DISQUS

ronaldo, nani, anderson, gallas, drogba.

Scout, we need some thought police ie. mods on here....

WBA has always been a bit of a dodgy venue for the Toffees, I concur with the forecast - one nil to the home team. Newcastle flatulate to deceive so the best they will manage vs Bolton is a draw. Hate to say it but the red stealers will steamroller unreliable Boro by two clear goals.

Welcome back bc

That bumbling buffoon Dotun didn't appear to realise you'd been on Five Live before, on Up All Night even.

AJ's just a runner, very one dimensional player - take the money Davie.

Ingerlund are sixth favourites with some bookies back home to WIN the World Cup, let alone make it through qualification - worse than laughable. Please, no more mention ever of Andorra on this site.

Haha, the only J Sports tv game on 16/8 in 3pm slot is EFC v Blackburn - how can America ignore that one live?

Anywhere but the new plasticky stadia - go to the places recommended by the Gaffer and stick to watching the others on tv. No atmosphere, no difference.

Agree with H. Still use some of those threatening chants on my mates.

Here they apologise over the PA when the trains arrive dead ON TIME as is normal. Seriously!

Omatase shimashita.

Would be nice to see 'The United States and England combining forces' again.

Brilliant idea, gaffer.

Stubbs is on his last legs.

Barry is slow, overrated and looked lost when it really mattered - versus Croatia. Hope Rafa wastes his funds on him, won't add much value.

Not so beautiful if you support a team from the bottom half (virtually) of the table.

What noises have the fans takeover group been making lately?

Whatever happened to the Sunday Sport, was there also a Daily Sport?

I'd stick to doing voice-over Beeb highlights and be happy at my lot. The only thing he has done of late is to help inspire your logo, Gaffer.


Glad I wasn't back for the England friendly v Switzerland:

"Wayne Brown with the ball now .."

"Insert witty David Beckham reference", must be said at least thirty times throughout the game.

"Insert a reference about 1966", always important.

"Capello will be happy to sit on a 1 - 0 lead / Boring Italian football", a stereotypical out-dated view.

But even now, 5 years on(?), we're still getting, "AND HERE'S WAYNE ROONEY ON THE BALL!!!" even if he's keeping the ball at the cornerflag to run down the clock.

I look forward to seeing Motty & Lawro next on Headcases.

Gaffer, the Sun audio link didn't work for the EFC v Rams match - anybody else have luck with it?

At home watching on tv Japan play Australia in their key game of Germany 2006 Finals, the missus is really getting into the possibility of Japan hanging on for narrow win - then sub Timmie Cahill of Everton pops up with two quick goals to sink 'em. Never had so much trouble trying to keep a straight face!

eplnfl, what holiday?

Wonderful news, I will now go ahead and book that long-awaited summer holiday in the States - let me know Gaffer when it is confirmed that Everton are one of the English participants. Can't wait!

First impression: there is about a third less text visible hence lots more scrolling is required. Why such huge banners?

Another Terminal Five here?

Gaffer, a podcast interviewee of yours on the big match:

The big clash at Anfield has everyone talking. It's a big matchup of rivals who were once part of the same team but are now increasing bitter antagonists. Yes, Hicks v Gillett is turning out to be a stormer.

Everton? That's just a bit of local difficulty.

Of course, beating Everton will be a nice way of erasing the memories of last week and the events at Old Trafford. And it'll serve as a nice warm-up for a big Champions League clash with Arsenal.

But biggest game of the season? Only in the crazy world of the Bitter Blue.

Relations between the two sets of fans have deteriorated in recent years. It's increasingly hard to have a rational conversation with an Evertonian. The phrase, "If it wasn't for Heysel" has become a destructive mantra that has changed the nature of the relationship between the two sets of fans. For some, the shame of Brussels was that it stopped the 'People's Club' from claiming their rightful place as the best team in Europe. The 39 dead? Extras in Everton's "tragedy". It's deluded nonsense on so many levels but, for too many, it has come to be seen as the moment when Everton's destiny changed, when they were robbed of their chance to be a big club.

It has spawned a new ugliness in the city on derby day. Last year, there were Evertonians in the Anfield Road end making gestures mocking the Hillsborough dead and and holding up copies of The Sun to antagoinse the home fans. This was never quite "the friendly derby" of popular fiction but the younger elements on each side can't even remember a time when it felt cordial.

Which is a shame. Especially for those who remember the mid-80s. Then, for the FA Cup Final and Charity Shield games, thousands of Scousers arrived on the same trains at Euston, red and blue ski hats mixed up as we stated our collective identity with chants of "Merseyside".

The derby has become a much bigger game for Everton than us. And that galls them more than anything. Recalling the old days, I wish they weren't so resentful.

Looking forward, a good spanking at Anfield would put Everton in their place and make them even more bitter. I could live with that. All in the spirit of comradeship, of course...

TONY EVANS

While watching the derby this Sunday look out for the following banner:
EVERTON FC WELCOME LIVERPOOL FANS TO MERSEYSIDE