Mission Impossible

Holgate at left-back?

3 at the back with Patts & Zinedine McNeil as wingbacks???

I'll echo the Holgate calls. Surely there's another left back somewhere at the club? Who is playing there for the youth sides?

Can still envision a red card within 45 minutes though. Just maybe he’s learnt some self-control?

Rest as I would have expected. Very nearly a free hit for the players except an absolute pasting could sow too much doubt for the vital last two games (unlike some I am counting on at least 2 out of Leicester, Leeds and Forest to provide an against all the odds result at some point like we did with Brighton).

If Gray doesn’t get time on pitch today I think Sean Dyche has basically written him off but for one down with 10 minutes to play ‘Hail Mary’ situations.

Today performance is as good as actual result. Don’t expect much except clear signs that we’re as ready as we’ll ever be for the last couple of games.

COYB!

He's 25 short with 3 to play. No-one talks about total goals when this invented European league has added loads more games.

Vinaigrette is tasty anywhere ? https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/classic-vinaigrette

No need to get sour about it either ! Hope all is well with you mate in the Philippines, eyes glued today ? Hope the Golf is going well too ! Take care Buddy.

However sometimes shocks happen at the end of a season with freakish results in some games. Can we hope for one the right way today.

After Chelski and Barcodes really not doing us much of a favour yesterday we dare not hope RS can do one at Leicester.

We really have to hope that the last two games produce dividends unless there is a miracle today.

Doesn't quite feel over yet but we could do with something lucky falling our way in front of goal. Ideally it doesn't fall again to Holgate who has looked, to be very fair to him, shite.

I know I keep saying it but Wolves away is a very difficult game. I think Leeds will beat Spurs and West Ham are wobbling where we need them to win matches.

Can’t take much more of sitting through our games and all our rivals’.

We really need that win at Wolves to prevent an extremely nervous final game against Bournemouth who I believe will pose a bigger threat than many imagine.

Our home form has been very poor all season and nerves could play a big factor.

Leeds have West Ham and a hapless Spurs side.

I'm pretty certain now that it will go down to the dreaded final match.

While the City player did well for their first goal too many players were standing watching and Mina should have done better than his tame non-effort.

The second goal, again, Iwobi was behind his man that made the cross and Holgate was stood behind Haaland, what did he expect that he was going to let it go! And Tarkowsi, a central defender, had again taken up his favourite position of standing almost on our goal line instead of challenging their centre forward for the cross.

I'd like to comment on our attack but we've hardly had one and our best chance unfortunately fell to Holgate who again looked fast asleep, certainly with no idea what to do when the ball came through to him.

Too many errors and not enough urgency.

Oh, and this Ref lets a push on Garner in our box go but seconds later when Calvert-Lewin puts his hand up to stop the City player from running into him he gives a free kick and Mahrez, I think, hit a back pass from about 25 yards to his keeper who picks it up when it couldn't have been anything but a back pass but nothing given.

But we haven't been putting enough effort or thought into it.

I've written off 'leeds, I think they will definitely beat Spurs, and will also get the win against the hammers. it's just like last year when everyone said 'Brentford will beat Leeds at home' but they were on the beach.

Hopefully just being cautious with Dom.

Hope DCL is not injured.

Just noticed! Behind the sofa!

From the following corner Yerry Mina heads over from close range.

Predictable result today and the typical let down after a good result previously.

Thought at least the defending would be a lot better.

Just over 10 minutes to go. Total cruise control for City.

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There's no possible way we can even get the ball to him. He's just phoning it in.

Today hasn’t cost us. It’s home games against Southampton, Wolves and Leicester and a damaging defeat against Fulham that is why we are where we are. Some decent performances today.

City are leagues ahead of us. Look at their bench.

Hope DCL is okay.

Anyway, only upside this weekend is that neither Leeds nor Forest won. Fingers crossed Leicester don’t spring a surprise tomorrow. Write this game off, we expected to lose in any case, just a shame we let in 3.

Need to pick ourselves up and get something from the Wolves game. Almost guaranteed at least one of Leeds or Leicester will win their last game so really need to avoid squeaky bum time last day of the season. Don’t think our players have the head for a sort of game like that.

But it's done now. Wolves away... a win probably does it for us.

An absolute shambles!

The club really is as dysfunctional as it seems. An alarm should go off every time a manager tries to punch his shirt number into the selection screen.

But it doesn't. I actually felt sorry for him today. He's just nowhere near good enough and managers keep picking him. He needs to be put out of his misery. I'm not even sure what level he could play at.

Was that police display at the end to safeguard the cowardly board?

West Ham safe and have nothing to play for. They’re also away to Leicester last game so can see them losing their last two. In fact I can’t imagine neither Leeds nor Leicester not winning at least one game so all eyes now on Wolves. Leeds could get 6 points, think Leicester will manage only 3-4 at most so Leeds our main threat. Forest have Arsenal next so by no means safe either.

Really hope DCL was rested although fearing the worst given it was odd to take him off at HT.

Care to discuss?

What I saw in the first half hour was a well organised team asking a lot of questions of City. Weaker opposition would have struggled.

If Dyche can just keep us up, we have a side and a style of play emerging.

Just need the RS to beat Leicester now.

Get the two big cup finals out of the way and the points in the bag and then focus can begin on homing in on the removal of the board.

They have got to go this summer!

I'm more concerned at how bad West Ham are considering they still have to play both Leeds and Leicester. We need six points from the next two games in my opinion.

If the betting means anything the odds compilers fancy Leeds, Leicester and Forest more likely to go down than us.

Okay, they are miles better than us, but rather than play Holgate left-back, I would have asked McNeil to fill in there just for this game and played Gray on the right and Iwobi on the left.

One thing that the game did show us, is that we are way off being as good as the top four teams in this league. If we do survive, with our current financial plight, how on earth are we ever going to have players good enough to get us into the top half of the table, never mind the top four???

Leicester 1.36 (4/11)
Leeds 1.42 (2/5)
Forest 3,35 (12/5)
Everton 3.5 (5/2)
West Ham 109/1

We weren't poor today, just beaten by arguably the current best club side in the world.

I see us finishing 16th with Leeds & Leicester joining Southampton.

Has this crew got the ability?

Have they the heart?

Are they massively keen on wearing women's clothes?

It matters not a jot I'm having sausage, peas and chips - what a time to be alive.

What makes you so confident West Ham will be up for the Leeds game?

If we have a fit squad for the next game, ie Calvert-Lewin and Mykolenko, then I think we'll be okay. Forget this one and move on.

If we start with a makeshift left-back and Maupay up top, we will need massive performances from 1 to 11 to get a point or 3 at Wolves.

We need Arsenal to win today to keep them interested against Forest too.

Simms must be pissed off, and probably want to leave in the Summer, how is he supposed to gain Premiership experience, getting splinters in his arse, while that non-scoring midget is ambling around doing fuck all ?

According to the BBC West Ham made 7 changes for the game against Brentford today because of their European involvement and they are also very unlikely to be relegated. Difficult to see West Ham strongly motivated against Leeds.

Dyche has come out and said Calvert-Lewin had a tight groin. Doesn't sound good.

As others have alluded to, they are light years ahead of us with regards to ability and tactical nous. The pisser is, they play it simple and move into space to receive the ball and... repeat.

That's down to coaching by a forward-thinking manager.

The fact you can't understand the difference and similarities between the two states of mind is entirely your problem, little man.

Besides, Simms is closer to a like-for-like replacement, and would suit the way we play better. Maupay's goal return this season is an embarrassment. Simms has also scored one, but in a fraction of the game time.

I would have the reserve goalkeeper at left-back ahead of Holgate. If only... if only he was one hundredth of the player he thinks he is.

Ian @ 211, you are comparing two players who have, for some reason, hit the football jackpot. Both are really a long way short of average, but Simms has a bit of scope. He is like a newcomer in a 3-year-old maiden. Better by virtue of not having had enough time to achieve the mediocrity that Maupay displays.

However, I have a feeling, God knows why, that Maupay is going to play a part in our survival story.

The game changed on Holgate's miss – I haven't seen any replays of it, but it appeared to be a great opportunity that should have been put away. After that, it was two quick, excellent goals and game over. The second half was damage-limitation.

Well done to those supporters who stayed to the end and gave the players a good reception. The sight of the huge security presence around the tunnel at the end was pathetic, presumably a further statement of how “threatened” those in charge are by such a dangerous set of fans.

The experiment won't happen again, but we desperately need Mykolenko back for the last two matches. Pray to the football gods that Calvert-Lewin's niggle is better in a day or two. If so, we stand a decent chance of getting the four points we will likely need.

We played well and looked fairly comfortable up until they scored two in two minutes that pissed on our chips good style. We expected nothing and that's what we got.

I know many have been predicting a win or draw at Wolves but it will take a massive effort and complete team display with a fit Calvert-Lewin.

I'm still not sure if anything other than a win at Wolves will do us.

Ultimately though, assuming the dark side turn up tomorrow (they worry me more), it's in our hands: get 4-6 points from last two and we should be good.

I'm quietly confident we'll beat Wolves, the got to 40 pts and have now gone into hibernation.

The Negatives: The final score, Calvert-Lewin's withdrawal, Holgate at left-back, and the zero contribution of Gray and Maupay when they came on.

Overall, I think we weren't great but neither were we really crap.

Simms was shocking at Man Utd and Liverpool. No performance from Maupay was worse than those two.

Simms's goal gained a point at Chelsea. Maupay's earned all 3 v West Ham.

They are both really average but Maupay clearly the better one.

3-0 down and their subs are Grealish, Stones, Silva and Debryne warming up. In response we have Maupay.

If you take out the covid season, City have only lost 4 games in the last 6 seasons during the season run-ins. They're just a machine that no one can stop.

It was a tough call, the missus said "peas or beans?" and I just went for the peas like some kind of big I am.

Far too cavalier for my own good these days.

If dyche had changed to three at the back he would've been crucified for changing a winning formation and reality is City still would've won because they just don't drop points at this partt of the season.

Overall the performance wasn't terrible. Wolves and Bournemouth are must wins. If Dom is 50/50 he still plays.

This was the third game after two results and it was always going to be a tall order to motivate the team to compete after their previous exertions.

They should play better against Wolves and will definitely need to, then on to Bournemouth and Premier League survival by the skin of their teeth, if lucky with other results.

Maupay is a waste of space. Need a threat.

Next two games are the clincher. Realistically Leicester will lose Monday and next week away at Newcastle. So Everton must get 4 points from Wolves and Bournemouth.

It's Leeds that rattle me – probably be playing a 2nd string West Ham next week, and Spurs are just shite and have given up. Forest are safe.

Win both games, Everton, and it is all irrelevant – that should be the mentality.

I think Leeds will get 4 points to get them to 35 also but with a better goal difference. Leicester I see getting to 33.

Therefore 4 points to get us to 36 is needed to be certain, although 35 in this scenario would relegate Forest. However, if I do it again in 10 minutes, then it's all different!!!!!

It's in our hands so no excuses if we are relegated.

As an aside, how did we beat Brighton, they are schooling Arsenal at the Emirates?

If West Ham win on Thursday night, they'll play a weakened team against Leeds 3 days later, so we can't rely on any favours.

Our overall home form is the main reason we are in relegation trouble in the first place, so we are no good thing to beat Bournemouth.

Wolves beat us at Goodison, so how are we going to fare on their track? I don't think we will be favourite to win.

And for those saying “it’s in our hands” - not if Leicester win tomorrow night.

I've just watched it again and it seems I was being hyper-critical, it looked rather different live from my position behind Holgate.

Disappointed with the result and when we needed something.

But that wasn't the decider.

We performed well against the best team in England, arguably Europe.

Everton competed for a good 37 minutes, beaten by two goals, then a third from a free kick taken a good few feet further infield but not one single Everton player bringing it to the ref's attention.

Smart move taking Calvert-Lewin and Gueye off, save them for the next two games.

After Holgate finally got hooked off, I thought we looked a lot better and certainly never gave up, just a pity Coady cannot play in the next game with it being Wolves.

Overall, we gave it a go and never gave up, just outclassed by a far superior team on the day.

I have a lot of time for you, John McFarlene Snr, and admire it's a team and not about individuals, so if I offend you here, apologies beforehand, but for me Keane and Holgate are just not good enough to wear the Everton shirt and hopefully will be shipped out in the summer, two very poor players.

Man City are on the march! No complaints today! Move on to more realistic opposition to stay in the league.

I think that you have been a bit rough on Holgate, and the truth is that you have no option other than accepting any team selection, whether or not you like a player. As a supporter, it's not asking too much of you to be less critical, and to acknowledge the fact that anyone who plays football for a living can obviously play football better than some, and not as good as others.

On a different topic, I recently posted to you regarding ToffeeWeb badges stating that I would be prepared to pay the required sum, but because you haven't responded, and the fact that a fellow ToffeeWebber suggested that you appear to have lost a great deal of interest for the get-togethers, and I'm afraid that I'm withdrawing the offer.

Any talk from Boys Pen Bill and his crew about sticking around to see us back in the Premier League should be met with a boycott of all home games until they have done the decent thing and fucked off forever!

Some of the rubbish spouted about the City match is hysterical. I thought we did okay too, Ray, considering who we were playing. No collapse and showed some character, 2nd half especially.

Also like to comment on Dwight McNeil who now looks a class act all over the pitch.

Two massive games coming up now. UTFT.

You're mistaken. I was all over the live forum at Brighton and commented on the post-match report.

My opinion is that Maupay is better than Simms. Dyche also obviously agrees.

Great games by Calvert-Lewin, McNeil, Gana, Patterson, Tarkowski, Garner and Mina. Not sure about Doucouré, Pickford and Onana.

Quality of City shone through though eventually.

This will go down to the final game. I can see us drawing at Wolves and sealing survival against Bournemouth.

Today wasn't a disaster. Today we just saw the gulf in class between both clubs. Not just teams but clubs.

Can the dodgy RS get something at Leicester? Or will they roll over like they did atForest?

Can the dodgy RS get something at Leicester? Or will they roll over like they did at Forest?

Barkley, Gordon, now Holgate. He was playing out of position, against a top winger. Give him shit, why not?

Crap support, really crap.

Mind you, anyone who calls Ancelotti a dinosaur, clearly has a vast (non-)knowledge of football!

As I say, either side of that was not bad, and augurs well for the final two games.

I'm going with transfactual until someone says it is offensive. Except you, of course, Ian.

It's perfectly right that the crowd give Holgate stick. He's not a hate figure. This is not personal abuse. He's a truly dreadful member of this squad – let alone the team.

Dyche doesn't agree, clearly, and will play him but you say he was out of position. I'd say he's useless in any position and so it was no surprise that today he would be the weak link in the team.

If Mykolenko had played, it's a different result. Holgate was fucking appalling and should never play for us again. But, he will and therein lies the real problem.

Arsenal losing today means they have handed Man City the title, let's hope they turn up at Forest next week. Now we are sweating on DCL and hoping Wolves and Bournemouth are on the beach.

Does anyone know why security appeared to be raised today? Turnstile operators, Police inside the concourses, and the ring around the players tunnel at full-time.

Well done to all Blues who cheered the players off the pitch at full-time despite the disappointing result, hopefully it will give them a lift.

Either Taylor has reinvented the laws or I have spent my life watching every other referee misinterpret the laws.

We must beat Wolves on Saturday or we could be in the Bottom 3 going into the Bournemouth game.

I just think that the problem is that he's not good enough. Not his fault. And if picked, he has to play; what would we be saying if he refused to play for the Blues when we are short?

No boos, just a sad resignation about his ability.

Correct me if I'm wrong but there's really no such thing.

Apologies are not needed, you are entitled to air your views, and if Keane and Holgate are not good enough to wear the Everton shirt, it's not their fault. I have no doubt that they don't play badly on purpose.

Today, was no disgrace, v the best Team, in Europe, and time will prove to the world, depending on their match v Real, later this week.

City are a class Team, and credit where it’s due.

Wolves and Bournemouth, I'm confident, Everton, will take them, both, assuming DCL, is fit, and the 12th Man, will see them, over the line, for survival in the EPL.

City are light years the best team in this EPL, and in terms of consistency, they have set a bench mark, that is hard to see being beaten, for the immediate future.

They as a squad have matured from their previous, deemed failures.

Everton, can take great heart, from this week, and the Everton fans, will be the difference, and hopefully a little bit of help from the neighbours and West Ham, these next few weeks.

Stay together, strength, and guts and belief, now is the order of the day.

Hopefully Arsenal, will have a point to prove v Forest. That result puts in perspective, Evertons victory at Brighton.

Everton, will prevail, this season.

UTFTs!

Suddenly they are winning two games on the bounce. Get real, they are shit.

Why will they win their games and not us?

Left the house about 6 am and I've just got back to London as it took an hour from Milton Keynes to Euston because of engineering works.

Still an hour to get home.

Worth it? Totally. We performed even if we didn't get the result.

No complaints from me. Those who stayed to the end let the players know they respected the effort.

Wolves next week. We go and do it. Bournemouth. Finish on 38 points… and breathe.

Really? Don't be surprised when you see confidence destroyed and performances declining.

It's pretty basic. He's picked, he's playing. Support your own players and you might see a better performance.

12 months ago, he was one of our better players in the run-in. Since then, he's been in and out of the team and seldom played in his best position.

I wouldn't have blamed him if he had given the crowd the middle finger when he went off. As I said, that was crap support.

I think Leeds look the most likely to pick up points in the next few games. I wouldn't be too surprised to see them beat West Ham next week. We need to go all out for 2 wins, I'm afraid.

This is not bad luck, it's like we are stuck in some doom loop. An atmosphere of dread descends at the first set-back. It could be a real problem in the final game; let's hope we get it done at Wolves.

I think there has been a crossing of wires somehow. I had nothing to do with the ordering of the TW Badges but, like you, wholeheartedly supported the idea. I can't even remember who it was that suggested it, but I would definitely order one or two myself, should it ever come back as a definite official order requisition.

Perhaps the originator of the idea may read and ask the Eds for a thread to invite orders and a method to pay and give addresses etc.

1. Happy Clapper

2. Blame Ian Edwards

3. Ancelotti is a dinosaur.

I'll order one of each. Maybe not the first one.

We've got to stay up and get Branthwaite into the team alongside Tarkowski next season.

Every time I read about Branthwaite it's nothing but exciting. Would love to see him back here and in the team.

I easily can.

Nothing will convince me that, long-term, Holgate will take us forward as a full-back. He had a shocker today and was rightfully hooked off; after that, we never conceded and looked better in defence.

It's not easy being a right-footed player and asked to play as a left-back so not Holgate's fault he was asked to play there, no more so than expecting Godfrey to play as a right-back.

I will say one thing in Holgate's defence: he seems to be a better player when he plays in front of the defence, like a Lee Carsley type role. I cannot fault the lad there, but he's not good enough for me as a defender.

The manager made the choice and, as I said to the supporters sat around me, he should have been hooked at half time.

Not his fault. Poor tactical decision.

Another point. I will never leave before the end.

And I have over 200 miles to travel.

Not a brag, I always want to see the team off the pitch, good or bad.

In that case, the second 45 minutes would have given that player valuable time on the pitch ahead of being deployed rather than being thrown into the team without playing in a long time.

So it's going to be Maupay isn't it?

He will not start Coady, but he had no option than to put him on today, realised his tactical right back gamble failed badly, for me we looked better after that change, but unless Mykolenko is fit for next week, we are screwed again, Coady cannot play next week, against his parent club, unless Godfrey is fit and we play him on his stronger side, on the left then god knows who we put in a left back.

A little off topic Danny but yourself and a few others go the away games and the support is fantastic, none stop for 90 minutes, yet at Goodison, our fortress, we just do not seem to use the same advantage and make Goodison a bear pit, yes singing is there but for long periods, Goodison is quiet.

I know today those of us that stayed started singing the team name and clapped the players off, but I just think we are missing a huge advantage of having too many long periods of a silent Goodison.

1. A pair of clasped hands with broad grinning teeth above.

3. A Tyrannosaurus Rex with a raised eyebrow and/or trying not to spill a cup of coffee whilst cornering a sabre-toothed tiger.

I am struggling with No 2.

It's alleged that Mina pinches and scratches opponents when the Ref isn't looking. Haaland has pinch marks on his body.

Gundogan said in an interview in March that Mina is known for this.

Now it's in the open, Dyche needs to have a word as VAR could be looking out for it.

He's not very good and he's all we have. Apart from he's not, as Coady showed with a change in formation when he came on we improved instantly.

Dyche is more culpable than Mason. I actually felt sorry for him going off, he was visibly upset – and that's coming from someone who hopes he never plays a game that matters for us again.

I totally agree with you, City could and should easily have put at least 6 past Leeds. As for yesterday, they time wasted and fouled their way to an eventual point.

Also, apparently we've been lucky because some penalties have been missed, which, had they been scored, could have put us in the Bottom 3. Well, fuck me, isn't that what a goalkeeper is there for, to save these penalties?

Holgate is no great shakes but he’s playing out of position there against a great winger.

It comes back to the board and the way the club has been (mis)directed for the last 5 years.

The performance and tactics were actually not bad. It wasn’t a 3-0 type of match and for those into xG the models had the score as 1.19-1.04.

But performance doesn’t really matter now. All about the points. Very much hope we can find a way of getting at least 1 if not 3 against Wolves.

I concede that Holgate has made errors in the limited opportunities he's been given, but I still believe that in the right set up, he is a talented player. His confidence has taken a battering and it may prove to be in everyone's interest if he moves on in the summer.

It's only a few seasons back after a good run of form, that he was being touted for an England call up, such were the standard of his performances. No doubt the same people singing his praises then, are guilty of booing the player now.

When he broke into the team, for a while he showed the potential of a John Stones type of central defender. Another player incidentally who was prone to error in the early part of his career. Perhaps if Holgate had received the coaching Stones has been afforded, then the weaknesses in his game might have been ironed out by now.

Criticise players by all means after the final whistle, but to boo any of our players while the game is in progress, is in my opinion unforgivable.

Shorter version Ian Edwards: I’m too lazy to come up with something truly clever and perplexing but I just want some attention so can you just read what I wrote and give it to me?

2nd goal lost too quickly. Still rocked by the 1st goal and players mind probably lost the focus. Could have done better. 3rd goal was a worldie. So it's not too damaging in my opinion.

Oh well.

As for Holgate, I'm not sure what other options existed given Vinagre, who we don't even know is any good, is injured. I felt sorry for him when he was subbed and how upset he was on the bench. I think part of his frustration was knowing himself, he just isn't good enough for this league, something we have known for some time. The fault is not his, but the club, who have allowed him to stay here for 8 years, no less.

If DCL is out, as I fear he will be given his injury recovery challenges, that might well spell the end for us. We look a much more effective team with him leading the line. Hopefully it was just a precaution or a rest. I've no idea who saw Maupay as worth buying. He is another not good enough for this league. Without DCL, we surely have to roll the dice with Simms. He hardly sets the world alight but we haven't seen that much of him, certainly a lot less than Maupay. And at least the Chelsea goal suggests he has some sort of eye for scoring, which Maupay evidently does not.

We don't have wide players. We've got McNeil and a couple of right backs - that's it. Yet we continue to play a formation that relies on wide players. Christ, for most of the season we didn't even have a centre forward for the wide players to cross to!

People might hate the 3 CB setup but it's the only shape that suits the disaster of a squad we have. We have an abundance of centre backs - pick 3 of them. We have an abundance of centre midfielders. Pick 3 of them. We don't break teams down with wing play, we counter attack.

That forces McNeil into a wing back role but it gets Mykolenko out of the team. That's a reasonable trade in my book. Let's be honest, McNeil spends most of his time playing that role anyway.

I suspect we're completely out of options now. We're hoping that Mykolenko is fit next week just so we can play a back 4. When Mykolenko's availability is key to us then we have a massive problem. He's nowhere near good enough to be that key to our plans.

Without Mykolenko, what option do we have? We're just throwing players to the Wolves (pardon the pun) out there.

We're going to end up in a formation that we haven't really played in. And we could have been playing it because it's the only one that ever made sense. The only reason we didn't was the tactical rigidity of our coaches.

I realize Abbott and Costello are both dead and couldn't play football but an exhumation versus Holgate's wages would be a saving. Plus their bones would stay in position and would be unlikely to get sent off.

He could cost us dearly if Dyche does not warn him about it and for me has to be the first of many players shown the door. He's been pinching more than opponents' skin because he's also been pinching a living for years from us. If anyone needs booing – it's him.

I thought we were well in that game yesterday and only Walker's pace and alertness stopped Calvert-Lewin getting through on goal. Doucouré was also close to getting through but his poor touch let him down but we were having a go. Eventually their class took over but that's no disgrace.
I still think Carlo will do them this week though.

So onto Wolves we go. Calvert-Lewin has to play even if it's with painkillers. Either that or Simms because Maupay has got nothing at all.

We may all be juggling our thoughts about the other relegation-threatened teams' opponents but I'm glad it's not us playing Spurs, West Ham or Arsenal.

Wolves game is massive. 3 points is key.

Kind of sickening I'm contemplating our survival. My boys and I are on vacation and we sat around discussing our greatest Everton moments.

All of us said the Palace game. Then we all felt sick when we remembered the heady days of, "5th isn't good enough!"

Gawd it's torture sometimes.

Equally, I do wonder why posters here are suddenly convinced that teams who have not won games for weeks – Leeds and Leicester – are suddenly going to start? If they do win a game, we know that winning our final two games should see us safe.

Ian 294, you missed a few out:

4. Play 4-4-fookin-2

5. Sack the manager

6. Everton fans are ‘feral dogs'.

Paul 310, lose the ‘happy clappers' line or you'll end up sounding like Ian. You may be the master of the pessimistic ‘one-liner' but at least you post regularly on good days and bad days.

You might be right about a back 3 but Dyche recognises he doesn't have time to implement it.

He is trying to simplify things to a level this squad of players can process.

I know it was disappointing yesterday but there wasn't really anything else Dyche could have done, realistically.

We're still in it and must stick together.

But I completely get your point. That's the source of my frustration. It was well worth a go at the tail end of last year when it became obvious we were shoe-horning players into roles they didn't suit. And all to get players in attacking wide roles when we didn't have a striker capable of benefiting from wide players.

If we end up going with it now out of necessity (he's not picking Holgate again) then it's not a quick fix. It's a new way of playing – for the two most crucial games imaginable.

My feelings are the same as Sams @311, one natural left-back on the books? And only one centre-forward at the club, who is good enough to lead the line in the ultra physical Premier League, on a regular basis?

Everton have been run disgracefully for way too long now. Brands wouldn't sell Kenny for £6 million; 18 months later he's out the door for free. The same thing is going to happen with Tom Davies, and for all those saying he's shite anyway, then I would argue that's just systematic of the way Everton Football Club has been run for years.

The time for real change is now.

Foden receiving extensive treatment after Man City were given the free-kick resulting in their third goal. He remained on the pitch and didn't retire to the byline and wait to be called back on.

Surely with all the officials watching, and the VAR if you like, someone should have picked this up and maybe the free-kick should have been retaken.

At the time, I think everyone thought exactly the same, why didn't Foden leave the pitch?

It's a bloody ridiculous rule anyway, why should the injured player have to leave the pitch following treatment, yet the perpetrator stays on?

That's exactly what I meant by crosses not being cut out tactically resulting in two goals in the first half. It has been a glaring weakness in a relegation dogfight that the formation you point out has not been played.

Dyche actually set up the same as the Brighton game, but to expect this team to be able to keep the same intensity in the following game is for the birds. The unchallenged with space and time City forwards was a case in point. Trying to do so was a gift for City who spent the week in preparation,

Tony #331,

You could put Holgate in that category also. The Club is a breeding ground for under-performance and ineptitude.

I actually don't think that City live up to their accolades. The Premier League is badly run and a lot of money is wasted. If City set up like that against Ancelotti's Real Madrid, they are toast

At least Coady is fired up and can tackle. Why not go with him rather than Holgate?

We've just given Pickford an improved contract when we could have unloaded him at the end of the season. Saying it's to protect an asset is wrong because no decent team would pay a big fee for him.

As usual, the contract we've given him has turned him into a liability, in more ways than one. If we give Iwobi a new deal that would be the ultimate confirmation of utter incompetence.

I feel Pickford was at fault for 2 of the goals. Haaland header, middle of the goal. The free-kick was embarrassing. Pickford too far over.

Why Dyche didn't start with 3 at the back and 2 defending wingbacks? Coady, Mina and Tarkowski. On to the next, we should play on the break against Wolves like Brighton.

It might be worth considering for the final game at home against Bournemouth, as, unfortunately, he is unable to play against Wolves next weekend.

If Calvert-Lewin is out for next weekend, then Gray should play up top. We have less options to play with at left-back, so I hope Mykolenko makes it back. Holgate is no worse than Godfrey or Keane. Dyche is not a fan of a back 5 so it's hard to see what solution he will come up with.

So the can is back on the road this morning and being kicked down to Wolverhampton. Keep right on to the end, guys.

We all hoped that Guardiola would make loads of changes, and I definitely thought he would rest Kyle Walker given the pace of Vinicius Junior for Real Madrid. But just as well he didn't as twice Walker denied first Doucoure and then Calvert-Lewin having a 1-on-1 with Ederson.

For 30 minutes, City had 1 shot on goal and I thought we had carried out our game plan to perfection, but some unbelievable skill from Gundogan turned the game and they quickly followed with a 2nd which basically killed the game.

The 2nd half started with no Calvert-Lewin who we have learned had a slight injury and Dyche was absolutely right to take no chances. Gundogan scored a marvellous free-kick that we couldn't do anything about.

To be perfectly honest, I was staggered as to how many of our fans walked out at this point. All you can ask is that your players give 100% for 90 minutes and every player in a blue shirt did that. Yes, you can argue about the quality or lack of it in certain players but, if they are giving 100% of what they have, then that's all you can ask.

Also let's remember this team went away to Leicester and got a draw and completely blew Brighton away, something very few of us thought possible. I was pleased to be amongst the fans who stayed and applauded the players to let them know we are with them all the way in this relegation fight.

My take is that, if Leicester don't win tonight, we have only to match the points that they and Leeds get in the final 2 games to avoid the drop, and I think we will.

Here's an interesting thought though, or maybe a scary thought… If you were a Liverpool fan, would you want to lose tonight and drop us into the relegation places, which would ultimately mean no Champions League next season, or want to win tonight and keep alive faint hopes of Champions League next season?

Obviously, the Liverpool players and Bingo will want the win, and I think, and hope, they will (washes mouth out with soapy water).

Come on you Rrrrrr………….Nah, I can't say it.

3-0 wasn't ideal, a 1-goal game would have been nice, but it's gone now and this result isn't going to relegate us anyway.

We need to win one of our last 2 to stay up in my view. Win one and both Leeds & Leicester likely will need to win both their remaining games to overtake us. That's assuming Leicester lose to Liverpool tonight, which I think they will.

My biggest concern is not the game or result yesterday, but whether Calvert-Lewin is able to play and is fit for Wolves and Bournemouth. With him, we can play a bit, and score goals; without him, we're useless and can't score goals. Even a half-fit Calvert-Lewin is better than Maupay because of his hold-up play, and the balance he gives the team, especially when we play 2 full-backs.

Beat Wolves and/or Bournemouth and I feel we stay up.

Every man, woman and their dog knew it was madness.
It also shows that, despite several moaners on here, Mykolenko has been pretty decent.

That aside, we played okay and, as others have said, 3points from those two games is satisfactory. If someone had said we would get two draws, I would have taken that every day.

We can make life a lot better for ourselves by winning at Wolves. I don't think a point there will be enough, as Bournemouth are quite capable of scoring goals and our stressed-out lads would be under huge pressure.

Let's all hope that Dom is fit. I suspect he already had a niggle and was risked for 45 minutes just in case we looked like nicking it. It is worth pumping him full of painkillers for the next two games as he will have all summer to recover.

My main worry is that West Ham will have their minds on the Europa Conference Final (if they get through the second leg) when they play Leeds on Saturday. Then there is the worry that Leeds finish off against Spurs at Elland Road... a team in limbo.

Leicester finish off against West Ham who might be in the Conference final just a few days after. It could mean that we will need to win both our games, as Leicester's goal difference is so superior to ours.

Let's pray that Liverpool give them a spanking tonight.

Yesterday was disappointing in the way we conceded two goals so close together, but City are on the brink of clinching their 5th title in 6 years, one more than Everton have won since the war.

I couldn't go because a dose of the lurgy,( again!) so sat in my B in Law's to watch the game unfold.

I thought we played as well as we could and every player tried their best. That's all we can ask of our players. Their goalie also pulled off a top class save or two and that means we were attacking where we could and worried their defence at times as well.

Couldn't help but think, that we stood up against a team who could have been ours and City could have been in our Club's shoes, except for the decision made, when Mansour came knocking, by our despicable absentee Chairman. Dive in Martin, if you wish, I might even respond to your blind love of mr K, who has ruined this Club.

Doucouré and CL both made top breakaways and Walker (didn't Moysie once go for him?) did a last gasp incerception on both? Certainly a very speedy man to have in the team.

I could look to our mistakes/weaknesses ; but it's more that they were clever and able enough to take advantage. In fact, they played just the kind of football I admire and I like the City Fans and are made up for them.

They had a shite Chairman as well, went down, 2 divisions, (I think it was) and supported their team right through all that. So good luck to them.

We've got two more games. Hopefully The Boss took CL off as a precaution and that he can play at least one of those games. The home game against Bournemouth for me.

Once again Brian, a good post!

I really wish I could say something that would help your ignorance on issues regarding myself. Some things are beyond even me though.

We can't afford to go into next season with this same appalling leadership. Enough is enough and they have to go.

Now Holgate is the chief whipping boy, with everyone repeating the same thing online as everyone else. As many have already thankfully stated, Holgate has been played out of position against a world class winger. Although he looked shaky, unsupirsingly given the tension and groans when he was on the ball, I may be wrong but how many goals was he at fault for against Palace and yesterday?

He is a good back up centre back and it looks like it's time for him to move on but I don't see the point in hammering the lad and destroying what little confidence is left, and people echoing the same s other people are saying about him.

We won our last away game 5-1, so we can do it!

(Yes, this was me being positive, please make sure you're sitting down when reading.)

Just...

One thing that I think needs some serious work over the summer is our habit of conceding multiple goals in a short space of time. Other games have seen us concede one and then let another one or two in over the next few minutes. It's a real problem as the game is away from you then, even if you had been in it beforehand.

Must be a concentration thing and players thinking too much about letting one in, rather than putting it behind them and moving on mentally. Needs sorting out though.

Yes, booing at the actual game serves no purpose, certainly doesn't help the players. I never do it myself at the game but feel like I have the right to criticise really poor performances on here.

The worst I saw and heard was when the crowd cheered when it was announced that Tom Cleverly was being substituted, that really stunk.

And by the way, I have no issue with people critisicing perfomances on here, they are well within their rights, I do the same.

It's the pile on of certain players at certain times I find uncomfortable, and I'm not sure what good it brings. There's a lot of factors sometimes, being played out of position for one.

Saying "Mason Holgate is shit" isn't a criticism – only a very biased, unsubstantiated and valueless personal opinion.

Granted he does pull off some fantastic reflex saves but we all know the next cock-up is just around the corner. I agree with Mike Price regarding Pickford: if someone comes in with a big bid for him, I'd sell him.

Eddie, I also agree with you regarding Mykolenko, he's nowhere near as bad as some make out. I like the lad, he never hides and gives it his all every single game. I wasn't expecting much from yesterday but especially when I saw Dyche's record against City: 15 losses and one draw from last 16 with 6 scored and 49 conceded.

Also, City have won here on their last 6 visits so it was always a very tall order to get anything. We must get at least a point at Wolves and beat Bournemouth at a packed and noisy Goodison. UTFT 💙

I totally agree with you, mate. What the 'giving out stick' morons do not seem to realise is that having a go at a player does not help them to perform better and this ultimately doesn't help the team.

What these morons also don't seem to realise is that Holgate is not a full-back! To make it clear – he is not a full back, never will be.

And he most definitely is not a left-back. He is a central defender and the morons seem to have forgotten he was playing well in this position at the start of the season.

Dyche asked him to do a job and he did his best against an opponent and opposition that would have given anyone a hard time. Because Holgate is not a left-back, it was never going to end well.

Going back a few years, when Holgate first got into the team he was a very promising central defender but like so many of our players the club and manager after manager have managed to ruin him.

So ignore the morons Mason and good luck to you, I am sure another club would be glad to have you, and in the long run it will be our loss.

The problem for the City game was the cub had no fucking cover for the left back position. Godfrey is injury prone, Vinagre was injured and the other left sided player is one of 3 loan players that we need here. Pathetic club management. That is the problem not Mason Holgate!

Godfrey, another centre-back who is been abused, also isn't a full-back. If Mykolenko is out for Saturday, the only natural left-footed player is McNeil, play him at left-back, with Gray ahead of him. We have no-one else with our only other left-back out on loan, another cock-up by our great board

Okay if you didn't but shouldn't a reasonable poster go through that hoop to offer any other criticism or fear?

That's 'poster', not 'poser'.

1. Mason Holgate. As Jim Wilson correctly says, and as we used to agree: “Something tells me Holgate's a centre-half.” I'm not his biggest fan but he was hung out to dry there on Sunday. Cut him some slack.

2. Martin Mason. He's a big lad who can defend himself on here anyway but I've been the match with him several times now and there are some wildly incorrect assumptions about him being made on here.

UTFT

From what I saw, McNeil did play left-back at least 3 times yesterday plus one go at centre-half. He covered all over the place.

But if we learned three things this season, 1 is Godfrey is not a right back, 2 Holgate is not a left back, and 3 McNeil is not a right winger.

Our club has made such a mess of it that we have let two players leave for peanuts, Price and Nkounkou who will leave for a couple of Million pre agreed price.

I did bump into John Bailey as usual before the match, I wish he had had his boots with him to play at left back.

Relax tongue in cheek about Bailey doing a better job on Sunday.

Christy spot on. These lads are professionas, but they're lads, generally in their 20's or younger. What on earth does booing do? except destroy any confidence our lads have and boosts the opposition's confidence...geniuses!!

By all means, put up a sensible defence of Kenwright's tenure as Chairman of our poor benighted, once-great club. Happy to see you provide either.

Have you ever replied to a criticism by me of this pest, except to call my post the silliest you've seen, without, forgive me if I've missed it, giving any detail whatsoever, of where I've put in any lies or inaccuracies.

As far as I'm concerned, you seem to dislike critcism of him by me. Tough shit. I think he's led our club to the verge of ruination. Just pulled that out the air, by the way, don't know what made me think that!

They have so many match winners and we have none despite winning one or two games we weren't supposed to.

We have been a shit squad all season and now need to hope that neither Wolves nor Bournemouth give a toss about the games against Everton.

Sadly it has all come down to this juncture with the hope also that RS don't do Leicester any favours today but quite frankly nobody can deny that we deserve relegation after some of the pitiful performances we have seen, especially at Goodison.

If they get lucky and stay up, then one hopes there will be a drastic overhaul of playing personnel for next season.

I didn't see your post with the good news.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered with 373 and 374.

Ability wise he's only a whisker behind Haaland and De Bruyne for me, he's a proper player.

Sorry, I mean he's shit.

I wonder if Walshy got him, as he did other top class players, including Vardy. Not bad for a duff DoF. I wonder who picked our "DoF" players during Walsh's time...

Doesn't seem to matter where he plays, these momentary lapses leave him in either the wrong position or making the wrong decision. Playing against world class players who take apart those with lesser skills, they probe those who show weakness.

It's a flaw Holgate cannot rectify and sadly for him, and us, it's likely to mean his imminent departure to a club that can accommodate him. He is not a passenger, but he is a weakness.

I feel you are being very generous, which is your prerogative, of course, but you say it will be sad for us that his departure is likely to be imminent. I won't be sad at all.

I would have been delighted had he left 3 seasons ago. A truly dreadful career to date and the sooner he drops to League One the better.

I look at the money he is earning at our club and I'm staggered. I've been watching Everton since a boy back in the '60s and he's right up there with some of the worst we have ever had.

IMO, once a player spends more than the required time at Finch Farm, he either struggles with injury or is below the par of his previous performance standards. Just the byproduct of a poorly run club.

I agree, he does impress as a defensive midfielder.

The Finch Farm Footballer Fuckup Factory, staffed and created decades ago by Kenwright, has since reduced him to the mediocre, as it does with almost every other promising talented player.

And, apart from our version of Dumb and Dumber, everyone else in football knew Steve Walsh at Leicester rarely got off his arse to seek out talent, relying instead on talented scouts to bring the likes of Vardy, Mahrez, Kante etc etc his attention from distant places.

The story was the same at Southampton. We signed Koeman but failed to see what everyone else in football saw, namely that, way before Koeman got that job, a certain Les Reid had bought excellent players at modest cost before repeatedly making massive profits for that club when they were sold on to "bigger" clubs. I'm talking about the likes of Bale, Mane, Van Dijke, Lallana.

Not Klaassen, Bolasie, Schneiderlin and Keane, of course.

Holgate and Stones were signed from Barnsley.

Mark 384,

A truly dreadful career? 20 games for Barnsley 1 goal.
Everton sign him for 2 million and he has played about 130 games 3 goals. 8 games for England U 20 team and 6 games for the U 21 team.

Wish to God I would have had his career, I would have crawled over broken glass for it.

Holgate was not at fault for any of the goals scored by Man City – just trying his best in a position not suited to him and up against a top-class player.

I'm going to increase my dose of anti-amnesia tablets from now on though!

All the best.

Actually I always thought that Steve Walsh was especially good at sourcing players. He was unfortunate at Everton that he had to work with the reputable "haven't got a clue" Koeman and Transfer Mugs Kenwright and Moshiri. Kenwright always got his dinner though, as if he needed it.

He did bring in Mahrez, Vardy and Kunti for Leicester City. For Everton, Gueye was one of his finds. Everton rejected his other finds, Andy Robertson, Harry Maguire and Ering Haaland, for a combined total of £24 million.

He had nothing to do with the return of Rooney, but did suggest Big Sam, though he did bow to his wimps with Tosun and Walcott. In hindsight, maybe he was right regarding Big Sam, though greed would have got the better of Big Sam in Everton's managed Den of Inequity.

I hope to God he's not playing for the remaining 2 games but it's only my opinion. Seems I might be in the minority but for me he's a massively weak link.

Where does this happy clapper accusation come from?

I cheer and clap when Everton win or when they perform well, as they generally did on Sunday.

I was happy clapping last Monday when that 5th goal when in at the far end at Brighton.

Do I ignore the issues with the club? No. But I follow and support that team, just as we all have since we can remember.

It doesn't make us happy clappers.

I stood and gave them both barrels at Brentford and Norwich away last season.

Happy clappers?

No.

Passionate supporters that follow our team all over the country and support them. Yes.

The use of Godfrey and Holgate fit this speculative view. Waiting on Patterson also indicates a dedicated method for building up players’ skills with the same or similar teammates in adjacent positions.

Just a thought since we can’t fully evaluate the player separate from the other factors to know if they are singularly shit or symptomatic of a system problem.

His career has been wasted at whatever level he's suited best at.

Would you say he lacked grit, failed to put in a shift, didn't try his best and didn't give his all in those matches?

And what specifically have you seen that makes you think he 'cannot be arsed?'

If that is the case, I would not offer him a new contract. He is part of the team that put us where we are now, if he is not prepared to fight to get us back up again, should the unthinkable happen, then get rid.

He didn't lack any of those things you listed then and those who are criticising him now should at least give him credit for that.

I aam still hopeful that our lads can save us.

COYB

I don't know whether this thread is still alive but I have to tell you I know people who have worked at the club for a long time. I met Walsh and the 2nd hand car salesman – incompetent vibes, plus the bad suit were off the charts!
He rode the Vardy & Mahrez wave with very little to do with it. I don't blame him, who wouldn't? Only this regime would buy into it though, utterly clueless and incompetent.

Unfortunately we don't hire very good people; that's why we all want the board removed as soon as possible.

Is it not possible you're confusing ‘crap' with ‘can't be arsed'?

There is no way Dyche would be playing anyone that 'can't be arsed'. That's not his modus operandi and he doesn't suffer fools gladly. I'm sorry, mate, but I'll take a top-level manager's opinion over yours on this.

However, Holgate is a below-average Premier League footballer. Like his mate Michael Keane, he's simply not very good.

So that for you may be a crime (fair enough) but the 'can't be arsed' comment doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

I don't even want to think if Maupay starts ahead of him, all I'll say is that the board refusing to sign anyone in January, especially a striker, after getting over £40M for Gordon and not replacing him either.

If Mykolenko is also out, oh yeah, we have no other left-back either, the consequences could be huge, and it's totally down to their incompetence.

To rub salt in the wounds, our chairman who believes he's bigger than the club, had the absolute audacity to criticise the fans the day before the massive game against Leicester.

Another reason to cheer on AZ on Thursday...

You are right that Calvert-Lewin is key to how we get the best from this team, he is the only main striker who can hold the ball up which allows others to join the attack. The problem with Maupay is the other players don't trust him to hold the ball when it's played to him, so they are reluctant to make forward runs for fear of being out of position.

But going back to last season, Richarlison said that he had pain-killing injections so he could play in the final few games, and given our lack of options, it may well be what Calvert-Lewin might have to do.

Just to be clear, I am not an advocate of players having pain-killing injections, but the fact that Calvert-Lewin wanted to come out for the 2nd half suggests it's not that serious. Hopefully it clears up and doesn't hamper him.

We seemed to be in pretty good shape until Doucoure got his marching orders. The wheels came off and we ignored the claims of Mina and Patterson and stuck with Keane and Godfrey. Two very bad decisions.

I hope the Hammers lose on Thursday night but, if they win, the final is 3 weeks away and this will probably be Rice's last home game, and Moyes won't want to lose, because his job is not exactly safe either.

If he keeps us up though, it cannot be underestimated imo, even if this is partly due to there being some very poor teams in the Premier League this season.