Everton vs Leicester City

The last three games have really left us feeling like we have been nursing defeats, three draws from matches where throughout most, Palace the entire game and the first half at Norwich and Bournemouth particularly, we have been head and shoulders ahead of our opponents but we have had a combination of bad finishing, bad luck and bad circus act defending.

We must start winning matches; we are getting nowhere drawing every week. Really we should have been celebrating 9 points from the last three games instead of three, this will define whether our ambitions of a top 4/5 challenge are serious or merely pie in the sky.

Tomorrow we can make a huge statement by beating the high flying league leaders, whatever people think of Leicester being top, they are there on merit, they have been the outstanding team of the season, maybe the entire calendar year of 2015.

It will be interesting to see how we cope with the movement of Mahrez and Vardy, they have been every team's nightmare and our defence notoriously struggles with good movement.

A good win will set us up nicely for the Xmas period, and I expect nothing less.

Our Phenomenal Manager will say we were dominant for long periods, had bad luck and just need a little more ruthlessness blah blah, but the reality is we are likely to get stuffed. I don't care what their name is, they are the league leaders.

That said, we do look good going forward ourselves and might (with better finishing and a bit more luck) have scored a lot more than we have. It's the defence that worries me oh and corners we need our midfielders tracking back tomorrow because these have proved how quick they are on the break.

We left ourselves vulnerable a couple of times against Palace when chasing a winner so that worries me. I've said it before but I think this has got draw written all over it: 1-1 or 2-2. Hope I'm wrong!

With keeping Howard in goal, maybe he's not trying hard enough to improve us defensively? I just hope our forwards are a lot more ruthless tomorrow when they get a chance.

I think we will be surprised by how good Leicester are. Teams who top the table are normally a different 'kettle of fish' to the rest. They will be supremely confident. We mustn't underestimate them.

I haven't seen them play a full match, what's their usual tactics, counter attack or going at the opposition from the start?

This really is the pivotal game of the season for us. Win it, and it sets us up for Christmas, with the league-leaders scalp; lose it, and Lukaku's hopes of a top four finish will look as far away as ever.

We really do need to put a marker down with this game, and announce to the rest of the league, that we mean business.

I've seen quite a bit of Leicester this season and I won't be surprised by how good a team they are; they have played some fantastic football at a blistering high tempo and I think a lot of people just think of. "Leicester, oh they are a small team" but they are a damn effective team and I've always said, a team that works it's socks off together is almost worth a one goal start.

It will be arguably our most trying game of the season tomorrow as although we have played some of the biggest team's like Man City, Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea, none were really at the top of their game, the defeats we suffered to some of them were due to our own poor performances.

Tomorrow for me is against a team bang in form.

In case you haven't seen much of Everton lately, as soon as Leicester get a corner, your 4-0 prediction is over!

This is definitely a winnable game but only if we cut out the schoolboy mistakes at the back.

I have nothing but total respect and admiration for Leicester and their manager (written off by Chelsea, as basically not good enough) and the team who have been assembled on a limited budget, with no megabuck stars (as Man City / Chelski have).

It should prove an inspiration for every Prem team, and indeed Championship teams too, that it can be achieved by honest graft and team play. While I know it's relatively early in the Prem campaign for champions, I would be made-up if Leicester did it (assuming we won't) but not till after we have beaten them tomorrow.

COYB

I like a bet but I usually refrain on our matches.
The bookies have come down strong in our favour though.
I do think the timing is right for us to get a result on Saturday, but I don't think I'd be rushing to back us at evens.
11/4 for them is pretty generous considering the results they have had recently!

Still an Everton win for me.

But I do think Leicester will win tomorrow because they will simply outscore us due to our leaky defence. I predict 3-2 Leicester 1-1 at half time.

The United game, again I don't think United were that good on the day, it was a sombre atmosphere due to Howard Kendal's death and well, the team just didn't turn up that day, Manchester United had just been smacked 3-0 at Arsenal and were asking to be tested defensively, we just didn't do it!!

The salient difference between the two sets of statistics and managerial game plans – ie, to not worry about conceding goals so long as you score more than the opposition – is that Leicester have actually managed to do that, whereas we have – on most occasions – managed to atch the opposition score thus dropping the points that would otherwise have made this a top of the table clash.

Intriguing indeed, and a real shame it is not showing live on TV. I will be avidly following on the live forum as always so keep your comments nice and descriptive, guys.

Nevertheless I hope we give them a pasting. You just never know what to expect with us at the moment. One thing you can guarantee though is that this will not be a 0-0 draw. I am looking forward to a cracking game.

This game will suit them down to the ground. They love their counter attacking play and Vardy and Mahrez have a decent turn of pace in them.

We need to be careful and the second Kone starts lagging on the left in front of Baines, he needs to be subbed.

Baines isn't up to full match fitness yet and near the end of games he is left isolated so often with Kone not having the legs to cover for him, Barry tries but he is as quick as my dead cat.

Keep our heads and we can win this, then Leicester can go on and win the league. It's better than the usual suspects pissing it all the time.

If Marti­nez is to develop as a manager he needs to prove he can sustain form over the course of a season, rather than glimpses of magic interspersed with comic defending. If he can't crack that there's no way he'll hold on to the likes of John Stones and Lukaku, and Everton will find themselves with one hell of a rebuilding job on their hands. — Written by Toby Moses in The Guardian.

Very accurate in my opinion and those predicting a 4-0 win for us against Leicester might want to check their medication. It's interesting that even the mainstream media are beginning to focus on our defensive frailties.

I hope RM makes our players forget Leicesters form of last year and make them aware that only a top performance will get us all 3 points. I would also add don't think this game is over even if we get 2 goals in front, they have come back from a couple of games were they were losing 2-0. Also with our track record of not being able to hold on to 2 goal leads, should stop any complacency creeping in.

The Spanish kid can come around the hour mark and replace Lennon who will be feeling the pace then, thanks to Martinez giving no minutes on the pitch for quite awhile.

We can win this if everyone concentrates for 90 minutes and all the substitutes are used, preferably early and the defence does what it hasn't done all season, watches and plays the ball, not the man. Here's hoping.

If we hit them hard and fast, we can win, make no mistake, this could end up 4-3, but if we play how we can for 90 mins, a big if I know, then I fancy us to pick up three points.

How many seasons in the last couple of decades have fans been bored by the tiresome predictability of the top league? Any fans who are lucky enough to be at Goodison tomorrow, I hope they get behind the team, in the same way that Leicester garner support at their home ground but minus the silly clapping things obviously. Everton do need to win a league game and soon; hopefully at tea-time tomorrow we will all be celebrating a victory – but who would bet on it?

Our left-hand side is my worry as Mahrez has been running riot down their right flank. Watching the highlights from when they beat Swansea he seemed to be in the proverbial acres of space nearly all the time. Baines wasn't up to speed last week and although Kone does some tracking back his primary task is to get forward.

COYB.

James, that piece you're quoting, how does he know what the majority of fans think, there may be some such as yourself that doubt him but the majority? When we make loads of chances and don't score enough, is that his fault. When we give a goal away like the Norwich game, if there's players in position like the were and they can't get a head on it first, is that his fault!

Managers always get to carry the can, when most of the time i'ts the players who can't do the business, look at Chelsea most of them have played like their legs were tied together.

Leaving Deulofeu on the bench would be insanity...

He will get loads of space because they defend narrow and pack the box; if he's on-blob, he will have a field day.

I'm sticking with my prediction of a comfortable win, I repeat what I said on another thread, "They are not a good side". They are effective but are also very vulnerable and we will beat them.

Spot on. Leicester's back four defend the width of the 18-yard box. Early ball will see Deulofeu in lots of space. If he gets his delivery right, we are in business.

Mahrez wants to come inside onto his left foot, a lot depends on Galloway and Baines showing him the outside and Funes Mori covering the right-footed cross. Don't play too high line across the back four, negating the space for Vardy to make the diagonal run for the straight ball or the straight run for the diagonal ball. Most of Vardy's goals come that way.

Another is his choice of subs and, the timings, when he does,subs should be given more time to adjust not just five or ten minutes,even a few seconds, from the end, our biggest ,and most obvious,problem is our failure to hold on to a lead by allowing the opposition to exploit our 'two halves' habit dominating one then losing the second.

At present we are heavily reliant on our 'deadly duo' to provide goals,if either one is injured we are in big trouble as we have no other options available to penetrate packed defences, although Baines and Cleverley aren't afraid to have a go from distance, and though Barkley has this abiity he seems reluctant to use it given the chance, I was pleased to see their Hulk Hogan won't be throwing his weight around and this will help us take the points tomorrow I believe.

The manager is closer to his players, I mean information wise, so there can be issues that we're not aware of that influence his decisions. Of course he'll make mistakes like all managers none are perfect.

Although he had the resources at his disposal, Ferguson at Man Utd must have been as close to perfect as you can get as a manager.

The only game they lost this season was 5-2 to Arsenal and as we are considered "Arsenal lite" I will take us to win 3-2 or 4-2.

Having said that, we are due a clean sheet but can you honestly see Leicester not scoring against us?

Their injury list is De Laet, James, Schlupp, and Drinkwater, and Huth suspended. So they may be vulnerable to a pacey attack.

Last season when I watched the first Leicester game versus Everton, I thought (and posted) that if you squinted a little at the screen they looked like Everton more than we did. This season, they have eclipsed us.

Sad to say but a glimpse at their squad shows it is deeper and overall, more talented than ours. Look at their strikers and mids who can't even get time on the pitch as well as some of their defenders including the Frenchman they got from Atalanta. Odd that Ranieri turned around the defense from last season with Wes Morgan and Huth both looking like newly minted players. Great job by Leicester but they can start a new winning streak after this weekend's game.

Having said all of that, Everton will win. Stones will manage to actually win some headers. Deulofeu will hook up with Lukaku and maybe Mirallas too. Everton 3-1.

As for Jose, I think he may end up back at Real Madrid for next season after Rafa gets shown the door. He may be able to get them to buy Stones. If so, I hope we hold out for the ridiculous transfer fees they seem to be able to pay in the summer transfer window. I then hope we go buy Shawcross, with apologies to Colin.

With the frustration of the previous 3 league games still smarting, I fancy a tonking could be on the cards for the Foxes.

4-1 to the Ev.

Mirallas could then come on for the last ½ hour if, as seems likely, he yet again doesn't start, in place of any of RB, GD & LB.

Hope to hell we don't sell Kevin, he deserves a decent run in the side – that penalty farce last season was way overdone.

Leicester deserve to be where they are; I still believe we're well able to beat them. I think it's great to see a more even league this season... just hurting that we've so far missed an opportunity to be right in the mix at the top end. COYB!

You sound so confident of an Everton win I might have a dabble on them, you are most certainly right that we have a good chance of winning, especially if they play the full game and not just one half.

Many rate Cleverley, I've watched him since his Man Utd days and can see nothing that rates a contract, Ray Wilkins/Didier Deschamps, etc. he just runs and makes safe passes sometimes but the Echo had him as 8/10 last week @ Norwich, maybe I need a trip to specsavers.

League leaders at home, 3 pm Saturday kick off, a week before crimbo – great stuff!

As for the result, I've no idea – we're certainly capable of wellying them (or anyone else for that matter) but they are an incredibly hard working team plus we have no idea which Everton will turn up.

If the first-half Everton from last week play, it'll be a breeze, if it's the mob who showed up in the second half, we're goosed.

You have to take your (possibly half-Celtic, half-Everton wooly) hat off to them for their performances over the past 25 games or so and I do.

Anyway... that said... um... UP THE TOFFEES!

We are better than this crew, better in every single department, We're bigger, stronger, faster and we have more talent... even up front and right wing.

They are without two of their most influential characters and we are the home team... Okay, they have a stronger dug-out than us, but that won't save them.

I won't back us to win, those odds won't pay for Chrimbo. I'll be thinking more in terms of how many we'll win by when I walk into William Hill tomorrow.

I'm going for an emphatic win in front of a well up for it Goodison crowd... I can't fucking wait.

A slight contradiction from the pessimistic first paragraph, I think we will cope better with Mahrez and Vardy than a bustling front man who can bully both Stones and Funes Mori-witness how easily a journeyman footballer like Cameron Jerome pushed past Stones in the lead up to the first goal.

But then again. who knows knowing us, we may win 5-0!!

I started the week confident, no pretty confident we would do them because we are due to give someone a pasting and they are due a fall.
As time gets closer I'm starting to get the willies.

I still think if the team are in one of their going days we will win, but like you I wont be taking the even money.

We have to win, to show all and sundry that we are in with a say, and we may then have the confidence to put a few wins together.

Defeat will knock the stuffing out of us. A draw would be creditable, given their status, but who needs yet another one of those?

Pony up and buy the Extra Time package. It's well worth it. You'll never miss a game.

I'd like to echo Derek Knox's sentiments. Leicester are a club to be admired. They play their hearts out, and it's wonderful to watch. Not one prima donna in the whole team. As Eugene said, a team.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Two of the more exciting teams to watch. It should be a fantastic game.

If I had a Christmas wish, it would be to see us string six full-effort, high intensity halves together this Christmas season. Not one half sublime, then the next a silent but deadly fart.

Ho, ho, ho! Let's climb the table. Dare I say we deserve it the way we've played. Time to show our worth.

If Besic is healthy, play him; attached to Mahrez everywhere on the pitch. Young Muhamed didn't exactly stifle Messi in the WC. He did, though, make him work his ass off for the entire game. Mahrez is terrific, but he's not Lionel Messi.

Let's stop Mahrez.

On today's game we will have to show real spirit for 90 minutes if we are to win. Left side will be a problem.

They remind of a Moyes Everton team playing good football and getting results, the only difference is their manager is not afraid to win. I just heard OFM is out of work again: two jobs lasting less than a year yet he reigned supreme here for 11 years. What went wrong? Answers on a postage stamp please.

A lot depends on what the manager asks of a player. McCarthy, for example shocks us when he makes a foray into the box, or has a shot! It must be down to his remit from Martinez.

The other week, Barkley was playing in a deep role, in a very conservative way (just simple little passes here and there) and he was criticised on here by many. He was obviously told to hold back.

Given time, Cleverly will do well. The winner today will be a fine start.

Hat-trick for Rom - 2 pens, Barkley 1, Gerri 1,

What odds will I get on that?

There is a Father Xmas isn't there?
Oh and I still believe in fairies.
Howard MotM?????

I'm thinking we will thump them today. 4-1

That's my new prediction and I think a Lukaku hat-trick.

Still 8-5 or 4-1 still gives us an extra three more towards the goal difference – any winning score will do me by the way.