Middlesbrough vs Everton

Negredo is quality but he relies on service from Ramirez and Downing, who can be smothered by our midfield... which is why it's time for Gueye to come back in the side, with Davies and Macca having to step aside for this week.

Interesting midfield matchup: Barkley versus our old boy Forshaw.

No reason we shouldn't keep a clean sheet, find the back of the net at least once and bank the full three points, but it may be a bit of a grind.

Otherwise, I'd be pretty happy with Lyndon's starting line-up but would be equally with a 4-3-3 and Davies coming in for Holgate to start in midfield with Schneiderlin and Gueye. I think those 3 could be quite the midfield trio!

Adama Traore apparently broke Premier League sprint record against Arsenal.

I agree with Lyndon, I think we should go three at the back to give us width in an attacking sense with Coleman & Baines; but let's hope Traore does not get in behind us.

I imagine this will be a low scoring affair so the first goal could win it.

Believe, fight. Please lord, hear my prayer!... Lukaku, Mirallas, Barkley to keep the goals flowing and a clean sheet. COYB. We can keep this winning momentum. Keep Clinical; Koeman's Killers.

I hope he does start to make the bench. Him, Sambou and Calvert-Lewin between them should give us some hope of finding a striking option behind Lukaku.

The bench will probably be:

Stekelenburg, Jagielka, Barry, McCarthy, Lennon, Lookman, Valencia.

I'd actually prefer Donkor or Kenny on the bench, instead of Lennon, to be honest.

The line-up allows us to bring on what we need, when we need it, off the bench also. Jagielka, Barry & McCarthy to finish the game off with a bit of experience & calmness. Or change the game, with a bit of energy & skill through Lookman & Valencia. Or give a chance to a youngster if the situation allows it.

I like Mirallas's work ethic on defense – that's why I'd go with him over Lookman.

Hope we can keep ball and create without Barry.

The key is the first goal; if we score it, they have to come at us, leaving space for quick counter-attacks. If they score it, they will sit deep with two banks and encourage us to look for crosses as opposed to playing through them. They are good in the air in defence.

As the manager says, while being realistic, we can put a run together who knows where we can finish. Good to see the ambition back in the Evertonian ranks, a lot of our fans talking top 5 or 6. The improvement in the team has encouraged this, we are heading in the right direction.

Yes Boro are quite tough defensively but the goalscoring return and win ratio is abysmal from a reason, they have won four games all season and the highest ranked side they have beaten is Bournemouth.

To me that says it all about their lack of quality and we need to make our class tell and not get involved in a scrap, get an early advantage to really put them on the back foot and we should be able to pick them off on the break after that.

We had a real wobble against the likes of Watford, Bournemouth away, Burnley (fair enough, they are good at home) but we can't afford another at Middlesbrough, we need to go there tomorrow and get the win.

Pennington also featured in the first team training video but seems they particularly edited Donkor into it. May just be coincidence but if he has impressed Koeman then perhaps he might make the bench tomorrow or sometime soon.

3 nice points, bring on Sunderland. Repeat.

He starts for me, but it depends which system Koeman decides to start with.

Hopefully not. Nothing is guaranteed in the Premier League as an out of form Watford showed at the Emirates last weekend.

They are solid in defense and many people were advocating Negredo this Summer but I think if we work hard and show the sort of improved movement and tenacity that we have been in the last month or so then we've got a decent chance. Concentrate at the back coz that first goal will probably be vital!

Schneiderlin was a luxury signing brought about by his previous association with Koeman. I hope he proves worth all that money!

Still hoping for 3 points.
COYMB

The Blues aren't great at getting at teams that sit back so it's hugely important not to concede early. A potential banana skin no doubt but one we should win.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Barry-less bench for this one; Jags covers the defense (though Barry could in a back 3), McCarthy & Davies would 'get-at' Boro if we needed to more than he would, and in Schneiderlin we now have the calming influence if needed. Add that to a couple of attackers & a keeper and there's no room! Lennon also now covers the wing-back roles and the front three.

Subs: Stekelenburg, Jagielka, McCarthy, Davies, Lookman, Valencia, Lennon.

But calling Schneiderlin a luxury? No mate, he is the best midfielder now on our books, Gana included. Whether or not he was a priority signing is another debate but he has more class than anyone in midfield as much as I love them all. If we want to go places, let's buy better players.

I wouldn't worry about Davies, he will get plenty of game time whether starting or off the bench. This will be Barry's final season I suspect.

I would go Schneiderlin, McCarthy and Davies tomorrow but I think it will be Barry instead of Davies.

I'm sure he will replace Lookman with either Mirallas or Holgate depending on formation.

We now have so many good CMs on form that we can rest Gana and still beat Bournemouth 6-3 where I thought we would struggle to break them down.

I am surprised at all this talk of Donkor being promoted to the first squad. I thought he was just a backup for the U23s but has he done very well there?

I wouldn't start with Mirallas as the width would come from Baines and Coleman. Barkley being given a free role in support of Lukaku.

True, that would be quite typical of Everton.

@Brian (#30):

That is indeed puzzling. We have enough quality in the first team and apart from that, Besic is almost fit and Gana has returned from AFCON. Therefore I don't see any place for the U23s on the first team bench.

@Geoff (#32):

To be honest, Williams hasn't been that poor, and of all four centre-backs, he's been the most consistent. Boro away is a potential banana skin, so I for one wouldn't risk unbalancing the Holgate - Williams - Funes Mori trio and especially not by playing Pennington, who – for all his qualities – hasn't played a minute this season for the first team.

Our options coming off the bench into midfield are now fantastic. The energy and ability that we can now bring on in the 2nd half will be frightening and a real game changer.

Imagine being tackled and run ragged by Gueye and Schneiderlin for 60 mins to then see McCarthy and Davies come and continue the battering (not forgetting Barry).

I think we are in for an exciting run-in. Our boys are fit, focused, and hungry.

Middlesbrough are a hard team to break down; they defend well. This will be a different sort of test to Bournemouth; it will be very close... we always find it hard to break these kind of teams down.

If we have any chance of getting into the top four or five, we need to win this type of game. COYB

Meanwhile our boys have been snarling their way through intense training sessions, growing another layer of skin against the cold.

I wonder who will be better prepared on Saturday...?

Cue the biggest away win of the season.

COYB...

With Ireland in rugby at 2:30, Everton 3pm, Liverpool 5:30 and then my GAA team Tyrone v Dublin at 7pm, it will be a busy Saturday.

In this type of atmosphere, Everton cannot afford the luxury of Mirallas starting, because you don't know if he will put a shift in. Asking Lookman to start may be too much for him.

Everton should start with Robles in goal and a back 3 of Holgate, Williams and Funes Mori.

In midfield, Everton should have Baines and Coleman as wing backs alongside Gueye, Davies, Barkley and McCarthy. Upfront should be Lukaku. Davies and Barkley should team up to support Lukaku, as the lone striker.

So far this season, Gueye and McCarthy have shown they have been the best midfield pairing, because they get in the face of the opposition.

"With Ireland in rugby at 2:30, Everton 3pm, Liverpool 5:30 and then my GAA team Tyrone v Dublin at 7pm it will be a busy Saturday."

Struth, when do you find time to do the washing and ironing?

I'm a blue from Boro so can meet at the ground or a pub.

I can't believe all the hype about Schneiderlin. To my eyes, he is still settling in and plays far too deep although I can't see him being dropped as he seems to be a leader on the pitch.

Tom Davies has been all we needed and more so for me he would be a definite shoo-in and Gueye as our midfield dynamo has no peers so time to give James a rest and make Barry a benchwarmer (no disrespect intended).

Three at the back seems to suit Seamus and Bainesy so it's Barkley and Rom up front.

Pennington is coming off a loooong injury layoff and only recently rejoined the U23s. He was brilliant (according to Unsy) in the win over Arsenal this week but he's nowhere near ready for first-team football. Maybe in the spring?

Craig (#5), you're right, I overlooked Traore, but given his part-time status and complete lack of productivity (per Paul #22), he's easy to overlook. Royston Drenthe – who, BTW, is now listed as "retired" at 29 – was a scoring machine compared to Traore.

Schneiderlin I thought, though deep, was excellent against Stoke. He sat in there and displayed great knowledge and passing (mostly!).

Against Bournemouth he was impressive in the first half. But the whole midfield lost their way a bit first 20 mins of the second half. The introduction of Davies coincided with us getting back control.

For me, I'd go for Schneiderlin - Gana - Davies as a middle 3 where possible. We do need to not overplay Davies though but when you've also got McCarthy and Barry, what a great choice to come in.

Ross gets the nod up top with Rom. As long as we win the ball high up the field Ross with be okay there. Should we pick Barry and or McCarthy, we are likely to be deeper; Ross would drop deeper and we know often Rom becomes and island.

They've not won since December, and score very few goals. Score first in this one and we should have a decent chance. Barry is there to close it out should we need to. Lookman to change if it goes tits up.

If Koeman wants to shoehorn in a 4 man midfield, by playing a back 4, we might get away with it as, Traore apart, they have no great pace in their side.

Actually an arguement for Jags getting a game, both Williams and Funes Mori are not good enough and neither is Jags so hey what could it hurt?

Whilst the jury is out on Galloway he must be sat in the Midlands thinking he is missing out.

Comfortable 2-0. No fears here .

I've got red mates, and sometimes went to Mordor with them in the 70s, but they reciprocated with visits to Goodison. Haven't done it since then though, and don't bother watching them apart from on MotD after they've lost. Generally, can't be arsed watching them running around like headless chickens with their 'gegenpressing', from which they might be running out of steam now.

Robles, Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori,Baines,
Schneiderlin, Gueye, McCarthy
Davies Barkley,
Lukaku

The reasoning is that there's energy all over the park, and it means that Coleman, Baines & McCarthy can bomb forward without leaving huge gaps, leaving Davies & Ross to support Lukaku but they can also throw a tackle in when not in possession, so it's not as negative as it appears.

The chances of this being the team is nil, but I would like to see it if not vs Middlesbrough then certainly vs Spurs.

Second half we went to a four at the back and, bizarrely, swapped Berkeley to the right and Davies left. Berkeley then looked totally lost.

Not an argument against three but a good argument against that three and the original shape I think.

Whilst the reports here do a good job of reporting the action we don't get enough of a more detailed tactical analysis. There used to be a bloke with a site who did this superbly well for every Everton game. Can't remember the site's name, he stopped a while ago sadly.

Schneiderlin has been doing what we'd all like Barry to keep doing past his by-date, and for more than 60 minutes! Give him more than two-three games to settle in, then moan! I expect Koeman will be playing all his midfielders up against each other to see who finally makes the cut!

Make no mistake, I still want Davies, Holgate (and even Galloway in time) (+++) in there.

But the kids (!) still need to feel some opposition! So let us play our experienced midfielders for some games until they maybe get hammered (I pray not!) like Holgate in defence vs Stoke, then let the other youngsters come on to wow the old fogies if those also messed up at some point!

"The Executioners Bong" was it?

He has the capacity to look unhurried which, as we all know, is one of the main markers of sporting excellence. Clever with it and hard-minded. I'd make him captain for the start of next season.

We need the extra player further up the pitch against Boro and not playing Davies would be madness. He is in electric form and brings out the best in Barkley. 4-3-2-1 all the way.

Robles
Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori, Baines
Gueye, Schneiderlin, Davies
Lookman, Barkley
Lukaku

Also, very interesting on his approach to Barkley, revealing (in a backhanded way) just how highly he rates him. How could someone of Koeman's excellence not recognise the same in one of his own players and, more importantly, engender confidence in the player?

The more I see and hear of this man, the more embarrassing (even if rational at the time, I say) is my call for him to be sacked before Christmas.

Goals there and plenty on the bench (Valencia, Mirallas, Lookman) if we need it. Boro are no big shakes going forward so the fullbacks can still get forward and Barry can drop deep when required to cover them. I tried like mad to find a place in the starting eleven for McCarthy but Idrissa gives us a bit more. I would keep McCarthy though, to fill Barry's boots next year.

If we get maximum points from the Middlesboro and Sunderland games, and I believe we will, and if Spurs tonk the RedShite, then the derby should be really interesting...

Robles
Coleman, Holgate, Funes Mori, Baines
Schneiderlin, Davies, Gueye
Barkley
Lookman, Lukaku.

I don't like this five man defence - or 3 centre halves. If we are under pressure then Gana can drop back into defence.

We have an embarrassment of midfield talent. Let's use it.

Let's hope all the recent talk of challenging the top six is still on track at 5:00 this evening. Will be happy with a 1 - 0 victory.

Love that team and hope to see it over the next few weeks, and indeed ideally next season. But Middlesbrough away isn't the time to chance a Holgate - Funes Mori centre-back axis;, we need an experienced head in there and for me that has to be Williams.

2-1 Blues...Onwards.

But confidence is high at present and even more pleasing is the competition for places, which keeps players on their toes.

Middlesborough don't score many I think they have only scored 19 league goals, but they seem to be difficult to beat. I will happily take a 1-0 win today and keep our run going.

It's going to be tight but we now have a lot of quality in the team and we are much better than when we defeated them earlier in the season at Goodison.

The additional players he brought in have fitted in well, Barkley and Mirallas have stepped up a level, we are no longer carrying many passengers in the team.

It will be tough at Boro, but we have the squad to get a result.

No Mirallas or McCarthy on the bench

1 Robles
23 Coleman
5 Williams
25 Funes Mori
3 Baines
26 Davies
17 Gueye
2 Schneiderlin
31 Lookman
10 Lukaku
8 Barkley

Substitutes:

6 Jagielka
9 Koné
12 Lennon
18 Barry
19 Valencia
22 Stekelenburg
30 Holgate

Referee: Mike Dean

I just hope that's not put the mockers on it.

SENDING-OFF OFFENCES

A player, substitute or substituted player who commits any of the following offences is sent off:

● Denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area);

● Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the opponents' goal by an offence punishable by a free kick (unless as outlined below);

● Serious foul play;

● Spitting at an opponent or any other person

● Violent conduct;

● Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures;

● Receiving a second caution in the same match.

A player, substitute or substituted player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area.

Now of course ESPN in LatAm now banging on about Alexis being top league goalscorer. Come on, Rom, you need another two at least today!

A little absurd I think, but should you bring the player down making a genuine attempt to win the ball, yellow it is.

Pulling someone back, a tackle from behind etc. gets you the red.

One could easily argue Gibbs couldn't win the ball, so just barged into him, so not genuinely trying to win the ball. I thought it was red myself as he made no attempt to tackle him.

Lucky.

It is a bit about interpretation of "obvious" but I bet would pretty well all agree when it is obvious, probably why that word is used

If a guy had fouled Ross last week after he had gone past the goalie, I would have seen it as obvious, but as it happened, I like many in the ground I bet, had a fleeting thought of: What if he misses? That said, a trained professional on a perfect pitch, no-one in the way, what could be more obvious?