wict01

I thought we played relatively well, as others have said. On another day, we could've had 5 ourselves. The main issue for me was Kamara being off it (no criticism, it just wasn't his best game - he has more than enough credit in the bank) and as a result, any mistakes made by the back 4 were amplified. I thought Mings was shaky, as much as I like him, and Digne offered absolutely nothing defensively or offensively in the first half. Moreno was an improvement but, again, punished decisively for his error on the 4th goal.

Leicester's front 4 worried me before kick off because it has the capacity to cause trouble and score goals, as it did on Saturday. Defensively they are poor, but they do carry a threat going forwards. That combined with our own complacency cost us the game. Plus Iheanacho, Maddison and Barnes love playing against us so to have all 3 of those on the pitch together was just pure kryptonite. 

You can see what Emery wants us to do and we have to persist with it. Would not be surprised in the slightest to see us go to the King Power (whenever that is) and put this right. 

I think Europe will be beyond us this year, but a top half 9th/10th place finish would suit me just fine after the 12 months wasted under the last incumbent of the managerial hotseat. 

99.9% certain this is bollocks

Just now, pete101 said:

Please never have him and Bailey on the pitch at same time, think my head might explode 

The BBB (Bert, Bailey, Buendia) triple threat is gonna take the prem by storm 

Bertie's back, baby (according to JP) 

53 minutes ago, tomav84 said:

one could say he sleeps with the fishes

Had a quick look on their forum to gauge the mood there, and some seem to be upset they aren't going for a Tuchel/Pochettino and turning their noses up at the likes of Bielsa and Dyche. I'm not being funny, but the squad is rank, there's very little money available and the whole atmosphere and relationship between fans, board and players is as dysfunctional and toxic as you could wish for. 

I get aiming high, but surely reality has to sink in at some point. I feel like it was different for us before anyone suggests that we were delusional, we had invested and were underperforming, everyone trusts NSWE to do the right thing and we all knew any new bloke coming in would be backed to the hilt. I just couldn't see any manager worth their salt risking their reputation on Dwight McNeil and Neal Maupay firing Everton to safety.

Unai you’re the one, you can turn me on, Ollie’s scoring goals again!!

I have a few clubs abroad I have soft spots for, a couple due to watching them live on holiday with my brother and my dad, who has now sadly passed away. Valencia are one, and AC Milan as well. As someone else has said, I quite like Roma too as I think they have a lot of similarities to us in terms of stature in the game with a lack of recent, tangible success. 

Domestically, I dislike pretty much every other prem side for one reason or another, and probably down into the championship too. Shrewsbury are okay, as are Telford as my two nearest clubs. 

Just now, mottaloo said:

Jeez....Bamford as much as he can finish well, I'd hate that ratboy at VP

Surely not? 

8 minutes ago, thabucks said:

Don’t follow Serie A closely but see Nicolo Zaniolo being linked to WHU & Leeds as well as Spuds … would he be a good fit for us ? 

I try to follow Roma a bit where I can, as I've always liked the club. Zaniolo was such a hot prospect, but he's had a couple of longer term injuries I think which has stunted his development. Mourinho had to come out and ask the fans not to boo him recently as I think his form has been really poor of late. 

Hope he bags against Everton 

Just now, Jas10 said:

Said it before, but I would really love for us to have a technical striker, a “cultured finisher” with a variety of goals in his arsenal.

Someone who has more approaches than blasting it hard and low. Can take on the keeper, excellent in one on ones, chips, lobs, volleys, headers, curlers, pile drivers… the lot basically

Who was the last player we had like this? This seem to be a dying art form imo, it’s supposed to be the beautiful game!

The last player we had with a variety of finishes was probably Benteke, some absolutely ludicrous goals with us at his peak. The one away at West Brom is a favourite, where he turns the marker inside out and lasers it inside the far post. 

With reference to some of the above, I'd be very happy with Moussa Dembele if we could get him. He's been a staple for me on many Fifa/Football Manager saves 

Ings gone supposedly, Watkins injured (?) and Archer out on loan. Who's gonna lead the line on Saturday?

1 minute ago, Strog said:

Didn’t we beat Burnleh (correct spelling ) in that green kit early 2021 when Wesley and Heston were crocked?

New years day 2020 that was, we won 2-1. They beat us at Turf Moor in that REEEEEALLY frustrating 3-2 game in Jan 2021. 

On 14/01/2023 at 23:09, Delphinho123 said:

Yep. He’s a top CB if you take the mistakes away. No doubt.

Ive got an incredible amount of love for Tyrone. Will always defend him. Probably irrationally to a point - albeit I’ve had slips over the years.

The reason why? I think you can tangibly attribute him coming to this club to our upturn in form and the trajectory we’ve been on in the last 4/5 years. He was a behemoth of a player when we signed him in the championship, far too good for that league, and I think he’s improved ever since. 

His mistakes will always be what people talk about, but don’t let that take away from the fact that he’s a very good player and a club legend as far as I’m concerned. 

Absolutely spot on. Love Mings and I hope he finishes his career with us. 

I would really like to see this lot vanish down the plughole. Every Everton I've ever met has been an arsehole and the fans' expectations seem to be completely at odds with the actual quality of the squad and manager. They've wasted so much money over the last 8 or 9 years. 

Mixed bag, not the best performance but I’ll take that win all day long. Level with Chelsea, Leeds in the mire. Bumford is a word removed.

Happy weekend! 

Just now, Tom13 said:

Oh yeah without doubt. Still funny though.

Remember Lambert looked like shit by Christmas 2012. Though conceding 12 in two games to Chelsea and Spurs probably didn't help. 

Anyway, viva Unai. I can't wait to see what he does to shape the squad. 

Would love to echo the points about possession football too, some right idiots by me complain every time the ball gets passed backwards. Shouting "gerrit forward Villa!" then moaning again when a long ball loses possession and it comes straight back at us. I don't know what people want sometimes. 

5 hours ago, Tomaszk said:

If we'd been ahead of the game with scouting like some smaller clubs were, we'd be an established top 4 side now.

Clubs like Udinese and Monaco that punched above their weight because they did things differently.

Obviously, we'd have had to convince O'Neill to take on any signings as well.

Falcao/Heskey is so comical it's hard to be angry. O'Neill cost us a few seasons in the UCL at minimum.

It's a weird one - I feel like on the one hand, he did well to have us in contention quite so quickly because the squad he took over in 2006 wasn't laden with quality bar the odd player (Mellberg, Laursen when fit, Barry). On the other hand, his reluctance to trust the European/South American market definitely meant he hamstrung himself and us by extension. I think an O'Neill with a broader mind when it came to transfers could have been superb, imagine that 2010 team with a Falcao or Van der Vaart added in. What might've been 

Sevilla fans were reportedly very happy to see the back of him when he came to us, same as Roma with Olsen. Very telling. 

Hope he recovers well and finds his place in a more suitable league at a more suitable level. 

1 hour ago, His Name Is Death said:

We were in for Moutinho as well? Didn’t know about that one.

Him & Miguel Veloso were often touted as a pair I think!