Everton vs Fulham

Even minus Mina I’d have gone for three CB and wing backs. Gueye and Siggy. Bernard, Richarlson, Walcott.

Just can’t play two defensive mids at home to Fulham when yes, ok, we really, really, need a win. Feel that Digne and Kenny can really whip in some decent crosses and Jags, Keane Zouma tho not my first choice three can do enough to struggle thru to a clean sheet.

I shall mull this over with a wise sage of blue nose repute before the game. I may have got it all wrong and shall be properly advised of same.

Hoping for a win, as the last couple of home games, have been well below standard. Although I didn't see all of the Arsenal game, I was slightly encouraged by an improved performance.

Two fairly soft goals to concede, and chances not being taken, spelt the outcome.

For me I would prefer a back line with Holgate starting at right back. I like Kenny I really do but as a team looking to break into the top 6 and subsequently top 4, I am sorry he is not good enough it is as simple as that.
Gueye for me is a given and his work rate and the amount of breaking up of play is massively underrated.
I have seen enough of Bernard to play him, without question and without debate, he is simply exactly what we have been crying out for for such a long time.

Richarlison... Left wing or up top? I see the benefit of trying him up top certainly against the likes of Fulham and utilising Bernard on the left to create if they are adamant on parking the bus. The last thing we want is another Huddersfield type game. I am still a believer however that Tosun has a huge role to play so personally, for me I would have him back in the starting eleven.

My team:

Pickford

Holgate Keane Zouma Digne

Walcott Gueye Davies Richarlison

Bernard (Free role)

Tosun

Also, stop using two defensive midfielders. We are against a relatively weak team so we should send out a more attacking formation.

Play two strikers up front today, please!

I do believe Calvert-Lewin does have more to his game. He needs to improve his finishing, but he does also make opportunities. If you drop a young lad everytime they are wasteful, well, you'll never develop young talent.

I would give him another chance, especially above the bang average Tosun.

If Richarilson goes into the middle with Bernard out wide, that could be exciting -yet I would also say Walcott is also very inconsistent, and should not necessarily be a guaranteed starter.

Continue with Davies - Gana set up in midfield. Sigurdsson also, yet patience is wearing thin... I think Dowell should be on the bench and if Siggy doesn't perform, give Dowell a chance.

Silva needs a good win as the boo boys are already sharpening thier knives..

Everton 1 Fulham 2

I have a very strong feeling that this diminutive footballer IS the leader we have been missing. I would drop Sigurddson to the bench and put Bernard right in the middle of things behind a front three of Richarlison, Tosun, and Walcott.

If he runs out of juice after 65 minutes when we are 3-0 up, (Richarlison 1 and Tosun 2), bring Sigurddson on.

Kenny, Keane, Zouma, Digne

Gueye, Bernard, Davies,

Walcott, Tosun, Richarlison

Am I reading that correctly? Are you picking a 1-2 home loss against Fulham?

Bernard has to start for me. I'd play him on the left in a more attacking role and leave Sigurddson in with Davies, Gueye holding. Move Richarlison to the middle of the front three.

Pickford
Kenny, Keane, Zouma, Digne
Gueye
Siggy, Davies
Walcott, Richarlison, Bernard

With Fulham, they need to take the game to them. Tosun and Oumar play well off the ball but predictable with the ball. DCL has the skill to keep the ball and is aggressive. But I think Richarlison is the right choice up front.

Everton for 2 goals don't know how many they would keep out

I agree Sigurdsson should be dropped as he's been way off the pace all season.

Holgate and Calvert-Lewin should be nowhere near the starting eleven.

A win would keep most people on board the Silva bus. A loss, well, the collective confidence would really take a beating.

I would like to see two Brazilians at the expense of Tosun and Calvert-Lewin at some point during the game.

3-1, fingers crossed!

One of them coming on as a sub every now and again maybe, but that should be it.

I hope for a win, but expect a draw.

Must win,today, and a fine autumn day to play at Goodison. Key also to get no more injuries. I’m going for 4-2, Everton.

May be optimistic but hopefully we’ll steam them take out the angst of the recent poor results, and maintain the tempo for 90 minutes.

How many times has that happened the last 4 years?

Everton 2 Fulham 0

Sigurdsson
Davies
Gueye

Bernard
Richarlison
Walcott

With Gomes, Mina and Coleman it would blow away excluding the top 6. A proper goal scorer and squad depth is our Achilles heel on troubling the big boys.

I actually think Bernards best position might be in the number 10 role but having played so little football and being short of match fitness I think Silva wants him to get game time before moving him more central. I hope the atmosphere is a bit better inside Goodison today, for some reason the fans just don't seem to get up for games like they used too. Usually takes a poor refereeing decision or a bad tackle from the opposition to really get them going these days. I could understand that atmosphere under Allardyces anti football style or the last couple of months under Koeman. But Silva is trying to play in the style most of us have been screaming out for during the last few seasons, so I don't understand the lack of atmosphere. Lets hope we have a good win and Goodison gets back to being an imposing place for the opposition.

Davies has outperformed Schneiderlin (who isn’t on your list)

DCL has outperformed and outscored Tosun (who isn't on your list)

Holgate has covered well and contributed to a defence (prio lr to the West Ham game) who rarely conceded from open play.

Kenny has been on par with Coleman’s performances this year.

I’d hate to be a young player coming through at this club, they get vilified. Why not pick on the multi millionaire international players who don’t play as well as they should rather than hounding a bunch of kids who are performing admirably.

I notice that no one is suggesting Schneiderlin in their team - does this mean that the habitual roasting of Davies will stop?

COYBB

Defence . Still needs a lot of organisation, individual coaching and awareness. It appears that Silva prefers players to tackle and engage individual playing forwards. Can look either , man to man or zonal, or lack of execution of either. Doesn’t seem to have a strategic to break down opposition forward passes in the last 20 yards in front of the Everton goal. This also includes deep crosses and set pieces. Main defensive strategy is a offensive high press and support off. Only one centre Back threatens at Everton Set pieces

Defensive midfield. The defensive midfield appears to be a line that centres on one player covering the defence and moves up in a high press strategy. Dependent on link play with wings and long passes, No pattern of play amongst the midfield trio.

Midfield Depends on a mobile defending midfielder to achieve turnovers and long passes. At the moment only one midfielder appears to operate this way, but still does a high percentage of long passes. Passing accuracy can dip in some games as a result of long pass preference.

Attacking midfield. Main objective is to support high press and provide channel passes. Also to run onto balls provided by high pressing forward play. Shoot when can.

The midfield Trio do not operate any pattern passing movement or interchangeable play. Some midfield players are not available to recieve passes for periods of the game.

Wing play. Mainly supported by attacking full back getting forward providing crosses, long centre passes and link play with wingers. Forward wingers support high press and attack down channels and take on players. Few Forward passes attempted or completed in the last 20 yards in front of the opposition goal.

Forwards. To high press. , achieve turnovers and provide back passes or overlap for incoming midfielders and wingers. To run into channels. Not to engage in Forward passes in the last 20 yards. Not to engage or take on defenders. Only one Forward has a good on target ratio game on game. In the game against Arsenal there was a higher on target percentage, but this could have been as a result of Arsenals defensive tactics, forcing Everton into channels and unfavourable shooting positions. The pass completion in the last 20 yards of Arsenal’s area was one of the lowest of Evertons season so far. There seems to be a preference for channel play.

This may seem a jumbled summary, but it appears that Silvas main tactic is high press and players are exspected to take immediate command when engaging the ball, and show initiative. That is why when the tactics appear on failing to be the responsibility of individual players and are much heralded Summer signings, seem to be the answer and appear to be when playing. Few of the previous squad have really improved under Silva. Silva is highly dependent on the awareness and skills individual players can bring to positions. Getting a player to spec up seems to be a problem.

I am hopeful of seeing something better against Fulham.

Please don't tell me he had a big mess to sort out when he came in so he should be allowed a few years of failure to get his feet under the table. Our last manager had a similar mess to sort out but he managed to get us much improved and harder to beat within a few weeks. It's not that hard to do if you are competent and can set a team up properly.

Which is exactly the problem at the moment – Silva can't which is why we continue to play badly and lose or draw each week. For all this talk of progress and attacking football, we are easy to play against, don't score enough and have no creativity or passion in our play.

“OPERATION TOFFEEWEB”

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“TWO ONE FULHAM”

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“THE END OF SILVA”

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“OVER AND OUT”

I just hope the crowd can get behind the team because that’s the best way to relieve the tension for the players?

A bit off thread, however, I’m sitting in the Winslow and have just been asked why the clock on the wall is stopped at 12.20?

I don’t know the answer can anyone enlighten me so I can tell this foreign visiting Everton fan.

Gana for all his positive brake up play is like Stevie Wonder with the ball at his feet he has got to improve as I feel like he drops us in the smelly stuff with every other pass, we could also do with Sigurdsson being on blob, that would be nice.

Will any of our strikers score? Richarlison should lead the line for me.

It's been like it for years, so I was hoping for a story. I'll buy some batteries instead.

They got promoted 2 years later!