Chelsea vs Everton

If you look at our odds, and history, it doesn't exactly inspire total optimism. Just by virtue of the amount of very expensive options they have at their disposal, as opposed to ours.

Our players, if they haven't realised by now, should know we are in a very precarious position. With a chasing pack behind us snapping at our heels, we basically have to maximise our slender position in the table, and the games in hand we have.

COYB 💙💙👍

I understand the need to defend and hope that we might sneak a goal but I loath the Pickford hoofball for Calvert-Lewin to scramble for, so I am hoping for something different from the manager.

To begin, I really do hope Ashley Young is not in the starting XI as it is difficult to see just what he contributes. For me, we just have to play our best 11 players, so that's 10 from your team, Lyndon, plus Onana. I realise this will mean James Garner moving out wide, but it has got to be worth a go.

Forced Everton changes may upset Chelsea's training-ground plan.

Not my least favourite ground. That accolade goes to Crystal Palace.

I know a few Chelsea supporters and as individuals and they are fine. But as a collective, they are arrogant and my least favourite set of supporters.

3,000 Evertonians descending on Stamford Bridge tomorrow, most with long journeys and not getting home until the early hours. Stick together, Blues. We can take something from this one.

If Luton continue with an open game where they let in on average 2 or more goals a game, then Dyche may have got it right and letting in one goal a game by being ultra tight may be the right apprach until the summer when he can make adjustments so that the squad is better at finishing chances.

I can't see if this squad flies forward in matches and leaving the door open to potentially an average of letting in 2 goals a game, this team getting 3 goals or more a game to win. Looks like a grind until the end of the season is correct.

Can't start Young and must start Onana, Gana and Gueye.

Mind you, I have never seen one play without the other!

Absolutely dreadful at Newcastle and so ‘sore' after that particular shift, he was then unable to grace us with his presence against Burnley.

Apparently they have checked with the Premier League, and it seems like they have exploited a loophole. I would suggest it's not a loophole but a massive chasm and to be able to sell it to yourself surely has to be against the rules.

For those travelling, there will be a gathering at the White Horse near Parson's Green station.

You can then go marching towards Stamford Bridge signing Mark Murphy's favourite song!!

Not sure if Calvert-Lewin will make it, but hopefully he does and makes it 3 out of 3!

I remember going there in my teenage years when they were a little club with a half-empty stadium and we often got a decent result

Their recent form is DWDWD so on that basis they're due a win. I'd be delighted with a point. As an aside, I'm also looking forward to watching Cole Palmer in the flesh – the kid is a Rolls-Royce footballer.

Despite them being a bit patchy, a draw would indeed be an excellent result for us.

It was Joe Royle's second game in charge and Paul Rideout scored the only goal from a lovely Anders Limpar cross.

I was 13 years old, for fuck's sake!!

Forever. Spirit and now Bella Ciao, which will catch on.

My girl dog is called Bella. A sign?!!

Chelsea have had draws and wins in their recent games but no losses so I think that “one day eh!” will be tomorrow.

To think City found him surplus to requirement is almost mind-boggling. He could have come to us, along with Conor Gallagher. :-)

However, given the boost of the weekend results so far, and given that Chelsea are not Man City, there is that chance for that one set-piece to get something good from this game as long as they are sound defensively.

Palmer is a real talent but there are others to watch out for so Everton have to produce a good all-around performance.

I've not got any confidence in the team nor the manager – negative as feck – and that ain't going to change anytime soon.

A free hit, worth the gamble to go for a win would still be a game in hand of the teams around us. Be brave, Everton, puts all the pressure on the teams around us to close that 5-point gap if it comes off.

With Onana and Gueye both fit and Gomes showing some worth, if he does start with your suggested line-up then, barring miracles, he should be sacked immediately we lose.

They have shipped 52 goals this season. They are not very good at the back – Chalobah has got a mistake in him.

Mykolenko and Branthwaite will have to be at their best because Madueke is a real threat – he likes to cut in from the left.

Pickford
Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko
Garner, Gueye, Gomes, McNeil
Doucoure
Beto

Up the Blues.

And if Dyche cannot get an away victory against a team that has invested over £700m more than us in their playing staff in the last three years then the guy is a fraud.

You're right, we really should be looking to sack the guy who has us out of the Bottom 3 with two games in hand and superior goal difference despite an annual relegation fight, an 8-point deduction and negative £70m investment in players in the last 3 years.

Posters saying they have shipped 50-odd goals appear to be forgetting that we don't have a goal threat.

Man for man, they have a lot more talent than we do, it'll be backs to the wall and I'll take a point now.

And to think people despaired of Gordon Lee. His team was my intro, great days in retrospect…

But our record there at the Bridge is absolutely depressing; that said, keep it tight for 70 minutes and hopefully snatch a winner… Well, I can dream can't I?

Gotta end sometime hasn't it... hasn't it

I saw that article, unbelievable if that's allowed by the Premier League, a loophole that you can sell 2 hotels to your own company?

Pickford
Coleman Tarkowski Branthwaite Mykolenko
Gueye Gomes Onana
Garner Calvert-Lewin Danjuma

I remember we battered them and had two goals disallowed or something and hit the post, I went back there the following August absolutely mental heatwave and they were selling Ruud Gullit wigs in stalls everywhere.

How have we allowed a record like that to fester though?
30 years without Everton Football Club winning anywhere just can't be right surely?

I never felt more like singing the blues…
When Everton win, and Liverpool lose….

UTFT!

If Clavert-Lewin's lucky goal v Burnley is the best we can manage, and if we can't win again for the next 7 games, I assume you will conclude that Mr Dyche was a victim of circumstances beyond his control.

I would play Onana just behind Calvert-Lewin in the 'Doucoure role'

Calvert-Lewin
Onana
McNeil Gueye Gomes Garner
Mykolenko Branthwaite Tarkowski Patterson
Pickford

Subs: Beto, Dobbin (does he have an injury? Why isn't he even on the bench recently?), Danjuma, Chermiti, Harrison, Doucoure, Coleman, Keane, Virginia

I would love us to go for it but you know we'll go there with the plan to keep it tight and nick a draw. A point would be respectable but a win (gotta hope!) would put clear daylight between us and the drop zone, with still a game in hand, and would knock the stuffing out of the two below us.

Palaces' surprise win means they're pretty much safe now, as too are Brentford — almost. For me, it's now just between the bottom 5.

Games running out fast...

Put a strong team out tomorrow and go for it, before the humdinger of fixtures next weekend.

Therefore, looks like Bella Ciao maybe off the song sheet later.

Also, nice to see Man City back on top of the Premier League again. Just exactly where they belong. £££

This is a massive game where a win can put all the pressure on Luton and Forest!

A point would be too good for these present times.

Please no Ashley Young. We can safely say Ben Godfrey won't play, now that Seamus is healthy. It would be great to see Danjuma, if for no other reason than that we otherwise have such little pace and creativity.

If there's one thing I do know, it's that the best away fans in the land will be there to give us a shot. COYB!

No Young, play Patterson.

Let's hope he does it on the pitch tonight. He had a good outing against Burnley.

Absolutely, Jonathan. I'm sure you and others will be there around the globe at ridiculous hours cheering on the Blues as much as those travelling Blues!! Come "home" soon, Jonathan. A pleasure to meet you.

Please Mr. Dyche, no Young or Godfrey, we need Gana and Gomes but we don't need Onana.

Got a good feeling about this one, for some reason. The Chavs are on a good run but are usually inconsistent and they don't do clean sheets.

All the best to the best of blues Rob H and everyone else, Mark, Danny, Neil, and the baldy from Bishop Stortford. Have a wonderful meet and greet and night.

1-2

COYB

I too am made up for Leverkusen. I went to watch them years ago.

Watch this space. Bella Ciao will catch on so we'd best get on top of our Italiano!

Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Bella ciao Bella ciao Bella ciao ciao ciao
Dominic, y Calvert-Lewin,
And it's a goal for Everton!

Dominic, Dominic, Dominic, Dominic Dominic nic nic
Oh Dominic, y Calver-Lewin
And it's a goal for Everton!!

A presto ragazzi!
Su le fucking caramelle!

Not sure if this is a game we can win, but the weather's lousy so rock up and grind out another away point. Give the travelling blues something to cheer about. It's not a lucky ground for us (understatement of the year….) but we have a chance.

There will be wacky unexpected results to come, so anything out of this one is a bonus. It could be another miserable day off the pitch so UTFT on the pitch!

They say we haven't won at the Bridge for 30 years but, not being a stato, I think we have had a few draws there in that period. So why not another one? I would settle for that now, if it were in my power to do so.

Jonathan O @ 44, glad to have met you last week and also you have had a safe journey back, at least you witnessed a win. Take care, my friend!

Mark, your Italian skills are impressive. It beats my attempts to order a penne arribiata or spaghetti con vongole and doing my stupid English 'talk really slow' thing!!

See you later.

No need to ask these fans to cheer the Blues – they will be doing just that, win, lose or draw. Wish I was there with them.

I only know the song as the barman in my favourite
boozer in Turkey plays it a lot.

What a great song and hopefully unique to ourselves.
Sing up!

I took your advice last week and visited the Anglican Cathedral.

Stunning! 👍

I think though, that the shite have used it before us but then it will grind their gears if it takes off with us! UTFT

By the way, did you go up to the roof at the Anglican? Bit of a hike from top of second lift but the view is worth it.

I had to read your post twice. I thought it read we are 'signing Bella Ciao' who is he, what position, and where did we get the money from (?) first reactions.

I then realised it was 'singing', but where and how are the travelling Blues going to learn Italian in the short time before kick-off? :-)

Or am I missing something...

Isn't it an old Spanish revolutionary song?

Anywa,y enough of that, on to tonight's game, until we cross that whitewash, let's save any thoughts and doom until we at least kick off.

Palace and VIlla have shown you can attack these teams, instead of inviting them to dominate in your half. Eventually they will pick you off, so have a go at them, turn them around.

A free hit to try and pick up 3 points… Attack, Attack, Attack —It's been a while since I've heard that chant.

Whatever happens tonight, and hopefully it's a point or three in the bag, we need to use our strength in set pieces against Forest. They are awful at defending set pieces, and draw cheap free kicks. We need to get at them, that's where we can win the game on Sunday. But for tonight, we have a fighting chance, if we keep our shape and have a go.

I wonder if it was a dig at the Premier League?

I agree on Grand Old Team, Brian. I've been saying it for a while. Get rid.

As part of Sky's commentary team.… Assuming he doesn't get injured putting on his microphone.

I'll take as many scruffy games as it takes as long as we get over that line.

Going down is not an option.

If you do not sing the national anthem, the Palace will punish you.

Alan (58) I think it was you who advised me to read the book ‘Bloodlands' about the mass killings by Hitler and Stalin from the early 1930s until after the Second World War.

Those slayed, 14 million were all in Europe with Jewish people singled out men, women and children along with other Nationalities, a lot were killed in peacetime.

You warned me it would be a hard time reading the book, it certainly was. Gruesome doesn't really describe it, very hard to understand how people (?) could be so inhumane to other human beings.

Thanks for putting me in touch with the book Alan I certainly learned plenty from it.

Not only is he getting paid off us – we are letting him “Work on the side”.

We should have him selling the programmes outside the bleedin' ground.

Unbelievable, this club of ours.

I'll do it when I'm up for the Brentford game. If Danny O can manage the Newcastle steps, I'm sure I can climb the stairway to heaven – even if it is the proddy version and they won't let me in!

(Btw Danny – are you sure you didn't take that lift at Newcastle??? Taps nose….)

Mark I'm with your oldest on heights… view is great but I was stood well away from the edge. You'll get a great view of the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

If they play Bella Ciao before the derby, we could get a big fuck off Italian flag passed down the park end, with "Remember the 39" on, it will put their Steua Bucharest flag to shame.

Our record down there makes grim reading though if you think thats important. We are 7/2 to win, so the bookies don't think we are totally dead meat, I was expecting a bigger price.

Obviously a win would be great, but I suspect we might draw the game.

Yes, some good scores over the weekend and a boost for the Blues but still some serious games to come and they don't want to leave anything to chance.

Offence still a problem and it really makes things tough but as a team they need to buckle down defensively for 90 minutes or more.

If you are looking for the perfect view of Bramley-Moore Dock, Mark, try the Gino D'Acampo Sky Bar 360 on Old Hall Street, mate. The booze might be a little bit expensive, and you might need to pay by card, but the lifts work perfectly and the views are absolutely stunning, mate!

Still hoping that penny-drop moment, when everything clicks, is just round the corner. UTFT!

Anyway - just getting ready to set out for tonight's game. As with Danny, this is far from my favourite ground. No entrance to the neighbouring pubs unless you have a Chelsea membership, even if you're not wearing colours and just want a piss!

The most ugly, unfriendly arrogant home fans outside Millwall and a stupid or complicit police presence who give minimum segregation and unmoving direction to avoid trouble between home and away fans.

If we win, I expect there will be trouble outside. But I bloody well hope we do win! UTFT!

My son's University Graduation was at the Anglican. Indeed a fine building amongst many in our city. St George's Hall and William Brown Street take some beating.

Hidden gems would be the Our Lady and Saint Nicholas Church near to the Pier Head.

Also if I can be biased, Speke Hall.

The city is only second to London in the number of listed buildings in the UK.

70th minute Subs: Beto for Calvert-Lewin. Harrison for Young.

Dyche said in the press conference he'd got a tight hamstring but was expected to be fit for tonight. Personally, I think the Forest and Brentford games are more important so, if there is any doubt, I'd rather play safe and save him for those.

When we win tonight, just walk back with the Everton fans to the coaches. I've yet to see any Chelsea fans come anywhere near that mob. Safe as houses with them.

It's really fucking windy in Herts where I am and also down Fulham way I assume so tonight could be a bit Sunday League if the wind keeps up.

See here: Link

Dyche will pick the team. The travelling Blues will get behind whoever is chosen. The players won't hear the rest of us.

Of course it's a difficult game, but we have to see it as an opportunity too.

I'll take my chances with the yuppiegans mate! UTFT

The great day starts now!! UTfT

Fined for tragedy chanting on something that never happened.

Would love all 3 points. Dyche is too scared to be bold.
A point would be a great result given our squad and horrendous fortune.

2-1 to the Chavs.