Crystal Palace vs Everton

Just in time and just the tonic for the confidence boost he desperately needs on his return. Fab. Good luck Dom, nod one in and silence the haters.

Good luck Dom and the lads. This is what we've been missing all season and will hopefully take the weight off some of the other players in the team.

Seems like the appropriate gesture at this point otherwise I'm inclined to get behind that hater comment I took a card for that last year but would risk another if it gets ridiculous.

Calvert-Lewin to make a late entrance and score a scrappy goal in a God-awful 1-0 win for the Blues.

I'd definitely take that.

I rather think the club has set Calvert-Lewin as on the pedestal of the only hope by leaving him as essentially the only real forward we have, for all this time.

We don't know the full extent of his problems but whatever they are and if there is to be a complete and final recovery, being cited as potentially the only answer for avoiding relegation is maybe not the best atmosphere for his return.

This said, free as we supposedly are to express ourselves (for now), some things will have an inevitable result in the real world and there's no skirting that issue.

It shouldn't be this way at a top club. Nor should it be that a main fan site can't discuss it, wherever that goes. Let's hope for the best outcome all round.

I don't imagine Dyche would draft him straight in but, if Calvert-Lewin gets crocked again, it might be an option. At least he knows where the net is.

I think his actual fitness should be okay. It's just match sharpness and if you compare that to the blunt butter knife that is Maupay, I'd take a less than match sharp DCL

Only reason I'd bench Calvert-Lewin is if I was thinking that, if Simms starts and it doesn't go to plan. Throw Calvert-Lewin and Simms up top!

The pressure on Calvert-Lewin isn't really fair on the lad. We should have options… I'm sure he will try his best – feels like we have a glimmer of hope or is it a mirage???

Imagine an opposition defence having to worry about the threat of a proven goalscorer!!! I mean talk about us having our expectations lowered!! But this is where we are at!

Of course I hope we'll escape the drop but I can't see it when our manager turns out a team and tactics like he did last week!

Chester City losing players out!!

In all likelihood, we're not staying up from here.

He should start Simms, bring Dom on second half. Leave Maupay at Heston Services. Not the best striker meets not the best services…

Last season, he came up trumps against Palace. What has he done since? If he comes up trumps, great… but where does his commitment lie?

He's a prima donna who we cannot afford. Sorry, Dom, man up!!!

Then I came on here…..

Come on, Dominic, do as the man says and nod us to victory, best of luck lad.

If Calvert-Lewin is fit enough, I hope we will see him back in the 4-5-1 system, probably for 60-70 or so minutes. If we can keep it tight, there will definitely be opportunities to poach one or two, including from a corner or a whipped-in Garner free kick.

There have been a few straight-forward headed chances that have gone begging in recent matches that Dominic would have buried. If he starts, I'll be much more optimistic of us getting a win or at least something out of the game.

Anyway, looking forward to a much-needed win.

UTFT!

UTFT 3-1 win for the blues!

Maybe. I just find it pathetic that we've players earning 50 to 120k a week having a kick around with semi pros. You'd like to think Davies, Mina etc would be busting their asses trying to get back into the starting line up. But even if they don't give a crap about the team paying their wages, in about 10 weeks their contracts end and they will be unemployed, Given the difference in level you'd expect a result like when we beat that semi pro Austrian team 22-0. But somehow these gutless, shameless losers managed to lose 1-0

to a bunch of no-hopers who probably showed up expecting to be humiliated but now they can tell their Grandkids of the time they beat WC star Mina, Everton legend with hundreds of appearances Davies, England striker DCL, 30 million pound Doucoure etc. I would honestly terminate all their contracts early. Absolute disgrace.

I think a few a getting a bit excited about what was literally a kick about in the Park.

Maybe the players were under instruction to treat it as a run out and light training session as we keeping some ticking over (Doucoure) and bring others back to fitness (Onana)?

What do we want? Thump Chester at Finch Farm and risk further injuries going toe-to-toe against a team probably treating it as a near Cup Final? Or just let them go through their paces?

The result is / was meaningless.

Repeat warning number two.

@Andy Kay. Do not, do not, play 4-4-2. The last two matches I have watched, Everton were left wide open and be carved apart in midfield. The examples you give are a bygone age. That's quite sad to say as it is only 20 years or so ago.

But in my humble view, 4-4-2 has had it's day for now. Especially with the players we have.

Most teams play with a single striker supported by attacking midfield runners. The number 10 as we now call it. Complimented by wide attackers such a Richarlison, for example. De Bruyne, Grealish. We could go on.

Liverpool were a freak, playing their three Duracell bunny powered forwards, but that was more of a 4-3-3.

Do not play 4-4-2. Palace will stretch the pitch and expose the holes left in the middle, just like Manchester United and Fulham in recent weeks. Two strikers are pointless if we can't get the ball to them.

All about opinions obviously.

My initial reaction was FFS we can't even beat Chester, that lasted about 10 seconds and then it was a training game dawned on me.

Also keep Garner in the team so Gana, Garner and Doucure wiyth Gray & McNeil on the wings supporting DCL

COYB

If he plays 60 minutes then fine take him off afterwards but start him.

Why wait until the game is lost?

I agree with #Mark 45. Dyche needs to understand the importance of tactics against our opponents. For me, he got it wrong against Fulham by playing an open game, when we needed a point/points.

I would play 3-5-2 against Palace, and try and play on the counter attack. Try and get something from the game. I wouldn't start with Maupay.

Mark, Mal, 3-5-2 can work with what we have. Genuine question. Do we stick Mykolenko in a back three if we go with that?

Mykolenko, Tarkowski and Mina. Although make sure Keane is ready to go and continuously warming up before big Yerry snaps a toe nail or boot lace after 20 minutes.

If not 3-5-2, go 4-2-3-1. If available and selected, I push Onana forward. But then who plays alongside Gueye? Probably Garner or Davies?

2 weeks ago I was feeling fairly confident we'd stay up. I'd been impressed by Dyche. But he got things pretty wrong against United and Fulham I'd say and now our PL future hangs by a thread.

Would we take a point this weekend? I think so. Though will need to win at some point!

He's going to be rusty, but the thing about DCL is that when he's fit and able to play, he always gives his best. He's seen off a few more expensive 'first choice' strikers in his time.

Great to have a striker who actually worries the opposition back.

Got to be 4 5 1
Holgate, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko
Davies, Gueye, Onana, Garner, McNeill
DCL

Just going back to DCLs last outing against Arsenal was one of his most impressive games, he caused their defence problems. When the ball was played to him it stuck which gave the midfield and other forwards the belief that they could make runs past DCL and he wouldnt lose the ball. I am not necessarily thinking DCL is going to bang in a couple of goals but I do think the confidence he will give to his team mates will be a huge boost.I think its worth remembering for most of this season we have hade wide players playing the main striking role, or a player learning his trade in Simms or Maupay who is completely unsuited to playing the lone striker role. Just a pity that Doucoure has still to miss this game as I think his energy will also make a difference.

But the fact is that of the 17 teams that were in the Premier league last season and this season we have the worst away win record of all the teams, and I think if we are to stay up that has to change and quickly.

As to Simms up front? Alone, he doesn't give us enough. He is a good finisher who needs to play alongside a ball winner (Heath off Sharp).
When he has played the lone striker role as last week, he wins nothing and the ball just comes straight back at us. He couldn't trap a bag of cement and doesn't win headers. To get the best out of him he has to play alongside DCL in a 3-5-2.
For this reason I would start with Dom up front alone. And use Simms off the bench if we need to change.

His big problem will be the lack of supply from the rest of the side.

For the travelling blue army, be bitter, be loud and be proud.

Prince George.

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However, the inexplicable timing of his change of tactics against Utd was bewildering & to repeat what was quite clearly an unmitigated disaster against Fulham, was nothing short of insane, and to cite your reasoning for disrupting the whole teams way of playing, to accommodate the absence of one player, (Doucoure) is simply bizarre. In our current predicament, if something is working, then keep things simple with minimal change, player for player.

Also, to get the maximum benefit from DCL's potential return, I subscribe to both Tony#31 & Paul#53 philosophy. In fact I think I'd take it one step further, and return to both tactics & personnel on display on DCL's last outing. Likewise, give him at least the first hour so we can hopefully get a strong foothold in the game, and not be bringing him off the bench to try & retrieve a game already lost. Because as someone else has quite rightly pointed-out he's not a messiah. But he is one of the best at leading the line, and he's always put himself on the line, even when not fully fit, just like in the hour he put in against Arsenal, when their 2 CB's couldn't handle him.

So let's revert to tried & tested and give both DCL & ourselves a real chance COYB💙

I'm trying to stay open minded about Sean, but so far changes in most games have been far too late also for Everton. But last week Maupay against defenders as big as Stonehenge was maddening.l and costly.

I cant say I can engender much optimism, I wish I could.
Hopefully Dominic will do his stuff and make a huge difference to our performance because we are running out of games.

No Onana or Calvert-Lewin.

0 - 2 to the mighty Toffees tomorrow. Woy off his game tomorrow. The start of a big end-of-season Palace wobble tomorrow, Simms and Calvert-Lewin.

Bob, I am fortunate, yes fortunate, to be able to attend tomorrow.

But I know there will many thousands following around the globe. Kicking every ball or cushion. We are all there regardless of where we are.

Unfortunately I'm in the Palace end courtesy of my daughter's best friend (a Palace season ticket holder). I won't know how to contain myself if we get a 95th minute winner…

Here's dreaming!

We need to expect though that there may not be a turnaround but we mustn't think that yet. Our time will come still as we must have a key say when they finally cut out the rotten core of the club even if we are in the league below.

I'd play
Patterson ( if no Coleman)
Tarks
Keane
Mykolenko
Onana
Gana
Garner
Iwobi
Gray
DcL

We don't really have options apart from simms for dcl I don't count maupay as an attacking option unless you play 2 up front which to be fair he has never had someone next to him to play off. But he's a last resort

I watched it too. None of the losers who lost to Chester were involved so maybe it was at the same time? Hence why it was moved to Goodison? Or maybe after that Sean had to separate the regulars from those lot so they can't suck out the life of the rest of the squad by being allowed to be near them.

That's a good point, I'd forgotten about the Chester game

If he can play for the rest of the season, it'll be a huge plus for us.

I agree with Danny that 4-5-1 would be the best option against a free-flowing Palace team that is now brimming with confidence and no-one plays the lone striker better than Dominic.

Let's play for a point and hope for a win.

I also don't like leading people at the club being tardy; Sean Dyche has been later and later for some of his recent press conferences. Yesterday, it looked as if he'd just eaten a plate of pie and gravy or something as he continually wiped his chops as he sat down to meet the press.

Tomorrow against Crystal Palace away Everton will hopefully at last have Calvert-Lewin back in our squad, at least on the bench, if not starting. We really need him as our main striker in our remaining matches. Would be very good also if Onana can feature in the match. As we all know we will still miss both Doucoure and Coleman. When all these four mentioned were not available in our home game against Fulham, we clearly saw how we nowadays lack strength in depth in our squad. And of course that´s the reason why we are in the relegation mire.

Still whoever will in the remaining matches wear the Royal Blue shirts, must give everything, not by receiving unnecessary or stupid yellow and red cards, but showing the utmost desire to fight fully committed to the end. This is all, and nothing less, the Everton supporters demand from our players.

DCL playing at half pace is better than any other option we have up there.

I know we've had a lot of big games but this really feels like the big one. It's a team we can beat even if the league and location will make us underdogs.

A couple of our rivals have similarly winnable games.

So today we will appear to have a fit team.Hopefully Dyche will try to bolster Midfield and tighten up the defence, getting more responsibility going forward.He also has to find a threat in the Centre Forward position.Maupay is not a threat.It would be better if Simms started.

Good Luck Everton.

Hope Kenwright stays away he is nothing but a distraction.But I can't see him not accepting Parish's invitation.His desperation to attend may explain his desperate letter and the seizing on a wayward opportunity to deliver it.

Hopefully the team and formation chosen will be the strongest Team, available and like v Arsenal at home, look after the ball, and use it well.

If DCL, starts, then that is a very positive selection, and will provide a genuine target to aim at in the box.

To all travelling today have a great day, and let's hope Everton get at least a point.

Also for Fulham to beat Leeds and the RS, to beat Forest. Leicester and Wolves, I reckon, Wolves will pinch a point.

UTFTs!

Best wishes blues. See you there or feel you in spirit.

I don't care who is playing. Just turn up like the sold out 2000 away section and those watching around the country and globe.

Perform and get a result.

The Forwards have to maintain the high press, particularly in the first quarter of the second half.Everton's Achilles heel.They just can't have the situation were the opposition defensive line is able to push up in support of their midfield and Everton's midfield is overrun.

Aleast the Players will be better up for it, in comparison to the Fulham game.

As well as the midfield being stronger for this match, the manager has to address the full back positions. Palace will have done their homework and will target these positions repeatedly. This battleground will shape the game one way or another.

Godfrey can't play right back, since he has been at the club he has played ok at times at left back but got rudely exposed at the cavernous old Trafford against a decent player in Antony.

Still he is overall better at left back than right back where he looks all at sea. It's not clear cut whether to put in Mykolenko ahead of him though, . It's a 50/50 decision, I still just prefer Godfrey.

At right back then it's Patterson or Holgate. Again not clear cut, the rash Holgate or the inexperienced, “not PL ready” according to Sean Dyche, Patterson? Again it's a 50/50 decision and just, almost reluctantly, prefer Holgate at the moment.

Midfield Garner and Onana either side of Gana, with orders to support attacks. McNeill and Iwobi wider midfielders, hopefully DCL up top, if not Gray maybe just edges out Simms for the start.

There's only one way we are going to stay up and that is by putting in seven almighty shifts, fighting for every ball, every blade of grass and never giving up.

COYBLUES!

He must stress to the players nothing silly while they must work harder than ever no matter the score.

He has to motivate and deal with the players pressure which can make a player freeze. Make no mistake these players are under immense pressure.

Maybe starting DCL is a good idea in a 451 and then replace him with Simms or Gray. Fingers crossed that DCL will find playing is a breeze after all his problems.

Once again we could do with a bit of luck, no mistakes, no sending offs, no bad decisions and please some inspired performances.

COYB!

Our record is close to bang on 50/50 and I'd take 50/50 today given how shite we are, especially away from home.

To stay up we need to win at least a couple of games, and pick up a couple of draws. I can see us getting 34 points absolute maximum come the end of the season, so other teams being equally, or more shit is going to be key in my view.

As an aside, if we do stay up, I hope we stay up in a game away from Goodison - I couldn't stand to see those 'celebrations' of mediocrity again. Let the away fans have a fun day out, and save the OTT embarrassment again.

Others will be with us, wherever they are.

God I hope that changes today, really hope Dominic is fit enough to start and cause the Palace defence some issues. They will attack plenty down the flanks and Iwobi & McNeill will likely be busy helping whoever starts in the fullback positions.

I'd bite your hand off for a scrappy 1-0 win, with a comedy own goal giving us the points. Would be much happier if we could score more than one goal ourselves, something we've struggled to achieve all season.

COYB, give your all!!

What we don't want is a worse case scenario today Leicester and Leeds win and we lose.

Looking at our remaining fixtures theres only the last game against Bournemouth where we will start favourite to win.
The game against Leicester is pivotable if we can somehow win that one we might have a chance.

Its football and anything can happen and often does but its looking increasingly grim to me.

No offence to DCL but he is not renowned for getting straight back up to speed after another of his long lay offs.

No offence to Everton but we are not likely to have much of the ball in an away match to a moderately competent, in form team like Palace. We are going to have to play on the break, at least for the first hour or so, which means we need to have some pace up front. That would lead to Gray just ahead of Simms and Maupay nowhere in sight.

If we end up chasing an equaliser, or even a win, it's possible we will get some more set pieces later in the game and you could bring DCL on for that. But I don't think it makes sense to have someone in his condition chasing around for an hour.

As for the rest of the team, let's face it, I don't think we have a single player, other than maybe Pickford, who could be said to be undroppable, nor have we a single player who hasn't been playing who has made a cast iron case to start. They are pretty interchangeable, and not in a good way. The Chester game may have just been a kickabout but how very Everton to lose without even scoring. More than personnel, what we need above all else is luck going our way, a deflected shot or an own goal that give us the momentum we so sorely lack right now. Start praying.

I don't want to be too critical of Dyche but that team and in game management was on a par with Martinez's West Ham moment; putting someone at RB who was hooked at halftime vs Man U because it was obvious he isn't a full back, when he had a proper RB available, picking Keane over Mina & Cody. Going 442 with 2 midgets up front, then have Pickford kick it long to them?? I could go on.

Finally in defence of Maupay(sort of) I remember when Naismith first came and Moyes played him mostly wide and sometimes up front, and he was dog shit out wide and even more dogger shitter up top. It was only when Martinez played him between the lines that we got a tune out of him, he was never the best player ever to pull a shirt on for Everton, but he did have some good games; the hattrick vs Chelsea stands out.

The moral of the story always play players in their favoured positions when possible and you'll get a tune out of them; it mightn't be a good tune or one you like, but it'll be a tune.

3 points would be lovely but bare minimum a point.

Up the toffees.

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