Manchester City vs Everton

In the “unlikely” event that we fall behind by more than two goals, we will be awarded the softest penalty ever – proving to everyone's satisfaction (especially the Premier League hierarchy) that it is just a matter of luck that we are one of only 3 teams in Europe's top leagues not to have been awarded a penalty this season.

If we don't fall behind sufficiently to justify this award, should this situation arise at Anfield, my crystal ball suggests this miracle of a soft penalty will occur, proving once again how fair and honest the Premier League is …

If any players are in any way doubtful for the game due to injury or recovering from injury, better give them the extra 9-day break to be fully recovered for a far more winnable game at home to Crystal Palace.

Then again, Man City do play sexy football.

Each to their own, I suppose.

I remember driving down the Brenner Pass in northern Italy in 2017 and receiving numerous text messages that we had beaten City 4-0.

Anything is possible in football.

Anything goes!

Man City are light years ahead of us and after a dodgy run by their standards have started to find that irresistible touch again.

Haaland is back and looking keen as well... sorry but I have no faith. 😔

Nurse, Nurse!

Same as last season at their ground, logic got kicked up their backside when Gray smashed in an equaliser and we came home with a point.

Newcastle held out until the final minute when VAR took over and City got the points just a couple of weeks ago and they battered Brentford the other night but overcame a few frights before Foden took over the game.

It's right to think logically but even logic comes unstuck now and again.

We'll probably have 20 per cent possession, but as they say, it's a funny old game – with a bit of luck, and an off day by City, who knows?

They seem more balanced with De Bruyne playing and for me to stop him spraying his killer passes showing him no time and space. Easier said than done, with their off-the-ball movement.

But they've got Foden, who is a very good natural footballer and Haaland. So block and stop their runs. But Everton must take their chances. Calvert-Lewin to get back scoring and anything can happen.

Godfrey got Haaland rattled last season and hopefully he plays as well again on Saturday.

Every day is massive off and on the park for Everton. Hopefully to build on from the Spurs game.

Praying for some good news regards the appeal but to upset the odds would be fitting against a club who it would seem has diplomatic immunity from 2009 to the present in terms of breaching financial rules and not being punished, by the Premier League.

I heard on the radio today about blue cards for sin bin offences being scoped for use in football.

Get the referees to get the basics and the VAR right before adding more chaos to the game.

UTFTs!

However, we do have many winnable games especially at home over the next few months. I am quite confident we will be clear of the Bottom 3 by some distance come April.

I hope we go 451:-

Pickford
Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko
Harrison,Gueye, Garner, Onana, McNeill
DCL

Let us hope Gueye & Garner play as well as they did against Spurs, and Onana rises to the occasion.

In an odd way, it may be just what the squad needs.

NO PRESSURE!!!

They can relax and enjoy the game. If they lose, no biggie. They were supposed to. But if they surprise the “experts”, and get a point, or, dare to dream, 3, it could be a turning point in the season.

De Bruye has to be tracked.Onana back is needed to bolster midfield.He played well against City the last time.

On a serious note, get Garner to man-mark De Bruyne, and Godfrey on Haaland and Harrison on Foden. I would start Dobbin instead of McNeil, because his speed can cause problems to Man City on the counter. Doucoure will be. a big miss just for the incredible yards that he puts in. Sadly, the two teams are at very different levels, but in football, nothing is permanent.

Pickford
Coleman Godfrey Tarkowski Branthwaite Mykolenko
Harrison Gueye Garner
Calvert-Lewin Dobbin

Calvert-Lewin to score. 1-0

The likes of Branthwaite will put himself in the shop window if he can perform well against Haaland.

The Palace game is the bigger of the two as it's sandwiched between this game and then Brighton away.

Losing to Palace would be far more damaging in the long run than losing tomorrow.

Man City as usual seem to be finding their best form late in the season and we're not as effective as we have been earlier in the season. Gotta hope for something though.

Those players who have the honour of crossing that white line will be going out to win.

Sharp at Anfield.

The Elland Road semi-final followed by defeating Manchester United for our last trophy against the expectation of many.

They may be the best team in the league. But the best teams get beaten.

If anyone is not up for it, let me know.

I'll follow this club no matter what they do to my emotions.

We have neither of these skills. So I expect us to play with a packed midfield and defence, with the odd quick break into their half. Essentially that's how Brentford played the other evening, and for most part it worked okay except that they had no answer to the brilliance of Phil Foden.

As usual, I expect we will try to put them under pressure, from corners and free-kicks. Hopefully this will bring some reward. But we have to get to their penalty area in the first place, and I am not sure who we have got to assist Calvert-Lewin.

Strangely, I thought our friend Maupay is playing okay in just that roll. At best I think we could play Dobbin, Harrison and Beto in succession, to create some confusion and maintain energy levels. None of these three have the skill or stamina to survive the full 90 minutes.

Finally I do hope that Ben Godfrey gets a game. He looked to me to be back to his old self last week. His speed, energy and commitment were back and will be needed tomorrow.

See you at Brighton where loads gave us no chance last season. (I'm still looking for a ticket, btw…)

We have a goalkeeper who can make a string of great saves when under the cosh

We have a full back described by Carlo Ancelotti as his finest captain - What an accolade

A center half, who may not be the best footballer, but who is the epitome of defiance.

We have the best young central defender in the country.

We also have a left back who's is improving by the hour.

We know all about City and what they are capable of, but let's see if they can overcome what will be fierce resistance, before we present them with the points.

We need points. Tomorrow isnt to be dreaded, it`s to be welcomed as an opportunity.

I remember Shankly commenting on changes to the rules and he said this game has been going for 100 years and its been fine so why change the rules. Now we hear the powers that be are going to trial blue cards which is a type of sin bin. As if the game isn't stop start enough we will now have something else for the ref and VAR to consider. Most post match interviews with managers are more about the ref or VAR than with the actual game. For me the game is completely spoilt for match going fans, as most goals scored are now checked and the fans have to sit through 4 or 5 minutes of waiting to see what the decision is. The spontaneity of celebrating a goal has gone now in most cases, that has been the biggest let down. I hear Leicester and Southampton fans and Leeds fans saying how enjoyable Championship football is without VAR.

Just watched the Netflix rugby documentary Full Contact about last year's Six Nations. The mentality of some of those players is woeful. Having to dial into a one-to-one, face-to-face with a mental health Wellbeing coach saying "I'm nervous, I get butterflies!"

Some of them were done before they crossed the white line. You have to believe. We are all flesh, blood and bone. Believe you can win, get into them, make them have doubts and overcome them both physically and mentally.

As posted above, a soft penalty has been ordered by the Premier League for when we are 3 or 4 down.

Not Everton related, but an intriguing match in the Bundesliga tomorrow.

League leaders Leverkusen against second placed Bayern. A two horse race with them both clear from the pack.

And the probable next Liverpool manager leading Leverkusen.

Pretty certain Oliver was the VAR that night as well, so that's probably why the VAR didn't get involved.

But we have to bring our "A" game

The man is a corrupt fucker, and nobody will be able to convince me otherwise. If anyone could find the decision I've just mentioned involving Jagielka, and compare it to the cynical foul on Beto, which had him waving play on last week, then this would just confirm my argument.

Michael Oliver has been getting away with it for years imo.

A couple of goals and keeping 11 men on the pitch might help too.

We won't get anything off anyone else but ourselves so it's us against the world again. Let's get that siege mentality going again.

https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/10/15/13293772/everton-manchester-city-stekelenburg-de-bruyne-lukaku-2016

Well said Dave (Cashen: 31), that's the stuff and spriit, neither hysterical or Taskerish, but nicely measured. Rule nothing out in other words.

Paul (Kossoff: 60): wrong, Man City away is not the time or place to judge either Dyche or our team, but don't let that stop you (preparing the ground to pop on tomorrow with a “told yer so”?)

As Danny says: we go there as we did last season, we plan, put in a good shift (hopefully), and let's see what happens.

What point on earth does Taskerism serve?

Jonathan Tasker kept on telling us for about two or three years that “There's No new stadium”, so whatever he says I'd totally ignore.

which post are you referring to ?

Let's hope JT is wrong about tomorrow as well.

Have a great day tomorrow Rob and bring a point or three back to The Rocket.

Has Oliver ever refereed Newcastle, or has he ruled himself out by swearing allegiance to those GEORDIE MAGGOTS?

Even if it means doing our neighbours a favour, as well as ourselves, I hope we turn up at their place tomorrow and get a result.

I know we are playing a team that has been allowed to get away with assembling such a team, we are up against Var, officials, the lot, but if we can put a performance in, I would love us to get a result there.

Those of you with the the tin helmets on and white flag raised already, shame on you, time for this team to fight back and knock the arrogance out of the City team, and it's supporters, get behind the team

Up the Toffees.

We are best when countering, long balls to runners in behind is where we caused Spurs issues. If we can soak a bit up and give them a headache behind, we may make a game of this.
We don't find it easy when teams sit back with our lack of creativity, so I'd expect a tough match, where the longer we keep them at bay, the more chances will materialise for us. We won't get many so putting chances away will be critical (not our strong point)

I don't give a shit if it hands the RS an advantage in the leauge, I'm focusing on us, getting points for us, keeping us up.
Some more interested in resting players and just rolling over!!
Nah, we usually give these a good game and we are due a win !!
UTFT !!!!

There are 3000 travelling to the Etihad tomorrow, and I doubt there are many who will be travelling with a defeatist attitude. The manager, his backroom staff and certainly the players will not be entertaining thoughts of a defeat. If we lose, then lose with effort, commitment and determination. If we draw or win, then it's all back to the Fiveways for the afternoon. In fact it's all back to the Fiveways anyway!

As mentioned earlier in this thread, we went there last season with confidence probably at an all time low, and Frank Lampard staring down the barrel of a gun, yet we kept City pretty much at arms length, with Haaland losing his rag because he couldn't get his own way, culminating in a vicious challenge on Mykolenko which could easily have resulted in a red card.

A stunning equaliser from Demarai Gray gave us an unlikely point, considering how low our confidence was, so I see no reason why tomorrow we cannot go there and get something, with confidence being a lot better than what it was last season. If we lose, then we lose, but no shame in losing to the best team in the world.

Probably the best team ensembled in the PL.

We could do everything tactically right and still City's quality could shine through and We get a heavy defeat.

City's quality just overpowering us, would this still make Dyche a "PE teacher " ??

The 3-0 at wolves or the 4-0 at villa, Yes I can understand, but we could be playing our best game against these tomorrow and still lose 5-0 that's how good they are, it's not a judgement of how bad Dyche is .

After watching our inept defending against Richarlison and Spurs, I'm hoping we only lose 3-0.

Both Spurs and Richarlison's goals were top class, not so much poor defending.

A team who scored in every match for 30 games if I'm right. Top 4 or 5, good result in my eyes, but hey now you can come back tomorrow and say how knowledgeable you are and say I told you all, if we lose to the European & English Champions with the most expensive squad ever.

Where did you get your inside information???

Top drawer stuff.

I'm looking forward to the first 50/50 challange between Tarkowski and Haaland, after what Haaland did on Godfrey last season, if I was Tarks, I would get into his ear from the off, bit of gamesmanship, and clatter him with a hard but fair tackle.

I just wondered who was waiting for the the slag?( Liverpudlian slang for a loose woman)and who the slag was?

You just lost me a bit there.(not difficult tbh)

Cheers.

Anyway we are on a hiding to nothing tomorrow on paper at least and not wanting to do RS any favors there is always the chance of a miracle.

Onana, if he plays isn't going to bolster the midfield much and it will be a backs to the wall operation.

Our awful lack of offensive prowess leads only to a set piece way of scoring and Onana's height might worry City (if we manage to get some set-pieces)

However, no matter what happens, that next game against woeful Palace is surely a game they simply must win.

Tomorrow may be that day.

Hopefully we can nick one off a counter or set piece. Am hoping for 1-1.

“I'm not a zealot to stats whatsoever, but they're a marker. Catching up on our xG is key for us.”

Sam 1 XG Sceptics 0!

Liverpool blew us away, then we got a goal, had a little go for a bit and might have even got a result, only for a mistake by Seamus Coleman.

Man City were absolutely brilliant, playing inside a stadium that was blowing an absolute gale, and were obviously buoyed by just becoming World champions, and yet this Everton team were really competing, until the linesman awarded City a penalty.

My worry is that our players are very tired, and it's why I've advocated resting most of them, but this isn't going to happen, and because it's highly unlikely that City, will play as well as they did at Goodison, imo, (just a hunch) let's get eleven men behind the ball, make things hard and compete!

Our defence will struggle with the movement of city. If city score under 3 goals, success for us. We have more realistic games of getting points coming up.

Paul, dyche a P.E teacher? No, a very good manager.

Safe journey everyone.

However, some where at the back of my mind is a voice shouting; "We are Everton!" while another voice says; "Yeah well, not Mr Dyche's way".

City on song are capable of putting 6 goals past pretty much any side in world football other than a handful of Champions League royalty clubs - and have won all 5 of their last league games. They go top if they win.

The odds are very much against us and it would be truly idiotic to go toe to toe with them as Paul # 60 suggests (don't worry Paul I know you are only being daft / provocative for a bit of sport).

Since Dyche is plainly an astute tactician, he will try to maintain a very organised shape and score on the counter. This is difficult because our most reliable players defensively (i.e. McNeil and Harrison) are slow; whereas possibly more dangerous players on the counter attack (i.e. Dobbin and Danjuma) are weak in defensive shape and not exactly Ronaldinho and R9 in attack.

Nevertheless, in the 1-3 defeat in December we were excellent for the best part of an hour but then the quality started to tell.

We will need some uncustomary luck and refereeing decisions to come away with any points. You make you're own luck with hard work but VAR seems to cancel that out for us. I'm hoping for a 1-1 or 2-2 but it's important also to come away with our favourable goal difference intact.

The last 13 games against them, I think we've lost 11 and drawn 2. Not exactly good omens, especially for a goal shy rabble like us.

Luckily the Blues travelling away today do have something to offer. I suppose you'll have the "I told you so", joy to look forward to later.

I will take 2-0 score line over 6-1 but we had a go. Goal difference could be the difference come May. Confidence taking a battering with conceding many goals.

Whatever Mr Dyche does? He will be wrong with some fans. Players need to make less mistakes and hopefully we play well. The quality of Man City will beat us.

Will be a shit decision probably late in the second half at nil-nil.

I'll make it shorter and spin it round for you: I don't think we'll win today. There :-)

Also I won't take any joy in us losing, and I won't be saying I told you so because I'm not 12.

Ha! xG isn't going anywhere! It's far from perfect but it's one of the best tools we have for judging performance over time beyond the actual result. Let's hope that we start to catch up on ours!

There a loads of doom and gloom merchants on here today. Think I'll just start slowly sipping my arsenic before 12:30!!!

See you the next time you're over, friend.

As for today, my prediction doesn't mean shit but I don't see the point in voicing any negative thoughts. What will be will be but I know we'll give it a fucking good go! UTFT!

I fucking love the Blues!!

It's called winning, you must have run into it at some stage. We go out with every intent on out-scoring them.

Yes, I know, stop laughing and use some imagination, or if you are old enough, memory

Sorry, late thought, or Koeman led!

Prove me wrong, eh, Blues.

Let's go for it! Put 2 strikers up front. We have nothing to lose. It's a game we can go for it! Actually it may surprise them! It's only Manchester City!!