08 Apr 2018 12:09:26
I missed the derby match live because I chose to play golf. I watched the game last night and was glad I played golf. How any supporter can defend this dross is beyond me. We used to be best of the rest, now we are not as good as Burnley. We are only 9th because there are so many poor teams. The gulf between us and the top teams is more massive than it has ever been.
On commentator stated that Everton seemed to lack energy. I would say it is more like lethargy (lack of energy and enthusiasm) . Against the top team we have no game plan apart from booting the ball up field. We lose possession on a regular basis and have very little enthusiasm to get it back. We are constantly overrun in mid-field and our attacking runs are limited to say the least.
Then we have the final 15 minutes. What happens, is a switch all of a sudden turned on? It just shows what we are capable of doing but we have to ask why it is not like that for 90 minutes?
We have a lot to do to get back to even being best of the rest and a new manager is a must and the sooner the better. We need a manager who can motivate the players to replicate the final 15 minutes for the whole game.


1.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 13:35:40
So I take it you are not happy with a draw?

They were playing with 12 of the 19 players who beat City 3 - 0. I hate saying this but Liverpool are in free flow at the moment and as such we should be over the moon we got something from the game. Many a team have tried to play attacking football against them only to get hammered and punished on the counter attack.

Against these top sides (and they are a top side) we need to do what we can to stifle their play, if that means it's boring to look at then that's tough. I would be happy taking a point from all of the top teams, I certainly would not say we are rubbish because we did not win.

Be happy we stopped those across the park from doing the double over us, Non of us would of expected a win or a draw during the week, certainly the bookies didn't. They have amongst others slated us all season saying how crap we are yet they can only manage a draw. let's all shout at them about that instead of saying we are so bad we only got a draw against Liverpool.


2.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 13:37:35
I agree with you Mike except we have a game plan. It's don't lose


We used the same plan against West Brom and made them look good. We used it against Arsenal, Man UTD and Man City and got stuffed. We used it at Burnley. We use it every game because that's all Sam knows.

I think we (our players) go into every game with the least expectations of any other Premier club. It's 10 men behind the ball, get one chance if we are lucky and god help the player if he misses it because they will be Sam's scapegoat at the final whistle.


3.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 13:49:26
good post Mike Sam in his press conference the day before said his tactics will be to stop Liverpool scoring and it's terrible to watch I can't wait for the season to end so we can release Sam and get a manager in who knows how to play football let's hope we have learnt from our mistakes.


4.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 14:15:30
Sorry Grumpy, just can't agree with you. Our football was terrible for 75 minutes, just not good enough. We need to be entertained and we were not. If you are happy with this dross good for you but I am not.


5.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 14:28:32
We cannot be accepting mediocrity. A draw at home against our neighbours is never good enough.
If they had fielded a full strength squad and played us off the park for 90 minutes then some people may have an argument for accepting a draw.
We will not have a better opportunity to beat them for quite a while I suspect and we should have taken it.


6.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 14:37:32
Right now there is no joy in watching Everton. I might just might be able to swallow that. It's the fact that there is precious little prospect of joy that depresses me.


7.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 15:00:45
Sometimes Mike we have to do what is best with the tools we have. Now in this case regardless of how pretty it looked we did better than any of us could of wished for.

What the last 15 minutes does actually hi-lite is that our players are capable of turning it on when it suits them, why is that? They were dross with RK, DU, SA. If the players have decided it is them that hold the power and we are willing to accept that, then as a club we are doomed mate, simple as that. Did SA do anything to make those players suddenly start performing and playing like they should do in every game? No, the players themselves decided to do it. They played the exact same tactics as given to them, they just decided to up the tempo.


8.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 16:09:29
Actually Sam made some substitutions that affected the game. He brought on the younger enthusiastic and faster kids. It very nearly paid off. I am not sure if they were on for the whole game whether we would have been able to play the whole game in that manner? I am not a professional manager like the rest of our supporters. (sarcasm lads) . laugh!


9.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 16:10:59
What it shows is the players will not play for this manager. Of course players have the power over the manager, this is not a new phenomena.
When the game started paying the players more than the managers, that is when the players started to have the control. Like it or not it is the way it is now. They will get a manager sacked without even blinking if they don't believe in him.
Maybe they are just sick of being called out in interviews, playing defensive rubbish, embarrassed by the amount of possesion they have in matches. Sick of making excuses for the lack of chances they have because of the tactics, and have downed tools. Who knows. But I surely would be.


10.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 16:34:37
The change happened when DCL came on and Yannick came off. He put a few good tackles in and made the left side for us better with the ball.

Grumpy there is no excuse for Sam's tactics. It's not based on 20 odd games with us. He's always had teams play like this. It's also fine for him to prefer playing like that. However, for us that is not what I want or expect. Why don't you want Everton to play better football and why can't you understand why we do?


11.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 16:42:07
The problem with it Smit mate is when the players have 3 managers sacked then something is wrong. It looks certain SA will be the third, Not all 3 managers were the same in interviews, in fact I would say they were all different from each other. I'm just a little worried that these players may not like the next one we get or the one after.
If this had only happened with our present manager then I would have no choice but to agree that it is 100% the manager. Nobody will agree with that as people see that as supporting SA but I am only saying it as I see it.

players not playing well for a manager = Fault of manager.
Players not playing well for 3 managers = Something very wrong.

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


12.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 17:06:15
I just can't agree. Who picks the players to sign? (OK maybe with Walsh) . Who trains the players? Who picks the team? Who dictates the strategy. Are you telling me that if Pip was manager he would end up being fired?


13.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 17:20:29
I don't actually recall EVER saying I do not want Everton to play better football BJU. Would you be so kind as to show me where I have as I must be doing it in my sleep. I'm at the doctors this week so I will mention it to him.


14.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 17:27:49
Hope the Doctor gives you a clean bill of health Grumpy.


15.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 17:33:25
My assumption Grumpy is in the fact you seem steadfast in supporting Sam and the football we are producing. Additionally, you've now become expectant in not even getting a draw against our neighbours and yet want to defend the football that produces those results.

If I was you I'd forget the doctors and think about a trip to the opticians!


16.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 18:13:38
I missed the game BlueMike because at the last minute I had no choice. You chose to miss the game to play Golf. Your choice.


17.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 18:29:06
The players didn't down tools for Koeman. He just introduced too many out of position and not up to speed players. The only players which have downed tools for most of the season are schneids and possibly Williams.


18.) 08 Apr 2018
08 Apr 2018 18:38:21
I'd agree with that Smit. Add to the fact our confidence had taken a knock due to the fixtures earlier in the season.