Blues cheated of a late win in shocking penalty reversal

I am sure he'll get on at some point but starting him over Doucoure would have been a signal of intent and confidence.

Hope I'm proved wrong by Moyes but, as Duncan Ferguson says right now on TNT Sports, dropping Alacaraz is just bizarre.

Hopefully there is a really good reason…

We've gone for workrate and experience over quality. May just come down to who has better attitude and defensive organisation. COYB

We will see very shortly if that was a wise decision or otherwise…

I'm working with the new site owners to get this resolved, so we can see Everton sitting Manchester Utd as they go into this huge game in less than an hour…

The one thing we don't want is Fernandes being able to look up with the ball at his feet.

I was a bit dismayed when I think the first corner was the same old past the far post for Tarkowski to head back in. My first impression of the first goal was that it was offside but it bounced all over the place before reaching Beto although why does it take 3 minutes for VAR to make a decision. And the second looked like a cock up until that bloke we think shouldn't start because he just runs all over the place turned up running into the right spot.

Oh and one last word, have they been giving free bring your own bowl haircuts at Finch Farm.

Can't love football anymore sadly because of how bent it is now.

Anyway, the game, great first half awful second half, subs should have been made before that odious character Bruno is allowed to score the free kick.

Not sure why Lindstrom was hooked? Was he injured?

Alcaraz should have been on 20 minutes earlier for Doucs.

Anyway very disappointed with that result against the worst United side I've ever seen.

On to Brentford where defensively we'll need to get more back to the basics.

What a joke

But young didnt help overreacting neither

Absolutely hate VAR... and Madley. And fucking Maguire.

What a twat.

Lindstrom may well have needed to be substituted but 5 minutes into the second half and he sends on Young!

It should have been Alcaraz and if he wanted to go defensive then Iroegbunam. It may have worked in the last games but at that time (50 minutes?) of the game it was just wrong, throwing our shape and attack completely out.

And as for the VAR non-penalty, he had his shirt pulled and it shouldn't matter if it caused Young to fall as he did or if he embellished it, he still had his shirt pulled.

But then that Ref was selective on who he gave yellow cards to as some he booked and others he let go despite giving the free kick for exactly the same offences.

Two points thrown away!

The lengths they go to trying to change parts of the game is ridiculous. Nearly 4 minutes again for Beto's goal trying to figure out if Lindstrom touched it when we already knew Beto wasn't offside when Lindstrom might have touched it.

Game turned with Doucoure’s effort which Onana saved. It was a lovely move. We stopped pressing sfter that, gave silly fouls and it didn’t stick up top.

Thought we were very good today and deserved the penalty at the end.

If I'd said it, the Moyes Lovers on here would be demanding my banishment!

VAR checked the referee’s call of penalty to Everton for a challenge by Maguire on Young and deemed that no foul had been committed and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with an indirect free-kick

Diabolical decision. Why in God's name was the referee not shown the two camera angles from behind the goal. Even Michael Owen said VAR got it totally wrong. Awful.

Their 50M midfielder finished that half chance beautifully. Our loan left winger had a similar (arguably better) chance and his touch with his chest went above his head. There's your margins.

After that we sat back way too deep. A Moyes flaw of old. Though whether it is on the manager or players is hard to say as there is clearly a fragility still at play here.

And then the penalty. Ludicrous for VAR given no clear mistakes but we are horribly used to such travesties by now. Onwards to Brentford.

VAR corrupt, EPL corrupt. 100% corruption in favour of the so called top 6. EPL you bunch of wankers need to clean up your game! Yes, I am angry.

Two nil up ( should have been more) match was done and dusted - we were in full control , but its same old fragile Everton when a team gets back into the match we just get very nervous
Better players required.

I think fans are coming increasingly to the conclusion that VAR hasn't improved things - especially the long delays when a perfectly good goal is given.

Agree with the general sentiment - should've put the game to bed before half-time, and the general in-game management from Moyes was poor. He gets a pass due to recent form, but this was 2 points dropped.

Young embellished it, no question. Fine - give him another yellow for embellishment but it's still a foul and a pen. Makes me sick.

I broke my normal rule and sneakily checked the score at 2 nil and like lightening checked out immediately. Not fast enough I'm afraid the footballing gods clocked me and smirked as they unleashed the hex.

Its like night follows day.

Should the way Young went down affect the decision?

No.

Did VAR fuckup/cheat by not showing the ref the foul from the right angle, and also "telling" the ref to concentrate on Cabbage Head's "offence?

I think, yes!

If VAR had shown the ref the foul from the angle I saw on a journo's photo it's a cast iron, nailed on, penalty.

I just wish he hadn’t taken everything so calmly as the bad decisions in this game need to be clearly exposed and repeatedly.

His shirt was pulled at twice, maybe even a third, before MaGuire's arm was around him and he was pushed / bundled to the ground.

A shirt pull is a foul. A push is a foul.

A foul in the box is a penalty. That was a foul in the box.

I won't be convinced otherwise, no matter how many pathetic excuses the Premier League and the TNT commentators make.

This wasn't a poor result. The manner in which we let them back in and not to get the penalty, was frustrating.

We are there or there about now and Moyes will soon have achieved his objective for the remainder of this season.

apart from the nailed on Penalty and the unfair distribution of yellow cards, this was a monumental fuck up, in game management.
Immediately after their equalizer, if not before, he should have brought Alcaraz on.

Beto needed support and Harrison and Lindstrom were running on the spot and showing their » that’s all you get » qualities.
these players are extremely limited.
I hope, that they both don’t get a sniff of grass in our new Stadium and that goes for Young also.
We need players with a lot more quality, to shape our future.
Thanks, but no thanks.

I take it you're talking about the same Beto who has scored 5 in 4 games?

John 90 he’s not going to get braver at this stage of his career.

Still fucking gutted like,as I backed us today...but it's still a point gained and we go again at Brentford in midweek
but starting with Alcaraz would definitely help get us a win there!

Are you "wrong for not doing so"? Well, try taking it one week at a time. Do I know more than him in his field, probably not, but should that stop me having an opinion as each game occurs? Or like Mr Moshiri, should I expect to lose certain games or, like Mr Moyes, consider we are a knife in a gunfight?

"Can't believe VAR didn't give that with the 2 pulls but will take it."

If Pickford hadn't fucked up the free kick, the penalty refusal wouldn't have mattered.

Was it a free kick in the first place for their first goal? Garner went down twice in similar circumstances in the first half and didn't get the decision.

Maguire through the back of Beto, no card; Garner through the back of Ugarte, yellow card.

The ref had a poor game. Surrounded by United players for every decision made him look very weak. Caving in after awarding the penalty didn't surprise me.

If that's Bruno instead of Young, without a shadow of doubt that penalty decision stands.

My MotM was Branthwaite. Maguire probably has over 50 England caps due to being at United. Jarrad is a Rolls-Royce compared to him.

They were accurate with where they placed players and then Fernandes shot through one of the gaps created when two of their players simply ducked.

You can just as easily criticise the defenders in the vicinity who didn't react at all and try to jump into those gaps. After all, the defenders are also expected to block the shot if they can.

An absolutely disgraceful decision, I was out the ground by then but I've just seen it on telly and I am raging.

Mind you that thing Madley and the clown on VAR have got previous against us, Southampton away this season.

Be honest here: if that's a United player going down in our box, that wouldn't have gone to VAR. Bitter… you bet your sweet life I'm bitter.

As for the game, well… we threw it away, cruising against possibly the worst Man Utd side I've seen since they got relegated in the '70s.

Apart from that snide Fernandes, there's not one player in that squad I'd take — they're dreadful.

Just one final point: why don't we have men on each post when the opposition have a free kick in a dangerous position? It bugs me that. Kendall used to always do it.

We look a far far different proposition now, though — long may it continue.

I was concerned that Everton would fade in the second half but I was surprised when Young was brought on, which added to the problem. Everton's shape changed after that, allowing Man Utd more into the game.

Everton should have had that penalty allowed. Worse luck.

No credit for sucking it up and trying to help the team by plugging a gap we don't have an actual specialist player for?

He made a terrible decision and it cost us a goal.

IMO, it cost us the match.

We were so comfortable in the first half, 2 goals up, players wanting the ball, Doucoure, Garner, Gana…

Then, in the second half, we started going deeper, allowing Fernandes to start refereeing the game.

Pickford was at fault for the first goal which was never a free kick in the first place. The second goal came out of nowhere; then, we looked like we were gonna lose the game.

Then the dreadful penalty decision. That's a penalty if down the other end all day long. I would've settled for a point before the game but I just feel cheated now after an awful afternoon by the referee and his VAR officials.

On to Brentford on Wednesday and this team gives you hope of getting something out of each game — unlike 5 or 6 weeks back. COYB.

The Premier League recently announced that the VAR would not be making decisions but this corrupt twat spent almost 4 minutes trying to find something wrong with our opening goal and then shows complete bias by only showing Maguire's shirt pull and not showing De Ligt's.

Terrible, borderline corrupt decision by VAR. No idea how that is a clear and obvious mistake by the ref.

Coming out of the ground, I was angry... but then I started to think: How long has it been since we were furious at only getting a draw against Man Utd?!

Goalie guesses wrong and over commits thinking the shot is coming over the wall. Happens loads of times you probably never even noticed because the shot wasn’t on target / got blocked on the way.

Wish people could show me these always perfect goalkeepers that exist only in their heads.

If goalie stays on ‘his’ side and totally trusts the wall he will still get criticised if it’s within saveable distance if he’d just been moving towards it when it was struck.

The poor guys just can’t win.

Even solely blamed for that one mistake that ‘lost’ us a game we didn’t lose, which they needed to score twice in to get a draw and where we were denied an obvious penalty the ref actually correctly awarded initially!!!

Everyone knows it was penalty. VAR desperate not to give it.

We have achieved this despite horrendous injuries to Ndiaye, McNeil, Mangala, Chemiti, Calvert-Lewin, Coleman, Patterson etc.

I have also been very happy to see both Everton and Goodison, refind our fight, over the last few weeks, and couldn’t blame David Moyes, because let’s face it for a team with little craft, Everton played some very good attacking football, especially in the first half.

We tired and this suited United, who hadn’t shown much appetite for a scrap, except with regards to getting inside the referee’s head.

It genuinely felt like Fernandez and McGuire, were both refereeing that game by the end today, and I was actually a little bit shocked when I saw the on-field referee point to the spot, because of how biased he became near the end.

Another antagonistic referee is quite normal and although I enjoyed the game, I also feel that football has got to be careful because VAR is taking way too much emotion out of the game and it’s being replaced with anger.

The television masters are making the rules, but they have got to be careful because they are slowly killing the game with regards to the spectators inside the stadium, because I’m certain that people will start to walk away in the end, such are the inconsistencies.

Dermot Gallagher will speak, Keith Hackett will give his opinion and so will Howard Webb, once he’s had the time to get his story straight, but still the match day referee, the man who makes the decisions, will remain silent

The reaction by pundits is often laughable. 'Well he got touched he's entitled to go down'. But when we do it, it's simulation. If so why wasn't Ashley Young booked for diving?

Without doubt, they were fucking rubbish, by far the worst Man Utd team in years, and no way did they deserve anything from that game.

Top planning and analysis to watch your team that.

Apart from his goal he was his usual average self.

I was sat in the park stand and I’ve never been more sure of a penalty, not for a foul but two shirt pulls, clear as Day, I will watch it later, but I know what I saw with my own eyes and cannot believe it was over turned.

I agree with other posters about Young coming on so early, if there was an injury to Lindstrom then I would have thrown Alcaraz on and moved James Garner out a little wider and used his energy for both attacking and getting back.

We had two subs waiting to come on, we had the opportunity to bring them both on when Utd got a throw in, in our half, a chance to slow the throw in and attack down, but we waited and let them take the throw in, we paid the price because they scored before we got another opportunity to get the 2 subs on.

Bad management for me that not slowing the game down, getting the subs on and regrouping.

Down to the bare bones and the effort first half was outstanding, around 8 mins before they scored you could see Doucoure flagging and getting further and further away from Beto, that’s when the two subs should have been thrown on, get some fresh legs on the pitch, big fan of Moyes but he should have acted sooner when Utd were pressing and pinning us back.

My guess is he's the deciding vote when the two on camera can't agree. Total farce !

Yes, the penalty decision was horrendous. Yes, Man Utd had to score another. But if that first goal hadn't gone in, all of the rest would be irrelevant.

I say it cost us the game because we had it won – and then didn't. On wider points, I thought both Doucoure and Harrison were better today. My MotM was Gana.

To to say he made me eat my words (by watching on a phone, for fuck's sake)
is a bit of a stretch!

Have you ever thought of a career in politics?

I don't use a phone myself but I'm not sure you absolutely can't get a pretty good idea of a player's performance if you watch a football match on one(?)

Maybe you can get a good performance perspective on a phone, but you’d need massive insect scale eyes, and

a magnifying glass.

Yes, I've read that he prefers and is allegedly better as a No 10, I praised not long ago when he played a couple of decent games but he hasn't improved on that.

Has he ever completed a full game for Everton? Would you admit he doesn't look like he isn't going to be kept here on a full contract?

I could say I've seen plenty of players who have played out of position but just got on with it, got stuck in, and played plenty of games there, scoring goals and assisting in them. I'm still waiting for Lindstrom to do either. Osman and Arteta were small and lightweight but still showed their natural ability.

Today, I certainly would have preferred Alcaraz to have played in his position, or Harrison's, and I would have been very confident that he would have done a lot better job than either of them. But he came on with 10 minutes to go after starring in last week's win at Palace, scoring and making goals.

His selection – or otherwise – may not necessarily be down to Moyes!

He plays, he impresses, he signs.

Only the Big Six can spend as they like, don'tya know?!

Sean Kearns (86): “so what was the 1-0 loss at home to Southampton earlier in the season then?” Are you fecking nuts lad? Southampton H is the last ever game to be played at The Old Lady. It’s on May 18. Kickoff is 10PM. Everyone gets a free pint. In what I think is a much-deserved honour, the skipper is walking out with Rob Halligan clutching Rob’s tiny little hand.

Paul Conway (84): “ …as much as Moyes takes the credit for our resurgence, which I am more than grateful for, he has to take responsibility for this defeat”. WTF? You’ve managed what I thought was impossible Mr. Conway. You have out-Kearnsed Mr. Kearns. One of the most bizarre things I have ever read on ToffeeWeb. Could this be a case where a rabid anti-Moyesite has managed to convince himself that the result was not the result?

Bringing Doucoure (I can't stand the infantile Doucs or Branners or Tarks or Picks etc.) on for Lindstrom at '54 was a very poor decision from Moyes. Young's pathetic acrobatics might have cost us a penalty. Embarrassing. Not as bad as Phil Neville to be fair. And the common denominator is of course Manchester United.

Personally, I would have played Charly ahead of either Doucs or Harrison as I think Lindstrom has generally done more than either of them recently. I do credit Lindstrom, in partnership with O'Brien, with having a significant role in generally better team performances because the right flank currently works well enough in attack and defence without needing players from other positions to bail them out regularly.

In team sports, some players improve things by shining and some players improve things simply by allowing others to shine.

Assessment for today has to account for whether he played on the cusp of an illness; and also that for first half he was trying to contain their best performer in Dorgu. Maybe Charly would have been better; maybe he wouldn't.

Long term is a difficult one to call. For me, it would depend on whether there will be someone significantly better. I don't see him as any more naturally limited than Dwight McNeil and yet he always seems to be in people's vision of our near-future squad.

I don't want Dyche-level avoidance of using newcomers but it's still remarkable that the guy has become a nailed-on starter for some people in such a short time.

No need for wild theories around the club needing to avoid triggering a clause when simple boring squad rotation for risk management purposes could easily apply.

Well, I just don't think Lindstrom is strong enough for the Premier League as well as missing some easy chances to score, failure to assist one goal, being knocked off the ball very easily, and losing the ball too many times by running into trouble.

Does have a lot of pace? He very rarely if ever tries to beat a man by going on the outside of him. I was surprised when he came on for the second half… very surprised when Alcaraz didn't replace him.

I'd have Dwight McNeil playing instead of him, that's for sure – and possibly Moyes will too when he's fit.

I use 'Doucs' and 'Tarks' because I'm lazy, not because I'm infantile, okay?

Fair enough that was the Lindstrom from the first few games he played, lightweight, easy to knock off the ball etc. But he has improved since then and formed a decent right-sided partnership with O‘Brien.

First impressions are not always correct for the long term. I mean, you didn't particularly rate Richarlison and even Paul Bracewell!

Si (142). I did not call anyone most certainly not you "infantile". I called the act of writing "Doucs" or "Picks" "infantile" and I'm sticking to that.

Young had his shirt pulled twice and VAR ignores that camera angle and only views the one where it looks like he's diving.

Absolute fucking bullshit. These people are all bought and paid for.

Had they shown him the shirt pull from behind the goal, I'm certain he would have stuck with his decision, so I'm not blaming the ref for that call.

VAR should not have got involved as there was no clear and obvious mistake.

They're all in it together, they are as corrupt as each other. Could the ref had not said on his earpiece "Have you not got other angles? … No? I'm sticking with my decision"?

Total shithouse.

As was his whole performance.

No, I'm not going by his first few games; nobody could have rated him watching those. He's been the same all his time here.

He icked up a bit a few weeks ago but is never consistent in his games. He plays some good moves but then poor ones, same with his centres – more poor than good… and his corners and free kicks alternate with being overhit or not going past the first man.

That's why Harrison is taking them now, although – time for another gripe – there is no variation in the corners, all hit long to the back post. I thought Charlie Adam was brought in as the dead ball coach; aren't corners dead balls?

Is this your first ever big error of judgment Dave?

Bracewell oozed class and he could have become one of our truly great players if it had not been for that violent carthorse Whitehurst, who, after two dozen games or so for the skunks, had a memorable career including stints at St George Budapest, Hatfield Main, Kettering Town (where he was hero-worshipped by the young hard-boiled egg who gravelled that it was Whitehurst who taught him how to play), Goole, Mossley, South China, Voicelink, and, his final curtain call, Frickley Athletic.

This would be the same twat Whitehurst who was given a suspended sentence for benefit fraud in 2008.

As I've said, I think you are downplaying his supporting role by only focussing on what he hasn't yet delivered. We've established he's not a natural winger but you want to see classic wing play from him?

He may not have scored or been credited with any assists but I think he has been involved in a lot of positive stuff and is a little unlucky not to have had more come off. One instance today, when Doucoure's (okay, Paul?) pass was poor, he still managed to fashion a cross right into where Beto was lurking which was thwarted by last-ditch defending.

Not strong and athletic enough? Well I think he's constantly improving in that regard and is obviously trying. Today, illness may have got the better of him.
Dwight McNeil obviously gets credit for his goals and assists but his lack of pace is clear and I think it actually limits how the team can play when he has the pivotal role.

Lindstrom has a way to go yet but I don't think he deserves such a dismissive attitude.

He needs a goal. He played 22 games for Napoli and did not score and he has played 22 games for us and not scored.

I, like many others, have a few errors of judgement but Jeff is correct, in a way.

What I said was that I never appreciated how good Paul Bracewell was until the Luton Town semi-final when he must have covered every blade of grass on the pitch and I saw him in a different light after that. Yes, injury definitely spoiled his career; being honest, I still thought Steve McMahon was a better player than Bracewell.

I never rated Richarlison and still don't.

Away from home, he retains possession and lays off short passes back into the midfield that keeps the ball. For a wide player, his crosses are quite minimal as he prefers to play short balls inside, but overall I think he has improved immensely, he's not the player from last Autumn.

I used to love going to those Villa Park semi-finals. My favourite one was the 1984 League Cup.

For me, Bracewell cos he won the league in blue, but McMahon was a winner too, sadly not with us.

I think he gets selected, like Harrison, because there is no body else to choose while Ndiaye and McNeil are injured.

And the way he and O'Brien are helping each didn't work when Bournemouth scored their goal in the FA Cup when Lindstrom left O'Brien on his own to deal with their left wing attack.

It doesn't work quite a few times… although O'Brien is part of the fault.

Alcaraz has shown more potential in essentially one and a bit games.

He may well have improved, Jeff, but I still find him hugely frustrating to watch, with so much just breaking down when he releases the ball (if he hasn't been stripped of it).

"Flatters to deceive" seems to have been invented for him.

Interestingly, Bracewell actually played more senior games despite the injuries.

He also won the FA Cup and European Cup-Winners Cup so for 4 years he definitely knew more than us.

I'm not sure about the other two times he managed Everton… well, I am – but I'm keeping it to myself!

Lindstrom reminds me of Jesper Blomqvist, another Scandinavian.

Lindstrom wins that debate all day long for me. Certainly for this season.

In the second half, I loved Branthwaite's interception that looped into the air, which he then back-headed to Pickford. Quite magnificent.

At times, it was worthy of the 4 legends who came onto the pitch at half-time. I cannot imagine writing such words a few months ago.

The purchase price for Lindstrom is apparently £20M and I don't think he's done enough to justify that but I wouldn't be surprised to see him return on loan again as I'm not sure Napoli want him. A renegotiated purchase price nearer £14M could be decent business for everyone though there are certainly wingers at that price who might do more in attacking phases.

Harrison and Lindstrom are basically ours next season for a £5M loan fee and wages, you do that for 3 years (re Harrison, 3 years loan at £5M loan fee = £15M fee rather than £20M to buy) .

That way, you always retain the option of sending them back each season, unless they have stormers, which is doubtful for obvious reasons.

Same with Lindstrom. I’d imagine it’s a small loan fee, probably under £2m.

But he slotted into a team that was on the brink of success and was a vital cog in the machine, that made it tick and we took to him.

O'Brien is not a right back, but doing a great job. He's prone to lapses, like today, but I'm not going to be too hard on him.

As for McMahon, I mentioned before, my best mate's dad used to take him to Goodison from Halewood as a youngster. He was a great player who combined skill with aggression, with a handy shot on him. He was always destined for success, just not with Everton.

he based his thoughts on a whole season until Brace impressed him in a semi against Luton.

Which I respect.

I simply stated an opinion, ( isn’t that what the Forum is about?.. opinions!).
I also aluded to the fact, that he can take credit for our resurgence.
Although, that could have been construed as pro- Moyesite!

So, what am I? Pro, Or, Anti?
I’m quite simply an Evertonian of 55 years, who has opinions.
Although, my opinions aren’t final, it would appear that yours are..calling me out, as a «  Rabid Moyesite! »
( BTW, I wasn’t for him coming back, but it was anyone capable, rather than Dyche, But hey ! that’s just an opinion. )

Please read the full context of the post again, before you let rip and condemn another poster, in you fervour to notch up another attempt at a smart ass post.

now, whether it be ToffeeWeb, or, Evertonia,
Why do I have the feeling, that, I have just gatecrashed the Paul Ferry Show?
where, « The Voice of Toffeweb » and hitherto Evertonia, tells all the jokes.
Paul, let me tell you something… Now I’m not a great fan of the Bible.. so please don’t Bash me!
Anyway, wherein it is written «  Don’t go to your Neighbor’s ( neighbors), house too often, for fear they will hate you ». Or, something to that effect… whichever language you speak.

Well, what I’m trying to say to you is… « Don’t Bogarde the Joint! And please  , Don’t post, just for the sake of posting! »

Go and have a look at 138 again. Punctuation marks can be as significant as words and sometimes more significant or they make the words more significant at any rate.

The clue is in the question mark that makes all the difference. It makes the words a suggestion not an interpretation along the lines of might, for instance, possibly, perhaps, maybe, feasibly, for all one knows, conceivably, it could be etc.

Which transcription of Proverbs 25:17 are you using? That matters as words are tweaked in various versions.

The biggest example I can think of was his perfectly, weighted, clever pass into Beto’s path, that made our second goal, which showed me his potential is being wasted playing in a position that doesn’t really do him any favours.

I disagree that Alkaraz, would have done more outside, but that’s me just going off the Liverpool game. He came on out wide, didn’t look happy, but suddenly changed when Ashley Young was introduced, which enabled him to go and play inside?

The problem is he has the lungs of Pat Nevin or Delafoe, he is gassed after 65 mins. In our position we can't carry anyone on the pitch they all have to put a shift in.

He adds balance down the right even though he may prefer to play inside there is no way he is displacing Doucoure on work rate alone. Another goal and assist for Doucoure today.

It was just a shame the ref had a poor game today as we played quite well and have improved unbelievably since Dyche got the bullet.

Bruno and mcguire may as well have taken the whistle off Madley in that 2nd half such a weak performance.

Like who???

You have identified the strengths of both those players, which would enhance the team, if they are played to.

Had another look at the penalty decision.I don't think you will hear another word from the old pro Young.

Pickford was positioned right for the free kick, but seem to feel the need to move to his right.Getting Pickford to stay in the one position is always going to be a problem.

Moyes invited pressure onto the team and changed the change the Everton shape by his Substitution,but Moyes is never going to be that brave to do anything else

Moyes; for a too early substitution.

Pickford; for positioning the wall, then...not for the first time...second guessing himself to take a step to go behind it.
Trust the wall - your job is to cover the other half of the goal.

Ugarte; for being a £50M (incl add ons) midfielder who blammos them from the edge of the box.

Fernandes for being the very good player he is...and a twat.

Last but not least - the Referee and VAR

We all know it doesn't even warrant a cursory second glance at anfield or old trafford.

Bent.

I think you’re probably right. I wouldn’t want to pay much more than £5/6m for a 28 year old player likely to be a backup for us. I imagine Leeds will be keen to keep a player with his amount of Premiership experience or that they would sell him to help with PSR, I doubt we’d get him on loan again with no loan fee certainly.

His immediate control and crosses are the best we have in my view and I hope we are able to keep him. In the end, much will depend on if he is available and at what price but, for the moment, he and Beto have been reborn and it's good to see.

3 observations though:

1) Moyes has brought on Young when in a winning position twice; 2 goals conceded against Spurs and 2 yesterday. I'm hoping a very experienced manager learns from this.

2) Pickford again rooted to the line with the free kick.

3) But finally Beto, I'm so pleased for him. Many wrote him off, even though he was only given 5 mins at the end of a game. Better coaching and belief has made such a difference.

As regards to Pickford, he is either outstanding pulling off brilliant saves, or countering that with basic errors. I was one of those writing Beto off, not for his sub's roles but his general lack of control, and Bambi on Ice impersonations. How glad I am, to be proved wrong.

Definitely felt like two points lost yesterday, than one gained. The other results again seems to have put a chasm behind us and the relegation placed teams. Nevertheless, until we are mathematically safe I won't be taking anything for granted, however unlikely that may seem that those three teams were to go on a run.

Just keep trying for as many points as is possible, and hope we have no more repeats of yesterday's situation.

If we had got the penalty... Who would have taken it?

Tarkowski had the ball, so presumably as Captain, was taking the responsibility, until of course the erroneous judgement it wasn't a penalty.

I may be wrong on the taker, but not on the dodgy disallowed decision.

We have gone from a side that could hardly muster a shot at goal in some games to a team that scores and creates a lot more than we had been doing. We are doing this despite neither Harrison or Lindstrom having scored this season, and we don't score many from midfield either.

Also, we only have one fit striker who many – me included – thought wasn't cutting it in the Premier League, yet seems to be a different player.

I thought for 72 minutes we bossed the game and Man Utd created very little, but Doucoure and Pickford must share the blame for their first goal. Their initial free kick was too far out for Fernandes to consider shooting but, when Doucoure turned his back on the free kick with his arm way above his head, it was then in range for a shot.

The goalkeeper's job is to set his wall to look after one side of the goa,l which means he takes responsibility for the other side. But, as Fernandes was about to strike the ball, he moves his weight to his right-hand side and creates an even bigger gap for Fernandes to score; schoolboy errors by both keeper and Doucoure.

Nearly every neutral and most pundits, including Shearer (who doesn't normally give us anything), Lineker and Danny Murphy, all said there was no need for VAR to get involved — it was a penalty.

I do wonder, if that was at Old Trafford or Anfield, would the VAR have intervened? So I think we can feel very hard done to that we weren't given a chance to score what probably would have been the winner.

I know mathematically we are not safe but, for me, I can't see us being involved in any relegation battle.

Gosia taking me under The Rubicon and coming out with The Elysian Fields ahead. I am always nostalgic as I pass along Scottie Road - - my eyes, heart and spirit bouncing everywhere - - Ma Joad looking after me - - “easy boy - - we ain’t the kissing kind” - - as I enter Smith Street our old pub The Britannia, long gone and replaced by Thomas Winder Court - - I remember going to Saturday evening confession and thinking I was clever and told Father Winder that I wasn’t going to mass the following day because I didn’t believe in everything about Catholicism - - he was smart - - they are not supposed to know who you are in confession - - but he said “well Georgie how was the game today - - what do you think of Johhny Morrisey” when I said I didn’t rate him so much - - he said “but you still support Everton - - The Team even if you don’t like all the players” - - my heart beating as I neared TDH - - the top of Great Mersey street - - Spenso’s with a pint of sarsaparilla and pretending it was Mackeson - - “looks good tastes good and by golly it does you good” - - passing Whittle Street - - the Magic 33 bus every morning - - up The Valley and along to Cardinal Godfrey School - - I still see Franny Jones and his brother John in The Park End - - how lucky we are to have had a childhood/ teens growing up in the 60’s - - all of this due to my return to Goodison - - when something is (nearly) taken from you - - Life and Everton - - my goodness do you savour every single moment of it - - absolutely we do:

“What I feel, I can't say
But my love is there for you any time of day
But if it's not love that you need
Then I'll try my best to make everything succeed
Tell me, what is my life without your love, oh
Tell me, who am I without you, ooh, by my side
Oh, tell me, what is my life without your love, oh
Tell me, who am I without you, ooh, by my side”

I could barely wait to enter the Doors to Paradise - - entering The Dark House - - a wave of love and wonder hitting me full face (and soul) - - football is beautiful - - Being Blue is Bluetiful - - it gives men the opportunity to do and say things they wouldn’t normally - - I was greeted with kisses hugs and confessions of love - - my goodness what joy to be Blue:

“And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will float
Into the mystic”

I paraded my battered body - - carried by my Spirit and the floating on the wave of Blue Love - - around TDH - - stopping - - listening - - talking - - photos - - and yes - - tears:

“Take me back, take me back, take me back, take me back
Take me back (woah) to when the world made more sense
Well there's too much suffering and confusion
And I'm walking down by the river
Oh, let me understand religion

Way, way back, way back
When you walked, in a green field, in a green meadow
Down an avenue of trees
On a, on a golden summer
And the sky was blue
And you didn't have no worries, you didn't have no care
You were walking in a green field
In a meadow, through the buttercups, in the summertime
And you looked way out over, way out
Way out over the city and the water
And it feels so good, and it feels so good
And you keep on walking

And the music on the radio, and the music on the radio
Has so much soul, has so much soul
And you listen, in the nightime
While we're still and quiet

And you look out on the water
And the big ships, and the big boats
Came on sailing by, by, by, by
And you felt so good, and I felt so good
I felt I wanna blow my harmonica”

There you go good friends - - I have just given you all a note on my “gob iron “ - - given to me by “our Monica” - - the oldies are the best - - just like me and you.

I sat/stood listening to all those Wondrous Stories I have missed so much:

“Hearing
Hearing, hearing your wonderous stories
Hearing your wonderous stories

It is no lie (it is no lie)
I see deeply into the future (I see deeply into the future)
Imagine everything (imagine everything)
You're close, and were you there?

To stand so cautiously at first, and then so high
As he spoke, my spirit climbed into the sky”

To Be An Evertonian - - A Blue - - in the Company of Artists lovers and Poets - - All.

You know what I’m talking about

You know what I’m writing about

My true and sincere Love to you All for being Part of Saving My Soul - - My Spirit - - My Life.

And laughter, and music and singing, and shivers up the back of the neck
And tuning in to Luxembourg late at night
And jazz and blues records during the day
Also Debussy on the third program
Early mornings when contemplation was best.

“Good good good good vibrations
She ‘s giving me the excitations
I’m picking up good vibrations”

And it's always being now, and it's always being now
It's always now

Your dearest friend - - with a firm handshake - - George

George

My own view is we began to tire and this suddenly enabled Fernandez, to dictate the play and also enough time to dictate the referee along with McGuire, imo.

Ashley Young put a great cross on a plate for Beto, on 87 minutes and was also the player who was impeded, when the referee inexplicably changed his decision.

How can a clear and obvious error take four or five minutes to clear up? That should be the only logical question being asked today, imo

Utterly disgusting decision, made worse by that disagreeable little twat Jim Beglin trying to justify decision to overturn the original correct one

You didn’t rate Johnie Morrissey so much George? I hope you changed your mind as you got older and wiser George!

Best wishes as usual George.

X

All it takes and I hope, speaks volumes.

Moyes, the coaching staff, and players have been great. I actually look forward to the weekend football now.

Keep up the good work and utt.

But, a joke is not a joke, if it has to be explained !
In retrospect, I should have left the Sarcasm to the professional and resident MC.. Mr Paul Ferry.

You really must curb your Rancid enthusiasm, in keelhauling, ( figure of speech !), other posters, who merely offer an opinion, that doesn’t Jive with you own.
It’s evident on various Threads.

I remembered Sheedy, slowing the game down against Munich, to release Gray, who released Steven. I remembered Mountfield scoring on the day I witnessed Everton crowned Champions, on a day when I thought life couldn't get any better until I got the bus home later that night from my mates, and saw drunken Evertonians celebrating everywhere.

But most I remembered Gray's two goals on the day we beat Sunderland, with possibly the finest exhibition of football I have ever witnessed inside our famous stadium.

I remembered Bracewell's pass in that very game, but my favourite ever team goal was also scored that day, and I vividly saw it again in my district memory. What a fuckin' goal!!

I'm now greatly looking forward to next season when this team is strengthened. It will be very interesting to see what happens with plenty of players out of contract.

Doucoure deserves to be retained, he's the sort of player that all teams need – he gives his all every game.

No, replied Crossley, who was then asked how he expected to save the free-kick, if he couldn’t see the ball?

You’re not going to see the ball until it’s cleared the wall Son, don’t you think this is leaving you with a massive disadvantage?

It was the only time I remember anyone getting good advice in all my years in Nottingham (they just expected you to know) and so it’s always stuck with me.

I don’t think Pickford could genuinely see the ball properly, which might explain why he was wrong footed? That’s my own view anyway!

They were 1st, 2nd and 3rd on goal of the month for April 1985.

Frustratingly, the videos of Gray's first always miss the winning the ball back (I think it was Degsy) just inside our half and the ball dropping to Gary Stevens who released Reidy. Need to set up the VCR and replay MOTD to be sure.

Pure gold your posts.

You play like that people will tire and we don't have the bench to rotate it and keep it up. It's a conundrum for the coaching staff because those first half tactics were top notch.

Taking the 3 bottom clubs
Southampton 9 points from 26 and would need 23 from 12 if we lost the last 12.
Leicester and Ipswich 14 points back with 12 games to go - having gained 0,6 points a game would need to get 1,2 to go above us.
Add to this - in their remaining fixtures,
by now last season Burnley were on 15 and gained another 9 and Luton were on 21 and gained another 5. And so far neither of the promoted clubs are showing much improvement on the relegated clubs from last year.

We have nothing to fear.

George (202) Yes an all round very good footballer Johnny Morrissey and we might have been standing near each other in the Kop when Johnny scored the fourth goal at the Kop End which was the signal for thousands of those Kopites to “ Do one”

McMahon was a very good player, and I was surprised Kendall sold him, but when he went across the road, I lost all interest in him.

As I earlier on other means, I hope to catch you and others if you're at the West Ham match. I up in the homeland that weekend. Not just Everton, but my sister and female cousins fussing over me not going to see them often enough. I tend to go to Goodison and back without calling into Speke too often!!

Glad to see you feeling better. It would take a lot to keep you away from those streets full of memories and, of course, Goodison.

Take care and see you soon.

Good good good good vibrations
She ‘s giving me the injections
I’m picking up good vibrations”

All good stuff - keep it going Blueboy.

Stevie wanted to go to Liverpool but thought that would leave him in a bit of trouble with Everton fans and he got plenty of that with some Everton fans when he went to Villa so they must have thought he was a good player.

Eventually he went to Liverpool after a short stay with Villa, I don’t think he had much time for Howard after that but that’s another story!

Regards Harrison, in order for him to justify his current £90k weekly wage, he would need to be scoring a minimum of 8 to 10 goals a season and providing a minimum of 15 assists.
He's a grafter all right, but I don't think Moyes will keep him unless we get him for free, which is very unlikely.

Big changes coming in the new season, we hope!

Luckily, my mate Peter Moore managed to contact him, and gave him the news that mine was up for grabs, if you like. Andy Crooks was over too from Northern Ireland, funnily enough both staying at mine, but I was just unable to go.

What a pair we are, George, either you are in hospital or I am, or not so long ago both, but in different ones. Take care mate, I still have your number (provided you haven't changed it) and will text later. Be great to see you again, buddy.

Remembering Ken Kesey, and your story of meeting the dude in the Adelphi!

Take care, mate!

The slight pulling of shirt (x2) was not considered to be a factor in Young going to ground and I really don't want this stuff to be a penalty in football.

However, I am in no doubt the reverse situation would not have been overturned.

I wish you well on your journey and please don't be a stranger on these threads. You lift the hearts of many miserable gits here my friend – including mine. Take care, lad.

I said what I believed with my own eyes at the time that there were two shirt pulls and looked nailed on, but would wait to see a replay, having now seen the replay, I,m just astounded var got involved in the first place.

If that is against and nod disrespect to the teams, if that is not against one of the premier league darlings, it does not even get questioned by var, there was no clear and obvious mistake, they had no right to jump in.

I have thought long and hard about Pickford being rooted to the spot and should have trusted his wall, Fernandes at that range is a fantastic free kick taker, certain had Pickford moved over, he would have put it over the other side, just ask Kevin Sheedy who beat a top class keeper Paul Cooper twice, with the same free kick, second half I kept saying to mate at side of me, whatever we do, do not give Fernandes an opportunity of a free kick on the edge of the box or he will bury it.

Come Wednesday for me he has to start both Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam and put Doucoure and Garner on the bench fora breather, use Garners energy in the second half, I just think we put that much effort in the first half, fatigue started to catch up with us in the second half that allowed Utd that bit more space and room to get forward.

I cannot fault anyone, was as good as a performance I’ve seen this season, with the squad down to the bare bones and at times three games in a week, the players have been outstanding to be even still pick up points, we were robbed of the opportunity to go home with all three points, but to pickup 14 points these last few fixtures is outstanding in itself.

When you look at Brighton away, Palace away, potential titles winners at home and a Utd team that has a subs bench like theirs, we have gone toe to toe with the lot of them, you put McNeil, Ndiaye, Mangala, Calvert-Lewin, Coleman, Patterson, all as options for a starting 11 and subs bench and suddenly we are a match for anyone.

To have those players missing but yet the same players having to dig in week after week, with little option of resting or rotating them, I think it is an unbelievable job these players are doing, they will finally get a break after Weds game, but I’m proud of every single player for the effort they have put in.

But the cack house ref and his paid off Stockley Park, mates, ensured there was another dodgy referee day.
If there's no official complaint, then the EPL, has lost it.
In Moyes we trust!
UTFTs!

Sutton and Savage were pathetic on the radio earlier but that was because Sutton has this crusade against diving he is always pushing and Ashley Young is in his sights as a serial diver. The berk needs to differentiate between overly theatrical reaction to an actual foul and genuinely trying to con the referee when no foul has actually been committed (as Maguire tried to do twice in the game) and since his crusade is unlikely to succeed he’d be better just exposing inconsistency which should be solvable.
There were two callers about our overturned penalty’; Phil made the classic mistake of leading with ‘but Salah gets that 100% of the time’ which just sounds like whinging and will never lead to a sensible discussion, Billy (who identified himself as a former referee but may not have claimed to be an Evertonian) was factual and rational so they just dismissed the obvious shirt tugging / partial hugging as not sufficient to be a foul (individually perhaps not but since they basically happened contiguously De Ligt’s shirt pulls alone should satisfy anyone’s threshold for a foul) and moved on…. to the bit they’d already scripted where Ashley Young was berated for being a serial simulator!
What’s the point in wasting peoples time by inviting them on to debate football incidents when you’re already all-in on one point of view?

Double standards. Re Saturdays game two points dropped, the debate above posts lean more to the no penalty decision more than the subs.. it matters not as long as the team lean from each game. However we will never get a fair crack against the corrupt 6 and var cheats

This is a manager who can only operate with counter attacking tactics. He does it very well but he’s limited beyond that. This is why he always bottles the big occasions. And a chance to go 10 points off champions league places with a resounding win at home to Man Utd was the biggest occasion we will probably have this season.

In 20 odd years of management he still has not discovered that if your only tactic when your team go in front is to sit deep and hope for the best then more often than not you will come unstuck.

Interesting and frightening at the same time.

I think EFC should request that Donohue is not allowed to be involved in any future Everton games.

Hope youre in full recovery mode now George.

(glad you're well).

As the game went on, you could see some players struggling with fatigue, Moyes had two subs waiting for a good 5 minutes, in that time the ball only went out of play once, for a Utd throw in, that is where Moyes should have slowed their momentum down, stopped the throw in, threw the subs on and regrouped, small margins but from the throw in and passages of play, Utd scored before we could get the subs on.

I agree with a few posters a team two nil down will come out all attack and push you back, against some tired players the momentum changes, we put so much in that first half and the same players playing three games in a week for a few weeks took its toll, Beto and Guaye have had to play nearly every minute, Weds game will be tough, I can see these players giving their all again but a little worried getting toward the three quarter mark of the game and onwards of fatigue setting in.

You will see a different Everton v Wolves after a well earned rest for the players next week, let’s not forget we have got ten players out, three of them strikers, and two set piece and scoring threats in McNeil and Ndiaye, to go 6 games unbeaten is outstanding by this group of players, let’s not nit pick and say we sat back when in reality, we were shot and they came at us, two set pieces is all Utd could muster at us.

Beto and Doucoure both had good chances that their goalkeeper saved, rewind 4 months and that Everton team are not taking a two nil lead, be backs to the wall from minute one.

Newcastle and Aston Villa have shown in recent seasons what can be achieved.

Clubs like Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Seville, Inter Milan, Dortmund have had really significant European campaigns without having anything like the resources of the wealthiest clubs.

These achievements however are well beyond Moyes.

It was similar at Palace, but we got a second wind and scored at the crucial time. I don't think the progress we've made can be under estimated, especially considering the lack of alternatives we have at present.

Lindstrom looked shocking when he went off close up on TV. He was definitely ill. Think he probably went straight the toilets! 🫣

I talk regularly with supporters of both sides, they all say they want to win the Championship but don’t want to get promoted.

For those that didn't see it on the other thread