Royal Blue: The Everton FC Podcast

The Royal Blue podcast team are back for a second time this week to preview Sunday's game with Spurs at Goodison. After having an impact off the bench against Wolves on Monday night, Fabian Delph is in the frame to start the game but how does Rafa Benitez choose a system that brings the best out of him? Would playing 4-3-3 - a formation Benitez doesn't use often - allow for Anthony Gordon to start...

Join Phil Kirkbride, Chris Beesley, Adam Jones and Gav Buckland as they dissect Everton's 2-1 loss away to Wolves on Monday night. The defensive issues against Watford were on display once again, with the players even arguing with each other at times. The panel discuss Rafa's tactics with particular reference to the midfield, and which personnel should be deployed in Doucoure's absence. The quarte...

Today's Royal Blue podcast is an edition we'd rather not have recorded. It's a special tribute to the former Everton manager, Walter Smith, who passed away on Monday aged 73. Alan Myers, who was the club's Communication Manager when Walter was manager, Kevin Campbell, who Walter brought to the club on loan, signed permanently in 1999 then made the club captain, and David Prentice, who was the Echo...

Host Adam Jones is joined by Dave Prentice, Chris Beesley and Gav Buckland to try and understand what happened at Goodison Park on Saturday. Everton were beaten 5-2 at the hands of Watford thanks to a disgraceful collapse in the final moments of the match, in which the hosts conceded four goals in 13 minutes. Set pieces were again a problem for Rafa Benitez's side, but the gaping defensive issues...

The Royal Blue team had plenty to get their teeth stuck into in the latest edition of the podcast. Top of the agenda today, as host Phil Kirkbride posed the questions to Dave Prentice, Adam Jones and Gav Buckland, was Everton's growing injury problems. A week that had already confirmed a lay-off for Abdoulaye Doucoure also brought us confirmation of a set-back for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and an inju...

Host Sam Carroll is joined by Dave Prentice and Chris Beesley for the first Royal Blue podcast recorded in first person since March 2020. But sadly the panel, which also includes Gavin Buckland from home, are not reflecting on a fourth straight Everton Goodison Park win. Instead, they look back at the 1-0 defeat to West Ham United on Sunday. They discuss all the big talking points from what was a...

Dave Prentice and Gavin Buckland join Sam Carroll for your Friday edition of the Royal Blue podcast to look ahead to Sunday's visit of West Ham United to L4. The match will mark the return of David Moyes, along with Kurt Zouma and Nikola Vlasic, to Everton. It's now more than nine years since Moyes left the Blues for Manchester United. His derisory bids for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines af...

There's no doubting the big football story of the week - the Saudi Arabia-backed takeover of Newcastle United. But what does it mean for the Everton? And given the ethical concerns around the deal, how easily does it sit that it has been given the green light by the Premier League? Adam Jones, Dave Prentice and Gavin Buckland join Phil Kirkbride to discuss that on the latest Royal Blue podcast, as...

By popular demand, David Hughes and Josh Williams are back with Analysing Everton, their excellent tactics and analytics podcast. And it's a good time to return with the Blues just two points off top spot going into the international break following the 1-1 draw at Manchester United last weekend. So have our hosts changed their pre-season predictions? David and Josh give their opinions on that, th...

Sam Carroll is joined by Adam Jones, Chris Beesley and Dave Prentice for the Royal Blue podcast to talk Everton's excellent 1-1 draw at Manchester United, the performances of Andros Townsend, Anthony Gordon and Abdoulaye Doucoure, and whether Tom Davies should have shot instead of passed to Yerry Mina. Speaking of Mina, his increasingly impressive displays are discussed, as is the start to the cam...

Adam Jones, Chris Beesley and Dave Prentice join Adam Jones to look ahead to tomorrow's trip to Manchester United in the latest Royal Blue podcast. With Alex Iwobi joining the walking wounded, could there be a start for Tom Davies at Old Trafford in what is a big season for the Everton midfielder? Also up for discussion is Salomon Rondon's Blues career so far, the prospect of Dominic Calvert-Lewin...

Adam Jones is joined by Dave Prentice and Connor O’Neill for the latest Royal Blue podcast, looking back on the weekend’s win over Norwich City and more. Having seen off the Canaries at Goodison Park, the analysis focuses on the midfield Rafa Benitez has put together with Abdoulaye Doucoure one of those kicking on under the Spaniard. Lewis Dobbin’s cameo from the bench leads the discussion onto Ev...

Sam Carroll, Dave Prentice and Gavin Buckland join host Adam Jones for the Royal Blue podcast. Looking back at the disappointing Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out defeat at QPR on Tuesday, they pick out the players who let themselves down and the handful who did themselves a favour. James Rodriguez was nowhere to be seen at Loftus Road Instead, he was in Qatar, finalising his move to Al Rayyan. The pa...

The Royal Blue Podcast returns to assess the potential exit of James Rodriguez to Qatar and the Premier League defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday. Sam Carroll is joined by guests Adam Jones, Dave Prentice and Gavin Buckland as they also talk through the Carabao Cup trip to Queens Park Rangers. Gavin believes Everton were put in a difficult position by Carlo Ancelotti and Rodriguez while Dave insist...

The Royal Blue Podcast is back and hoping Everton can continue their unbeaten start to the 2021/22 season. Rafa Benitez takes his side to face Aston Villa on Saturday evening with the Blues riding high on what has been a very strong start to the campaign. Host Phil Kirkbride is joined by Dave Prentice, Adam Jones and Gav Buckland to discuss the perception of the new boss after his opening five mat...

Adam Jones, David Prentice and Gavin Buckland join Phil Kirkbride to reflect on last night's stirring 3-1 win over Burnley at an electric Goodison Park, in the latest edition of the Royal Blue podcast, focussing on the performances of the likes of Andros Townsend, Demarai Gray, Andre Gomes, Yerry Mina and Michael Keane. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Jones, David Prentice and Gavin Buckland join Phil Kirkbride for the Royal Blue podcast to preview Everton v Burnley at Goodison Park on Monday and react to an interesting Rafa Benitez podcast. Dwight McNeil, Salomon Rondon, Donny van de Beek and James Rodriguez are all discussed. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Jones and Connor O’Neill join host Phil Kirkbride to look back on Everton’s summer transfer window after deadline day saw the arrival of Salomon Rondon but not a new right-back, or the departure of James Rodriguez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Royal Blue podcast is back as Everton continued their unbeaten start to the season in impressive fashion. Goals from Demarai Gray and Dominic Calvert-Lewin secured a 2-0 win over Brighton at the weekend, and our panel had a lot to say on the match. Host Adam Jones is joined by Dave Prentice and Gavin Buckland to discuss an impressive performance from the Blues and also delve into *that* penalt...

As the transfer window heads into its final few days, Everton are right at the centre of most of the big deals taking place! Phil Kirkbride is joined by Dave Prentice, Adam Jones and Gav Buckland to get into the Blues’ proposed swap swoop for Porto winger Luis Diaz with James Rodriguez being offered in exchange. With Cristiano Ronaldo linked with a Juventus exit - and Kylian Mbappe eyeing a move a...

The Royal Blue podcast is back after what was a pulsating game against Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday. Host Adam Jones is joined by Dave Prentice, Chris Beesley and Gavin Buckland to discuss the finer details of Everton's 2-2 draw with Marcelo Bielsa's side. Top of the agenda is discussion surrounding the two goalscorers at the weekend, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Demarai Gray, while the pa...

The Royal Blue podcast team gather for the second time this week as they look ahead to Everton's game with Leeds United. Host Phil Kirkbride is joined by Dave Prentice, Adam Jones and Gav Buckland to preview the trip to Elland Road. How will the Blues' players keep a ferocious home support quiet, as Leeds play a Premier League game in front of their fans for the first time since 2004? Will Rafa Be...

Sam Carroll is back in the host chair for the latest Royal Blue podcast, looking back on the opening day win over Southampton and the transfer window. Joined by Phil Kirkbride, Dave Prentice and Adam Jones they analyse Everton’s win over the Saints with Rafa Benitez beginning his Blues tenure with a win at Goodison Park. The debut showings of Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend are also dissected wit...

Ahead of the start of the new Premier League season, the Royal Blue podcast look ahead to the campaign to come. Following on from Rafa Benitez’s press conference ahead of the visit of Southampton, Phil Kirkbride is joined by Dave Prentice, Chris Beesley and Gav Buckland to have their say on the major talking points out of Goodison Park. The future of James Rodriguez as well as what else the Blues...

Ahead of the start of the new season, David Hughes and Josh Williams are back with an analytical take of what Everton can achieve for the coming campaign. Discussing the make-up of Rafa Benitez's squad, Demarai Gray's role he could play at Goodison Park upon arriving this summer as well as Moise Kean's wish to leave are all covered. Linking to Ademola Lookman and Nikola Vlasic's Everton careers, D...