Patterson injury adds to Lampard’s selection woes

I was looking back at some of our games this season, and ended up watching highlights of the home draw with Spurs. Not only a late borderline VAR red card, but a penalty decision struck off by a borderline VAR decision - and to compound it, the ref had halted play to give the pen when we were still in possession, but restarted with just the usual drop ball.

We've had so much bad luck (and so many bad decisions) go against us this season, I've actually forgotten half of it.

Still, Delph is back tomorrow.

Hopefully against Burnley we can minimise changes, perhaps as simple as:

Pickford
Coleman Godfrey Branthwaite Mykolenko
Doucoure Holgate Iwobi
Gray Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Hopefully get a few ahead before bringing Delph in for Iwobi to see out the game and get him some minutes ahead of the weekend (where he should play next to Allan in the middle). If we're chasing, bring on Rondon and Dobbin and leave Calvert-Lewin and Richie on for some long balls.

Still very lightweight at the back and midfield now. Mina, Delph, Allan, et al hurry up and get well. Hire a witch doctor or something quickly.

I can't help feeling the writing is on the wall now. Any team that concedes 5 at home Watford deserves no place I'm the PL. Champions league ha, never. It's been years in the making and the peoples club are just an embarrassing entity with Blue (he's one of us) Bill.

We will never hear the end of it come the end of the season when that lot parade several Trophies, and it will be Hell.

You can only moan about bad luck for so long but we've got too many players that are all piss weak.

I remember in the 90's relegation battles the likes of John Ebbrell and Joe Parkinson taking painkilling injections to play games.

What exactly is the problem with the likes of Yerry Mina and Fabian Delph for instance?

If they are not physically fit enough for the game then perhaps they ought to look elsewhere for a career.

Nothing will or could upset me more than Everton getting relegated, I really don't give a stuff what they do or how much stick they give out to us, because watching Everton in the Championship will be far far worse.

We should keep the same structure with the only changes being:

- Branthwaite for Keane, straight swap absolutely vital to combat Weghourst.

- Gordon for Gray

- possibly Rondon for DCL if (as appeared against WHU) DCL is not fit

So very marginal tweaks to formation. But having advocated us bring deep away, I'd suggest we go for a very high line at home.

Burnley have no pace but will aim to pin us back and pick up 2nd balls if we play deep.

Branthwaite and Godfrey are lightning compared to anything they've got.

I think 0-2 down to Wimbledon in the last game of the season was the biggest crisis this club has ever faced, hopefully this time it wont again go to the last game of the season. I was surprised that nobody asked Frank what was the possibility of Dele getting a start anytime soon. I think to combat Burnley's aerial threat Branthwaite has to play as neither Holgate or Godfrey as a pair are good enough in the air. Without Allan our midfield holds no fears for the opposition, and as I keep saying who is going to score the goals, as no matter who he selects we don't score enough goals.

Hopefully Delph is fit otherwise the height of Holgate may prove useful with Doucoure rounding off the MF

UP front Gordon, Richy and DCL/Gray.

Oh well for what’s it’s worth I will put down my 3 changes for Wednesday and reasoning why, I have my tin helmet ready for incoming flak.

The first change already made with Keane suspended, Time to see what Branthwaite can add to the defence.

The second change I would make is Begovic in goal, purely for tactical reasons, Pickford is a great shot stopper, his weakness for me is set pieces and commanding his area, Burnley have some big lads and will target set pieces, Begovic will come for the crosses and just feel he will deal with set pieces better, the last two clean sheets we had was with Begovic in goal, with the defence looking a lot calmer on both occasions.

The third and most controversial change I would make is Rondon for Calvert-Lewin, for whatever reason Calvert-Lewin is just not doing it, however as an impact sub, could turn things around later in the game after a kick up the backside.

Now my reasoning for Rondon is simple, we use him to free up space for Richarlison, Rondon is used to a scrap, his best years are behind him, but he can still make a nuisance of himself, Burnley will kick anything above ground level, hopefully will be able to draw a few fouls and yellow cards from their defence early on, by the time Calvert-Lewin comes on, a couple of their players could be walking on egg shells with already picking up a yellow so will give Calvert-Lewin a little bit more freedom later on.

If we leave Rondon out and start with Richarlison as the striker, then again Burnley will kick the shit out of him, likewise with Calvert-Lewin, they will target those two players from the off, that is why I would start with Rondon.

There is a case of starting Dobbin, but that’s not going to happen, so for me we use Rondon.

We need to finish strong, so doing the above gives us the best chance, in the second half.

We, the club not the fans, deserve everything that’s coming our way. Maybe relegation will free us once and for all from the negligent fuckers who have run us into the ground.

Give the rebuilding job to Rooney next season. He knows the championship and loves our club whatever you think of him.

Wrong thread, sorry

It's a debate indeed. More than ever, we want the here and now. We want Everton to win tomorrow. We want Everton to stay up. We don't care if they have to play through pain and it gives them longer term problems. We want short term.

But in the modern game, their careers are generally looked after better by professional medical staff thinking of the player.

I know the counter argument; I'm a supporter too. That's why I said generally.

That said, and to slightly contradict myself, the likes of Delph actually astonish me. I suppose you will always get that and have always had it. Was it Louis Saha who apparently wouldnt play unless he declared himself 100% fit (who is ever that?). What a wasted talent he was.

And Finch Farm is clearly built on an ancient burial ground.

We have been cursed ever since mate.

I said from the start he was the wrong choice and still believe it; even if we survive, it will be the same shit next year. We have a manager now who thinks he can play fantasy football with a squad that can’t produce the basics of football.

Little shit Brian. I should have taken my Ridgebacks to that one.

Begovic and Rondon for tomorrow, doubt if Lampard will leave Pickford out though, Rondon should play some part in this game, he’ll let the Burnley defenders know they are in a game.Up and at them Blues while keeping your calm.

I am hoping we see some pragmatism in his selection and tactics. I worry that we won’t. We have a rookie manager still learning about the realities of life at a struggling club. Tomorrow night nice management and nice football won’t cut it. The team must be prepared for an ugly battle.

He will know all the shit tricks, and hopefully he can rumble the Burnley defence.
Begovic, is a commanding keeper in the box and has so far a calming effect on the team.

But Burnley will smell blood, Dyche will know this is his game to get a chance of escaping the drop,

Let’s pray the Everton turn up tomorrow night. A must not lose game, in a very tough run of fixtures.

Character and guts, very questionable in this squad on a consistent basis, but let’s hope tomorrow is further improvement on West Ham, and Everton can deliver and get the points else at least a draw.

Familiarity breeds contempt. Any time someone isn’t seen for a bit people will start forgetting how crap they are. People were hammering Begovic in the cup games and saying Rafa should be sacked for signing Rondon. Now they the great hope. The real hope is DCL Rich and Gray. They can make a difference if they choose too. The rest are no better than a ToffeeWeb select team

Next transfer window we should get 40 million for Rondon and about the same for the seven foot 5 inch world class keeper.

It's Burnley. Studs Up Motherfuckers! Not going down! UTFT!!!!!

Can see the argument for Begovic but zero chance Lampard will drop his no.1 goalkeeper. DCL will start but if he's ineffective then Rondon should be thrown on as should have happened Sunday. Midfield as per last game, same with the formation. Defence, Coleman comes back in if fit. Branthwaite for Keane. A point would be a good result but a win is a decent possiblity. A loss is unacceptable.

If we start with say just Richarlison, or Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin, Dyche will target his team to get in hard against them two.

It is clear Calvert-Lewin is just not up to speed at the moment, try and take the wind out of Burnley early doors, if one or two of their defenders get a yellow card, they will be less inclined to trying to put Calvert-Lewin in row z in the second half.

That’s the way I see it, a plan b.

They score from a cross into the box with Pickford in goal and it will be obvious he should have picked the goal mouth ‘dominator'. If Begovic gets robbed whilst dallying on the upfield punt because no-one is open, then Pickford's distribution will be the only factor that should have been considered.

I just want whoever plays to not make any stupid mistakes and then maybe we have the foundation for the win.