Yannick Bolasie set to restart training

Regarding Pennington, he was out for two months with an ankle injury and has reported struggled a bit since his return. I haven't seen him but the press gave him high marks for his performance against Bristol two weeks ago. http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/10/23/leeds-defender-matthew-pennington-came-of-age-against-bristol-ci/

And multiple press outlets have reported we cannot bring back Dowell this season, that his loan deal commits him to Forest through May.

Fingers crossed both players make a 100% recovery but we've got a load of games before they'll be in any match day squad.

Shame as the dead rubber Europa League games would have been a good chance for a run out without going at 100%.

It is a positive having the injured lads back but we still need to address the elephant in the room of no centre-forward.

Robles (let's pretend he's injured!)
Coleman, Pennington, Funes Mori, Browning, Galloway
McCarthy, Barkley
Dowell
Bolasie, Onyekuru

Subs: Walsh, Robinson, Grant, Martina, Williams, Connolly

Bolasie: " Doc, will I be able to cross a ball properly when I recover"?............

My brother-in-law is a Leeds supporter, he goes the games. He says Pennington is struggling there. Had a terrible game against Sheffield Utd which Utd won. Leeds fans not fussed on him. I watched the Sheffield Utd game; Pennington was as all over the place.

Sometimes players are never the same after long layoffs but if this guy becomes available again along with Seamus, Funes Mori and Macca then Everton will be all the better for it come the new year all being well.

Funes Mori has had his critics but I don't think Jags. or Williams are as commanding aerially as Funes Mori and are not what I want to see next season.

In fact I would want to see another class attacker added in January as well as another commanding centre back.

Hopefully the Championship and Forest can bring the focus.

Pickford
Kenny Keane Pennington Robinson
Beningime Davies
Dowell Walsh Lookman
Calvert-Lewin

We've got a great opportunity to blood these guys. Keep ya money –we'll grow our own.

Hmmm?

Bolasie might, repeat might, well do so but others in the squad, "seniors" all, make me wonder if that's the truth or whether they're all just happy to be delivering the bare minimum.

And, as far as Bolasie's concerned, has he got any further interest in the club now that his bestest immobile mate has buggered off to a way better pay-check from a team for whom, right now, he's hit a barren spell whilst blaming his team-mates for their shortcomings for the reason for that?

Hmmm? Again.

Also, for those claiming he was "crap" last season, he can certainly be inconsistent, but he was offering a heck of a lot more than Deulofeu or Mirallas or any of these guys who have basically been deified for falling out of favor with Koeman.

I think the point people are missing is that Yannick offers us intricacy, pace, skill and the ability to go past a man. If he occupies one wing and we have Vlasic who can do the same on the other wing, then we will be giving defenders a lot to think about which naturally creates space in the centre of the park where our strikers & (supposed) goal scoring midfielders such as Rooney, Sigurdsson, Klaassen & Barkley can exploit to there benefit.

For me, gun to my head and all players fully fit would line up:

Pickford
Coleman, Keane, Funes Mori, Baines;
Gana;
Bolasie, Barkley, Lookman/Vlasic;
Niasse, Calvert-Lewin

I reckon that team would be challenging the top 8 easily and possibly the top 6. Switch out 2 strikers away from home and drop Morgan next to Gana and leave Oumar up top.

Stats before he came, When he played and after injury would suggest we spunked £28 mill.

We should not hold breath etc.

Though I'd swap Holgate in for Pennington, and Barkley in for Walsh...

I really hope he retains his pace. That was a horrendous injury and Bolasie has been positive throughout the rehab process so I look forward to seeing him back.

Don't kid yourselves... this season is going to be a struggle. We really are poor... will two or three signings in January be enough?

On the manager front, it's a poisoned chalice, so it's going to be David Unsworth then.

Get ready for the ride, it starts on Saturday with another loss at Palace.

We just need to get players back from injury, like Coleman, Bolasie, Barkley, and Funes Mori, and then things will look very different. All these players are aged between 24 and 29, ie, in their peak years. How many in the side at the moment are in that age range? We're missing peak-age players and getting these guys back to their best will make a monumental difference.

Keep the faith, mate. For all you know, the Palace game could be win number 2 in the revival, and whilst Watford was about re-finding our ability to fight, maybe Palace will actually be a winning performance. For me, they're the worst team in the league and we should be able to show our class.

Of course, defeat and a poor performance and you can start with the doom and gloom. I can't see how we can lose myself. I think the tide has turned and the belief will be back and we will show this by steamrollering Palace and kicking on from there.

A point wouldn't be bad at all but a win would be great. It will be close game, 1-2 for me, COYB.

Any news on the vacancy of manager? Who is sailing the ship? How long does it take to advertise, interview and appoint?

First thing to do when you have appointed a manager. Start looking for the next one. Success or failure managers move on.

Let's wait and see what happens but please get on with it.

Let's see who becomes the new manager, and his take will be on the squad.

When first here, he showed the potential of what he can do, this time around both we, and he, will be hoping for so much more! Too much expectation, returning from such a big injury? Possibly, but I think this is a big, strong gifted athlete and footballer and, once100% physically right and sent out chomping at the bit to do his stuff, he will rise to just such a challenge!! Here's hoping on hope, anyway!! COYTs!!!