Avinalaff

So was Lescott I'd have Warnock as number 2 also.

8-0 to Villarael ?

I'd rather we spoke to QPR or Nowich about Taarabt or Hoolahan. As soon as we get linked to players from big clubs I always shake my head. Even Sinclair from Swansea should be a target.

She looks a bit of a Holy Cow to me.

Looks like he could be staying where he is.

Maybe I'm just a bit more laid back. My attitude was different 30 years ago. Now, I'm quite calm about it all. I love football, but hate politics.

Deserves more credit than stick. I think the strikers we have will be ok though. For me, the service to our front men, and the positional play of the team as a whole is the problem. If Moyes can get the midfield balanced the goals will come. Playing with only one striker will always mean the goals come from different sources.

Thanks man. Regarding the on the pitch scenario though, I think the bigger picture applies. A war may be won on the battlefield too, but the country that can afford the best weapons will determine victory long before the first bullet is fired. At the moment, we have the firepower to win the odd battle, but if the league is a war, we have no chance of winning it on the field alone. I know it sounds cheesy, but I think it's true.

Appreciated. I found your post interesting. If I may add to it without disagreeing with it .......... I totally understand your views, but if you compare football to a rock concert, would you not care if the performance was awful, as long as the song got to number one? I'm an Everton fan, but most of all, I'm a football fan, in that I can watch Arsenal v United, or 'your choice here' v who ever, and be fully entertained if it's a great game. To watch awful, awful football, and then get a lucky penalty decision in the 90th minute would drive me up the wall. It has to be entertaining. Sure, if it was the last game of the season, and we needed a win to succeed, then fantastivc, but can you imagine it week in and week out? A perfect scenario, which I'm sure we'll all agree, would be an incredibly entertaining match, and come out as victors. Watching football and getting frustrated defeats the object of the exercise. I think we've all been frustrated for some time now, but the problem is that it's slightly out of the clubs hands at the moment regarding putting it all right, and definitely out of our hands. Maybe that's why the more hardline fans (is that the right term?) are starting to protest. I don't understand enough about the politics, or even the finances of football to get involved, as I just like watching football and enjoy the more innocent side of the game. I tend to leave all the politics to the guys who know what they're talking about, or in some cases 'don't', but jump on the bandwagons anyway lol. Football history is a bit like a marriage, where the term 'for better or for worse' is concerned. All we can do is enjoy the good times when they happen, and hope the bad times don't happen too often, but if we let the bad times become too much of a problem, then the relationship breaks down. Is that what's happening with some of the fans and the board? I'm confident the good times will be back soon. Others fear the worst. As said, we all support the club with different views, but I think we all want the best for Everton.

It's just my own opinion. With hundreds of thousands of Everton supporters across the world, not all views will be like mine, that's for sure. I don't claim my views to be the correct views either, but they're the views of a football fan all the same. You say Everton aren't about mediocrity or survival, yet every other fan says the same about their own clubs. We can't hold on to tradition and history like King Canute trying to hold back the tide. The truth is that other teams are buying their way into the history books, and we can't compete. Whether we like it or not, this makes us mediocre amidst the current state of affairs, and survival is paramount. There are 72 football league teams, and only 4 qualify for Champions league. It's no fluke that the ones that normally qualify are the ones that have the most money. If paying off debts was so easy, surely it would be done, and few clubs would have such debt. As it is, most clubs have huge debt. How would we have qualified for Champions league based on your requirements? We'd still have to beat the other teams wouldn't we? As for my heart hurting, football is just a game. Let's save hurting hearts for real life issues, as opposed to eleven relative strangers succeeding or failing. Having passion for football should never outweigh passion for everything outside of football. Some folk have only football to enrich their lives. That doesn't make them better fans. It just means the game has it's place in our priorities, and for each of us, our priorities are different. We all love Everton, and all want the best for the club, and success on the pitch, but the hard facts are that people with enormous amounts of money, for what ever reason, now control the sharp end of football, and those that are not part of their plans can only look from the outside in. Is the real issue about what is best for the fans, the club, or about keeping up with the Jones' ? Many older Everton fans like myself have seen the good times, so our attitudes might be different to younger fans that haven't. My attitude is not geared towards the club spending more, or finding investment in order to keep up with the big spenders, but more preventing clubs from spending in the first place. I guess it's equivalent to not buying a sports car, but instead making the speed limit less. We're all different. Only the anticipation as the whistle blows remains the same.

1. The wife came out of the shower naked, and said "Shut the curtains, I don't want the neighbours to see me with no clothes on". I said "If the neighbours see you naked, they'll shut their own damn curtains ". 2. My Polish wife is struggling to come to terms with the English language. The other night she said to me "Me be going out with friends this night". Smiling, I had to correct her: " No you're fu*^%ng not!" 3. I went out last Friday, and got totally pissed out of my mind. I woke up next to this fat sweaty bird, who was snoring, grunting, and farting. I thought thank fu^& for that; at least I made it home. 4. Went to the doctors today. I said " do you treat alcoholics?" He said " Of course we do". I said "Great. Get your coat on. We're off to the pub. I'm skint". 5. Today, my friend asked me "If we could eliminate one race from the Olympics, what would it be?" I said "( .... your country of choice here ... )" . Apparently everyone else said the 800 metres. 6. Why men shouldn't be agony aunts ............. Dear Alan. I left home for work last week, and after less than a mile, my car stalled and wouldn't start. I walked all the way home to find my husband in bed with our 19 year old baby sitter. They annopunced that the affair had been going on for 2 years. Can you help me? I'm desperate. Dear reader. The most common cause of breaking down in the first mile is dirt in the fuel lines. I hope this helps. Alan. 7. My friend asked me to smuggle a camera into prison for him. I decided to hide it up my ass. The camera went in no bother, but the tripod made my f*&"! eyes water. 8. A man gets pulled over for drunk driving. When the policeman opens the door, the guy falls out of the car face first totally pissed. The policeman says "Sir, I'm taking you in. It's obvious that you are drunk"! The guy replies " Thank f"!^* for that, hic. I thought the f&^*"! steering had gone "! 9. I bought some 'Meatloaf' boxer shorts today. On the front it says "I will do anything for love" and on the back it says " But I won't do that"! :mrgreen: 10. Took a girl home from the pub the other night. I said to her "You remind me of my little toe". Smiling, she said "Is it because I'm small and cute?" I said "No; it's because I just know that before the night is out, I'm going to bang you on my coffee table"!

Change what you can't accept, and accept what you can't change. They were words offered to me by a boss many years ago, who besides being a bit off a git had his moments. The club don't have the cash to compete. Football is no longer won on the pitch. The first time lads kicking a ball around became superstars was the start of the end for the game of football. It's a working class game that has been stolen by the rich, and when they can't be arsed with it anymore the game will fall over like a house of cards on a windy day. I've been lucky enough to have supported Everton since I was a kid, so I've seen some good times, and applauded the lads as they brought silverware to the club, but after all the elation and rejoicing died down, I still had to get up for work the next day, and the grim reality that 'I' as a fan, hadn't actually won sod all. It's a bit like Christmas day. All the hassle leading up to it and when it comes, everyone is happy for a day, and then it's back to work. Winning isn't that important. It's just more fun than losing. What is more important is how good the game is, and that should be the first thing on a fans mind, or why bother watching it? If it's just about winning trophies, and sitting in a great stadium, why don't fans go and support United or Chelsea? The banners demanding that we win trophies is a bit over the top. It's not a given right for a club to win. 19 other teams all have a little say about that, regardless of how great your team is. When we were kids, teams used to be played with even teams. Two captains would each pick a player, until only the crap ones were left, but even the crap players got a game, because it was a game for everybody. The spirit of football has all but disappeared now. The big clubs who buy all the so called superstars are pretty much declaring how bad at football they are. It's no different to having a one on one scrap as a kid,only for the other lad to go and get his bigger mates. What happens? You go and get your bigger mates, and just like a game of tennis it goes back and forth until the guys are 20ft tall and armed with nukes. If you want to get better, you train harder, and stay off the ale and cigs, and hey presto, you end up a decent player. Buying success is a bit lame. Why bother having coaches? Sack them all, and save on their wages, and just buy ready made players. Pop them in the microwave for 2 minutes and watch how they score. There are 3 types of sports fans; those that shout for the big guy; those that shout for the little guy; and those that aren't interested as long as it's a good scrap, and I'm not talking fisty cuffs here, but any sport. Eventually though, the ones that were neutrals eventually become fond of one player / side, and a club fan is born (for example). I supported Everton because I became fond of them. Yes, my dad was a Blue, but unlike my brothers who are Reds, I became a blue because I was taken by everyone cheering, and the atmosphere at the match, and as I got older the chats on the train on the way home etc, where as my brothers became reds because Liverpool were the best team around at the time when they were growing up. They didn't even know who played for Liverpool. They just wanted to be associated with victory, like thousands and millions of other glory hunting fans. Moving away from the brothers, as they're no longer active fans (bless their red socks) and back to the glory hunters, does it change your life if you support a title winning team, as opposed to a relegated team? Isn't football still football? You watch a match, you get to see 'both' teams playing, not just one. Is it impossible to admire the skills of the opposition? If the opposition play great football, are they not worthy of being recognised, even if they're bottom of the league? Must the neutrals handkerchief always be thrown towards the victor, especially when the victor just happens to get refereeing decisions mysteriously go their way, or so much extra time that you're wondering if you'll make it back to the pub before closing? Glory hunters don't care. They're only interested in associating themselves with the achievements of others, and then patting themselves on the back, in some strange ritual that perhaps suggests that they've tasted success. Personally, I don't buy all that crap, but how different is a glory hunter, to a fan of a team that complains about lack of success, and starts to demand heads roll in order for them to see it? If Everton find investment, then for me, so be it, but I kind of enjoy the anticipation each season, brought on from the 'what if' scenario. I know every year we will probably win nothing, but getting to a final, and nearly winning the cup, for me at least, is better than the team winning everything in sight every year, and it just being yet another trip to Wembley to stoke the fires that power my ego. I like supporting Everton, but I won't be 'demanding' change, or trophies. I'd rather the club survives, and doesn't go bust. The history of the club belongs to the club and the fans that have supported her throughout, but I can only talk about the club during the years that I've supported it. I don't get those that go on about the clubs history, yet are young men. I don't like the situation we find ourselves in any more than the next fan, but my annoyance isn't with Everton, but with the state of the game, and all the fat cats that have gotten rich from it, be it players (especially players ) or the businesses who over invest in it. We as fans can't beat them, unless we join them, meaning unless a billionaire takes over, we are unlikely to get a flash new stadium and trophies every year, but I'd rather see honest lads sweating for the club, and winning games because they gave more, than pay some fancy Dan to fight the battle. Personally, I don't want to join them. I like being a fan of a good honest club, and if we get a new ground, with new owners, and new players, and eventually a new manager isn't that just a new Everton? Why bother? Why not just go support City? Maybe just ask City to call itself Everton, and move a bit closer, as it would be the same thing. Heck, be lucky the City owners don't buy us and call us Liverpool United. I'm happy if we stay afloat, stay in the top half of the Premiership, which in itself is quite an achievement and enjoy the Moyes era a bit more, be it with a trophy or not. If we can get to another final, great. No amount of money will win the league at the moment, so no point worrying about it every year. If they get a new stadium, it will be great, but for now I'll keep kicking the dog and take each game as it comes. (sorry for writing too much. It's just me being me lol.

Everton fans charged with missile throwing as spat dummies and pram toys hit ref.

Wasn't he in the crowd with the fans last season with the parker on?

We were 4th favourite a few days ago, with even Man Utd 3rd. If he signs, will the fans give him a chance?

Coleman runs out of ideas the minute he is challenged. I think he has a lot of developing to do before he can be categorized. I had him in my fantasy team last year and he scored good points as a defender, but now he has been classed as a midfiekder, so I think he will score a lot less.

No L words in your vocabulary then lol?

Last night was the first I've seen the lads play during the pre-season, and it leaves me very concerned. We don't seem to be keeping any shape. The team isn't working as a unit and the term 'headless chickens' springs to mind. If you watch the top teams, they all maintain an amount of positional discipline. If they lose the ball, they're right back on top of things, and when they have the ball, they have a logical approach going forward. I don't see any of that about Everton at the moment. It could have been eleven fans on the pitch last night, as such was the cluelessness of the display. I know we have a few injuries, but it's time to get the midfield right once and for all.

That's quite a thing. I'm not sure I'd have the skill or patience for anything outside 3 hrs though, nevermind 3000. I wonder if that was a commissioned piece or done out of love for the club. Either way, superb.

Typical. I miss the first 30 minutes, and as soon as I switch on we concede. Barkley looks quite comfortable. First time I've seen him play. Has he hads a good first half?

http://atdhe.tv/

There seems to be quite a few stream options for this game. Are we allowed to post streams on this forum?

He'd still eat them from there lol.

I don't think Scottish have ever had the reputation of being pussies lol, but the overall standard isn't as tough going as the Prem. There is a big decline at the moment of Scottish players in the best English teams too. When you look back, and think of some of the incredible talent that was around from Scottish players, it's taken a big nose dive where the top English clubs are concerned. There are very few Scottish players, or even Russians getting game time in the top English clubs. I could be wrong, and probably am, but in the entire squads of the 4 best teams in the Premiership last season, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd and Man City, only one solitary Scottish player exists in Darren Fletcher (Utd). If you look further, and extend it to the top 8 teams last season, only 2 Scottish players were present, in Hutton (Spurs) and Wilson (Lfc) with Everton and Fulham each with no Scottish players in their squad. Hutton was sent out on loan to Sunderland, and Wilson had 2 appearences. In summary, the top 8 teams in the league aren't huge on Scottish players at the moment, even if Adam has since moved to Liverpool. There have been lots of famous Scottish players over the years in many of the teams, but for some reason Scottish lads aren't getting much of a look in with the better teams in the Prem. Why is this? (Genuine question) Again, it's not critisising Scottish players, but simply highlighting the current state of the Prem. The Russians fair a little better in the top teams (only by 1 player), but only Yuri Zirkov, Bilyaletdinov, Pavlyuchenko, and Arshavin exist in the whole of the English Premiership. Of course, this proves nothing, as you can still be a great player outside of the top 8 teams in the Premiership, but you have to ask why the top teams aren't taking advantage of the Russian or Scottish markets more often. Are they too expensive? Are they overlooked because they don't get the same publicity? There are some famous Scottish faces managing Prem clubs though: Ferguson Moyes Coyle Lambert Mcleish Dalglish Kean Will we soon see an influx of Scottish players then? If you take a look at the other 12 teams, the number of Scottish players increases significantly: (or does it?) The number of Russians however is zero. Aston Villa: Bannan (No Russians) Sunderland: Bardsley, Gordon (No Russians) West Brom: Dorrans, Morrisson (No Russians) Newcastle: (No Scottish & No Russians) Stoke: (No Scottish & No Russians) Bolton: OHalloran (No Russians) Blackburn: Hanley (No Russians) Wigan: Caldwell (now at Brum), McArthur (No Russians) Wolves: Berra, Fletcher, Griffiths (No Russians) Birmingham: Burke (No Russians) Blackpool: Adam (now at Lfc) Gilks, Craney, Ferguson, Husband, Sutherland, Harris, Kettings (No Russians) West Ham: (No Scottisn & No Russians) And the 3 newbies this year? Norwich: Martin, Lappin, Hughes, Smith (No Russians) QPR: Mackie (No Russians) Swansea: Beattie, Dobbie (No Russians) What does all this mean? I don't have a fricking clue, but I know I just wasted an hour of my life thinking about it.