Brighton & Hove Albion vs Everton

Hopefully JPG will be able to start, in what I also envisage to be a difficult, but winnable game. I say winnable providing we take our 'A' away game to them, I think their own home form has been disappointing, as with many Clubs devoid of fans, so let's start putting a real good run together and see the season out with a flourish.

We could try Godfrey. I reckon he would do a job and perhaps he could get a goal in.

I agree and was thinking the same thing. Probably more likely to have Allan, Davies and Siggy on from the start with JPG on the bench. Hoping he (JPG) will get more minutes in this one but not if it means he is being rushed, rather take it easy with him until sure of his fitness.

But, this season he has really, really frustrated me. Two of his passes against Palace had me screaming aloud!! Not in a good way.

I'm actually glad he's not playing on Monday. Obviously I wish him well with his injury but his form just isn't good enough.

This is a must win game, and needs a good engine room, in midfield. Let's hope there's a positive reaction on Monday night at Brighton.

Yes, very frustrating that we have frittered away so many winnable games. It seems ridiculous to say that we would probably be challenging City if we had won those games. The losses against Newcastle, Burnley, Fulham, Leeds and West Ham account for 18points!!!! I know all teams in the top half can make similar claims though. All we can do is stay positive and just hope they get the home form sorted immediately.

If Doucoure was fit I'd like to see a 3 of Allan, Davies, Doucoure.

In his absence

A back 3 with 2 full backs, Allan and Davies with Rodriguez ahead of them. And a front 2.

Even Davies has had his niggles and missed games. The fixture piles ups obviously don't help but every one of our midfielders has missed a run of games at some point in the season.

A lot of players are slow but Andres is not only slow but his passing is often poor and he's very negative preferring to pass sideways or backwards.

Sorry Andres but you'll have to find another club but, I still prefer you to Iwobi.

Everything went through him, players looked to him first and he did well. I just thought that he needed better players around him than what we had.

Fast forward 18 months and he is a shadow of the same player. He has never been quick but he looks like he is running in diving boots. I still think that he is a decent footballer but the prem is too quick for him.

It's got to be mentality when a player signs on loan, looks fantastic then looks average when fully signed on.

Davies, Allan and Gbamin or Siggurdsson on Monday night. Rodriguez subbed around 65 mins.

I reckon Sigurdsson will get a new contract. Bernard, Tosun, Walcott, Bolase, kenny, kean and Besic will move on.

If Moshiri is serious about making us challengers he has to bankroll Ancelotti in the summer. Otherwise we may as well have a Moyes or Dyche type in charge.

I would like a new right back, 2 wide midfielders and central midfielder all with pace. So 4 first team ready players anything more is a bonus.

Maybe he looks slower as he isn't playing the holding midfielder role?

Until we find a durable midfielder that can find the through pass he is needed in the squad. He may not be your preferred choice but we do actually need him until the transfer market thaws out and that doesn't look to happen anytime soon.

Gets caught too often on the ball and cant tackle meaning he cant play DM.

Cant score goals, lacks pace and is not box to box.

Decent passer of the ball but too inconsistent.

Conclusion not good enough for top Premiership clubs.

Lol about once a month someone on here reminds me Delph exists

That said, he's clever. He instinctively disrupts opponents with the sly obstructions and "accidental" knocks that are so much a part of the defensive midfield armoury, he can certainly play a fabulous forward pass when the opportunity (alas rarely) arises, but he could certainly do with taking responsibility for shooting from outside the box. He has/had a powerful shot after all.

Be that as it may though, we were the wealthiest club interested in signing him and he, like too many others at USMFF unfortunately, probably recognise/d us as the pinnacle payers in terms of his contract - unless of course he now has it in himself at 27 years-old to at last come to be the sort of top-dog player we and Barca thought we saw in him.

"By George he's got it,. By George he's got it."

"Now once more where does it rain ?"

Took an eternity for the penny to drop, but even TW's resident Eliza Doolittle has finally worked that our midfielders offer next to nothing going forward.
Hope it doesnt take another 15 months for him to work out how hard it is to score from your own half.

Now come on Kieran. one more time.

"The rain in Spain falls mainly in the plain"

Again

Expect a usual counter-attacking masterclass at Brighton. I am just glad we are away and won't be expected to blow them away with possession footy.
A clean sheet and a 1-0 win and Don Carlo will be looking good once more for his goal of seventh.

I'm not a massive fan of Gomes - I think he's too slow and plays a continental style, which doesn't work in the Prem. But one thing I will say for him is that he never goes missing. He just needs more aggression on and off the ball for me. More shots, more forward passes. He's not going to change now. But our alternatives are generally equally as bad, or worse. The quicker we can get Allan and Doucoure back on the same pitch, the better.

I do, however, strongly expect him to be at Everton next season on the basis that he will be on no other club's wish list.

He was never going to be a player to build Everton's midfield around, as some seem to be disappointed that he isn't, or get goal's. His pace has increased this season he is rarely pressurised or caught in possession.

For me the disappointing part of his play is the lack of a final third pass or through ball. His role seems to be more a midfield holding player with a emphasis on ball recovery and pass to set up a playmaker. A playmaker is rare in the final third in the Everton squad. Everton still have a low pass completion rate in the final third.

Both Gomes and Soggy have improved under Ancelotti. The targets set for them are to under achieve on expectations , which seems to work IMO.

More importantly we have Allan fit, him and Tom Davies means we have an engine room again in midfield. This is essential to our play with Doucoure out. ( Only Ancelotti will know whether to gamble on Gbamin , but I can't see him starting).

What's the team for Brighton, has anyone called it right yet this season? 4231

Pickford
Holgate Kean Mina Godfrey
Allan, Davies
Rodriguez Sigurdsson Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

Just thinking about the situation. I have been a staunch supporter of Carlo and often approach each game through the prism of Carlo's in charge and not team form. Basically my expectations of performances are greater due to his CV, but if I'm honest, performances have been mediocre, especially of late and we will probably struggle against a well organised and quick team like Brighton.

Also , Godfrey's defensive attributes will give Richarlison a bit more freedom in his attacking sorties from the left.

Digne is one of my favourite players and is a class act when in form so it would be just a break for him to regroup and return stronger.

Ideally though, we could do with his huge wages off the books to make way for better quality... but that just ain't going to happen. When, as a club, you hand out huge contracts, you're just going to be stuck with them as that said player is not gonna go elsewhere for massively reduced wages. The disastrous player recruitment, which started with Koeman and Walsh, continued with Allardyce and didn't get much better with Silva, has and will take some rectifying.

We're stuck with players like Delph, Iwobi, Siggy, Bernard, Gomes etc. Not all of those players are bad, but we need better and we need to free up space on the wage bill. To think we paid the best part of £100 million on Siggy, Iwobi and Gomes, on transfer fee's alone, is mind boggling.

Let's play Football manager: out of our current squad what would be your best XI. Mine would be: Picks, Coleman, Godfrey, Mina. Digne, Davies, Allen, Doucouré, James, DCL, Richie.

The problem is that they have never played together, the nearest was at the start of the season with Keane & Gomes in place of Godfrey & Davies, and we were top of the league.

Onto Gomes; his Everton career has a depressingly similar trajectory as Schneiderlin -at first viewing looked like a Rolls Royce only to discover it's a cut-and-shut.

For all his undoubted ability and in particular his passing range his tendency when receiving the ball from the back is to give it straight back without looking up to see what's on, he's one of the most frustrating footballers I've ever seen in blue shirt

1. There have only been 6 games this season where Digne, Allan, Richarlison, James, Doucoure and DCL have played together. We have won 5 and drawn 1 of them.

2. Liverpool have the worst injury record this season, Everton are second.

For a club with no squad whatsoever, we have struggled a lot with injuries.

We need three points from this one...badly.

Tactically we achieve the most when we play 4 centre backs and hope to hit teams on the break, not great to watch. When we play attacking against the so called lesser teams then we soon get found out. Two full backs pushing on leave acres of space behind us, we soon pay the price.

Let's hope Carlo has a tactical plan to address these issues, it'll take some remedial work, we live in hope though

Well played Leeds,winning against the soon to be Champions...it can be done folks!.

Just win on Monday night Blues...no fucking excuses.

Although other areas of the team can be improved upon, it's the midfield that is key. With more energy and pace, we'd score more goals and with more ball retention, we'd assist the defence.

Allan and Doucoure were only the first part of the engine service. Oh for a few Maddisons, Tielemans, Ward Prowses. We'd be a dynamic team and far more effective and entertaining to boot.

Wouldn't cost the earth neither!.

Firstly, that was quite an amusing post. Congrats you made me chuckle.

Sadly, it was factually flawed. I expressed concerns about lack of productivity on these hallowed pages when we were first linked with Gomez and Bernard, again with Gbamin and again last summer with Allan and Duke. So it's been several years now that I've been talking about our midfield deficiencies. Now to your second point about how long it will take me to realize Carlo's tactics are flawed. I'd say that day will never come while he's hamstrung with these midfielders. If we change things up and bring in pace and creativity, but continue to play in the same way then yes I'll have concerns. Unless of course we are successful in which case the ends justify the means. If Carlo wins the league with 5 percent possession, time wasting and a succession of freak opposition own goals, I'll be quite content.

He was slow to the point of running in through a bog in every match, since that game,and did make a miraculous recovery from a horrific injury.

Of late he's improved to a degree and has shown more in the last 3 months than the last 2. 5 years. But a decent stop or pass which should be routine can't be lauded as exceptional and getting better. It's the basic normal of routine play in this EPL.

Gomes had a high expectation but maintaining the EPL, midfield benchmark of consistency requires guts and dedication. For me he's not good enough, he's a footballer, but would excel in the Vets Leagues across Europe.

Put these factors into the mixer and then it could say that Everton have a problem, as not just in the midfield.

Based on the playing style to win games this season the midfield is being compensated in many games by the wing backs or playing with four at the back to compensate for the lack of pace. Match for match we've never had a settled midfield picking itself, available due to mainly injuries.

I'd like to see the stats on the EPL team, that has made the most back passes and sideways and reverse back passes, this season.

I love Everton FC to bits, but the dynamics of us being consistent in the EPL, is the same as shooting pheasants etc with a shot gun or a pump action air gun...
Everton as it stands aren't potent and deadly and like v a Palace, on Monday night, the good chances we had cane bar a couple from the oppositions poor passing.

The skill, the player dynamics and chemistry come into it, but this season has hopefully proved the lack of squad strength in depth, impotence in the team in terms of goal attempts and goals scored, and perhaps belief, as we rarely shoot outside the box ( this is an issue going back years)

The positive is Everton have scored the most headers, this season, but no where near enough to compensate for the goals shortage.

Hence starting at Brighton, a winning finish and must wins in our remaining games, v Spurs, West Ham, Arsenal, Villa and potentially City, and plenty more, I'd say to be safe of a place Everton need 8/9, wins from the games left.

This will be a massive achievement, but who knows.

But to win the next match, will be some solace.

Probably.
They only had 30 shots at goal in the 90 minutes

Matthew #60. I am with you on Cantwell. I think he would be a great signing for us.

Stat 2. Tells me we need to recruit fitter, more durable players this summer. More dynamic young Godfrey types and fewer Allan and James types. Real pace in wide areas would make a big difference.

Next Monday,Everton, will get the win, Brighton, which is needed for Evertonians, hopes to sustain this season.
UTFT!

As for Leeds outplaying city, I don't think so. City had around 30 attempts on goal, Leeds had 2 attempts on goal and both went in. Leeds definitely parked the bus in the second half, hanging on like grim death to their lead. They certainly weren't going to attack while they were a man down but a goal up. They couldn't believe their luck when they scored the winner.

Let's cull the deadwood this summer, the money we save, we can re-invest in Ancelotti's chosen players. Then he can build his team, and move on the inherited misfits.

If we are having new ground, let's put a relatively new squad of players on it, to drive the owners and managers ambitions.

I like Tom but he's too small, slow and weak for that central MF position.

Juventus are having a major fire sale this summer so players like Rabiot, McKennie, Alex Sandro etc... might be available on the cheap. These are the type of players we need to be buying not shite like Iwobi.

I like Tom but he's too small, slow and weak for that central MF position.

Juventus are having a major fire sale this summer so players like Rabiot, McKennie, Alex Sandro etc... might be available on the cheap. These are the type of players we need to be buying not shite like Iwobi.

1. Unsurprisingly, there aren't a lot of enthusiastic takers for players we think are crap. Especially given how well we pay our crap.

2. We have such a light squad already, the more we sell the more we have to buy. That stretches an already limited budget.

I expect Bernard, Tosun, Kean and Kenny to go (along with those out of contract). Some of those may be loans rather than sales, too. But it's very likely Holgate, Davies, Iwobi, Gomes and Sigurdsson will stay. Of all of those, I think Holgate is the likeliest departure because someone might offer about £20m.

If we buy some dynamic attacking players then Davies (who I rate) Sigurdsson (who is still v productive in his specialist position) and even Gomes might look better, too.

It was probably his agent or Mourinho, trying to upset the apple cart, it does happen, and there is no vetting process for becoming a TW Members or subscriber. Most of us 'know each other' as we have been on, and loyal to the cause for yonks, or since Donnelly Docked.

You are right though, some just appear from apparently nowhere, spout their piece and then seemingly disappear, after certain events or a player has left. Of course too, there are many who just 'read' but don't actually post any comments of their own.

Unintentionally, but as in University Challenge, 'I've started so I'll finish' in Liverpool there are many references to 'Donnelly' in one form or another. So here's the question, to which I do know the answer. No clues Billy, this is not 'Hold yer Plums'.

What was, or is, or where is Donnelly, did it ever exist, or is it folklore? That should get the grey cells working on a Sunday Morning. By the way there no prizes for this one. No Googling either! Okay then, a pint for the correct answer at the next TW Get Together from me! Only one winner by the way!

We should model the team on Godfrey and Holgate at centre back instead of getting rid of him.

Thats my point Everton did lie down and allowed City to do what they liked. Leeds did outplay them by making them play to suit their defensive set up and Leeds forwards where technically better than City's forwards, because they where more tactically aware.

City are not a World Class team and playing against a technical and tactical competent team would get beat. If they got the right amount of red cards for the professional fouls they make they would be worse.

I expect Everton in defensive mode again. . Hopefully Keane has been coached to cover the right back when he is forward and our forwards are lucky enough to kick the ball in the right direction, having made the effort to get into the proper position to receive it. I would like to see more runs to break the defensive line , rather than play in front of it , which they are not good at.

As many of you know, I am originally from Scotland, but have lived in or around Liverpool since the 60's, local history and History in general has always fascinated me, but Liverpool is steeped and so rich in history. I used to go to evening classes at Calderstones (Quarry Bank) may moons ago and enrolled for many classes, one of which was 'local history of Liverpool'. I don't know whether they still do but it was fascinating, and I couldn't get enough of it.

Would highly recommend if they do. I also remember well that, Radio Merseyside and Radio City (possibly) used to invite Frank Carlyle to give talks about Liverpool History usually in a five minute slot. Frank Carlyle is probably the most knowledgeable on all things Liverpool, and gives Lectures and Tours. He has also written many small books about the subject, which again I can wholly recommend if that's your bag! No, I'm not HIS agent either!

Digressing (unusual for me 😜) from the match here, but I don't think this will be a case of just turning up. I have watched Brighton several times and they are a decent side with some dangerous players that could hurt you if allowed to. It all hinges around the Midfield again for me. Depends on who is fit, and who is selected of course, but also the service to Richie and DCL.

I think we CAN win with the right combination, but they will be thinking exactly the same. I don't think, as with many sides this strange season, that their home form is that good, and our 'away is better than our home', so we may just edge it, but can't see many goals in this one.

Don't expect a big prize Christine, Derek did say he was Scottish, is that a racist remark? Oops!!

Sorry to google Derek but I remember reading about the Donnelly a while back this was the piece :

In the 1890s a new (or fitted out) ship (see Lloyd's Register) by the name 'Richard Donnelly' (a well-known local) put to sea and sank before it got out of the Mersey. Ever since, the phrase has been a derisive dockland slur at a lack of competence by either shipbuilders or sailors and was still common parlance when I was a lad in WW2 Everton.

Using your own logic in the City v Leeds game. Everton outplayed city until city scored the first goal!

We all see games differently and I am sure that if we nicked one and held on for the win we would have called it a master class.

Brighton will be a tough game. They where very unlucky not to get anything from United last week.

Ive read a fair bit of turkish on TW over the years.
Thats right up there

It's full title is HMS Donnelly, and was actually registered on the books as a 'ship', and bequeathed by the Royal Navy to the City of Liverpool in recognition for all it's strategic positioning and harbouring afforded to mariners and their vessels over the years.

The Josh King signing seems really strange, as I say both of our main strikers are struggling but seems King isn't trusted by the manager and has had very little game time. So if he cant get on when our strikers are struggling for goals then he has no future here. We seem to have a lot of defenders and midfielders but apart from Richarlison and DCL no strikers other than King. You have to think that Kean wont be coming back in a hurry, so it seems clear that we need 2 or 3 more strikers. Pity that our most talented player James cant play every week and his replacement is Iwobi or Bernard and neither are up to the job.

Our season is (probably) over.
Home form had been dreadful, away form fab.
Got the monkey off our back at a field, so let's acknowledge it for what it is, better than last season.
Let's hope progress continues.

As for us we are just far too lethargic and predictable. And any team who get into second gear against us creates panic amongst our players.

As far as I'm concerned Europe is over. Just have not got the strength like other teams have, not got the consistency and the the no plan B in games. Massive summer ahead no excuses. As unlucky Brighton have been this season, they're down there for a reason. So if we're not up for this one then it shows in true colours the weak minded mentality of this squad.

Honestly lad. You lose all credibility when you apologise and make excuses for EVERYTHING.
You do realise that as far as goal scoring records go. Nil is as bad as it gets ?
I don't remember Gomes, Allan, or Davies scoring at all this season and you can count on one hand the number of goals Doucoure and Iwobi have scored...If it hadnt have been for penalties you could have thrown Siggy in there too.

I shudder to think where we would have been If Carlo hadnt inherited DCL

We should be calling for our midfield players to be pushed forward for the remaining games, not apologising for the fact that they havent been allowed to

Darren, you really should get in touch with Carlo and give him the benefit of your vast knowledge, looks like only you has the vision to see what he's doing wrong (eyes rolling)

He has pace, he has skill, he has attitude (so gives a shit) and has goals in him.

But he always seems to just fall short of the hype and expectation so I get people's frustration with him. Think I'd give him another crack. I'd like to see him in a better team, especially with a better and more consistent midfield behind him and a defence playing higher and looking forward more quickly, more often.

I'm always in the camp that games are won and lost in midfield. Blatantly obvious cliche of a statement by me.

Does that mean they have to score goals though? Midfielders who weigh in with goals are gold dust. As are defenders. As are any player on the pitch who take the pressure off the forward(s) to be the only scorers.

But a necessity? I don't think so as long as they do their job of controlling the game, protecting the defence and supporting the attack. The life of a midfielder.

Different era, different time, but I don't recall our central midfield engine of the 80s being particularly blessed in the goals department. I'd be surprised if someone tells me the Reid and Bracewell collectively scored 20 goals for Everton between them. But they done their job of ensuring the conditions were set for the wide players and forwards to do so.

I've not got a lot of understanding of him so having just listened to people on here, I can't give my own opinion of the player.

But given the interest and the rumours, I did wonder that myself.

So, some clarification or a further muddying of the waters?

I agree with you regarding the second game. I was thinking more in terms of the previous game.

Brighton are going to be no push over and if the Everton players are not up for the game and concentrating they will regret it.

You see you always have to revert to bare faced lies to excuse your sychophancy.

I don't make excuses for Carlo by attacking the players as "not good enough" Thats where the likes of you come in.

I don't blame the players for not scoring more... I point the finger directly at your idol who thinks midfield means edge of your own box.

You are a little confused there fella. You think by constantly apologising for these negative tactics you come across as a "positive". You don't. You come across more as an Ancelotti supporter than an Evertonian.

BTW 33/1 for a win tomorrow ? You are totally deluded.
This is a tight game and because we have better players ,we should be favourites. The only thing certain about this game is that if we are served up the usual Zombie football.. You will be apologising for it

Like I said I only repeated what I was taught, and believed to be true, so if have upset or misled anyone it was by virtue of accident, and repetition of what I believed was the case, I unreservedly apologise.

I only added the piece and question as a 'light hearted question' based an old Liverpool saying, not realising I was later to be, keel-hauled on the veracity of it's content, ignominiously put before the crew, tied to the mast and flogged with a Cat O'Nine Tails, with Buckets of Salt Water as my only relief and medicine. 😜

it is lies and you know it.

You lied by saying I constantly attack the team. It's never been their fault we play zombie football.

If you don't believe Carlo sets them up to spoil the game, you simply don't understand what you are watching.

Instead of chasing Carlo's critics all around the website (especially on the LF) Why not give your posts a little more thought.
Why not ask yourself if the players would actually CHOOSE to play a less mechanical game. One where they are allowed to express themselves.

Soren

I live in hope. I know for a fact Ancelotti has more strings to his bow, but he just seems to want to spoil the game. I have no logical answer for that.

It's up to us. We must be brave and go for it.

Yeah of course you are. Its really,really positive to keep hammering the players as not good enough in order to apologise for the manager.

Positive ? There's people on death row with higher expectations than you

Please. It's a difference of opinion on the one thing we actually all agree on.

If you aggressively and tediously repeat the same dogma, you are the self styled Joda of ToffeeWeb, the Jedi Master of being an authentic Evertonian. Feel the force!

I expect a game of few goals, Brighton create chances with the always busy Welbeck ect ect but lack overall quality, whereas we rarely take the few chances we do create due to our recently profligate forward players.

Got a feeling another 1-1 on the cards.

I'd realistically settle for 6th or 7th but when you look at it like that, it's like asking me if I want another one at last orders.

Ancelotti has tried to push the potential with open formations , setting high targets for individual performances. He has found that players do not have the tactical and technical ability and it has cost him points. He has now reverted to a defensive formation and counter attack. Teams that set up shop are a problem, but fortunately he does have James to unlock such defences, but his forwards are not able to deliver to the necessary level, even set pieces have not delivered.

This means Everton are dependent on a outstanding individual goal to crop up and a defence to hold out, devoid of the elementary error that allowed Palace to equalize. So Everton are going to need new players with potential against a background of Economic constraints.

The Manager required going forward has to be able to provide the framework for the potential to reach the necessary level and attract new players who can achieve that level of potential. Who better than Ancelotti?

Apparently, he was a right tight arse, my mate Dave Abraham asked him for an autograph when he was a nipper, (Dave, that is, not William) and he was told what to do with his pen and paper! :-)

You need to stop hiding behind the couch with Carlo when placing your bets.

I would have had a tenner on you coming on to bleat about criticism of Carlo, rather than make a point. . . but somewhat predictably...There was no takers

Doesnt look good mate.
Especially coming from someone with intelligence.
Dont get me wrong, I have let myself down a few times on here with similar.

If Everton win tomorrow, then you could argue six teams are going for two positions, even if most of us know that deep down we are not quite good enough, just yet, which doesn't mean we shouldn't still be getting behind “OUR TEAM” for tomorrow nights game.

Your right mate, I like a good strong debate mate.
Give and take all allowed.👍

Tony@171 My sentiments exactly, Occam's Razor says that the reason we are so inconsistent, especially when we have injuries, is that we are not yet good enough to play at a good standard against all levels of opposition. The least likely is because the manager makes us play unnecessarily negative football. Having said that, some of the most amazing teams in the world have played from a negative base. Sometimes it is necessary. Here's to our team tomorrow.

I bet you still have the quill he used, as a memento, Dave. Or did you take your own quill and ink to games? The best ink, I'm sure!!

We have all seen that for the last three seasons and more, we have the worst set of slow midfielders and number tens anywhere, we have put those players on such high wages, that we cannot move any of them on,so are stuck with them for now,others who are out onloan, or not making the team at all, Bolasie, Besic.

That is what Carlo has at his disposal, he has made a start with trying to address it, with bringing Doucoure and Allen in, has brought a decent centre half in, in Godfrey.

So whatever tactics posters think might best suit our embarrassing and snail paced midfield, who at times cannot even play a 1 yard pass.

I am not attacking any other poster, or defending Carlo, I am simply asking, what the hell can we possibly do with the players we have available, I cannot see any difference of tactics, that would suddenly turn these players into Top 4 contenders, they are too slow from getting out of defence to midfield then midfield to attack.

We can keep making excuses saying a couple more players brought in will help, but will achieve nothing, if we still have the same 6 or 7 players that we need to get off our books.

Bringing in the desired additions in midfield is a start, but we need to add quality for backup as well, and have a damn good clear out, once and for all.

We all know we need two or three players, but we will have the majority of these players here next season. We need to get them performing and not freewheeling to the season's end. I want to see us full on going for it.

I would disagree that any manager, Ancelotti or otherwise, picks a team to get beat or draw.

I would also debate the validity of Gerrard. Totally ignoring the obvious contentious links, I would challenge the credentials of a successful season in a league that probably ranks alongside the Kazakstan Premiership. Would rather Liverpool experiment with that one.

And, appropriately, we'd wear blue stockings!

I know this is Everton. I know we have missed opportunities, but so have most of the teams around us.

It is there to play for. Both our original realistic target of European football, but by a freak of results, Champions League is still on offer even though I agree, we are not good enough.

I'm up for it. I hope the players are.

Steavey, I'm not sure what a manager can do to stop that players giving the ball away. I'm sure they don't do it deliberately. I suspect it's a skill thing. He could haul them off the pitch and use the subs - but we don't have enough subs for that!

Interesting that poor home form isn't unique to Everton this season. Not an excuse, just that like our red cousins and United, home form has not been a given for quite a few teams this season.

This site is unmissable.

I think they both mean the same thing so guess that's a double agreement!

Can Everton turn over Brighton tomorrow, let's hope so, as this is a massive game.

I see VAR, playing tricks again at the Spurs - United game.

If ever I wanted United to win, it's today, to help Evertons cause.

And that post won me nowt coz it only contained ONE Hindism. I need two for a fiver and three for a tenner.
Work with me and we can split the profits. ;-)

Brighton have played really well recently and had some good results, they should have won against United away too. I've seen us play twice there and we were woeful both times so it will be a very close game and little chance of us looking good. We should be capable of getting a win but must not sit back if we get a goal. I'd back your bet though.

Now Son is doing his best to stop Everton.

Shhhhh.
Your neighbours will blow you up

Europa League possibly, but we would also need a good summer's recruitment to stop it buggering our domestic league fixtures.

How many scouse players do we have who he would he talk to?

I'm jealous as fuck, Enjoy your break, Blue boy..

Me and the Mrs are toying with the idea of a week in St Ives. She's Hovering over the send button as we speak

Please make it happen,Lord. Her confidence is shot

I know it was in the cups against lesser teams, that he linked up well, on the left, but from what I have seen from others, he looks like one who given a few games, could at least give us some balance, on the left hand side.

We certainly need a right back, like you say, and a couple more in key areas, but in time, I think Nkounkou will be a left sided midfielder, rather than a left back.

Stay off the scrumpy.
I believe it turns drinkers into narks.

That is a realistic Gomes comparison and there are other similar comparisons. Such is the Everton reputation within football, it takes a Manager of Ancelotti 's standing to attract the players with top four potential. The Clubs Youth development and recent history prior to Ancelotti would not attract such players on it's own.

To have players who make elementary mistakes in defence, poor pass completion rates and ball retention in midfield, and who have one of the poorest pass completion rates in the final third in the Premiership, coupled with poor finishing ability; Ancelotti is doing well.

And for All Evertonians, a win tomorrow night.

At the beginning of the season you could see that on paper we had a strong starting 11, give or take the odd player or two we would deliberate on as to who should be in that 11. But once you scratch the surface, it is back to the players we have become frustrated with over the past few seasons. A thin squad was always going to bite us in some way. Fortunately we are still in there with a chance of at least the original target of European football.

The result at this stage of the season and against the backdrop of recent form is most important, but a positive performance on top of that would give us hope that we can make a fist of the opportunity that is still there for us.

Are you bunking into Wales?
Passport required ?

Look forward to it Rob. Here's hoping for next season. Knowing Everton, we'll get Dublin or Glasgow as the first destination after the wait.

Not that Dublin would be a bad omen given 1984!

Martin (333) That's true although I think I would have backed Henderson to win a race against most of our midfield. They also had a lot of pace elsewhere in the team, notably a front three with the speed and energy to press high plus a back line able to squeeze up with both full backs bombing forward to support attacks.

"Mesut Ozil has sent a message of support to Cenk Tosun after the Everton loan star suffered a serious knee injury while in action for Besiktas."

Looking forward to tomorrow evening.

Lunch in the pub, well okay, outside. Then out again later for a 2 hour slot booked 6-8pm and back home to watch the match.

Come on Everton.

“I've enjoyed every minute of my time here. To come to a club of the stature of Celtic has been very good. I haven't heard anything about my future. There are a lot of games to go & things to sort out. As a player you want to have a home for the long term.”

Jonjoe Kenny. The lad seems to understandably be crying out for stability. He has been a bit of a footballing nomad the past couple of seasons. I hope he finds that stability.

9 games to go - last season we picked up 6 points from them.
City and Arsenal away.
Still to play WHU away who are going for European places and they may bring a gun to the gunfight this time
Need to play Villa twice but looks like Grealish out for the season so can we do the double?
But realistically - 6 points could be 12 but probably not much more. 59 points will be scraping into Europe League with 3 qualifying rounds. I would pass on that option.

Appears to be right unfortunately.

Wishing him a speedy recovery. Doubt we will see him this season.

But when he openly describes fellow fans of a contrary opinion (in his opinion of course) as "liars", as he's done this very weekend, "provocative" may have to give way to "obnoxious" and/or demeaning of himself.

I am, like you, in agreement with much of our Dazza's opinion of our club, but his endless personal tirades to any fan with a contrary opinion to his own point of view only demeans him, together with his rational opinions, as an adult deserving of any respect at all.

In short, he's a conceited, ego-centric, gob-shite nerd - in my and many others' opinion (from what's literally spelt out from postings on any number of threads).

That said, he certainly provokes comment. But then didn't Trump, doesn't BoJo, and so on and so forth. Doesn't make them credible in the least though, does it?

Can't see anything on Gbamin's knee.

Can't see anything on Gbamin's knee.

Where is the Gbamin injury info coming from?

I looked at Newsnow Everton, and I know they can have their fair share of Jackanories, but they have an article, can't do the link thing on my tablet.

Saying basically Gbamin is raring to go, and repay the faith shown in him by the Club and the supporters, by making up for lost time till the season end. Hardly soundbites from a player that was crocked again.

The guys was not giving an opinion he was making false allegations against me personally. It was hardly a crime on his part. He was in a debate and trying to slip one through. All's fair.
Normally I don't respond to false allegations (as you of all people would know) but Bobby strikes me as somebody who would say to my face what he posts on here. I cant know that, but I believe it to be so and I respect that.

Out of the hundreds and hundreds of posts you so bravely put up about me. I have probably responded to 2-3.

As for me or anybody else agreeing with you on football. That just a myth you repeatedly peddle. How could anybody agree with you ? Your latest posts 259 is absolutely typical of you. You don't even mention the game.

I look forward to the day Kenwright retires...Then I will have your undivided attention

I'm not in the medical profession. "Out for 6 weeks. Medial knee injury. ", is a specific, medical diagnosis, no? Takes a day or two, I'd think. Maybe more?

Yet, somehow, rlk knew it 24 hours ago and there's not a peep in the press or on the Club website?

Seems unusual.

I smell bullshit on this so don't buy into it guys.

However, the info you refer to about Gbamin looking forward to being back will be presumably from interviews/comments he made last week prior to the weekend.

https://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co.uk/sport/nationalsport/19225479.i-want-make-everton-history---jean-philippe-gbamin-eager-shine-return/

where are you seeing it?

At the current rate I think top half may be the height of their ambitions. As said above, I can't wait for the day Kenwright leaves.

Rob, I've seen Dominic on Sunday Supplement a few times and he always seemed to be very positive towards Everton unlike the other rs journos like Dunne, Rudd, Northcroft and that South African bird.

You reckon he downgraded his job when he left the barmans job to work for the echo?

Mind you Tosun and Gbamin, sound so similar you can see where the confusion started. 😜

I expect that Brighton will dominate the ball but that we will come out on top on the scoreboard.

There's load of glory following RS and red Mancs down here in Romney Marsh (no - not Rodney, Derek) and I was walking at nearby Dungeness when in the distance I could make out the famous words "Sport Pesa" on a blue background approaching. Sure enough - a fellow Blue. Local lad as well - not a Scouser. Our ranks are swelling by the day. We chatted a few minutes but not seen him since. Was from Folkestone I think.

Any other T'webbers in this neck of the woods?

Trivia survey - who's the first palyer you think of in a Sport Pesa shirt?

Can anyone think of anyone who was such a sicknote who turned things around?

Yes, in basketball there was guy called Grant Hill had similar run after joining Orlando. Years later he got past it

Gbamin has got a “freak injury”, not related to the previously two serious injuries.

The lad better not go for a walk in a thunderstorm.

For 10 mins I was saying to the lads how bouncy and fired up he looked. Sadly I was saying the opposite after 10 mins. He looked knackered.

That operating table makes the body weaker and weaker. This was my worry with him, not the injury that started it but the after affects of several major ops.

Best wishes to the lad but I am forgetting about him playing here again.

Not for Everton but remember Darren Anderton?

It will be interesting to see if Everton make an official statement on this matter.

The coastal path is spectacular. Although given it was an option for our Physical Training sessions, I didn't always appreciate the beauty that was on offer!!

I know it's not completely to blame but now I am starting to feel like we have been done dirty bu the f.a. We have had to postpone two games due to other clubs having covid, both games when we were playing well and had a half fit team. Now, we are playing tonight against one of the furtherest away teams you can travel to, then at home against Spurs 4 days later. It all seems a bit odd to me. We seem to play, then get a week off, then play 2/3 times in quick succession, then get a week off. No wonder all of our players are getting injured.

We seem to of been thrown in at the deep end when it comes to games at the end of the season. We did not have to postpone any of our games, so why is our fixture list on congested. Is it hurting us now with the injury's? I think so.

Sadly, there are far more Gibsons than Hills.

By the players own account just last week, he has a lot to thank them for the first class treatment, counsel and moral support they gave the lad in pretty much all his time at the club.

I'm guessing the likes of Coleman and Gomes would (and did, if I recall correctly) express similar praise of our medical team during their own serious injuries.

This is a huge game for them though after Fulham losing on Friday.

Other teams just seem to come out more switched on and eager to get a result than Everton.

We just cannot get a choke hold on the game early so in this one we have to hope that DCL or Richie (or anyone) can put us in the driving seat otherwise a hardworking Brighton team can effectively end our season.

Doesn't make sense to pay off three years of the contract, a few months maybe to lighten the wage bill and get somebody else in but three years?

Feel so sorry for the lad that we are having these conversations.

I don't we have ever looked fit and fast and strong since Martinez got rid of Moyes's conditioning coaches.

The style of play over the past few months has been pragmatic. I can only put it down to injuries to first choicers and Ancelotti believing his second string midfielders (Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Davies, Bernard etc) are just not good enough to risk a more expansive style.

I've usually been wrong with my predictions this season so I'll go for a Brighton win in the hope I'm wrong again.

Unbelievably unlucky to lose both Gbamin and Onyango at the same time as the first picks as I think Carlo WOULD have give either a crack at it.

Don't think he's likely to do it, but would like to see an experiment with Holgate or Godfrey given a go as a CDM if Allan not ready. Not many kids left to say step in either so why not?

Olsen
Coleman Mina Keane Digne
Davies Allan
Iwobi James Richie
DCL

if he's fit, else Holgate/Godfrey next to Tom.

Our squad is absolutely horrendous when you look at our bench, for the money we've spent and we can field a striker against Brighton.

Brands and managers recent and current have much to answer for.

I hope it's a 3-5-2 with Holgate and Davies in centre mid, then Sigurdsson behind Richarlison and James.

Think I won't bother watching this one.

I doubt I've seen a more defensive minded lineup this century in fairness.

What the hell is the problem with Josh King?

Where's Calvert-Lewin?

Keane, Holgate, Mina, Digne, Godfrey AND Coleman, add the fact Davies is quite defence minded too?

Seriously Carlo mate??