Oztoffee

Depends where you live really. By car from the Wirral is real easy until you want to park! The rail link to Sandhills is fine and the shuttle to the ground is great....but getting home again is a nightmare. I was lucky enough last year to wangle a couple of tickets for the Derby game and doing the trip in reverse (ie Shuttle, Sandhills, Moorfields, Moreton) got me back after 21/2 hours from leaving the ground. Not to be recommended for an evening fixture in any way, shape or form. Living in OZ, the only info I get is through this site and nothing has been mentioned in this reprise thread about potential ground sharing. Previously I know that many were against it but honestly the reasons behind their thinking were mostly parochial ('It would never work') not 'how can we make it work?' Seeing other newish stadiums around the country (I passed by Brighton's stadium and what a little gem it is), Swansea etc. you have to ask how they did it when a 'bigger' club such as Everton can't? I know many of them are smaller than we would like but we can't even get an agreement on a site for god's sake, let alone actually build anything. As L'pool need a new stadium too doesn't it make sense to combine efforts to build rather than both clubs facing refusal many times? note to self; stand by for the tirade ofabuse fir raising this subject again. And FFS please don't let us build in Kirkby or any other outlying area without some transport links....rail, rail, rail!

Great point! I think what appears to put most people off is the fact that if he was a little more gifted technically he could score more...but he's not. But he still scores about as many as Giroud, Bony and Rooney and few would doubt their technical ability. I feel a little more nurturing would pay huge dividends and Roberto is the man to do it. Remember too that Lukaku after two loan spells perhaps is still at the 18 year old stage and has had little in the way of permanency in his career in EPL. I would like to think Roberto would have been trying to get more out of him with coaching but I doubt if that was the case at The Hawthorns. Let's face it, he was always going to be a loaner there, but Roberto perhaps has spotted that the lad really would like to stay at Goodison because he has responded positively to the coaching staff. Apart from the fact that returning to Chelsea wouldn't be a good career move...look at Torres', Ba's experiences. I think he would be overjoyed to stay here, I just hope we can stump up the cash and Lukaku's agent doesn't screw it up for all concerned (apart from him of course!)

Let's not get carried away with all the euphoria of getting Barry permanently. Remember, he's 34 already and has got one season in him at best. Not complaining of his ability or his attitude you understand, it's just that he's a short-term prospect only. He's nowhere near the fitness level shown by Distin as has been proven on a couple of occasions when he's been out on his feet 20 mins before the end. Osman has been less than effective at a younger age than Barry and he gets heaps on here as a result. Just saying.......

Twitchy 'Arry? You have to be joking! We're talking about classy managers here, not cock-heads tip-toeing along the border of illegality. I certainly had time for Ranieri. Classy? Yes. Mick McCarthy I remember as a 'good guy' but I think also it's easy to forget him because of his record in the Prem. Great at getting teams up.....but couldn't keep them there. Nice guy? Yes. Classy......er, nah, don't think so.

Like many others I've been struck by Roberto's class. He always seems to say the right thing at the right time, plays the game as it should be played and is inscrutably honest in his dealings with the press, the fans and other clubs when it's transfer talk. I think in his earlier days Wenger was the same, but time (and lower success rates) have changed him somewhat. Guus Hiddinck is a man of Roberto's character too I reckon, but after that I'm struggling to find anyone who comes up to scratch. Certainly nobody else in the Prem. Lower down, I don't know enough to be able to say much. Anyone have any ideas?

Do you honestly think that the funds not spent are going to get us enough players of the quality we need not just to have a good shot at Europa but to maintain our position in the PL as well? Remember, the players are needed as EXTRA not instead of. Honestly, I don't think Osman has any more time left in him. Much as I hate to say it, Barry is looking the same too. I noticed in the Palace game his legs were gone 20 mins before the end....couldn't sprint, could hardly turn. Lukaku is the laziest shit God ever put on a football field...only plays when he wants to. Good only every 2nd or 3rd game. These need to be replaced before 5/6 more are required for the Europa campaign. True, it does, but you need the players to start the season, not part way into it when we have more funds. Honestly guys, I really would like to see us back in Europe again, but it's not like it was in days of yore. Then pure talent could get you by...not any more. It takes wads of cash to be successful in 2 long-running competitions let alone the distractions of the FA Cup and Capital One Cup.

I think we need to get some sort of perspective here. Many are going on about how gutted they are at the lack of progress against Palace and Soton and how we were outplayed etc. This is the end of a long season...we have ageing players, Distin, Osman, Barry who are really struggling. This will get worse in Europa League...Thursday games in forgotten backwaters of civilisation with a paper-thin squad is asking for trouble without a significant increase in playing numbers. We are certainly not ready for CL with the talent we have available at present. It's easy to say 'Oh Bobby will get in 5/6 players and we'll be right". What bollocks! 5/6 players from where? How do we pay for them? Bring 5/6 players in on free transfers? What are we going to get? We're at our limit already of loan players I believe. Bringing in youngsters and blooding them in Latvia or Turkmenistan in November is not the answer. With the squad we have now and the addition of Garbutt and our loaned out players next Prem season will be a bloodbath. Let's get a bit of a reality check here. Before this season started many were writing us off with the new manager. Then as the season progressed hope was born that we could do well, maybe even CL. Now after 2 bad games many are writing Bobby off with the 'no plan B', and 'he got the tactics all wrong' stuff. Honestly, before the season started how many were saying 'we'll be happy to finish in the top half'? Until a week or so ago we were in the running for a CL place....now Europa is probably the best we can do. This is not failure! However, Europa will see us really struggle next season. I'm not a doomsayer, just a realist. I really do hope I'm wrong or that the fairy godmother with the money wand appears from stage-left and saves the day.

I thought that Alcaraz had a good game today despite his being on the bench for so long. Distin doesn't get injured that much so I'd basically forgotten that Alcaraz was still around. Yes he trains with the squad so he should slot in whenever necessary but being sharp enough and up to match speed sometimes takes time. I thought he fitted in well today.

Ha ha. My brother lives between the Boozy Cruisers and the Gay People. His neighbours fall into both these categories...some are Both! His wife is a sad commuter commuting to Arrogant Wanker territory! Who said life Down South was better?

This x 2

I think Mirallas has to start today. We need to keep the pressure on them from the get-go. No room for the on-again-off-again Gerry unfortunately except maybe as an impact sub. Lukaku out on the wing again to draw defenders out and allow Mirallas and Naisy in? We have to defend better than Wed. I see Palace won at West Ham, they are no pushovers but we still should have won handsomely really. And I wish, wish, wish we could get some positives from set pieces both attacking and defending. They have been the difference this season from previous years.......we're playing much better but the set pieces are woeful this time around. Hope Goodison is up for it....wish I could be there. COYB!

Phew! What a couple of first class tossers you are. Thought this was a thread about the Utd game. Turns out to be a vitriolic slanging match between two longish term posters on this forum. Please don't do this, it's so tiresome. Last time this sort of thing went on I almost gave up coming on here. Fortunately, the main protagonist took it upon himself to leave the forum completely.......couldn't have happened at a better time. Now, where was I? Oh yeah, has anyone any idea about the teams for the game?

I've been racking my brain (insignificant though it is)for weeks now trying to remember who Stones reminds me of in the way he plays. I reckon he's very like Brian Labone and similar to Jack Charlton in the way he holds himself and moves forward with the ball rather than just passing it out as per most CBs these days. And his positional play is very reminiscent of both.....and look where they got to....especially Charlton. Don't know who I'm talking about? Look 'em up on Wikipedia! (excellent reading)!

Couldn't agree more. Thought he was crap when he first arrived, he had one good season and then that dummy-spit against Wigan in the cup semi, then he was really crap. Glad he went. The money we got for him was awesome and Moyes deserves what he's got now, 'cos now Fellaini is really really crap.

What is the go with McGeady? We paid good money for him from Moscow when he was injured so it took him a little while to get up to fitness. That was months ago yet he still only gets to play the last 10/15mins. Is he not yet fully fit, or is there something between him and Bobby. Some have said his attitude isn't the best, but I would have thought that Bobby would have sussed this situation out before McGeady was signed. I like McGeady's directness and his decision-making but the 10min cameos he's making don't do him justice in my opinion.

Really would have liked to see McGeady on for Jerry earlier. He's much more direct and his work in defence was excellent. Don't quite know why he doesn't start. Pity Mirallas didn't get a shift as Naisy was tiring in the last 20mins, could have given us abit more drive. Don't think we played badly at all, it's just that Sunderland were scrapping for their lives and really stepped up today. Again McGeady I believe would have made the difference. At least would have ensured his crosses were crosses and not shots that went astray.

Jeez, he could be so much better with a little thought before he releases the ball.....does all the hard work and the final pass/shot is lacking. Got into a great position for the goal against Sunderland but the shot/pass was lucky to be deflected in for the only goal of the game.

I see Jags wasn't on the bench against Sunderland. Stones had an awesome game apart from one slip up. He was really angry at himself at one stage for not getting to block a shot when there were others who were better positioned. Does not like to feel as though he's not doing his bit for the team....will be a world class defender one day. I was thinking of his demeanour and that of Fellaini during his first season.....no comparison, Stones wins hands down.

Great opportunity indeed. I fail to see though how being in CL will attract better players if we can't afford to buy them. We'll attract them OK.....but that's as far as it can go. We'll really struggle after the initial stages when we get into the bigger teams because we won't have the depth of talent to be able to field a competitive side week in, week out in the Prem and in CL. FFS Lukaku is stuffed by the 70th minute in most games as it is let alone any other injury worries. Would someone like to explain in words of one syllable how we overcome this, apart from finding a fairy godmother and a rich one at that? I am not a chicken-hearted individual either, just a bit of a realist. The question stands however.....how do we do it?

Gerry, I believe shows great promise as did Barkley a season or so ago but his decision-making is poor at best, as was Barkley's a season or so ago. But he most certainly will mature into a great player given time and Martinez's patience. If he listens to learn and acts on Bobby's advice he will be a great asset to us in the short term and a great asset to Barca in the longer term. That will do no harm whatsoever to Martinez's standing in the Spanish sphere and may afford us some future dealings with clubs looking to blood young talent.

Good game today. Really tried to get involved and was really made up when Naisy scored too. He was knackered when he came off....at 20yo should he be able to be fitter? Happy though.

Good performance again against Arsenal. The one time he got into trouble was more Howard's fault really. He made no attempt to help the lad out or do anything pro-active at all and stood there almost disinterested in all honesty. A more alert keeper would have seen the problem, moved toward Stones and offered himself for the pass. Easy really....don't know why it wasn't done.

Haha. brilliant!

Glad to see Naisy is getting some plaudits on here. He made Lukaku look totally static against Fulham... Naisy actually got into Lukaku at one stage for not following up, and rightly too. He seems to have an eye for the right position and manages to be there to slot them home. Not a great ball player to be sure, but then Lukaku plays like a lamp post at times. passes just bounceoff his legs and away beyond his reach. MOM for me against Fulham and well deserved.

Was going to post the same thing then found this already. After Gerry's departure and his replacement by McGeady against Fulham, we were a different team. While Gerry was entertaining he didn't really achieve a whole lot and the TV commentators were in raptures over him......new Ronaldo etc. McGeady on the other hand produced a little gem of a cameo performance that really was useful......ran with intent, passed accurately, tracked back, tackled. I loved it! Hope he can get more game time to show what he's got. I feel that he could be a better player much more regularly than Gerry who runs hot and cold from game to game....quite inconsistent. What's the general feeling...?