The Blue Room

Les and Dave look back at the win over Ipswich, picking out the positives - the joint best defence in the league and exciting young attacking options in Barry, George, and Dibling - and the negatives - more VAR and Attwell nonsense, and Moyes' use of the squad and subs.And given this is Everton's best start to a season since Ancelotti's first season, the lads look at Everton's European aspirations and some potential Premier League rivals for those continental cup spots.CLAUDE AIThis episode is brought to you in association with Claude.ai Claude is the AI for minds that don't stop at good enough — it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks with you...whether you're debugging code at midnight or strategizing your next business move, Claude extends your thinking to tackle the problems that matter. Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — ⁠⁠Claude.ai/BLUE⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We reflect on the Blues continuing their unbeaten start to the season with a scruffy 1-0 win at home to Ipswich. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Moyes' summer is spent chasing half the Premiership's central midfielders to no avail. So the board's 5m war chest is spent on two wingers, a prodigal striker to go with the other 84 we already have, and a "backup" goalie who ends up being Everton's best cat since Southall's 80s heyday.More worryingly, Wayne Rooney's growing too big, both literally and figuratively. He's overweight in pre-season and his 18th birthday party is all over OK or Hello or one of them stupid magazines, attended by C-list celebrities and media types who want to see him sold to Chelsea.After a half-decent start in the league, the Toffees find themselves in the bottom three after a pitiful Monday night display at Ewood Park, and fans start to wonder if Moyes' 7th-place finish the year before was too magnificent to be true.This episode is supported by The Excelsior. Thanks to Gary Lunt and Sean Ponzini for their contributions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A win is a win. Everton did enough to get past Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup fourth round. But the lowkey 1-0 win could prove to be a big moment for Tyler Dibling. Has the winger finally earned the trust of the manager after a Player of the Match performance? Does Carlos Alcaraz also have a claim to more minutes. Matt, Dave P and Natalie assess it all, and look ahead to what feels like a decisive game against Ipswich Town on Saturday. ➕ AD-FREE LISTENING Get exclusive content and all of our podcasts ad-free when you sign up to Blue Room Extra: ⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/yc83x2zh⁠⁠⁠

Matt reacts at Hill Dickinson Stadium as Everton get past Wolves and into the Carabao Cup fifth round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul joins Liam and Warren to discuss Everton's unbeaten start to the season (the best since the 2021/22 season) and look ahead to two big home games this week - Wolves in the Carabao Cup and Ipswich in the Premier League. #everton #premierleague #carabaocup Want a little more from us? Try The Blue Room Extra for more than 20 hours extra content a month:   / theblueroomextra   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A 0-0 draw for Everton in the capital. Was the stalemate at Spurs actually quite nice after two weeks of chaos? We look at whether Everton could've been bolder in search of victory in north London, then assess Jarrad Branthwaite's return to full fitness this season. Is he as good as ever? We finish off with a chat about the world of off-the-record briefings. What are they? What is the point of them? ➕ AD-FREE LISTENING Get exclusive content and all of our podcasts ad-free when you sign up to Blue Room Extra: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/yc83x2zh⁠⁠

Les and Dave discuss the weekend's 0-0 draw at Spurs, look ahead to Wolves on Wednesday night, and ask how much the £40m fine paid to Burnley affected the summer spending plans.A bit of background...2021-22 season: Everton finish 4 points above Burnley, who get relegated. Nov 2023: Everton hit with 10-point PSR deduction for £19.5m overspend that season (reduced to 6 on appeal) Burnley's case: penalty applied 18 months late — if docked in-season, Everton would've gone down instead. The Ruling (June 2026)Panel finds for Burnley: £26.1m damages + £9.1m interest = ~£35-40m total. Burnley had sought £51.7m — reduced but still a loss for EvertonFirst-ever ruling of a club paying compensation directly to a rival for a PSR breach. Everton call it "fundamentally flawed," appeal already lodgedComparison point: Chelsea fined only £10.75m for larger breaches under Abramovich — no sporting sanction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave and Warren review and debate a draw for the Toffees in North London. Was it a good point, or a missed opportunity for another 3? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Warren & Liam have the final say on the United game and how Everton's never say die attitude is proving to be a positive. They also preview Spurs and have an early look ahead to the Wolves cup game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the week that preceded it, Sunday was never going to be anything other than chaotic, was it? Everton finally gave their fans a moment - and my word did it feel like it was needed. Matt and Paddy pay tribute to the team after coming back twice against Manchester United. Tyrique George gets his flowers too. For an initial £18m, could he be the signing of the summer in the Premier League? And finally, we continue the transfer window post-mortem. Is any accountability coming for the calamitous dealings? CLAUDE AI This episode is brought to you in association with Claude.ai Claude is the AI for minds that don't stop at good enough — it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks with you...whether you're debugging code at midnight or strategizing your next business move, Claude extends your thinking to tackle the problems that matter. Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — ⁠Claude.ai/BLUE⁠ ➕ AD-FREE LISTENING Get exclusive content and all of our podcasts ad-free when you sign up to Blue Room Extra: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/yc83x2zh⁠

Matt catches up with former England international Sue Smith, who spoke to Everton midfielder Jack Grealish the day after he joined the Blues last week. Sue gives her views on the transfer, the transfer window overall and the start to the Blues' start to the season.  She also reflects on a chaotic start for Everton's women. Their opponents Crystal Palace made an illegal substitution during their season opener. WATCH SUE'S INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsmecdR60Zs CLAUDE AI This episode is brought to you in association with Claude.ai Claude is the AI for minds that don't stop at good enough — it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks with you...whether you're debugging code at midnight or strategizing your next business move, Claude extends your thinking to tackle the problems that matter. Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — ⁠⁠Claude.ai/BLUE⁠⁠ ➕ AD-FREE LISTENING Get exclusive content and all of our podcasts ad-free when you sign up to Blue Room Extra: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/yc83x2zh⁠⁠

Les and Dave discuss a positive end to a week of turmoil at Everton as David Moyes' never-say-die Toffees get a dramatic last-gasp equaliser against Man United. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The guys react at the Denbigh Castle after the Blues snatch a last-gasp draw against Manchester United. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave talks to former winger Anders Limpar about Everton's end to the transfer window and the season head. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Remember when the Toffees could sign 4 players on Deadline Day? Well if not, this episode is just for you!Liam is joined by Lou Reed Foster - author of “Fear and Loathing at Goodison Park” to revisit 03/04.Rooney, Kilbane and Ferguson all feature as well as chat about Lou's brilliant book and Everton heroes.Thanks to Gary Lunt, Sean Ponzini and Niall O'Donnell for this contribution to this episode, which is in association with The Excelsior. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Caught your breath yet? A little later than expect, Matt and Paddy chart six days of remarkable Everton drama. Starting with Harrison Armstrong being linked with a move to Nottingham Forest and ending - for now - with The Friedkin Group potentially looking to sell the club. What do the last six days tell us about the shape the club is in? Is this asset stripping or gross incompetence? Will there be any accountability? The lads do their best to pick through it all. CLAUDE AI This episode is brought to you in association with Claude.ai Claude is the AI for minds that don't stop at good enough — it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks with you...whether you're debugging code at midnight or strategizing your next business move, Claude extends your thinking to tackle the problems that matter. Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — ⁠Claude.ai/BLUE⁠ ➕ BLUE ROOM EXTRA Get exclusive content and all of our podcasts ad-free when you sign up to Blue Room Extra: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/yc83x2zh⁠

Dave is joined by Ed, Connor and Dave P on yet another day of big news at Everton - they start the show by discussing the ongoing situation with the club's ownership and potential investment. They review the transfer window as the dust settles on a chaotic end to deadline day. The lads debate what the team will look like going forward and what the cost could be after missing out on a striker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Warren, Adam and Liam convene to talk through Everton's next steps after a remarkable end to the transfer window.

Matt is joined by Mick and a returning Mike De Asha.We assess the potential ramifications from the weekend's chaos. Who is to blame for the Harrison Armstrong fiasco? And is there any way back for Angus Kinnear?We also look at the transfer state of play, with Iliman Ndiaye set to leave and Folarin Balogun potentially on his way in. Have Everton got lucky late in the window? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Les and Dave were on live to look back at the weekend's draw at Bournemouth and a crazy 48 hours that almost saw Harrison Armstrong leave for Forest and a flurry of transfer rumours ahead of Tuesday's deadline.#   CLAUDE AI This episode is brought to you in association with Claude.ai Claude is the AI for minds that don't stop at good enough — it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks with you...whether you're debugging code at midnight or strategizing your next business move, Claude extends your thinking to tackle the problems that matter. Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — ⁠Claude.ai/BLUE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Dave recorded Live on the news that Harrison Armstrong will be staying at Everton. They also react to the reports that Iliman Ndiaye is set to join Spurs and Richarlison could make a return to the Blues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Rob pick through yet another eventful game at Bournemouth for Everton, on and off the pitch. James Tarkowski snatched a late point for the Toffees, but the day was dominated by news of Harrison Armstrong's potential exit to Nottingham Forest.

Dave an Patric Ridge discuss the latest news that Nottingham Forest are looking to sign Harrison Armstrong from Everton...they also talk about the bigger picture in a chaotic end to the transfer window. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Warren is back on the Weekly where he is joined by Rob. The two discuss discuss the latest transfers surrounding Everton and the manager's demeanour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Liam, Laura and Connor were at Deepdale looking back on Everton's 4-0 win away to Preston in the second round of the Carabao Cup. That's followed by Dave and Warren going into further detail on the performance as the Blues start their season with another victory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We can't even have one week talking about a Toffees win, can we? Fresh from filing his transfer exclusive about Jake O'Brien, Paddy joins Matt to talk through the story, Why does O'Brien want out? Why do Everton want to sell? And is there any way of salvaging the situation?  There's also a look at Beto's future with offers expected. Then, finally, we get to the football. Harrison Armstrong was excellent wasn't he? And how underrated is Iliman Ndiaye? CLAUDE AI This episode is brought to you in association with Claude.ai Claude is the AI for minds that don't stop at good enough — it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks with you...whether you're debugging code at midnight or strategizing your next business move, Claude extends your thinking to tackle the problems that matter. Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — Claude.ai/BLUE ➕ AD-FREE LISTENING Get exclusive content and all of our podcasts ad-free when you sign up to Blue Room Extra: https://tinyurl.com/yc83x2zh

Everton kick off the 2026-27 season with a statement 2-0 win over Crystal Palace — the first opening-weekend win in five years - and it's the kids stealing the headlines.Les and Dave discuss Harrison Armstrong's coming-of-age midfield display, Hayden Hackney's seamless step up from the Championship, and how Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall combined for two goals either side of the break.Plus: Thierno Barry off the mark early (a huge weight off after last season), Pierre Sage's rocky Palace debut, and what this result means heading into a transfer deadline that's about to get busy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A woeful winter has Walter wanting wins. They're not coming though, and it's clear as spring arrives that he's outstayed his welcome. Not that his Rangers old boys would tell you that. They're very disappointed by it all.From disappointment, to this appointment - David Moyes, the 38-year-old bright young thing doing bits at Deepdale waltzes in and puts a few rockets up a few sizeable arses, to quite eye-catching effect.Off the pitch, the co-hosts talk Lacoste trackies, unhelpfully emotional teachers, and an existential midnight crisis on the Eavesway.This episode is supported by The Excelsior. Thanks to Gary Lunt and Sean Ponzini for their contributions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a summer of silence, Everton went media-mad this week as David Moyes and Angus Kinnear both did the rounds ahead of the new season. And the two interviews couldn't have sounded more different. Les and Dave dig into the contradictions as Moyes says the squad's "got a long way to go," while Kinnear says "we're not behind where we thought we would be." So, who's right, and is there a genuine disconnect between the manager and the boardroom? We also get into the numbers behind the Hill Dickinson Stadium as Everton leap from bottom-third to top-third revenue in the league. And a stadium quote that genuinely stopped us in our tracks about how "Everton" the brand should actually be. Plus: full backs, transfer strategy, and a look ahead to Palace and the first What's the Score at the Windy at Invisible Wind Factory.  This episode is brought to you in association with Claude.ai  Claude is the AI for minds that don't stop at good enough — it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks with you.. whether you're debugging code at midnight or strategizing your next business move, Claude extends your thinking to tackle the problems that matter.  Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — Claude.ai/BLUE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by a host of contributors to predict how the Blues will get on this season. Where will they finish? Who will be top scorer? What is your Everton hot take for the campaign?

Pre-season is DONE. Premier League football is BACK. But there still feel like a lot of work to do for Everton in the transfer window. Matt and Paddy look at the latest transfer developments ahead of the season opener against Crystal Palace. Has the right-back search become too complicated for the club's transfer committee? Will Grealish and Delap come in late in the window? We also pick out our top performers from the 1-1 draw with Lille at Hill Dickinson Stadium and break down how the side will look against the Eagles next weekend.

We talk the preseason, the forward options, do we need Jack Grealish? Key players, Moyes, predictions etc. the usual.

Matt reacts to Everton's draw at home to Lille in the last game of pre-season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everton put in a clinical display at Murrayfield, blacking out Newcastle 3-1 in the penultimate pre-season tune-up before the Palace opener. Thierno Barry, Iliman Ndiaye and Tyrique George all got on the scoresheet as David Moyes' side looked sharp, organised, and ready – particularly the younger players like Armstrong, George, and Dibling.Then we dig into the bigger question hanging over Goodison Park and the Hill Dickinson Stadium alike -  what do the Friedkin Group actually want with Everton? We compare TFG's ownership playbook at Roma and Everton side by side - the stadium sagas, the transfer window frustrations, the branding gripes, and the viral photos of a stripped-back Goodison Park that have fans asking whether this is normal reconfiguration or a sign the old ground's been quietly deprioritised. Quick profit or long-term success? Let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave speaks to BBC Radio Merseyside at full time time following a much-needed performance from the Blues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paddy has been to Germany and back - but Everton still haven't signed a full-back, nor have we heard from David Moyes. Brennan Johnson could be on the way in though, with Dwight McNeil poised to finally get his move to Palace. Is it simply a straight swap? And what will he add to the Everton side? We also look at Tyler Dibling's prospects with this move imminent. Is a loan on the cards despite his fine showing in Stuttgart?

Dave, Les and Josh react to Everton's latest pre-season friendly and answer your questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2001/02 - a season that is already off to a bad start before it's begun with Everton having sold their two outstanding young players, both of them lifelong Blues. Some good results early on give way to more questions than answers, though. Such as, what does the 'Bruise Brothers' even mean? Would Nick Barmby returning to Goodison really have knocked the 9/11 terror attacks off the front pages? And who does Danny Cadamarteri think he is? Stay tuned for all this, plus an outrageous story from each of your co-hosts. This episode is supported by The Excelsior. Thanks to Gary Lunt and Sean Ponzini for their contributions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Les joins BBC Radio Merseyside's Phil Munns to discuss the latest news at Everton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Dave and Aaron on a much more upbeat show this week. We look in detail at the two players potentially coming in - Christian Norgaard and Alistair Johnson. How will they change the way Everton play? And are they more that potential bandaids on big voids in the team?

Are things finally starting to look up for Everton? They have their second win of pre-season and two players look to be on their way in. Christian Norgaard and Alistair Johnston both offer relief in areas of the squad which require a lot of love. But are they anything other than stop-gap solutions? We also talk Jack Grealish's situation, pre-season press trips and Merlin Rohl making a case to start the season in the XI.

Everton lost 8 points. Nottingham Forest lost 4. Chelsea? Not a single point, despite admitting to 74 breaches of FA rules and getting hit by three separate regulators (UEFA, the Premier League, and the FA) over £47m in undisclosed historical payments. Les and Dave lay out the full timeline of all three cases - Everton's two separate PSR breaches, Forest's £34.5m overspend, and Chelsea's Abramovich-era disclosure scandal - and compare them point by point: what the breach actually was, who discovered it, who was punished for it, and what sanction followed. Are these cases really comparable? Have Chelsea been treated more leniently than the clubs who lost points? We go through the arguments on both sides before giving our verdict. Let us know your thoughts. A breakdown of each club's breaches: Everton • Case 1: 2021/22 period. Loss £124.5m vs £105m limit (breach ~£19.5m). Charged Mar 2023. • Sanction 1: 10-point deduction (Nov 2023) → reduced to 6 points on appeal (Feb 2024). • Case 2: 2022/23 period. Breach of £16.6m. Charged Jan 2024. • Sanction 2: 2-point deduction (Apr 2024). • Total: 8 points deducted, in-season, same campaign. Nottingham Forest • Case: 2022/23 period. Threshold £61m (reduced for Championship seasons). Breach of £34.5m. Charged Jan 2024. • Sanction: 6 points initial → reduced to 4-point deduction for early admission/cooperation. • Appeal: Rejected — 4 points stood. Chelsea • UEFA (2023): €10m (£8.6m) fine — incomplete financial reporting. • Premier League (Mar 2026): £10.75m fine + immediate 9-month academy transfer ban + 1-year first-team transfer ban suspended 2 years. PL found payments, even if disclosed, would not have breached PSR. • FA (Jul 2026): 74 admitted breaches (undisclosed agent/third-party payments, £47m, 2011–2018). £10m fine (halved from £20m for self-reporting). Original 6-point suspended deduction overturned on appeal, replaced with suspended two-window transfer ban. • Total: £0 points deducted. All penalties financial or suspended. Breaches self-reported by current owners about previous (Abramovich) regime. Want a little more from us? Try The Blue Room Extra for more than 20 hours extra content a month: www.patreon.com/theblueroomextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave looks back on Everton's 1-2 win away to Hamburg and answers your questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LISTEN IN FULL: https://tinyurl.com/5h2mmpx4 Matt is joined by Connor and Adam to talk through the Everton malaise. What are the Blues waiting for in the transfer window? Has the chance to seize the initiative gone this summer? And what do we do about Ndiaye's situation? ➕ BLUE ROOM EXTRA Get exclusive content and all of our podcasts ad-free when you sign up to Blue Room Extra: https://tinyurl.com/yc83x2zh ANDY JOHNSON AFTERNOON Full details for the event at the Bridewell: https://x.com/The_Bridewell/status/2081338592798912539?s=20

Matt reacts to Everton's third friendly of the summer against the Potters. ➕ BLUE ROOM EXTRA Get exclusive content and all of our podcasts ad-free when you sign up to Blue Room Extra: https://tinyurl.com/yc83x2zh ANDY JOHNSON AFTERNOON Full details for the event at the Bridewell: https://x.com/The_Bridewell/status/2081338592798912539?s=20

Fresh from their trip to Bolton, Matt and Paddy are back to talk about anything but Bolton. So Iliman Ndiaye. Is he going? Is he staying? Should Everton sell? Could they replace him? We pull it all through the keyhole. We take a closer look at whether the recruitment setup is working as the Blues wait for a new right-back and midfielder to arrive. Are there too many cooks in the Everton transfer kitchen? To finish, we react to the news that Idrissa Gueye is set to leave the club. And Paddy has a clarification to make. ➕ BLUE ROOM EXTRA Get exclusive content and all of our podcasts ad-free when you sign up to Blue Room Extra: https://tinyurl.com/yc83x2zh ANDY JOHNSON AFTERNOON Full details for the event at the Bridewell: https://x.com/The_Bridewell/status/2081338592798912539?s=20

Two games, no defeats, young players getting minutes, and a manager who loves being written off - what's not to like? In this week's episode, Les and Dave look at some reasons to be cheerful in what has felt like a pretty miserable summer for Evertonians, as the 25/26 season hangover lingers.We assess Everton's encouraging start to pre-season, from the convincing 4-0 victory over Dundee to a hard-earned clean sheet at Bolton, with particular focus on the impact of youngsters Harvey Foster, Adam Aznou, Harrison Armstrong and Tyrique George.There's also discussion around Jordan Pickford's importance heading into the new campaign, arriving with confidence high after his international exploits and once again expected to be the cornerstone of Everton's defence.The transfer window also comes under the microscope, with Hayden Hackney's arrival adding creativity in midfield, permanent deals for George and Merlin Röhl strengthening the squad. And could Moyes pull a surprising season out of the bag as he's usually at his best when expectations are low?As you'd expect, there are plenty of reality checks. Pre-season success guarantees nothing, there are still questions to answer, and positions to fill.How positive are you feeling going into the new season? Let us know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a bitesize edition of the pod, Matt and Paddy reflect on Everton's 0-0 draw in their second pre-season friendly of the summer. ➕ AD-FREE LISTENING Get exclusive content and all of our podcasts ad-free when you sign up to Blue Room Extra: https://tinyurl.com/yc83x2zh

Matt is at the Toughsheet Stadium to reflect on Everton's second friendly of the summer. ➕ AD-FREE LISTENING Get exclusive content and all of our podcasts ad-free when you sign up to Blue Room Extra: https://tinyurl.com/yc83x2zh