Royal Blue

The Royal Blue Podcast returns to discuss the entertaining 3-0 FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Goodison Park on Sunday. Everton progressed to the fifth round thanks to goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Yerry Mina as host Sam Carroll listens in on Dave Prentice, Adam Jones and Gavin Buckland waxing lyrical over the performance of James Rodriguez. Rodriguez and his technical abilities are praised while there is a special nod to Carlo Ancelotti for his handling of Thierry Small, who became the youngest-ever player to represent the first-team when he made his debut at the weekend. The panel also previewed the crucial midweek visit of Leicester City which could shape the rest of the campaign for Everton in their hunt for European football. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everton are finally back in action this weekend! Carlo Ancelotti's side will welcome Sheffield Wednesday to Goodison Park on Sunday night in the FA Cup to kick off a run of three matches in a week. But how crucial will these matches be? And where should Everton's priorities lie? The cup or the push for Europe in the Premier League? Our host Adam Jones is joined by Dave Prentice and Gav Buckland to also discuss some interesting injury news, including the return of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and how strongly the Blues should line-up against the Championship Owls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everton might not have been in action at the weekend but our latest Royal Blue podcast is still full of talking points. Adam Jones is joined by Dave Prentice, Chris Beesley and Gavin Buckland to discuss the club's ambitions for the rest of the season after a fantastic start under Carlo Ancelotti. Should the Blues be listening to the views of certain pundits at the weekend, and do they need the addition of quality in January to try and capitalise on their current position? The panel also look at a 1-1 draw in the mini-derby on Monday night and discuss the birthday of an Everton legend earlier in the week! Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everton Women are set to pocket one of the biggest transfer fees seen in the women’s game after French giants Lyon triggered the £100,000 release cause in Damaris Egurrola’s contract. So for this special podcast focusing on women’s football on Merseyside, the Liverpool ECHO’s Sam Carroll is joined by broadcaster Sarah Halpin, who works closely with the Blues, Emma Sanders of BBC Sport, and Kathryn Batte of the Daily Mail to discuss the huge deal and what it will mean for manager Willie Kirk. The panel also look across the park to Liverpool Women, who are starting the search for a new manager after Vicky Jepson left by mutual consent this week after 12 years at the club. And the podcast rounds off by previewing big games this weekend for both Everton and Liverpool. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No game to preview but no bother for the Royal Blue podcast panel as they have plenty to get their teeth stuck into today. Host Phil Kirkbride is joined by Dave Prentice and Gav Buckland as they look back on a top four-boosting win over Wolves, discuss Marcel Brands' comments from the General Meeting and ask if it's time to reconsider what Everton's strongest starting XI is? The versatility - and durability - of Lucas Digne is hailed as the Royal Blue crew wax lyrical about James Rodriguez and a system that was made for him. Brands says he does not expect Everrton to sign any players this month but, instead, focus on offloading some and the lads discuss whether we should take the director of football's words at face value or still hold out hope for arrivals? Ben Godfrey also comes in for praise and it is discussed if he would now have to be considered as part of Everton's strongest XI, when everyone is fit and available. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following Everton’s 2-1 away win over Wolves, Analysing Everton is back for the first episode of 2021. David Hughes and Josh Williams are here to look through the statistical and analytical data to examine what has been behind the Blues strong recent form. From set-piece efficiency and the ‘reset’ defensively the guys look at how Everton have defied the data to win five of the last six in the Premier League. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Royal Blue podcast is back to discuss what has been a hectic few days for Everton. The Blues confirmed their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup, just about, after an extra time victory over Rotherham United at Goodison Park. But there was little chance to celebrate as Carlo Ancelotti's side are back in action against Wolves on Tuesday - with Dominic Calvert-Lewin ruled out through injury. Adam Jones is joined by Dave Prentice, Chris Beesley and Connor O'Neill to discuss the importance of Cenk Tosun after his goalscoring outing, the worries surrounding Everton's midfield and the delight of seeing Lucas Digne back in action. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Guy Clarke and Sam Carroll for a special podcast ahead of non-league Marine’s huge FA Cup tie at home to Tottenham Hotspur. Celebrating the Mariners’ historic run to the third round, as well as previewing the big match itself, which will be shown live on BBC One on Sunday (5pm kick-off), Guy and Sam speak to the club’s manager Neil Young, who has been balancing his job at Merseyrail with masterminding how to get the better of Jose Mourinho’s Spurs, who are an incredible 160 places higher up the football pyramid. Neil discusses Marine’s innovate approach to sponsorship and virtual ticketing, after the hammer blow of no fans being allowed to watch the biggest game in the club’s history, just what it will be like to go up against Mourinho in the dugout, and just how difficult Covid-19 has made everything. Good luck Marine – Royal Blue and Evertonians will be rooting for you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Jones, Dave Prentice and Gavin Buckland join host Phil Kirkbride for the Royal Blue podcast as they welcome the speedy return of Lucas Digne and wonder, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin one of a number of players rested for Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Rotherham United, whether Cenk Tosun can save an Everton career that could come to an end this month. Speculation also surrounds the future of Roma-target Bernard, so the panel discuss Everton's Brazilian midfielder, as well as their on-loan Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen, with rumours suggesting the two players could make a permanent switch in the opposite directions. Also up for discussion is the spiralling coronavirus outbreaks in football squads across the country before the podcast ends on a happier note with a very confident predictions round. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Royal Blue Podcast returns for the first time in 2021 to discuss the defeat to West Ham United, Richarlison, Moise Kean, Gylfi Sigurdsson and the bizarre claims of Chris Sutton. Host Sam Carroll is joined by Dave Prentice, Gavin Buckland and Connor O'Neill as they reflect on a 'night to forget' at Goodison Park on New Year's Day as David Moyes spoiled the festivities. Sutton accused Calvert-Lewin of diving to win a penalty against West Ham but his theory is rubbished as 'laughable' by the panel while they make judgement calls on Moise Kean and his future - after a reported £31m PSG bid - and whether Gylfi Sigurdsson deserves a new contract. You can join the Royal Blue Podcast group on Facebook or message @SamCarroll0 on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There should have been two matches to discuss on this podcast, but a late postponement meant Everton's clash with Man City on Monday evening was called off. The Blues are asking for full information from the Premier League in the wake of the incident, and it's caused a lot of debate over the last few hours. Adam Jones is joined by Dave Prentice, Sam Carroll and Connor O'Neill to look at how things should have been decided - and how annoyed Everton should really be at the whole situation. The panel also looks back on yet another win for the Blues, with Carlo Ancelotti's side battling to a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United on Boxing Day. What a December Everton managed in the end! Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is not the podcast we wanted to record but record it we must as Dave Prentice, Connor O’Neill and Gavin Buckland join host Sam Carroll to pick the bones out of last night’s 2-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United at Goodison Park. From Everton’s start to the match to the difference in quality between the respective squads, and from the performance of the officials to concerns over Andre Gomes, it’s all here in detail as the panel look back over another chance of League Cup glory wasted. But it’s Christmas Eve, so let’s end on a positive note, and the little fact of the matter that the Blues could go as high as second in the Premier League with victory at struggling Sheffield United on Boxing Day. Prenno, Connor, Gav and Sam preview that game, and wonder what changes Carlo Ancelotti can make, as well as giving their usual score predictions. Thanks for listening - and all the best for Christmas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the latest Royal Blue podcast as stand-in host Paul Wheelock is joined by David Prentice, Chris Beesley and Connor O’Neill to look back on Saturday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal that hauled Carlo Ancelotti’s in-form side up to second for the night – and to look ahead to Wednesday’s massive Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at home to Manchester United. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phil Kirkbride is joined by Dave Prentice, Sam Carroll and Gavin Buckland for the latest Royal Blue podcast as they look back on the superb 2-0 win at Leicester City and look forward to Saturday night’s visit of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to Goodison Park. They also review some of the big talking points of Carlo Ancelotti’s press conference from earlier in the afternoon including the Blues boss's comments on Abdoulaye Doucoure and the rotation of his goalkeepers, Jordan Pickford and Robin Olsen. And, before giving their usual score predictions, the panel assess Ancelotti’s first 12 months in charge ahead of his first anniversary as Everton manager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Royal Blue Podcast is back! And with smiles on the faces of the panel, too. Host Sam Carroll is joined by Dave Prentice and Paul Wheelock to discuss the victory over Chelsea on Saturday, a victory made sweeter by the return of 2,000 Evertonians to Goodison Park. The impact the crowd had on proceedings is discussed as well as the performances of Ben Godfrey, Richarlison, as well as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the panel attempting to identify the game in which Carlo Ancelotti could choose to rest his star striker. With a trip to Leicester City also on the horizon, the latest episode of the podcast previews what could be an important game in the Premier League race for Europe. There is also time spent considering the future of Jonjoe Kenny and whether Niels Nkounkou could leave on loan in January. Enjoy the podcast? You can join the Royal Blue Podcast group on Facebook or message @SamCarroll0, @prenno and @PaulWheelock on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of the return of fans to Goodison Park, the Royal Blue podcast is here to look ahead to Saturday's visit of Chelsea. Host Phil Kirkbride is joined by Adam Jones, Dave Prentice - and latterly Gav Buckland to get into all the big talking points. From the team news, with James Rodriguez missing through injury, to the lack of opportunity for Jonjoe Kenny and Niels Nkounkou the panel discuss whether or not Kenny has a long-term future at the club. Plus, we touch on the fans returning with 2,000 heading back to Goodison for the first time since March. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a couple of weeks away, Analysing Everton is back! Join David Hughes and Josh Williams as they look into the underlying numbers of Everton's recent run of form, discuss the selection choices available to Carlo Ancelotti and the impact of the squad profile. Centre to the discussion on formations and options is Fabian Delph, who continues to be beset by injury during his Blues career after coming off in the 1-1 draw with Burnley last time out. How Ancelotti dealt with Richarlison's absence is also analysed so too the changes of formation and personnel in defence. Plus the guys preview the weekend's action with title challengers Chelsea as they prepare to visit Goodison Park with fans returning for the first time since March. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Royal Blue podcast panel are back to discuss Everton's 1-1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor.Host Adam Jones is joined by Dave Prentice, Connor O'Neill and Gav Buckland to analyse what was a rather disappointing result for Carlo Ancelotti's side. Three-at-the-back was preferred again and showed more issues, the Blues were left to rue a late missed chance - but there were some important highlights to note. The panel also discuss the performance of James Rodriguez after some "interesting" comments in the national media about the playmaker... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Liverpool ECHO and the Royal Blue podcast is today helping launch the inaugural Fans’ Footballer of the Year awards. As well as the main award, there is a ‘club’ award for each of the 20 Premier League outfits. Four Blues players are in the running for the Everton award – Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lucas Digne, Mason Holgate and Richarlison. The quartet were selected by the Liverpool ECHO’s EFC correspondent Phil Kirkbride – and supporters can now vote for the winner at www.fansfootballeroftheyear.co.uk. And, to celebrate the launch of the awards, Phil is joined by his ECHO colleagues, and fellow Royal Blue regulars, Sam Carroll and Connor O’Neill for this special podcast to ask who, out of Calvert-Lewin, Digne, Holgate and Richarlison, should triumph, and which players they expect to have a big 2021.Blues supporters have until Thursday, December 17 to vote at www.fansfootballeroftheyear.co.uk. The winner of the Liverpool ECHO's Everton Fans' Footballer of the Year 2020 will be revealed on Monday, December 21

The Royal Blue Podcast returns to discuss a trip to Burnley that has taken on increased significance for Carlo Ancelotti and Everton. The Blues have lost four of their last five Premier League matches and Phil Kirkbride and his panel attempt to explore what has gone wrong since the early-season and where the fix will come from. Adam Jones, Dave Prentice and Sam Carroll talk formation, team selection and the January transfer window as the need for reinforcements is highlighted. The future of Cenk Tosun is also contemplated by Prentice after Ancelotti praised the Turkish striker in his press conference on Friday afternoon; while the customary predictions at the end of the show suggest a confidence that Everton will return to winning ways at Turf Moor in the early kick-off on Saturday. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices