Everton vs Newcastle United

Unfortunately, when we have five or six injuries,it tends to show that we really do not have a strong squad. I feel that the club is somewhat vague in regards to finances and what to expect in the present January window. A few clubs have already made some positive changes. Can we really afford to buy anyone?

Calvert-Lewin Kean
Bernard Gordon
Delph Davies
Digne Holgate Mina Sidibe
Pickford

Bernard and Gordon inside rather than wide, drifting into space and allowing the fullbacks forward and the defensive midfielders providing balance.

Not seen much to get me excited about Kean yet so I would prefer Calvert-Lewin and Gordon in attack.

I would go with Steve's team above, but give Baines a run out, rest Digne. It would be good to see Carlo handing the initiative to Kean and benching Walcott for Gordon.

Ancelotti has used it. Bernard mostly plays here as he's not hogging the touchline like he was. Walcott not so much. But when Iwobi is fit, he will be in there too.

For similar reasons, I don't think we can rely on Sidibé at RB.

Coupled with Pickford's vulnerability against shots from our right side (how many goals has he let in from that angle?), it feels like that is our week spot.

If you're going to play Gordon, it must be as a No 10 or on the left of a 3 man attack, so a 4-3-3 with Davies, Delph and Schneiderlin !!!!, and front 3 of Kean, Calvert-Lewin and Gordon.

A formation of 4-2-3-1 would be Delph, Schneiderlin as the two, a forward 3 of Bernard, Gordon and Davies with Calvert-Lewin upfront, with Kean losing out.

I think he'll drop Walcott and Bernard after Saturday, but I think Baines should start instead of Digne who's totally lost his way.

Even given our current injury situation, I would expect us to beat the barcodes.

He's 19, scoring goals and doesn't look like he's not physically ready.

Can't see us having a better opportunity to find out if he's worth investing more development time in.

The idea this formation has come back into vogue is the two AMCs start central but can drift wide. So in a 4-2-3-1 who picks them up? The wingers who are forwards? The fullbacks? The defensive midfielders? The DMs are the natural fit but they can lose them as they drift wide and drifting wide can create space for someone like Davies or Gomes to come forwards into. Leaving Delph to look after the opponents AMC.

The reason you need Sidibe and not Coleman is that he needs to get forwards and provide the width. It's not coming from the attacking midfield two they're trying to find space inside and drag players out of position for the fullbacks to run into.

Ancelotti is likely to use this more, but keep switching between a flat 4-4-2, a 4-2-4, a 3-4-3 and a 3-5-2 like he has done already.

It's interesting that he's doing this effectively and Silva said the players couldn't handle tactical flexibility.

Mike Gordon plays often on the right wing, he can occupy any of the positions in the 3 in a 4-2-3-1 as well as the striker. He can play anywhere. I'd try and keep him out of the middle until he finds his feet as it's harder to find space and time in there. That's going to be the hardest thing for him. They always say that they knew you'd get no time on the ball, and to expect it, but they still didn't expect it! The thing with Gordon when he is on form is he finds space and he always looks to have so much time.

I'd play him wide, but not as a winger, for now, until he gets up to speed and then say how it goes. Letting him have freedom to exploit space and to do his thing. He needs to find how he can run at defenders as he's so fast with the ball at his feet and can turn so quickly on the ball. He needs to find the time and space to do this.

Pickford,
Coleman, Keane (if fit), Mina, Baines,
Gordon, Davies, Holgate, Bernard,
Kean, Calvert-Lewin.

Saint-Maximin is one of the best dribblers in the whole of Europe. He came with a reputation he has only increased at Newcastle. He averages 4.2 successful dribbles a match, beaten only by Traore and Zaha. Richarlison is our best forward for dribbles and he only does 1.7.

Our right back is in for a tough game there. But I'd still go with Sidibe and try to pin him right back. He's not one to stand on the halfway line and wait for the ball, he does get pinned back because he tracks back.

Also, the forgotten Everton old boy, Christian Atsu (2014-15), will be on the Newcastle Bench. You'll remember he's also very fast, though he as pretty awful for us and we sent him back on loan to Chelsea.

Pickford
Sidibe Mina Keane Baines
Gordon Holgate Davies Bernard
Kean Calvert-Lewin
Bench: Simms, Baningime and Adeniran to come on unless Sidibe has a bad game...

If you saw the Chelsea game, that's all they did. Sat deep, frustrated Chelsea, denied them space. They waited and waited and then hit them on the break in the last minute.

They come here level on points with us. They have no illusions of finishing high up the table, they just want to stay up. Bruce will be all about the 0-0 draw. They won't even bother attacking. And this is the issue. This is where we have struggled so often this season, and for the first time under Ancelotti we will encounter this situation. Let's see how he handles it.

We're not very good at prising open massed defences. We either score early on tomorrow or we could see another attritional game like the Sheffield Utd and Norwich ones – and we know how they ended up!

We've got to be more incisive and creative but with our players, I'm not sure how we do it. I'm still convinced we'll grind out a 1-0 but it won't be easy.

A win tomorrow night is a big result and hopefully the team can start building momentum and consistency for Watford on the resurgence and also Palace whom on their day can beat any one.

Then a run of tough games starts again, Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea, and Liverpool.

Carlo will be sussing out his squad and if the players have any desire to be a part of the future, then they need to start showing it, every game, playing for their futures, but on the same basis, many won't be easy to transfer.

Now to beat the Barcodes.

"The shape of the team is clear, 4-4-2 without the ball and I think that is the best way to defend. With the ball it changes a little bit. At this moment we are not playing vertical, we are playing a lot of balls back, instead of playing forward, that is how we can improve. We can play more vertically. We want to build up but when you have the possibility to play forward you must play forward. Quick. If you are slow at the back you have less possibility to find space in the opponent's half and that is something we have to improve.

Sometimes when you say to a player that we want possession, they think possession is the target. The target is not possession. The target is always to score goals. Our idea is to do that through possession but we want to score goals. If you see some data more possession sometimes means you have less possibility to score. There are a lot of games where the winning team has less possession."

I hope this clears up the misconception that Ancelotti wants them to fart about with it at the back.

At least 2-3 times they tried to pull off dummies or little flicks. I appreciate the attempt at creativity, but they need to play a more simple, direct game.

Just receive the damn ball and look for a shot. You're a striker - keep it simple. Leave the Tom-foolery for when you're valued around 70 million plus. Until then receive and shoot, make your runs, and hold it up when it's hoofed to you. That's it. Now go get 'em boys!

We have toned down, considerably, the farting around at the back, since the Man City game. It's very obvious.

The players are learning (yet!) another new system. It'll take some time.

Carlo isn't a fart around with it kinda dude.

Jamie #36, I blame a lot of that miscommunication between DCL and Kean on the fact that they had played very little together, but there's no question Kean made some mistakes in judgement. I think Carlo will have told them to knock off the dummies and KISS (keep it simple, stupid).

When I was under pressure as a player, playing left back, I'd launch it long. These days the players don't just hoof it down the pitch, they hit a sideways pass with little purpose or zip.

This is something that's been going on for a long time. It's due to the coaching since kids. They all do the pressure passing drills, these tend to reinforce keeping the ball and not keeping the ball with purpose. So under pressure they find a blue shirt but don't try to advance the ball with any real intent. Often taking all the pace off to make sure the pass is not over hit.

Someone like Tom Davies doesn't care what people might think and he handles the pressure and tries the pass anyway. That's why I love the kid. He actually takes responsibility. He has done since he was 17. If he can improve his passing to match his vision, he will be some player.

As for your appreciation of Tom Davies' bravery, well it cuts both ways. He has repeatedly turned over possession in bad areas, and often by misplacing simple passes - leading to goals and chances for the opposition. Without the quality to execute then bravery can be reckless, and I don't see the vision you talk of - in fact he tends to telegraph a lot of his passes. In terms of players to try to emulate I wonder if Davies should be looking at the Mark Nobles of this world rather than anybody more expansive.

Am also in two minds about Kean starting the game. DCL needs someone up there with him, but I've seen so little that really recommends Kean that it feels counter-intuitive to want him to start.

Kean although looking the part does not look likely to score. Walcott has lost all sense of the art of scoring. Our main hope is if Mina finally comes good off a corner.

As regards Newcastle they have won their last 3 games (somewhat undeservedly) so are gonna be no mugs.

We need a high energy fast passing game with plenty of movement. Not our particular strength at the moment but with Gordon on one flank and Bernard on the other we should at least be able to create opportunities and as long as that cheating lump called Carroll doesnt play we should be ok in defence with the only worry being St Maxim against Sidibe.

Tight game and if we can keep a clean sheet I see a 1 or 2-0 for us.

SF did a prediction that I think had us 7th or 8th but personally I think we will be 9th or 10th just based on comparing us to other teams.

He has struggled as much as the players with the way the premiership has changed since his last gig at Chelsea.
He DOES want his players to play out from the back. What he hasnt reckoned with is the sheer aggression of the press the top teams over here employ these days. His teams have always played out from the back, but it is now harder to do in the EPL than it has ever been ANYWHERE.

The intensity we see in the press from the EPL's top teams now is very much Mcguinn and Mcguire - it just keeps getting higher - and you have to be able to either play through, or bypass it. In the past Ancelotti would most definitely have tried to play through it,,but now he hasnt got the players to do so. If the Leopard cant change his environment (and He is running out of time this month) He is going to have to changed his spots. You need high quality midfield players to play through the intensity of a press like Liverpools. We dot have them.

We don't have one of those players who finds time, see's the pictures, has a speed of thought which affords him composure to relax. If we had a Perlo (or two) we could do it... but I'm still haunted by the sight of Yerry Mina looking up several times as two young reds closed him down and there was not an option in site. Until or unless CA can bring in sufficient Quality to be able to play through the high press. He may as well go back to front quickly, make the opponents turn around and give our forwards the chance to cause THEM problems.

Tonight will be different. Newcastle are most definitely not City or Liverpool. They are not even Wolves. They will not press. they will sit deep and invite us to break them down.

If we can get in front early and make them come out we should win, but I suspect it will be a long long night. Cushion face will give his troops one basic instruction. Sit tight. stay in the game and see what breaks.

I'll take 1-0 right now

Spot on, this simple game has been/is being overly complicated. We now have self appointed gurus on TW who talk of 4-2-2-2, and all other possible formations known to man. We have had in-depth analysis of heat maps, zonal marking and anything else that happens to make a good talking point.

Keep it simple, stupid!!

I'm going with Darren and his 1-0 prediction. They will sit deep and try to exploit any dead balls they get. So we need to control the ball and our tackling.

It's football, and everyone makes mistakes in football, so isn't it better to make mistakes, whilst trying to be positive?

Newcastle under Bruce are very very well organised, the thrashing they got at Old Trafford aside, they rarely get turned over by anyone.

We need to start moving that ball about far quicker and start seeing midfielders commit themselves in and around penalty area, we just never commit enough men in our attacks, that's why we struggle scoring goals.

We will need the 'Dunc Approach' tonight if we are to maintain a decent run, otherwise it could be a very disappointing mid week.

The only saving grace is Newcastle have their own problems too with injuries to key players, not expecting a Classic by any stretch, but Newcastle have certainly improved under Steve Bruce.

COYB

"What he hasnt reckoned with is the sheer aggression of the press the top teams over here employ these days. His teams have always played out from the back, but it is now harder to do in the EPL than it has ever been ANYWHERE"

Remind me, aren't Liverpool supposedly the best and most aggressive pressers in the Premier League and European Football? Didn't Carlo beat them twice with Napoli recently?

Newcastle won't press, because Joelinton is frequently accused of being "lazy" by Newcastle fans. However, Almiron and Saint-Maximin have made a habit of stealing the ball, or putting pressure on in midfield. Both are very fast. Both are very capable of leading a one man charge on an opposition defence with their pace and dribbling ability. So, we need to be careful not to get caught on the counter.

Who wouldn't take 1-0 before every game? It'd be extremely arrogant of Everton not to. We lost to the three promoted sides, afterall.

Jay, it was 8th. And it wouldn't take much for us to fall to 10th. we're in a tight group that goes right up to 6th.

Robert Williams, no one has appointed themselves a guru. Just because you want to keep it simple doesn't mean others have to. If you don't want to partake in discussion of tactics, statistics or anything else, scroll on. And for the record, I've yet to see any analysis of heatmaps. But if they are an analysis of a "good talking point" then what's your problem? No need for the snide comments all the time.

They will have watched Diop score from a set piece against us on Saturday and they will see this as still our weakest link.

We need to watch and marshal their danger men from all corners and free kicks or we will pay the price. Lascalles is a menace from them and needs to be 'taken out' and 'fouled' to within an inch of the law to prevent him scoring. Make a note Carlo. No putting Coleman or Bernard on him to mark!

At the other end without Richie, I am looking to Bernard to be the catalyst tonight. Newcastle pack the defence and Bernard can expose them all night if he plays to his best. He has to take responsibility tonight as a senior man who needs to produce the goods.

If Kean starts I want to see more from him, more confidence and I want to see him taking on and committing the static Newcastle defenders. I want to see him on the front foot, not back to goal. Make defenders foul him and risk a penalty if they dare, commit them at every opportunity and they will make mistakes.

Everton 2 Newcastle 0

I hope you're right about Bernard. He's been blowing hot and cold, and hopefully he can switch it on tonight.

As for Kean, if he doesn't play, who does? Niasse? Walcott? Simms? I think Carlo has made it pretty clear he wants to employ two strikers. I'm still hopeful for Kean, tonight's the night.

That day, we comfortably dealt with whatever Newcastle attempted, be it packed defence, high press or lump it high and long. The latter caused us the most discomfort as they played off Andy Carrol. Their equalising goal resulted from a mismatch on the far post between him and Siggy, but for the most part we mopped up his knock downs.

I believe Carrol is unlikely to play tonight, so that takes away the element that most troubled us last time out. Our starting XI will not be vastly different from that day, albeit with two key players missing, Siggy and Richie.

The defence was Sidibe, Kean, Holgate and Baines (who had an excellent game). Midfield and forwards (Carlo went with a very attacking, flexible line up) was Siggy, Davies, Walcott, Kean, Richie and Dom.

Their home record gives the impression that they are good defensively, but actually, on the road, they have the league's joint second most porous defence (with us, I'm sad to say) conceding 22 - two goals a game. Only Villa with 24 away goals are worse.

It's a very quaint and jingoistic notion that Carlo's desire to play out from the back isn't working because the intensity of the high press in the English PL is something he will not have experienced in the 8 years since he left Chelsea.

Whoever thinks that needs to look beyond the Isle of Albion and take the blinkers off. He most certainly would have encountered many a high energy and high pressing team in the various continental leagues and European competitions he has managed in since last washing up on these shores.

The players we have on the books NOW have the ability to pass, receive, control and transition the ball forward quicker than they are. That they don't do it consistently or well enough at the moment is the conundrum Carlo has to resolve.

He described in detail just yesterday what the current failing is and what he wants them to improve on.

In his video interview he also spoke a great truism with great simplicity. In answer to the question how can you improve the team, he said with a laugh:

"Play better football. It's that simple!"

The high press on our midfield and back lines will not be the problem tonight. It will be finding a way to break down, and get in behind and beyond their packed lines. They will come and do a Burnley who came to Goodison not to win, but to steal a result.

Everton's ‘Richie' will not be playing and this will leave us short up front, I think this will be another dull game that could end in a draw but hoping we can pull off a vital win, any way we can until this squad is sorted out.

I think under our last 3 managers Koeman, Allardyce and Silva we don't look like a team that has many goals in them. Last season the goals mainly came from Richarlison and Sigurdsson, this year its Richarlison again and DCL instead of Sigurdsson. Mind its not difficult to understand why the last 3 managers teams havent scored a lot of goals, its simply if you buy players who havent got great goalscoring records then don't expect them to come here and change that round. We have Walcott, Iwobi, Bernard as front 3 players who just don't score anywhere near enough goals. Then we have Delph, Gomes, Schneiderlin, Davies, who again score very few goals, added to the fact that Sigurdsson this season is having a very poor season.

That lad is as cool as ice.

You deliberately miss the point. I said Ancelotti will need to change his tactics with this set of players. They are not capable of playing through a press. How many examples do you need ?
Napoli did not beat the shite twice (unless you are scraping the barrel to make your point) they did it once and they did it against a shite side who had played a different game in Italy.

I know your usual play on stats will meet with the approval of your fellow statos, but I like to use facts. Those who understand what they are watching, will have seen him try to play out against a high press twice since he got here. He was embarrassed at the Etihad and he was Humiliated at Mordor.

You do this with all managers Steve. You blind yourself to their shortcomings with explanations and stats which defy the reality of the situation.

Ancelotti will now know he is witnessing the most intensive high press he has seen in his time as manager. Its not a new tactic, but no league in the world has as many teams playing with this intensity. Not today. Not ever. The top teams here have taken it to a new level.
If he was daft. he would continue to try to play past it with this set of players. He isn't. Unlike you and your Brazilian counterpart. He will now know better. At least I'd like to think so.

I cant help laughing when people are spell bound when the manager says "we need to play better. Its that simple".

Still I guess its a step in the right direction after lying on the couch with a wounded soul unable to answer your missus pleas to eat your scran

Just because some on here are obviously intimidated by them doesn't mean we all are.

For what its worth Robert Williams, Steve ferns is one of the most dedicated members of toffeweb and regularly posts and contributes to discussions in a fair and honest fashion. If you prefer it old style then keep watching highlights on your black and white Tv whilst checking Ceefax in your 70s track suit.

Their back 3 are actually very tough to break down and their midfield will screen them well. They have two poor full backs who we must get round the back of if we are to win this game.

This will be similar to the Burnley game where we will have plenty of the ball but breaking them down could be difficult. I would play 433 and have Bernard and Davies in the centre with Walcott and Gordon on either flank with Delph screening.

We need intensity early which has so far been missing under Carlo as an early goal could see a comfortable night for us. If not it could be a frustrating draw. Bernard will be key tonight I think for our bit of inspiration.

With regards to Steve Ferns there is room for all points on here. I don't always agree with him but I like TW because I can be challenged by someone with different viewpoints and skill sets. We can all have simple conversations down the pub and Steve particularly brings a lot of great debate to this forum with his work. I much prefer that than 10 posters saying the same thing.

They play to frustrate and counter and once they concede they have to change game plan and come out and play which exposes them badly.

Great post. Completely agree.

Just because someone has a different opinion, doesn't, or shouldn't, make them the enemy, or suddenly become a Koppite!

I have never been a statistics aficionado, because I believe they don't represent an overall picture of what has REALLY happened in the game, and prefer my eyes to tell me what I have witnessed.

I tend to skip any posts with stats, but read the content, but I don't take umbrage against those who do, we all get frustrated from time to time, over several different issues, but please just remember we all support Everton.

Ancelotti will not be changing his tactics from playing out from the back. This set of players has demonstrated both under Carlo and previous managers they are capable of playing through a press.

The problem has been to get them to do so to a consistently proficient level. Carlo has already repeated this in some of his pressers. That is his conundrum to resolve.

In time, the current squad will be upgraded to players better able to replicate what he wants. In the meantime, he will persist with the same with what he's got. He may tweak aspects of playing out from the back and change personnel, but he will not be binning it. Ever.

Again, we know this from his own observations on football. "I have my methods, my ways, and I will not change them."

Carlo most certainly will have met - and dealt with - high energy and high pressing teams in his time in Spain, Germany and Italy.

Anyone believing otherwise displays a colonial Johnny English-like attitude and closed mind to what is actually happening in other leagues around the globe.

Or has he not faced (or managed) the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli and Roma (to name just a few)?

And Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli has beaten our loveable neighbours twice in the last 15 months, having been paired with them in the group stage of the CL for two consecutive seasons.

Carlo is in the process of uncomplicating and deconstructing Everton's football. Helping them to re-learn (because at this level, players already know them) basic good habits.

That's why he uttered the reported words in yesterday's presser that "We need to play better. It's that simple".

And it is THAT simple, cutting through the hyperbole of invented claims and overloading of tactics and strategies.

"I think Carol might be out, he certainly missed the Chelsea game with an injury"

Give it a rest with all this so-called information, will you? Some of us just want ignorant bliss and the usual suspects keep ruining it by informing us of stuff.

You really are quite an empty vessel Mr Wood. You spout this drivel as if it were fact. only a fool would be fooled.

Carlo has not, as you falsely claim, seen these players demonstrate they can play through a high press. What he has seen, when he has come up against it, are players who are not only not good enough to do it. They know it and often Hide (as spotted by numerous posters)

You claim that Ancelotti has seen a high pressing game from teams (some of whom don't even employ it) but even you are not silly enough to try to argue with the fact that they come near the intensity of the top premier league teams.

You charged in again trying to claim people should not believe the evidence of their own eyes it wont wash. Everyone (else) on here has seen our players struggle against the press everyone (else ) has seen our players hide.

People who study this game will never be fooled by your childish stats or by you throwing names of teams you clearly havent seen much of into the debate. Everyone knows that this moment in time the Europeans are struggling to cope and until they can match or counter this fierce press. They will continue to suffer

Johnnie English mentality ? please, you embarrass yourself. People don't care much for your stats, They prefer facts all day long.

You really do need to Ditch the fanboy magazines. Trade stats for facts. If you look at the record books at last years four European finalist. It may help you understand the difference

I'll stick with my own considered opinion rather than submit to your imagined hyperbolic ones, ta very much Darren.

By the way, feels very early to be inside the ground now, but it's only an hour to kick off.