Everton vs Norwich City

Midfield is dictated by injuries and up-front, definitely go for them from the start.

We need to get Moise on the score sheet, preferably in front of the Goodison faithful. Not sure about the next few games with that line-up though...

I find it hard to believe that Silva will go with Tosun up top ahead of Kean or Calvert-Lewin, but he might surprise me. He certainly has by handing Keane's job to Holgate... I really thought he'd abandoned the youngster for good.

It's a subjective opinion, but give Tosun 10 chances on goal he'll finish more of them than Calvert-Lewin. Kean probably has head problems at the moment and Tosun would out finish him too.

Tosun, because of his lack of outright pace has had limited chances under Silva, but his head has never gone down and in my opinion deserves a run in the team.

I do though expect more to come from Kean (maybe?).

After taking care of Soton they should take care of the Canaries... but, these days, we never know what to expect. With the injuries and Silva's team selections etc, we don't have reason for much confidence against any team.

The last thing Moise Kean needs is to be pulled early again but, without a doubt, he needs more game time.

I would bring him on for Walcott on 60 mins. Kean, Tosun, and Richarlison could prove a potent combination.

The midfield is a conundrum but I think I would go with Lyndon's starting line-up.

Surely a win is the only acceptable result and I think it should have to be a good one for us to take any confidence into the December fixture list.

If we fail tomorrow, I'll be throwing darts at pictures of Silva and the players and also letting a bout of thunder and lightning loose on this forum.

I think Tosun deserves more than just one game. Holgate won his spot. Anyone else wanting to win theirs will have to wait for a chance. As it should be for now.

1. Smacks back at his father for making dumb comments.
2. Scores a brace in his U21 qualifying match.
3. Gets a full, public backing from his manager.

I'd say his head is held pretty high right now, no? I know you rate Tosun, but if you put any stock at all into statistics, Calvert-Lewin's are significantly better per 90 minutes (in terms of expected goals & shooting percentage). It's a fairly small sample size, however.

Steve @6, I'm near-certain Tosun didn't play in the Turkey matches this week.

Ernie @10, Norwich don't play deep, so nothing to worry about there.

In fairness to Silva, it is great to see him give Holgate his chance and the lad looks pure class. I'd even put him up there with Stones. Imagine if we had Stones and Holgate now. In fact, those two would be better in midfield than Schneiderlin and Delph.

I'm just posting numbers! No opinions here, except about Kean, with whom I'm having a 1-way love affair.

Yes, in trouble with many of us, but he's here until at least the New Year, they're not sacking him.

Defeat tomorrow is unthinkable, but it's apparent that those in power at Everton FC are working to a different timetable to the rest us fans.

Hopefully, the break won't disrupt the little bit of momentum we got going. Norwich early on looked like a team who'd score a lot but concede a lot. Now they're not scoring a lot so it should be a win. Don't really care if it's 1-0, or 10-0 but anything less than 3 points and I will be very disappointed.

It's worth noting that Kean has been here a few months now and the squad has gotten used to him in training, the players around him will now know how to better control him in training on the pitch.

He probably doesn't look as good in training as he did when he first arrived or feel as good; he now has to perform in training as good or better to get his chance in the team and, considering what I've written in the first chapter, that won't be easy.

This could take time...

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

I'd put ten bob on it.

And Rob, I would point out that while, yes, Tosun will finish more of those 10 chances than Calvert-Lewin, he will take a lot longer to get that many. Calvert-Lewinjust gets in those positions more often on a per-minute basis. And it's my opinion that he also does more to help the attack in general with his hold-up play and passing. Tosun to me is a last-15 sub at this point.

Tony #22, that list of names sounds like the characters on a children's cartoon series.

A 2019 version of Bob Latchford would give them more to think about.

For recognising his club would not make the top 4 unless action was taken, Man of the Week award goes to Daniel Levy.

When the team is named, expect a few surprises, which is what normally happens.

Silva, main architect of the above inconsistency, due to lack of a serious candidate, sadly, is going nowhere until the end of the season.

The recent Spurs thing is only the 1st leg in a game of big league managerial musical chairs... so, as such, won't have much bearing on us. We won't even be in the running for the last man left standing without a job.

Yes I'm pissed off. Yes I'll still watch at 1am.

Sort it, will you, Moshiri.

Pickford
Sidibe Mina Holgate Digne
Davies Sigurdsson
Richarlison Iwobi
Keane Tosun

This team could hammer Norwich. Give it a try!

Please don't play Schneiderlin... there is no point against Norwich.

You should read Dereck's post #27 reference 'last man standing', because that is exactly the perception most Managers have of Everton as a career prospect and potential p!ayers perceptions is not far behind. Even some of our best players will be considering their prospects in the new year. I don't entirely blame Silva for this state of affairs , this has been the position before he arrived. .

If Pouchettino joined Everton I would eat my hat. The reality is that potential Managers are illusions bandied about on ToffeeWeb.

It is impossible to watch Everton this season and actually relax.

The international break tends to stifle any momentum we ever make. I hope it's a game where Kean, can make a statement.

With Norwich, you never know but they are in a rut but many times in the past theyve turned us over, hopefully not today.

Going for 4-1, for us. We need to tale spirit in to the oncoming run of very tough games, which will have a significant bearing on this season.

You may have had your tongue firmly in cheek when you said Holgate and Stones would be a better midfield pairing than Schneiderlin and Delph.

Many a true word mate.. Many a true word

Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Davies Schneiderlin Iwobi
Kean Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

They're all big games, but for all three; Kean, The Team and the Manager, it screams out - Make a Statement.

We should easily beat Norwich the only question is can we score lots of goals or will it be a 1-0 win. Silva should pick an attacking formation despite his usual temptation to play safe. This time I think he will give it a go and attack, he really has no choice, given the position we are in.

Nevermind winning silverware, it's makes me wonder if we will ever play in the Champions League even.

Proverbial "must win".

As I was cracking through the December fixtures of death this morning, I realized we play on December 1st, and then the derby is played on December 4th. Very short rest going into the derby.

The Evil Empire play on November 30th.

Any particular reason they get an extra day of rest before the derby? You gotta be kiddin' me, right? Why do they get an extra day's rest? Seems awfully convenient.

Come on, pull the pin, blow the bugle and CHARGE!

Sitting in my writing room - - and some Satie playing in the background - - everywhere is grey - - the surrounding sky is dull but there are slithers of brightness trying their best to break through - - lines of Turneresque rose coloured yellow illuminating the light grey of The River - - I am told that it will “brighten up later “ and I believe it.
Just stopped and listening to Maria callas - - Carmen - - Wowwww - - spirits lifted - - floating above the grey - - Into The Blue - - reminds me of Old Percy Bysshe Shelley - - another great Evertonian:

“Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory—
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.
Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heaped for the belovèd's bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.”
I think it's time for a bit of Walt Whitman here on TW:
“THAT music always round me, unceasing, unbeginning--yet long untaught
I did not hear;
But now the chorus I hear, and am elated;
A tenor, strong, ascending, with power and health, with glad notes of
day-break I hear,
A soprano, at intervals, sailing buoyantly over the tops of immense
waves,
A transparent bass, shuddering lusciously under and through the
universe”
Or maybe:
“I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
I loafe and invite my soul,
I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.”

So although it is only 10.00 - - I have to go now - - to meet my daughter - - Helen who has been going to the match with me for nearly 40 years' - - and then onto TDH.

As always, I look forward to going to the game - - the experience - - the sheer delight of meeting friends to forget the worries of the world for a while and talk only Everton for most of the day - - a delight - - a joy.

I am reminded of Joni Mitchell - - a regular at TDH - - she sings and plays guitar and I play harmonica in the background:

“Hey now, now
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got
Til its gone
They paved paradise
To put up a parking lot
Why not?
They paved paradise
To put up a parking lot
Hey hey hey
Paved paradise
To put up a parking lot”
Sitting for a moment letting My Soul and Spirit Float into The Mystic - - its what I do to get me through each day - - no matter what life throws at me - - poetry, music, art - - -words and music - -and silence and images and colours - - colour suggesting mood and dreams and words and music - - where “sound and perfume swirl in the evening air” - - and now:
“Day after day I'm more confused
Yet I look for the light in the pouring rain
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
I'm feelin' the strain, ain't it a shame
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
(Won't you take me away?)
Beginning to think that I'm wastin' time
I don't understand the things I do
The world outside looks so unkind
I'm countin' on you to carry me through
And when my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
And when I'm feelin' blue
The guitar's comin' through to soothe me
Thanks for the joy that you've given me
I want you to know I believe in your song
Rhythm and rhyme and harmony
You help me along makin' me strong”
Say It's All right - - have a good time cos It's All right.

Cosmic grooves sent over the astral from New Brighton to All Blues Everywhere - - keep it cool - - with a firm and warm handshake - - I tieing up my boots going back to my roots - - George.

Oh and congratulations on your 70th Celebrations, I have another 7 months before I reach that milestone or should that be millstone? :-)

Happy Birthday. You seem to have had a good time at The Dark House. Hope the Celebrations continue, you are certainly motivated for them. Maybe you could be pushed forward to motivate the team.

Interesting article on BBC on VAR, they admit we've been stuffed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50517096

We'll have to earn the win, I hope he puts out a team that is willing to.

Unfortunately we are kind of stuck with Schneiderlin in midfield now, aren't we ?

I think Holgate is one of the best football playing defenders in the premier league. But an England call up playing for little old Everton!

Let's hope for a fast, energetic performance and three points. That's hope, not expect!

This has to be a game for DCL - Norwich have been conceding lots of aerial chances. Unless Zimmermann is back then they'll be playing with a DM at CB again.

Their LB is out too, so they'll have someone very inexperienced there.

Norwich haven't actually scored a league goal away from home since the first league game of the entire season, when they 'won the second half' at Mordor! However, most unusual results seem to happen immediately after an international break...

Come on lads

If we lose this today he has to go

Drift Away is one of my anthems as well... the essential Tom Rush version, if you please, when the rain is pounding the windows.

See ya later on the Live Forum!

Here's hoping the blues don't ruin your day. We wouldn't would we ?

Full support.
Onward Evertonians. 💙

Liverpool has a CL game on Nov 27th. So they have 3 matches in 7 days. Maybe if we were used to watching European football, we wouldn't come up with these insane conspiracy theories.

Edit: I see that Eddie @49 pointed that out already.

George @50 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Let's hope for a win today, which should be within our capabilities.

No plans to get over from DC just yet but when I do I look forward to a pint with you.

Steve

Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Schneiderlin Davies
Walcott Sigurdsson Richarlison
Tosun

We need to win today. If we don't l want Silva gone. If he does... well then l can see him getting another 4 games. We all know how well we did last season during a run of tough games. Weird season.

All the best to Mike and George.
2-0 Everton. Walcott first scorer (he's been due a goal for about 3 months).

I think Tosun has played his way into the team, he's in there on merit along with Davies, Sidibe, Holgate, Walcott etc

I'm less enamoured at seeing a midfield 3 with Sigurdsson and Schneiderlin in it. Davies is going to need a strong back carrying those 2. Hopefully Sigurdsson can find some form. I've given up on Schneiderlin...

Where's Silva's sense of derring-do? Oh forgot, he doesn't have it, sooner he's gone the better.