Fammyfan

Congrats JE

3 hours ago, bexhill reds said:

Not sure you can describe a potential relegation fight as season write off, as that’s where will be if this lot can’t get their collective acts together… 

It’s a write off in terms of promotion aspirations but you’re right, it’s not a write off when we’re currently nose diving towards the relegation battle

I’m seeing positives in some of the stuff played but we aren’t currently in a position to capitalise.

It may be that the squad needs to settle into the system or that we need to recruit 2/3 first team players to get the best out of the system.

The season looks to be a write off and it’s feeling like an increasingly outrageous decision to sack Nige because the reasoning behind it suggested that promotion was the intention which doesn’t seem feasible this season.

When considering that Nige had our injury hit squad at mid table, with players on their way back, it would have been worth assessing in a few months time. At this point, it would have been reasonably expected that we would be in the top half. If not, I believe Nige would have at least had us in a position of safety.

It would be understandable if we were planning to make signings in January but the board have already announced that their preference is to wait until the summer.

I see the positives and promise in what Manning is trying to do but it feels a longer term project. At present, we’re trying a new system, we’re not picking up many points and we haven’t got enough points to feel safe with being 7 points above the relegation spots, with a much improved QPR having a game in hand and if that’s won then we’d be looking over our shoulders at Huddersfield, who we are only 5 points above.

DH made a great start but after a few injuries we were getting relentlessly dominated every single game.

Appreciate the difficulty with players out injured but a good manager finds ways to get some points, whereas we looked nailed on for relegation.

I’d like to see Cornick up top today, Conway coming off the bench after around 60 mins

Over the moon for him, it’s great to see him getting a good run and seemingly taking the opportunity. Semenyo success can only be good for our reputation.

(Also buzzing to have an ex city player in my fantasy team)

12 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Ah okay with you now.

The Middlesbrough win was good, phases of the last 2 were good but I'm not wildly enthused thusfar.

It’s going to take time, I think Nige was getting a lot out of the team and it’s going to be difficult for anyone to come in and improve on that, especially in the short term.

3 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Was similar if not worse in NP's last 7.

Yeah that’s what I meant, in addition to the 3 games against the top 3 teams in the league that Nige had, there was also the depleted squad

It’s early days and if we got the win today, there would be a completely different mindset.

It’s going to take time and criticism aimed at LM at this stage is unfair, the guys had 4 games.

That being said, it’s not unfair to be critical of the board, the dismissal of Nige was a poor decision and poor timing.

5 hours ago, ChippenhamRed said:

This thread is exactly what I feared when they sacked Pearson. Whoever the new man was, they were never going to be given the benefit of time when the outgoing manager was widely regarded to be doing a good job. It’s not really fair on Manning, but I blame the board for that. They have created this entirely avoidable discontent.

Absolutely hit the nail on the head

46 minutes ago, Sir Geoff said:

2 wins from 7. LM needs to win 2 of the next 3 to better that.

Oh and 3 of the games you mention were against the top 3 teams in the league.

Not to mention the injury hit, depleted squad

7 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

But it stopped the ball getting to Mbappe who was lurking behind who would be likely to score from that position. 

Even with a player of Mbappe’s quality, I don’t think he’d have got there ahead of Livramento after it hits the chest

I think there’s got to be an element of how much impact an incident happens and not just whether it’s hit the arm or whether it’s technically a foul. By this I mean the decisions that do not appear to have any clear intent.

Take tonight for example, it hits the chest and then the arm. The cross had already been blocked by the chest and the ball was no longer heading into dangerous territory so the ball hitting the arm hasn’t really disadvantaged PSG. (Had the cross directly hit the arm, it’s a dangerous cross blocked by an arm away from the body which should rightfully be given)

Last night, Wilson would have sprinted the ball out to the wing and it should be considered that he hasn’t been denied a substantial opportunity. Granted he’s been denied possession but there’s got to be some common sense applied in the sense that it’s more of a coming together and on that basis you’ve got to be looking for a decision that won’t be hugely impacting.

VAR is supposed to intervene for clear and obvious errors. Yet, had the penalty decision not been given at the end of the game last night, I can’t see that there would have been a huge amount of outrage, which would indicate that the initial decision to give a penalty was not a clear and obvious error.

The 10 point deduction I agree with but it’s unfortunate on the timing, making it very achievable for Everton to survive.

Itll be interesting to see what happens with the other clubs and whether this results in Administration and a further points deduction. On this, I must say that I understand the stance of Burnley and Leicester but not Leeds, as they still would have been relegated irrespective of whether the points deduction was applied or not.

7 minutes ago, Cidre Monita said:

For some reason the media and ex-players seem to love Southgate. The guy was a failure at Middlesbrough seeing them relegated in his final season there. He only got the job because he was already in the England set-up and the FA had to replace Big Sam quickly to avoid further embarrassment. I think he is very negative and has zero tactical nous. We have lost/exited the last 3 tournaments due to him not knowing how to change personnel and/or tactics to win a big game. He looks absolutely clueless but hey ho he’s good with the media and I heard the other day that the FA may be considering a longer contract. Tbh I think big Nige would do a better job with the talent available and I’m being serious!! 

You’re right that he was very fortunate to get the job, as you’ve said, only due to him being in the set up.

I still haven’t got over the Italy game, that’s the glaring one as they had both Bonucci and Chiellini on bookings and with them both lacking pace, Italy were there for the taking.

We’ve got 3 players that I believe could get into a world best 11 in Walker, Bellingham and Kane. We’ve got a bunch of Man City players that play with cohesion in Grealish, Foden, Walker, Stones, Lewis. Players like Saka and Rice are could probably walk into the worlds top clubs.

I can see there being a lot of uproar if he fails to win the Euros and they still give him a new contract, though it wouldn’t surprise me. Especially with the Euros coming to the UK in 2026, I can see them giving him until then given the togetherness he builds. It would be disappointing, as I agree he lacks the tactical nous to take us over the line.

Firmly in the Southgate out camp!

Continuously selecting players that are out of form or not playing at all.

Rashford should be nowhere near the team, albeit on the bench, his performances have been awful. Phillips doesn’t get gametime, yet continuously gets picked for the squad and brought on.

Southgate uses the England games as an opportunity to give Phillips a run out, as he did with Maguire (albeit his club performances have improved of late). It should be an honour and an achievement to represent England, it shouldn’t be used to give players minutes.

Whilst Maguire’s performances have improved, I can’t help but get frustrated at how slow he is on the ball.

Sterling should be in this squad and would be there on merit. As would Ward-Prowse. Ben White would be more suited to this team than our current centre backs (though I don’t know the reasons for his departure from the World Cup).

All in all, I used to think highly of Southgate when he picked players on merit and brought a real togetherness to the squad. I genuinely felt he was a few in game decisions away from success.

Now we’re seeing him pick his favourites whilst ignoring merit. He keeps bringing on the same under performing players that continue to let us down more often than not.

We have the strongest squad we’ve had in my lifetime and we’re struggling to beat Malta and failing to beat North Macedonia.

We will not win the Euros under Southgate!

It's a really lenient punishment for extreme losses, the punishment happens at a time where Everton can overcome the deduction in probably the weakest premiership league in recent years. It's frustrating that the punishment will not have the impact of warrants.

1 minute ago, pillred said:

Yes, but Bournemouth are on 9 points and 3 go down

Everton will go to 19th, putting Sheffield United up to 18th and Luton up to 17th

Everton will be 2 points behind Luton, who as it stands, are in a position of safety

I understand the view as being in that position, it can be difficult to impress because it’s not an attacking position where some attacking brilliance is required.

However, to feature regularly for the best team in Europe and not look out of place, requires a high level of ability.

I actually thought similarly when Bellingham kept making appearances and he’s now one of the first names on the team sheet and rightly so

2 minutes ago, Galley is our king said:

Hopefully a substantial fee but it might be small as it's 25% of any profit...

The sell on based on any profit seems to be becoming pretty standard

There's a lot of hype about him already, if he can get fit and stay fit, can see him quite comfortably costing the next buyer £40m+

The upfront instalment is the one that could be higher, it could be higher than £4.5m but considering the injury, even £22.5m plus add ons (and considerably likely add ons) represents good business.

The 25% sell on could be substantial in future.

I understand the concern, wallet contains valuables and personal details.

Also understand the importance to do searches for safety.

Was it just the wallet being searched? as surely any weapon that can fit into the wallet can also be put into a shoe etc.

Most of the game was dire but we looked more promising towards the end of the game.

It felt a strange emotion today, when we weren’t performing (and we looked the weaker team for large periods), I couldn’t help but feel anger towards the board.

That being said, have to get behind the manager, he comes with his own merit but it’s going to take more than a few days to see the benefits.

Disappointing to see he’s out again, terribly unlucky

14 minutes ago, Spreadsheet Boy said:

I guess at the end of the day if true, he only tried to influence, he didn’t succeed because Nige picked King.  I’ve heard all sorts, some I think sounds more likely than the other.  To sit completely on the fence, Nige has asked Rennie what team he’d pick in the last, so not unreasonable to seek Tins view.  There is obviously a difference between seeking a view and being given it!

We don’t know, but I suspect whichever way it is, there’ll be a dotted line into the other.

That was his rationale, there was going to be a lot of change introduced, why not add a wise-old head into the back line.  You might argue a James / King double-pivot might not have the kegs either.

It was a logical decision, particularly in the circumstances. I think the thought process was also likely thinking of trying to get Sykes further forward too in the RWB role he played that day, it made sense.

Granted we had to change the system but we ended up winning the game, it’s frustrating that the selection was made an issue.