Everton vs Fulham Player Ratings: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall inspires Toffees’ win on home soil

Keane's “fantastic header“ actually came off the back of his shoulder, but other than that, I can find very little to disagree with in these ratings.

Proper dues to the manager as well. Everybody was calling for changes, and the ones he made turned out well. Tim and Jim both turned in solid performances.

I can't argue with those ratings.

James Garner, 6.5?

Sam (3),

Yes he wasn't far off Dewsbury-Hall, who deserved the MotM award.

Garner looked like he'd played full back all his career, playing on his right side.

Yes, those ratings generally seem fair...

Athough I would have given James Garner at least a 7.

I thought Dewsbury-Hall was busy, but still gives the ball away far too cheaply.

Dug out by the old guys in Gana and Keane. We need goals from the young guns.

Dewsbury-Hall did not give the ball away cheaply today, that's bollocks.

Ndaiye was better than you say. He runs his socks off and fights to get the ball back.

He is more dangerous than anyone else on our team, including Grealish.

I thought Barry was very promising today and should be celebrating his first goal tonight. He ran his heart out, closing down the defense, chasing everything sent his way, and laying off with some neat touches.

I don't know if it's because we were on the attack for most of the match, but they looked like they had acres of space when on the attack. A better team would have punished us today.

I think Ndiaye is possibly our best player and I like that he helps out defending. I just wish he was better at it, several times he couldn't stop a wide man going past him creating good chances for them.

A good result, hard fought, and you will never see 3 offside goals to the home side at Anfield or Old Trafford.

Pete (8),

That's the way I see Ndiaye too.

I saw a lot to like today. Barry is on a big learning curve, and kept his composure despite this; he deserves a bit more time.

Dewsbury-Hall did well, worked hard. Garner going from strength to strength, doing what was asked of him. Gana still has an engine.

It wasn't all about Jack today but he was always there, Illy is magic. Tim and Merlin shared a useful shift, but not together. Mykolenko did his bit. Tarkowski and Keane were head and shoulder above par!

Somehow, we landed on a workable plan today against the given opposition, not sure how much of that came from the manager, but give him some credit today for being a tad more creative...

Oh and Pickford was handy too.

Some real stalwarts missing from ToffeeWeb lately.

Rob Halligan, Brian Williams and even though he tended to dominate every thread, where are you Danny O'Neill?

I thought James Garner was a contender for Man of the Match.

Just back in our hotel after a great day at the match followed by a sushi meal and cocktails with the rest of my family. Saw Graeme Sharp and thanked him for my best years as an Evertonian.

James Garner was my MotM -- anyone who is moaning or finding fault after that game should support someone else.
Absolutely fucking delighted.

I thought the big difference today was that we were not playing so deep. This enabled us to link up better from back to front.

Difficult to pick a MotM but Gana, Garner and KDH certainly stood out. A couple of great saves from Pickford but I wish he would give the long punts a miss.

I thought Dibling might have been given some minutes against this level of opposition.

I see Arsenal snatched a point at Sunderland. Don't see any of their fans pissing and moaning about it. Just saying like.

Gana Gueye my MotM by a long way.

Dewsbury-Hall had a good game along with the likes of Ndiaye, Garner, Keane and Tarkowski.

*puts tongue in cheek - Moyes lives too fight another day?

You can only beat what is put infront of you and in Fulham I've finally seen a side that appears to give the ball away even more than we do.

Who have in Marco Silva a manager who is doing to them what he was doing to us -- he's only heading slowly one way.

Next week, if Man Utd's 'Barry' taps in from a yard out, will their 'Ndiaye' be deemed 'not interfering with play'? Of Course he will, nothing to see here -- goal stands.

Barry instinctively waggled a foot at the ball from an 'offside position'

Question: Would he have been deemed not interfering with play too, if he didn't get a toenail to it?? Answers to SAF up in the VAR box.

A good day all around, by all concerned, though Röhl needs to sharpen up mentally.

I think Grealish and Ndiaye get marked down a bit because of our high expectation of them. Both were quality.

And maybe Barry has got marked up a bit because of our very low expectations in that area. 6 might have been fairer. But then a real 6 for an Everton striker this season is nothing to be sniffed at. It looks like, if he can get some confidence, there might be a handy player in there, so we should persevere with him, give him a run of games.

Dewsbury-Hall had a much better game, he has been poor recently. Garner looks like he is developing into a high-quality player and if we could only buy a decent right-back, we could play him in his best position.

We perhaps also need to remind ourselves that Fulham are very poor at the moment, no wonder Silva is hacked off. Man Utd will be a more serious test.

I agree with those who are commenting that James Garner deserved an 8. Also, Barry played very well. Pity his goal was disallowed.

I agreed with the commentators on Stan, who said Tarkowski's goal should have been allowed to stand.

Decent win, with a clean sheet, but not exactly a convincing performance against a poor side IMO.

A good day for us Blues. I thought Gana was MotM, closely followed by Garner and Dewsbury-Hall. The Moyesiah was actually proactive with team selection. Once again, our momentum is slowed down by Internationals.

I see clubs are starting to line up for Ndiaye, with Spurs joining the list. He must stay, end of.

4 points off 5th isn't it?

The league is crazy, shame we don't play until the Monday night at the old graveyard venue next.

Jeff 7

These are Dewesbury Hall stats. He gave the ball away 10 times in the opposition half.

I thought he had a better game. Unlucky with the disallowed goal, a good corner in, and the counter-press is very effective. He also released Barry with a decent through pass, which is rare as hen's teeth.

But for him to be a creative player at Number 10, rather than a defensive player at Number 10, he needs to be shooting more and creating more chances.

A rating of 8.5 out of 10. I'd say the ed is easily pleased. Good job he's not seen a top 10, it would blow his mind...

At 1-nil I was wondering whether Moyes would take him off for Alcaraz to improve the quality and freshen it up, at the expense of the press looking.

Assists: 1
Expected assists (xA): 0.36
Big chances created: 1
Key passes: 2
Crosses (accurate): 6 (1)
Passes in opposition half (accurate): 21/31 (68%)
Passes in own half (accurate): 13/14 (93%)
Long balls (accurate): 1/2 (50%)

Ian (22)

If you are looking for faults, which it looks like you are, you will always find them.

I like Alcaraz and I wanted him to come on, but definitely not for Dewsbury-Hall yesterday and I'm not a big fan of him. Yesterday's performance, if he carries on like that, will do fine for me.

If Moyes replaced Dewsbury-Hall with Alcaraz, we would have lost the high press, most likely fallen back defensively, and conceded a goal.

Dave (4),

Totally agree. Garner's been consistently solid this season—always a 7.5 or 8 every game. He could've easily been Man of the Match against Fulham.

He might not have the flair of Ndiaye or Grealish, but his versatility makes him, in my view, our most important player.

Re James Garner, most of us I think would agree that he has been one of our best players this season, playing in the midfield. Yes, he can play right-back, but I don't believe he enjoys playing there as he wanders back into his more natural position. So please don't hide the fact that we need a right-back, ideally in January.

Playing people out of their most natural position, ie, Jake O'Brien, can work out for a while but eventually they will be found out and it's not fair on the individuals concerned.

McNeil is an even better example, bought as a left winger, and played in the centre and even on the right.

So please let's have James back in his best position as soon as possible, and get that full-back we have needed since last season.

I thought moving Garner to full-back gave us so many more options going forward, and I am sure O'Brien will feel a little aggrieved as he hasn't done a lot wrong.

At 36, Gana Gueye proved that age is just a number, and for me, he was our MotM, closely followed by Dewsbury-Hall, Garner and Michael Keane.

The encouragement that Barry got from the crowd from minute one should give him a great deal of confidence going forward. Also nice to see Gana run over and give him a pat as he was going off. I

think what pleased me most about yesterday was that neither Grealish or Ndaiye were their sparkling best, but we still dominated possession and created some great scoring opportunities.

The big worry for me is have we spent a huge chunk of our budget on a player the manager doesn't seem to fancy and, at the price we paid, we can't loan him out; no doubt like most first team players, he will have it in his contract that he doesn't play for the U21s.

I think it's quite obvious that our recruitment team bought Dibling and not David Moyes. I think, as the season progresses, there will be more questions about Dibling's lack of game time.

It's not just at right-back that we are losing out to the top teams, although that position is the most obvious. With the exception of left midfield, all the other wide positions are holding us back from challenging for a Euro placing.

Defensively at right-back, we are found wanting with anyone other than O'Brien; but he offers nothing in attack.

Mykolenko is also okay defensively but is not an attacking threat. Grealish instantly has 2 players on him when he gets the ball, but a lay off to Mykolenko on the overlap produced no threat to Fulham whatsoever.

On the right, Ndiaye is a threat, but only when he cuts inside, he is not a natural winger and doesn't seem comfortable putting in crosses.

Robert, where can we get a 'Baines' or a 'Digne' to link up with Grealish?

John # 28,

There are probably about 30 odd right-backs and left-backs who could step in and make an immediate difference. They will all be very well known to the club.

John (28),

I think Baines has been working on Mykolenko's attacking aspect and the past 2 games he has been bombing forward. It was eventually his cross that led to the 1st goal.

My main gripe with him is that he concedes too many corners and this season has been crazy in terms of number of goals scored from corners and throw-ins, so I hope Baines works with him on that aspect as well.

Coming to some posters saying that Garner should be played in midfield rather than at right-back, I don't know why that is such a big deal?

When Guardiola and Slot, in spite of their billion dollar spending, are playing their specialist midfielders -- Szoboslai and Matheus Nunes -- in that position, why shouldn't Moyes play Garner there if that gives us a better balance? (Which it very obviously did yesterday.)

Dewsbury-Hall was excellent yesterday. His best game for Everton.

And he has been good all season, despite playing out of position. He has a passing accuracy over the season of 85% and dribbles completed is 67%.

Garner adds a possession player at right-back, adding more technical play to the pitch if Iroegbunam comes in. Although the passing stats were even, I felt we were on the ball where it counts a lot more against Fulham.

Garner will be susceptible to the diagonal ball, as he's not great in the air. But I much prefer him to O'Brien at right back, as other teams seemed to have worked out that you leave him on the ball, and then get in behind when he brings it out.

With the three other lads being genuine defenders, it is good to have someone that can step into midfield.

Jeff (12)

Add John Rafferty to that list of stalwart posters on here who have seemed to stop airing their views. John always had good points of view in his posts with a good sense of humour and was a long suffering away fan too.

If you are reading, John, I hope you are okay and if you are still following the Blues, you would have been there yesterday watching your idol Iwobi — we didn't half like him, didn't we!

Good health and best wishes, John.

Dave 33, a lot of old posters seem to have moved on, Paul Ferry another regular who seems to have gone.

I think Lyndon Lloyd leaving and the new owners and feature writers have put a lot of people off ToffeeWeb tbh

I still enjoy it, but I can see why people are not enthusiastic anymore, deleting posts on a whim and re-arranging threads doesn't help to keep people here either.

There isn't a better site that I'm aware of, Jeff. I like Evertonia, but ToffeeWeb is much more active.

So keep it going, Anjishnu, please feed the need as well as you can.

Jeff, in all fairness, Paul Ferry would get into a fight in an empty room. Paul was a great poster, and a very intelligent guy, but he was becoming increasingly strident and aggressive.

I hope he comes back but accepting other people's opinions is part and parcel of any forum.

I haven't seen Danny O'Neill and Darren Hind for ages. We need to get some of the regulars back.

Colin,36.

I remember a spat with Barry Rathbone and Paul Ferry, it was highly entertaining.

I've not seen Barry around these pages lately either, it's funny how names crop up on here and you think "I haven't seen his name for ages."

Darren H and John R seem content on Evertonia.

Paul Ferry has been put in everlasting moderation (Free the Ferry 1) as has the highly enjoyable Colin Crooks.

I really fear the worst for Barry Rathbone... he hasn't posted in an awfully long time and there's lots of stuff recently he would certainly have taken issue with.

Brenda 38,

I think Paul Ferry is posting again, as Paul Griffiths.

Dave #39

"Brenda"... obviously you subsribe to my other website.

Where's Paul Ferry I ask again. I miss his biting criticism, he would sort out our problems real quick, identify yourself P F.😁

David (26), that's how I see it as well.

Would be a great shame for both / either of Garner or O'Brien to be prevented from giving their best in their best positions simply to have to cover a position for which the club needs to get a better first option than we have.

Here's a song I wrote for P F last year, when he said he hates mull of Kintyre.

Paul Ferry traveled to lands far away

but on toffee web he still has his say

He'll moan and he'll bitch till his arse is on fire

but he really fkg hates the Mull of Kintyre.

Oh Mull of Kintyre I'm pissed when I hear that

Mull of Kintyre to smack Paul McCartney is

My only desire for writing that fkg

Mull of Kintyre.

Paul is a blue boy but they make him mad

He'll follow the team through

Good times and bad

Some songs he likes but one makes his teeth grit

It's that fkg McCartney's Mull full of shit.

Oh Mull of Kintyre I'm pissed when I hear that

Mull of Kintyre to smack Paul McCartney is

My only desire for writing that fkg

Mull of Kintyre. 😁

Nice one, Paul..

Maybe you could re-form Traffic and make it a #1 hit.

Dave #39, congratulations. I believe you are the first one on TW to have successfully deduced that.

Jeff #34 and Colin #36, a number of the longest-tenured TW posters have recently retired from the site because they've been worn down by what they view as the relentless negativity. I don't believe it had anything to do with TW's ownership change (although we certainly all miss Lyndon).

I personally stay around because I have a drab, wretched existence with nothing else to live for and would otherwise drink myself into oblivion.

Mike is correct. I personally know two regular posters who have left because of the negativity.

Saturday was a good indication of this. I went the game and afterwards in the pub there was only joy and optimism.

I came on here to find moans and opinionated criticism.
Even after a good win, there's widespread negativity.

Opinionated criticism that is usually started by the people who don't like to see David Moyes getting criticised?

It takes two to argue, but when Everton win, my own view is that people should just enjoy it, especially because there are enough days in the week for people to have a sensible debate about the pros and cons of the manager.

It's the sensible debate which seems very thin on the ground lately. It's not just football, it goes right across the board, although football has always been one of the greatest indicators when it comes to everyday life.

I'm glad you enjoyed the day, Mark, which I'm sure is about more than just the football for people like yourself who have to travel so far just to get to a home game.

Love life, love family, love fucking Everton!

It's the constant picking on certain players what I hate, the vast majority could see that Barry played better on Saturday but some still can't resist to put the boot in, "He's shite","Bambi On Ice"...

No consideration that he's only started 6 games and keeps getting swapped about with Beto, the lack of quality chances created. Why not just get behind the lad and let's give him the season to adjust?

Let's be honest, he's not the only one who's struggled at times this season. I mean, we even had fans who complained about Lukaku because he wasn't the best with his first touch even though he made up for it in other ways.

Tony(#47); How dare you have sex with Everton, or just showing your hand!

See how easy it is to misread intentions.

Personally, I like to comment on where there has been changes and whether they have been successful or not or could even be improved regardless. I've been pushing for more options than playing nearly everything through Grealish which happened in this game but almost to the point of ignoring Grealish. So, is suggesting that we look at using all options win, lose or draw, a criticism, or just stating the bleedin' obvious.

In the eye of the beholder?

You have just taken me back to the day I finally saw Everton win a trophy, with that opening sentence Alan J.

I remember this character sitting by me was praising every single player in blue but, when it came to Neville Southall, he was even prepared to marry him, telling everyone that if our big Welsh goalkeeper said yes, he wouldn't even have to wash a fucken dish!

We only laugh when we're winning, I fucken wish!!

Mick @ 48, I agree, if you want to say that you don't think a player is very good, fair enough, but don't call him 'shite' and the like.

Tony @ 47, it's when the same suspects pop up when Moyes is mentioned that gets my goat. I'm well opinionated, just ask my poor suffering wife, I spend all day swearing at the TV and radio, but I don't think it's ok to slag players off on a public forum.

Maybe I'm a snowflake, but I think it's only human nature for some players to have a peek on here sometimes. More fool them... but it wouldn't surprise me.

A perfect day, Tone. I'm three out of three at BMD (Brighton, Palace and Fulham) and my lad Joe got off to a winning start at his first game and we found our photo in Alan Ball's armpit!

Again, I am not Moyes's biggest fan, nor do I dislike him, but he got it right on Saturday and I've no complaints after a well-earned and fully deserved win.

Btw - if anyone has only seen the MoTD version of that game, it isn't a fair reflection of the game. Apart from a quiet spell when we let Fulham have the ball a bit (looked like we were taking a breather tbh), we totally controlled that game and played some very nice football. A big plus for me was that other players stepped up and it wasn't all about Iliman and Jack this time.

The atmosphere was superb as well -- the best so far for me.
Plus, that Camden Stout is excellent!

Damn you Paul K @43! I spent half a lifetime getting that awful dirge out of my head. I looked at your post and thought that it didn't quite scan. The only way to check was to actually sing it. Well, it does scan, ffs, as my long suffering wife can confirm. I am cursed again.

Dave A.

The fact that the list of people you are talking about are all knowledgeable match goers won't be lost on you.

I used to come onto this site 5-6 times a day. Now I only ever pop in 1-2 times a month to see what you, your Tony (and a couple of others) have to say.

I thought this site was created for people like the wonderful Christine. Life-long Evertonians who have devoted their lives to the club even when life has taken them to the other side of the world. A place to come and discuss, argue, rant about all things Everton with fellow Blues. A place to belong.

It's not the negativity that drives people away. ToffeeWeb was always a negative place to visit. How could it not be? We haven't had a decent team since its inception.

I believe ToffeeWeb has lost its identity. The incredibly insightful articles Lyndon Lloyd would often treat us to were always offset by the nonsensical match reports Michael Kenrick would use to mislead his membership.

Unfortunately, with Lyndon gone, it's become a bit like the BBC. Impartial reporting has given way to unabashed biased reporting -- Goodison may well have risen as one to Calvert- Lewin but you can be sure he would take a kicking from TW's easily led throughout the match day thread after reading MK telling them he hadn't put a foot right all day.

The quality of the fan articles has fallen off a cliff too. Articles by the likes of Eugene Ruane and Colin Fitz have given way to articles about players, penned by "experts" who clearly haven't even seen them play. Why do people read and contribute to this football manager drivel? A quick flick through the mistake-ridden Athletic will instantly cut out the need for a middle-man.

I don't mean to disrespect people like Tony and Dave, or old foes like Brian Harrison. They are just a few of the many great Evertonians who visit this site.

But ToffeeWeb has also become a haven for non-contributing malcontents. People who live near the ground, but never go near the place, 90-minute supporters who don't understand why they can't get instant success. Egg-chasers who spend their days on a footy website telling us "their" game is a superior one.

Moaners who want to bleat about not getting value for the money they never... ever spend. People who think they are "experts" because they post fuck-witted fish jokes for 90 minutes a week on the Live Forum.

Was Christine driven away by negativity... or was it the ignorance she could no longer stomach?

BTW, Dave; John Raftery can still be found on Evertonia, and as you would expect, he is still talking lots of sense.

Darren,

Great to see you back on the site, I always enjoyed jousting with you, we disagreed on a few things but always respected each other's differing views.

I know you are a great supporter of our home grown talent, and lads who come through our academy. This site is poorer for not having you and a few others who no longer post.

I hope we see more of you posting, even though I might disagree on some topics, but what can't be denied is, like all of us, you want the best for Everton.

Welcome back, Dazza, usually very insightful re the club but harsh and then some re some fellow devout Evertonians.

At least that's changed…….oh, wait a minute!

My goodness Darren - - how lovely to hear from you - - and such memories of those TW Days:

"It's all too much
It's all too much
When I look into your eyes, your love is there for me
And the more I go inside, the more there is to see
It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around you
Everywhere, it's what you make
For us to take, it's all too much
Floating down the stream of time, of life to life with me
Makes no difference where you are or where you'd like to be"

Ahhh - - I'm off on one now:

"If I had ever been here before
I would probably know just what to do
Don't you?
If I had ever been here before on another time around the wheel
I would probably know just how to deal
With all of you
And I feel like I've been here before
Feel like I've been here before
And you know it does make me wonder
What's going on under the ground
Do you know?
Don't you wonder
What's going on
Down under you?"

I made it to the game on Saturday - - it's a great effort for me to get there now - - my recent illness and it's a bit difficult to get to - - but still going (nearly) strong - - have a quick look at this: b.dayposter-wd1 copy.jpg

Hello my good friends - - first, thank you for all your support throughout these last 2 difficult years - - very much appreciated - - well now - - who would have believed it - - even a year ago - - that I would make it to my 76th Birthday on Thursday 20th November - - I am inviting you all to a little Birthday get together at Doogles Donuts - - Mann Island/Pier Head - - see the Poster attached.

I will do "something off the cuff" - - Christian will play some music and sing - - and you can get up and do a bit of music/tell a story/a piece of poetry/sing/tap dance.

So listen - - I know you have been tremendous in your support but one last "Go" - - instead of a Birthday Card/Gift please (once again) Donate to The Yellow House - - Details: It's simple - Link -- your donation will keep us going and help our work with our fantastic young people.

So be great to see you all. Some guests confirmed - - Ma Joad/Vincent (Van Gogh Museum) - Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers - - Sooty and Sweep - - Lazarus.

So good to hear from you - - Blue Cosmic Grooves all the Way

"You have just taken me back to the day I finally saw Everton win a trophy, with that opening sentence, Alan J."

FFS Tony - it's just clicked what you meant there!
Too much info mate!

Eric 44, Wrong band,😁

Andy 53. Sorry Andy, I must admit, I never liked the song after hearing it for the 2nd time from Billy Shears.

Oops, sorry Paul.

Hope you're alright now?

Darren (54)

Nice to see you call in. I always enjoyed your posts, agreed, disagreed and learned from them. As you say, what else could ToffeeWeb be but negative with the standard of performances we've had to put up with over many years?

Tony Kelly, who used to post regularly many years ago, stoped posting, he told me “It's too xxxxing negative for me” Tony is now in a far better place hopefully! I couldn't use the swear word there it's not allowed where I think Tony has gone!

I hope you drop in now and again, Darren, and liven the place up like this morning —- Good health and best wishes.

Look at the last sentence by Alan J@49, and keep it to yourself Mark!

I've slagged a few players over the years because I don't believe they have been good enoug,h Raymond, but one of them has now scored in both goals at both Goodison Park and Bramley-Moore Dock.

Massive respect to Dixie Keane, because I'm sure he's been the first Everton player to ever do this, which is a tremendous feat and something that can never now be taken away from him.

Lovely to see Darren posting. I'm not sure if you will take up the offer but I'm absolutely certain the old Darren would have hit Don's little dig for a six!

That was brilliant news to hear you got there on Saturday, George, but I've long considered that us Evertonians wouldn't have had to wait so long for a trophy if the players had as much heart and fight as you have displayed over the last couple of years, mate.

After Iliman of course!

As someone who may have used the 'Bambi on Ice' term about Barry, just a few observations:

1) Of course this site can be full of critics with 'negativity'. As Darren says, we haven't had a good team that can seriously compete for a very long time. That's a bit negative in itself.

2) Does everyone on here have the same level of knowledge about the game? Obviously not. Some know more (maybe even have played the game at a serious level). But even that won't make them right all the time. And I am personally very suspicious of anyone claiming superior knowledge, and not just about football.

3) If I did use 'Bambi on Ice' (and I'm not sure either way) it is a not unreasonable criticism of how both our strikers can appear. I give you Barry falling over himself near the corner flag. Unusual. But the idea should be, if facts change, so does opinion. Hence my post above. At times on Saturday, Barry looked half decent and given he seems a guy very lacking in confidence and inner belief, we should try to encourage him.

4) I appreciate some have what I would call fluffy bunny optimism (I'm looking at you, Danny); others are a glass half-full -- or even a quarter full at times (I'm looking at a mirror). There's a place for both to co-exist here. Remember the latter might also be about managing expectation. I personally emphasise with that John Cleese line: "It's not the despair, I can handle that... it's the hope".

5) The line for me is when it gets personal and insults fly. Never any need for that. Unless there are any infiltrators (remember that weird chinese named poster, especially on Live Forum, Wu Lei or something similar?), then in the end, we all hope for the same thing.

And it's the hope that kills you...

Criticism and differing opinions should all be welcomed on any site that values healthy debate and I've personally no problem with that.

The negativity I'm pissed off about is the "We'll lose 3-1 tomorrow night" (Why do that??), "game over" after conceding early in the game, and even already today, "We've no chance at Old Trafford in 2 weeks time because Moyes -- knife to a gunfight etc".. for examples.

And like the last game, minutes after a comfortable and convincing win, people looking for mistakes from the players or from Moyes instead of celebrating a very welcome performance.

I was pissed off after the Sunderland game and said so, so I'm not Mr Positivity myself... but I draw the line at moaning when we've won, and won well.

Mark (66),

I believe warning stickers were put on certain fans seats warning them about swearing at the previous game and that they were official warnings about swearing in the future —- maybe possible bans or removal of season tickets if repeated.

I thought this was a hoax but apparently it's genuine — anyone on here heard about this?

On the Barry Beto "conundrum", I thought Barry did well on Saturday and showed glimpses of what he will bring once the monkey is off his back.

I also thought that Beto looked positive and strong when he came on and gave Fulham other problems to think about. I got the impression Beto was determined to push his case for inclusion, which is a good thing.

Hopefully, when both are in whatever groove they can achieve at full tilt, they will give us potent and interchangeable attacking options.

Sounds like Moyes isn't confident of finding a striker in January so he's looking to these two to contribute.

Dave - I hope that's true as I'm between 4,500 and 5,000 on the season ticket waiting list.

Taking the block I was sat in on Saturday as an example (when that ref was letting Fulham get away with shit), I should be moving up that list pretty quickly.

I didn't see any such stickers though -- maybe they've identified known offenders.

It's not that long ago you'd hear men at Goodison telling people to mind their language as there were kids around.

Mark #64, well said. I remember the constant repetitions of the Lukaku insult that he "couldn't trap a bag of cement" -- without anybody observing that he could certainly dribble, pass and score one!

Your point about the varying levels of knowledge among TW posters is a crucial one. We all need to be able to accept that without getting personal. Even when responding to something I strongly disagree with, I try very hard to avoid insulting the poster. I find name-calling disgusting.

Dave #67, I went looking after you posed your question, and found someone had posted on Facebook about receiving a language warning -- a post that got a whole bunch of "me too" responses. (I did not find one on my TV.)

On Saturday, the language was bad.

A lad, I would say of school age, was sitting right behind me and he was repeatedly swearing at the top of his voice, in fact, I learned words I never knew existed!

The Ref came in for some stick and I was surprised he appeared to target Iwobi.

We had tickets for the Rugby.

After a cold miserable afternoon at Goodison Park for his first ever match, Grandson decided better to stay at home.

Blokes behind us were constantly swearing and my son was glad he never brought him. Also with the blood on the concourse after the fight (section 09 - did it stain?) then another reason he was glad he was not there.

As for the tickets. Friend yesterday is off to his second having won in the ballot. His lad was interviewed on Sky at the first one. Looking at the packages then seats in Section 229 are £730 for the 19 matches = £38.50 per match. It is £90 for the Wolves game in the same section with the programme, food/drink voucher which is worth £14. Paying 37.50 extra to guarantee a ticket. Reasonable in my view. And shop and tour discount thrown in. Most other matches are more expensive but there are the odd bargain.

Dave 67

Not heard that but, while I'm not especially 'woke' in the trigger warnings etc meaning of the word, I have mixed views. On the one hand, swearing is inevitable with passion. On the other, there are kids and women -- though they might also be the ones swearing! Personally, I do it under my breath.

Mike 70

Yes Lukaku was an interesting one. I definitely see the bag of cement quip, for a platinum level striker, he sure did lack finesse and close control. But he scored. So frequently, so consistently, it clearly wasn't an accident.

You inspired me to look him up and while his goal every other game fell away when he re-joined Chelsea, he's still at or better than 1 in 3 in Italy, now 36. It's been a very long career of finding the onion bag.

Darren 54# I hope my previous comments explained why I have departed from contributing towards ToffeeWeb, but your question regarding negativity encountered or the ignorance of others needs clarification from my perspective.
Your comments regarding the sea change at ToffeeWeb are spot on in my opinion, ToffeeWeb has lost the key ingredient of its success, the very basis of its foundation, the voice of Everton supporters, not as it is today, pointless pieces from people who have no affiliation with the club, people who write for a living and give us the bland pointless tripe that often fill the screen.
Perhaps too, the years of dedication from Lyndon and Michael took its toll on them but they would as you rightly say, give us quality rather than quantity.
So yes, ToffeeWeb has lost its soul and direction. The site itself is littered with ridiculously old stories, banners outdated, promises of change that have yet to appear.. in short its lost something wonderful.
The passing of Martin recently rippled through these pages with just a few reflections, yet it was Martin and others who were the catalyst for the emergence of debate the sort I have not found elsewhere, indeed the cut and thrust as you say has given way to journalistic input more often seen in the Echo.
I think I hoped when Lyndon departed, that ToffeeWeb would retain the people, the contributions of so many truly wonderful supporters and in fairness it still has posts that are just, well, brilliant. But times change, and sometimes you just have to move out the way. I guess that's what I have done. I came to the site because I wanted a place I could vocalise the need for change against the backdrop of engineered votes for Kirkby, untruths and rank management of the club I am so proud of. We have a new home, professional business owners but there is still a place for TW but you're right, it has to find its identity rather than be just another fan site.
Finally, respect. At a basic level it's how you "do" things in life ( "I wouldnt be you" is one of my favourite lines from Boys from the Blackstuff) ToffeeWeb could be an unforgiving place as I learnt early on, but it's made up of many generations, memories, ambition, love and sheer bloody frustration. Humour, friendship, conflict and debate, but above all its our family. The baton was passed on and I think I have to move out the way. But I do so with a smile for the truly sodding wonderful people I have never met, oh so many to name, Tony, Dave, Mike G yourself Darren, Lyndon and Michael.. and those who just disappeared.
I have had a wonderful affair with Everton FC, it has been a constant for as long as I can remember, ToffeeWeb gave me a voice and I learnt so much about life and the rich vein of people that support our club. Their memories of the good and bad times, opinions on players, the very fabric of being an Evertonian is captured by it all and the context of who we once were, who we are now.
So, negativity is not the issue Darren, it's one of relevance, the fickle finger of fate moves on. The last few articles I penned, I put a great deal of thought and effort into because I so want the best for the club. But I live on the other side of the planet, in a small town I no longer want to be in. My relevance, my value, my self worth as an Evertonian is inconsequential as was pointed out by a poster.
Forgive my little perspective on your excellent synopsis of ToffeeWeb Darren, I look forward to sitting at a table in The Harlech and just smiling as I look around me..irrelevant am i? Cheeky bastards..give me that keyboard...

I hate gambling in all its forms.

When people become addicted it can destroy lives and families very very quickly.

Looks like I have become Paul Griffith - post 75???