Huddersfield Town vs Everton

Huddersfield are desperate for points and will smell the possibility of a scalp. How poor have we become when you worry about a result against the likes of Huddersfield?

All due respect to them, they do try harder than we have done of late. With all the speculation regarding the future of Gana, I am surprised that we have not sought the services of Aaron Mooy, a player I have always admired and think he would suit us in midfield.

I watched the Barnet v Brentford FA Cup tie, and both sides gave their all, and I barely remember a pass going astray from either side. Considering Barnet are in the Conference, and Brentford in the Championship, it says a lot about Silva's coaching at Finch Farm.

Try this starting line-up:

Pickford
Kenny Keane Zouma Baines
Davies Sigurdsson
Bernard
Lookman Tosun Richarlison

Bench: Stekelenburg, Digne, Calvert-Lewin, Walcott, Feeney, , ? ?

If we don't WIN this one then it's impossible to see where the next win is actually coming from.

However we have to keep going so I am hoping for a team with experience and a bit of pride.

Pickford
Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne
Sigurdsson, Gomez, Baines
Bernard, Tosun, Richarlison

If that team can't beat Huddersfield it will be good night nurse - then again Huddersfield are a superior team to Millwall aren't they?

Pickford
Kenny
Baines
Keane
Mina
Davies
Beni
McCarthy (I know he won't last a full game)
Richarlison
Lookman
DCL

Either Davies, Kenny or Baines captain.

Does that you mean you are also flabbergasted that Seamus Coleman is still our number one right back then?

Or even more flabbergasting that no sooner than Seamus suffered that horrific injury (same as McCarthy) our board thought it was a great idea to hand him a new five year contract?

It's very hard to see how we'll get the next 12 points based on form across the last 9 weeks.

If I was having a bet tonight, tonight then to win money it's a nap in by gone times that every team gets their first win for x games, or breaks a duck of a type after x games against EFC.

I hope there's no mention of fixture schedules, bearing the City game being brought forward.

Time to show some true grit and fight.. I hope we win to ease the pressure but I fear that Huddersfield will fight with all they've got and could etch out a result.

I'd take a draw but we need pints and players should be playing for their futures, as next season can't be another calamity.

This summer will be tough trading and I don't see Everton getting the necessary good players to bolster this team due to cost, book balancing and prospects of playing in UEFA.

Back to tonight, let's win and let's see some guts and passion.

It amazes me how much a role confidence plays in football. The same team looked really promising in December. One flukey goal conceded in injury time against the RS and we now look one of the worst sides in the division.

We should be looking at a transfer window and considering who to bring in. Instead we're looking to handle a wantaway midfielder and to ensure we don't post a record loss at the end of the financial year.

It's never boring as a Blue is it? Frustrating and depressing at times but rarely dull.

Stek
Zouma, Keane, Mina
Kenny, Davies, Sigi, Gana, Baines
Tosun, DCL

I can't see any team he picks losing to the favourites for relegation whose new manager appears anything but an improvement on the .guy he replaced.

Truth is Everton need only to see a return of 10 points from the remaining games to be well clear of the drop and thus ensure another season of the remarkable Marco Silva.

What could possibly go right?

Nb then again fare to say, it will take plenty of pints of ale to get through this season.👍🍺⚽️

Tonight's game will be played by two very poor teams in what are likely to be tricky conditions. Given our defensive vulnerability we are unlikely to keep a clean sheet against any team. Throw in our inability to create many chances against any team and a scrappy draw looks like the best we can hope for tonight.

The list of scapegoats is growing by the game. Doubtless one or two more will be added tonight.

If the monies right he'll be gone, and if he wants out he should go.

Let's see how the next few days pan out.

I have a feeling we'll get 3 points tonight. There's clearly something very wrong with me.

Huddersfield 2 - 0 Everton

I wish it wasn't so. But Everton have specialized in this sort of charity shop giveaway for 25 years. Tonight will be no different.

You want our only width to come from a 35 year old Left Back and and a rubbish Right Back?

We need to go 442:

Pickford
Coleman Keane Zouma Baines
Lookman Gomes Davies Richarlison
DCL Tosun

Believe me if we had a squad where we could bin 11 then I'd go for it.
If the manager and coaching staff could be dropped I'd do it in a heartbeat !!

I guess you can say that Richarlison, Bernard and Tosun have contributed positively recently. I can't dislike Coleman or Digne either. Lookman has also been ok and Zouma has his moments (I prefer him to Mina at the moment).

Pickford no longer looks in control in the box and the defence hasn't helped.

Try a diamond.

JJK, Keane, Zouma, Baines
Gana
Coleman, Digne
Gylfi
DCL, Richarlison.

I'm sick to death of us having a meek, pretty midfield who don't tackle or compete.

If Richarlison wants to spend half the night up here in Yorkshire sitting on the grass waving, get him off and give Lookman a go up with DCL, Hasslehuttl did it at Leipzig,

Bernard for Gylfi later on

He cannot, repeat, cannot play Gomes & Siggy, both of them look like they're running on empty; replace with Davies & Bernard.

Up front I'd play Lookman-Woolcott-Charlie and give it a good go.

Not looking forward to tonight's game, especially if Siggy &Gomes start, so I'm hoping there will be changes in midfield.

This team will park the bus and counter so Lookman and Bernard will be key to finding a way through.

A very basic hard working side, so will
sAilva realise he needs to equal that to win the game? Put the hardest working players in and bring no the show ponies later.

Schniederlin in for Gana, Baines for Digne, Tosun for Calvert-Lewin. Play a horrible 4-5-1 and get a fooking win.

If he doesn't play tonight (and despite the doubters, he really should start every game) that could be a very clear indicator that once again we are prepared to sell one of our best players, rather than retain him, to build a side around, rather than continually dismantle one.

07879551102

This 4 2 1 3 or whatever it is, just doesn't work.

It's not an easy solution. I honestly don't know our best formation, and I'm less sure of what I'd choose as our "best XI" than I think I have been for year. But continually playing one striker, and doing some vague permutations of personnel, clearly isn't working right now.

Never has the outcome of a game mattered less, unfortunately. I think Silva is already toast and will be canned right after the season ends.

Keane and Zouma with Digne and Coleman.

I would also despite it being controversial have Virginia in goal also. Stek is garbage and Pickford, despite being a good shot stopper is not even half of what people think he is.

Pickford
Kenny Keane Zouma Digne
Gueye Schniederlin Gomes
Lookman Tosun Richarlison

Narrow 433, with Schneiderlin sitting in and deep to cover for Gueye and Gomes. The front 3 all playing narrow. I expect Gomes to get forwards into the positions Sigurdsson would inhabit and Lookman to also drift into there.

Sigurdsson himself will be a sub for the second half depending on the score. If we can't control the midfield, then I'd send Davies on for Gomes, to add a bit more bite.

Tosun would be better as the 9 against these central defenders.

However, I expect:

Pickford
Coleman Keane Zouma Digne
Gueye Gomes
Lookman Sigurdsson Richarlison
Tosun

Steve #67, you must be kidding. The concepts of "Best XI" and "Schneiderlin" cannot possibly exist on the same plane of reality. Let alone in the same post.

We need to go back to ( hate myself for this) the old 4-5-1 and possibly KITAP1. We need three points tonight and we can't allow them to run thru' the middle like our two DM's don't exist.

Silva needs to demonstrate that he can can coach, because if we lose tonight we are in the mix for real. We may have 30 points but we need at least another 8 more. Lose this tonight . well

Bernard all the way for me.

I don't want to see the same formation trotted out.

I want to see a team giving an effort to exorcize the demons of Millwall - an effort worthy of the fans and the Club. A Herculean effort.

That's it. The rest, for me, are just insignificant details.

Run through the brick wall. Play like your life depended on it.

Another 'Burnley result' is likely which will bring relief all round as there is nothing to play for except dignity and that's just a halfway spot come May.

Ganas place will probably depend where his head is at, if he doesn't play I think Silva will select Siderlin.

Then we may suddenly change views and have another new beginning.

EitC will be so great and developed by DBB brilliantly and all the "patience" brigade will dare to return. (I never left!)

Me? Aah fuck, it will be a WD or L and together we will spout usual shite until next game.

And there is football for 95% of fans across this great game. It is capitalism in action as we know.

Bit like a sore tooth we keep poking but never take out.

Neil #76, I would point out that Sigurdsson made the sweet touch pass to set up what should have been Tosun's gamewinner. And it's not just a "few" goals -- he's the top scoring midfielder in the Prem with 9. Plus it's not like Bernard or Lookman is going to score those goals. So he stays in the side for me.

Ouch. I'm back.

Ouch. I'm back.

Like that, Dermot?

I'm a member, since college, of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Ignore the hideous “frat boy” tag.

One of our mottos was, “Endeavor to retain the Spirit of youth.”

Keep it up.

Notwithstanding that, it would appear that this is another game that we would expect to win like so many this season only to be cruelly awakened to the fact that Everton are a poor side these days.

However they could win if they score the first goal in the 96th. minute or thereabouts.

One thing for sure we need a strong defensive performance for the whole match.

JJK keane Zouma Baines

Sigg McCarthy Gomes Gana Digne

DCL

Bit more of a combative and organised midfield, designed to be able to outbattle Huddersfiled who will be trying to bully us out of it from the off, but still with two excellent crossers of the ball to feed DCL

Richarlison Lookman benched

My fears too, but this is Everton, expect the unexpected .

1) his head with the pursuit of PSG is not in the right place to play

2) he has played his last game for Everton and will be off before the weekend

As ever at Everton, "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" - "the more things change, the more they stay the same".

Nothing less than a win tonight please Blues.