Arsenal vs Everton

Let's do this the Everton way. We lose a game we could have / should have won then go and get something from a match many don't expect anything from and break my Arsenal away duck.

Everton that.

I'm up late and watching Everton stuff. Reminiscing and remembering when we beat them 6 - 1 at Goodison (long time ago) rather than some of my more recent experiences because they upset me.

See you there blues. To those travelling,I hope to see in the pubs we can get into and those I've arranged to meet or see you in the ground.

Then Sunday we do it again in Nottingham

Spirit. Forever. All about the team for now.

The teams above us don't have to better our results, they just have to match them.

Positivity from fans will not win us games of football, goals and solid defence will.

We are getting there with the later but the former is non existent.

I've got every faith in the manager, but no faith in the team. Imo his main job will be getting us back up at the first attempt.

Otherwise known as Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Don't be like Danny, who blows his cover within 30 seconds when he sits in the home ends!!!

Don't give up hope, we can pick up 9 points from both our home and away fixtures and make it to 41 by end of the season.

Danny, I hope you are in the away end this evening and that you see up make a start on the accumulation of the 9 away points this evening.

Kunai, keep your cover!

Does he persevere with Maupay in the hope that he can find the goal which will spark a turn of fortune and form ? Does he play Simms instead ? (he's unlikely to play both) or does he try a non striker up top ?.

Then there is the midfield. Gana and Onana have been painfully susceptible to the fast counter attack all season. Doucoure hasnt even looked like a footballer. He desperately needs to find some form. Does Dyche persevere with these three ?

Our non-footballing two center halves have been ruthlessly exposed when the team have tried to get on the front foot and go forward in numbers.

Our left back is a bag of nerves and having had a hard game on Saturday, there is a real risk that we may be asking our captain to play a match too many this week.

The managers dilemma's far outweigh his options. We are up against a team which has put EIGHTY odd goals past us in the past 10 seasons.

Thats the negative stuff out of the way.

Having said all I have. I don't see this as a forlorn hope. There are some very real positives we can draw from.

This Everton team beat this Arsenal team just a few short weeks ago. In fact I believe I am right in saying we have beaten them in 4 of our last 5 encounters.

Whether we like it or not, we seem to get better results against better teams when we can get behind the ball in big numbers, Not football. Not as we know it, but needs must. This Arsenal team can be frustrated and with crowd expectation sky high, I think that will be SD's plan.

The odds makers will give you around 10/1 if you fancy us to win. Thats not an offer I think I can refuse. Nothing crazy, just enough to cover the cost of a celebratory bottle of Red Breast should we pull it off.

Yes Christopher, I'm in the away end. Meeting up with a few of the regulars, some for the first time, others who I usually bump into.

You can't play with a hamstring injury. Some may not agree, but just looking at Dominic lately, he's so athletically finally tuned, I'm not surprised he's having quad and hamstring issues.

Even reading Dyche's words he sounds frustrated by his ongoing problem.

I don't know the problem with Dom but for basically two years out injured yet he can play against Arsenal, it tells me he's either hypochondriac or he's ok with being classesld as injured.

Dele Alli is another prime example of a player lacking the desire to get out and play football, again, a modelling and fashion career seems number one.

Using Dele Alli and Dominic as examples of the above for me expose the perils of sometimes overusing players at a young age rather than gradually introducing them. You lose them earlier, both through injury or they just lose their desire for playing football. Especially when you consider the environment that Dominic has grown up in like many young Everton players. That's just a view point, not based on inner knowledge.

There are many examples. Redknapp and Owen spring to mind. Even Rooney's legs were pretty much gone around about 30, when he should really have had at least a few more seasons in him if managed more carefully when younger. But then again, who wasn't going to play Rooney whenever fit and available?

I keep saying it, but look at how Guardiola managed Foden with gradual introduction, despite the media scramble for him to play every week at a tender age. Okay, he had the luxury of doing so due to City's 67 (or whatever) man squad, but it's a good example.

Back onto tonight. I'm heading off to the Emirates this afternoon and if Dominic isn't available, then quite frankly, he doesn't matter. Those players on the pitch and bench do.

I hope he get's his fitness or his head back soon or rediscovers his love of the game, whatever the issue is. I and just about every single one of us don't know.

But I watched us beat them at Goodison a few weeks ago.

I'm going in tonight hopeful as I always do when I attend any game with the magnificent travelling blue army.

We may have had the expectation beaten out of many of our support base over the years, but not me.

This isn't done yet.

Villa who were very ordinary still managed to expose our defensive frailties, and if Coady starts tonight as I suspect he will I think Arsenal will expose those frailties even more. I am sure Arteta will have them up for the game given the result against them a few weeks back, what's the saying lightening doesn't strike twice. With our lack of goals at the very best we could scrape a draw but we know if they score first its game over.

Danny, I think it's a bit unfair to use Rooney as an example, stating that if he had been 'managed more carefully when younger', unless you mean his off field behaviour should have been addressed sooner by the club. Ronaldo is older than Rooney and their physical condition is miles apart. Why? Was Ronaldo used correctly at United and Rooney not? It's down to the mental attitude and dedication of different players as well as their genetic make up. Rooney was, allegedly, a drinker and a womaniser and you can't behave the way he did and expect your body to remain unscathed. There is nothing to suggest that DCL has a lifestyle that is comparable to Rooney. Just as I can't find evidence that he's been misused by Everton. Maybe DCL has a physical condition that doesn't allow him to remain in peak condition, just like some people are 'naturally fit' and can run all day and others? Well, we have all seen players with little stamina regardless of the amount of training that they do. He might be just unlucky in his make up. No pun intended.

Let's hope you enjoy tonight Danny.

There is also a debate that at similar ages, Rooney was the naturally better player, but Ronaldo worked harder and was more focussed. Rooney apparently relied on his natural extremely talented ability.

I do personally think we have relied too much on Dominic without being able to rotate or rest him over a period of time.

I'll go back to my point. I don't know what the issue is with him. Only he and those in the club will.

We just have to hope today is one of those games where it just won't go in for Arsenal, because they will create plenty of chances. Such games do happen.

Enjoy the game, Kunal - with an L, folks, not an I!!!.

“Outside of the above, 34 points were needed on four occasions, 35 on four occasions, 36 once, 37 five times, 38 once, 39 twice and 31 once back in 2009/10.

This works out at an average of 35.7, so essentially 36, points needed to stay in the Premier League each campaign.”

But bear in mind West Ham got relegated with 42 points twenty years ago.

I think it's still there to fight for, and that's what it is going to be, an almighty scrap for points. Three or four points from the next two games and we are alive and kicking. I think this season it could easily come down to goal difference, so every goal counts for and against.

With regards goals, how are we going to score? I can see us playing for corners most of the time, rather than attacking direct by default. There will be a strategy about our play to this end from now until the end of the season.

"Yes, Dom is key or he is our Talisman or everyone knows what he brings to the team or it goes without saying that he gives us goals!!"

Of course we'll miss him, for fuuck's sake! So if you are in that team, what does that tell you about your chances of scoring? How does that affect the mentality of the players before they step onto the pitch?

"It's okay, lads, he doesn't expect us to score." Beaten before we stepped out!!

Great to see Dyche refusing to get into a debate about Calvert-Lewin.
We defend and score as a team he said yesterday. Fuckin right we should!!

His approach would work for me. Let's dig in and show people what we can do, UTFTs

Think I'd bring in Mina to help at both ends. Expectations for tonight are very low and often that can be when we are at our best! Fingers crossed.

I'm hoping those fine margins work for us tonight. And if Arsenal are looking for revenge, that could affect their concentration – let's sucker punch the bastards! UTFT!!!

Simple!

I have noticed that too.

Play big Mina up front and cause havoc.

Why don't Everton make signings like that? It was no secret that he was a good player. Better than any of the eight we signed last summer. He went on the cheap as he had fallen out with the new manager.

Pickford
Mina
Tarkowski
Godfrey
Coleman
Gana
Onana
Doucoure
Gray
McNeil
Simms

I don't expect Dyche will make any changes tbh. He seems to be a ‘favourites must play whatever' type of manager.

I wont even bother listening or watching tonight, will just check the score at the end. I've run through the remaining games a million times in my head and don't ever have us getting to 36 points which I think will be needed to stay up.

The failure to sack Lampard after the Bournemouth fiascos, when there were 6 weeks for a pre season and a 4 week transfer window for a new manager to bed in and sort out some issues will be the defining moment if the worst happens. Failure to take a point from Wolves, Soton and West Ham still haunts me. If we had taken 5 or 6 from those games with Dyche, how comfortable would it look?

This sorry mess is with the board and I havent even mentioned the abject failure to sign a forward.

Same set up, keep it tight and hope to score from a set piece.

And enjoy the spectacle. No doubt be a wait for a cup match to get back to the Emirates.

Also, there's 12 starting or is Doucoure Sims a new signing

Arsenal 1 v 2 Everton

Couple of Arsenal lads that I work with think Dyche has the measure of them and think it will be a draw, that would do nicely.

To those attending, enjoy the match - I know you'll make plenty of noise as always! If, by some miracle, someone has a spare ticket then I can leg it into London and meet up.

I heard him say yesterday about Maupay eventually the goals will come, so that means he's actually going to persist with this fella in a one up top?

Also I'd bring Godfrey back in at left back in place of Mykolenko, Godfrey was fine playing there under Ancelotti and offers more pace.

Mina possibly in for Coady and let's see if the glass man can complete 90 minutes and then maybe put himself in contention for more starts?

About to head off to towards North London, a ground and club that has been unkind to me and countless others.

As a player, I always crossed the line believing I could win or I wouldn't have bothered playing.

As a supporter I always go with belief we can win or I wouldn't support.

I will tonight. The travelling thousands are on their way, most travelling hundreds of miles. A relatively short journey for me tonight, but still a 3 to 4 hour round trip aside from the socials.

But we are going to be there. As we always are and will be on Sunday.

Be there with us Everton. We love you. We live you. We breathe you.

Apologies for the emotional outburst. Heart and soul. Every single one of us.

Arsenal have, to a degree, been struggling with a lack of cutting edge. Despite getting 4 at villa, required a certain degree of luck, just 1-0 in their last game despite dominating. They too don't have a striker with Nketia's form dropping off. Play deep and frustrate them, do a job on Saka and Odegaard and we can frustrate them, as we didn't Goodison.

It won't be easy, but it's possible.

I'd start with Mina over Coady, but don't expect Dyche to change the backline. At most, I could see Grey coming in for Maupay as the only change.

Anyway we will get something out of tonight and it wont be Nul points

Some places had different licences but unless you were ordering food, no drinks.

I can only talk from personal experience of two trips.

I ate a lot in Utah!!!

I've no desire to see that again so I don't care who plays but "park the bloody bus" and give them absolutely nothing with doubling up in tackles. Did it against them last time. Same again and nod another in from a corner or maybe a little French man goes under the radar and squeezes one. Just do it blues.

Enroute to the ground, I just want us to see a performance and 100% committment. There is always hope. Afterall, we pulled something out of the bag against City.

Paul Bracewell was faced with the same issue, people and physios saying there is nothing wrong.

It took a visit to a specialist in I think America who finally found the problem of a floating piece of bone in his foot that was causing the problem.

All the while the Everton physio was saying there was nothing wrong and it was in his head.

There is clearly something not right with the players injury, the player himself will know that for sure, regardless of what any scans come back as.

Brace was as tough as they come, but it didnt stop people accusing him of swinging the lead.

I wonder how good he could have been ?

Reid said the Everton players were all around him asking why? You have just had a blinding first half, nobody could be that good if they were really injured, were amongst the things that were allegedly said to Bracewell, who just lay down saying ‘honestly boys I'm in absolute agony, and there is no way I could play in that second half”

He was taken during his prime, I just hope DCL gets through his injury problems because I don't think he has reached his prime.

It's all on the defence/ midfield tonight. I hope they are up to it.

COYBs.

I disagree on your post 20 about over-using DCL at a young age. He was 3 months shy of his 20th birthday when he made his Everton debut. And that season he only played 11 times in all competitions. In comparison Foden who you mention played 1 game less in his debut season but he was only 17 y/o. Rooney was being actively utilized from age 16 which is significantly younger. Owen played at the world cup after a successful season and was 18 still during the world cup. So DCL wasn't especially young (compared with Milner pretty much a regular since age 16, Giggs since 17). I don't believe DCL is a victim of being over played too much as a youngster. Obviously he has some kind of physical problems but I don't think it's to do with starting early as he really didn't.,