Opinion & Articles

James left at home as Bailey slaughters Everton

Michael Kenrick

Everton take their unbeaten start under Rafael Benitez to Villa Park for the late Saturday afternoon kick-off with a side that is devastated by further unexpected injuries but still with no James Rodriguez.

Everton keep the ghosts of Ancelotti's tenure at bay with another impressive comeback

Lyndon Lloyd

Credit Benitez, his players or the supporters — all three, probably — but there is a fire and a resilience about this version of Everton that has emerged in the face of adversity.

Benitez masterminds another stunning come-back win

Michael Kenrick

Everton’s 2021-22 season resumed under the lights at Goodison Park tonight with Rafa Benitez engineering a wonderful win after going behind to a difficult and belligerent Burnley side.

Home Awayday

Danny O’Neill

Keeping it in the Family – The Menhams between the Sticks

Rob Sawyer

Family links between players at Everton are not unheard of. Less known than the likes of the Rankins and the Whittle-Davies connection, perhaps, is that three decades apart, two Everton goalkeepers were from the same stock

James: He's Here. He's Ours. Let's Make it Work

Lyndon Lloyd

Circumstances have contrived to keep Everton and James Rodriguez together for another few months at least. Amid reports and rumour of non-plussed manager and disengaged star, all parties need to come together to ensure that this most gifted of players has a role in the team this season

Only a Small Club – ToffeeWeb Golf Day 2021

Jon Harding

A sunny Friday in August proved an excellent date for a motley bunch of Evertonians to gather at Aldersley Green Golf Club in rural Cheshire for the 2021 ToffeeWeb Golf Day

The Hard Work Starts Now

Paul The Esk

A look at the factors behind this transfer window and the preceding 5 years. A clear call for what must come next to resolve the position we are in

The Chickens Come Home to Roost

Lyndon Lloyd

The profligacy of the Moshiri years has slammed into the harsh realities of an imposed financial straitjacket from the outside and the need to fund a new stadium, resulting in a summer of unusually strict austerity

Poundland Special

Martin O'Connor

As the summer transfer window closes, what do we make of the Toffees’ business?

Is it Really That Bad?

Richard Parker

We needed a reset and a summer of taking a step back actually might not be the worst thing to happen to our club. We have to take the hit, plot the course for solving our current problems and move forwards.

“He Wouldn't Pull His Socks Up”

Becky Tallentire

Another instalment of Real Footballers' Wives by features Brenda Thomas, wife of 1970s Goodison favourite Dave

Oh We Do Like to Win Beside The Seaside

Danny O’Neill

Consummate predation steals the Seagulls' chips

Michael Kenrick

Everton pulled off a very fine win on the south coast to end Brighton & Hove Albion's tremendous start to the season.

Green shoots of optimism as Benitez's Blues comfortably see off Brighton

Lyndon Lloyd

This was as professional and comfortable an away performance as you could hope for and it extended Rafael Benitez's unbeaten start as the Blues’ boss to four matches

Back In Town

Paul Traill

Credit to Rafa Benitez who substituted pro-actively and carved out the opportunity which put us into the hat for Round 3

Gray Day

Paul Traill

Everton surrender a winning lead twice at Elland Road

Michael Kenrick

Everton played a difficult game very well to get ahead twice only to end up drawing at Elland Road.

Everton so close to passing first true away test in 18 months

Lyndon Lloyd

After 18 long months of almost exclusively empty stadia, away days are back, with all the challenges and that intimidation that come with it. Everton came close to passing the test at Leeds but will rue some slack defending and missed chances.

First Real Away Game in 18 Months

Rob Halligan

A Feeling You Just Can’t Buy

Paul Traill

And just like that, we’re back, almost as if we’ve never been away.

Richarlison's gold-plated heroics rescue a dreadful start

Michael Kenrick

Everton’s 2021-22 Premier League campaign kicked off with the visit of Southampton as Rafael Benitez took charge of his first competitive match at Goodison Park in front of a full house and produced a magnificent comeback win.

Toffee Soccer and Everton’s North American Trips of 1961

Rob Sawyer

As well as containing extensive player and coach profiles, the book Toffee Soccer documents the 10 previous occasions on which the club has ventured to the USA and Canada. 1961 was one of them.

On a Hiding to Nothing? 2021-22 Season Preview

Lyndon Lloyd

In many ways, a merely competent first season could be enough for Rafael Benitez to match Carlo Ancelotti's 10th-place finish; a better-than-hoped performance from the Spaniard would yield improvement. But with none of the much-needed quality additions materialising this summer, it's hard to see Everton troubling the top six places in 2021-22

The Luxury

Lyndon Lloyd

James Rodriguez is one of the best players of his generation; a Rolls Royce of a player at a club blighted by so much mediocrity in the modern era. Sadly, he looks to be a luxury Everton can no longer afford.

The Number One

Lyndon Lloyd

Jordan Pickford has come in for criticism at Everton for his past mistakes and apparent lack of focus and it wasn't that long ago that many were doubting his role as first-choice keeper. Fast forward past the hysterical media reaction to his part in the Van Dijk incident to today and you have a player who appears to have matured tremendously in the harshest of spotlights

Premier League Profitability & Sustainability Rules: What They Mean to Everton

Paul The Esk

A look at the financial regulations in the Premier League. Is it possible to forecast whether Everton are compliant and the impact if not?

The Young Ones – Part 1

Phill Thompson

At this time of the year, the new First Year Scholars are at Finch Farm and some are starting to appear in games. Their names are available, but we’re still waiting for the Club’s official “Meet the Scholars” video…

From Birkenhead to El Ballet Azul: The Billy Higgins Story

Rob Sawyer

Everton's meeting with Millonarios in the Florida Cup this coming week offers an intriguing link to the past and the storm over footballers being lured from British clubs to a so-called ‘renegade league’ in South America in 1950 which involved one Billy Higgins.

Assessing Toffee Transfer Targets Benítez is Already Eyeing

Gary McCarty

Here we take a look at some of the players that Everton have already been linked with this summer and run the rule over which ones would be the best additions to an already tasty squad.

Financial Warning Shot

Martin O'Connor

The warning shot about our financial position was given by Benitez himself at his press conference: players leaving will fund incoming transfers, probably for a number of seasons to come. It is then imperative that they take a good look at the Academy and try and get it fit for purpose. But more power has been given to one of the main impediments to a functioning academy in David Unsworth, instead of removing him and the good Old Blue Boy network beneath him.

Everton's Biggest Construction Project?

Paul The Esk

What needs to change at Everton moving forward? What does Farhad Moshiri, his board and executives have to do differently... not on Bramley-Moore Dock but on the more immediate issues concerning matters on the field?

'The Time Goes By So Fast'

Becky Tallentire

In light of the recent passing of Everton legend Jimmy Gabriel, the latest installment of Real Footballers' Wives by @bluestocking63 features his wife Pat

Three Bedsheets Outside Everton, Moshiri

John Daley

“This didn't put an end to shit, you fucking retard; this is just the fucking start. Why don't you put that on your Good Morning Missouri fucking wake-up broadcast, bitch?”

Time To Move On

James Lauwervine

I’ve come to realise over a period of time that I just don’t enjoy it anymore. I don’t feel that pride or affinity I once had; I just feel increasing alienation, disappointment and disillusionment. When the news was released that Benitez was to be our next manager, it hit me that I simply didn’t want to be part of this anymore.

Conservatism, Conspiracies and Counter-intuition

Paul Tran

I wouldn't put a penny on it, but it will be interesting to watch things unfold, probably more interesting than the football on offer. Talking of the football, it can't be worse than under the previous few mangers, can it? No, I wouldn't put a penny on that, either.

Jack Taylor – Everton’s Son of the Rock

Rob Sawyer

One of the true greats of Everton’s early decades, this moustachioed ‘Jack of all trades’ won silverware with the club in 1906 and remains Everton’s seventh highest appearance maker in all competitions

'There He is Behind Me. Ah, No... Shit!'

Ell Bretland

From headlocks from Big Dunc, to being booted by Tommy Gravesen and lapping Alex Nyarko, Alan Moogan enjoyed a proper Everton education in the early 2000s. An interview with the former Academy player.

Agent Rafa?

Mike Cheshire

I can’t help thinking that he believes he can be the ruthless bastard required to sweep away the structures and inertia that have crippled our beloved club and become the ultimate rarity – a manager beloved of our entire city.