Everton vs Manchester City

Whichever he picks, I think we will have a classic game on our hands here, both teams will be up for it. Hopefully we will have our shooting boots on,

Hart IMO is a bit doggy as a shot-stopper so, if we attack like we did against the Saints in numbers, then we will have opportunities to score, even off rebounds.

It was like a breathe of fresh air seeing us counter-attacking in numbers instead of slow play getting the ball up the field, so let’s have more of that.

For me though the Referee has to put in a good performance. For all the flair and speed in the City team, they are also a bunch of dirty bastards. Also the linesman that didn’t give offside for probably the most offside goal you will ever see at Anfield is officiating our game.

I really liked the system last week and again this could work against Citeh. But because we are at home will Martinez revert back to the possession based game?

Realistically id probably be content with a draw but get a win and we will have some real momentum at the start of the season.

I am pretty sure that if the defence can tame City then Everton can go on & get the win attacking like they did last week they looked the part the only worry is defence this game will also test Stones.

It would be an unbelievable boost if we could win, but a draw would be a good result.

Can't believe I just said that... Can we play Jelavic?

Booed off at half time in the season's opener against Watford, cheered to the rafters going in 2-0 up at half time against the Saints.

Confidence in sport comes from good performance and winning. Another win Sunday against clearly the early season form team would give us real belief and momentum as the succession of early difficult fixtures continues.

Dating back to last season, GP home performances have been largely insipid and toothless. The Shitteh game, on the back of last week's win at the Saints, may just have come at an optimum time for us, as in recent years Everton has largely 'been up' for the games against the elite clubs, especially at GP.

I am anticipating a crackerjack of a match and hoping a win for Everton will make a real statement to the league and even our own fan base as to what we are capable of.

I absolutely agree with you about the crowd. I think a number of the lads confidence is fragile and the last thing they need is us getting on their backs.

They won brilliantly last week but tomorrow is a different game altogether. I think it is so massively important to back them, and not get too impatient and for heaven's sake not boo them. All that will do is hand over the initiative to City.

To me it more about how we play tomorrow. If the team play in the same manner as last week, it won't guarantee a win but it'll be great to see them getting in the face of some of the best players in europe.

It's a weird one. It's like the team at home are waiting for us to back them and us waiting for them to get at the opposition.

Well, what we can do is encourage them and see where it gets us...and the team.

I thought the supporters last week, as usual, were superb and I hope more of the home crowd follow their example...especially the miserable get behind me!
.

I reckon we should park the bus and counter attack for the majority of the game then see how we're doing and change for it last twenty if necessary!

The last thing we want to do is stand toe to toe with Aguero, Silva, Toure, the quality just isn't there to out play them so play to our strengths which is pace and power up top, with plenty of early diagonal balls to get in the space behind their defence!

We now need a good performance against a very good team. The good thing is Goodison will be rocking at 4pm on the back of a 3-0, so the team needs to come out with a positive attitude and to keep the crowd on side. We might stand a chance then.

To state the obvious, a tough game and I’ll be happy with a point.

All I want to see is commitment, aggression and a quick tempo. Have a go and see what happens.

I was very critical of the manager and team last season and also paid out on Lukaku on a couple of occasions. I hope, and think, I will be eating my words over the coming weeks.

If we roll City, keep hold of John Stones, and sign Yarmolenko everything changes. We could be on the up again.

Lyndon, I would go along with all of your team except for Mirallas. I think Kone has to start – to me, he played a big part in bringing the best out of not only Lukaku but also Barkley. Don’t change a winning team.

There was no improvement from last season; they were all standing still when corners were taken and jumping to defend them from a standing position. This has got to improve; Southampton had two or three good chances from these corners.

Last week, they could easily have been trailing before the first goal due to poor defensive work. Aguero and Ya Ya have to be kept quiet.

0-0 and I'll eat Paddy Ashdown's hat.

Some people just don’t seem able to compliment when we play well and just want to put a downer on everything.

All in all, the team performance against Southampton was excellent and I’m with Pete here: How come they are suddenly a bad team after what they achieved last season?

I think Arouna showed some really good chasing back and bombing forward and I think he added to the potency of Gareth, Macca and Tom in the midfield.

We do have to get into them, as they are so good in creating opportunities, and with a centre forward such as Aguerro who to me is the best in the Premier League. Still and all, we’ve got some decent players ourselves and I’m sure they’ll be coming here knowing they’re in for a game.

So long as we close down quickly and attack at pace, then we should give them a game. Go back to slow dull to boring build-up play and standing off the opposition, then we shall struggle. Hope its the former.

Looking forward to the game tomorrow. COYB

It's been regularly stated on ToffeeWeb how some/many think he is a waffler who uses a thousand words where a hundred would do. He still retains that trait, but I liked the way that he showed a diplomatic contempt for that plodding persistence from the first questioner, and displayed a steely determination to steer the conference onto this game. Good on yer, Roberto.

Toffees to win 2-1; (Mirallas, Deulofeu).

Tomorrow is a different proposition altogether.

City have looked outstanding. Everton can be awfully Jekyll and Hyde.

I think possibly the largest factor tomorrow will be the fans. If they get frustrated and start the grumbling, I think we are doomed. If the players come out with intent and determination, Goodison will get behind them and lift them – especially on the back of last week’s performance.

I’m actually not as optimistic as most. But as always cling to hope. As long as our effort is good and the fans get behind the team...

Howard
Coleman Stones Jagielka Oviedo
McCarthy Cleverley
Kone Barkley Mirallas
Lukaku

Barry is not mobile enough to keep track of Silva and City’s speed. Not the game for him. Cleverley has impressed me and he has a good engine.

Kone and Mirallas have to play to offer an out ball on the counter.

Left back is a tough call but I’d go for experience with Oviedo unless his fitness is a problem.

Howard
Coleman Stones Jagielka Galloway
Barry
Kone Barkley McCarthy Mirallas
Lukaku

Cleverley and Deulofeu off the bench for Mirallas and Kone respectively with Deulofeu moving up into the attacking second striker if the opportunity presents itself. Oviedo in for Galloway if needed.

And I like how you incorporate Mirallas and Kone. I like KM as a counter-attacking threat, but I also think Kone takes a lot of heat away from Rom. We're going to need both to get a result.

So I'm going with some trepidation but I think I'll lose my bloody voice again.

Come on lads, get stuck into them and I hope the miserable bugger behind me is on his holidays!

He was rarely moaning after. Always wondered what he said; he'd never tell me.

A fond memory but not necessarily recommended!

Just reminded me of an experience at Anfield. I was invited by some business partners to the Derby match. We were 2-0 down when Timmy rifled one in with 10 minutes to go. Despite being surrounded by 100s of them, I had to jump up and celebrate. I was showered with all sorts but, as I sat down, a steward come over and told me I couldn’t celebrate an away goal in that part of the ground.

I gave him a short answer and off he went to return with a policeman in tow. The bizzie said if we score again and I celebrate he will throw me out. I said "I’ll take that’" and I do believe a little bit of his mouth curled up in a smile.

Anyway unsurprisingly it took five years to get re-invited. As I took my seat, an old boy behind me tapped me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear, "I don’t mind if you celebrate if you score."

City at home will be a hard-fought affair; I reckon a score draw...

Why do we seem to always play Liverpool at the same time of year home and away season after season? Did Davey have it spot one?

When we get forward he can also go inside to link up with Lukaku and Barkley.

He also carries a goal threat from the edge of the box.

Other than that the same team and tactics as Southampton and another 3 points (I hope).

If we play well and and not that tippy tappy shit we will give anyone a game. If we revert to type and play two deep DMs then I won't have as much faith.

4-1-4-1 with Barkley given that free role again and McCarthy pushed higher up the pitch.

The post-Moyes era has always been close, even when we were crap, so I predict 2-1 or 3-2 to us.

It will be a really tough match and the key is keeping Silva and particularly Aguero quiet. Stones and Jags will be tested big time, I’m just not sure they are up for it.

Forecast 1-1 at best.

Coleman, Lukuka x 2 penalty in the last 5 minutes to win it for us!
Dreams do come true.

Every time we play City they get away with umpteen yellow and red card offences. I hope this referee and his assistants can stay strong.

There's a big part of me that worries that going into this game with a counter attacking strategy won't work. That we'll effectively go down without getting a punch off.

At home, bit of confidence, and some good attackers available. I'd go for the throat.

What a game this could be, the crowd will make a huge difference... especially if we start well & go one up early on. I couldn’t give a toss how City have started as we have a great record at Goodison Park against them.

Anyway, for what’s it worth, I predict two scorelines:

3-3
1-0
COYB

We were 1-0 down in no time, and equalised when the ref gave a penalty (it was so stonewall there was no opportunity to stiff us). When Wayne Clark slotted it home I managed to keep my composure and quietly celebrated, until my soft arse mate decided to tell the people around us I was a Blue...

Then Wayne Clark scored from a header, towering above David Burrows to nod past Dropalot, and having been "outed" I didn't care and was dancing away at my seat. I looked down the entire length of the Kremlyn Road and there was one other Blue in the same position.

Of course then the ref did stiff us, and blew for a foul saying Clarke had fouled Burrows. He hadn't, and even the Reds admitted it. So thank you Joe Worrall you biased twat for making me look an idiot. The lovable reds around us were only to quick to suggest I "sit back down".

At least we didn't lose the game...

We usually do well against Citeh... let’s hope it continues today.

I think the biggest problem is the Jagielka - Stones partnership. Good players individually, as a central partnership, they are all over the place, most of our central defender partnerships have had an incredible understanding with each other: Labone - Hurst, Mountfield - Ratcliffe probably our best two partnerships.

Watching many of our goals conceded aerial-wise they both tend to lose the player they suppose to be marking or are marking the wrong player. Distin got caught up in this lack of cohesion, he can win most high balls but never seemed to know if it was his responsibility to attack every ball thrown into the box.

In short, forget individually who we are playing against; hit them quick, hard, close 'em down quickly, and we have all the ability in the world to score plenty of goals. The skilled goals we scored last week showed how good we can play.

Or if Sergio doesn’t have a catering-sized jar of salad cream, capable of severing a toe tendon, maybe a he could suffer a David James-style injury and pull a muscle reaching for the remote.

(Anything will do – come on God, get your fucking finger out!)

Mirallas always turns up for these ’big’ games and has a hint of the bastard about him which I actually like and can get the crowd going on a Sunday. I fancy us to play well today and can’t ignore the 4/1 on offer at the bookies as part of my acca, COYB!! 3-2 Everton.

For today, I'm satisfied if he starts with the same team. We played well last week and it was great to see the lads attacking the ball, whether it was in our box or theirs. They seemed to have found the appetite they had the season before last.

I know, one swallow doesn't make a Summer but it's a great start.If Roberto thinks that the same team as last week can do the job, then that's good enough for me.

The good thing now, is he has Gerry and Kevin (hopefully!) fit and raring to go, so we can change tactics. If Mo is fit then, he can come on if Barry is being left floundering. Though I think now that we've got Tom Cleverley, he's taking a fair bit of the workload from Gareth and James.

It will most likely be a really stern test, as I see City as better than llasat season and hungry for the title.

I'll be chuffed if we play well against them. As for prediction, nah, as long as we play as well as we can then let battle commence.

As with last week, I believe with the correct tactics, and correctly timed substitutions, this game, as was the case against Saints, is definitely win-able.

The papers are full of the usual transfer drivel, (to be expected, I suppose) but all are tipping City to turn us over, as was the case last week.

COYB

It would be wonderful if we win, I'll be watching at my friend's house. But with Stones, Jagielka, Coleman, Galloway, Barry and McCarthy at the back, Cleverly in the middle and Mirallas, Barkley and Lukaku up front, I would say we look a bit strong.

Well in Ged, I’ll bet on Ross and Rom to score... don’t mean 4-1 though!

Come on you Blues!

This fella comes from Altrincham; how the fuck is he allowed to ref the Manchester clubs?

I think we will have to score a couple because Aquero must be a nightmare to mark and I fancy he will score for one.
It will be a searching test for us to find out how good we are!

I'll have everything crossed, but we really need to get behind the team today.

Pedro with his first at Chelsea.

If we can match them we will be doing a great job.

I'm still working on the 2nd half.

Nice one!

Cracking punchline!

Mike the fact that he's one of the worst refs, (have you seen a good one?) doesn't really matter. Imagine Everton having a fella from Maghull refereeing Everton.

Put in a performance today, crowd get behind the team, I then think Stones will stay.