Everton vs Burnley

Will the Goodison faithful be up to the task of also inspiring the depleted squad...

Intresting times ahead good luck boys and girls its yet another new dawn...

Burnley will be tough today but the lads will want to give the new boss a win. 2-1 today.

I'd like Kean to be given a huge lift and start, picking up loose balls around DCL.

Pickford
Sidibe-Holgate-Mina-Digne
Bernard-Davies-Delph-Richarlison
DCL-Kean

If Bernard isn't fit it'd be a blow for sure - either Baines gets a start wide left (or push Digne up) or young Gordon gets a game perhaps?

COYB!

The players will want to prove they are good enough to play for an Ancelotti designed Everton team. The manager knows what it takes to be successful. It is up to each player to prove himself good enough to be part of the project by being fully focused and committed.

Getting the first goal will settle the players, get the crowd excited and we will push on for a good win. It could well be a George McKane day.

Everton 4 Burnley 0

Happy Christmas to all Evertonians.

We would then have 11.))

If we are to progress as a team we need to stop lumping balls into the oppositions goal area at every opportunity and try pass the ball a bit to create something rather than relying on a lucky break of the ball. Zero shots on target last day out against Arsenal was obviously no where near good enough.

Good luck to Carlo and the boys today! hopefully the beginning of a new era : )

Sidibe was the best on the pitch against Arsenal, Coleman stagnates things down the right side when he plays there now.

If push came to shove then I'd consider putting Sidibe on right midfield and Seamus right back (anything has to be better than suffering Tom there again).

If the team wants fresh legs and current form then I'd consider playing Baines ahead of Digne.

Playing a team including Coleman, Davies, Delph, Sigurdsson is asking for trouble, way too many slow coaches.

Let Burnley worry about us and start a team of quicker players.

Maybe it's time for Moise Kean to partner DCL?

Maybe it's worth giving Richy a run up as striker (he's so wasted out wide).

Do something to move that ball quicker and more incisively.

-DCL

I think we should be on the offensive against Burnley from the off. They will be set up to frustrate and to try to pick us off from set pieces.

I think we need to have posession and keep Burnley away from our penalty area. Playing Sigurdsson at no10 will help that. Penetration has to come from skill and runs from Richarlison and Bernard. Themselves or Digne/Sidibie getting crosses in to DCL to head or challenge, with Sigurdsson waiting at the edge of the box to pounce on the loose ball.

I really want to see Kean play but we will be a bit more exposed if he does.

Ancelotti will have faced the sort of stubborn opposition they will present, many, many times, but not until 3.00 will he find out if he has the character, Guile and Will within his ranks to regularly overcome it.
Duncan ditched the dreaded Zonal marking and his players seemed more comfortable as a result.
Keep it simple today, go man for man when defending set pieces or they will have us. Keep a clean sheet and eager-to-impress forwards will get us over the line.

Big Big Game

Tony @ 5, George would be over the blue moon with that scoreline, come to think of it, so would I. Not going to make any predictions or guess the team, of which we are pretty threadbare in that department. Dare I say "In Carlo we Trust"?

COYB

3-1 to the mighty blues 😊

I wish I could share your view of Seamus, he's been one of my favourite players over the last 8 years but sadly Father Time and that injury he had has clearly stunted his game.

He was all about head down and running and going past players, that's what made him a fan favourite, he was never the cultured technician that say Leighton Baines on the opposite flank was.

Sidibe might not be a great defender (neither is Seamus though) but the Frenchman offers a far better option going forward now, fitter stronger and his crossing trumps Coleman's by a good distance which is another big important factor in the way we play the game.

Pickford
Sidebe,holgate,mina,.baines
Ricky gordon sigi delph digne
Dcl

No place for tom or bernard I just don't think they are the type of player for this game I guarantee its going to be a midfeld scrap !!!
I also feel baines still has the quaility we have sadly lacked in he team hes a real leader and should be captain today.
2 nill to us with kean coming off the bench and scoring a worldy !!! We can dream !!!
COYB

Looking forward to the game

That may account for his dip in form recently, (should give 100% every game ideally) but since we got Don Carlo he has changed his attitude considerably, so if played we may see the Digne we all loved when he first came.

Like I say, it is plausible, but don't know for sure if that is the reason behind his recent un-characteristicly poor form.

Either way, COYB!

The weather forecast for L4 is miserable this afternoon so the onus is on us match-going TWebbers to try to raise the roof, even more so than usual.

I can't see there being a lot of changes to the team today but I am personally hoping that Bernard is back to full fitness and starts. He brings the best out of Digne who really struggled against Arsenal.

Rome wasn't built in a day so patience is needed, especially in the early stages of The Don's reign. Hopefully we can get our noses in front and then keep out the inevitable aerial bombardment.

Good luck Carlo. Good luck blues.

Onward Evertonians 💙 and seasons greetings to all my fellow TWebbers.

Who's totally stupid Idea was this Thursday / Saturday thing - oh yeah those sky twats...but look who gets Thurs / Sun.

Anyway, given what we know of Dyche, if he hasn't got Burnley primed to spoil Carlos's parade, I'll be having my hat sliced and stir-fried. Taking that as a given, its up to the collective 'US' to overcome the problems he sets.

Over to you Carlo.

Sometimes we look okay, sometimes we look awful, the last game against Arsenal, we just looked shattered, and it's times like this when people's thoughts might be thinking that Everton have a terrible squad, but reading some of the teams that people have already picked on this thread to play today, then I don't think it's that bad?

A couple of wins, then a couple of good signings, and who knows what the second half of this season might bring? Good luck Carlo, and Good luck Everton, it's time we started giving these condescending Kopite reporting bastards, a little bit back!

Playing Coleman at right back and Sidebe in front of him in midfield is a good idea. Its bolsters the right flank and benefit the forwards with early quality ball from Sidebe, which has been one of Everton's best attacking option in recent games.

This combination would also bolster play on midfield, where Sidebes positional and maintaining shape qualities, apparent in the Arsenal game, could provide offensive play. Ancelotti has used the word offensive in his first interview. Davis then would be available to play his naturel position, adding more mobility and attacking support in midfield.

I hope Digne or Baines is fit. Digne was real unfit against Arsenal.

I agree with the two forwards.

The subs will be interesting. Keane on with more understanding of how he plays. Maybe even Niasse to add firepower. No Tosun, Ancelotti had seen what we all saw recently. Headless with no shot.

Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Davies Delph Bernard
Kean DCL Richarlison

Bring Keane on for inevitable long ball bombardment in the last 30 and move Holgate into the middle to replace delph when he tires. If Kean not performing, bring on Gordon and give him a go for the last 30 too. Ask Richie to drop back in and create a 4 when defending.

Fingers crossed. UTFT!

Let's just hope that happens, starting with today, then just build on that. Some interesting names being linked with us Koulibaly (possibly summer) Zielinski, Everton Soares, (Cebolinha) Todibo, Baptiste Santamaria, John Egan (Sheffield United) just to mention a few.

Probably a lot of Agent/Journo phishing with those names, but encouraging still the same.

I am really excited about today - - this fixture always reminds me of those days long ago - - before Computers drew up silly time fixtures - - when we would play a localish team home and away around Christmas - - and Easter - - we played Burnley at Turf Moor before Christmas( and won I recall) and then at Goodison on 27tth December - - we got beat 3 - 0 - - Pointer I think scored a hat-trick - - but for me the memory I carry forever is the crowd - - all 74,000+ of them - - Burnley were a big team then - - of course, it was Christmas - - I had some “extra” money and so did my match going best mate Brian Brady from Lamb Street - - we went to the match around 1.00pm as we always did -- I lived in Smith Street just around the corner from The Dark House where I still drink before the game to this day - - but we were going in the Gwlady's Street - - using our Christmas money - - not the Pen - - we got by a bar and stood with the “men” - - swaying and singing - - we thought we were big - - the men sat us up on the bar and we felt great - - then the announcement - - due to the size of the crowd all kids below a certain age could come down to the front and sit around the pitch - - me and Brian were passed down over heads by the men until we were put down onto the track around Goodison at the Gwlady's Street End and then we were allowed to sit down and watch the game - - we could see the players close up - - we could hear them shouting first names to each other - - they all looked massive - - even Bobby Collins. Memories and as always linked to Everton and going to the game - - walking along Smith Street - - Wessie Road - - up Spellow Lane and then hitting the crowd - - looking forward like a child to all that later today - - it is a Wonderful Life - - I wonder how many of us remember those days before TV and Computers and Selfiestick supporters - - walking up to the ground talking and joking - - I haven't checked Google for my facts - - just memories - - I guess John Mc and Dave will remember the game - - I think Daren maybe a bit “young” for this one - - as I said memories not Google:

“Just my imagination once again runnin' way with me
Tell you it was just my imagination runnin' away with me
No, no, I can't forget her
Just my imagination once again runnin' way with me
Just my imagination runnin' away with me”

Fantastic Lyrics by Don Mc Clean - - and what about Vincent:

“Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and grey
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land
Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now”

I love this beautiful song and I love Vincent - - who I am sure would be an Evertonian - - I Founded and run a Charity called Yellow House after van Gogh's House - - and I love his passion and desire - - believing in himself and his art - - even though he struggled to make a living - - struggled with life - - but kept going - - had a true belief that his art was important and that it would mean something in the future - - he even said in his letter's to his brother - - will sign my paintings Vincent because in the future no-one will be able to pronounce Van Gogh - - but he knew the struggle would be worth is all - - that his belief in the beauty of art would one day be accepted and recognised - - just like us Blues - - going through the tough times - - almost ridiculed for our belief in “the School of Science” - but we kept going - - kept believing and:
” They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now”

We Are Evertonians - - we never stopped going or believing.

I am looking forward to going to the game today - - as always - - I was in Naples in July and late October - - love Naples for all its madness and passion - - got a Naples's Calendar for Christmas and DVD of some of the great Toto's movies - - and now we have Carlo Ancelotti - - worth the wait do you think.

Just now - - here in New Brighton - - its still dark - - windly and rain - - just getting myself ready - - psyching myself up - - getting my soul and spirit lifted - - raised - - ready - - sitting in my writing room - - listening to music and reading some poetry and writing to you - - my friends:

“I was walking down the
Walking down the street and
It didn't matter
Cause everything felt, everything felt, everything felt
Everything felt, everything felt, everything felt, everything felt
Everything felt, everything felt, everything felt so right, ha
And so good
Everything felt, so right, and so good
Everything felt, so right, and so good
Everything felt, so right, and so good, ah
Everything felt, so right, and so good
Everything felt, so right, and so good, so good
In the eternal now, in the eternal moment
In the eternal now, in the eternal moment
In the eternal now
Everything felt so good, so good, so good, so good, so good
And so right, so right, so right, just
So good, so right, so right, in the eternal
In the eternal moment, in the eternal moment
In the eternal moment, in the eternal moment”

Felt so good I am just going to blow my harmonica - - just for you - - there you go.

Neapolitans - - Ciao Carlo Ancelotti - - let's see if this is the “change” - - - if our time is coming - - I am looking forward to the game today - - the whole thing - - going along Scotland Road - - and passing Thomas Winder Court on the corner of Great Mersey and Smith Street where I lived - - along to Wessie Road - - passing Lambeth Road - - and always giving a moment to think about Mary Walsh form Harcourt Street - - feeling good - - protected from the wind and the rain by my inner spirit surrounding my outer body and keeping me safe and warm.

“And you work in the dharma
Then you stand up, stand up and wipe, wipe your mirror clean
As you go steppin' out queen, steppin' out, yeah”

To Be A Blue - - to know years' of struggle but proud that you never let go - - never ever were tempted to take another side - - to love - - just love - - going to the game - - I will pick up my mate Mick carter from Moreton - - or more to the point my wife Gosia will - - and then I will take him and a few others home tonight - - no public transport - - but that's what it is Being Blue - - Camaraderie - - Friendship - - Togetherness - - from Brian Brady in the late 50's to Gaffer the gang in The Dark House for the past 40+ years' - - sitting in “our” corner” talking Blue”

“And the sky was blue
And you didn't have no worries, you didn't have no care
You were walking in a green field
In a meadow, through the buttercups, in the summertime
And you looked way out over, way out
Way out over the city and the water
And it feels so good, and it feels so good
And you keep on walking”

I am constantly thinking about what it is like to be a Blue - -with our struggles but with our great history and now maybe we are on the verge of something new and special:

“O sweet To-morrow! -
After to-day
There will away
This sense of sorrow.
Then let us borrow
Hope, for a gleaming
Soon will be streaming,
Dimmed by no gray -
No gray!
While the winds wing us
Sighs from The Gone,
Nearer to dawn
Minute-beats bring us;
When there will sing us
Larks of a glory
Waiting our story
Further anon -
Anon!
Doff the black token,
Don the ”Blue” shoon,
Right and retune
Viol-strings broken;
Null the words spoken
In speeches of rueing,
The night cloud is hueing,
To-morrow shines soon -
Shines soon!”

So - - off soon - - on my way - -earlyish - - no drinking for me - - but I love the company and the game:

“Ain't it a wonderful game, ain't it a wondeful, oh, a marvelous game:
Yeah, ain't it a wonderful, ain't it a wonderful, ain't it a wonderful game?
And when there's no more words to say about love, I'll go
Y-y-y-y-y-y-yeah
Y-y-y-y-y-y-yeah
You know what I'm talking about
Meet me down, yeah, meet me down
Meet me down by the river, baby
Meet me down, meet me down, meet me by the river
Meet me down, meet me down, meet me by, by the water
Meet me down by the water
Baby, you know, I say you know what they're
You know what they're talking about
I want you to met me, meet me down by the pylons
Meet me down by the pylons
Meet me down by the pylons
Meet me down by the pylons
Meet me, ah, I said, meet me
I got something I wanna give you
I got something I wanna give you
I want you to meet me, I want you to meet me?
I want you to meet me, I want you to meet me, are you there?
I want you to meet me, are you there?
I want you to meet me, are you there?
Are you there, are you there, are you there?
I want you to meet me
And know, know, know, know, know, know
And know, know, know, and know, and know, and know, know, and know, and know
I want you to meet me, are you, are you there?

Will go and put my 4-0 bet on - - Mick The Bookie recently got married in Goa - - no wonder we never win the Betting Score Predictions - - but everyone where I sit knows about my bet and its gives them a sense of involvement - - of fun.

“and in between the silence there was conversation
And laughter, and music and singing, and shivers up the back of the neck
And tuning in to Luxembourg late at night
And jazz and blues records during the day
Also Debussy on the third program
Early mornings when contemplation was best”

My best seasonal greeting to All Blues - - everywhere - - Cosmic Grooves have been sent over the astral to all of you - - “can you feel the silence” - - have a Bleutiful Day - - God Bless Brian Brady wherever he is and as Tiny Tim (Cahill) said One Boxing Day - - “ God Bless Everyone”.

Thoughts and visions and hopes and absolute “posso” waves sent to you All.

With a firm handshake - - George

Van Gogh was a nightmare for Specsavers to kit him out with a pair, after he lost his ear. :-)

COYB

I stopped reading his stuff years ago, so I don't know how he got the gig as Sports Editor for The Times. I didnt know he was at The Independent now.

Who needs Tony Evans when we've got George McKane???

You bring back so many memories, Ray Pointer one of my favourite payers back then for the younger generation he was like the Andy Gray of his time. That Burnley side was packed with talent Ronnie Clayton, Jimmy Adamson, Adam Blacklaw in goal.

Taking the last line from Vincent maybe we can apply those same words to the some of the sceptical pundits about Carlo joining Everton. " They would not listen, they did not know how", then after Carlo has won trophies, " perhaps they,ll listen now.

A wet and dank day in Liverpool today, but nothing can dampen our spirit for Carlos first game.

Fancy me forgetting the sublime Jimmy McIlroy what a player he was, I think Angus and Elder were the Burnley full backs.

Those Christmas's of yesteryear ( football ones) brought back memories, Everton were playing Birmingham in the Midlands, me and a couple of mates went to Lime Street, to catch a train to the game, there were no trains laid on, we decided to get one to Manchester and see if we could get to Birmingham from there, nothing doing, so we went to Old Trafford to see ‘ The Busby Babes ‘ playCharltonAth. What a game, 5-1 to United and watching those marvellous Unt. players, some later to die at Munich, can still see them now, in my minds eye. So sad, even now.

After the game we went to the News Theatre in Manchester, they had a retuarant downstairs, we could only afford a bowl of tomato soup and a plate of chips each ( Ah, sounds like Oliver Twist), anyway there was a fella playing the piano in coat tails, and I sent my mate over to ask him to play ‘Roll out the barrel', this fella wouldn't even look at my mate, snooty barsteward, so my mate aged about twelve, took a walk around the tables and came back with about £3 or £4 in silver, he said ‘ look at this, people are fuckin' daft in Manchester, they'veleft money on every table.I said leave you're chips and soup we're doin' one now. We divvied the money up on the way to station. Happy days.

By the way Everton got twatted 6-2 in Birmingham but won 5-1 the next day at Goodison Park.

We must stay together as a unit and help the team raise their game. One for all, ALL for one. Regardless of result today.

Come on you boys in BLUE.

I'd go with Lyndons team, and I'm hoping all the squad will be up for it today, with man for man leadership and responsibility on the pitch.

It's a very tough game as Burnley always is. I'm hoping Carlo will be able to counter act Burnley's press and crossing.

My only concern is Delph, whom coming back in after such a long time out, may still be leggy, but on his record at EFC, will get another muscle injury today.

Epic poems George, and inspiring to all of us.

Forget the RS, they're now so smug, they believe their invincible, and the greatest team of all time. The propaganda in the national and local media, and you'd think, if coming from abroad there's only one team in Liverpool.

I've said they'll for and fall on their own sword and starting today, where they'll get a dose of reality. A

It's all about Everton, and Evertonians now, and a bright new era will begin.

I'm going for a 3-1, win for us and in a win double with the horse tip at the 2.50 p.m. at Market Rasen, Eagle Hill.

All have a Ball today.

We should always hope and be positive. Always question, always be thinking, always criticise when it's warranted. But always hope and be positive.

When it's good for us, you know it feels so much better than it does for anyone else.

Maybe it's a time for many players to step up to the plate and impress the new gaffer especially with some more tough games ahead.

Maybe it's a time for many players to step up to the plate and impress the new gaffer especially with some more tough games ahead.

Tony Evans, ha! A poor excuse for a journalist.
I still continue to mop up everything written bout Everton even when, in this case, the author is so far off the mark.

His writing never has bothered to hide his agenda, I'll give him that. Reading his pieces on any subject matter always circles back to being a Kopite. A shame because if you look hard enough there are occasionally points to consider from him.

But pretty much a bad Texan this lad.

I fancy for now it will largely follow the template Duncan Ferguson applied in his four games as we gradually morph into something different.

On the question of the journalist Tony Evans some reference in this thread, I knew nothing about the man until a few months ago when someone on TW put up a link to an absolutely superb article he penned about Heysel.

Quite simply, the most honest first-hand account and appraisal of that shameful day I have ever read. It's all the more impressive that it comes from a Kopite. For that alone, he gets a nod of approval from me.

For anyone interested, read it here:

Link

Don't let the red bastards get you down, form is temporary, class is permanent. We are Everton.

You brought back great memories. I don't know about the trains or I have forgotten, but me and a mate went to that Christmas game in Birmingham and watched us get walloped 6-2. Instant revenge the next day when we won 5-1. I always liked those double headers.

My memory is not as good as it used to be because I have no idea how we got to the first game.Possibly a coach ?

There was always games played on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in the forties, fifties and sixties, games that would come to mind would be the famous Wolves game, a top team at the time, we beat them 3-2 with Davie Hickson getting two and Billy Wright the England centre halffinishing up in hospital with concussion, Bristol Rovers, the year we came up out of the 2nd. division, and there was one game on a Christmas Eve against Liverpool, Peter Farrell, playing inside forward, scored in the first minute in the Kop end, but even if you don't know the score, you can guess it, yes Liverpool won 3-1, I was only nine or ten at the time, I bet it spoiled my Christmas though. Memories John, they'll never go out of style!!

Better performance. Burnley or any team in the Premier League are good enough to cause problems. Well done Carlos, Dunc and the team.