The Phoenix

Condolences to the family and friends of our chairman Bill Kenwright. Football pales into insignificance during these moments, now is the time to remember him and honour him. He was a product of Liverpool and it’s values, he loved our city, its people and our club. May he rest in peace

A point and our first (premier league) goals of the season. It was hard to single one player out but I went for Pickford, his heroics late on finally got us off the mark 

15 minutes ago, Gwlad all over said:

Anything other than a win and I will be seriously worried.

Same, I have the fear whenever it’s the lead up to a match. We’ve been riding our luck for so long that I get night sweats and palpitations at the mere thoughts of a ball being kicked. Hopefully we can perform another miracle, if not let’s hope the other results go our way

We need to be honest and forthright about how well Frank is doing. Yes he managed to create a synergy between our boys on the pitch and us which helped last season. For that we’re forever indebted to him but in all seriousness should we be focusing on the shitness of other teams giving him breathing space to get things right eventually. We’re 2 games in to season of unknown challenges thanks to the World Cup. Results are important now, the confidence of the team and the mental health of us supporters need it  

10 minutes ago, MikeO said:

I know where you stand, there's really no need to parrot the same stuff again and again, I got it years ago.

I'm not talking about the board, I'm commenting on the 27 years campaign specifically so any comparison to the board is an irrelevance.

But out of interest, are you saying because the board has "lied" it's OK for groups campaigning againt them to lie as well? Surely that makes them no better than the people they're protesting against.

Let’s not spend time bickering amongst ourselves over what we say/how we say things. As sure as night follows day Kenwright is full of shite, he’s more into massaging his ego than doing what is right for the club. We need unity with all factions, we need to cut the head off the poisonous snake. If this wankstain continues to be involved we don’t need to worry about the championship next year cause we’ll be in league 1 the year after.

I’ve never been so deflated going into a new season lads. Last year was a fucking slog, 9 months of absolute torture, a shit show on every level. Fuck, I thought football was supposed to be fun. If we’re brutally honest with ourselves the end of season high was more down to the shitness of others than the greatness of our boys.

I decided to take a mental break from all things Everton for a while and when I come back the carnage continues. We’re constrained by our financial problems, we sell our best player who’s also our biggest threat and can’t reinvest his fee, potential buyers titillate and tease us only to then disappear into the great beyond, preseason promise disappears into the abyss as we lose to Arsenal then get battered by Minnesota United.

If this continues I really do fear for our great club, our competitors appear to have done good business bringing in players whilst we’re just treading water, doing nothing. I need some positivity to lift me from the feeling of doom and gloom

The first team/academy shouldn’t be seen as separate entities but as cogs in the same machine. Our problem is that for far to long we’ve lacked consistency in both. We’ve had 7 managers since Moyes left in 2013. That’s seven different playing styles, they’ve brought in their “type” of player, implemented their tactics/patterns of play etc etc. 

I haven’t a Scooby Doo how the first team squad would know what to do at any given time let alone the academy players. For us to have long term success from the youth ranks we need them to be playing the same brand of football from the age of 7 up. 

That way players will be able to transition from the under 23 side into the first team without a massive effect on the shape of the team and hopefully performance. As a club we need to draw a line in the sand and start being proactive instead of reactive 

4 hours ago, MikeO said:

Threatening and/or violent behaviour? Missed that, just saw a lot of very happy people celebrating.

I feel that this is a “seen to be doing” charge by the FA. Coming onto the pitch after the game finishes is one thing but coming on during a game opens us up to player safety issues. Also factor in what happened when players were attacked at other grounds and you get this kinda stuff. City should also get charged especially because of the goal posts being broken (that could do serious damage). 

4 hours ago, duncanmckenzieismagic said:

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kevin-thelwell-everton-transfer-plan-24442785

That seems like a positive step. Look at how other clubs like Chelsea, the red shite and City recruit to their academies in this league as do clubs on the continent. If we invest in youth, give them a pathway into our first team or into becoming professional footballers at a different club matching their abilities it can either a) save us millions in transfers or b) be a lucrative investment stream we’re missing out on. As much as it may sicken us we need to look across the park and adopt some of their proven practices cause currently we’re a club marooned in the 20th century in regards to maximising our income streams and marketing strategies 

On 09/07/2022 at 04:47, Cornish Steve said:

Reading through the Transfer Rumours section, I feel rather upbeat about the type of players to whom we're being linked. Gallagher and Eriksen were never going to happen, so I'm glad those discussions have died down. The possibility of signing Gibbs-White, Broja, and Walker-Peters is an exciting one. Swapping Gomes for Rabiot would also be smart business. If these four deals came off, I'd be over the moon and very impressed. We shouldn't forget as well those players returning from loan spells. Would Nkounkou make the step up under a coach like Ashley Cole? Can Gbamin prove himself after a solid loan deal must have been reassuring after such devastating bad luck with injuries? What about Simms and Broadhead? Will they make a push toward the first team or is now the time to cash in? Let's hope we get deals done in the next two weeks and push hard for a great start to the season.

We need them in 2 weeks ago not in the next 2 weeks. This season scares me because of the unknown factor of having a World Cup in November. Games will come thick and fast so how much time will the coaching staff have to work on tactics etc etc. Doshiri needs to strengthen us asap because if a deal takes time we won’t have a transfer window left to work in

2 hours ago, Bailey said:

My view is that a good midfield makes your defenders and your attackers better. 

Agreed, if we can box off the midfield we’ll be more solid defensively which I turn will give us more confidence going forward. 

Fuck me that’s a depressing read. The ineptitude of “the powers that be” who make decisions for our club knows no bounds. We make up one half of a vibrant, inclusive, energised city and as per usual the dumb fucks in charge neglect to take any opportunity to place our club front and centre. I travel regularly through John Lennon Airport (as I live away) and never realised there was no Everton merch on sale (I buy online or when I come home). It’s a absolute disgrace in this modern age

I’ll start by saying I’m sorry for being negative but here goes. I am grateful that Frank has come in and pulled us back from falling into oblivion but as far as I am concerned the jury is still out. I understand he came in late and inherited a squad after the transfer window closed which was no easy task. He’ll have a full pre season to plan now so I have questions. 

1: Does Frank have a clear idea about what our football identity will be? We’ve been disjointed and confused for far to long following the manager merry go round. We need focus, direction

2: Which of our existing players fit into that identify and can we keep them?

3: What will his recruitment approach be to fit his vision but also work with in the budget we have (I am worried FFP will be a stick to beat us with and the FA will be sniffing around)

4: Will he make the hard decisions and move on players who just aren’t good enough or are to old? This is not the time for sentiment

5: Will he have the tenacity to stand up to the owners when the decide to interfere as usual

Like I said sorry for being negative but I for one will feels a little more trusting when these things are answered 

1 hour ago, Hafnia said:

Let’s be 100% clear.  We aren’t in this mess because of referees but we would be out of relegation threat if it wasn’t for them. They have been a divisive factor- yes we should be better and not need them to be competent/non corrupt or whatever the view is. 
 

if you look at my posts I have been very clear as to where blame lies and it’s from boardroom to the players to the fans to a lesser extent. 
 

Some of the fans because they have applauded and supported an incompetent chairman and called Everton fans who seen this mess coming as “kopites”.   The players because they have played the manager merry go round to their advantage and played with minimal intensity for too long and seen managers off. 

I get you, I’m just getting tired of all the shite talk that’s going on and us not going full tilt at the real problem. We’ve been riding our luck as a club for far to long now and it’s coming home to roost. Bad decisions aren’t helping our fight for safety but these fuckers in charge have been incompetent since day one. Luck shouldn’t be that big of an influence and the fact that it is says it all. We should be top 6 with what they’ve spent but instead were wallowing in mediocrity, relegation threatened and financially fucked

On 17/05/2022 at 18:27, Hafnia said:

He’s a Newcastle fan, we have a mackem goalkeeper and their fans hate us.   Don’t underestimate unconscious bias, he knows his fellow fans would love him for shafting us. 

You keep on telling yourself things like that dude if it helps you to deal with the situation we’re currently in as a club. Oliver and his cronies aren’t responsible for years of mismanagement at the highest level within our club. Nor are they for underperforming, overpaid players who have quite frankly been an embarrassment week in week out. Was he the deciding vote in the appointment of Benitez? We wouldn’t be in this position if we had better leadership in place and an actual plan for success instead of this slap dash approach. We can bury our heads in the sand and blame someone who is independent of the club or we can face up to the sad reality, we’re the fucking punchline of the shittest joke in football and until we get rid of the current regime we will struggle to get mid table never mind back into contention for Europe/trophies 

4 hours ago, duncanmckenzieismagic said:

Don’t know how true it is but I’ve been sent a photo of Michael Oliver in a bar and the bloke reckons he is in the same golf club as him and that he is best mates with his dad , supposedly he was laughing about the Everton game and admitted he should have sent the Brentford player off but wanted Pickford relegated ( Oliver is a big Newcastle fan )

 

Sounds like someone’s blowing smoke up your arse dude. If he felt any of that stuff you can guarantee he wouldn’t be saying that to anyone. He’s partial to an occasional mistake but he’s one of the only decent ones out there. Plus it’s a World Cup year so he’s not going to risk his chances with a fuck up like that

1 minute ago, Elston Gunnn said:

I’m going with your thinking, especially now that Arsenal have dropped all 3 points at Newcastle, 2-0!  Stunning loss, I must say.  Perhaps others saw it coming, I don’t know.

Here’s to hoping we are safe after the Palace match, but if not, perhaps Arsenal are now totally deflated.  And if on Sunday afternoon they are somehow hallucinating that Norwich might win, let’s hope Spurs are leading Norwich 0-3 after 15 minutes.

The worrying thing now is that after their horror showing tonight some players are playing for their futures. 

7 minutes ago, duncanmckenzieismagic said:

How can anyone explain the Rodri hand ball if it’s not corruption?

These Refs shouldn’t be in the game if they are scared to make decisions against the big boys however the appalling decisions that are going against us aren’t just against the big boys Brentford yesterday , Romeou handball at Southampton, Allan sending off against Newcastle at home  Jonjoe Shelvely not getting a red at Newcastle away, Tarkowski tackle on Richarlison at home, the lost goes on) It’s happening too often for it to just be poor refereeing and if it was just that then surely it would actually even itself out over a season? 
 

All of the incidents you listed just go to prove the point that referees are shit and the wankers in VAR are shit. It doesn’t prove a conspiracy helping the big boys cause you listed (and stated) shite teams have benefited as well. I don’t believe we are victims of a conspiracy I believe we are suffering because the current system is awful, the referees running the show are substandard and the powers that be don’t actually care enough to fix it because the unpredictable nature it creates drama to the whole show. That drama then adds to the interest which in turn puts money in their pockets

Everton 1-1 Crystal Palace

Gordon

Nb. And if it’s independently run by people with no skin in the game we’d not be in the situation we’re in

2 hours ago, duncanmckenzieismagic said:

I agree, I’m 100% convinced that it’s corrupt and will feature in one of those Panorama programs in years to come

During lockdown it was a huge story/ selling point for the Premier League for The Shite to win their fist title in 30 years and when you think back at some of the ludicrous VAR decisions that went their way that year you have to wonder whether that was staged

Now it’s a big selling point for City and The Shite to go neck and neck in the title raise and you look at some of the decisions ( Rodri handball ) and again you would be forgiven for thinking it’s all staged

Us going down would also be a huge story and it really does look like their is a concerted effort from the powers that be to make it happen

I agree with you both that VAR is ruining the game. The level of dumbfuckery  exhibited by the bollox in the booth is severely fucking up our season. I don’t however believe that it’s a contrived decision by the powers that be to fuck us over, creating a title race/relegation battle in the process. VAR isn’t fit for purpose, all 20 teams have an axe to grind with it, decisions seem to be made depending if some frustrated middle aged fucker got his end away last night or not. What’s needed is an independent VAR set up to interpret the rules correctly as opposed to the current set up of drinking buddies protect their own knowing they’ll be “paid back” next time they fuck it up.

3 hours ago, Bailey said:

I know a lot of people of are not convinced that Leeds will get points at Brentford but Brentford were shocking against us at the start of today's game and Leeds will go at them in exactly the same way. 

We need to get the points against Palace with whatever threadbare squad we can patch together.

People wrote us off against Chelsea and look what we did in that game, United as well. Arsenal could turn up and play amazing football or they could stink their gaff out. It’s a coin toss but if we bring our A game we could be to much for them

The board need to be held accountable for the shit show that’s happened under their watch. Dumbfuck decisions year on year, spending freely (and stupidly) with no concrete plan in place. Where we go from here is anybodies guess but we just need to get these fuckers to be honest and transparent when facing questions. You can guarantee if their other business interests were run this way heads would roll

WTF lads, I thought we’d done the hard yards over the last few games. Today was a nightmare, I hope we can pull it together now, totally deflated, it’s still so tight, can see Leeds turning up against Brentford and wouldn’t put it past that koppite wanker to roll over for Burnley in the week

49 minutes ago, Cornish Steve said:

As you say, if Leeds lose their next game, we effectively need only one draw from our final three. Their goal difference is simply awful - more than a goal a game.

Who’d have thought it would’ve been this straightforward after we played the red shite. Now I’m wondering what all the fuss was about, this relegation battle malarkey ain’t that hard. If we’d have had this type of form from our last 4-5 games from the get go we’d be pushing for Europe (I know we started well under the fucking koppite wank-stain before you correct me)