RandoEFC

I never place too much faith in the electorate but the idea that Johnson is a unifying figure for the party either at this point just isn't true. It's been 4-6 weeks now of Tories publicly criticising him. If there was a clear alternative with broad backing, they'd have moved on him by now. Some well informed journalists suggest they're using "wait until the May local elections/Met findings" to make a final judgement on him as a framework. The problem is that they might want to wait that long to get their ducks in a row but the country wants and needs him gone as soon as possible.

We're talking about the proper QAnon fringes here. I agree that they're a frighteningly large minority in the US but over here they're rightly seen as mental head-bangers by almost everyone. The people who will still vote Tory anyway will do so because they're middle class, home owning, rural "alright Jack" types who buy into the myth that Labour wants to take all their stuff. I don't think this really washes either to be honest. They've changed leaders twice since Cameron first got in and won subsequent elections. Tory infighting will never be reported in the media the same as Labour infighting. Although Corbyn's Labour put the fear of God into the moguls that own almost all of the print media. Perhaps Starmer's more moderate Labour won't scare them as much and the motivation will be less, but I doubt it.

This just isn't true anymore though. Boris Johnson's approval ratings are in the gutter now. These idiots screaming about far right conspiracy theories are in a vanishingly small minority while the majority of the country have turned on Johnson and want him to resign. The novelty has worn off, and it's long overdue. I don't know what the Tory MPs, the only people who can really put a stop to him before he sends us even further down the Trumpian path, are waiting for. Johnson is no longer doing them any good. He hasn't been doing most of us any good for a long time but at least it made sense that they'd prop him up as he was an electoral asset. Now he's long past the point of no return, even to his own party.

Absolute tinpot stuff in the UK yet again. What are we getting for this by the way? The price is the actual Prime Minister making a mockery of democracy and public discourse. What is the payoff? A question that doesn't get asked anymore because we all know there are no answers. All of the past 7 years in British politics have happened because that horrible, scruffy cunt thinks it's all a big game and not enough people that can actually do something about it care enough about right and wrong to do so.

Here is how the table stands after three rounds this season. A pointless visit to Italy for @Michael sees him lose the top spot to round winner @Bluewolf while consistent scores for @Storts and @Stan allow them to lead the chasing pack. At the other end, @nudge is the only one to remain empty-handed after visiting three different leagues.

Hall of Fame updated to include @Lucas and @Bluewolf's wins in Round 2 and 3 of this season.

I didn't know she was your MP? This interview was embarrassing, as was her interview on C4 a few days earlier. She's so bad all around. No redeeming qualities, just a nasty, confrontational piece of work that will parrot any government line in front of the cameras and on social media because she knows she'll never be as high up again after Johnson falls. At least most of the others have the decency to look uncomfortable when they're asked to defend the indefensible.

Downing Street continuing to disintegrate tonight. Usually I roll my eyes at the social media people who still try to bring up Corbyn but this tweet was very apt I thought. See also David Cameron's "chaos with Ed Miliband" slogan. This was before the further resignations from basically all of the 10 Downing Street staff later this evening too. I actually can't keep up with the news anymore. It's so hard to see anything else going on besides the skip fire in Westminster, but there was some big change with the Irish Sea border (which BoZo told us never existed once right? Lolz) last night which I don't understand. Another Northern Irish First Minister resigned as well (or just withdrew from Stormont?) which is the third (fourth?) one in the space of 12 months or something. The point is, even if you still somehow like "Boris" or this bunch, it's a case of a scandal a day keeps the actual governance away. Massive fucking issues like the cost of living crisis and Russia are just sideshows to the daily psychodrama of this government and this Prime Minister. It's insane. I know it's not exactly a fresh perspective but years from now, people will study the 2010s in British politics and try to work out just how the Conservative party managed to serve up three such god-awful, irredeemable Prime Ministers in a row (and counting) over the course of a decade, and how the Labour party were unable to topple them at 3-4 consecutive elections (and counting). The country actually chooses this shit, that's the terrifying thing. Every scare story that's been dreamt up about Labour or progressive politicians in general has been played out in some shape or form by this string of Conservative governments time and again, they end up self-destructing time and again, more quickly each time as they burn through any vaguely talented individuals at their disposal. And still, there are MILLIONS of people out there who are pathologically terrified of a non-Tory government because they've been so effectively groomed to believe that if a Labour leader sets foot in Downing Street, they'll lose all of their money, their job, their house and all of their clothes overnight. When people who didn't live through this sit down and have time to comb through all the stuff that's happened over the past few years, it's going to be an absolute mammoth task making sense of any of it because so little of it follows any logic anymore.

All gone a bit quiet. Holgate staying put by all accounts. Nothing further on Diallo from any worthy sources. Not heard anything further on Gueye beyond the club enquiring about a loan move.

Seen some "highlights" of Johnson's performance in the Commons earlier. An absolute disgrace. He was already a disgrace before he became Prime Minister and yet he somehow manages to keep digging. There are still people defending him out there as well, and the pressure from his backbenchers and votes of no confidence doesn't sound like it's at tipping point. It's literally incredible. Labour currently lead in the polls but not by enough. The low esteem in which people still willing to vote for this leader and this party after all of this hold themselves is absolutely depressing. If he gets re-elected at the next General election then I'm afraid this country deserves what it gets. Tragic. Imagine looking at that man, and simultaneously convincing yourself that he's the best the country has to offer and that you love said country.

A few things still sloshing around besides Van de Beek (now official) and Dele Alli. Talk that Holgate could still move to Brighton tonight and we could loan a centre back. Diallo from PSG mentioned but nothing reliable.

Lampard at Finch Farm and taking training today. Ashley Cole the latest name to be added to his ever-growing entourage of coaches. Also understand that Lampard has offered Duncan Ferguson a place on his team and he might be staying after all. Donny van de Beek has completed his medical and is in the process of doing his media duties. We're also in negotiations for the permanent transfer of Dele Alli. One I'm not sure about and I always worry that if Moshiri is anywhere near the table, we'll be paying a ludicrous fee. If Lampard believes he can get the best out of him again though, then let him have at it. Especially if Ross Barkley is among the alternatives. We do need reinforcements in midfield with Davies, Doucoure and Delph still out for a long time. You could look at Van de Beek and Alli as filling the gaps left in the squad by Sigurdsson and Rodriguez. The priority remains a ball winner though. Someone with better legs than Allan to shield the defence and let a combination of Doucoure/Van de Beek/Alli/Gomes do their thing.

Apparently that was actually the first match Nadal has won from two sets down since 2007. Scarcely believable when you think of how many matches he seems to have had that have gone the full five sets. It's the mark of a man who doesn't find himself two sets down very often and he also tends to be a pretty fast starter in these matches. Still a surprising statistic though.

Ferguson is suddenly odds on for the Sunderland job I've just seen. Might be made up as I haven't looked myself. Lampard is bringing a collection of coaching staff with him. Van de Beek due to be announced tomorrow morning. Hopefully we have some luck with a Dutch player for once. Heitinga had that one amazing season but Van der Meyde, Drenthe, Klaassen, not a brilliant track record overall. Alli is off the table now. Because of the El Ghazi loan signing along with Van de Beek, that's our allotted number of domestic loans apparently. Barkley is still getting offered around and it's not impossible that Chelsea could terminate his contract six months early and allow him to join another team on a free transfer. I'm still not keen. More interesting is that we've enquired about a half-season loan deal for Idrissa Gueye from PSG. I'm usually wary about us going back to what worked a few years ago, but if he's still got his legs then he's exactly what we need in a midfield three, a player who can break up play. Tim Cahill is also joining the club in a technical role (not Director of Football) alongside the first team. Where I thought the Graeme Sharp board appointment was jobs for the boys/Kenwright bringing an ally into the fold, Cahill has actually kept himself busy and educated himself in footballing matters since he retired as a player. So a lot to announce tomorrow. Lampard, a handful of coaches, Cahill, Van de Beek and possibly one more midfielder.

Legendary.

Some random bullshit. Frank Lampard has played under Everton's previous two managers. He is older that Kendall, Moyes, Catterick, Martinez and Silva all were when appointed Everton manager. Last night I was disappointed to learn that 'Lampard is a Tory' is actually based on something he said as a younger player not just one of those made up things because he's from Chelsea and he looks/sounds a bit posh. Hopefully being around the city of Liverpool sorts him out.

Apparently the asking price for Calvert-Lewin is £60m, Arteta is a big admirer and Arsenal are willing to more or less meet that valuation. If that's all true I'd take it to be honest.

Nadal going for a 21st slam this weekend which would put him clear of Djokovic and Federer. That vaccine not looking so bad now is it Novak? That aside, Nadal won his first Grand Slam title aged 19. Now at 35, he's going for number 21. Almost half a lifetime of winning these titles. Yes, he has leaned heavily on the French to put those numbers up but even if you take away all of those titles, he'd still almost be in the top ten of all time. Just taking a moment out of the Djokovic anti-vaxx drama to express some appreciation for another all-time great sportsman who also manages not to be a massive entitled anti-science weirdo at the same time.

Midfield upgrade sorted now we could probably do with a manager though.

It is done.

Forgive me if I take the hot takes of Liverpool fans and their "Benitez will be the best Everton manager in a generation" with a pinch of salt or three.

Turns out it wasn't sanctioned by the club at all and it pissed them off. Still, it should have put him out of the running and apparently he's still got an outside chance depending on how today goes.

Have you seen our defence? If we wait for a manager who can come in and make Michael Keane, Mason Holgate and Seamus Coleman good, we'll never have a manager again.

Well nobody is making our defence good so I think it's a moot point to be honest. Instead of going "this very young manager had a few drawbacks under the public microscope of managing one of the biggest clubs in modern football so he's automatically shit forever", I'm going to wait and see. There's enough to get behind with Lampard and we're not going to get much better than a manager with mixed reviews the mess we're in.