Everton vs West Bromwich Albion

Don't make the same mistake as Boxing Day and hand the initiative to a poor team (no disrespect West Brom).

Get the bloody game won!

Theo believes this is a "special place" to play football let's repay his faith and give him the fuel to be rocket-propelled through that West Brom defence and make him realise that The Emirates is "The Library" and Goodison is "The Bear Pit!"

We the fans have our role to play this Saturday.

COYBs

I agree, if only 90% of our supporters that go to Goodison these days let the same; sadly, the atmosphere resembles the same “library“ feel at The Emirates!

Though I suppose the pirate of the Caribbean look will be deemed acceptable if he can plunder much booty from the opposition.

I'd seriously look at Lennon or Besic for the left-back berth, can't be worse than Martina.

*I have to let this go*

I'm not saying either him or Garbutt are the answer but surely everyone can see Martina cannot play there again?

I guarantee Kane wouldn't have strolled past him as easy as Martina!

Sad to say the only thing we have to play for is respect this season. Big Sam has the opportunity now to hone this squad for next season. We have a lot of players; let's look at getting some in and match ready.

Says a lot for our scouting system; when they looked at Galloway; they failed to notice a certain Dele Alli playing in the same team?

Similarly, going back a bit further: they scouted Brett Angell at Southend, and failed to spot Stan Collymore playing alongside him; we got the lump, and the RS got the cream!

I don't know whether Sam is playing games with the media over his statement that he can't see any additions before the window closes; efforts will be more on outgoings to reduce the squad. If he thinks by saying that, he will put everyone off, he is living in the past, you can't fart these days without the media getting a whiff.

Probably, what will happen that we will let a couple move on, Lennon, Klaassen and Sandro, then mad-dash last minute scramble; to get Joe Bloggs in at left-back to keep the wolves (us fans) happyish.

I am really happy with Tosun and Walcott in but it is a Pyrrhic Victory not to notice the Trojan Horse at Left Back.

Result – maybe a couple of shots on target and, if we are lucky, it'll be enough to win.

Lescott did well at left-back once, though to be fair, he was left-footed.

For once I am optimistic and really excited, but hey haven't we all been there before?

Good one. Made me laugh.

Play a 5-6?,"he might have to be less adventurous and more defensive in his approach going forward — assuming that is possible"

Good one. Made me laugh.

Play a 5-6?,,,1,13:39:21,,134.205.104.82,ok,4506,01/19/2018 13:39:21,MattysSon,reader,, 891496,36100,toffeeweb,19/01/2018,Winston Williamson,pagreenhow@hotmail.co.uk,"I've not warmed to Bolasie. I wasn't impressed with him last season and I'm not expecting much now he is fit.

Lookman has come in for criticism for a lack of defensive nous, yet I do not see much from Bolasie either. I do see more of an attacking threat from Lookman though.

Based on this, and Lookman's potential to further improve, I would propose a forward three of Lookman, Tosun and Walcott.

I would then have three midfielders in a triangle - Sigurdsson, Gana and Davies. Davies being a Box-to-Box man, Gana sitting and breaking-up play and Sigurdsson sitting between the oppositions midfield and defence.

The defence is problematic, as, as much as Martina has played to the best of his limited ability, he is very much a liability. We can kid ourselves all day long that his endevour is admirable, but the guy is still shite.

Alternative left-backs? Well, if we are currently playing with a right-footed Martina, why not use the (usually very disciplined) Aaron Lennon at Left-Back, until we can sign a new one? It's a bit outlandish and unorthodox, but he's quick and has shown he can defend.

Kenny at right-back all day long! He's going to be class and has shown great potential already.

Holgate and Williams in the middle. We should be scouring the earth to find a left-footed center-half who will compliment Holgate, as Holgate is a superb player, who is only going to improve.

Pickford
Kenny, Holgate, Williams, Lennon
Gana, Davies
Sigurdsson
Walcott, Tosun, Lookman

Allardyce won't do anything unorthodox though. He'll continue as he has played it so far. It's his style, his MO. He will not deviate from it and he will continue to set his teams up to frustrate.

For this reason, he needs replacing as soon as is feasible. I would be hoping that our usually inept planning (in all things) is shelved, and that we are currently identifying and negotiating behind the scenes for Allardyce's replacement.

It's like the not buying a striker all over again.

Maybe Allardyce is not allowed anymore funds because the board have a limit on what they will cough up for a manager that could be sacked at the end if the season should we go another 5 games without a win??

If we don't get a left-back when time is called on the window, it could be the stick that the fans and media beat Allardyce into retirement with.

If I were Allardyce, I would tell the board, let's get shot if Lennon, Besic, Galloway, Niasse, Klaassen and Sandro, but I need Dembele and good left back to create and bed in a great team for next season. If he doesn't get it right this season, he knows he could be gone.

Not ideal but it might work. At least Kenny is a natural full back so might cope on the left (although the same should be said about Martina) whereas Holgate can cope at right back.

There are a lot of fringe players picking up decent Lottery wins every week, without even having to buy a ticket. In any business, this would not be tolerated; having said that, while I am made up we have got Tosun and Walcott; it does seem to be a bit lop-sided in terms of priority; we definitely needed to obtain a source of goals; but what's the point of scoring at one end and freely conceding at the other?

Hopefully Barry will be confused enough to go into the home changing room and put a blue top on.

I just hope we don't concede early. I can see a good win here, both new boys to score, plus a Sigurdsson free-kick – 3-0 to the Blues.

That follows signing Rooney, Sigurdsson and Klaassen in the same position during the summer. Everton drive me mad.

If that is the case only one defensive mid should be picked and I would go for Gana for his energy.

Personally I would leave Rooney out and play Sigurdsson in the middle behind Walcott, Tosun, Lookman but I can't see that happening so I guess Lookman will have to come off the bench as soon as Rooney is deemed to have given the ball away enough.

So it will be:

Pickford
Holgate Jagielka Williams
Kenny Martina
Rooney Gana Sigurdsson

Walcott Tosun

Pickford
Holgate Keane Williams Kenny
Rooney McCarthy Sigurdsson
Walcott Tosun Bolasie

Subs: Robles, Jagielka, Gueye, Davies, Calvert-Lewin, Lookman, Vlasic

Tomorrow marks an emancipation. A new team, liberated from defensive slavery.

The transformation will be a joy to behold, West Brom's defenders will have their heads hung low.

Tomorrow is a new beginning, the first step on the ladder to success. Consolidation and improvement await, followed by Champions League challenges in our new stadium.

Nurse...

Pickford
Kenny Holgate Williams Besic
Gana Davies
Walcott Sigurdsson Lookman
Tosun

Subs: Robles, Rooney, Vlasic, Bolasie, Keane, Calvert-Lewin, McCarthy

http://www.evertonfc.com/evertontv/archive/2018/01/19/walcotts-first-training-session

About centre-backs, I think we don't have sure ones. Holgate is the best of them but not one of them is capable of making a pass. Often even the easiest passes go astray. They should wait for a more accomplished player to gather the ball from their feet.

In the midfield, the only one who can make a real creative pass is Rooney. He also makes many mistakes but he must be on if we would like to dominate the game and not surrender the possession to the worst-scoring team of the league.

Defensive midfield is either McCarthy or Gana. They both have been pretty up and down, but either of them could do the job on their day.

Attack is pretty easy, Walcott and Bolasie in the wings, Gylfi in the center and Tosun the striker. This is now our best part of the team but it doesn't mean much if the defense and midfield can't deliver any kind of decent service, like they've been doing recently.

If we let them through the wings and give away corners we might see another disappointment. They have Barry who should've never been sold.

I cannot think of a manager who gets under my skin more than Pardew; O'Neill comes close.

However, left back tomorrow? I'd have to play Garbutt. Rumour has it he has a left foot.

Sigurdsson in his best position.

Cuco is not a left back but until we buy one or Leighton returns he is the best option and will play. The hard decision is does Wayne start or not. If he does it changes the shape of the team and Siggy is wide left.

Does he play Bolasie as well as Walcott? We need a dynamic balanced team and that's why Sam is paid the big money and I expect him to work it out

Gana can do all the dirty work and quickly get it to Rooney, who could then pick the perfect pass to one of the forward men. Look how much we have missed Barry with his keen eye for a forward pass.

Rooney could drop into that deeper position and spread the passes and dictate play.

Schneiderlin has not been a good player for a while and think he needs to go...

Then I see him in the training today with Theo, and maybe.... just maybe???

To start – and please replace like for like if tired players need replaced, such as Gana for McCarthy, Lookman for Bolasie.

Now, as I review all the suggested line ups for the West Brom game it shows just how weak we are defensively. At the present time we do not have one player in the back four that we can consider as outstanding. They are either a future prospect or over the hill. While Martina is as weak as everybody and their dog can see, he is essential to the team merely because we can use him as the scapegoat for every loss. We still need more than a left back.

I still blame Koeman for all of this. He got what he wanted and bought a load of second-raters for a lot of money.

Quite liked the suggestion of Besic at full back but too risky with Lookman ahead of him. Jagielka is our best option but seriously, there must be a left back somewhere on the planet who could do a job there?! So –

Pickford
Kenny Holgate Williams Jagielka
Walcott Gana Davies Lookman
Sigurdsson
Tosun

Subs: Robles, Rooney, Vlasic, Bolasie, Keane, Calvert-Lewin, McCarthy

Any chance of it being linked before kick-off?

Against the baggies? We can accommodate him in that role and he does have an eye for a through ball.

Last week my local channel broadcast it live but as I'd just arrived I didn't have the telly service hooked up yet so watched the game on BeIn from Qatar. This week the local channel doesn't have the game so I'll likely have the same solution.

Had an early start to today - - running around for my wife Gosia - - sorting the car so she could go to Yoga - - all done now.
Sitting in my room getting myself fit and up there on the astral ready for The Dark House and The Game. Seems like a long time since a good old Saturday 3.00pm KO - - love them. First thoughts are from a post earlier this month - - something around Karma - - for many many years I was a practising Buddhist - - no religion - - just the oneness and though fullness and meditation - - it was the concept of Karma that I didn't go with - - but I also believe in "posso waves":

"Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you off your feet
Better recognize your brothers
Ev'ryone you meet
Why in the world are we here
Surely not to live in pain and fear
Why on earth are you there
When you're ev'rywhere
Come and get your share
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
Come on and on and on on on"

As you can tell Mr Lennon was an Evertonian and knows like us a bit about suffering - - but the fact is that it is really great to be a Blue - - would any of us prefer not to be - - I'm just sitting here and I just a moment ago had a blow on my harmonica - - Everton at Home Saturdays are for me the Joy of My Week - - I go completely off my head - - allow myself to float on the astral to dream and no matter what to enjoy - - the pleasure of my friends in the pub, reading you gang on TW going to the game, the after game chat, the Everton Quiz - - comradeship - - what more can we ask:
"To be (An Evertonian), or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death".
I don't know about anyone else but I am feeling good - - can hardly wait to get to TDH and friends and the game - - can honestly say I wouldn't want to live without it - - none of this can make or induce a win - - that is down to the Management and Players - - but it certainly makes for me being an Evertonian a good place to be.
Pause - - Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by Van The Man just floating into my consciousness - - - bluetiful - - "and the wind in the willows" - - - mmmmmm.
OK back now - - went into my sitting room and eat 3 Flying Saucers - - My Mum would buy them - - as a treat for us - - from Mrs Jones's shop at the corner of Smith Street and Back Great Mersey Street - - just along the road from TDH -- you see no matter what we (Evertonians) are soaked in history and we have a duty to carry on our History - - we are the writers of our history - - we are poets - - we are strong - - we are the singers of our own song.
Now none of this makes the current playing style or situation at Goodison acceptable - - 6 weeks ago I simple could not see a win - - it is by no means no way perfect - - far from it - - but yet again with Everton we have to recoup, pause, think and then hopefully push on - - I am reading "Hope Against Hope" by Nedezhda Mandelstam at the moment - - truly amazing - - "I decided it is better to scream. Silence is the real crime against humanity".
We keep on going - - just like Ma Joad said - just like a river we keep on going:
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

It is now coming up to 10.00am - - I had a busy morning - - and will now go and get ready to go to TDH - - will arrive around 11.55 - - it's raining outside but inside "It's Warm Love" - - no matter how dark and wet it is - - I am going to the game - - I am an Evertonian:
I carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Ahhhh - - to be an Evertonian - - it's something to be - - it takes courage, a brave heart, hope and belief and a vision and commitment - - We've Got It All - - I will not be here to read TW/Live Forum - - but let's have a Posso Karma Day by sending each other some "possos":
"And I shall search my soul
I shall search my very soul
And I shall search my very soul
I shall search my very soul
For the lion
For the lion
For the lion
For the lion
Inside of me
Oh, oh, yeah"

Yea - - let's hope that The Lion is at Goodison and not The Lamb. Me, I could bite a Lion's Bum - - no problem.

I need this time before the game to get me ready - - poetry, art and music - - "Everton If you were music, I would listen to you ceaselessly, and my low spirits would brighten up."
I do not normally wear football scarves and hats but today I will wear my new Everton Coat - - it was bought for me by one of the young people from Yellow House for Christmas - - Mark Craven - - I call him Marco Polo - - Marco has Asperger's - - he is a wonderful boy - - so here's to you Marco - - I am glad it's raining and Coat so I can wear that lovely coat you bought me.

Just packing my camera and harmonica and going to get ready for my trip to the cosmos.

Best wishes and cosmic grooves to All Blues - - Have A Bluetiful Day.

Walking down the street and
It didn't matter
Cause everything felt, everything felt, everything felt
Everything felt, everything felt, everything felt, everything felt
Everything felt, everything felt, everything felt so right, ha
And so good
Everything felt, so right, and so good
Everything felt, so right, and so good
Everything felt, so right, and so good, ah
Everything felt, so right, and so good
Everything felt, so right, and so good, so good
In the eternal now, in the eternal moment
In the eternal now, in the eternal moment
In the eternal now
Everything felt so good, so good, so good, so good, so good
And so right, so right, so right, just
So good, so right, so right, in the eternal
In the eternal moment, in the eternal moment
In the eternal moment, in the eternal moment
When you lived, when you lived
When you lived, in the light
When you lived in the grace
In the grace, in grace
When you lived in the light
In the light, in the grace
And the blessing.

Your friend George.

It ain't why why why - I just am.

I don't fancy that karma caper much either George - mercy is better :)

I hope you have a wonderful day George.

In your blue coat, in your blue blue coat, in your blue blue blue coat.

Up the Blues.

Cosmic grooves all the way for you.

No Method No Teacher No Guru - - just me and you Laurie at Goodison.

Off now - - take care mate.

Might only happen if our George drops his standards! Nah, no chance of that. Cosmic grooves.

No surprise there then, but I have a feeling that we may produce a much better performance today and win 2-0 or 2-1.

Like others I just hope the club can match your passion and dedication anytime soon.

All the best!

I feel a trip coming along...

George if happiness was a religion you'd be The Pope of it. A million blue cosmic grooves to you and all the toffees in TDH.