Philinsuffolk

Funny that Zed should raise the topic of AJ, as I was just thinking about AJ when watching Match of the Day last night. AJ has been a success for us so far, no question. His workrate and pace are a problem to teams and his goals return good when you consider that we are still a team based mainly around keeping things tight and grabbing a goal to win games. However, maybe some of the reaction to him (by the press as much as anything) has been OTT. Look at how many goals players like Berbatov, Keane, Yakubu and Kevin Doyle have scored this season, mainly with less hype. Please be clear, I see AJ as a central part of our team for the coming 3 or 4 years hopfully and if we get the same return each season then we would have got our money's worth. But maybe in the cold light of day it is a combination of the sheer lack of goalscoring strikers that we have had for years and the début goal and the hat-trick against the RS (fantastic!) that has led to an over-reaction? Just a thought. In the meantime, beat Portsmouth and we should be into the UEFA Cup (they won't all get to 58 points to pip us) and the chance to go to the next level that we all feel we're close to.. Come on Blues.

A good point, edging our way there. Just one concern - Arteta got hs 8th yellow of the season today - if he gets 10 then he gets a ban (not sure whether it's 1 game or 3) - and before anyone asks, the 10 yellows rule applies all season (unlike the 5 yellows which ends in March). He needs to get through the next couple of games without a card - we'll need him for all the remaining games. But a great point - a win against Chalrton on Sunday and United/Chelsea getting Cup Final places and it's happy days..

I agree with those saying we need 4 points from the games at Bolton and the home game with Charlton (which with Charlton's form at the moment is starting to look a much harder fixture than a month ago). If we get a point then at least we have a 3 point gap on Spurs with the much better difference - so even if they win their game in hand we'd still be just ahead of them. A minimum of 8 more points to get.. I'm not predicting this one,more a case of everything crossed that we at least avoid defeat. God, being pragmatic and taking the draw is lame but I just want that UEFA Cup place!

Please save your arguing for the RS's in your life! As much as it would break my heart, I am afraid that I feel that we have no realistic choice but to move in order to compete in the future. I am more concerned with ensuring that if we do move, that we get a ground that has soul, passion and atmosphere -not an out-of-town ground with no feel. For most of the 90's and ealy parts of 2000's there was a lack of atmosphere for most of the time. However, the old place absolutely rocks these days at certain times. Commentators regularly now talk about Goodison being a very difficult place to visit because of the atmosphere - we must take that with us if we go. However, we're never all going to agree on this. It will simply divide opinion as it cuts so much to the heart of our club. We may debate potential new signings but these players come and go and ultimately we get behind the players we do sign. But the ground is much more than that. However, if we do move, I hope the club gets the balance right - a capacity that can allow us to compete, but would we really get 50,000 regularly? I hate seeing grounds where there are 15,000 missing. Tricky decision - and for those that criticise Kenwright on this - would we do any better? Oh ok, yes I think I would do better so someone give me the £170m needed to buy the club and I'll deliver us the Champions League (beating the RS 1-0 in the final with JP Kissock getting the winner!). Actually with £170m I may buy the RS and turn the f**kers into a car park!

Utter disgrace. This isn't the fact he did it to Everton players. If he had said it to black players at United, Villa, Boro or wherever it would be a disgrace. As TheBluenose posts - the reaction of our players makes it obvious what happened. And as Romey says they spout about Kick Racism out of Football 9quite rightly, but when it comes to it". Emre - we all know what you are and after this I'm very glad you went to Newcastle and not to us. Prick.

Right, I know I'm sad but I think of Everton in any spare moment I get (like most of you I'm sure!). At 37, I've followed the Blues for 27 of those. In the world of Premiership football we all know it's very hard to break into the "big 4" without investment. We did it briefly the other season and missed a chance. I honestly believe we're on thebrink of another chance. Get UEFA Cup football and I honestly think we're geared up to start to challenge. It would allow us to keep the core of the squad together (a side based around Howard, Lescott, Yobo, Neville, Arteta, Cahill, AJ and if we dare dream it, Fernandes, is a good side supported by squad players like Osman, Hibbert, Anichebe) and to build on it by attracting 3 or 4 quality additions. So, the point of my mail? I have checked the final Prem tables of the past 4 seasons to see how many points it takes to finish 5th, 6th or 7th. It's hard to be scientific but the average points tally for the past 4 seasons has been 60 points (5th), 59 (6th) and 56 (7th). Lets not rely on 7th (which needs a United - Chelsea Cup Final), mens we need something like 59 points. That is 13 more points from now - 4 wins & a draw. Home wins against Fulham, Charlton and Portsmouth are a must. After that it's try to pin a tail on the donkey - maybe getting something at Villa and West Ham. 4 wins will probably be enough, anything less and we may miss out. We must grasp this moment. COYB

Agree totally Louis, I use this phrase a lot in life - quite often about the Blues!

It's not my usual paper (honestly, it's not) but buzzing after yesterday's result, I logged onto the Daily Telegraph's webiste - read our match report, it is fair and gives us the credit we deserve. I'm not being snooty about this, but the broadsheet papers actually write good articles about the various footy issues and teams - we get lots of good write up's in the Guardian etc. The tabloids sell papers on tittle tattle and emotive one liners that rarely have any truth or mean anything.

In mid to late January when we were trying to get Fernandes I wrote about how good and how important a player he could be for us. Yes, we need to add to the squad, but as I see it, lets spend what money we have got on quality - pull out all the stops to get Fernandes and play him with Cahill and Arteta and 1 or 2 other midfielders and we have a midfield as good as ANYTHING in the Premiership. Get that UEFA Cup spot, qualify for the group stages this time and we are entitled to have players of his quality. If we don't you couldn't blame him for going where he can get euro football.

Mac, I couldn't hope to make the point as well as you, but do agree completely. Joey Barton is a damn good footballer, who would undoubtedly improve our team and his will to win would drive us onwards as a club. However, sometimes principles have to be applied and retained. Joey Barton gives our fine city a bad name with his antics and as such do we really want to give someone like this £40k a week or whatever the rate is? Personally I would rather we keep some principles and get a different player.

If we don't automatically qualify for the UEFA Cup (not via the Intertoto in other words) he will go. If we do, we have a chance to convince him to at least give us next season. It must be an early decision by all though - no selling him on 29th August.

Agree entirely Pat. We are quick enough to criticise the players/manager/board or else refs/other teams when suits us - as of course is natural given what footy and Everton means to us all. However, lets keep in mind that supporters are the most important aspect of any football club - we play a massive part in how others perceive Everton. Get behind the team big time, let the ref know verbally if he gives a bad decision. But lets spread the GOOD name of our beloved club.

Performance in the 1st half was good but in the 2nd we sat back and could have paid for it. I almost felt embarressed and sorry for Watford when leon popped the 3rd in at the end. But let's keep it in perspective - it was Watford, who despite being a decent, honest and hardworking team are desperately out of their depth in the Premiership. Now, if we can go to Sheffield next week and get 3 points then that would be a greater indication if we've got the guts for the fight. With Reading away at Arsenal next week, we have to get those 3 points at Sheffield - of our last 9 games 3 are Arsenal, United and Chelsea. Fernandes is class, I so hope we sign this lad - get into Europe and we've a chance of keeping him .

Like the rest of you no doubt, I'm fucking raging at this result. Yep, we were missing key players in AJ & Cahill and of course we're struggling to get the likes of Hibbert out there. But YET AGAIN the club get themselves into a half decent position and then completely blow it. I agree totally that under Moyes we can only play 4-5-1 - mates of mine think it is an inherently negative formation, but not necessarily and lets face it every time we open up a bit with a 4-4-2 we come unstuck. I expect a big performance on Saturday. Fucking shambles. And as for Spurs, they are now definately the 2nd team I really want results against from now on. Our record against them is laughable. Sort it out Everton. And let's hope that by August we have built the next few pieces of the jigsaw so that we offload the likes of Naysmith, VDM and Wright and bring in no less than 5 players of decent quality. Christ, I'm raging.

Kopite - in fairness to you, you have come on here and made an attempt to make reasonable comment/conversation. The thing is, everything is relative. So, how are we measuring "small club"? We have won the title 9 times, albeit our last in 1987. Liverpool have won more titles (and yes, before anyone says it the EC 5 times) but likewise they haven't won the league for a long time - only a few seasons more recently than us. If my knowledge is correct, only Liverpool, United and Arsenal have won it more times. So does that mean we're bigger than 88 other English league teams? I only ask because I saw the comments their fans put on the red & white kop site - OTT. I thought we played well today - in the 1st half we gave as good as we got. Yep, 2nd half we set stall out for draw, but hey mission accomplished unlike Liverpool who set out to win and didn't achieve it. I'm now only interested in us cracking on and getting a top 7 finish this season - no reason why not.

I'm delighted with that. The whole of the back 4, Neville, Carsley and Arteta all great. Tim a bit missing today, but can allow him that. Alan Stubbs - when you eventually hang the boots up and reflect - make sure you pour yourself a nice big drink for your performance today - we're proud to have you as one of us.

Fight for every ball Blues. Come on Blues, Come on.

Oh I do like to walk along the seaside, Oh I do like to walk along the sea, Oh I do like to walk along the prom prom prom Where the brass bands play.... Fuck off McMahon, Fuck off McMahon.

The thing is Kopite - lets be honest - Gary Neville is just giving as good as he gets. Barton, Fowler, Neville etc. Gary Neville has always been outspoken (remember it was he that led the England player revolt over Ferdinand that time). Phil Neville goes about his business in a much quieter way, so I for one have no problem with him.

I admire your ability to take a cold, hard look at this one folks. Beating them 3-0 earlier in the season means we know they will want to invoke pain on us. Yes, they are playing well at the moment, etc and in Gerrard have a truly World Class player. But, there is one thing nagging me. They are so overdue a home defeat. But do me a favour...by the time you've woken up on Saturday, had a shower, breakfast and got the shirt on...be full of fire and fucking brimstone. Come on Everton, fucking come on. Have these. 1-0 Everton - Beattie.

Moyes retains my support 100%.

Amusing. I think I'll save myself the hassle for a couple of days though and then on Wednesday get home from work, put my little boy to be, have my tea and settle down for an evening of..The medical team are in!

Mac/StevO - thanks, very kind. Where have I been? I've been logging on, but not much chance to reply, but enough's enough! Did you all know that the recently finalised TV deal means the team that finish bottom of the Prem next season gets £30m?! I haven't seen what you get for finishing say 7th but you can imagine. I know I'm being boring not saying lets dive in for transfers but Matt Etherington...I live in West Ham type land these days and seriously, I would prefer Kev Kilbane.

I know it is frustating and we all want to see some additions but lets get real here - the way the game is now, buying players involves so many factors and is a minefield. Other than the "Big 4" other clubs have to wheel & deal and develop gradually - which is exactly what Moyes (and the Board) are doing. Each season that goes by we have a slightly better squad - the likes of AJ, Lescott, Arteta, Cahill and Neville in, with the likes of Kilbane, Davies and Weir (thanks Davie, great service) out is a sign of progress. I for one can see where it will go in the summer - the likes of Naysmith, Wright and McFadden will go and I'm sure will be replaced with better. I hope we get a couple of players in the coming days (Fernandes is a very good player indeed) - but lets give them until Wednesday (the market is largely like a game of chess). If you think we're bad, look at where Leeds United are and remmber back...Seth Johnson went into talks wanting £35k a week and almost choked when within 5 minutes was offered £70k! Seth who?!

Right - the club have confirmed that discussions are taking place and that a medical is taking place as part of these talks! Hold on to your hats. Stick this lad in the centre of the park and we have the next Makelele. Or have I been playing too much Football Manager 2007?!!