Isaiah

If he's not gone by the end of today I'll start to be a little worried. If they're going to fire him I think they'd do it immediately after the season's ended (surprised they didn't announce a "mutual agreement to part ways" last night to be honest), rather than let him fuck off to the Costa Del Sol on holiday thinking he's coming back to the job. They will have made the decision to keep or get rid already, so why delay it? Get a new guy in by June 1st, ready to do some World Cup scouting. I'll give it to the end of the week. If he still hasn't been fired by the time the players and staff have all officially gone on holiday then I'll have to entertain the idea he's going to be in charge come August.

How is it possible for professional footballers to be so awful at passing a ball to their own player? First Walcott tapping it to their defender, and 20 seconds later Keane sends a pass sailing out for a goal kick.

It's just such a joyless experience watching us. There's no game plan or positive strategy on display, it's just 10 players frantically reacting to whatever the other team is doing. It's like Sam told them "Go out there, try and stop their passes, keep it tight at the back and we might get a draw out of this".

Garth Crooks just now on BBC: I'm disappointed in Everton's fans. They're a special club and the fans are normally right behind the manager, but they haven't been with Sam Allardyce and that's been really disappointing. Allardyce saved them and if the chief executives have got any bottle at all, they'll give him another season. Allardyce "saved" us? FFS.

^^ Fair enough, didn't know that. But then that only pisses me off even more. 63-year-old footballing dinosaur Sam fucking Allardyce, fresh off his England scandal, turning his nose up at any kind of chance to manage a team of Everton's stature. What, was he afraid that he'd have to actually do a good job in those 6 months to earn a possible extension, rather than just being handed an 18 month salary?

Yes, and not only because of how shit the football currently is, but for this other (more important in my opinion) reason: it is a statistical fact that teams generally play worse when they know their manager is not going to be around much longer. Yes, there are a few exceptions to this, but they involved beloved and inspirational coaches, not Sam fucking Howeveryouspellit. And Sam's contract would be up anyway at the end of next season (and no fucking way the board will give him another one, because there'd be a genuine mutiny). I can't see any logical reason whatsoever to keep him around for another dreary, mid-table-at-best season, giving him money to buy players he won't be around to coach 9 months later, and putting the players in a situation where they're learning to play a system (sic) which, the season after, will be overthrown yet again for someone else's. If we were where we are now but with a younger manager with a longer contract, then I'd say don't sack him. But that's not the case. He was brought in to avoid relegation. It was lunacy to give him an 18 month contract, when other clubs (West Ham for example) took the sensible approach of giving contracts just to the end of the season. He would have signed a 6 month contract no problem, it's not like he was inundated with offers from elite Premier League clubs. Now the club has put itself in a position of needing to buy him out. But whatever, just buy him out. There is absolutely no sense in subjecting everyone to another season of outdated, uninspiring dross, only to then have to make the decision to replace him at the end of it. Just do it now.

Salah just went off injured in the City game. Looked to be a groin problem.

Whereas I'm over the moon. Great win, keeps us in with a chance of Europe. Really happy for Tosun too, these goals will do his confidence going into next season the world of good. He'll know now that he's more than good enough for the Premier League.

The Sunderland fans have been absolutely scathing about him on their forum. He doesn't seem to be Championship level, let alone Everton level. Here's the thread on their main fan site (they trash Galloway also): https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/browning.1421540/

Wenger. One guy looking for a final big paying gig before retirement is enough for one season thanks.

Ah, fair enough.

??? What are you talking about, he's been absolutely essential to their financial success, that's exactly why Kroenke loves him and will never sack him despite obvious decline on the pitch.

Everton: "Hold my beer..."

Keane no idea what's going on around him and far too slow.

??

Almost certainly yes. Either City or Arsenal will win the League Cup tomorrow, so that means 1 more league place (6th) gets opened up, since they will both qualify for the Champions League (City) or Europa (Arsenal probably) through their league place. Then we just need someone from City, Spurs or Chelsea to win the FA Cup and 7th place gets the final Europa spot.

Leicester and Burnley both drawing, a win will take us joint 7th/Europa place. Come on Everton.

I agree it's bad and I certainly don't condone it but it's now up to Morgan to be motivated by that to put some effort in. If he has any kind of backbone or conscience he won't sulk and be resentful of being booed, he'll accept that it's extraordinarily rare for fans in England to do that to their own players and therefore if it's being done to him it means he really needs to get his act together. That clip posted above of him making absolutely no effort to close down the Arsenal player is shocking.

Good result. Despite the awful season it's actually looking like it's going to be between us and Leicester for the last Europa place (Burnley are in a bad run and I think they'll fade away).

He isn'ttt going to be sacked. We were 13th in the table when he took over and are now 10th, 5 points off 7th (likely Europa place). Yes, the football is shit, and yes, I also don't like him as manager, but the fact is he's not going to be sacked, and certainly not because of an online petition. If he leaves it'll be in the summer, at the earliest.

Our goal difference is now the same as West Brom, who are bottom of the table.

Now I would because of the negative line-up, but before the game (and having watched Arsenal's last game) I was hoping we'd go for a win against their terrible defence. It feels like we've set up to help them play to their strengths.

Oh good, now 20 minutes of panicky defending.

Niasse should have scored, but Leicester's defence are very error-prone. Need to press the shit out of them and not just 'do a Sam' and hope to defend the 1-0 lead for the next hour. These are there for the taking, it just needs a positive, attackng mentality.

Walcott limping. Might have to bring on Lookman. Oh wait.