Everton vs Brentford

Sam 07919203413. If you're out there, please get in touch!!

We are all members and were online at the earliest opportunity but ended up with 3 separate shitty obscured seats miles from each other. We may not see much. We may not be able to celebrate/ grieve together, but at least we will be there.

Fingers crossed Branthwaite is playing. If you do get 3 seats together, have a great time but keep it to yourself.

I want to see him on the pitch on Saturday.

Like others, I hope Branthwaite is fit, strong and raring to go.

Very hard December coming up, but we sometimes do better against better opposition. 3 points here fingers crossed.

Play the game, forge the referee, and let's see Everton turn the form book around.

There's a great deal at stake and this game is very tough against a decent side that attack and they are scoring very early in games this season.

I hope Everton, can turn up and play for 97 minutes and win.

I don't watch Haemarroid Farm either, before anyone starts. :-) Now Brentford I see as a hot-and-cold team, and one that should not be under-estimated. They seem to play better at home, but are capable of upping the ante away from home too.

Brentford on the other hand have lost all five games away from home having taken the lead in four of them. Let's not change that tomorrow.

Did he say anything about football?

Unless he is injured or ill, Mangala should be in the starting line-up. He may not last 90 minutes but his partnership with Gana was effective in the last two games.

Let's go into tomorrow with energy, passion and desire to win a game of football. I don't care who the opposition are. Same as next month. Don't step on a football pitch with fear.

If you perform with confidence, the results will come. And there's always twists and unforeseen turns in football.

I'll be in the Northwestern in town and then around the usual haunts on County Road. Hope to see some of you there. If you get the chance, take in the Everton Heritage Society upstairs in St Luke's.

I see this as a must-win but I'm far from confident that we'll get anything.

Hope I'm wrong. We need Branthwaite straight back in and I wish we'd actually try and play on the front foot given that we're at home.

I'll predict a 1-1 draw.

I also think like John that Mangala improves Everton and should start the game until he tires; hopefully he will get stronger the more time he plays.

Pressure? From Dyche's set up? Two teams doing the same.

What's going to be going on in the middle of the park? Picnics?

It stinks, Kim, but we will just have to continue criticising the performances while being happy with the result.

As a member for a number of years with my partner and my nephew, junior member, I look forward to applying for 3 tickets together without a restricted view and have some chance in hell of getting them when we arrive in BMD.

With regards to tomorrow, let's just take one game at a time; looking too far ahead is not the way to go. With Branthwaite back and McNeil fit, we should be competitive and hopefully take the 3 points.

I know that I am in the minority, maybe a minority of 1, but given the pool of talent we have, I am not convinced that another manager would do better than the current one.

I see where Broja is nearing full fitness, I do hope there is something in the loan agreement to the effect that Chelsea pay his wages until he kicks a ball in anger for us.

I agree we have to put up with the smell (to use a Dyche-ism) if that means staying alive, although we barely have a pulse these days.

I hope we get that win tomorrow and get those precious points.

You're nearly right. I think Broja only has to be named in a first-team squad before we start paying him wages. Let's hope it's sooner rather than later.

But if we don't get 6 points from this and the Wolves game I think we'll go down with Dyche. Tomorrow Ii a must-win.

It will need to.

But here we go, back to the stress of the situation we find ourselves in, knowing that it's unlikely that we'll be entertained but hoping we can find the goals to get us 3 points.

Hate the fact that Brentford have lost all of their away games so far, it's given me the ‘Everton that' pit in my stomach and it's time to stop being the gift that keeps on giving.

Lyndon's predicted lineup is, well, predictable. We all know what our formation and ‘tactics' will be.

Come on you Blues, please play well and give us a reason to be cheerful with 3 points on the board by 5 pm tomorrow.

Positivity, mate, at least til full-time!

They have done well together in last two games and it would be foolish to break this partnership up.

If the manager uses them and plays on the front foot, rather than have us watch paint dry, we could do much better.

6 points out of the next few matches and then a couple of Christmas surprises.

Including a Christmas present with the takeover.

I will be on the Live Forum tomorrow and I won't be one of those saying "This is shite" after 5 minutes or moaning cos it's only 0-0 at half-time but, I'm realistic to know that, if we can't pick up points from these games, we're in the shit.

I'm checking the fixture list daily to see which games I can get to for the rest of the season and I'll never give up on the Blues but we are now in must-win territory with games like these, no?

It's forecast to piss it down all day so what that will do for the football I don't know. If we could win, that would make us 13 points from 12 games, which is not bad at all.

We have some tough games coming up against the best teams, but you can't write those off as we usually spring a surprise or two when playing them.

Any other game in no man's land whilst we wait for the ownership change.

Finger crossed for 3 points.

Like Danny O, I go to every game thinking/hoping we'll win.

I'll never accept we're "going down" until it's mathematically impossible to stay up.

Every defeat, whether it's Bournemouth at home or Arsenal or Man City away, is a massive disappointment to me and literally spoils my weekend, and yes, I do understand the use of literally there!

If we don't get 6 points from Wolves and Brentford I just think we have to jettison Dyche, that's what I'm saying. I don't think Everton will go down in my lifetime (I'm 66 and healthy) but we can't sleep walk on that tightrope any longer.

In other news, my Farewell to Goodison book just arrived. It's beautiful. 🥰

It's why we've always gone and followed.

Mark, we swapped messages. I expect tears and emotion reading that!!

When the day comes, I doubt we'll be able to move around the streets of Goodison, regardless of whether supporters have tickets or not.

It has been an exciting season, goal feasts at home but defeats in every away match, although the performances have been better than that suggests.

Thomas Frank continues to perform miracles with a comparatively small squad and a tight budget. There hasn't been a match since the start of last season when he hasn't had at least 4 or 5 of his preferred squad missing and at times it has been 7 or 8. However, he just gets on with it, getting the best out of what he has available and improving young and inexperienced players out of all recognition.

There is no grandstanding for the media, no kicking advertising hoardings or water bottles, no screaming at officials, no invention of conspiracies if decisions go against… just calmness and tactical astuteness. As far as we're concerned, he's the best possible Head Coach.

The Bees' strength is up front where Schade, Lewis-Potter and Wissa have real pace and Mbeumo has become a top Premier League striker. The midfield is steady and Damsgaard gets the ball forward as quickly as possible.

The weakness has been in defence where the loss of two quality full-backs in Henry and Hickey for over a year has had a massive impact. Brentford cannot afford to splash out on expensive replacements who might be just short term so it's been a question of square pegs in round holes on the flanks, not always successfully.

I have absolutely no idea how tomorrow might go... Bees could score 5 or concede a few. It's highly entertaining but not good for the nerves of us Old Codgers (63 years a Bee).

Personally, I'm just happy with the present position. I never dreamed that the last 15 years were ever possible, so just enjoying the ride.

Anyway, enjoy the match and remember, it's only a game...

I live near Brentford and get to a few games every season; I can't disagree with anything you wrote.

Brentford sure are entertaining, hope it's a match to enjoy (especially for us Blues).

I'm sure I will meet a few Brentford supporters on the train up tomorrow and at the bars in the city centre. Living in Uxbridge, I have a few friends who follow Brentford.

Tomorrow will be an interesting contest. I just hope it isn't a stand-off.

I doubt Dyche will set us up to take advantage of your weakness at full-back sadly.

And for long-suffering Evertonians, with the history we have, trust me, it's a lot more than just a game.

Enjoy the game if you're travelling.

As you say, anything can happen tomorrow, I just hope we dodge all your Bee stings and get the 3 points.

Good health and best wishes, John.

The fact that you have said the front line has real pace instantly makes me think we'll be sitting back again tomorrow (like I didn't know that already?).

So expect a 65-70% possession against bore-fest. If I was a journo, they could probably cut-and-paste any of the previous home match reports and change a few names.

Sorry to be a negative so-and-so, something that used to get on me nerves about this site, but I've been beaten into submission by Dyche.

Tomorrow? – well, I think we've got the £100,000 box...bring it on! COYFB

I watched it once, swerved it since.

I wish I could swerve Everton but I'm stuck with them.

If my Rugby League or cricket teams lose, I shrug and get on with life. If Everton lose, I'm absolutely devastated! I hate them for an evening; then, the next day, I'm looking at the fixtures and for tickets.

I'm a bit like Danny – when my wife asks me who I love the most, Everton or her, I reply "Don't be silly" and leave it at that.

Enjoy the game, John, but not too much. I always look forward to the Brentford game and a pint in The Globe afterwards. My son used to work in there and they made him wear a Brentford top on matchdays...

I'm still perplexed over Dyche's comment that Ndiaye can't play at No 10 because he can't defend?

I never saw a No 10 who can defend… and does he want the whole team to defend? Some tactics!

Oh, how I wish that was true.

Brentford is quite near me and have followed them closely for the last 7-8 years. Got a membership there (and Fulham) to try and get tickets when I can. Great, well-run club with decent fans and a decent manager.

The last bit of your post is the main takeaway – win, draw or lose, it's only a game – albeit I hope we batter them tomorrow. :-)

If they both start, Branthwaite will add much-needed cover for Mykolenko on the left, and Mangala will add protection alongside Gueye. If both are out, Mykolenko and our midfield are in for a rough time and I'm sure they will attack us down the left flank.

Normally I would say attack and put them on the backfoot but, looking at Brentford's away form, it might be a case of sit back and catch them on the counter-attack, bide our time, and make use of every pass.

Brentford will come at us from the off; s stay as a unit, cut out the hoof ball to Dom, try and get Ndiaye and McNeil to exploit the spaces Brentford will leave wide open.

For once we need to bide our time and be patient, and wait for our chances. It might not be pretty but Dyche's tactics for once are needed for this game to grind out a result.

For fuck's sake!

Ndiaye doesn't need to defend much, he needs to work hard and close down and hassle opponents near to him who have the ball to make them rush a pass, which he does.

On a serious note Dyche's defensive obsession does not belong in 21st century professional football, or any era even going back to the days of Genghis Khan.

The biggest difference in the two teams is Brentford have a more progressive manager plus players who can score. I always hope for a win but a draw seems more likely.

Dyche's mantra is, if Genghis Khan, then so can I. :-)

Play away…..

I wonder if it would help if people declared up front whether they were representing the prosecution or the defence.

Really decent side Brentford for me, much better than our current crop (mores the pity) although I do agree with Danny … Dyche should be getting a lot more out of our players and take the handbrake off, especially at home!

I like Thomas Frank. Once you get past the fact that he plays with 3 centre-backs that is.

I heard him talking whilst on pundit duties during the Euros and he made loads of sense. This may have been magnified by the fact he was sitting next to Danny Murphy.

I could see Thomas in the dugout at Bramley-Moore Dock, fidgeting with his magnets on his tactics board and flicking his fabulous hair. Until then, I suppose we'll have to make do with our Sean wiping his moist bonce and then rubbing his goatee in a downward motion – oh well.

Off topic - my Farewell to Goodison book arrived today. Vay, vay emotional so far.

And after what you went through over the years, with agony and heartbreak seemingly at every season's end, I don't begrudge you any of the pleasures of successfully establishing yourself in the Premier League.

Thanks for dropping in...once again.

Do you do this for all teams the Bee's are meeting?

"I'm still perplexed over Dyche's comment that Ndiaye can't play at No 10 because he can't defend? I never saw a No 10 who can defend… and does he want the whole team to defend? Some tactics!"

I remember my captain telling me to defend more; I told him I was defending, from the front. Running myself ragged closing down everything I could. I played striker but harried the defence and keeper all match, defending from the front.

Even Dyche said he told his two strikers to do that when he was at Burnley, so I'm surprised he's forgotten that now.

Dyche won't play Ndiaye at No 10 because he actually goes forward and might even score! 🤯

Never forget that, without Pickford in goal we lose our last match at the Hammers. I still think about that save daily.

Popular managers in good positions are going to abandon their jobs and move down the table to Everton because... why, exactly?

We are light-years bigger than Brentford etc and he would jump ship to us in a heartbeat, I am sure. Don't underestimate us, we're huge.

I can't see any scenario where an ambitious young manager would see Bournemouth as a better prospect than us. Especially with billionaire owners incoming and our beautiful new ground.

We are about to become a scarily different proposition…

For example, if Frank or Iraola were offered the Everton job next summer, then they would take it. I don't have the slightest doubt about it.

You want to dream? Dream about Allegri or Sarri or Edin Terzic or Sergio Conceicao from Porto. Accomplished managers who have actually won big stuff. You're welcome to your preferences, but personally I'd rather have Xavi than Iraola.

Sean, if you think we're "massive globally", try buying an Everton shirt in any kit store in the world outside England. I've been all over and I've never seen one. Not even a counterfeit one in Hong Kong or Shanghai.

Steve, we haven't won a league title since Frank was a boy in another country. That carries no weight.

He's already in a brand-new stadium in London (albeit much smaller) and he's immensely popular with a passionate fanbase. And he's signed through 2027 on a salary almost as large as Dyche's, so there's no way our new owner will buy him out at those numbers, even if he wants to come. Which he won't.

Besides, Frank is a huge admirer of Sean Dyche:

“Sean is a fantastic coach and manager. He always makes his team very difficult to play against. They are physical, intensive in pressing, they have pace on transitions, are very good on set-pieces, and they play behind you.

“What he brings is a fantastic foundation. I don't think he always gets enough credit for how dynamic they are and how good they are in the offensive third.

“I'm a big admirer of his work. What we did at Burnley was extremely impressive and was something I looked into; that journey and how we could bring some of those elements to Brentford.

“He's doing it again at Everton and it's potentially even more impressive. On paper, you could maybe say the squad is better but it's also a bigger challenge because there has been a lot of noise with points deductions and a change of owners."

So you wouldn't actually like him.

Yes, we've stood still and been poorly managed for years, but we are still an institution of English football for the reasons you mention.

A new blue dawn is rising.

The dog is in for a shock as I'm getting her out early. She's not like my boy was, who woke me up, negating the need for an alarm clock. She likes to sleep in!!

I want to get up early so I can call in at Allerton Cemetery to lay flowers at my nan's stone and check it's still there. There is a story there!!

Then onto Goodison. I'm optimistic, just please entertain us. Thousands are paying good, hard-earned money, as they do every week, home and away. We deserve it.

I'll visit Bramley-Moore Dock before the Wolves match. With that being a late kick-off, I'll spend the day in the home city before Goodison under the lights.

Looking at the weather forecast, I might need a coat?

Mike, you are correct. Friedkin will have their own ideas.

Brentford have won nothing and their brand new stadium has a capacity of 17,000. They are doing great but let's return to reality.

TFG might have a long list of foreign coaches ready, but my point stands – and I am pretty confident about it. Frank or Iraola are not my preference, but if Everton offered the manager job to either, they would take it. And admiration for Sean would have zero impact on that.

As Roy Keane said, if you want loyalty, get a dog.

Have a great day mate. 2-1.

But I don't want a dog. I have one. I just want an Everton shirt. I want to walk into a big sports store and go past the endless rows of Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs shirts -- not to mention Bayern, Juventus, Dortmund Barcelona, Real Madrid and dozens of others -- and buy an Everton shirt. Off the rack. Try it on and see how it fits.

And I can't. Not anywhere in the world. The only place I've ever had that experience was Liverpool One.

And in all my travels in Europe and Asia and across the US, I've never seen a little kid wearing an Everton shirt. Not one.

Massive globally?

No. We are not.

We aspire to be a big club again, yet it is run at most levels (not all) like a Sunday League Pub Team.

Maybe the Friedkin Group will change this. North America and even Europe?

Build the brand and promote Everton Football Club. There is huge potential that we can tap into.

First things first, let's get a win against Brentford.

Thanks, Paul.

Not massive globally but significant interest reflected in possible latent demand for merchandising; but that latent demand isn't being met – Derek's point about our historically poor commercial arm – hence poor sales.

Mike, there is also Amazon etc. where I buy my Everton tee-shirts, the most recent one 'Our dock, Everton is Liverpool' with blue liver birds.

So I sympathise with Mike. If I can't find a shirt in Kent, good luck globally. We are small beer these days.

I do, however, have a mate that gets bloody good knock-offs from China (any year – retro or contemporary) for £24 (incl delivery).

I'd rather have a Penny Black than an ordinary first class stamp. Wouldn't you?

My kids have been trained to move them in front of the rows of red shirts.

You'll also get the knock-offs in Asian holiday destinations.

We're not commercially astute but doesn't mean we don't remain a decent prospect for managers if we can just not be such a basket case with our strategic direction (ie, not really having one) and decision-making.

Even then there are still 5 or 6 million reasons a year that a manager would come to us.

Must admit – I still don't get how Dyche justified that kind of salary. He'd surely have come for a lot less. What options did he have?

The bird is blue. One of our early badges!!

I don't tend to wear colours, but my favourite, latest top is my sons of St Domingos 1878.

Our new waterfront is a golden opportunity. A blue liver bird on the river side for all to see. Tastefully medium size.

I only post on Toffee web as it's one of the few fans' forums that doesn't descend into moronic whittering and insults. Everton fans are genuine; I can't stand the bandwagon jumpers who announce they are Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd etc without knowing the slightest thing about the clubs or their histories.

As I've said before, I've been interested in Everton since seeing them win at Fulham in the very early 60s... I hadn't seen football like it at Griffin Park previously.

I've watched the great sides of the '60s and '80s many times and first visited Goodison in 1967 when an impecunious student at Manchester.

Re Thomas Frank: Don't read too much into his comments re Dyche. Frank is a gentleman and always finds something good to say about opposing coaches and teams.

Would he be interested in the job at Everton? No idea. I know Dyche's football can be a hard watch but he does deserve credit for keeping you up as relegation could well have been terminal for the Toffees.

But obtaining an Everton shirt was nigh-on impossible. Colo Colo... no problem. Universidad... likewise. Shopkeepers couldn't believe I wanted one and I think we were campeones at the time.

Coming up 18 months ago, my brother took me to Disney Springs, Florida. There, in all its glory, was a row of Everton shirts. I have the photo. I also decided against an Everton shirt in Vancouver, favouring a Vancouver Whitecaps shirt as a souvenir of our trip.

Can't wait for today, it has been 4 weeks since we were at home. Which other club has two away games every time we have an international break??? Seriously, it is uncanny how this happens to us and only us, both international breaks this season and regularly in previous seasons too.

My ‘Farewell to Goodison Park' arrived on Wednesday. Already half-way through. Serious souvenir, I strongly recommend it.

Now to the football. Nothing less than 3 points today. The fixtures secretary has done this to us before; notoriously slow starters, we end up wasting points against teams we should be beating, then go into a nightmare set of fixtures in December. What is it with Everton v Man City every Boxing Day?

Play on the front foot and with pace. COYB, make my weekend.

Brentford are now my third team after Everton and Marine from Crosby, North Liverpool where I grew up. I love your pragmatic views and footy sense. You have a wonderful coach and some top FPL picks.

Keep dropping in for a chat, even when we're not playing each other. I cannot imagine why your gaffer would come to us from you, a tight, efficient, no-nonsense, well-run club.

Good luck, John, you look so much better without Toney.

Brentford is my closest Premier League club.

Aside from today, best wishes and if you want, we can meet up.

Nice to see some impartiality regarding your call for some credit for Dyche. I think it gets lost on here what pressure the whole club was under last season. Instant improvement will not happen with this squad regardless of manager.

We aren't nice on the eye and have a squad with very little quality or threat. We aren't going to become an entertaining team overnight with the financial restrictions and ownership issues.

I think Frank has done a great job – a very similar job to what Dyche did at Burnley first time around. The owners need to back him to continually improve. Hovering lower mid-table without investment will only result in one thing.

Wish your team all the best but obviously not today.

It will be an ugly game today, played in atrocious conditions, hopefully with the Blues winning by the odd goal.

What happened last season is gone, it's history... it's the "now" we should be concerned with, and the "now" is scary.

I'm in Barcelona on a short break, have just done the AFC Barcelona tour, and my god!!! If we only had a tenth of those trophies.

Enjoy your day, I'm sure you will, even in defeat as for you it's only a game…

I wasn't aware of any time Frank spent with Dyche at Burnley? And of course he didn't.

But it's in all the reports of his words on Thursday... however, not if you actually listen to the press conference:

Thomas Frank looks ahead to Everton

Seems a lot longer than Dyche's weekly nonsense… but the guy actually talks sense! The quotes @65 though have been selectively reassembled from what he actually said, with errors introduced.

I always think of Kenny Ferry, Old Roan, whenever you post, and that's the mental image I have of you! He was an ugly sod!

What would you expect Frank to say about Dyche? He's hardly going to say negative things about him, is he?

Frank fortunately doesn't have to watch us every week, so I'm afraid he's talking through his arse.

The man has been here nigh on 2 years and has actually taken us backwards. This is the Old Lady's last season and we've won 1 home game and we're nearly in December… disgraceful.

How this clown is still in a job is beyond me.

As for your "Frank or Ireola wouldn't touch us" shout, don't make me howl! They'd crawl over broken glass to manage Everton.

It's got to stop!!!

John @79. Everton fans are genuinely good fans. I don't get to go often now but it's great to watch them away when I can. I have a soft spot for clubs like yours, hope that we get the win today but for a good game.

I cannot remember sitting through a match where time seemed to stand still for as long. I must have headed every corner clear myself behind the goal. Please do not put me through that again. I aged 5 years waiting for the final whistle to blow.

However, any kind of a win will do and, with the ''toughies'' coming up in the next few weeks, 3 points is even more important.

Brentford are quite average this season but still a test when Everton are so average themselves.