Everton vs Aston Villa

I'm not a betting man and if I was I would never bet on Everton to win or keep a clean sheet.

As you pointed out Lyndon we should be expected to win against teams like Villa but it's never that simple.

On paper, we should win this at a stroll, but playing on grass is quite often different, especially with Villa needing the points for survival, even this early in the campaign.

COYB

I'm guessing tomorrow's match against Villa will be a lot more testing than it would have been before Garde took over. If nothing else, the new manager syndrome lasts at least a few weeks and I expect a long afternoon attempting to break down a well-organised opponent.

Over the years, games against Villa have usually produced quite exciting affairs but I feel tomorrow's could be about one goal deciding it.

We really need to be aware of the threat of Rudi Gestede, one of the most dangerous headers of the ball there is and well, I don't need to go into detail about our defensive vulnerability at crosses! But we dealt well with Andy Carroll so let's hope we do more of the same.

We need to win really, people say it's "must win" because frankly in these sequences of "winnable" games we have developed a bad habit over the years of drawing too many, this the main reason why we fall short of challenging. Games against Aston Villa and Bournemouth really need to be yielding the 6 points.

If Baines is fit, he should play. Personally I'd have loved to have him come off the bench a couple of times to get match sharpness but I'd rather have him at LB than Barry, who hasn't been doing a bad job lately at DCM. Also, given Villa will look to defend first, this should mean that Baines (from a defensive point of view) should have a relatively easy game to ease back in. It would also be good to have him back in the side for his experience and free kicks.

Which then takes us to the midfield. Assuming Baines plays, Martinez will presumably stick with McCarthy - Barry in the middle and Lukaku up top. So the only question is who are the three attacking midfielders? Personally I'd start with Mirallas, Barkley and Deulofeu as we need all the creativity we can get to break down Villa. Bit harsh on Kone but we're going to have most of the possession and are not going to be playing on the counter. Barkley hasn't been playing that well but you just never know – he might belt one in from 30 yards.

Cleverley and Kone on the bench give us some options. I'd push McCarthy up and make it more of a 4-1-4-1 formation with Mirallas and Deulofeu out wide.

Either way, we should be looking for 3 points... Yes, no easy games (blah blah); at the end of the day, they are crap compared to most of the teams we've played so far – and we're at home.

Is this too much too ask for?

At present teams are concentrating on marking Lukaku as we do not seem to have the same threat from anywhere else. Barry does not have the pace to play left back and would be seen as vulnerable by any other manager. Let us hope that Baines is recovered sufficiently to play as we do not have cover for either full back at present.

Howard will need to really command the six yard box if we are to contain Villa from crosses.

Give Mirallas a break and play him up front with both Kone and Lukaku. He on one wing and Deulofeu on the other should give us more than enough attacking threat. Surely our defence and midfield can cope with Villa at Goodison.

The one plus for Naismith and Cleverley as subs is work rate if required. Both are competitive enough and Naismith may well pop a goal in.Barkley is playing too passively IMO and should be much more robust and energetic, if brought on at half time or later. I want to see this lad fulfil his potential tomorrow, it is about time !!

I wouldn't be surprised though to see Galloway make a late recovery from his injury so Baines can be eased back in.

I feel it is important that we start the game with more energy than has been evident so far this season and I would hope that Kev gets some decent time at some stage of the game.

The hiding we gave Sunderland was down more to their abysmal defending than our attacking capability on the day. I believe Villa will give us a game so anyone who expects an easy three points – beware!

Again, anyone who watched Bournemouth vs Newcastle last week and saw them robbed, after they totally dominated 99% of the game, will realise there are no 'easy' points these days.

Howard
Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines
McCarthy, Cleverley
Deulofeu, Barkley, Kone
Lukaku

Mirallas does better on the counterattack and I think Kone's movement and ability to hold off a man will be better suited to this game which will surely be a tight one.

Deulofeu to take the free-kicks.

If I were the manager, it would be:

Robles
Coleman
Stones
Funes Mori
Barry

McCarthy
Cleverley

Deulofeu
Kone
Mirallas

Lukaku

I did a quick read and I am equally excited for Connolly.

Playing a newly-promoted side in the first few games of the season and playing a side that has a new coach. It seems in both cases those teams punch above their weight.

We are facing a side that has hardly had a win away in the last 3 seasons and, new manager or not, we should be sending them to another defeat.

FFS, we maligned Moyes for "knives to a gunfight"... now we should be scared of a bare-knuckle encounter!!!!

We really should view this as an opportunity for another 6 and start the game accordingly.

If we can't outscore Villa at home, then we don't deserve top 8 – never mind top 4.

Villa – with a new manager – getting a home draw against Man City is all well and good. But coming to Glorious Goodison Park, to the 9 times Champions, is a different kettle of fish. Villa will be cacking themselves.

Mark my words, we'll absolutely stuff them 1-0 (Baines, 89 pen).

Time to adopt an aggressive stance and get right in about them.

Kidding of course, but it does drive home the point that we have played 14/15 matches in all competitions and have had zero penalties (not counting the shootout). About time for one, I'd say. On the flippy, I don't know if we have conceded one either.... I should've stopped before I pointed that out.

Their new coach is trying a new style and they will be vulnerable. We have better players and we must beat them if we have any ambition whatsoever. We should not be making excuses in advance; we should be taking them apart.

Robles – never Howard
Coleman
Funes Mori
Stones
Galloway – Baines ain't fit

McCarthy – not sure why
Barry – we need an old head in front of the young back 4. Set pieces are sure to be a joke again.

Mirallas
Deulofeu
Kone

Lukaku

Of course, that will mean 2 goals or more at the other end past a very crowded parked bus. The slower the tempo, the more crowded the bus. I know nothing about their new coach but Martinez, backed up by ex strikers Graeme Jones and Big Dunc, seems to be full of confidence at the moment and will definitely have a plan. It has the look of a very bruising encounter and the young referee will need to be on top form.

They will all be busting a gut for their new boss, and their future, both as a team, and individually. I would take a 1-0.

I'm not suggesting one has to go, but if one did it's pretty clear to me which one. Barry was average last season but this year has been more like his first season with us. Although admittedly I do question his ability to play every game this season. He will need a rest at some point, but not yet.

Makes me nervous every single time.

In games where we expect to dominate possession like this, I would like us to drop McCarthy and try Besic, Cleverley, etc, fitness permitting. Just something different.

James may be a good DM and the long-term successor to Barry but I find him frustrating at times. It's been said a million times but his complete lack of offensive ability (mentality?) drives me mad. Too many safe passes.

His quiet nature is something I have to accept. It's the way he is. Let's face it. No-one is quieter than Jags and no-one is more loved than Jags. This is because he plays with zest, passion and desire. As quiet as a mouse but as brave as a lion. Always busting a gut for his team. I guess Ross could learn a thing or two from his captain.

Scoring first would be a big advantage as it could knock their confidence. Not something we've done very often this season though. Anyone got the stat on this?

I wouldn't be surprised to see Funes Mori score his first goal for the blues tomorrow (with a header from a Deulofeu corner).

On the subject of free-kicks, anything 25 yards out and Deulofeu must take it. He has perfected the Ronaldo up-and-over toe-poke technique.

Should Barkley take to his shell, then what do we have? Our two reilable DMFs. Two bloody DMFs at home against the bottom team. Can Martinez not just for once, drop one, and play Cleverley or Gibson, or even Mirallas. Osman would even offer more going forward. Besic is another option. He is even more attack-minded. But no, no, no... we have to have Barry and McCarthy at all times.

Just hope today that Everton get on the front foot from the start. Give ourselves the best chance of winning this game. And not chasing a draw, with our best football late on. Our forwards and Deulofeu should have space and chances today. Let's take them. And make our chances count. Stop Villa scoring. And score a few ourselves. Fingers crossed, I'm going for 3-0 or 4-0. Why not? COYBs

If Villa score, we will up the tempo and probably get the goals we need to win. Either way, we should have enough to take 3 points.