Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur

Trophy or Europe: "For the stability of the club, the most important is to reach Europe. For the happiness of course a trophy is really important."

Got me thinking that one. Not for long though. I would take an FA Cup win over a top 4 slot all day.

Finishing Top 4 and qualifying for Champions League will equate to more exposure over the globe, more money, and better player recruitment. It's a trophy all to itself. It's a massive accomplishment over 38 games in one of the toughest leagues in world football.

We need to qualify for the Champions League sometime during Carlo's reign, and this season is completely nuts and will probably be our best shot at it.

All that being said, I normally don't condone one of the seven deadly sins, but in this instance Greed would be welcome. I want both a trophy and a Top 4 finish!

Have to beat Spurs. I really detest them. The game will be shite, they will slow it down, Jose will play his brand of anti-football. If we look poor, that's to be expected playing against a Jose team. I don't care how we look, I don't care how shite the viewing experience is and will be, I want to win and advance. That's all that matters.

As a supporter, I also come down heavily on preferring a trophy in the cabinet rather than qualifying for Europe via the league. All the more so that winning the FA Cup still (I think!) guarantees you a European place.

But I also understand the sentiment Carlo expresses on the importance to the club's 'stability'. I interpret that as progress and improving our finances, as well as raising our profile and making us a more attractive destination for new talent.

But to repeat, if we could cherry pick, trophy all day long for me.

I find these difficult to listen to, to be honest, especially if they throw in bloody adverts after less than a minute, and most of the questions are so inane. But Carlo knows he has to tolerate the nonsense and try to say something meaningful.

'You're on mute!' He keeps reminding journos.

Very smart fellah. Never has a bad word for anybody. Even makes journos asking dumb questions feel good about themselves.

"For the stability of the club" - what does that even mean? Income? Attracting better quality players? Reputation in lucrative overseas territories?

Anyway, I'm not convinced that reaching the qualifying rounds of the Europa is better for stability than lifting the FA Cup at Wembley for our first trophy since 1995. However, if I'm wrong, and scraping into Europe trumps winning a major domestic trophy, then fuck football and fuck Everton.

So come on Everton, time to update the honours list!!

I'd never have expected this level of uncertainty. The whole thing is just astounding to me...

To Carlo's point about Europe, if we win a cup we will be in Europe anyway. So I would like to see us go all out for the cup tomorrow. If we lose we lose we move on. What I do not want to see (as has often happened in the past) is a dying swan routine whereby we capitulate in the cup, have an immediate but temporal improvement in the league the peeter out for the rest of the season.

But the articles serve the purpose of bringing attention to a forthcoming game, and that's win-win for everyone. The competition gets it air-time and the publicity, the news outlets get their news circulation (traffic, if you are looking at online), which translate to sponsors willing to put money down for ads etc.

Having said that, Ancelotti is certainly a lot classier than many other managers, bearing in mind that English is not his native tongue, it's even more impressive.

To the topic of winning a trophy or UCL / European place, it's one of those things I believe, all of us prefer not to choose i.e. why choose between one, and why not aim for both?

Our last trophy in 1995 in some ways, demonstrated that while it gave us joy and memories, it glossed over the club's inadequacies. Hence, Joe Royle couldn't have the money to build on the 6th place, and then it soon unraveled.

At the same time, while Moyes pushed us towards the European places and won nowt, it's really nothing to shout about every year, to finish without anything to look at.

In my opinion, it's more of what a trophy or a European place finishing is more likely to reflect.
A European place, is more likely to reflect that the team is being built up in a progressive manner, compared to a cup win, where it could really be just over those 8 to 10 games (in the case of FA cup, it's 6 games).

I know many would wonder what Moyes could have achieved with some financial backing, but I also think that many also felt that Moyes is first and foremost always playing it down. He is unlikely to make any quantum leap in the way he builds a team.

With Ancelotti, you get the sense that he is more assured, given his experience. Even though he tries to manage the expectation, he speaks with confidence. Underlying it, he has alluded to making concrete progress, whereas Moyes was always having the same rhetoric of "let's get to 40 points and take it from there".

In sum, I am probably with most here, to want to win the FA cup, and then qualify for Europe (UCL if possible).

Man City are the only real team to be concerned about in both Comps, but I didn't suggest winning the Premiership just finishing somewhere on City's coat-tails, would do nicely Sir!

As regards those others over the Park don't even bring them into any discussions. I really do NOT care what they do or don't do, or even might do. This particular attitude suits me very well and allows me to continue to watch, enjoy and even become frustrated by Everton. The RS winning or losing is no more important than Oldham Athletic winning or losing I don't know why I picked Oldham, it could be any team.

Everton where never going to progress being out of Caraobo Cup and the FA Cup early, even if they got a European place. I have often thought the football regime of Everton for years consisted off ; out of Cups by Xmas, Warm weather break, FA Cup weekend break , I nternational do nothing break and mid table mediocrity. Nice, easy and well paid work if you can get it.

I was impressed when Ancelotti stopped the Warm weather break. I personally would have advocated a cold weather break, the colder the better. They deserved that and a kick in the ass.

All that matters is the result.

The Villarreal game is a mental scar; we weren't really ready for Champions League back then and had a bent referee officiating his last match! I think next time we qualify, we want to have enough quality on the pitch, not just scrapping in.

If there were a law of Nature that made winning a cup and finishing in the top-4 mutually exclusive, then there would be a point to the debate. But there isn't, so there isn't.

We need Champions League money for the stadium, Moshiri/FFP and access to more quality players.

I want us to win the cup and finish top 4, I might not get either but by trying to keep winning our next game will give us a chance at least.

To win the cup regular or have that chance you have to be a top 4 side anyway. That is all the evidence suggests.

Arsenal I think are the exception but they had been a champions league side for years. Now they are not and have stopped winning cups.

If our rotation continues to be as good as its been so far, that'll be another advantage we have.

Big Joe's FA Cup is revered to this day as a proud part of our history compared to Moyes's European qualifications which are already a footnote.

Weird logic to consider foregoing a trophy in the belief European qualification will bring you enough dough to win a trophy!!

We need to substantially increase our revenues, we need top level football for Bramley Moore, we need Champions League to keep Digne, Richarlison and DCL, and possibly Godfrey the way he's playing.

Rodriquez has had a huge amount of downtime over his career with Calf problems and I expect we wont see him again for a few weeks.

Not related - but any more news about Gbamin ?, gone off the radar again worryingly !

But, here goes. The traditionalist in me? Trophy all day long. Such a feel good factor, puts you on the map and the road to further success. Everton in the 80s, Man Utd and Chelsea in the 90s, before they won titles or qualified for the Champion's League.

I was ecstatic at Wembley in 1984. I didn't care for much, winning future leagues or playing in Europe but seeing Kevin Ratcliffe lift silverware as Everton captain for the first time in my life is up there with the birth of my son. The rest that followed was a by-product.

But I appreciate the landscape has changed and we have a different manager, who himself has different expectation, so covering all bases, I'll take the following in priority order:

1. Win the FA Cup and qualify for Champions League.
2. Win the FA Cup and qualify for Europa League.
3. Win the FA Cup.
4. Qualify for Europa League.

Either way, European football next season!

Arsenal I think are the exception but they had been a Champions League side for years. Now they are not and have stopped winning cups.

Arsenal are the current FA Cup holders. Just thought I'd let you know!

Trophy all day long! It's been way too long!

Goodison has been Everton's Achilles heel this season, tomorrow is a great chance to start winning against a decent Spurs side.

Yep, like everyone, I'd like to see silverware this season, and European qualification, but there's a long way to go, win tomorrow and the quarterfinals.

Overall, year on year, Everton's in a better position than last season, and there's potential to push on further this season.

Midweek match nights are a welcome break from the lockdown and work. I'm looking forward to the game and a few ales to see Everton through.

For me, I would prefer the Champions League any day of the week over an FA Cup win, if it came down to choice. It takes the club to a new level in terms of revenue and new signings in my humble opinion, It is much more long-term.

The offshoot of getting better players in would be a better chance in the cups anyway!

Champions League automatically puts you in a whole different league for player recruitment. £25M for making the groups, then £2.5M for every win, £1M a draw, on top of increased advertising and ticket sales.

Truly big clubs play in the Champions League and don't settle for the other cup.

I am pleased that Allan is not being rushed back as we have some tough Premier League games coming up. Same starting line-up as against Man Utd then see how it goes.

I actually predicted Spurs to win it at the start of the season, still hope I'm wrong.

I think Carlo is taking it seriously so hopefully a win in normal time and no injuries.

I think Coleman might get a start against Spurs. I also think with all the games coming so thick and fast they should just have penalties after the 90 minutes if it's a draw. We have an important game on Sunday and an additional 30 minutes won't help.

Fingers crossed we get it well done and dusted in normal time.

They are not mutually exclusive. It is possible to get both but on the other hand, it is possible to get neither.

There is a lot more competition at the top of the league now and the FA Cup is no longer seen as a chore by the big boys so we will have to be good and lucky in both quests.

Personally, I am not bothered about top 4 or FA Cup as long as we achieve one of those aims.

The FA Cup would have a nice homecoming (hopefully) and give a boost to the players but a top 4 place would put us back among the elite.

I'm afraid there'll be no James Rodriguez tomorrow from the start; hope he makes the bench at least. I wouldn't exclude Gomes and Sigurdsson from starting together neither.

COYB!!

I dearly hope our trophy-deprived younger fans get to enjoy their own day in the sun.

We (fans) can't go to Wembley so that would be a frustration after the last 12 years and we need to start to obtain regular Champions League football to bring in the players we need to challenge for trophies regularly and sustainably.

Prioritisation of one gives an opportunity for excuses & lack of commitment & I'm fed up with us falling at the final hurdle or limping over the line due to mental weakness.

We need to be that team that goes on an unbeaten run until the end of the season, no excuses, no “if only” BS, out & out focus the players to achieve success.

#35 Bobby, I agree I've thought for a long time the poor kid will never play again in the top flight, the thigh injury was catastrophic & likely lead to associated injuries especially due to the physically explosive requirements of top athletes.

I want us to do the Double. The only thing less that will come close to being acceptable is trying to do it.

Mourinho does not seem to have started his best eleven in previous rounds but has had them on the bench and used them in the last 20 minutes if things aren't going his way.

I would think that as Spurs break with speed that Mr Ancelotti might start with his quickest players in defence so wouldn't be surprised to see Godfrey and Holgate as the central defenders, Digne at left-back and gamble with Coleman or Mina at right-back or, play three at the back and flood midfield although that may depend on James playing. And do we have any other choice than Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison up front?

They were lucky to scrape through the 3rd round. We can win this.

I will go with the following 11 to get the job done:

Pickford
Coleman
Mina
Keane
Digne

Iwobi
Davis
Doucouré

James
Calvert-Lewin
Richarlison

I love the FA Cup and, under normal circumstances, I'd pick it every time, but Everton have been mismanaged and I don't think it's money that's going to be our biggest problem. I'd say FFP looks like it could be our biggest obstacle. So, using that logic, I'm going for the money “just this once”.

Being an Evertonian that grew up in Chorley maybe I'm destined for a year of FA Cup magic.

Wouldn't it be typical if Everton were to win it in a year when the fans couldn't go to Wembley though.

We aspire to be amongst the teams that challenge for "The Treble" i.e. The Premier League Title, the FA Cup and the Champions League Title.

If that is truly the level of our ultimate ambition, then, along the way, I think it reasonable for us to aspire to win the FA Cup and finish in the automatic UCL qualification places in the league.

So, that's what's on my wish list for this season.

As for your lower targets, don't the FA cup winners qualify for the Europa league automatically anymore?

That is off my chest now. So, let's get down to what I wanted to say.
My earliest memory is watching the trains bedecked in Bue and white coming past our house after the 66 final. What seemed to a 3 year old like thousands of people cheering, and I had no idea why. But I knew it was something special.
Move on to 1995 and I was there. Bang in line with Rideout's header that seemed to stop in the air and go in in slow motion.
I can't remember when finishing 2nd, or even 3rd or 4th at ANYTHING started being more important than the feeling of exhilaration that winning gives you. So for me there is no debate. If we can't win the league (and I live in hope) I'll take 2nd prize. And that has always been winning the FA cup.

Sadly these days the European competitions, particularly the Champs league epitomises in more ways than one how the ethos of the game has deteriorated with the influx of the big money and cliqueism.

I appreciate the need in the modern day and age to generate huge revenues to keep afloat and attract top players, and Europe is the real banker for this. Unless Everton are involved (like, rarely) I cannot get emotionally involved in European competition really, and will watch if I think a good game may be expected.

So for me, if I had to choose, and leaving money out of the argument, it would be the FA cup every time, with as good a league position as we can possibly achieve - but Europe in itself does not bother me.

'Let's not leave it so long until the next trophy!'

That worked out well!

Great day when Amo scored those 2 at the end v Spurs. I also remember some panel show with Uncle Bill on it midweek before the final, and everyone on there wanting us to beat Utd. God the 90's was f***ing great.

As an aside and on the subject of a cup win or top 4 - I'd take top 4 these days. Getting into the CL is a golden ticket (potentially) whereas a cup win is a day out and a place in the EL. Modern football is geared towards the CL so that would serve us better as a club, in my view. Cup wins to follow would be ideal.

Sadly as we don't live in an ideal world and we all support Everton, we'll probably get knocked out tonight and finish 5th.

I am looking forward to the game tonight and it will be interesting to see which teams each manager chooses for tonights game. I am hoping that Spurs rest Harry Kane because for me they are a completely different side when he plays. I think he is by far the best Centre Forward in the Prem given Aguerro has hardly played this season. Kane not only scores a lot of goals but he is up amongst the top of the assists list which is most unusual for a top striker. Son seems a far better player when Kane is in the team, and both link up very well. I think Richarlison is desperate to score and striker live or die by the goals they score, they can put in a shift and do a lot of good things but they will always be judged on their goal returns. With City and the other lot coming up next week we will need our strikers to be in top form and what better way than by scoring tonight.

As a team we have a level of inconsistency which is frightening. If only we could address this and the unforced errors

From the comments made by King I sense that Carlo actually thinks CL is possible (which it is) although he is reluctant to say so in public.

CL is priority for me: we would attract better players.

Yes, FA Cup winners do; so 3 is win the FA Cup (& qualify for Europa League). 4 is via 5th or 6th place.

You have a very keen eye. I hope you never mark my homework!

I too think James should play. If anything, this is the type of game he will thrive in.

Teams are more than likely to give the benchwarmers a run out as the league positions become more important and regulars will be given a rest or at least only used as subs.

Burnley is a prime example yesterday leaving both their centre backs out against Bournemouth.

I suspect Carlo is thinking that way now that Everton have a real chance of getting into the top four, so the next league game is uppermost in his mind.

Still, it's a game both teams would like to win no matter what starting elevens are picked. C.O.Y.B.

The so called Sky 6 have won it every year bar 3 since the Premier League came into being and one of those 3 was Everton, a big name in English football.

I too hope that's an oversight Dave and not insider knowledge by Lyndon.

Olsen
Coleman
Mina
Keane
Godfrey
Sigurdsson
Davies
Gomes
Digne
Doucoure DCL

Subs: Pickford, Virginia, Holgate, Nkonkou, Small, Bernard, Besic, Richarlison, M. Mouse.

I presume James and Allan are unavailable.

Some strange first scorer odds on offer. Kane, DCL and Son around only 7/2. Then 4 Spurs players on 9/2 before James at 13/2. The bookies can't split the winner. Tense night coming up

Should therefore be very cagey and the first goal may decide it. Really wouldn't be surprised if it ended with penalties.

It would be a very big deal to win a cup.

I remember him when I was a kid.
His obituary on the BBC website is worth a read.

He seems to have been very grounded and down-to-earth.

Not like some of the “big time Charlies” around the game now.

Best wishes to his family.

After the game was manic, milk crates being thrown at each other in the Streets, and one of the Wigan pubs being totally trashed by Evertonians, Bluetoes or something like that.

I totally understand the arguments for a top 4 finish and agree it could potentially be more beneficial to the club in the long run but I was a young boy when we last won a cup and my memories are foggy at best. It would be nice to be able to celebrate something proper - which in my darkest moments I worry may never happen again.

Ultimately, when I go to sleep I dream of us winning titles - not finishing top 4!

Anyway - fuck it. Let's do both.

Tough one to call all around. I would like to see us go at them full pelt from the off, get an early goal and go ahead and win the game 2/3 nil. Something we haven't done in a long time. However it's obviously not as easy at that. Richarlison and Iwobi, who I'm assuming will start, will be the difference makers tonight. They need to get hold of the ball, run, and whip crosses in. However this will only work if players flood the box such as DCL, Sigurdsson etc.

I don't even know how to call it, every time I'm optimistic we get beat, everytime I'm pessimistic we win. I am going to try and change that tonight by being optimistic and saying a 2-0 win for the blues, however my pessimism is now getting ahold of me and yelling, ‘what the hell have you done!!!'. COYB.

We have to be at this tonight from the off, there's no need to be timid. When we show courage and desire for it we are a match for better sides than Tottenham. After many years of doubting I am starting to believe again too. We have some very good players, some improving, battlers and some flair. I want to see Richarlison back to his best tonight, it could make all the difference.

Olsen
Holgate Keane Godfrey Digne
Doucoure Davies Gomes
Iwobi DCL Richarlison

Sigurdsson on for the last 30 mins.

On the goalkeeping memories, Gordon West was the keeper when I started watching, but I had a soft spot for Andy Rankin because of a picture in a football annual showing him caked in mud in a way that doesn't happen on modern pitches.

I also remember one of the next 'reserve keepers' Andrew Brand. I later saw him playing for Crewe at Bradford (we'd moved to Yorkshire in 1967).

I met him a couple of years ago as a family friend works with him for the Cheshire police, where he has been more successful than as a footballer.

They are also a very physical team so we must be well prepared.

They have a couple of key midfielders missing so hopefully we can take control.

All games in the Cup are going to be difficult if we progress.

Ridiculous. Fantasy. Pure piffle, as you lot would say.

Even that wouldn't make EVERYBODY here happy. We could win every game and there would still be folks here criticizing our style or Carlo's lineup... or complaining that we don't get stuck in enough.

Hopefully this is our year; if not, then next or maybe the next... Slowly we are on an upward trajectory; lots of bumps in the road.

It was a brilliant day when we beat them 4-1 in the semi. I've seen all our successes since ‘63 but, at Elland Road that day, I shed a tear.

Me too, mate. What a day at that game. Media expected a Spurs - Man Utd final. Our boys upset them big time.

The biggest thing in our favour that day was not the players, management or tactics – it was simply that we had 3 sides of the ground PLUS a load in their one side.