Keith B

I was nervous for this match as BHA had been pretty solid and it looked to be the type of match Everton have done a good job blowing for the past several years. But I am growing in confidence that Carlo won't let that sort of let down happen and our quality will shine though. How great was James? And Dacoure was everywhere! (I thought he was poor against Palace but credit to him for putting that behind him.)
Pickford remains a problem. It's probably been said but I wonder if Moshiri, seeing 7 out of 7, will splash some cash for a new keeper. Just an average keeper will be a large improvement. 
A couple of other quick thoughts:
- I thought Gylfi was good to very good today. I've been critical of him so good to see him play well.
- Mina was immense, especially in the last 20 minutes or so where we looked like we took our foot off the gas.
- DCL, man, he's playing well. Here's hoping it continues!

I think this is right. There just seemed like there was so much more space on the field when James had the ball. I think that's why Seamus had such a good game--he had so much more room to work with and make runs in. I have not been this excited about the team since I became a fan seven-ish years ago. Exciting times.

All the best Mike. No words can do it justice.

It very much was and we just didn't turn up. Spurs wanted to fold (they clearly hate their manager) but we didn't put enough pressure on them. Gomes and Siggy can't play together in CM--they are far too slow. Given what we've heard from Everton we aren't getting more than a player or two in some we have to hope Carlo can wrangle this. 

Drab match. I didn't think we were very good with the exception of Pickford who I thought had an excellent match. It is obvious that our central midfield needs strengthening. Getting Gomes back will help but I don't think he's a long term answer. Still hard to know what Gbamin can bring since he's played so little for us. Holgate has looked so good on the ball I wouldn't be against trying him at a DM position regularly. Of course then you leave Mina and Keane as CBs and I'm not sure that's preferable. 
Obviously want to pick up as many points as we can and finish as high in the table as possible. But the rest of this season, to me, is (a) beating the Reds at Goodison and (b) giving Carlo the time to figure out who to clear out and who to bring in during the summer. 

Trend appears to be against those of us on the left. But don't stop fighting. Even in the US, we may lose in 2020, but I am optimistic that we are on the correct side of things.

Trend appears to be against those of us on the left. But don't stop fighting. Even in the US, we may lose in 2020, but I am optimistic that we are on the correct side of things.

Trend appears to be against those of us on the left. But don't stop fighting. Even in the US, we may lose in 2020, but I am optimistic that we are on the correct side of things.

I feel unusually confident. 

Of all the horrible, no good transfers we've made over the past few years, I think Gylfi is the worst. We paid more for him than the shite paid for Salah. But every Everton manager has felt compelled to play him even though it is pretty clear his only real value is set pieces. And you're #10 has to have more value than just set pieces. It is really incredible--he was good for a Swansea team that was bordering on (and eventually got) relegation. He's just not a premiere league quality player and especially not one worth 45 million pounds. A brave manager would bring him off the bench and Marco  has done that from time to time with decent results. But his persistence in the starting lineup is a mystery to me. He can't get on the ball, he can't stay on the ball, and he can't do anything with it unless he's got acres of space. 

I watch a good bit of the Bundesliga and think that VAR has been implemented there better than in England. But I'd just rather not have it. Let's live with the missed or bad calls rather than litigating every call down to the video frame.

Of all the horrible, no good transfers we've made over the past few years, I think Gylfi is the worst. We paid more for him than the shite paid for Salah. But every Everton manager has felt compelled to play him even though it is pretty clear his only real value is set pieces. And you're #10 has to have more value than just set pieces. It is really incredible--he was good for a Swansea team that was bordering on (and eventually got) relegation. He's just not a premiere league quality player and especially not one worth 45 million pounds. A brave manager would bring him off the bench and Marco  has done that from time to time with decent results. But his persistence in the starting lineup is a mystery to me. He can't get on the ball, he can't stay on the ball, and he can't do anything with it unless he's got acres of space. 

There's a lot wrong about how this match played out. I thought the VAR decision was very harsh. The ball was going out no matter way Keane did or (probably) didn't do. So that was a really bad and unfortunate decision. The fatal part, for me, is the attitude and lack of confidence that followed. Mostly in that our boys don't have it.
I know I'm a dumb American on this stuff but when I played American football the teams I was lucky enough to play on always took pride in being mentally tough in the last 1/4 of the game. But that doesn't come easy--it means a ton of conditioning and hard work under pressure. In practice and training, we fucking ran till we all puked. But the payoff was knowing that when we got a lead late we could see it out.
And that's what's missing here. The players don't believe they deserve to win because they haven't earned it in training. I bet the number of times Sir Alex teams lost after leading in the 75th minute can be counted on one hand. Our boys, a lot of which are really good at football, just don't have the confidence necessary to see it out. And not to belabor the point, but that comes on the training ground. You have to earn the confidence. And I don't think they've even been asked to earn it. But when you've puked, thought you were going to die, run a thousand extra sprints that you thought were all your last sprint; that's when you earn the confidence to finish out a match like today's. 
A lot went against us today, but those points were out there for us. We just haven't earned them.

There's a lot wrong about how this match played out. I thought the VAR decision was very harsh. The ball was going out no matter way Keane did or (probably) didn't do. So that was a really bad and unfortunate decision. The fatal part, for me, is the attitude and lack of confidence that followed. Mostly in that our boys don't have it.
I know I'm a dumb American on this stuff but when I played American football the teams I was lucky enough to play on always took pride in being mentally tough in the last 1/4 of the game. But that doesn't come easy--it means a ton of conditioning and hard work under pressure. In practice and training, we fucking ran till we all puked. But the payoff was knowing that when we got a lead late we could see it out.
And that's what's missing here. The players don't believe they deserve to win because they haven't earned it in training. I bet the number of times Sir Alex teams lost after leading in the 75th minute can be counted on one hand. Our boys, a lot of which are really good at football, just don't have the confidence necessary to see it out. And not to belabor the point, but that comes on the training ground. You have to earn the confidence. And I don't think they've even been asked to earn it. But when you've puked, thought you were going to die, run a thousand extra sprints that you thought were all your last sprint; that's when you earn the confidence to finish out a match like today's. 
A lot went against us today, but those points were out there for us. We just haven't earned them.

By far our best match of the season. Keep the same starting line up for BHA Marco!

I don't know what you guys were watching when he was in charge for that brief period two seasons ago. It wasn't pretty.

Tim's last competitive match is tonight for the Colorado Rapids. He's retiring. Tim basically got me back into soccer after about 20 years away. He represented our club and the USMNT brilliantly. 

Tim's last competitive match is tonight for the Colorado Rapids. He's retiring. Tim basically got me back into soccer after about 20 years away. He represented our club and the USMNT brilliantly. 

I know Gylfi is a popular player but I think he's a big problem for us. One goal and one assist in six matches from our #10 isn't enough. He can't get on the ball so he can't take advantage of his shooting from distance ability or his vision. He's slow. His passing was very off today--he hit a couple through balls directly to their keeper. I know he runs a lot and presses but to what end? I haven't seen it produce anything. I think he's a big reason why we tend to advance the ball down the wings rather than the middle of the field. He's also now 30 years old so this could be a lot more than a temporary dip in form. He's go this season and two more on his contract so this is something Marco's going to have to figure out.

Defense was sound but the rest of that left a lot to be desired for me. The whole second half was just booting balls up the field with no real purpose. That sort of performance isn't going to beat any of the top 6.

Good:
Coleman--First half looked like he turned back the clock 3 or 4 years.
Pickford--Came up big when called upon.
Gomes--Performance dipped tremendously when he went off.
Bad
Bernard--He pulls of a tricky move then gives the ball away too easily. 
Gylfi--He's on the pitch to bury the chance he had very early in the match. Gave the ball up much too easily after that and was basically a non-factor at best and a malefactor at worst.
Gbamin--not up to PL speed just yet. Gets a pass from me since he probably doesn't even know all his teammates' names yet.
Schnederlin--two dumb cards ruin an otherwise solid performance.
Others worth mentioning: Keane and Mina looked solid. Looking forward to that relationship developing further.

Good:
Coleman--First half looked like he turned back the clock 3 or 4 years.
Pickford--Came up big when called upon.
Gomes--Performance dipped tremendously when he went off.
Bad
Bernard--He pulls of a tricky move then gives the ball away too easily. 
Gylfi--He's on the pitch to bury the chance he had very early in the match. Gave the ball up much too easily after that and was basically a non-factor at best and a malefactor at worst.
Gbamin--not up to PL speed just yet. Gets a pass from me since he probably doesn't even know all his teammates' names yet.
Schnederlin--two dumb cards ruin an otherwise solid performance.
Others worth mentioning: Keane and Mina looked solid. Looking forward to that relationship developing further.

Good:
Coleman--First half looked like he turned back the clock 3 or 4 years.
Pickford--Came up big when called upon.
Gomes--Performance dipped tremendously when he went off.
Bad
Bernard--He pulls of a tricky move then gives the ball away too easily. 
Gylfi--He's on the pitch to bury the chance he had very early in the match. Gave the ball up much too easily after that and was basically a non-factor at best and a malefactor at worst.
Gbamin--not up to PL speed just yet. Gets a pass from me since he probably doesn't even know all his teammates' names yet.
Schnederlin--two dumb cards ruin an otherwise solid performance.
Others worth mentioning: Keane and Mina looked solid. Looking forward to that relationship developing further.

To answer the original question, yes, Everton might be able to crack the top six:
1.) The main issue is about us, Everton. As some have stated above, we were collectively optimistic going into Koeman's second season. That didn't turn out so well. The big question: Does the finish to this season suggest Silva's system is beginning to click or a run of luckier than usual results? Secondly, on this point, can Everton find a right back, striker, and cover for Gylfi at the 10? Does Brands decide to roll the dice on DCL at striker? Can Brands find the Digne and Benards again this summer? If we can't sign Zouma, can Mina stay healthy for 30 minutes? And if Mina can stay healthy, can he be as good as Zouma?
2.) United are an absolute mess. They'll splash a lot of cash this summer, but I don't think their management has any idea what they are doing so those dollars may not be well spent. I think they can be passed in the table, assuming their transfer policy is as incompetent as it has been over recent years.
3.) Chelsea might get hit with a transfer ban. Hazard is likely going out and he has been one of the best, if not the best, player in the EPL over the past several seasons. That's not easily replaceable. I don't know exactly how they replace that and even though I love Christian Pulisic (I'm American), he ain't it.
4.) Spurs, who I hope play the best game of their collective lives on June 1st, are due for a dip. Their main guys play a lot of minutes and managers are a genius until they aren't. As someone stated above, Klopp left Dortmund in the middle of a season when Dortmund were in the relegation zone. Could we see a similar drop-off from Spurs? I seriously doubt it, but crazier stuff has happened.
5.) Arsenal: Still can't defend but I'd expect they do something in the transfer market to address it. Auba turns 30 next month and pacey strikers don't typically age well. Oh and he wore out his welcome at Dortmund by missing practice and generally being a dipshit. Also, are we sure Emery is a decent manager? (He probably is)
6.) Maybe Liverpool slips a bit. I can't see how Real Madrid doesn't come after Salah, but what do I know. They seemed to get every lucky break this year save the Stones goal line clearance. Don't see City slipping at all and in fact, they might even strengthen their side in an attempt to win a quad. 
Wolves, Watford, and Leicester will all be thinking the same thing though.

To answer the original question, yes, Everton might be able to crack the top six:
1.) The main issue is about us, Everton. As some have stated above, we were collectively optimistic going into Koeman's second season. That didn't turn out so well. The big question: Does the finish to this season suggest Silva's system is beginning to click or a run of luckier than usual results? Secondly, on this point, can Everton find a right back, striker, and cover for Gylfi at the 10? Does Brands decide to roll the dice on DCL at striker? Can Brands find the Digne and Benards again this summer? If we can't sign Zouma, can Mina stay healthy for 30 minutes? And if Mina can stay healthy, can he be as good as Zouma?
2.) United are an absolute mess. They'll splash a lot of cash this summer, but I don't think their management has any idea what they are doing so those dollars may not be well spent. I think they can be passed in the table, assuming their transfer policy is as incompetent as it has been over recent years.
3.) Chelsea might get hit with a transfer ban. Hazard is likely going out and he has been one of the best, if not the best, player in the EPL over the past several seasons. That's not easily replaceable. I don't know exactly how they replace that and even though I love Christian Pulisic (I'm American), he ain't it.
4.) Spurs, who I hope play the best game of their collective lives on June 1st, are due for a dip. Their main guys play a lot of minutes and managers are a genius until they aren't. As someone stated above, Klopp left Dortmund in the middle of a season when Dortmund were in the relegation zone. Could we see a similar drop-off from Spurs? I seriously doubt it, but crazier stuff has happened.
5.) Arsenal: Still can't defend but I'd expect they do something in the transfer market to address it. Auba turns 30 next month and pacey strikers don't typically age well. Oh and he wore out his welcome at Dortmund by missing practice and generally being a dipshit. Also, are we sure Emery is a decent manager? (He probably is)
6.) Maybe Liverpool slips a bit. I can't see how Real Madrid doesn't come after Salah, but what do I know. They seemed to get every lucky break this year save the Stones goal line clearance. Don't see City slipping at all and in fact, they might even strengthen their side in an attempt to win a quad. 
Wolves, Watford, and Leicester will all be thinking the same thing though.