Everton vs Crystal Palace

Didn't we play one of those on Good Friday also when we had Arteta? Point being, that Friday football has worked for us in the past.

As for Palace, last time I saw them play when I was in person at the game we won 3-1 at their place with I think Bilic, Cadamarteri and Ferguson scoring? Or maybe Materazzi instead of Bilic.

Anyway, this whole bogey team thing is as relevant today as that game I saw because we've a different manager, different style and some different players. So I believe we will win 2-1.

Jags and Williams are fantastic at cutting out danger and blocking shots. Unfortunately, neither of them are particularly tall and dominant in the air. If Benteke steals half a yard, he's a real threat.

Great seeing Barry Venison's stupid face after rolling them over. The momentum going into the Cup Final was really starting to build by that point. Fond memory.

I think with injury concerns to Baines and Barry I'd compensate with a reshuffle and go 3-5-2. Bring Funes Mori into the three.

Stekelenburg
Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Funes Mori
Lennon, Gana, Cleverley, Bolasie
Barkley
Lukaku

Subs: Robles, Oviedo, Deulofeu, Mirallas, Kone, Davies, Valencia

I would like to see Lennon given a go in place of Mirallas and Funes Mori in place of Oviedo.

He went on to say that he has had open discussions with the players to see how they believe they can improve the pressing style he wants us to play.

I like the fact that he is open to hear the players opinions, he says they have specially worked on this part of the game this week and he is looking to see if it has improved us. I like everything I hear from Koeman's confidence in his own ability to listen to the players.

An interesting one, I hope we get a convincing win, but to be honest I'll settle for a squeaky one-nil.

Recovering is the thing now and it needs all of us associated with the club to get behind them and stop this ridiculous whingeing when we have a couple of bad games.

I'm really hoping to see three at the back with Funes Mori covering the left side, Williams centre and Jags right. It is balanced and I'm concerned about Palace's threat in the air. Losing Baines is a big blow, bigger than it should have been as we let good left-sided players out on loan and cover is limited when it shouldn't have been. Oviedo can handle left wing back and Coleman the right side.

Much hinges on Barry being fit and able to resume his strong partnership with Gueye in front of those three central defenders. Up front it's about the wing back service and width, but personally I'd love to see Bolasie close to Rom, with Mirallas behind them, but in a freer role.

That leaves no place for Ross in my line up of course. I honestly think he needs some time out of what has built into a pressure cooker situation where he tries too hard and headless chicken re-emerges. He'd offer much as an option later on the game from the bench at present. I don't think it will happen, I think he will play and my three at the back probably won't materialise. Should be a competitive game and I do expect a few goals. COYB!!

It looks like he's getting there, if not already there, but he took over a year ago. Klopp did similar at Dortmund. I believe we have the same problem. It's almost a change of culture, but we'll get there.

He just needs utilising correctly and he does give us a good aerial threat at set pieces. He has better pace and younger legs than both Jags and Williams which could be important against Palace's quick counter-attacks.

If Barry is fit, he must start and please, let's start with Bolasie on the left! Like one or two others, I'd like to see Lennon given a start on the right with Mirallas or Deulofeu maybe introduced as fresh legs in the second half.

I can't make my mind up over Barkley. Does Koeman give him one more chance to redeem himself? It's a vital game tonight. Anything less than a win will really burst our early season bubble of hope and expectation so maybe start Geri at #10 and leave Ross on the bench?

I think it will be a tough job to get players like Geri, Rom, Ross and Kev to continually press and close down high up the pitch. It's hard enough to get them to work hard at making forward runs. I'd love to see Yan and Geri start to whip in crosses much earlier and use Rom more for 1-2s. Yan seems to do this a bit but when it the last time you see Geri pass and go for a return?

One other point on Ram. I just noticed he's 6'-3'' whereas Jags is 6 foot and is definitely more of a threat when attacking corners.

It'll cost some players, even those on top lolly, their place at the club in due course, that course being, according to Koeman, three or four windows long. If I was in our squad, I'd be doing exactly what he says right now, starting tonight.

Lukaku has had poor service in the last two outings and the midfield needs to show more desire to get up and support him. Barkley really needs a good game. The cameras will be on him, and Southgate is about to name his squad.

We could go second in the rankings. Does he need any more motivation?

I think we will win tonight, 3-1, with Bolasie on the scoresheet.

Prove me wrong Blue Boys!

I would have preferred posing bollocks, at least he's consistent.

I'd drop Barkley for today's game. I just don't think his head is right. Really hoping that Goodison is rocking tonight. If the fans start getting on the players' backs then you can see it affect their performance one-by-one. Really need 3 points tonight with City up next.

COYB

The trouble is.,, I doubt whether some of them are up to it.

So live televised Friday night football is technically not new – except of course it is because it was before 1992 and football only started in 1992.

As regards the team, I would give Barkley a rest and try 3 at the back with Holgate and Coleman on the right and Bolasie and Mirallas on the left. Two up front choice between Valencia (yet to come good) Kone (will he ever come good?) or Deulofeu (for his unpredictability and pace).

That should give us a strong defence and attacking options left right and centre.

So, with all his shenanigans that followed, that led me to believe one thing: that he is seriously corrupt, and his shady personal business dealings only confirmed this. I'd prefer a bungling inept Moss to a blatantly anti-Everton Clattenberk.

Nuff said about that side of things so let's concentrate on what we need to do to get the three points. The first thing is for the team to show up from the start and not allow the opposition to gain confidence from any early jitters in defence.

We know Palace have some speedy guys so Everton have to be careful not to give ball away by silly passes. I would love to see a really stellar game from Barkley for once.

Let's hope we have a good go tonight, and then the crowd will get right behind the team.

I thought Lennon was right up Koeman's street, but there's obviously something he doesn't like.

We need to put last week behind us. A win and we can view it as a blip, a defeat would represent a minor slump in the view of many.

I'm quietly confident, but very nervous...

Otherwise unchanged...

Reminds me of a Martinez team, no left hand side, but plenty of midfielders. I hope Bolasie and Lukaku are on top of their game, because where are the goals going to come from?