Crystal Palace vs Everton

Tarkowski is nothing amazing but a good, solid defender who is probably too similar to Michael Keane. But, if we're fucked by FFP, then we need to get a bit creative.

I like Mina and we are better with him but he's very injury prone and flies to South America God knows how many times a season and I don't see this changing anytime soon.

This way, we'd make a few quid and bring in a proven, Premier League defender. Tarkowski is about to turn 29 and has been capped by England. He's nothing special and struggles when played further up the pitch, but we aren't exactly in the market for special players anyway.

Just a thought.

Rafa's pet project.

On the upside, Rafa is looking directly at the camera now while answering presser questions. I'm not sure how to interpret this just yet but it seems to be an image move of some sort. Or maybe he's looking directly at us to let us know he is taking care of business.

Given our massive lack of confidence prior to the Arsenal game, I was amazed they didn't go for our throat from the off. If they'd scored early, I think we may well have crumbled. Same with Palace this week.

Over to you then, FSW. You pick the team. You determine the tactics. You organise and motivate the players, so you must be prepared to take the criticism as readily as you took the plaudits if all does not go to your plan.

I have no idea what the outcome will be but I do hope that he plays a third man in midfield. The difference when Gomes joined the fray was as obvious as the balls on a dog and what so many of us have been calling for… but what do we know?

Mina has suffered a series of muscle strains since arriving over 3 years ago. Frequently recurring groin, hamstring and calf injuries for a player only in his mid-20s suggest there is deep-rooted cause perhaps relating to his physique, conditioning regime or diet.

Even the new rehabilitation and fitness expert recruited from Newcastle has not been able to sort him out. He is another player whose output has failed to justify the outlay.

I also think Allan needs to be used carefully this month. He broke down with a badly torn hamstring in the midweek match at Leicester in December 2020. That injury ruled him out for 3 months. We can ill afford a repeat of that.

The problem with Gomes is he can't play for 90 minutes. Using him in the final half-hour against tiring opponents seems to me the best option. Perhaps he can job-share with Delph who can't do more than an hour!

I would play Gordon at left-midfield in a 4-3-3 with Gray, Townsend and Richarlison up front.

I've said it about Keane and I say it about this man: Benitez will release the talent of the tentative and the excessively self-aware.

Gomes is an Everton player like the fleeting James was, a ghost of the 60s. The critics are justified, but fucking hell he's a joy to watch sometimes and a lovely reminder of what we should be about.

Do not sell him just for the money if it weakens the middle. Cash can't clear out corner kicks.

So true about Gomes. He is never going to be a box-to-box midfielder or seemingly able to defend that well but he manages in most games to do something that really catches the eye.

His passing could – a big 'could' – be the key to a good second half to the season. His short passing is a rare gift... seems to be able to play a 5-6 metre pass that unlocks space for people like Richarlison and Gray.

He's a bog-standard centre-back when all's said and done, just like the far more reliable Tarkowski (and Keane, come to that) but with players of that quality, I don't see us threatening the teams aspiring to even Europa League shite any time soon.

Our fantabulous chairman will not agree of course, just like the Monaco Moron.

I was crestfallen when I heard Rondon is fit. Literally I felt the blood rushing from my face. If he plays, I bet a lot of fans will be asking Brands to elaborate on “it's just the players?”

Steve #22, yes, Gomes's short passing is a rare gift. A very rare gift. White-rhino rare. Snow-leopard rare. Almost dodo rare. The man has played 78 games in the Premier League and has four assists. Exactly one per season. He may have occasional moments of beauty on the ball, but Gomes passes that actually create goals happen about as often as Nessie sightings.

It just shows the danger of signing players with poor injury records and that's why we don't want Ramsey. I want young players on the up with fire in their belly – not someone who is after a last payday, who will save himself for Wales.

Also, I don't want Juve screwing us over again! But McKennie – he's a Juve midfielder I'd take.

I'd love to keep Mina but this league is not kind on players susceptible to injury. Strange that his contract has been allowed to run down so much as he's probably one of our more sellable assets. If his contract had 2-4 years left, I'd expect we could get £15-20M for him to a slightly less physical league.

My preference would be that he signs a new contract and sorts his injuries but not sure how likely either of those are, and he is reportedly one of our highest earners.

Whatever the case, Mina will probably be sold in summer as his contract ends in June 2023.

With that in mind, I'd like to see more of Branthwaite. Still clinging to the idea he's our best centre-back.

As as aside, talk of Barca needing to sell DeJong, Dest and Ter Stegen. If Bill has been stashing away the Arteta money in a high yield equity fund then that's January sorted.

From January he is free to discuss terms with other clubs although we would be due a tribunal fee if he were to go.

Mina is a big miss. Rondon ran himself to the ground last week and can do a better job now he is fitter. Hopefully off the bench though. May be time to give Allan a rest and play Delph again.

I wonder how many other times Mina has been prematurely rushed back? Reminds me of Keane playing on with a foot injury which we knew nothing about.

Let's hope they don't bring DCL back before he is ready.

Rushing Mina back early because of his importance to the team might account for those three early substitutions shown in the stats.

I'd like to see the club stats on injuries of all types in the last 5 years. Surely the club must do root cause analysis on the injuries?

At Finch Farm, they play on 4G synthetic turf a lot, and I wonder if this surface impacts the players?

I wish we could get Mina's injury situation stabilised as I think he, at present, is our best centre-half.

Remarkably, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea all won by a late penalty today. What odds could you get on that? (I'd suggest about evens.)

Man Utd got a penalty too.

And I would say that there is no way in hell that Koulibaly would ever want to leave Napoli, a Champions League team where he's an immensely popular local hero, to move to a bottom-half Premier League club with no chance of getting into Europe... but I won't say that, because I don't want to be accused of shouting you down again.

Mina's stats for Everton show we are twice as likely not to lose when he plays. For sure he seems to be struggling with injuries but, when he's fit, he improves the team.

I think that's bullshit thinking he wants to play for his national team more than us. The lad is a decent player for us, he's the only centre-half that provides leadership. We miss him when he doesn't play.

Next.

A) Hit it down the wing and a winger chases a lost cause but the winger knows it's coming anyway, regardless of logic, or...

B) Run a bit and chip it down a wing and the wingers are drilled this is going to happen, if no easy pass on.

Never turn back 180 degrees because there's always 180 degrees which is blind, just play the way you are facing and have two split-second choices to make. Other than that, he is over 90 minutes a decent defender.

I also hope Demarai Gray comes in from the left and tries more shots. That was missing last season, apart from Rodriguez, who could hit them outside the box. If Gray keeps this up, he'll be like our own Ronaldo that Man Utd had before he went to Real Madrid!

No he won't. He's our best centre-half.

Jason #73, Holgate has proven repeatedly and comprehensively that he is not, and never will be, the "right player" for us. The accumulation of stupid mistakes, combined with his total lack of ability on the ball and a careless attitude that has become evident to even his most passionate supporters, should have called time on his Everton career already.

But I think he can do a Pickford and get his consistency back if he responds to Rafa.

Calvert-Lewin was told to stand in the box by Carlo and became a consistent goal scorer.

Maybe Holgate didn't respond well to Carlo? I don't know.

But knowing that he definitely has it in his locker to have some good games means it just needs a coach to bring it out of him.

Pickford
Coleman Keane Branthwaite Godfrey
Allan
Gray Doucoure Gomes Townsend
Richarlison

Maybe a professional coaching set-up at Finch Farm should've rectified such issues well before Benitez?

Unless the plethora of ex-Everton-player coaches there for a free ride on Kenwright's largesse haven't realised the aspirations of fabulously well-paid so-called professionals of course; Holgate and Mina, and other players, being a case in point.

After all, that lack of ambition and/or insight into developing success by way of know-how is the cornerstone of flatulent Everton forever failing our motto under Kenwright, isn't it?

I think we should advertise ourselves as the ideal destination for all top-class players who are either Jewish or Seventh-Day Adventists.

Because we never work on Saturdays.

Funnily enough I was thinking tonight if my prior trips to watch Everton at Crystal Palace and one of the things I recall is there's a Seventh Day Adventist church just outside the stadium which is surprising as that group aren't the exactly widespread in England.

And here I was wondering if that church is still there 15 years after my last visit and lo and behold my fellow US resident goes and mentions the group... Synchronism or pure coincidence?

Koulibaly would move to Everton for one reason and one reason only - Rafa Benitez.

Koulibaly: Benitez made me

The article has some fascinating insights into Rafa's methods of recruiting and interaction with his players. Hopefully, Rafa can uncover a Koulibaly for us.

Doctor's, or Manager's, orders?

Benitez got back to Ancelotti's formation in the last game with a middle field trio, with a counter-attacking emphasis. He has also managed to introduce competition for some positions, on limited player availability.

Rondon can help Everton's shape providing space for runs from Gray and Richarlison. Palace will attempt to reduce that space, which Arsenal left wide open.

Another difficult away game against another pretty good mid-table side.

As per the Ralf Rangnick interview following the Man Utd game, we'll need to be physically present with good body language (worth watching if you've not seen it).

Given that we now have three games in just 8 days, our squad looks paper-thin, maybe it's time for apologies and handshakes and the timely introductions of substitutes. Oh and, of course, that little bit of luck!!!

I too would start today with the team that played so well in the second half against Arsenal, all being fit and available of course.

Godfrey seems more suited to left-back than centre-back on current form, where he can use his pace and any mistakes might be less disastrous for us. Our best defensive performances last season we're with the four centre-halves at the back, after all! We still let too many crosses into the box which always unnerves me.

I'm going for 2-1 to the Blues today, Richarlison to get on the scoresheet again.

433

Pickford
Coleman Keane Mina/Holgate Godfrey
Allan Doucoure Gomes
Townsend Richarlison Gray

Mina if fit enough if not Holgate because he did ok last week. Gordon and Townsend share duties.

So that's how you get penalties awarded at a crucial point in the game (minutes to go) when the other side have been better ?

For fear of being labelled a Conspiracy Theorist Man U, Chelsea and of course the RS all got dubious penalties awarded in the dying minutes, where Norwich, Leeds and Villa were at least equal or better throughout the game ! Had they been nailed on penalties I would NOT be making the point, but ' better cases ' against the other teams mentioned had been waived aside.

Hoping as usual for another point or three today, I was at the Arsenal game and have not felt an atmosphere like that for many, many years. I just hope that team spirit with the players carries on today, where it left off.

Two of our better players, and will probably go for less than we paid for them combined.

Yes, I think he's got to stay as he finished the Arsenal game with three in central midfield although it's already been pointed out that Gomes is unlikely to last 90 minutes. Maybe utilise both Delph, who also can't last 90 minutes, over the two halves.

Possibly share one wage between them as well!!

We played a lot better and Richarlison was superb but Palace will pose a different problem today and no Goodison roar to spur us on. I think we will need 2 goals to get a point today.

ps: No start for the fit again (really?) Rondon goal machine, please, Mr Banitez.

Despite Digne trying to diffuse the situation, it seems like Benitez is being as stubborn as ever, seems strange that we hadn't won a game in 8 and the rumour is that Digne and a couple of senior players approached Benitez over the style and the set-up of the side. Yet a lot on TW seem to back Benitez over his stance with Digne but shouldn't we hope that being on such a bad run of results that the senior players may have a discussion with the manager over tactics?

With Digne being left at home, I hope Godfrey doesn't get injured as the only option, if that happens, is Delph at left-back; surely Digne should be in the squad as cover for such eventuality.

Pickford
Coleman Godfrey Keane Digne
Doucoure Allan Gomes
Gordon Richie Gray

Suspect the team at the top in article, and the 442 will be it though. Digne will be Rafa sacrificial lamb for time being, and other players will be targeted soon too when he runs out of ‘blame brands' excuses.

If we don't win today, it's ONE win in NINE (a quarter of a season ffs) and he needs to go. One crowd inspired swallow doesn't make a FSW summer.

We can win today i'm confident. Not so confident about Thursday but today we should bag the points.

But to omit him from the squad? Counter-productive really. Although, Benitez has always shown himself a bit brittle to feedback over the years.

You cannot omit a player like Digne and not seriously damage the relationship with the management. Bench is one thing; left at home is quite another.

The guillotine of Benitez drops again.

Have a day off.

I wanted Verstappen to do it but honestly, Hamilton was by far the dominant driver and car on the day. Racing Gods were with Verstappen. Great for the sport in my opinion and somehow I have more respect for Hamilton now (not that I didn't before but just don't like the bloke). Great drama.

Fear we might see a boring 0-0 ground out today but play with the character we did on Monday we can do it 2-0.