Everton vs West Ham United

Must-win game tomorrow!

Likewise, Coventry 1998.

Tomorrow is not a "must win". I want us to win, just like I want us to win every game of football Everton play; however, tomorrow is not a "must win". Our season does not hang on tomorrow.

The Premier League is as unpredictable as my wife's mood swings. Get behind the boys on the pitch hopefully we will get a win...

At what point does our season hang in the balance and we are allowed to desperate? To my kids, every game is a final. So yeah... ''must win'' please.

We are in a bad rut and have some really tough games coming up: Chelsea, Southampton, Man Utd, Liverpool and Leicester in the next 8 after Sunday. If we can't beat West Ham at home then we could find ourselves in big trouble, because once the confidence and momentum disappear, it's very difficult to recover.

So yes, in my opinion, it's one of our must-win games (like Bournemouth and Burnley were).

Barkley is past due to put in a star performance. We need him to make a difference. If we can spread them wide, it might open up the centre for Ross and Gana.

I'm fairly confident in the back line. Our main problems are up front. Get that sorted and we have a better than even chance at three points.

All this talk about Martinez is getting old. Almost all the first-team players are internationals, if you can't train them, then it's on the current manager.

I'm confident we will edge a good contest IF we just get on with the game.

Get a grip, pal, it's just a saying and like some have nicely pointed out, it is games like these that are the must-wins if you want to achieve things.

But actually commenting and trying to belittle someone's posts for no real reason. We are Everton fans just like you and whilst I love to hear differences of opinion over team selection, matches, who we should and shouldn't buy etc, to be cantankerous for the sake of it is quite frankly daft.

So Come on today, boys – Must win! ;-)

I see Calvert-Lewin has been added to the squad because Valencia can't play against his parent club; give the boy a run about so he can take in the Goodison atmosphere, boys like him are the future of our club.

Love to see the win, but our season doesn't hang on it – that is easy for me to say as I don't live in Liverpool, I'm afraid to say, even though I've supported the Blues scince 1974. I live across the Irish Sea in Dublin.

Stekelenburg
Coleman
Oviedo
Jagielka (errors have to stop or give Holgate his chance)
Williams

Gueye
Barry

Lennon
Mirallas (behind Lukaku)
Bolasie (on the left)

Lukaku

I would really like to see him on the bench. I have absolutely no idea if he's up to it (as I've never seen him play), but the prospect of him coming on is more exciting than some of our other attacking options. Hopefully he could bring pace and youthful exuberance.

The defence has definitely been more stable. Maybe now he is ready to try a few youngsters while his thoughts turn to January. See what we have / need. I hope he plays, scores the lot!

I do hope though that, if we are winning 2-0 with 20 minutes to go, he gives him a run out. Not just a 2-minute pointless substitution.

If it is possible, let the team go out and enjoy the game. We are on the right track, just need patience. I know it is hard but let's get behind the team instead of getting het-up and putting pressure on the side.

Laura, I understand you completely; try and relax, I hope you and your boys have a good day; wishing you a safe journey to Goodison and home again. You and your boys are better supporters than me, I only live 10 minutes from the ground. You have to make long trips, best of luck today for you, me and Everton.

Not sure I agree with that, to be honest. There was plenty of will to win on display at Burnley, particularly in the first half, but they lacked invention and ability to complete the job.

Koeman is still searching for his most effective combination up front and we're still missing a key ingredient in attacking central midfield while Barkley continues trying to find his way.

We desperately need a win, haven't won for a while.

I really hope Barkley does not start.

I hope to fly home tomorrow with a smile on my face while looking at our continuing promising position in the Premier League table. I remember Koeman saying that, after 10 games, you get the first real indication of how the season might pan out.

We had lots of possession against Burnley but they had time to get bodies behind the ball and packed the box.

COYB

This isn't a must-win game, but we could well do without another performance like the Palace one and we need to break out of our recent run of results.

Dave is spot-on: Wimbledon was a must-win to stay up. Today is not a must-win for anything; if we lose, it's not going to determine our season – the remaining 28 games will.

Very excited about the game, back in the old lady, and big Rom to bag the first. Expecting 3+ win today... high expectations. COYB

I have read most threads, and now feel it's a good time to restart.

Koeman is a wise sage. Today's game is a must-win game. Not the result, but the future of certain players who have not come up to scratch in Koeman's eyes.

With January just around the corner, a poor performance today may see the exit for some individuals who feel safe.

I was nodding my head in agreement then realised that is what Martinez did against them last season: 2-0 up with 20 to go and he gave a run out to an untried striker and we lost!

Hopefully this team would not cave in like we did last season as I saw that game as the one when the rot really and truly set in with a vengeance.

I am keen for Ron to try a few youngsters as they can't be held back for too long and lose momentum – hopefully this lad will see some minutes in a good win!

Yeah, I can see your point but likewise, I feel this team wouldn't do the same.

I remember the game very well as I was relying on that for my accumulator to bring me home 𧹈!!! I was spitting feathers!

Bang on, Laura, every game is a must-win and your kids have the right idea, every game is a final. I wish every Everton player played with that in mind and we might win something again. COYB

I think if he plays well, the team will click. Let's hope for a great game.

COYB

I would like to see Deulofeu given a few games in the Number 10 role. Early season, he did feed Lukaku with plenty of early balls from the centre of the pitch.

I think the big frustration for Koeman and fans alike is that both Deulofeu and Mirallas look like they could be the answer. But fail to produce the goods in the way of goals. Seems like they are more interested in creating chances than taking them.

I watched the other lot last night and both their central defenders scored from corners. I was trying to remember a game when both of our central defenders had headers on target in the same game.

Same with Deulofeu too – 5 years since his pro debut and still not sure what his strengths are. I think Lennon deserves a start before those two today.

I think it's easy to start getting overly anxious, but we are a work in progress, and after the last two seasons of misery, it's nice to try and enjoy the matches.

Personally, for what little it's worth, I see this season as a battle for 6th place with 2-3 other teams and don't see this as a ''must-win" match. However, we certainly should be gunning for all 3 points today.

Years ago, while captain of our five-a-side team (national champions, by the way), one of our skillfuller (real word?) players done some sublime manoeuvre, then hit a shot against the bar, then I bollocked him something woeful... why? Because he had his hands on his head, disheartened about his said shot, stood there motionless.

After the game he said he's never been bollocked so much for playing football, ever. I told him it was because he had neglected his defensive duties as the game doesn't stop if the ball hits the bar, team game and all that, but not so polite.

The point being, we have not many players prepared to tell them straight; our captain isn't very vocal (the Mirallas penalty incident wouldn't happen if your captain has authority). Wingers in particular seem to need more talking to than most, in my experience, but so does everyone else too.

Point being, they need to fucking liven up!

Seriously though, any win, anyway, would be welcome. We're in a bit of a rut which they have to get out of soon and hopefully with a bang.

Hammers played well against Chelski in the EFL Mickey Mouse cup but this is the Premier League and Everton have to be up for it.

I am hoping for a good game offensively but nothing like last week.

How can anybody say they expect 3+ goals today after the way we have been playing? I'm confident that Koeman will get it right but I think this season is going to be frustrating at times.

3-0 home win.

For these reasons, West Ham may have the edge, psychology-wise. Everton seem to be so fragile in that all teams Everton played lately have at least provided a significant challenge, in some but not every aspect of their football, with even Burnley being no exception. Koeman needs to do better instead of saying, "Well it's Everton, we can't expect to win every game."

Everton simply lose concentration or cannot react fast enough to what should be foreseeable threats, it's almost as if their (Everton's) game is just too predictable that their play is foreseeable for seemingly any opponent. Everton just do not have the intelligence individually or collectively, seemingly anyway, to read the game without being on the defence too often. Except for Lukaku's obvious scoring ability, he cannot stay on the ball for his size and frame; the same applies to Barkley, who for the size of him his contribution is simply poor.

Hubby, who does he support?

Someone will probably beat me to it as I type but:

Robles
Coleman
Williams
Funes Mori
Oviedo

Barry
Gueye

Bolasie
Barkley
Mirallas

Lukaku

Dave Abrahans, thank you - that was exactly my sentiment. I would never intentionally belittle a fellow Evertonian's opinion because after all we're all entitled to a view and see things differently.

So Neil, thank you for your observation but I do not need to "get a grip".

"Barkley starting Grrrrr" hey Damian!!! Isn't football great; unpredictable and so unscientific.

Table looking good right now, even though it means little at this stage; nicely consolidated in the top 8 and even have some breathing space emerging in top 6.

Good win (as they always are) but wasn't a must win!!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend fellow blues.

Only just removed my shirt... I normally like to sleep in it after a win.

Glad you enjoyed your day and hopefully your young blues did too.

Looking forward to next week... A must-win against Chelski. ;-)