Shukes

Tough one. But Branthwaite stood out for me. Three head injury’s and the guy still kept throwing himself in front of things. We mention him being a Stones in the making, but I see a lot of Jags in him. Lad is going to be a top top player. Midfield can all share the plaudits today. Was worried when I saw the line up, but they were brilliant. It’s been a long time since I watched an Everton team string 20+ passes together through the middle.

The way he gave the defender a hand of was class. My missus pointed it out to me as it happened haha. watch the replay, he just doesn’t move and knocks the defender back. Beast.

This lad is slowly creeping up on me. Getting better and better.

Smashed another in. One thing he is consistent with is hitting the ball. Wish more of our players were confident enough to smash the ball.

Coleman was brilliant tonight. Amazing level he has. Young was actually very good as well.

That’s a great performance. Pretty much a complete performance from us. Made loads of chances. Tackles hard. And defended brilliantly. Tempo was amazing from the boys tonight. Pressing was a thing of beauty.

Against the grain. But I’m going for Gana. He looks a senior player out there. Looked after midfield, but was our most creative player as well. Garner was excellent and I think these two actually complement each other. Garner is really benefitting from Gana. Onana is going to struggle to get back in at this rate, but that could be great for us as he going to have to step up. Beto is no replacement for Dom. Someone needs a chat with Harrison. Struggling with the most simple of crosses.

I must have had the wrong angle. Didn’t see that bit, looked liked he just put his shoulder in. But I should look again.

Looks slow doesn’t he. Runs awkward and can’t tell if he is slow or just looks it.

Thought the foul on Elanga was soft to be honest. If that was given against us I would be going mad. Was expecting Elanga to leave him for dead, but he kept up and just eased him off. Young shouldn’t be in the team… but I’m not going to use the slightest of excuses to slap him with.

Went for Dom. Thought he was on his own feeding off scraps for the most part. But caused priceless all game and worked his socks off. And very fine hand made socks they were. Very stylish. Gana was very close. Excellent game. I was actually disappointed with Harrison. Don’t deny he works hard. But he seems to struggle to do anything dangerous. Same with McNeil.

Harrison needs to start showing something. He has been our worst player since he got here. I’m m waiting for him to kick in… but beginning to wander if he ever will.

I agree, but have loved Onana recently. I think he has stepped up a level. Prefer to have the option of both though.

Onana injured still

I don’t think I take anymore from my business than anyone else. In fact I’m one of the lowest paid haha. I have a high IQ apparently. But I’m stupid also when it comes to business haha.

I did take exception mate. But only because I am a firm believer of knowing where your roots are. I am honestly proud to call myself working class. Sorry if I bit to much Palfy, but I’m a proud man and that is a major weakness of mine. I know you say by definition I’m not. But I’m sitting here responding to this message literally in my work clothes haha. The council estate I came from weren’t working class. Most of them didn’t have a job. They can’t be classed as working class if they don’t work. I try to stay away from sob stories as I know if i started people would be shocked. That’s not to say I’ve had it worse than anyone else. But I do feel it hasn’t been easy. For me working class is a class of people that works hard. I don’t care much for how a few Cambridge scholars have decided to define it. That shows me they aren’t really in touch with the people. It says it in the name for me…. Working class. I grew up watching an Everton team that were built from the working class. Andy Gray, Graeme Sharp, Peter Reid, the list goes on. This was a team that typified the working class. They had skill and grace, but most of all they had a belief that they could win, and they worked thier ass off for it. Again typified by Andy Gray and Reidy taking new players to the local for a pint when they joined. Watching Howard’s way brings a tear to my eye. It reminds me of a time when our love for football was pretty much all we had. Everton were a working class team. Now we’re working hard to just stay up. But we’re working. Our manager points out each week that the number one priority is working hard for each other. Dyche is bringing the working class to the team again. And I have to say… I’m enjoying it so far. I think it’s ok for us all to have our own interpretations of certain sayings and labels. I was brought up to be proud of working class and those roots are still with me.

Agreed. Me and you are very very different people. That’s fine. I do wear it as a badge of honour. I was in poverty and had to work hard to get where I am. I am very proud of that. I had a terrible education and had to start from the bottom. So by your definition alone… I am working class. I am not fussed what the Cambridge dictionary labels it as. The term was being used long before it was ever in a dictionary. But I’m not embarrassed or ashamed of it at all. I come from the days when Football was for the working class.

Just reading Dyches latest interview. The question was, can the players do the hard work and the ugly stuff? Seems Dyche IS working on the effort and hard work. That should end this conversation shouldn’t it?

Palfy I only read the first paragraph mate and that was terrible. I am proud to be working class, I strive to be working class. I’m proud of who iv become and where I am. Especially considering where I came from. But the day I become a snob is the day I fail my family. But I promise you my IQ is amongst the top 10% of everyone on this site. I have brought my house. I drive around in. 22 plate. I am the director of two businesses. But my feet are firmly on the ground and I’m honest enough to realise that opportunities are the biggest step you will ever meet. But I also have a great friend d who is a high ranking member of the masons. And he is the hardest working person I know…. He would still class himself as working class. Fools label others my friend. Choose your own path and destiny and be proud of who you are.

I’m calm mate. I can just see that what we’re doing seems to be working for now that’s all. I do want to see us play a bit more exciting football. I just don’t want to see us go back to a possession based style that’s all. For me it’s boring and unexciting. I love to see us get forward fast and smash crosses in. My best ever football was watching Steven get the ball and whip it in for Sharpy and Gray. I loved the 80s football and would love to see us playing that way again.

I’m a working class slave Palfy, nothing heroic…. Just stupid.

Everton’s history has always been and will always be about effort and work rate. Stylish football back in the 1920s was far far from the possession football you see teams like Man City play. Ours was effective in getting the ball forward fast and working our ass off. I had the pleasure of watching us in the 80s. I don’t think anyone would argue that we weren’t one of the hardest working teams around. We had 11 captains on the pitch. Hard work has always been related to the working class Palf, that’s where the term comes from. It’s kind of in the name? Now if you can’t correlate that with how Dyche has us playing at the moment, and how results have improved…. Then I am just not qualified to explain it to you. Disagree me with me as much as you want. That’s fine. But for me…. Our results have improved due to our work rate and effort. The correlation is black and white for me.

Me enjoying a game and a certain style doesn’t mean it’s important or not. I’m a fan. But 100% I enjoy getting the ball forward fast, rather than 100 backwards passes just to get an unimportant stat up. Everton a club is built on a working class mentality and hard work. The day that changes will be the day I lose interest. Surprised an older fan like yourself isn’t an advocate yourself.

Yes I have considered that. And I do believe that makes a difference yes.

Same here. I love exciting fast action. Crosses coming in, long balls being chased down, pressure in the box. Funnily enough the fans that screamed for Garner to play centrally, which has coincided with less chances… but more goals, are now blaming the manager for poor tactics and boring football. It was the same with Iwobi. He looked very poor out wide but we picked up more points. Then we moved him central and he looked our best player…. But we nearly got relegated. I would rather we looked messy and disjointed, but scored a few goals and picked up points, then playing tidy football but not scoring. Keep it messy boss.