Cornish Steve

Hull have just pushed Chelsea very close. Leicester pushed Spurs close. Burnley pushed Southampton very hard.

And all three might as well have got battered for all it helped them. A win is a win, and a loss is a loss.

Couple of things there Steve...

 

Stones was bought in. Pretty sure Garbett was too.

 

But it does hint on something...we do need out youth system to produce some good team players.

True. I suppose it depends on the definition of coming through the youth system. Some have only ever been with the Everton youth system. Others (Henen is one right now) were brought in. Either way, it's nice to see the team preparing for the future with a strong bunch of younger players.

Incredible. If Rangers win tomorrow, Hearts will have already won the Scottish Championship. This has to be the most impressive runaway win in recent years.

Distan Alcaraz out free

Hibbo coaching role, Ossie player coach always welcome at the club.

Mirallas will go - hopefully 12m

Baines can go with Garbs and Oviedo to step up - hopefully 10-12m

Someone needs to go in the mids, wish it was Barry but it won't be.

McGeady can go if he doesn't perform rest of season-5m

Kone, wanted him to do well but not sure, if he doesn't show signs for rest of season, 2m

I rather agree with this and would add a few more observations.

- Mirallas really has to go. His occasional moments of brilliance don't make up for his inconsistency and attitude. Clearly, he wants to play for a Champions League team, so let him go.

- We should have sold Baines last year to United; it's too late now. At this point, the loyalty he's shown to the club should be returned - although he can't assume a starting spot.

- Barry has run out of steam, so encourage him to join Howard in the MLS.

- If Arsenal are willing to fork out a small fortune for Coleman, we should consider that as well.

- Pienaar is another one who should leave.

- Jagielka is proving to be an excellent captain, and we need his seniority.

We've seen three players come through the youth program in the last couple of years (Barkley, Stones, and Garbutt), and maybe we can expect a couple more next season (Browning and Ledson?). Together with Lukaku, Besic, Robles, that would give us an excellent core of young players that could play together for several years. That's what we need.

This thread is becoming laughable, I have to say.

- Where did David Moyes' Everton finish in his second season?

- When was the last time we played in Europe?

- When did an English team last thrash a top 3 German team home and away?

Looking at the stats for Premier League managers is very sad. Excluding Arsene Wenger, every one of them has been in their post for less than four years. How can teams build a legacy if they react so quickly to disappointments? Frankly, a manager needs a decade to really build a lasting legacy - from bringing in the right players for his footballing philosophy, to getting the most out of the youth program, to carefully removing from the squad those who no longer fit in. It can't be done overnight. It takes time and patience, but it then pays off. Just look at any of the great managers of the top teams over the last few decades.

Thankfully, it looks like Everton have an owner who understands that.

QPR 2-4 Everton

Naismith

I firmly believe that this round is our limits as a football team. We are just not good enough. We still have no stealth when under the cosh. Benfica-moyes now this.... How can you defend like that right after. The second goal. You knew it was coming aswell. Defend it out for tem minutes after the initial goal. We never do.

 

Oh well.

Don't be so defeatist! We need just one goal, and they are going to tire.

From the BBC webite: It's easy to forget that Romelu Lukaku is only six weeks older than Harry Kane. Lukaku has got every ingredient to be a top-class striker for many years to come. And that goal was as good as I've seen him score.

One more goal they have to score 3.

This could come down to fitness. In the first leg, it was clear that the Ukrainians were struggling to keep up at the end. If this goes down the wire, I'd put money on us to win it.

 

ok, say he wants champs league and wants out. we get 33m. who do you get to replace him for how much, and who else do you get with the money?

You don't. That's why we'd be fools to sell him. Did you know he's still only 21?

Atsu starting. He has a real point to prove. Let's hope he makes a difference out wide.

It's late at night to starting faking sickness, so I might have to pull some shit tomorrow in the early afternoon. I do feel a cough coming on that people in the office wouldn't want to catch.

I'd say you're suffering from ADDOLEAP - Attention Deficit Disor... Oh Look Everton Are Playing!

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/everton-fc-fans-travel-plans-8862972

Really unfortunate. I thought the era of strikes was over. When things like this happen, I really believe that customers should be allowed to sue the companies and unions involved to seek not just their money back but also compensation. It's the breaking of a contract.

Still, it offers a wonderful opportunity for Bill Kenwright to, in one master stroke, revitalize team support. Rent a jetliner and offer anyone with a ticket for the game the opportunity to fly to Kyiv free of charge. My guess is that he'd make his money back very quickly in terms of higher gate revenues for the rest of the season.

Just heard on the radio that Dick Advocaat is the hot favourite.

I thought you were joking. What a name!

Pretty sure there is, its just not enforced.

Maybe, if the ref feels unduly intimidated, he could issue a yellow card to the entire team. That would soon put an end to it.

They have to close part of the stadium. No idea if it was revealed what part of the stadium.

Just the toilets, apparently.

 

...in Europe he is playing teams where he is an unknown quantity. In the premier league the teams know all about him and they know how to nullify him.

I'm not sure this is the reason for his higher number of goals in Europe. I'd say it's because of the different style of play - less physical, in particular. That means Lukaku can boss players around and use his strength more in Europe than in the Prem.

Traveling recently to Europe and spending three days in Britain, I had forgotten just how much I hate air-blowing hand dryers. Why ever can't we have paper towels in the bathrooms at Heathrow, which are quicker, more hygienic, and can be recycled? Before landing in Britain, I attended the Mobile World Congress in Spain. In each of the eight halls, the bathrooms all had both paper towels and air dryers. Not once, in three days, did I ever see anyone use an air dryer. So, not only are there health and speed benefits to paper towels, they are clearly everyone's strong preference. Why do we let government bureaucrats dictate our lives in this way?

Plus, the bathrooms in Heathrow are absolutely disgusting. They should take a leaf out of Charlotte airport in the US. In each airport bathroom, they have a smartly dressed attendant who cleans each toilet immediately after use. He keeps a jar on the counter, and patrons put money in the jar when he does a good job. I always tip when I have cash in my pocket, and I'm sure others do too. It's worth it so you don't have to face disgusting sights in half the cubicles and the awful stench of urine when approaching the bathroom area.

 

Which Muslims exactly?

 

I agree with the general point because it annoys me (eg Pienaar's "God is great" vest) but it's majorly a Christian thing as far as I can see.

 

Can't recall a single incident of a Muslim player doing what you suggest.

You didn't watch the Algerian team in the World Cup, did you? Mind you, I was pleased for them, and I have absolutely no problem with it.

You have to give him credit for his sense of humour today, though.

This should be a win, allowing us to begin climbing the table a bit. I would expect to finish above Palace, WBA, Newcastle, and West Ham.

I rate Bird Man highly

Me too. He's a solid player and underrated. He didn't have a good game against Kyiv, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

Already looking up the table... what a perfomance! goodison would have been rocking!

Personally, I would hope to overtake several teams, including West Ham, before the season ends. I realize that one swallow does not make a summer, but we're much too good a team to be this low in the table.

Congratulations to pete0 for predicting the correct score and one of the goalscorers (but not the first). For the month of March, it's now very close - with rusty747 currently in the lead. For the season, Romey has increased his lead. As for points per prediction, Deacs retains his lead despite scoring no points this time around. TonkaRoost has been quietly climbing the leader board.

Some idiot on the BBC website suggesting we didn't deserve to win. I didn't watch; however, reading comments, it's seems we were much the better team. You don't win 3-0 without deserving it.