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.