Everton vs Manchester United

Doucouré and Allan have suffered for these injuries too; against Southampton, the constant tacks down the right against Godfrey destabilised us.

Against Newcastle, Carlo's knee-jerk midfield was nothing short of a joke. Full of slow and sideways from Sigurdsson, Gomes and Delph. Totally dysfunctional.

Against Man Utd, some balance to the team has to be restored along with some more attacking threat by playing Anthony Gordon on the left in Richarlison's role.

Olsen
Coleman/Kenny Keane Holgate¹ Digne
Doucouré Allan Nkounkou²
James Calvert-Lewin Gordon

¹ I would love to see Mason back if fully fit.
² Why not? He would probably do a better job than Gomes, Sigurdsson or Delph. Out of those three, Delph is marginally preferred for that midfield role.

To me, that team gives us balance and threat on both the right and the left and maintains a strong spine.

I hate it when we expect a side that has played away in Europe to be tired – it always ends up looking the other way round!!

I'd like to see Godfrey given a start at centre-back, his natural position.

Digne back is obviously a huge boost, as is the return of James, providing he is anywhere near fit.

Richarlison still a huge miss. A player we will have a very difficult time keeping hold of if we don't get top 4 this season I think.

Every team has injuries and we are gradually getting over ours. No matter what team Ancelotti puts out they have to have a desire to win and go at Utd right from the start. Playing for a draw with possession football will end in a loss and Man utd are there for the taking.

We are not inferior to any team and it is time for some of these players when given the opportunity, to show what they are being paid for. We have players who have the skills to win this game, but we need the team to show more desire to win to help them. Results matter but it is how you achieve these results that means more, We have failed in the last to games as a team tomorrow is the time to get back on track. Teams win who want to win not expect to win.

Coleman, Holgate, Digne and Kean will do for me in the back line, with Delph out, I have a feeling we will be seeing Siggy starting, like others, I was hoping for Gordon to get a starting place.

Would even be tempted to give Davies a run out over Siggerson, but I think Siggerson will be nailed on to start.

I fancy Everton to get points on the board tomorrow, the return of Coleman and Holgate, will makes A huge difference tomorrow.

Pickford (Carlo said he'll play him, if it was for me I'd pick Olsen); Coleman, Keane, Godfrey (eventually changed by Holgate, but we need a fast player at the back and this match against a tired United can be a good time to test Godfrey at his position) and Digne; Davies, Doucouré, Allan and Gordon; James and Calvert-Lewin.

I believe this team could cause trouble to the Mancs and favor James's creative spark and add balance on our right, where Rashford plays (their left)

Bench: Olsen, Holgate, Mina, Nkounkou, Gomes, Sigurdsson and Tosun.

Manchester United will be tired (they played many starters in the Champions League on Wednesday so having some balance, important players back at defense, and James in a free role would can put us in a very good position. If it's not Gordon, I'd go for Nkounkou up there; pace is key for James to deliver his magic passes.

COYB!!

Olsen,
Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Digne
Davies, Allan, Doucouré
James, Calvert-Lewin, Iwobi or Gordon

Pickford (Carlo said he'll play him; if it was for me, I'd pick Olsen); Coleman, Keane, Godfrey (eventually changed by Holgate, but we need a fast player at the back and this match against a tired Man Utd can be a good time to test Godfrey at his position) and Digne; Davies, Doucouré, Allan and Gordon; James and Calvert-Lewin. I believe this team could cause trouble to the Mancs and favor James's creative spark and add balance on our right, where Rashford plays (their left).

Bench: Olsen, Holgate, Mina, Nkounkou, Gomes, Sigurdsson and Tosun.

Manchester United will be tired (they played many starters in the Champions League on Wednesday so having some balance, important players back at defense, and James in a free role will, would, can put us in a very good position. If it's not Gordon, I'd go for Nkounkou up there; pace is key for James to deliver his magic passes.

COYB!!

Pickford
Holgate Keane Godfrey Digne
Davies Doucouré Allan Gordon
James Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Olsen, Coleman, Branthwaite, Sigurdsson, Gomes, Iwobi, Tosun

The only thing is if we didn't play Seamus against Utd, then he will still join up with the Irish team for the internationals next week. So if he is fit I would rather he plays on Saturday as we gain nothing by resting him, now if there weren't internationals next week then you might have a point.

Carlo needs to get the balance back. That's certainly achievable with what we have available.

Olsen
Coleman Holgate Keane Digne
Allan Doucoure
James Iwobi Gordon
DCL

I reckon that side has balance across the entire team. The problem is United. They play their best when they sit and counter. They are terrible at solving a low block. With OGS's neck on the line I reckon he'll go back to what has gotten him results.

Will Carlo be passive and try and counter them? I hope not because that team above without Richarlison is not a counter attacking team.

Crosses need to be early tomorrow, Wan-Bissaka is superb one on one so don't engage him, Calvert-Lewin needs chances, let's take every advantage of a corner or set piece with James on the pitch.

Pickford
Coleman Kean Holgate Digne

Doucoure Allan

JAmes Siggy Bernard

DCL

But against United we need pace and power so Gordon is a must start for me in place of Bernard and I would play 4-4-2 and have Nkoukou on the left of MF

Pickford
Coleman Kean Holgate Digne

JAmes Doucoure Allan Nkoukou

DCL Gordon

When you have the likes of Southampton possibly top of the league, it shows we have a chance to make something happen this season.

Don't let us down COYB!!!

This is the team I think we'll start with (4-4-2-ish):

Pickford
Coleman - Mina - Keane - Digne
Rodriguez - Allan - Docucoure - Bernard
DCL - Tosun

This is the one I'd like to see (4-3-3 or 4-5-1-ish):

Pickford
Coleman - Holgate - Keane - Digne
Allan - Sigurdsson/Bernard - Doucoure
Rodriguez - DCL - Gordon

Pickford
Coleman Keane Holgate Digne
Allan dacoure gomes
James DCL Gordon.

My team for tomorrow if all fit are Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Digne, Allen, Doucoure, Davies, James, DCL, Gordon.

COYBs show no mercy and put a smile back on our blue nosed faces !!

Getting tested will not make any difference, what we need is a vacine.

Pickford
Coleman Keane Holgate Digne (Godfrey, Nkou2 subs)
Allan Doucoure
James Gordon
DCL

Siggy perhaps at 70' preferably to get James off the field if we can afford it.

Or their players turn in a "we want this manager sacked" performance, think David Moyes April 2014 with the old Grim Reaper in the Family Enclosure.

My team would be uncomplicated, Carlo needs to just pick round pegs for round holes tomorrow.

Pickford
Digne
Keane
Godfrey (if fit)
Coleman
Allan
Doucoure
Rodriguez
Bernard (number 10)
Gordon
DCL

Simple team with straightforward balance, given with whats available, no more shoehorning players in positions they can't play in.

The rest? I would keep the shape that got us maximum points from the first 4 games and play Tosun up top, and tell him not to chase around and stick to the box. So l'd move DCL over to play the Richarlison role.

3 points is a must.

But having our right hand side is very important. We have been so central with Coleman out of the team, he gives us width and he deserves a lot of credit after many people (including myself) thinking he was past it. Getting his long term replacement needs to be top priority over the coming months, and won't be easy (yet hopefully we make easy work of it, as we did with Baines).

The key questions then are central midfield, and left wing/attack.

I'm guessing Iwobi, although Bissaka will have him in his pocket. And probably Siggy again. Neither inspire.

I'd like Davies to be given a shot. He hasnt had a chance this season, and the others have and have stunk.

At some point we have to show some balls without Richarleson in the team.

But we were beaten by a truly average Newcastle side.

Start Sigurdsson, then it's a foregone conclusion.. I have zero evidence to conclude otherwise..

It will be interesting to see what side Carlo starts with, I think with the pace of Martial and Rashford, we cant afford to play both Mina and Keane. Seeing Keane has looked the more solid of the two then maybe Godfrey or Holgate start instead of Mina tomorrow.

It is exactly why most of the media wanted Brexit, although Murdoch also wanted it because the EU were blocking his various business dealings.

Gonna be a lovely globalist Christmas.

What we must not do is concede first!

Do not give Utd an opportunity to simply sit back and counter attack having taken the lead. They could blow our slow and ponderous defence away with a long ball to their rapid forwards.

We need to keep possession to frustrate them in the middle of the park but always looking for the forward ball, delivering dangerous crosses.

Happy for Kenny to start, he can pass and cross unlike Seamus.

Pickford
Coleman Keane Holgate Digne
Davies Allan Doucoure
Rodriguez DCL Gordon

The only alternative should be Iwobi in for Gordon, as he did well when he came on last week. But the game is up for Sigurdsson and Bernard surely? Gordon offers us more than them, which is damning when you consider where he is in his career and where they are in theirs...

Everton 2-0 Man U.

Also, please stop with the must win, now or never comments. Sadly Utd are a better side than us. They finished 3rd last season and have strengthened the squad.

Yes we have also improved our first team but they are a very good side in a bit of poor form. We can beat them, but we need a very good performance and maybe a bit of luck.

Bearing that the last x2 games have been very poorl6 player by Everton, tomorrow is chance to get back on par.

If Seamus and Mason are fully fit, it would be hard not to pick them.

I'd use Nkounkou, as an impact sub, and start Gordon and if fit Tom Davies.

Get the crosses in for DCL, Maguire turns like an oil tanker, so I hope Everton got the kill early and take their chances..

Hopefully tomorrow night will be a good one for Evertonians.

Best of luck blues.

I remember when young Rooney left and there was written on the back of some girl's Everton shirt: " We hate him so much because we loved him so much"; that's what it's about, the fucking awful entanglement.

We can't go on, we will go on; as the Irishman almost said.

However, when the opposition sits back, then Utd really struggle. They can't find space, get frustrated and have no real plan b. This seems them lose to teams like Palace and Istanbul but beat Leipzig and PSG.

So we should not try and attack them, but we should sit back. So maybe playing more of a 5-3-1-1 could be best for a result. Coleman and Digne providing width, Allan, Doucoure and Whoever closing the midfield. James and DCL on the counter (James.with the passes.and finding the space, DCL running).

Iwobi is another player who needs to have greater freedom than stuck on any of the wings, because he is not an out and winger and neither are Bernard or Gordon.

The last winger Everton had of any note was Steven Pienaar whose combination play down the left with Baines was outstanding.

But playing Sigurdsson and Gomes from the beginning of the match tomorrow will be a waste of time, because both players lack a half a yard of pace.

That's quite a concept, Tony.

All it will take is a win against a very ordinary Man Utd team.

I just wish we had Richarlison. But surely we put Gordon on that flank to give James a willing runner out wide and to put a bit if pressure on that nervous Utd defence? It's a bit too obvious to not happen isn't it?

COYB! Let's hope we're all very upbeat after the game tomorrow.

It could be a treble for Manure managers to lose their jobs after an Everton game but I just want an Everton win no matter what.

Without a crowd behind them it could be yet another blah game especially without Richie still to help the offence but surely Carlo will have them up for this one. Won't he ??

That team is built for playing on the opposing half. James, Allan and Digne all need lots of involvement, to set the tempo and get into the game. We still are pretty average without the ball.

I'd go for it in the first 30minutes, the aim to establish a lead which United will find fairly difficult to overturn. Remember defensively we have been poor. We've conceded 2 goals in 5 league games. I'm afraid our strategy must be to attack.

Sitting back although entirely logical, looks like folly to me.

Stick with us mate, misery loves company, the more the (un)merrier on here.

First Kean, then Wilcott. now we are not playing Gordan when likes of Iwobi, Sigurd & Gomes play like shxt.

Manager problem? Player problem? or Everton club cursed luck?

I hope we can buck up especially midfield, not allowing Manu midfield to roam at our final third easily. With Coleman & Digne, our right and left rear should be covered having say that, middle third Allan & Docoure...waki waki wake up please

We just cannot have a midfield combination of Delph, Sigurd & Gomes . slow, uncreative, can't defend & most importantly other teams midfield can have a field day over them...

United are beatable and low on confidence. Their performance may depend on how the players feel about OGS.

Left wing is crucial. And difficult. Iwobi was terrible in his start against Southampton but was useful when coming on against Brighton and Newcastle. I would suggest Gordon for his direct running but AWB is one of the hardest defenders to dribble past in the league and for that reason I'd be tempted to stick with Bernard or Iwobi whose passing is better, I know the latter gets a lot of stick but he's actually been involved in a few goals this year and his calamity performance came away against a team who increasingly look very impressive and sit top of the league.

Likewise Bernard, who has undoubted skill and the odd trick in him, is too easily outmuscled and spends too much time on his derriere. I am in the Anthony Gordon Camp and believe that he would be chomping at the bit, in a game if picked today.

There has been no real hints coming from Everton's Official Channels, as to who will get the nod, and similarly who will be on the bench if things don't go to plan A.

Slightly off topic but I see Forest Trump has almost been Gumped and Dumped, and not before time either. Considering the population of the USA how the hell did he get in there in the first place?

Not having Richarlison is a massive miss for us: his pace, running and general nuisanceness is a huge part of his game. Not to mention he was also the main target of James's wonderful passing.

But Calvert-Lewin has pace, and James doesn't need pace as his vision gives him a few seconds before anyone else.

But if we're solid, then all we need is one quality pass through an open Man Utd defence for Calvert-Lewin to finish. Then they may crumble.

We just can't underestimate Man Utd's attack, which is brilliant and is worth seeing the way they have lost most of their games this season.

A strategy could be getting Digne to fire in crosses to Calvert-Lewin from deeper positions. Bernard, I am concerned about whether he is mentally still at the club. He will be deliberating moving in January, I don't know what to expect from him anymore.

Digne and Nkounkou seem to have an understanding together. Digne has taken him under his wing. With Digne being a mobile and quick left-back having Nkounkou play in front of him could guarantee crosses in from the left from one or the other. This could overcome AWB's defensive play.

Nobody guessed Carlo's team last week out of about a million attempts...but here goes. a fluid 4-4-2

Pickford
Coleman Keane Holgate Digne
James Allan Doucouré Nkounkou
Iwobi Calvert-Lewin

Iwobi in a fluid free role attacking the left-back and coming inside to an attacking No 10 position.

Doucouré or Davies and Allan in the centre, for me, with Rodríguez ahead and Bernard and Davies or Doucouré either side of hopefully the little magician.

Make it hard first, though: it's the first rule of football, to make it hard for your opponents.

An interesting article in the Echo mentioned Carlo saying he was a very good finisher in the box; he obviously has been impressing in training and Carlo liked what he saw.

Maybe he still has an Everton future as Carlo has just "discovered" the player since him arriving and the player coming back from long-term injury.

I actually laughed out loud when I saw that lineup and comment, the only fluid thing about Iwobi is his bank balance. His a clumsy lumbering mess of a footballer 😂 And Nkounkou at left midfield, no thanks, he's a left back and also showed pretty much nothing against Newcastle, he was poor and needs time to get used to the English game

Olsen for me did enough to keep his place against Man Utd as Pickford has been so erratic recently and needs a break from all the negative attention he has been getting. He is still a good goalkeeper in my eyes but he needs to mature a little which hopefully will come with age.

Coleman returning to his rightful position is a must. We have nobody better in his position in the current squad and he has been a top consistent performer for us since he came into the side under Moyesie.

Keane has played well so far this season but, for me, he does not have the all-round abilities to be a top-drawer centre-back. Mina has been inconsistent in the games he has played so far and has cost us a few goals already this season so, in the two centre-back positions, I would go with Godfrey who has pace and height which we severally lack in the defence alongside Holgate, whose passion, energy, ability and drive make him a future captain in my opinion. Left-back has to go to Digne who has fantastic crossing and attacking skills.

Midfield: Allan next to Doucouré clearly looks like a combination that going forward has a lot of potential and the third midfield position is a little harder to select. Iwobi and Gomes have both been poor so far this season as has Sigurdsson so Anthony Gordon although still very experienced could provide that missing link between midfield and attack that has been missing since Richarlison got banned.

Upfront, I would play Rodriguez alongside Calvert-Lewin and the final place upfront would go to Bernard who, I feel in the final third of the pitch, can make a difference with his quick feet and passing.

Why do we always drop on teams when they are desperate for a win.
We are still without Richarlison and that could be the difference.
If forced to bet I would have to back Utd with the draw a close second.

I'm a proverbial pessimist so that does tend to affect my judgement, so heres hoping we can get a result.

I think the starting line up will be :

Pickford
Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne
Doucoure, Allan, Gomes
Rodrigues, DCL, Bernard

Up the Blues!!!