Bournemouth vs Everton

The only way to right that cesspit of a result on Tuesday is to go back there and put Bournemouth, a team that leaks goals, to the sword.

Failure to win sees us sit here until Boxing Day with 3 wins from 15 league matches, an absolute pitiful return and one that is heading full-on into another relegation scrap against three far more punch-ready teams than last season.

As I said, Tuesday was an absolute shit-show of the highest order; however, it would alarm me far more if we arrive there tomorrow without any kind of intent to respond and react on that defeat.

Spend the next 6 weeks then getting the house in order and make plans for January, stop talking up our opponents and stop looking back to last season. The job is to find solutions to the here and now and make this team better.

Get at least one striker in January and another progressive attacking player and then start making some ground up.

I've seen enough from us to know that we've improved from last season, overall, and we must stick with the manager. 3 weeks ago, we all praised how well we played against Palace then we ground out a decent point away at Fulham the week after, despite not playing particularly well.

With our first-choice team back, bar Calvert-Lewin, we've got enough to go and win this. COYB!

Even though it's only November we're running out of winnable fixtures, and we still need 7 or so wins. A well-organised set-up and a bit of luck when it comes to taking our chances and we can win this one.

Maupay lacks pace or real work rate. I was expecting far better, to be honest, from Premier League highlights.

Pickford
Patterson
Mykolenko
Coady
Tarkowski

Gana (although he's been poor, we need an anchor away from home)
Iwobi
Onana (needs to add more)

Gray
Gordon
Maupay

Not a great team. The front 3 are pretty flaky, and the midfield had been giving the ball away for fun and create little.

A tight affair, hopefully 3 points. The fact we are worrying playing Bournemouth says a lot.

So will we see 0-0 as acceptable?

At what point do we start looking at the club and saying "raise the bar"?

We have spent enough money in summer – we have spent enough money in the last half a decade – to go to Bournemouth and expect to make ourselves favourites.

I think a difficult afternoon awaits in all honesty.

Maybe this break might be a very welcome one for Lampard and his team to reflect and reset.

Pickford
Patterson Coady Tarkowski Mykolenko
Onana Garner
Mills Iwobi Maupay
Rondon

Let Iwobi play in the 8/10 role as Maddison does, and instruct Mills and Maupay to get into the box and help the striker. Fullbacks to provide width. Cannon on for Rondon in the last 40 minutes.

Might as well have a go; lose this and you really should be gone.

Pickford
Patterson
Mykolenko
Tarkowski
Coady
Gana
Iwobi
Onana
McNeil
Maupay
Gray

If Patterson and Gana are not fit, then Coleman and Garner or Davis to start

I expect a clean sheet and a win!

Everton are not helped by lacking a winning mentality by having an unremarkable win ratio of 1 win in 5 games. Also, not helped by having no recognised strikers.

Maupay has had one shot on target and one goal to show for it in 3 months. A terrible waste of 㾻 million on a player who can't find the target and can't score goals.

That they are not, reflects badly on the players. Professional sportsmen should not need a manager to tell them to put in a shift. It is not acceptable to be below 100% on effort.

I would like to see the young striker (Cannon) get a chance, maybe off the bench.

The one thing that Tuesday proved, was that making 11 changes tells us nothing other than that we have a reserve team. Bringing in three or four players tells you if they can gel in the current team and improve it.

The team on Saturday will be the current Everton team, not 11 players who haven't played together before. For that reason, I believe we can win. But it will still be an achievement to do so.

No passing aimlessly sideways and backwards for Pickford to boot upfield to our 5-foot forward. Get some shoots on target and just play bloody properly.

C'mon, Everton – give us some hope and something to get behind.

Jim, Kenwright has spent 20+ years lowering the bar in order to cover his back which is exactly why we are where we are. It pervades every part of the club which is more a living museum now than an actual professional football club.

This trickles down to the playing staff who see no desire to compete higher up the table, you know, because they keep being told it's impossible and we can't compete. It's totally self-defeating.

Any other club is fighting tooth and nail to compete but we just seem to exist, like some bizarre make-weight that is totally aimless yet happy in the knowledge that we've won nine league titles and we're a nice family club.

Competing is way beyond his capability as it would mean upsetting a few people inside and outside the club. Oh but a new stadium will change everything, they say!! It's utter folly to believe that as every other club is upgrading facilities all the time to stay relevant (cos that's what competition does – moves forward). I would say it's another distraction being used by the Big Actor to cover his failings.

How much more revenue will it actually bring in a way that will allow us to go from 7th highest wage bill to 6th or 5th? We are massively massively under-performing – not the other way round – but they would try and let you believe the opposite because they are failing in their jobs. It's a club within a club and it's disgusting.

I fully expect us to at best get a lucky low-scoring draw, and paper over some of the cracks. Lose and yet another scapegoat will make way. Along with another bucket load of compensation – call it blood money – which in reality is just another example of the complete failure of EFC management.

I really don't know what style Frank is looking for, we certainly don't look like a side that will throw men forward unless we are losing. But tomorrow if any of these players really want Frank to stay, then they have to put in a performance, not just 3 or 4 but all of them.

I fear a loss will see Moshiri on the hunt for a new manager. Not what any of us want but I can't see Moshiri waiting till Boxing Day to see if anything has changed.

Guess what, Frank, they have bigger fish to fry. Disappointed by his comments there. Chance for a cup run but clearly prioritising the league.

Lampard hasn't introduced 1 youngster since becoming manager. All he has done is loan them out.

Check the U18 and U21 results and performances.

I've not really agreed with any of the manager appointments since Silva (though I was probably quite open to Koeman). Lampard is coming up to a year now and from a results point of view it's difficult to detect any improvement. Performance wise there are many who might say we look more solid but even that is debateable, certainly if you start diving into any deeper statistical anaylsis.

Lampard will undoubtedly be given as much time as possible, he's a likeable figure that the crowd have taken to and is a young, hard-working manager with progressive ideas. But ultimately the proof is in the pudding and if we lose against Bournemouth we will go into the Winter break in 17th or 18th.

Lampard wasn't my choice but I do like him. I hope he can find some answers. The Palace game seemed to hint at the possibility of an exciting path forwards, but he tinkers a fair amount with his tactics and immediately reverted to a 4-3-3 with Onana playing further forwards which was less effective.

The table is tight and a couple of wins could push us up into mid-table but that will not be easy. Lampard's points per games record currently is not happy reading; only just ahead of Benitez and a long, long way behind the likes of Silva, Martinez, Ancellotti and even Allardyce.

Arguably he inherited a poorer team but he is even behind the likes of Walter Smith who had to make do with some very limited players.

Maupay and Gray seem to me the best pairing at the front. Gray does all his best work through the middle. He is not a winger.

Pickford
Patterson
Mykolenko
Tarkowski
Coady
Gana
Iwobi
Onana
Cannon (Plays off Rondon)
Rondon (Play Long Ball Please)
Gray

We cannot afford to rely on Maupay who just jogs around as though he's playing in a Friendly.

We cannot rely on McNeil who arrives 5 seconds too late every time – bthe ball has gone – he looks as though he is in slow motion permanently.

We must stop buying players from teams who nearly or do get relegated.

Pickford was relegated (with Moyes) and Richie nearly was last season, it's not always a barometer.

I do worry about tomorrow's game though.

I predict we pass the ball from side to side looking for someone to make a forward run, nobody will, and then we will pass it back to Pickford who will hoof it upfield to 5ft nothing Maupay, who will obviously concede possession. We will then defend for our lives... rinse and repeat.

The players will at least make some effort. which I believe will keep us a clean sheet, but without anyone to score for us, I will go for a 0-0 draw.

2-1...and Frank Out!

It's matchday and we're off to Bournemouth for the second time in a week.

Putting politics aside for now and I'm not too bothered who plays.

Whoever plays, just put in a performance. Do that and the result will come.

My team would be:

Jordan
Patterson
Coady
Tarkowski
Mykolenko
Gueye (if fit)
Garner
Onana
Gordon
Gray
Maupay

In a 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 formation. We need to be solid and compact and, as I've said, keep a clean sheet. Who knows... we might even nick one at the other end.

Bit Moyseyish but who cares.

Safe travels to all the traveling blues again, you lads and ladies deserve the best.

I'll go with your team with the exception of Cannon. I'd play Rondon with Maupay in the first half, and if it's not working, Rondon and Cannon in the second half.

As long as they all put in a shift and fight for the team, we can win this one. Two different teams from the other night, so go out there and show how much you really care.

Those that played the other night might well see themselves going through the exit door, if anyone will have them!

You're a true blue, well done, lad. 👍👍👍

My travelling days are over (sadly), but I've put in a lot of miles since 1964.

I'm hopeful of a result tomorrow, if only for those loyal supporters like Danny. 😃😃😃

The squad just doesn't have goals, with or without Calvert-Lewin, and the contribution from midfield is shocking.

They'd better put in a shift tomorrow and show that they do care about the fans. We have had nothing but crumbs for years. We have maybe 5 players that show any kind of fight (all defensive), the rest are just Spinleless Tossers!

So far, Frank has just about squeezed enough out of his team to avoid relegation and keep the critics fairly quiet. Personally, I have seen enough of his tactics to conclude that he has learnt very little from his mistakes.

He is as stubborn as the other idiots that have gone before... Martinez, Silva and Benitez. His system stinks, we concede too much territory and for all of our occasional good play, we are constanty dominated in midfield and are peppered with shots, week-in & week-out.

Only the defence is an upgrade on last season, and Pickford's heroics, Mykolenko's blocking along with the two new centrebacks have kept us in games where we deserved little. Up top we are toothless and midfield has only Iwobi to provide any spark.

We are worryingly poor. Obviously Lampard and his coaching team can only do so much, but it is the system that has been so clearly wrong. This group of players are not of the quality of Man City and cannot play out from the back, lack basic passing skills and Iwobi seems the only one who tries the first-time pass.

At best, I can see us spending all season looking over our proverbial shoulder at how the relegation teams are doing. At worst, I can see us right in that mix. Do I think he deserves the sack? I think there is a case for it, but I don't think it will happen, and I think he will go for a point tomorrow.

If we lose, the owner might get twitchy, but I expect that the club are just hoping for enough reasons to avoid yet another upheaval.

Like Groundhog Day, supporting this team.

Front 3 and Iwobi practically picks itself. Hard really to judge them when by the time they get the ball the opposition have had 5 minutes set themselves while we pass it around the back 6.

The back 6 is crucifying us. I completely get that you build teams from a position of defensive stability, but we need to add something. Someone who will move the ball on the first or second touch and be ready to take it back again.

It's not Gueye or Onana (though he shows it in bursts). It's obviously not Doucoure who managed to be the most overrated midfielder at our club since Schneiderlin conned an entire fanbase for a few months. Davies just isn't good enough and we knocked all the forward intent out of that lad long ago.

Anyone left? What's in the reserves or youth teams? It would be worth giving them a go because we have nothing else.

Frank will have to work his magic, if he's got any left, and try and come up with some goals tomorrow. I'm not sure sticking to his tried and failed ideas are going to work.

It's time to gamble as with Calvert-Lewin crocked, the alternatives don't appeal. How about going with a front three of Gray, Cannon and Mills?

Something has to change to invigorate our attacking play and it may or may not work, but at least this would get me onto the edge of my seat.

Pickford
Patterson Coady Tarkowski Mykolenko
Garner Onana
Mills Iwobi Gray
Cannon

this club lost any sense of pride, ambition or order decades ago yet the chief engineer of this ruin remains in place. Shame on us for meekly allowing it.

Obviously I hope I'm proved wrong tomorrow and the return of our defensive players should at least help us keep the score down.

I feel sorry for anyone traveling down there, the entertainment value will be zero. The club doesn't deserve the great support it receives, which was undoubtedly the only reason we didn't get relegated last season.

The slim hope that we finally sign a strike force, after this game, which could possibly be Lampard's last, is our only hope of avoiding another long hard slog to beat the dreaded drop into the Championship.

Why wasn't the issue addressed in the summer? The club is hopelessly run by amateurs.

Can we please forget about the "Lampard out" comments. He had his first window with little money, improved certain areas, and lost Richarlison as well. He needs time, and Tuesday night's embarrassment showed us, that's more or less the team he inherited. The problem is way higher: Moshiri and Kenwright.

Before the recent derby, there was a girl no older than 3 on her dad's shoulders welcoming the team in, just shouting "Everton, Everton". That was it for me. I went all Kenwright and Niagra Falls, As you say they don't deserve these awesome fans.

He realised last season that Keane and Holgate are not up to it so replaced them with Tarkowski and Coady. And he realised that the midfield of Allan and Doucoure wasn't working, so replaced them with Gana and Onana.

What he now needs to realise is that the wingers and forwards aren't working and he needs to get some more quality in. My only concern is that really, he's already seen this and decided to bring in McNeil and Maupay – in my opinion, two really really poor signings. McNeil is far too one-footed and Maupay's first touch is awful.

I do wonder whether Frank should push Iwobi back into a winger-type role, even though he's doing really well. Maybe a midfield of Doucoure, Gana and Onana would be okay and Iwobi can be more creative from the wing.

The reality is, Gordon, Gray, Maupay, McNeil, they all need to start producing. It's all good getting into the positions but shots on target is a problem. We seem to blaze every shot over the bar: two against Spurs, one against Bournemouth in the week, and others.

We simply need to be more attacking and go first goal up in a game. Gordon needs the performance of his life if he plays. And for Christ sake we need to score from a direct corner or free kick. Please, Christ.

Miss it, you hate yourself and confidence ebbs away...

Hole it, and it's just a relief, with no credit.

See you next month, brother. T-shirts, hugs and all.

Give them 2-hour shooting session today and give each of them a 2ft x 1ft photo of a set of goals just in case they can't recognize them.

Calvert-Lewin's absence is killing us slowly, bring Gordon and McNeil on at half-time.

I'm more hopeful than expectant because we can't seem to get the ball in the net.

Good shout, I think you've said it all there, depressing though it may be.
Despite the fact that some fans on here love him, his system certainly stinks. He's always struck me as being tactically naive and reluctant to change things about when needed.

I'm not advocating sacking him, that's got us nowhere in the past, but maybe some of his coaching team need to get in his ear a bit more.

Looking at fans' team selections above, the only constant is the keeper and the back four, the rest are just best guess, and yet this is where games are mostly won or lost.

How we could go through a whole summer transfer window without signing anyone remotely resembling a striker is beyond me; no wonder we have no idea where the next goal is coming from.

I'm afraid if results and performances don't improve soon, Lampard's days are numbered and we will be back on the Magic Roundabout of looking for a new manager.

On a positive note, we are a lot better at the back and have played some good stuff at times but not nearly often enough or consistently enough.

Chances are Onana will limp off with an imaginary injury in the first half. He's fast turning into Richarlison, the amount of time he spends writhing around the floor with his hand in the air.

Anyway, I'd start with Garner. The rest of the team, sadly, picks itself so we'll have McNeil, Maupay and Gray up top, which must surely be one of the weakest front lines in the history of the club?

I'm praying for a backs-to-the-wall 1-0 win to take us into the break.

He is the one who will give anyone a rollicking during the game, he is the one who will shout and encourage and get the team going. He is the one who will get in the referee's face when things go against us, like the VAR decisions or a shithouse tackle, like Van Dijk or Mitrovic recently.

In fact... He is De Man!! Get him signed up and make him the permanent captain.

Almost an old 4-3-3, or 4-1-4-1, something that suggests attacking intent. I'd like to see Garner involved and wonder what the state of Gordon's mind is before we offer him a starting place.

If we could get a goal early on, perhaps it could become rather like the second part of the Palace match?

COYB.

That is probably more to do with the fact we don't get in the opponent's half that often.

I have been saying all season that, away from home, we should play 4-4-2 and forget about wingers who are our weakest link anyway.

Our midfield needs someone to pass to and build up progressively rather than having to constantly pass back or lose possession.

The back 4 picks itself; in midfield, I would go with Garner and Gana holding and Onana and Iwobi advanced, with Maupay and Rondon up front.

Rondon is not everyone's cup of tea, but we need a physical presence to unsettle their centre-backs.

Hopefully Coady and Tarkowski can be the inspiration to stay on the front foot.

We need a result to restore some confidence and belief.

.

Coady has done well for Everton but it's likely Southgate has favourites ahead of him in the England first eleven.

Still it would be nice to see a stalwart performance by Everton defensively tomorrow for a change. Even in the Fulham game, Everton were all over the place at times on defence.

We need something to make the bad taste of those last two games go away.

You can blame the players out there for not being quicker, if you like. But in 16 games this season, there have only been two games in which we have scored more than one goal.

For me, we have got to play two up front. A big man, whether that be Calvert-Lewin, Rondon or Keane or whoever; and then Maupay or someone else alongside. And to get the ball to them, we have to go direct. I am sure that way, we'll create more chances.

I know it's not School of Science, but we are light-years from those days. We very much need 3 points at Bournemouth. We need to score goals, plural.

Am starting to wonder though about squad spirit and morale. The three centre-backs have been heavily criticised for Tuesday night, but we have seen each one of them play a lot better than that.

I am a big fan of Anthony Gordon and think he has come in for some unfair criticism in recent weeks, certainly given his performances last season, and the fact he is only 21, but his reckless late tackle suggests to me that he is just too frustrated at the moment.

However, perhaps what struck me most was seeing the much more experienced and usually level-headed Alex Iwobi throwing a punch at one of their players. That's two red cards on another night.

Better self-discipline is required. And the more support the away end can give, the better, especially at that tight little ground.

Let's face it, at the moment I think there's only Gana Gueye out of our three outfield players going to the World Cup who is a certain starter for his country. He's not one for a crunching tackle, more of a pickpocket type, who will nick the ball of an opponent.

So we should be okay regards tomorrow, and players not wanting to get injured, unless Pickford has a few mad moments and starts playing like a sweeper, taking everyone out who dares get in his way, and gets injured in the process.

And yes we run out of options fast when trying to beat a press. With Patterson back, we will do better but, with Gana and Seamus, there will be times when we just have to send it forward.

I would be playing Gordon on the right if selected for specifically that task of chasing it down and at least forcing some problems rather than hacking clear.

Iwobi in the centre but moving left to help either Gray, McNeil or Vinagre for possession and creating space for Mykolenko as a backpass option. Those should be able to work some space and get some marauding stuff around the box.

The most important statement is about having players comfortable with a football. For too long, it's why English and British football has failed. We're generally scared of the football and our youth coaching is more about "getting rid". Time and place.

And before anyone quotes me on the success of the Premier League, how many English or British players are in the successful teams? We're getting better but still not exploiting what's on our grassroots doorstep because youth coaching is not there. At least Pep is looking into it.

Rob Halligan; Coady is the captain. He doesn't need the armband. We can see it from the warm-ups. He and Tarkowski may only have been there a few months, but they are showing leadership that we haven't seen in a long time.

Rob #65, Coady is the vocal leader and a worthy captain, but I'd argue that Tarkowski's commitment makes him the leader by example. He may lack pace and have issues on the ball sometimes, but he is the best shot-blocker I have ever seen, anywhere, ever. He has 35 this year. Nobody else in the league has more than 16. When his teammates make mistakes, it's Tark that covers them -- and prevents them from getting through to Pickford.

Danny #73, amen. I wailed for years about this club's lack of on-pitch leadership. We have it now.

Anyway, there should be eleven captains out on the pitch, to bollock, give orders or encourage teammates. It doesn't need one player to do all that.

We seem to loose games in runs of twos and threes, I feel Frank could be in trouble if we don't get anything out of this.

If he does get the push, knowing us, it would take the 6 weeks of World Cup time to get someone in!!!

PM me if interested, preferably someone with a helicopter and stand tickets, otherwise we can't go.

I'll buy the pints.

We get chances but, as some people say, it goes to the wrong player who misses it.

I understand a top scorer is worth his weight in gold, but watching the training sessions at Finch Farm, everybody seems to have very little problem scoring both easy and difficult, so the only thing I can think of, on match day they lack confidence.

To me, this is not going to be easy as Bournemouth rested a number of their normal starting 11 and do score goals, but they do have a problem defensively.

And here's hoping that the team tomorrow perform a lot better than the team in the last game.

I got in touch with a friend who owns a helicopter but he says, with the price of fuel going up, the best he can do from John Lennon airport is Southport beach.

I've got the chopper on standby, just waiting for the Mrs to give me the go-ahead, should be able to come around 12 ish, a couple of swifties and “game on”.

My Lear jet is free, I'll have the pilot bring it back from the Maldives tonight. We've been hiding it to avoid sanctions.

It's a pity you didn't have a word with Brent Stephens, who's got a pedalo on standby for when the new stadium opens. You could have had a word with him about pedalling down to Bournemouth, setting off in August, and you might have just made it!!

Please check this, but I think you'll find that nobody else in the squad, other than Seamus and the injured Calvert-Lewin, has more Everton goals to his name than Michael Keane. Eleven, I believe.

Mike, 75, If it's a holdover, it's from being brought up watching John Hurst and Mick Lyons being sent up front. I certainly remember Mick starting games as an emergency centre forward, sometimes to good effect. Arguably, managers were more pragmatic in those days.

I'd certainly prefer Keane positioned amongst their central defenders than ours. I believe he's currently second to Seamus on the oggie front, but from less appearances tbf.

Jeff #91, Colombia didn't qualify. Yerry's got a few weeks off.

Yerry's ALWAYS got a few weeks off.

If he was on a pay-as-you-play contract, he'd owe US money.

We would all love to try something different, but Frank will go safety first, without any surprises.

A few posters who have named putting Mills in, for either Gordon or Gray to start with, will get no arguments from me, Mills getting a start.

A couple of days after a 9-minute cameo role for Mills and Cannon, they then faced the PSG youngsters, with Mills contributing to both goals, and Cannon scoring both, in a 2-1 win.

At the moment, we are struggling for goals, so why not sacrifice a player and go two up top, either Maupay and Cannon, or like some have said, Rondon and Maupay?

I will still bang the drum on Mills getting a bit more game time, someone who does not run down a blind allay, and can pick a pass out to a team mate, a better footballing brain than Gordon and Gray, and unselfishness in his game, he knows when to shoot on goal, or if there is a better option to a team mate on.

Anyway waste of time even thinking Mills or Cannon will get any game time, but that's my thoughts on the starting 11.

Just win Saturday Everton please.

He may just be. However, you can't just put him up front. We have Rondon who will be the better option.

It never worked when we put Steve Watson up front all them years ago. It's pointless. He won't do it, no point talking about it.

And which performance made you think Rondon is a better option than Keane upfront?

People say Frank is a conservative, he proves it weekly with his selections and subs.

Keane's best position is a seat in the stands.

I agree with the principle that our best chance of goals is from our centre-backs.

We just need someone to fire those corners and free kicks in though.

“Alex Pritchard and Amad Diallo work the way past the giant defenders in blue and find Ellis Simms in space in the box.

He does the business with a fine finish, shooting across John Ruddy into the bottom corner.”

Wasn't that Steve Watson who scored a hat trick playing as a temporary striker?

Simms "on his own upfront so it's a tiresome job"...sounds like the perfect preparation for his return to Everton.

Maybe he'd be the answer to our striking problems (or maybe decent form in the lower leagues doesn't mean they'd be banging them in weekly in the Premier League).

Who'd be a manager with fans second-guessing everything? We definitely need to be positive and sharp tomorrow. 3 points would be a big boost going into the break; losing would be depressing and worrying.
UTFT!

I'm hoping Frank may go rogue and play his best 11 tomorrow in order to try and win a match...hopefully it'll be enough.

No VAR in the championship and some of the tackles flying in and the referee just waving play on, I saw, to me, three clear penalties and I think you'd have to pull a knife out and stab someone to get sent off.

Please God, don't let us go down there, it really could be the end.

I hope Everton show passion tomorrow and get in the faces of the opposition. They don't need telling after Tuesday, they should know it. And they owe it to those travelling and those getting up around the globe, some at ridiculous times to follow and support them.

@Rob, I know what you meant. Traffic and trains dependent, the Mello, Mello this time.

Otherwise see you all there in the ground. In person or in spirit.

Getting boring now, Frank, getting fucking boring.

The last two performances were just not good enough. Constantly giving the ball away in a casual manner can only lead to even more defeats. Looking for a massive improvement today.

Everton don't.

The 6-week gap until the next match will be interesting...

It's more about people knowing their jobs and doing them properly.

That said, I would probably play Rondon because Maupay on his own so obviously doesn't work.

I don't know nothing about this Mills kid but a lot on here seem to, so why not give him a start, an unknown quantity might just work. Personally I think it'll be the usual suspects, Gray, Gordon and Maupay.

A draw I wouldn't be over the moon but I'd take it. It's the worry about where the goals are coming from...

I mean, seriously. Only Wolves have scored less than us (8).

Mark that down as a 0-0 then.

Everything depends on which Everton turns up. The competitive one or the metronome side to side then misplace a two yard backpass one.

I still have a small particle of undue optimism remaining that Blue Bill hasn't managed to eradicate yet despite our Board's best efforts over many years.

I'm therefore going for a goalless draw, but for Christ's sake Everton give our magnificent long suffering away supporters SOMETHING to cheer, even if it's only a tackle. A shot on goal (Davies' satellite busters don't count!) has become too much to ask for.

I've no clue what the result will be as we cant get the ball in the net, away games are always difficult whoever you play.
We're battling Bournemouth at the bottom, so its extra important we get some sort of a result.

Your guess is as good as mine.

For any of you deluded enough to think Poch would come, think again. To get him we'd have to "buy" him with a fortune, we know how that turns out don't we - see Carlo and Koeman. I think there is probably some legs in the Bobby brown shoes rumour.

I want to see renewed vigour and consistency this afternoon, the players need to stand up for the boss, he deserves that.

Old age, almost certainly.

Pickford
Patterson Coady Tarkowski Mykolenko
Garner, Gana, Onana, Iwobi, Gray
Rondon if fit otherwise Mauphey.

The manager has a point to prove after Tuesday.

We suffered 11 years of Moyes and after 10 months people are calling for lampard's head.

The club is a basket case from the top down and has been for 25 years. In one transfer window we look defensively sound, you only have to compare that to Tuesday night.

Midfield looks stronger defensively.

We lost our best striker to injury again and sold a Brazilian number 9. It doesn't take a genius to see where our problems are.

In January it looks like Dele might be back hopefully with a better attitude. We must already have players lined up to try and bring in.

I just don't see the point in pulling the trigger again only 10 months in. It will not solve anything.

Although it might be tongue in cheek people calling for a defender to play up top highlights what Lampard has got at his disposal.

Today will be a nervy game for the fans, Bournemouth like to attack but give opportunities. Fingers crossed Gray and Mauphey have their shooting boots on.

UTT

Come on Everton. Don't do this does us twice in 4 days. Let's go and do this.

I have always supported Tom but he had a great chance to push for the first team and completely blew it. Keane is just not good enough- Coady and Tarkowski are not quick either but they know how to compensate for their lack of pace and they defend as if their lives depended on it- not something that can be said about Keane. Doucoure has seldom been the player he was at Watford and Maupay has a thankless task leading the line with his physical stature. Rondon would be a better bet but he seems to have disappeared and Frank clearly doesn't rate him. We could do far worse then throw in young Cannon and see what he can do.

I am still mystified at having loaned out Sims. Big, strong and showed again last night that he can finish- if we can recall him then we should, even if just to bring off the bench. Give him a chance and he is likely to score.

Frank will be under enormous pressure if we lose today and he hasn't helped himself with the lack of a decent striker having to be at least in part down to him. He has to stop messing about with Onana and play him in his best position. Gueye needs a rocket up his backside and told to sit in front of the back four and just play simple passes to a man in space. Iwobi needs to be released to play as a number 10.

Wingers are part of the problem- we have them but Gray is inconsistent, McNeil is not convincing and Gordon is a red card walking. Frank needs to get hold of Gordon and sort him out. He needs to slow down a bit, think about the game he is in, and stop trying to kick opponents. He threw away a chance of going to the World Cup with his attitude and performances this season and we need him sorted out and back to form quickly.

I would ditch wingers for this game and go for:

Pickford
Patterson Coady Tarkowski Mykolenko
Gueye
Garner Iwobi Onana
Gray Maupay( Id go Cannon for Maupay but Frank won't)

Four proper midfielders should give us decent possession at least.
We must not lose!!

At close of business for the World Cup we could potentially have a scenario that Moyes and or Lampard might be in trouble, in my view that would be a very harsh judgement on both but that's the crazy world of football.

The only difference I saw was that the shots that have been saved by Pickford, whistled just wide of out posts, or smacked back off the woodwork finally found their way into the net on Tuesday. Unless we change more hammerings will follow.
We are a good performance from opposition strikers away from a hammering every game.

We've been on the back foot for ten years. Its about time we rewarded these magnificent fans with a performance of intent.
I don't care if our strikers are injured. Get players in the bournemouth box and lets approach this game like we intend to win it

If the team got as angry as me they'd be unbeatable lol.

In terms of taking chances, I know what you mean. But I see the likes of Jesus, Nunez, Rashford, Sterling etc all miss tonnes of chances every game. It happens.

Our big problem is that we only create about 1 or 2 decent chances per match. We need to find a way to create more chances to score.

Darren, @ 137, good to see you posting again. I agree, if we approach today with fear and caution we will get beaten. But in the name of God, we should be going to Bournemouth, yes fucking Bournemouth with their shit squad, two dozen fans and stand-in coach, with the intention of thrashing them.

If we go negative, it is down to one man.

If Frank is to perish, and I wouldn't put it past this board, Thomas Frank is the manager I'd want.