Chelsea vs Everton

After last week's emotional rendition of Elton John's "I guess that's why they call it the Blues" in the Winslow, that's been getting a few plays.

A few quotes from the lyrics; not in any particular order. just snippets.

Don't wish it away. Things can only get better. I simply love you more than life itself.

And the great Ray Charles.

I can't stop loving you. I can't stop wanting you.

We can do this Everton.

Apologies for the emotion. I'm in the zone ahead of tomorrow and I've still got more than 24 hours surrounded by many Chelsea fans even before I get close to Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

I will be with you in spirit at least, you are my benchmark for what it means to be an Everton fan.

I came across a photo of the 1969-70 squad yesterday, the team I first watched at Goodison; it brought back so many memories.

I was in awe of those players, I still am.

If we are talking music, how about Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House?

It's definitely not Patrick's Day, is it!!

One wonders about the out-of-avour Holgate and Mina on the bench. Holgate should be fighting for this place and Mina should be told to take a holiday to get him out of the road. Both their attitudes are, at the very least, in question.

Dyche will play the same team and depend on the same subs to keep the game plan going. The rest will only play if someone is injured.

Dyche's sides have shown progressive improvement; hopefully this will continue at Stamford Bridge. Both McNeil and Gray are providing threats. Maybe Onana and Iowbi may also step up to the mantle. Maupay is favoured more than Simms but needs to provide more of a scoring threat.

Chelsea's style of attack has suited Everton in the last, Keane has usually done well. Midfield will need to be a hard fought battle and a performance from Doucoure is needed.

If we get relegated, this song will unfortunately haunt me. But Maybe a couple of more wins and we really will be the Brilliant Blues.

Happy St Pat's mate, and to all blues in whatever corner of the Globe you are.

It won't be easy tomorrow, and again it is a televised game, I just hope we get a decent referee if there is one out there. (?) A pity in many ways we weren't playing them a few weeks ago when nothing was going right for them and Potter's head was being called for, a bit of an upturn in fortunes for them, but still hopeful we can fashion something whichever route one we play.

Like in Cupdraws, you have to up your game to suit the opposition, and we need the points more than they do.

COYB 👍💙💙💙

He actually says... "the colour of the river is grey" – referencing the Thames.

Apart from the Arsenal game, we have been competitive in all the games since Dyche took over. It's also worth remembering he is doing this without a recognised striker.

Had we sacked Lampard before the World Cup, as we should have, and installed Dyche and allowed him time to assess the team and time to address the appalling state Lampard had left the club in, I think we may have been mid-table by now.

I, like many, thought a few weeks back that, even with the improvements Dyche has implemented, it still might not be enough to keep us safe, but at least he has given me some hope that, against all the odds, he just might do it with the backing of our magnificent fans.

Obviously Chelsea's form has improved over the last few games but I am sure Dyche, even without a recognised striker, will cause them problems when we have possession. I think the biggest thing he has done is to get more men in the box when we attack; under Lampard, we hardly had anybody in the box, hence why we are the lowest goalscorers in the league.

Hopefully, over the coming weeks, we may be able to get some of the injured players back and competing for places. I know many have complained about Dyche being reluctant to make changes during a game, but I think, when he looks at his bench, his options at present are very limited.

I never predict scores but I think it will be a lot closer than many think and, if we get something out of the game it will give everybody a massive lift going into the International break.

I think Palace sacking Vieira was a massive mistake, and could come back to haunt them. What's the chances of them bringing back Big Sam?

Just looking… Roy Hodgson 2/1 fav, surprised me.

Re songs, if you can, have a listen to It's got to be the Blues by Paul Jones (Manfred Mann) – it says it all. Would make a good terrace chant as well.

I always thought it was Mersey. Great song though. COYB.

Happy St Patrick's Day to all our supporters and may the happiness continue into tomorrow.

We've had to get used to life without him in the team and certainly Everton can no longer plan a long-term strategy around such a player.

It's almost like thinking you could have built a team around Fabian Delph.

Maybe we should just call him Waldo, actually I don't care where he is anymore. Joke of a club that will possibly take us down through lack of goals for relying on another Sturridge another sick note. Remember weeks ago Dyche said he didn't know what's wrong with him. Shame on Dyche for not insisting on bringing in another striker, he's also fell in line with the Kenwright narrative, don't rock the boat. Hopefully we get at least a draw against Chelsea , Coyb. Ps, bring back Latchford, Dixie, Gray, anyone with a pair of balls.

With respect to tomorrow, I'd gladly take last years' result now. Chelsea blowing hot and cold but have quality all over, just not joined up. Fingers crossed we can keep it tight and frustrate and cause them some problems.

Eddie 21 - I'd love it if Lampard got the Palace job, that would guarantee one of the three bottom places! Amazing how they've fallen this year.

So ridiculously tight at the bottom, can't remember another season like this with so many teams in danger. Palace in free fall, Leicester in free fall, Bournemouth just won't bloody die! If we weren't in the middle of it, it would be fascinating to watch.

Here's to the barcodes winning this evening.

Everton's wait for another Premier League win at Stamford Bridge is their longest such drought in the competition but just how does their record away to Chelsea stack up?

When Sean Dyche's men step out against Graham Potter's side on Saturday afternoon, an incredible 10,340 days will have passed since Everton last secured 3 points in this corner of west London courtesy of Paul Rideout's 39th minute header past Dmitri Kharine on 26 November 1994.

It was new manager Joe Royle's first away game in charge of the Blues. It's a sequence that goes back even longer than the club's record-breaking silverware drought which stretches to when another headed goal from Rideout in the capital secured the FA Cup at Wembley the following May when they defeated Alex Ferguson's Manchester United 1-0.

Winless at Stamford Bridge

Come on Blues, 3 points tomorrow would be as welcome to the fans and the club, even if I have to say, it seems unlikely.

Sure, Chelsea, like Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal, have the better squads and will always be difficult to get points from but 100% commitment and resolute defending might always do the job.

If they play like they did at The Emirates, then you know what may happen and then they will have to heavily depend on the results from other games to keep the status quo for this weekend.

It's a bit like Crystal Palace haven't won at Bournemouth since 1938 (I dont know if that's the case) when the reality is they haven't been in the same division for 50 or 60 of those years.

Typical media sensationalising everything.

Anyway, I will be more than satisfied with any points we pick up at Chelsea. There is no doubt they have the better players but we (hopefully) have heart, desire and a Dyche masterplan.

Even though we have had a lot of decent draws at Chelsea in the last 20 years or so, the fact is we still haven't won there since 1994… what are the journos meant to say?

You beat me to it Joe!

I'm still seething about that seven years later. Funes Mori I think put us ahead. The John Terry offside was so blatantly obvious, it was a farce. An absolute disgrace of a referee and linesman.

You could and should pass that onto Rob Halligan, Peter Mills, Neil Copeland, Brian Murray, the Abrahams, Brent Stephens, John Austin, Jim Burns, John Hurst Mike Summers, Rob Hooton and anyone else I've missed. The list is endless. The community is bonded by what we love and have followed all of our living memories.

Our support is second to none and will be there in force tomorrow.

I, like the thousands watching in the ground or on the screen at home, go with expectation to win. I don't care for past results. It's about tomorrow.

Andy Kings' and Graeme Sharp's screamers to end the derby droughts. Oviedo's winner at Old Trafford.

Anything is possible.

Right now, I'm off to celebrate St Patrick's night given my Irish roots. Second-generation Liverpool Irish on one side who still thought they were Irish even though they grew up in Garston and Speke. My Belfast-born Grandfather on the other side.

Tomorrow, I'll meet with as many of you as possible for hair of the dog and cheer those Blue Boys on.

Believe. Spirit.

I'd go for an unchanged team and put a rocket up Onana – if he lets the first half pass him by, bring on Garner.

A fine Evertonian and gentleman.

So what's the real story? Is he out for the season or is he going to be available after the International break?

We really need someone to come out with the truth because this is becoming as embarrassing as our record at Stamford Bridge.

Personally, I hope we sell him come the end of the season and, with the money we get for him plus the Gordon and Kean, we get 3 strikers in plus 2 attacking midfielders.

They're out there alright – our scouting network might have to work that little bit harder. Not too much to ask, is it. I reckon 𧴜M would bring ifive good players in – 㿀M each. Not rocket science, is it?

An optimist would emphasize that Dyche gets more from using Everton players in his system than Potteur gets from the players at Chelsea in his. I will advance that proposition.

He thinks he's cleva by changing people's names. Still, we have to put up with all sorts on here.

I'll stop if that is really over the line. Otherwise fuck that guy.

I thought Viera was doing a splendid job with them, and I'm verrrrrry happy to see him gone.

A good pub, often used was The Chelsea Potter, down the Kings Road, before the game, and no door men, but friendly, by match day standards in West London. Also some decent old style pubs in West Brompton.

Everton are capable of winning tomorrow, and if the improvement continues, as of the last few games, then a point or more is achievable.

UTFTs!

We have not won there since 1994 – cannot believe that!
Surely it's about time we won there!!

Taking my daughter tomorrow, she hasn't been for a while and her first away game. Funnily enough, her very first game was the 2-0 FA Cup 6th Round win against Chelsea. Hope fully she will bring us some luck.

More than capable of winning this one, need to keep it tight and try and nick a goal.

UTFT!

I just have a feeling Chelsea and Potter have had their little revival, now it's time for a setback for them.

Just stay in the game tommorow, them 3 in midfield will have to put another shift in.

Hoping Onana wants to prove a point to Chelsea after the transfer rumours and puts in a MotM performance.

Believe!!! We are going to win at the Bridge one day… why not tomorrow??

What odds Keane to score and Bill to attend with a pre-arranged camera zoom on him, and the missing photo of poor old Bill brought up by the commentary team.

I've got loads of very vivid memories of Chelsea – good, very bad, bad, and brilliant – over the last 45 years.

I've seen Everton win at Chelsea in 1984, a Friday night, first game of the season. Zico's brilliant free-kick into the away end and his 2nd free-kick disallowed. In 1987, Branch's match in 1994, and Baines brilliant free kick, to equalise, and Phil Neville's penalty win in 2011. The away kit was decent that year.

Many on-the-pitch calamities, a few unlucky defeats, Southall off, Rats in goal, and the years have flown by.

League Cup semi-final, I was there, 2007-08, but we lost on aggregate when we were ahead. I recall Lescott scored at the Bridge and spewed the game late on and Joe Cole broke away for a winner at Goodison Park, for the only goal in the return.

A bit of action as was often at London games in the 1980s and 1990s, and a lesser degree in the last 20 years.

In between, generally some good draws, spawny losses, and being cheated when we had Bobby Brown Shoes in 2015, when it took the bending of fair play to the lowest level in any match I've seen in the Premier League. That game for me was the benchmark in very piss-poor standards and officials in the Premier League.

That was a good fairly well-balanced Everton Team... Fellaini, he was good.

I haven't been to Chelsea for what will be 4 years but tomorrow, Neil and your daughter and all Evertonians, have a great day, and safe travel to and from the match.

Truly scary where the years go but every day is a good day and we are blessed that we are Evertonians!

“What's Our Name?”

UTFTs!

It very rarely works switching manager at this stage of the season. The Athletic posted a good article last week that showed clubs generally do worse after the change.

Plus Viera has done a good job overall.

Pooter of the Premier League.

Maybe a replica of his Pele-like finish with the outside of his boot at Palace last season.

Okay, I'm exaggerating and getting a bit carried away with myself. I always do on match days.

Looking forward to it and meeting up with fellow blues once we sort the location out and as long as I don't get lost and wander into a Chelsea pub mixing with the natives as tends to happen with me.

Safe trip for those travelling down from Merseyside, those from other parts of the country. For me this is relatively straight-forward.

Let's go and do this. See you there. For those watching from around the country and the globe, be there with us and the team. All about the team today. The politics can wait until tomorrow.

I'm finding it harder and harder to reach anything like those levels recently. But, you've got to keep going.

Shithouse 1-goal victory after we've had approx 15% possession!! COYB.

Organised in defence; bodies forward in attack.

But it's not like we rest for this one and target the next couple of matches. They're tough fixtures too. We don't get to pick and choose.

So why not... go and be aggressive and see what happens. We've got a free swing at this one, thanks to a couple of decent results of late.

I would persist with Gray as a 'false 9', setting up a completely defensive formation in the hope of containing Chelsea and pinning our hopes on scoring from either a breakaway or set-piece.

Predictable? Yes. But given our current form and situation, I believe these tactics to be our most realistic chance of gaining a result.

Forced to sell our best players in Speed and Kanchelskis, we are on the brink, relying on the inspiration of Duncan Ferguson to save us. He himself would be sold soon after.

Fast forward 25 years, it's just like last season; just replace Dunc for Richarlison. Kenwright was influential then and would own the club within a year. He's conned us ever since.

Selling our best talent, letting Goodison fall into disrepair and relying purely on Moyes's ability to spot top talent for little money.

But what am I complaining for? All other Premier League clubs look to us and say "What would Everton and Kenwright do?" Plus, we've had good times.

Well, yes, if you're like me and over 45. Our younger fans are surely the best in the country. Everton are easily the biggest club to achieve the least this century.

Thanks for nothing, Bill. The sooner we have a clear-out in the boardroom, the better.

COYB/COYBIG!

Those who sit near me in the Park End don't question the first but have questioned the second! That might be owing to my horse racing tips! See you later.

I fancy a draw (as we often get at Stamford Bridge) and reckon we can nick a win with a bit of luck - hopefully the ref is a Fulham fan or something and we get the rub of the green for a change!

Hope to meet Danny and others before the match, won't be wearing my colours today as we need to be ‘undercover'. I've lived down here so long that I sound like a local, my dad is definitely from Liverpool though.

Keep doing what we've been doing and we have a chance, lots of improvement evident under Dyche so far - in particular with chances created.

Guinness was half price in our local club yesterday so hair of the dog needed.

I was in that bottom corner. Forget pitch invasions, I thought there was more risk of the players invading the lower section of the away supporters!!

Leighton Baines' 200 or whatever-minute free-kick (it felt more like 300 minutes), to take us to penalties and give Phil Neville his grandstand moment.

Kangaroo Tim with his leap and overhead kick to rescue a point late on.

Incompetent officialdom cost us the 3 points in one of Martinez's seasons when the Ref not only seemed to play until Chelsea scored to level, but didn't give what I still maintain was a blatant offside. It would be interesting to see what VAR would have made of that one.

My worst experience at Stamford Bridge was the League Cup second leg. Right in front of my eyes, I was screaming for McFadden to pull it back for an easy tap in. Can't remember who the forward was, but it was on a plate and we'd have been 2-1 up. But he went for glory from a difficult angle and fluffed his lines as James often did. A talented, but inconsistent and frustrating footballer.

Then the 6-foot something Lescott gets bullied by the 4-foot something Wright-Phillips to put one in our own net in the final minutes of the game to make it 2-1 to them. That was a bitter pill to swallow.

Yes, it's a tough place to go to. Most Premier League grounds are. But we can get something. And even if they score first, it's not over until the final whistle.

We would have qualified for Europe with a win, but Chelsea needed to draw or win in order to be undefeated at home for the whole season. Because they obviously bunged the ref, Blackburn snuck in by virtue of beating Spurs 3-0 away from home – also a highly suspect result.

I think that's what happened anyway...

Thankfully the game is on at the same time as the rugby so I won't have to witness England being spanked!

COYB

I often wonder are there any decent ones out there? The amount of times points have been lost or won by virtue of an incorrect decision, not just referring to us by the way, but witnessed it across the board. Coupled with certain sides getting favour, it is all wrong.

We have the best league in the world with the worst officials!

However, I do think that Sean Dyche has created an atmosphere of creativity and ensuring only players offering 110% input for 90 minutes in every game get their place.

As an independent, I'd go for Chelsea to overcome a plucky Everton… but as an Evertonian, I desperately want us to win which we can't do as we don't have those amazing players that score goals.

So, I'm going for an honourable and creditable 1-1. I'll be really happy with a good performance too.

Anything is possible, keep 11 players on the field and we have a fighting chance. We just have to hope that, for once, we are not talking about the VAR or a shocking decision going against us.

I'll be off this until after the match, but those who have my number, just text or WhatsApp me.

See you all there.

I don't want to sound like an arl arse but, in years gone by, you could name a few decent refs: Gordon Hill, Pat Partridge, even Howard Webb wasn't too bad, but this current crop are a bunch of wet wipes.

Please... don't shoot me, I speak in jest!

And thanks for that last bit Jeff. I really dont mean to outright annoy anyone, okay occasionally Ian and sometimes Soren (ha!) and now Michael it's just a bit of fun and I probably lack the style to make it work.

Oh yes and all of them football experts having read Roy of the Rovers twice. Grow up guys, the system can be improved but we must allow the people who know what they are doing to improve it. God save us from armchair experts in all sports.

Wolves just gone 3-1 so hoping for a comeback er praying!¡!!

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has flown out to Dubai for warm weather training. Calvert-Lewin has travelled with his personal physio, as he bids to return to full fitness after the international break

It has to be about the development of Simms and identifying two new strikers for next season, as I think we'll stay up (just about).