Everton Banter Archive December 27 2014

27 Dec 2014 21:09:58
The score is this, we aren't going finish top six. No euro footie next season. We will therefore be vulnerable re losing some of our assets. That's for another day. For now we have to stay behind the boys and chant, sing and support the way we know we can. Bobbie (noticed we are not calling him that at the moment) will either get us on a streak or we are going to spend the next few months paranoically looking over our shoulders. I think a mixture of both is most realistic. Look forward, not necessarily upwards and see it out. We have done that so many times in my 45 years as a toffee. We won't go down: three things in life are certain- death, taxes and Everton don't go down. Stay strong blues, we just have to scrap and that starts on the terraces.

If you are not already looking over your shoulder then you need a reality check.

Everton won't go down? On what do you base this? Leeds? Man Utd? Many teams were too good to go down but they fell anyway and many didn't come back. We have no god given right to stay up.

And no, it doesn't start on the terraces it starts on the pitch. A crowd has to have a positive outlook when entering the stadium. This comes from a feel good factor from previous positive displays, which are not always wins, but displays that give hope. If it was simply from the terraces then our away matches would all be wins as the away support is first class and we'd be two up after ten minutes.

One positive about going down though, our possession stats would probably be the best of any other relegated team in history. We'd also probably be the most unlucky team in terms of refereeing decisions in history. And we could be proud of the fact that, although it didn't work, we stuck to playing in the single-minded style Martinez likes so much.

We could add those facts to the timeline outside the stadium. it'd look really cool.
It would make you feel proud to be a Blue.

27 Dec 2014 19:52:44
Lots of down people at the moment and not surprisingly. I remember when Moyes left and everyone was praising Roberto and telling me how good and refreshing the football was with this new system and how glad they were when Roberto started to make his changes. Getting rid of Fellaini and bringing in McCarthy. (Fellaini has just helped Utd win 8 out of 9 games and draw the other). I was told McGeady was a brilliant signing. Barry was alo a great signing and myself. I was over the moon at getting Lukaku. The other signings I won't mention. It cost me £132 for tickets in the main stand to watch the rubbish served up on boxing day. Not to mention the 560 mile round trip and couple of beers. Good job I got to see family whilst up there because it took 8 hours on the M5 an M6 coming back today. Anyway, what I want to say is that we looked ok until the referee made an almighty cock up in not sending off the Stoke player and they instantly went up the pitch and won what could be called a soft penalty. 2 decisions which altered the course of the game. After that, we were kicked, held, buffered etc in the usual Stoke way and the ref warned them about time wasting after only 30 minutes in the first half. Instead of booking one of them for continually doing it, he warned about 6 of their players throughout the game. 10 minutes added on in the 1st half says something. I don't know how many he added on in the 2nd, but what was served up was not entertainment. The team then looked void of confidence. Poor Barkley didn't know what to do. Little boy lost. 4 or 5 of our players were limping around. That included McCarthy and Stones who somehow played on and showed his worth. RM then switched things around and we looked very disjointed and confidence drained even further. We are now in a possible relegation fight. I can't see us getting anything at Newcastle and this tip tap football with an average 60% odd possession which is mainly across our back 4 gets us nowhere. My final point refers to other posts about McCarthy. He does not score goals. He covers a lot of ground and makes good tackles, but as a forward threat, he is not that great. Well we have Gareth Barry and McCarthy as 2 holding midfielders with 4 defenders who can't get forwards at the moment because other teams are pressing us high. Myself will be glad to get Osman fit and back in the team. Perhaps we can win a game then . like the other 5 we won in which he featured in 4 of them (plus the Europa wins). But as he is not flavour of the day with some of you, you won't believe me. Merry Christmas. X

27 Dec 2014 17:41:38
I want to admit something. I saw the Chelsea game yesterday against West Ham. Chelsea were vast in their play. It was entertaining for me as a neutral. What I saw fascinated me and some points I want to impart to you. The other side gets the ball. No panic. He is sufficated with 3 or 4 Chelsea players who get the ball and such is this confidence and awareness 3 players are already running making angles to attack. Attack fails, these players run selflessy back to cover. Left plays right and visa versa. Defense is ready to die to stop a shot at goal. Total football. I dream the EFC players have watched and told RM, "I want that".

{Ed025's Note - i want that as well TT..unfortunately we are 11 players short of having a side like chelsea,s mate..

Wanting to be like Chelsea is so small time.

I want us to be a hybrid of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. With a dash of Barcelona, a touch of Juventus, a sprinkle of PSG and a dollop of Brazil 1970.

We are Everton
#Wedontwinanything
That's what we do
Martinez Out

28 Dec 2014 00:35:17
We're so bad right now that I'd settle for being Newcastle today. At least we'd get 3 points.

27 Dec 2014 15:51:55
Last season clubs were looking at RM even Barca now we have hit a rut people are calling for his head. Not good practice to get rid of the manager now finish the season then re-evaluate and see where we are at. Don't think we will get a result at Newcastle so that in mind would like to see 2-3 of the youngsters given a game they would wear the shirt with pride and run themselves into the ground. We should get results at hull and WBA so that will give us breathing space. Think we will finish mid table to be honest however u never know with Europa were we haven't played well but finished top of group if we got to the final then RM would be the best thing since sliced bread again.

{Ed025's Note - he would taz..

27 Dec 2014 18:55:54
Not going to happen Taz. Better teams than us still in Europa. And if you can't beat Stoke at home.

27 Dec 2014 13:52:09
real trouble coming our way, everybody knows how to play against us and everybody stops our attacks, playing barkley on the wing is such poor managment and lukaku is just going to fade away he is not a bad player but we really don't give him any service, we never put a cross into the box (mcgeady does when he gets a game). we have no plan b as bobby thinks pass pass pass is going to work but our best players are being wasted as they are not involved in the game, we need to try 4 4 2 with barkley besic cm and lukaku and kone up top, he is so stubburn and I really want to support what he does but he needs to change this style as we are only going further down the table with every game we play. coyb!

Nice to see you supporting our team, with supporters like you, who needs rivals?

We are Everton
#Wedontwinanything
That's what we do
Martinez Out

27 Dec 2014 19:00:45
Actually Rob at least you have a plan B mate. I agree try 4-4-2. Let's give teams two things to worry about up top instead of one.

27 Dec 2014 10:30:01
Bit of a poser for Bill now. Does he give Rob money to spend in Jan to try and stop the rot. Or does he think I'm not giving him any more cash, i'm going to try and get David back. Or as I fear, in Bills world everything is probably still rosey. And don't forget the new stadium people, you mustn't forget the new stadium.

I wouldn't give The Catalan Clown another penny. His buys have been nothing short of awful.

I will let McCarthy off. decent buy but doesn't do enough. Can do better.

The rest though?

Joel = Useless
Alcacrap = terrible
McGreedy = A complete waste of space
Kone = One of the worst strikers to have ever had the fortune to play for us.
Barry = Runs like he has lead boots on.
Etoo = 40 year old has been
Lukaku = £28 million donkey
Atsu = What was the point.

If I have missed anyone then they are probably crap aswell.

I can just see his shopping list now.
Shaun Maloney
Ivan Ramis
Emmerson Boyce
Ben Watson
Marc Antoine Fortune

We are Everton
#Wedontwinanything
That's what we do
Martinez Out

Nice to see you supporting our team, with supporters like you, who needs rivals? and as mcCarthy doesn't do enough? erm he covers more ground on that pitch than anyone I have ever seen.

27 Dec 2014 09:20:31
What is the latest on the new stadium? Will we get to hear anything early in the new year? The dark side are expanding there's now hope we can do the same at Goodison.

Forget about expanding Goodison. It just needs knocking down.

We are Everton
#Wedontwinanything
That's what we do
Martinez Out

Mike you say Martinez out. Who you want to take over? Are you forgetting what he did last season? a few losses and your on his back. maybe you would like David back?

Big Dunc!

27 Dec 2014 05:47:19
I'm now so desperate for a respite from the doom and gloom of seeing Everton play poorly (whatever RM may spin) and losing in such miserable self-pitying fashion that I'm hoping the wintry weather is so bad that our next two Premier League fixtures (away to Newcastle and Hull) have to be postponed.
Maybe it'll give our squad the time to get physically, mentally, and tactically prepared for when the fixture list can resume.
I doubt it - more likely we'll get the same tired brand of RM's (now clearly ineffective) only-score-from-open-play paceless powerless hopeless clueless tactics. Oh - he's turning out to be such a disappointment after all that promise from last season. I wish he could do a 1983/1984-Kendall-style revival and usher in the same level of success, but it just doesn't feel the same. I see a good team spirit - by and large - but I just don't see a winning mentality or a strong self-belief amongst our players. If RM won't have a go at the squad - in private of course - then maybe the "leaders" in the team (if there are any genuinely inspirational leaders!) should sort out the players themselves. Someone needs to rattle a few cages and shake up things or we are surely doomed to a season fizzling out with a whimper - or much much worse!
Bloody hell! I used to think I was a rational poster who took a reasonable point of view, but I am so now marooned in an ever-deepening pit of despondency, disappointment, disaffection, and utter desolation when it comes to being an Everton supporter that I despair for my future commitment to the club after 50 years of previously unstinting loyalty whatever the fates conspired to throw at us over the years.
Dear diary: try to chill out and get a good night's sleep.
:-)

Were laughing stock mate end of.
I mean 28 mill lukaku when you've got young Harry Kane @ Spurs & Charlie Austin banging goals in left right & centre showing him how it's done.
Is Lukaku related to Yakubu by any chance look from the same mould 2 me absolutely useless.
I mean if he was the real deal do u think mourhino would have got rid.
We look like a team that have never played together & lacking confidence.
I don't see us getting anything in
next 2 away games either.
West Ham will fancy their chances in the cup then we got the merseyside derby looming a few weeks after that
bet the red half are rubbing their
Hands already in collecting easy 3 pts.
Never mind eh bottom 4 going into the new year.What happened to top 4
aspirations eh champs league avin a laf.

27 Dec 2014 03:50:38
Not so much a rumour as a question; what would people think if we had a mediocre league finish this season (9th - 11th) but won the Europa League or FA Cup?

We have been finishing between 5th and 8th consistently in recent years but never actually winning anything. Would it give us a new lease of life to win a trophy? I would especially enjoy it, as - being born in '96 - I've never seen a trophy lifted by a Blue.

Thoughts anyone?

27 Dec 2014 04:14:13
It would beat winning a cup and being relegated like RM has managed before.

I'd love to win a cup but more pressing for me is pulling away from the relegation dogfight

For this season, I'm now giving up on the cups and I'm just looking to make sure that three other Premier Leagues clubs finish below us.
Beyond that, it's just a question for me of:
(a) whether or not we can retain our better players (hopefully on extended contracts) for next season and beyond; and
(B) whether or not we can get a new stadium underway.
Until then, all talk of Champions League football or winning trophies is just a load of wishful thinking.

27 Dec 2014 10:00:14
Reality check here. The way we are playing forget any cups. Hammers will knock us out the FA, and there are far to many good teams in Euro for us to get anywhere near that one. Thank god for Palace, Burnley,Leicester and QPR. Otherwise it would be adios Prem.

27 Dec 2014 02:10:39
Let's say that this bad run continues and we find ourself closer to relegation than mid-table with a week to go until deadline day. The team still refuse to create half chances and confidence is still low. What should happen? Should BK pull the trigger?
I wasn't too impressed by RM's Wigan team but he won me over last season. Defensively he has a lot to learn but we were rock solid at first. This year has been a shambles from the off. Players returning from the WC were not up to pace, our pre season was not up to scratch. Players seemed to be out on their feet after 80 mins (remember Arsenal at home?) and the passing, although retaining possession, never really seemed to go over the half way line without going back to TH in goal numerous times. Our attacking full backs are now just full backs. His use of subs has been, in the main, ineffectual almost to the point of the DM era. Last year they seemed to be more effective. Is RM just too nice? I know managers don't like to talk bad about their players so I can get, to some degree, why he doesn't slate them to the media. But I'm beginning to think that he doesn't even lose it with them behind the safety of the dressing room walls. Have the players just got fed up of him telling them what they did right rather than what they did wrong and how they can improve?
You can argue stats all day long but having more possession doesn't win you games, we need to score goals to take points. I seen somebody comment that we might be doing better in Europe than in the prem because we are relatively unknown to these teams. Valid point imo.
Anyway, back to the original question. Should RM be given the time (come third week of January) if things have not drastically improved? It's a tough one but I think we would be a more attractive proposition for a half decent manager before the window shuts. We would still have Euro league to offer as well as a bit of time to turn it round.
Whatever happens we should all do our bit when watching games, encourage players and make Goodison more intimidating than it has been thus far. The frail confidence of the team is going to be totally shattered if we get on their backs, no matter how much they deserve it.
Tough times for all but we will get though this. RM can save himself but he needs to show he has what it takes to manage our club. He can only do that by swallowing his pride and mixing it up a bit. Fingers crossed blues

Good read.
Vociferously encouraging the team is laudable, especially during times of difficulty, but there's only so much that most fans can reasonably take before the groans of disappointment turn into jeers of derision and boos of anger.
(Speaking of "jeers" and "boos", does being an Everton fan make you more likely to sink into "years" of "booze"?)

27 Dec 2014 11:34:11
Cheers Sid. And you are right, it is almost impossible for us fans not to get on the players backs but it just doesn't help, especially when confidence is so low. Booze and Blues go hand in hand I reckon mate!