Everton vs Manchester City

As long as we don't give up any set pieces.

Even though the scoreline against Wednesday got us through to next round, the overall performance didn't provide any evidence of major improvement. I have almost given up trying to predict anything anymore, with this stubborn idiot in charge anything could happen.

Having written that hopefully I will be wrong as usual and we will do a Norwich!

Our chances rest in the work rate of our midfield, we need a dogs of war attitude today from our 5 midfielders. Richarlison , Bernard/Iwobi have massive jobs on to contribute defensively .

Norwich worked harder than Man City, fought for every ball, closed down, first to knock downs and tried to restrict City's space. They had a bit of luck, took their chances very well and got the 3 points.

Man City have defensive weakness, we can exploit it - pressurise their defence and they will buckle.

We have got better players than Norwich City, we need to be organised, well set up and fully motivated. Execute the game plan ruthlessly.

As far as I am concerned no team should come to Goodison and expect anything less than a, fans and players created, bear pit.

Come on Man City bring it on.

Our manager prefers 433 (my arse). Brave shout from Lyndon to suggest a change in formation for this game. I hope he is right. You just can't say that Sigurdsson isn't capable of operating deeper as its just not true. He isn't asked to. His form is down to the manager like a few of the players.

Silva might or could go 3 at the back and bring in Holgate at the expense of a forward player. Schneiderlin and Bernard were our two best players last week and they were both replaced after only 10 minutes of the second half when Silva panicked instead of having the ability to tweak things.

So there you have it. If we start well we have a chance to get something from this game. If we don't then l'm not expecting any kind of fight back from tactical genius or motivation. We have spent a lot of money on players (good players) use them Marco!

Better individuals in a team doesn't make a better team. No point in comparing us to Norwich, we got beat by Shef U and Villa.

We lack pace, strength and leadership at the back and in our central midfield. Agree we need to close city down but not at the expense of leaving gaps at the back or pushing both full backs up at the same time and out of position.

Silva and several players need to take charge and step up. Stop the mistakes. Stay switched on. Don't give the ball away cheaply. Get bodies in the box for crosses. Crossing needs to be better, beat the first man away from the keeper.

That would make me hopeful. Except in-game management remains key. And our manager remains beyond poor in this area.

If we're losing, throw attackers on. If we're winning, throw defenders on. He's done it from the very start of his time with us. Not changing now.

Hope for a miracle.

We know the old lady can be an intimidating place were the mighty can fall because we have all seen it.
Lets make the City players spend the afternoon wishing to fuck they were somewhere else.

If City play well, they could win in a canter. We, on the other hand, will need all of our stars to be aligned just to scrape a win. But the that's BEFORE we factor in the twelfth man

Here's an omen (I generally make one up before big games); I Checked me 365 account this morning and after a poor day yesterday, I found there was a sad looking 13 quid left in it. Having messed around winning a tenner/losing a tenner for about three months, I decided it was time to freshen things up and I put it on an Everton win at 9/1.

Thirteen - "Unlucky" (so they say) "for some"

If we win I'll be the noisy fucker singing his way down County road and if we lose. . I'll probably be on here moaning like fuck

COYB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you or anyone else (Steve Ferns ?) could explain that please I would be eternally grateful.

I can't be confident against any team with Mina and Keane at the back, I think the two of them will be spun dizzy with these quick interchanging City players although they will add to the rhythm of the game, slow, slow, quick quick slow, you know where they fit in.!!

The "intention" is to play that system most of the time.
Unfortunately we lack pace, confidence and conviction and become raggedy.

Thats probably why you are not recognising it

Dave

Agreed regarding the central defensive partnership.Silva seems determined to go with it though.

I`m hoping that having had a few games, Mina will start to take charge of that situation. He`s going to have to. I believe Keane is more of a follower than a leader. I`m hoping better opposition will bring out the best of both of them

Nothing less and there could be be big trouble ahead. The media and the RS prejudice and the facts our scoring capability, and form, is not good enough, means that a hammering is on the cards.

On the day The Old Lady plays her part, and arguably the most partizan crowd in the EPL, when the tempo is right on the Park, against high flying rivals from down the East
Lancsc Road, could see a surprise.

The problem is we don't convert possession into chances and when we get chances we are not deadly enough..

Too much respect in the midfield and we will get hammered. But I'm being optimistic, and we will recover from last weeks abyss and take courage from Norwich.

But no basic mistakes and 100% application for 97 minutes and if we believe, then we can win.

,

For the 433 with 1 DM, he foresaw a key player in Schneiderlin. He hoped he could play the single pivot role in the way the great Sergi Busquets does, but clearly with inferior skills. Busquets is able to plug holes, tackle, intercept, bring the ball out of defence and pass. He thought Schneiderlin had such qualities

Then he got our players in to train and he quickly abandoned the idea. Clearly, Schneiderlin was not what he hoped he was. But I still think the bigger issue is Sigurdsson. And no, he can't play deeper. Time and time again he fails to. He could easy drop from his marked out the game position and get the ball and try to make something happen. Other number 10s do it. He seems happy to let others take responsibility.

Trying to be positive, but it will take something that we haven't seen this season for us to get a decent result.

Personally, I'm worried we'll play well and lose easily. 1-3 I think. The worrying thing is well then be 16th or 17th and the level of crisis will be ramped up by the press and the pressure will be on from all sides.

Schneiderlin has been one of our better players this season but people look through him. He does exactly what he is supposed to do. If a ball is on ahead he will make it. If not, he won't. He is in the right place most of the time playing the role asked of him by the manager.

Siggy can play deeper, he is a talented all round player, not an imbecile. He is being asked to play that role close to the striker because our other 2 forwards are too busy chasing back into our own box and stuck wide leaving the middle open.

We should do better today. The players will be up for it, as will the crowd and we will suit playing on the break instead of attacking from wide as we always do.

This game could kick start our season. If it doesn't and we lose against Burnley... then I'm sorry but surely he will be gone. He has enough good players to be doing a lot better with them. One thing that might save him is if Moshiri wants to see both the manager and young players grow and improve together, then he can throw another £100M + at us next summer too.

It would possibly be a face-saver for him, would alleviate of us a major problem, and would save us another compensation for failure scenario. I am sure there will be no shortage of volunteers to carry his stuff to the airport and ensure he get's on that plane with a Single ticket.

We won't stand in your way Marco, in fact we will endorse it wholeheartedly. Now F*** Off!

Not sure if its a good thing. Will be missing this as I am out for the evening.

I also prefer Holgate to Mina or Keane. He is more effective than either at distributing the ball our from the back and now is match fit. My thinking is that short or poor pass completion results in more momentum for Man City.

I agree with Schneiderlin, , Davies and Iowbi playing. Aleast they get on the ball or try to.

Calvert Lewin of course leading the attack.

I honestly think we can cause an upset today but we may need a little luck. At least we won't have the kind of aerial bombardment that our defenders hate.

It will tell us a lot about our team and coach.

Of course, we all know all they will get is a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again.

This is not a Silva out rant by the way, far from it. I just think he has the players to play his supposed, preferred system now.

Also, if as you say 4-3-3 is his “we're the superior team” formation then he should be playing it every week and telling his players they are superior, regardless of the opposition.

Really not sure how today is going to go.
Would it be like us to get some kind of result? Probably.

Onward Evertonians.

Pickford
Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne
Sidibé, Delph, Bernard
Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Iwobi

Up the Blues!!

Pickford.
Holgate, Keane, Mina
Coleman/Sidibe, Delph, Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Digne.
Kean, Richarlison.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/27/football/moise-kean-banner-everton-racism-spt-intl/index.html

Pickford
Sidibe, Mina, Keane, Digne
Delph, Shneiderlin
Richarlison, Iwobi, Bernard
DCL.

Bench. Stek, Coleman, Holgate, Siggi, Kean, Baines, Walcott.

I've benched Coleman because his form has been poor recently so lets see what Sidibe can do. I benched Siggi because I just don't see how he can fit into a 4-2-3-1. He's not mobile or quick footed enough. He just slows us down during transitions. I was temped to play Kean in Bernard's place. He's quick, good dribbler and willing to shoot and maybe would he shine in such a big game. But I suppose opting for the more experienced Bernard is the better choice.
If Delph and Shneiderlin can avoid getting themselves sent off I think that's a side that can give City a run for their money.

Just been reading an interview with Pep, how he “loves his job, watching how a team defends, working out how to break them down”. I wonder what he's been doing with his time this week?

In 2014, Sunderland were fined by the Premier League and the EFL after they fielded an ineligible player in four league matches and a League Cup match.

The club admitted they made an administrative error with striker Ji Dong-won but were not deducted points or kicked out of the cup.

What I'd like to see most today is us give it a really good go and our team (ALL of them) breaking their backs out there to give us a reason to get behind them. That's all we can ask and then not get too further down if we lose to the Premier League's best side.

And whilst I have advocated for months now that Silva is not the man to manage our team, you won't hear me calling for his head off the back of a defeat today. It's up to the players today and I hope we see some leadership and fight out there if nothing else. For me it's all about the performance today and not necessarily the result.
COYB !!!

Following last weekend's results no one expects us to win or even draw, so it's a free hit. It would be Everton to a tee to shock everyone and give a huge boost to our lovable neighbours.

Oh and please God NO Walcott at any stage. COYB.

It seems to me we have two fundamental issues, the centre-back pairing, and the No 10 role. Until these are sorted, don't expect a thing.

I am sure the crowd will give the team all the backing they need, but this will be a massive test today. I am sure we will see everybody fully committed but whether that will be enough I don't know. I dont think playing Fernandhino at centre back is a weakness in fact quite the opposite, he is quick and strong and a good reader of the game. Should we lose this game on its own it wouldnt be a massive problem but if other results go against us we could be somewhere near the bottom 3. I know Marcel Brands is saying we need to be patient but I think the pressure on Silva would be immense, I am sure with the relatively easy set of fixtures we have had to be anywhere near the relegation zone would send alarm bells ringing.

Despite us wishing for years to have a billionaire owner and now we have got one the results are getting progressively worse each season. Only this club could have this sort of financial backing and be going backwards. I have no idea what Moshiri must be thinking, but having ploughed 𧹺 million into the black hole that is Everton he must wish that he had never heard of Everton.

Also we must take any advantage of City's weakness at defending crosses, so DCL – step in, pal, his hold-up play and aerial threat is vital.

Any other formation and I think we are going to find it really hard.

50 year's ago - - (remember Charles Laughton in Hobson's Choice - -" 50 years") - - I remember those days wonderfully well - - just bought The Beatles Album - - spent the whole weekend listening to it in the front parlour at The Britannia Pub at the bottom of Great Mersey Street - - that's where I lived throughout the 50's and 60's - - Bluetiful Days - - - just kept playing it over and over again on my Blue (of course) Dansette Record Player - - - makes you think - - believed Everton were unbeatable then - - loved going the match (still do) - - the walk along Smith Street - - along Wessie Road - - up Spellow Lane and into Goodison - - some days we would walk up The Valley along Walton Breck Road - - past the Church which later in the 70's would famously have a poster outside - - “Jesus Saves” and some Blue Wag wrote underneath “but Latchford nets rebound” - - along past Stanley Park not even turning our heads to the right in case we turned to stone - - and onto Goodison - - my match days these days are - - many would say - - nostalgic and out of date - -- I, of course, would argue - - the football for many years has been dire - - grim - - so I have turned going to watch, generally, a poor dull, dreadful 90 minutes - - watching football and I mean Football in general - - that is corrupt - - phoney - - means little to real people - - there for the rich elite - - that costs me too much money - - into something different - - a newer experience - - where the holistic experience of Being Blue means something - - touches some part of my spirit - - my soul - - my heart - - my brain - - so I go to The Dark House every week - - cannot even drink these days due to illness - - but to see Blue friends - - listen to them - -watch - - it's like being On The Road with The Dharma Bums - - become filled with wonder - - truly A Sense OF Wonder that we are all still Fanatical Blues - - last Saturday after getting beat by Real/Sheffield United - - we sat late into the night talking about Everton Heroes - - favourite games - - favourite times - - remembering a horse tied to a lamppost in Leeds - - a pub full of Sikhs who welcome us like nutcases at WBA - - Stoke away in the Cup - - Kendal and The Window - - and God Bless Sammy Styles (what a Blue)

“I awoke this morning
Love laid me down by a river.
Drifting I turned on upstream
Bound for my forgiver.
In the giving of my eyes to see your face.
Sound did silence me
Leaving no trace.
I beg to leave, to hear your wonderous stories.
Beg to hear your wonderous stories.
He spoke of lands not far
Or lands they were in his mind.
Of fusion captured high
Where reason captured his time.
In no time at all he took me to the gate.
In haste I quickly checked the time.
If I was late I had to leave to hear your wonderous stories.
Had to hear your wonderous stories.
Hearing
Hearing
Hearing your wonderous stories.
Hearing your wonderous stories.
It is no lie I can see deeply into the future.
Imagine everything
You're close
And were you there to stand
So cautiously at first and then so high.
As he spoke my spirit climbed into the sky.
I bid it to return
To hear your wonderous stories.
Return to hear your wonderous stories.”

Any good football in between is welcome - - - held in my memory - - shared and loved - - but the camaraderie - - friendship - - warmth - - humour that also draws me - - OHHHH Everton why don't you get this - - don't you understand that we Evertonians are a Wondrous Group - - We Love You - - Remember This - - Keep It Close To Your Heart - - In Your Plans - - We are Wonders of The World Us Blues - - so Friends go to go - - stupid KO time - - go to get ready and go:

Bit of Lennon:

“There are places I'll remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone, and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends, I still can recall
Some are dead, and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I'll love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I'll love you more
In my life I'll love you more”

Best wishes and Cosmic Blue grooves to you all:

“Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way
Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Been walking my mind to an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things
To come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground”

Up The Blues (UTFT) - - George

Additionally I would add that I don't think we will see the club sack Silva even if up and coming results don't go our way.

I'm serious here lads. God fucking help us if they are in that type of mood today.

I agree, this is Everton so anything can happen. I also expect for the players to give their 100%. Having said that, let me be reluctant because I do not trust in our manager and I think we have some players who rarely give his 100%. Everton had been loosing their identity since the second Martinez year that is the main problem from my point of view and the thing I regret the most.

George, are you a bit ‘ brassic lint', you never mentioned the 4-0 bet this week, surely youhaven't give up on that ?

Anyway best wishes as always,hope it is a very happy evening in the Dark House tonight.

Mick - - nice to hear from you - - just off to the game now.

Yahooooooo.

You've certainly got out of bed this morning in a winning mood.

Yes please, I'll have a glass or two of whatever you were drinking last night!

Dave, remember the look on the faces of Mike Tyson's opponents as they stood on the opposite side of the ring waiting for the first round bell to ring?

That's us, we're about to become Mike's next victim!

Rabbit caught in the headlights!

They're going to need to be having another Norwich day, I can't see that twice in the same season or so close to each other.

We're certainly not going to "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee".

Do you rememeber Tyson v Spinks? That's how I think today will go, what there is of it is worth a watch on youtube.

I see the RS have scraped a win again, watched most of the game, luck is still with them, SU should have had a corner but it was deemed a goal kick to RS, among other favourable decisions.

After an impressive start last season when Silva set us up away from home to play our game, rather than compromise to stop the opposition, away to City was when, for me, he 'blinked' for the first time and played Kean-Zouma-Mina in a back three. It was disastrous.

Shortly after half time, but only after going 2-0 down, he changed the shape again to a flat back four and we were immediately better for it, defensively and offensively.

As Rob March says, with this City team Norwich results are truly 'Blue Moonish'. Very rare occurrences. Everton is so bipolar in its performances. But the personnel and a large make-up of the team that closed out last season so well are still at the club.

It's time for them to show up.

Lady luck adores that lot across the park, they'll nearly always get any that's going.

Having said that, their average game is so much better than ours and that's why they're testing City so closely.

They said a body shot put him down first but he hit him with a lovely left uppercut just before that.

If we lose today the pressure should be on from all sides.

If we start the season with 4 defeats after 7 games and the pressure wasn't on I'd be even more worried because that would mean most people aren't surprised and just expect Everton to lose regularly.

If, by a miracle, Everton win today, it will only help Liverpool win the Premier League. So it's going to be one of those games, damned if you do or damned if you don't.

I want an Everton win. ALWAYS!

Of course, winning the title was nearly the death of Buster, but that's another story.

Gerry #49, good job spotting that! Hope you and yours are well. And to any of the County Road Bobblers who may be on TW, please pass along our congratulations to your group. Superb gesture.

Tony #9, best post of the day.