Paul McParlan - The dreaded drop looms!
The fans responded to the rallying cries and did everything they could to help Everton grab a much-needed win last night.
They turned Goodison Park into a frenzied, febrile, hostile bear pit and let everyone know that they were totally behind the team. Initially, the galvanising impact of the crowd seemed to work as Everton created opportunities and were unlucky to be a goal behind at half-time. Only a marginal VAR call prevented Everton from being level. And then it all went wrong.
In the second half, the difference in class and quality between the two sides became more glaringly obvious. The resurgent Magpies outplayed and outthought Everton, cutting the defence apart with precision passes and pinpoint crosses.
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The final ignominy was Eddie Howe throwing on Anthony Gordon for the final few minutes to savour the humiliation of his former team. The same Eddie Howe whom Everton have somehow chosen to overlook in the past when looking for a manager
For the first time, questions are starting to be asked of Sean Dyche. Why on earth was Ben Godfrey chosen at full-back instead of Nathan Patterson ? He struggled to cope with the pace of Joelinton all night, and his lack of positional awareness cost us dearly. Vitalii Mykolenko never convinces at left back.
The sight of the diminutive Neil Maupay, instead of the towering Ellis Simms, being brought on to save the game with 20 minutes left was the final straw for most Blues fans. With Everton needing goals, why was top scorer Demarai Gray not given a chance?
The most frustrating aspect of all was that with Dominic Calvert-Lewin available, Everton seemed incapable of delivering the crosses he needed to utilise his aerial strength. Once again, Everton’s distribution was woeful to watch, with passes being misplaced all over the park and possession squandered all too easily. The final pass that cuts open defences is something the Blues have never mastered this season.
Everton travel to a revitalised Leicester City on Monday in another must-win game. Except Everton don’t win away games, having won just one all season. Our next five games are against teams we have already failed to beat this season, with four losses and one draw.
The vast swathes of empty spaces in the stands when the final whistle blew last night showed that most supporters had accepted the inevitable. They can only do so much to help their team. It is now up to the management and the players to find a way out of this mess. Unless they can, the Championship looms.
Luke Davies - Squeaky bum time!
On reflection, it’s hard to keep getting angry at Everton; it's pure deflation after defeats now. Not just defeats, though; we don’t just get beat; when we do, we absolutely capitulate. No fight, no desire, no leaders.
All we can do is move on from the torrid performance against Newcastle and somehow put it behind us. I must praise the fans outside the ground before the game; many would say that group of players doesn’t deserve such support after so many gutless performances.
Moving on, Everton take on Leicester at the King Power next time out. Again, like every game of late, Everton have to win this game; even a point isn’t really sufficient at such a crucial point in the season.
It could be argued that Leicester are a much better and more skilled team than Everton, but the table never lies. They haven’t been able to compete with those around them this season, resulting in the recent departure of Brendan Rodgers.
In terms of line-up, I would go with Jordan Pickford in goal, then James Tarkowski accompanying Michael Keane at the heart of defence. The rest depends on fitness. Seamus Coleman must play when fit; his experience is vital for this team. Left-back is a tough decision; Ben Godfrey and Vitalii Mykolenko both haven’t performed brilliantly this season, both tending to ‘have a mistake in them’ at times.
The midfield picks itself: Idrissa Gueye, Amadou Onana, and Alex Iwobi when all three are fit. To complement them, I would go with Dwight McNeil wide left and Demarai Gray wide right. It is a pleasure to finally write that Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the line. Having an outlet and a focal point for attack at last is so refreshing to see for Evertonians.
To summarise, although this is a hard game, Everton can definitely get something from it. Of course, a win is ideal, but getting beat in a ‘six-pointer’ is unthinkable.
Leicester away from home brings back great memories from last season, a huge step towards safety for Frank Lampard’s Toffees on that pleasant Sunday afternoon last May. Let’s hope this time around the Blues can replicate that performance.
Ben Crawford - An abomination
Thursday night felt like the end. The end of what exactly, I am not sure.
The end of Premier League football at Goodison Park? The end of Everton Football Club as we know it? Or even the end of us dreaming about Bramley-Moore Dock?
The performance from the players in that second half versus Newcastle United was embarrassing. Make no mistake, the Magpies are a good side and are having a very good season, but on a night when the fans did their part, the players seemed to offer nothing.
Of course, had Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s offside goal before half-time stood, then it could have been a different second half, but in truth, the Blues never turned up, and it seems that relegation is now an inevitability. For me, the impending doom of Everton goes much further than relegation.
Potential administration, point deductions, and an unfinished stadium are all real possibilities now, and there is simply nothing to gain from any potential 'relegation reset' that has been mooted by some fans.
The club is in its darkest hour, and I, for one, cannot see light at the end of this tunnel. The club is rotten to the core, and the fans have had enough.
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