Everton banter 9

09 Feb 2026 07:39:05
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, United’s Summer Priorities: Midfield First, Then Balance

09 Feb 2026 07:11:06
Something to put a smile on your faces today blues.

We are 7 points from 4th place after 25 games. We are also 14 points from 18th after 25 games! 3 points tomorrow and we could be 6th. 3 pints tomorrow and I won't care if we get them or not!

Some of those nightmares from the past few years are starting to fade away. Let's embrace where we are.

09 Feb 2026 14:45:12
All thanks to our manager look where we were in January last year when he took over, excellent achievement with the squad he started with.

09 Feb 2026 17:59:53
To be honest I wasn’t a fan of the appointment of Moyes but given our situation I couldn’t argue with it. And it is a relief to be where we are.

But I still have my reservations about how far we can go with this brand of football. Flirting with Europe every season would be a nice change but I’m sure that would be the limit.

Not wanting to sound negative though so I’m happy that yes those horrible feelings of perhaps dropping out of this league are fading.

09 Feb 2026 20:25:41
Maybe he isn’t mate but I’m sure another window for recruits and we will progress, our position now from this time last year is remarkable.

09 Feb 2026 03:42:51
Man City are interested in signing KDH for £40 million. double it and it still won't be enough.
We have the nucleus of a decent team emerging and he alongside Jimmy is central to that.
We're no longer a selling club thankfully.

NSNO UTFT IMWT.

09 Feb 2026 07:38:03
Keeping hold of our better players will be as important as buying new ones in the summer. Not surprised people are taking notice of a few.

09 Feb 2026 07:43:32
Can’t see City needing him to be fair.

09 Feb 2026 09:45:49
A lot of competition for places at Man City already, can't see why he would want to go with no guarantee of first team football.
He has already been in this position once at Chelsea, hence him leaving them.

09 Feb 2026 11:57:14
Load of cobblers mate.

09 Feb 2026 12:50:30
Made up stories, we will get a lot more the better we get and the higher up the table we go.

09 Feb 2026 12:59:34
Total codswallop.

09 Feb 2026 17:57:18
Probably only linked because his ex Leicester and Chelsea boss is linked with taking over from pep. lazy journalism if you ask me.

09 Feb 2026 18:55:41
Codswallop! What a great word haha.

09 Feb 2026 20:00:05
The story is that Citeh offered 35m in the window but we were holding out for 40m. Like we would let him go for that in any case or that they wouldn't up the offer for a player they really want.


I can see us really struggling next season what with qualifying for Europe with a paper thin squad and having sold Garner, Branthwaite and Ndaiye to Manure and Dewsbury Hall to Citeh!

09 Feb 2026 20:42:00
Having just signed him, that makes no sense. Lazy journalism.

09 Feb 2026 22:06:52
Manchester United will target Everton's 25-year-old Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye if Rashford moves to Barcelona on a permanent deal. (Caught Offside)

09 Feb 2026 22:22:01
Don’t think they want Rashford do they?

08 Feb 2026 17:12:47
So as it stands, 8th place is likely to give us European football next season being the conference league. Top 5 teams likely to qualify for Champions league with 6th, 7th and 8th place gaining European football…. only reason it wouldn’t happen was if any team lower than 8th place won the FA cup apparently.

08 Feb 2026 17:03:00
Tell you what, Keane with some absolute criminal "defending" for their goal yesterday. The more times I watch it the more I cringe. I think it is safe to say that we will see him dropped and JB will come in for the Bournemouth game.

Amazing what happens when you bring a winger on too. Not digging Armstrong out but he lost the ball too often yesterday. If you are going to play him, play him in the middle where he is at home.

09 Feb 2026 15:41:18
Yes spot on BN, keanes mistake stuck out like a sore thumb, although tarks was also rubbish most of the game too, as I mentioned in my post after the game it has to be time to put branthwaite and O’Brien together with a natural balance of Patterson on the right but obviously Moyes ain’t going to do that.

As for Armstrong somebody mentioned about playing him in the 10 and dropping KDH back to 8 which is his more natural position as Armstrong is definitely wasted out wide.

{Ed025's Note - count me in for all of that Col..

09 Feb 2026 16:01:09
Agree with that, bn. Only plus side is that MK has had a solid season so far and these kind of mistakes have been few and far between in comparison to seasons gone by. Hopefully it's just a blip.

Tarks hasn't been at the races this season and has caused more mayhem in our own box than we would expect from him. Feels like he has been playing catch up after missing pre-season and isn't fully. himself.

09 Feb 2026 17:33:37
Totally agree Col, and I suggested much the same in my post the other day.
A proper RB, would also surely give us another attacking dimension compared to now.

08 Feb 2026 16:43:00
On another note, how good did that kit look.

08 Feb 2026 16:24:55
Is it just me? Do we remember the shoestring budget Dm worked with back in the day . Slowly he built a team bit by bit Coleman, Jags, Distan, Baines, Pienaar, Arteta, Miralles, Cahill, Ferguson, to name a few, top four finish, European football . Now with a decent fund pot in one year with one summer window we have gone from relegation battles to top ten and maybe pushing for Europe competition. Can we all not give our heads a wobble and have a bit of stability and growth for a while before we start moaning about the quality of football .

According to our new song the school of science is on its way back!
Ffs people chill the fk out and maybe next season we can win every game have 38 clean sheets and win the treble nay quadruple if we qualify for Europe this year oh and while I’m at it a striker that will score 59 goals a season.
Just askin for a friend!

08 Feb 2026 20:24:58
Actually the first time around he made a total of 74 signings in 11 years ?‍♂️.

09 Feb 2026 07:15:13
And in relation to what I posted, your point is what exactly?
How many he signed in 11 years is irrelevant what he achieved and the football we were able to play at the end of his time and the same squad Martinez inherited is. We were singing the school of science is on its way back, back then as well.


In one year not even a full season we have improved massively all I asked was can we have a period of stability and more growth . I understand a lot of our fans didn’t want him back but you cannot deny what he did at West Ham and the difference to where we are now.

09 Feb 2026 10:46:41
How is it irrelevant and what did we achieve exactly? Did we win something and I missed it?

09 Feb 2026 14:01:45
I’d be more inclined to hear what relevance you think it has to my point that we need a period of stability and growth. That flair and style of play comes with a decent budget and a manager that encourages the likes of Grealish to express himself and that expressive attacking football comes when you can bring in the right people. Moyes is doing that, but to do that you need solid defensive qualities as well. What took 10-11 seasons to achieve is pretty close after one year and already people are saying don’t renew his contract (NOT YOU BMD as far as I’m aware) so that’s where my original post was directed and I named but a few of those 70 odd signings he made, he didn't get it right all the time but he did get there in the end and now he has a budget to match his ambition and hopefully time to bring it to fruition with the ability to attract players of quality.


I still fail to see what relevance the number of players he signed over an 11 year period has to do with stability and growth .
I have enjoyed this debate/banter and while I don’t understand where you’re coming from I appreciate that it’s your point of view and welcome your future comments, perhaps maybe with some more substance to provide better understanding on my behalf .
Take care and if we meet at the game I can get you a pint. UTFT.

09 Feb 2026 14:43:58
Calm down calm down?.

09 Feb 2026 18:19:24
I might just hold you to that BC. ?.

08 Feb 2026 14:56:28
I see that our manager has now been in place for one year now and what a year he has had, from bringing the Team from virtually rock bottom up to the top ten some achievement that full credit goes to him, hope he gets a new contract sorted shortly, another transfer window in the summer and we can achieve an even higher spot and all that goes with it, good good times ahead.

08 Feb 2026 15:54:41
He should get praise for the last year GB. I don’t think we need to offer him a new contract though. The fans will expect us to kick on again next season, and the brand of football does need to improve. Let’s see how we are this time next year.

08 Feb 2026 16:09:58
I think it will mate KDH, Ndiaye, JB and now George apart from Jack we have almost all our top players back, I see no reason why we can’t push on now and get a European spot only my opinion but the signs are good mate.

08 Feb 2026 20:11:56
. but, don't be too disheartened if we dont!

08 Feb 2026 14:48:45
After the Bournemouth match on Tues, no game for almost two weeks due to FA Cup.
Hopefully gives chance for everyone to be fully fit.
Is it worth starting Patterson on Tuesday as our only proper RB, rather than OBrien (move him to centre of defence? ) , and also give full home debut to George.

08 Feb 2026 15:51:48
I’m I go with that mate definitely give George a starting place very good player and very quick.

08 Feb 2026 16:00:50
You do realise that won’t happen don’t you.

09 Feb 2026 14:43:00
Wasn’t the same being said about early subs hmmmm.

09 Feb 2026 18:22:10
GB he had to make early changes because the team he picked were going nowhere. Guarantee if they hadn’t scored first half he wouldn’t have changed anything.

08 Feb 2026 12:10:11
Apologies for any controversy this may cause in advance.
I personally don, t want European football next season, we have, nt got the squad to compete in it and all the other competitions and you only have to look at Spurs, Newcastle etc and see how it screws up their Premier League performance. Maybe next year after another rebuild we will be in better shape.
Also once we reach the 40 point safety net how about getting our youngsters ready for next season. Anjou, Rohl, Dibling, George, Graham. Rest Keane, Tarkowski, Guyere, McNeil, Beto, Mykolenko and give the youngsters their chance, they are the future and it may save us a fortune next window.

They will only grow with minutes given and hopefully gain in confidence. We can always substitute if needed.
We have the nucleus of a good team going forward, but let’s not lose or sell our up and coming youngsters as we have previously by not giving them a chance. We already have a couple of so called senior players who are not Premier league Standard, so what do we have to lose and maybe everything to gain.

08 Feb 2026 13:20:48
You’re right Yam, we don’t have the squad for it right now. If we achieved a spot though, we’d surely look to build a bigger squad over the summer to manage the increase in games. No guarantee we’ll be in touching distance this time next season, other teams will also strengthen. I hope we nick it personally.

08 Feb 2026 13:29:34
I think it depends what competition tbh. That conference league, you could literally field a side of McNeils and Mykos and have a fair crack at it imo.

The obscure European trips away are just too good to pass up for me.

Recruitment team would have to do their jobs, after all, we have been told that we have the best in class.

08 Feb 2026 14:26:33
Yes you are correct, we don't have the squad, now. However the positives of getting into Europe outweigh the negatives in my humble opinion, both from the clubs viewpoint and as importantly the supporters who need it. We will be able to attract better players, will bring in more revenue and the Manager, whoever it may be, will be forced to use and try out fringe players and youngsters.

We are unlikely to get into the Champions League but one of the other European cups would be an ideal introduction to Europe.

{Ed025's Note - i agree Mike..

08 Feb 2026 14:59:54
Spot on Mike, we have to aspire to better than mid table. The revenue alone makes it worthwhile.

08 Feb 2026 20:30:37
Playing the kids after we get to 40points is exactly what we should be doing. If not all at once, cameos and bit part games.

08 Feb 2026 21:14:24
I don't understand how anyone can say they don't want us to qualify for Europe because we are nit ready. How do you know we're not ready?

Spurs and Newcastle are flying in Europe and struggling in the league because they have been so inconsistent. If we qualify for Europe we will have earned more prize money for finishing further up the league, can try and attract better quality of player and many many other positives for the club. If the only reason fans don't want us to qualify is because 'hypothetically' we don't have the squad to compete on another front, then bring it on and we will find out.

Seeing we're thinking hypothetically I hope we finish in top 4 or 5 and qualify for the Champions league, just like Spurs, Villa and Newcastle have done recently. COYB!

09 Feb 2026 13:32:16
Newcastle have made around 30m so far.

08 Feb 2026 11:37:27
Well firstly absolutely delighted with yesterdays win but let’s be brutally honest folks they should of been out of sight by half time so we totally got away with it, better sides will punish us, Reading yesterdays comments I agree why are we not starting on the front foot in games with high press and intensity, it’s baffling, we have to go behind before we start waking up.

As for tarks and Keane yesterday It looked like laurel and hardy could have done a better job.

It has to be time now surely to bring O’Brien and branthwaite together and bring Patterson back in or at the very least drop bloody one of them Keane/tarks.

Moving forward this is the side I would like to see.

Pickford

Patterson/ O’Brien / Branthwaite / Mykolenko

Garner / Gana

Ndiaye Dewsbury Hall. T George

Barry.

08 Feb 2026 12:33:04
Completely agree, I think too many fans just see the result and not the performance, and even some of our good results lately have been off the back of Very concerning performances. The fact that Moyes made only one change off the back of last week's performance is crazy to me, and continuing to play O'Brien at right back is unforgivable.

I know it sounds ridiculous to just discredit all our good results as 'lucky', but i think we really have gotten away with it on quite a lot of them.

08 Feb 2026 12:46:20
Don’t agree, we could also have been out of sight as well two great chances first half and dominated the second half, game of two half’s and we were better overall once the subs were made they came on early and made a big difference.

08 Feb 2026 12:51:06
KDH has said on a few occasions now that he prefers a deeper role in midfield. I would play him alongside Garner and have Armstrong ahead of them. The lad is totally wasted out wide, and he does have the ability even at such a young age.
For me Garner has played better while Gana has been away, the two just don’t seem to gell well.

08 Feb 2026 13:30:56
Spot on there BMD.

08 Feb 2026 13:31:19
Disagree and agree. I'm with GB on yesterday's performance, we did have a couple of chances in the first half although they did have chances and were the better team.

But agree with changing it around at the back and playing O'Brien at CB with JB.

Also agree that our performances are generally poor or disappointing, let's be honest we're a tough watch most weeks. But we're a work in progress and we're in the mix for a European spot despite some of our performances. We'd have all taken that at the start of the season.

08 Feb 2026 13:37:45
Also agree with you BMD. Surely KDH alongside Jimmy has to be the aim in the long term.

08 Feb 2026 15:47:38
Totally agree with previous points, time to try Branthwaite and OBrien as central defensive partnership as they could be the future.
For the time being until we sign someone else try starting Patterson at RB.