Everton vs Leicester City

Love to you all.... let's just beat these fucking foxes... 🦊

One of the joys of supporting Everton is the unpredictability. It's a bit like asking the contestants on Popmaster what they will score and being told "Something between 3 and 33".

Just hoping that I will be pleasantly surprised at the very start of the year and that the surprises thereafter won't be limited to birthdays and anniversaries! 250 miles away and without Sky, I will suffer the agonies of regular refreshing on ToffeeWeb and on BBC Sport always fearing the worst but hoping for the best.

And all the best to you all for 2019. Thank heavens that we will never lose our sense of humour even if events are not always great on the pitch.

Unpredictability? Oh hell yes! We're a schizophrenic team!

Happy 2019 to one and all.

Fair point.

Would a youth team striker (Fraser Hornby?) really be a worse option than Niasse or Tosun?

If we aren't gonna buy a striker, then please let's at least experiment?

(Long time lurker, first time poster).

I can’t help feeling massively negative for this one.

Please Everton, confuse me/ prove me wrong once again.

Toffees 1 Foxes 3

I see Sílva is saying more investment is needed. Firstly, he should bench the underperforming players, notably Coleman and Walcott, and try and solidify the right-hand side.

I agree with Kase #7, let's try and experiment.

I will be watching the match in Cyprus; it will be interesting to see how the defence deals with Vardy.

How this one will turn out I haven't got a clue, but I do believe that we have to beat them if we are to have any chance of finishing seventh (which is the best we can hope for after the December results).

On the subject of seventh, I wish all Evertonians a happy new year, but a special mention for Phil Walling who has gone missing. You were right as usual Phil.

Up the Blues!

I went out with my dad and brother for a few pints last night, asked them what their New Year's resolutions were.

My dad 77 and worsening Parkinson's, said '' to stay alive''

My younger brother said he would like to drink more. Said he let himself down in 2018 by not drinking enough.

Anyway, back to the football, Lyndon's team sheet is spot on today and is the best line up I reckon. I much prefer Richarlison wide and Calvert-Lewin is our best option at centre-forward.

I also think there are flashes of renewed promise from Bernard lately despite the adverse results. He seems more switched on and determined to be involved. If he keeps his tempo and work rate up he will get his rewards. It would be no surprise if he got an assist or two today.

Of equal interest will be the functionality of our midfield. Gomes was a bit out of sorts at Brighton and has dipped a little recently. I want to see him on top of his game and want his passing to resume it's previous accuracy. Consistency from him is vital, it sets the tone for the whole team.

It has to be a back 4, I trust them to be solid and think Seamus will be fired up at home for a good performance. The 4 will have to be careful with Vardy constantly looking to win penalties with his infamous leg-tangling tricks.

Finally, I want Pickford to keep it simple and keep communication crystal clear with his defence. If he learns from his mistakes, no problem.

Kase @7, totally agree with the experimentation scenario, what is it that they say about a man who keeps trying the same thing that has failed time and time again, expecting yo get a different result. I don't know how many posts on here that have suggested Walcott be tried in the striking role, because he has been poor on the right, but no he persists with him doing very little.

I have stopped predicting results, but am always hopeful of a win, Leicester are better than Brighton, Huddersfield and Watford or Newcastle, so let's just see what happens. Would be good to start the Year off with a win!

I hope the mascots get their money's worth as a newspaper article today says that we charge them (well their parents) £718 for the privilege ! the most expensive in the Premier League which if accurate is shameful. The dark side and several other clubs do it for free.

I hope for 3 points but above all I hope there are no fecking corners today - either way!

The answer would be no.

Silva picks the team but when you have got players like Coleman who can't beat a man anymore, never stops a cross and can't get any of his own crosses into the opponents penalty area there's only so much you can do.

The alternative is Jonjo Kenny and we've seen the lads limitations.

When you have strikers like Calvert-Lewin, Niasse, Tosun it's easy to see why he persists with Richarlison because he's the most gifted by a million miles.

We need a steady transfer window where a new right back and striker is targeted.

The importance on finally signing a proven striker can't be underestimated because we are being burned too often in that position with our poor buys.

Top six - 6 games - 1 point
Middle six - 7 games - 9 points
Bottom seven - 7 games - 17 points

But here’s the rub. Six of our seven games against the bottom group have been at home with only Burnley still to visit Goodison. Five of our remaining home games are against top six teams.

So our final league position will be heavily dependent on our ability to take anything from the top six at home and improve our away form by beating relegation threatened teams on their own grounds. Easier said than done.

If you mean you realise you are hopelessly out of your depth with utterly inadequate resources at your disposal, with your performance severely impaired by years of stupid senseless choices which eventually makes you impotence which ruins most weekends while Ron Jeremy lives next door and nourishes your nightmares by bringing a succession of stunners to screaming laminate floor splintering orgasms every night, then yes, supporting Everton is exactly like making love to a beautiful woman.

Leicester and Claude Puel seem to be making a point that this will be their fourth match in eleven days. Well, it will be our fourth in ten days. Both teams will be suffering fatigue to some extent. The outcome may be determined by stamina and the strength of the two benches.

Twice a year (this year it's the games v Wolves and Bournemouth) we offer a package, which includes extras such as training with the players and dining, for £718. Every penny of this goes to EitC.

That newspaper and the BBC should be contacted by the club and taken to task about this!

I would like to see a bit more commitment from the players regards 50-50 balls and closing down.

Fingers crossed for a draw and some sort of tactical awareness from Silva.

To Wembley and Beyond!!

COYBs.

But then everyone's got a different opinion, fingers crossed.

Pickford
Mina Keane Zouma
Davies Gueye Siggy Baines
Bernard Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Subs: Stekelenburg, Digne, McCarthy, Schneiderlin, Walcott, Tosun, Lookman

We'll either be on our game or not. If the latter, we could easily draw or lose. If the former, we should simply outplay them, thrash them.

Leicester are a mediocre midtable side with players of very limited ability. On the other hand, we are a mediocre midtable side when we don't get our shit together, but a side that could beat anybody when we do get our shit together.

Come on you blues, thrash these foxes.