Everton vs Manchester City

Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets lock arms in show of solidarity with Alex Len, Ukraine

And the substantial local Ukrainian community was represented with songs and flags.

Goodison should do the same.

Additional note: Mykolenko's home city of Cherkasy has not yet been attacked by Russian forces. The fighting remains some distance away from his parents at this moment.

I understand why some are saying our front 3 should be Gray, Richarlison and Gordon but it's hard to see Calvert-Lewin being left out. We're going to be penned in for long periods and Frank will be thinking that Dominic is our only player capable of holding the ball up and allowing us to get out and relieve some pressure.

I think a 4-5-1 with Richarlison and Gordon wide with Allan, Van de Beek and Alli or Gomes will give us our best chance. We must commit to the counter-attack with purpose and belief to stand any chance whatsoever. We cannot be timid.

And I'd definitely save Doucouré for another game. No point rushing him back and risking yet another injury.

The odds for an Everton-win is 10,5. Just sayin.

However, Man City are vunerable to the counter and hope springs eternal.

Pickford
Coleman
Keane
Holgate
Mykolenko
Allan
Van de Beek
Gordon
Richarlison
Gray
Calvert-Lewin

Burnley are doing what Burnley and Dyche do almost every season and know what's needed. Newcastle are definitely slowly getting it together. It doesn't really matter how we play or how we set up, we need points any way possible.

The question is: No checking up answer it honestly, who scored Everton's first goal in European competition football? I guessed but got it wrong, wasn't far away though!!

Does the lad live in the Merseyside area or maybe the Manchester region where there is large community of fellow Ukranian expats?

Either way, we sympathise with his situaton and hope he can get mind and body in the right place in order to help his team who are sleepwalking into a relegation spot.

Wonder if Zinchenko will be in the City squad?

We could go further, and demand that the UK sever all economic and business ties with Russia, including all oil and gas business arrangements. We could also demand that the USA does the same, particularly in light of Biden's announcement that some energy industry arrangements would not be included in sanctions, an announcement which reduced the price of Brent crude from $105/barrel to $98/barrel yesterday.

I have to say I havent a clue so my guess is Johnny Morrisey, and the only reason I say Johnny Morrisey is because you say it was a Liverpudlian who asked the question, so I guess the answer might have a link to Liverpool. But I might not even be in the right era.

Edit: I am wrong but I wasn't far away either. I know who it is but I've had my chance.

Was it Dennis Stevens?

While I am sure they will be looking to get back to winning ways, I am sure that last week's result may have sown a small doubt in their minds, and they will also be aware that Frank has won both of his home games very comfortably.

At the moment, there is no denying that Everton are a very different animal at home to what they are away, and that's still a puzzle that Frank and his coaches will be trying to solve. But it's worth remembering that Frank understands how Pep sets his teams up, having played under him towards the end of his career.

As for which side Frank selects, I don't know. Me personally, I hope that we have Allan with Doucouré on the right and Dele Alli on the left of midfield. Although Dele Alli has only been used so far as a sub, I think Frank will be keen for him to start games, so this might be the right time.

I don't think he has many options at the back, as I don't think Mykolenko will be selected and I can't see him using this game to start Patterson or Branthwaite. I hope Gray is fit to start and then Frank will have a choice as to who is front 3 will be. I am not sure if Calvert-Lewin is yet fit enough to press City's back 4 for a whole game.

But I do think we will get something from the game.

I was thinking of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup match in October 62. So you'd have definitely been a bit young!

Dirtiest match I ever saw.

Tall ask, yes, but City do look slow and just pass happy sometimes...

For me, they just don't have that killer instinct like their neighbours did in their pomp (can't see them winning the Champions League with Pep in charge neither).

Just Believe, eh, Blues, we need points desperately and with some really tough away days coming up, we need to make home advantage count... NOW!

If we don't and there's truckloads of space for them to operate, we'll be torn apart.

Not really arsed tbh.

There were probably a few dirty nappies that night. It coincided with the Russian trawlers bumping into the US Navy just off Cuba.

Never heard 48,000 people so quiet. You could hear conversations 25/30 yards away!

So a bit topical currently I guess.

I can't see Lampard picking Mykolenko.

Sit tight and hit them on the break.

Fuck whether the RS win the league or not. We need to win as many games as possible. If you can't handle crass comments from RS supporters, either adapt and give as good as you get, or go into hiding, but don't ever be not bothered about us winning.

Whether they can or not is a different matter, but the mentality should be they walk on that pitch wanting to win.

It's football. Anything can happen and sometimes it does, providing you believe it can.

I hope the team doesn't get stage fright before it has walked onto the stage.

I would bring in Jarrad Branthwaite at left-back and Kenny at right-back. Gray upfront with Calvert-Lewin with Richarlison on the left wing and Van de Beek on the right alongside Doucouré and Allan.

My Everton team v Man City: Pickford, Kenny, Holgate, Keane, Branthwaite, Van de Beek, Doucouré, Allan, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Gray.

Stranger things have happened, you never say never, I'd take a draw now though with open arms.

As far as bothering if the result helps the reds, I don't give a monkey's, I'm only interested in us.

If you'd rather see Everton relegated if it means them not winning the league, then you're a moron.

Try to never let Liverpool even come into your thoughts.This is the only approach I have ever had over eons.

The world has changed now that internet connection is here. Where Putin would get away with yesteryear propaganda, people all over the world have the facility to communicate to what's right and wrong.

Remember, the Russian people hate Putin.

You're right, it won't be this game that decides our fate, nor will it be the game that decides who wins the Premier League. We've got to go all out and try to win this game, and every game after it.

As Stan and Jeff say, anybody who wants us to lose this game just to hope it prevents the RS winning the league can fuck right off.

Besides, City can easily go on a mega winning run after tomorrow, winning every game which will make them Champions, but for now, we've got to beat them, or at least draw.

No that was against Dunfermline in the Fairs Cup. Absolutely filthy.

October 1962, so a few years earlier. Jock Stein's first management job.

Was that the game Alex Young got a yellow card for picking up the ball after a foul on him and booting it at an opposition player? Happened in front of the Bullens Paddock.

I couldn't say for sure. It would certainly have been in keeping with everything else that went on that night.

Two headlines in the Echo and the Post afterwards

‘No Holds Barred in Battle of Goodison”
“Reckless, Scrappy, Scruffy, Football Content Nil”

Courtesy of Blue Correspondent website. Well worth a browse.

The London born Liverpool supporting barman asked me last night whether I wanted Everton to lose on Saturday.

"Why would I want that to happen?" I asked him. If I didn't know him, I'd have been offended.

I went with Billy Bingham and my mate said Bingham took the corner from which Stevens scored the goal. I was at the game but couldn't remember who scored the goal.

As Chris (30) says, one of the dirtiest games imaginable with Dunfermline doing the bulk of the fouls from the off and Everton giving them some back.

Typical Everton to play their first competitive ‘European' game against a Scottish team. And then get beaten over 2 legs.

There's extended footage of the second leg on YouTube and we were rank. Gabriel looked immense though, pretty much on his own.

The sheer stupidity of the counter argument baffles me. Who in their right mind ever wants Everton to lose just to spite Liverpool? I just don't get it.

If Liverpool do benefit and go on to win the league, I'll just shrug my shoulders and get on with it. "We don't care what the Red Shite say, what the fuck do we care?"

Pickford

Coleman
Holgate
Branthwaite
Mykolenko

Townsend
Doucouré
Allan
Van de Beek
Gray

Calvert-Lewin

Gordon to replace Townsend and Richarlison to replace Calvert-Lewin at the 60-minute mark.

Jesus wept – we need points; as many and as quickly as possible. I don't care what the shite win as long as we're in the Premier League because City denying that lot the title will feel pretty meaningless if we're in the Championship!

Also, is this best game to introduce a Ukranian left back who has failed to impress so far? The defence you suggest would get shredded.

Just so they can take time to reflect.

Man City are just as lethal down the flanks as in midfield so it's important the whole team is alert and organized. It doesn't matter who the 11 are as long as they play as a team and stay organized to frustrate City and hopefully hit them on the break.

They are not infallible, but our lads need to be 100% on their game.

Playing Calvert-Lewin is a waste of time as he won't get the support from the flanks. Play Gray, Richarlison and Gordon.

City love to play down their left. Right back will need some help.

It will be a tough night. City don't often lose two on the spin.

COYB.

We could easily get relegated whatever the City result because we've been shit for years and doubly so this year. Equally the shite could win the title regardless of the result, it's in the lap of the gods, but the notion Evertonians don't care what Liverpool are up to because a few on the internet puff out their chests in indignation is utter bollocks.

Ask yourself why we call them the shite, murderers etc and they call us "bitter"? It's because we hate them. Not as individuals, there are some decent people afflicted with the red virus, but as an entity they are our sworn enemy. Anyone not understanding that, I would suggest didn't live through the 60s and 70s.

I lived through the '60s and '70s living near both grounds, and I don't hate them. I hardly think of them, and then only when they inevitably prattle on about various shite when they're sore losers or ungracious winners.

The trick is to give more back than you receive, and that's easy with respect to the modern era, where they've won the Premier League once compared with the numbers Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea have achieved, plus Arsenal. Too many of them are full of shit, and it's easy to deal with.

So fucking no, we need to focus only on us. It should come naturally, but obviously for some people it doesn't. More practice needed?

But if you're so concerned with the reds that you'd further imperil our survival hopes by hoping we lose to City rather than gain a much-needed morale boost then, personally, that's just not something I can get on board with.

I lived through the '60s and '70s but only grew to really dislike the Reds after Heysel.

If it was a dead rubber game, I might just bring myself to agree with you – and even then reluctantly. I never want Everton to lose – least of all when our Premier League survival is at stake. Don't understand your attitude at all. We can't pick and choose when we pick up points.

I'll be there tomorrow with my dad and hoping we scrape something. I'll take a jammy 1-0 win now with a clearly offside goal.

I have to say if you didn't take umbrage with Shankly raising them from the dead and his various declarations about us. The heathen celebrating the European Cup like it was the second coming, Emlyn Hughes enjoying himself at our expense at St George's Hall plus numerous other dancing on our grave moments you really must have a very sanguine approach to EFC.

Plus I think you and others have entirely misrepresented my original post. But if it makes you feel like a super blue, have at it, I really couldn't give a shit.

(1). I always want Everton to win.
(2). I never care what Liverpool do.

I don't know where you live, Barry, so maybe you are not in a position to attend Goodison, for geographical or personal reasons, but just think of the fans who will be attending, willing their team on to win. Do you think any of them “Won't be arsed if we lose or not?”

For fuck's sake, get behind the team, everyone get behind the team, whether it's at the stadium, watching on TV on the other side of the world, or gathered around a radio. The club needs everyone's support and forget about the RS. They won't win the league tomorrow if we beat Man City, just as we won't be relegated tomorrow if we lose.

Glass half-empty: We haven't taken so much as a point off City since Koeman was here, and coming off the Spurs loss, they're not exactly primed for a banana peel.

Stan [72] 'I don't hate them. I hardly think of them...'. You are wiser than you know.

I once heard a Professor of Psychiatry giving evidence in a bitterly-contested divorce case. The Judge said: 'So, Professor, these people really hate each other?'

'No, my Lord' said the Psych. 'This hatred is merely the other side of love. True hatred shows itself in indifference... If you mention my wife's name and I foam at the mouth, that is not hatred. If you mention my wife's name and I say "Who?"; THAT is hatred!!'

COYB 💙💙

I hope Chelsea twat them on Sunday!

I've always found their supporters to be less sporting than ours, but then I believe their team has had a win-at-all-costs attitude, dating from Shankly, that has set their culture. I find all that unpleasant, but also somewhat amusing and tribalistic in a crude sense. But then I was raised on Young, Labone, Ball, Harvey and Kendall, so football to me is something that's supposed to be sporting and pleasing to the eye, win or lose.

When they won the league a couple of years ago, I received messages from some reds telling me how shite the ‘Blueshite' are, which was peculiar because they were focused on Everton even though it was their moment of victory. It seems that we get under their skin, in a way that they've never got under mine.

Anyway, I think we'll beat Man City tomorrow.

Admittedly I feel differently since Heysel but if we beat Man City and those 3 points save our Premier League status, then I won't give a shit if Liverpool win the league. I'd rather they didn't, of course!

Supposing we get something from the game or even get beat but play really well, would it make you more or less angry at the shitshow vs Southampton?

They put up a preview clip about how Ukrainian players in the Premier League are handling the events and then proceeded to show Zinchenko, Yarmelenko and our "Ukrainian" left back, Jonjoe Kenny.

Me personally, I think we should drop the siren for tomorrow.

In football anything can happen and I recall in 1979/80, and the annals of history prove it was one of those seasons for Everton.

Ipswich were arguably the best team to watch for pure football in them days and Everton had got whacked 4-0, away and home that season.

The FA Cup quarter-final we had them at a Goodison, great crowd, true grit and Shaggy scored a fine winner with a low drive into the Street End, in the second half. How the world has changed.

No-one expected Everton to win, and so tomorrow, the squad needs to play for their lives. Go at Man City on the break and harass them all the way and take shots in range. Their keeper is open to positioning errors, in some games I've seen this season.

For me, Gomes isn't worthy of a squad place, he's not fit enough for a Vets walking football, in my view.

City are beatable, and every game Everton must play to win, only Everton counts.

Let's hope the referee and VAR will do justice as Everton are due the rub of the green with the chaos of VAR.

So the Goodison Park crowd 12th man will play a blinder tomorrow.

“What's Our Name?”

I can't recall since them days, aside to Andy Gray who got similar headers – Sunderland, many Everton players scoring from such acute angles near post, right or left.

Manchester City are at the top, deservedly, because they pass the ball properly around, create openings that lead to a lot of goals scored, but also work extremely hard closing down the opposition and winning back the ball.

Everton spend a lot of time on the pitch giving the ball away and finding it hard winning back the ball. Chances are slim, especially away from home, where heads drop when Everton go a goal behind.

If we beat Man City, which is possible, I can just see these shithouse players wrongly thinking to themselves, "That's us safe" – when we are not. If we lose to Man City, then these players will just run back to mummy saying how hard the world is to them.

You look at this team and it just sums it up that they are so desperate for the Goodison Roar to make them succeed. I just can't see where the wins are going to come from.

I hope that I am wrong but mentally Everton are the weakest team in the league with a manager who doesn't have a clue of how to bring out the courage that is so well hidden in these players. I just hope I am wrong.

Well, Frank's the third manager in a row who has said the same quote: "I'm not a magician". He is in my opinion backed by a great set-up. Will it be enough? I don't know.

We have a Championship defence with Holgate, Keane and Coleman. Decent forward line when fit. As for the midfield, that's anyone's guess... but keep Gomes the fuck away from it.

True about the mentality. Weak as a wet lettuce. Scary times.

We got money then threw away the ideals that had put us so close to breaking into the top four. Hard work is foreign to these players as well as pride of playing for the club.

Norwich City @ 1/14.
Watford @ 1/3.
Burnley @ 4/6.
Newcastle United @ 11/4.
Leeds United @ 3/1.
Brentford @ 16/5.
Everton @ 4/1.

Not going down.

Whatever team Lampard picks, we need to get right behind it. If Mykolenko plays, I hope he gets plenty of support in solidarity with Ukraine. I wish our team this season had 1% of the courage shown by Ukrainians facing overwhelming odds and Putin's bombs and bullets. COYB.

I would start your team but Richarlison in for Calvert-Lewin. You just can't leave our most talented player out, he has the talent to get something out of nothing with the frequency any other player in the squad has.

Anyway, not sure Lampard will start Townsend, he seems to like more athletic and young players, and Gordon is playing really well honestly.

Tough game, just hope Doucouré starts with Allan and Van de Beek and maybe we can get something. No Gomes please.
COYB!

Gray on after an hour in any of those 3 attacking positions if he's fit enough.

Enough with Richarlison up top. Get him on the left where he's always looked better.

Not going to happen, but I'd like to see.

Pickford
Patterson Holgate Branthwaite Mykolenko
Gordon Doucoure Van de Beek Allan Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

Townsend, Gray and Alli on for Gordon, Van de Beek and Richarlison for the last 30 minutes… ideally after they've ran themselves into the ground.

Not feeling confident, but let's have a go! Coyb

Still gonna struggle though most definitely, so would bite your hand off for a draw but can't see it happening, unfortunately. I fancy us to score but it will probably only turn out to be a consolation I'm afraid. Hope I'm wrong of course.

Us staying up this season will only be achieved by the points we pick up at home, as I just can't see us doing much on the road with our current crop. The points we need will not be added to this evening but let's keep the faith regardless.

Onward Evertonians.
Full support 💙

Let Man City pip them to the title in the last game of the season.

Before the game, we saw John Moores in his gold Rolls Royce parking up, chauffeur driven.

But those were the days, old John will be taking a deep sigh from the Top Balcony in the Sky, but hopefully today, Everton can at least atone for last week's performance and stick one on City, and win by any means.

Shudder.

Usmanov should have already come out and strongly denounced Putin, get on with it! If he doesn't, Moshiri should be chucking our Russian sponsor out of our club. Oh but wait…

At least Poland has shown some true moral decency and support for Ukraine by refusing to play Russia. Fifa needs to complete the job and chuck them out of the World Cup. We need to get the message to ordinary decent Russians that their leader is evil and dangerous. Sport has its role to play, Everton has a role to play too. Stand up and be counted, Moshiri and Usmanov.

Goalkeeper: Pickford (let's be honest, who else is there?),
Right-back: Patterson (should have been playing away matches),
Centre-defender: Keane (backs to the wall today),
Centre-defender: Branthwaite (should have been playing),
Left-back: Mykolenko (should always play when fit),
Centre-midfieldes: Allan, Doucouré, Van de Beek,
Attackers: Gordon (the shining light of this crap season), Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison (these two really do need to work on their partnership because, let's face it, it is rubbish).

Best of luck, Blues.

Hopefully the memories and fear of that 4-0 beating back in the day, may still linger and they will be wary of the 'Crouching Tiger' or the 'Angry Moggy'!

No team should be allowed to come to Everton and have an easy ride. Win lose or draw, I want to see the mindset be a fighting one from start to finish.

4-5-1 with a hint of 4-3-3

Pickford
Patterson Holgate Branthwaite Mykolenko
Gordon or Gray, Doucoure, Van de Beek, Allan, Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

Gordon starts; Gray sub
Calvert-Lewin starts; Alli sub

Choose whatever defence you like, it's a massive test, there's some serious experience behind the scenes so I'll trust their judgment.

Look up the thread entitled 'Shame' currently on TW. Not directly questioning Usmanov, but certainly topical.

I agree with you. The stand by the Polish FA and individual players refusing to play Russia in the World Cup play-offs is exemplary and admirable.

Poland Boycott World Cup Play-off v Russia

On other matters, I think the football world should now refuse to play any match against a Russian club or international side at any level.

This sort of thing, possibly even more than sanctions, would put enormous pressure on Putin – given how it would affect his popularity.

2 points from the next 2 games to set us up for the 3 after that.

For anyone interested in a little more background about Usmanov, the man – have a read...

https://www.spisok-putina.org/en/personas/usmanov-2/

Meanwhile – I had a dream, and in the dream we held on for a hard fought 0-0 draw. So that is my prediction and I would be quite happy with that today Despite everything I'm looking forward to the game as always, and so far as the other lot go, I don't even know who they are playing and don't really care right now.

But allied with the skill was his mental toughness, we talk about the team wilting in cauldron of St James's Park... ahh poor dears. Compare and contrast to Ball playing in front of 120k fanatical Scots at Hampden Park and wiped his nose on the corner flag that doubled as the Scottish Saltire, and later said he wished there would've been 200k in the ground!

Dale #138, Sadly, football matches aren't played on the floor of betting shops, so best odds to avoid the drop or not, we need to pick up points.

A draw would be enough to stay positive.

It would would be a better example if the Russian based teams were banned from European competitions, it may spark a larger demonstrations from their supporters.