nogs

Problem is we have been saying we should be breaking into the top 4 every season since we finished 5th under Martinez. I still reckon that was our big opportunity, fucked up by Martinez's criminal lack of tactical awareness defensively. Since then, under Moshiri's watch we have seen a catalogue of rank bad recruitment turn our squad into a bit of a laughing squad and absolutely nowhere near challenging at the top of the league. I don't think it's realistic to expect that to be turned around in two transfer windows. My concern is that there will be big pressure on Ancellotti to achieve fast results, well throw a load more money around without a proper long term strategy and in 12 months we'll all be scratching our heads wondering what went wrong. 
Ancellotti has signed for four full seasons. I reckon it could realistically take until the final 2 of those before we're genuine contenders again. He needs to be given time and patience. 

Problem is we have been saying we should be breaking into the top 4 every season since we finished 5th under Martinez. I still reckon that was our big opportunity, fucked up by Martinez's criminal lack of tactical awareness defensively. Since then, under Moshiri's watch we have seen a catalogue of rank bad recruitment turn our squad into a bit of a laughing squad and absolutely nowhere near challenging at the top of the league. I don't think it's realistic to expect that to be turned around in two transfer windows. My concern is that there will be big pressure on Ancellotti to achieve fast results, well throw a load more money around without a proper long term strategy and in 12 months we'll all be scratching our heads wondering what went wrong. 
Ancellotti has signed for four full seasons. I reckon it could realistically take until the final 2 of those before we're genuine contenders again. He needs to be given time and patience. 

Didn't see it coming. What a coup this is. Outstanding CV. Bags of experience throughout Europe. Huge reputation.
And yet strangely, I'm holding back. I think the last few years have really dug into me. I've allowed myself to get carried away with the story behind the managers (except that fat lad), lapped up the spending spree's even though my gut instinct was to want only 2-3 key additions per season to slowly build up a powerful squad. And each time it's turned to shit. We've had our pants pulled down by managers, agents, players.
My hope now is for some stability. Ancelotti has a 4 year contract. Has previously not gone beyond 2. I hope he see' s something different here, a new challenge away from his normal role call. Something that excites him and has made him hungry to make it work. What I hope it isn't is a chance to get another pay out after 2 years.
Hopefully Ancelotti is the cherry on top of a huge learning curve for Moshiri and we can start progressing from here on in. Firstly, climb that table. It's not too late to challenge for 6th/7th if we can get the basics sorted. And that's key - get the basics sorted. Defence. Set Pieces. Pass to each other!
Get rid of the dead wood. If they ain't good enough, cut our loses and move on. We've been milked twice over - once for fee's and wages bringing players in, then again trying to get rid!
We, fans, need to be patient. 3/4 years of turmoil can't be undone so quickly. Forget about winning cups etc for a little while, let's just get back to being Evertonians - noisey, hostile, loyal, supportive Evertonians.
Fingers crossed that we've sussed it this time. If this doesn't go to plan, I think we'll all be stuck for words!!!

Apart from a slight lack of pace Siggurdson has every other characteristic to play in a top 4 team. He is probably our most talented and hard working footballer, which I know a lot of people won't necessarily agree with, put the problem for us is that he has constantly been a square peg in a round hole.
The argument about him never playing for a top 4 side is BS when you look at the number of players that are shite who have played for top 4 clubs (Djemba Djemba, Aliadiere, Mikel etc etc). 
 

He must have a foot like a traction engine!!

"Baines was in decline a decade ago nearly". "I'd rather have Unsworth over him". You're on fire this morning Pete!! 

"Baines was in decline a decade ago nearly". "I'd rather have Unsworth over him". You're on fire this morning Pete!! 

"Baines was in decline a decade ago nearly". "I'd rather have Unsworth over him". You're on fire this morning Pete!! 

Oh well. Tosun and Baines's pens were shite, Baines can have a pass but not sure what we pay Tosun's wages for. 
Fabulous fight back 2nd half though, we can hold our head up high and more of the same Saturday we'll stuff Arsenal.
Longer term, whoever comes in I just don't know what they do about some of the overpriced overpaid shite we call players. Iwobi, Keane first half, Bernard who was so bad he got pulled instead of Iwobi... Just so many players on our books who individually are not up to scratch. It doesn't matter who is in charge, what tactics you play, our recruitment continues to be very, very worrying

You've completely contradicted yourself here. The best two teams in the league, who you rightly point out have incredibly gifted players from a technical stand point, are what they are precisely because their players don't 'simply run around'. They play with calculated aggression and a burning desire to beat whoever is put in front of them. That's what guts and passion mean, that's what defines winners, that is what managers like Pep and Klopp demand no matter how gifted a player is, and why someone like Ozil is playing for Arsenal, not Man City or Liverpool. 
Passion and commitment can and does beat talent when talent isn't up for the fight. That's usually the key thing that separates successful pros from the child protégés who never quite make it. Desire is everything, especially at the top. 

You've completely contradicted yourself here. The best two teams in the league, who you rightly point out have incredibly gifted players from a technical stand point, are what they are precisely because their players don't 'simply run around'. They play with calculated aggression and a burning desire to beat whoever is put in front of them. That's what guts and passion mean, that's what defines winners, that is what managers like Pep and Klopp demand no matter how gifted a player is, and why someone like Ozil is playing for Arsenal, not Man City or Liverpool. 
Passion and commitment can and does beat talent when talent isn't up for the fight. That's usually the key thing that separates successful pros from the child protégés who never quite make it. Desire is everything, especially at the top. 

Every other post is about... Oh hang on 🙄🤪

Every other post is about... Oh hang on 🙄🤪

You've completely contradicted yourself here. The best two teams in the league, who you rightly point out have incredibly gifted players from a technical stand point, are what they are precisely because their players don't 'simply run around'. They play with calculated aggression and a burning desire to beat whoever is put in front of them. That's what guts and passion mean, that's what defines winners, that is what managers like Pep and Klopp demand no matter how gifted a player is, and why someone like Ozil is playing for Arsenal, not Man City or Liverpool. 
Passion and commitment can and does beat talent when talent isn't up for the fight. That's usually the key thing that separates successful pros from the child protégés who never quite make it. Desire is everything, especially at the top. 

Got to give dunc credit for getting the lads back in the game 

Baines: making straight Evertonians question their heterosexuality since 2007.

Have to say I've been very, very impressed by Holgate again. Looks so at home in the middle 

For Iwobi, anyone 

Fuck me, hard to think of a worse performance in a blue shirt than Iwobi tonight.  And I saw Bret Angell play.

They are clowns in the genuine sense though; i.e: not funny at all, the shit bit in between the proper acts.  When Iwobi gets in his car tonight the doors will fall off and it'll squirt water in his face.

Leicester didn’t win the PL because they were the most technically gifted team in the league, they out worked there opponents.  

You've completely contradicted yourself here. The best two teams in the league, who you rightly point out have incredibly gifted players from a technical stand point, are what they are precisely because their players don't 'simply run around'. They play with calculated aggression and a burning desire to beat whoever is put in front of them. That's what guts and passion mean, that's what defines winners, that is what managers like Pep and Klopp demand no matter how gifted a player is, and why someone like Ozil is playing for Arsenal, not Man City or Liverpool. 
Passion and commitment can and does beat talent when talent isn't up for the fight. That's usually the key thing that separates successful pros from the child protégés who never quite make it. Desire is everything, especially at the top. 

Wish Usmanov would stop pissing around at Arsenal and just come and bank roll us into the next stratosphere! 

Bizarre reports linking Newcastle and Sheff Utd with him in papers this morning. £14m? Surely got to be complete BS, we'd be mad to sell this lad. 

Wish Usmanov would stop pissing around at Arsenal and just come and bank roll us into the next stratosphere!