Manchester United vs Everton

United are as short as we are when it comes to centre-halves at the minute so Lukaku has no excuse and owes us a performance. I really rate him but struggle to understand how a fella with his pace, power and stature offers exactly the same threat as a Cottee or Lineker. He needs to do more to influence games when he doesn't score.

Anyway, this away game is the more winnable one in my opinion... but I'd of preferred to win the last one.

Two teams playing off the back of a disappointing weekend and wanting to bounce back for their own and their fans' sakes. Hope we can squeeze it but I can see this turning into a bit of a bore fest tbh and will predict a 0-0 tomorrow.

(Love the image of angry football fans frolicking like lambs after defeat.)

Koeman is a 'write off' after less than a season in charge!

We should just go after them and treat it like a home game, as they'll not be expecting that and we've little to lose.

Mirallas should start and I'd like to see more of Lookman.

Man Utd are far from unbeatable and have a lot of players missing. We could well surprise them and have the faithful thinking, "Why didn't we play like that at Anfield?" Team selection is the key.

I really don't know what he was thinking (doubt we will) but a fixture to turn our away form around couldn't come at a better test than this, a more attacking mindset from the off and earlier subs (should it be needed) will have those lingering doubts I've now got after an away run which is not so endearing.

Go at them from the off; what happened to early subs like when it wasn't working at the beginning of his tenure, ruthlessness? Two wingers?

Winner as a player, hopefully a winner as a manager, hopefully with us. Make me right or I'll attack with vehement displays of cussing and bile in front of my TV and scare my dog. Over to you.

It is better to have Davies and Gueye in midfield with Barkley just in front of them with Mirallas, Lukaku and Valencia the 3 upfront. But knowing Koeman that's not going to happen so Everton will be conceding another 3 goals on Tuesday with just 1 goal in their favour.

It is a chance though, for the team to put that last performance behind them. Man Utd are the draw specialists, and without Zlatan failed to unpick West Brom's defence but with the return of their talisman, we can expect some joined-up play from the Red Devils. Rooney could also figure.

I expect our manager to go to a back four, but that is where his sense of adventure will end, and I would think he will pack the midfield, leaving Rom alone up front.

It might work, and if we are still in it after an hour or so, we may see the introduction of one of our tricky bench-warmers. A draw would be a good result.

Man Utd will have Ibrahimavic back from suspension and Pogba fit again. Although unbeaten in 19, Man Utd are struggling for wins at home. But we always seem to be the fall guys when teams are desperate for a win. Let's hope we don't on this occasion.

I thought Baines stunk against Liverpool and would prefer to see Garbutt or Galloway at left back. I'd play Valencia from the start and play Lookman at some point. Koeman needs to say to Rom, "If you don't give a shit, from now on, you don't play."

The teams above us in the Premier League aren't anywhere near the cream of Europe but Everton can make them look just that with their brain-dead, self-destruct, inferiority brand of football. Just stop it. It's perfectly possible to score against and defend well against these teams.

Should we expect any different now or is this his way of demanding more summers spends? Keep the same shape that saw us top of the form league FFS.

Play to the strengths of Lukaku. Give Valencia his chance. Give peas a chance. Lukaku hat-trick. 3-2 the Blues.

We fecking lost, didn't we?

There is a clear winning mentality at home, and an apparent defeatist mentality away, and this appears to be down to the tactics, not the attitude of the players. If you enforce bad tactics on the players, they will struggle no matter how hard they try.

We do have the capability and talent in our squad to beat the top sides, which we do when at home. Surely it's not an unsolvable problem to do the same thing when away?

Ronny lad, don't make the same mistakes again, please.

But reality is its just going to be another tale of woe with us no doubt solving Man Utd's goalscoring crisis, we all know when a team needs a helping hand just call for Everton and fill your boots.

I want to see a team that is full of passion and hunger to correct Saturdays misery but I fully expect nothing.

Big game for Koeman and the players to bounce back and redeem themselves in, again a question of mental strength – or rather the lack of it.

We will beat one of the big boys trying stuff and he should keep trying different stuff as we simply don't have good enough players to simply play our way at present.

Koeman seems to be more bullish about next season; I'm content to just leave him to do his job as sees fit until then.

Our record away to these types of clubs is unbelievably bad and I'm just astonished that I witnessed us actually win at Old Trafford in 2013, arguably our most shock result away from home since the Premier League formed taking into account our record at those venues.

Robles.
Holgate Jagielka Williams Baines
Mirallas Gana Barry Davies
Lukaku Valencia

Subs: Stekelenburg, Lookman, Barkley, Pennington, Calvert-Lewin, Lennon, Besic (if he's fit).

I chose Barry because I'm assuming Schneiderlin won't be fit. If he is fit, put Barry on the bench in place of Besic and play him instead.

As for Jagielka and Williams, we don't really have anyone else and Pennington didn't do himself any favours. If we had two other centre-backs, I would drop both Williams and Jags and play them instead... but we don't, so we are where we are. Can't drop everyone – as much as I'd like to.

Stekelenburg
Baines Williams Jagielka Holgate
Barry Gueye
Barkley
Valencia Mirallas
Lukaku

Don't play Lukaku!?

I can go with as many combinations as you want around Lukaku, Davies, Gueye and Barkley (as they are our best players), and still come up with a team that is just not good enough, against the top teams. If that's 'defeatist', then I accept the tag.

We just have who we have and, as I said before, whatever manager comes in instead of Koeman, he wouldn't be happy inheriting this lot. The only changes we haven't yet employed is letting the players wear each others under crackers.

Unfortunately, just like the RS, they have better players and a significantly better squad which, given our lack of backbone, leaves us looking forward to fish and chips on the way home as the only highlight.

I'd put Holgate at the right side of the 3 centre backs and bring in Lennon as the right wing back.

Mirallas to replace Calvert-Lewin. He usually plays well against United and deserves a run in the side.

And I'd certainly 100% blame Moyes for our continued shite away record against the top teams. He totally changed the mentality of our club where that's concerned and it's still hanging over us.

You said Koeman is a good 'home' manager but a bad 'away' manager. I would instead say Koeman is a shit manager if he cannot manage in both aspects. It's like you couldn't have a great 'low-value building' architect and a shit 'millions of pounds' architect.

My other point is that we got slaughtered by Tottenham recently for the same reason we got hammered at Anfield on Saturday. Koeman called himself 'the master tactician' in his tweet correspondence to the International manager. However, Koeman did not make changes at Tottenham or at Anfield during the break.

Common sense says, make some changes as it is foreseeable we will get our arses tanned based on the good team's previous good half-time performance. But no, the master tactician (or master dickhead!) instead puts the same team on to a predictable thrashing and only changed things either near to or actually in the final third. You just could not make it up.

Koeman clearly cannot judge games in real time. He is far from a master tactician.

Absolutely the right time to be using the remaining games to try different players and line-ups now and make sure the summer delivers a serious influx of quality players.

We should play on the front foot against Man Utd and be very direct, they are short at the back currently (though it's all relative!) we are doing okay from set-pieces this season.

Despite the weekend result, I found things to be pleased about... we should be proud of the number of young Brit players we have.. Reds have what 2, Chelsea 1, Man Utd will maybe have 1 against us. I for one hope we can retain a strong balance of local players...

The only other line-up that I'd like to see is:

Robles
Holgate Jagielka Williams Baines
Davies Idrissa Barry
Barkley
Lukaku Valencia

Stekelenburg, Pennington, Kenny, Walsh, Besic, Lookman, Mirallas.

The home record is OK I suppose given the disparity in finance and sponsorship but it isn't going to be enough to propel us into a 'major force' if it continues in a similar vein in the next five years.

Everton's Home record versus Big 6

Seasons PL W D L PTS PPG
92-97 29 8 10 11 34 1.17
97-02 26 5 10 11 25 0.96
02-07 30 9 6 15 33 1.10
07-12 30 11 7 12 40 1.33
12-17 29 10 11 8 41 1.41
Tot 144 43 44 57 173 1.20

The away record at these big six venues is a complete bugbear to all Evertonians and needs to radically improve. don't ask me how but someone at the club needs to address the issue.

It is Everton's record against these teams that will dissuade new sponsors and finance and similarly if the club can find a way of taking more points from those six it will attract finance and sponsorship.

Everton's Away record versus Big 6

Seasons PL W D L PTS PPG
92-97 29 6 8 15 26 0.9
97-02 26 1 5 20 8 0.31
02-07 30 2 8 20 14 0.47
07-12 30 6 9 15 27 0.9
12-17 28 1 10 17 13 0.46
Tot 143 16 40 87 88 0.62

'Super Seven' encounters 2012-17:

Team PL W D L PTS PPG Win%
Chelsea 57 27 19 11 100 1.75 47
Liverpool 60 22 23 15 89 1.48 37
Man City 58 22 17 19 83 1.43 38
Man Utd 55 21 15 19 78 1.41 38
Spurs 58 16 20 22 68 1.17 28
Arsenal 57 13 23 21 62 1.08 23
Everton 57 11 21 25 54 0.94 19

It will be interesting to see what those tables look like in five years time. We all hope there will be a significant improvement; however, a victory at Old Trafford tomorrow wouldn't go amiss in raising our collective spirits.

Everton have to stop the crosses from Young and Valencia who are basically 2 wingers. Everton do not possess any aerial prowess in defence and the fullbacks Baines and whoever will not be able to get downfield much.

I see another vain effort to contain and once they concede it will be game over. Enough said about the negative side but Man Utd are due to lose, aren't they? Why not Everton to win?

Just shows our mindset towards these games is completely wrong. That can only be changed over time; how we need someone to lead by example on the pitch in these situations, to pull everybody up to the level we are capable of.

Robles
Kenny, Holgate, Jagielka, Baines
Barkley, Gana, Davies
Mirallas, Lukaku, Lookman

I don't want to see Barry back in the team. For me dropping him against Liverpool was the only decision koeman got right. Barry came on with roughly half an hour to go at the weekend and what positive impact did he have? Absolutely none.

Although Barkley didn't have a great game against Liverpool, he has the talent and playing a bit deeper, alongside Davies and Gana in midfield, would work well with Mirallas on the left and either Valencia, Lookman or Lennon (if fit) on the right. Holgate is capable of playing right back fine.

This Man Utd team is there for the taking but we need to have a right good go at them and not sit back inviting them on to us.

When our neighbours made the Origi switch we were caught napping as suddenly we had a more orthodox striker to deal with.

Man Utd with Zlatan leading the line, should be more obvious in their play. I doubt that our bumbling backline will have the brains to deal with him, especially as he is better in the air than any of our lads.

We seem to get caught out by any off-the-cuff play. The Alli goal at the 'Lane, Origi's stroll through the middle, and anyone running from deep.

I have no confidence in our ability to defend against decent teams; our only hope will be to pick an offensive selection and score more than them.

Stan Schofield, you are starting to repeat in all your posts now the idea that, based on this season's results, Koeman is a good 'home' manager, but a poor 'away' manager. That is too simple a correlation to make, based on less than a single season's results to date.

Since football was invented in 1992-93 and the advent of the Premier League, Everton's average number of away wins over 25 seasons is just 5 per season. Koeman is currently 1 over par with only 4 wins and needs 1 more level to be level par.

Our best ever away wins return was in the Premier League era was 9 under Moyes in 2008-09. We also recorded 8 wins under Moyes in 2007-08 and again in Martinez' golden debut season in 2013-14.

Those are exceptions to the norm. Typically, we achieve only 4-5 away wins per season. In his 2 seasons at Southampton, Koeman oversaw 7 victories on the road in both seasons. Comfortably above Everton's 25-year average.

I don't disagree with you that the performances, selections and tactics employed by Koeman thus far away to the better teams in his time at Everton have left a lot to be desired.

This both disappoints and puzzles me. Why the latter? Because in his 2 seasons at Southampton – as already demonstrated – he achieved above average away wins when compared to Everton's away record. He also achieved impressive away wins away to Arsenal, Man Utd (twice), Chelsea and Spurs with Saints. And they weren't fluked either. The victories were fully merited.

I would argue (as you frequently do, when comparing Everton to Liverpool) that in the same time scale we had, and still have, better players than Southampton. And yet, arguably the 'lesser' team bettered the 'better' team's away record under Koeman.

That doesn't suggest to me he is a poor away manager as you claim. Rather, it encourages me to believe he is a manager capable of getting results against the very top teams on their patch.

That he hasn't achieved that yet with Everton is indisputable. That he is incapable of ever doing so is open to debate.

We put Pennington and Holgate on as sacrificial lambs to start a fight with Ibrahimovich and Pogba respectively so they all get red carded.

Our remaining 9 would then be a good match for their remaining 9 and we have much more goal threat than they do.

Simple this management lark, isn't it?

It is still April 1, isn't it, as I have a blank since Saturday morning.

Totally agree – we need the attitude we had pre-Moyes. I really missed those "flirting with relegation" seasons and so upset with this "we are no longer good enough to be below the top 7" attitude. I really hated the "let's get to 40 points first and see where after that" than the "let's see how close to June we can be before getting to 40 points" attitude the club has prior to his arrival.

Our top 4 ambitions are pretty much over after Saturday, so the pressure/unrealistic expectation is off to an extent on that front. Hopefully that means we can be a bit more relaxed and not suffer the rabbit in head light syndrome we normally do in the derby. However, it's going to be a big ask to come away with a win with Zlatan back.

Hoping for the best but can't see us getting more than a draw at best.

Stekelenburg
Holgate Williams Jagielka Baines
Gana Barry Davies
Mirallas Lukaku Lookman

A back four: Holgate, Williams, Jagielka and Baines. Three in front of them Davies, Gueye and Barry and then Barkley, Lukaku and Mirallas playing up-front. Lookman is the wide player on the bench to provide an alternative.

Incidentally, anyone notice Deulofeu played in a friendly for Spain? Glad someone's got some faith in that lad.

Just noticed, you have to share the award with James Stewart @ 44

Just not when Everton are involved, as Patrick's post points out.

We all know the script here: Zlatan returns and leads the home team to a comfortable and routine victory.

Look it up. He's worth looking at as we look on at Everton looking to take three points in a hostile-looking environment.

Looking at this last weekend's heartache, I'm looking at having a go at Man Utd, with Lookman terrorizing a poor-looking defense.

With Funes Mori out, we probably have to start Jags and Williams; if they start, I personally wouldn't be adding Barry. I'd go for:

Robles
Holgate, Jagielka, Williams, Baines
Gueye, Davies
Lookman, Barkley, Mirallas
Lukaku

Barry to come in later if needed. United have load of injuries too and need a win so we need pace in the side.

Your hockey-easque goon squad of Pennington and Holgate is a great idea.

A five-minute major penalty with multiple trips to the box would definitely through Man Utd out of their game.

Obviously you think otherwise, the defenders are the ones to blame.

Well, the next week, we went to Old Trafford and scored four in a 4-4 draw, this without Baines who was top class at the time. Maybe we can have a good go at them tomorrow even though it is three days too late... I wouldn't be surprised, we always do things back to front.

We are all Blues, we all want Everton to win, whatever different line-ups fellow Blues select, then although we may or not agree with the selections, that is the posters choice.

What I will say is the starting 11 owe the fans and the club big time; tomorrow night will do for starters.

You never know your suggestion could have made a difference. Couldn't have been any worse could it.

You did take some stick so it's good to see you still posting.

I do however believe that Robles was very poor against the Shite, poor positional play and dreadful kicking. He was also poor at Tottenham and therefore, in my opinion, does not deserve to keep his place. Koeman needs to sign a top class keeper during the Summer with Robles used as back up at best.

I said before Saturday's game that it didn't matter what team we put out as long as we showed up. We didn't show up as a team, so the selections did matter and the kids got roasted. I just hope Ron can lift them sufficiently to give Man Utd a game.

They are getting hell from their own supporters for not winning enough games so there will be plenty of pressure on the special one and his spoilt brats for this one.

I agree with those posters who say have a go at them. With SuperKev and Lookman exploiting the wings and Barkley, Gueye and Davies filling the midfield, we just need the rearguard to perform.

We had other problems at the week-end particularly in central defence, but we have no real options to replace Williams (& maybe Jags). It's so common that Ross dwells on the ball far too long, makes awful decisions, and hides - most of his ground-covering is very ineffective as the only time he goes close enough to an opponent he makes crazy tackles – he's NOT a team player and needs replacing.

One point of disagreement is I can't realistically see how Besic can be match fit for aa game like this after such a long lay-off & no prior but brief first team run-outs.

Peter may have a point in regards to Stekelenburg, I would give Robles another chance; yes he was poor on Saturday but so was the entire team. He's performed well since coming in so only on that basis would I stick with Robles.

I see where you are coming from Peter, but I think Robles should have a chance to redeem himself, with Stekelenburg on standby for the Leicester game if we have to make a change.

We so dearly missed Seamus and Snidey on Saturday. We are paper thin on quality but hopefully they can turn it round against Man Utd. Ross needs to turn up and stop worrying about what the press think of him and just play his game. As always, I fancy our chances. 1-2 to the Mighty Blues!

I would be happy with 3 points out of these 2 games so we better beat Man Utd.

I agree. With that said, he's had a sustained run in the team unlike the "diamonds" Dowell, Ledson and Baxter who were all over hyped aged 15. Davies slipped under the radar till he made his debut but we should expect he will have ups and downs as a young kid.

Can't spell. Throw, and esque... I think. It's Monday and my brain isn't working.

Regarding Davies, there's no question he's one hell of a talent. I've not been this excited about a young player since Stones chipped the keeper in that preseason friendly here in the States.

He's going to have an off game now and again. It's not Tom Jesus Davies, just Tom Davies. Despite having a similar hairstyle to The Savior, he's just a boy. One who will provide a lot of happiness over the years I think.

Evertonians are really tough on their own. Not quite "eat your own young" tough, but pretty damn tough. I think this kid is thought of highly will be allowed the requisite patience needed for him to mature.

But onto Tuesday, I agree with Lyndon's line up, obviously Koeman must see something in Calvert-Lewin to pick him before Mirallas, because on Saturday there was just too many kids playing in an unfamiliar system-I watched the derby again and we were all over the place with no discernible pattern.

I'll go for a spawny 2-1. COYB

Personally I cannot see Lukaku staying beyond the summer and there is a huge question mark hanging over Ross Barkley with a contract on the table remaining unsigned.

We have made progress on the last 2 seasons under Martinez and Koeman was very shrewd in January making a cull of the bit part players who were contributing little. Koeman will know where the deficiencies are in the team and we could also be looking at two new fullbacks given the nature of Coleman's injury and Baines's decline.

Hopefully Koeman, Walsh and Moshiri have their targets and a plan of how they will execute player recruitment. We are in a healthier and leaner position than this time last season and a last push is required to consolidate this season and look with optimism on next.

Stekelenburg
Holgate
Williams
Jagielka
Baines
Mirallas
Gueye
Barkley
Barry
Lookman
Valencia.

I would drop Lukaku; he does fuck-all in the big games... especially away from home.

Lessons surely will be learnt i.e. Don't play unproven Rookies i.e. Calvert-Lewin and Pennington. in terms of defence based on the U23s games, I've seen, the better player in defence is Matty Foulds, no nonsense but he does the defensive job.

Neither who played against the RS,looked good enough; it was a practice match for the RS stackers in my view and whilst I'm happy to be proven wrong, and I hope, I am, I can't see neither cutting it in the Premier League.

New game fresh hope, play Mirallas , and no choice but to play Barry,he will try at least, but if we attack and press, basically do all the things we didn't do against the RS, then I'd take a good fighting performance as the team owe us one after the sham, against the RS.

Let's be positive in what has been a tough few days. Can we nick an early goal and get in their heads and turn the crowd? We've done it in the past...

Anyone know who's the ref tomorrow? Cheers.

With hindsight there is no doubt that Koeman made errors in selection but did Koeman tell Barkley to take every wrong option bar one? Did Koeman instruct Lukaku to play musical statues all game? Did Koeman tell the defence to totally ignore Coutinho and let him run? Did Koeman say midfield completely collapse and let the RS have the run of the place? No he didn't.

Players didn't perform and didn't do any kind of job regardless of tactics. It was a terrible day all round from the players, they have been doing this for years now and seemingly getting away with it. Against decent opposition some, well most really, are just not good enough at the moment.

I take absolutely no joy in saying these words, I hope they ram these words down my throat tomorrow. We are about right in 7th place, an average RS team took us to the cleaners. Bastards even have a song about us never winning the fucking derby again. The players and Koeman owe us, again for a shit performance against a top 6 club. The Mancs are there for the taking, as the RS were, but even have to start taking these opportunities.

I guess Barry will play tomorrow, so line up would be

Robles
Holgate Jags Williams Baines
Gana Barry, Davies
Mirallas, Barkley,
Lukaku

Some of those players only play as we have no one better.

Summer is so important now as to what direction we are heading.

He did not take off the statue that was Lukaku; he did not take off headless chicken Barkley, and he did not take off caught-in-the-headlights Pennington. So yes, it was down to him.

Keane and Maguire at the back, Sigurdsson for midfield, and Lacazette up front whether Lukaku stays or not. If we were really going to push the boat out, I'd add Luke Shaw and Trippier and that would complete a brand new back four. All the players mentioned would be bought as first 11 and not squad players with a lot of what we have already being squad players or moved on.

That's a total of six new players with the likes of Niasse, Cleverley, McGeady, Jagielka, possibly Deulofeu moving on. Wishful thinking? But of course.

Maybe Koeman was like a chicken in the headlights himself by the shear ineptitude of the players, damning if true but wouldn't surprise me given how bad they were.

The reason I'm so angry at the players is because I genuinely thought we'd turned a corner. I assumed the Spurs game was an anomoly by changing a winning team and changing the successful midfield to include Barry. I was wrong, the players are just not good enough at present to compete at the top table.

Who would you have put on? Valencia on his own? We have seen that and it doesn't work, he is not a solo striker. I would have replaced Barkley with Mirallas but who knows if that would have worked. What about the shambles of a defence? There are only so many subs you can use.

He had a very poor hand going into the game. The RS game changes, Mane and Coutinho, punished us for being naive. Our game changers, Barkley and Rom, shouldn't have bothered getting changed.

If we want to crack the top six, we need a better goalie or we can just about get by with him if we do a Man City and spend £300 million on better outfield players.

Robles. Holgate, Jagielka, Williams, Baines. Gueye, Davies, Barkley, Mirallas, Lukaku, Valencia.

"Anyone know who's the ref tomorrow?"

Some dickhead with a whistle. Probably with a Man Utd shirt on under his top and a love letter for Maureen in his arse pocket.

Link

A few pounced on his 'proud' comment after Saturday's game and gave him grief for it. He stands by and explains his comments more today and is deliciously dismissive about pundits and journos.

"I know what we are doing. I know the problems we had before the game. The team was different from the one I would start if all the players are available. I try to be realistic about the situation, the team, the progress of the team, the project of Everton. It's only one game. It's [not good] to take conclusions from only Saturday.

"I don't like [individual criticism] of individual players. It's a team. The team was not good enough, but I was proud. I was really proud. That is not to defend my team. I'm a football manager who sees football realistically. It's easy to give your opinion in front of the TV without any responsibility.

"I'm happy. I see a lot of progress in the club, in the team. It's a whole season, not one game. Some players didn't perform to the level of the last few games (he mentions Rom and Ross). [They] can't always be a '10', but that's football. If you don't play football, you maybe don't understand it."

On the MON spate, he is very dry on why he got embroiled: "To defend the club. To defend our medical team. I'm the right man to do that. And it's my responsibility, not yours" (to journo).

On the playing of young players and how much they will have learnt from the game, he first corrects the journo by saying, including subs, we had 6 players, not just 4, 22 and younger in the match day squad. "Maybe it's something to see, rather than expecting a championship team."

He goes on to say: "Everyone talks about the Everton academy. I'm the right manager to give them opportunities because I'm Dutch. I'm not afraid to give chances to young players."

Deliciously phlegmatic, IMO. Nicely handled.

Given the injuries to so many key players, Saturday's result was really not that surprising. If we could have fielded a squad with Bolasie, Coleman, Schneiderlin, Funes Mori, Besic in it then we are not that far behind Liverpool but of course injuries are part of the game and you need real depth in the squad in order to compete. At this moment in our development, we need all of the stars to be aligned to compete consistently against the teams above us.

Just as an aside, do you think Rooney would have got a game for us on Saturday? Wink Wink.

Right lads, get yer coats.

It is Koeman's first season and he has turned the team slowly around from earlier in the season but has made mistakes which may have cost some games. The injuries to Bolasie, Coleman, McCarthy, Schneiderlin and Funes Mori have put a blight on the season which we thought might see them get into the top four; that is just a dream now.

They have some aging players particularly on the defensive side of things which have to be addressed before next season. Keane would be a good man to get for starters. We don't know what Rom will do and Valencia will probably be sent back to the Hammers.

The big question will be who will step up offensively? We have some exciting youngsters emerging, Calvert-Lewin, Lookman and Tom Davies plus Pennington and Holgate at the back.

We have been optimistic at the start of many a new season in recent years but this next one may indeed have more promise than any of those. If Rom goes, then Everton will get a huge fee which can be used towards getting Keane and another target striker.

This game is a must win for them. Correct me if I am wrong but they signed a 㿷m per year shirt contract and if they fail to qualify for the Champions League for 3 years (?) then the sponsorship drops to 㿏m p/a for the whole 10-year period. They would lose 𧹈m.

What I should have said is that it appears from results to date that Koeman is a very good 'home manager' for Everton, but a poor 'away manager. I'm looking only at his management of us, no other teams in the past, and should have said so.

In saying that, what do I know, Ronald seems to think that, unless you've played at that level, then you can't really comment.

It's one thing losing these "big games" – Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea – but it's the manner in which these games were lost.

Poor tactics; poor team selection; lack of ability to adapt. Losing is one thing, but the team has to give some hope to the fans that they can compete at that level with the better teams.

Seventh is the best we can hope for this season – the top 6 is a separate league within a league.

Koeman has to show that he has learnt from the Anfield capitulation – and picks a better team and formation to compete against Man Utd.

Thank you and goodnight! COYB

Had we got a point at Anfield we could go to Old Trafford with a fair measure of confidence and expectation. However, having been exposed and our well known shortcomings revealed for all to see, one would have to be a blind optimist to expect anything from tonight's game.

If we plan, prepare, and play like we did on Saturday, it is going to be an embarrassing night. But, if we dare to try something different – In an effort to finally break the hoodoo we self-impose on ourselves – it could be quite a revelatory evening.

So I would advise going back to experience over youth, switching to a back four with HOlgate at rigt back; stiffening up the midfield with Barry alongside Gana; putting Tom Davies on the bench to use for impact if necessary; and giving Lukaku some much-needed support up front with Valencia to help occupy the centre halves and Mirallas as a wildcard to unsettle the defence with pace, directness and eye for goal.

If we play our usual, predictable way, there will surely only be one outcome: a dismal, dour, spiritless, clueless, déjà vu defeat.

So time for Ronald to show us what he's made of again, ditch what is becoming our customary caution against 'big teams' and shake things up.

Playing two up front with Lukaku will surely give him the space and opportunities he needs. Putting Barry in midfield will solidify it and give Barkley a springboard to exploit the space in front of him. And the back four will benefit from a narrowing of the space between them and the next line of defence.

That being said, Ibrahimović will of course score on his return, so we will have to be on top form. Another dull defeat could really take the last remaining wind out of our sails for more than just a game or two and we cannot afford that to happen.

If we drop off now, and West Brom overtake us, it really will be a calamitous end to the season. One hopes we are better than that and if ever we needed to draw on the confidence and belief gained from our results so far this year, this is the time to do it.

So, once again, Evertonians will be praying for the players to show what they're made of. If they can't/don't, then it really will be proof that they are not good enough. I believe they are and fervently hope that the bitter pill we had to swallow on Saturday will be spat out in style.

But do the players have the will, grit and determination to match the fans' expectations? I believe it is possible. But they need to believe it too – and there lies the key to anything we aspire to in the future.

Last Saturday was cavalier – okay, the team didn't make it first time out – but that surely was not expected? However, to drop Davies to the bench, not give Pennington another start and start falling back to Barry and Valencia is going to send all the wrong signals to our youngsters.

Okay – maybe changes have been forced on us through injury, but after Saturday, realistically our hopes of top 4 have gone for this season, so isn't is as wise to keep blooding the youngsters, give them the experience now – this season, so that they are more prepared for next season?

I have a feeling that the season may end like this:-

We, will finally finish 6th.

The RS will finish 4th, but Leicester, under Shakespeare, will confound the world once again, and win the Champions League.

This will mean that the RS despite finishing 4th, will go into the Europa League – with us at 6th place getting the final Europa League spot arising because both cups have been won by teams finishing above us in the league.

Schadenfreude for us – after years of suffering.

Excluding of course that near-solo goal off Bolasie's flick at The Etihad, after running half the length of the pitch and then around the outside of Clichy.

The games against Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool are all derbies and it's rare to see the London clubs rest anyone against Everton either.

Call it respect or whatever you want, but I believe that the tide is turning slowly with Koeman and Moshiri at the helm.

Even with a full strength side tonight is going to be tough. Stekelenburg has to come back in, Play a flat back 4 of Baines, Williams, Jagielka, Holgate. 5 in the midfield with Barkley, Mirallas, Barry, Davies and Gana, with Rom up top.

I can't believe someone earlier suggested dropping Lukaku; what planet are some people on?

Stekelenburg
Kenny, Jagielka, Williams, Baines
Gana, Walsh, Davies
Mirallas, Barkley
Lukaku

If you are going to play the youngsters, play them in the positions they are used to playing.

I'll stick with my view from before the derby. If you're going to go all out defence and play narrow in midfield, then don't bother picking Romelu. He's a passenger in that style of play. But obviously, that style of play is shit and results in defeat every time we do it in the big away games... so don't do it. Include players who will attack from wide positions, give Ross some options and Rom some support.

There is literally nothing left to play for now so hopefully he finds his balls and has a go. No shame in losing to a better team, Ronald. Plenty in not even trying to compete.

Scoreline prediction. We'll lose. I just hope we give a good account.

Robles made a glaring mistake on Saturday, but overall he has been very good. I would keep faith with him for now. Koeman said he played a back three at the weekend; the players must not have got that memo then as that was a back five. Tonight, I would go with 4-4-1-1 and see what happens. The one thing I want to see tonight is fight and the desire to put Saturday right.

I tried to get mine in – but I couldn't conceal the urn!

Does anyone think when these sides play Everton they are all at their 100% best? They have no injuries, there is no fatigue from playing in Europe as most of these sides do? You could guarantee any one of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal or Man Utd could go to the far reaches of Russia in mid-week, pick up a ton of injuries, have to play their second string and still fucking beat us!!

That's got nothing to do with wages, or net transfer spend. There is a deep-rooted inferiority complex that's manifested itself into the club psyche. Who or what is to blame is neither here nor there at this point, but I will never understand how we cannot shake it off. I remember an Arsenal reserve side playing us off the park in the League Cup about 10 years ago, when we had a decent side.

If there was ever a prime candidate for a club to employ a team of sports psychologists then we are the perfect example. You could get to 100 games and have a win percentage of 2%!

Robles (give him a rollicking too, last game or Stekelenburg is back in)
Holgate - Williams - Jagielka
Kenny - Gueye - Barry - Baines
Barkley - Lookman
Lukaku

Barry will be fine against Carrick, but part of the problem is the lack of a left footed Centre Back with experience; the right side of our team will be very raw from now until the end of the season given Holgate really has to play.

Injuries and suspensions are all part of football and shouldn't be used as an excuse, you can select a squad of 25 and that's excluding youngsters.

I'm not expecting anything to change tonight as it's not a quick fix. We unfortunately just don't have the mentality to cope with pressure or expectation.

"When you shake hands before the game, I'd be like a lunatic, steam coming out of my ears, wanting to get stuck in” he added “but the Everton players would be saying hello and ‘Hiya Carra!' I'd be thinking, the game's kicking off in a minute, why are you even saying my name? Why are you even speaking to me?

“I wasn't saying ‘Alright Ossie' or ‘Alright Hibbo' or ‘Alright Leighton'. I already thought we had the advantage. It's like a boxer coming out and wanting to shake hands with another boxer, and it's like ‘No! I wanna punch ya!'

“I never felt that they were as aggressive or as nasty as us – in the nicest possible way – about winning those games. I always felt we had the advantage mentally and physically. I always felt that was strange.”

I don't think our players lack aggression; most of the bad tackles in the game were committed by Everton players. What we lack is quality players something we haven't had enough of since the 80s.

Yes, our record is poor against the top sides, and yes I think especially against Liverpool there is definitely a massive inferiority complex. Because even with the players we have had over the last 30 years our record should be better than it is.

As Man Utd, despite spending a fortune and Arsenal are struggling to make the top 4, that just highlights what a massive task it is for Everton to be able to challenge for a top 4 spot. What you can guarantee is that all the clubs presently in the top 6 will all again spend big in the summer.

So yes, a better mental approach to these games will help but ultimately it will come down to ability, and sad though it is, there are very very few of our players who would get into any of the top 6 starting line-ups.

I am unaware if we have a senior sports psychologist but, if not, we should be looking for one. Someone of the calibre of Steve Peters who helped the RS and can include British Cycling on his CV as well as other well-known names from other areas of sport.

There was an interesting article in the Telegraph a week or so ago:-

Mind games: how footballers use sports psychology.

Also with interesting links within the article itself. This from a piece about the All Blacks struck me: "Though it might seem strange for a team of imperious dominance, humility is core to their culture. The All Blacks believe that it's impossible to achieve stratospheric success without having your feet planted firmly on the ground". It would be impossible to apply that philosophy to 95% of Premier League players.

Rom especially take note

I would like to believe that Everton will not play 2 games in a row similar and so I expect a good showing today even with missing players. So, they drop Rom. and who do we start, Valencia with Calvert-Lewin or Mirallas.

People are quick to jump all over Rom. when things go wrong and that's ridiculous. If you have a guy who can score regularly who can pick up the slack, then maybe... but Everton don't as yet.

Stoke City the next best team, in the second tier group, have during the same period a win percentage of circa 38% and have taken 1.46 points per game from 228 matches amassing 332 points.

At Goodison, Everton have taken 2.06 points per game from the 127 games played, amassing 261 points.

Away from Goodison, Everton have won 50 matches from the 128 matches played against those teams outside of the big six and have taken 1.53 points per game amassing 196 points. Stoke by comparison have amassed 125 points on their travels with a ppg of 1.11.

The current season shows that Everton have taken 41 points from the 21 games played with a win percentage of 57% and ppg of 1.95 against the 2nd tier teams. West Brom, the next best team, have taken 39 points from their 21 games with a win percentage of 52%.

At Goodison, Everton have taken 26 points from the ten matches played so far with 8 victories and two draws. WBA have taken 25 points from their 11 home fixtures.

Away from Goodison, Everton have taken 15 points from the 11 games played whilst WBA have taken 14 points from the 10 fixtures they have played away from home.

Unfortunately I haven't got the tech skills or the time to compare the big six teams records against the lower teams, but I would expect that they would be better than the Toffees but by how much? Therefore it could be argued that it is Everton's lack of points against the big boys that is holding us back.

However, we could and should be taking more points from those 2nd tier teams away from Goodison which would help to push the club a little higher in the table.

When they had Peter Crouch up front he was scoring as they put 3 past us. When we had Wayne Rooney and we thought the tide was turning, he was being marked by Igor Biscan: result, they put 3 past us.

The flop that was Robbie Keane managed to score against us. So did traitor Barmby in his first game against us. It's in their DNA that they're going to beat us and it's in our DNA that we're going to lose.

Only during Big Dunc's first spell did I ever have any confidence that we would at least match them for commitment and effort. Last season we threw away games where we had more than a two goal advantage on numerous occasions. They needed two goals against Dortmund and you just knew they would get them.

That's the difference. They have this positive belief which permeates through the club. We have the opposite.

Most derby games turn on one or two incidents. Normally we get chances and we fluff them. I can remember Bilyaletdinov missing from about 3 yards in one game. Deulofeu had a one-on-one in the first Martinez derby at Goodison and fluffed it. Distin could have just found touch in the semi-final when we were 1-0 up. Even on Saturday we had one good move which found Holgate in space in their box and he chose the wrong option.

Saturday just confirmed everything I thought about the current Everton team in that we are weak at centre-half. Barkley is nowhere near the player we want him to be.

We don't have a good enough goalkeeper and haven't had since the days of Nigel Martyn. Lukaku never shows up when it matters.

I still trust in Koeman and think we will be a much better team once he's had time to get rid of the deadwood. He's made a good start with the likes of Cleverley, Gibson and Niasse departing. If he makes more signings like Gueye and Schneiderlin then we'll be okay. If he makes more signings like Ashley Williams, then I'll be more worried.

Subs: Stekelenburg, Holgate, Pennington, Calvert-Lewin, Valencia, Kone, Lookman

The subs bench looks terribly weak indeed. At one time, I thought we had a surfeit of midfield options; now, loaning out Cleverley & McGeady looks like not such a smart move after all.

We have had 30 years of mismanagement since. No matter which way you compare it, we have been run like a corner shop.

Moshiri means business and has genuinely made us more professional. Bringing Koeman in and moving to the dock is a start; this is evolution for us, we've just got to hope Moshiri continues his interest in us.

Seems Lookman has been frozen out of late, not even an appearance from the bench of late. He has pace which always troubles defenders; maybe give Mirallas a run out.

If Man Utd have any chance of making the top 4 then a win tonight is vital, so with Ibrahimovich and Pogba back, I guess they will throw the kitchen sink at us. Let's hope we play with a bit more belief than we did on Saturday.

Every top 6 team Everton have played away from home this season has given Everton a tough time. Conceding 12 goals in 4 games at an average of 3 goals a game just isn't good enough.

And if he doesn't go walkabout...

On a personal note, I woke with a hangover on Sunday for the first time in over a decade, so can you please not put me through the same shite. It would be greatly appreciated.

You've never even seen the lad play, unless you've been to a Reserve game. His one senior appearance was as a sub in a meaningless game last spring.

I think we're all pretty much unanimous that Koeman's biggest error Saturday was throwing Pennington into the side for his season debut in a pressure cooker at Anfield. And now you want him to make the exact same mistake at Old Trafford with a player who has even less experience than Pennington?

In the words of the legendary Betty Boop... No. No. A thousand times, No.

The Sheedy V-sign to the Kop game wasn't a victory in the Screen Sports Super Cup as, unsurprisingly, we lost both legs to them in that competition; it was in another 3-1 defeat to them in April 1987.

I too opted for Kenny at right-back, the reason being he is the only natural right-back fit and available. Holgate and Pennington are booth naturally centre-backs.

I understand where you are coming from; it will be a tough environment for either of the three aforementioned.

Lukaku has scored 21 league goals; 11 have come in four games, so he has scored ten in the other games.

If he plays on his toes, he can score; if he plays on his heels (as on Saturday), maybe not... mind you, he scored two versus Watford on his heels.

We all want him to play well and score so we can spend the hopefully huge fee when he goes.

Why anyone would prefer an untried reserve player like Kenny for a game like this is beyond me.

I would go with 4-3-3 Barkley dropping deeper but with license to run at their back four. Mirallas Valencia wide and slightly deeper than Lukaku.

I felt sorry for Pennington the other day, a kid put into that but who else was there to choose?

As for Lukaku, I hope someone offers a good wad of cash and he goes, he obviously thinks he is too good for Everton. At the moment he is probably correct.

I'm not watching tonight as I can't see anything but a Man Utd win.

Koeman is a fraud and continually makes a mess of team selections, formations and tactics with Lukaku bailing him out most weeks at Goodison. Saturday was a disgraceful performance from Koeman just like the Spurs game clueless. Who's idea was it for the entire Everton team to stand gawping at the Kopp during walk on??

If it's right Arsenal want Koeman let them take him and put Unsworth in charge. We might get a Craig Shakespeare type reaction from the team. If we get tanked again tonight, what's the point of going in to the European League next season. More misery awaits.

First, Come on Everton and freaking smack Man Utd around.

As for some comments on here. I guess watching the game on TV from an elevated camera view you can see what some cannot (especially with taping and reviewing the game). Namely, Ross Barkley was terrible.

The number of times Lukaku started a run to space that Barkley, instead of putting the ball into space to allow him to run onto it, instead fired the ball right into a defender, was amazing for a so-called professional.

Add to that the number of times he dribbled into the opposition and lost the ball, passing up open passing options and you can understand why Rom had a bad game. One, commentator put it 14 minutes into the match, "Rom hasn't had even one kick," about the lack of service, and "Barkley has got to do better."

If Ross was not a local lad, people would be calling for his head and for him to be dropped. His unforced errors, too many touches, too loose of a touch, passing up open players, and passes to the opposition without any pressure on him are really poor.

I for one would sell him to the first bidder and go get Pulisic (yes he is being groomed to play Ross's role for the USMNT) or Sigurdsson, who can do everything Ross has the fabled "potential" to do but, who actually does it.

As for Pennington, he was stuck out on the right with Holgate providing no support. In contrast, when Holgate was put out on the right side as a center-half or right back he was given a combination of Coleman and Gana and Lennon to help him. That was the fault of the manager and allowed the game to be taken away from Everton.

We may have lost the derby, but nice to see we haven't lost our sense of humour. Funny post, and it helps.

In defence of our defence. Most teams doing well have a reasonably settled formation and pattern of play and if they get really lucky don't suffer too many injuries.

So far it seems we have tried a bit of everything. However, Williams has been a big disappointment. I assume many of us thought he was a good buy at the price we got him for.

I also think we were a bit unlucky on conceding the first goal. Apart from allowing Mane to run through, not clever, I think he took his shot a fraction earlier than our players were expecting. I think Robles positioning was such because he was preparing for a shot from a different angle. Had Holgate not fallen over, he probably would have blocked the shot.

Second goal not helped by Williams turning his back on Coutinho's shot.

Tonight's a different game. We will win.

For me, Holgate needs to lose a bit of the swagger that he seams to have (Stones-esque) he has undoubted ability but could do with a bit more raw aggression.

Liam Walsh is one of the finest passes of the ball I think we have in the whole Under-23s and first team squads, he has a bite to his play and great vision. I think it's his size that has hampered his progression into the first team to date, plus when fit we are usually top heavy with central midfield players.

I don't think either player would be phased by playing at Old Trafford tonight.

Not many fixtures could offer instant redemption. This is one of them.

I'm desperate to see the boys shove all that shite the media have given them straight back down their fucking throats.

I Respect your views and understand your frustration, but, you can't be a fair-weather supporter. When Everton gets into your blood, it's like a love affair. And just like a wayward loved one, you are ready to forgive.

You have to withstand the agonies in order to rejoice tenfold when, we do reap the fruits of our efforts. Its sad now, its like when you loose a loved one, or dear family member, you don't stop listening to their favourite music (or yours), because it reminds you of them and makes you cry.

Au contraire, its something you have to do and believe it or not it makes you feel better.

So, I am going to watch and, Even if we do mess up, I know I will rant and rave like you can complain about a family member, but ,you won't listen to other people barracking them. It's in the blood!

I think if my life depended on the result, I would have to go with Man Utd, I don't think we are a 5/1 shot though but that's what's on offer!