Everton banter 10

08 Feb 2026 11:09:42
I think what Davey did yesterday not to play JB from the start and give him the full 90 mins plus was the right thing to do, JB played the whole game previously so ease him back, I now read he will start on Tuesday most likely all good stuff we really need JB fit for the rest of this season Europe beckons, excellent result yesterday.

07 Feb 2026 22:49:18
First time poster but followed for a while and respect everyone's opinions and always a great read.

Another great away result but very frustrating having to follow a very poor first half and having to chase a game - amazing to see us be able to do that on a regular basis given conceding first goal always meant we lost the game over the last few seasons.

Main frustration for me is the lack of use of the youngsters who've shown ability. Jury is out on Dibling (but happy to give him time) but after Rohl and Aznou gave their best and most positive performance they haven't been seen since. Their confidence if / when they're called upon will be shot.

07 Feb 2026 23:29:15
I’m the same read all comments but never thought had the right to say stuff as don’t go the game as played all my life then had kids who now take up my Saturdays playing football

For the last 2 seasons we didn’t have shots pass forward an we all complained as we never scored

We actually creating chances now and people still complain! If we attacked for 90 mins we would loose every game as the other team would pick us off then we would complain

The entertaining game of football as we wish to see has gone especially with VAR cancelling every goal off by a inch or a pull of hair so we have to play to that as everyone else does meaning never actually play attacking footballing till needed….

Anyone who says we should from the start and all game and every game doesn’t understand the league and the way it’s played

Arsenal top of league not nice football just a good squad better than there opponents especially at corners

Something if we hadn’t of conceded at this year we may be even higher in league than we have been for a long while.

08 Feb 2026 08:03:51
I get your point Let’s Be, and welcome to your first post. Continuously attacking is just not possible with this side but is it too much to expect some attacking at least in the first half. We are poor in the first half every game almost, and this must be addressed. We won this weekend and that’s great but honestly once they scored I expected nothing more than a draw as we struggle to get more than one goal per game.

Attacking for 90 mins is not realistic but performing in the first half is not a lot to ask.

Keep the posts coming mate, you too Tommo.

08 Feb 2026 09:15:23
It was like this in Moyes 11 years with us. Under him he likes to play cautious in the first 30 mins then take a foothold. It's just how he thinks. It's not bad or wrong but most of the time we concede a goal and then we have to fight back.

I've pointed this out before. Steven Naismith said he'd never player for a club or manager before that purposely set up to get a draw out of the game. That is what Moyes is.

However, he gets Europe and will stabilise and build the club. As tough as it seems I'd rather that than fight at the bottom of the league every season.

We're 8th and Europe is still possible but this isn't going to be pretty to watch and will frustrate everyone but just take a look back to 18 months ago and the alternative.

{Ed025's Note - i agree with all of that John..

08 Feb 2026 10:16:07
Was going to post something very similar, so thanks John for saving me the time?

It is definitely how I remember us previously under Moyes, I always felt it was like we went in the the approach of sussing a team out for 45 minutes then acting on that in the second half.

When it works I'm all for it, but sometimes we find ourselves too far behind and without reliable goals it can be tough but overall it seems to work more often than not.

{Ed025's Note - i just cant get my head around why we dont start with that intensity from the off EFCONE?, surely if you get the lead its easier to protect it rather than go chasing the game mate?..

08 Feb 2026 12:39:51
Sorry but I don’t see it as Moyes sussing out the opposition in the first half. Let’s be honest here we have rode our luck in the first half of to many games now and this has to stop. Yesterday our defence was all over the place and it wasn’t just the fault of the full backs. We are playing two centre backs who are great at heading the ball away, but are slow to react when players run at them.
Whether we get Europe or not we are safe from relegation. It is now time to start shaping the team for the future. O’Brien and Branthwaite should be in the centre, play Patterson till the end of season and see how he goes with a run of games.

As for Micky well he seemed to be playing three or four positions yesterday, but did set up the goal.
Wide players, we don’t need to buy Grealish we need pace, and we have a good young crop of wide players, especially if we add George to that group. Midfield we have KDH, Garner, Armstrong and Rohl all a good age.
Forwards we are very weak, but looking at many of the teams we have played they all have the same problem.
So the future is very promising but we have to start building on it now.

08 Feb 2026 13:13:06
It's almost like he is hoping the other team expend all their energy first and then we take advantage when they tire. Which to be fair totally worked yesterday.

But agree, I would much rather we put them on the back foot than the other way round. Although I can think of a lot of games when we have done that and then the opposite happens, we concede late, let teams back into it late and lose the momentum and end up losing the games. Think of all those 2-0 leads we blew not so long ago
.

08 Feb 2026 21:28:47
BJU, I too, agree with everything you say. And I also agree with lots of things said from the other posters after you. First half yesterday was terrible and it's been that way for far too many games now.

IMO our quality came through yesterday but we were fortunate not to be 2 or 3 down at halftime. It's so frustrating watching us start games this way because we know we can do MUCH better. The sooner Branthwaite is back in the centre and we play a right back at . right back the more balance we will have throughout the team.

Mykolenko can do a job and done brilliant for our 1st goal but he needs improving on asap. I was confused where he was playing in the 1st half, he was everywhere but where we needed him. He did play much better 2nd half.

07 Feb 2026 20:47:15
Just chucking it out there but is kdh signing of the season? Has to be.

{Ed025's Note - hes right up there Witty..

07 Feb 2026 22:34:09
Tuchel there today, wonder if he’s in the mix for a World Cup spot?

{Ed025's Note - i doubt it JB, that Tuchel is so set in his ways mate..

08 Feb 2026 08:05:22
Tuchel was there to see if he could find a reason not to pick Pickford ?.

08 Feb 2026 12:40:33
Well Jordan didn’t give him one.

08 Feb 2026 21:35:16
I think Garners numbers are getting him noticed by Tuchel and not KDH.
But in response to Witty, what a signing he has been, he looks like he's been here as long as Coleman.
He doesn't have blistering pace but he can see and execute a pass much quicker than most other players can react to it, so doesn't need pace.

10 Feb 2026 15:01:32
Joe mc. Been a long time admirer of kdh thought he was always the type of player we needed stretching back to his leicester city days. Totally get that re him looking like he's been with us for ages. He has always looked like an everton player to me!

07 Feb 2026 20:23:53
Up to 7th
Does Moyes even know what he's doing? ?.

07 Feb 2026 20:37:05
He sure does mate.

07 Feb 2026 20:51:45
Ive just read aload of earlier stuff on written here on Banter . ha ha ha ha ha ha.

07 Feb 2026 22:11:31
Well it was a great win. KDH was fantastic. Now that we have the AFCON and injured back the squad looks so much better. Now let's see some wins at home.
As soon as Branthwaite is fully match fit he and O'Brien should to be the starting center-backs.

{Ed025's Note - should being the operative word Mike, i agree with you mate but i will be surprised if its not Tarks and Keano in the middle next week..

08 Feb 2026 00:52:08
Think we need Branthwaite from the start against Bournemouth they were the better side against Villa yesterday, and that Brazilian kid Rayan is a quicky.

07 Feb 2026 23:20:49
Yes Ed025 mate, don't know why, defense was a shambles in the first half, they could have been 3-0 up but they didn't so full credit to the team for a great recovery and win.
The point is we have players and combinations that would make us even better, so credit to where we are but let's improve with the players we have.

A would like to see more of Aznou and maybe a cameo or two of Braiden Graham.
I know Barry has helped us recently with goals but to call him a footballer is more than a little stretch and having said that he is better than Beto!

{Ed025's Note - i dont think there is much between them to be honest Mike, both like pinball mushrooms...the ball just bounces off them..

08 Feb 2026 08:08:45
I expect it to be Tarks and Branthwaite on Tuesday, seems Moyes is managing the minutes which annoyingly I agree with.

We need to start well and score early to get the HDS rocking under the lights.

07 Feb 2026 18:40:08
Pickford stepped up again today. Made a brilliant save after Fulham went ahead, denying Chuckweze (spelling) and then again, rushed out to thwart Smith Rowe. The amount of times that lad bails us out is bordering on ridiculous. He is easily in the conversation of begin one of the most underrated PL players of all time.

07 Feb 2026 19:04:16
Your right BN he is invaluable mate, he has lapses now and again but he’s kept us in so many games, his is the first name on the Team sheet every week absolutely brilliant mate.

07 Feb 2026 19:45:33
He has really worked on eradicating those ‘bury your head in your hands’ moments. The defence weren’t great in front of him today.

08 Feb 2026 12:42:46
That’s putting it mildly BR.

07 Feb 2026 18:10:24
I agree first half was poor but what a second half and thoroughly deserved, subs were really good changed the game completely, we are up to 7th now and pleased with how this season is going, not so long ago a couple on here thought Notts Forest were far superior to us, Mr Dyche must be on his final warning.

07 Feb 2026 20:54:42
Although the suns were great, you have to question the starting line up, tactics and instructions for the first half.

Delighted we won. Just wished we didn’t make it harder on ourselves.

It would be nice to record a big win out two by three or more goals at home. We’ve done it once haven’t we with many games win by one?

07 Feb 2026 17:45:28
Tyrone did well when he came on so did Beto think it’s time Beto starts instead of Barry.

{Ed025's Note - i would have a scarecrow up front instead of him mate..

07 Feb 2026 18:14:00
Neither of them are good enough to start for me Gents. Barry was absolutely woeful today. His link up play is abysmal. Hopefully we can limp to summer and get someone in.

07 Feb 2026 18:34:02
I'd put Alcaraz up front. He can play there and he can win headers for a small guy.

07 Feb 2026 18:41:40
He did GB especially after having done a full service on Rita's motor this morning.

07 Feb 2026 18:47:35
Honestly i'd rather play with 10 men. For me beto works hard and seems a decent guy, but isn't close to being a starting striker for me.

07 Feb 2026 19:00:31
Brilliant Big Reg. Not the first time GB has called the lad Tyrone and it was the first thing that came to my mind hahaha.

07 Feb 2026 19:27:26
Ha ha Tyrique George, bloney predictive text grrrrr.

07 Feb 2026 19:59:07
Tyrique may end up playing as a number 9 at this rate.

{Ed025's Note - im all for that JB..

07 Feb 2026 17:00:33
Great second half early subs changed this around up to 7 th, get rid of Moyes yeah right well done all.

{Ed025's Note - it was a great 2nd half GB but what what the hell was that first half all about, and that seems to be the norm now mate..

07 Feb 2026 17:27:01
We were very lucky to get the 3 imo GB. That starting 11 was criminal imo mate. We were very fortunate to have the calibre of players to bring on but that doesn't make me think it was part of the plan.

Terrible first team selection imo and we got away with one.

{Ed025's Note - absolutely BN, i know i sound like a moaner but i hate the way we start games mate..

07 Feb 2026 17:32:28
The last 3 games have been the same bad first half’s then turn it around in the 2nd still a good win.

07 Feb 2026 17:41:47
Not moaning at all Ed. For me there is simply no excuse for it mate.

Penysarn, 100% a good win! Any win is a good win but we were unbelievably lucky imo.

{Ed025's Note - its just that we wait until we are behind before we decide to pull our fingers out BN, you can get away with it the odd time mate but if we carry on you can bet your life we will come a cropper mate..

07 Feb 2026 17:44:03
We have such a good bench now Ed and to give Moyes his due he changed it early on and that made the difference mate, unlucky with the Myko deflection into our goal but agree we need to pull our socks up first half Bournemouth up next at home so good chance to get it right.

{Ed025's Note - i would sooner start off with a good side though GB rather than rely on our bench to pull us out the crap mate, and we need to nail that bloody Barry to that bench imo..

07 Feb 2026 18:48:49
Now aye, I won't have your use my name in vain ed :)

07 Feb 2026 19:12:57
Why praise Moyes for making changes when it’s his set up to start with that is wrong. Get it right first time.

07 Feb 2026 19:38:09
If we win the double some here would moan cause we didn't win the treble but compared to the past five years I'm quite happy with the progress.

Moyes isn't the long term answer, we all know that, why do you think the January window was so quiet. There will be changes in the summer and then we'll see the transfers we all want.

NSNO UTFT.

{Ed025's Note - i think we all see the progress WT, i think the bugbear is that we have the players to put some teams to the sword mate but the set up is so bland and negative that we start off looking to keep teams at bay rather than going for the jugular from the outset..

07 Feb 2026 22:41:19
It’s not moaning it’s stating the bloody obvious.

08 Feb 2026 10:10:44
I’d personally take DM’s team selection against any team that we beat away from home. The aim of the game is to come away with three points and he keeps doing so. I think fans need to remember with the small squad we have after ONE summer window DM is transforming EFC.
People are surprised that we were so slow in the first half and we weren’t putting them under pressure enough? No, we were the away team and (surprise! ) the home team with the same amount of points than us playing in front of their home fans played better than us for 45 minutes! For nothing! WE came away with 3 points away from home again and climb up the table.

UTFT.

{Ed025's Note - thats fine Peter, but we are the same at home mate and for me that has to change..

08 Feb 2026 10:49:03
It’s a new home tbf though Ed and as history has taught us it will take time to settle. West Ham, Tottenham and even Arsenal also struggled to start with in their new homes. We even mentioned this on here before the season had even started. If we scored 5 in the second half yesterday it would still be criticism on here today. Too many fans think they can manage, it’s hysterical.
We’re in February and are in a position to fight for Europe.

I’m quite sure every fan would have taken this before the season started.
Massive shout out to the away fans yesterday they were brilliant, I couldn’t make the trip but will be at the United game after the break. Clearly the key in our new home is to score first.
Going to go back to just reading the posts on here, I find most views real odd especially when we’re picking up points and moving up the table.
All the best anyway mate. UTT.

{Ed025's Note - im more than happy with the way things are going Peter i must say, but after what we have been through in our recent past you cant really blame supporters being a little bit greedy mate, luckily because im an old git i have had some great times and seen some teams but a lot of our younger fans have yet to witness that, i feel we are close you know and with a few more recruits and a bit less pragmatic tactics we could be on the cusp of bringing back the good times..

07 Feb 2026 15:52:09
Another utter sh**e goal to concede. Keane should have cleaned house. Tarkowski dreadful on the 2nd ball.

Don't care what any statistics show, our defence is so average. Pickford bails them out every single week and we get saved by the woodwork consistently.

Tarkowski has to be one of the most overrated defenders I have ever seen, just because he throws his body in front of shots every week and makes some clearances. Jagielka used to do that but that bloke was a proper defender at the same time.

Mykolenko, please just go in the summer.

No chance we conceded that goal if Branthwaite is in the middle. Simple.

07 Feb 2026 16:33:22
Is Aznou injured? Not even on the bench. With the amount of young attacking talent we have why are we sticking with the same old guard faces.

07 Feb 2026 17:08:04
Alot better 2nd half again. Thought Fulham we're the better team 1st half and could of been out of site but we did have a couple of chances aswell was a decent game to watch i Thought.

And another 3 points on the road. I don't agree with some team selections but he gets results. Think George is going to be a fan favourite from his little cameo aswell.

07 Feb 2026 17:25:31
A lot better 2nd half Ron but that was when we made substitutions and actually got a winger on the flank instead of Armstrong. That is no dig at Armstrong btw. Fulham should have been out of sight.

George looks like he has a lot about him mate.

07 Feb 2026 18:34:57
Totally agree BN Armstrong isn't a winger gave the ball away a few times but that's expected with his age and the level he is playing at. Got a special player there when he eventually plays in his favoured position.

did Mykolenko shoot when it went to KDH for the equaliser ? ? ?. Idrissa shouldn't be starting for me either been a great player but needs to be benched for me.

07 Feb 2026 15:51:00
Imagine, if we had a fightback, would he get a chance?

07 Feb 2026 17:00:21
That was rightback. Predictive text. Anyway what do I know about football. Well done the blues.

07 Feb 2026 15:33:58
They are killing us on the left hand side just shows we need a decent right back Oh I forgot we can't get one.