Match Preview: Everton vs Ipswich Town

It's match day. Time to get positive.

5 out of 18. How many were you expecting, Danny? If we drew all 6, we'd have a point more.

Personally, think the points and performances have been okay. A number of times we've had key players out.

And, although subjective, the performances haven't been great. Maybe with the exception of Forest and at Anfield.

Liverpool (A), I was very impressed with our first-half display.

Arsenal (H), I was both bored stiff and extremely frustrated that we didn't try and ruffle the feathers of an Arsenal team, who looked like they had their eyes on their next fixture.

Forest (A), I never watched but it was a very good result and has possibly helped to derail their season.

Man City (H), I never watched but it sounded like we had played well until we brought on inadequate subs, and they have the resources to do the complete opposite.

Chelsea (A), I was listening on the radio but turned it off because it just felt like another of those games where Everton never had the guile, skill or inclination to get after a decent Chelsea team, although I heard this changed once Moyes made some changes.

You can't expect great football out of this squad; this is why we are facing our most important summer in years. Although I'm looking forward to going to Goodison tomorrow, I'm genuinely more excited about seeing what the 1878 Group have been planning for a while now, than the actual football.

This can't be right, but it's just me being honest, such is the lack of creativity in our squad.

If there isn't, we should be targeting 80-90 points a season by beating the good and the shite. I don't think that's on anyone's expectation list.

Would you class those 5 points as better than the Dyche record of 5 points covering the below, say?

Bournemouth (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Southampton (H)
Leicester (A)
Palace (H)
Newcastle (H)

I personally would, despite the similar impact on the league table.

I look at Moyes's 6 and think that's not too far off what is reasonable with this squad. I look at Dyche's and think that's a good 7+ points dropped, how are we staying in the league when we are performing so badly against sides you'd expect to do better against.

Defeatist perhap. And yes, the defeats hurt whether they're big or little!

It wasn't long ago I was being told we were were 5th or 6th in the form table based on a selection of games. It would be interesting to see where we sit now after the last 6.

Anyway, let's bring the points home this weekend.

Caution be damned and give us something to remember.

Two tough away games and two games at home that we should win if we've got anything about us.

Let's be honest, it's really just about the Old Lady now. Has been since the derby.

Generally our team is not prolific in front of goal. Ten of our 34 league goals have come against two teams, Wolves and Leicester.

Ipswich have been only marginally worse than us in attack with 33 goals scored, 12 of which were scored by one player, Delap. The main difference between us of course is that they have conceded 74 goals. Let's hope we can make that substantially worse tomorrow.

The place that holds so many memories to all of us. She is special, but we should have redeveloped 30 years ago or moved.

She will get the send-off she deserves before the Grand Old Lady hands the baton to the new kid on the dock.

We will make memories there and only ever be 2 miles away.

Your post prompted a thought:

If the ‘Grand Old Lady' could speak, what advice would she give to the new kid on the block?!

Anyway, finish the season strongly. This is the last 3 pm kick-off at Goodison. 🥲

I will probably have to refer to my Grandfather.

"I've had my day, yours is just beginning. You are the future. Make me proud".

I think we will probably win but I don't think we are a 4/9 shot.
We don't score enough goals to be a good thing to beat anyone.

Got to go out and play on the front foor in the last 2 games against relegated sides. Caution be damned and give us something to remember.

A brilliant thundering rally call Liam (or should I say Henry V @ Agincourt). Fucking tears streaming down my cheeks. I feel like a real motherfucker front-footer sir. We can fucking do this Liam/Harry. Throw caution to the wind. Don't put Ndiaye and Charly on the pitch at the same time.

"He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow is 3 May'.
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on 3 May.'

0-0 COYB!

Why they are building an extension, god knows?

I know you didn't mean it exactly like that, Kunal, but it does explain how the standards have been lowered and it's about time expectations started rising again, mate.

Otherwise, what exactly is the point?

Empty Wembley was no accident. 15,000 hard core, 10,000 fair-weather, 25,000 plastics and tourists, and 22 fucking thick skunks who turned up at the wrong match.

I'm really hoping for a good win!

There's going to be blue confetti at the match tomorrow. 'Don't throw it until the players come out'

Woo-hoo. Can't wait!

It'll be like Argentina 1978 but without the military junta (although Reform have made significant gains in the local elections overnight - viva la populism).

We best win tomorrow and I'll be cheering them on from my £90 in a presentation box, 50-year-old wooden seat. COYB

At least they are trying to do something. Other fans moan but still go the match.

2-2 methinks...prove me wrong please Blue Boys?

I'm glad Kevin De Bruyne scored (not least coz he's in my FL team).

The price of match tickets nowadays makes me feel that neither Liverpool nor Manchester United would sell out on a regular basis, if they didn’t have so many day trippers from all over the world.

I might be wrong but football has become such an expensive sport to follow nowadays, and if you listen to some reports coming out of Anfield and Old Trafford, (I’ve seen a WhatsApp labelling Everton, doing something similar recently) some clubs do seem to becoming as bad as the touts, when it comes to the reselling of seats that have been reclaimed from season ticket holders who can’t attend any particular game

Emptyhad still looks quite bare.

Last trip to The Old Lady tomorrow. Some great memories there on the street end, but time to move on.

2-0 home win.

There will be much emotion leaving the old lady, teary eyes, hand shakes, back slapping, songs and stories will add to our great history, and if you know your history, and you were chosen, you will be born again, into the great blue yonder we go...
.

But I wouldn't call their hardcore 'plastic' just because they can't afford to continue to travel both the continent and the country. There are pretty hard limits to supporting your club – the bank balance is a big one.

It is really starting to hit home. Can't help but feel a bit robbed that my own personal 'last' was under Dyche. But it was never really about the result or the performance for me.

Like Mark Murphy, I felt compelled to write to the club pointing this out and got a similar response advising me that I shouldn't use any website I don't trust, report it and only buy from the club. Which is what I was doing and thanks for that "advice". I work in Cyber Security!!

I've always found Manchester City supporters okay. Well, apart from a few encounters in that old dusty waste ground outside the old Maine Road where the coaches used to park and they used to wait for us. But that was the 1980s, so standard practice.

I've often thought that Aston Villa, both as a club and their supporters are more like Everton in terms of history, support base and past success. And that's nothing to do with my wife's West Midlands family, just something I alway felt.

Living where I do, I see a lot of so-called tourist supporters. Plenty of Liverpool and Manchester United, but despite the recent success, the Manchester City thing doesn't really seem to have caught on.

Listening to Moyes, Calvert-Lewin will probably feature on the bench today and it wouldn't. surprise me if he is one earmarked to get him to sign a new contract.

“Kevin Parker, general secretary of City's official supporters' club, told BBC Sport: "It is an expensive day out and when you have done it 25 or 30 times, there are decisions you have to take in terms of the cost.”

We would be happy for the chance to go once. Although I think semi-finals should be moved away from Wembley. Villa Park, Old Trafford, Everton Stadium would be great for a semi-final.

Link

Paul, I don't know about Mayor of Liverpool City Region, but I'm going to apply to be on the Fans Advisory Board when applications open, which should be soon. I've been in touch with them and they responded, so I'm just waiting for an update.

Great memories of knocking the Tractor Boys out of the cup in 81 (?). Just a week or so after they'd torn us an extra one with a four-nil battering.

But today is about revenge! Bloody Ray Crawford's handball "goal" in 1968. Bitter? Moi?

I've been told I've been successful in the ballot for the Southampton match but have to wait until Tuesday to buy a ticket.

Does this mean there should be tickets for me or will there be more successful people than there are tickets? I don't want to wait three more days to find out!!

So, bathed in sunshine, awash with Blue, vibrant, loud and bouncing, as only she can, I bid farewell to the Grand Old Lady.

I'm proud to have played a part in her history, thankful that she has played such a part in my life, and so proud to be Blue.💙💙

I have no doubt that the Evertonians in the stands will win the day. But it would be nice for the Old Lady if the players put on a show.

Shame that some fans will have been priced out of going along today and for the final game. Mind you, paying premium prices to see 4 shots at goal (with 2 on target) in 90 mins is nuts and certainly for tourists only.

Up the Toffees, and a minor earthquake if the flood gates open and we bang a few goals in.

We've only got one guy who knows how to do that, and he's nowhere near fully fit yet.

Hope everyone going enjoys the penultimate game at a special place and the last 3 pm kick-off there. Magical stuff.

In terms of the team, I'd like to see more time for Alcaraz and Chermiti and Patterson; important for Moyes to have a clear idea of what these younger fringe players might be capable of next season and if they deserve to stay.

I really hope we put sentiment aside, players and supporters for these next two remaining Goodison matches. I know it will be difficult for many. We all have memories, good and bad. But the best way to respect those memories and the spirits of the past who graced the hallowed turf and stood on the terraces or sat in the stands, will be to go out on a high.

Will soon be making new memories just over 2 miles away from Goodison Road.

I'm no expert, but I think that might be frowned upon by the stewards.

I see Michael couldn't resist yet another dig at Moyes in his post. Danny also pointing out that the form of late is far below the form of the first 10 games under Moyes. As Ancelotti said, he ain't a magician, and Moyes is still working with the dross that Lampard and Dyche put together, so why should the majority of under-performing players turn into good players overnight because we get a new manager?

I have said the time to judge Moyes is at the end of next season when he has had a transfer window to bring in players he wants.

So many memories over my 53 years of going the game. Latchford and Thomas, Reid and Steven, tea in the church hall, famous wins, miserable defeats, the roar of the crowd when we score, the Z-Cars theme.

The end of an era!

Enjoy your trip.

How much does it cost nowadays???

Maurice Fussey was the referee who missed Crawford punching the ball into the net – another in the hall of shame.

To be fair, he did award us a last-minute penalty to try and make amends. Bally, ever the sportsman, didn't bother scoring it!

Paul F, thanks for your good wishes.

Bloody rules ruin the game!

Another chapter in the history of Goodison Park.

I suspect he won't make the squad as Broja is returning and Moyes will not drop Coleman again for Chermiti. I could be wrong though...

The standard of player and recruitment goes back way further than Dyche and Ancelotti. That disastrous summer under Koeman and co. Pickford aside, we wasted money like some tourist throwing dollar bills up the wall on the Las Vegas strip.

The January window when, under Allardyce, we spent nearly £50M on Tosun and Walcott.

To be honest, I've long given up totally blaming managers. I'll praise them and criticise them on performances, but our issues and recruitment deficiencies are much more deep-rooted than that.

Better times ahead, starting today and the remaining matches this season.

Despite my reservations, I hope Moyes is still here at the end of next season and leads us out at Wembley, because that will mean it's gone well for Everton. That is all I care about.

I think we'll have an understanding after the summer window and by Christmas. No dig, just what I think.

Ndiaye hat-trick.

Going to be sad day leaving the old place. Long time since a 9-year-old went to his first-ever match in a 4-0 win in our Championship season against a good West Ham side with Liam Brady, George Paris, Billy Bonds and Tony Cottee.

Hopefully another special day.

Then a (work)mate who is a STH (who travels thousands of miles per season) decided he couldn't make this game and gave me the opportunity.

Still wasn't counting any chickens but I'm back on Merseyside and have confirmed arrangements to meet with my mate's dad outside ground before game.

As long as Merseyrail don't let me down it's all set fair now.
This could be a really entertaining game. Hoping we are firmly in ‘just go out and show us what you can do' territory.
A bit of ‘let slip the dogs of (footy) war' wouldn't go amiss today.

Up the ‘foaming' Toffees (and thanks again Joe)!

Let's get the ball forward quickly and make them defend – which they are not good at.

The keeper and defence pick themselves. Likewise, probably Gana and his near namesake Garner.

Preferably, Ndiaye, Alcaraz and one other, maybe Broja? Alcaraz playing Number 10 and I've seen Broja play wide for Albania and he tends to pull that way when I've seen him for Everton. But they could interchange and be unpredictable.

Take your pick from Beto or Chermiti. Calvert-Lewin to get 20 minutes.

Never forget that moment. A Goodison memory, one of hundreds.

Brought a tear to my eye already.

Entertaining in the car journey to the Everton Stadium from Goodison with Tony Bellew and Peter Reid singing badly.

It didn't start well with the presenter introducing it as the week that the city paints the town red. Thanks for that, BBC.

James Garner and Jake O'Brien on there too. I think Jake is twice as tall as Peter Reid. Maybe the Huyton General is shrinking.

The 1878s including Katie Carter are being interviewed on the pitch.

Recommended watch. It will be on BBC iPlayer. I guarantee you'll be drying your eyes.

Maybe it will improve again before the end?