Everton vs Liverpool

Now, as we all know, it’s Slippy G’s swansong, so I can only see Taylor doing his best to curry favour with the RS and Brenda by giving the Shite their 11th penalty in the last 25 years. Against our two. Doesn’t look promising, does it?

The Bolton game this week did give clear indications that they are being hyped up by the media as usual.

BTW, a horse called Gerrard’s Slip won @10/1 this week-omen?

Mingolet is suspect to any high balls like no RS ’keeper before him, bombard the fucker! Get in their face and cheat, dive, feign injury – whatever it takes, they do it every year. Nice guys finish last!

ps: They were playing on when one of their own was down in mid-week, do not start kicking the ball out for injuries, or I am likely to run on to that pitch and injure someone myself. Let’s fucking ’av ’em!!!

I’d give a couple of my toes and a few fingers for a win tomorrow!!

See you there in full voice!

Huge game for Besic.

I watched that derby from a crappy obstructed-view seat at the back of the Gwladys and it was still one of my favourite games.

So playing piggy in the middle outside our box is not going to achieve much.

A start for Lennon then Eric.

We need to drown the 3,000 or so kopites out, but I do fear Carragher and Sky have borrowed the loud speakers from the ’Escape to Victory’ set. Make it a cauldron for this egotistical horror on his last game. I myself are not far away from hailing distance of the radio commentators in the main stand, John Aldridge will be pissed off with our group before it even starts. COYB, Just Once, please Just Once.

If McCarthy and Lennon are fully fit I would start them. Pace and in there face from the first kick. Will be interesting to see if Sturridge starts.

We will win.
Will we win?
Win we will!

Up and at ’em with pace out wide, have their defenders turning towards their own goal – but if we revert to slow slow slow at the back, I might just have to catch a plane and throttle RM!

But no negative thoughts – we will do it!

I really hope Big Duncan has been giving Rom a history lesson this week and that he to rises above the Redshite defence and powers a header

I saw a stat today that said Gerrard had played in I think 29 derbies and only lost on 4 occasions, talk about having the wood over us. At least in some games at Goodison I can relax at certain periods in the game but not against this lot, I call them the Houdini team as they can be playing absolutely awful yet out of nowhere they will score a goal.

I will be glad when it’s all over, I just hope that Gerrard doesn’t score the winner – otherwise we will never hear the end of it.

My wife worries these days about derbies in case the television can/t take another glass of gin being smashed over it if somebody in red scores!

He thrives on it. The more you give, the better he plays. He (Gerrard) said, "I prefer the Goodison Derby, you can really feel the bitterness and the hatred." He was positively liking his lips at the prospect. Playing into his hands.

I fucking hate him with the core of my very being and I hope we turn them over tomorrow so that he scuttles off to his rock in American with his forked tail between his fading legs.

Sorry if this is slightly vitriolic, but I cannot wait to see the back of him.

My heart says Lukaku hat-trick; my head says Barry and Mo overrun in the middle.

The result is all that matters... I really do hope Martinez uses his head like he did against Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd last year and parks the bus then counters with Lennon, Lukaku, & Mirallas.

There’s been a lot of hype about Besic but people forget the sloppy passes and the taking too many touches. I, just hope he’s bang on it tomorrow and keeps his head and helps us to glory.

We need this one more than ever!

I’m gonna do a bet in the morning which will include an Everton win !!

COYB.

I’m going to try to remain all positive and say I can’t wait...

We’re at home with the crowd and they’re as usual being overhyped. It’ll probably end up a draw but I cannot see us losing for some reason.

Looking forward to it!

My immediate thought was "Why the fuck not, given that you’re meant to be working with him every day?" I think half the time managers and coaches pigeon-hole players and don’t really give them the freedom to try different things out.

Probably a similar thing going on with McCarthy who was maybe told to keep it safe with his passing and runs. We saw before he got injured that he has a lot more ability to get up and down the pitch if he feels he is allowed.

As for the game tomorrow, I agree with Kevin(5). "cheat, dive, feign injury" to win. They do it every time they play us. We need a bit of nastiness in our play and we need to pressurise the ref. I reckon we might lose 10+ points a year from being too feckin nice.

I would play McCarthy Besic and Barry to beef up our MF and the bring Lennon on second half to roast them.

Hope the crowd stay behind the team no matter what.

COYB

The game is hastily moved to 3rd on the schedule from 1st. MotD show more referee issues/mistakes than the game itself. After Gary Lineker already booked to talk at length with Slippy post game, RM is quickly asked to deputise. The players from the Redshite quickly cancel the booths that are booked at the Hilton hotel for a post match celebration. The Liverpool Echo cut their 4 page spread down to 2. And throughout Saturday night in the City Centre there are choruses of... "If you know your history...."

In my version, it is 0-0 in the 86th minute when Rom scores with a spectacular diving header. This galvanises the Blues, who score again in the 89th via Kone.

And then we park a fleet of buses during the six minutes of stoppage time to notch up a famous victory! Oh and I forgot to mention that Creasehead left the field in the 60th minute after lashing out at Mo Besic.

Wonder what the Missus has been putting in my tea..

Seriously though, we will win, we have to!

COYB

That is, of course, unless Roberto can restore his shattered reputation by inspiring a sparkling win to put most of his predecessors in the shade.

Let’s hope the new blood in the squad hasn’t been infected with the old mentality when they set eyes on a red shirt.

It’s also nice to see every blue on here behind the team, it’s been a rough season for all of us!

Mark him like stink on shit otherwise he’s going to get Sturridge and Sterling past our static defense with ease. Also we can’t give away free kicks around the box. They scored from two set pieces last season and we don’t want them doing it again.

The longer they don’t score the more desperate crease head will get to be a hero, start fouling and hitting long shots over the bar.

Our best hope is hit them on the break or a set piece.

I would love to see McCarthy back in with Besic alongside, Mirallas (paying us back) and Lennon, all on the pitch. That pace would / will cause them as many problems as they will give us. As bad as Jags has been, he’s better than that yard dog Sakho.

COYB.

I’m 8 hours behind in Canada and I just can’t watch it live tomorrow. I know it’s pathetic, but I’ll try anything, and tomorrow I’m doing a Bikrams yoga class while the game is on.

It’s harder than you think, before you start taking the piss by the way!

If we win I’ll come back and revel in every second, if we lose I’ll delete, and find out what happened on here.

As for the game, absolutely no reason we can’t get the 3 points. Their back 4 and GK are certainly not the envy of the league. No need to rehash all the solid points made by the rest of you. If we win, I’ll probably be so happy that I cry.

With tormentor-in-chief in his swansong, us playing desperately badly, and a later Sky-mandated kick-off, I can really only see them tonking us for the umpteenth time.

I’ll wait for Ken Buckley’s match report I think and spare the cat a kicking.

The Blues haven’t been playing with any aplomb this season and so we have reason not to feel excited about tomorrow’s game. However, recent form has never been a factor when it comes down to the derby match and it has to be said even by Redshite fans that the Redshite are not much to shout about this season despite the extra millions they have spent.

My worry is that, despite the spirited fight the Blues will put up tomorrow, the defence without a dominant man in the air might come unglued from the set pieces Redshite will get.

Fairy tales have a way of happening to Redshite; one only has to look back to the Bolton cup-tie to see that and with Slippy ’G’ playing his final derby match (apart from the unlikely possibility of a Europa League clash) then there may be another. We can only hope that the real Everton from last season shows up and sticks it to them and we need the referee to be pretty good to help us along.

The Redshite like to play a high tempo game relying on the fast breaks, so I really hope that RM has gotten his tactics right for this one so that the Blues don’t play gung-ho attacking football just because they are at home. This game needs real discipline in the middle of the park without some of the sloppy passing they have been guilty of in many games this season.

As it is, I just hope he has a shit game tomorrow or Brenda leaves him out!

I would back a bit of reverse psychology tomorrow and give him a massive standing ovation. Then when he sees what is happening and begins to respond.... All turn out backs laughing!

We need to win tomorrow. Nothing else but a win.

I am sad and worried with the news about their £300 million sponsorship deal, compared to ours £6 million? I was hoping that after spending £100 million, mostly on poor to average players will cost them this and in seasons to come but then they receive £300M. They can buy another three Southampton teams...

It will be hard to compete with them and this is a big task to our board and everyone in club to raise our image, our brand. Europa League is huge opportunity and I would say our only chance to improve our chances. But, before that, we must deal with Liverpool and Chelsea and I believe we will do well. Come on!

They bet Everton 5/2. the draw 12/5. Liverpool 11/8. They are betting like they think it’s probably a drawn game, I think 5/2 is generous for us and a saver on the draw is the way to go.

We’ve got a silver lining before a balls even been kicked.

Advantage Everton

COYB.

Flag sellers must be spewing.

A player has to excel at one thing, be it defending or attacking; McGeady excels at nothing.

PS - I think Lukaku should grow his hair long again - you know like Samson.

YES! There’s a definite cause and effect with the length of Rom’s hair and our form. No question.

He’s gotta grow it out man. It’s his power. I’ve said it 1000 times...

Juju.

Keane, Robson, Viera, Kompany, Toure, Fabregas – wish we could find one. As a matter of fact I see signs of it in Besic. I’ve got a feeling this lad is going to grow in stature with his team mates as he becomes a regular in the starting eleven. He’s feeling his way a bit at the moment but perhaps this is the game he will emerge as a leader. It’s that mad glint in his eye that I like.

Anyway, another derby is upon us, on our own midden – let’s hope the players are up for it. I have taken a bit of heart from the Palace win.

However, to everyone saying "please" let us win this one – sorry fellas, with all due respect, it doesn’t work like that. For us to win this derby, Goodison will have to be like a madhouse, and every one of the players will have to put a full shift in. Wish I could be there – Everton really need the fans behind the team more than ever at this point in time.

Cry Havoc.

Besic is due a goal and I think we can win this 2-0. Young Boys, watch out.

RS have been deploying 3-4-3 which looks like a 5-4-1 until they break.

Bobby's usual 4-2-3-1 might play into their hands because of spaces down the flanks unless he has drilled the wide men to track back so effectively we defend with two banks of 4.

Besic and Barry play far too deep at home and need to press a little higher up, giving room for Jags and Stones to attack long balls to their front men (unless Lambert starts).

Besic is definitely our catalyst. A few tackles will get the crowd going and if we are set up to be solid confidence will flow, overcoming nervousness on conceding the first goal which has dogged us recently.

We did have our own version. Unfortunately we sold him to the Mancs for pittance.

We have beaten a lot better teams at Goodison. We also play with more intensity against so called bigger teams. I am confident we will beat this lot today if we play to our ability. COYB!!

Robles

Coleman Stones Jagielka Baines

Lennon Besic Barkley McCarthy Mirallas

Lukaku

When they have the ball, 4-5-1. When we have it, break fast.

And a 34-year-old defensive midfielder certainly doesn't matter unless us and the team buy into the hype and let it affect us. If anything, we should be looking to exploit the parts of his game that aren't what they once were.

We have more than enough to comfortably beat these. Don't forget it was long ago they lost comfortably to Palace. Only hype and a mental block can stop us.

I am going the game and I intend to give everything I've got to make our players feel 10 feet tall. If 36 thousand others do the same, we will win.

Sorry to put a dampener on it, lads, but this afternoon will not be the last time you will witness that vile creature getting one over on us... just saying like.

Robles

Coleman
Baines
Stones
Jagielka

Besic
Barry (but I think McCarthy can come on to add bite and wish he was fit to start).

Mirallas
Naismith
Lennon

Lukaku

Parry Power are doing a money back special if it's a draw and Betfred are giving 3-1 promotion that Gerrard plays btw.....

I'm with Colin G, Gerrard is a vile individual. My favourite Goodison memory of him was a couple of years ago in the 2-2 when they had that last minute goal disallowed but he didn't realise and and ran the length of Goodison celebrating before it suddenly dawned on him.

I used to approach this derby with great anticipation and hope, now as anxious and bitter as most everyone else on here these days. I may try that yoga thing to lower the heart rate.

This particular individual (along with Aldridge, Redknapp, Thompson, Mcateer etc....) just makes my blood boil every time I see/hear him.

I’m just dreading the thought of seeing him as a pundit next year on the telly.

Cosmic grooves to all Blues.

Just getting ready to go to The Dark House early to get myself ready got a big win.

No you're not. You're going for several pints of Old And Filthy and a bag of crisps.

Enjoy....

So do I son, so do I. Class for one so young.

Will raise my glass to you later in TDH – Up The Blues.

Just got out of the bath (steady), had a read of Shelley – some revolutionary poetry – ready for anything now.

Rave on, Percy Bysse – Rave on, You Blues.

'One hope is too like despair
For prudence to smother,
And pity from THEM more drear
Than that from any other.'

With apologies to PBS.

Cheers Phil, chat tomorrow – posso waves.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/313619/preview

BBC presenter asks old man if he remembers the '67 derby in the FA Cup 5th Rd...

Lukaku will score today – I can feel it.

Directly into the path of a charging Hibbo who scores the winner.

Cue riot.

Link

Get video Eugene... I'd pay real money to see you reenact that.

Summed it all up there Lyndon

Translate it into Latin, slap it under St. Rupert's Tower, and there you have it - our new crest.

The War Drums begin to beat!

Oh, to feel that same joy as when Oviedo did Moyes's United!