Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur

Let's pray he's learnt his lesson... Hang on, where have I heard that before?

But tomorrow is another day so let's put the negativity away and get behind the blues. I'll be delighted by any type of win, but against Spurs it will be even better because of their delusional supporters who seem to think that they're a big team.

A scrappy 1-0 to bring the New Year in.

If Cleverley is unfit, it's a clear chance for Besic to come good.

It galled me to see Cech get Arsenal all 3 points today but I guess Robles will have to wait for midweek for his chance.

My favoured team:

Robles;
Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Galloway;
Cleverley (Besic), Barry;
Lennon (Deulofeu second half), Barkley, Baines;
Lukaku.

Paul Merson reckons we are very close to clicking, and that when we do we'll go on a very successful run. I'm inclined to agree.

If we don't win this, we are not many points off a relegation battle is what worries me; another draw or defeat is not good enough.

I am concerned Martinez will have his eye on Wednesday's match with Man City and could be thinking that a win on Wednesday night would be more important and beneficial to the club long term. I say this because of his comments earlier this week that Spurs are capable of winning the Premier League – what a great group of players Pochettino has assembled, how good they are as a team, and on and on... possibly true... but hang on a minute. It is not really what I want to hear from an Everton manager. Didn't we used to hear this quite a bit from our former manager, the white flag up before a ball is kicked?!?

Are Spurs a decent side? Yes, they are. Are Everton capable of beating them? Yes, we are.

A victory over Spurs will set "our group" up nicely for the semi-final match; whereas, dare I say it, another home defeat will be disaster for Everton. So a big performance is required from all concerned tomorrow at Goodison – we have to win this one.

Yes, he's had his injuries... but it's criminal that Cleverley gets the nod more than this guy. And, yes, if any other TWers want to disagree, then go for it.

My worry with Roberto is that he really is totally unable to digest the fact that Everton are one of the biggest clubs in England, hence his repeated attempts to big up the opposition, which would have been normal when he was at Wigan.

For me, it is not good enough for Everton and is the first sign of weakness that other teams repeatedly exploit, week after week.

How wrong can you be.

I remember last season. A lot of us who wanted this clown out said that we'll give him till Christmas 2015.

We'' Christmas 2015 has been and gone. Are we anyway shape or form further forward? NO!

Do we look like we're going to stop shipping goals like the Titanic loved salt? NO!

Do I want this ex Wigan, UCL wannabe, Barca in his dreams out and away from the club I've loved for over 50 years?

..........

Spurs will NOT win the league, even with all the goings on this year. Yes I am aware he says positive things about the opposition al lot of the time.

Respect for fellow managers is one thing; confidence in your own ability and that of the team you manage is quite another.

It's not very often you hear a manager of the top 4 to 6 teams "bigging up" Everton as you put it, certainly not as much as Martinez does – there is a reason for that. Martinez does his "bigging up" about how good Everton are / were after the match and unfortunately lately it is a hard luck story or something or someone to blame, but never him.

That needs to stop and he has to "manage" better just like he says the team have to "manage" how to control a match from a winning situation. Mirallas has to start tomorrow in my eyes.

It is time Robles got his run in the Prem, but cannot see it happening.

Squeaky bum time tomorrow, I fear.

He probably earns around £3 million a year!! He would walk away with big bucks if BK got rid of him and there are no doubt other club chairmen, either here or on the continent, who would be stupid enough to listen to his "I can get you into the Champions League" bullshit...

Nah, RM is under no pressure at all; he just likes the sound of his own voice talking bullshit, bullshit and more bullshit.

We've heard all the excuses for recent failures but this is a good squad who should be well capable of getting into the top half dozen (at least) by May.

Of course it will largely depend on Romelu keeping fit and well and I am sure work will have been put into tightening up the defence (won't it ?).

I've targeted another 38 points from the 57 to be played for. I am confident three less will remain to be won by this time tomorrow.

Our only hope is that Naismith starts and he winds the Spurs lads up, as he did when he came on at Spurs back in August.

On the subject of RM, if he had not have gotten the EFC job, where would he be managing now? He'd won the FA Cup but also got relegated.

In my opinion, we are the only 'big 7' club that would have given him a second glance. Which means he's mid-table at best and probably why we are where we are.

Rebound positivity has just kicked in. We'll win tomorrow 6-5. Neutrals from as far afield as Carlisle and Tunbridge Wells will be singing our praises.

Every single match we play, I want us to win, but whatever our manager says and does is all relevant in my opinion.

Tomorrow is a huge game for us, one that could be a launch pad to a decent run. I would like Martinez coming out and saying stuff like that, but of course if he did he invites pressure and more scrutiny to himself and his position, so just like he says we play wonderful football (and we have done) he needs to say it like it is sometimes.

Robles
Coleman
Stones
Jagielka (if fit)
Baines
Lennon
Besic
Barry
Deulofeu
Mirallas
Lukaku

Robles
Coleman
Jagielka / Stones
Funes Mori
Baines
Barry
Barkley
Besic
Mirallas
Deulofeu
Lukaku

I would love you to right with Robles! If Jags was fit, I would drop Stones actually. Lennon, I'm not a fan in general, but he might just play out of his skin tomorrow if he gets a nod.

I think we need Barkley in there also.

As for the game, really looking forward to it. In fact looking forward to second half of season and hole we fair better. Fingers crossed we can get Jags back for Carling Cup, particularly away game and buy some good players this month.

I also think we should approach with a little bit more caution tomorrow because these are in form and have strong defenders so we cannot afford to go behind.

If we control the ball I beleive we will win however if we approach this like we have the last 3 gamea we will get beat.

That's why I put "big 7" in inverted commas. And this season "big 4" which is referred to in some media - doesn't exist either.

However, my point was regarding calibre of manager. The top echelons of the league (or those who aspire to it) would never / rarely countenance a manager with RM's track record and history.

Robles, Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines, Barry, Besic, Barkley, Deulofeu, Lennon, Lukaku.

COYB!

The priority now should be to find the staff to sort out the defence.

An immediate and obvious change should be Howard, he is finished at this level.

Martinez is in a fortunate position because EFC is currently going nowhere. He is under no pressure to win anything, all he has to do is to avoid relegation battles.

Good call...

We know they can play. Just need to see them stand up and be counted now. Season's on the line - put your bodies on the line.

If however he plays with the wingers from, Lennon, Deulofeu and Mirallas, any two of them to start then bringing one on as a substitute, plays Besic with Barry then we have a chance.

Remember though that Spurs have only lost two league matches and have conceded less goals than any other team in the Premier League, so it won't be easy but it can be done.

Robles

Coleman
Galloway
Funes Mori
Stones

Baines
Gibson
Barry
Barkley or Mirallas
Deulofeu

Lukaku

It's like a weight being lifted. I will watch the remaining games and actually enjoy the experience. The cups are a different matter. I expect results there!

Against the Spurs, we will be better at he back, and lose a little going forward.

1-0 Everton.

RM seems to be winging it and hoping the offence will carry the team through but without a tighter midfield control and better concentration by the back four then things will remain the same.

Since the Bournemouth result, he has apparently done little to correct the weaknesses and they are leaking goals.

Thank God Ossie will be back against Dagenham!!!

Eventually, the monkey worked it out...

It's got to be frustrating for Martinez that he can set a team up to score but not defend. Sooner or later, will he stop getting shock after shock and actually work it out????

With disarming frankness, Martinez accepts most of these charges.

"As Everton manager, I take responsibility; we have to be a winning team," he says.

"We should be winning games and winning titles, not just looking to compete and hope for a win. Winning is in this club’s DNA and it has been too long since we won a title. We have the talent at this club: we are not quite the finished article yet, otherwise we would be top of the league, but we have to try to win something in the next five months."

After recent poor form and diminished expectations it would be very Everton like to win tomorrow. Can't see it though.

Funny enough, their strikers should suit Stones more than the quick fast tricksters of Leicester and Stoke. For me, our boy has been a massive weak link. Dawdling on the ball, no urgency, passing to the opposition, hesitant in the air, losing his man and woefully slow. A strange loss of form from a normally top class player. Definitely never looked fully recovered from his bad leg injury and suffered a big dip in confidence. We need him back to his best and I'm expecting a much improved performance tomorrow. Come on Stonesie boy.

Mo Besic was probably being saved for the Cup game but injuries to McCarthy and Cleverley might see him in the starting line-up. Way off the pace and looking a bit lost in his sub role against Newcastle, he's more suited to this role than the attack minded ex United lad. Let's hope his leg holds up.

Barkley and our attackers will be tightly marked by big heavy mobsters who put the boot in and referee Oliver will need to stamp his authority early on.

As for Ross. The manager should order him to stay away from taking corners and freekicks and get his big 6'-2" frame into the box. Deulofeu is far and away the best striker of a football and his recent quick, dipping freekick for the Spanish U21s was awesome.

No excuses against this straightforward Spurs attack. They work hard but are certainly not special.

Oliver (#60), blimey! Did he really say that? Now I have one less reason to hate him other than his ineptitude! Despite this admission, his performance over the next few weeks, whether we can overcome city like some of the pluckier teams, will be key. No trophy and mid-table finish should surely be the curtain on this failed experiment.

People seem keen to compare him to a past player and then point out why he fails to meet the criteria for that player. He should be judged on his own merits just as Gerrard or Cahill were.

He's in our best 11, no doubt about it for me.

People seem to blame him far too easily if you ask me, and he's improved a lot on crosses and commanding his area recently. We need to play deeper and stop attacking like Wigan. We're too gung-ho and getting punished for it every game, yet you all blame the keeper.

Our problem is not Tim Howard, it's our lack of balance in attack/defence that costs us game after game and the reason for that is our kamikaze manager. Yes, we're exciting to watch, and yes we score plenty of goals, but it's at the expense of defensive cover and that's because of the 10 outfield players, not Howard.

Let's stop having a go at Howard. Other players have got off likely when defending. Let's work harder as a team to stop crosses and shots then Howard cannot make so many mistakes.

Strange how Tottenham make few changes and look solid all round the park. Could it be the coaching?? Lucky guess, I supose!!

Hopefully we'll see that tomorrow. Enjoy the game all. No booing please. Make a placard to direct your voices...

And Everton were very average!

I was a Martinez fan but my frustrations are the same as everyone else's but I do feel we are very close to something special (granted it could all go the other way) and sometimes you need to be careful of what you wish for.

I would give him this season and pray that defensively he turns it around and as a consequence pray that JS, RL & RB et al all see the value of staying with EFC and don't get their heads turned elsewhere. Come on blues make 2016 a good one for the best most loyal and realistic fans in the world.

One thing is for sure, we will have to score a "few" goals if we are to win it so that means Lukaku, Deulofeu, and Barkley must at least start the match. That however presents another dilemna as neither Deulofeu or Barkley can defend.

My solution to that problem would be to play Gibson and Besic either side of Barry in a midfield of three. That would give Dier and his gang something to think about.

Tell the full backs not to cross the halfway line and keep bringing Lukaku back to defend corners.

My starting 11 would be 4321

Goalkeeper
Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines
Gibson, Barry, Besic
Deulofeu, Barkley
Lukaku

I really hope we win this - I never have liked Spurs much.
One thing I don't want to see is them bullying us.

Up the Blues - Grrrrh!

I was at the return fixture in August when Danny Rose near crippled one of ours (might have been Cleverley). He wasn't even booked for the catastrophic lunge and we were all gobsmacked.

I feel confident about this one even with our shaky defence. Big win for the blues coming up.

Also, this second-rate manager has to go. We have one of the best squads in the Premier League.

Cast your mind back to the Stoke game. We were 3-2 up and Cleverley gets injured, what does our pratt of a manager do? Puts on a centre-forward instead of a defending midfielder in Besic. By the way, West Brom beat Stoke yesterday...

I feel that Martinez has already got his excuses lined up, then again a miracle may happen and we actually win the game.

I'd like to see Mirallas get a decent run out because he may try and use this game as a bit of a shop window.

Anyway, I'm bustin' for a win today (as always of course). 6 of the guys I work with are Spurs fans – all wind-up merchants, including the boss, who I have a regular wager with, and I need to get some winnings back! But there are a couple of Arse fans too so they will be rooting for us.

I do think we will do it today (so hopefully that's not the kiss of death then).

Get in there, you Blues!!

As for the game, I fancy Tottenham to nick it, unfortunately, 2-0.

If we lose, the pressure on him, and his job, will ratchet up another notch; we'll see if he has paid any attention to our defensive woes this afternoon.

Spurs are a decent outfit and will be hungry for the win; will the Blues though?

Got to change keeper; Besic in for more energy and bite; same reason for Naismith. Also, in defensive plays,Naismith will be on Alli because Barkley will just let him go past him. Scrappy 2-1

I hope I'm wrong, but ffs, its' every match now. If you don't include Lukaku and at times Barkley, McCarthy, Barry, Stones and Deulofeu, we have been utter crap for a month+ now.

We'll need to shape better than the away match when they were without Eriksen, Howard played a blinder, Cleverley got cut in half and we only managed two shots on target.

I well remember that game. Chadli was on their left wing and Seamus stood off him all afternoon. Let him do as he liked. I was livid. Barkley was completely shut off and the big fella up front got no service.

This time we're at home and scoring goals. How many we need to score is anyone's guess but we're due a win and the defence can only improve. Let's hope it's our day.

Having said that, he's been prepared to give a chance to kids from the lower echelons of the British game although he seems to have a pension for defenders. Strangely.

Personally, I'm more focussed on what happens now rather than the long term future as time is running out for me and I've had enough of 'jam tomorrow'. We've got some very good players at the moment and it's time for this manager to show he is capable of deploying them to maximum effect. Starting today.

And to make matters worse, it's serial bogey team Tottenham who I can count on one hand the amount of times I can recall beating them at Goodison Park this past 20 years.

It's hard to see any real change today.

It is sad to see the demise if Tim Howard, this season and last. I contend he has been a good keeper/servant for Everton but he appears to be fearful of injury at the age he is, and he is clearly avoiding risk, such as his reluctance to barge out to collect crosses. Robles may not be the answer, but we have to try something?

surely someone in the team will do some bollocking. We have been too nice and gentlemanly. Sorry for the language.

I've always disliked them. Their fans are the Kopites of the south and I'm desperate for a win.

I'd play Besic and Lennon today and maybe even Naismith at some stage just to upset them.

I really don't get this "we can't/won't win" mentality... of course we can win and, if we stay focused for the 90, we will win.

On a few occasions last season when the shape went and we were shipping goals all over that Martinez went into a very boring deep shape – three defensive mid strung across midfield – and the plan seemed to be to not concede at all, the Goodison derby springs to mind. It actually appeared that, holy fuck, we had been working on shape and organisation!

At the beginning of this season we appeared to have some shape and organisation but the total lack of responsibility and discipline has kicked in, again, and we are currently a shambles.

I would much prefer it if we got some shape, sat deep & played on the counter. If we do what we've been doing lately we will get beat easy, Spurs are a talented side that are much better drilled and organised than us and we will just get had off if we do.

However, our Christmas Tree has been taken down and removed from the room for this match now as I need l to be able to hide behind that bloody couch!

To quote Keegan, I'd luv it, I'd luv it if we worked it to them... COYB

ps: Screw the media!

Never mind caution, We should go for their jugular, attack, attack but at a higher pace than the flimsy build-up play we usually put together. Don't give them time to think. We have no problem scoring against anyone.

Teams that are in-form can be over-confident and I think that will be their down-side today. I fancy us to beat them.

But not if we start pissing around with the ball, playing triangles at the back. Spurs aren't a team that you want to invite into your own backyard. So we must go for them from the first minute.

Let's make Goodison somewhere to fear once more.

Howard
Coleman
Stones
Funes Mori
Galloway
Baines
Lennon
Besic
Barry
Mirallas
Lukaku.

I have gone for 5-4-1 formation with Deulofeu, Kone & Barkley coming on to chase the game and Gibson Osman Naismith to close game out if winning.

For those who think the game will follow our usual pattern at home and end in a draw, 28/11 is available.

A very close market indeed. The Blues have my shilling as always.

Who thought Man City were good when they beat us 3-2 at Goodison the season before? Liverpool actually won 13 or 14 matches out of 15, that very same season.

This season is even madder, with everyone beating everyone, if you take Everton out the equation. Fuckin hell... if we would have got the results our performances warranted over the last six weeks, we would be thinking we could win the league ourselves.

The EPL, is very short on quality at the minute, and going forward we are a match for anyone. Sort out this defence of ours and we could have a great 2016.

Happy New Year, to every Evertonian; let's hope we are all in a happy mood tonight!!!

Robles
Coleman
Stones
Funes Mori
Baines
Deulofeu
Barry
Besic
Barkley
Mirallas
Lukaku

We have the right team (almost) but the wrong manager; our neighbours have the wrong team but the right manager.

I still believe, if we give Robles a chance, also bring in a keeper and a second striker, we would have a squad capable of causing damage... if only our manager could grow a pair, pick players in form, and sort out how to defend> You have the players, Bobby... ffs, go for a Plan B.

Personally, I think the EPL is all the better for it; who knows if we stop playing like an Under-11 team, we may get in the mix... oops! Positive vibes only before kick-off.