Everton Banter Archive February 04 2018

04 Feb 2018 22:08:29
I am not sure what is wrong but there is something or someone at our great club bringing it down. It seems that the unity we saw under Moyes has been totally destroyed. The bond between manager and players and players and fans has gone, it is a festering sore that needs to be purged, Martinez apparently wouldn't let anyone but him and Smith? his coach, in the dressing room with the players, Koeman apparently eat separately with his brother and then left when the team came in. I don't know about Big Sam how he is with the players or whether there cliques within the team causing the problem but we don't look like a team ready to die for the badge and each other.
Big C.

04 Feb 2018 23:00:37
I don’t expect (or want! ) the manager to be best mates with the players, but there surely has to be a sense of unity and team-spirit. I’ve seen that among the U23 players when they’re in the first-team, but I don’t see it among the older players. I don’t sense any togetherness and the players just don’t seem to trust each other. It’s as if they know (or have been coached to know) each others weaknesses too well (lack of pace, lack of technical ability, etc. ) and their lack of confidence makes them perform without ambition or drive.

04 Feb 2018 20:02:16
I'm still raging from yesterday and would cheer if Allardyce and Walsh left but at the end of the day they're both going to be here until at least the end of the season. The most important thing now is the Palace game, at home to Leicester I thought that was the best us as fans have been all season and it paid off. The lads seemed to bounce off it. We all know Goodison can be toxic but the reality is we're in a relegation fight and support for the players is vital. Players like Schneiderlin who don't give one can get an earful when he leaves the pitch but for 90, we need to get behind the lads as hard as it may be for us.

04 Feb 2018 20:28:36
I have no idea where you sit toffeejoe (genuinely not having a go here) but I have been hugely critical of 3 players this season, Williams, Martina and Schneiderlin. Williams we know can do a job but for some reason at this Club he behaves like A. a headless chicken on one leg or B. A newbe who doesn't know where he should be. Martina not even good as a RB and at LB hopeless as a norm, the last couple of games though given his failings, he does put in a shift. Schneiderlin is/ was a hugely talented player but and here is the rub, has anyone seen this bloke break sweat yet. I literally saw him wandering round the pitch yesterday, watching as Arsenal players again literally walked past him. I am not angry but confused and perplexed in particular over this one player, I just do not get how he is picked constantly, when it is there for all to see, he does not give a monkeys.

04 Feb 2018 21:34:29
I agree with you 100% mate, I'd rather see Beni or Klaassen in alongside Davies and Gueye and either Holgate or Jags instead of Williams. Both him and Schneiderlin don't care for the club or the badge and I'd rather have Hibbert at left back than the space cadet. BUT unfortunately gravy stinker is still in charge and our opinion doesn't matter on who gets selected. If it was me the three of them wouldn't be at the club.

04 Feb 2018 16:55:15
Pure rhetoric and stock phrases are just so much BS. Williams we are angry and disappointed = my take, you are not good enough and obviously not bothered because performances are the same week in week out. That by the way applies to about 90 percent of the Club.

04 Feb 2018 20:25:10
Ducks they couldn't give a toss mate. As long as that big fat pay cheque comes in there not bothered. And if we don't pay them, then some other mugs will. They just keep getting paid more for doing less.
The games gone to pot, and we are powerless to stop it.

04 Feb 2018 15:57:07
Hi Ed 025 after Saturdays debacle I am watching the Palace v Newcastle game whom we play next Week, and make no mistake play like we did against the Goooooners and we will loose they have had more shots on goal than we have had in all our, i have been an ardent fan of Big Sam as you kow mate and wanted him to be here for the long haul, but now I join with what seems to be the vast majority on here and want him out hopefully in the summer, where we are going to get the precious 9 points that hopefully will be enough to keep us up is beyond me, it hurts me to say I really think we are the worst team in the Premiership, i now think Mr Moshiri has a big headache as to where do we go from here, i will always be and always have been a Blue but this really hurts mate, a big plea to the Board please please try and sort this mess out sooner than later cheers Ed rant over.

{Ed025's Note - i said at the start of his tenure that i would give him a bit of time to turn things around GB, but all this tinkering and useless formations that the idiot is implementing has finally ground me down, if it had improved i would gladly hold my hands up and admit i was wrong and be very happy to do so, but we are going backwards and i was told that there were worse sides than us in the league so we would be ok, thats not the case and most of the teams lower than us are picking up points and playing well to boot, we have had our fair of luck as well and if that runs out well we really are in the mire mate..

04 Feb 2018 16:40:01
Agree Ed he keep messing with the team, i was the same as you mate and at least wanted him to have a good and fair shot at turning our woes from the previous managers had got us into around, but sadly this has not happened and as much as it hurts to say I think we are now in a even worse position playing wise than before, the whole team seems disjointed to me there is no cohesion or anything they are almost out there playing on their own, as I said above just watching the Palace game and they are playing for each other and know where everyone is on the pitch, as a departing last note mate do you know if any of the Board or in some position in the Club ever read the fans letters on here, i hope they do we are in dire straits.

{Ed025's Note - people at the club do GB and so do some of the players mate..

04 Feb 2018 16:44:41
And through the clouds of gravy GuernseyBlue has seen the light.

04 Feb 2018 16:50:25
Well I really hope the players are truly ashamed of themselves for the dross they keep feeding us week in an week out, i feel really sorry for the fans at the matches and season ticket holders who pay to watch this rubbish.

04 Feb 2018 16:59:08
I hold my hands up mate I have.

04 Feb 2018 17:26:49
Hey Guernsey agree wholeheartedly I think yesterday was the final straw for the few of us that have tried to support Sam, I think we've got enough to stay up but it's going to be a nervy couple of months till the end of the season.
Then comes the dilemma we all know we can't continue with Sam we need a new man in charge I'd say as soon as the season ends so he has time to sort all this mess out. I don't think the problems just stem from the manager at the moment Walsh has a lot to answer for and some of our signings just either shouldn't have been signed or have been treated poorly and not given a chance, Moshiri has a lot to do to transform us from what we are now to a team that can compete especially with the new stadium on the horizon.
Let's get this season over, I will support the boys every single game and hopefully we will see real change come May.

{Ed0333's Note - super little post that Lee.

04 Feb 2018 17:35:28
A lot us did not want Allardyce but when he was appointed we tried to support him, no shame in that GB. Unfortunately it has not worked out as we had hoped.

04 Feb 2018 17:44:33
There maybe method in his madness you know. Just read a comment from another punter on here and he/ she may just have hit the nail on the head (sore point (and thumbs) at the minute, just finished reroofing a couple of sheds LOL) . He/ she said that it looks like away from home against sides Sam judges we can't get anything against he puts out a second 11 then at home he puts out what he deems is our strongest. We will see against Palace next.

{Ed025's Note - if thats the case we should tell our supporters not to travel and not even travel away from home, if a team does that and and relies on 19 to get your points then they deserve to get relegated mate..

04 Feb 2018 18:20:11
It seems like everyone is falling off the big Sam train. I have to say, for GB to bebsaying what he is, then the bell must finally be tolling.
I fell off the fence after the WBA game and now it seems there are not many left on here who haven't. So the big question is. if Sam goes, whondo we want in the summer?

04 Feb 2018 18:31:09
Final straw yesterday mate, all we now is to convince Grumpy but I think he will be the same as me mate after yesterday Sam gone at the end of the season.

04 Feb 2018 18:59:20
None can be as bad as our last 2 surely.

04 Feb 2018 19:12:40
I agree. I think Grumpy will have turned aswell.

04 Feb 2018 20:00:58
This is going to sound crazy. Every match now home and away is going to be a battle. The support of the fans is now the most important ingredient our club needs.

Thinking back to the 90's it was the fans that got our club over the line. The teams we had were usually disjointed with little quality and much worse than other clubs.

Every voice is vital to our survival. So let's get it all out here but when you're out there with the team give them every bit of encouragement you can muster. Even if we are getting beat just sign louder.

I'm more worried this time over any other as we don't have a Royle or Kendall to get behind and the hatred for this tool is building.

If you love our club you've got to put the anger and frustration to one side for 90 minutes and break every vocal cord you've got. Otherwise we are gone. Trust me. Gone.

04 Feb 2018 20:34:35
difficult one smit, not Silva, not Sam, not Koeman obviously. My gut is still Dyche but not the proverbial cat's swing. Left field perhaps a Read and Irvine combination.

04 Feb 2018 14:51:28
Ed 25 do you think allardyce and Walsh be here in summer I do not. Unsworth could be off to oxford and koeman is set for Holland job.

{Ed025's Note - i certainly hope not bretto..

04 Feb 2018 15:17:20
I blame all this on walsh, said as soon as he come here, he got lucky on afew and that's it,

{Ed025's Note - he is obviously a decent scout BB, but as a DOF hes a waste of space mate..

04 Feb 2018 15:26:00
Just seems like dof hasn't worked at everton and most other prem club only tends to work in Spain.

{Ed002's Note - It has worked well at MC and Chelsea. It works well in Germany, Italy and France.}

04 Feb 2018 16:08:55
Director of Football is an excellent concept and does work well in Countries and at Clubs that understand the post. In our case it seems we have attempted to run before we can walk and certainly not done due diligence on the appointment made. It is very hard not to come over as being personal but Mr Walsh is not a DoF, it is as simple as that, he should have been appointed and remained his comfort zone playing to his apparent strengths.

{Ed025's Note - i cant argue with that mate..

04 Feb 2018 15:39:28
Fair enough ed 02 I know it worked very well at sevilla and we have been linked with psv director of football. Ed 02 do you belive sam will be in charge in summer or do u think everton will look for someone who can be there for next 3 to 5 years.

{Ed002's Note - I expect him to see out his contract Bretto.}

04 Feb 2018 15:50:57
It might well work in these places ed, but it definitely needs the right people in place. You have pointed this out before and it clearly shows in the way ours is being run.

04 Feb 2018 16:28:57
Ed002 do you have any information if Everton are actually looking at finding a new DOF? Do you have any idea who may be available and who would be a good fit?

{Ed002's Note - It was suggested a couple of weeks ago that Everton has an interest in Marcel Brands but I am not aware of any approach by Everton to PSV for Brands - although another English side did obtain permission to talk with him in late November. Common sense would dictate that Steve Walsh should go back to doing what he does best, but I suspect a demotion at Everton would not be something he would consider. There are a couple of people available who would do a good job but I don't want to suggest the names of people Everton has no interest in, or people who would not be interested in a move to Everton.}

04 Feb 2018 18:31:34
Thanks Ed 002, any chance that you would take the job please? You are the most knowledgable person about football I know. We could have a whip around if it means a drop in salary.

{Ed002's Note - Sadly I rather doubt the folks of Merseyside would accept me with "Oops Mrs Worthington" Cockney banter as I swagger along in my Pearly Queen outfit.}

04 Feb 2018 19:51:23
On the contrary Ed002, you would fit in very well with the pantomime that is Everton at the moment.

04 Feb 2018 20:09:41
Thanks for info ed 02 much appreciated.

04 Feb 2018 21:34:30
Only just hit me. As a Manager in my opinion no chance but as a DoF we couldn't go far wrong with one Mr Glen Hoddle.

04 Feb 2018 23:35:50
Dof must be a specialist job. When Michael emanalo (spelling) was at Chelsea before Monaco, I'd never heard of him at all before then. Did he have football background?
I'm not a fan of dof role. Much prefer the manager to have control of all aspects of the club a la Alex Ferguson at utd. He oversaw all that went on with the club from transfers to training to youth set up.
Just don't see the point of one. Have a commercial director for dealing with aponsorships etc and a person who negotiates transfers but in terms of identifying players that should be scouts and managers job.
Also manager should set a formation and playing style throughout the club, from under 9 to first team.

04 Feb 2018 14:40:03
Are club is a shambles we sign a player 27mil for sam to say he is struggling there have been top player who are prem proven have left on loan who we shoulda gone for we have changed the deffence more times than any other team in the league also the team that started wed shoulda been the team against arsenal maybe coleman for kenny an jaggs for mangala the formation an changes wer a joke someone needs to be asking these questions we have spent all this money an we are worser than ever
Wednesday showed signs of fight an pace
Me personally don't think bolasie is ready i don't no what is going on behind the closed doors but us fans are paying painfully for it.

04 Feb 2018 14:25:13
Everton sign new players, then managers say they need time to adjust either to premier league, get to know team mates and systems etc. Other clubs sign players and they are instant success and hit the ground running.
Proves Everton generally sign crap players that no one else wants or we get bullsh** managers, or mixture of both. Ultimately the board are responsible for the appointments.

04 Feb 2018 12:54:15
I watched Sam's interview after the game and while I agree he has every right to be angry with the players, they were awful yet again, he's the one who decided on the personnel and the tactics so he must shoulder a lot of the responsibility himself. We were schooled big time in every department and were lucky Arsenal didn't really go for it otherwise it could have been a much heavier defeat. My only hope now is that we win enough of the remaining games to get us safely to the end of the season. If we can do that some massive decisions will have to be made by Farhad et al as to the future direction of the club because one thing is certain, we can't afford another season like this.

04 Feb 2018 11:49:05
Any chance of a poll Ed? Where do people think we are going to finish this season?

{Ed033's Note -


Everton Table Finish Poll

04 Feb 2018 16:20:20
top half just.

{Ed025's Note - very optimistic mate..

04 Feb 2018 16:28:20
Much appreciated Ed033. Don't mind revealing my vote. 7th, the highest that was put in after 33 votes. Timing is of a negative mindset after the defeat yesterday. Still if you go by this site we are up and down like a yo yo. Hard to remain positive when we are in the middle of a bad patch. Future is bright despite yesterday's defeat.

{Ed033's Note - Maybe you need another poll asking who do you think should be the next Everton manager?

04 Feb 2018 20:35:14
Not for me Ed033. Hate this thing of changing manager as soon as things get tough.

04 Feb 2018 11:29:59
I don’t believe Sam will ever win us over to be honest. He just doesn’t fit. We can’t just blame him though he has made bad decisions but he has done some good too. He has tried to rearrange the squad in one transfer window reducing the squad size and giving it more balance with the importance of taking the burden off the youngsters.
Some have criticised him for saying we tried to copy what Swansea did previously I don’t see what is wrong with that all clubs watch the opposition before to find their weaknesses so think that’s unfair to be honest. And Swansea played with a back five too. The players need to take responsibility and don’t see anything wrong with a manager coming out and saying so, players today get to much protection and earn top dollar and a good old fashioned roasting from the manager maybe what some of them need to pull their finger out.
You look at the quality of our players on paper and we have underperformed all season.
Now Sams decisions that baffle me, I never thought Seamus was going to play yesterday in such a short space of time after the Leicester game. ( better to protect him, I know he had flu too) .
We are out of all other competitions so why rotate our team every game? Especially the back four or five. Yeh Kenny in for Coleman, Keane we invested in and he has played well in games ie Chelsea and Leicester but has been either injured or rotated, stick with him. Jagielka played well Wednesday and surely could manage two games. Williams is past it I think and should have loaned him out on deadline day. We have all said enough about LB and don’t understand the Garbutt situation. I would like to see us for the rest of the season Coleman, Keane, Mangala and Garbutt if not Martina. And stick with them apart from injuries/ suspensions. Then give Kenny and Holgate game time when we are in a more comfortable position ie winning.
Midfield Gana is a given then Davies alongside him as he’s always shown desire I can see maybe why he hasn’t played as much as he has dipped from last year. I don’t know what has happened to Schneiderlin but still believe him and Gana could protect the defence allowing the attacking four of Walcott, Tosun/ Niasse, Bolasie with Sigurdson in the no10 role what we bought him for. And Give DCL game time at the right time.
I don’t agree with Lookman going out on loan because if anything happens to Bolasie or Walcott we lose our width. And the kid has pace and quality.
Sam said Rooney and Sigurdson can’t play together, so next game he does so and then game after he plays neither?
Tosun needs games to adapt so play him or is he not as good as thought? I suppose it’s not fair on the lad to throw him into a team playing with no confidence.

04 Feb 2018 12:23:14
Arsenal at home and arsenal away are 2 totally different teams so to copy Swansea was a big mistake, and any manager worth his salt should know that. Why not play the team that stifled liverpool so well, or even better, why not stick with a winning eleven, barring the changes through injury.
We have 2 games in 3 weeks now, so resting them isn't an issue.

04 Feb 2018 13:18:18
Yes Arsenal away/ Home is different but still can exploit their weaknesses too. They are not Liverpool so will have different threats ie on set pieces one team may be more of a threat or more pace on the break etc.
I agree with not changing a winning team or more importantly a settled team even if we draw players build up partnerships throughout. Coleman and Walcott, Keane and Jagielka, Gana and Schneiderlin should be good the amount they have played. Sigurdson and Tosun as Gylfi will know what runs Cenk will make or if he wants it to feet front post etc.
The point I was making about the manager is one thing Sam has done he’s told the players he’s the manager and has the authority and hopefully get a reaction from the players next game. As I said he doesn’t fit our DNA. Going forward with his replacement though we need a manager who can manage big name players and egos I think Koeman couldn’t or Unsworth that’s why Schneiderlin is playing so poor this season.
I don’t think Howe could either. So who?

04 Feb 2018 14:14:34
Robbie if these players have no respect for the manager then a good manager takes no crap and ships them out.

I like everything you covered, even down to team selection, but not sure about this Mangala yet, but suppose we need to give people a chance to prove them selves (Garbutt and Tosun) . We now have 5 CB with another returning to fitness. I think having a big tram with only one competition brings its own problems, but agree with everyone that a settled back for is essential to any team. I believe Rooney and Sig could play together, Sig 10 and Rooney next to Gana, but only next to Gana as he would need his protection behind him.

I’ve said before, I have supported SA when he came, more that he is the manager, not that I totally agreed with the choice, but it was a shambles at the time. But his team selection yesterday had me baffled, and I admit he is slowly losing me, at first I wasn’t bothered if he stayed past the summer, give the man a chance if he proves himself worthy, but everything he goes by, a settled team, well balanced, he seems to be going against. We all seen it was team selection and formation that let us down, that defence didn’t know where they was meant to be, total confusion. SA took no blame, he should of at least fell on his sword for the first half, acknowledgment would of gone some way with some supporters, but as some one else said he decided to throw the players to the wolves.

Times running out fast for SA, but I think we got more going on than him. This DoF thing is messed up, no direction of play, SA 18 months shows no faith in the manager. There is something wrong internally as you can see when SA was asked about recruitment, answered I don’t know, not down to me, and never looked happy when asked. We are getting something wrong and unless we get this right it won’t matter what manager we have.

04 Feb 2018 15:33:48
Agree Bestyrne, we were better after the formation change and that has to be big Sam's doing. He can't expect a team to learn a whole new style and tactic in 2 days.

04 Feb 2018 15:55:45
Exactly smit, he picked first formation it failed, after change we seen some improvement, albeit arsenal felt no pressure at that time. He made the selection and the change so is responsible for both. He should of turned round and said ‘I got it wrong’ cause we all seen it.

04 Feb 2018 16:51:28
Maybe he'll come out and say he should have been more defensive, like he did after the spurs game.
Let's face it, he doesn't know how to manage big players, it's an art, and one club's pay managers big money for.

04 Feb 2018 23:30:40
His Swansea comparison must have been instantly regretted? What kinda moron says that? Didn't stack up. This man will never take his responsibilities. Are we really surprised?
Get him out before he does years of damage.

04 Feb 2018 10:32:17
Williams should never be in the team, never mind being the captain of Everton.
Brian Labone must be turning in his grave.

He can't head clear a ball or pass to a forward player, only to a right footed left back.

As for Sam his bubble has burst.
He is now blaming the players to cover his backside.

04 Feb 2018 11:14:26
Full clear out needed mag.

04 Feb 2018 09:23:37
I know this has been a bad season so far. But we won't go down I just think there are worse teams than us in the league we will stay up. But I still see a very bright future for the club I know it's hard to believe when you watch that display yesterday yes the manager got it wrong completely wrong. But just look how far we have come over the years new stadium on the way investment it will all come good at some point. New management in the summer new players and I think we will have a good season next year try keep the heads up lads I know it's hard being an Evertonian at the moment but it's our club and our passion things will change for the better.

04 Feb 2018 09:34:19
Still reckon we will finish 7th.

04 Feb 2018 09:36:14
NSNO?

04 Feb 2018 09:43:59
I think defensively we are the worst, i can't think of a team which concedes such bad goals constantly and make so many individual errors in games as our defenders do. It is every game its just embarrassing, Williams should be told to train with the under 18s and not be allowed to Goodison on matchday, his disinterest in Everton is evident and has no self respect to even get in shape to play.

04 Feb 2018 09:51:17
Never thought I would ever here that there is worse teams than us koeman would be sacked again yesterday it's time to pay Sam off something he loves and move on and get ready for pre season with a manager everyone wants and gets behind.

04 Feb 2018 11:16:13
Great post Irish I’m all for that.

04 Feb 2018 11:29:11
Good post that Stef. I agree, get this season out of the way and start with a clean slate, a new manager and director of football, a fresh attitude from the players, a few left footed players in the squad and an approach that embraces the young talent we have at the club (while guided by the experienced players with quality like Walcott, Sigurdsson, Coleman, Rooney, etc) .

That will give them every opportunity to develop into top class players which (if they actually do develop that way) is the only way we will ever break into the top 6/ 7 in the long term. If it means we drop some points along the way but develop some real top quality players over a few years then so be it.

There are plenty of positive things at the club if you look at the long term however the right manager and director of football are vital if we are to fulfill the potential we have.

I also share your confidence that we won’t get relegated because while we are not that far away in points terms from the bottom 3 it is still a pretty significant “head start” on the plenty of teams below us. They can’t all suddenly find form and overtake us because they will all be taking points off each other.

04 Feb 2018 09:19:00
Just remembering back at AGM time when Moshiri said he was the one who identified Tosun when he saw Monaco-Besiktas? If so shows major flaws in our system and questions Walsh role as talent spotter.

04 Feb 2018 07:43:18
Dear Big Sam, don't slag the players off. Have a look at yourself for the team you put on the park. It's like me calling a plumber and asking him to do my electrical work. He would not have a clue. So when you put crap players in positions they can't play let alone in there normal positions, what the Hell do you expect. You are a dead set clown. Get out of this club before you destroy our great club!

{Ed025's Note - i want to argue with you aussie...but i cant..

04 Feb 2018 09:53:34
Well said aussie.

04 Feb 2018 10:00:43
Absolutely Aussie, from the second that team was announced yesterday, everyone to a man could see this had disaster written all over it.
He needs to take full responsibility for yesterday and that humiliation.
I know what he’s doing, the same as always, selecting the games he thinks he can pick up points to keep us safe, that’s not what we’re about SAM.

04 Feb 2018 03:41:32
{Ed's Note - we have posted a new article entitled, Premier League Match Preview Sunday 4th February 2018