Everton vs Manchester City, FA Cup Quarter-Final

We're all behind you, son

Coleman Mina Keane Godfrey Digne
Davies Holgate Allan
Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Legs, bite, quality... Leaves us something on the bench in Sigurdsson and Iwobi too.

Delighted to see Gbamin back in full training today, I hope he can finally get a chance to establish himself here, and give us the extra bite we're lacking in midfield, he would be like a new signing.

Let's hope that he is allowed to settle and focus early in the game, before he is really "tested".

If he can settle himself and feel he has "the right to be there", things will be less difficult for him.

Prediction:

Everton 1 Man City 0

Joao Virginia MotM

Funnily enough, I seem to remember a game between us and Man City a few years back, when they kicked off, attacking the Park End. They kept possession for what seemed like an eternity but didn't seem to get out their own half. Was amazing to watch.

Whatever the result we are with you. COYB

I do hope that Ancellotti will not set up with protection of Virginia as his paramount objective. Hoping he will show some ambition. What have we got to lose?

Hopefully, Pep will do the same tomorrow and rest his best 30 or 40 players.

Utter bollocks.

Best of luck to all the players tomorrow and especially that young goalkeeper, he’ll of a job for him coming into a game like that, the very best of opposition, but one you can savour and hopefully look back on with great memories of the match, and memories that we can all back on and boast about.

I hope Everton get stuck in and get them on the back foot and hope there’s been some focus on dead balls, and our crossing -to the kill zones, in the box.

John Stones is rejuvenated but I still see him and their back four as their weakness, if they get hassled and can be mad3 to face their goal keeper.

I’m looking forward to the match and Everton can pull off a shock result, if they believe they can.

Hope eternal.

We did it in the league game against them, until a wonder goal put them back in the lead.

We cannot sit back, give them space or play the ball backwards, have a go and get the ball to the front two as quickly as possible.

Good luck tomorrow Joao.

I’m sort of siding with Darren. For sure they rested their big two Rooney and Ronaldo along with Van der Saar but it was still a strong side and they were all first team players including Vidic, Ferdinand and Tevez.
We played well that day and deserved our shoot out win.

I’ll always remember watching the game in Benidorm were I was the only Evertonian in a pub of about 50 Mancs. Had to go out and celebrate in the car park.

I like it too, borne out of Doucoure being injured. Dave, I’d go with Godfrey too. We all know it won’t happen, but Carlo has got to try something different with the midfield set up.

Rooney and a struggling Ronaldo didnt play, but even though I had plenty to drink and it was 12 years ago. I distinctly remember players like Tevez, Vidic, Ferdinand, Anderson, Scholes, Berbatov all playing for Man U that day. Some D Team.

Despite being ravaged by injuries of our own It was one of the very few great days we have had in the past 25 years..
How predictable, that one of the self proclaimed positives should try to denigrate it.

Said a many times before. We must have the most negative self proclaimed positives in world football.

I didn't realized that statement would be controversial. My reaction at the time was "Fergie is tossing Moyes a bone." Everyone I talked to at that time was of the same mindset. Years later AFTER the likes of Wellbeck and Silva developed into Utd regulars maybe the team seems stronger than it was. But I thought then and I still think now it was a weak team that we should have smashed.

Paul @27 paragraph 3, correct.

I would bypass midfield tomorrow, knock it long into the channels and let Dom battle for it.
Richy needs to stay in and around him or his flicks and knock ons are wasted.
DCL needs to put himself up against Stones tomorrow, this Dias is a top, top centre half. Closest I have seen to Vidic.
Positivity lads.

You should have stopped at 'tomorrow'.

Seriously though, what is it with these injuries? Olsen, who unfortunately suffered a similar off-field violent assault burglary as did Carlo, but hasn't as far as I know played since, yet he has been unavailable after the incident.

Let's hope that emergency measures in several areas galvanise the team spirit and players against the best team in the Country, if not the World!

For me, the back 4 is Coleman Keane Holgate and Godfrey. These 4 protected by Davies Allan and Digne. Then play Sigurdsson in the #10 position, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin up front. Then it will be a case of all 11 playing outside their skins. Fingers crossed. COYB.

Remember when we played City the week after Wigan knocked us out of the Cup?

We had to play a back up keeper that day and he was brilliant in our 2-0 win.

That score is 50/1 on Sky Bet, btw.

He has had 3 or 4 years, and in that time he has shrunk the squad to the point where one or 2 injuries results in a crisis. To a point where we only have 3 or 4 subs per game (Carlo is not going to play the rest). To a point where the wage bill has grown exponentially whilst the squad has got smaller and smaller.

We have had 1 recognised striker for half the year. We have 4 central midfielders for a team that plays with 3 central midfielders (Delph and Gbamin can't count). We have one recognised right back and one recognised left-back. (Nkounkou obviously isn't trusted and Holgate is makeshift.) We have potentially the worst crosser of a ball by a wide player in Europe (Iwobi) who somehow cost us upwards of £30M.

I could go on, but instead we go into a quarter-final with squad that barely has enough subs to fill the bench.

This is a man who's main responsibility is recruitment.

Bet it's still Kenwright's fault to some though!!!

Use the anti of City, shitbagging out of the post Chrimbo game, creating uproar, and showing at the crunch hour, they didn’t have the gonads to be up front with Everton.

That mystery is still unanswered today and miraculously 3 days later, City, were all back in training, and since that day, their record is what it, is, very good.

It’s a one off but Everton, can win, Dirty Dozen, no surrender and basically piss them off on the park.

Fekkn hope so.. A good Trevor Ross sly late one, or Tony, special,, and a few Physco Pat, full blooded tackles can get City unstable, but it must be done early doors.

Wind up their back four, get Walker, if he plays, etc wound up, and on a yellow early and they could disintegrate, as they proved early doors, this season.

Tom Davies and if he plays Allan, will have to work and move the space more than they’ll do in two normal games, but if the team is synced in, then a team effort and focus on the pitch can sort this situation.

Mentality tomorrow, will win the day, but play the right mind game and don’t let City stroll round.

Smash them, it can be done.

No surrender, face the game and give their all,is what we can ask for, from the players and Evertonians, tomorrow night.

I’m for winning the game by any tactic, shit trick, but tomorrow, Everton, need to repay City, with a few of their own, and get over the line, and win this game.

It’s a big ask, but not impossible.

We have nothing to lose tomorrow. Let's just get at them from the off and see what we can achieve. As others above have said, it could just be Joao's big day.

We've secured some of Carlo's preferences on decent terms and have made Everton look like a place where a talented player could increase his value and perhaps get a chance at silverware. Wait until after the transfer market thaws to judge what he can do with Carlo at the helm.

We have now gone out to 10/1 to win the game. I turned a £5 free bet from Paddy Power into £540 over the last few days... including an 80/1. So a 10/1 shot is nothing.

I've got £20 on the Mighty Blues (royal).

We took a £25M hit on Schneiderlin, we got a couple of mil for Dowell. Other than Gueye, who we didn't really want to sell, the other 3 major departures have been promising youngsters. Brands has done nothing to shift the deadwood other than wait for contracts to expire.

On any given day, Man City will dominate the ball and probably win given the form they are in. They may rest one or two which probably won't help us but, if Everton can come up big defensively, then they may just be able to take it to penalties.
COYB.

It's a slow build recovery plan at Everton, and taking in COVID19, and the impact to man kind, and football.

Everton, are progressing as a club on and off the park, and the old sagas of patience, and more come into it.

Everton are progressing, but in view of players' availability for the game, tomorrow, it would be tough on any club, in view of key squad players missing.

Lessons learnt by the Everton, board, let's hope so, but the game's not started, and it's not over before the ball is kicked.

Hope eternal. “What's Our Name?”

All have a good weekend, and in line of our own much-revered Poet Laureate George, seismic grooves and waves get into the ground tomorrow and make it a game too far for City.

Let's believe. UTFT!

He has played in 18 games out of 28, including 6 completed games while he has completed well over 60 / 75 minutes in a further 10 games!

Granted, we could maybe do with him being on the pitch a bit longer, but he's hardly always injured.

Coyb this time!

Virginia
Holgate Keane Mina Godfrey
Coleman Allan Davies Digne
Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

They will probably rest a few. You just never know. If we can get stuck in and play like the away team, it might suit us.

It's a bit like that cup tie against Chelsea a few years ago where Lukaku scored twice. We need a hero. It would be great if Richarlison or Calvert-Lewin could step up and cause them problems. If we fall behind, we can always bring on Sigurdsson, King or Iwobi and try to take the game to them.

Let's hope they have an off day and a few of our boys have the game of their lives. I'm gonna say 1-0 to the Blues!

King is cup-tied.

It's 11 v 11 in a cup game. Show some passion, play to our strengths, get the ball up early to Calvert-Lewin and let Richarleson scrap for the 2nd ball. I would quite happily bypass midfield tomorrow.

I can't see Virginia passing in triangles in our 18-yard box so maybe an old-school cut and thrust direct effort is called for. We won't be able to out football City but we can show desire and leave it all out on the pitch.

Coyb.

Good luck, lad, be strong – all Evertonians are with you!

Everton will have a defensive formation and will not be relying on open style play.

Virginia
Keane Mina Godfrey
Coleman Davies Allan Digne
Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

It would take a massive swing in form for us to come out on top. We need to be faultless and they need to misfire. I think it would be a 14-man, 90 minutes plus performance so I'm not too bothered about exactly who starts. I guess less likely things have happened so I'll keep everything crossed but it's definitely loads more hope than expectation.

Wouldn't it be fantastic for Jean-Philippe to start the next phase of his come-back at an exhilarated Finch Farm! COYB!

Hopefully Pep will think we are down to basics with team selection and field a few peripheral players. However, I know they are desperate to achieve the 4 Trophies in one Season, which has never been done, so I can't see them taking their foot off the gas too much.

COYB

I would go with Keith's team with Sigurdsson playing at the tip of the diamond – Godfrey protecting the back 4 of Coleman, Mina, Keane and Digne. Davies and Allan to help us prevent getting overrun in midfield. Coleman and Digne providing us width and hopefully getting some killer crosses in for Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to attack. Richarlison needs to shake off his indifferent attitude, and this is the game to show that he is among the game's elite players.

I did not realise that King was ineligible to play (cup-tied).

My starting XI and bench:

Virginia
Coleman Mina Keane Digne
Davies Godfrey Allan
Calvert-Lewin Sigurdsson Richarlison

Subs: Tyrer, Holgate, Nkounkou, Gomes, Iwobi, Bernard, the kids...

If every one of our players plays the game of their lives, we can win this one. Looking forward to it!

I'd go with that team... but nobody up to now has been able to correctly guess Ancelotti's starting 11.

I've just been sent an interesting text... We have only had the following players available in same match day squad on 6 occasions this season:

James
Digne
Richarlison
Doucouré
Calvert-Lewin
Allan

Results in them 6 games? 5 wins & 1 draw

Fucking laughable that we paid for this waste of space.

As for Gbamin, only time will tell with him. Then we have our 3rd-choice goalie getting a game... can't be any worse than the other two in my book. Onwards and upwards, I say.

Can we win this game? Of course we can. Just depends on the tactics the Italian comes up with for this game. Apparently he's won heaps of trophies in his career... can his magic work with us? Let's see. NSNO.

You are right.

It has been Brands remit to reduce the wages bill and attempt to offload players before buying in players usually late in the Summer Transfer window, with a cash injection from Moshiri. Last year was the first year Kenwright didn't jump on the late Summer bandwagon, though he was apparently involved in the King transfer. The January transfer window is exclusively a attempt to offload, but like the Summer usually results in mostly loans out.

So its a case of running down contracts. It will be interesting to see what happens with Sigurdsson, and the media push for a extention. I am disappointed in progress on the youth development side. There appears to be no progress for youth after the miserable Carabo Cup exit and any chance in the FA Cup is going unless Joao shines.

We will see if Brands is really worth his salt this Summer and will he be worth the new contract he may sign. The truth is he has not done what it said on the tin he would do. Have never liked his Board role or his light feather approach to Unsworth or the Baines role.

I would pack the midfield and compete there, to try and stop them playing through us in the middle. Man City are a flick here and a through-ball there, we need to stifle their play, and counter-attack.

I hope for a win, but don't want a thrashing that would knock our confidence.

I know I’m old fashioned, but there’s only ever been one cup for me. Football has changed, but if we can roll up our sleeves and scrap, scratch and fight, then households all over the world will hopefully be singing our special FA Cup song tonight🤞

Thomas @50, I’ve seen it before mate, but it’s brilliant that mate👍

I find myself saying a similar thing every time I watch it.

"Fuck you. Fuck the lot of you. We're Everton!"

More likely the reason is his missus has got him hen-pecked and he's got to do some DIY around the house, or she's got control of the telly remote as she's sick of watching footie! Come on Colin, own up!

Well said, Thomas!

Virginia
Keane Mina Godfrey
Iwobi Allan Davies Gomes Digne
Richarlison Calvert-Lewin

I wouldn't try and second guess what team Carlo will select, but I would start King, Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison up front. I think King deserves a start and seeing how poor Iwobi and Bernard have been when selected; we have nothing to lose. I am sure King would have expected more minutes than he has had... and even more so when you look at our results since he joined.

Not many expect us to win today; this season, that's when we have been at our best, when expectation has been low. It's when we have thought 3 points are in the bag that we have come unstuck. But to win, we will need to take every half-chance we get.

We know they will dominate possession so every dead-ball situation in their half will be important. Whatever team Guardiola picks, it will be very strong their first-team squad is miles better than the rest of the Premier League, so just make sure everyone gives 100% and then, whatever the result, you will have done your best.

Hardly surprising given that it must be over 40 odd years ago that he played but he did have a thunderous shot which makes you wonder what he would do with the balloons they play with today.

I’ll always Lorimer scored a goal of the month Volley in the 70s , it was one of the best connected and well hit shots of that era. I think it was timed with the old technology in the 70s and officially declared a rocket shot. I remember playing headers and volleys in the park aged about 12 and trying to recreate it. Leeds fans will be gutted today.

RIP to a great player, Peter Lorimer.

Today's game will be the 95th game in all competitions, of which we have won 47, city 22 and 45 draws. So we have won exactly 50% of all games played between us and city at Goodison, so let's hope we can keep that above 50% today.

Also, should we win today, it will be our 150th FA Cup victory at Goodison.

COYB!!

I can't stand City and the 'preview' by that beaut Chicoazul over on GOT is very nauseating with endless arse-kissing of them, made me sick. I wouldn't mind but anyone whose ever visited their site 'Bluemoon' knows they absolutely hate us.

There's been far bigger shocks in FA Cup history than us beating this City side but I really can't see it. Carlo is really going come up with something special for us to reach the semis.

Last time we played the third choice goalie, he got sent off soon after kick-off, and on came the fourth choice in John Ruddy. For the rest of the game against Blackburn, Ruddy didn't have even a half decent shot to save and that was because creative players like Arteta, Cahill and Ossie played like the Dogs of War, everyone tackling like Tony Kay to protect the new lad in goal, a bit of that today could help.

We played Man City in the Quarter-finalss in '66 with 0-0 at City 0-0 at Goodison and we were getting slaughtered in the second replay at Wolves in the first half-hour then two quick goals by Fred and Derek Temple and we were in the semis. So 0-0 today, penalties and a star is born.
COYB

Must be in a pessimistic mood today as I have a bad feeling about today’s game. COYB! Prove me doubts a false negative.

Sad news about Lorimer RIP.

Still got mixed feelings about today, think we will not disgrace ourselves, but a lot depends on which team Pep puts out, and how much they want it!

Those numbers are all over the shop. 47 + 22 + 45 = 114.

Guessing here but should it perhaps be 25 draws? That’d make today the 95th match-up at least.

I'll open the Live Forum too so all that positive energy and voracious encouragement for which it is rightly renowned can be voiced in the direction of Goodison Park in advance of The Big Match!!!

Sorry Rob, couldn't resist.

Agree 100%

I'm afraid our chances seem remote today. I hope my negativity is misguided. COYB. A minor miracle please.

The last thing City want is a real battle. Lets give them one. There is every chance that we can make those cheeky bastard bookies rue the fact that they offered 9/1 against us

Sure they are strong favorites, but its been proven that they are beatable.

Look. All I want is for our boys to leave everything on the pitch. I want them to let these City players know that this will be one hell of a struggle. Put doubts in their minds. find chinks in their armour. If 1-2 of them don't fancy the struggle lets find out who they are.

Fight, fight, fight with all our might

And no pusillanimous piffle either.

Only one way we can win this and you have just written it.

As many of us would attest, TW almost always contributes towards one's continuing education.

By way of an example, until a couple of years ago, I never knew so many varieties of fish existed.

I would go with Mina, Godfrey and Kean at the back, Coleman and Digne as wingbacks, Allan and Davies in the middle, Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison in attack, then the hard part selecting the number ten, Siggy seems to play better coming off the bench, Bernard likewise, so I would start with one of them, then switch, when the other is blowing out of his backside.

Ah, like the old time Music Hall. You must miss being on the boards!