Manchester City vs Everton

Pickford
Holgate Keane Williams Baines
Gueye Schneiderlin Davies
Klaassen Rooney Sandro

With Sigurdsson, Lookman, Calvert-Lewin and Mirallas potential substitutes to change the game and Besic or McCarthy to see out the game if we are leading.

Speed, strength, skill, and a great desire to run off both teams. Chelsea, have just gone in-front, but this Spurs look like a very good team, so maybe the standard is improving?

However, this Everton squad is much stronger defensively than it has been for years and they may come to rely on that in a big way during these next few weeks.

So far it appears that Koeman may have to rely on the new offensive players Rooney, Sandro and Gylfi to replace the goals tally of the departed Rom. but can't see that happening in these next 4 Premier League games.

Football is a funny game though and we may just get some surprises after all who would have thought Albion and Huddersfield would have 6 points each and Burnley to have won at Chelsea.

Subs: Stekelenburg, Holgate, Besic, Davies, Mirallas, Sigurdsson, Lookman

Lookman, Sigurdsson & Davies to come on in the second.

Or, he may go three centre-halves, Cuco and Baines as wing backs with the same three in central midfield. Klaassen behind Rooney.

I doubt Costa would join us... but if he does we will be a couple players short of challenging top four seriously.

I would like to see us play an organised counter-attacking game. That's where our lack of outright pace is a concern but we can still hit them if we're slick enough.

Courage, intelligence and fitness - the way to a good result, not only tomorrow but in every game we play this season.

Why are we playing away on Monday though? When we are away on Thursday in Croatia and play Chelsea on Sunday. That leaves so little prep time and little recovery time. For that reason, I think we need to rotate. I'd give Rooney a rest in one of the Prem games - sandro for tomorrow makes sense and he has the pace to get in behind.

The schedule is a joke - 3 away games in 6 days (less really as we play Sunday afternoon)

I Hate this, talking up the opposition bollocks, its the language of the defeatist. This crew have never ben formidable at Home. Martinez was unlucky not to win there and Moyes made a habit of it.

fuck the customary foetus position. This crew are beatable. Lets go for the jugular

I don't think you'll be seeing McCarthy in this one, Ajay (#4) – he's out with a knee injury.

And can't we quit this cry-arse moaning about the schedule, Jim (#25)? This is what happens if you play in Europe. It's a pathetic excuse as the fixtures are known in ample time for Koeman and the players to plan for – and it's their bleedin' job, FFS!

Klaassen is still adjusting and should sit this one out in place of Davies; likewise Rooney should be used from the bench until the game calms down – his place taken by either Calvert-Lewin or Sandro, if fit.

Sigurdsson would be great to start, he lacks a bit of pace but doesn't half cover some ground, and his set-piece skill might be the deciding factor.

When City are good, they're very good, but they have a soft underbelly. We've exposed it before, so let's do it again tomorrow. I'm expecting one point or three, an attitude we need to adopt if we're going to progress.

It may be early days but it was the start in 2005 season that helped us finish in the top 4 since then we have only been chasers.

Sigurdsson should start that game.We need just 1 goal in Split to finish off that
tie.

Pickford
Holgate
Jagielka
Keane
Baines

Schneiderlein
Gueye
Davies

Mirallas
Rooney
Sandro

If their defence is so strong why are they looking to spend stupid money on a 29 year old defender who was deemed not good enough for their neighbours?

I have a gut feeling that we'll play well and come away with a very credible draw, or possibly nick it late on which will trigger mass hysteria on TW.

Elevens you say ? Got to be worth an Ayron of anyones.

If we go with an intent to win and we lose . .so be it, they are a decent outfit, but if we go expecting and accepting a tonking, we deserve all we get

This isn't what happens when you play in Europe - Can you give an example of a similar six day turnaround for a team playing in Europe in recent years? This isn't the Christmas period, and even if it was, most teams wouldn't play 3 times in 6 days, especially not all away from home. Monday, Thursday, Sunday is a joke - we cannot perform at our best, and it will not happen to Arsenal this season, and it did not happen to United last. If you've got examples to the contrary, I'd love to hear them.

This is because of Television - there is no reason we should be playing on Monday. We should have been on Sunday, as Europa league teams customarily are after one game, and before the next. No other team in the Europa League is playing on Monday - questions demand to be asked. Rotation was a feature of many, and it will be of us too, even more so.

We need someone who can pick a quick pass to fleet footed forwards, as without doubt we will be looking to soak up pressure and counter attack.

Klaassen showed glimpses of what he's all about on Thursday and now I expect him to step up and show it in the league. I think he has got the qualities we need against a team like City.

I would love to see Sigurdsson start, but very much doubt he's ready, and a player is more at risk of injury if he isn't fully match fit. Dream scenario would be that he's an unused sub and not at all required as we close out a much deserved win.

Why should we fear these tomorrow? Our midfield can match anyone's. The defence and keeper haven't conceded yet. I'm confident. I want to match them on the pitch, no excuses! Jagielka giggling in the tunnel is hopefully a distant memory...good player, nice fella, but epitomised our loser mentality. That may upset a few, but Carraghet couldn't believe their mindset before Derby games etc..

I am actually looking forward to the usually dreaded trip to Anfield this season. Here we have a player who's actually won there.

No point in bleating about it after accepting Murdock's hush money all these years.

While most EPL clubs represent our country in Europes elite competition, we are still trying to qualify for the minor one. Lets do that first and people might start to respect our chances . .The TV company's may even give us the nod ahead of women's rugby.

Back to Monday evening: We have spent around 70m strengthening our defence. We play with two insurance policies in front of them . If we are still gonna worry about the opposition what was the point ? Rooney is past his best, but he still has a few cameos in his locker.

No, I think your right actually, the odds are too big.
I cant see us winning though, a draw maybe, now if that is too defeatist for some of you, tough.
It doesn't make any effing difference to the result, I'm not planning to play on Monday!

Carragher picked up on that plucky little Everton mentality.

“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?

Our two centre mids have a big job of disrupting their passing game, of covering ground and frustrating the City players.

Rooney, as an ex-Utd player, will also have a task of getting in their faces.

We need to make Stones uncomfortable, a couple of early fouls will help. We only need one mis-placed pass from him and we can go 1-0 up.

Sandro's energy will be necessary, also think he will have a role with long range shots. Their keeper will remain under the spot-light, and just may be vulnerable. Klassen also knows how to hit the ball, this sort of game can be won by a long range screamer.

Davies, Lookman and Sigurdsson as subs to give us energy for the final 30-20 mins.

0-2 or 1-2. COYB.

Pickford
Cucu, Williams, Keane, Baines
Gueye, Schneidelin
Klassen
Rooney, DCL, Sandro

Stek, Holgate, Jags, Mirallas, Besic, Davies, Lookman

Sandro and Lookman need to start, with Rooney finding them quickly once Gueye and Schneiderlin win the ball back from Man City. City play a high line so we need Route One passes from Rooney to stand a chance of getting a result. As Chelsea showed today, possession football is not everything!

If the ball goes up to say Stones, then we need 1 player on his pressuring him, and another player nearby to mop up the scraps.

I remember United playing Liverpool last season and they long balled it and took Liverpool's midfield completely out the game.

City look good but they looked good last year and we still battered them. These top teams are there for the taking we just need to have the believe, energy and desire to get at them. No point sticking 10 players behind the ball and trying to sneak it because they will score if they have enough chances.

Let them have the ball just press the shit out of them and give them nothing to do with it and hit them on the break.

I hope Sigurdsson comes on for the last twenty / twenty five minutes when the game has slowed down, I think it will be too fast for him at the start, only because of his fitness levels at the moment, if Phil Walling thinks we have a chance and is betting on us doing that then we definitely can pull a win off, I'll be in the Sovereign Cross (Ned Kelly's ) willing them to do it.

In Pickford and Keane we've signed two players who are easily good enough to be in the city team. Schneiderlin and Gueye are also quality in front of the defence.

We really need some pace to offer something on the counter so hopefully Sandro and one of Mirallas or Lookman will be in the starting line up. Lookman is so unpredictable, he might just be a surprise but I think RK will probably go with an older head.

Looking forward to it and hope the boys put in a good shift. Worry about Split on Tuesday.

At least if we lose tomorrow we will hopefully be on a high again on Thursday.

So set pieces and a strong defensive display to frustrate Man City. If this tactic works... 2-0 and Everton have arrived.

No pretentious bullshit from them.

Could see Besic starting and being given a man-marking assignment - either on Silva or De Bruyne.

I'd be pleased to see Sigurdsson (if he is fit enough to play 70 mins) given the start over Klaassen. Rooney will play, and will need to do a lot of running.

Could be a long evening; doubt we'll get more than 33% possession.

This season will of necessity be mostly frills-free as our hard-ass manager pursues the mission spelt out to him, and us, by Moshiri.

I hope and believe he and the players deliver the required goods but, as anyone will surely acknowledge, we've been delivered one bitch of a start-to-the-season.

Others (even Darren) have alluded to the need for us to at least look the part regardless of the result. That'll do for me too, as a last resort.

Why? Because like City, Hadjuk Split play a very high defensive line. And like City, they play it very well. It takes discipline and well-synchronized movement by 4-5 different individuals to move as one to squeeze the space for the attacking side and catch them offside. How many times did Everton fall into the trap, particularly in the second half last week?

Select the right personnel. Prepare with the right tactics (for both games). Execute the plays and moves correctly at the right time in both games and we can get a result.

Oh! And continue with the defensive rigidity and resolve we have displayed until now.

Optimistic. Always.

Ron is a play it safe manager first. Some good shouts on here for team selection and tactics.

As fans we need to change our mentality to believe we can beat anyone on the day. Hoping for a win or being happy to scrape a draw is just defeatist.

Our away fans are the best in the country so give them something to sing about..

City 1 Everton 2

I am tipping Klaassen to have a blinder.

4-4-2 for me so one exception to Lyndon's line up – Sandro instead of Mirallas

Pickford
Martina, Keane, Williams, Baines
Davies, Gueye, Schneiderlin, Klaassen
Sandro, Rooney.

Feeling nervous - that's usually a good sign.

I think our team is very well designed to defend deep against the top sides - it plays directly to our strengths. I think Koeman will ensure we have pace up top to work the counter attacks and I think there is a good chance we will get a point from this one. There's goals in that City defence - the players they have added are wing backs who won't be there when we are counter attacking.

Subs: Stekelenburg, Besic, Jagielka, Sigurdsson, Lookman, Calvert-Lewin, Mirallas.

2 1 to the Toffees

Sandro and Sigurdsson to score.

I often read and do see on these pages that last season was a means to an end. The dour, turgid offerings of last year were personnel driven and just pure pragmatism to get us by. I have never bought that argument and I felt very short changed from the joyless football we had last year.

You rarely win at grounds like this with poor players, we have a burgeoning squad, personnel is not an excuse.

You also rarely win at top six grounds sitting in and bunkering down, too often once the rearguard is breached you have neither the energy or mindset to get something from the game.

I expect to see a change from the manager, to attack and occupy players who are in the main not used to defending for long periods. That is their biggest weakness.

You have to attack and land the knockout blow. Many times I've seen Everton score first in a game like this and then immediately sit back, no! A second goal is the killer psychologically.

If we set up 3-5-2 then he's hoping to nick something, there is no reward in that. I hope we go for it against a talented but undercooked City side.

Gonna stick a couple of quid on a win and draw if the odds mentioned above still available and go for a confidence boosting 2-1 to us. Looking forward to it and have a feeling Rooney and Klaassen are building a good understanding which will provide the goals.

If he sets up 3-5-2 could he not be looking to stop one of their min attacking threats, which is the full backs creating two on one's in the wide areas.

Subs and to mix it up if needed, Klaassen, Sigurdsson, Mirallas, Davies, Holgate, Besic, Stekelenburg.
COYB

Anyway I just hope we go for the jugular and take the game to them. No more knives to gunfights.

Pickford
Holgate Keane Williams Baines
Schneiderlin Gueye
Klaassen
Lookman Rooney
Sandro

With a cameo from the new man after 60 minutes.

I don't know how we'll get on but as long as the City players...and their crowd, come away thinking, "Bloody Hell, that was one hard game against that lot."

That's what I hope Ronald Koeman, Fergie and Wayne Rooney bring out in our players. We're in the process of knoitting a team together and we're still short of a couple of quality players but I think that will come and we'll get the players sooner or later, hopefully sooner, but those who go out there tonight I want to see them harry a City player as soon as he gets the ball. I want to see them win therir individual battles, not sit back in admiration of the quality (undoubted though it is) of so many of the City players.

I think someone said about going to Anfield during Shankly's reign was "All you go away with is a cup of tea!"

Well, we've got a number of hard games coming up (they're all going to be hard I suppose) but the thing I'm looking for is that the opposition are as wary of us, as we used to be of them.

I think it was

But forever the optimist!!!, I've had a £10 saver on Everton to triumph and return me a similar amount!

COYB!

Hopefully Sigurdsson will give Rooney the freedom he could do with over the next few games. Then we should have the striker we are desperate for by the end of the window.

The last time we beat a side away that would finish Top 4
was actually City 7 years ago.

24 games have passed since then so that probably puts your 10/1 into perspective.

Pickford
Holgate, Keane, Jagielka, Baines
Schneiderlin, Gueye, Davies,
Rooney, Lookman
Sandro

This will hopefully give us the solidity needed but also a threat going forward. Then in the second half we introduce Gylfi to replace either Lookman or defensive midfielder depending on the score. I agree with other posters its our intent to win rather than just survive I'm most looking for.

We also struggle, as Sam (#32) points out, because our ball retention is not good enough and that's down to skill, mobility and organisation. Ron is building a team that presses more and moves the ball quicker.

At the moment I don't see any real advance in ball retention, other than Rooney. That's why we are likely to struggle, or at least have to focus on defence.

You can't just press a button called 'attack', you have to have the ball. With limited possession, swift counter-attacking is necessary and if Sandro is still out, our options are not great.

This will be a real test of our new-found defensive solidity.

Pickford
Holgate Keane Jagiellka Baines
Gana Davies
Sandro Rooney Lookman
Calvert-Lewin

That way we have a bit of pace up front which will allow Rooney to have decent runners to play to. This means we don't have to play with two holding midfielders in that Davies doesn't sit and both he and Gana can press them.

If it is still deadlocked at the 60-70 minute mark, we bring on Sigurdsson.

Away from home against the big clubs I think is the best way to bed the young lad in, we're not expected to get much out of tonight so nothing to lose. I for one think we're in for a tough match, but our defence looks superb and with Gana, Schneiderlin, Davies in in front, I'm hoping their energy will make it equally as tough getting through to our defensive line, as let's face it aerially they aren't a great threat outside of set-pieces.

Lookman and Sandro with the pace up top and Rooney picking out their runs on the counter. I'm hopeful we can get something out of this. COYB

Apart from the fact I think we have better players to start than Mo, I also think he has shown he is an ill-disciplined hothead far too often and has not addressed this part of his game.

The last thing we would need in the atmosphere at this 'fake news' plastic big club is for one of our players to give a pressurised referee an easy decision for a red card or a penalty - that's happened far too many times in this fixture already. If we go to ten men it is game over but I have to agree with the sentiment that we go there seeking the win. Anything else sets the tome for defeat, including looking for a draw.

PS Don 68

"Rule one; do not concede. Rule 2; do not lose"

Have a think about that one if you make Rule 1, Rule 2 is quite easy .

I hope he doesn't play the Martina at right-back, he'll get ripped defensively, not bad going forward, but too risky in defence.

Looking forward to it.

COYB

Like I said earlier. We might get beat and propbably the odds show what the bookies think what the results going to be. What I want to see though is that we are combative, we fight for every ball and we get on the ref's back if he ghives anything like 50/50 decisions to the opposition.

I think we will getter better as the season wears on and the players get more accustomed to each other; and we get the other tweo players at least, that Koeman wants.

I'm not predicting the outcome but I want to see our players attitude be a never give in one.

I believe that we can make the step up and bridge the gap to the top six, if not immediately and consistently this season, then definitely over the next two or three seasons. It was interesting that Moshri quite clearly stated at the AGM that league position is the "gold standard" and not the FA Cup (which I would support), even though he said that he loves the FA Cup as a competition.

I do hope that we put a good focus on the Europa cup though. The first half against Hadjuk Split was really encouraging. The team is gelling. People often refer to Koeman as being a great player in his time. What they overlook is that Koeman also played in great teams for both club and country (so called total football) with great team mentality and spirit, and coached by top people. He knows what it takes to build a successful team in this fashion and I feel that he is applying this to Everton. A great team will defeat a bunch of talented (and expensive) individuals any day of the week.

C'mon you two, where does all his come from? Been on the ale?

BetVictor look good offering 11/1 The Blues 5/1 the draw and £40 free bets for new accounts

1-0 the Blues tonight btw.

And will we be in our 3rd kit maybe?

When I look at the type of players Man Utd have been signing compared to the players we have brought in, my heart sinks. Utd now have a team full of young tall athletic physically imposing lads with pace in key areas. This manager of ours has gone the Everton way, bringing in small paceless players and some lads a little too old for my liking. We lack pace, a physical presence and height all over the park.

It's not good enough for the Premier league. These days, it's power and pace football in England. We are plodders.

Some of our signings have been dreadful. Davy Klaassen looks about 50 years old and as if a good pan of Scouser would kill him. Very slow and not good enough for this level I'm afraid. Rooney is to old and slow. Sigurdson is nearly 30, we didn't really need another midfielder above a striker, did we?

We let Romelu go too soon and replaced him with an unknown Spanish kid costing £5 million?? WTF... We're now playing Calvert-Lewin up front!!!

Come on, guys, anyone can see Calvert-Lewin isn't good enough for the Premier League. How many club's above us in the League would play him?

I think we have definitely been short-changed this summer, not really spent any money, sold too cheaply, and paid over the odds for Sigurdsson.

I don't rate Koeman. Dutch football is on it's arse, so are Dutch coaches across the world. The Total Football era has long gone and we have a relic of that era at our club. The football we play is abysmal and lacks a focal point.

Not going the game tonight and don't think I have the stomach to watch what's coming either. If we start with Calvert-Lewin up front, we are doomed. We should go and get Benteke right now. He is big and strong good finisher and also available. It's a no-brainer we need strikers...

Tonight could define our season play well and try and take the game to Man City and get nothing worse than a draw and the team will start to believe. Loose badly and it could be back to same old mindset we cant beat the top teams away so 7th will be the norm again.

I also feel that it's important that we don't break up the centre pair from last night out of Keane and Williams. They were both very strong together and we will need a strong defence tonight against city's excellent attack.

I am quietly confident that we can keep another clean sheet and maybe nick a goal or two tonight if Koeman gets his team selection right.

Very tedious and cowardly is the negative phrase. Anybody who can back their own theory like I have seen Darren do on here quite often is just normal for me.

I think if you go to City and try to just attack them then you are probably asking for a spanking.

Press them. Counter them. Frustrate them. Have a plan whereby you stop them scoring and get one yourself by all means but let's not kid ourselves that we can match them at their own game. They have Aguero, Jesus, Sane, De Bruyne, Sterling, Silva, Bernardo Silva. We have Rooney, Mirallas and a couple of kids.

Naive enthusiasm only gets you so far.

Our best shot is to contain them and hope we can catch them on the break. Or grab a set piece. For that reason I hope we give Mirallas/Lookman a start and that Siggurdsson gets some minutes.

It has the same amount of credibility as posters with the opposite view to Darren's being labelled as grass-skirt wearing happy clappers.

None.

To maximise our physical advantage and mitigate their technical superiority we must create a high tempo to the game. We want crash, bang wallop. We want their flair players to be rushed in possession.

We want our creative players to receive the ball in space. The spaces in Man City's breakdown comes behind full backs.

I expect a 4-3-2-1 formation with Rooney and Klassen behind Sandro and Davies supplementing Schneid and Gana.

We'll keep our fullbacks deep and play in to Rooney and Klassen in the turnover who will in turn look for Sandro's run while the centre backs are up on the halfway line.

Just my view.

Suddenly we've got lots of leaders on the pitch - that has the makings of a side with the right attitude. The manager just needs to instill the belief (and right tactics) now. even if we lose, I expect us to try and match their footballing abilities. No hoofs, and no sitting back if we a take the lead. It will soon become apparent if we are up for it. We are only 8/1 for a top 4 finish, so the bookies must think we're in with a shout!

I predicted that Hillary Clinton would be the US President, and that we wouldn't vote for Brexit. On that basis, I predict we'll lose 1-0.

City will look to dominate possession and I think it will be critical to minimise that and enjoy some possession of our own.

A question hangs over our 3rd midfielder. Davies, Klaassen or Sigurdsson?

Personally, I'd go for Davies as our midfield will be more about energy and pressing than creativity. Klaassen maybe on as sub as a striker, or if Sandro ain't fit. Sigurdsson on for 30 mins where we will have more chances through set-pieces.

Upfront I'd go for Calvert-Lewin as the target man, with Sandro and Rooney playing off him.

Mirallas is just too lazy and ineffective recently.

I fancy us to grind out a draw, PROVIDED that there are no early yellow cards / the ref is fair.

This is the type of game where two DMs like Gana and Schneiderlin earn their corn.

I can see us gaining a win if we are on our game on set pieces. I think Man City are poor at defending these, and with Keane you fancy he will outjump someone to nod in.

Pre-season we were poor and that can't be argued, but against Stoke and Split (first 45 at least) we played more coherently. We seem to have a bit of steel about us and have players who will argue decisions instead of just going "Yes, Ref". That for me is big change in mindset and indicates we will scrap for a result.

Going for a 'George' tonight and us to win handsomely. Get on here, George, give us some cosmic grooves please!

I would go with: Pickford; Jagielka; Keane; Baines; Schneiderlin; Gueye; Holgate; Davies; Klaassen; Rooney; Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Stekelenburg; Lookman; Williams; Ramirez; Mirallas & Sigurdsson.

Pretty cool I think.

I wonder if anyone in the Freshy has seen anything of Doddy lately -I loved their mutual obsession with Moyes (opposite ends of love and hate spectrum !) but both seemed to retire when the miserable bugger moved on !

Siggurdson? Jimmy Krankieesque.

What's that? They weren't mentioned? I wonder why that is.

It doesn't actually matter that Klaassen is actually 24, because he "looks about" 50, and that's all that matters.

Same old same old .

We haven't one recognised "No.9" in the football club. I think we've made some great signings and really pleased with the squad but how can we not have a single out and out striker at the football club. Sandro looks great, got some pace and Rooney can unlock any defence but we need a Target Man! If we have DCL upfront tonight I think thats a statement we really do not want to be making at this point in season. Good lad, not top 6 material. Hope he proves me worng if he gets the chance.

Anyway, hopeful for tonight. Look very strong throughout the middle and at the back. Lets nick a point!!! COYB

Far from dreading these tough runs, I relish them. Better to have them now while were fresh and teams are still settling than later in the season when injuries and tiredness have set in.

Have they bought off the ref?

Yes, it's been dark in the USA since November. We've an ass-clown in the white house...

And yes, it's really weird it's getting dark here... odd thing. We do have a LOT of cloud coverage so hopefully I get to actually see the eclipse.

Darkness in 'Merica. Hopefully blinding joys of light for Everton today.

I just hope it doesn't happen tonight. COYB!!!!

Seems like the majority of Koemans signings are 6ft plus.
Always better to check before posting

If we work hard, we can produce a performance and a result that will give us hope.

It is tricky though, whether to go for it or sit back, or a clever mixture of both? Tough one for Koeman. COYBB's !

You don't rate RK and think dutch football is 'on its arse and has been for years'. Well RK did get us from 11th to 7th in his first season. got rid of a ton of dross from the squad and Ajax happened to reach the EL final last year (and we signed their captain, who you say is shite and looks about 50 years old - that opinion based on less than 5 appearance!).

Lukaku went too soon? He wanted to leave a year ago and has been banging on about moving to a 'bigger' club practically every day he was at Everton. £75m plus £15m in add-ons, thank you very much and good riddance. Sandro btw is not his replacement. He's an additional striker and the club is aiming to get a target man in. Would maybe save the commentary for the 1st Sept, not when the window still has 11 days to go.

Additionally, you're not impressed with the signings even though two of them will probably be long term starters in the national side and neither would look out of place in any of the top 4 sides (never mind top 6!).

We've also played 4 competitive matches so far, won all of them whilst keeping 4 clean sheets. Admittedly, we didn't look like world beaters but half the squad have only known each other for a few weeks.

I can certainly see we're a work in progress but your negativity at this time is true comedy value. It's certainly made me laugh this Monday.

Get yourself down the local and grab a pint...world might look bit better after.

Height doesn't matter a fuck if a guy can play, So why do people dispute even that ?

DCL is probably not going to pick the ball up wide, beat three men and then unleash a howitzer from twenty-five yards into the top corner. I'd say Lookman is more likely to do that. But up front we need to play someone who has a chance of making the ball stick - competing for 50/50 balls - and drawing the odd foul. DCL is probably the best option we currently have to do this.

Nah.

Holgate, Baines out wide

Davies Schneiderlin Gueye

DCL Rooney

The correct formation for tonight's game.
COYB

Here's hoping I'm completely wrong.

Nah.

if Koeman reached into a babies pram and stole his toys I suspect we have people on here who would blame the baby.

To listen to those down at the excuse factory, You would think we were playing one of the greatest teams of all time. I wonder which Manchester City they were watching ? The one I saw had a Goalie who gives their fans heart attacks every time the ball goes near him. They had a captain who is struggling to get back to anywhere near the form he showed a few years back. They had John Stones, still trying to play football with people who couldn't control a bag of cement. On one side a galloper, who had conveniently got himself red carded and on the other, the lamentable Otamendi.
Any manager with an ounce of common and a modicum of courage is going for the jugular right ? wrong. Koeman decides its a good idea to sit back and invite their wonderfully talented attacking players to show us what they can do. what a fucking Moron !

I'm still fucking seething about this. what an opportunity.

WTF was he doing ? He was saying one thing and doing another. he calls for width, but decides to narrow things up by asking his wingbacks to stay home and switch to an orthodox back four . . .who was going to proved the width he was calling for ? Gana ? Shneiderlin ? You'd have to release them from their chains to do that.
we didn't need to "pin City back" we needed to get Rooney off when he was clearly running on empty after an hour and we needed to get somebody up top with DCL. we needed to stop them feeling confident enough to push more and more men forward. We needed our tackling machines 5 yards further up the pitch to stop them gaining what at times felt like total possession.

Its easy to point the finger at the mistake by Holgate and say "but for that error. . " but fatigue had set in right across the defence. they were getting no respite. Young Mason was badly let down by a managers inability to see whats happening in front of him

"Masterclass in defending" ? . . fuck me.

Anybody and I do mean ANYBODY, could break all club transfer records on defenders and DM's and ask them to defend for their lives . .but it takes a rare degree of stupidity to do it to the point where exhaustion poses as big a threat as the opposition.

Question, would we have heard your inane crap today if we'd won? About as likely as you never commenting about Koeman I guess.

We needed our tackling machines 5 yards further up the pitch.

Thats 15 foot.
Can you explain please.

200M for 7th is looking like gross under funding.

Still it does make me smile to see people continue to "yarn" . . "take with a pinch of salt" and generally "not be interested" in my posts falling over themselves to respond to them . .within minutes.

Maybe if they were able to form their own opinions . .they too would get a responses ? Yeah . . . of course they would

So you say my opinions don't get responses? Well shows how little you pay attention. I'm happy with my contribution and the debates I have with fellow posters. But even if they didn't get responses the ONLY reason your posts get attention is because they are utterly moronic. Id rather be anonymous than moronic. But there you go.

'I'll never speak about Koeman again' . Anymore words of wisdom you can share?

You are "Just browsing" every time I post.

Time and again you pop up and you never, not ever, have an alternative argument. Just the same half witted personal attacks. They wont wash. I wont be shouted down by people who don't have the intelligence to put up a counter argument. understood.?

I've just gone through all my previous posts and you are there every time telling me how "you dont have any interest" in them Have you ever noticed that I ignore everything foolish little dig ? . . ever wonder why ?

I stand by my post @175. Some will agree (as always) and some wont. Those who disagree with my views may put up a reasoned argument. those who don't care, will move on . . . Only the complete idiots will keep coming back and spouting personal nonsense to let me know how "not interested" they are. . .You do understand that don't you ?

Here's what I said.

"Don't worry John"

"I will post on this site as long as my posts are published. You will get your opportunity to say "I told you so" I should have said I wont post on Koeman related threads"

I said that because there are a small group of people who simply cant bear Koeman to be criticised and like you they don't have enough about them to counter my arguments . .so they take the time and trouble to make childish personal attacks and tell me how much my posts don't interest them. . .truly absurd.

The personal attacks don't bother me, but pleeeeeeese. at least have a coherent counter argument to g with them.

This is a match day thread - The clue is in the title and the manager has IMO mismanaged this match. Disagree ? I don't care . .but stop embarrassing yourself with this "I was "just browsing" nonsense, You are always "just browsing" trying to shout down views you are incapable of countering

Or maybe moronically anonymous ?

Will ponder and give considered view later.

Luckily (?!) for me you normally post whilst im at work. So I get to see the majority of your posts.

I have debated with you several times in the past, with which you have replied, but you probably don't remember as my opinion and counter argument disagreed with yours.

The personal attack uncalled for. Agreed. Won't happen again. Apologies for that. Sometimes (?!) you're so bloody frustrating and it's easy to let my emotions kick in before my brain does.

But Ok, next time I can be bothered reading one of your posts, I will counter and debate with you to see if I'm 'capable' if reaching such lofty heights of the Daz-meisters attention.

You know the funny thing is, I don't actually rate Koeman that highly. Its just your constant negative drivel drives me to defend him as believe it or not, not everything is actually his fault.

Looks to me like DCL proved you wrong last night then?

I don't mind personal stuff, water off a ducks back.

Its the empty headed fuck-all-to-say brainless stuff which leaves me cold . .so I ignore it

These debates you have had with me ? Perhaps they took place in your own head.

I can't answer for others, but in my case if you quote something I have posted, which you do in the vast majority of your recent posts, it is only civil to respond.

Regardless of the massive difference in playing staff I think Koeman got it wrong last night. The double substitution didn't work and I'm afraid Sigurdsson was well off the pace. Quite how he thought that he was going to offer the width and outlet that we clearly needed.

Yes, I would have accepted the drawer from the off but what a massive opportunity to win at a team who will be top 3 this year.

To be honest, I'm not critical of the style of play because a win would have been more important to me. Two points dropped not one point gained.

I'm so glad our manager isn't a sulky primadonna like Pep G.

Anyone hear his post match interview? Pathetic. How old?

Surreal quote of day:

"Yes I would have accepted the drawer from the off..."

So would I mate.