Everton vs Crystal Palace

Get well Roy Hodgson and do yourself a favour and retire. Don't let this corrupt game destroy you.

We need 3 points with Forest winning today.

This could just be the game for Harrison and McNeil to find some form in.

We are handicapped before we even kick off.

I'm not sure Dyche teams are often comfortable with the tag of favourites and we are far better out of possession than with the ball so it will be a real test.

I think Onana and Harrison should probably both start as they are two of our best passers and more creative players. Doucouré's running power will be more useful against the likes of Brighton and Man Utd so I expect to see him off the bench.

As ever, first goal will be crucial and Calvert-Lewin has scored more against Palace than anyone so I'm hoping he might finally break his drought.

Who knows how Palace will react to the Hodgson situation, but my guess is they may well be more unsettled and distracted by off-pitch issues than galvanised by them.

If we are focused and out-work them, then we should win. Maybe even comfortably. And a win would only put us 2 points behind Palace, and with most of their best players injured and other problems at the club, they are in danger of being pulled right into the middle of the relegation picture.

If we win...

We should be going out there with a winners mentality.

We virtually have a full squad to pick from so there are no excuses.

Palace are weakened and Roy is in hospital and their club has more dissatisfaction than us at the moment.

3 points, no excuses.

I'll probably get criticised, but if he got the chances that Haaland missed tonight, he'd be off the mark again.

Well yes, him and McNeil create more chances than anyone else in our team. Who do you think are our best passers?

No excuses for not winning this one given the issues Palace are facing, and I'm thankful they didn't appoint a new manager in time for this game.

Week after week, I watch Harrison at pretty close quarters and, while there is no doubt that he works his socks off, his short-range passes are over or under hit, his long-range efforts nearly always poorly aimed, and he can't cross a ball to save his life. He does better with Coleman behind him, Patterson seems to give him the jitters. I actually think he does better just behind Calvert-Lewin, he was pretty good there against Fulham.

As for who I think are our best passers, well Jimmy finds a blue shirt more often than not and Branthwaite's range and accuracy improves game on game.

But generally our pass completion is pretty rank, only Sheffield Utd have a worse percentage.

Moyes gave us some stability for 11 seasons with an average squad but, since then, a slew of overpaid managers have failed and it seems to be the consensus now that the club has been mismanaged from the boardroom level, hence the current awful position.

Notwithstanding that they have an opportunity to get some points on the board in this next game but Everton have an awful habit of letting us down when we are expecting something more.

We have beaten Palace twice and drawn once already this season but every game is a new challenge.

They have a sick manager and some key players missing but that doesn't mean they will be pushovers, far from it.

They are heading in the wrong direction too and I am sure some of their stand-ins will be giving it their all.

It is up to every Everton starter on Monday to ensure that Palace are put on the back foot early and cannot get any impetus by Everton making silly mistakes, especially in the midfield.

Forest won today against a miserable Hammers team but we have to hope that Luton, Palace and also the likes of Brentford falter over the next few games too.

So I hope Dyche stresses to the team, nothing silly. Although as we know a perfect tackle can get you a red card.

There is zero enjoyment in watching us play now. I am a bag of nerves and there is just relief if we win a game without anything untoward happening to us.

You've officially joined the Tin Hat brigade with your assertion the refs will eye the Palace injury list and send one of ours off.

We should go into this with confidence.

Some mixed comments.

Stephen, I agree, Garner is always looking to play forward and Branthwaite is going to be a special player. Even at a young age, his composure defies his years. Mind, Jimmy is only 22 as well.

Jim Wilson, we've all criticised the officials, myself included and it's understandable. There have been some shocking displays from people I can only imagine never played football or were not very good at it.

But calm with the paranoia. Next thing, we'll be cutting down 5G masts.

I have mixed feelings on Harrison, and think we could and should be looking at better options and not offering to make his loan permanent. Of course also keep the older wiser heads, Pickford, and Tarkowski.

Not sure about Onana either. If he could command silly money, it could be used (wisely) to replace most that I haven't mentioned. Seamus will surely become a part of the Training set-up, unless he can manage another bit-part year.

I would also keep Dobbin and Chermiti, again not convinced Beto (Bambi on Ice) is the man to be our main striker, mind you he has mostly had bit-part (too late usually) roles so the jury is still in recession.

There's no doubt that the quality of passing overall is poor in this team, and that's a lot to do with Dyche's desire to get the ball forwards quickly and not risk losing it in our defensive third.

But within that framework there's not much doubt that Harrison is one of our most creative players.

Garner has been busy and tidy but people sometimes speak about him like he's opening up defenses every week, which he really isn't. And in fact both Gueye and Onana have higher pass completions.

I'm no huge fan of Harrison and am not sure I'd want us paying more than a minimal fee (£8M?) to keep him this summer. You're right to say his passing is not always accurate but he tries more difficult passes and has more vision than the likes of Garner and Branthwaite which is partly why he has the second most assists in the squad after McNeil, and is certainly one of our most creative players currently, as I said.

I think 3 of the back 4 select themselves but right-back is still a problem although, if Coleman is fit, he plays in my team.

Then 3 from a midfield of Gana, Garner, Doucouré and Onana is pretty good and will get better the more they play together.

Harrison is fine by me given the way we play, McNeil is excellent and Calvert-Lewin just needs a bit of luck to get going. This is no time to get on his back... we need him scoring so need to give him as much encouragement as possible from the stands.

We need to start getting some wins again just in case the worst happens and we lose some more points.

Not saying we won't need the other lads, but they're going to look better playing with our best 11.

See Man City had a lucky ricochet again and Haaland played like Calvert-Lewin, though positionally better. Both Sheffield Utd and Nottingham Forest got 3 points in their last games.

There's nothing to fear here, we have been playing well recently (based on the squad limitations) and have a decent record at home vs Palace. The problem is all the fluffed chances and lack of quality at key moments.

One day, someone in a blue shirt might step up and score some goals to steady the nerves and we win comfortably. I wish for it to happen on Monday, but my expectations are low. Another nail-biter, I suspect,

You have to accept we are in survival mode. The simple facts (which are supported by the goals for and against columns) are: We are the best team in the league without the ball, even though the Top 3 have conceded fewer goals. Unfortunately, that cuts both ways. We are one of the worst teams with the ball.

When so much emphasis is put on stopping the opposition. creativity will invariably suffer.

I believe the pressure on everyone in the Everton set-up is getting close to unbearable. Poor management and outside influences threaten our very existence as a top club.

We're trying to stay alive, and I believe we will, but you either buy into the manager's chosen path or you don't – I do. I think it's unfair to blame the players. Besides our defenders, I don't think we have a single player who isn't sacrificing a fair amount of his own game for the greater good of the team.

We will sell our better players; we have to. We will fight our corner (in the courts if need be) and we will continue to play with fist-shaking defiance rather than colour.

Everyone who loves this club is going through the mill at the moment.

This is where we show our metal.

I know everyone is entitled to their opinion, and like my very good friend John McFarlane Snr says, we all see things differently at times from the same game watched. However, I do think you are being a bit harsh on Sean Dyche.

He inherited a crock of the proverbial when he took the reins, told he had little or no funds to improve. Again, opinions… I like the guy and think he has done a decent job with what and who was available.

I often see him during match, head in hands, and I don't think it's an act; obviously, the players are not following the instructions. My biggest gripe though is his lateness of substitutions and sometimes who he leaves on and brings off!

If we hadn't had the point deduction, we would at least be mid-table, and possibly higher, because I believe the mere deduction has had a negative impact on the players too.

We have also been victims of very poor decision-making by referees and VARs who, along with the Premier League seem to have it in for us!

Pickford
Coleman Tarkowski Branthwaite Mykolenko
Garner Onana Gana
Harrison Calvert-Lewin McNeil

UTFT

I still do it now. I'm always looking at where the ball is going or can be going next.

What you do off the ball is more often than not more important than what you do on it. You have to work harder off the ball than you do on it. Even if that is a lung-busting run with no personal end product, but it creates space for others.

When I watch, I don't always look at the player on the ball. Where it's going next and making space to place into.

I do it now watching Everton and others.

I’ve been in London, watching Millwall these last few days, and It has genuinely been a head scratching nightmare down memory lane, watching them trying to sow silk purses, without the tools.

I’ve watching exasperated fans losing the plot because they really care, and the couple of fans I’ve spoken to at their games, have both said to me they would love the Everton manager at their club, right now!

It's a tough gig, but he's the right man for the job right now and gets my backing.

He's got that team unified and the vast majority of supporters are behind him.

As a support base, we are are wounded animal. But we know when someone is doing everything they can in difficult circumstances.

Be brave an go for a 4-4-2.

Pickford
Godfrey Tarkoski Branthwaite Mykolenko
Harrison Onana Garner O'Neil
DCL Beto

And just keep crossing the ball into the box.

This could be a superb 3 points at home and also bringing in a good couple of extra goals against a team which is considered a direct rival in the race to stay up.

We're off to Goodison tomorrow.

What could be better?

When asked which Everton player he would have liked to have played with: "Leighton Baines, although I wouldn't have played," was his reply.

I really like him. He also speaks highly of Patterson. With those two, Colonel Tarkowski and Branthwaite, the is one area of the pitch we are solid in. And Seamus still has legs in him.

But I think his obsession with starting Harrison in every game, worries me. I don't see what he gives to the team; for a wide man his crosses are awful and his ball retention is poor. Yes, he does run around a lot but you need more than work rate alone to be successful in the Premier League.

The team selection for Monday's game will be interesting; he could have Doucoure fit to start, which would be massive as I don't believe the system we play works without Doucoure. But I think we have to remember he has been out injured and may take a game or two to be back to match sharpness. So the question is, if Doucoure is fit to start, what team does he play?

For me, Gueye has to start; since he has come back from the Afcon tournament, he has been our best player. So does he bring back Onana and play 3 in midfield or does he leave Onana or Garner on the bench and play McNeil and Harrison wide with Doucoure just off Calvert-Lewin???

I know Dyche hasn't had a lot to spend but he has brought in Beto, Danjuma, Harrison, Young and Chermiti; other than Harrison and Young, the others have had very little game time, so you have to ask: Were the additions he brought in the right ones?

I think, because we play with 2 holding defensive midfield players, it strengthens our defence but weakens our attack, and to pick up wins, we need to change that narrative a little.

Our midfield is not enough of a threat, in fact from back to front we are lacking going forward.

Our best chance of goals are corners -why not play to force corners- and free kicks into the goal mouth.

A few points returned off our appeal is looking like we may need them yet.

With that in mind, I think serious thought has to be given about playing Michael Keane upfront in the remaining games, even off the bench. Calvert-Lewin is finding it hard playing the striker's role on his own, chasing his own flick-ons. Beto…? Maybe in the future, he doesn't look capable. Chermiti… is it asking too much? Dobbin looks the better of the three but Dyche seems wary of trusting him with too many minutes.

Michael Keane has proved he can score; we are desperate and desperate times means desperate measures and, looking at all the alternatives, I don't think Michael Keane is too much of a desperate measure.

Keane has scored a few when moving from the back and ghosting into the box. Playing up front and being man-marked is a different kettle of fish.

Beto is struggling badly with the Premier League and Chermiti has not shown anything that suggests he will make it at this level.

Dobbin deserves more time on the pitch. The last 5 minutes is simply unfair.

I'm not sure how they are affecting his morale: positively – he can still put the ball in the net; or negatively – the fates are against him!

It is not resolved by playing Keane up front.

You are preaching to the converted my friend.

The poor management I was referring to was the management of the club. Not the team - At least not the current one.

Dyche is doing what he can with the hand he has been dealt.

When I said we are one of the best teams without the ball, it was meant as a compliment to him. I couldnt have said that about Rafa or Franks team..

I'm a purist at heart. I love the beautiful game played beautifully, but needs must. There are always situations which will make us reconsider our principles and beliefs.

As Churchill said; There are no atheists in a life boat

You may be correct, Clive, but Keane has been man-marked at corners and still scored a few, the penalty area was crowded when he scored that very good goal vs Crystal Palace that helped to keep us up.

As I say, we are desperate and have to use everyone in the squad. I think Keane is just as likely to score as, Beto or Chermiti, maybe more so after watching them since they arrived.

It's unlikely that Dyche will use Keane that way. I wouldn't want him to be used defensively but it might even come to that before the season is over and that would be a bigger risk than playing him upfront!

If you take your time on the ball and subtract it from the time on the pitch and allowing for recovery, I always watched how active a player is. The need to be on your toes for the 90 minutes is imperative – and I'm not just talking about being physically on your toes but mentally.

I know Sam Allardyce said it but, if a player is not interfering in play, then he shouldn't be on the pitch. Different context, I know, but the principle is the same.

For example, if you play on the right-hand side, it is also important for the left-sided player (including the full-back) to be engaged, thereby dragging any opposition away from the ball.

I do hope all players are engaged tomorrow and we get our 3 points enabling Dyche to bring us nearer survival.

I will take any reduction in our outrageous 10-point deduction when we get it but, until then, we must ensure our own survival on and off the pitch.

"Great interview with Mykolenko."

Well, where is it then, Danny?

Don't be hogging it to share with all your Red 'cousins' (who, to be perfectly honest, I'm quite sick of hearing so much about!)

What became a cliche was around long before Allardyce.

Personally, I liked Clough's version – "If a player isn't interfering with play. He isn't getting paid".

Talking of Cloughie, he was not averse to employing Dave Abraham's suggestion. If his team wasn't scoring, he would have no qualms about replacing top class strikers with agricultural centre-halves like Lloyd, Needham, or Burns (a former striker). They caused havoc.

Different game today, but the basic premise is still the same and, although I'm not sure Keane has the same level of aggression, I certainly wouldn't dismiss the idea.

Link

I'll try and find the video I watched.

I'll be with the cousins tomorrow! As well as my blue ones!

No wonder the lad's struggling.

Predicting a 3-0 win!

Must-win in my mind.

A great read. Packed with factual information and analysis; easy reading (and, no, I'm not on "commission" — hate that word lately!).

Try "kickback" instead. 😜

Joking. Where did you get the book?

I bought it on Amazon. Advance Xmas present that I need to tell my wife about!

He's fairly changed his look!

FotD there!

'Our passing of the ball isn't the problem. It's our movement. A player on the ball in this current team has less options than just about every other player in the Premier League.'

That is exactly what the problem is and it can be seen in the lack of basic positional awareness and may be contributed to by the need of a defensive mindset, as you suggest. Like Tony #32 I think you are referring to the Club Management rather than Dyche.

Everton are poor at holding up the ball and providing support for laying off the ball is not used or isn't there. Forwards drawing fouls and line balls is rare. A lot of possession is lost at not being good at this. Crosses appear to be poor, but the target is often obscured by poor or no proper positional play. Movement as Dave calls it, players get fed up trying ] and forwards can look isolated, even irrelevant as far as the opposition defence is concerned.

You can use lack of pace and defensive mindset to explain, but it is more lack of awareness and poor basic play.

Another tough game but I think we'll have just enough to get this one over the line.

2-1 Blues.

If we can play our usual 4-5-1 / 4-4-1 / 4-3-3 system, then we should create chances and beat Palace. I'm not really sure why anyone thinks it's a good idea to get all experimental.

There's no need to start tinkering with the line-up or tactics because they plainly work. They have got a weak side in very serious relegation trouble for the past 2 seasons into the comfort of mid-table.

It is the points deduction, not the tactics etc, that have put us back in a relegation battle. Unfortunately the points deduction means there's going to be an even greater focus on safety and defensive shape – which alas means a fairly static attacking set-up with little movement and passing options for the man on the ball.

Unfortunately again, because of the lack of quality and pace on the flanks and in Doucouré (who is effective without being talented) at Number 10, that is probably the right thing to do.

"If we can play our usual 4-5-1 / 4-4-1 / 4-3-3 system..."

Robert, I hope we don't revert to a 4-4-1 at any time in the game!

Re your comments, just watching Luton with Barkley running the show: always in space to receive the ball; when on the ball, allows time for players to make space; only seen one back pass, always forward or sideways unlike one of our midfielders. Drifting past players and making surging runs.

I'd have him back any day. He has been outstanding in the 1st half.

Commentator says the Luton manager looks at the league table without the current points deduction cos he doesn't want to be relying on that and I can see the sense in that because he knows where that's all going.

I'm calling bullshit on that one, your decent-level amateur can do that all day. Our problem is the way we play the game: our movement is poor and we don't get enough bodies up the field quick enough to support the strikers, so in effect concede possession.

We are 10th in the league for big chances created and understat have us at 10th for xG.

The bigger issue has been finishing the chances, with Beto, Danjuma and of course Calvert-Lewin as the most guilty culprits.

If we continue defending as well and creating as much and reach even a mediocre level of finishing, then I think we'll be absolutely fine. Hopefully Dom rediscovers his shooting boots tomorrow.

Raymond Fox (40): "The way the table is shaping up we need to start winning beginning tomorrow".

I have to respectfully disagree. This has been a decent couple of weeks. Forest apart, this weekend has been a boost: Burnley and Sheffield are 99.9% down; Brentford and Bournemouth are having a race to see who can get in the bottom three first; Luton lost; and Palace will lose tomorrow.

Kirk (35): 4-4-2 and no Gana? No thanks.

I'd take our Ross back in a heartbeat but we need him more than he needs us.

It demonstrates that those who are at the game (I'm not there that often) often see more and take a different view.

Barkley may create by the way he plays, but Everton's movement off the ball is not as good as Luton's. Though I expect the clubs of the Premier League to pull them in soon enough.

Danny #31,

Yes, it is all about creating space and getting into it. Flicks may or may not come off. Calvert-Lewin and Doucouré try this a lot. Cantona at the end of his time at Man Utd resorted to flicks, he was gone soon after that.

Sheffield and Burnley are doomed, and the Luton result was needed and greatly received today.

Luton I feel will be the 3rd team to be relegated; I don't see them finishing above Palace, Brentford, Forest or us.

I'd like a few points back just to make sure though.

The Observer article today by Andy Hunter is a good read. It very well captures the striker dilemma. Calvert-Lewin is poor, but Beto is even worse.

Calvert-Lewin's goalscoring record in Premier League matches is:

2016-17: 11 games 1goal
2017-18: 32 games 4 goals
2018-19: 35 games 6 goals
2019-20: 36 games 13 goals
2020-21: 33 games 16 goals
2021-22: 17 games 5 goals
2022-23: 17 games 2 goals
2023-24: 20 games 3 goals

Apart from when Rodriguez was putting goals on a plate for him, that's not a brilliant return from our talisman. It illustrates the problem Dyche has inherited in terms of where the goals will come from.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow night. Let us hope it is a real bear pit under the lights at the Old Lady. Carlos @60 I hope your two daughters have a great evening.

We play Palace, Brighton and West Ham.

On paper it's a good opportunity for us to put a bit of daylight between us and them.

Oh and maybe getting a few points back as well.

We really need a committed effort, especially with the appeal result coming next week.

I've said many things about Michael Keane and he worries the shit out in defence.

But.

Dragging us back from the drop against Palace. His screamer against Tottenham and his contribution to lay it on for big Yerry to save us at Wolves.

Why not?

The contemporary Mick Lyons! Needs must. Stick him up there.

Most strikers are the same.

I just watched the City v Chelsea highlights and saw Haaland miss 4 chances that DCL would be crucified for. Harry Kane the same for Bayern v Bochum.

Obviously DCL is not in their league - but he is clearly a top 10 standard striker and would do well for clubs like Brighton and West Ham with much better attacking / creative players and full backs than we have.

Not only a very, very, good rock, and defender, but a great influence on others round him. In the absence of Seamus he is always Captain (demoted from his aforementioned Rank). Not only that, we got him on a Free !

If this is the case, why can't we have Godfrey/Branthwaite as our CD pillars ? We have a few who can slot in as Right Back !

I’m quietly jubilant for myself, my son, two grandsons, and most of the rest of my family that Sheffield Utd have lost again. Mrs Mills says “Don’t you care about your other grandson and two sons-in-law?” (Blades fans who follow them home and away).

There really is no answer to that question, but I’m open to advice.

I think the progress Godfrey has shown deserves the chance if we now need him. This could mean playing Young at RB since he has performed well with Branthwaite and Young in nearby positions.

I certainly hope Tarkowski is okay but Godfrey could damn sure do that. He has to watch the early card though.

I also like how he fronts up to the opposition when handbags break out and he just laughs at them.

Very different to Duncan Ferguson or Pat Van Den Hauwe, but effective in winding them up and protecting his team mates.

As always, I won't predict. Whoever has the privilege to cross that line tonight represents Everton Football Club and goes out to win.

‘Rodriguez was putting goals on a plate for him,'

Unfortunately Peter, he's getting virtually no service at all, never mind on a plate. Like someone else pointed out, Haaland and Kane both missed good chances at the weekend and they're different class to anyone.

DCL doesn't get half the opportunities they get, but maybe if he did he might have a few more goals. At the moment he's too busy running after his own headers!

If he gets good service and still consistently fails to score then criticism is valid.

DCL scored 21 goals in 39 games. Rodriguez only played 26 games in total. You can count the number of DCL goals Rodriguez had a hand in on one hand.

I'm not interested in Stats which show scoring records of a young lad's cameos while breaking into the team. Especially when he played in about 5-6 different positions. Nor am I interested stats which make no mention of the fact that he was repeatedly asked to play for two seasons while carrying long term injuries.

I'm far more interested in the 36 goals scored in the two seasons in between when the player was fit and was played at Center forward.

I will never understand why Evertonian`s want to damn their own players with stats they know to be misleading.

Dominic is best as an in the box striker, not being Marcus Bent chasing corner flags.

Hopefully with Doucoure back, he'll have some support. He's been pretty much on his own these past few weeks.

Dominic will play better with at least one winger who has a bit of pace and go past his full back and swing some centres in, until then he is feeding off scraps and like Sean Dyche has to suffer until the club is run like a football club should be run,

Hoping for good news this week on getting plenty of points back and 777 getting the thumbs down sign.

One step forward, three steps back.

Hopefully the little darlings on Lime Street will see the massive big clock and refrain from asking me the time as I disembark - they always got upset when I answered for some reason…

May pop in to Dr Duncan's later for a pint of that Crème Brûlée stout they're serving at the moment before a short nap and then the start of the match ritual involving the ubiquitous pint or three at the Harlech.

I've got the nerves good and proper - I consider this a MUST win - I really hope we do it!

I've not heard any more re Tarks so hoping that was just twitter tittle tattle. Up The Fcuking Toffees!

Hospital visit then on to to sacred ground.

Tell the bookie Dave Abrahams sent yer!

Perhaps those criticising DCL think he should get on the end of his own flick ons or crosses when he deals with Pickford’s long balls.

The Athletic article also shows that Dominic is getting into goal-scoring positions - “ Calvert-Lewin’s expected goals per 90 minutes this season of 0.58 is the highest of his career, eclipsing his 0.51 total in 2020-21, when he scored 16 goals under manager Carlo Ancelotti.”

Having watched this season’s games, he very rarely gets quality delivery when he gets there - and that is after working right across the width of the pitch and running the channels as a lone striker. He might get decent chance a game and he will score soon.

We know what £25 million and £12 million gets us - Beto and Chermiti. So thank goodness for a fit Dominic.

You made the same post far better than me!

Manure did us a favor yesterday and RS could do us another one on Wed. but City can help tomorrow by winning and keeping Brentford within reach.

However we know that we have to start winning as well and today is massive.

Yes, the officials are crap and can mess things up but Everton have to overcome that possibility.

Manure did us a favor yesterday and RS could do us another one on Wed. but City can help tomorrow by winning and keeping Brentford within reach.

However we know that we have to start winning as well and today is massive.

Yes, the officials are crap and can mess things up but Everton have to overcome that possibility.

A win tonight will ve a massive boost for the soul of Everton FC.

UTFTs!

Sadly I think the horse has bolted on your other comment on Keane, while Doucoure was out, Guaye away, and Onana out, we had a good opportunity to play Michael Keane just behind Calvert Lewin as someone who could have thrived on Calvert Lewins knock downs, or been in a position where he was further up field and could get into a position to get a shot off, our nemesis is players not getting a shot off or hitting row z, with Keanes better finishing I would have said Keane would have given us better options in attack.

I know some are thinking too old fashioned lumping a centre half as a striker, I would have him linking up with a striker and if a chance comes along you can guarentee Keane will strike the ball with power and accuracy.

If anyone can get any odds on a great chance coming out of the penalty area and falling to Guaye, I would put your life savings on a great chance being blown with a shanked shot, you know it is going to happen at some point tonight.

If we show the same effort and commitment as we have done against the better teams that we have lost to, we will get the win tonight.

Remember, we are the home team and we should play on the front foot.

Mark (106), I've been out all morning, I went past the Philarmonic pub about 12:00 pm, if I'd known you were going to be there, I'd have gone in and had a bevvie with you and Billy.

See you soon anyway but it won't be tonight unfortunately.

Win 3 points and then a 4-point reduction announced from the Premier League. Please God?

Only a 4-point deduction?

Behave yourself. All 10 back.

Billy No Mates though so, if anyone is having a beer beforehand nearby, please text 07830 627136. Cheers.

A guy can dream... but be realistic. Surely there has to be some reduction later this week?

I just can't fathom how a system penalizes a club 9 points for bankruptcy, yet issues 10 points for $20M-ish over the spending limit?

Madness. Illogical. Witch hunt?

Whatevs. Three points today is a must.

I arrived at the Phil at12.30 and after a short wait had the best steak and ale pie in living memory!! Love the Phil!
UTFT

The only other similar run of form in his career was under Roberto Martinez, who despite his many flaws, seemed able to get something more out of Barkley than anyone else before Rob Edwards.

As much as I'd like to see this version of Barkley playing for us, I'm not convinced that Sean Dyche (whom I do like) would be able to coax the same level of play from him. There's also the fact that this entire season is a complete free hit for both Luton and their players, with a complete lack of expectation and pressure upon them.

If we have Doucoure back and can't beat Palace without their 3 best players, then we're up shit creek.

It's humiliating for a great club like Everton to be in this position. 30 years of mainly mediocrity – when will end?
Coybs.

I wonder what kind of effect that will have on them tonight?

I assume it will be Ray Lewington who will be in charge tonight for them.

We just need 3 Points!!!

COYB, Let's have it!!!

The players know, the staff know and we all know. Palace might try and put on a show for departing old Woy but surely, with their best players out, we have to beat them.

If we can't, then we are in deep.

Fuck getting back some points in the appeal. Let's take 7 points out of the next three - and avoid relegation anyway. Then let the corrupters be faced to deal with Man City's transgressions.

We have to win tonight and against Moyes's boys in a fortnight. A point against Brighton, who are not all that this season, wouldn't go amiss.

Seven points would go a long way, especially with Luton facing some gruesome fixtures ahead for them.