Everton vs Newcastle United

Having said that Young is one yellow away from suspension, plus if Gordon shows him a clean pair of heels that could be a yellow/red through a rash tackle!

We can all see how vulnerable Young is, but whatever happened to supporting the players the manager chooses? Players are far more likely to perform when supported and encouraged.

How ironic that the guy who was in Young's shoes last year is now being seen as a very real danger this week. Gordon "shouldn't be starting". He was "nowhere near as good as he thinks". Had "No end product", "Couldn't finish". He is now playing for a crowd who support and encourage him and he is enjoying his football and scoring for fun. That's how it works.

Criticise bad performances by all means, but this negativity and these grim predictions before a ball is kicked don't make any sense.

I can see the logic in Patterson going out on loan but our squad is thin and he may well be needed this season. But if it improves him it could be worth a shot.

Unfortunately I don't think we'd re-coup our money if Dyche decided to sell him, and we'd still need to buy another right back. Though I wouldn't rule that out either as Dyche obviously doesn't rate Patterson at this point.

The case being made for Patterson's selection in the first team becomes more comical week-by-week. Having read a number of ageist accusations towards Young that sidestep the fact that he's simply a better defender at this point in time, it seems Patterson gets a free pass now because he's not played enough times to learn how to be a right back. Lol. Presumably he has to continue making mistakes for Everton then until he's good enough? Sounds like a great plan when we're in relegation battle. Very logical.

I'm not a massive fan of Young but I support the team (not individual players) and try to understand the manager's thinking. It's not exactly rocket science to understand why Dyche doesn't select Patterson when you watch the game without blinkers on. That clean sheet against Forest might help further clarify some thinking.

Tarkowski is on a mere 2 or 3. :-)

We can't rely on getting any points back following our appeal, so we have to win as many games as is possible between now and May, particularly on home soil.

I'm sick to death of Everton leaving Goodison mostly empty-handed in the last few years, sick of hearing the away supporters singing their victory songs at Goodison, it has to stop!

Forget the protests during the game, forget the idea of singling out particular away players for derision, because they used to play for us and have now left.

Remember to get behind the team, for the whole game, and hope they produce enough to secure the 3 points.

Concentrate on Everton and forget all of the 'noise' surrounding any fixture, until such time as we've secured our place in the Premier League for next season. Every match is a cup-tie from here on in and, like a cup-tie, it doesn't matter how it's won, so long as it ends in victory.

Looking at the Newcastle team, I don't think, man for man, they are better. It's just they're better coached and have a plan.

I'm normally sceptical when ToffeeWebers claim the opposition is not much better player for player. But there's a good argument for that since Newcastle are missing Botman, Willock, Wilson, Barnes and Tonali.

The difference is that they have used superior players / squad to build up momentum and belief at the club - as well as Howe doing well with tactics that are not unlike Dyche's. In effect we are a season or two and about £200m behind them in our development.

Their other advantage is pace on the flanks and in forward positions. We lack that.

But I don't think we should go into the game in timid fashion - and Newcastle will find it much harder to stifle us with possession than Arsenal did. Could be fairly end to end rather than cagey / cat & mouse.

Just a shame Gordon is on their side and not ours.

Pickford is definitely better than Pope, and Tarkowski is better than Lascelles. Otherwise, it's pretty even between:

- Branthwaite and Schar
- Mykolenko and Livramento
- Garner and Longstaff
- McNeil and Gordon
- Isak and Calvert-Lewin

Should be a good game.

First game? No. Clean sheet? No. Stopping the opposition getting 3 points? Now you've got it… it will be against us! And still the perfect storm persists.

If we are to send every player we buy out on loan to lower league clubs to improve, then perhaps we should consider only signing players from lower leagues — but does this include higher regarded leagues' reserve players? Or should we be asking questions of the DoF and the manager?

Although some players from lower leagues and relegated clubs are playing well – Pickford, Branthwaite, Calvert-Lewin, the Burnley boys. Indeed, who would we say are the players from the first teams of high league teams, excluding Richarlison and Gordon? Perhaps Mr Ancelotti may be the best person to ask.

Still, our aim is avoiding relegation these days albeit this could have been the breakout season had the books been in order.

Different circumstances. Everton have been badly run for years. Newcastle deserve their time in the spotlight as it won't last… it never does with the Toon Army.

Sean Dyche is in the job less than a year and he has also done a wonderful job.

The situation he has inherited has been more challenging than that inherited by Howe and Newcastle's finances are obviously on a much sounder footing. They were after all able to purchase one of our players last January.

Both have improved the players they inherited. To be honest, I would not swap our manager for anyone at present as he is a perfect fit for the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

The team finally looks to have all the positions covered which is weirdly something that we haven't had for a very long time.

Dyche wasn't everyone's first choice, but is making it work with his hands literally tied behind his back.

I'm undecided with Howe. Always have been.

At Bournemouth, I labelled him the English Roberto Martinez. He obviously did a great job but then eventually faded. Newcastle is clearly a different scenario. He has better players and resources. But now has to cope with a very different expectation.

It might just be gut instinct, but I think he will be a stop-gap until something better comes along. A bit like Mark Hughes at Manchester City. Just an opinion and thought.

Let's rediscover our Goodison mojo on Thursday and beat these.

We have made a turn in being able to field a second ‘11' and secure a result the way we did. No gift, no dodgy pen, just a hard-fought well-deserved 3 points. We have two capable strikers trying to find their way into some chances up front. We have a backup to Onana who is figuring out the pivot with help from Garner. Once we pair up some chemistry on the right flank with either Harrison or Garner floating right, we have enough to work through some lines and find forward passes. Players are getting information signals from their location within the system while other players are making runs that make sense.

It isn't fully worked out but you can see much less frustration in the breakdowns. That moment of negative expression is now converted into immediate response for defensive action. It is perhaps a fair target of ridicule but, if you don't have faith in the system or your mates, it gets ugly, as we have seen far too often.

If you don't believe it has drastically improved, take a moment to consider the quality of complaints. Get on board, let's fucking go. Fuck the Skunks.

What wonderful words, "I would not swap our manager for anyone" etc. Given the mess we are in, it's great to feel confident in the manager, his staff and importantly his players. But it's critical that we begin winning at home.

Maybe a tweak in formation? It seemed to me on Saturday watching Beto that Calvert-Lewin should be able to play off him? Between them, they would give most centre-backs something to think about.

With the time of year and passing of Shane Macgowan who coined the best Christmas song of all time in my opinion, I requested they play it and put his picture on the screens at one of the upcoming matches.

To their credit, they have responded. Although it's just to tell me it's being considered.

I'll be honest, I didn't know he followed Everton. Apparently when asked what his favourite thing about Liverpool was, he answer was simple.

Everton.

Here's the response and it was personal from an actual human:

Dear Daniel,

Thank you for writing to Everton Football Club and for your valued support.

I have forwarded your suggestion to the relevant departments within the club.

If you require any further help regarding this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

I hope Dyche can get us winning at home again and return Goodison Park to the fortress it once was.

3 points to us and a crap game but they need a reminder of what they are. For some reason, they have a dislike for us and I am happy to return to the favour.

Also, if the Gordon fella plays, can we please ignore him.
COYB

Surely, we are better than the Cherries.

We can easily beat the drop, if we all get behind the team.

Too many negative comments on match day team selections on here sends out a negative vibe before a ball is kicked.

It's the only Christmas song I play year-round. Bloody difficult to sing along to, especially after a few jars.

Is Patterson a better right back than Jonjoe Kenny?

By the end of this season, yes. No contest.

Mark # 22, totally agree. No need for negativity. We're still on a very good run of form.

Many will roll their eyes but I think the sale of Iwobi has hurt our home form. We've lost a good one-touch footballer who could play around the opposition when we were in possession (rather than just counter attacking). Obviously not Ronaldinho but still a decent footballer and we don't have anyone else like him. Gray is also a miss as Danjuma is yet to impress.

His nominal replacement, Harrison, has produced one goal (our best home goal of the season) and three assists in 8 league games for us.

Harrison's better defensively -- works just as hard and tackles MUCH better.

We pay Harrison £30,000/week less than we were paying Iwobi.

Plus we somehow got £22 million for Alex, only a few million less than we paid for him. And we haven't laid out one hot dime for Jack.

I could say more, but I have to go ice down my over-rolled eyeballs.

I'm just observing that we don't have a player in the centre of the park who plays like Iwobi. And so we miss that style of player. Especially at home when we're trying to play on the front foot (and often struggling to do so).

Harrison is good to have and will get better I expect. But he's a different sort of player in a different position to Iwobi.

Garner's better in the center than Alex ever was. More effective in every way.

I can honestly say that until I saw him score that tap-in last weekend, I had forgotten all about Iwobi. As I say, I liked him very much, but I haven't missed him for a minute.

A system we didn't have.

I often said, he seemed to confuse himself just as as much as he did his team mates and opponents.

I don't think that made him a bad player and a lot was down to what a fair few Everton players have struggled with in recent seasons.

Mismanagement and the managerial merry-go-round.

Again, the sort of player we could do with but don't have - especially for home games.

Thought Luton were excellent also. Limited but very well drilled and use their athleticism extremely well. Unlucky to lose, but good to see them and Burnley fail to pick up points again.

Hope we get a much needed Goodison win tomorrow, won't be easy.

Straight into these from the off with high pressing and pressure.

Sticking with the animal theme, there are two Magpies on the green outside the house. I considered sending the hounds out, but they would have gone straight for the neighbour's cat and with their hunting instinct, it's difficult to get them back.

We go in tomorrow with confidence. Forget the shit show going on around and focus on the football. We've been playing well and can get the result.

Doucoure does miss quite a few gilt-edged chances (Fulham and Man United games come to mind), but he also scores a lot of important goals for us. I do agree that Iwobi's passing is much better than Doucoure's but overall I am happy with having Doucoure staying back and Iwobi leaving.

Having said that, I do think a top-class playmaker could make us a much more potent attacking force. We do have 2 such players on our books, but can they ever rediscover their original talents? Only Dele and Gomes can provide the answer.

Swan Dyche is sticking his neck out there !

Don't get a Cob on, and Pen a reply ! :-)

I'm mystified by Patterson's inability to get a game. We need to hope that Dele and Gomes offer something at some point because I suspect Jan is going to be quieter than ever on incoming transfer front.

No doubt the appeal will introduce some sort of fudged outcome.

I think that is why, when the players hear our awesome away fans singing, echoing around a silenced stadium, they naturally enhance their game.

Goodison is a nervy place now. Quiet. Unerringly so. Expectant of something. Which is not how it works.
Where the fans used to provide the spark, the fans are hoping for the players to ignite them, in return for them to begin the show.

We have the world's greatest fans. No contest. But apprehension mixed with presumption is causing a falter.

Both were not startling.
However, under Howe, Gordon has come on leaps and bounds.
Under Silva Iwobi hasn't.

Newcastle DO have better players. There is LESS demand on Gordon. There are many others contributing to scoring, crossing, tracking etc. But he IS now doing the hard yards as well. No longer is he the only skilfull player in the side with a massive weight of expectancy upon him.

Iwobi is no different to his former self at Everton. He floats in and out of games. He rarely scores, his passing and crossing are hit and miss. Mainly miss.

I live in Spain and I have access to all PL games. I have watched both players at their clubs and I am giving my honest feedback.

I see Gomes played for the U21s the other evening and played the planned 60 minutes, but what was really interesting is first that Paul Tait said what a class act he was.

But for me even more important was when he came off, Tait said for him to go and get a shower, but he refused and said he wanted to stay to the end to watch the lads.

He may not play for the first team again, but in his first season here he was head and shoulders above any midfield player we had.

Obviously the horrendous injury he had has had a big impact on him, but if he has 2 midfielders who could do the running his passing ability would be a very welcome addition.

I hope tomorrow isn't about having a go at Gordon, he's gone, we move on – let's just concentrate on those in Blue shirts on Thursday.

I am quietly confident of our 2nd home win of the season.

After an International break, expecting the crowd to do their work for them, and up against a work-shy, like themselves, Man Utd, they thought they had only to turn up.

Against Newcastle, they know they will have to work. Also, Dyche is familiar with Eddie Howe having been neighbours in the League table for years. You can bet he will have been motivated all week.

Everton to win. Good Luck Everton.

The game is on Amazon Prime.

Thank you to the Arse and Wolves last night. Hopefully we can take advantage of their generosity.

Goodison under the lights tomorrow and then figure out getting home.

If not, my sister's, cousin's or a step back into the 1920s like The Adelphi.

Watching his Wandering Angus runs, hoping that it would work out, I can do without. A 10-point deduction is enough to bear at the moment.

I have noticed Iwobi was missing.

My matchday use of the work "fuck" has dropped significantly since he left! :-)

I've seen, and I think we've all seen, enough of Patterson to know that he's unarguably the better option, both in defense and in getting forward.

AFCON starts 13 January and goes on till 11 February. Gueye will be available for a while yet.

As for Gomes, all I can say is that every time I watch Tottenham, I hope Son will get his comeuppance but it's not happened yet.

Maybe we're the problem?!

Both were good players who did a decent job for us and worked hard. Not sure either deserved some of the stick they got but I guess someone has to bear the brunt of the frustration. Happily the club got good money for both of them, which is more than we've managed with most players.

As someone who frequently defended Iwobi, I think he suffered from the lack of continuity at our club. He was often used by his managers, all five of them, to plug gaps at full-back, wing-back, wide-left, wide-right, centre-midfield and even centre-forward on a couple of occasions.

In a team lacking organisation, coherence and confidence, many players struggled to shine. Iwobi performed better than most in following instructions and working hard for the team.

Outside of one brilliant evening at Anfield, that's an implication I would strongly contest.

Definitely a 'Jellyfish' of a player though, another Gravy Train Stowaway, hopefully the last of a long line of them, or should I say a 'smack'?

Let's conjure up that Iwobi, plus the one who scored twice today, along with that Goodison spirit and take it to Newcastle tomorrow. This feels like the match where we turn around our home form.

Calvert-Lewin would be welcome, but I'm not sure about rushing him back too early given his recent injury problems. I get the feeling he is too finely tuned physically.

We all like a 6-pack – and not the type you pick up off a supermarket shelf for a BBQ. But like a lot of modern footballers, their bodies are so physically tuned, they tend to break down at the slightest overstretch.

I will sleep all the way up on the train having sat up watching Howard's Way for the god knows how many times.

Is Sheedy fit?!!

In we go and then meeting my sister afterwards for a catch-up. Hopefully to talk about a good result. One of her sons is an Everton season ticket holder. The other two followed their Liverpool supporting father.

Once again, tonight is all about the team and players that walk out on that pitch. Whoever they are, they are playing for our Everton.

My reaction to Gomes surfacing the other day was one of surprise, having forgotten about him. I then hoped he would be available to be loaned out in January.

Everton are getting results on fine margins and they can't afford the risk of
a slow motion player, who gives away free kicks in dangerous areas and who coughs up possession when his marker breaths on him.

I'll miss the first half tonight as Thursday evenings I help run a youth club, really hope I want to watch the end of the second half when I get back! Newcastle are playing well despite having a whole team of players out injured, we need to get some wins at Goodison and I hope we keep creating as many chances as we have of late as we have a good chance of getting 3 points if we do.

It was down to the likes of him, that time lapse photography came into existence ! :-)

Newcastle are good but they are now missing a serious level of talent in all sectors.

We can move out of the relegation zone by 9.20 this evening.

Iwobi frustrated Everton supporters by pulling out of tackles constantly and lack of concentration with poor passes which provided the opposition with many attacks and some goals, Everton paid over the top money for him, we will get less than half of it back.

Gordon always had very good potential which he is showing now for Newcastle, he was a different player at Everton, not fit enough and showing that potential now and again but we did get a good deal for him.

John (60) You had a lot more patience with Iwobi than me I just can't stand shirkers on a football field and Iwobi was definitely boss as a shirker.

Livramento and Gordon on the right and Trippier and Almiron on the left.

It will be interesting to see how Dyche counters that.

Nevertheless - Up the Blues!!!

Let's do the fat bastards - and the rotten and corrupt Premier League into the bargain. 3-1 COYB.

I'm not concerned about their players. If Gordon is on the right, Mykolenko can marshal him.

I'm more concerned about the performances of our own players.

We've got enough to beat them.

We are a competitive and a well drilled team with a high level of morale in the camp at this time.

I said it in an earlier post we can win this game, I have no doubt that we will create sufficient chances to do so, can we convert them?

What do you think? COYB!!

And on Iwobi and Gordon I suppose the question is, would you have then back if we could afford to buy them at the fee they were sold? Me? no. They are benefiting from more open systems that require a back 5 we don't have.

Don't worry, I've already got my coat on.

Players like Stones and Lukaku went on to show that their detractors may have been over egging it whereas the modest successes of Jojoe Kenny and Kieran Dowell so far for example might suggest that calls to make them regular starters (myself included) were premature.

As you well know we disagree completely on Iwobi and I find your characterising him as 'a shirker' to be unfair given how often he ran more than anyone else. He wasn't a blood and thunder tackler type but he seldom lacked for effort.

16th and us 5th, It's their home form, 3rd in the home table, that has them so high in the league. Unfortunately our home position is 18th, so we're crap at home they're not great away, tough one to call.

The above two were far superior quality to Iwobi and Gordon, I've explained how I feel about Gordon, I take nothing back from how I describe Iwobi, if he ran the distance of two marathons in every game he was still a shirker, there was no intent to make a proper tackle at the end of all his runs, stopping the run a yard before he got to the opposition player.

Sam you liked him, I liked him at times and praised him at times but he was still a shirker in the good times he played.

Might have a tenner on him scoring in the cup game, might be one of his good games, if you could bet on him shirking and I had the money, I'd have a fuckin' £M on him in the same game. Stay well Sam.

On form the Barcodes are far superior as a team and Everton need to be fully tuned in defensively to get at least a point from this match.

Gordon is playing much better than when with Everton although he was just starting out.

Being with a more competent teams helps him and the expertise of Guimares, Almiron and the much improved Joelinton has a lot to do with it.

COYB

But each to his or her own.

Have a good one and let's hope there's no shirkers tonight.

We can't keep getting twatted at home, surely.

I think all the players in the squad play for the team and want to win and although one or two can have their ability questioned they give their all, although there is one player, not a regular, who's battling qualities could be given a good looking at!

Due to train cancellations, I've just left Crewe. I'm on the last coach from Cannon Street tonight that will get me back in the early hours for breakfast with the better half who is in a posh hotel in London for her works Christmas doo. I opted for Goodison.

These people have no consideration for supporters. 8pm at Palace for those travelling. Honestly?

The December fixtures look mind-boggling.

Anyway, let's get tonight done.