Everton Banter 4

12 May 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - MCR has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool, Brighton and the Third-Man Run Problem

12 May 2026 06:37:45
Does anyone know if there is a bus welcome on Sunday?

12 May 2026 00:13:22
Seems we must be grateful, that we nearly, made one of the minor European competition's, that it was unrealistic to expect to do so!
This is Everton, only the best is good enough. Latin may not be in our new owners' grasp, but they sure as hell must recognise that the colapse of the last four games, is totally unacceptable, with even a modicum of performance, we could realistically have been in a Champions League place.


So please, thank Moyes for his contribution, then go and at least, compete for the Bournemouth manager signature.

12 May 2026 10:13:19
Success is relative, and lots of our fans see it differently. Based on our history and success 40 years ago, fans expect more. Based on our flirtation with relegation time and time again over the past decade, it's seen as a step in the right direction.

Could not have been better, yes. Is it a disaster, no.
I think we're well set for a good summer, and stability may be worth more than we realise.

12 May 2026 13:26:08
With you on that, JB. Beginning of last season, that was what all of us wanted, the team we have and the manager have done well this season. We move on now, get recruits in the summer and go again. Well pleased how this season has turned out, lovely weekends and no sleepless nights, mate, with better things to come.

12 May 2026 19:33:57
We could still finish 13th if things go badly.

12 May 2026 20:42:51
Funnily enough, Always Blues, I was contemplating yesterday the fact that we cannot keep up with the mighty Bournemouth, Brighton or Brentford teams that have not won a trophy between them and people on here are "well chuffed".


This against Everton with 9 league wins, five FA Cups and a Cup Winners' Cup.
30 years of crap, how the mighty have fallen. I have a tattoo on my arm that says "Nil Satis Nisi Optimum" and it doesn't mean "mid-table is good enough"!

12 May 2026 22:14:04
We're 1 point better off this season, with 2 games to play. So, yes, we have improved enough to not worry about relegation at all this season, which has done all our stress levels the world of good.

That is not good enough. More points and a higher finish in the league were very achievable this season. We brought in players like Grealish and KDH that definitely improved our team. Those 2 improved us in the areas we were strongest last season, LW and CAM (Ndiaye & Alcaraz) . Ndiaye went RW and did well, but is now back at LW.

Barry hasn't improved us upfront yet. Hopefully he does in the future, if he's still with us. But how or why we haven't brought in a RB I will never understand, especially as we now have a CB playing RB all season.

Since we beat Chelsea, we have been terrible, especially our back line. All 4 of them are not playing well, yet start every game. So, they can and should easily be replaced by better players. I don't rate Keane, think Mykolenko brings nothing to the team, and Tarkowski looks like he's well past his best.

Bring in a RB asap, try O'Brien at CB, and bring in another CB if Branthwaite's injury is a recurring hamstring. If Aznou was brought in to replace Myko, then play him and let Myko be the cover. And, if Aznou is no better than Myko, get shot of him and bring in someone that is better than Myko. There are plenty of LBs that are steady defensively and can help in the attacking third.
All this is only my opinion.

11 May 2026 22:59:34
Did anyone catch Nigel Martyn is representing England National Cricket team for over 60s? Fair play to him.

11 May 2026 20:23:49
10th or just above finish this season means we have quickly found our level and can prepare to begin moving up this Summer. I echo what others have said a RB/WB is a priority along with at least one quality striker but please not Delap, Parrot or god forbid Wilson.

11 May 2026 20:30:16
After watching our last few games those players in would be the bare minimum, we have several that need replacing.

11 May 2026 21:03:50
We need to play some of those who sit on the bench week after week to see how they perform.

11 May 2026 22:31:32
Fully expect the owners to invest in the summer. My gut feeling is we'll see 4 or 5 come in. We have no attacking threat from our full backs, a couple of ageing, slow centre backs, no decent strikers, and too much reliance on a couple of attackers.

12 May 2026 07:49:17
Spot on, JB.

12 May 2026 08:42:47
We don't know what we have because, barring injuries, we only see the same 11 every week.

12 May 2026 10:14:05
C'mon now, sometimes he swaps Barry and Paul Chuckle about up top.

12 May 2026 13:26:16
We've been in dire straits for years and bizarrely some people are now unhappy with the job Moyes is doing. I personally don't agree with some of his decisions/tactics, but we've had a safe season for the first time in years (apart from him turning last yr into a safe season when he came in) and the club feels on a stable footing for the first time in a decade. We desperately need two quality full backs that are good going forward - but we're rebuilding and need to be patient. Everyone wanted immediate success when Moshiri came in - we spent woefully, chopped and changed managers, and became a mess of a club.


Interesting note on the strikers - I don't think either of them are good enough for where we want to be (but love Beto work rate and attitude) . Between them they've scored 14 in last 17 league games. Given that there's pretty much only ever one of them on the pitch at a time, that seems a pretty good return. Can't be many other strikers in the league that have scored 14 in last 17?

12 May 2026 14:06:53
Agree with what you are saying, Toffee, in particular over RB/LB positions, given that Moyes will not try Aznou, so no one knows his capabilities.
Good stats about strikers!

11 May 2026 19:46:20
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Chelsea - A Not So Quick Liverpool Perspective

11 May 2026 11:12:41
{Ed's Note - Grim has posted a new article entitled, United’s Summer Rebuild: Who Stays and Who Goes?

10 May 2026 21:28:51
VAR call in Arsenal game: goalkeeper obstructed goal cancelled. Not a word from commentators or VAR/referee about the on VAR/screen double arm around body of West Ham attackers by Arsenal.

10 May 2026 22:32:32
Yep, another case of a player with his back to the cross while grabbing the opposing player. It's an absolute joke now.

11 May 2026 07:22:25
I remember Mike Dean at the start of the season a few years back calling pens for this and it quickly stopped. Shame that, as eventually the players would get the message that it's hurting them and would stop. Refs have no bottle on this, and the whole corner situation is compromised in its integrity.

11 May 2026 09:40:56
In the Palace game, there were also a number of clear dives from their players which went unchallenged.

11 May 2026 11:56:14
I also remember when Mike Dean started that early season, and I am sure he was advised to stop doing it from the powers that be.

11 May 2026 18:27:54
Should just start giving pens, it's like watching judo from most set pieces. Just want consistency. 1 game it's not given, then later in the day a similar foul or handball is given. Shocking, because the refs all interpret it different or don't actually know the rules themselves.

They should wear shirts that have velcro holding it together, so if a player grabs the shirt it will come off in their hands. Simple.

11 May 2026 19:15:24
Read an article saying the 'grappling' incidents were looked at but because they were both doing it, it cancelled each other out. The incident with the keeper was the first one in the order of fouls. The attacking West Ham player who fouled the keeper was also being fouled - if he didn't impede the goalie, it should have been a pen.



Dirty tactics. Takes the fun out of the game. My 7 year old even stated "it's what you have to do these days". Games gone to the dogs.

11 May 2026 20:26:48
Cancels each other out. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

11 May 2026 22:23:47
That's what it said, Dms - daft isn't it?

Fouls a foul. If it's off the ball, go back and book them both. It'd stop them doing it.

10 May 2026 17:39:37
Know we are vertually done on Europe qualification, but please, please, please, can we put O'Brien in as c/back, Keane as an bench player, at best, I'm sure some Sunday league would love him, but sold as see, in case anyone takes him, then comes for their money back.


PS. Not just his goal, Betto was having a fine game, why take him off for Barry, made no seance.

10 May 2026 18:44:31
Certainly made no sense when it was clear both Ndiaye and KDH were off it today.

10 May 2026 18:54:08
Made no sense to bring Alcaraz on in the 94th minute either. Daft subs today. Team should have won it, but Moyes made his usual substitutes.

Should have buried that game in the first half.

10 May 2026 19:26:12
Agree BMD about Ndiaye and Dewsbury Hall. Both have been guilty of extremely poor finishing in past few games. Hopefully, they get their shooting boots back on for last couple of games. Also, I thought Tim was our best player today. Didn't stop running and put himself about. But knowing Moyes, he will put Gueye back in once fit.

10 May 2026 19:59:05
It seems certain players just get a free pass. KDH and N'Diaye were well off it, yet they don't get taken off, whereas you'll probably see Rohl dropped after today. Keane and Tarks should not be starting together, but they do every week, leaving our best (fit) CB at right back. Also, Patterson never gets a look in.

10 May 2026 20:39:09
The signing of a RB is a must this summer, as OBrien is badly needed in centre of defence, in particular, as we don't yet know the full extent of Branthwaite injury, or his long term situation.
It may also mean the signing of another CB to avoid long term use of Tarkowski and Keane.

But not Stones (no doubting been a classy player) as he will be expensive in terms of wages, and is proven to be unreliable in terms of fitness over many years.

11 May 2026 03:23:12
I think that Europe is beyond us now & the dust should be allowed to settle.
I thank David for his service, but we need a more progressive manager to take us to the next level.
Definitely has to be O'Brien with Branthwaite at centre half next season. Tim & Merlin should be playing when fit.
I think we need a right back (surprise) & a striker (no way) .

Bet you didn't see that coming, & I'm always available if TFG want to give me a bell.
Overall though, I'm happy to have been worry free in April/May, but we have so much potential that a good positive coach could easily take us top 6 or higher.

NSNO UTFT.

11 May 2026 13:35:10
I worry that Branthwaite is going to be another DCL.

{Ed025's Note - i would not be giving up on him just yet DMS..

10 May 2026 16:22:00
Disappointed again with our performance and result. Missed chances, poor defensively and Moyes' refusal to make changes have cost us another 3pts.

The defensive problems are well known, Keane and Tarkowski can’t play together as they’re too slow and not sharp at all. We have to score 3-4 goals to win a game.

We created enough chances today to score 3+ goals, but KDH and Ndiaye let their teammates down with their poor finishing.



As for Moyes in-game tactics or lack of them, why bring Alcaraz on in 93rd minute? It was blatantly obvious we needed fresh legs and KDH was struggling in all departments. A blind man can see how poor we are defensively, so why sit back and invite crosses?

10 May 2026 16:49:33
It is mystifying, Joe.

10 May 2026 18:20:17
It's inevitable. We know, the team knows, and the opposition knows that we can't retain a winning position at the end of a game.

{Ed025's Note - its a flawed mentality for me Mike especially with the defenders who seem to panic when the pressure is on mate..

10 May 2026 19:31:00
Agree Ed025. We go to pieces in last few mins when under pressure. It just seems instilled to the team to be nervous and make mistakes from 85+ mins. But that's where Tarks should be willing them on. Can't fault Tim, Garner or Beto on today's performance. They put everything into it. Thought Rohl had another decent game considering he's not a right winger