Zoo

I coulden't bring myself to watch this game so I can't comment on it, the only thing that I'd like to add to this discussion is that I don't understand why Moyes isn't playing some of our in form players. Drenthe since coming to Goodison has been nothing short of exceptional yet he still dosen't get a game (and I can see this as the reason as to why he fucks us when his loan expires).

We have strikers like Vellios who have put more away than Saha in considerably less matches yet Tolis dosen't get a sniff. It winds me up, for once why can't Moyes just go against the football rulebook and go for a strong, attacking side. I really like Moyes it's just at the moment he obviously needs to grow some balls.

1.Why Everton and how long have you supported them?

My mother and father are Evertonians so I guess I just got into it through them. My first game was when we was playing at Goodison and beat Wimbledon 4-0, Nick Barmby scored a hat-trick that day, so in my eyes he was a legend until he moved across the park! Being little I was always interested in Manchester United because they were winning everything but I've always had a passion for the Toffee's - been supporting my whole life (18 years).

2. Everton and Villa seem to be a mirror for each other at the moment, both Clubs being careful with finances and both have been plundered for some of our better players by the big boys, what do you think the future holds for both Clubs if the current pattern continues?

I don't really know much about behind the scenes at Villa Park but I could never imagine you going down, so whereas I think at the moment you're not at your best I don't think its going to get any worse. For me Everton are another club that I don't think will get relegated but I can't see us making any progress without a buyer. For all I like Kenwright as a person I want to see him replaced.

3.David Moyes was touted a while ago as a replacement for Sir Alex Fergerson when he retires, but in the last few seasons this has tailed off somewhat and i have also heard some Everton Fans calling for him to be replaced!! what are your feelings in this matter?

The frustration of the fans has caused some of them to call for his head. In my opinion David should stay because he has been a fantastic manager and is still managing to keep us mid-table (rather than fighting relegation) and I think that the time will come when we still start pounding above our weight again. His negative football has pissed a few people off but he's the right man for the job, I'd rather have him than say, Mark Hughes or Iain Dowie!

4.Everton were reportedly a target of a recent buyout by the Qatar Investment Authority along with Blackburn Rovers, what do you know about this and how would you feel about becoming one of the "Money" clubs in the Premier League considering how Man City and Chelsea have been demonised?

I'd like it because we would be able to challenge for the title however I woulden't like the status of supporting a club that is 'ruining football' and I would be worried about the long term effects. I mean it's only a matter of time before the Arabs bugger off and clubs like Manchester City hit rock bottom.

5. Louis Saha was recently racially abused on twitter, John Terry is facing criminal charges for comments he allegedly made to Anton Ferninand and Louis Suarez has been banned for racially abusing Patrice Evra, why do you think these incidents have reared their head again? and what message do you think Liverpool FC sent out with their support of Suarez?

The twitter thing is in my opinion down to the person thinking they are anonymous because they are behind a computer screen. From having a username and not showing their face on their avatar somehow gave them the mindset that racially abusing an Everton player was acceptable - crazy. I also think that the Suarez saga is one big joke, he is a horrible person and someone that the game would be better off without, I can understand why Liverpool would want to back their own player but surely they know what an arse he is and I think by supporting him in the way they have they have made themselves look like a disgrace to the football league (especially with the Oldham incident too).

6. The Transfer window is upon us once again, what players do you think Everton should sign working within the tight budget that Moyes has? and who would you like to see shown the door and why?

I would like to see us sign someone who can score goals, Jermaine Defoe or Darren Bent? I know that it's unlikely but that's who I'd like to see. I'd like it if Saha was shown the door and replaced by one of the two mentioned earlier whilst also offloading the likes of Cahill who does sweet fuck all in his games for us now.

7. What are you feelings and thoughts about Aston Villa and its Fans?

Nice club with nice fans. You got some bad publicity when McLeish was signed and you lot kicked off but I can understand why, I've never had a reason to speak a bad word about the Villians to be honest and I probably never will do!

8. What you you think of the uproar that the appointment of Alex McLeish as Aston Villa Manager and how do you think he has done thus far considering all the goings on at the Club over the last 18 months?

I can understand it, if Kenny Dalgliesh was announced as the new manager at Everton I'd go out and punch a baby. I think he's done a decent job but I don't really rate him as a manager, he was good with Rangers but then who isn't? He's not doing bad but you could do so much better. I always liked Villa when O'Neill was in charge. Sure he had success with Celtic which was arguably easy, but I do believe he's a good manager too.

9. If you could take one Player from Aston Villa and sign him for Everton who would it be and why?

Either Bent or Agbonlahor not too picky with which, I'll say Bent because his name is easier to spell. A notable mention goes out to Shay Given though, whereas I don't think we need a goalkeeper I think he is one of the best that the Premiership has seen, so he would be always welcome at Goodison in my opinion if ever Tim Howard's goal tally dried up.

10.Which Teams will finish in the top four and bottom 3 of the Premier League this season?

Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham & Chelsea will be up there whilst QPR, Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers will get the chop.

11. Who will finsih higher this season? Everton or Aston Villa?

Everton - we will come good in the second half of the season. That and the fact that I'm an Evertonian, so I'm incredably bias!

12. And finally Match Predictions?

Urgh. I'll go for 1-0 to us, hard one to call because we always seem to have tight games with you boys. I'll say that a Baines penalty will win it for us in the 95th minute!

I thought I'd start this thread now seeing as I've just found out that Clattenburg has finally been given one of our games; this one.

Clattenburg might have a good day against us you never know, considering that he was heavily critisised for the game that he took charge of back in 2007 he might favour us to get back in the FA's good books. I'll agree that he isn't the best referee in the world but on the other hand I don't think there is a referee out there that is actually really bias towards us so all we can do out there is play our own game and hope that it's enough!

A litle help for Eveton Fans coming to Villa Park this weekend...

How lovely it is to see Avinalaff's brother join our site!

I would have liked to play a lower-league team so that even if we play poor we can possibly get a win. Against Fulham we should be looking to progress into the next round although I'm sure their supporters are thinking the same! We certainly don't want to have to go back to Craven Cottage and with a passionate display I think we can bowl them over.

Below are the teams that I hope we get in the next round as the winners of all these ties we are capable of beating rather easily;

Nottingham Forest or Leicester v Swindon

Stevenage v Notts County

Blackpool v Sheffield Wednesday

Hull City v Crawley Town

Dagenham & Redbridge or Millwall v Southampton

I'd especially like us to get either Stevenage or D&R at home. Would be a nice day out just like the Tamworth game!

I think this year could be 1995 all over again, shit in the league, cup win!! Who reckons that Cahill will score a header from a Neville shot that rebounds of the crossbar?!

Are you suggesting that Neville is actually going to shoot rather than pass it sideways? I'll buy you a pint when that day comes mate!

When asked about Jagielka's injury on the radio Moyes said something along the lines of;

'This is the best time to get an injury because you can do something about it'

For me this almost confirmed that we will be signing another centre-back (as I'm guessing he prefers Heitinga in the midfield) and I would not be surprised if he went onto the lower leagues to find another Lescott-type-gem. This lad is only 20 and if we could get him for the right price then I'd be more than happy even if he does sound like he should be a basketball player.

I really don't see why you are all being so negative

I can understand if you're saying that it's wrong to be negative about your team because it is, we as fans should always get behind them and wish them well for upcoming games. The problem is that we have been behind Everton since the beginning of the season and we are now in January and the team are still playing shite. I would actually support the team if they lost each week but played their hearts out but 90% of the players look like they coulden't care less. And when playing against a team like Tottenham its obvious that we need to be on our 'A' game which we just haven't been this year.

I'm sick and tired of being optemistic only for Everton to let me down, if you would have seen any of our games this season you would know what all the fuss is about.

doubt they will...they're obviously twattish enough to do it in the first place..shame really cos i know a lot of decent shite fans and these wankers couldn't have picked a worse time to do this

Agreed.

With the Suarez saga and now this I feel that Liverpool are coming close to being labelled a 'racist club' even though we all know that 99% of Kopites arn't. It's a real shame when the minority give the decent people a bad name but sadly that is what happens. I just hope that Liverpool come out and formally apologise rather than warming up next week in T-Shirts with the fan's face on it.

Royston and Fellaini back is masssive for us, with Donovan as well I feel we will get a goal but lose. 2-1.

Hope he starts them both.

I think we have the potential to grab a goal against Spurs but I seriously don't know how we are going to beat them. We always seem to do badly against Spurs and the way they are playing this season they look like dominating anybody. I'll go for a 4-1 defeat although I would happily take a draw before kick-off. This might actually be a game where I'd fancy Moyes to be playing a defensive team as Tottenham have a tendancy to rape teams on the counter-attack.

Probably I shouldn't have said Bily was shite but it was the impression I got....he may have had a decent game. Maybe Snodin hates him?

This is what I hate, it's obvious that Billy has the talent he just needs a pat on the back so that we can get it out of him. I don't understand why people hate him so much and get on his back as it is not going to improve him as a player. Can you imagine going out to play football and 40,000 people groan at you whenever you get the slightest thing wrong? It must be hard and it's no surprise that he is not performing to the standard that he can be.

Billy was good today and to say he was a flop is laughable.

Watch it on itv coverage - couldn't believe it!

I watched it too just now and I coulden't believe it either. The shout must have been loud too as Adeyemi is jogging away from the Kop and is at the edge of the box when he reacts to what he has heard meaning that it's not just somebody mumbling the 'N' word, someone has shouted it so that the lad can hear it which makes it all the more disgraceful.

It's nice to see that everyone was comforting the lad as he was obviously upset about it all but this isn't exactly what Liverpool would have wanted with all the Suarez press going on - kick them out of the cup!

It is a problem when people make opinions based on what they have heard rather than what they have seen. For example I thought that Billy played really, really well today considering what is going and whereas I'm not saying that it's Mike's fault people may be swayed into thinking that Billy put in another shite performance due to what Snods has said. The fact is that Snods is talking out of his arse, and there were far worse on that field today.

On the subject of the penalty even though it was harsh I do think it was one. The lad clearly put his arms around the chest of Drenthe and you just can't do that within the box. It was a little harsh but Tamworth can have no complaints upon watching it back on the replays even though I think they have left Goodison with smiles on their faces.

I don't see why everyone gets on Billy's back, maybe I'm just a bit biased because I really like the guy and I'm not having a go at you Mike but I thought he had a decent game today. He didn't stand out as an 'amazing talent' but at the same time nobody did, he did what he had to well and found the right men at the right time. His first half strike he should have done better with but his second half shot was only denied by a really good save and he could have had himself on the scoresheet. I think it's just a confidence issue and I don't think you can expect him to be magic when he's being played in unfamiliar terretory.

Certainly not a 'flop of the match', there was far worse than him on the field today.

did bily play deeper? he isn't clever enough for that i don't think...behind the striker for me..if he did and he was shite then fair enough

Indeed, he wasn't on the wings because that role was being taken care of by Donovan and Coleman. Billy did well though in my opinion, I know he's got a lot of haters but he did seem to get in some good positions. There was a chance in the first half (just after Heitinga's goal) where he arguably should have done better as when the ball came to him he attempted a volley which went just over, in my opinion if he would have taken a touch it would have been 2-0, but ah well.

He had a nice chance in the second half which just went wide but overall he did alright today and I have to admit I am a bit of a Billy-bummer. I just hope that he dosen't leave because he has bags of potential we just haven't seen it yet.

I gave it to Heitinga because he was very calm at the back and was very sensible going forward. A decent performance from him in my book and of course his goal within the first five minutes got us going and ready for the win (if we hadn't of scored in the opening 30 minutes then I think we would have had a different story). Gueye for me was pretty shit, he didn't do enough and actually looked really tired towards the end. McFadden looked alright but I'm unsure if he still has what it takes to be a regular in our Starting XI and it's nice to see that Billy had a good game, he managed to complete a few tidy passes and get himself into dangerous areas, with performances like today I hope he stays put.

Didn't know why Mucha wasn't in the squad today though? He was replaced on the bench by Marcus Hahnemman, anyone know why?

Don't think we can have any problems with today if I am being honest. We went out there as the better team and managed to score a good goal in the first 5 minutes. In the first half Tamworth had two decent shots but that was all as our defence kept them easily at bay and going forward we looked threatening (for the first time this season). In the second half I think Moyes had the game plan to conserve energy as we defended against them really well but visably sat back going forward until Baines came on.

Once we had Bainsey on the left we seemed to have some better attacks as him and Donovan worked together really nicely, the penalty was really dubious if you ask me and I think it might have been a case of the referee being leniant towards the stronger-side but I'll not go crazy. Billy at first wanted to take it until Heitinga told him to piss off and let Leighton do it and he did it well (even if the Tamworth goalkeeper tried to put him off by squirting his water on the ball). Ever since the second goal went in there was only going to be one winner even though we was unlucky to go 3-0 up as Donovan hit the bar (and could have had 4 after his shot was well saved by their goalkeeper) I am pleased with what we've got out of tonight.

A solid, professional performance that looks a lot worse on paper than it actually was - I am a happy man today.

I had Tamworth fans down as nice guys or wouldn't say boo to a goose types etc

They booed when our time line-up was being read out before the game and whenever Phil Neville touched the ball he was greeted with jeers and hisses. I put it down to them just having a mad-day out and woulden't brand them as 'horrible supporters'. Just trying to have a pop at a Premiership club I think.

Saying that, it's the risk you take. To do it on camera is kind of taking things for granted that she will say yes. Hope the guy is ok.

I hope the guy is okay but I have to agree with you, if you are going to do it on camera in front of a few thousand people then you have to be 200% sure that she is going to say yes rather than running off. Speaking of which, the Goodison proposal seemed to go on for a long time, maybe its just me but she didn't seem that over the moon? Good Luck to them both anyways, I hope its just me getting it wrong.

Although I am a bit nervous surely we can get a result here. Even with the way the team have been playing if we would have been up against a Championship team I would have been fully expecting us to win. We may be playing rather badly but we currently lie in 11th position which is not to be sniffed at. Sure, we would all like to be higher but its much better than the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic who are right at the bottom and with the team that we currently have once we get out of this bad patch we will surely rise up the league table.

Technically this is one of the easiest ties we could have had consiering that Tamworth are in the Non-League and whilst they will have adrenaline pumping and hearts racing our skill would surely be too much for them (Premiership against Non-League surely isn't a contest) and I think that we will win this tie (because if we don't then I've no idea how we would pick ourselves up).

I'm going for a 3-0 win. I've no idea of the team so I don't know who will score but if we are 5-0 up with ten minutes to go I am hoping and praying that Moyes sticks Tony Hibbert up front and puts him on penalty duty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exMBS_X8s5A

Lostprophets - Better Off Dead

This is the Lostprophets new song which comes off their new album which is set for a release on the the 2nd of April 2012, set to be named 'Weapons' It's a free download by the way so if you head onto Google and search for 'Lostprophets - Better Off Dead' you can have unlimited plays for free! Courtesy of the band!

Lowest home league attendance since Southampton on 2/12/2001.

It woulden't surprise me to be honest. There was only about 20 people in the ground up until the players had finished their warm-ups (although that wasn't needed with the shite that we saw) and to add to it with the credit crunch and the way to team are playing I can understand why people just don't want to go anymore. It was probably the worst away support I've seen too, they must have only had about 100.

anyone seen the donovan penalty appeal again? didn't look one from where i was...very disappointed in him for goin down that easy if it's the case

The lad put an arm on his shoulder and he went down. I've seen them given but if he would have stayed on his feet he would probably have scored as he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper and the Bolton keeper was shite. He should have taken a leaf out of Ossie's book and kicked the floor

Denis - He tried so hard but he was that shit I felt sorry for him and wanted to give him a hug..

I nearly wet myself at this comment! Quality!

what the fuck is he doin punchin it in the first place is my issue!! he could have caught it..dog wank complete and utter

The wind was that bad today that it was the right thing to do in my opinion. There was one time that Howard was going to catch a ball that was directly above him and he ended up having to spin around and punch it over his own bar for a corner because the wind curled it towards the goal. It was so unpredictable that it was the safest option for Tim to have punched the ball and for me he didn't put a foot wrong in that game today and he was the only player that can say that.

When I was walking back to the car from the ground (about 10 minutes after full-time) I saw Tim Cahill driving alongside me, isn't 10 minutes a very short space of time to have gotten changed out of the ground and on the way home? All I'm saying is I'm hoping Moyes has bollocked them for their performances today and not just let it slide.

Robinson, Schmeichel and Friedel???

Correct!

Robinson has scored for Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Schmeichel has scored for Aston Villa against us (and probably Man United although I'm not sure)

and Friedel has scored for Blackburn Rovers.

howard until their second goal..that punch was pathetic

Don't mean to argue with you directly but I think he was a little unlucky with that punch. The wind was unbelievably bad and he's managed to get it out of the box and away from all the danger which in my book is good goalkeeping, it's just a shame that our defence coulden't get out quite enough and hoof the ball clear. It was a good finish from Cahill too, he didn't half hit it and unfortunatly it was right in the corner.

It also just said on Match of the Day that Howard's goal was scored from 102 yards out... (and he also becomes the 4th goalkeeper to have scored in the Premiership, can anyone name the other three?)

Don't think we can blame Moyes today too much as the team he put out was attacking enough and was clearly capable of beating Bolton today. Stracq is a player that has shown so much potential and I've been crying like a broken record wishing that he would get a start and when he was given his big moment he blew it, piss poor today. Donovan was abscent for the full 90 minutes (which I'm gutted about) and the only player that did anything for us was Tim Howard.

Why on earth are we still persisting with these lofted & chipped balls. Its tough to judge the distance and we keeping kicking the ball out of play so keep the ball on the deck, at least until we get it wide!

I was thinking the same, I was sat at the ground and the whole place was shaking with the gale force wind yet we still persisted to chip balls up in the air which was obviously not going to work, the only way to win the game today was along the floor and it took us till the 91st minute to actually have a go at Bolton, which was far too late.

Without doubt Tim Howard.

A few dodgy balls coming over with the wind that he controlled rather well and kept us in it with two world-class saves. His goal obviously gave us the lead and should have given us the three points but the 10 men in front of him just wasn't good enough. I hope he's happy with his performance today because he did really well and the massive boo at the end of the game (the loudest I've heard all season) was aimed at the outfielders in my opinion, not Timmy.

Edit; Who voted for Landon Donovan? He was one of the worst players and added nothing to the team tonight.

I would like to know who you are thinking of, I can't think of any better players available that we can buy.

Well he is 29 which is quite old for a football player and since he joined Tottenham he has only played eight games (most of which were from the subs bench) which means that he has probably lost all the flair and drive he had whilst being at Everton (where he played 76 games) and I really can't see why people are still entertaining this transfer. Like Romey said above me, it's laughable. He is not someone who we should be buying in this window and if he does end up coming for the proposed £5,000,000 then it will be yet another tragic Moyes error.

A better player straight away would be Niko Kranjčar who is 27 and would come for a similar price.

He's 9 days older than Arteta, who we sold for 10 million only a few months ago. Surely Pienaar is worth £5m of anybodies money?

Fair enough he might be a good signing but are you surely saying that selling a world-class player for £3,500,000 and then buying him again a year later for £5,000,000 is good business? With all the shit that has happened to him in the past 12 months I can't understand how this would benefit us as a club.