20 Apr 2026 06:03:54
I am not a fan of Slot at all.
However, I thought he gave us the best chance we had of getting a result yesterday. The side he put out had the tried and tested players in it. Couldn’t really do much about Isak and the lad looks lost, but I was dreading that game, and somehow we came away with it.
Your big players come to the fore in these games, and he started Jones, which was important. MacAllister was dropped.
I think that says a lot. Whether Slot was told all week what it was about, I'm not sure. But I'm not going to berate him about this one. This wasn’t about the performance. It’s about the result.
Everton caused us problems, and I felt when Beto went off, God was shining on us a little bit. They were in the ascendency. But that’s football.
Delighted with the win. We save the rest for another time.
20 Apr 2026 06:49:36
Yep, deffo an important 3 points. It's going to be a difficult run in.
20 Apr 2026 07:03:57
We probably only need two wins to get fifth now, it'll be clearer if Chelsea don't beat Brighton tomorrow.
Given we're likely to get fifth, I expect Arne to stay and see out his contract. He's already hinted there won't be much business done this summer, or at least we won't spend much net. I can't see a new manager coming in and accepting that.
I think we should be doing better with the squad we have, the owners probably think that, and so the cheapest way forward for them, once CL qualification is confirmed, is to stick with what we have in the back room, let them see out their contracts, and spend again in the summer of 27 when a new coach comes in.
20 Apr 2026 07:16:28
Let's be honest, it was a poor performance and we were lucky to get anything from it. Players are lethargic under Slot, most of the time it's backwards and sideways football. Surely he has to go or half the squad will leave and any promising young player would be mad to stay.
20 Apr 2026 07:24:56
I can't believe what I'm reading, people's expectations have dropped so much. Because we might get fifth place, he can keep his job! We were expecting to challenge to the title again, but we have had to endure the worst football since Roy Hodgson and he spent 500 million. If he carries on next season, I won't be watching. It's just not enjoyable anymore.
20 Apr 2026 08:06:56
I'd like him gone, Longthing. I'm just speculating the ownership may see it differently if we qualify for CL. Rather than pay out three contracts that are due to expire in 12 months, anyway, they may just let it roll. They're not bothered about the quality of the football, they have no understanding of it, they just want CL each year and an increasing investment.
20 Apr 2026 08:53:24
Not only expecting another tilt at the title but we were most people's huge favourites.
He has to go.
20 Apr 2026 09:02:28
Overkill, "His contract is due to expire in 12 months anyway, let it roll."
20 Apr 2026 09:11:43
Agree with Overkill on the owners. They'll see Champions League football achieved and be mostly happy with that. We've only achieved that half the seasons they've been here. Not saying it saves the manager's job, but doubt they'll be up in arms about it.
20 Apr 2026 09:16:46
Best thing is the history books will always show that the first ever derby at the Hill Dickinson was won by the Reds.
20 Apr 2026 09:26:08
The team setup is completely wrong. The way it is setup creates zero chances, and provides no service into Isak. The only way we create chances is a moment of individual brilliance (e.g. Gakpo's pass to Salah). We created chances for fun at the start of the season, but were far too open at the back. Rightly so, Slot changed it to make us more solid at the expense of attacking creativity. Unfortunately, now that we look better at the back (still not great), he hasn't tried to change anything to make us better going forward again, and the lack of fitness and confidence in the team is leading to a complete lack of chances being created.
There is little to no movement off the ball, and we don't play the ball quickly enough to create space for players to exploit. We signed 2 world class players in Isak and Wirtz and then systematically stopped doing all of the things that these players thrive on and made them world class.
20 Apr 2026 09:36:56
Good job UEFA are allowing a quarter of the PL to enter the CL in this day and age.
Should be called the Champions and runners up, third, fourth and fifth place league.
{Ed025's Note - im with you JK, a Champions league should be for Champions only mate...its just a money making scheme now..
20 Apr 2026 09:54:58
Should just be called the league, as Champions League is false advertising as it is not just the champions !!!!
{Ed025's Note - absolutely Albey..
20 Apr 2026 10:26:27
imo, when you start a 30% fit Isak, you are most def not giving us the best chance to win. Like vs PSG, he completely wasted the 1st half.
20 Apr 2026 11:15:19
Longthing76, @Shipley et al, like you, I couldn't believe what I was reading, either. Best chance to win? Seriously, Is this what this season has done to our fans who are now accepting the barest of minimums in games now provided we get CL footie? Nah, ain't having it.
In terms of the actual performance in isolation, we were absolutely dire. It was the same ol' stuff, different day with loose passes, slow ball movement/progression, couldn't get the ball to Isak in the first half (improved in the second). Some of the individual/collective errors that did not lead to chances or goals for Everton (cos they were dire, as well) were frightening.
And the subs? Oh my goodness, the subs Slot made.
That requires its own post as I couldn't believe the idea behind them. Takes off Isak and Gakpo and puts Mo (who was cooking all game) at CF and all while playing long balls up to him.
The fact is that this guy simply cannot be here next season cos he won't change, end of. Slot will continue on this path and we will be the worst for it. We've seen this before with Br, but we got Klopp when he was sacked during the season. This time, Klopp ain't coming if this guy gets sacked during next season and it would be another season wasted.
20 Apr 2026 12:39:58
Only had to read the first 2 lines to know you're off your meds. We would have been 3 or 4-0 down inside 30 mins were Everton a little more disciplined. Terrible tactical decisions from Slot, he gets no brownie points for fielding experienced players either, that's a given in a derby.
20 Apr 2026 13:14:10
Do people genuinely think the owners are happy with just scraping into the Champions League spots?
I don't see it that way, but I think what we benefit from with these owners is that they are pragmatic in their response to adversity.
Whether that means Slot stays or not, remains to be seen. But, I for one, am glad we don't have trigger-happy owners.
For every Carrick, there is an Ange, Dyche, Nuno, Rob Edwards, Liam Rosenior, Frank, Tudor....