The most satisfying thing about this win is that it flew in the face of the narrative that was already being written.
Love and Hate in a Different Time
You normally expect us to get ‘remand centre romanced’ in the derby, but despite the last two results, can you honestly say you go into this one with no hope?
Continue reading “Love and Hate in a Different Time”Leeds United 1 Everton 2
Well slap me on the ass and call me Barry.
Continue reading “Leeds United 1 Everton 2”Everton 1 Leicester City 1 (feat. Pitbull)
What have the edges of a parking ticket and defensive displays got in common?
Continue reading “Everton 1 Leicester City 1 (feat. Pitbull)”Everton 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0
The Owls are not what they seem.
Continue reading “Everton 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0”Sheffield United 0 Everton 1
What’s 12 inches long, pink and gives pleasure?
For all the soul-searching when the Cobra Kai, defend-deep-strike-swiftly mantra of the previous three games failed us against Manchester United, the stark fact was exposed that the key factor deciding success and failure for the Toffees seems to be whether Richarlison plays well or not.
Like the rest of his teammates he was struggling to see much of the ball against the mercurial Mancunians even before that sly shove in the back and the knack in the head left him so confused that he was actually on his feet feigning not being injured.
Without the Brazilian taking the ball in tight areas and running at defenders the other faults in the team seem to be exaggerated, particularly the muddled midfield where, without Allan of James Rodriguez, Tom Davies and Andre Gomes present what seems an insipid Hobson’s choice for Carlo Ancelotti.
That performance was so disappointing, going out of of the League Cup in such a miserable fashion, that we went into the game in Sheffield almost feeling like we are one of the worst sides the Premier League’s seen, not them. And let’s not get twisted here, bruv, Chris Wilder’s team are horrific.
Just look at them. Modern squads are packed almost exclusively with six-foot racing snakes from an Ivan Drago training montage while the Bramall Lane team photo looks like Angela’s Ashes.
In dreadful weather, both sides conspired to ‘out-shite’ each other for long periods. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s brilliant chest control and subsequent volley wide of the post was the only highlight of a dismal first half.
Having centre-halves at fullback generally proved effective against teams who have a lot of the ball, but it was always going to look awkward when we were expected to take the game to the opposition. Seamus Coleman’s introduction instantly made a difference, as did Bernard’s replacement of Anthony Gordon, the youngster who always looks like he should be breathlessly delivering a vital message to the king ahead of a battle with dragons.
Tom Davies’ steady performance was one of the few plus points of the first hour or so – he looked unlucky to be subbed as Ancelotti tried to push for a winner. The bohemian ball-player gave way for Gomes, who seems to cut such a frustrated figure lately. It’s like he’s never fully recovered from that injury and his body now refuses to do what his football brain expects. As a result he takes to the field looking like the last words the coach whispers in his ear are ‘Mate, I’m so sorry. She’s taken the kids to her ma’s in Skem.’
Again though, with the game stretched – and against dreadful opposition – Gomes also lifted the collective quality on the ball and the hopes of an Everton goal.
And on 81 minutes it arrived.
All three subs were involved in the build up before Bernard’s exquisite touch – like Mats Wilander playing a drop-shot on the deck of Deadliest Catch – allowed Abdoulaye Doucoure to tee up Gylfi Sigurdsson to drill a proper angled finish past Aaron Ramsdale.
Boof!
The referee played loads of added time and you were halfway across your living room with your head in your hands, cheese and crackers all over the Axminster, admit it, every time some candy-striped mule shanked one goalward for them.
Going back to the question posed back at the start, what’s 12 inches, pink and all that: it’s Roy’s penis.
And his first book, of course.
Think Kirkdale Ishiguro, Umberto Pink Echo or Hunter Claus Thompson and you will have a feel for the short stories of Algorithm Party. These are fleeting glimpses into the inner lives of the people involved in those circumstances where ‘something’s deffo gone on there’. The lad with the hood up on his North Face coat/jacket on his way to footy with a spring in his step, the pissed girl whose gaze everyone’s avoiding in the alehouse, the ‘dickhead’ in the local paper wrapped up in a criminal conspiracy.
Funny, troubling and touching, I’d describe Algorithm Party as a bravura debut if I knew what bravura meant.
Being totally hopeless I’m reviewing this after everyone else and when it appears to be out of print. Looks like you can pre-order in the case of them running off some more though. And you should.
Everton 2 Arsenal 1
Remember James Rodriguez?
Continue reading “Everton 2 Arsenal 1”Everton 1 Chelsea 0
David Byrne talks about restrictions being liberating – how they spark creativity far more than a blank canvas or an unlimited budget.
Continue reading “Everton 1 Chelsea 0”Everton Starts With an E
‘Not laughing now are you, cunts?’
M. Cyrus, December 2020
Continue reading “Everton Starts With an E”Have You Been Good To Yourself?
Carlo Ancelotti’s gamble that Newcastle are ‘just shite’, and so any line-up should really beat them, backfired all too predictably at the Massive Mugs And Them Huge Carrier Bags That All The Homeless Swear By Arena.
Continue reading “Have You Been Good To Yourself?”No Lie
Like a Mirror Loves a Hammer
Something something something about it being fitting that it was Virgil van Dyke’s former club something something something.
Continue reading “Like a Mirror Loves a Hammer”Combustion
A talismanic figure injured and questions over who can possibly replace him.
Continue reading “Combustion”The Rich (And the Poor)
Current COVID status: you’re on your fucking own – the alehouse may or may not be open.
King of the Holloway Road
Let’s get it out there now. Do we want to win any trophies if they have asterisks by them?
Fikayo
I Feel Glove
Yes, this whole thing has been written to use that title, because Everton have been linked with a goalie, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Is he hot stuff? Frig off.
So Long Without You
‘I like Abdoulaye Doucoure as well, but not as much as you Allan.’
Life During Wartime
In order to fit in the rest of the FakeNews media we should really run a whole transfer story arc here where Everton are linked to some player who in few a days apparently expresses a real interest in working for Carlo Ancelotti but then by the end of the week ends up as a ‘transfer blow’ with Arsenal and Juventus ‘closely monitoring the situation’.
Tinseltown Dripping in Blood
Miners voting Tory, Royal nonces claiming they are so nails that they can’t sweat even if they wanted to, Liverpool pissing the league and Everton manager Duncan Ferguson digging out a striker for not putting in enough effort.
These are some strange days we are living through, make no mistake.
Like Sugar
G’night Richie.
Sunshine’s Better
So here we go again.
This time without the broad brush strokes of Ronald Koeman or the dull monochrome of Sam Allardyce – replacing both with Marco Silva’s much-vaunted ‘attention to detail’.
Curse of the Contemporary
Has he gone?
Farewell Transmission
Remember when you ended up goosing sailors for crack money?
Carry That Weight
‘Everton are like…’ loads of things. For the sake of argument this time out though, the Blues are like the Mam and Dad in the story, The Monkey’s Paw.
Tryouts For The Human Race
It’s all too weird, seeing Sam Allardyce’s big head sitting on top of a load of Everton training gear.
The Spoils
What’s that in the sky? Is it a beam of light projecting a half-eaten pie onto the underside of those ominous clouds?
Crystal Palace 2 Everton 2
It’s off it’s head now, all this.
Shark Smile
And you may ask yourself: ‘My god, what have I done?’
Everton I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down
This latest instalment started after the Sunderland game but we just never got round to publishing it. Thursday/Sunday effects everyone you know, not jut the players.
Think about the bloggers.
Continue reading “Everton I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down”
Nothing, Not Nearly
Turn it in Everton.
Let’s Start To Dance Again
Have you ever eaten at a Harvester before?
Sweep Me Off My Feet
Can’t wait for this Sevilla game now, can you?
Everton 2 Leicester City 3
Hey hey, my my. We can’t keep a clean sheet if we try.
Stoke City and Newcastle United and That
It’s been written in instalments this, so the Stoke bit was completed before we went to St. James’ Park. Hopefully the tone is a bit sunnier at the end then, because after the defeat to Stoke it all started to feel a bit Ron Burgundy: ‘Well that escalated quickly’.
Southampton and Shawl Collars And That
Oh Everton, your season has got one wheel in the ditch and one wheel on the track.
Krasnodar, QPR, Young Boys and That
Oh you tricky Blues, oh you tricky Blues, you’re driving your mamas and papas insane.
Spurs, Hull and Manchester City and That
What’s occurring, Dave? What? Not that great, what with the economy and that bug that’s been ‘going around’? Never mind squire, you’ve always got Everton.
Yeah, about that.