Relegation

[Pabbers]

For an established club like us, the history, the city, the money spent...yes pride. It's been shattered.

Taking it on the chin is what we'll do cos there's no choice. But the idea of being "happy" winning games in the championship cos Bolton did is just accepting there's nothing to be proud about with this club if that came to be.

Being the biggest club in the championship is nothing to be proud about.

Me and you differ on what it means to support a football club, and to support this football club.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Hardest run in of all the relegation threatened teams. It's done IMO.

Watford's run is arguably similar, but take your point.

 

[nsno-chris]

It wasn't an alternative I was suggesting - just stating that Doucoure and Allan are our best bet in midfield.

You think Allan shouldn't be in there? Fair enough.

You think Doucoure and van de Beek defensive midfield, with Dele Alli infront to kill the midfield?

I disagree. Doucoure isn't a defensive midfielder. He's said so himself. de Beek off the ball doesn't look great and Dele Alli is a second striker.

That’s not what I said though. I said I’d bring a kid in to sit as a holding midfielder in front of the back 4. Something we have missed since Gareth Barry and Lee Carsley before that. IMO it was a priority in the sunmer

And one of Doucore or VDB and Alli in front of them him to try and break the lines of the opposition.

 

[ToffeeTim]

That’s not what I said though. I said I’d bring a kid in to sit as a holding midfielder in front of the back 4. Something we have missed since Gareth Barry and Lee Carsley before that. IMO it was a priority in the sunmer

And one of Doucore or VDB and Alli in front of them him to try and break the lines of the opposition.

But we can only play through the lines if the centre halves are willing to pass the ball forward. We don't get that with Holgate and Godfrey because either they lack the belief/courage to do it, or they lack the ability. Only Keane can actually play the ball forward from defence, but he seems shot for confidence in defence.

 

[NathDogg]

Not confident how our brave boys will face up to the skunks on Thursday.

They have already kicked us off the park at their place, and they will be doing the same at goodison, after what I saw them doing to Chelsea - they are well up the fight and quite cynical, but it has worked for them, and is exactly what we should have been doing.

The players were doing that halfarsed press and lookih like they were engaging against wolves, where they look like they are putting the effort in but it's not quite at 100%, we didn't really put a proper tackle in (Kenny's two yellows were a result of him being half a yard too slow for this league, not any form of agression or fight) the skunks will batter us if they try that crap again, and everyone in the ground needs to be right up for it or we've no chance with these shithouses wearing our colours.

 

[larbert toffee]

As soon as I got home from the game today I took my dog on a walk and found myself wandering slowly and aimlessly. I had to do it because my wife and kids would have got a load of grief from me through no fault of their own.

Now I’m lying in the dark thinking nothing but Everton and what we’ve become and the mess we’re in. 94 and 98 and I knew we’d pull ourselves out it but today I find myself in the acceptance part of the grieving process.

People say it’s only football but Everton is mine (and your) life. It’s everything.

I love them so much I hate them.

I feel for you Graeme, I love the club also and I feel through your post you're going through the mill with this and you're far from being alone.
I think all of us on this thread have the one common link that we want the best for this club,
Mate, your family must always come first, have you spoken to your missus and told her how you're feeling? she will understand if you're honest with her and it may well make things easier in the coming weeks as things unfold.
Forget about it for an evening and take them for a meal somewhere you all like.
I came into this thread thinking people were worrying too early but I realise more now how different we all are in dealing with the situation.
Mate, I hope things improve for you, keep posting if that helps.

 

[Sadken]

We haven't replaced hamez in the number ten role, that area of the pitch is always empty, it's so obvious but we don't have anyone capable of doing that job.

 

[jonnyboy316]

But we can only play through the lines if the centre halves are willing to pass the ball forward. We don't get that with Holgate and Godfrey because either they lack the belief/courage to do it, or they lack the ability. Only Keane can actually play the ball forward from defence, but he seems shot for confidence in defence.

It is as good point on Keane. As poor as he has been he is the only one of those 3 senior CB’s available that can pass the ball forward. He is also the only one if any aerial presence. He has to come back into the team. Godfrey should move to LB where he offers little going forwards but can make us more solid defensively

 

[Bkk Andy]

[/QUOTE]

Really one of the only positives I can take from going down is that we'd at least get a reprieve from harrowing Merseyside Derby humblings for a while...

Probably draw them in the cups

 

[Martin Alvito]

We need four wins. The realistic ones are this one, Leicester, Palace and Brentford at home.

That and a point in the away six-pointers should be enough, unless one of the bottom three somehow gets Martinez-at-Wigan-in-April hot.

Somehow, we have to find something. We have to score. That probably means dropping the fifth defender and admitting that we're going to concede, and have to outscore the opponent.

 

[ToffeeTim]

It is as good point on Keane. As poor as he has been he is the only one of those 3 senior CB’s available that can pass the ball forward. He is also the only one if any aerial presence. He has to come back into the team. Godfrey should move to LB where he offers little going forwards but can make us more solid defensively

I think he has to play on Thursday against Wood. Sometimes being dropped can make a difference. I'm clutching at straws, but I genuinely think he's better than Godfrey and Holgate.

 

[nsno-chris]

But we can only play through the lines if the centre halves are willing to pass the ball forward. We don't get that with Holgate and Godfrey because either they lack the belief/courage to do it, or they lack the ability. Only Keane can actually play the ball forward from defence, but he seems shot for confidence in defence.

We’ve tried everything else.

In all honesty it’s irrelevant anyway because we’re down. We were down as soon as that appointment was made in the summer IMO.

The owner as over seen the destruction of this club and certain members of the fan base have sneered at others who could see issues.

The entire club deserves to fold for the way it’s been managed.

 

[DanEFC92]

How much does our situation mirror that of Schalke?

 

[kenada_blue]

Me and you differ on what it means to support a football club, and to support this football club.

I guess so.

Cos I won't be gaining any enjoyment with us in the championship because we'll be there a long time IMO.

And being rubbish in the premiership is different to being rubbish in the championship.

 

[Bluestar]

Its a fair point.

My only issue is that the investment we make as fans, albeit its mainly "emotional" for me due to distance but its lifelong, generational and my Grandad would never have accepted this, My Dad tells me he was a strong, war hardened man, who cried in 51, I was only a kid when he passed but one of my memories is him buying me my first kit, it was a Dai Davies goalie top(no name on the back in those days lol) and matching cap and going to OT in 77 against Villa with him and him passing shortly after that game, that's the side we struggle to deal with, The reality is life goes on but it hits hard for this one element of our lives.

If you don’t find a way to rationalise it, you will need counselling.

I’m accepting it and finding something more rewarding to do with my time.