Happy New Year, Blues…Tragic or comic?

My mates tell me my glass is always half full but as I sat getting increasingly colder as the game wore on and not looking forward to struggling onto a train at Sandhills I wasn’t feeling that way last night.

I couldn’t believe Moyes went with O’Brien again at right back but at least we will be spared that for the next three games thanks to Keane’s ‘violent conduct’.

The usual suspects (Barry, McNeil and Tim) were woeful and continue to prove how weak our squad is with our main players absent.

As you say Lyndon they were an ill disciplined bunch and I noticed from the start that Pickford and Tarks spent a lot of time berating their teammates.

I know we haven’t got much to choose from but bringing Beto on as first sub around 80 minutes simply reinforces Moyes intransigence.

Having said all that I’ll be there Saturday but I’m not expecting much.

I understand, support and agree with Moyes with his arguments against the ridiculous Keane red card. However, it was obvious to me at half time that we needed a second goal pretty soon after the interval. You could see the crowd getting more and more anxious and Wolves getting more belief. We've seen this movie so many times haven't we?

I don't understand how numerous Everton managers cannot see what is about to happen and at least make changes. McNeil was losing the ball every time he got it and his legs had gone. Barry was ineffective. We needed fresh legs and Moyes changed nothing.

Dyche used to be the same. Didn't Dyche once talk about evidence to say that making changes usually caused more disruption than benefit? When Wolves scored it was just a case of "Everton, that". The ridiculous performance by the referee gives Moyes a get out of jail card because that is now the talking point but he didn't react quickly enough (in fact, he didn't react at all to what was happening) to try and get the second goal.

I'm glad that we are safe, barring a miraculous improvement by the three teams at the bottom of the league but we are desperately short of quality with Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye and Branthwaite missing. I guess that is progress but the frustrating thing is that a bit more ambition could see us have a good season. Why are we not actively seeking to strengthen now that it is January? I said it yesterday but we will be scrabbling around for half-hearted enquiries on deadline day, again. I thought this was meant to signify a new era. Same old failings. Same old frustration.

Everton, that.

Three points from last night.

Tim Irogbunam does not have a footballer's brain. Whenever he has the ball at his feet he has no idea what to do with it so just runs in a straight line. Very Forrest Gump.

Jack Grealish brings every move to a standstill he's so slow. It allows the opposition to regroup every time and kills any chance we have of ever mounting a proper counter attack.

Harrison Armstrong may have a bright future ahead of him but last night proved that the decision to send him out on loan for a season was the right one. Did he leave his left foot in the changing room?

One of the few positives to emerge from last night’s disappointment was that Keane’s three match suspension will resolve the manager’s dilemma about Jake O’Brien’s best position in the team. David Moyes really has no choice now but to move him to centre back and find someone who can put one leg in front of the other to fill in at right back.

I was quite impressed with the midfield trio in the first half. Iroegbunam made some great tackles and penetrative runs but plainly needs to work on his shooting. Armstrong who looks like a Rolls Royce of a player, brought poise to midfield, showing maturity beyond his years.

Lack of pace and goals are severely hampering our progress at present. The loss of Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall are compounded by the in and out nature of Grealish’s contributions and McNeil’s poor performances. Five points from the last four games is a poor return and with tougher games ahead we look destined to remain in mid-table. Most of us probably would have settled for that at the start of the season.

We were good for the first thirty- odd minutes.

Had that Ball gone in, instead of hitting the post, then we win that game.. stating the obvious !

But it doesn’t cover the fact that we carried Barry and McNiel, until they were replaced.. total passengers.

Now, Moyes is faced with playing O’Brien in his real position, due to disastrous circumstances.

At the end I was more than relieved with a point, But dissatisfied with Moyes in game management.

Andrew (4) On your three points:-

I agree Iroegbunam does not have a football brain but he brings physicality and a refreshing directness lacking elsewhere in the team. I am hoping that as he gains experience his game intelligence will improve accordingly. Only time will tell.

I fully agree with you about Grealish. I find him a very frustrating player especially in and around the opposition penalty area. While he has six assists to his name he provides minimal goal threat. His lack of pace and the absence of it elsewhere in the forward line makes it all too easy for opponents to funnel back in numbers.

Given it was his first Premier League start Harrison Armstrong, only 18 years old, showed enough to confirm he belongs in this company. I agree the loan move was right and I assume once Gana returns Harrison will complete his season at Preston. I interpreted his deft cross, delivered from the left of the area with the outside of his right foot in the first half, as an example of his ability to spot a potential opening rather than an indication he is one footed.

Being honest. after Sunday this performance wasnt totally unexpected, Wolves rejuvenated and fighting for their survival in this League.

But surely play a balanced back 4? Forest was a lifetime ago now.
The home game jinx continues but Everton should have put the game to bed by half time. The lack of owbership and belief on the 6 -12 yard kill zone is the scourge of this season.
Michael Keane aside, arguably the only player who started for Everton, last night, who could have finished like he did, and was unlucky awith his header.

But the same signs every home game this season, were there again.

Tarks doing his best to play Wolves in, trying to wind up the opposition, and the lack of service into the box. Lack of belief and awareness, to take shots and shoot with conviction, no one gambling for the spills.

I don't rate Barry, on what he has done so far but he has had very poor service into the box, and along with Beto, they are effectively chasing the ballon on the park,such is the lack of a build up play plan.

But a point on a night when the VAR circus once again hammered Everton.

What a season this is turning out to be, and over all, theres no stand out team, even Arsenal are getting heaps of good luck.

As John says, surely now, the CB line up is sorted for the next few games.

The last week sums up this season for Everton, and a top 8 slot looks miles away, but looking at Brentford, any thing, can happen.

As this transfer window draws down, City look like they are close to signing some new players.

Its baffling that they are still a free spirit in terms of trading and it seems the EPL, has been paid off, as I cant see now how theyll be dealt with in terms of the financial conduct charges, in flight, since 2012.

Another ulcer, in the EPL, and money takes all and is the most important aspect now in the EPL.

I reckon in a couple of seasons, the weekend -Saturdays, will be Champions League fixtures, and the EPL fixture of 3 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon, will be a very rare occasion. If so then, Ill be further dissillusioned with the game.

But its a tough season for many reasons, but Everton hopefully can pick up and put on a worthy display for 97 mins v Sunderland, on what should be a great atmosphere at Hill Dickenson.

We’re just not very good plain and simple, I wasn’t expecting a good performance, or a win for that matter especially with Wolves’ recent resurgence and our current circumstances.

Again, I found Moyes’ persistence to play O’Brien at right back frustrating, why after the Forest performance you would revert back to him playing as a full back? I understand Keane has been a reliable mainstay this season and obviously he doesn’t rate Patterson at all, playing Jake out there is like playing Rio Ferdinand or Van Dijk as a full back, Jake isn’t quite of that ilk just yet but you get my point, it doesn’t work.

a silver lining in last nights chaos however is Moyes will have to play O’Brien at centre back now as Keane will be unavailable.

KDH and Ndiaye can’t come back quick enough, I just hope we’re able to convince them to stay with us long term, give them what they want, build the team around them, propose our project the whole nine yards blah blah blah..at this rate we’ll be lucky if Ndiaye stays beyond this season with this bunch of charlatans we have on the pitch.

McNeil shouldn’t be starting over Dibling, his legs have gone and offers absolutely nothing, Moyes can’t continue playing him or risk losing faith of the supporters. As good a job Moyes has done “steadying the ship” his selections have me banging my head against a wall.

The Two B’s Barry and Beto could be a comedy double act with the amount of times I find myself chuckling at their performance, they’d give the Two Ronnie’s a run for their money. Surely it’s time to close the curtain on Barry and Beto, if I had it my way they’d be gone tomorrow, “Just like that”

Simply Moyes went negative on the second half, trying to contain the lead, putting more pressure on his defence that coughed up a goal and a red card.The only one to blame after that was the Ref resulting in another red card.

Everton were playing bottom of the league Wolves and deserved to get beat and were lucky to get a draw.

If the Management plan is bad, the players are going to make errors and perform poorly.

The referee generally had a decent game, allowing the game to flow, not blowing his whistle for challenges that some would have penalised. It was as if he understood football.

Then, Kavanagh, in a room miles away, decided it was time to intervene. Utter nonsense.

Paul (8) A great atmosphere is guaranteed on Saturday because there will be 7732 travelling fans who will be well up for the game. I really hope, but am far from confident, the home crowd will be roused from their usual stupor and provide our severely weakened squad with the vocal support worthy of the occasion. Let’s be ‘avin’ yer Blues! Leave the concourse and get in your seats before kick-off. That includes the premium ticket holders!

Peter (11) I couldn’t agree more.

I don't have an awful lot of sympathy for either player who was sent off tbh. What on earth was Keane thinking of to yank somebody's ponytail, particularly in this age of VAR and the intensity of the TV cameras watching and recording their every movement?

As for Grealish, in truth, the novelty is now beginning to wear off his summer signing. I get the feeling he is frustrated as the rest of us with the quality of the player's around him. But there is no excuse for a player of his experience acting like a spoilt kid, none whatsoever.

I doubt very much whether the club will attempt to sign him this summer. If as expected, the fee would be in and around the £30-£40m mark, and his substantial salary on top of that, the club would be daft to splash out on a player pushing 31, with little or no re-sale value.

We desperately need a pair of 'modern' fullbacks who can both tackle, and get forward and cross a ball with real effect, currently neither O'Brien or Mykelenko are capable of that (not O'Brien's fault).

And of course a CF capable of both leading the line and scoring 10-15 goals a season. Why on earth should Brentford out perform us in the transfer market and sign Thiago for £29m, whilst we spent around £50m on both Barry and Beto?

Looks like we won't be making any moves soon in the transfer market, instead settling for a mid-table position, and waiting for summer to come.

John, spot on I said on a previous thtead its nice e to have an old fashioned Cup tie, shame, its not a 3 p.m. KO, but the Sunderland, fans are die hards,like Everonians, and will make their presence heard.

Hopefully David Moyes, will raise his squad to kick start the rest of this season.

For me, start with Beto, nuisance factor and effort, in view of the general lack of service from the flanks, to the Everton forward line.
Grealish, aside, but there's a need for natural movement and flow which is missing with out Ilie and K D H.

The cutting edge, is blunt, at the moment.

Genuinely lets see Everton take a leaf from the old days and battle for 97 mins.

At Hill Dickinson, at best this season, Everton have done decent in spells of a half, but not consistent over the whole game. The lack of a killer presence in attack is a killer, and the midfield also need to chip in regularly with shots and goals.

The lack of quality cover for Gana, Ilie, KDH, and the massive positive presence of Brainthwaite, is an open wound.

Inspiration and wisdom please David Moyse, for this Sunderland match, to keep the flames of hope alive, for a decent FAC run.

Continuously blaming the Ref for a Moyes poor performance is wearing a bit thin.Moyes seems to have a discipline problem at Everton or certainly a element of disrespect amongst the players on how he is managing.Too much 'we were robbed : in Social Media and supporting feeds.Meanwhile Everton lose points and players.