kitch

Appreciate the kind words and suggestions, cheers chaps

Cheers, keep fighting the good fight!

You think we won't sell more than 1000?

That's kind mate, thanks. I'll speak to the family, though the kids suffer anxiety issues so may not want to sit with a stranger, but I really appreciate that offer. Good man.

Thanks. I've got a customer number but I've only managed a couple of home games this year. I think they're doing ID checks on anyone who goes (because Everton fans are trying to buy tickets in the away end)

My wife classes herself as Everton, but we've only been to a handful of home games all season, so would only qualify for general sale. Would guess they'll all be well sold out by then.

I know how this will read to a lot of people (I'd be one of you, myself) but this 100% genuine. It's a bit candid for 10am on a Saturday, but there you go! I'm hoping someone might know who to contact at the club (and how best to do it) regarding 5 tickets for the Everton away game. I realise that's a tall ask, but here's why: My father-in-law was an Everton fan his whole life. I myself am a Southampton fan, which by traditional default afflicted my three boys (15 (twins) and 13). My boys were very close to their grandad, and though they'd often take the piss in the way we all do with Everton, they respected his devotion to the blues. Aged 60, he was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in autumn 2022. He underwent a gruelling few years of treatment, but the cancer was aggressive (contained a mutation, or something?) We tried to make memories, as you do, and one of the plans was to take the boys to Goodison to see an Everton game, but being that he lived down here and hadn't been a regular since the 80s when he lived up there (he was from Liverpool - Everton would be a weird hill to die on if you were from round here), it meant getting tickets was nigh-on impossible, even as a home supporter once he moved down here (Navy). Think we have it bad down here? Think again! We were putting plans in place over Xmas last year, but in January of this year his condition worsened. He made it to Goodison in January to see a cup game (which they lost) having managed to blag a ticket allocation from a STH, but only managed to get two tickets, so took his son with him. The weekend of the 5th April was a rough one for my family. Our relegation was confirmed, and he died on the 7th. My kids (and wife) have taken it hard. He was 63yrs old, and a young 63 at that. Was kicking a ball around with them only last autumn. What I would love to do for them is to find a way of buying tickets for this game, as a way of 'sending him off', if that makes sense? We approached Everton about this back in February, when it was clear things were going downhill fast. You know Everton, the "People's club?" They didn't give a shit. So I know it's a long shot, but if anyone could think of a way to be able to buy tickets for that game, I'd be all ears. I'd even buy four and just send the boys and their mum in, and wait outside. I realise it's a tall order, and that writing personal shit on forums isn't a great look, but I'm stuck for where to go. I looked for an email address on the website and it's just the generic 'contact us' type. Just putting my faith in the club that despite the horrendous season, they might be able to show some class in contrast to "the People's club!" But I also appreciate it's a limited number of tickets and a lot of dedicated travelling fans have priority (our away support this season has been immense, they all deserve the tickets) Anyways, that's enough. Thanks!

I've gone from loving the man at one point, to liking him, to being frustrated by him and now, finally, angry with him and his ego. Why? Because if you are wedded to a style of play - above all else - you can't lose. He cannot be criticised. He can lose a game and then have the nerve to stand there in an interview and tell everybody how beautifully we played, and how brave the players were, and how their courage shone through, and other bullshit like that. By telling everybody the way of playing is more important than the result, he can only lose if the players stop playing for him. The results can't be used against him. This style of play comes ahead of EVERYBODY else's interests. The fans, the boardmembers and staff of the club, and even the players themselves. In fact, particularly the players, because despite the fact it being obvious to anyone with eyes that they are not able to do the things he's asking them to do (when he himself couldn't have done these things, either), he persists. It has to be HIS way. As a result, our mentally delicate squad ended up being made to look like absolute donkeys in front of viewers of the biggest domestic league in the world. He hung them out to dry. I don't know the guy, but I don't think I need to. He has a desire to be loved. He wants to be popular. He wants to be the main character. His insatiable need for attention came ahead of the players' (and therefore the club's) best interests. He's not supposed to be their mate, he's supposed to be their boss. They're supposed to respect him and to a degree, fear his wrath! He talks brilliantly - an excellent communicator - which means he was able to hoodwink so many people into believing the issue was anything other than the 'system' he himself was implementing. Even today, there are people who weirdly believe we should have kept him. Really?! The only person who should want that is Ralph, because the ignamy of the 9-0 defeats would probably have been eclipsed by a larger scoreline had he stayed. He set in the rot for the worst season in living memory, and it was all because of his ego. Those players are all broken (and many of them weren't brilliant to begin with), but I don't blame them one bit. They were led up the creek with no paddle.

Would be happy with: Rohl Cooper Dyche and I hate to suggest it, but Gary O'Neil would be a good fit. Know nothing about Rosenior. Don't want Frank Lampard anywhere near the place.

I dunno, maybe I need to see it again. Was too busy punching the sofa, but it looked to me like Ramsdale would have needed to pull off (another) worldy to stop it.

Bit harsh on Ramsdale, I think. Stephens let his man get infront of him (quelle surprise) but Ramsdale was miles from it. I think the fact he got a hand to it actually made it look worse for him, whereas most keepers wouldn't have even got a touch as it went past.

Bold of you to assume we'll come back up!

This is the same manager who started players like Fraser & Smallbone in the PL. He was surprised we were outmuscled?

Tyler Diblings greatest strength this season has been to deflect attention from the real jewel in our crown, Matty Fernandes. Don't get me wrong, TD is a real talent and the ceiling's as high as he wants it to be, but this season has done him no favours. Playing in a toxic team hopelessly out of its depth; having excess pressure and expectation heaped on him by media and fans alike - he'll need to be strong minded to put this behind him. Hope he does.

On the idea of refunds I think you're slightly delusional, but I agree the club's PR has to be among the worst in the league. Too busy farting around making tourist bars and shitty TV-style shows. They need to acknowledge the fans have been let down, badly, for the second time in three years. Nobody expected us to pull up trees, and relegation was always likely. You can only do your best, right? Well, doing your best isn't allowing a self-serving manager to implement a suicidal tactical system and then berate the paying supporters for pointing it out. Nor is it to allow a manager to set up a team with no strikers and full backs & midfielders as centre-backs. The managers might be doing their best- they might just be a bit rubbish, but people running the club are the ones accountable, because they're the ones that put them there. The silence that comes out of this club when the chips are down is deafening. Surely it's better to treat fans as equals, to keep them informed? If you get everyone onboard, the positivity can come from within. These days it reeks of a load of mollicoddled millionaire kids protected at all costs, managers seemingly on meth and a club that doesn't connect with the fans unless it wants to sell them something. So no, I think your refund idea is probably not going to happen!