Lyndon Lloyd 31/10/2024 31comments  |  Jump to last
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Dwight McNeil "has a chance" of being involved at St Mary's

Dwight McNeil could miss this weekend's match against Southampton having not trained all week after sustaining an injury that forced him off against Fulham last Saturday.

Sean Dyche says that the winger "has a chance" of being involved as the club's medical staff work with him ahead of the trip south to St Mary's but the manager was merely "hopeful" rather than confident he could be involved.

McNeil went down needing treatment on his knee late in the 1-1 draw with the Cottagers and limped off to be replaced by defender Jarrad Branthwaite. 

As the team's leading provider of assists and the scorer of four goals in all competitions so far this season, he will be a significant miss for Everton and it will force Dyche into reshuffling his attacking quartet.

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There is an opportunity to switch Jack Harrison to the left flank and a rare start to Jesper Lindstrom on the right, with Iliman Ndiaye moving into the No.10 slot but, more likely, the manager will opt to push Abdoulaye Doucouré forward to once again play off the striker.

That would create a vacancy in central midfield that would have to be filled by Orel Mangala following the news that James Garner is facing a further month on the sidelines as he recovers from a stress fracture in his back.

Mangala came on as a late substitute against Fulham and had an assured cameo alongside the indefatigable Idrissa Gueye and the duo could partner each from the first whistle for the first time since the former arrived on loan from Lyon.

Up front, Beto's goalscoring heroics last weekend will at least give Dyche pause for thought over whom to deploy up front but the smart money would be on Dominic Calvert-Lewin keeping his place, with the Portuguese once again a viabe off the bench in the Toffees need to change things up in attack. 

At the back, most eyes will once again be on whom out of Branthwaite and Michael Keane is selected alongside James Tarkowski. Keane, a goalscorer himself against Ipswich a fortnight ago and a solid performer in defence over the past few games, was chosen ahead of Branthwaite against Fulham but the young defendee could get the nod now that he can be deemed to be fully fit.

The Blues are looking to extend their recent unbeaten run to six matches as they take on the Premier League's bottom club, with Southampton yet to win a game on their return to the top flight.

Manager Russell Martin continues to be entrusted at the helm and his side's performance against the Champions, Manchester City, last weekend where they avoided a hammering and were narrowly beaten 1-0 by an early Erling Haaland goal will have provided plenty of encouragement ahead of what Saints feel is a must-win game against Everton.

Flynn Downes is rated as 50/50 to be available for the south coast side due to illness and Martin suggested that a sickness bug might deprive him of a couple of others while goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, forward Ross Stewart and midfielder William Smallbone are all ruled out.

While Everton's performance against Fulham was flat and uninspiring, it nevertheless yield another point and Dyche will be looking for another professional away performance like that at Portman Road and another three points to keep his team's momentum going.

As they demonstrated in the EFL Cup at Goodison Park earlier in the season, Saints like to play out from the back and keep possession but they often play their way into trouble in the process. That will hopefully present the Blues with opportunities in transition and when the ball is turned over by the opposition in their own half.

Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 2 November, 2024
Referee: Andy Madley
VAR: Matt Donohue
Last Time: Southampton 1 - 2 Everton  

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Mangala, Harrison, Ndiaye, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin

 

Reader Comments (31)

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Si Pulford
1 Posted 31/10/2024 at 15:03:43
Dyche isn't the greatest manager by any measure… but my god he has to put with a lot.

The injuries are constant. And they hit us harder than most due to an already small, limited and unbalanced squad. If he fell into a barrel of tits he'd come out sucking his thumb.

Steve Brown
2 Posted 31/10/2024 at 15:13:50
Dyche should play Ndiaye there, move Harrison to his preferred position on the left and put Lindstrøm on the right.

He will put Docoure there, and play Harrison on the right with Ndiaye on the left.

Jay Harris
3 Posted 31/10/2024 at 15:24:32
Or bring Mangala in and play Ndiaye there and give Harrison and Lindstrøm half a game each.

The big question is who to leave out for Jarrad?

Steve Brown
4 Posted 31/10/2024 at 15:32:10
Jay, he will never drop Tarkowski no matter how he plays.
Niall McIlhone
6 Posted 31/10/2024 at 15:54:53
What Steve (#2) said makes sense, but yes, it will be Doucoure in the No 10 role. Shame about McNeil, he is still learning the role and gets injured after a few games.

Another option may be to bring Coleman in at right-back and play Young in right-midfield, with Harrison on the left in front of Mykolenko, that would, at least, offer additional cover on the flanks.

Apart from that great victory down there when we wore our "one-off" army green strip, with Lukaku as centre-forward, we've had very little joy down at St Mary's in recent years, so here's hoping!

Neil Lawson
7 Posted 31/10/2024 at 16:09:34
Steve is probably correct. Might as well choose a No 10 who can't pass, dribble or control but can run around tirelessly in circles.

No room for strategic thinking with this manager.

Neil Tyrrell
8 Posted 31/10/2024 at 16:13:25
Give Lindstrøm a start there; by all accounts, he prefers/is better playing in the middle. Saints like passing it out from the back, could be some golden opportunities for someone who can shoot from outside the box when they inevitably give it away.

As mentioned above, it will probably be Doucoure.

Colin Callaghan
9 Posted 31/10/2024 at 16:23:56
If Beto starts, Jack should be considered through the middle because they both press well.

If it's Calvert-Lewin, then give Lindstrøm a go. Jack's pressing is wasted if Dom doesn't help.

I still feel for Mangala losing his place. I wouldn't mind Doucoure in the No 10 role if it meant getting Mangala back into midfield. He's far tidier than Gana.

They want to play and we can punish them.

Steve Brown
10 Posted 31/10/2024 at 16:31:59
Jack Harrison is really inefficient on the ball.

He may press at No 10 but he can contribute little else.

Raymond Fox
11 Posted 31/10/2024 at 16:35:27
Dyche can't pick the same team for 5 minutes because of injuries, McNeil gives us a goal threat and will be missed.

We have had 2 wins and 3 draws in the last 5 games but the manager still can't please everyone.

John Raftery
12 Posted 31/10/2024 at 17:06:33
Niall (6)

We've actually had two wins there since Lukaku left. Under Silva in 2019 we won 2-1 and with the same score line under Lampard two years ago when Coady and McNeil scored.

Jay Harris
13 Posted 31/10/2024 at 17:47:24
We owe them one for the recent cup exit so hopefully it's payback time.
Colin Malone
14 Posted 31/10/2024 at 17:51:55
In Dyche's eyes, it will be Doucoucre. In my eyes, I would rather have my granny in the side. I'm fed up with watching this shite.

Any player or team who haven't won or scored, the best team to play is Everton.

Les Moorcroft
15 Posted 31/10/2024 at 18:21:04
Nice one, Colin.

I take it you won't be watching?

Christy Ring
16 Posted 31/10/2024 at 18:44:50
McNeil looks a different player in the No 10 role. He has a superb left foot. Hopefully he's fit for Saturday; if not, he can't put Doucoure into that role because his first touch is so poor, but Dyche doesn't see that.

Lindstrom likes the No 10 role and is a better option but, for me, the first name on the team sheet has to be Branthwaite – and that's not me being anti-Keane.

Eddie Dunn
17 Posted 31/10/2024 at 19:11:28
Steve, spot on.
Dale Self
18 Posted 31/10/2024 at 20:03:45
Optimism is a significant doubt for Saints trip.
Nigel Munford
19 Posted 31/10/2024 at 20:41:37
Colin thinks so, Dale!!!
Nigel Munford
20 Posted 31/10/2024 at 20:42:37
Thursday night and the negativity is already starting to creep in, jeez.
Mark Murphy
21 Posted 31/10/2024 at 21:12:05
I’m counting the minutes.
Train to Southampton, beers with good friends and the Blues giving another red and white shite team a good hiding as we click!
UTFT!
Jeff Armstrong
22 Posted 31/10/2024 at 21:27:04
Doucoure will move up and Mangala will come in, I reckon that’s the only starting change from last week, Beto to come on, but maybe as a 2 with DCL late on,80 minutes, Branthwaite stays on the bench unless needed because of injuries, Lindstrom for Harrison 75 minutes.
Danny O'Neill
23 Posted 31/10/2024 at 21:37:55
I hope Branthwaite is back.

We're going in blues and know the pre-match meeting place.

See you there.

Spirit. We can take the points.

Belief and desire.

Ernie Baywood
24 Posted 31/10/2024 at 21:49:24
For me, Doucoure at number 10 is the cardinal sin.

Hoping that Mangala and Lindstrom come in. Doucoure out and one of Harrison or Lindstrom into no.10. I'd prefer Lindstrom but I'll guess that if our coach is finally done with the Doucoure 'experiment' then he would probably opt for the industry of Harrison.

Or maybe a change of formation... actually, forget that.

Si Cooper
25 Posted 31/10/2024 at 22:06:09
I strongly disagree that the manager hasn’t got some proper options with his squad at the moment despite the injuries.
There is a factor no-one else seems to have mentioned yet - deadball / set piece delivery. With both McNeil and Garner sidelined Lindstrom pretty much has to start, doesn’t he?
I’d like to see Iliman played central but putting Lindstrom there is probably better for a player still getting up to speed for the Prem.
Simon Harrison
26 Posted 31/10/2024 at 22:20:58
If McNeil doesn't make it, why move players around to just fit in the regulars?

Keep the midfield pair (or better yet, put Doucs on the bench and start Mangala, imo)

But to answer the Q/ of the attacking quartet;

DCL as always up top, Jack on the RFW, NDiaye (where he has excelled) on the LFW, and Lindstrøm in his favoured 8/10 slot. The reason being, even if he isn't up to the EPL stresses yet, at least play him in his favoured and statistically best position?

Why do we always look at moving players when things have started to work at last, or try and put square pegs in round holes?

However, and this isn't having a dig at Dyche Dale, who knows what Dyche will do?

I suspect that Branners will start on the bench (to come on in emergency or for the 2nd half), and that Doucs gets pushed up to the #10 slot, and who knows whether it'll be Mangala, Tim Iro or A. N. Other in the midfield?

Maybe he'll put Jack at 10 and Lindstrøm at RWF?

Who knows, who cares, just support whoever is playing in the Everton kit (Are we in Grey again this weekend, or the Black?)

Three points will be very welcome regardless! 💙🤞

Simon Harrison
27 Posted 31/10/2024 at 22:25:50
Ernie I Love your optimism mate! Hehe

Si, I agree wholeheartedly, that at last Dyche has (genuine?) options in all but two positions, which are LB and RWF.

Yes we have Myko and Young for LB, but Young seems to have cemented the RB position for now? Watch him start Seamus to shame me!

And other than Jack, we don't have any other players who can genuinely fulfil the role of RWF imho? (Maybe Young or Patterson in a more RWB role?)

Lindstrøm is NOT a winger QED see Napoli 2023/24 (though with a very different setup at Frankfurt, he managed a few decent games on the wing there)

Bobby Mallon
28 Posted 31/10/2024 at 22:38:27
Can'twait for Saturday. Couple of Guinness in Yates then onto ground and a 0.3 win
Danny O'Neill
29 Posted 31/10/2024 at 22:57:02
See you there Bobby with a few others.

Come on Everton.

Ernie Baywood
30 Posted 31/10/2024 at 23:18:30
There are definitely options. McNeil is a good player but his loss shouldn't be disastrous... it's only a massive issue if you're the sort of coach who struggles to deal with making changes.

Let's have it straight, we're playing Southampton. There are no easy games in this league but this is one we should be expecting to look decent in.

I can't see anything but us winning. Maybe even a day where we pick them off and win comfortably. Bedlam in the away end. And online cries of "miracle worker" and "the Dyche haters have gone quiet"

Colin Malone
31 Posted 31/10/2024 at 23:19:10
Les # 15.
Of course I will be watching.
Derek Knox
32 Posted 01/11/2024 at 01:12:39
Hope I'm not throwing water over the flames of optimism, but I watched Southampton when they played City last time. They are no mugs, and although City won they left it very late and it was by only one goal !

Hoping as always for a win, but we will have to work for it. No stupid team selections Mr Dyche, and we can bag three points.

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