Match Thread Everton v Crystal Palace - Preview, Match Report & MotM Poll

[Blue in Oklahoma]

Understand if TL;DR. Buuuuuutttttttt......
What a day to be a BLUE!!! Firstly, MOTM gotta go to Dele. Perhaps the only player on the bench that had the sheer ego to step up and say I can get us back in this. You could see it form the whistle that he stepped on that pitch with a mission. $40 mil well spent even if that is his last contribution to the squad. But at the end of the day Focus, Determination and 40 thousand blue-blooded, toffee-lovin fanatics is what saw this squad to 90+7'! I must also shout out to Keane's goal. What a first touch on a ball kinda fizzed to him being so close, and then that finish!!!! Looked like a #9 out there. Doesn't matter how Richie's shot bulged the net, just matters it got in. And finally, seems only right that DCL had the last say in the match. Flying through the air like a greased pig on a rainy day, perfect cross, perfect contact! Went right for that Everton badge on his chest, letting the people know his love for this club. Other than the goals, highlights: - Richie celebration after DCL header! - All the players on the pitch singing Spirit of the Blues just as loud as every supporter there. - CP being whiney losers. Boohoo fans on the pitch. Don't let in 3. (shrugs) - Super Frank and sons dancing and singing at full throat. - The sheer love Lampard has shown for this club in just 3 months. The guy oozes Everton and I hope we have FINALLY found stability in the coaches room. The 14 minutes of non-stop Goodison Park coverage here in the US after the final whistle. Could have watched it all night. I think this is the most important thing for gaining more toffee supporters here in the US, which is already much larger than you would imagine. How could anyone watching that not fall in love with everything Everton stand for?? Can't wait to see the turn out in Baltimore when I FINALLY get to show my support in person.
When I first started supporting Everton 15 years ago and fell in love with the game I felt it always a bit strange to see clubs with full on celebrations after saving themselves from regulation. I mean, you didn't win anything past getting to play another year. Well after yesterday, I know all too well why those celebrations happened. It is a feeling that sports in America can just never provide. The joy and passion felt from coming back 0-2 at half + the sheer weight-lifting power of relief knowing you are safe for another year! Bottle it and shoot it right into my veins! I love this club, I love all you supporters who truly make this more than just cheering for a sports team. Everton is a family, and that kind of atmosphere is almost non-existent in 2022. Thank God for family!! #UTFT

 

[Eggs]

….for once one of Dave’s predictions worked in our favour. Well done, Dave.

 

[EFCPaul]

I've only watched the goals back a couple of times, don't plan too anymore now. .

I know it was emotional but watching them goals save us is like watching someone carry your loved ones out of burning house, would you want to replay that over and over again? Maybe I'll feel differently in years to come (if things work out for us) but I don't ever want to remember that game or this season, not for the life of me. Too stressful.

 

[arbok]

Mate honestly, Doucoure was horrendous. I think he was second only to Andre Gomes. I can't think of anyone within a block radius in the TB that wasn't screaming for Gomes to be hooked after half an hour - but Doucoure wasn't far behind

I've rewatched the game a second time and Doucoure was everywhere. He was absolutely special in the second half. Dele changed the game when he came on, but Doucoure if I could change my MOM, I'd give it to him. We don't win without Doucoure chasing down the ball over the entire pitch. He won the ball back the most number of times in the midfield and it was the most since Rodri this season.

 

[andy4efc]

This must be the most active post-match period in the sites history no? New posts every few minutes almost 24hours after the game?

 

[Toffeelover]

Burnley, Leeds claiming Everton have broken financial rules, The Times.

Of course to save their necks.

 

[Toffeelover]

 

[bring back the catt]

I have posted more than once in this parish that Wimbledon Day 1994 is my favourite EFC game.

Better than Wembley or Rotterdam cup wins….or title winning victories at Norwich or Goodison.

Some people…particularly young people…think I am mad when I say that.

Let last night be a lesson.

Anyone can sing, dance and party when your team has just won sommat.

But nowt brings out the depth of feeling a fellow has for his or her team, the undying love we all feel, the way triumphing in the face of adversity does.

Trust me…if we win the CL Final it will not be celebrated as uncontrollably or as passionately as last night… ?

UTFT

Indeed! Snatching an improbable victory from the jaws of defeat is unbridled passion.
Your comment about 'anyone can sing, dance' etc is so very very true. Glory hunting assholes the lot of them.

But for me, I wish to place on record the names of the real heroes who made this wonderful achievement possible;
1). Mike Riley for hi incredible choices for absolute The absolute cretins he hires to be professional football officials.
2). Lee Mason for his undisguised sheer inadequacy to control the appalling decisions made with var.
3). Dermot Gallagher for his continual lies to cover up all garbage decisions even when shown facts to prove otherwise.
4). The utterly atrocious bias of so called neutrals who commentate our matches.
5). The incredible number of pundits who's only qualification for the job is to have an ex-rs connection.
6). The bile spewed out by all sections of the red infested media.
7). The unbelievably biased FA and all of their sycophantic servants.
8). The EPL who cheated and change the rules to suit their anti-Everton agenda.
9). The faceless scum who control this inept shower of excrement with whatever means at their disposal.
Which brings me very nicely on to the overlord of this disgrace of ineptitude. Step forward to no.10;
10). SLY TV. 'Nuff said.

The actions of this elite band of lying corrupt piles of puss set out to destroy this club. What happened was the complete opposite. Every other club would have sunk without trace. Not Everton though, oh dear me no. Instead of withering and fading into the distance, the entire Everton family reunited.
We didn't lick our wounds. Instead we rose like snarling lions determined the kill would not be us. Team, staff, manager, fans. Shoulder to shoulder. Real People. Real Fans. Really exceptional. Really Real.

What a sight. The veritable BLUE army dared anyone to cross them. (In English); We came, We saw, We conquered.
UTFT!

 

[Toffeelover]

 

[Toffeelover]

I make no apologies for putting those videos on, enjoy.

 

[Toffeelover]

Last night was the last time this will be heard until next season.

 

[ToffeeDan]

5th May 2014 Palace hit three to delight Toffees everywhere and shatter RS Wet Dreams
19th May 2022 Palace hit for three to delight Toffees everywhere and shatter RS Wet Dreams

 

[arbok]

Surely the stars aligned for us to win the game. Thats a game we would never have won under normal circumstances without relegation on the line. There was no more hiding, and no more defending in the second half. It wasn't completely all out attack, but we at least started to get more possession. I think Dele proved a lot of doubters wrong about his fitness, it was only 45 minutes, but he was everywhere. On the rewatch Doucoure was incredible, a super human performance from him, he did a lot of good things. Iwobi was likewise fantastic once he was moved centrally.

Having Dele on also helped Gordon a bit. Dele put Gordon in better positions to run on it, rather than Gordon trying to win it and get it up the pitch.

We scored two almost miracle goals, Keane literally stabbed at it, and the second Richarlison somehow found the net beyond the keeper, with a looping shot. On another day they don't go in. The third, I'd been complaining about Demarai Gray's free kick deliveries as too predictable, but here he delivered perfectly. DCL doesn't waste too many chances.

I still find it hard to believe we got away with relegation, 2-0 at halftime, against a team that had beaten us twice this season, who must have felt like they outplayed us in the first half. And we didn't just battle against 11 men on the night either, no this was a battle against all the VAR decisions that have gone against us particularly in this relegation run in, all the refs who've given us red cards (are we a dirty team besides that Rondon tackle?), all the injuries we've had this season, our previous manager leaving us out to dry, then bringing in quite possibly the riskiest manager decision of all time, and not only that but he ends up alienating our most creative options James and Digne. The team was battling the accumulation of all those effects plus a 2-0 deficit at half time and every player just took the challenge upon themselves and played their very best match they have played in an Everton shirt. I don't know if other Everton fans felt like this, but thats what it felt like to me.

 

[arbok]

Player Ratings

Pickford (9) - I don't blame him for the second goal, made an incredible save at 2-1 down to keep us in it. Has been the player of the second half of the season for me.

Mykolenko (9) - this young lad probably had no idea what he was walking into when he signed, neither did a lot of fans at the time. but he has certainly seen the very worst and very best of Everton in his time. He's stepped up in a huge way since he came. He was fairly limited when he came, 3 months later, he can hang with premier league opposition.

Holgate (9) - its his best match for Everton. Am glad because he took a lot of stick during the season.

Keane (9.5) - Made up for him, he was really low on form at one stage, but Frank's man management kept him playing at a high level.

Coleman (8.5) - Never gave up even after that mistake. Inspirational.

Dele (9) - Changed the game, got on the end of the cross that lead to the 2nd goal - hope to see him on sunday and next season.

Doucoure (10) - Was everywhere. One of his best games in a blue shirt.

Iwobi (9) - didn't deliver a final ball, but without him wouldn't have won. Immense.

Richarlison (9.5) - did everything AND scored a goal

Gordon (8) - never gives less than 100%. Could do with better end product, but proud of him.

DCL (10) - answered his critics with a superb winner.

Gomes (7) - isn't quite good enough to start, and should really be behind Allan.

Gray (8) - delivered a perfect free kick when everything was on the line.

JJK (6) - wasn't on long enough.

 

[Grogu the blue]

I've rewatched the game a second time and Doucoure was everywhere. He was absolutely special in the second half. Dele changed the game when he came on, but Doucoure if I could change my MOM, I'd give it to him. We don't win without Doucoure chasing down the ball over the entire pitch. He won the ball back the most number of times in the midfield and it was the most since Rodri this season.

I voted for Doucoure too, he definitely seemed all over the pitch in 2nd half!