Norwich City vs Everton

I'd also try Cleverly out so as to give some rest to JM.

Cleverly is the better attacker and his link up with Del and Seamus on the right could be used also on the left with LB and KM.

We've not really seen this tactic since the Pienaar Baines and Arteta axis. In those days we were feared because of this, so it's about time RM swatted up on recent Everton history and try out this simple but effective formation using Cleverly as the fluid fulcrum.

Tomorrow is all about three points. Bollox to any woodwork and bollox to how beautiful or intricate football we play.

Don't care if it's a boring 1-0 smash and grab.

Just come home with the points!

COYB

In hindsight, a closer game may have been the better option; I'm not relishing the 4½-hour drive.

Anyways, I can't seem to find any links anywhere for away fans, where to park, pre-match stuff going on etc... Can anyone fill me in?

We seem to play very well over there but allow them to nullify our impressive domination. A story which is becoming all too familiar. Dozens of set-pieces wasted, too slow in midfield, crosses not closed down and half asleep at the back.

We need to get on top and bury them. Be totally ruthless and not allow them a sniff. These canaries can bite. A glint of space sets them on fire. All avenues must be blocked by determination and fully organized concentration. We are the talk of the town at the moment. All coaches fear us. All fans fear us. Let us hit them hard early and hit them even harder later on.

I realise our squad is as strong as it's ever been but this lad is a talent I'd hate to see get disillusioned warming the bench before moving on.

They have got you stirred up at the moment haven't they?

Me too - it's great!!

Up the Blues.

It is a hard game to call, we have the best side, but is that cancelled out by their home advantage? How we haven't won the last two games, I don't know. Let's hope we can get 3 pts out of this.

I fear it might be more of the same though!

So many things to put right but not a hint that it will happen. According to Martinez, everything is perfect and going to plan but, deep inside, he'll know there are things which need to alter. His speeches are designed to keep the natives at bay while he gets through a few more windows. He almost said as much the other day when he talked about players moving out and players coming in.

Some coaches are forced to get there in a rush but not this fella. His job is safe and once every two or three years his squad will mount a challenge. This is one of those years so let's hope we can stay injury free. There are prizes to be won.

This is how Gerri got all the space on Monday. As a fellow winger I was amazed at his skills and the fear he put into their defence that went backwards on him and gave him the space. We then had an outlet ball. People mistake all the balls in being bad balls, they were well defended by Palace and on a few occasions we just had no one committing themselves to the front post.

Ross is great at this gaining respect and space in the first phase of the game.

One thing is for sure that we will do the same tomorrow - thus is now a consistent trait - however the outcome, potential mistakes at the back, missed chance, poor refs decisions etc can create the negative situation for us tomorrow.

I for one will enjoy watching the evolution of Martinez Everton and the skills on display.

Surely we are going to hammer someone soon!!

I totally agree that Martinez has a job for life if he keeps doing what he is doing, Sad that the reality is we will at best knock on the door of a Europe place but more likely fall at the hurdles.

Beat Norwich and we dream for another week, get beat or draw and we scream for another week. It's all so unpredictable.

That said, Barkley has started to discover that he can dart into the box when the ball is out wide, and we finally have a player who will deliver crosses into the box time after time.

Deulofeu has been fabulous so far, but I actually find it a bit rich of Martinez to let him play the way he does. Last year I believe Martinez instructed Baines and Coleman not to play early crosses into the box. It completely nullified two great threats. Now he's got a tricky Spaniard doing it and all of a sudden it fits the 'philosophy'.

I'm not convinced by the Martinez rhetoric, but the football has become much more enjoyable lately which is something we were crying out for.

As for the game, well, no changes for me unless Martinez thinks Baines is ready. The biggest change I'd like to see is Martinez' use of the bench. Last game was frankly pathetic when we were chasing a goal.

There is so much talent in this group it is scary. If Martinez doesn't harness it, it will be the greatest missed opportunity in Everton's Premier League history.

Most of the problems can be fixed in 3 moves but he has to be willing to take a punt and make them.

Robles for Howard
Play Mirallas on the left
Bring Lukaku back for corners

Probably won't happen but I am not going to let it stop me enjoying the good stuff being played at the moment.

We have no chance of top 4 if we don't start winning these games... We have a fantastic opportunity this year and we need to prove we can do it. Nothing short of 100% effort and a big big win will do.

COYB

No match is easy in this league, especially this season, and we've mostly done well against bottom half teams. Need 3 points today. Coyb!

Looking at the likely teams we have much more of an attacking threat and inventive midfield than Norwich. They will no doubt have decent patches in the game, but please let us not conceded first, take our chances, and see it out for a welcome 3 points.

It would be nice to have a run-of-the-mill away win away to a struggling side, rather than it being a win that we let slip to a disappointing draw...

Wow.

Who would you swop Lukaku with? Stones? Barkley? Deulofeu?

That's the spine of our side with an average age of 20/21???

It's about time they did, but with this man in charge it seems unlikely to me, here's hoping it does.

Fact is we can't defend and we have a chronic inability to defend our penalty box. It's been going on for over 18 months.

We've improved. However there's plenty more to do before I join the wankfest that followed leathering 2 abysmal sides at home before frittering away points giving away pathetic goals.

As thats the reason we are 9th & have won 5 league games.

However, we're 9th in the league, not because of some great injustice but because that's where we deserve to be based on our results. The standard of football has improved recently but we're still letting in silly goals that are costing us valuable points. We start every game with 7 defensive players and still cannot defend properly.

I mentioned on another thread that our current results will again see us let in 50 odd goals at the end of the season. Until we sort out the defense we can forget about top 6 never mind top 4, which lets be honest, barring a miracle, is never going to happen.

Norwich away is by no means an easy game but with 7 draws already, we really need to start getting 3 points on a regular basis (Leicester up next and they're flying...). Top 6 isn't far off we're only a couple of points away from 13th. A lot of teams bunched up between 6th and 13th and draws are not going to help break away from them.

In saying that, I think we'll have a tough game today which will probably end up as a draw..

I'll start to panic if we are 2 goals up because that's the time we tend to switch off and concede possession, and please let's not concede stupid goals.

One very nervous Evertonian, and we're playing Norwich!!!

COYB

Apologies I've not read all the threads so if mine is similar to someone else's post then apologies.

I don't agree with the "We can't defend" brigade as we can, we have and we have shown that. What we are struggling with are set pieces and yes this needs looking at as potentially this costs us say 6-8 points minimum.

We are a young side and one that is learning to win, learning to turn the draws into wins and I strongly believe we are very close to achieving this.

When I say "That's bullshit Bobby" it is said purely as a figure of speech and is by no way meant as a personal slur... However... "Thoughts of my own" yes... I have plenty both varied and interesting ones! But thanks for your concern. One of those thoughts that I considered (all by myself) is the fact that I often see people bickering on here and being massively negative.

WE are Everton football club and yes, discussions over the team, management and other things surrounding our great club will at times be conflicting as everyone has different views. But ultimately, we are all in this together and should respect and appreciate that.

3-0 to the blues today to take us away from that mid-table mediocrity! ;-)

As far as the defending's concerned, its when the ball is in the air where we are weak, its the manager that always draws the criticism, while the players get off scott free, well almost.
With the exception of Mori all our defenders are poor when the ball comes the aerial route, on the ground were pretty sound.

He could change Robles for Howard but I don't think crosses are Robles strong point either and I'm struggling to think of a defender in the squad that would solve our problem.

Maybe a 6'6" centre half is the answer!

You are correct about our defending but I think it can be fixed. The performance that has given me heart was our last outing.

Yes we let in a goal from a corner again but I thought Palace came to play and are a very good outfit and they can defend. They play the game like we used to - getting the ball out of defence and up the pitch quickly.

What I can see is a bond forming between these players that wasn't there this time last year.

By February of this year I'd had enough of our manager because we looked like a bunch of strangers on the park - that is no longer the case.

He has a long way to go before he wins me back over, however he has at his disposal a squad of very good young players. I don't know whether that is by luck, planning or a bit of both, but I find it very encouraging.

One thing I do know for sure or manager is here for some time to come.

So - I am going to look on the bright side and hope this isn't another false dawn.

I just heard LVG defending his non-scoring bores by (seeming) to say that you can't have everything and now HE has fixed his leaky defence it is up to the PLAYERS to transform all the draws into victories.

Here we have the opposite scenario. The MANAGER has got the attack performing well so perhaps its up to the PLAYERS to curb the flow of goals against. Certainly more defensive nous wouldn't go amiss – after all, that's what more than half the team are on the field for. Or are they?

Problem is, in this day and age, do we have that year or two for it all to come together? Will the young stars prefer to sit on the bench for megabucks at the moneyed clubs, or push for glory with us?

I think we all know the answer so let's enjoy what is happening now . We are being looked at, spoken and written about in glowing terms from far and wide.