Zoo 2.0

Big save from Begovic that, outstanding. Agreed on Rondon too, seems to be getting in and around the right areas. Noticeable that we're getting early balls into the box which is great too, fingers crossed for an assist or two from Gray and/or Townsend.

We've know for months (maybe years) that our strength in depth is absolutely gash. Take away 3-4 players and we suddenly look up against it, something that we really need to rectify in future transfer windows. Sadly, there are times that we will need to rotate like we have done today, I just fear that we will see first half Burnley rather than second half Burnley out there tonight - but trying to be optimistic and leaning towards us nicking it 1-0 or 2-1. Would absolutely take a draw, all day long.

I read a bit about the tokens when Arsenal launched them at the start of the season and it just seemed like a way for clubs to charge fans money for absolutely fuck all in return, unless I'm missing something I just don't see the point in them. In short, no . Happy to be converted if someone can explain them better though. I know that the amount of tokens you have can mean you have more of a say in club decisions at board level but the personally, I think that's absolutely laughable - not a chance anyone outside of the board will have a decent say about anything remotely important.

I think that Allardyce gets a lot more stick than he deserves, but is there really a debate about who is better between him and Benitez ? Some of the points/opinions raised to back up such claim simply aren't true either. I'll happily play "defensive" football if it means we can sit joint top of the league and have a GD of +6 . Totally agree that, as you say we are organised and effective - the stats back it up.

It's not just because of the goal, but the assist for Keane plus his overall link up play meant I went for Townsend. The lad was just everywhere tonight and he's really becoming into what I want in an Everton player - gives 110% and runs himself into the ground. You can spend £50m on a player but if they don't give a shite then it's pointless, Andros is so far exactly what we need. Allan a close second to be fair, thought he did all the shitty work in the first half and then did that, plus more in the second.

I think that's what makes the goal all the more beautiful, sitting in the Top Balcony I watched it all the way and as you say, as soon as it left his boot you knew exactly where it was ending up.

Lost my voice celebrating Doucoure's offside goal, the ground was electric when Gray put us 3-1 up. Boss nights these when everything comes together under the lights. I actually backed the five at the back considering that they were always going to play with two strong target men, but fair play for swapping it around and putting an extra man in midfield, no suprise that once we did that we started to dominate the game - no service for their front two and an extra set of feet to set our our wingers and Richarlison free. My biggest complaint at HT was that we were not moving the ball fast enough, but second half we did just that. Townsend was fucking outstanding, best goal I've seen at Goodison for a long while and very nearly got a second (fantastic, top drawer save from Pope to deny him). Gray just gets better and better each week, think he's going to be the signing of the summer considering we paid about £4.80 for him. Viva Benitez.

This is a bit of a must win for me as the trip to Villa Park next will be a difficult one, hoping that the crowd getting behind the team (there's still that buzz about being back, plus the fact it's at night) carries us across any threat that Burnley pose. Holding out for a wild one that James plays, but expect it to be Rondon who in seeing tonight for the first time.

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes!

The amount of dick measuring since Silverstone has been a joke, Hamilton was silly trying to go around the outside on Lap 1 and Max knew what he was doing pushing him off. Max was a bit silly trying to go around the outside into Turn 1, and should have backed out but didn't - Lewis knew what he was doing squeezing him into the kerb too. Don't get me wrong, these are grown men and it's elite motorsport but this amount of dick measuring is just going to cause more and more scenes like today - both of them look like prats. I just get the feeling that this is the start, not the end and every time they get close from now until Abu Dhabi there will be fireworks, fun to watch I suppose but absolutely stupid. Almost as if the Championship will go to who manages to take the least amount of damage.

Still amazes me how people think that they know what footballers are paid, nobody knows as it's highly confidential. The numbers banded around are best guesses, some of course will be nearer the mark than others but if you think there's a public spreadsheet where Everton break down what each player is paid then you're off your rocker. Different sport, but Martin Brundle (F1) said that it always used to make him laugh how the media would be up in arms about how much his drivers were being paid, he said in all the reports he didn't find one that was anywhere near to what was actually going into their bank account - it's highly, highly confidential.

Wolff has already confirmed that team orders will be used and Bottas won't be allowed to win the race, even as a Hamilton fan (and understanding the logic) that dissapoints me. I think that the pace of the Mercedes in Practice and Qualy shows that they are a cut above this weekend and they really need to make it stick as for the most part this calendar year, Red Bull have had their number most times out. Hoping that with the Mercedes engine, Danny Ric and Lando can have good weekends too .

Pissed off to tell you the truth, it takes Rondon a full 1 minute and 32 seconds to put his boots on and tie his laces whereas it only used to take Moise Kean 49 seconds and we sold him! Honestly don't know what Brands was thinking and the sooner he's out of the club the better.

Enjoy your time in Greece @MikeO, I assume the plane tickets were delivered by Hermes?

Post of the Year hands down. Back on topic, Tom Davies is expected to fight for his place - accordion to reports.

I thought this too, but it sounds to be a right mess after doing some reading. From what I understand the Brazilian government gave them clearance to play, but the Health Organisation have overruled them. Apparently they tried to make contact with the team before the game started, but they locked themselves in the dressing room .

He was outstanding at Valencia, never really got going at Barcelona as in order to do so he would need to have been better than Iniesta or Xavi to take their places in the XI. I love André, fantastic player on his day and really hope that Benitez can be the man to get a real tune out of him, he would have absolutely torn up the Portuguese League too.

Off topic, get back to the Tim Davies thread !

Just to add my two cents (which wasn't asked for, but there you go). I really don't see what anyone on the staff do wrong on this place to be honest, it's a boss little place to visit. There are plenty of more active forums but to be honest I enjoy the fact that I recognise most of the people on here, rather than having thousands of people all climbing over each other to get a word in - you'll also find that in general forums are dying thanks to the emergence of social media but as I've been coming here on and off since my school days (basically, about 15 years) shows that the lads behind the scenes are doing a thing or two right. A number of years ago I launched a forum with a few others about general football and despite it doing really well found that it's more difficult than you would assume being an admin or moderator. In short, there are some proper whoppers about and as I said earlier the mods on here do (IMO) a top job. Without getting too involved, I don't see why you're getting angry about a comment being deleted when it had no relevance to the topic, it's a bit like me suddenly going off on one about what Marco Silva is up to now with Fulham, or asking what people think about Cristiano Ronaldo signing for United.

Amazes me how some people expect our players to have the next 12 games imprinted into their brain ready to reel off in order, just in case someone from the press asks them. At this rate we'll scrap set piece training at Finch Farm and instead us the two hours gained for some hard revision on the postcodes of our next opposition, the amount of burger vans at Goodison on a matchday and the full dental records of Dixie Dean. In a nutshell, couldn't give a shite if Rondon (or anyone else for that matter) know who we're playing on Saturday, just so long as they perform when it gets to matchday.

Nope, see above post for reasons why.

Think he should be allowed to represent his country for as long as he wants to be honest, he's Irish - wasn't born in Everton so has no blood ties to us. It's a bit different in England, but most places in the world country comes first (and perhaps rightly so). I want Seamus, and anyone else in the team to play for their countries for as long as they can. If they get injured/tired then so be it, part and parcel of being an international footballer.

From what I understand (so could well be wrong) the Premier League clubs have agreed amongst themselves to block players travel to red listed countries, I don't think that there is a rule exactly, just a blanket refusal to sanction such leave as for South American matches. I assume that Martinez was the exception, or that Aston Villa were not that bothered about losing players and/or backtracked from the initial agreement. I assume it'll get a bit messy though, as I can't see the Brazilian FA for example being happy that the core of their squad; Alisson, Thiago, Richarlison, Fred, Firmino, Gabriel Jesus being in the UK and not a yellow shirt.

Work permits in England are an absolute joke when it comes to footballers, we're so far behind the times compared to the continent. I'm saying this not just as an Everton fan, but as someone who wants free trade throughout football, the restrictions placed on clubs and players in the UK are unnecessary and just means that clubs in this country will need to spunk three or four times what they should have when a potential prospect "makes it".

Confirmed at Mallorca, Hoppe we don't live to regret this one.