Everton vs Chelsea

I don't think Lookman will start; yes, he got a couple of shots off when he came on last week... but, apart from that, looked extremely lightweight and got easily dispossessed on numerous occasions.

A draw at best but I really do hope I am wrong.
COYB

Funny, but I feel a bit giddy about this one, all excited like a big kid. It has little meaning for us now on the one hand, but should act as an important measure against a top side, who will be going all out for their own reasons.

Can't wait!

These games have often been great in the past, hoping for more!

Wonder what would happen though, if he had a total 'mare, kept falling over his own feet...

I shouldn't say that!

That's my 'set yourself up for ridicule' post... 😄

That said, I expect a far better courageous display than the lightweight nonentity we witnessed last weekend; anything less and I'll be disgusted by it.

We are going to need to be big brave and strong if we are going to beat Chelsea, I don't think Chelsea are the best champions elect I've ever seen; I believe they are winning a poor Premier League that's been in transition for a number of years now.

I'd love to see Barkley and Lukaku turn up and have huge games tomorrow after the regular debates about if they can ever do it against better opponents.

Lukaku scored twice in the Quarter Final against Chelsea last year, more of the same will do.

The staggered start times of our game and Spurs v Arsenal is a little twist in terms of the position at the top, and mentioned by Conte the other day.

Lukaku has netted league goals against the following..

Liverpool 3

Manchester City 4

Manchester United 0

Arsenal 1 (also 1 in Cup 2014)

Tottenham 1

Chelsea 0 (2 in Cup last year)

Following is Ross Barkley's record..

Liverpool 0

Manchester City... 1 (plus 1 in Cup)

Manchester United 0

Arsenal...1 (think he was awarded deflected goal last year?)

Chelsea...0

Tottenham...1

Ahem.

I see this season – as with many before it – just drifting to a boring conclusion with all our hopes focussed on 'next season'. Yet again.

I've been really looking forward to this one, my wee rate is up to once every 90 minutes. Don't shoot me down just yet.

I'll join you tomorrow for a full-on rant & sulk if we play crap.

Number of games played against those teams.
Scoring ratio of those players against lesser teams.
Scoring ratio of comparable players (Kane, Costa, Ibrahimovic, Alli etc.) in similar games.

For example, one charge often levelled at Lukaku is that he doesn't do it against the big teams. The BBC showed a statistic a month or so ago that showed that, actually, he has a better scoring record against the top six than the other leading strikers in the Premier League. No-one has a good strike rate against the top six because they're harder to score against, that's why they're in the top six.

On tomorrow's match, it is hard to see us winning. We are becalmed in 7th place, with little realistic chance of closing the gap, whilst they are under pressure and playing for the Title. Our home form is good and we might give them a game if we attack the way we can.

They have had some tough games and perhaps we can take advantage but we will need to be good all over the park and we will need a catalyst a la Naismith, who had no respect for reputations.

After the mauling we got down at the 'Bridge we certainly owe them one. However I forecast a 2-1 defeat tomorrow.

4-1 Everton, Lukaku hat-trick!

We are a different team now, and I fully expect us to put in a gut-busting performance tomorrow. We need to right that wrong.

I agree with Lyndon's lineup. I'd like to see Valencia start.

We have cemented 7th spot now. This will be Chelsea's toughest fixture. Big teams will grind out wins when they are under pressure. Chelsea will do this and probably grind out a 1-0 win.

"Love us to win but it will be one step too far for the blues today against a quality side. A draw at best but I really do hope I am wrong."

Pretty negative. We beat Arsenal here, Man City 4-0, have only lost once at home and won eight on the bounce.

We can win. Grow some balls!

Jagielka would be the more obvious choice to mark Costa.

If you find out who Joey is backing, then don't follow him. Joey backed more losers than me and I've backed plenty, Joey couldn't pick his nose, as they say...

Ian Wright suggested that "David Luiz still has a mistake in him, but gets better protection than if he were down the family planning clinic". He was referring to the protection provided by the midfield 4.

Personally, I'd let Gueye shadow him all over the pitch and not give him an inch. Difficult ask but Palace and United have beaten them recently, so it shows they're vulnerable.

Still, having said that, I still think we ll finish 7th regardless of whether we win tomorrow.

Yes, having Matic and Kante ahead of you must do wonders for your confidence.

Chelsea are in for a very tough game and whilst I really don't want Spurs to win the title, I can see us getting at least a draw if not the 3 points. Make no mistake, Ronald Koeman is going to want a result badly.

With our home form and only Coleman out, I am surprised by the negativity. (Then again, having been on TW for over a decade, I probably shouldn't be...)

We have a fairly decent record against the Chavs at home so I expect a win tomorrow. They have a bit of pay-back to deliver to the fans after the shambles at Stamford Bridge so I'm going for a 2-1 win.

COYB

I am sure Conte will be looking to win this game and keep the gap to Spurs, so it should be an exciting game. Everton have absolutely nothing to lose in going all out for the win, so to see 2 teams both trying to win will make a difference to the usual of the away team being more cautious than the home team.

Man for man, Chelsea are far better than us, I would suggest that none of our team would get in their team. But I still think with the right mindset we can match them in a one-off game.

Like others, I think Lukaku will go missing. I suspect he's already house-hunting in West London and in spite of some of the tough talking on these pages, if the fella wants out then we have to sell early to recycle the money into the team.

We know that the manager does like to turn to his most trusted players in games like this and will not want to be still wondering "Will he/won't he?" ahead of an inevitable deadline day move where it will no doubt define our season.

Last week, the players didn't turn up so tomorrow, with a full house, I hope Everton put on a show and do a professional job.

No doubt the media will be doing overtime on Rom, but Koeman will be demanding a show tomorrow. Let's hope so. With the crowd roaring, I'm gonna stick out for 3-1 for us (I've not had a pint yet!) – let's hope we win!

I think it might be close, but they have a favourite's chance. The pluses for us are it's a home game and neutrals expect us to lose, so we should go for the jugular, not just try to contain them.

My view – I think it will an exciting close game, but unfortunately I think they will shade it.

Man Utd and Man City will probably be above RS this weekend.

Something like a back four, four defensive midfielders behind Lukaku and Barkley. Anything other than a 5-0 defeat will be touted at the press conference as a disappointing improvement.

There's every reason to expect a high scoring game from two sides with a high goals tally. I can see us winning this 4-3 or something like that. It could of course be the other way, but as I say, our better home results gives us the edge.

Robles only got his place when Stekelenburg got injured, and admittedly played well for the most part. I think the realisation of not being a shoo-in is good for any player to keep them on their toes, and therefore sharper.

Off topic - can anyone suggest a likely link/stream for the boxing?

Stekelenburg
Holgate Jagielka Williams Baines
Idrissa Schneiderlin Davies
Barkley Valencia
Lukaku

Subs: Robles, Pennington, Kenny, Barry, Besic, Lookman, Mirallas.

Would like to see Kenny given a bit of time for Holgate – he offers a lot more pace & works very hard.

I think Rom is a gonna but if we can replace his goals with 2 guys who score 12+ goals a season each, we may be okay. Josh King falls in that bracket for me... very much so!!

I like Lyndon's team with the exception of Holgate. I like young lad but I am concerned for him if he starts at right back against this lot.

Like Geoff Williams, I think this is a game for Barry to start in. I wonder if Gueye could do a job at right back and Barry goes into the midfield???

I always listen to the crowd when a fight is on the radio, it tells which way the fight is going, the crowd was quiet for much of the fight but came alive in the 11th round when Joshua put his opponent down twice for counts of eight and then the referee stopped the fight with Joshua raining blows on his gallant adversary.

Well in, Joshua.

Fast forward to 2014: 3-6 defeat (my son's 1st game! Jonah??) 2-0 win in the FA Cup, just fantastic; 3-1 win with more coins hitting kids & blokes in the Park End. (Why can't the club put a net up in between both sets of fans?)

Anyway, I can't wait for today's game... I've had 3:2 in my head all week! I'd take any win just to fuck the rent boys right up.

A club I've despised way before the dodgy Russian turned up.

COYB.

Time to stand up and be counted, Boys.

I just hope the players give a good account of themselves and stick it to Chelsea. Two contrasting managers on the touchline. Costa will be at his best I love his passion, Rom could learn a thing or two from this striker...

No prediction from me. If you're going to the match, enjoy it and do your part to help the team.

Why is an honest opinion being negative? Of course I hope we batter them and will be thrilled if we do.

Sadly they are a better team than us who have performed consistently better than us all season. Is that a fact or a negative eunuch?

Realising last night that I had a crazy day ahead I took a moment to stand by the window overlooking The Waterfront - - dark blue, cobalt blue, blue water, dark blue sky with stars shimmering in the evening light and bouncing off the water - - for a moment I was on the Bridge over The Rhone hand on Vincent' s shoulder under a Starry Night - - or maybe with Camille Pissarro on Boulevard Montmarte at night (have a look at it) and possibilities of revisiting these places on Blue European Trips - - went to Wolfsburg a few years ago and took some of our gang from TDH to The Hannover Art Gallery.

Sunday morning 7.00am - - listening to some Erik Satie - - those European Dreams were with me all night - - “My dream is to be played everywhere…..” - - I went to his house in Honfleur - - amazing - - you can go upstairs to his attic and there is a sort of carousel in the middle of the room but just with 2 bicycles - - when you peddle the lights on the carousel go on and Gymnopedies plays - - absolutely off its cake - - also visited Boudin's house in Honfleur and Le Chat Noir in Montmarte. - - and sat in my downstairs room - - full of early light - - reading William Blake - - “If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is - infinite.” 

I have been reading some bits on the Cold War and amazingly the Ipcress File was on yesterday - - much better the The Bond stuff - - made me think about people who had been tortured - - remember reading Koestler and his writings on inside and outside The Communist state - - “Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears.” ( Maybe he was an Evertonian)

Upstairs - - early morning pale yellow light coming through the windows - - the City and River look like a Turner masterpiece - - listening to CSNY ”Sunday in the afternoon What have you got to lose” - - at my desk surrounded by all my memory tweaks - - pens and pads, notebooks, photos on the wall - - my little Goodison Snow Shaker - - Mr.Lennon looking directly at my right side - - so quite - - no noise - just an odd bird whistle now and then - - had to put a bit of Van on:

“When the vision vanished they heard a choir of birds singing
In the heavenly silence between the trance and the reeds
And they stood upon the lawn and listened to the silence
Of the wind in the willows and the piper at the gates of dawn”

Yesterday I moved my big armchair from my writing room to the side window where I can oversee the building of our New Riverside Palladium - - the roof of the Old Lady still visible just beyond - - I sat for a moment in the afternoon light and thought of Joseph Brodsky - - “No matter under what circumstances you leave it, home does not cease to be home. No matter how you lived there.”

This is how I get myself into the mood for the match - - or whatever I am doing - - I surround myself with my books, my posters and photos, notebooks and postcards, music - - I have lived outside the system for the past 35 years and have devoted my time not in the pursuit of money (I had done that and it left me miserable and unreal - - not being) but in the pursuit of knowledge and through that wisdom - - I had decided to not be buried in mediocrity - - so I have within me collected bits of quotes, lyrics, poetry, music, art that I can drag into my consciousness whenever I wish - - so as I have said I rarely plan any event (just like Cool Hand Luke) - - I put myself into a ‘state” for that day, that happening and just let it all roll out - - no editing or holding back just let it go - - sitting letting my fingers type just now - - stand up - - see The River - - open the window - - “Smell the Sea and feel the sky - - let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic”.

My mind wondered off and I for some reason - - unknown to me and who cares where it came from - I allow myself to do that - - had to put Sandy Denny on - - - “Sad, deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving
Ah, but then you know it's time for them to go
But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the timeFor who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?And I am not alone while my love is near me
I know it will be so until it's time to go
So come the storms of winter and then the birds in spring again
I have no fear of timeFor who knows how my love grows?
And who knows where the time goes?
I have been lifted, transported to my own heaven - - a slight tear in the corner of my eye - - once when I was hoovering I had Renata Tebaldi in the background singing Madame Butterfly and I noticed I was still with the vacuum in my hand with tears running down my cheeks - -its amazing how the movement of a vocal cord or the touch of paint from a brush of horsehair - - or the plucking of a string on a piece of wood can move us.
On match days I fill myself with beauty and set off to The Dark House with Wordssworth,Tarkovsky, Van, The Beatles, Mr Dylan - - this morning I read about The Rooney Quandary and some comments on TW and I immediately thought of Jack and Diane by John Mellencamp and put it on - - closed my eyes and floated into the ether for a moment - -
“A little ditty 'bout Jack & Diane
Two kids growing up in the heart land
Jack he's gonna be a football star
Saying oh yeah
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone
Sayin' oh yeah
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone
Now walk on”

I will leave St. George's Hall quite early and head to TDH - - passing St.Alphonsus - - remembering other Sundays where I could hardly wait for Mass to finish - - knowing that it wouldn't be long after the Holy Communion - - running down Great Mersey Street for Mum's bacon and sausage in tomato gravy with a spoon of Oxo in it to “brown” it - - listening to 2 Way Family Favourites - - BFPO40 - - who would have thought of Sunday football then - - looking up Kirkdale Road to The Doll's Hospital - - sometimes we could as a treat get Candy Floss from a machine in the back on quiet Sunday afternoons - -
- - but now onto TDH for a pint and a good gas about everything Everton and maybe even discussing European Trips - - back to the pub for a few more pints and philosophy - - maybe the quiz - - Monday is a day off for most - - so should be a long and lovely day and evening spent in wonderful company at TDH - - -nothing better than a pint and a gas after an Everton win. Wonder what odds I will get for my 4-0.

Got my headphones on - - It's All Too Much:
“It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around here
All the world's a birthday cake
So take a piece but not too much”

Cosmic grooves to all Blues everywhere.

Enjoy your say

By the way, I'm off to St Philomena's in half-an-hour so I'll say one for you and a few for myself, have another happy day, I don't think your spirit lets you have sad ones.

Posso waves and cosmic grooves all the way - - George.

As long as you don't send the lads your playlist, as I fear that if players were to tune in to your cosmic grooves, they would be far too chilled to even get their socks on.

I wonder what they all listen to on the headsets before the game?

Let us hope we can turn up today & give a good account of ourselves, this lot are a decent side, but beatable.

COYB

Jack and Dianne? Great song, but after reading that epic, it's got to be "take a walk on the wildside" for me!

But I will take all your cosmic grooves to my daughter's wedding in Devon at 1 o'clock!

Yes, a damaged thigh apparently.

I'm in Pezenas today, Languedoc, so can't be there today but will be listening. Been to Mass, very long, 3 baptisms and a jolly priest, me struggling with my schoolboy French from 50+ years ago.

HOPE YOU WIN YOUR BET.

“Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears.” (Maybe he was an Evertonian)". Very good.

I know some of what you reference and allude to – but by no means all! I think that's one of the things that make your posts so interesting. They leave me with a bit of homework!

I'm drawn to the place by its history and its heritage as well as the culture.

They're fighting to get Occitan re-established as a language and fairly recently one of the local mayors did something to upset the local farmers so to show their displeasure they drove into town and sprayed the Hotel de Ville with manure. Direct action for these guys.

Lovely little medieval town this, once home to Moliere seemingly. Did him at school too!

Stekelenburg
Holgate - Jagielka - Williams - Baines
Gueye - Davies - Barkley - Valencia
Calvert-Lewin - Lukaku

Substitutes:

Robles, Koné, Mirallas, Barry, Lookman, Pennington, Kenny.

It's bold, but I'm not sure about the balance of the side.

I'll not be expecting anything from this game.