They will if they get chance. Pep and Klopp aren't going to say "I am gutted it didn't happen" are they?! A Frank Lampard masterpiece of a signing.

An excuse that doesn't wash when you actively choose to overrule managers to allow assets to run down.

Lets hope he is talking out of his arse again, we don't need cover, we need to improve the first team. Same as last winter, in a great place, let the assets run down and sign a few bodies to make up the numbers. Who will be Zeefuik MK2? Lots of pleading poverty and moaning about money. Little wonder when we piss money down the drain on letting players run their contracts down. Prior to his Chile cap, Brereton had a much improved season where he settled into a regular spot, considering he cost as much as he did, his new deal should have been sorted then, there is no excuse. Loads of players signed new deals even under Mowbray, and even within his final 12 months. The biggest issue is Venkys and they have cost us over £12m on 2 players.

A similar thing happened with Mowbray and Leighton Clarkson. Shite player loaned, in nobodys interest to stay collecting dust so sent back.

If they are then his tactical ability is really poor based on their results.

Good riddance to as poor a striker as I can remember, and we have had some shockers. Needs a run of games though...

But giving a poor manager stability regardless of results is not a recipe for success.

If stability is what they desire, surely they would opt to first appoint a manager with a good record. Lampard has been at Everton for a while and hasn't improved them on the back of 2 underwhelming previous times at other clubs. I don't get why anyone would desire endless stability under a manager who seemingly isn't particularly good.

Because you wanted a total second side and a full rest for half of the players that you deemed to be struggling with fatigue, Pickering in particular you repeatedly mentioned. You also don't seem to be bothered about the FA Cup.

Not saying they should sack him by any means but that is a different situation, taking over a bottom half Premier League side with minimal historical expectation v taking over a club who expect to compete every season for trophies. Maybe there is a risk based on recent performances that he is struggling to earn the respect of a playing squad full of big internationals?

I can see the Chelsea fans turning on Potter watching this.

To be fair, at the moment with us 3rd in the league, the focus has to be on there here and now. Bit different perhaps with Brereton in that keeping him would cost us close to 8 figure fee, so if we get a bid, perhaps sell and reinvest. But I wouldn't argue much with your second part, Wharton is good enough to at least play more than he has been.

How is it known that he was treated so badly, same with Nyambe? Just seems like rumour and conjecture aimed at making the situation seem worse. I think the price was certainly smaller that it perhaps should have been, albeit not as low as Brereton and Rothwell who the owners insisted were allowed to run their deals down. And the year loan of Walton was terrible, but the signing of Kaminski for 1/7 of the Raya fee was a superb bit of business.

Are you/were you not frustrated that Tomasson went fairly strong and played the likes of Hyam, Brereton, Dack and in particular a player you mentioned in Pickering when you were adamant that they needed a total rest? And why would you specifically want those 2 at home?!

The lack of camera angle was poor so they had to stick to the linesman's decision. Therefore without VAR, the goal would still have been disallowed.

I think there is probably a middle ground between Wharton being seemingly quite a bit away from the team at the moment to the point where he often misses out on matchday squads and him playing every week. He did also have very good games v Birmingham, Boro and Hull. I also find the idea that he is not training properly or questions about his attitude to be very presumptuous.

How can he look better than he actually is? Walton has been gone for ages and Kaminski has been superb this season.

It wasn't competitive, they could have had 8 or 9. Is any team with Hirst and Mola in it competitive?

Well played Tomasson, lots on here showed total disregard to the cup and seemingly would prefer us out, suggesting totally changed sides, the correct approach was a bit of rotation amongst a strong side and that got us the win. The 2 stand outs were Hyam and Phillips who were both excellent in defence, the full backs were very steady and Pears was surprisingly reliable. When we concede we often become ragged but we certainly look very well drilled much of the time. Dack again was our best attacking player and not only does he have the ability but he seems to be right up to full fitness, great energy levels. Definitely need an improvement in midfield, Garrett and Travis work hard but again we struggle to keep the ball as neither are good technically. We do need one or two in attack too and we need more of a plan, Markanday flitted in and out but definitely has something about him, great dribbling ability and put in a shift. Vale needs a loan spell, not ready yet for a promotion challenge but as good today as he ever has been, got on the score sheet and a few nice touches although in the second half in particular he couldn't hold it up. Brereton needs a goal and should have had one at the end of the first half. Rubbish reward mind with the boring draw but hopefully we can get through to the 5th round.

Disjointed game but I just hope we don't come to rue that Brereton miss. Great bit of composure by Dack for the goal to set up a tap in for Vale rather than shoot as many would have done.

Agreed.

Those signings he had to make do with included 2 England international central defenders, a midfielder that cost over £20m, another midfielder on huge wages and then a striker for a sizeable fee from Brighton. I may be wrong but maybe Onana aside, the likes of Tarkowski, McNeil, Coady, Gueye and Maupay all seem like Lampard chosen/recommended signings, domestic based/with domestic history and taking very little imagination. There is no doubt that there are far bigger issues at Everton but that doesn't excuse Lampard. His managerial record so far has not shown suggestions that he is a good manager or that Everton should continue with him.

His cup record was shocking but his teams were not always that weak eg in both cups last year.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/everton-frank-lampard-replacement-manager-28898945 Would be a good move by Everton.

Apparently it waa Nunes that was offside when the ball came back, not Toti.