Manchester City vs Everton

The attitude of "it's early days yet" is dated. The physical and mental demands of the Premier League require that you have to hit the floor running from the word go.

A key player will be Ross Barkley. He is due a game-changing performance and the news that Southgate is going to have a look at him some time should help overcome any nagging self-doubt.

The other way to look at it, Funes Mori starts with the sole objective of babysitting Aguero. They both play together for the same national team so I am hoping that Funes Mori will be aware of a few tricks to keep Aguero quiet. COYB!

A good test of Koeman's mettle and the next few weeks will hopefully see our good start consolidated, though a few more bad results and we will quickly be ensconced in the familiar mid table.

We definitely look more solid defensively and coped admirably with the barrage of Palace crosses and corners but it's been a while (Middlesborough?) since we looked in control of a game. That needs to change if we have European ambitions. Consistency is the key.

Back to important matters, press em consistently, there's mistakes in that defence and goalie... Problem being, can our lads do it? Or will they retreat into their fickle mentality "How dare he criticise us" mode (my opinion only, of course).

If we show them too much respect, we're in for a tonking. In their faces from the off: foul, bite, scratch, grab plums, whatever it takes. I don't need another shite, kick the dog, back hand the Mrs sort of evening if we lose.

Press, Press, Press and more Press

If Barkley is looking lost at any point, hook him off for Davies.

However, a big game and we know we can get up for these. The bit of complacency which helped to undermine us against Norwich, Palace and Bournemouth will obviously not be there and RonKom should have a Plan A (and B) up his sleeve against his old friend and foe, Pep.

The lads themselves will get themselves fired up and me waters are telling me there is at least a point in this for us. Probably a low scorer though.

Up and at 'em, you Blues!

What I would like to see tomorrow is someone (Gana, Davies, Deulofeu even) pressurising him every single time he has the ball. He is bound to want to show Evertonians what a great player he really thinks he is and will take risks with some of his turns. We could potentially unsettle their whole defence with that tactic and who knows what the outcome might be.

What are you on about, mate?

I would rather see Holgate than Funes Mori because he has more awareness and can help Seamus up and down that right-hand side.

However, it doesn't really matter who plays –they have to be up for it for 90 minutes and keen to get on the ball.

Old heads are important in these games and I hope Williams, Jagielka, Baines and Barry can exercise their influence on the pitch.

What I mean by that comment is that, although I am an Everton supporter, they (being Everton) just don't seem good enough for the Premier League. Look at the players Liverpool, Man Utd, Man City have got then compare them to ours.

I don't think any right-minded Evertonian believes that we can regularly compete at the level we wish to just now, however, we can only hope that the new regime will make a better fist of it than the previous one.

Tomorrow is another of those games which we will, in all probability, fail to win... but you never know until the game has been played.

I think it's about the psychology of the modern game became equally as important as it is, the physical/ fitness side. Look at Liverpool under their new, seemingly very good manager.

Koeman can provide to Everton a kick up the backside (when required), but equally, he is likely to build up each individual player's confidence, too.

Sunderland, yes Sunderland, did – they pressed and worked hard and Man City seemed to run out of ideas... that was in the earlier part of this season, they eventually lost with an own-goal in the last minute of the game.

If Sunderland can give them a good game, so can we, can't we? We can if we have a go and EVERYONE rolling their sleeves up and doing the best they can.

Hmmm, 'look at the players' eh.

Okay, tell you what... give H G Wells a bell, ask him take you back to the start of last season and using the same 'logic', give us your thoughts on Leicester. (Chortle – you're going to look a right twat come May 2016.)

Surely the lads will be keen as mustard to prove themselves. Man City will surely bring the game to us, which normally suits our style, and if we can do a high press on their defence, then perhaps we can catch out Stones and the new keeper, who likes to play sweeper.

Aguero will be our biggest worry, as the pint-sized genius seems to enjoy unpicking our defence, even out-jumping us last season. I am longing to see Lukaku streaking away with Stones in his wake, and thumping the ball into the Man City net.

Spurs have proved that the Mancs are not unbeatable and like us, City had not played many top sides until last time out. Of course the media were happy to overlook this fact in their case and continued to fawn over Pep.

A draw would be a boost to our credibility, but a win would send shockwaves through the football world. I recall Koeman's Saints beating them 4-2 not so long ago, could we see a repeat on Saturday?

But I do sort of get what you mean. I always feel that we are operating with half a team. When the other half turns up, we might actually have a very good team. (You have to blame our past managers and Kenwright for the shortfalls of the playing personnel.) What is that old saying? We nearly always "flatter to deceive". And yes it will always be difficult to keep up with the big spenders of the Premier League but a few teams have managed to break that mould, especially in the cups. But not Everton. We always fall short. FFS, even Wigan won a cup.

Are Everton a cup-half-full team, or a cup-half-empty? I'm proud of our history. You don't play at the top tier for over 50 years being mugs. And yes we held on by the skin of our teeth a few times but we are still here. And I cannot see our Premier League status being threatened any time soon. (Although thank fuck Martinez and his crew have departed.)But are we a hyped up? Not in my opinion. Are we a poor team? We could be better but if I wanted perfection, I'd have supported the great Barcelona team of a few years back.Do we have potential? Well again, IMO it's time that a few players started fulfilling that potential. Do we deserve to be in the Premier League? You bet we do. Can we beat City tomorrow? Hmmmm...

4-5-1, pack the midfield, close them down, and don't stand off admiring them. 90 minutes effort and, with some luck, we should get a point.

Unless, of course you are doing that predict every possible negative thing and then the positive outcome will be more likely to happen. Anyway, we have some good players, a good coach and the ability to win. Show no fear.

Also, to dismiss Leicester as something that can never happen again is based on what? I believe that the combination of motivated players who actually get on, who are a team, who get the thrill of walking out to Z-Cars can achieve anything. Strange stuff can happen when things fall into place.

I'd take a draw now. A goalfest coming up? Work rate will be crucial tomorrow. Let them play and good night! A good test to see how far we have come.

Their new keeper is no improvement on Hart and Sterling is very over-rated. They depend so much on the individual brilliance of Aguero and Silva; if Everton can keep them subdued, then they have a chance.

Fingers crossed Everton are all focused and have the right positive attitude from the off.

If Lukaku is fed, he'll score... so we just have to hope we can use the space they'll provide to consistently threaten their goal. I reckon they'll play a high line and so the pace of Lukaku and Bolasie could cause problems.

Congrats, the laziest response I've ever had on TW.

They will be well up for making amends for their last two games in front of their own fans. Sterling needs to be marked tightly but they have so many others too. 0-0 would please me. 0-1 even more...

For me, the back four picks itself:

Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Baines.

Likewise in midfield, two certain starters are:

Gueye, Barry.

On paper, these three behind or either side of Lukaku look good:

Bolasie, Barkley, Mirallas

In front:

Lukaku.

4-2-3-1

The challenge facing Koeman as I see it is can he get the three attacking midfielders to press well enough when City have the ball.

On top of that, one of them should really be able to win the ball back. That is really what we need Ross Barkley to be doing and I suspect why Koeman wanted Sissoku.

Replace one of them three with Ozakawi or Kagawa and the whole balance of the team improves. That has me thinking that he may even start Cleverley or Oviedo instead of Mirallas.

I think we will score – they look decidedly dodgy at the back to me.

Up the Blues!!

Certainly not by the British media, John.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/aleague-round-two-live-sydney-fc-v-central-coast-melbourne-derby/news-story/9fdae66585a1fe84e2fddd19f4acd345

I'm bloody speechless.

Evidently Chelsea are in black armbands because Willian's Mum passed on. Leicester for the Thai guy. Not sure why Man Utd were decked out with them recently (or was it England?) but isn't it getting a bit daft. I sort of get the Leicester thing but Willain's Mum?

My dog snuffed it recently – maybe I should have got black bands for all my work colleagues.

So you want a team full of humble mediocre players who will stay loyal because no other team wants them?

I reckon Koeman will earn his crust today; no doubt Ross was first name on the team list – I've got my eye on him!

Where's Pafos? Do I need a flight?

Hope they get some sort of result today mate, but I can't see it, if the last two performances are anything to go by!

Still, it is Everton, and as we know anything can happen!

COYB

I hear where you're coming from. I guess it's a case of where you draw the line. The black armband is now so prevalent it's almost ceased to be a talking point. Kind of defeats the object. The same has happened with the round of applause in a specified minute. It's all very trite and uninteresting to me.

And I'm sorry to hear about your dog. I'll get the missus to wear a black strap-on tonight.

Link

Substitutes
1 Robles
8 Barkley
11 Mirallas
16 McCarthy
19 Valencia
25 Funes Mori
30 Holgate

Hope I'm right 'cos it doesn't look a bad tactic.

I'm sure he'll use Barks and Kev when legs become tired

COYB!!

Fingers crossed for this one.

I wish they would just play the fucking game and forget all the nonsensical theatrics that go on before, during and after the match. God, I hate social media and the modern player. This is all Murdoch's fault.