Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton are a decent side these days, and shouldn't be taken lightly, they also have a few danger men. Leandro Trossard who we should have got, but dithered when he was available for about £7M, Mac Allister and Lamptey.

It won't be easy but the long journey for them mid-week under the floodlights and the buoyancy and confidence gained from the City game should make it a decent contest.

Hope we can start spreading the goals around too, and not just depend on the front two. Mina would have been a bonus at set-pieces but too much to ask for, two consecutive games from him.

Not going to this one but I'll be cheering from a distance and hopefully pick up beIN Sports. COYB 💙💙

Come on, You Blues.

He would be alright in an attacking role in the last 10 minutes to create a nuisance in the opposition penalty box. The rest of the team looks fine.

Davies is a better passer and he has more positional discipline.

I think it depends. If we let Doucouré attack as he did at Watford, he can be dangerous whereas, if we buy this myth he's a Viera type, then we are screwed.

Offensively, Tom Davies offers nothing like Gueye so, at home with five defenders and those two, we are asking a lot of Iwobi, Gray and Calvert-Lewin.

As Derek says, Brighton are dangerous so I don't feel too confident about going too defensive as, sooner or later, they'll break us down.

Whatever formation we go with, I hope the team and crowd will show some patience. I'm sure Brighton will look to frustrate us and hit us on the counter.

Lyndon has got the team right; I think Doucoure will start as a more like-for-like replacement for Onana. He must be sharp tonight, no room for weakest links or getting up to speed. Brighton will punish any poor passing.

I want to see Gray continue that form, we'll need it tonight. Also more service from all attacking players and full-backs for Calvert-Lewin.

I want to see much more of that forward running from Iwobi who I thought played well against City. Because again, it's going to be all about goals and I think we are going to need two or three to win.

COYBlues! Toffees 2 Seagulls 1

We were dogged and gritty at City and defended well, but the problems start when we have to take the initiative and go at teams, and that's what concerns me with tonight's match.

Brighton are no mugs, they are a better football team than us, that's a fact.

But we need that win this, we can't get away from the fact we have won 3 games in 17.

Brighton, Southampton and West Ham are our next three Premier League games and I'd suggest we need 5 points at least from this trilogy.

Go 4 at the back and I agree: Davies for Onana. If Gordon plays, we need an 8 out of 10 performance from him! Coyb

The only change I would make to Lyndon's starting line-up is, if Gordon is available, start him instead of Iwobi.

Up the Blues!!!

Or does Frank have the tactical nous to look at the opposition and set the team up in the best way to nullify their strengths whilst playing to our own?

If the last 7 years are anything to go by, I'm guessing the former.

Your first paragraph should be shown to the players before they go on to the pitch.

I do slightly disagree re Gordon and Iwobi, I feel Gordon has cost us several points this season with not taking relatively easy chances. Whatever Chelsea offered (certainly not the £60M) we should have snapped their hand off.

We have brought back Ellis Simms, will he have a part to play?

Pickford
Coady Tarkowski Godfrey
Patterson Iwobi Gana Mykolenko
Gordon Calvert-Lewin Gray

Subs: Begovic, Holgate, Coleman, Vinagre, Doucoure, Davies, McNeil, Simms, Maupay.

Played 35 league matches – win rate 25%

Shows just how low Everton have sunk that he's still in a job.

Iwobi is the conundrum for me because he does seem to lack discipline and get sucked towards the ball, although this might not be too big of a problem if he then went and put a tackle in.

I'd go with Davies and Gueye, with Iwobi or Doucoure just ahead of them in that little triangle, and think this is a role that Anthony Gordon might also be able to play, who knows?

We have got to be tight and hard to play against but we have also got to be able to spring from the traps. This is why I'd prefer to play with 3 central defenders right now, because I genuinely believe it suits our current squad the best.

If he's okay, go with the line-up from Saturday, with Davies in for Onana. These are no mugs and are still proving themselves to their new manager.

If Calvert-Lewin is not risked, then go 4-3-3:

Pickford, Patterson, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Gueye, Davies, Iwobi, Gray, Gordon and Maupay.

If Maupay can't get up for this fixture, when will he ever?

Whatever happens tonight, we must not lose.

Brighton are no pushover – they will cause us problems.

I watched Nottingham Forest take the game to Chelsea in the second half and got their just rewards, and Brentford (even without Toney) put pressure on Liverpool all over the park.

Far too often in Lampard's tenure, have we been way too negative and allowed teams to win both territory and possession against us. Seems he is more concerned with keeping possession at the back than asking questions of the opposition.

I think the crowd reaction to this playing it round at the back with minutes to go while losing to bottom club Wolves, should have been a warning that the fans want to see an Everton team going forward trying to score – not forever passing between the back 4.

Calvert-Lewin must start tonight, even if he only gets another 70-odd minutes, because playing Maupay as the lone striker has never worked. I guess Simms will be on the bench.

If Calvert-Lewin is rested, I'd put Gray up top on his own, with Gordon and McNeil sitting deeper.

We often look good for the first 10 minutes until the opposition clock what we are doing, close down midfield, then press us back.

We have managed some good rear-guard displays with backs-to-the-wall effort but we can only play on the counter.
Calvert-Lewin does give us an out-ball but I suspect Simms is being prepared to fill-in for him, as his injury record is worrying.

On previous form, I expect the brownie-points that Lampard and the lads gained at the Emptiad will be soon cashed-in as we fail to find a way through.

I think it is time to forget out-playing anyone, just hoof it over our pedestrian midfield and try to hit Gray or Calvert-Lewin. If Iwobi can get near to them, then we could get lucky. Gordon can stay home. I'd rather not see two wingers again this season.

I would play five across the back and stay in the game as long as possible — and if we only draw, I will be satisfied.

It's against teams like Wolves and Bournemouth that we look most inept, because we can't score. Perhaps tonight with Onana out, rather than replacing him like-for-like, Gordon should be drafted in to support the attacking midfield.

Gordon certainly hasn't performed to his best but the reasons I prefer Gordon over Iwobi are twofold:-

1. He is scared of no-one and will put a tackle in.
2. His ability to go past a player where it counts.

We have a long way to go to get to safety – everyone who pulls a blue shirt on for us from now on has to be prepared to participate in the physical side of the game.

I'd also start Davies – especially with Caicedo back and maybe Mac Allister. It's positivity we want, not comments looking for Lampard to be sacked, coming off a draw at the Etihad?

Gordon? For me, he hasn't done the business this season; hard to justify a start. Maybe interchange as sub for Gray at some point...

Brighton play with only 1 central attacker so 3 at the back and 2 wide attacking full-backs is preferable for me, but Mykolenko, as good a defender as he may be, offers very little going forward, so would Vinagre be an option given their set-up?

I think the game will be won and lost in midfield so no Davies for me – another example of a player who, the less he plays, the more people forget how poor he really is. Doucouré has to start alongside Gana and Iwobi.

The suggestion that Gordon replaces Iwobi is bonkers – he can't pass, shoot head or dribble, all he does is run around and tackle badly – and he's even stopped doing that!! I'd drive him to any club willing to spend £25M let alone some of the agent-generated rubbish numbers being quoted.

Having said all the above, Lampard will make as few changes as possible… so Doucouré for Onana and that's it.

Gordon needs a spell on the bench to remind him he's not an automatic choice. He can and should do better than of late. Maupay and McNeil should be nowhere near the starting 11.

Very much hoping the above will come back to bite me on the arse tonight but I'll go for a nervous 2-0 to us. UTFT

Doucouré looked deep in thought, so my guess is that he wants to leave but has been told he's going nowhere?

Or he wants to stay and he has been told we are going to sell him!

No to Doucouré from me. I'm tired of watching him lose possession in advanced areas and then casually jogging up the other end whilst the opposition counter. I used to have a lot of time for him but something has gone badly wrong…

A draw would be a good result with this team and manager. It could be a defining result for Lampard and Everton's Premier League survival.

So how do you play the game, because it seems likely they will score? Do you play like we did against City or go all out for a win?

Whichever way Frank chooses to play, it's a difficult game.

I'm hoping for the best but at the same time not with too much confidence.

Sorry, Michael, I know you don't approve of negativity but you can't deny it looks tough.

A loss can put us in the Bottom 3 with the psychological issues this bunch will have.

Three points against a good Brighton side who have shown a willingness to fight and compete with the best, is a must for us.

Getting the balance of the team has and will be the issue for Lampard to solve. Fingers crossed it starts tonight!

If fit he should definitely be starting - no resting or non-risking bollocks. Not bothered if Gordon starts or not so long as McNeil or Maupay don't.

I'm predicting 2-0 tonight and another step in the right direction.

That said, personally I wouldn't change anything after a good performance.

But then Brighton home is a different prospect to City away.

We're at Goodison. Be brave Everton, play on the front foot and send the Seagulls to the Mersey.

Get yer coat and get moving.

Liverpool were unexpectedly shambolic..and couldn't cope with a

I watched that with a smirk on my face last night.

Very sensible comments about Maupay. Despite the criticism, I can see him being wleffective between the lines and playing off a striker.

We've been trying to use him as Duncan Ferguson or Bob Latchford. He's been isolated from the midfield and starved of supply.

Just been reading Maupay's stats and he did a good job for you guys - 41 goals in 95 games, so 1 in about 2.3 games. Then dropped off to 1 in 4 with Brighton, albeit in the Prem now, and a big step backwards with just 1 goal in 13 (PL, 0) for Everton. Do you think Lampard should be risking more starts for him? He is certainly NOT pulling up trees here.

Well done Brentford, and not just for yesterday, but for the way you have gone about your whole season👏.

Looking back to the game at Goodison, last season John, I don’t think you would have got out of our ground without conceding at least 5 goals, but when Everton were steamrolling yers, and the crowd was in full voice, (real full voice) Oliver refused to give us a penalty and 15 seconds later he was sending off one of our players.

My point is the same as yours John, there’s not that much between a lot of teams, but it’s the ones that get the fundamentals right, who are the ones who do better than most of the other teams?

Long may it continue, as long as it's not us, but then again, we at Everton have never been media darlings ! :-)

It not just this season. The way Brentford has progressed is quite amazing.

People talk about Brighton being well run. With Brentford being the closest Premier League club to my house, the transformation since I moved to West London in 2004 has been unbelievable.

Shows what you can do if you put a structure in place and run the club properly from the top down.

Great manager too.

I always thought that having come from a passing side like Brighton that he would find it more difficult to adjusted to our style of play given our lack of creativity.

If we play with a back 5 tonight then Patterson and Myko must push up.

With everyone getting fit again things could change but much depends on the offence again which looked a little better against City.

Brighton, like Brentford and Newcastle have really improved this season and all three of these teams are tough to beat but then Everton have trouble beating anyone these days.

Still, we all hope they can get the three points today after Brentford (without Toney) made us smile yesterday.

I think Brentford have been very wise in the way they have revamped their structure and also done away with their junior academy.

These junior academies, are not something I really agree with for reasons I have already stressed a thousand times, and looking at Brentford, I don’t think not having such an academy, has had any negative impact on the way they currently recruit?

And a proper nark. He would bother defenders if we got him in the game more.

Is he a world beater? Of course not, but I can't criticise too much given the scraps he feeds off.

And I'm being realistic to him being what we have, so try to use it. Maybe Dominic back might help that and he can be a decent short term option

So he can play the lone forward role but...

He's really not that good a player - so it's not like we can tweak our formation etc and he'll suddenly score loads of goals. He shouldn't really be anywhere near our starting XI other than as occasional cover.

And Brighton have been a much better organised club than us and play better football - so I'm guessing created more chances for him to score from (I think he famously has a terrible chance conversion rate but do not follow those stats particularly so may be wrong).

Personally I think we are better suited as a 4-4-2 which beefs up the MF and creates 3 forwards to unsettle the defenders.. Ive seen enough of our limp wing play to last me a lifetime and feel Gray is the only one besides DCL who knows where the net is.

So for me it would be

Patterson Coady Tarks Myolenko

Iwobi Doucoure Gueye Davies (Lewis Warrington if he had been available)

DCL Gray

Without watching them I got the impression that Brighton had problems in front of goal for a number of years, created lots of chances but failed to put them away. Maupay scored about 10 goals a season under that set up, therefore, it's hard to believe he will score more than 5 in a season given the manner that we currently play.

If DCL does not start this evening there has got to be merit in starting Ellis up top. He is match fit and has been finding the back of the net recently.

Those odds are proper depressing but I think if we face an attacking Brighton side it may suit us. Hate to say it but I'm not unoptimistic about tonights game.

If we can keep DCL fit, and find a system that can bring everyone 15 yards closer to Dominic, then I believe we could really improve, but for now, I think those bookies odds are correct, although they have definitely tempted me to put a few quid on The Toffees tonight.

Brighton remain dangerous opponents. Our players and the manager should approach tonight’s match in the way they did at Man City; stay compact and play on the counterattack. If we can make ourselves difficult to beat we might possibly steal a win.

If Frank reverts to the open 4-3-3 he was using before Saturday I fear the outcome will be the same, another defeat.

I might just go for an Everton win tonight.

Dont complain about the size of our odds. Take advantage of them.

I would actually leave Gordon out again. He has not been at the races overall this season for me and hasn't always tracked back sometimes in previous games. Noticeable he was not there for the City game when we performed so well.

I get the impression he wanted a big money move over the summer and is in a bit of a sulk about it still, hence a drop in performances. Decent player though and sure he is a nice lad so hope he gets back to his best soon.

His 442 formation and team of:

Patterson Coady Tarks Myolenko

Iwobi Doucoure Gueye Davies

DCL Gray

Frank finally trusting a few more of these and them rewarding the trust was big, really big. Just getting out of Etihad with the point when I think City had lost just before the break to Brentford is enough regardless of form; they fucking did that. There is enough in this team that could find some partnerships as long as some don't get played until their form is lost. Five subs could be a benefit if a few can just put in some decent 20-25m shifts.

UTWFT!!!

Brighton are a good side but, if Everton want to remain in the Premeir League then they are going to have to win matches like this one and get the fans on side. A poor result tonight would send us on a downward spiral, I feel.

Let's get 3 points and get some momentum going.

COYB

I'd play Gordan and Gray on the wings and have Iwobi and Gana in the middle. He won't play that (probably opting for a back 5 again and Calvert-Lewin alone up top) but we'll see.

Doucoure should be nowhere near the starting 11. He's been shocking and we should sell asap while he still has some value. Same with Mina and Keane.

It's prats who don't qualify their predictions, as you have, and instead just come straight out with it, saying we're gonna get slaughtered – mainly because we lost the last home match – that really get my 'negativity' hackles up.

What I fail to comprehend entirely with this sizeable section of the fanbase is that they must watch many, many, many games of football in the Premier League. Yet not only do they firmly believe that past form is a reliable predictor of future performance, they actually believe they can forecast the score!

There's only one demographic who have really got to grips with this – and you give them a nod in your post. I would just hope that our fans are not daft enough to put their hard-earned on the line at those bookies who know – to their vast and lucrative profit – the very low probability that accompanies predicting the outcome of a top-flight football game.

City were 1/7

Separately, having brought back Ellis Simms, surely he has to be used.

I well remember getting 15 straight wins on the Long List Accumulator, I stood to win well over 5 grand, only for Middlesbrough to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford and United where in their pomp at the time.

You can get a little carried away with sex, drink and rock n roll, but you always need to keep a lid on your gambling.

We're not all horseracing sharks like that Tran fella, so there is no harm in having a little flutter on the footy.

Only three possible outcomes and If the odds-makers want to stick their jaws out and offer 11/4, I don't see any harm in having a little swing.

I don't think we should accept an offer, but he absolutely needs to get his shit together, or he won't get the big move or the contract that he delusionally thinks he deserves.

100% effort and concentration required tonight. We have the players, do we have the tactics?

I would like to see two upfront for this one. The best form of defence is attack — a well worn cliche that makes sense.