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Ditto - I’d written him off in the summer (after raving about him before) but so glad we stuck with him. It’d be great if we could get Zouma permanently as they’ve formed a very strong partnership.

This youth argument is nonsense. Brands and Silva clearly have a long-term plan to reduce the age of the squad - they’ve already got rid of ‘older’ players with no future which is ongoing and not an easy task due to many factors. I feel Davies is peteO’s main qualm - I personally don’t think he’s good enough to start each week and certainly not better than Gana, Gomes or Gylfi - I’d have maybe picked him ahead of Schneiderlin but credit where it’s due, he’s done well when called upon and the choice was certainly justified on Sunday. Kenny isn’t great in my opinion - I like him as back-up but nothing more - I prefer Holgate and his loan at WBA is proving a great success. Who new should be getting a chance? I’m pretty sure if there was someone ready now, they’d get a chance.... u18 - u23 is a massive step-up - u23 - first team is a giant leap. We’ve got too many players as it is so seeing new talent making that leap this season was always going to be highly unlikely.

I was all for cashing in on Gana in January - a time when actually his form had dropped off a bit - though the whole team looked lost. I’m so glad that Marco et al stuck to their guns and kept him because he has been sensational since. I would say he’s playing the best he ever has for us, not just for the tackles/interceptions but also for the part he’s been playing in setting up attacks. I don’t know what will happen in the summer but I’d be delighted if we could keep hold of him now as there aren’t many better.

Happy Birthday Mike - enjoy your break x (that’s a Pontus Jannson/ Alioski style kiss!)

Could make himself an Everton hero again next weekend... please Oumar - you’re almost our last hope!!!

Usual service resumed for Joey Barton... https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/police-stop-joey-barton-from-leaving-ground-after-alleged-assault-11692884 This bloke has serious problems - surely can’t get away with this one - needs sacking at least.

This incident doesn’t surprise at all - Pickford really needs some advice on his ‘public image’ as he comes a across as a bit of a cocky prick. He may or may not have deserved whatever happened on that night out but he doesn’t help himself. On what the club do... I personally think they need to give him a wake up call - his hands are quite important (to put it lightly) as a keeper - what if he’d have connected and broke a bone in his hand? Irresponsible regardless of the situation - he needs to learn!

Looks his old self with a decent winger in front of him. Will be interesting to see what we do in the summer with the right back situation.

He was brilliant yesterday - his and Gomes’ skills complemented each other - it helped that Digne and Coleman were able to bomb on so much so there was always an option.

This how VAR should be done with a mic’ed up ref...

May get me a bite too!!! Surely you must dread the moment peteO posts in the same thread as you as 50 posts later - Lukaku, Kane, straw man, Gueye, fast car analogy, use to play a bit, Jagielka - it’s the same old arguments and same insults thrown... it must be time consuming! It’s a fact - whenever I see that you and peteO have had an exchange, I scroll past it and in this case I repeated a good point you had made. I’m sure many enjoy your exchanges - I don’t.

Just seen he’s been mentioned - only scanned through the thread and scan quicker past posts when I see Haf/peteO in the same thread so missed this.

That tag surely goes to Nigel Martyn - brilliant keeper. If only we’d signed him earlier (like we nearly did).

Pickford needs a commanding centre back to keep him focused and give him a bollocking when he needs one. We obviously need a striker this summer but that leader at the back is just as important in my opinion.

Aren’t adds usually personalised these days?

They do Southampton and Villa - sure they did do Spurs previously.

It may be worth getting someone like Gary Cahill - many will disagree but defending set-pieces is a glaring weakness - we lack leadership. Jags came in tonight and we were much more organised but he’s 37 in August and probably going to be elsewhere next season. Keane and Mina would both benefit from at least a season alongside a senior figure and hopefully Keane will emerge as the senior figure I think he could be with more experience/confidence and learning off someone who has played at the very top.

I like Under Armour personally - do some nice stuff. Would do decent training gear.

The appeal should allow them to sign this summer while still pending. I don’t think Chelsea will sell regardless - with Cahill going and Christiansen wanting away - Luiz probably only has another 2 years at this level... I see Zouma getting a chance there.

Dowell plays in a position where, although pace helps, vision, positioning and decision making are just as important. I wouldn't necessarily write him off because it’s a tough position to learn (number 10) and actually getting his chance when he is ‘wiser’ may actually be of benefit to him and us. The best case scenario would be that he plays a significant part in getting Sheff Utd up then gets another year with them playing consistently in the Premier League. Didn’t Osman break into our first team as a 23/24 year old? If Dowell’s good enough, I’m sure Brands will have a plan for him.

There’s not a single player at this club who I’d be gutted about selling. There’s obviously ones I’d prefer to sell but even if Digne and Richarlison (who I see as our best assets) were sold - I don’t think I’d be bothered in the slightest. I was gutted when players like Speed, Ferguson, Jeffers, Arteta, Barmby, Pienaar, etc. left us in the past - now... meh! It’s probably as much an age thing but I don’t fell ‘connected’ with any of this current lot - not even the likes of Baines, Jags and Seamus who have been some of my favourites in recent years.

Brands should be looking for a captain (and leaders in general) - a centre back and centre mid at least. Players who can get us organised on the pitch - players who are respected and actually listened to by their peers.

It’s actually Mark van Bommel. Cocu went to Fenerbahçe in the summer but it obviously didn’t work out as he’s jobless now.

We’ll be fine, just as long as we don’t give away any corners, penalties or free-kicks in our half.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so ‘not arsed’ about Everton. After the stupid money being pissed away, having Big Sam and the build up/ chink of light at the beginning of this season to the collapse since the 94th minute at Anfield - my obsession will always be there but, for this season at least, I’m not that bothered - win, lose or draw!