koeman years. If he was still in charge, he'd probably be leading us into the new stadium as he once was proclaimed, and James would probably be still here giving us moments of sublime magic.

Him leaving was a disaster. Benitez had nothing to spend and was forced to jettison James for personal and professional reasons (ie, fair play). Then, our other source of creativity was suspended for a year leaving us with next to no-one, apart from the energetic Iwobi.

Hence, the lack of goals. If we were scoring for fun, the odd calamity at the back is okay. It's the scoreline that counts.

Pete Neilson
286 Posted 28/04/2023 at 16:54:05
Whoever is managing us will face the constant meddling of Moshiri and Kenwright, the encyclopedic knowledge of Sharpy and maybe the legitimate input of Thelwell (if they invite him to the meetings).

Without change, we could have Guardiola in charge and it wouldn't make a difference.

Kim Vivian
287 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:10:13
Who's going to topple first – the board or the manager? Dyche is not getting sacked in the next month – could we even afford that?

If we stay up he would be kept anyway, but survive or drop it looks like the board are toast one way or another so would another board keep Dyche?

Who knows – but the answer is probably "No, Sir".

Other thoughts – I am right on the same page as Kieran unfortunately. I can't see any financial lifebelt right now. The club is drowning.

I agree about Bielsa. It was a weird dilemma at the time but he clearly, to me, saw the writing on the wall. Difficult for us to accept at the time and water under the bridge now but that would have been an interesting watch.

Mark Ryan
288 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:18:54
Kieran, Brighton were about 4th or 5th when he left them. He turned Brighton into a competitive, attacking, fluid playing footballing side and made them perennially solid performers.

This is Brighton we are talking about. His CV is solid and had he not been bought half a billion pounds worth of talent in 5 days he'd have been a success at Chelsea.

You reckon keep Dyche. That would be your argument for not going for Potter. If not Potter, keep Dyche? Really?

Joe McMahon
289 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:22:01
Mark @277, seriously which team in their right mind would pay any kind of fee for Calvert-Lewin?

Most clubs want goal returns with a low injury record for any attacking midfielder or striker.

Mo Guindi
290 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:23:28
Didn’t we get relegated with Dixie in the 20s and then came roaring back over the next decade??

Sorry - early 30s!

Peter Hodgson
291 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:23:51
Why is Iwobi still getting on the team sheet? He is superb at running but sweet bugger all else.

He can't beat anyone. He can't pass. He can't finish.

Thats all!

Martin Mason
292 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:28:13
Mark @290, rather than Potter did that, a very well run Club did.

Potter's replacement carried it on, Potter failed at Chelsea?

Kieran Kinsella
293 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:30:47
Mark,

"Brighton were 4th or 5th when he left," right a few months into the season. I remember one year Ipswich under Burley were 5th just before Easter then ended up just avoiding relegation.

The other thing is that, if we are relegated, we need someone who knows how to actually win something, eg, promotion. Potter's record is of keeping teams roughly where they are but playing nice football. In that respect he is a poor man's Trevor Francis who got teams slightly above where they otherwise would be playing nice football but winning nothing.

Barry Hesketh
294 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:30:58
Mo @292

Very different times and completely different type of Everton squads.

1927-28 League Champions
1929-30 Relegated to 2nd tier.
1930-31 Promoted to Div 1
1931-32 League Champions
1932-33 FA Cup winners

I would suggest that a relegation this time around, would lead to our longest prolonged spell outside the top division in our history.

Pete Neilson
295 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:36:28
But Mo, there's no Dixie in sight and nobody today fit to lace his boots.
Mark Ryan
296 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:38:11
So keep Dyche after the dross he has plated up? He has the team all wrong. Maupay could not get into a Championship side, Simms could. Persisting with Godfrey at right-back, Why?
Get Potter. Sack Dyche.

Next game, same players, same tactics, it's a given. The man is stubborn. He works on the statistics that if you feed a Lion cabbages he'll eventually become a Veggie. It won't, it's a fucking carnivore. Play Maupay enough times he'll score. No he won't, he's shit.

Kieran Kinsella
297 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:41:13
Mark,

I'm indifferent to Dyche, I just don't see Potter as the man we need.

Peter Carpenter
298 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:45:21
Dyche has not been able to bring in a single player of his choice. He had one objective, work with the current squad and stay up. It's not his fault they aren't good enough. He will still be with us next season.
Martin Mason
299 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:47:04
This absence from the ground of the directors is to put the blame for relegation 100% on the fans. They knew it was coming with no way back.
Barry Hesketh
300 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:47:32
I would think it would be more likely that Baines and or Coleman would replace Sean Dyche.

Given the financial position we are in, we won't have the money to sign 'big name' managerial talents for quite some time.

Rob Dolby
301 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:49:17
I have been left bewildered in Dyche's recent tactics. The initial sit-tight, back-to-basics football which brought relative success has been replaced by a real scattergun, headless chicken approach.

Last night, we should have sat tight, defended deep and try to hang on for 60 mins before having a proper go. Coming out of the blocks like loonies might work for 44 mins but brings on tired legs.

We still have a slim chance of staying up. A defeat on Monday will almost certainly send us down but a draw still gives us a chance.

Like most posters, I am resigned to going down and have no confidence of the current set-up bouncing straight back. Just wonder if I am going to get a bit of a refund on my Championship seasons tickets next year.

Mark Ryan
302 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:50:04
You might be right Kieran, I'm just not into Dyche. Baines and Seamus would do for me
James Potter
303 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:50:16
We don't have the money to sack Dyche either!
Kieran Kinsella
304 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:50:26
Martin

I think it serves a dual purpose. On one hand they get to play the victim card and act like the toxic fans are a problem. On the other hand they avoid the awkwardness of watching Rome burn from the Collosseum if we actually get relegated. Kenwright doesn't want an awkward moment in front of the crowd like Joaquin Phoenix at the end of Gladiator.

Kieran Kinsella
305 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:59:23
Barry and James,

You're right. I also imagine that any outgoings will be based entirely on us accepting any offers we get to raise any cash we can. Meaning we might end up selling Cannon or Simms for a million or so just to keep the coffers flowing even though it would make sense to hold onto them longer term.

I really don't see us offloading our seasoned huge salary guys. Most have at least another year to milk us before they are free agents. No one will match or better the money they're on here.

Steve Brown
306 Posted 28/04/2023 at 17:59:53
I don’t think Potter would want to be in charge for 5 games that saw us relegated.

He would wait till the summer if he was interested.

Dave Lynch
307 Posted 28/04/2023 at 18:03:29
I don't even think we had spirit.
We fell apart like a cheap suit...again.
Kieran Kinsella
308 Posted 28/04/2023 at 18:04:18
More good news from The Telegraph:

"A source told Telegraph Sport: “Players who were signed in the summer have relegation reduction clauses in their contracts, but not everyone who was there beforehand has one.

“The club have tried to be responsible after almost being relegated last season, but it has created a strange situation in which some players are facing pay cuts and others aren't.”

So McNeill, Maupay, and Tarkowski get a deserved pay cut but Iwobi, Keane, Holgate, Gomes, Dele Alli et al carry on earning a king's ransom.

James Potter
309 Posted 28/04/2023 at 18:04:44
Agreed, Kieran. Did we have the foresight to include clauses about wage reductions if we get relegated I'd like to think so, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if it wasn't even considered by our esteemed board of directors
James Potter
310 Posted 28/04/2023 at 18:05:55
You've answered my question!!
Kieran Kinsella
311 Posted 28/04/2023 at 18:07:11
James ... and better still:

"However, because the Toffees weren't counting on him, they agreed a loan that's seen them pay 60% of his wage packet this season, with Gomes also cutting back on some of his earnings temporarily.

There are ‘potentially large bonuses' included in the deal and other sources suggest Lille have paid more but L'Equipe's information is that Everton have been paying at least 60%.

With that in mind ‘it seems unlikely' that the Portuguese midfielder, who has a contract until 2024, will still be at the French club next season as they simply can't afford to get anywhere near a figure that would satisfy him."

Dave Lynch
312 Posted 28/04/2023 at 18:10:28
Potter is exactly what we need. He's a builder of teams, not a cheque book mercenary like Mourinho... and this is the perfect project for him, he's done it abroad and with Brighton, he can do it with us.

He made a big mistake taking on the Chelsea job and I think he knows it.

Svein-Roger Jensen
313 Posted 28/04/2023 at 18:48:33
EFC: can we please at least go down fighting like men and not like cowards.
Alan McGuffog
314 Posted 28/04/2023 at 18:56:52
And Potter would join a relegation-bound side, with a bunch of over-paid losers who we can't give away, with a potential points reduction and a white elephant stadium, for what reason exactly?
Robert Tressell
315 Posted 28/04/2023 at 18:58:00
By way of balance: a reminder that Potter got Swansea to 10th in the Championship. Dyche got Burnley promoted twice.
Charles Brewer
316 Posted 28/04/2023 at 18:58:24
Martin (282), you have hinted at my greatest fear of all. That we see a repeat of 1884 when Everton's ground was taken over by the Redshite (as we term our dear neighbours). Except this time, the sequence is:

1) Everton get relegated.

2) The Premier League impose a 50-point deduction, for whatever they make up that day (which will be punished far more than murdering a bunch of Italians or leading a breakaway group intended to destroy the Premier League).

3) Everton goes into receivership.

4) Liverpool buy the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for £50 million and need only a couple of hundred million to finish it.

Larry O'Hara
317 Posted 28/04/2023 at 19:01:24
Charles (321) — my nightmare too.
Dave Lynch
319 Posted 28/04/2023 at 19:18:56
I'm not talking about replacing Dyche now... the boat has sailed and we're fucked, so stay with him till the end of the season.

As for Potter and Swansea, he's developed as a manager since Glen and has learned his trade.

Anyone remember Howard Kendall at Blackburn?

Robert Tressell
320 Posted 28/04/2023 at 19:30:55
Potter has developed as a manager, true – but he's been lucky enough to do so at a club that recruits exceptionally well.

We on the other hand recruit exceptionally badly – and as we all saw in January, not at all despite desperate need.

Might he have done better than Dyche? Possibly. I suspect with the squad available we'd be in much the same sort of place, poor results and football that's not coming together.

It's desperately sad but the issues run so deep, it almost doesn't matter who the manager is. Certainly nothing will be fixed by simply appointing a "decent" manager.

Dave Lynch
321 Posted 28/04/2023 at 19:38:34
But the board will be gone, Robert, and hopefully we'll have new owners.
Paul Birmingham
322 Posted 28/04/2023 at 19:40:33
Taking the view Everton can beat Leicester, Wolves and Bournemouth, who knows… but for all teams in the relegation scramble, fine margins will define and decide these games.

Calvert-Lewin was very unlucky with his offside goal but, with better delivery of the final pass, Everton could have been ahead last night. Goals bring confidence and good sides punish the basic mistakes.

But the season is not over and the maths are not set for who drops. Leeds I don't see winning another game, and losing them, all, and Forest I see winning their game at home v Forest.

Everton, can't and won't give up the ghost. The future of Everton FC, is at stake.

Last night emotions were high, and until noon, today.

But there's hope with bloody blind hope that Dyche will have learned some harsh lessons these last few matches, about himself and his players.

There was a stench of resignation in the air long before their 3rd goal but Leicester is the six-pointer that Everton must win at all costs.

Dyche will make changes for Leicester; if Seamus is fit to play, that's a bonus, he's a leader on the pitch, but let's focus our positive energies on the Leicester game.

There's 5 games left; in a season of some surprising results, Everton can get their surprising results starting on Monday night.

UTFTs!

Robert Tressell
323 Posted 28/04/2023 at 19:49:05
Dave # 327, hopefully yes.

That's the main thing – new investment, new club management, better recruitment and avoiding a points deduction. Do all that and we might magically find our manager suddenly becomes more competent.

Tony Everan
324 Posted 28/04/2023 at 20:09:49
U21s vs Arsenal on YouTube at the moment if anyone is interested. 2nd half just started 1-1

Oh dear …make that 1-2

Rob Halligan
325 Posted 28/04/2023 at 20:15:10
I've watched the whole match again today, simply because I can never remember what happens in real time. I can come out of a stadium at the end and not remember a thing.

In my opinion, for 70 minutes, we more than matched the Skunks, and would even say we were the better team. At 1-0, we were always in the game, until three mad minutes when we gifted the game through some abysmal defending.

They clearly had seen Ben Godfrey in our recent game at Man Utd, with anything over the top or a pass inside leaving him totally out of position. The least said about the fourth goal the better. That was truly comical, jeez, there were five defenders around Isak and he just skinned the lot.

If we can play against Leicester like we did for the first 70 minutes last night, and also cut out the slack defending, then there is no reason why we cannot win on Monday.

Finally, the two disallowed goals. For our “goal”, that linesman must have eyesight like a sewer rat to raise his flag almost immediately, what happened to letting play go on before raising the flag? There was literally millimetres in it, so no way could it be clear there was an offside.

Then with regards to the Skunks disallowed goal, Dan Burn was clearly offside when he played the ball, jeez, he's about 6'-7”, impossible to miss, yet no flag was raised.

So just imagine, if there was no VAR, our goal would have been disallowed, as it was anyway due to the flag being raised, and their goal would have stood. And I'm still not convinced Calvert-Lewin was offside!

Chris Leyland
326 Posted 28/04/2023 at 20:41:27
Rob, on our offside goal, I was in the Top Balcony level with it and I said to my sim next to me, “He's offside” immediately as the ball was played through.

The linesman didn't flag until after the goal had been scored, which is what they do these days. The fact that the VAR took so long to decide means that it wasn't as obvious as it looked to me.

Rob Halligan
327 Posted 28/04/2023 at 20:50:44
Sorry, Chris, what I meant was there was no way the linesman could have seen it as being offside, yet he was quick enough to raise his flag.

You're right in that he let play go on, albeit for a couple of seconds, just that when Calvert-Lewin scored, I looked at the linesman and the flag was already raised. The fact that it took what, about 2 minutes to decide clearly showed it to be very tight, until the VAR decided it was offside.

Why wasn't the same linesman so quick to raise his flag for their offside goal? In fact, why didn't he raise it all, when it was clearly offside?

Chris Leyland
328 Posted 28/04/2023 at 21:00:29
Agree, Rob. I think him raising the flag so quickly makes it easier for the VAR to disallow and back the onfield decision.
Peter Hodgson
329 Posted 28/04/2023 at 21:03:55
Paul @ 328

I think you need specs when you suggest that DCL wasn't offside but insisting that all will be well with our remaining matches is stretching it a bit far, don't you think.

To win 3 matches after seeing the last two dismal performances is beyond my wildest dreams and one which isn't feasible in the current climate of zero confidence (among the players and supporters) is too good to be true.

Happy dreams but you have got to wake up soon.

Andy Meighan
330 Posted 28/04/2023 at 21:19:17
Anyone suggesting we where in that game last night wasn't seeing what I was seeing.

We huffed and puffed but really Newcastle kept us at arms length, apart from Calvert-Lewin's disallowed goal, we created nothing and Newcastle had about 8 corners in the 1st half to our 1.

Once the 2nd goal went in, everyone in that ground knew the outcome.

I was genuinely shocked when we scored and even that was a freak, but in typical fashion we lose a goal immediately.

I'm saying this now, we won't get another point this season.

Paul Birmingham
332 Posted 28/04/2023 at 21:37:11
Peter, as long as it's mathematically possible to stay up, then there's hope.

Regarding Calvert-Lewin's goal, I'm emphasising he was unlucky and has looked sharp the last 2 games with very little decent passes to feed off. At Leicester, it will come good for him.

There's massive stakes and the viable future of EFC is on the line, the Leicester game is the 6-pointer.

Hope eternal, UTFTs!

Oliver Molloy
333 Posted 28/04/2023 at 22:14:09
Rob @ 331
I agree - Calvert Lewin was level at least so goal should have stood, how the fuck can they rule it out - that's happened a few times with us this season.
Would it have made a difference - probably not, this Everton side with the exception of the three we signed have had over sixty games to sort it out.
When Burnley beat us last season Dyche half time team talk to the Burnley players was simple " this Everton team don't know how to win a football match " - he was and is right.
I am hoping for some type miracle but my head is ruling my heart - I just can not see us getting three points at Leicester, they will beat us.

The only chance we have is if Dyche goes for it like he must do and changes the side, but he probably won't.
I would start with both Calvert Lewin, Simms and Gray has to come back in.

Will Mabon
334 Posted 28/04/2023 at 22:19:06
Lovin' the new font, very swish.
Raymond Fox
335 Posted 28/04/2023 at 23:15:58
My one vote against the font, its much harder to read.
I thought there was something wrong at my end, change it back to what it was.
Barry Hesketh
336 Posted 28/04/2023 at 23:21:22
Raymond and Will, I don't think the font is a deliberate move by the eds, it must be a glitch and it only appears to apply to this particular thread.
Laurie Hartley
337 Posted 28/04/2023 at 23:40:45
Regardless of the outcome of the next five games Everton Football Club will still need “fixing”.

That will require new ownership with plenty of money and a plan, business savvy management and finance team, a director of football that knows about footy, manager and coaching staff, new players and a great big dollop of patience. The only things worth keeping are the stadium, offices in the Liver buildings, Finch Farm facilities, and of course the fans.

Pity Bielsa has the Argentine job

Brian Wilkinson
338 Posted 29/04/2023 at 00:25:41
Oh well think we have done this thread and covered just about everything so just a little off topic topic nostalgia boring fact.

When the scaffold did the promo for thank you very much, Mike Mcgear, McCartneys brother insisted on having it filmed in front of the Kop, the video was shot minus Roger McGough, who refused to appear in front of the Kop with being a Blue.

Mark Taylor
340 Posted 29/04/2023 at 01:04:14
Joe 291

Someone desperate? Where hope trumps pragmatism?

I take your point but then all he has to do is pass a medical and I've a sneaky suspicion he could manage that quite easily for a new club.

Frankly I'm more concerned with the flotsam and jetsam that still have a year or more on their contract and have a lot less saleability than even DCL. How do we offload Keane, Gueye, Iwobi, Holgate, Maupay and of course the real hanger on-ers, Gomes, Gbamin and Dele who would be of zero interest to any EPL club, even on a free. That's getting close to half our wage bill, right there.

Tony Everan
341 Posted 29/04/2023 at 08:33:21
With regards to Calvert-Lewin ruled out goal, I thought the VAR lines were meant to be a bit thicker to allow for a small margin of error. To be honest I’ve lost track of it all and how it is applied. It showed him about a few mm offside, isn’t the margin of error meant to acccomodate that fine a margin ?

Despite the goal being ruled out, it was a pretty impressive finish that cool dink over the keeper. More of a quality and improvised strikers finish than a fox in the box, one touch finish.

Since he has been pigeonholed as the latter type of striker, I thought this cool finish was an encouraging sign. I bet he feels hard done by.

Tony Abrahams
342 Posted 29/04/2023 at 08:39:34
With regards VAR, I think there are many incidents which might be able to prove the theory that they make it up as they go along Tony?

I haven’t been watching that much football, but I’ve just seen a picture which suggests that the outstretched leg of John Stones was offside the other night?

The camera doesn’t lie, but the people operating the camera, do seem to be able to change the angles, but maybe I’m just going around the bend.

Soren Moyer
344 Posted 29/04/2023 at 15:45:17
It's obvious that players have lost confidence in Dyche, as he never has a Plan B. Another one-trick pony, stubborn and without-a-clue manager!
Danny O’Neill
346 Posted 30/04/2023 at 06:54:09
In my simple head, the reason for the VAR is to confirm or deny a decision.

I don't have an issues with the VAR. It should make things fairer.

There are two issues with its application to football when you consider similar technology has been implemented in other sports.

Competent officials. Both on the pitch and behind the cloak and dagger corridors of Stockley Park.

And the offside rule. Change the rule. Clear daylight, obvious but not based on someone's toenail being ahead of an adjusted line.

Tony Everan
347 Posted 30/04/2023 at 07:34:59
I like that idea, Danny. Also, I like the idea about forgetting altogether the top half of the body for offsides, lines from shirt sleeves etc.

Just draw the lines from the feet. It would make for easier, clearer and faster for VAR decisions and make for a more exciting and flowing game.

Decisions like Thursday's one, where Calvert-Lewin's upper bicep was ridiculously deemed 2 mm ahead of the Newcastle defender's foot would be condemned to the distant past, where it belongs.

Danny Baily
348 Posted 30/04/2023 at 07:58:02
Danny 346, I do have a problem with the VAR. And goal-line technology for that matter. My problem is that it's absent further down the pyramid.

There's no VAR in the Championship. There's no goal-line technology in League One.

This is supposed to be the same game. Football's great strength is its pyramid.

Personally, I'd like to see anything that cannot be implemented at grass roots be removed from the game at the highest levels.

Thinking back to yesterday's matches, I'm not even sure the VAR can be applied fairly at the top level. Specifically the Crystal Palace penalty; at a modern stadium like the Emirates, there would be more camera angles to view, which would likely have led to the penalty being overturned.


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