Everton banter 9

12 Apr 2026 18:07:05
Well obviously Brentford is a competitor for a European place but Chelsea look vulnerable. We could finish above them.
I just hope that we send Spurs down. I was 18 in 1958 when they beat us 10-4. All you could hear for weeks afterwards from the Reds especially in my family was 10-4. An OK call from a popular TV police show. Hated Spurs ever since.

12 Apr 2026 18:46:24
I hope they go down too, Mike. I've just never seen this pure football rubbish that the media ascribe them. It would be great if they have a chance of staying up going into our last game and we ruin it on their own turf.

12 Apr 2026 20:09:33
I hate them as my ex wife supports them. Will be a sweet day if they ho down. ?

12 Apr 2026 21:47:26
I thought Lewis-Potter was man of the match BN, so much good work for Brentford came through him. He had the beatings off O'Brien and McNeill when he was attacking and defending.

Jensen did get the better in the midfield battle with Garner and Gana, and Kelleher also played very well.

We have 6 games left, and if we can grind out 3 wins, I think we should very well make European qualification.

I think/hope we get 9pts, but I am not gonna predict where, for fear of cursing us. We have some decent players, and with a few fast attacking additions in the summer, there's no reason why Moyes can't have us pushing for European qualification again next season. COYB!

12 Apr 2026 23:28:40
Isn't a 'ho down' a sort of dance?

Would be interesting to see at Spurs if they go down. wait, think I understand what you meant now.

I wouldn't want to wish relegation on anyone as I wouldn't have wanted anyone to wish it on us, but what a story it would be if it was Spurs.

That stadium is not designed for championship level games. Crazy.

I think Forest will go down myself. I see Spurs finishing on 40, West Ham 38 and Forest 37.

13 Apr 2026 07:18:55
Spurs look very vulnerable, very poor yesterday.

14 Apr 2026 19:57:13
They did look a shambles, GB. I just think they will rally and get 3 wins. Probably one against us!

It's nice that we are not involved in the relegation scrap this year. Long may that continue.

12 Apr 2026 13:25:58.
Tell you what that Jensen ran the game yesterday. Was head and shoulders above everybody on the pitch.

12 Apr 2026 15:48:22
Were you there, Bluenose? To me, watching live but on TV, he looked good but not running the game. Their side, I was impressed with Potter, Thiago and their goalkeeper.

12 Apr 2026 16:22:10
I wasn't Dms, but to me he controlled the game for me, bud. Set the tempo. Was never rushed and played through us with ease.

57 out of 68 accurate passes 84%.
15 out of 19 accurate long passes 79% (only outfield player to hit double figures. 2 keepers not breaking 50%) .
19 of those into final third (double of anyone else on the pitch) .
3 out of 3 accurate crosses.
3 chances created (most on pitch) .



Agree on Potter. Wanted us to sign him from Hull, tbh, when he was an attacking winger. They utilise him as a wingback now, which shows his footballing intelligence to be able to still perform at a decent level in an unfamiliar position.

Thiago is exactly what Moyes would love to have. Big, strong, hard working and can score goals.

Keeper had a great game, absolutely.

12 Apr 2026 18:30:44
Blimey BN, that's some analysis, mate. How do you do that? It's brill for all of us. Keep it going, mate.

12 Apr 2026 20:36:14
I can't take credit for it, GB. The wonderful world of statistical analysis, mate! Internet isn't half full of some crap these days, isn't it, but if you look in the right places, it is very useful, bud.

What are your thoughts on the last few fixtures in terms of results?

12 Apr 2026 23:32:39
Thought our strikers made their keeper look better than he is. Beto's chance where he was given offside was hit straight towards him. If Beto had lifted it 2-3 foot, it was in. The linesman would still have given it as off, but I reckon he was inside by mouse's toe nail..

12 Apr 2026 11:59:30
Grealish loan/buy! Or thanks.

{Ed025's Note - loan would do me DMS..

12 Apr 2026 12:37:28
Yep, want to keep him, good player.

12 Apr 2026 15:53:00
Thinking more about wages, how much does he love us to take a cut (not possible on loan) . George looks good to me, and financially more attractive.

12 Apr 2026 16:04:18
You have a good point there, dms, and George gets up front as well.

12 Apr 2026 16:26:54
Doubt we'll get another loan. His contract only has a year left on it. City will want money for him.

12 Apr 2026 20:12:15
I'd love us to get him, I don't care if we buy or loan, he just brings some class to our team and I think he will attract others to come next season.

12 Apr 2026 20:27:20
George for me. Need to be looking to the future, and we are doing just fine without Grealish right now.

12 Apr 2026 10:27:17
Good game that, elements of luck and never say die attitude against a good Brentford side. Don't need a RW in summer (Ndiaye, Dibling, McNeil) , LW keep, go for George (Impressed with Lewis Potter) . RB and striker needed. 6 games left, 9 pts?

12 Apr 2026 12:40:22
Agree and George was excellent when he came on, we have the makings of a very good squad, 2 or 3 in the summer will be invaluable, would be happy with 9 points but think we will better that.

12 Apr 2026 13:24:13
I wouldn't go for George personally.

He looked good in his short cameo against Fulham and yesterday but when he got his start against Bournemouth he was dreadful. It is one thing coming on against tired defences that are defending a lead in a low-block and giving you license to run at them.

With the injury to Grealish if you are worth your salt, you wouldn't be being kept out of the side by somebody of McNeil's level and ability.

Nothing against the lad but he will be at least £25/30m and I don't think he has shown he is worth taking the gamble on for that sort of money.

Plenty of other options out there that make more sense to me.

I wouldn't keep McNeil either. Sell him to a lower PL club for £15/20m and reinvest either in a pacey and tricky young winger or a logical signing like Harry Wilson who can contribute with a lot of goals/assists.

RB, CB, LB, DM, Wingers & Striker needed.

O'Brien offers nothing at RB. Let him fight for his spot at CB where he has shown good form.

Tarks is gone and only going to decline further at 33. That goal yesterday should ring serious alarm bells and there have been plenty of other glaring bits of play this season. Are his defensive numbers great, yes but they mask his overall ability and intelligence as a CB for me. I know plenty/most will disagree with that. JB struggles to play 30+ games a season and Keane has had his best season in an Everton shirt for sure but the other 8 or 9 were dreadful and full of calamitous errors and he is 33 now.

Mykolenko is the worst player in our strongest 11 and by some margin. Gets done for pace consistently. His positional awareness and reaction time is abysmal and gets caught out at the back post time and time again. Two games against Salah and Saka where his only job was to nullify them and spoil there work is something he has lived off for far too long. Won't even comment on his ability going the other way.

Gana is still far from the problem but he is closer to 40 than 30 now and I think getting a young 6 with legs in there will allow Jimmy a bit more license to go and influence the game even more than he does already.

Wingers will offer better cover than what we currently have for Grealish (if he signs) and Ndiaye and competition for starts can only push the levels up. Also gives us flexibility and options to move players into different positions. I would still like to see how Grealish performs centrally with some pacey wingers and a decent forward ahead of him.

Striker - We need two. One in the typical Moyes profile. Thiagoesque - can hold the ball up, link play and most importantly score goals. Second profile would be a striker with great instinctive movement and pace who can create goals out of nothing.

12 Apr 2026 14:42:25
Your shopping list is spot on BN.

Agree with you about Tarks and Gana - they ain't getting any younger and need replacing. I'd like to see Tarks stay but he can't start if JB and JOB are fit. He could replace Keane on the bench if Keane goes. A young CB to add to the squad would be good (and to help with injuries) . A replacement for Gana is becoming a priority. He's struggled since returning from AFCON and next season could see him lose another yard of pace or two. I think Tim isn't up to speed yet so who do we go for? That Japanese lad you mentioned sounds ideal but has no prem experience. What about Diarra at Sunderland? Can also play further up the pitch if we need to change tactics/formation (not that Moyes does that) .

Getting a RB and LB should be up there with a striker for sure. Get a solid RB and a covering RB (youth or bring one in that can also cover LB) and JOB won't be wasted out right. Aznou should be challenging for LB next season depending on whether we bring anyone else in to replace Myko. Where is the next Baines/Coleman?

I'd try and loan George for a full season and I'm on the fence with Grealish. For me, it depends on how he comes back from the injury. I am unsure if City will loan him again so we might be forced into a decision. I'm still annoyed about the money spent on Dibling for the lack of return on the pitch. If he doesn't start next season, he has to go out on loan whilst we get in two wingers. Talk has gone quiet on Wilson from Fulham but I think he would be a decent acquisition if we got him cheap. The other could be an unknown if they bring a spark and pace - does Ndiaye have any of his baller mates that might be interested?

As for strikers that's been the issue for years. I'd love to see us go in for Thiago (if only to prevent him scoring against us!) or someone like his style. Think Beto will stay but it will be a mistake. He and Barry need to go out on loan in the Championship and learn the English game. That also won't happen. Two strikers will be pricey. Do we just bite the bullet and try to buy Thiago for £60m-£80m? Do we even have that sort of money these days? I can easily see Chelsea trying to buy him (or Arsenal) . City, United and Liverpool have all spent big and Spurs have options up front so I don't know who else would go in for him. Newcastle spent £100m+ on strikers in summer so I don't see them going in for him and Villa have Watkins. Then there is the possibility that he would just stay at Brentford. Who else would we be interested in? Barry came out of nowhere and could possibly do with going back there whilst we get players who are closer to being the finished article

12 Apr 2026 16:48:53
There are a lot of good 6's out there BR but you rightly point out that most come with the caveat of not having performed in the PL. Diarra is a great shout but I think he is more of an 8. I was calling for him from his time at Strasbourg where they played him in a fair few positions. I think Sunderland would be asking for decent money though. I believe they paid around the £30m mark, so you would expect them to want to spin a profit on him.

Agree on the fullback positions BR. Just as important as a striker for me. Would transform our entire side and get more out of the players ahead of them. Moyes has done a great job with the tools he has had but we all know he likes his fullbacks to offer width and attacking threat and he has anything but that with his current options.

I personally think George would be a waste of a loan. I am 50/50 on Grealish as well. No doubting his ability to retain possession and draw fouls which shouldn't be undervalued but he is very predictable in terms of his attacks and seems to slow things down every time he gets the ball. That being said 2 goals and 6 assists in half a season isn't a bad return, especially compared to what we have been used to in recent years.

Wilson is available on a free in the summer mate but I would expect him to command very high wages, so it depends if we want to commit to that or not.

As for the young lad with pace, I would love us to go for Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille. They have recently started utilising him leading the line which shows his versatility but he is a very exciting winger and has pace to burn. He is very direct and loves putting fullbacks to the sword. He has only just turned 21 and if he has another season without moving I think the price might become a bit silly. Could probably get him for around 30/35m now.

Thiago would be perfect bud but as you say, they will want a similar fee to what they got for Mbuemo I imagine and I can't see us spending that amount on a single player. Spot on with Arsenal going in for him as they are crying out for a striker. Gyokeres not really hit the heights they would have hoped for. Think Watkins might be sold by Villa and rumours we are interested in him, so that they could be a new home for him.

Agree on the chuckle brothers. I would sell Barry at the first opportunity, wouldn't even bother with a loan. Beto I would keep but only as backup. That being said, I think an Italian side would pay £15/20m for him and we should snatch their hands off for that.

There are a fair few strikers out there that I would like to take a chance on BR. I think we could get a decent one in for £30/40m and then another for sub £20m.

A combo of Fisnik Asllani & Mateo Pellegrino would give us two different profiles and offer much better options than what we currently have. Of course that is not a guarantee as the PL is a different animal to the Bundesliga and Serie A but from the eye test, they are much better footballers.

11 Apr 2026 19:21:48
Here we go! Everton don't win so the critiscism starts. News for the experts, the Brentfords etc! At this level are not gping to roll over. We performed well today.

11 Apr 2026 23:29:42
People are criticising the first goal, which was bloody awful, and you don't need to be an "expert" to realise that. We were ok in spells, but sat back and let them play far too often. Our passing was poor at times, so no, we didn't perform well; we were average at best.

12 Apr 2026 00:11:55
Word perfect, Brass.

12 Apr 2026 07:50:06
A draw at Brentford with their free scoring striker is a result. But we could have won if we were better for the first goal and if KDH had shot when he was 1 on 1. Football is all about the ifs, though. And I'm sure the Brentford fans have a few ifs of their own.

Good result for me.

12 Apr 2026 08:02:55
Of course it was, Toffee Ace. Well said.

12 Apr 2026 09:36:14
Good result, but as Brass says, an average performance.
Two positives for me were we got a point, and how refreshing it was to see a winger come on and run at defenders.
Two negatives, McNeil back to his old self, and poor passing.

12 Apr 2026 09:47:19
Never thought it would be an easy game away at Brentford. They have some very good players and a very consistent first 11.
We lacked a bit of sharpness, the downside of going so long without a game, perhaps.

I like that we showed some fight in coming back into the game twice. George showed that he can over some threat on goal, which we'll need in the next few games. Not unhappy with a point, 7th/8th very much still on the cards.

12 Apr 2026 12:07:22
I thought we played pretty well.

Silly first goal, but that happens sometimes.

I genuinely thought the international / FA Cup break came at the wrong time for us as we were really building up a head of steam. But again, that's how things go sometimes.

Brentford are a really good side and they have a striker who is as good as anyone at the minute. I can see him getting snapped up at the end of the season by a really big club. If we had another 10 goals from all departments this season we'd easily be CL, but that's one for 26/27 I think.



What I do love is the never say die attitude of our current team. We keep fighting right until the end. It is the polar opposite of when Silva managed us. If we ever went a goal down, my heart would sink as it just felt inevitable.

I optimistically said we'd finish 8th at the start of the season, but genuinely think we may go slightly higher now.

Anyway, the sun is out, I'm a blue, I'm feeling happy, you should too. X.

12 Apr 2026 22:19:45
I thought we played well in spells, mainly the 1st half. Second half, we were miles off it for long periods, and our passing was terrible. Brentford have some very good players and are a decent side so coming from behind twice shows we have a lot more fight than previous seasons.

I just hate that every time we have a real good chance to push up the league, we don't take it, and that has been the same since Martinez first season with us.

It's so frustrating!

We have improved massively since Moyes came in and the signing of KDH, Grealish and the emergence of Garner has helped that significantly. But, even though we are in transition and improving, we could and should easily have more points on the board.

11 Apr 2026 17:01:27
Bit stupid from Pickford for the goal but I think Tarkowski was the most at fault. JB and Thiago both miss the header and he is just jogging around as per, zero urgency and zero desire to even challenge for the ball, let alone win it.

Not a clue what KDH was doing for that chance he had. May have scored the equaliser but if he had put us ahead, which he should have, I think we would have won that.

George showed more in 10 minutes than McNeil did in 80.

Important not to get beat but fixtures certainly favour Brentford and Brighton now.

11 Apr 2026 17:40:32
George starts from here on out. At 60+ minutes bring in Dibling on the right and flip Ndiaye to the left.

Tim I in for Gana late. Keane in for Beto late. ?

11 Apr 2026 18:00:50
Definitely Bn, he was really good.

11 Apr 2026 19:35:01
I didn't see the game, but a report I heard said that their second goal came from George not tracking back in the way that McNeil had done.

11 Apr 2026 19:47:28
I wouldn't say that, Pojo. That Kayode is strong, athletic, and quick. He just does him, cuts inside, and then they get lucky as it unknowingly hits Thiago's thigh and takes it away from Pickford.

11 Apr 2026 20:54:49
Lucky goal, deflection. How many saves did their keeper make? I thought we did ok against a good team.

11 Apr 2026 21:09:44
Someone should have tackled Kayode - can't let him get as far as he did unchallenged.

Game was for the taking. Fortunate to get a point but it's better than a loss.

11 Apr 2026 23:31:21
I would have George over McNeil any day of the week.

11 Apr 2026 17:00:01
Will take a draw. Could have won it, but still in the mix for Europe.

11 Apr 2026 17:21:19
Decent result. Happy enough with a draw. Happy with the progress this season. Feel nice and relaxed!

11 Apr 2026 16:58:06
Well, George should definitely be starting ahead of McNeil. Nice to see a winger running at the defence.

11 Apr 2026 16:43:51
Well the talk of Europe was fun while it lasted. Next year will be our year.

11 Apr 2026 16:58:49
Why we drew, mate?

11 Apr 2026 16:59:23
Wait, it's still on. Well done Blues. ?

11 Apr 2026 17:15:30
The derby just became a must win. I felt if we could get 4 points from these 2 games in any order, it would put us in a good spot with 5 to play.

Other results have gone against this afternoon, but it's still in our hands.

11 Apr 2026 18:01:53
Why the sarky comments, bd.

11 Apr 2026 14:32:09
This is arguably our biggest game in years, that doesn't concern the relegation battles anyway.

Come on you Blues!

11 Apr 2026 16:05:26
Well 1-1 at half-time. Stupid defending for the penalty and a good header from Beto. They are a good side, but we can still do it, I hope!