Southampton vs Everton

Quite often a struggling team and manager benefits from forced changes. Let's hope that is the case for us and that someone steps up and grasps their opportunity.

It's not like any of us didn't see this one coming.

Pickford
Sidibe, Holgate, Mina, Digne
Iwobi, Shneiderlin, Davies
Walcott, Tosun, Richarlison

Or how about 5-3-2

Pickford
Sidibe, Holgate, Mina, Keane, Digne
Iwobi, Schneiderlin, Davies
Calvert-Lewin. Tosun

Get Sidibe and Digne down the wings to get crosses in for Calvert-Lewin and Tosun. I know it means dropping Richarlison down to the bench but I never like picking managers favourites regardless of form so that doesn't bother me at all.
The fact is that there are sides above us with supposedly worse players, worse defences, worse midfields, worse attacks but they all have better attitudes and don't collapse at the first sign of adversity. No matter who Silva picks they need to improve their attitude and stop hiding.

I watched him in the U21 game midweek and he showed a few nice touches and some good passing. He didn't control the midfield and looked a bit lost as Crewe took control.

He's some way off Premier League level. He needs another loan if he's to succeed at Everton. I think he's behind Denis Adendiran in the pecking order too and I've never been convinced Denis is good enough.

I'd go:

Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Sigurdsson Davies
Walcott Iwobi Richarlison
Kean

If you wanted to swap Calvert-Lewin for Kean, that'd be fine.

Losing Delph right now at this moment is yet another blow.

We have to get 6 points from our next two league games.

We need pace in all other areas of the pitch to complement the lack of pace in the middle and that means a definite start for Sidibe who did okay against Spurs and looks the best right back at the club. Holgate's pace is also necessary.

If Tosun starts as I think he will, then he needs Iwobi behind him for pace and Walcott and Richarlison wide.

Pickford
Sidibe Mina Holgate Digne
Davies Schneiderlin
Walcott Iwobi Richarlison
Tosun

Otherwise, I would consider dropping Sigurdsson into a deep role. He works hard and would set us on the counter-attack with his passing ability.

We should sell Sigurdsson and Schniederlin in January and buy some more hopefuls.

Where was Denis Adeniran against Crewe? Possibly being rested for Saints. I doubt it, I also remain to be convinced he can make it as a Premier League player.

The most important thing is we move the ball quickly, play with a high tempo and break at pace.

I'm not well up on who's available, what about Gordon?

As for Sigurdsson, he plays centre mid in a 4-4-2 fo Iceland. And he works his socks off

Maybe our first two midfield picks are injured but we have still got good players, improving players. Put Baningime on the bench.

Schneiderlin, Davies and Iwobi is a good balance of everything. I just want some movement ahead of them so Schneiderlin has more than sideways and back passes. He is more than capable.

I have a feeling that Tosun could start but wouldn't be surprised if Sigurdsson comes back in either.. after all its Silva that sees him in training. We also have Calvert-Lewin and Kean all itching to play.

We don't have a settled core line up either through form or injury, or a settled formation either. Anyway, at least Silva has started to show a bit more flexibility. It's harder when your manager is short on confidence on top of the players. The fact he is starting to work with, or is being forced to work with the players he has is good. Taken too long but l can see a chink of light. I just hope its not too late.

Gordon is the only one I can see this season. I think the U23s is not a good team this season, the talent is all under 18, excluding Gibson and Gordon.

Richard, I thought Beni was great when he got in the side too. But that was 18 months to 2 years ago. Then he got injured and then he had a failure of a loan to Wigan. He lost a year and is struggling to get back to where he was, never mind develop. Expect him to go on loan in January and not to get into our first team.

Richard, you are right about him being more defensive-minded than Denis who is more box-to-box. Are you sure Sigurdsson plays in a deeper role for Iceland? I've only watched a handful of games but it seems they have 9 outfield workers and Sigurdsson roams wherever he wants.

His form has been nothing like it was when he last came into the first team and personally I would prefer Dennis Adeniran who is too fast thinking for the U23s so might be able to make the leap.

Having said all that, Southampton is a must-win game so, in the circumstances, I would play Gordon with Davies playing the sole defensive midfield role and really go for it against Southampton.

We need bundles of energy and pace in this one so Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin and Seamus take a bath.

Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Davies Iwobi
Walcott Richarlison Gordon
Calvert-Lewin

Schneiderlin just sits five yards in front of the centre-backs, rarely tackling and too deep to put any pressure on the opposition midfield players or make him put his head down. They get all the time in the world to pick a pass.

Watch the Aston Villa goal closely. He may look like he's "kept his shape" and is in a defensive position, like these iPad-warrior badged-up modern coaches like, but he isn't affecting the game.

Then when our keeper or cbs have the ball he runs and finds an opponent to mark him and doesn't want it.

He will take possession only in second and third phase after their entire midfield has dropped into their own half, affording him acres of space so he can demand the ball and pass sideways or backwards. Racking up the completed passes but getting us nowhere.

Proper midfield players like Arteta, Barry and Fellaini would go and demand it straight away. Marked or not and get us going. No need for Liverpool comparisons.

He has no energy. He doesn't sprint forward off the ball, leaving his marker behind. Doesn't get through a great deal of work and doesn't press.

He's neither defensive or attack-minded imho.

If we must compare him to a Liverpool midfielder or call Liverpool's midfield defensive then I think you're being harsh on them. They are all box to box and get through an unbelievable amount of work. They don't sit on their centre-backs, they hound you within half a second of receiving the ball. And will always try to pass forward and follow their pass.

Eric Dier for England but, without a good right foot or physical strength, is the only similar player I can think of who is similar to the Schneiderlin. I'd rather have Phil Neville!

Might as well play Davies, Iwobi and Sigurdsson as the midfield 3. Especially if you want to copy Liverpool. At least they'll press and get forward. Davies 6 and Iwobi and Sigurdsson as two 8s working, pressing and fighting for every ball.

Not saying it would work but at least they'd want the ball and compete.

We could rely more on the fullbacks. There was a thread when Iwobi was signed, on how he was the 'enabler of overlapping fullbacks' at Arsenal. That could be quite useful for us.

I might be wrong but I think he was also injured at Wigan.

I know he didn't play much.

I tried to find it online but I cannot find anything, one way or another. The only facts are he played 1 game, was a sub the game before that and then never made the matchday squad again. It is all very strange.

Given our record at Southampton we might be happy to make it 12 points from 12 games and spend another 2 weeks just outside the relegation zone which I guess is better than the last international break!

David @ 41 the Moshiri revolution is in full flow! We may somehow get 3 points, but our away record is a shocker as we all know.

Me, I'd play Coleman and put Sidibe in midfield as I'm sure he played there for Lille

Pickford
Coleman Holgate Mina Digne
Sidibe Sigurdsson Davies Iwobi
Calvert-Lewin Kean or Tosun

Yet another inspiring decision by our wonderful genius, to get rid of McCarthy just as he was back to full fitness. At a time when we need players to put up a fight, and with Gana allowed to go too, we lost the only two players who really give everything on the pitch, and never replaced them.

The team lacks bottle in midfield, and with 2 more down, I really fear for our club in the demanding pre-Xmas run of games.

I find it futile picking teams, but when I heard Schneiderlin's name getting mentioned, I thought I'd go for a system that, whilst drawing criticism from South America, might just keep Morgan out of the team!

I disagree with quite a bit of what he says, especially about Silva, but nobody can claim he doesn't add value to the site and to the various debates.

I know we play like weve only got 9 men but please don't handicap us further. LOL

I did think about playing 3 centre-backs but Southampton don't have much weight up front and tend to play through Ward-Prowse in the middle so I think we would be better beefing up the midfield.

As someone else has said, probably our most graceful midfielder since Colin Harvey is out for the season whilst the nation rushes to comfort the player who shoulders most of the blame.

So at Southampton, I don't care who we pick as long as we grow a pair, collectively, sharpen our studs and get our retaliation in first. Cheat, dive and generally act like bastards and bollocks to our image as nice acquiescent Everton.

God, I wish Tony Kay, Johnny Morrisey and Jimmy Gabriel were playing.

I'm disappointed for Baines not even making the bench. I know he's not the future but we are paying him a salary to waste possibly his final year in football. Is he that bad in training?

And playing Schneiderlin is not 'playing it safe', it is just fuckin stupidity.

He rarely loses the ball, can pass well, can tackle and I'm sure Davies would play better next to him rather than Schneiderlin. It's someone he probably looked up to when coming through the ranks

It worked for Lahm.

I'm being cute (or trying to). Steve - obviously you throw a lot of time and effort into following this football club. I just wish you could be a little less rigid about formations, players and tactics. And by you, I also mean your buddy Silva. It's like you've convinced yourself you know all the answers. You should open yourself up to the unknown. It's fun.

Pickford
Coleman, Holgate, Mina, Digne
Sidibe, Davies, Sigurdsson, Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin, Tosun.

Tosun has to stay on for the full 90 minutes.

My gut feeling is we must find a way to win this game and the Norwich game because there is a storm coming in December.

Delph is a good player. There's no correlation between him and Schneiderlin in any case. There's a very good reason why Delph gets hamstring problems and Schneiderlin doesn't - Delph tears around the pitch straining every sinew to win the ball back. I also think he's decent in possession, particularly feeding the ball out to Digne. Schneiderlin is a crab who never gets out of 2nd gear.

That said, I hope he plays against his old club on Saturday and that he has a blinder against them. Hopefully they will then come in for him in January and give us £15 million for him.

I also cannot believe we have nobody who can come in from the U23s and compete at this level. Just shows what a sorry mess we are in at the moment and I do not think Silva has the capability to rally the troops to get us through this difficult period.

Without Gomes and Bernard we have also lost probably our 2 most technically gifted players. So, without their influence on the game, we cannot replace them with slow pondering players like Shneiderlin and Siggy. We therefore have to go with pace as much as possible to overcome the lack of technical quality. So, for me, the team has to be:

Pickford
Sidibe, Holgate, Mina, Digne
Davies, Iwobi, Baines
Walcott, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison

While Bainsy has no match fitness, at least being a lefty he brings some balance to the team. He might only last 60 minutes but then he can be replaced with Sigurdsson or Schneiderlin. I would also like to see Gordon on the bench. He has to be given a chance now.

On the team picking... I think playing Baines in midfield is about four years too late, but I'd prefer Baines to Morgan.

Baningime might not be ready to play 38 games a year in the Premier League, but he can surely step up for the odd game?

I agree, the time has arrived for Gordon to step in and replace Bernard.

I also agree that Tosun should be starting.

My team:

Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Davies Baningime
Richarlison Gordon
Kean Tosun

Plenty of pace in there! Run riot!

As for tomorrow, I think he'll go with Lyndon's team and rightly so. We look thin but that's the reality. We need to become mean and to have maximum concentration given our depleted resources.

I didn't like Koeman or Allardyce and it was very easy to criticise them all the time. It's much harder to stand by a manager when everyone else has jumped ship.

But don't worry. I have thick skin and never give up. Being an Evertonian has taught me that.

I'd rather have some fanciful posso dream stuff (that's me) and some well thought out support and comments (that's you, Steve) than any of the whinging miserable crap that a few post (that's you?? – I am sure you know who you are).

Up The Blues – “Hey Moriarty what's with the neggo waves, man – think posso – think bridge.”

Confidence, I would imagine is pretty thin throughout the current team/squad, but I have always maintained that WE DO have the players to make a difference, it's just that this manager is reluctant to make changes unless enforced, and very seldom is adventurous, or willing to try something else, that MAY just work.

I hope the terrible blow of the Gomes injury has bolstered this squad and hope that Silva can impose a siege mentality because we really need to string an unbeaten run together and simply can't afford a defeat to a team so low in the table.

I expect a high tempo game and hopefully our speed on the break will be enough to get the result but our defence always give me palpitations.

I always take notice of your posts, and agree with quite a lot of them. I understand your reluctance at having Schneiderlin in the team, however, despite not being a big fan of Schneiderlin, there are not many midfielders left to pick from, and I'd go with the experienced Frenchman.

I'm hoping that he will realise the mess Everton are in and the need for the whole squad to pull together at this difficult time. I'd hope and trust that he will give a bit/lot more than he has given in the last 18 months and show the manager, the club and the fans that he cares about the situation we are ALL in and shows it on Saturday, along with the rest of the squad.

Steve Ferns, that's the spirit mate, don't let the bastards grind you down.

Sorry, I have lost all confidence in Everton.

If only we had even just one of Kay, Gabriel and Morrissey!! They don't make them like that any more.

I would give Gordon a chance in this game:

Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Davies Iwobi Baningime
Walcott Richarlison Gordon

I can't understand posters having a go about other guys posting. It's always interesting to read other views, even when you don't agree with them. As others have said, scroll down if it annoys you that much but don't sink to the depths of the odd few who abuse others who have different views.

We all share the same aims!

When somebody puts a lot of effort in to analyse something, and is usually often successful at it, it can piss some people off, people who are not able to do good analysis, and/or cannot be arsed to put the work in. Such critical people have a tendency to make personal comments that are really unwarranted, especially when they think you've got something wrong and they've found a chink in the armour.

As someone once said, talent instantly recognises talent, but mediocrity knows nothing better than itself, and if you invented an ingenious machine for automatically peeling potatoes, there would be some people who'd complain it doesn't peel apples.

Your analyses are always interesting. Keep on posting.

You have nailed your colours to the Silva mast and will defend him to the hilt, and thats very commendable, but failure to see any faults is bordering on being misguided, a bit like the band on the Titanic. I liked the appointment of Silva and said so at the time, as the alternative of Frank de Boer didn't appeal but with the money spent we should be competing at the other end of the table.

I also think Brands is accountable for the mess we are in, but its always the manager who is sacked if the team fails. I think if we lose to Southampton Silva will be sacked.

Obviously Moshiri will be loathed to have to sack him given the time and money he spent in acquiring Silva, but even he will have run out of patience if we lose to Southampton.

Steve F @23 I've no problem with defensive midfielders who show for the ball, move it forwards and commit energy to the game (like Liverpool's) but the trouble is that Schneiderlin does none of those things (anymore). In particular, I rarely see him move into good positions to receive the ball when his team-mates are under pressure. He's a decent enough player who was very good at Southampton but I just think he's lost a lot of confidence. Perhaps he could play as part of a move mobile midfield but my heart sinks when I see him and Sigurdsson (and Gomes) in the same midfield 3.

I think we should stick with the 4-3-3 which actually limited Tottenham to very few chances indeed (till we gifted them a goal). I'd play Iwobi, our best creator, as the most advanced of the 3 (like a deeper 10) and see what the unknown quality of Gordon can do. This team needs a lift and bringing in a highly rated youngster for his league debut might provide that spark (either that or you have to play Walcott again).

Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Delph( or Schneiderlin) Davies
Iwobi
Gordon Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

With Walcott, it's all about end product... or specifically the lack of it! At times he looks a threat but you come away from the game thinking it all came to nothing. Also, his goals have dried up and we are desperate for goals.

Brands taking a risk in transferring in injury-prone players was always going to be hit and miss. There have been mostly misses. Because of the way Everton is perceived, many players shy away in the transfer windows, leaving Everton with little choice.

It is the same regarding manager candidates.

Whoever pulls on the shirt for this game (including Schneiderlin), I hope they leave nothing in the dressing room because we need a 100% from every one of them.

I can see Davies slowly getting overrun in the centre of midfield and getting slated on here immediately afterwards.

To be honest, if we were to stick with a 4-3-3, I would play Richarlison in midfield. The guy tackles and intercepts more than anyone else on the pitch at times and, although he might wander with it not being natural to him, there will still be 2 covering midfielders. He also offers the option, as Davies does, of carrying the ball.

I know it's unlikely but a midfield and attack of...
Richarlison, Baines, Davies
Iwobi, Kean, Walcott

I actually always look out for Steve's posts as I find him highly informed and knowledgeable, although I don't exactly see eye to eye with him on all matters Silva. Many posters offer little but repetative and unconstructive criticism – and by all means feel free – but I appreciate far more the likes of Steve, who is one of the contributors who make the effort of presenting insightful analyses and explaining their views and opinions.

Of course people will always have differing views in football but, in my book, fronting a reflected opinion deserves some respect.

There are those who would rather that we lost tomorrow in order to get rid of the manager but I for one hope that he turns it around even at this late stage.

You are on of the few on here who can argue their own opinion without resorting to belittling or goading people.

I've disagreed with you often but always enjoyed how you politely fight your corner.

No matter what team he picks or who is available for selection surely to god this is a must-win game and so too Norwich?

If we aren't winning at Southampton (who only ever seem to win at home against us every season) then I doubt we will win an away game all season, certainly won't be winning away before Christmas looking at the fixtures ahead.

The players need to grow a pair, Silva needs to start manning up too, I'm still pissed at why he hasn't been out this week shouting from the rooftops about how bad VAR is and that Martin Atkinson should not be allowed near an Everton game again.

Tomorrow really is make-or-break stuff.

I have supported the Blues for years. My great uncle, Thomas Veitch, played for the club in the 1880s. My Dad took me to the game at Goodison when we won the League in 1963. He also took me to home games where we won 6-1 against possibly Nottingham Forest and Chelsea. I can still recall Tommy Ring making an absolute mess of the opposition's right back.

After 1966, I could not go the games much. My parents had sent me to Merchant Taylors School in Crosby that had lessons on Saturday morning (which is why I am so intelligent) and rugby on Saturday afternoon (which is why I am so physically developed). But I do recall travelling home on the train on Saturday afternoons listening to the 1966 FA Cup Final where Derek Temple scored the winner after we had gone down 2-0, and also a 5-something win against Liverpool at Anfield.

I only have three things to contribute to this thread.

1. Colin Harvey was the most technically gifted footballer I have ever witnessed. But now I am 70 years old I cannot remember whether I was copying him or he was copying me.

2. The combined loss of Tony Kay and my emigration to Australia were enormous losses for the club.

3. Lay off Steve Ferns. He is the only one who backs up what he is saying with a few facts. He will not be right on everything, and I don't agree with him on everything. But I agree that the Club will achieve nothing by changing the manager now.

Surely to god, the team have got to start producing? We have been unfortunate in the last two, mainly due to incompetent officials and VAR. Ever the optimist, I'm going for a 3-1 win!

It's a must-win as defeat against Southampton with our upcoming fixtures combined with a Shite manager and a shocking injury list could send us on a catastrophic downward spiral into a serious relegation scrap.

The flip side is that defeat will be another nail in Silvas coffin and pushes him nearer the exit door/sack (which is 100% something that needs to happen). We have been massively poor under him this season.

Look at Wolves – despite taking a small squad into the Europa League, they are now ahead of us in the league. We have Sheff Utd, Wolves, Villa, Brighton, Burnley, Newcastle, Palace all ahead of us –we have been that poor. The blame rests on Silva's shoulders.

With your luck on a couple of recent away trips, take a parachute with you!

It's about time you and the loyal away support were rewarded with an away win.

Let's hope it comes tomorrow.

Steve posts a lot because many posters are interested in his often alternative view and will address their comment directly to him. That's not a problem the snipe-from-the-sideline nothing-to-say crew will ever have to address.

It's difficult to be confident about an Everton side on the road, but the Saints confidence has to be brittle. Fortune will favour the brave tomorrow.

Be bold. Two up top would win this

The message is clear; as long as we are 'in touch' with the top half, no major decisions will be made. And we shall win, anyway!

Things haven't really changed much since. We still have Schneiderlin and may now put him back in the side to usher in another lacklustre performance. If history repeats itself I expect to see a managerial change before if not at the Norwich match.

Unlike Unsworth, I see no evidence of Silva being able to motivate players or turn things round. Furthermore, Silva has no confidence in any of our young players, exemplified by his treatment of Davies. I'm afraid Silva has 'loser' written through him like a stick of rock and relegation has been his only signature achievement.

I still pray that Silva somehow gets his selection and tactics right, but realistically I can see no prospect of a win. I hope I'm completely wrong and that our away support at long long last get a performance and result that their tremendous commitment deserves. COYB.

Saints defended as if their lives depended on it. Their three central defenders were superb, frustrating City for most of the match. If they play half as good tomorrow we'll be happy to escape with a point. It will have done their confidence a power of good.

Steve Ferns is a knowledgable and personable guy. He has opinions and relates them clearly and concisely. But they are his OPINIONS, and if you disagree get your crayons out and respond. Don't give the guy undeserved stick.

Schneiderlin is and never was the problem. He is a good player and feeds off the confidence and movement ahead of him. Silva sets up sometimes way too wide and seems fearful of being outmanned in wide areas, not wanting to leave our full-backs exposed. It's up to Silva now as to whether he goes for it or plays it safe, sticking with 4-1-4-1 which may work to our favour more if we counter-attack. We don't know what team or formation he will pick. Many of us want to see Tosun start but who's to say he won't just bring in Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson instead of shuffling Richarlison to accommodate either Tosun, or probably Calvert-Lewin.

We need a win.

I personally rate their manager and, with the injuries we are carrying into this match, we are going under the cosh a little I reckon. I would be happy with the draw, although we have it in us to win no doubt but whether the fight is in us tomorrow remains to be seen. 1-1 I predict, but hoping for a clean sheet to give us 1-0 or better.

An air hostess once asked if I wanted to join the Mile High Club. Not being one for shelling out on clubs, I declined. Did I make a bad decision? Just thinking of all the discounts I might have got.

Steve is way more knowledgeable than me on the game and I've always enjoyed reading his contributions. For what it's worth, I didn't agree with him when he analysed Silva's career and said he would be a good fit for our club. I think there's a massive difference between managing smaller clubs and Everton FC, and we saw this with Roberto.

I also think that Silva has shown an ability to string 4 or 5 good results together followed by a slump. I haven't followed his career as strongly as some but that's my recollections of his time at Hull City and Watford anyway. I was prepared to give him time and my support because I saw him as an improvement over the loathsome Allardyce.

Keep posting though, Steve, because you certainly know the game, our club and you always argue your case well, even if I don't always agree with you.

The positions both teams find themselves in makes the morale boost of winning this game every bit as important as the points.

Southampton looked very good against Man City and were unlucky not to come away with something, they will be well and truly up for this. This match is more about mental strength than formations, I love these do-or-die games!

That said, I don't denigrate Steve but the sheer number of his posts can be overwhelming in my opinion. It's probably an age thing though. He's young and I ain't!

This is a forum. Jesus man, if you don't like a particular poster, skip it FFS!

Steve, keep posting.

And Steve - earlier you were mentioning how Liverpool don't have a creative CDM, and they're very defensive in that position [paraphrasing].

I don't care what Liverpool do. And you can't compare us to them at that position. They make up for dull defensive mids because they have arguably the best front three in world football! They don't need any dynamic play from the back. They have a level of dynamic play from three players that most teams don't have in their whole squad! Credit where it's do, even through a snarl.

I hope Sigurdsson is dropped deep. I think he'd do just fine there. IwobiN is far more attacking and quick on a ball. He should be at No 10 for me.

1. Don, that last comment wasn't directed squarely at you.

2. If we, God forbid, lose this game, relegation is a reality. It'll be 100% time to hit the panic button.

No doubt Schneiderlin will try and protect the defence and hopefully allow us to hit them on the break.

COYBs

I hope am wrong, we need three points as fast as possible atm.

COYB

Sid Holgate Mina Digne

Richarlison Davies Sigurdsson Iwobi
. DC-L
. Tosun .

4-4-1-1

Sigg is out of form, but would rather find a way of incorporating him than playing Schneiderlin. We never play well when Schneiderlin plays and if he is chosen I will fear the worst.

Holgate deserves his place.

DC-L is a converted midfielder so in that role he can supplement the midfield defensively and be combative in winning possession in the air and retaining possession in the advanced midfield positions. This could give us more midfield control that we are crying out for .

Tosun looks fired up so he could get the goal that makes the difference tomorrow. Give him a chance.

You would hope that with what happened to Gomes, the awful VAR decisions we have had, plus Hasenhuttl,s comments it will rattle enough cages to make our players play as if their life depended on the result.

He's right mind you so I'm not going to criticise him.

Four years on from Farhad Moshiri I don't think any of us, Moshy included could have quite believed where we are.

Calls for patience and time are gone now, we can't permanently be a club in transition and struggling.

Has Brendan Rodgers taken years to sort out Puel's mess at Leicester, no he hasn't!

It's time we start looking like a bloody team that's had millions spent on it and stop this pissing about all the time.

I just don't know where we go with him if we don't get a result on Sat. A draw probably buys him the Norwich game but a defeat and surely its time to part ways.

Next two games are against two of the worst teams in the league - anything less than 4 points and we're in serious trouble with our Dec fixture list. (As if we weren't in trouble already.)

It's still early in the season but I can see us being tonked away to Leicester and Liverpool in 4 weeks time and don't hold out much hope against a resurgent Chelsea thereafter. So 3 probable losses in a row before making the trips to Manu and Arsenal lovely way to bring in xmas. Potentially 5 games, 5 losses, zero points. We'd then be almost half way through the season so can't bang on the 'it's still early' drum.

Simply HAVE to get a result this Sat - 97th minute winner off Tosuns arse fine by me - don't care how.

That's down to the manager in my view.

I think we need a lot of energy for this game and therefore don't need the "safe and slow" Schneiderlin.

Southamptons success against City was defend like their lives depended on it and hit on the break.

I don't see them playing that game tomorrow so I think we should reverse it with high energy defending and hitting them on the break.

We also need goalscorers so I would give Gordon a game alongside Richy and Walcott who is due a goal and seems to be back to form With Davies, Iwobi and Siggy in MF.

Lets hope our current manager can inspire them enough for a much needed 3 points and a boost for our long suffering travelling supporters.

@ Steve Ferns general - your backing of Silva is quite admirable in the face of what he's actually delivered in 15 months. Although I think you're wrong (I never wanted Silva in the first place), if that's your belief stick to it. (I backed Koeman all the time and thought he was harshly done by given he had the rug pulled from under him with the summer transfers but many others here wanted him gone. Many still think he was crap for us even though we haven't actually finished higher than his first (and only full) season since Martinez' first season.

This site is all about opinions and most of us have gone through phases of 'mass postings'. Swings and roundabouts for me, if people don't like someones post they can just ignore it (am sure some do mine!).

We're going to win! Break the away bugaboo, breathe some life into the squad, out together an inspired performance for their fallen comrade, and just go for it.

Soton I'm not sure what they'll do. On the one hand, with their own doubts starting to creep in, Hasenhuttl may want to show the home supporters some fire after that 0-9 embarrassment, and try to play on the front foot. Which would actually play right into our hands (and he may know that).

On the other hand, he may take a different approach and sit back to simply try to pull a result in an ugly, torrid affair. This is where I want to see us/Silva adjust and not just cross & pray. Soton has 3 CBs over 6 foot if I'm not mistaken. For this reason, I believe there need to be a Plan A, and a Plan A.2.

If we look to take it to them, I'd hope for:

Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Davies Iwobi Sigurdsson (I'm honestly not convinced he can play here but at this point, why not)
Walcott DCL Richarlison

Or
Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Schneiderlin
Davies Iwobi
Richarlison DCL Sigurdsson (yes I know there's a snowball's chance in hell of this happening but I truly think he could be valuable here)

Either way I want to see 3 forwards.

COYB

Towards the end of last season we played the top teams and did well against them. I'm pinning my hopes on that.

Steve Fearns, keep posting mate, and hopefully Silva's Everton can get us a result tomorrow for everyone's sake.

Pete #89, Sheeds is only 60 and he'd bump Schneiderlin out of that lineup!

Just my opinion, but to me it's all about the energy here, not the balance.

Jamie #116, bravo for your support of Steve. Now stop posting so much.

😏

The mans got zero fight or fire.

He just doesn't inspire and his results over 1.5 season back that up.

He shouldn't be in a job he's been dog shit this season.

After FINAL Whistle we will be joined by Jay, our very own chattering Jay all the way from the Amazon. He will spend a long, long time disseminating the game, the result, the successes and failures. It will all be there for you - you will not miss a minute of the action. There will even be time for those with a thirst to pop-down to the local for a few pints, while Jay continues to dispense his diatribe about what he has witnessed from the comfort of his armchair, somewhere up the Amazon.
Fear not Jay's views will still be available into the early hours of Sunday. So there is no need to rush back from the pub. He will not disappoint.

So, pop-pickers the pre-match action has already started!! Enjoy the Steve 'n Jay Show - I promise you won't miss a thing!!

Regarding Steve Ferns, I have met him once, just after Mr Silva took over in 2018. He's a very nice guy, thoughtful, and a dedicated Evertonian. That's good enough for me. We disagreed on our new coach, my view was that Marco could not organise a defence. I have been desperate to be proved wrong, for a while towards the end of last season it looked like Steve's man was winning through, but this season we have gone backwards. Drastic and prompt action to remedy things is needed.

Very accurate very witty

Read @ 153.

Lost and found.

All is well in the world again.

Let's get back to the footy anyway. Saints are a team that I've always liked. Usually they know their place and a team you can expect to beat. Ralph Hasenhuttl is an intriguing character. Known as the Alpine Klopp (due to being Austrian rather than German). The Klopp reference is due to his similar style in the "gegenpressing" mould. He fought his way into the Bundesliga 2 with Aalen (who? exactly) before jumping to Ingolstadt where he turned them around and took them from relegation places to Champions in a season. He then took them to 11th in his only season with them in the top flight, before being lured by the newly promoted and newly rebranded Red Bull Leipzig (back when the Red Bull was prominent). Leipzig set a few records as they surprised everyone finishing 2nd. They then slipped to 6th and Hasenhuttl resigned as they refused to extend his contract, apparently they only wanted him for one more year and then they would change manager. Old Everton admirer Ralf Rangnick was their Director of Football and he took over for a season as manager whilst he waited for Julien Nagelsmann to come in the following season. Hasenhuttl then waited for 6 months until Saints came calling.

Last season he did a decent job getting 30 points for Saints, from 23 games, staying up by 5 points. The team he inherited were bottom two with 1 win from 16 games. Such was his impact that he was still talked up at the earlier part of this season that I heard some pundits asking why Man Utd had not got him in. It's all gone wrong in recent weeks and they have been in freefall. But it's worth remembering how good they have been under the Austrian and that they are more than capable of turning it around.

They should play a 343 type formation with a back 3, two defensive midfielders, a pair of wingbacks, and then a front three of Ings flanked by Redmond and Ward-Prowse. It's the five centrally defensive players who will cause Everton a problem. If they try and defend, then Silva's Everton have failed to show that they have many ideas about how to get through the lines.

We will get the ball out wide, that's where the space will be. I would like to see us getting it out wide and early and then look to play through the lines from the wings. This requires the pace of Iwobi rather than Sigurdsson in the number 10 position. We have to play Sidibe and not Coleman. We need to get our fullbacks forwards and double up on their wingbacks and pull defenders wide to create space in the middle. In doing this, I think we need a safety valve in the middle and with the personnel available, that can only be Schneiderlin. He will be keen to impress his former club, he will be keen to show us he is not "negative" and so he must show this by passing the ball quicker and keeping things moving. I hope he does not go too attacking and try to play like Gomes, because he cannot do that, and we need him to sit in, anchor the midfield and let others get forwards. Ward Prowse and Redmond will drift inside and it'll be important that Davies and Schneiderlin are back to defend when Saints attack. They will press us hard and moving the ball quickly is essential to beating that press, just as Leicester did. We need to switch the ball from side to side at speed, like Leicester did, and we could enjoy the same chances.

My head says a hard fought 1-1 draw, but we have to win, we must win, and so I'm going with a 1-3 win to the Blues.

Thank you. You know of what I speak.

Cheers.

Mike @ 138 -

Don't be such a Seppo.

So its a must win match away at Southampton.

The key word is here AWAY.

As much as I'd love to be optimistic but under Marco Silva I've seen nothing to suggest we are going to get anything but a good spanking on Saturday.

If they score first then god help us, after the 9-0 Southampton are going to be playing like lions in front of their home fans.

Big match for us an even bigger match for Marco.

I hope we channel the "do it for Andre" energy, and draw on that if we go behind and exercise the ghost of never coming from behind (in a league game). We need to be the ones playing like Lions and we need to use the energy of their crowd against them.

Definitely a big match for the Blues. And definitely a game we must win, if Everton are to have any degree of success under Silva.

I think we should expect a high-energy showing from the Saints; they probably need a win even more than we do. I reckon a draw would be an adequate result, all things considered. My concern is that we will be outfought and outthought and come back with no points and even more discontent.

I think we are all still waiting/hoping for the Marco Silva lightbulb Eureka moment.

But it wont come against Southampton.

Trust me I 100% want to win but I also wanted to win against Palace, Villa, Burnley, Brighton & Bournemouth also.

The intensity they play with ‘one in however many games' is the minimum they should turn out. Why aren't the players able to live up to that very basic requirement?

Big match tomorrow though. Great chance to alter the narrative of the season altogether. A defeat and it really is time for a change of manager.

Lost 2-0 too 2 own goals in first half hour.

Alcaraz in first minute standing in for Distin and Coleman on the half hour.

Pochetino was the manager and Lambert and Llalana played.

2-0 win coyb

Even the most staunch of his supporters will have to accept his record is appalling and cannot be allowed to continue.

Please no Schneiderlin. We have to win not win the passing sideways league.

Such his belief in Silva. It explains why he pursued him so single mindedly, he believes he has made the right choice and he will take it personally if he is proven wrong.

We have nothing to lose now, we should blood as many youngsters as possible, they are our future, Gordon seems the obvious choice to make a start tomorrow, even if it is off the bench.

Now they're bottom.

Panic?

As I've said on previous threads, lets see how the league settles down by end of December. That's when you truly know where you are.

Moyes would have been sacked most seasons based on early season form. I'm not a Moyes fan but just saying.

Rodgers missus wanted to come back South as she hated Glasgow. She is from Southport so Everton would of been ideal. I would beg Benitez to leave China and try get him. Fuck the Annfield connection. This chump Silva will take us down. Its what he does best.

Newsflash guys we are not rivals of LFC anymore they have left us in thier dust.

The reality is he's neither great nor shite, but ordinary, mediocre, and not what we want.

Pickford

Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne

Gueye Gomes

Lookman Deulofeu Richarlison

Lukaku

If only.

Law of averages if nothing else. We've had rotten luck lately and this has to change soon. A few players are due a good performance and/or goal - Mina has been banging on the door for a while, so if he plays I'll be chucking a tenner on a 2-1 scorecast with Mina scoring first 😃

A win gives us a bit of breathing space and chance to regroup. A defeat however against a determined Southampton desperate to put right that 9-0 reverse is not impossible, but they are a poor side who we should beat if we turn up.

Not too shabby

One's a flop and one's a fop. Neither is remotely a "top".

What might have been a midfield to compete with has now been decimated by bad injuries already and what is left doesn't inspire confidence.

With a stuttering offence for the most part there has been little contribution in the way of goals from other areas with Siggy seemingly going backwards much like Walcott.

Kean can't buy game time under Silva so what can we expect.
A defeat tomorrow surely will seal Silva's fate.

Tosun got him out of jail last week against ten man Spurs but it was not a game to remember.
One other footnote, Does anyone else think Carragher is an awful commentator much like Gary Neville ?

And before people cite THAT goal, or THAT dribble, or THAT pass to contradict me I actually agree all three displayed very sporadic excellence but nowhere near as much as being "top-drawer" requires.

That's why Barkley remains only a nailed-on bench-warmer, if that, at opulently well-off Chelsea, Duelofeu remains a mainstay this season for Watford right at the bottom of our league, and Lukaku, on stats, is admittedly now doing moderately better in a big, second-placed team at the moment but in a league where the fourth placed "big" team has just been spanked at home by the legendary Glasgow Celtic. Hmm?

Maybe rose-tinted specs should be dispensed with by hard-nosed Blues eh?

Sheedy and Hutchison were two great players with RS connections. As for Ablett, he was steady, but he was hardly great either. Beagrie?! I'm guessing you mean Peter Beardsley cos Beagrie flattered to deceive and has no connection to the RS.

I don't know how you can put Lukaku in there with Barkley and Deulofeu. I know many of us questioned Lukaku's lethargy, commitment, first touch etc...but the guy scored goals. He didn't flatter to deceive...he bloody carried us.

I appreciate he blows hot and cold at times but I look at our side and whilst we have some excellent footballers, we still lack a genuine flare element and pace.

Even watching tonight's game. I watched Buendia for Norwich who had genuine pace and trickery and that something different along with Hernandez who again at times waltzed past players... for Watford they of course had Deulofeu and Pereyra. again quick as hell.

We have some exceptional players but not an exceptional team.

Other than Bernard, we have no one who can waltz there way through a couple of players.

Think Traore, Zaha, Deulofeu a 'bums off seat' player who scares the opposition to death. And players of the ilk of Ziyech, Neres, Depay, Berjgwin, Lozano to name a few.

In a word, despite my love for Everton, we are slow and boring with spurts of excitement.

Of course Beagrie and Ablett weren't. I agree with you that Don Hutchison was committed, but he also had some guile. He was one of the best Everton players in HK mk3 and Walters time. For me he was excellent and a shining light in that Everton midfield circa 97/99, but yeah, if you wanna distinguish between the good players Tony mentioned, he wasn't the calibre of Beardley or prime Sheedy. Tbh, I hadn't given too much thought about which adjective to use in my original post. I guess you're right and 'excellent' is a few places down from 'great' lol

Brilliant Schneiderlin analysis.

Articulated exactly the player he is Not good enough for Everton Football Club.

3 points tomorrow please.

Two immediate problems emerge to me. One, Brands, a guy with a record of overseeing real achievement in a disadvantaged situation and Kenwright, a guy with a record of no achievement whatsoever in any situation at all, apart from massively swelling his own bank account on the back of every true Blue fans' expense.

For me I'd prefer to stick with Brands and, please, whoever he chooses as our next manager.

It's got to these depths to me, again, unless Silva can somehow still transform the playing team into credible characters, never mind players.

Sigh.

A Southampton website lists all our well known deficiencies and adds - Everton seem to have just as much trouble, if not more, playing themselves as they do the opposition and go in their shell at any untoward crowd noise.

We have this game and the Norwich game to try and turn our season around, if it goes pearshaped then the Chinese super leagues finishes 30th November, whether Everton will make an approach or not I do not know, but the window of opportunity is there if needed.

I would prefer we got a result tomorrow and against Norwich so for now this is on the back burner for me.

Lose them both then there cannot be any other option to relieve the manager of his duty.

As the Telegraph is one of the better sources out there Christ help us if it's true and that's the level our Board is at. Replacing one relegation specialist with another? Never mind Silva, sack the board and replace Blue Bill with a cardboard cut out if that's the level of their thinking.

My late friend and Blue Steve Ashcroft always used to say, "We should have never got rid, mate", when discussing Delo. I bowed to his knowledge; nice and a plus that I agreed. ;0)

Delo did blow hot and cold. But he's got talent, and the ability to raise the pulse of, and excite, the fans. He gets you off your seat.

Or the couch, for us bastardized Yanks forced to watch on the square idiot box.

Yeah, he's lightning quick. So is Royston Drenthe. To even mention this particular butterfly in the same post with the likes of "Ziyech, Neres, depay, Berjgwin, Lozano" is an absolute joke. There's a reason that they're all in the CL and the Euros and the World Cup and he's not. If football were dessert, those guys would be chocolate Gâteau and Dobos torte. Del Boy is the whipped cream on top -- decoration and empty calories.

Jamie, hate to disagree with you and the cherished memory of your buddy, but Deulofeu's exit was anything but a tragedy.

Fair enough. But Gerard would give us, presently, something we desperately lack: excitement.

He'd actually fit in perfectly with Silva's system. Silva continually plays it wide. Stick Gerry on the wing, a la Martinez, and watch him rifle in those low, "snap crosses" of his and we might be in business!

You've never, ever liked Delo. I've always liked him. It's a preference thing. I still think, with his talent, and in the right system, he'd be gold. Probably just another "romantic" thought.

Actually, I did like him very much as a youngster in 2013, and even more during his 2015 partnership with Rom. But by the halfway mark of that season he was strolling around the pitch like he was Pirlo, and I thought he thoroughly deserved to be benched in 2016 and loaned out in 2017.

He no longer appears to be that spoiled kid, but he also clearly never took advantage of that extraordinary talent.

David #213, yes, he can create sublime moments that none of our players are capable of. You just need to be willing to wait around for a month at a time to see them.

He lasted nine games. One goal, one assist. They couldn't wait to dump him.

Well played Everton, well played. Slick move that. Up Marco's tricky Toffees.

I think that, now the FA has come out and sort of admitted that Anthony Taylor cocked up the VAR penalty against Brighton and the decisions in the Tottenham game were less than helpful, I think Moshiri is an honourable guy and will realize that and Silva will be given the next two “winnable” matches against the Saints and Norwich.

Less than a couple of wins could put us back in the relegation zone with â…“ of the season gone. Two wins will put us in mid-table. If the unthinkable happens it doesn't matter what anyone here says, we are in deep doodo!

2 points

3 points

4 points

6 points

Personally speaking anything less than a win against Norwich at home and at least a draw tomorrow would finish me totally with Silva. I already think we should be lining a replacement up but if he can turn things around would give him to the end of the season.

If we lose these two games or only get a point I cannot see him surviving the end of the Norwich game.

However no matter how I feel about Silva I would prefer us to get 3 points tomorrow.

I sit here at 3:42 in the morning, wide awake, would be a lie, but unable to sleep all the same.

I feel today's game is a must-win. Have absolutely no confidence it will be...but will nevertheless hope from 3 pm onwards.

Then I'll come back here..fill my glass up again and fret and worry alongside the rest of you.

I was at The Dell, sometime in the '80s. when the giddy heights of being Champions had recently been experienced... but, I recall feeling apprehensive before that game, because Everton had turned from being dependable...into the other woman wildly unpredictable.

I think we went 3-0 up rather rapidly... Graeme Sharp grabbed a hat trick if I remember correctly.
Ended up 4-0,

Hand on heart... I cannot see this Everton side producing such a result today. And for me, it has nothing to do with tactics...or how much money you can throw into the transfer market... it's about heart, guts, and passion. None of us can complain about passion on ToffeeWeb You don't disagree about things you don't care about do you..?

Just think where else could you talk absolute bollocks in the early hours of the morning, trying to tire yourself out, so you can sleep before Everton let you down again? Ramble? Yes, I can... Come on you Blues... don't let us down. Another one, please, Mr Bartender...

Hope all the travelling Toffees wrap up warm it'll be a cold one and we're all warmed up by a win here and then vs Norwich. These matches are companion pieces.

Whether it be a penalty, against or for, or a Red Card it never alters the outcome of a game!

As for today, I think a lot will hinge on who he selects, and although we are getting a bit 'bare bones' in the midfield department, I just hope and pray that Schneiderlin is not wheeled out as a replacement for the unfortunate Gomes.

Hoping too to see two up front and at least see Anthony Gordon on the bench, but Silva being Silva, I would be very surprised to see him alter anything from his predictable and boring team selections.

If the youngsters aren't any good, at least we've given them a go. Being no good only means that they're at the same level as schneiderlin.

A properly organised, motivated tactically aware Everton would win this comfortably. But it is Marcos Everton so a shit nil nil or one nil defeat.

I'm usually super optimistic about our chances but not today. Prove me wrong Everton. COYB

I have zero confidence we can win here Saints will be up for it and our midfileld is depleted otherwise I thought our defence showed signs of improvement last week.

DCL & Tosun to start and Keane to come on early for Tosun if needed. Stand by for a franetic 90 in lashing down rain, get those long studs on.

FWIW I hope its BS about the Dour One and Sparky.

I'm not saying this is rational thinking, but then supporting Everton was never a rational choice, I was taken to the match when I was 7 and Everton were great and had Alex Young and Co. So I grew up with a winning expectation that sort of infused into my blood so to speak. Not winning just produces disappointment automatically, as if the universe has been knocked out of harmony.

Perhaps a problem with the Club is a lack of winning mentality. Where winning every game is viewed as a must. Every game is a must win game. And not winning should naturally produce disappointment. In this respect, I don't think there should be any debate between us, since I think every Evertonian should be disappointed if we don't win, and if they're not they should condition themselves mentally to be so.

Southampton a re a better team, the battles will have to be won, and victory will have to be earned the hard way. But we have more quality.

So six points from the next 2 games is very achievable. It would be a shot of adrenaline for the club.

With nothing to show for the past quarter-century except, perhaps, the pragmatism of David Moyes, and little to hope for bar the prospect of a new stadium, just maybe better times are ahead ! Of course we've hoped for that ever since the last century and the signs are we shall wait a bloody while longer.

So, do yourselves a favour and stop hoping. The days of Catterick, Kendall 1 - and even bloody Moyes -are long gone. Only our past -the long ago past - is worthy of mention. If we don't accept Everton for the car crash it's become we should find something else to write about. Like Brexit.

Mind I think if we fail to win today I think he and Moshiri will find a very different attitude from our fans. With a tough run of fixtures coming up in December, today and the home game against Norwich is I believe our last chance to put back to back wins together and move away from the bottom 5.

Silva needs gone regardless of the result he has had long enough to show he is capable of taking us forward and failed miserably

VAR and all the other excuses cannot mask the fact that Silva in his time here has been abysmal.
Maybe I'm wrong but 2 pre seasons, performances and results don't lie
We are where we are because we deserve to be not because of VAR

The future is not looking great, what with injuries to first choice players and lack lustre performances.
We need to start winning against teams such as Southampton, if we don't do soon its getting really serious.

However, they have won 3 senior trophies since the last time we lifted any silverware. So from that perspective you could argue it either way.

Fact is right now, if you lined up their team next to ours and asked which players would make the other, I think we'd all agree we'd snap their arm off for half their team. Not sure any of our players would make theirs right now tbh. History aside, the fact is today they have a far superior team to ours having spent a fraction of what we've spent and on a lower wage bill. They are also playing a damn site better and a whole lot more watchable.

I don't think we should dismiss them as being mediocre, they are a better side. Also you don't win the league being lucky, so I give them massive credit for winning it a few years ago. Was a season where they gelled and all credit to them. They are the current standard we should be trying to copy. We'll never get near City with the oil money they have.

We have absolutely no right to belittle any other side right now as we're playing shit, are near the bottom and haven't won anything for 25 years!

I'll happily take 3 points in any fashion currently but a clean sheet and a genuine non-VAR attributable goal would be nice.

I've always thought Ward-Prowse (?) was a very good underrated player. The type of player that we have been missing who can bring forward drive, goals, good range of passing, crossing and link up play.

Hopefully Davies can continue to play well and add a few goals to his game. Midfielders who can score goals appear to have been ignored from our recruitment policy in recent years but without a genuine goal scoring striker we lack a goal threat.

That's why Siggy is important, for his goals and I think he'll be back in the starting line up today. Not saying it should be this way but without Bernard and Gomes we need his passing and goal threat.

When you weigh up, not only the ridiculous salaries, but compensation packages that have bee 'awarded' to Martinez, Koeman and Allardyce. It is a staggering sum, and when you add to that the budgets that in many cases have seen us overspend on players, and unfortunately we do not seem to have improved since the days when we were skint.

PS @ Eric 243 have you seen Decembers fixtures!

If Delph is also out today I cannot see what's left getting the win unless Silva waves a magic wand (if he has one).

I first started watching us in the early '60s, we had a proud history and were, in my old dad's words, ‘football royalty'. If we don't aspire to be challenging for honours, then what's the point? Whether we win them or not – usually not for too long – we should still challenge.

Our club has been let down for years by people at the top aspiring for no more than mid-table placings and the oft-quoted ‘plucky little Everton'. Disgraceful. We as a fan base deserve far more.

When Liverpool were rubbish under Hodgson and Hicks and Gillette, they didn't lower their sights and accept second-best, as we found to our cost. Even when Man Utd went down to Division 2 years ago, they still considered themselves a great club. So much is in the positive mentality - and some of the crew who run our club don't have it.

Football runs in cycles and, with the right attitude, we can get back up there again; other clubs have done it. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum – that should be our aspiration at every training session and every game.

My wording was clumsy. I mean the gap between our expectations, as you point out, and the rather poor fist our directors, manager and players actually deliver over the past 30 years in no way match up.

Just saying. It wouldn't surprise me at all on that evidence if he makes the team today. Also not saying that is necessarily a good or bad thing, given that Silva himself said Fabian has played more minutes and games than ideal.

He's appeared 10 times already for the Blues this season compared to the 20 appearances he had with City last season.

If we really don't want to play 3 miss then in a 4-2-3-1 we could go with just Tom and Gylfi, with Iwobi in front. Pretty sure Sigurdsson has played central midfield for Iceland and Swansea.

If Gomes can play in a two alongside Davies, then no reason Sigurdsson can't. He works harder, is no slower or less mobile, defensively is no worse and probably won't give up daft free-kicks in dangerous areas. He'd get on the ball more than at AMC (or SS, whatever) and can arrive at the edge of the box to get in some long-range shooting positions.

It wasn't my intention to take any fellow Blues to task; apologies if it came out that way. We're obviously in agreement about the direction our club has taken anyway.

I watched both games with Saints, the humiliation of being mauled by Leicester, and the subsequent turn around against Man City.

Okay, they lost the last one, but they were in front for a lot of that game, and looked a totally different side from the week before. While I have always maintained that we have some decent players, it is the selection and combination of the right players for a given match that Silva seems unable to fathom out.

We find ourselves at the annual point where we bay for the sacrificial managerial victim to make us feel a little better as if installing a better dressed Sam Allardyce or a perennial Doctor of Dourness like (God help us) Mark Hughes or Davey Moyes. What a way to run a railway.

The thing about luck is that it changes all by itself but changing managers a third of the way into the season is inviting disaster. If you do need to change managers, do it properly and not out of panic.

Good luck Rob!