Everton vs Sheffield Wednesday

If James starts, can he handle 3 games in a week? Are we sure Baines or Sheedy can't play?

More good news is that Allan is back in training in 7-10 days, expected to be fit for the Man Utd match.

Both players will be central to our top 4 and FA cup aspirations.

With Digne also out, this goes down as an opportunity missed for the lad, who is not getting much of a chance to show his blistering pace and those sizzling crosses – assuming he's still allowed to do them!

Bench please and break glass if it turns out to be an FA cup "classic".

We can beat these without Dominic.

Let's hope we beat them on Sunday and get to the final.

That'll do.

My team for Sunday:

Pickford
Coleman Holgate Keane Godfrey
Davies Doucouré
James
Richarlison Calvert-Lewin Sigurdsson

Subs: Olsen, Mina, Bernard, Gomes, Gordon, Tosun, Kenny

Our indifferent/appalling performances more recently have been with the more traditional and uninspiring team selections. We are all learning not to try and first-guess Carlo. Let's just wait and see and hope for a decent showing whoever is in the starting line-up.

Let's get in the draw for the next round.

The tele has took the piss for years, 12 o'clock at Wembley, for a Merseyside semifinal being just one example, so it's up to us fans now, in a sport that's ready to make big changes imo.

Still think Ancelotti will want an extended Cup run so as to keep the whole squad getting playing time. It's the most cost-effective way to get squad depth.

Don't ever get relegated, Everton.

Carlo said Digne and Iwobi will be back for Wednesday. It will be good to have them two back fresh and rearing to go.

It may also cause problems with any potential transfers or loans between the two countries as it is going to potentially be weeks before it changes.

I don't want to see Sigurdsson playing deep. His talents are shooting and making space.

I'd sit James out, he's played a few games since returning from his own injury.

Gordon to be given another chance with maybe Bernard on either wing.

At the end of the day (Sunday), it's all about being through to the next round.

As for Monday night, I don't mind a midweek game being brought forward. But we have been away to Southampton on a Monday at 8:00 pm (pre-lockdown) which is 2 days off work. Weekend games should be played at weekends.

One thing I would like to see proposed in the next negotiation is a 'fans' weekend once or twice a season. All games kick off at 3:00 pm on Saturday and no live TV.

Yes, I know. Dream on...

That brought back memories. A 4 game 3rd round, followed by a 3 game 4th round v Middlesbrough, before losing at home in the 5th round to the RS. Basically played more games than it took to win it normally.

I went to all 4 ties vs Sheffield Wednesday. 3 1-1 draws, tight affairs, and we edged the 3rd replay at Hillsborough 5-0. I'd had to bunk off school in the afternoon to make the trip.

There has been many since our last win at Anfield, and even more since our last trophy. That's why I never joke about that team across the park.

I think I will be dead by the time Gbamin is ready for his next game.

And I've missed that Owl too Kevin.

I recall sitting in the 5-0 game (were we 5 up at half time?) and hundreds of our fans got there after the game was won. Some of them didnt get in the ground until 2nd half started.

Sadly I missed that final, but got a ticket 2 years later when we lost 1-0 to West Brom.

I don't think I will ever tire of seeing Eddie Kavanagh's unbridled joy, what an Iconic Evertonian moment

Not forgetting our three goals and the memorable comeback of course, but whenever 1966 is mentioned my thoughts always go to Eddie shrugging off that first bizzie and not giving a fuck when he eventually gets hauled down.

I can still see him now, " YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSS"

While winning the FA Cup is.
no guarantees greater things (our own 95' win is a clear example of that, and Arsenal's last season can also point to it not signalling the turning of a corner), for us I feel it would be huge.

Ideally a top 4 finish and a cup win, clearly.

Anyway, on to the game. I'd like to see Gordon. He clearly needs to develop, and games like this are key for this development. Probably expect to see Olsen in goal. James and Calver-Lewis playing for an hour.

Wonder if we could experiment in the middle. Against Leicester we won't have Doucouré, which is a big miss, especially with Allan still not fit. Wonder if Holgate could step up and play alongside Davies, with Sigurdsson or Gomes ahead of them.

Or a change in system again, 3-5-2/3-4-3.

Due to the Villa postponement, we should be fresh and ready to take this game by the bollox, and hopefully, after our near miss against Rotherham, I we won't be so accommodating to Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow night.

Leicester and Newcastle are equally big games however and we have the chance to really mount some pressure on those teams above us, I believe one of which that's managed by a particularly mouthy German is not in too good form.

Got this last night. Had to put it up for the benefit of our younger fans. Us older ones already know.

But, have Everton been dealt a poor hand? Our game against Manchester City postponed because of a Covid outbreak in their squad, Aston Villa postponed because of a Covid outbreak in the Villa squad. Sheffield Wednesday FA Cup game put back because of a Covid outbreak in the Owls squad.

And yet this week Manchester City played Aston Villa and we didn't get to play one of these two teams instead to even up the fixture list.

Another Everton conspiracy? Answers on a postcard please or better still on a ToffeeWeb forum. Stay safe everybody.

Paul (15) – pretty sure fifth round draw has already taken place. Winners of our game play winners of Wycombe v Spurs I think (can't be bothered to Google it just now).

Justin (28) – why specifically crosses and (if so) why specifically Jonjoe Kenny?

8 pm on a Sunday would be raving mad if crowds were allowed but can't people see it's a good thing to allow neutrals to watch as many different games as they fancy during the current absence of crowds?

Can we have a ToffeeWeb poll on whether not necessarily having the large majority of games at 3pm on a Saturday equates to ‘ripping the soul out of football?'

Is JP Gbamin actually training at Finch Farm? I'd feel a lot better about his prospects if I knew he was putting in a good 3 or 4 hours, Monday to Friday.

Sheffield Wednesday are likely to defend deep, especially at Goodison and will need to be broken down. Leicester and Newcastle are two difficult and important games coming up soon.

Ancelotti is not that predictable, it depends on the analysis of the opposition.

We missed the 1st goal as there was a traffic snarl in Manchester. We got in just in time to see Snodin set Heath away for 2-0. Brian - we travelled with Barnes, but Basic Barnes - I thought it was the Posh buses (Amberline) that got in at half time? I recall a fella turning up on the terrace next to me at half time - scoreboard was scrolling adverts, and when asked I told him what the score was. Incredulous, he checked with a few others around thinking I was winding him up.

Of course the 2nd half was an exhibition game, but at least it saw Paul Bracewell's return to action.

Thomas @43, not sure what happened there with that link, tried several times, and got Bob Latchford article, all in Polish. So not sure if that was the intended link or something different.

I've seen a number of posts saying Doucouré is available for the cup game, but not for the mid-week Premier League game v Leicester.

Has there been a change in the rules on serving suspensions? I thought the long standing rule that suspended players in England will miss the next game(s), be they cup or league.

If that is still the case, Doucouré can't play tomorrow but will be available v Leicester.

Or are English suspensions now competition specific?

Did you buy your laptop in Warsaw?

Doucouré is in the predicted line up on the top of the page.

The eds probably looked into your question.
Hopefully he misses tomorrow and plays v Leicester.

Circa Wembley May 1966

Jammy bastard.
Mine is wind up

Suspensions

Player Suspension Details Eligible For Return

Abdoulaye Doucoure One-match Premier League ban - (v Leicester, 27 Jan) v Newcastle (30 Jan)

Sitting in Goodison Road stand. Easter Saturday 1970. 3rd place Chelsea came to visit. Guy walks in at 5 past 3 and says any score yet. We say 2-0. "ha ha". Sits down. Everton score. Gwladys Street start up with "We want 4" and he looks and says "You wern't lying then".

And that was on the back of playing them in the league on New Year's Day. I remember that as it was a very early start to meet the coach at the pick up point in Speke.

We then moved onto another mini-marathon against Middlesborough.

I think we played 8 or 9 games in reaching the 5th round only to go out to you know who.

I have a great soft spot for both Sheffield clubs who, along with West Ham, seem to me to be serious, non-posing, working class outfits regardless of owners.

We always do well in the Cup when we play Wednesday. Fran @41, why not the double?

Eddie Kavanagh is still running and will never be caught.

Pity.

It would have been convenient for him to miss tomorrow and be available v Leicester.

Had a yard on the road between Speke and Hunts Cross.

Why? Because they chose us not for glory but in full recognition of likely misery; in other words they did not dive in for success. I would add to that: because they chose us for our authenticity, for our "grain".

There's a danger of being sentimental or ingratiating in this, but I believe that our fan base globally is genuine at its core.

We have won fuck all in the living memory of many but still the connoisseurs come to us.

But thanks for the compliments. It's a nice compensation for the many times I've been stared at by US ManU or RS or Arse supporters and asked -- condescendingly -- "Why Everton?"

They just wouldn't understand.

I don't think this is a trivial point. It says a great deal about being an Evertonian.

I work in London with a load of RS plastics who can't get their heads around how a couple of colleagues support non PL clubs.

"Why Everton?" – They just wouldn't understand

You have posted many a fine post.

That couple of lines are your best to date. Brought a tear to my eye.

Never open the third bottle. If you do you will end up convulsed over Jon Voigt in "The Champ".

The other side of the coin too, and this rarely applies to anyone outside the UK, unless for some bizarre connection, people that support the less fashionable Clubs. The Herefords, etc, I have nothing but admiration for them, they travel the country supporting ' their team ' extremely unlikely to be on TV (unless involved in a FA/League Cup Game) or indeed (being brutally honest) any realistic chance of reaching the dizzy heights of Championship or Premiership. Yet they turn up every week!

Having said that, it is possible, look at Swansea, not so long ago, actually went from 4th to 1st, admittedly it was hard to stay there, but they did it! So proved that dreams can be achieved. I fear too that this Covid curse has been the 'death knell' of the type of Clubs mentioned, and unfortunately at the lower end of the Football Pyramid may not survive.

Howard Kendall described us as the most knowledgeable fans in football. That still holds to this day hence the fierce, often differing but knowledgeable debate on this site.

My son has Liverpool (the city) roots, but has grown up in a military setting and lived in London since 2004 as have I.

But he is an Evertonian despite living amongst the Manchester United and Liverpool bandwagon jumpers as well as the London club supporters who are often fascinated when they meet an Evertonian. And genuine fascination I have to say, not always patronising.

Andrew, living and working in London, it's not just the ill-educated plastic Liverpool and Manchester United fans. I find them amusing; they are like the 6-year-old conversations you used to have as a kid. Everything about their team is great, everything else is shit.

What I dislike are the London supporters of London clubs. Always a sinister element to it. More interested in goading the other fans than watching their own team. Don't tend to watch the football, just gloat if they win and get aggressive if they don't but have little clue about the actual game itself.

As luck would have it, a former Villa academy player joined us for one season. The two of them never spoke or passed the ball to each other. Always looked like they were about one word away from a fight.

Incredible in the modern world, and the standards of the day, then and now.

The most unlucky footballer in my view, in terms of potential unfulfilled at that the time.

But he is never forgotten, at Everton.

Now for Everton to win tomorrow, and Spurs lose.

But that's the FA Cup.

https://taleoftwohalves.uk/columnist/lifetime-ban-stopped-legend-tracks-tony-kay

Yeap... the freaking time... I am in time zone GMT+8... that's bloody 4am in the early morning... sigh!

Di Canio spared Paul Gerrard's blushes by catching the ball when he could have scored versus us. They were among the first to employ modern attacking fullbacks (Sterland, Harkes, Nillson, Petrescu).

They had players I thought we should sign (then changed my mind once we did): Alexandersson, Pembridge. Along with us they were the last team to keep the tradition going of having a fat bloke goalie (Southall/Pressman). They never get any luck, they never get any respect, etc etc.

Kieran, yes, the Di Canio move was memorable, and we Yanks have a bit of a soft spot for Wednesday too because Captain John Harkes played there. And did THIS to Peter Shilton:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_is9XU2yeA

Goal of the Year.

Too soon?

Spare a thought for those thousands of fans who down the years have risen in the early hours of the morning to share a car or a van which only had a 50/50 chance of making it to an away game. There is many a tale of people not even making it to the game.

Mind you, Most of them were creating memories, laughs and experiences that they will take to their graves with them. You show similar dedication but, unfortunately for you, the best you can do is go back to bed and get a couple more hours after the game.

This thread has made me think of putting together a brief article when I get a little time. Inviting people to share their away day experiences following the mighty blues. I know, if I do it right, it would draw some cracking responses.

I'll save them but going over the Snake Pass to Sheffield at some ungodly hour, standing next to the floodlight in the corner of the uncovered terrace at Nottingham Forest, Villa Park full of Evertonians, St James' Park with only one actual stand and being stood below a temporary structure behind the goal; the type you see on Golf courses and Norwich when we clinched the title to name a few.

Fantastic memories, great days out.

Went to Wembley in 1966 but never got a ticket. Ended up at the front of a television shop watching on a 12" black and white tele along with a hoarde of blues. We won of course and bloke went round with his cap collected a load of cash and plonked it on the managers counter to thank him – the poor manager was very relieved as he feared the worst for his window.

Just in case the younger element wondered, there were no teles in pubs in those days.

Even if there were televisions in pubs, the pubs would have been shut in 1966. Even more astounding to younger people!

We had to make our own entertainment in those days!

I'm hoping, whatever line-up the gaffer picks against Wednesday, they play with a bit more urgency than the 3rd Round. Tosun was unlucky but we may well have tumbled out if we'd been any less resolute. I do feel there was a bit of complacency there.

There's no doubt we have the quality to go a long way in the competition if we want to. Here's hoping both the manager and players have the desire we the fans so obviously have.

Hoping for 3 0 tonight ever the optimist

Edit - Theakstons??

After today the next few games are so important as to test if Everton belonging the top echelon and they could make a big statement by beating Leicester who are playing well but will be without Vardy.

However a number of teams are missing players but some may argue those teams have better strength in depth than Everton but we will see.

Today will be another test like the Rotherham game as cup-ties often are and Wednesday won't have the Goodison crowd to worry them.

Everton just need to be focused early and get control.

Agree with others about the Kippax and the Maine Road experience. I've never taken to Man City fans, a strange group.

West Ham 1984

Feyenoord 1995

Two very eventful games

After the game we jumped a train to Amsterdam for some window shopping and a few beers!! We arrived back into Rotterdam early the following morning to set off home. God knows how I managed to drive, but hey-ho, we arrived back in Liverpool safely.

I remember that from Feyenoord.
If you recall the rail station was at the side of the ground. The vision that met us as we got off the train on the way to the game after a day on the ale will stick with me :-)

The main station in Rotterdam (Centraal)?

I was working in Holland and went to a Feyenoord v Ajax game in the 80s.
We met at a pub near the main station when the Ajax fans streamed out, the Feyenoord lads were there to greet them.

I have never seen anything like it in all my games watching the Blues.

We didnt hang around for a bevvy after the game.

It made a big impression on a 10 year old boy.

I know many Blues don't care about the national side but I alway have done and I think we have the best chance for a very long time of winning something.

This feels different to the Golden Generation.

And the customary 1980s non PC welcome and treatment by Greater Manchester Police who did not always hold back on their views on the citizens of Merseyside!

Hey, this is all great, but are we not in danger of dancing on Darren's chips? Let's wait for the write up.

I wager a 1000+ response count. No pressure Darren!!

One of the hairiest away games for me wasn't actually at the game, or immediately before or after it. Again, I think I might have told this story but my Hillman Imp broke down (notorious for gearbox problems - aluminium cast as I remember it) on the way to a game at Stoke, 67/68 season I think. Had it towed to a local garage just off the M6 and left it there; a mate drove me there the next day to tow it back to Liverpool. He had a big Austin Princess and towed me at what must have been over 60 mph on the M6 (not legal!). Didn't tell me he was going to go at that speed and once we were off, there was nothing I could do about it. Overtaking other cars who I don't think were impressed. We flashed past the other cars - and my life flashed before me.

Somehow got the car stopped with handbrake, gears and a kerb, legged it to the match, which we lost, then got home with the recovery lorry at 4.30am. Happy days.

As with most old British Cars they are worth(?)/cost a small fortune, these days and there are Clubs virtually for each Model with Rallies at various venues too. Loved the Moggy Minor myself, and had a few (wish I still had them now) they were so brilliantly simple a design (Alec Issigonis) that there was very little that could or ever did go wrong with them. Although I do believe someone (Martin@108) once had a capacitor problem with the distributor. :-)

Chelsea away, standing on the open end, cinders on the floor was one of my earliest memories of away days.

I'm serious. Go for it. Bestseller. Guaranteed.

(im talking about rhyming slang here :-)

You enjoyed it as well Rob?
Always a bonus mate

I also remember a few trips to Boro, Stoke and forest and there was a double decker bus parked up, that must have been hired for the Away Days.

The City ground was my unluckiest ground, still to see Everton win there, when I started going towards the late seventies, onwards, a little shitty corner of the ground at the time, with a floodlight pylon for company.

Suprised no one has mentioned Carlisle Utd, that was one scary place.

The trip home. That is what I remember the most. Champions, my dad letting me drink and giving me the day off school to get over my hangover!! I will reveal how we stocked the coach when we have a thread to discuss!

The Wembley trips were great and I've had some great days out watching Everton, but that tops them all.

And just noticed. When did Sheffield Wednesday let a Hogwarts pupil redesign their club crest?

Remember that period under Moyes (not a Moyes dig by the way), that we seemingly used to turn up for our annual good day out but get our standard 1 - 0 defeat issued to us at the Cottage?

Although now living in London and by then that was more like a home day out for me, it was great to be amongst the travelling Evertonians. Home from home as they say.

Only good thing was that as a consequence of that injury, we eventually signed Reidy for £60k rather than the £600k we had been quoted originally!

You should be hoping for loads not lots.

Normally you would let a right ripper go, but you know it is best to wait until it is safe to do so, so you can let it all out.

Incidentally - - watched Indiana Jones last night - - well - - so what - - John Hurt - - another great Evertonian.

Just realised the time - - going to watch the game - - team news and take everything in - - take care Blues all around the world - - sending Blue cosmic Grooves to you all - - - take care of yourselves and each other.

Your friend - - with a firm handshake - - George

UCD literally played in a field, ferry got turned back to Dublin and I got spotted on Granada Reports having thrown a sickie

Notts County, never got so wet at a football game and Andy Gray scored the winner with a diving header off the ground

Liverpool Sharpies bullet, watched it on the Kop. When we started to believe

Stoke 3rd round of the cup. When famously Howard opened the dressing room windows at half time to let the noise of the 12000 Evertonians in

Rotterdam of course

I cant say the name rings a bell, but that doesnt mean we would not have bumped into each other or drank in the same pubs. There are so many Johns.

To be honest, away games are a bit of a young mans game now. I found I was struggling to keep up with my lads and their mates on the "social side of things". I havent completely knocked it on the head, but the game at OT when Big Dunc was in charge is the only one I have been to in the last couple of seasons.

The away day experience is slightly different now. The boys in blue don't give the away supporter anywhere near as much slack as their older collegues gave us. Often they would be as bad as the supporters when it came to having a good time. Alas that can no longer be.

Rob still goes everywhere. He goes to extraordinary lengths to get to follow his team. I always looked forward to his reports when he has been to some obscure destination. He is a top top blue. Mind you I think even he would have been impressed by Dave A's journey to Charlton... in 1957 - I think when he spoke about their coach, he was talking about a horse drawn one.

The Bolton game in the snow seems to have drawn a lot of comments. I do hope Casho will log on, step into the confessional and tell us all about how he made a complete cheshire cat of himself that day