Hard not to like Frank and he was a true blue after the C Palace game. I would have loved it to have worked out for him but sadly it just wasn’t meant this time. Who knows what the future holds.

That you, Hewey??

I think we will win John, their defence is quite leaky while our defence is good.

I’ll say 1-0 half time and 2-0 full time for us. My record for predictions on the results

this season has been pretty poor so I should disregard the above.

Still think Thelwell should have been kept.

Towards the end with Frank he looked like he couldn’t cope.

I blame everton for him losing his hair !!

Should get a decent reception !

Armstrong imo has everything to be a top midfielder, his composure on the ball & his intelligence for someone so young is outstanding, add to that his workrate and we could have a truly special lad here.

See him more like a Rice than a goal getter, 2 years could easily be in that England midfield

I think I can see the difference Minik. Tom Davies, scored a few goals, whereas scoring goals is not something that looks to be in Harrison Armstrong’s locker, at the minute. Armstrong, seems to just be concentrating on working that hard for the team, and is doing an incredible job, for one so young, so rather than comparing him to anyone else, (I’ve also read some people claiming Hackney is a better player) let’s just appreciate the job he his doing at the minute, safe in the knowledge that he his developing all the time👏👏

Possibly Blue, but my own view is that he his just below the required level, even though he ticks a lot of boxes. He runs, he tackles, he shows for the ball and he grafts, but England, are one of the best teams in the world now and their standards are incredibly high.

I`m giving this one a miss Ray.

What do you fancy mate?

With Doucouré, you could sense Frank’s lack of experience in man-management. It wasn’t as bad as what Koeman did with Niasse, but in my opinion, a good manager needs to know how to develop and motivate his players, and equally importantly, what not to do.

Everton playing at home against a newly promoted side with chance of going into the top five what can go wrong ? Well quite a lot actually we have been here so many times before and we know the likely outcome 1-3 Coventry

Its a tough ask in that midfield atm. I do suspect if he was at arsenal etc , he would have been in.

I’ll wait and see – this situation with Armstrong reminds me of Tom Davies, when he was beginning to involve in the senior squad. I don’t know if anyone can already see the difference between them, but none the less, I like what I’m seeing with Armstrong.

Getting there, Dewsbury-Hall, keep grinding! COYB.

We are 4/6 favs, Coventry are 4/1 and it’s 3/1 a Draw. there approx. odds.

These games against the lower clubs have in the past been our banana skins.

I think we will win, but my doubt is we don’t find scoring easy enough.

Play the same team as the Newcastle game.

My abiding memory of Frank was in the Anfield derby when he marched down the line and told Klopp to "fuck off" when the German tosser was trying to ref the game from the side line.

It’s a strange affair, saying he’s not fit is a cop out. That’s not the reason but what is?

Hi Brian,

I’ve just been informed there’s a slight delay to the comment ordering by Oldest first. The tech will be checked over the weekend and implemented early next week.

Armstrong wont be far behind him if he continues to progress. Add goals and he will be a superstar.

A complicated system.

I stick to the money over the counter,both ways Arjun.

Online accounts available to working class gamblers is a bookies dream.

Your bet goes down and the time old shout goes up " i will win my stake back with another bet,"

End up having a bet on the tennis,golf etc.

There is a reason the bookmakers give you money for opening an account.

Moving Stake to the sleeve feels like a sensible compromise while the rules tighten. What interests me is the difference between a bookmaker and an exchange: on an exchange you bet against other people, not the house, so prices move with the market. I follow football and cricket that way on Sky Exchange.

Frank.

Talking to the squad.Arm around the shoulder of an embaressed Seamus in the dressing room.

" This is one of the best human beings i have ever met"

Good shout Harry.

Ive said for a while we need to join in with a lot of other clubs tactics of going for the players developed by the likes of City,players who wont make it at City and other good clubs.

You can be sure they know how to pass and move if they have been at City since a young age.

Frank really bought into the club and it’s fans, hope he gets a great reception tonight

Been really impressed by Stephen Mfuni for Coventry. The sort of player Everton should be keeping an eye on if he looks to leave Man City. He’ll probably have a stinker tonight now!

Sigh, seriously? Why would we want to sign a player who can hold the ball up, deliver deadly crosses and was brilliant for us until he got injured…

I agree with the central concept of this article (good one, by the way, Patrick) – that Lampard has improved as a manager since successive contract terminations at Everton and Chelsea. But, all credit to him, he did not give up. He stuck to it and has had success in bringing Coventry back into the premier league. If he manages to keep Coventry up, that would be a huge achievement. If that were to happen, surely Lampard has to be considered in the list of candidates as Moyes’ successor.

i understand the need for some players to be rotated but there job is something we would all kill for so best foot forward grelish has gone you do not let lads who spend money and go to rediculous kick off times down as you feel you need a pint as for the proper players they will only get better the more they play together so keep it up boys add a striker we could be a real force i dont think any one has a better midfield than we can put out when they all belive it them selves richarlison on loan no fee totingham either pay him 6 months for nothing say 160 a week x 26 i dont know 4 .16 or get rid and loose the wages as city have done EVERTON IF YOU DO MONITOR SOCIL MEDIA DO NOT GET HAD OFF AGAIN

100% correct Kevin

Dangerous player in Rudoni if you give him space to play,lovely left foot.

They work their socks off .we will have to match their effort,get on the front foot and 3 points should be ours

Yeah, might just be a tadge counterproductive to the overall aim

si try the one by Bank hall station on the corner by what used to be the Round house pub

👍

I`m still none the wiser to the formation that allows George to overlap Grealish Eric?

Thanks for the comment, John.

He’s excited.

My eldest has been a few times with his grandad.

My first was the 2-1 vs shite early 90s.

Looking forward to to it.

Nice one

With a long time left on his contract and an offer(s) on the table there was no footballing reason to sell him right away.

TFG said fuck it and took the £60Mill.

Hackney Vs Armstrong; when given the choice between a ‘somewhat’ attacking player like Hackney and a ‘somewhat’ defensive like Armstrong – 9 times out of 10 which way do you think Moyes will go?

Part of me thinks just get the three points any way possible, then slip away into the international break. Job done, points on the board, small squad etc.

Another part of me thinks though that a statement win would feel.much better all round. Three strong wins in eight days, solid momentum and confidence, all of that stuff.

Another top post from the Abrahams factory.

Armstrong as Danny says is the only option.

I just hope that it’s a starting XI without Grealish for the foreseeable and perhaps after that.

‘ … seemingly a good character’? When it comes to footy, I would put professionalism and reliability miles ahead of ‘character’. ‘A good character’ who lets his club and teammates and fans down not once, not twice, not ….

You mean that he smiles a lot and gave 1/30th of his weekly wage to a good cause. All the laughing and hail fella well met might well have its origin in compensation for all the other stuff.

It is his first time ER. I’ll be shocked if he does not get warmly greeted. Like MG, those dugout and front row of the main stand scenes will stay with me forever.

Cheers MK

Thanks Patric

I think we will have too much for Coventry. I do have a feeling Branthwaite may be out so Jake O’Brien to partner Tarkowski and Rhol back to right back. I am hoping Dibling will get a start if that is the case.

Pickford

Rhol, O’Brien. Tarkowski, Mykolenko

Harrison, Garner,

Dibling, Dewsbury-Hall, George,

Barry.

I hope so Edward

Most fans’ strongest memory of Frank is of him dancing on the dugout after the Palace game, the emotions just pouring out of him. I assume that fond memory will generate a warm welcome back for him tomorrow.

Absolutely, Blues have class, usually. I got weird on Frank, but he is obviously a man of character. I just thought he took on too much risk playing how we did with him.

We’ve been stuck in neutral for several decades and I think will be so for as long as I live- and I’m not thinking of dying anytime soon.

It’s the way it is, many clubs are in this situation and as soon as they try and break the glass ceiling, they get their face cut up- that’s what the 70% rule for Europe is intended to do.

At least for us, it’s so long since we won anything, any cup, even the most minor one, would be bordering on orgasmic. Not likely, but at least possible with a lot of luck and it keeps you interested.

The league? Well the idea, the only idea is to avoid relegation.

He illustrates that we don’t need a left back to be in a position to put crosses in John, we just need a winger, which George is. I just hope he can be as good as Johnny was.

A monumental political event Dale.

If you find it difficult to pronounce my name just call me Senator.

Classic.

Up The Blues