Everton vs Burnley

He is still a young player, only sixteen months older than Lewis Dobbin and as such is still learning the deep midfield role. One thing he certainly isn’t is a box to box midfielder. He doesn’t shoot, rarely heads the ball on target and shows little appetite for driving forward with the ball.

On another matter, it’s a pity the cameras never went onto Patterson, when Calvert-Lewin knocked Dyche over, I bet he was laughing his nuts off.

I don't care too much who takes to the pitch, just give everything and leave it out there, because we will.

What a healthy fan base...

Danny 10. You sound more concerned about proving your commitment to watching Everton than you do about the game itself. Surely you have formed an opinion about the ability and effectiveness of various players within our squad... otherwise, what are you watching?

Stephen 6. That made me laugh (and almost cry!).

I watch the players and the team. I've been committed to watching Everton since I can remember, earliest memories being around 1975.

Onana will become a good player. I don't think it will be with us.

Branthwaite is going to be class. Again, I'm not sure it will be with us.

Of course I have opinions on players. But to make a decision on young players is like saying John Stones was useless.

But I'll still be here concerned about watching the team I've followed all my life.

I don't pick the team. I just follow Everton.

I'm with Dave A - I don't think he brings anything to Everton.
I've said it time after time, I think he's a good footballer – just not making the difference that I'm sure he can, for us.

He's worth more to Everton in the bank than on the pitch, in my opinion.

When Calvert-Lewin clattered Dyche my heart went into my mouth.

I expected an outbreak of bad karma after me sniggering at Klopp clattering Tsimakas in similar circumstances.

Lacking the emotional attachment of Rooney maybe he is biding his time trying to avoid serious injury ready for a move to a decent club.

Sounds a sensible plan to me.

Onana however doesn't use his physical attributes enough to convince me that he'll one day be a top midfielder. Hope I'm proved wrong, but either way, his future lies elsewhere.

I hope you don't take offense to my earlier post... I just think it's way more interesting to hear your views about the players, club etc, than to hear that "you'll be there giving 100% etc"... we can take that for granted.

6ft-odd, can't command midfield. Waster shithouse.

I don't dislike the bloke – I just don't think he's playing to his undoubted abilities for the team. For whatever reason that may be, it's not in Everton's interest to accommodate him in the last 9 games.

Onana should come good, just not with Everton.

Branthwaite, totally, again not with Everton I fear.

Are you at the match this weekend.

Let me know. The Harlech Castle has become the usual meeting place for the usual suspects.

£40, 50, 60M mentioned, so I suppose with so few games left we should bite the bullet play him carefully and sell. We have others that can do just as good a job, but will not fetch his selling price.

We should manage his cameo pieces, stay up and sell to the highest bidder, asap.

Bournemouth to Newcastle to Everton (home city but don't like referring to it by name!). Then Chelsea. A relatively short trip for me but my least favourite trip because of their fans.

I'm working on my sister as she works at Anfield and used to get me tickets in amongst them, but she doesn't trust me anymore!

Give me a shout at the next match, Duncan, and god bless.

The problem is, we don't have enough players around him and he is operating to team orders. He's a bit Ya Ya Toure or Patrick Viera for me. I agree, probably worth more to us in the bank.

Frank was the one who bought him. To be fair if Onana wanted to learn from Frank, that's exactly the types of signings we were hoping for under the lampard regime. Add a few chelsea rejects (broja maybe gallagher) and who knows where we'd be.

Let's hope we can sell him to Barcelona (out of the prem preferably), for twice as much as we paid, plus a player or two

“He doesn't know how to play the game yet.“

I despair, I really do. But hey ho, we are going to get mega bucks for him from Barcelona, or is the Bayern? Maybe Man Utd?

I may have been a bit optimistic with my valuation but we will turn a profit on him, I'm sure of it.

Bringing on fresh legs on the hour was as much the difference as who we brought on. Any first 11 we put out isn't good enough to play 90 minutes.

That's why so many of us have been complaining about the manager's lack of subs being an issue.

Based on that, I'd put Onana's value at about £1m, maybe £2m.

Occasionally he shows a glimmer of ability, but more often than not he cannot even get the basics right. There is no urgency to his game at all, often appearing to stroll through a match with indifference. Certainly not what I'd expect from such a young man. Perhaps his mind is on a move elsewhere, who'd know?

I do not applaud injury to any player. I just want him gone, to the highest bidder, ASAP.

Good analysis Ant. Thoughtful. Articulate. Considered. I like that you looked carefully at all sides of the issue (unlike most of the so-called "posters" on here who makes these threads look silly and inarticulate and an insult to ToffeeWeb's name and fame).

You waste no words unlike that "waster shithouse" Onana. You get straight to the point. Yours is what I call "a thinking post", unlike most of the shithouse would-be "experts" on here.

His passing and retention of the ball and calm manner is mistaken for not being dynamic enough. He doesn't run around like a headless chicken like Harrison but his game is very measured.

When we see him playing for Barca in La Liga, we will all be saying "Why did we let him go?"

We have few top-class players and we need to keep them to build a team around them – not see them as some cash cow.

Well, let's focus on Everton and the match ahead. That's all we can do. He's our player until at least the end of the season, as is young Branthwaite.

As good as the point at Newcastle was Tuesday night, it was still a shit show for 60 minutes where Pickford saved our bacon.

If we can't beat Burnley at home, then you think we may not stay up – especially with another points deduction.

As for Onana, there's an easy comparison to make really. He plays in a position where I've seen people like Lee Carsley, Gareth Barry etc. He's not as good as either of those were and at 22, I look at the likes of Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and they are way way ahead of him as development goes.

I hoped we'd see more of the Onana I saw in Dyche's first game at home to Arsenal, going on rangy runs and stretching those telepathic legs and his athleticism, but we never see it. I don't know who replaces him tomorrow but if Gana plays then we probably don't really miss Onana much anyway because they do the same thing in every aspect.

Tomorrow is about winning, and being bold in our play.

Anyone can miss a penalty but the way the lad missed it pretty much summed up how he plays the game, so casual and leisurely.

I too would like him to drive forward more and make things happen but we have only seen glimpses of that. Better with him in the team than out and at a Top 4 club he would thrive.

Onana rarely loses the ball on receiving it. He passes the ball to our players. A rarity in our team. He also makes some amazing tackles at both ends of the pitch. And yes he can carry it forward at pace, something we witnessed in his early days with us and will probably only see again in a different set up, set of lnstructions and team.

I hope Gana puts in one of his stella, all over the place performances. We will need it.

Hoping for a win, but how many times do I, and everyone else (almost) say that ? I don't think this will be easy for several reasons ; our hitherto lack of scoring - Burnley's determination to survive, no matter how slim the chances. They have had some decent results recently, and don't look as bad as we have on occasion.

Add the spice of Dyche facing his old Club, the fact we have a Referee who seemingly hates us, so no impartial decisions expected there. Not going myself but wish a big welcome to Jonathan Oppenheimer in my absence, and hopefully too a welcome result no matter how slim the victory is !

Great business if we make money on him, good business if we 'break even'.

But - right now, sadly, we won't miss him as a player as much as we'll miss the money he brings in.

For us, he's probably the wrong player and we are also the wrong club for him right now.

I don't think we are or ever have been a fan base that tolerates a casual attitude unless you can back it up, a bit similar to Yakubu in his first season, very lackadaisical style but goals backed it up for him.

I remember how he pushed the ball past Odergard on our left wing and left him trailing in his wake when we played Arsenal.

I think he will end up at Arsenal. He is tailor made for the way they play.

In the meantime, if he does start against Burnley I hope he plays to his full potential.

Right now I’m in the Danny O’Neill camp of simply wanting us to leave everything on the pitch tomorrow, playing as if our lives depended on it, because truly they do. I’m just wanting to see Seamus or Patterson start at right back, and Harrison out wide instead of Young.

I agree with those who view Onana as a top-class player who is both young and had too much expected of him because of his price tag. And he’s been asked to play in a central midfield with an aging Gana, a limited Doucoure (whose injury really killed our momentum in December), no pace out wide, and fullbacks with limited passing skills. He may never be a world beater, but he’ll certainly come good in the next few years, as he’s shown at times with us, even if not often enough. Hoping he comes off the bench tomorrow to at least give us a solid 30 minutes.

Let’s hope the crowd stays positive tomorrow even if things get nervy, which hopefully they won’t. We’re due for 3 points.

As for Onana, he appears to be committed, and puts the effort in, even if he can be somewhat wayward at times, so we do need him to start.

Expecting a win and hoping for another DCL goal.

Be sure to go to the Harlech Castle on County Road and meet the gang. Hopefully the weather will be kind and you can stand on the pavement! Unlike me, take your coat just in case.

Players will always divide opinions.

If you look back, Howard Kendall wasn't convinced on Kevin Sheedy. But Colin Harvey convinced him.

Football is always opinion based with regards to players.

I worry a bit about Tarkowski as for me he hasn't been at the races for the last 6 or so games, his positioning for Newcastles opener was poor and he nearly scored an own goal. Also when teams break on us he is left wanting with his lack of pace. Fortunately for Tarkowski we don't have many alternatives, although I don't think Keane is as bad as everyone makes out, but with his lack of game time it might be a risk to far.

What do people expect out of a centre mid in the modern game?

Someone above mentioned rather having Carsley and then said Palmer and foden are miles ahead of Onana what do you want from a central midfielder?

The best centre mids in the league in my opinion are Rodri and Rice, they look fantastic next to debruyne or odegard.

Palmer is in contention for player of the season. Would he look as good if he didn't have Fernandez or Caicedo?

If we had Casimero as a centre mid, one of the most decorated players in modern football, what would he bring to the current Everton team?
Would he be able to defend, attack, score with left right and head? As it feels like people on here expect Onana to do all of the above. The lad is the current whipping boy.

Anyhow back to tomorrow's game.

I want us to force Burnley defenders into mistakes by playing too much football. They have some tidy footballers so we can't be giving them time on the ball.

Pickford
Coleman tarks Branthwaite Myko
Garner gana Onana McNeil
Doucoure
DCL

Keep patient and show a bit of composure in the final 3rd.

Coyb

I thought Ant was judging what he sees over the full ninety minutes plus added on time not on bits and pieces of the game.

I know most of the people I see and know before the game and in town when we mention Onana their opinion is short and sweet “ Fuckin crap” is their estimation.

So when I read some of the over hyped versions on here of how he always does this and he never does that based on the full game is really and truly unbelievable. to me.

Leave Gana and Doucoure on the bench and bring them on after an hour. We need players who can pressurise Burnleys pass it out from the back style of play, from the off. Ramadan will mean they can't eat until sunset. Let Beto challenge and rundown the defenders as they pass the ball about and have Garner, McNeill, DCL and Young ready to pick up the pieces and SCORE GOALS.

Our fullbacks the same, he likes them to just defend.
Our wide players don't score and at times as a player it must be quite frustrating never being given a license to have a go a bit more often.

My team: Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Patterson, McNeil, Gomes, Calvert-Lewin

Was it Man United in the Cup last season?

Before then I can't think of any since Aston Villa away in August 2019. That was a 2-0 defeat.

I can only think it's an age thing as to why some of our fans think Onana is World class. You and I have seen really world class midfield players and have been lucky to have some play for our club; I think Peter Reid was the last top quality midfield player we had.

All the great midfield players dominate from Minute 1. I never saw Reid, Harvey, Kendall, Kay, Collins or Gabriel go missing for large sections of any game. I would have mentioned the non-stop Alan Ball but some may class him as a forward.

Many say Onana doesn't give the ball away, but most of his passes are 5- and 10-yard passes back to the back 4 player he got the ball off.

He never carries the ball forward with any intent and I tend to think that he is more interested in his pass completion stats than having an impact on the game.

He has played in most of the 13 games we have failed to win, and he has to share some of the blame for that. The cry goes up, "He would look good in a good side!" Well he hardly impressed playing for Belgium against England.

As for World class midfield players in the Premier League, I think defensively Rodri is the best followed by Rice, attacking central midfield players Foden, De Bruyne

Just hope the Premier League don't burst this bubble of positivity by announcing any points deduction today.

At least Onana shows for the ball and then his only options are to return it to the now unmarked man who passed to him while McNeil, Garner, Harrison, Doucoure all stand watching.

Gana is alright buzzing around but rarely does anything positive attacking wise. But then why bother when for the majority of the time Pickford just hoofs down the other end — so much so that he even takes free kicks near the halfway line.

Mykolenko gets similar criticism because he doesn't just cross the ball without looking and pauses when he can't see anyone or anyone in a decent position in the middle, but then that's the type of football we play.

But hey, let's just wait for Onana to show the way.

I think it may have been before the Villa game you refer too though.

Against Burnley it is a shame that we will be without Danjuma and even Dobbin. Without them, we offer almost nothing in attacking wide areas. This might even be the game to go 3-5-2 with Beto and Calvert-Lewin up front together and a midfield 3 of Gueye, Onana and Garner. It's a bit unconventional but Doucoure's goal threat seems to have been rumbled and we need to find some other way to cause the opposition problems.

Otherwise, Burnley might just let us huff and puff with the ball and catch us on the counter. Datro Fofana will be a dangerman for the opposition and someone we should be looking at as a loan signing from Chelsea for next season. He's raw, but he has pace and good movement and will get goals at this level and could develop into Europa League and beyond level player.

I think you are probably right. What's more, I think it is indicative of just how low the expectations have fallen amongst our fan base.

Those players you mentioned were all gems. You and I have been privileged to have watched true world class players. I've seen 4 championship-winning sides. Onana, I'm afraid, wouldn't have got on the bench of any one of them.

Similar story with Lukaku, Stones, Richarlison and Gordon.

He'll probably go on to have a great career at a big European club, but he doesn't really fit in at a club like Everton because we're shite, so he looks shite.

He's only 22, I think people forget that.

I don't think Onana has shown any of the impact Stones, Lukaku and Richarlison made when they were playing. Gordon wasn't here long enough to give a true impression.

Declan Rice played in a not-too-good West Ham team but his potential stood out. Not sure Onana's does though.

Maybe a case of the Emporer's New Clothes?

Come on, being linked with top teams, and they could be all the top teams in the world, doesn't make him any better or worse than he is.

When they actually come in and make a concrete bid for him, then we'll know if he is staying or going, and how he plays for his future club won't alter the fact that he wasn't much benefit to Everton while he was here.

The benefit might be the size of the fee we get for him.

It wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him at the RS next season because they currently lack such a specialist in that very position (apart from Endo who is more of a stop-gap).

These clubs do prize what he is very good at – hence the big fees for the likes of Caicedo and Lavia last summer. It is not the most glamourous or visible role – even less so in a team that is ill-equipped to play front-foot football and (as Alan notes) offers nothing in the way of passing options to the player receiving the ball in Onana's specialist position.

What Onana is never going to do is assist, score goals or drive forward to break opposition defensive lines. This seems desperately disappointing to many Everton fans - who seem to expect a £100m player for the £30m we spent (paid for on the drip).

But Champions League sides do not need him (or even want him) to do this – because his role will be to let the players around him get on with this sort of stuff. He will be required not to vacate his position ahead of the centre-backs. It wouldn't even be a surprise to see him deployed as a centre-back in future.

I don't think anyone is claiming Onana is world class right now – but he plays his position in a style that should translate well to a Champions League club.

Unfortunately we are not sure to beat Burnley, we don't score enough goals – I know that's stating the bleeding obvious but, if they score, we will struggle to score two; that's the reality.

I'm praying for a win somehow, we definitely need one.

Brighton too. Good mingling with their supporters in the town centre.

Good days out and no hassle with the home supporters. There was a time when the away section at Craven Cottage was next to the neutral end and both sets of supporters mixed, including on the concourse.

West Ham is okay too. Lot's of banter with their supporters but mostly harmless.

Probably the worse has to be Chelsea for me. Great view, but their supporters are arrogant and spend more time goading the opposition.

Well said. All the top clubs are looking at Onana, to some he's not good enough for Everton. I've got to laugh while typing.

Alehouse football does not suit good footballers, even Garner is suffering with the Dycheball.

I've sat in the home section a few times there and always found them to be knobs.

What do you think of modern football? Is it better or worse than your halcyon days?

You have a very high opinion of Kevin Langley if your saying Onana isn't as good as him.

I am not sure how many of the 80s team would stand out in today's prem?

We all judge players and have our personal favourites but some of the stick Onana gets in a struggling team is beyond belief.

For the last 30 years, expectations have been lowered by the management of the club. It hasn't altered the fans ability to judge a player, in reality the team has gradually got worse and we are judging worse players.

The new Tottenham Stadium is superb. Probably the best in the world at the moment.

I didn't find them too bad, but last visit, I was in the Everton end. Marred by a depressing 5-0 trouncing!!

Arsenal is a Wembley replica without the arch and their supporters are boring. The away section is a proper sun trap as we always seem to play them late in the season.

Wolves is interesting. Having relatives in the West Midlands, I never realised how odd their supporters were!

You also have to experience Leeds. Now they are a special bunch!!

Is it too much for the coaching staff to be aware of this should we win the toss?

Once again we are playing a team at the wrong time. Burnley on a run.

With Oliver the ref what's there to worry about?

I think that any top player from most eras would be fine today. They would benefit from modern methods, diet, science and training and the protection from referees.

In my view, once a certain level of technique and skill is reached, mental strength is vital. Our eighties team had it. Also, team spirit and, the often highly fortuitous, right blend of personalities and partnerships is timeless. Leicester found that.

Let's see if any of the clubs “linked” to him actually come in with an acceptable bid. He may turn out to be the type of a “water carrier” a top class midfield need but that remains to be seen.

My opinion is that he hasn't shown enough to get a move to a CL club, other than if they got him in a fire sale.

I'd be very surprised if the RS would be interested as they seem to highly rate Bajcetic who is back in training after missing most of the season with growing pains, probably same Osgood-Schlatter Branthwaite suffered with.

Kevin Langley played about 15 or so games that season, several I believe as sub. He wasn't by any means first choice and we had lots of injured players, including I think Reid, Van den Hauwe and Stevens.

He went to Man City mid season, and has the distinction of winning a Championship medal and being relegated in the same season. But I think your comparison with Onana is a good one. Very similar players I believe.

Villa Park semi-final v Luton. Birmingham Zulus turned up at full-time. Suffice to say they got sent packing by EFC. Coppers were real bastards that day.

I would compare him to Stones, whose exceptional skills had only a moderate impact on the pitch for Everton (no comparison to Branthwaite) yet eventually fit perfectly into the best side in the world.

We're playing Burnley at home, and our performance against Newcastle, first half shocking, second half a complete transformation, so it speaks for itself, and I won't even mention Harrison.

It wasn't an Everton match, it was at Anfield just over the road.

There was all hell kicking off at the back end of the house, in the narrow alleyway as they were chased away by the locals. Nasty bunch Birmingham.

My other half has always labelled them National Front.

Don't expect anything to change in any game between now and the end of the season.

Andy @99 – I agree with you about most of your post.

My doubts are the pace of the modern game which I think would bypass players from the '80s – nevermind earlier.

Would Reid have the same impact in this fast-paced game? As much as I loved him at the time, I think he would really struggle.

Our best ever goalie in Southall, was he as good with his feet as Pickford?

Did Van den Hauwe ever go on an overlap and cross the ball?

Sharp, Sheedy, Steven and Lineker may adapt I think. Heath may have looked even better considering the protection smaller players get these days.

I am not one for nostalgia in general and think the modern game is the best technically and fastest it has ever been.

If ever you catch old footage of The Big Match or Match of the Day, the games look so slow. Close control for all but a few was non-existent.

It was 39 years ago that we went down to Spurs and won. This more or less settled the league title. Both of our goals were taken well, a big boot up the pitch and a mistimed defensive header led to Gray hitting a right footer from the edge of the box to score, sounds almost Dyche like tactics!

Oh and I took a dig from a Spurs fan as I got off the coach and ran for my life into the ground.

It's not the opinion that I was aiming at, mate (such as it is). I'm on that side of the fence. It was the quite frankly in my view rather pathetic juvenile brainless content that ought to have no place in my opinion on these pages.

I suspect that you might agree with me that "waster shithouse" does not really get us very far mate.

That team mixed it up.

They could go direct; Sharp's derby goal and later when we used Linekers pace and went long.

But then we could go through the middle and use width.

Sharp's and Gray's FA Cup Final winning goals came from the flanks.

Bracewell's unbelievably first time pass on the swivel to Trevor Steven on the right wing to slot home from a difficult angle still has me hitting the rewind button!!

There is not one of our current players, maybe Branthwaite, who would get anywhere near the 1984-85 first XI. It's sad, but they have neither the talent, intelligence, or physical effort to even clean the boots of the team that won the FA Cup 40 years ago… 40 years, Danny. It's a redundant comparison.

Safe travels tomorrow.

Branthwaite is going to be special.

Let's enjoy him while we can.

That usually implies an unencrypted connection to the site, which would imply TW's SSL certificate may have expired.

It's all good for me FYI, but you could always contact the site and let them know.

Seemed to fix itself and is okay now.

I tend to find it is browser related.

I use Google Chrome as TW doesn't work too well on Apple's Safari in my experience.

Still think Bracewell's pass to Steven against Sunderland is tops for me ever, considering today's football is way lighter.

We'll never know how good he could have been thanks to that horrific assault by Whitehurst, cost him his World Cup in Mexico, 2½ years of constant pain and his Everton career.

But things have certainly moved on and the backpass rule has changed the nature of defending and goalkeeping altogether. I reckon the Leeds side that won the title in 1992 might finish about 12th now, the Man Utd side that won in 1993 might finish about 6th and the Blackburn side that won in 1995 with a very traditional 4-4-2 might finish as low as 8th or 9th.

There were some excellent players in that era but the athleticism, technical ability of goalkeepers and defenders, tactics and (hugely) squad depth of top sides would blow those early to mid-1990s sides away.

Southall in his day was world class and would fit in perfectly today.

Peter Reid, a midfield general who could command the game.

Trevor Steven was special. Gary Stevens with his rocket like shots and goals.

And then I'll leave the best to last.

Kevin Sheedy, who played the game at his own pace.

What a special team.

But tomorrow is about the current bunch. No point being nostalgic.

Too many to mention. Outside of Anfield, what a bunch of gobshites they are, the worst fans are probably the deluded Skunk Maggots, who think they are far better than what they are. The best could be a number of any, maybe Brighton, Bournemouth and I also tend to enjoy West Ham fans.

On to Goodison tomorrow, Blues.

A short journey for those based in the homeland after long journeys to Bournemouth and Newcastle before a night kick-off at Chelsea.

This one is a 100% must-win though. We can't lose any of the games to the 5 teams directly around us. All in our own hands. We go down from here and it's totally on the manager and his refusal to mix it up quick enough.

It seems to take him 4 or 5 games to realise certain players need switching or dropping. Hopefully he lines up with the players who came on against the Barcodes.

I know everyone has to play everyone else sometime, but jeez, make it a reasonable day and time. Plymouth fans in attendance at Rotherham tonight probably won't get home until around 6am tomorrow morning.

It's not all down to Dyche, where have you been since Carlo walked away?

I agree about not losing to the teams around us but blaming a manager who has had to deal with the amount of shit he has and we are still out of the relegation places is remarkable.

They just need to focus on giving 'maximum effort', and the odds should be stacked in our favour for a win. Providing Dyche employs the right tactics, of course, which is another story.

That was a must-win and we came through that one.

We also beat Bournemouth at home final day of last season so Dyche has form here. Let's hope he can reignite that vibe again.

They are insufferable pricks who after two decent seasons act like they've conquered Europe and Everton are no longer relevant in their new world. The only shit I got from other fans down here when we got docked points was from Brighton fans.

Obviously Dyche has been using "must win" all season...

Nothing wrong with the tactics...

Is anyone going in the Harlech before the game tomorrow? If so, I will try and get down there before the match and have a catch up. I'm still working on converting Danny to watch the odd rugby league game, you don't know what your missing, Danny.

I managed to stop smoking for the break we had from football but, as soon as Everton played, I was back on a 20 deck.

Anyway, I have a good feeling about tomorrow, I am going to be brave, stick my neck out and go for a 2-nil win, McNeil a long over due goal and Doucoure.

We were 3-nil down at half time. Dalglish scored in the first minute. We battered them 2nd half and Lineker hit the bar late on which would have made it 3-3. The game was played at a frantic pace with Bobby Robson saying he'd seen the best 2 teams in Europe play. 11 months earlier we had destroyed Man Utd 5-nil with Joe Mercer saying he had seen Brazil play in blue.

Today's football is more technical, but when you see us passing the ball in a dull pedestrian way, I think our players of that era 40 years ago would not only comfortably beat today's team but most other current teams as well.

I think you had to be there and see how good that team was. It's so long ago now, it is difficult for anyone under 45 to really understand that.

I think a few are going to the Harlech tomorrow. I am planning to get there around 12:15 or 12:30-ish to meet up with Jonathan Oppenheimer who is from Minnesota and attending his first game at Goodison.

See you tomorrow.

Joe Mercer, who knew everything about football there is know, said it was the most complete team performance he had ever seen. That team in '85 would have given Man City a run for their money.

Sadly, the only time I have seen us beat them was a couple of months earlier when – and this was the last time we did it (and I wonder if we will ever do it again) we did the double over them. I have never seen us beat them since May 1985, so I never watch derby games anymore.

I remember Bobby Robson purring over the match in the Sunday papers... I seem to recall a newspaper headline saying Mersey Beaucoup!

I will be setting off earlier due to no trains running, so will be a bus trip to St Helens, then St Helens to town, then town to the ground, I will pop down the Harlech all being well.

Beat Liverpool 1-nil at Anfield, Sharp, when he was a good guy. Bratislava away on the Wednesday, another 1-nil, Bracewell. The 5-nil spanking of the Mancs on the Saturday, then a 2-1 defeat of them at Old Trafford the following Tuesday.

Without going full Danny O’Neill, it was a pleasure to be at all 4 of them.

In context, tomorrow is a must win game; it will be significant but Snide Arse & Co will no doubt be waging their last cards (Masters and his cronies).

The Premier League has no bona fide governance and is negligent and has no code of structure. Statute to corruption, but Everton has been sunk by the biggest conman and his associates since Al Capone.

Everton, getting done effectively on base line of the Premier League's rigged rules, and City doing 15 years, free of charge?

Now they're gonna change the charge rules. City get what "whacked" £200M - CGTax. In year 16, 17 since the original charges being raised. That's a total false set of governance of the game.

Back to Burnley, beat them and no.mercy, until the end of the season. Everton need a 6 point cushion, just in case...
Masters and his crooks pull another fast one.

Bad away days... Boro, the real Barbarians, but in 1988, over 6 weeks, it was ground hog day every week.

But they're still the same. Chelsea, Skunks, and South London... But most important is today, all sticking together. Everton will win and hopefully soon we will get an Everton day!

We all have a National Holiday to celebrate Everton FC surviving the biggest football fraud sketch to finish a football club in the history of the game.

I really think the Masters sketch by name and demeanour is hell bent to by stealth kill EFC.

Guilty as charged, but what about Man City... Chelsea... Bournemouth... the rest?

Once upon a time in Everton, we had a engine of admin, Jim Greenwood, who ran the club.

Remembering, but it's no excuse for the last 50 years, bar 5 years in the early to mid '80s.

Those were the days, and today will be special.

The transfer was a fiasco and it's very unlikely he'll ever play again for any team.

Weather an early storm and get the opener and we've surely got enough about us to get the 3 points. Hopefully there's no real storm increasing the jeopardy! Don't expect a great deal but it's still UTFT!

All we can do is focus on the match.

The rest can wait.

Let's get the result. Then we can debate other things, but today is about the team on the pitch, whoever they are and the supporters, wherever they are watching from.

I almost forget what a Toffee win feels like.

A win would be nice, wouldn't it?!!

As Robert T clarifies, he's a defensive midfielder who is constantly winning battles in the air and on the ground, he's hard to get past and seldom gives the ball away. He's very effective at his limited job so let's not get on the back of a talented 22-year-old because he's not Patrick Viera or Kevin De Bruyne. He's not that type of player.

The people who have not been doing their job well lately include Calvert-Lewin, Godfrey, McNeil, Doucoure, Harrison and Beto. Creating and scoring chances has been at a premium but, with games coming fast now against ‘weaker' teams, it will not be enough to just hang in there and scrape a set piece. We will have more possession in some of these games and Dyche must have a better plan for what to do with that.

The replacement options are very slim indeed. Danjuma is one who I'd like to see back as he can make things happen. I'd also be tempted to give Patterson another shot at right-back as at least he offers some dynamism on the ball.

Gomes is not a 90-minute player for me but has some value coming on against tired legs in an attacking role. Dobbin is limited from what I've seen and another who is probably better as a sub.

This is an underpowered squad and our best bet is probably to get our noses ahead and then stay tight. Maybe Calvert-Lewin's penalty might spark a return to form cause we really need someone to find the net with the half chances we seem to create.

Dyche wont change it much, I think we will see a familiar line up with Harrison back on the right and he will be told to attack more freely. Doucoure will continue in the advanced midfield position.

The other two midfielders likely to be Garner and Onana. Gana used as a sub along with Gomes and Young to shut the game down ….When we’re 2-0 up with 20mins to go ( in theory haha). Danjuma second half on from the bench too, to offer some pace and the threat of a killer goal.

My take on it is we will get more chances than Burnley to win the game, maybe double, so it’s down to us to be ruthless. If so we’ll win.

COYBLUES!

We need as many as points as possible to cushion the inevitable punishment Masters and co have ready for us. 40 points min so they can steal another four points off us.

The players really need the supporters today, and my fear is that a bad result will destroy whatever confidence is left in both the fans, and a squad, that have been put in this terrible position by the people in charge of running the EPL.

Today is simply a must win game; I don’t mind if Burnley hit the woodwork five times and get three goals ruled out by VAR, just as long as EVERTON WIN TODAY.

Good solid points but they really need the win today to have any hope of staying up so I think they'll go for it. They have some fast, tricky players like Odobert but I think if we score first they'll find us difficult to break down.

The danger will come from them catching us on the break.

I don't care how we do it.

Just win Everton.

Your last line is the obvious danger today and in every game they've played for the last couple of years. Everton never cater for the breakaways or try to protect the defence from them.

Every time we get a corner or a free kick I'm thinking ahead to the opposition coming out of defence quickly and with a few attackers ready to pounce on the lack of cover for our defence.

Teams have done their homework and are ready to attack this way every game. I'd leave Branthwaite back as one of the defenders for his speed even though he's handy as an attacker in those situations.

Momentum is everything, let's build on the Newcastle result.

That solitary home win I saw was Bournemouth on Saturday 7 October — six months ago! Time to put the record straight, I think. ☹️☹️

We have to win. It not as if we haven't got the quality, we just need to play to the players' strengths. Come on Everton!

Any other ToffeeWebbers got a birthday coming up on matchday, just looking for anything to help our cause.

Have a good feeling for today, 3 points I reckon.

So today will be tough – and probably very close. Patience is needed by crowd and players alike.

A narrow victory is within our grasp.
COYB

As much as I know the fans will back the team as they always do, there is bound to be a lot of nervousness amongst the fans as well. When you go 13 games without a win, it just creates massive uncertainty amongst fans and players.

Despite not winning for 13 games, we have a much better squad than Burnley and we have to make that quality count. We have to start on the front foot.

Kompany wants his team to play out from the back which is admirable but sometimes asking players who haven't got the skill set to carry out these instructions can provide an opening for us. Who would have thought when we beat Burnley in December we wouldn't see another win before playing them again in early April?

Michael Oliver has never done us any favours and he has the whistle today, so let's make sure we don't give him the opportunity to influence the result. He was on VAR against Bournemouth and decided not to ask the ref to have a look at the monitor over Calvert-Lewin's penalty appeal.

So come on, Evertonm give us a victory today.

Two of the main differences between the game now and 50 years ago are the state of the pitches in them days and every goalie then kicked the ball as far upfield as he could.

Pity the centre halves then with the old heavy ball.

Parking at the garage opposite Stanley Park, walk to the Fanzone, bite to eat, quick beer, ready to go into Bullens Road Upper, anticipation of a great performance(please), hairs on the back of the neck as Z-Cars plays.
We need 3 points UTFT!!!

Whatever team is selected, whether I like it or not, I will be behind them and biting my lip at the silly fouls and terrible passing and all the other faults we make every game.

Today is about today and getting them home for those vital points and backing these players throughout the game no matter how they perform.

Sheffield Utd have scored 3 fewer goals than us.

There may be many things badly wrong with Everton Football Club at present, but this shows the class of our fanbase. With Phil Thompson and Wes Brown having to appeal to their fans to stop chanting about tragedies, maybe this will be the perfect response to help their appeal.

Again a brilliant gesture from our amazing fans.

My mate went to watch Brownhill's brother play for Padiham last week, and was told by one of the fans who claims to be 'in the know'.

Inspiring signing!

Not very inspiring, I agree, but he's a decent footballer (better than both Gueye and Doucoure on the ball) and will be available for free. Getting him will mean we can spend more of our very limited kitty on other players.

Ssame city… miles apart on class.

Okay, forget Liverpool, Chelsse and The Gunners for now, the bottom feeders (like Everton) know what is expected in order to survive. Any other points deduction would be a near disaster if we cannot get some wins soon.

Palace are being dragged in and a loss today against City will get them involved in the mix. We have to score to win and preferably first to ease the nerves.