Everton vs Brentford

Is it time to risk Patterson and Mykolenko or are we safer with Coleman and Godfrey.

Can Townshend play right-midfield or do we give Gbamin a run-out?

IMO, the front 3 pick themselves, being Gordon, Richarlison and Gray, but the manager may have other ideas.

It would be a shame to go out of the cup and just have a relegation battle to look forward to, so maybe Frank can inspire Gomes and Co to play well?

Begovic
Coleman Keane or Holgate Godfrey Mykolenko
Gordon Townsend Allan Gomes Gray
Richarlison

Holgate Keane Godfrey
Kenny Allan Gomes Townsend
Gordon Richarlison Gray

Unless he has seen enough from the two young full backs in training...

The good news is Iwobi looks fit, going by the training session!!

Measured, sensible, focussed, intelligent. I have optimism again… which is dangerous.

I still don't want Rondon to score, is that wrong?

I can see him being dogged by pesky injuries here and there and his game is all about dynamic athletism, high jumps etc.

If someone offered £60 million in summer as far as I'm concerned we'd be nuts to snub that.

He's never gonna be a truly top class finisher that can get 20 every season, he maybe will get 10-15 most seasons in the league but I think for £60 million and Frank Lampard now at the helm, that can be found as replacement.

Like a lot of money. it's just an awful message to send and a PR nightmare for your first game in charge.

Gray Richarlison Gordon
Allan Gomes Gbamin or Townsend
Mykolenko Keane Mina Patterson
Pickford

Dobbin, Rondon, Iwobi, etc as substitutes.

That's a ridiculous post mate. Utter rubbish.

I know it'll be his first game, but it'll be an indication of how Frank will have some kind of a Plan B if some key players are out.

I hope Dom's injury is just a niggle. We have missed him.

No Godfrey?

For me, Mykolenko looked very rusty in the two games he has played and I think he should be on the bench for now. My team for Brentford, based on Calvert-Lewin being out, would be 4-1-2-3:

Pickford
Godfrey Keane Mina Kenny
Allan
Gomes Townsend
Gordon Richarlison Gray.

Subs: Begovic, Mykolenko, Coleman, Rondon, Iwobi, Dobbin, Gbamin, Patterson and Holgate.

Start with Richy central with Gordon and Townsend out wide. Then, on the hour, Gray and Dobbin can come in for Gordon and Richarlison.

Midfield will be a struggle, but I think give Onyango chance from the start with Gomes and Allan.

Iwobi is another (not exactly exciting) option for midfield, which may suit Lampard's implementation of attacking midfielders into the system. Or maybe even Gordon could do something there, with Gray starting up too.

I watched the Chelsea game again and his positioning is odd at best.

I remember Jagielka playing there but thought Godfrey was worse!

Difficult for Lampard to have this as his first game, it's hard to know what he will do.

Give the young players and second choice older players a game would be my advice.

Carlo – ultra relaxed, a little humour, don't give too much away.

Benitez – shifty, what is he hiding?

Frank – Open, serious, detailed answers.

From what he said, I don't expect to see any of the young inexperienced players to start.

Pickford
Patterson, Mina, Godfrey, Mykolenko.
Townsend, Allan, Gomes.
Gray, Dobbin, Richarlison.

I've got to admit, I do think him getting battered about as a young lad under Koeman is coming to haunt us. Not sure why Brian at 19 wants to spit froth at you for daring to suggest a cash-in given how this season's gone.

Also, man, we get rid of Rafa and there are still some on here who want to play a right-footed centre-back at left-back, and another even suggesting Townsend at left-wingback, for fuck's sake.

Give the young lads their go on Saturday. Stick with Mykolenko for 5-6 games and give him a chance to settle. Yes, we haven't got luxury of carrying people, but we haven't got the luxury of writing off £18M internationals after 2 games either.

Saturdaay:

Pickford
Patterson Godfrey Branthwaite Mykolenko
Townsend Gbamin Gomes
Gordon Richarlison Gray

Tuesday (permitting)

Pickford
Coleman Mina Godfrey Mykolenko
Van de Beek Allan Alli
Gray Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

These young lads need game time, Mykolenko was no worse than many others have been this season and Patterson hasn't been given a chance yet.

I also think we should play Gbamin from the start. In a 3 he could possibly do a job and we need to give him some kind of chance before writing him off completely. It's not his fault he's been wrecked by injury.

I would be quite happy if he played a lot of the young players, either from the start or off the bench. Dobbin, Onyango, etc.

Is Branthwaite fit? If so, start him too. We need to be braver and stop going back to the same tried, tested and failed players and systems.

The atmosphere at Goodison would be electric if we played a pacey, young side filled with a lot of 'homegrown' players or new signings.

3-1 Everton.

Unfortunately, it looks like this may mean no Calvert-Lewin against Newcastle, but we need him sharp and he's been hit and miss when fit this season. I'm hoping he opts to stay and develop under the Lampard team.

Clearly now we know the answer

No surprise that the Iceman has been cut, but the other player sacrificed is a surprise.

Tom Davies.

Everton's Revised 25-man Premier League Squad

Tom is no longer of an age where he gets exemption and doesn't need to be named. Given that the likes of Delph and Tosun are listed (and out of contract in the summer), I'm deducing that Tom's injury and recent surgery has effectively ended his season.

If you had an issue, I would have thought it would have been Kenny but I played him there because of his delivery. Mykolenko has not been good enough offensively so would be a less attacking threat than Townsend.

Otherwsise, like most, I'd like to see our new full-backs on display.

Team for Saturday:

Pickford
Patterson Godfrey Branthwaite Mykolenko
Gbamin Onyango Gomes
Gordon Richarlison Gray

Pickford
Mykolenko
Godfrey
Mina
Coleman
Allan
Gbamin
Gomes
Townsend
Gray
Richarlison

I will be very surprised if Dobbin, Patterson or Mykolenko starts, Maybe Branthwaite has a better chance.

It's a case of seeing what changes in formation and team can inspire others to have a go or "step up to the plate" as the Yanks say.

We need to see some guile and cojones above all.

However, writing off a 22-year-old after 2 games puts every other bit to shame. Hope you understand?

I just can't wait for Saturday. I've missed Everton. It feels like it's been an age. One step closer to Wembley.

Pickford
Godfrey Mina Branthwaite
Patterson Doucouré Van de Beek Mykolenko
Gray Alli (or Gordon)
Richarlison (or Calvert-Lewin)

With Alli and one of Doucouré or Van de Beek getting up and in the box when we attack.

For fuck's sake, how soft is he?

Regardless of whether he plays next Tuesday, what impression does he present to the new boss!!! Get rid of the time wasters.

If Calvert-Lewin is genuinely unfit, fair enough, but I had him in a higher commitment category. I will eat my words if proven wrong.

I'm deeply disappointed in Calvert-Lewin, hope he proves me wrong!!!!

May as well go out of the cup now and concentrate on staying up.. It's not like we could win The FA Cup.

I have faith that he will be good again. We need his goals.

All clubs get these injuries and all fan sites think they are the unlucky club. Yet... we seem more cursed.

We aren't... but it feels like we are.

Hope we can get him fit for the summer window and someone comes in with a £60 mil bid for him.

Snatch their hand off.

Hopefully he will get rehabilitation game time in the last quarter of the season. I am sure he will work hard during the Summer and preseason and will progress next season, making up for the setbacks of this season. I still have doubts about Evertons rehabilitation and recovery programs.

I doubt he will be transfer-listed.

Just play football, for fuck's sake!

Aren't you earning enough?

Andros Townsend is naturally left-footed and has the qualities to perform that role.

We need to win this game and judging Mykolenko both in the summer and in his two games he doesn't look the most naturally offensive of players to me or indeed one who is ready. After all, like Godfrey, who you have maligned, he is a converted centre-half.

I have written no-one off, hence the caveat in my initial post@9: "... unless he has seen enough from the new full backs in training".

Townsend is no favourite of mine but on Saturday we must ensure we boss the midfield and I hope Frank will use this system to do so.

ps: Has Gary Smith become Gary Jones or is that me being stupid again?

Just a matter of time before some of the new boys get theirs.

I see Mykolenko already got his before the Villa game.

Almost every game will become a cup-tie now but perhaps an opportunity under a new manager for some players to stake a claim. Let's hope so.

Players earn huge amounts of money, they get injured and they still get paid. What other way would you have it?

Some of the comments about Calvert-Lewin are are just pure, bitter, spite.

You don't beat million-to-one odds to become a top professional -- and put in maybe 20,000 hours training along the way -- so you can sit out games and collect a big check.

Players wanna play.

Jesus, we got some serious sourballs on here.

A forward line of Richy, Gray and Gordon has to have the right service... any service. Interesting game on Saturday and I'm looking forward to it, whoever plays.

And you're waving him off after two debut games under the most warped, bizarre circumstances possible? Way off target IMO.

The kid has played Champions League against Bayern and Barcelona. He's played 21 times for his country, starting at age 19. There has got to be quality there, and it won't show up from the bench.

To be fair (love that English term), Mykolenko looked pretty shit.

With what I would define as a perfectly abysmal start to Premier League life, I'd very slowly introduce him into the lineup.

He really, really looked poor in my opinion.

Yes, there's quality somewhere there. But man, I'd ween him into this moving forward.

We won't be resting anyone for the game on Tuesday, or developing young players. We will field the team that Frank thinks has the best chance of beating Brentford.

He should (on paper at least) be getting much better service and I think that we will have more of the ball in attacking positions.

As for the cup game, I'd love for Lampard to give our new fullbacks a start with any of Mina, Holgate, Branthwaite, Godfrey as the 2 centre-backs – just keep that useless Keane off the pitch and we will be alright.

I was not surprised Tom was left out of the revised list of 25. I was surprised the club ruled him out for only a couple of months.

Severe hamstring tears usually require 3 months recovery, as we saw with Allan last season. One requiring surgery will inevitably take longer. Tom will do very well to be ready for the start of next season.

This kid is not talented enough at what he's supposed to do for a living to be distracted by what he shouldn't be doing for a living (anything else).

Maradona could snort cocaína all night long, bang women, do adverts and still make opposition defences wet themselves when he got the ball.

He's a decent poacher and a bit of a target man, but ain't no Salah, Kane or Aguero and never will be. He needs at all times to do what he's done upto now to make the most of what he has (his athletiscism) and that's be focused on his game 100%.

Put simply, your "You don't beat million-to-one odds to become a top professional " can be marked out the game by other million-to-one odds professionals who also made the grade, remember he's playing against them, not us!

Once again, he needs to be at the top of his game to have any impact with his basic skill set, to do this he should do what he did to get into the 1st team in the first place, total application.

The summer would be a good time to sell him, if Arsenal will pay £60m grab it and run.

It's not 'sourballs', it's good business to keep him focused.

Thus, given the recent upheaval, time to maybe assess and evaluate, without losing points or games in hand.

We and Brentford won't be the first teams in a poor and / or falling league position to get sucked into a good cup run at the expense of vital league points.

Given there's over 100,000 Russians, armed to the teeth and just waiting for the nod to do a bit of raping and pillaging in his home country, I think it's just possible he may have other things on his mind apart from football at the moment.

His CV would suggest he's a better player than we saw against Norwich so perhaps we should leave it to Frank to figure out where his head's at and whether he's ready to concentrate for 90 minutes or not.

Ya, a Russian Army sat outside Mom and Dad's house, waiting for the signal to move in and wreak havoc might put your mind in another place.

Yep, you have to feel for him, I hope the club are making allowances for him.

I certainly am.

Fashion choice of Calvert-Lewin aside, lol (not that there's anything wrong with that) but if a stupid bid of £70-80 mill came in, it'd be good business to sell as long as a replacement is lined up.

After watching Canada's latest 3 World Cup qualifying games, the player to target is Johnathan David who plays for Lille. The kid has 20 goals in 26 games for Canada, and scored 2 absolutely great goals this last week, 1 against Honduras, which was a beauty, and last night vs El Salvador, another great goal in the 94th minute.

I think he played almost every minute of the 3 games and against The United States, he set up the first goal in a 2-0 win. He's comfortable on the ball, has a bag full of tricks, great stamina, speed and is a winner.

No, he's not a complete striker but, in case you haven't noticed, those guys are kinda rare... and they're not exactly beating down the door to come here.

In all likelihood, we'd just be using that money, at best, to buy a comparable replacement at Dom's level... or taking a chance on someone young and unproven, like we did with Moise Kean. Sometimes that works out, and sometimes it doesn't.

Also, I agree with Mike – taking shots at Dom for being a "sicknote" or implying that he's dogging it (seriously?) is some definite sourballs.

Tom #79, I wasn't commenting on whether to sell him or not. I was commenting on your view that because he has outside interests and makes a big paycheck, he's lazy or uncommitted or distracted or not focused enough. What do YOU think he should be doing when he's not training? Playing FIFA on the couch like a teenager? Nah, not buying it.

However, kudos to Jim Robinson and both of you for recognizing the impact of Ukraine's situation on Mykolenko. The good news is that his hometown of Cherkasy is a long way from the front lines, but he still must not be sleeping nights.

Cannot be easy for the guy, so far away from his family and with what's going on back in his hometown.

For that alone, I think we need to give Mykolenko some time to bed in, and a bit of understanding, just what might be going through his head.

Gray Richarlison and Gordon.

However we have a striker who has just scored a hat-trick – 3 top class goals – representing his country. None of them were tap-ins – he had to play his part in each one of them:

First: he got in front of two markers at the near post to glance in a very good header.

Second: he took a couple of touches on the edge of the box to get his shot away – a daisy cutter just inside the post

Third: he moved into space in the box to receive a pass which he absolutely lashed into the top corner from about 12 yards out.

The goalie had no chance with any of them.

The big mistake Benitez made against Norwich was playing Calvert-Lewin and Rondon together – wrong mix altogether.

In a cup tie, I think he is well worth the punt to start up top in a 4-4-1-1:

Pickford
Coleman, Mina, Branthwaite, Godfrey
Gordon, Allan, Gomes, Gray
Richarlison,
Rondon.

If it doesn't work out, sub him with Townsend and Gray and Richarlison can become the front two.

However, my hope is that Calvert-Lewin stays and has competition from another Canadian striker next season – Cyle Larin.

He's a free transfer in summer and seems to have developed very well in Turkey since the MLS – and has a more robust physique, like Calvert-Lewin. MLS followers will probably be better judges of him though, so interested in thoughts.

As for Mykolenko, he's only just turned up from a very different culture and country. It took players like Henry, Vidic, Evra and others a good season to settle in. Harder still, as others have very sensibly said, if the Russians look set to invade your homeland.

If a player fails to settle or perform, I personally think that reflects very badly on the club. It's up to Everton to look after the players they invest in.

On the subject of Mykolenko give the lad time to adjust to the Premier League and get to know his teammates.

A lot of our sloppy play at the back recently is because they were playing like strangers. Let's hope the new coaching staff get to grips with them quickly.

I had never actually seen him play until the current World Cup qualifiers. He has scored 16 in 17 for Canada. The first dozen were against the Caribbean minnows, but his last four goals have been against the USA and Mexico. He -- not Alphonso Davies or Jonathan David -- is the biggest reason Canada will go to the WC for just the second time in history.

Kieran isn't wrong about David, but he'd cost way, way more than we could afford, and he's a mainstay at Lille, where he is contracted through 2025. I believe he scored the goal that won the Ligue 1 title last season.

Secondly, it is a pity that the "cup-tied" rule prevents Frank from playing (at least in part) 3 of the new players prior to the Newcastle game. Otherwise, this would have provided a good opportunity to try out some new combinations of players.

Pickford
Kenny
Mina
Branthwaite
Mykolenko
Gordon
Allan
Onyango
Townsend
Dobbin
Richarlison

I would not risk Gray; he for me is our best player by far this season and will be essential for our league run-in.

As for Mykolenko, how would any one of us enjoy making our debut in a dysfunctional team, with a dead-in-the-water manager, compared with your predecessor who is playing for the opposition, in one of the most hostile enviroments in the Premier League, with ongoing protests against the Chairman and Board, not speakng the language?

Anyone who has had a bad quad injury would understand. It's a shocker. It takes a long, long time to even get your confidence back because you get so used to it going again every time you feel okay.

1) Kevin Sheedy and James Rodriguez were "left-footed" too. Thinking of converting them to left wing back just because they were left-footed is as daft as your ongoing suggestion we do it with Townsend.

2) I have not once ‘maligned' Godfrey; I have simply stated he's a right footed centre-back and should only ever fill in at left-back when we have absolutley no other option. He cannot beat a man and cross from there, and it limits us offensively. Since ‘offensive play' seems so important to you, you are looking extremely hypocritical not being able to see this very simple fact.

3) “I have written no-one off” and “Mykolenko doesn't look ready cos I've seen two whole games and going to pretend he was shit in the Euro's” in the same sentence. :D

4) I assume your postscript is some kind of crack at the TV show, Smith and Jones? Or is it simply some kind of distraction from having your pants pulled down over the daft suggestion of playing a right-winger at left-wingback?

As for his attire, it'10s a bit rich that many of us of the New Wave generation of the eighties should not find it all great fun. After all, we went to the Camden Palace in London or wished we had have been able to.

By the way, it has been reported that Tosun, too good for Hull, is looking for Everton to buy out the remainer of his contract for £1 million. Only a rich man would ask such a thing , rich on Everton's stupidity.

I would have left my wife and divorced Grahame Sharp to marry Kevin Sheedy.

Sorry, I'm getting over-excited. Why isn't he at Finch Farm?

1983 going into 1984 staring relegation in the face and discontent throughout the support base.

Of course we're going to win the FA Cup and finish 7th. Come on Frankie's blue boys.

We will try to control the game with possession – all of our players will be capable of this, but might take a little while to 'remember' how to do this.

Our formation will not be so reliant on getting it down the wings, crossing for the big man, so we won't be over-reliant on Calvert-Lewin or Rondon as striker. We may go for our smaller, more technically proficient players, to play the ball into.

Well, here's hoping anyway...

It is disingenuous that a player goes from being an international and our leading striker to money-grabbing poseur whilst out of the game through injuries. You don't need a fully functioning hamstring to do a photo shoot. You do need it to play professional football.

I saw Mykolenko at Hull. I was not in the Everton end but in the main stand and had a very good close-up view of him being skinned by their right-wing partnership. However, that does not make him a bad player.

His reputation is based on 3 seasons of consistent good work at club and international level. It is up to the manager to see in training if he has his head on the game and can overcome the technical issues that failed him at Hull. With Baines and Cole around, he should be able to get the right help.

For those talking of sacrificing the cup run to help our league form, I would offer a history lesson. New Year's Day 1984, we were at the wrong end of the table and had just been booed off vs Coventry. People called for Howard Kendall's head.

5 months later, we had played in 2 cup finals, winning one, and started on a run of form that led to the most successful period in the club's history. We did not achieve that be 'resting' players. We did it by playing the best available 11 every game.

Sadly I don't know what our best available 11 is at the moment. But I would suggest it involves Patterson at right-back, Richarlison at centre-forward and 3 players in midfield.

See you tomorrow.

As has already been said, it's a Plan B kind of game, with so many cup-tied or injured, so we might not be able to see Lampard's full plan for the future, but it should be a good indication of how he ranks some of the "maybes" in our squad, like Kenny, Mykolenko, Keane, Gbamin, Dobbin etc.

Is lwobi back yet? Could be the last chance he gets to play as a No 10. Then surely he will be a 12 till next season when he goes out on loan for the couple years that run down his contract.

I used to run over to the TV if l heard our manager talking... but that stopped when Koeman came in; now, l'm back and interested again.

Lille became champions. He moved to Nice where he is again doing great things. However, the vital spark for Lille and Galtier was a man called Luis Campos. He was a poor manager but an absolutely fabulous spotter of talent. It was him who scouted Yves Bissouma, now playing for Brighton, that everybody raves about, and is sometimes touted for Klopp's lot.

Look Luis Campos up on foottheball.com. Google: "Where does Luis Campos live?"

At the moment, I don't think we have a head or European scout. He would be a marvellous acquisition if Everton could get him to act for us. How many gems, I wonder, does he have in his little black book?

Pickford

Patterson
Mina
Godfrey
Mykolenko

Allan
Onyango
Gomes

Gordon
Gray
Richarlison

Alli, Van de Beek and Calvert-Lewin, if fit, to start on Tuesday.

Bring it on!

I think the real interest will be the make up of the back 4 as that is the one area were there all fit to play.

I wonder what El Ghazi is thinking, only a week after he signs the manager who brought him on loan gets sacked, and because he is cup-tied, Saturday was probably one of the few opportunities to try and impress the new manager. Because, with two attacking midfield players being signed and the fact that we have Richarlison, Gray, Gordon, Townsend and even Iwobi who can play wide, I can't see him getting a game.

I for the life of me have no idea why we took another wide player on loan, and I don't rate El Ghazi that highly but you can only feel sorry for him as he expected to come here and get a chance to impress.

[Dons tin hat... come in, Colin Glassar...]

Why risk more injuries to your very best players? Yes, it would be nice to win a cup, but do you really think we are capable even with our best side playing.

As for selling Dominic, okay he's not a Kane but we would struggle to get one as good as him to sign for us. They all want to play Champions League football.

One can only hope that Frank and his coaches are mindful of how fragile our defence is, and can plug the very sizeable gap in front of the back 3/4.

Managing this squad could be compared to a game of "Whack-a-mole"? Solve a problem with the defence, and a problem arises in midfield-solve that and your goal scoring forwards stop scoring or get injured.

I think the signings of Alli and Van de Beek are aimed at us generating both assists and goals from midfield and, if it pays off, it would set us up nicely for a squad overhaul in the summer.

You have no idea how Calvert-Lewin applies himself.

What you do know is that he scored 1 in 2 last season. Whilst most people would agree that scoring goals in the Premier League is the hardest part of the game, you suggest that "if Arsenal will pay £60M, grab it and run".

Do you think that £60 million buys an upgrade on Calvert-Lewinguaranteed to score 20+ goals a season? I doubt it.

If you believe that professional footballers aren't particularly concerned or bothered about being injured, then you probably don't know many.

My Mum used to complain that my Dad would have had a baby to Alan Ball.

I think, given the choice, he would much prefered to have gone straight into the league games.

Lampard is a media darling, and as long as results reflect that positively, surely a good thing?

Ashley Cole... On paper, amazing... I mean Cole and Baines... That's got to be a decent coaching set up in defence? It's positive.

The game on Saturday is a chance to let youth out of the box? Give Dobbin a run?

I'm super excited to go to the game on Saturday. For the first time in a long while, I feel positive...

With five substitutes allowed in these cup games it gives Lampard a chance to freshen that position up quite a bit of leeway.

I'm gong to see them win hopefully but, with apologies to Danny O'Neill and his dream of Wembley, I'm much more concerned with the Newcastle game next Tuesday, sorry Danny!!

When Lampard first used this 3-4-3 system he preferred Hudson-Odoi over both James and Azpilecueta in the right sided role because the idea was to dominate possession in midfield areas and he wanted the best attacking threat to play there to keep the opposition penned.

I suggested Townsend on the left for this game initially for the same reason ahead of Mykolenko and Godfrey. You disagree, fine, but the chief concern tomorrow for me is to prevent Allan and Gomes from being overrun like they have every time they have played together.

Pulling my pants down when you have probably seen the young lad play a handful of times, and has shown next to nothing going forward, do me a favour.

Secondly, having said that about the players, and mindful how combative cup ties can be, it may be that having our new signings cup tied is actually a blessing in disguise as we are forced then to keep them as fit as possible for the league programme which has to be the priority at this time.

If we can advance in the cup and move up the league to relative safety, we can perhaps put more emphasis on the cup, but – despite all the new found and welcome optimism – the spectre of Championshp football next season hangs like a cloud over my waking (and some sleeping) hours.

COYFB - A win by any means tomorrow will do me!

As for the game, I'm intrigued to see Frank Lampard's first selection and game set-up to make a direct comparison with our last (and only) outing under Duncan Ferguson.

Effectively, both have had the same time to prepare the team ahead of the game. With the cup-tied players, both have exactly the same players to choose from.

If anything, Frank has less to choose from than Duncan. Doucoure and Calvert-Lewin were fit to start against Villa, with Allan only on the bench due to returning after Covid-19. Whilst Allan is now probably fit to start, neither Doucoure nor Dom are options for Frank tomorrow.

He has big decisions to make on the selection of his entire back line. He has very few options to refresh the midfield. Good options for the make-up of his forward line.

The style and tactics will also be interesting. Much was made ahead of the Villa game of Duncan filling the team with fire and brimstone. It never materialised as it did 2 years ago when he inspired the team to the 3-1 win over Lampard's Chelsea.

Everton were poor last time out against a very ordinary Villa. None of our big players stepped up. There was virtually zero creativity. Very little down the flanks to feed the strengths of Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison in the middle. We were reduced to the Neanderthal tactic of passing the ball pack to Pickford to lump it upfield. Can Frank do better?

It's going to be a tricky first game for Lampard. The opposition. The selection. The tactics.

I do worry whether Lampard has the resources available to address the hole where a defensive midfielder in the Carsley / Gana Gueye mould would be invaluable.

Looking forward to seeing what the new Manager can get out of this squad.

Some fans treat him as if all other strikers never miss chances, ever. As if every shot made by Kane, Salah, Lukaku goes in back of the net and that's not true, not in the slightest. Salah scores bucketloads cause he shoots bucketloads. He misses loads, but doesn't get grief.

Calvert-Lewin has been slow since his very serious injuries, and has been rushed back into a very underperforming team that isn't creating chances.

Once he's back, I hope he stays... him and Alli could make a serious partnership.

As for tomorrow's game, hope to see the full backs, also hope to see Onyango and Dobbin. Expect Mina to be rested, and Allan not to play the full 90 minutes. 4-3-3 and a glimpse into the future. 2-1 win and Goodison roaring again.

Fortunately, Frank Lampard isn't as dim as that particular poster. He has already told the board that Dominic should stay. Didn't the same poster repeatedly say that we should stick with Benitez?

As for criticism of Calvert-Lewin for having the temerity to pull his quad, he has averaged 32 league appearances per season over the last 4 years. Therefore, his ‘extramural' (?!) activities have not impacted his availability or performances.

Sustaining injuries is the risk that's present in every game, or training session.

The midweek league game is, in my opinion, far more important than Brentford.

3-5-2 for me with pace to get numbers in the box when attacking:

Pickford
Godfrey Mina Branthwaite
Patterson Allan Onyango Townsend Gray
Gordon Richarlison

Frank Lampard v Brentford

Killerton Parkrun. Cooked breakfast (a rare treat), a win of any sort v Brentford. Catch the rugby. Nice meal and a few drinks with friends (at my age, 67, no clubbing!)

And I would give up 4 of them for the 5th – the win.

It will be an intriguing team selection given the limited options. I think we may see a surprise or two focused on youth.

If he gets his team defending well and playing with pace and spirit, he won't go far wrong. He needs to be his own man regarding his man-management, selection and tactics, and start with a convincing win. Good luck.

No run for me but a bit of animal husbandry first thing whatever the weather, rest of the morning chilling, beer at lunchtime footy in the afternoon and Chinese New Year with a Chinese in the evening. Hopefully a triple celebration if the footy turns out well!

Tomorrow's game is a chance for Goodison Park to show its true colours and try and get the team through the game and into the next round. It isn't an easy task but it is possible to progress.

As for the Dominic Calvert-Lewin debate, he might not be 'world class' as some expect him to be – lord knows why – but this Everton team has missed his presence more than many would have expected.

Anyway, I hope the crowd is at its enthusiastic best tomorrow and that we make it into the hat for the next round. I do agree that, at this juncture, Premier League points are very important, but a good cup run could help the team to gain confidence and then go and get those points we require. I see little advantage in going out of the FA Cup at this early stage.

My oldest son was born the year after we last won a trophy, at least 25% of our match day crowd, have never seen us win a trophy...

Come on, Frank, if you thought the crowd was special when Everton beat Chelsea, wait until you win us something, please mate!

In the November match, our players were embarrassed by the amount of possession they had and how little they were able to achieve with it.

If, and it is a big if, our team tighten up at the back and Gray and Richarlison step up a gear, we really should be able to win this one.

In comparison Mykolenko still looked a bit of a liability to me, something we can't afford in a knock-out cup match.

I dunno about Patterson – only Frank does, we hope!

For me too, Gordon, Gray and Townsend must start. For once, we need early attacks and goals to subdue Brentford and calm the nerves.

Pickford
Godfrey Mina Branthwaite
Paterson Townsend Allan Gomes Mykolenko
Richarlison Gordon or Gray

Out of our five centre-backs these are the best three.

I was impressed with Paterson getting forward last week for the U23s, plenty of energy, covers ground well, closes down and puts in some first-class crosses. Going to be a great player for us. I want to see him start.

Mykolenko may well show more if chosen; he will have settled down a bit and also has a reputation for attacking the left flank.

Pick any two from Richarlison, Gordon and Gray. Impossible to decide, but I'd go for Richarlison and Gordon.

Clearly we want a win, but for me it's also the style of the win and the way we play. Let's see if we can turn in a performance that helps to get some momentum for the games ahead.

Ronaldo, Tevez, Neymar, Ghoerge Hagi, Adnan Junazaj, Manny Fernandes (remember him?) – no space for me sadly! Maybe in goal.

Happy birthday (tomorrow) to the lot of them.

Regardless of the outcome I hope he shows what he is made of and how he is going to manage with his formation.

I don't understand some of the comments on Calvert-Lewin. This is the first time he has had a serious injury, and suddenly he becomes injury prone. I just don't like all these pundits talking about him going to Arsenal as if it is a done deal.

Be looking for a site to watch the game tomorrow as, living in Canada, every sports channel we have are all showing the Olympics.

Personally, I rate him and think he has been missed. I struggle to think of anyone we could get to replace him at a cheaper price.

Pickford
Coleman, Mina, Branthwaite, Godfrey
Allan, Gomes
Gordon, Richarlison, Gray
Dobbin

Give a couple of the youngsters a bit of a go.

Let's hope, as soon as he receives the ball, he doesn't have to look up as he will know what part of the pitch where the forward runners are.

Remember Sheedy? As soon as Sheedy received the ball, he knew Inchy [Adrian Heath] was on his way down the left and the rest is history.

At number 2 is Allan at 3 times per 90. And tofielp of the charts is Andre Gomes at a breathtaking 4.6 times per match. Take a bow son.

I know these are isolated stats and don't tell the whole story, but they tell enough of it for me to feel worried at the idea of those two playing double pivot.

We still lack a reliable defensive central midfielder, which may cost us, especially if Lampard wants us to play a more attacking brand of football.

Thanks for posting Frank Lampard's comments from the match day programme, I don't know how you can do that, but I am of an age were modern technology has long since passed me bye. When I read the notes I was thinking it must be 50-odd years since I bought a home match programme.

I like Frank Lampard and he sets the tone perfectly, and as I said in another thread I think his backroom staff is as good as we have ever had. We have often had great coaches like Colin Harvey and Eggleston before him but this entire backroom staff is full of quality and experience.

I, like everybody, am excited to see how Frank sets his team up, but just lets remember we have only won 1 of our last 14 Premier League games and as luck would have it we play another Premier League team tomorrow.

I was really worried if we stayed with Benitez there was a good chance we could go down, but I don't feel under the same pressure with Lampard and his coaches in charge.

Let's be honest –all season people have moaned about our midfield and what's the first thing Lampard does within 48 hours of signing? He brings in 2 attacking midfield players, sadly neither can play tomorrow. So, even looking from outside, he has identified the problem in midfield and has done something about it.

I hope the crowd don't turn on the new man if things don't go right; it will make the next 3 vital games all the more difficult.

Alex Young, Howard Kendall, Graeme Sharp, Trevor Steven, Dave Watson, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka are just some of the players who made tentative starts but went on to be club stalwarts.

Reading about my adopted international team, the good old USA, and how they've just pulled off a brilliantly professional maneuver, to help them qualify for the next World Cup.

All's fair in love and war, so I have no sympathy for those poor Hondurans, who ended up on an intravenous drip, because they were suffering from hyperthermia, due to the freezing cold weather, because it's not as if playing in Qatar is going to be easy for a lot of European nations, next season!!

Thanks as always for the USA support, but I'm afraid the "clever" decision to play in the Minnesota Freezer just came off looking really dim. The US didn't need the help of the weather to beat a hapless Honduras side.

Watching the lonely US keeper do sprints trying to keep warm -- Honduras never got a shot on goal -- was comical, and players slipping on the glassy surface wasn't a good look either.

Christian Pulisic was visibly furious about the conditions after the game, and he grew up in Pennsylvania and Michigan, so he's used to playing in the cold. This was nuts.

Let's hope we both have a completely happy day. COYB.

What I don't understand is that performance in the League has been the same style after Moyes left, is either we start well and nosedived by December/January period or we start woefully and then improve towards the end of the season. What could be the problem?

I have been supporting the team since immediately after 2002 World Cup, when Joseph Yobo joined the team. I really don't know what the problem is. We have fired coaches more than any other club Premier League club (I think so).

Let the team use this weekend game to hear us and see smiles on our faces.

Good Day, fellow Evertonians.

Prince always said "the cold in Minnesota keeps the bad people out"

Not sure what the poor Hondurans did to deserve playing in a fridge at –19C!

First press conference I've enjoyed in about 2 years if I'm being honest.

No dodging questions or shifty answers or raised eyebrow(s) or any other bollocks, just a very honest assessment of where we are and where we need to be.

I was determined not to get carried away with this appointment, such has been the shit show of the last 5 or 6 years, but I'm really excited about the rest of the season now.

Still lots of work to do I know but I'm genuinely looking forward to going to the game tomorrow and that hasn't been the case for the last few months.

In Frank we trust. Onward Evertonians. Full support. 💙

Hopefully the changes made to the coaching staff will start to show before it's too late. COYB.

Unfortunately, Everton won't be able to play any of their newly acquired acquisitions from Premier League clubs. Disappointing for Everton fans and the manager.

Thankfully we have a manager who will make all the right calls and the offer would have to be spectacular for Frank to even consider it, which I don't think he will. The age of both Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison means they have both many years in front of them and hopefully that will be in an Everton shirt.

He's been out since August, for fuck's sake, so give the guy a bit of slack.

I watched the USA game with my missus who is a yank and who loves to win!

I was impressed by Antonee Robinson. He is so alert. It is as if he moves for the ball before it has been played and he is never late into a tackle. We let go of some talent when we sold him.

The most hard done to team in the premier league, we are correct, the referees hate us.

Would be great if it was drilled into even further, to prove that Jon Moss has cost us at least half of those points.

Mike G often goes on about Robinson, Ed, and although I didn't think he was ready when he went to Wigan, it was obvious that he was quick, strong, and going to be a powerful physical player. It maybe another case of a club with no stability, often losing good young players because of the constant managerial merry-go-round?

If Frank and Co get a tune out of them, it will reflect badly on Benitez. Obviously it will also reflect badly on some of the players who should be professional enough to perform regardless.

I was astounded when Duncan sent them out with a midfield two; surely, surely Frank will play a three?

He has 2 poor games coming back from a bad injury? Absolutely disgraceful. Fire the guy.

If the crowd turn on a new boss after one game, I hope they get what they deserve.

Once he gets his best team out, I think we'll coast to safety. Patience will be key with our new manager and players.

If we can restrict the mighty Brentford to 1 - 2 at Goodison Park then job done!

I think we may have to wait until Saturday next week for the Frank revolution to kick in.

He's away serving at the moment. Here's to him coming home safe and we can make that trip to Wembley in May. Failing that, Goodison will do nicely.

I suspect he will find a story or example to fix the players' minds on the tasks needed to find a result on Saturday and Tuesday. Squeak it vs. Brentford and start slow then dominate the Shitpies. We may even see some lineups that flat-out go for it as we don't have the players in the middle.

I think it will be a very open game... in a way neither team would be too bothered by losing as staying in the Premier League is obviously more important.

I have no idea how strong the side Thomas Frank puts out will be. I suspect a few rested for Man City and Crystal Palace coming up.

After a great start, the lack of squad depth has hampered our efforts and losing David Raya in goal was a massive loss. With by far the smallest budget in the Premier League, we are just glad to be outside the Bottom 3.

Anyway, look forward to a lively occasion in front of a raucous crowd... all the best for the rest of the season.

Big game this, a winnable one but unavailable players mean that we won't get a real sense of how Frank wants to set up and with whom. I would go for:

Pickford
Patterson Mina Godfrey Mykolenko
Allan Onyango Gomes
Gray Richarlison Gordon

Antonee has pretty much locked up the left-back spot for the World Cup and he's statistically the best attacking full-back in the Championship.

When I think of how we punted him off for £2million, and much better we'd look with him as our left-back now, it just makes me sick.

My team tomorrow would be (4-3-3):

Pickford
Patterson
Mina
Godfrey
Mykolenko
Gordon
Allan
Onyango
Richarlison
Gray
Townsend

Probable line up (4-4-2):

Pickford
Coleman
Keane
Mina
Godfrey
Allan
Gomes
Townsend
Gray
Richarlison
Rondon

Welcome to the best football forum there is, John Hood. Once it's touched you, there's no going back.

I respectfully wish you a miserable trip back to Euston and west London tomorrow! I've had enough of them this season.

I am pretty sure my late Uncle went as he was a Brentford fan and went on about going to Goodison twice (since I was an Everton fan) – once during the 1966 World Cup and another occasion as a Brentford fan versus Everton. I imagine it may have been the 1954 game as we haven't crossed paths much since.

I did inherit his signed brochure (Pele and Co signed it) after the World Cup game at Goodison. Sadly I didn't get one from the Brentford visit. I don't think he was starstruck enough for that one. But there are a couple of veteran fans on here who may have been at the game you mention.

I appreciate the lesson on what it takes to be a top player but I don't think you are speaking from experience. My impression is that Calvert-Lewin appears to be more focused on his image than his football.

As for your “sourballs” comment, you don't know me from Adam so wind your neck in, lad. There's no need to get personal. Having read your welcomed contributions here over the last number of years, I expected a bit more from you.

ToffeeWeb had a bit of a return to the past a few weeks ago when that Everton 6 Brentford 1 game was mentioned a few times because it was one of the games when Everton scored 20 goals in three league matches. I was at the that game but remember mostly the score rather than much about the actual game, 1954 was the year Everton gained promotion.

Was Brentford in the first division the year football started after the end of the Second World War?

I did thousands of interviews with professional athletes during my first career as what you'd call a sports "journo" on US TV. So when I talk about what makes them tick, I am speaking from a certain degree of knowledge.

And I never met a single one of them, no matter how attention-hungry, who was "more focused on his image than his" athletic endeavors. Not one.

What is the point of that post?

Gordon is not George Best and never will be. Take that!

Your team and manager have been great for the Premier League. It will be lovely to see your people tomorrow.

The sensitivity to being called sourballs is somewhat out of line with the rhetoric. Insulting our main striker after what we've all been through with the club is bound to get a response from one of the more optimistic followers. But then again your initial statement seemed to invite that.

Maybe not the preferred starting eleven but a chance to impress the new gaffer in any event. The quicker Frank can assess who is part of his future plans, the better.

Most of us agree we have some dross in the squad and they have had ample opportunity before now to show something, so the clock may be ticking for those players.

I'm not on here to “insult Calvert-Lewin” but what I will say is that he is a limited striker not in the class of Salah or Aguero or even a Shearer. He's not consistent enough but my opinion is that, if he worked at his craft, he could be a top striker.

This is an opinions site. My view is that we are all Evertonians but no one view being more important than the other.

No-one is out to get anybody. Just play through when you hit someone's nerves and you don't wish to take it back. We all get that and we all get caught out from time to time.

By the way, you wouldn't sell him for £60M would you?

"Whilst it is only the FA Cup" Only? While our chances may be slight, it's our one possible route to success this season, as well as Europe. It's also the trophy that brought us our last piece of happiness some 27 years ago.

I realize the relegation battle is more important financially but, with 18 games left, we should have enough in the tank to put in a performance tomorrow and eek out the six wins we need in the league.

And if putting an effort in the cup tomorrow is the difference between staying up and being relegated, then I think that ship will probably sail anyway.

Dry January over is it??

Never said he was!!!

As for being caught out... What the hell are you on about, lad? I have expressed an opinion. Okay, you might not share it but it's mine and I'm not in a club of one. Read through the comments above and you will see others of similar views.

"By the way, you wouldn't sell him for £60M would you?"

Yes, I would. If someone comes up with that amount of money or more for an inconsistent centre-forward, then absolutely – all day long.

Now that's my opinion... oh shit, sorry – I've been "caught out" again. Three hail Marys and an Our Father for me.

I can't see any evidence that Calvert-Lewin is more focused on his image than on his football. He just happens to be a subject of some fashion attention because of his physicality, plus his profile rose when he played for England last season. Arguably, it's about time we had some ‘fashionable attention' in the media, can't do the profile of Everton any harm.

On his injuries, until this season, he has been pretty robust and free from injuries and niggles. But I'm not surprised that he's eventually succumbed to the pressures of playing constantly. Because of our lack of strength-in-depth in the squad, and the reluctance of previous managers to play the youngsters, Calvert-Lewin has arguably been over-played and through it over-stressed physically. The Premier League is tough and pacy, Calvert-Lewin has been brilliant in many aspects of his play, such as pressing and hold-up, and he's had a lot of close attention from markers, making eventual injury almost inevitable.

For me, it's tiresome seeing some posters on ToffeeWeb having a go at Calvert-Lewin at the first opportunity. On balance, he's a top striker with fantastic commitment, and it's a bit laughable to see some Evertonians eager to be rid of him.

Will they never learn? Some folks don't know what they've got ‘til it's gone.

Stan, that last sentence is one that could be cast over many phases of our recent history. Some for the better and some not.

I also think there is something important about Lampard as our manager: he is a spiritual fit, as is his team. By which I (and I believe many) mean that he just appears right and destined to work.

This isn't, for God's sake, a religious point. It is just so. I feel in my bones that the curse is lifted and, therefore, it is. Sports Science, if you don't mind.

Watch out, Satanklopp, your Kingdom must come down.

Far be it from me to question your adoration of Antonee Robinson, but you appeared to make a snide condemnation of Everton "punting him off" for a paltry £2M to Wigan.

If he's really as good as you say he is, and you were a US TV sports journalist, after all, could you perhaps explain why he was then sold by Wigan just a year later, for the same princely sum of £2M, to lowly Fulham?

Or could it be an infamous case of "Championship at best"? Just saying.

Of course he's a "limited" striker. For all his physical gifts -- pace, strength and 90-minute stamina -- he is by nature a singularly untalented striker in comparison to the others you mentioned (three of the greatest in the world BTW). Dom has no shooting ability, lacks quick feet and creativity, and doesn't have a natural goal poacher's instinct.

Yet he became a quality goalscorer -- and, yes, a goal every 174 minutes is quality -- by working hard to develop anticipation, to move first for the incoming ball rather than waiting for it, and by educating his feet and head to score with the first touch because he could not create space for himself. And all you have to do is watch him to see his relentless effort to get into the right positions, both up the pitch and in front of goal.

If you can see his remarkable improvement since 2019, observe all that drive on the pitch, and still say he hasn't worked at his craft... well, you go right ahead.

I wasn't merely snide when we sold him off without a single runout in the first team. I threw a rather undignified tantrum about it right here on TW. Nailed my colors to the wall and proclaimed it a huge mistake. Still feel that way.

Make no mistake, Antonee still has a ways to go -- he still makes bad decisions and relies too much on his recovery speed when he gets caught out of position -- but I'd bet you we'll see him in the Prem a year from now, after Qatar.

Tomorrow, she gets married; I hope it maybe a good omen.

First home game I will miss for ages.

At least Transfermarkt think his value is on the rise: €1.5M when we sold him; €3.5M when he went to Fulham, and €9.0M now, so he is apparently getting better. Thanks for explaining the strange transfer fee.

Let's hope we are all smiling tomorrow. COYB.

Did you know he's the first true left-back in USMNT history? We've always played out-of-position center-backs and midfielders there (Eddie Lewis, Damarcus Beasley, Jeff Agoos).

But I still daydream about him romping up the left touchline at Goodison. Ah, well.

Can anyone tell me why the FA have failed to max the sponsorship so to increase winnings to £100 million to the winners? I know you will laugh, but why?

It is scanderlous what our week Football Association has lowered itself to. It's a blubbering shit-show of an organisation but there may be hope because our club is an example but I am hoping we set a new trend... ah?

The guy is a monster of a striker who also puts a shift in and sounds like he genuinely loves the club.

Yes he's not a natural finisher, but £60M? I'd want well over £100M for him and I'd still be gutted.

However, take away Harry Kane's penalties, and I bet Calvert-Lewin is not far behind in the last couple of seasons.

While he's still here, with goals from Gray, Richarlison, and Alli ... that's a tasty line-up when it happens.

Better than West Ham and Tottenham? There's a chance if it all clicks.

Yep. Fella who played for us a couple of years ago was Dom's superior in all three. Having a bumpy ride at Chelsea these days but still pretty great.

And that blond kid at Dortmund tops 'em both. Just 21, goal-a-game in the Bundesliga, one of the fastest strikers ever recorded.

Congrat,s mate. Hope Everton add an extra boost to your family's happy occasion.

We spend £25M on Tosun, £20M on Walcott and they stink. We spend £45M on Richarlison, and we all love him, but hardly the same goal threat.

By absolute fluke, Walsh and Koeman amongst their millions of waste, spent £1½M on a young striker who years later scores 20+ goals in a season.

And our fans want rid 'if anyone bids £XM'.

Replacing goalscorers is not an easy business. Not in the slightest. So, for a club at our current level, to see fans so willing to sell our only proven goalscorer... it beggars belief.

You raise a good point but I think the issue is the expectation people maximize their potential. You get someone shite like Niasse or Stracqualursi and people accept a modest return based on their talents. You get Lukaku talking about being the worlds best and people get annoyed when he seems disinterested.

For an analogy, in school I always did the absolute minimum I could in order to do better than my friends. My teachers would say “Don't compare yourself with them cause you can do better.” But while it's easy to say “You could do more Lukaku, Calvert-Lewin etc”, if you get rid of them performing at 70 percent as a point of principle, who do you replace them with?

I like Chris Wood, a good old-fashioned forward who gives his all. But at 31 with modest goal stats, £60 million for Calvert-Lewin seems like daylight robbery.

Moral of the story? Appreciate the outcome instead of resenting the player for not doing his perceived best.

Both are undoubtedly better finishers, but we have a player who we can only name the very best in the world as being better than him, and some people want to let him go for £60M!!

The one area where Dom has become among the best headers in the world IMO is in the middle of the pitch. He seems to win every aerial duel on clearances, more often than not finding a teammate with the flick or knockdown. Given our inability to control the ball in midfield, I think we've missed that part of his game as much as his goals. Maybe more.

There's always sunshine after the storm.

UTFT

We need good vibes, not cheap jibes...

A nickel?

So COYB!

I know it's all PR shots but, non the less, it's great to see some smiles for once. When that last (insert expletive) manager was in charge, did anyone ever smile? It makes a difference and long may it continue.

Looking forward to seeing Frank's team selection. I see no reason why he won't pick his best available team, starting as he means to go on, ie, with a win! COYB!!!

Danny (post 101)... what wouldn't I give to see good times like that semi-final win against Bayern. I was a nipper at the time in the Top Balcony with my old man. I still get goosebumps thinking about it 37 years later. I hope my son gets the same Everton experience we enjoyed in the '80s.

Up the Blues!!!

For me £60 million is a fair price for Calvert-Lewin, he may become world-class but as yet he hasn't hit that level consistently.

Richarlison on the other hand, who I feel is the big threat to leave in the summer, is consistently world class and his value will reflect that.

A really decent human being but sadly not a class striker, IMHO.

So excited for this afternoon. I have been really impressed with Frank so far, what he's had to say. He's been honest but upbeat and that is one serious coaching team he has got on board.

I am pleased about that as I have felt we have been light in that dept for quite a few years, I suspect a cheaper contract for the manager has enabled us to do that and give him the tools to be the best he can be. Now to translate that new-found optimism around the place onto the pitch. I think it will be a tough game today and I am not expecting miracles. I hope we squeeze through.

As for above comments slating Calvert-Lewin, I just don't get it. We paid £1.5M for him, nurtured him and have seen him grow into a top player. Barbed comments about him not being 'world class' are missing the point really, we can't sign world class players, we can buy high potential ones though and nurture them and boy have we done that with Calvert-Lewin.

He is one of the fastest strikers in the Premier League and one of the best headers of the ball, his hold-up play is excellent (pre-injury, give him time) and the only thing that still needs work is his finishing but under Carlo that was excellent too.

Now, given our financial situation, I will understand and respect if the club sell both Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin over the next two years. If we got £130M+ for the two and brought two high potential and safe signings in to replace them, then that is good business and makes sense. For these reasons I had absolutely no problem at all with the Digne business we did.

Back to the match today, dreaming of a win over breakfast and sending positive vibes over to Frank and the boys.

After 4 months out, he must be given time to get match sharp and he's not being helped by playing in such a poor team.

Have to agree. He is our marquee player. I welcome the fact he has a high profile outside of football. It raises the club's profile in a positive way (which god knows we need).

There are so many clubs where the fans would just be so happy that a player like Calvert-Lewin has returned from injury and would be supporting him all the way to a full return to fitness. Not at Everton though, "get rid", "not good enough", "fancy Dan", etc etc etc – it does my head in.

The FA Cup, is one of two cups that we can win, and people say, "It's only the FA Cup"?

Sorry Tom, I think I've said it before on this thread, but to win the cup would be absolutely brilliant, especially for all the kids and even young men now, who have followed Everton Football club, week-in & week-out, absolutely everywhere for years, and never even seen us lift one trophy.

It's got that bad, I'd take going down to win the FA Cup and, although it's a contradiction, it's because I have always believed that Everton existed to win (until Mr Good Times, came along) and this 27 years lark, is absolutely fucking horrible.

Only the FA Cup? I'd give nearly anything to see Everton dancing round Wembley with that cup.

Personally I think he is very limited in his ability's as a striker. Most of his goals have been tap-ins around the 6-yard area and the odd header, very few goals are from 18-20 yards out or more. If we can get a huge fee for him and try to find a better replacement that would be good business for the club.

Also I don't think he does himself any favours with his outrageous dress sense. What is that all about? The club should never have allowed him to make himself look so stupid, he's made himself an easy target for opposition fans to wind-up.

Benitez admitted he hadn't wanted to give him so many minutes in his return match but circumstances took over.

He will take a while to find match fitness but he is a quality striker and irreplaceable for £60M.

On the question of the best header of the ball, I think Richarlison is even better.

A close game today but I fancy us to edge it.

Frank Lampard has to be given backing to create a team to achieve it. I think the forward line now is very strong, Top 6 standard. The two players brought in to give us goals from midfield also gives us a top six standard attacking midfield.

So we need to be addressing the weak links at Centre back and central midfield. Leave the rest of the team alone.

Events may play out in that Richarlison goes to PSG when Mbappe leaves, Mina may well be sold as he has one year left on his contract.

Strengthening from these ‘sort of' enforced departures is what we need to be planning for. I want a Declan Rice, Kalvin Philips midfielder, I want a Rudiger of a centre-back. These now are the blueprints for players that will take us up a level.

Amidst the euphoria these are the departments that have been overlooked in the transfer window. We are vulnerable at central midfield, and central defence. It is still going to be a struggle for us to control games that are physical battles.

On a positive note, Frank Lampard will have us more on the front foot with the players at his disposal. At last, we will be taking the game to our opponents rather than being the willing supplicant, then having to panic and claw our way back into a game. We will be set up to score two or three goals, not as a KITAP1.

I think the quality we have will be enough to give us the necessary wins to see us safe this season before more team building in the summer that will turn us into Top 6 contenders. Frank Lampard and the very professional coaching team he has assembled will see to that.

As for his dress sense, he can go to the pub wearing an emu costume for all I care if he is going to score on the next match.

"He can go to the pub wearing an emu costume" but Rod Hull won't be behind him! 🤔🤦‍♂️

Seriously, I don't think today's game is a given, they will want to win as much as we do. However, I believe the events of the last few days, and the reported elevation of spirits, with Frank and his new staff, will swing it in our favour.

COYB 💙

I will be in The Dark House (The Barlow Arms, Barlow Lane – a 3-minute walk to the ground) from around 12:10 or 12:15 – it would be nice to meet you.

Brentford beat Everton recently.

Interesting absent U23 players. I actually fancy Lampard putting his faith in youth rather than on underperforming error-prone players. It will begin on the training ground with assessement of fitness and attitude. Everton's performance against Chelsea will not have gone unnoticed by Frank.

Spot on!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ojKkYYti5M

God knows what some people want from a player...

Firstly, why is Calvert-Lewin suddenly in the sights of the Lynch mob as the latest whipping boy? He's been injured and has also suffered a dip in form. But with the atmosphere around the club and form in general, which player hasn't? All players suffer drops in form; especially strikers.

He's developed into a good in-the-box striker. His form will come back. He's no all-round striker in the sense that Harry Kane is, but he's a good striker.

Second, to echo the sentiment. Just the FA Cup? We want to, should want to and need to win a trophy. This competition provided the platform for Howard Kendall's success. It arguably saved Alex Ferguson's Manchester United bacon and gave him the platform on which to build.

Just the FA Cup? Give me it every day rather than the modern Sky influenced belt-fed line that generally comes from dour British managers who play it down because finishing 12th in the Premier League is more important to their CV.

The first trophy I saw Everton lift (in person as well) was the FA Cup. I know there is a suspicious generation out there who grew up with Moyes's playing down of expectation and have never seen us lift a trophy. Don't underestimate the power that success and winning can have.

Feeling positive today. We're up for the league and up for the cup. Everton on the up and up.

I think today's game will be used by Lampard to have a look at some of the fringe players.

On the other hand, he won't want to lose his first game; it makes for difficult decisions.

You should always want to keep your best players.

But if you do sell, get the best deal and reinvest. Dare I say, our red cousins have done very well in that sense to steadily progress despite selling their best assets on more than one occasion. They just didn't get seen off… and bought wisely with the subsequent incoming funds.

Winning is what football is all about, watching grown men going absolutely berserk, kids going even madder, and Evertonians singing “We Shall Not Be Moved” whilst the team parade the trophy around the stadium. That's what I long to see again but, because it's been so long, some people seem to have forgotten how beautiful it really is.

Bloody Hell, Colin, I shudder to think what Kenwright will get, maybe Moshiri will make him the Earl of Merseyside.

I can still see him and point him out on the footage.

Me (a teenager), ecstatic. My dad, a grown man and father of 4, delirious and behaving like a teenager.

Let's do this, Everton.

You refer to our Red Cousins' steady progress in the transfer market and their steady progress in general. You have forgotten one important ingredient: They are fucking Jammy Bastards!!!

On the question of Antonee Robinson's transfer fee, as this link explains there was a clause in his Wigan contract that ensured he would be sold at a knocked down price if they were relegated, as happened.

Robinson's Fulham Transfer

As the story also recalls, Everton had the option to resign Antonee which Brands attempted to do, but the player – not surprisingly – wasn't interested.

Would love to see a confidence-boosting win but priority must go to Tuesday's match. I'd like to see a mix of youth and experience so would start with:

Kelly
Patterson
Mina
Branthwaite
Cole
Gordon
Lampard
Onyango
Baines
Dobbin
Ferguson

“It must be hard for the young
To get excited and soft eyed,as we,
Over you
You who had seen and heard
Everything
Carried all those Empresses
Taken millions to Brave New Worlds
And brought back our fathers
Flags, monkeys, parrots
Niagra Falls on the side of lampshades
Chinese dragons on shiny jackets
And stories and songs to be
Told and sung in pubs”

Into my room - - desk, postcards, pens, paper, notepads, Littlewoods Clock, Goodsion Snow Shaker, photos, music - - Marvin Gaye right now - - Ain't That Peculiar - - Hey hey - - dancing with Mary Walsh at The Mardi or The Babalou or maybe Reeces Monday Night - - Soul Night - - shot silk green suit - - made to measure by Mr. Harrison Kirkdale Road - - silk hankie in top pocket - - Ben Sherman - - dovetail vent in the back - - parallels - - ox blood Comos on - - my oh my - - turning around I can see the Dome at New Brighton - - it's raining now - - but nothing can dampen my spirits today - - go on through anything you got at me and I will just bounce it off me and move forward:

“Zippin' up my boots
Goin' back to my roots yeah
To the place of my birth
Back down to earth.
I've been standing in the rain
Drenched and soaked with pain
Tired of short time benefits
And being exposed to the elements.
I'm homeward bound
Got my head turned around.
Ain't talkin' 'bout no roots in the land
Talkin' 'bout the roots in the man.
I feel my spirit gettin' old
It's time to recharge my soul”

The greyness and the rain cannot stop me - - what is not to be happy about - - it's Saturday - - FA Cup game - -3.00pm KO - - Yahoooo - - 11.30 - - pick up Dave Own - - Dark House around 12.00ish - - I try my best to surround myself with “posso waves” - - negativity is seriously contagious - - but so is Positivity - - know which one I want - - the sheer joy of meeting friends - - driving along Scottie - -memories from a beautiful childhood - - my goodness Dave and Tony - - how lucky were we - - “What larks hey Pip old chap” - - just sitting here writing - - Jackie Wilson in the background - - oh Man:

“Now once, I was down-hearted
Disappointment, was my closest friend
But then you, came and it soon departed
And you know he never
Showed his face again
I'm so glad, I've finally found you
Yes that one, in a million girls
And I whip, my loving arms around you, honey
I can stand up, and face the world”

Scotty - - in my heart forever - - gives me strength - - St. Ollies - - Great Mersey Street - - Evelyn's Chippie - - Pigs Feet and Tripe on trays in thew window - - The Doll's Hospital - - Mary Walsh walking down Lambeth Road to meet me - - long hair blowing - - paisley mini dress - - cool beyond cool - - a great dancer - - me - - with my cool suit and Comos - - silk hankie flopping around - - ready to move - - out most nights - - dancing - - me walking along Smith Street - - Otis Blue under my arm - - did I ever think things would change and planners would destroy our world - - or try to - - they failed - - our spirit is indestructible - - did I ever consider I would drink in TDH - - never - - and through it all - - Everton - - walking along Wessie Road - - the excitement of it all - - let anyone try and destroy that - - they cannot - - it is in us - - it is in our spirit - - our soul - - it was in our Mams - - and their Mams - - it was in the goodness of the people - - our families - - neighbours called Aunty or Uncle - - respect given and respect for all cemented into our psyche - - written on our soul and our hearts - -“Oh Lucky Man” - - helping your Mam with the shopping along Greaty Saturday morning before the game - - excitement bubbling - - never let that go - - “posso waves all the way” - - how lucky we were - - and are - - there is nothing to beat love and friendship - - the new world has not hardened me:

“When they see me walkin' down the street (hey, hey, hey)
None of the fellas want to speak (hey, hey, hey)
On their faces they wear a silly smirk 'cause they know I'm the king of the cool jerk, whoo
Ha, ha, ha
Look at them guys lookin' at me like I'm a fool (cool jerk, uh-huh)
But, aww, deep down inside they know I'm cool (cool jerk, uh-huh)
I said, now, I said now, the moment of truth has finally come (cool jerk, uh-huh)
When I'ma to show you some, some of that cool jerk (cool jerk, uh-huh)
Now, give me a little bit of drums, by himself, there
Now, give me a little bit of bass, with those 88's
Aww, you're cookin' baby!
Hmm, you're smokin'!
Hmm-hmm-hmm!
Now everybody, I wanna hear you all”

So here I am - -still in my dressing gown and its getting on towards 10.30 - - have to go and get ready - - I still tingle with the thoughts of going to the game and going along those Streets of Memory :

“And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will float
Into the mystic”

I did several Media Interviews this week - - regarding Lampard's Appointment - - and I repeat as always - - I am an Evertonian - - it's time - - I said - - to leave all those negative waves behind and move forward with “Cosmic Blue Waves” - - really - - We All Love Everton - - let's show it:

“Yellow lorry slow, nowhere to go
But oh, that magic feeling, nowhere to go
Oh, that magic feeling
Nowhere to go, nowhere to go
One sweet dream
Pick up the bags and get in the limousine
Soon we'll be away from here
Step on the gas and wipe that tear away
One sweet dream came true today
Came true today
Came true today (yes, it did)
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
All good children go to Heaven”

So - - here we go - - Up The Blues - - Cosmic Blue Waves Sent Up Into The Coll Blue astral - -Just Look Up and Catch Them - - They Are For You - -If You Don't Want Them - - Fine - - just leave them for others - -r remember it takes a bit of breath (especially at my age) to blow up a lovely Blue Balloon - - but - - it just takes one prick to burst it - - gonna blow a note for you all on my Harmonica - - there you go - -just going downstairs for a shower and pick up Dave and going to meet friends - - a last bit of Mr.Lennon:

“Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you, Julia
Julia, Julia
Oceanchild calls me
So I sing the song of love
Julia
Julia, seashell eyes
Windy smile calls me
So I sing the song of love
Julia
Her hair of floating sky is shimmering
Glimmering in the Sun
Julia, Julia
Morning moon touch me
So I sing the song of love
Julia
When I cannot sing my heart
I can only speak my mind
Julia
Julia, sleeping sand, silent cloud
Touch me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
Hmm hmm hmm
Calls me
So I sing the song of love for
Julia, Julia, Julia”

With a firm handshake - - GWAMCK.

We haven't been able to spot bargains in the market such as Salah, I think that's been our biggest weakness.

The much-maligned Martinez managed to do that with Lukaku plus one or two younger players who were developed while he was manager.

His no-nonsense approach has impressed players at Finch Farm, with the attitude Lampard requires likely to prevent them from being dragged into a relegation battle.

On Lampard's first day on the job, one player arrived to a post-lunch meeting seconds late after stopping to tie his laces, and was told to have £1,000 in cash on the bosses table the day after.

However, despite turning up with the money, he was relieved when Lampard refused to take it from him – citing the player with a 'warning'.

I think he is a few weeks away from fitness so unlikely but agree with your sentiments. Will be a great moment for all supporters and football in general when he takes to the field again.

George #267, great words as always, enjoy the game. UTFT

COYB

I don't think squad building is one of Bobby's better attributes. He took Wigan down because they didn't have enough cover in defence and signed some awful squad players in his time at Everton.

With Lukaku, we got lucky with the appointment of Mourinho at Chelsea. It helped that he missed that penalty in the Super Cup!

I think the squad players you talk about were bought because of lack of funds Lukaku and Deulofeu would never have came here without Martinez and, as said before, he wanted Van Dijk when he was still at Celtic before he got the push – if he had signed, who knows what would have happened?

Lots of attacking threat and pace down the flanks at least.

If that team turns out to be the wrong selection, blame it on Tony!!

If it turns out to be correct, it was me who sent it in!!

It's now 12 Bells NBT, I'm looking down towards Vale Park at the river, and you just brought a smile to my face.

This gives the assumption that they are 'easy' goals, and good strikers get all their goals from 20+ yards out.

Massive misconception. Most of Ronaldo's goals are from in the box; most of Harland's are from in the box. Occasionally, they score a screamer, but their massive stats are made by 'tap-ins and headers'.

The reason: are they thinking, "Well, I'm limited and thus will try to score easy goals"? No. Stats. You are more likely to score in the box, so in training, as much time is given to anticipation, running behind the man, beating the offside trap etc.

Calvert-Lewin has excellent anticipation. Without him, we've seen numerous Gray and Townsend balls across the box only for it to bypass the oncoming attacker. Calvert-Lewin, when fully fit, has excellent pace and anticipation and reaches those balls. So, while it may be a 'tap-in', it's a tap-in that only the best strikers consistently score, because most don't get there in time.

Look at our peers:
Leeds have Bamford (2 in 6).
Palace have Édouard (6 in 19).
Villa have Watkins (5 in 15).
Leicester have Iheanacho (2 in 14).
Brentford have Toney (6 in 21).
Brighton have Maupay (7 in 20).
Wolves have Jimenez (4 in 19).
West Ham have Antonio (8 in 22).

Would you replace Calvert-Lewin with any of them? They would all cost upwards of £40 million.

January saw West Ham bid £50 million for an unproven striker from Benfica, and it got rejected. Strikers like Haller have scored consistently in Germany and Holland (including Champions League), but absolutely flopped in the Premier League despite costing £40+ million. Timo Werner looked a guaranteed goalscorer, cost upwards of £50 million and can't hit a barn door.

Scoring goals in the Premier League is not an easy thing. If you have a goalscorer, you do your best to keep him.

The "sell and buy a cheaper and better version" theory doesn't work. Buy cheaper, have them in the squad and hope they develop and then sell, that can work. But selling before having a replacement? Madness.

Liverpool have bought Jota, and now Diaz in preparation for the likes of Mane and Firmino leaving. But they sign the replacements in anticipation, so if they don't work out (like with Minamino), they aren't weakened... Scoring goals.

Regarding Patterson, he's going to need time & coaching. Having watched Rangers on Wednesday getting slaughtered by Celtic, one has to ask how he wasn't good enough for them in a significantly weaker league!

Probably a great prospect but will need to be introduced gradually. Great prospect but needs to be “minded”.

I will be down for the Leeds game next Saturday by train, so hopefully will be able to have a catch-up either before or after the game with our regulars.

Hope Danny has not brought half of Brentford into Weatherspoons with him :-)

Up the Toffees.

Calvert-Lewin is one of our most reliable players, he has always run his heart out for the club, and the idea that he is hiding out under a sicknote is just pathetic.

He had a serious issue this season and is still not match-fit. Why shouldn't the club be ultra-cautious in handling him? He's only our most important player and we so need him fit for the last 18 games.

The way Frank described the injury in his press conference, I was thinking that too. Playing today and Tuesday is probably a bit too much at this stage of his recovery.

I hope that we're reading it right anyway, because he will give us a great boost if he's fit and ready to go against Newcastle.

We all love Everton, so simple but so true George, and if that's the team, it looks like Coleman will be playing in midfield, unless he plays next to Mina, and Godfrey is sitting behind Allen & Gomes, although Robert might also be correct, we will soon see?

Why should fans cheer him? He's putting his life in danger by selfishly returning to competitive sport, and should be considering his family, especially his two children.

He's 30 next week, older than Fabrice Muamba was when he suffered a similar problem, but quit playing football immediately. I can't believe the Premier League sanctioned this regrettable decision, and Brentford chose to put this man's life in peril.

Also, consider this: football is a contact sport, and tough tackling is an essential part of the game, but considering Eriksen is being kept alive by a piece of implanted hardware, what player is going to fly into a (legal) thunderous challenge on him?

This gives the opposition a disadvantage, and if a player does, and something critical occurs, how will that player cope in the future?

No, I think this is one of the most ridiculous moves ever made in the money-grabbing Premer League's history, and all parties concerned need to give their heads a good shake.

No Dobbin or Onyango on the bench, which is a shame.

C'mon, fun time Frankie!