Southampton vs Everton

I know he didn’t perform last week, but Lookman is the touch of flair we need to gets bums off seats and some excitement in the team.

The central defensive pairing is the main concern obviously, with so many goals being leaked. Why not try Mo Besic in the left CB role? I believe he has played there before. Holgate, Keane, Williams have all been crap, with Jags seemingly the best of a bad lot.

I thought Sandro picked his game up on Thursday so why not give him a chance to grow his confidence. I'm going to stick my neck out here and trust for a little more luck and a surprising 3-1 win. Soton will be expecting a picnic.

The refereeing this weekend is going to be interesting.

Personally, I'd like to see Sandro play off Calvert-Lewin and try Rooney deeper in central midfield or Sigurdsson in "the hole" ahead of Gueye with two wingers.

I'd also be tempted to try Besic as a centre-half but he lacks height and we're weak enough on set-pieces. I'd be content never to see Williams play for us again but I don't see a decent alternative if Jagielka and Holgate are injured.

I was flummoxed by all the hype and chasing in the summer. Couldn't understand it. No-one was interested in going after him even when the fee was at it's lowest. Stitched we were, I've said it before.

Midweek game, although a win would have not mattered in terms of Europa, would have done a lot on the confidence level.

Alas, with nine changes, this was not to be. I must say though that Unsy's team selections and positions have bewildered me. I have no time whatsoever, for Martina, to play him as a left back, he is useless at right back, so why put him there or pick him at all?

I noticed also that the centre back pairing of Keane and Williams, was Keane on the left and Williams on the right, although they were that disjointed it was difficult to establish who was doing what.

One of the few players to have emerged in all this as a positive, is Beni, I do like the lad and his commitment, unfortunately not matched by his team-mates.

Robles, Williams, Davies, Klaassen, Vlasic, Lookman, Rooney

Baningime had a fantastic game against Atalanta... the only one who did. Sandro tried & was a little messy, but I think we need some continuity & he should get at least a place on the bench. Either him or Vlasic starting & the other on the bench.

Klaassen on the bench ahead of Schneiderlin – only because Schneiderlin may still be slightly injured & it would do his confidence a world of good not getting dropped.

The easiest for me to leave out would be Rooney – but that will never happen. I just hope he doesn't start.

Everytime I've seen Klaassen play, he's been the proverbial "headless chicken", and this goes back to the final he played for Ajax against United.

When Koeman signed him, I thought I'd give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe Koeman saw something there, but I'm yet to see what he offers to the team.

Don’t give needless free kicks away around the box because we don’t defend balls in well. Keane and Williams again not excelling there. Both have been out muscled or jumped too often recently.

The "vets" and experienced players must take ownership and responsibility before the team gets on the park.

Who ever the new manager is, we must find a captain with assertiveness and the nark factor, as this team has been too lack lustre and rudderless when the pressure is on.

I hope and hope we win but with out Niasse there's no nuisance up front and I can't see where the goals will come from.

Hope and hope, for a win.

Sigurdsson any day. He's not done well, actually thought his last game was arguably his best, but it's form with him. That can soon change. Though he needs to pull his socks up.

Klaassen has come into a new league and just not adapted well. He may do in time but are we prepared to keep offering chances at the moment? No. If we improve collectively and move up the table then maybe more game time. I just keep thinking of Memphis Depay at Man Utd. He didn't adapt to the Premier League either and was shipped off to France after falling out of favour.

Pickford
Kenny, Jagielka, Williams, Baines
Lennon, Gueye, Sigurdsson, Baningime, Mirallas
Calvert-Lewin

451

We need at least a point.

I have seen less of him of course because he was in a different league last year but I just think, from what I have seen of him, that he has more in his armoury and needs a quicker, more pressing passage of play than he has been given with us.

One could argue, I suppose, that it is his job to bring it but with our games this year they all seem a bit lost on the park. He has quick feet, a quick mind, a decent shot and an eye for a pass. If and when we can up our tempo a bit we might see a different version to what we have been witness to, except on a few occasions so far.

Sigurdsson I think, we know what he is capable of. He did better for Swansea than he is doing for us but with them (another struggling team) I think he flattered to deceive. I just don't get what everyone sees in him (at £45m).

I know you can't read too much in to YouTube clips but this vid gives some insight into what Klaassen could bring. A weaker league for sure but that is irrelevant as far as some of this goes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SLY-WDLmiQ&t=251s

I just like the look of him I guess, and have hopes, but then I also like Mo Besic (I hate seeing him have a bad game) so that tells you what I know.

I don't think Kenny is immune to this criticism either. So Unsworth has to find wide men who can defend as well – but there is only Lennon and an out of position Davies who can do this . Lookman,Mirallas, Sandro, Sigurdsson, Klaassen, do not track back, do not tackle and are useless of giving Baines defensive cover.

We desperately miss McCarthy, Barry, Bolasie . So with 3 poor centre halves and an ageing, paceless left back and no defensive left-sided midfield player we are open to concede 2-3 goals a game . His only option is to go 3 at the back: Holgate, Keane, Jagielka; a midfield 5 of Kenny, Schneiderlin or Baningime, Gueye, Sigurdsson, Baines and a front two from Rooney or Sandro, alongside Calvert-Lewin.

Besic could provide defensive cover on the left.

We have got no strikers, he is out on loan – other clubs chasing him... are we really stupid?!?!

My opinion is Koeman downed tools when he arrived – a manager hires and fires and that power was taken away from him by our Directors who are clueless (any self-respecting bloke would have done the same) as regards man-management.

Just hope we can hang on in there for a few weeks but not expecting very much. These players have no balls apart from a few of the kids

Now if we actually wanted to get the best out of Klaassen everything would have to change. I bet a lot of you would think that the changes sound good. The changes would be:
- very high tempo - everyone breaking forward on the counter at 100 mph
- very direct football - long passes hit diagonally and down the channels rather than a hoof up the pitch
- deep defending - everyone getting back quickly behind the ball and defending as one
- intensive pressing - with everyone behind the ball 2 or 3 can surround the player on the ball and cut out the passing lanes and overwhelm him
- one touch passing - this is key to the way he and ajax played, there has to be fast passing, and lots of "give and goes".

Then we would all see the real Davy Klaassen. It's not a bad vision of Everton, and one I think we would actually like. But, it's never going to happen.

BTW, my cred is at stake here as I've told my fellow Blues many times I rate him when they don't... ha ha.

Rather than try and do anything new, Return to what we know and what worked. So it's the front 3 who can't be selected (Lukaku, Barkley and Mirallas). Pickford deserves to come in, in goal. Keane or Williams? Well I did say go with what works, so that means the awful Williams. Kenny or Holgate, if Holgate is 100% fit select him over the much better Kenny. Otherwise go with Kenny.

In midfield, Gueye, Davies and Schneiderlin. Remember this is last season. Schneiderlin is playing well, he's the "Rolls Royce" and sitting deep and passing it well. Gueye and Davies are ahead of him, with Davies getting forward the most. But all three are deep when we are defending. Only Gueye is available for selection. If Schneiderlin is found to be fit, fully fit, then go with him despite his poor form, as we are trying to get back to last season. If he is not fit then go with Baningime. But one of Gueye or Baningime needs to be handcuffed to the defence and not allowed to chase to far forward, not unless they get permission from the other as they are able to sit. Communication is key here.

Now here comes the twist. We've got most of last season's team playing so far. Now we are on to the Davies role, the player just ahead of Schneiderlin and Gueye. If they are in defensive midfielder positions then this is a central midfielder position and certainly not an attacking midfielder position, and certainly not the number 10 position. Now I have made this clear, I would select Wayne Rooney for it. Yes, he's very deep. This position in a defensive sense is chasing and harrying. Slowing up the player on the ball. Cutting off the pass, trying to intercept passes, and generally getting about the opposition midfield. Rooney was dreadful against Atalanta, no doubt about it. But his fitness was good. I was able to pay attention to him at times, as I was sat in the Park End and we were defending that goal at the end. As they overwhelmed us and hit us on the break, one player who was chasing back consistently, was Wayne Rooney, so the fitness is there, to be doing that late in games.

Rooney is not just in this role because his fitness is better than we would expect, or just because we cannot pick Schneiderlin, Davies or McCarthy. He is here so he can get on the ball from deep and make things happen. We are far too slow in transition. I've mentioned it so many times on here. Once we win the ball it takes forever to get the ball forwards, so much so the opposition has every man behind the ball before we can get to their box and then we meekly give it to them as we have no clue what to do next. Rooney can pass, even his doubters will acknowledge that he still has the vision to hit passes others cannot see, and create one on ones with the keeper. In this deeper role, he is flanked by two defensive midfielders to protect him, and he has the bullets to fire at the front three. He also likes to roam, he can read the game and so he could roam forwards (as opposed to backwards) and find the space a bit further up the pitch, if it's there and effect the game.

The front three all need to be pacy. Calvert-Lewin is the undoubted central player for me. He is the only one who can get his head on stuff and he's the tallest. So Dom in the CF position. Aaron Lennon on the right. But he needs to realise he is part of a front three, and getting back is great, but he's playing on the right of the striker and needs to be available in the channel for an early ball from Rooney. On the left, I'd go Lookman. He's been hit and miss, hot and cold, but he has the pace and skills and maybe with better service, quicker passing, from Rooney, he can get one on one with the full back and get into the box.

On the bench I'd have Sandro covering DCL and Lookman, Vlasic (covering Lookman and Lennon) Mirallas (again as an option for the front three), Sigurdsson (if Rooney does not work out he can come on as a number 10, drop Lennon and Lookman back a notch and switch to a 4231), Baningime (or Schneiderlin if he is not 100% fit, Keane or Holgate if he is not 100% fit (Holgate can cover most of the back four so Kenny would either play or not make the bench and Robles.

Pickford
Holgate Jagielka Williams Baines
Gueye Rooney Schneiderlin
Lennon Calvert-Lewin Lookman

His touch is abysmal. His technique is shocking. His concentration is poor. He ball watches. His positional play is non-existent. Every tackle is a foul. He is far too aggressive after he's fouled people and so aggravates the ref to give a yellow when a Tom Davies would get away with it by holding his hands up and running off.

As for playing left sided centre-back alongside Jagielka. Besic is 177 cm (5'-10"), Jagielka is 183 cm (6'-0"), and Pickford is 185 cm (6'-1"). Would you really want a trio that small?

Steve @24 – it could happen if we get the right fixer in. I know he is off the radar but I reckon someone like Nuno (Santo) would aim to play that way. If he comes, Silva could set us up like that but I do worry about the defensive frailties of his teams (Watford have only shipped 2 less goals than us this season in the league - I think) rather like Martinez. A great few months and then we started leaking like a sieve.

So it remains to be seen, and we can but hope. I know survival is the top priority right now but we do need to look at a long term appointment. I do not see the merit of getting a fire fighter in for the rest of the season and then starting again in the Summer.

Let someone get us to 17th or better (preferably, and the interests of the well being of us all, much better), learn from the remnants of this shattered season, plan a strategy and implement it in the summer.

That never shy fog-horn Roy Keane was once asked for his take on the young Ronaldo, no doubt in the anticipation of a good old scathing review of a funny, foreign pretty-boy but instead he sang his praises, especially his dedication to perfecting his game.

Klaasen has shown next to no spine so far which is not to say I am unaware of the failings of pretty much all of his fellow seniors. But if a comparison is to be made with Iniesta and Xavi it is only fair to point out the gulf in mental fortitude on display.

When people compare Silva to Martinez, they usually mean it as an insult or a slight upon his ability. I liked Martinez. He gave me the best football I have ever seen Everton play (okay, I was 8 in '87 and whilst I was going to Wembley between '84 and '89 eight times, I was too young to really have seen it and certainly to remember it).

What Martinez got very wrong for me was two key things. First he got rid of all of Moyes' Fitness coaches. The two acclaimed American guys in particular. He also did no defensive drills and no set piece drills. He believed you learn defending from defending on the attacking drills, and trying to get the ball back on the possession drills.

Marco Silva does believe in fitness and would ensure we have a top fitness coach (we do not have one right now, Kluitenburg was it and he left with Koeman). He would also ensure that we did set piece training and defensive drills.

His play is far more direct than Martinez. He does not play "one-way" only, he mixes it up. He is far more pragmatic. And he is more of a winner than an idealist.

Williams is finished at this level. I commented on this during an early Europa League game before a Premier League ball was kicked. Transition to a new club is never easy but harder when old pros, whose names command respect, but performances don't.

Side I'd play: Pickford, Kenny, Holgate, Keane, Baines, Baningime, Gueye, Lennon, Sigurdsson, Sandro- Calvert-Lewin. Then, at home to West Ham, one defensive midfielder with Klaassen in and Sandro and Calvert-Lewin up top.

With your expertise I'm sure we could make a late run for the Champions League spots this season. You make it sound easy, Steve. One problem though – it's not, is it... and Koeman and Walsh have seen to that.

Klaassen can control the ball when running at full speed. This is one of the hardest things to do. How many truly good players slow down to control the ball, especially one smashed at pace?

Klaassen controls fast passes when running at full speed as if he is on a computer game. That skill is something Cruyff was raving about and said that only Xavi and Iniesta can do it. That is all. Don't make more of it that what it is.

I completely agree re Klaassen. This lad has only played in teams that have dominated year on year. He's got lots of talent but he plays a certain way.

I genuinely believe you could put Iniesta in this team and we'd be no better off. That's not to say Davy is world class, but rather, he has walked into an utter pile of shit.

I think if all the stars align in Klaassen's favour as you've explained then yes we will see an improved player. But for me the true greats have at least some degree of self-motivation which Klaassen apparently does not. It is the same with Barkley, which is why I thought Martinez comparing him to Ballack was fanciful to say the least.

Sadly we have no players capable of taking control when the going is against them, certainly not above the age of 20, which is why I think none of them will achieve a thing in the game without being carried by those who are truly great.

Whilst Cristiano Aveiro had a wall chart next to his bed where he had it all planned out for getting the optimum sleep needed for each day, tailored to the times of the games he was playing. He would also ensure that everything he drank or ate was allowed by a nutritionist.

In simple terms, he treated his body like a machine and ensured the machine was at 100%. And why not, he's getting paid over £10m per season, he'll have plenty of money to do whatever he wants and to eat all the big macs he wants after he retires. He can even look like the real Ronaldo and point to those old pics of him in his undies.

Ross Barkley should also adapt this attitude. I said at the time of the nightclub incident, Cristiano would not only not be drinking, he would be asleep in bed ensuring he got the optimum amount of sleep to aid his post match recovery. There's a reason why some guys make it, and you have to take your hat off to Cristaino, even if he does come across as a personality-lacking robot.

Passion? Must have it in spades to be able to transfer it into the players.

Ability to communicate? Goes without saying in a media driven world, but knowing what you can and cannot say for the good of the situation club-wise or player specific is necessary.

Experience? Possibly not the most important, but to clarify; A short history of good experience over a long and mediocre history is better every time.

Knowledge of and 'buy in' to the Club's history and character? I think that's way overrated and a job protection device for the old boy's network. However he would need to be aware of the challenging ineptitude behind the scenes.

Gender? A female manager would be interesting...

Age? Below 45 preferred.

Nationality? Not critical but ability to communicate well in English, if not fluently is a must.

Image? Not interested in Joey Barton's ramblings but I think he has a point, however well hidden. A really smart psyche does not have to be a stuffed shirt or tweed jacket, but even a tracksuit can be suave. A sense of image or first impression does give a message (but hey that's not critical in the overall scheme of things).

A proven winner? Yes that helps.

Immediately available? Must be, the sooner the better.

Long term? Optional. Take it step by step.

Traditionalist or innovative? Either can work, but innovative such as training methods and a desire for change favors the new or novel style.

Who does a list like this point to? The 3 chaps who come to mind are Tuchel, Sylva of the guy from Sheffield United. Also Rangnick would fit, but a definite no to Martin O'Neill. If he is selected then I will switch off all of my 50 years + loyalty and take up bowls.

Steve. Your synopsis at 28 sounds great and almost plausible if it could work. Trouble is the Rolls-Royce you mention seems to have gone the way of too many Rolls-Royces and does not seem to work properly anymore. I'd rather see it replaced with a Merc.

I like the sound of the way you set out the structure of the team and play, and I agree with you fully about using Rooney deeper to speed up the transition and give more of an eye to going forward rather than looking over his shoulder. I also was very mindful of his work in defense in the latter stages of the match on Thursday.

Calvert-Lewin would need to fully embrace that centre-forward role and try and keep a fairly central position. Be assertive - hassle and occupy the defenders - keep them occupied in the Lukaku mould. He seems to spend too much time on the flank waiting for long balls down the pitch from Pickford which leaves him then in the wrong place when a chance in the area pops up. He is pretty adept at winning aerial duels but the ball rarely falls to our advantage because of the lack of support and anticipation from his teammates.

It would be nice to see it tried like that but it ain't gonna happen soon. As I said earlier I'd like to see Sandro in the starting line up.

I have a feeling that we might pull one out of the bag tomorrow somehow for some reason, and with the Saints/Hammers draw it would be a great weekend to pick up the 3 points.

Neither Calvert-Lewin, Sandro, Sigurdsson, Davies, Klaassen even Gueye or Baningime are left or right sided players, they are all centrally focussed and end up in each other's way or go chasing the same ball or player which just leaves huge holes, they never maintain their shape because they all naturally drift into the middle.

We have two players with bags of pace who should be being exploited on the wings, Lennon & Lookman, get them out there running at fullbacks rather than always looking infield or behind playing pretty triangles which do or mean nothing.

Where's the balance, where's the natural cover when inevitably the fullbacks are again exposed which has been the case ever since Martinez arrived?

It's the same style, formation & tactics as it was 3 years ago regardless of who stands on the touchline.

I'd love to see a 442, like so many of the teams are now returning to. Baines no longer has the legs for a wingback role so having Mirallas or Lookman ahead of him would surely be preferable plus there is already signs of a healthy partnership forming between Lennon & Kenny.

Pickford
Kenny, Keane, Jags, Baines.
Lennon, Sigurdsson, Gueye, Lookman.
Calvert-Lewin, Sandro.

I'd have Robles Williams, Baningime, Davies, Vlasic, Mirallas, Rooney on the bench.

Give Schneiderlin the time to get his head and possibly his foot sorted, we know he has quality. To continue playing him when his head is clearly in the wrong place isn't doing anyone any good.

Not Lukaku? Or Gareth Barry? Or James McCarthy? Aaron Lennon? Gerard Deulofeu? No? You're going for Mo Besic?

It worked for Leicester because Leicester were not taken seriously for 2/3 of the season. Nearly every team in the league thought they would beat them and attacked them. Leicester sat deep with two banks of four and slaughtered teams on the counter attack.

But we must also factor in Kante played like two men, so said most pundits. I would also throw in Shinji Okazaki, who I believe is a very underrated player. He put a shift in by supporting Vardy in attack but also running so hard he was often in midfield and making it a 4-5-1. Therefore, Leicester did not get overrun, not only because they were defending so deep, but also because they had two players who did not stop running and made the formation work.

Most of my tactical stuff is influenced by the works of Jonathan Wilson. Here's an article from 2008 where he describes why 4-4-2 is surpassed by 4-2-31- and he explains it fat better than I. He's also the author of Inverting the Pyramid, a truly brilliant book:

The Question: why has 4-4-2 been superseded by 4-2-3-1?

For me, it was a sad, sad day, showing that Moshiri's money and promise of spending was not enough to keep players at the club and so we could not call ourselves a big club, and if we could not keep our best player then how could we expect to crack the top four.

Maybe it's me, if so I apologise.

If there's one thing I hate more than armchair managers, it's people that reference books by them.

Give me a pundit that had Leicester winning the title... even after 10-15 games... there were none.

This prick you're quoting has managed in what division?

That's not to say his opinion is invalid, but to hold him up as someone who's opinion is worth more than yours or mine is frankly laughable.

Use your own eyes mate.

The only one I wouldn't play is Mirallas because his attitude stinks, his performances have been lacking and he adds little. Also, he wasn't that good last season anyway,

4-4-2 does not work. It's one for the history books, like the WM.

The other thing apart from formations is tempo, and over the years the great teams have been able to slow things down and suddenly inject pace into the game at will.

Neymar did just this for Brazil against England recently.

Also Eddie, the 2 in a 4-2-3-1 is called a "double pivot" because these two tend to be fixed in position so that an expressive coach can allow his creative players to roam from position around this fixed point.

Pickford
Kenny Keane Jagielka Baines
Idrissa Baningime Davies
Sigurdsson
Calvert-Lewin Sandro

Into

Pickford
Kenny Keane Jagielka Baines
Idrissa Schneiderlin
Sigurdsson
Vlasic Calvert-Lewin Lookman

Pickford
Kenny
Baines
Jagielka
Keane

Gueye
Benny
Sigurdsson

Lennon
Sandro
Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon's team is probably how it will start and his reasoning at No.5 says why. I just pray Jags is fit if not it's definitely game over.

I said after Watford we'd used up a seasons luck to get the result, proved wrong by using next seasons luck to get a draw at Palace.

Is it possible we could use the 2019 season's luck on Sunday? I hope so. Hopefully we can get a draw, at least not be embarrassed.

Your confusing me now. Earlier in the week you said you wouldn't play Sigurdsson as a 10, you would play him as an 8. You said you wouldn't play with a 10 at all.

I asked if you were picking the team for tomorrow with that in mind, who would be the 6 and what formation you would play?

Steve, you sound like a bloke who's read all the books but never actually watched a football match.

I am wearing my factor 50+ Fern Screen cos I am over exposed. No disrespect like, but do you get my drift?

Palace played us off the park last week using 4-4-2 plus Burnley are flying high using 4-4-1-1 away & 4-4-2 at Turfmoor, even Eddie Howe has ditched it in favour of 4-4-1-1, so have many others.

Unsworth too has resorted to 4-4-2 to recover both the Palace & Watford games.

I wish we had the players to look at 4-3-3 which both the RS and City exploit very well, maybe when Bolasie returns. I'd like to see him and Sandro either side of Calvert-Lewin?

Conte is my head scratcher, what's his 3-5-1-1 about?

Or... am I missing the point completely? Should positional discipline within our 4-2-3-1 outweigh my wanting to see a change?

No, number 10. Proper 4-3-3 but with players up top who can get wide.

I said play Sigurdsson flanked by Gueye and Schneiderlin in the midfield 3. Sigurdsson could get around a bit better than Rooney. But watching Thursday's game and seeing how Rooney was one of the few actually getting up and down the pitch at the end, when other's heads had gone down completely and they just wanted to get off the pitch, I think Rooney should have one last throw of the dice.

The reason its the last throw of the dice, is that in 3 games time, Ross Barkley should be back, and whoever is in charge has to get Barkley straight into the side and build everything around him. If he leaves for free, he leaves for free. If he is the main man and it's all going great, and we're shooting up the table, then why would he leave to sit on someone else's bench (Loftus-Cheek will make Chelsea think twice about Ross, Winks will do the same for Spurs, he won't sign for the RS, can't see Pep coming in, so that leaves Mourinho or Wenger, and I don't see that either).

But Back to Rooney / Sigurdsson one of them as an 8. With Gueye and Schneiderlin or Baningime as a 6 and 4.

Sandro is the only one who can hit the back of the net notwithstanding Niasse. Sandro just needs to stop being a Duracell bunny and control the rest of his game. Rooney is not a striker anymore. Calvert-Lewin can't hit the goal target never mind actually score. I can't see Calvert-Lewin reaching his peak for at least one more season.

Some punters on this site are just complicating everything. Making points are fine. But dismissing a set up that has in the past been successful for many teams is just nonsense. I repeat 4-4-2 could work with the proper players. And that means only one holding player in the midfield four. Football isn't rocket science. But for any formation , you need the right players. But as we all know most of our squad are simply not fit for purpose.

ps: Our great team in the mid 1980s played 4-4-2. Our midfield was Steven Bracewell Reid...Sheedy. With other players stepping in when needed.

Has football changed that much that 4-4-2 is now redundant. I don't think so. Just get the proper players in position. All doing their proper Jobs. Which sadly we don't have at present.

Anyhow rant almost over. And on a lighter note. How about setting up 5-5-0 tomorrow. Or 4-6-0. Park the bus. Take the point. Get in some practise for the derby. Where a point would be great.

But can our defence be trusted to park a bus?

PS .Of course I want the win tomorrow. Southampton are not great. So let's not make them look good. We tend to make teams look better than they really are. And I suppose that a draw would not be the worst result. Then let's target our next two home matches. We need to start winning soon. But FFS tighten up that bloody defence. COYBs

What I do not like about him is that he cannot play centre forward. Lukaku would stay in the position and would understand that part of the time he would not get the ball but his job was to push that defence as high up the pitch as he possibly could. The higher up the pitch he could push them then the more room behind him for Barkley and Mirallas to work, as well as runners from midfield.

This season, we have played Rooney and Sandro there and they just drop. So the defence can push out and squeeze the space for whichever number 10 we are playing this week.

Calvert-Lewin or Niasse need to play centrally in every game until we get the striker. Maybe Sandro could play wide left coming in onto his right foot, an area he operated in for the majority of his goals last season. But he cannot play centre forward.

Another big problem I have with Sandro, is his awareness. He seems to be a step behind the rest. he gets the ball looks to make the pass, but the winger or midfielder has carried on the run and he's not seen it coming. Also his passing is very poor. He gives the ball away far too much. He's also finding it difficult to show off his dribbling ability (brilliant in Spain) because there's just no space for him. Which is why he keeps dropping off. He needs a major period of adjustment.

I don't want to write him off. I do think he should remain on the bench for now though. When things are less desperate he can get a few games.

On TV with all the home distractions and posting on the forum, beer, food, interruptions, armchair debate, replays and so on, one misses a lot compared to being there, but it seemed to me it took a load off his chest, he relaxed a tad and played better.

Maybe I was mistaken in that but that was my reason for nominating him to start in Oumar's absence and help potentially with that confidence. At the end of the day, if Spain is anything to judge by he knows were the net is.

I am pretty old school in wanting to win the battles on the pitch and then try to play football. We are like a sieve all over the park. It's sad when Benni is the only player in the whole squad who looks decent.

My team tomorrow is:

Pickford
Kenny Keane jags Baines
Lennon Schneiderlin Gueye Baningime Sigurdsson
Rooney.

Not bothered about the science behind formation etc. I have gone for roll the shirt sleeves up and get stuck in.

Our defending was awful against Atalanta so Martina is another who should never be considered again as a first choice; between him and Williams they were responsible for the majority of the goals against on Thursday. We desperately need a leader who can address the tendency across the whole team to keep getting caught out of position. Whatever we do, we must not concede early again – completely throws any game plan out of the window, de-stabilises the team and further undermines any limited confidence amongst the players. 0-0 is a better result than chasing a 1- or 2-goal deficit that so often becomes 3 or 4 of late.

To me and other contributors our lot seem unfit in comparison to many other teams and we have nobody able to hold the ball up front. No formation can be effective on such bases. It's like expecting to ride a bike with only one pedal and still challenge for the Tour de France.

"Inadequate, Incompetent, Insane" appears to be the mantra in the boardroom and Finch Farm these days, but still, all "the (Kenwright-appointed) lads" "get" Everton so that's alright to some.

A lot of the rest of us might not yet be "close" to jacking it in, but that'll deffo be the case after relegation.

Watford winning too I see. I had them down to draw with the Mags.

Swan song for Silva?!

I've just worked out with my technical inefficiencies - you cant edit a new post if a previous post remains editable. I feel emancipated!

Just fall over too clumsily in the area unfortunately!

Shit - looks like Palace have won.

Crazy!

It seems like the whole of the Premier League teams are improving. Moyes goes to the Hammers and stables their ship. Unsy is like the best YTS football coach... but terrible at Premier League level.

We deserve to go down as it will ruffle feathers at EFC top and bottom. EFC transfer window has just been brushed under the proverbial carpet, 'we'll tough this one out lads, as the fans are brick short of a building set' is how it feels. The Everton share value will plummet

We have had a few must win games recently and not won them.

Don't hold yer breath.

I won't mate, but if only the players looked at that league and realised "Fuck me, two wins on the trot and a LOT of pressure has gone".

Just checking the league, the results seem to have gone quite well for us today. Move up 5 place if we can hack it tomorrow. Hopefully the boys will see that and play like it's a cup final for us all.

John – Palace are still entrenched on the bottom 3 points from safety..

1. Why do we deserve to go down? Is it for giving youth a chance, giving a young English manager a chance and not playing our expensive foreign imports who have sucked the life and passion out of the sport.

2. Unsworth's record at Premier League level is: played 4, won 2, Drew 1, lost 1. Scored 8, conceded 7. Not exactly terrible at Premier League level.

Kim, No new manager appointed around the time of Unsworth would have had a ‘new manager bounce, with Chelsea, Leicester and Lyon away. Maybe we should have expected to get a draw at Leicester but apart from that (dead rubber aside) we've got what we expected. Albeit with some indifferent performances. My guess is that out new manager bounce will happen over the next 4 games regardless of the manager.

Think you need to check again, mate.

We must get a result from St Mary's and I hope Unsworth shows a bit of motivational activism from the dug out.

What has Vlasic done wrong, besides being told to play out of position? We badly need Coleman back ASAP.

At Goodison... Goodison is a laughing stock now. Premier League teams use to hate coming here now they can't wait to as they know it's points on the board, Miss Ford.

Do not kid yourself, you let the YTS kids come on the pitch whilst we're doing well not when we're doing shit.

Just settling down now to watch Morata get a hat-trick and earn my Fantasy team 30 odd points (captain). I wish.

Given the dreadful condition that Cloghead left us in, actually throwing the matches against Chelsea, Atalanta and Lyon could have been a sensible move, although I suspect that being hammered and humiliated is never a great way to get things going.

After the truly awful display in the second half on Thursday, I really have no idea how the defence can be sorted out. I actually feel very sorry for Williams who even when everything is going wrong at least doesn't hide or duck responsibility. I think he is probably a decent man trying for whom everything is going wrong (he nearly cleared the first goal, but actually gave it to their forward, a foot to the side and he'd have been a hero).

On the other hand, Keane ducking under the third goal seems to me to show a player who has got real problems, because I think attitude is often more important that actual skill - see Niasse.

I thought that as the match started even Klaassen looked as though he might be OK, but once again, a lack of a bit of good fortune, which might have got him going, was all he got.

One final point, since Niasse has now got a two game ban for a yellow card offence (if indeed it was an offence) I hope he will be as pissed off, and as motivated, by the crap FA decision as he was by the humiliating behaviour of Everton's Worst Ever Manager.

Indeed, in the way that Moyes was for a long time referred to as "OFM" may I suggest that Koeman is now referred to as "WEM".

Everton will plug away as usual at their own slow paced passing game until they concede first as usual then it's desperation tactics again. If only Unsy could stick a rocket behind some of these guys especially in midfield at least to drive them forward at a quicker pace than they usually do.

The personnel that Unsy has available right now just aren't good enough to change in my opinion and so I foresee another frustrating game. I for one can't wait to see the injured players back and ready to go just to see if results improve.

Maybe Barkley, Macca and Bolasie could change things at least until January.

Team selection for tomorrow:Pickford in goal, then put the names of the rest of the available players – minus Williams – into a hat, pick 10 out at random and let them bagsy their position. It couldn't get much worse could it???

I hope if Unsworth retains the formation, he selects Calvert-Lewin to replicate Niasse's role. Picking Rooney will suffocate the team, despite the players best intentions.

Southampton are similarity going nowhere. They might just be the opponent we need.

We are already relegated according to some. 😁

Without Niasse in the side we look tame, he's pulled us out of the fire a few times this season. He might have gained us a point with the penalty, but his two match suspension might cost us a lot more.

We will stay up, but we are further away than ever from a top side. Koeman should have paid us £10m not receiving it, what a mess he has left.

I agree re Rooney option. I would not play him anywhere else in the team at the moment. He could sit in front of the back four, with the space that position allows. A misconception that people think the player in that position has to have a tackle in his armoury. Not true. The best player I have seen in that position didn't tackle at all.

For tomorrow's game I would have Gana push onto Romeu high up the pitch. He is the player who gets them out most of the time. Beni in the two in front of Rooney could be a good option until we can add to the squad.

I wouldn't mention his, or 99% of the players who have ever played the game in the same breath as the maestro. But similar pace nowadays for Rooney, sees a pass and can take a free kick.

Our biggest problem is in the transition. I know we need players with pace to counter attack perfectly but needs must at the moment?

John, my vision is of us winning the ball and Rooney getting to forward with a first time pass. One of those he plays "without looking" because he's had his head up before the ball has come. I'm not talking about him getting into the box after he's hit the pass, just him getting on the ball and starting moves.

I don' t believe there is a lack of effort, there is, though, a lack of courage. The willingness not to hide. The guts to take a chance. No fucking hiding tomorrow.

Pickford
Kenny Keane Jagielka Baines
Davies Gueye Sigurdsson
Lennon Niasse Calvert-Lewin

For me that's a hard working team with good energy some pace and presence up front.

Lennon and DCL can drop in to make a 5 in midfield but also have the pace to get forward and break quickly where possible. DCL is also a decent outlet for long balls.

Davies is off form but so our all our central mids. Both him and Siggy are hopefully capable of covering the ground and getting forward when the opportunity provides. Perhaps you could play Rooney in this position or opt for more defensive cover from Schneiderlin or Baningime but I hope Davies has the ability and temperament to work his way out of his lull.

Until then every away game and possibly home too 5-4-1 and the aim is to keep a clean sheet. Keep it simple, sit deep to deny space but we have to be tight to their players not stood 5 yards off them. Play 3 fwd players to counter attack.

Robles, Baines, Holgate, Jagielka, Keane, Kenny. Mirallas Davies/Baningime with Gana and Lennon. Calvert-Lewinup top. Lookman, Sandro and Rooney off the bench.

A clean sheet and a point would be wonderful right now.

Perfect Paul! One of my two ever favourite team performances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg1cQy5oh64

Did Dave Thomas ever have a better game for us? Dave and Big Bob Latch; what would we give for that now?

The other great one? Sunderland 6-4-1985. The two best headers by the same fella in one game? The ball from Brace for Trevor for the third!!!!!

If only Kev Sheedy, Tricky, Brace, and Reidy were 24 today!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YnbAO9XGRo

On another note. Sorry to change tone. Since when did ToffeeWeb threads become Steve Ferns Q&A? The 'match-day thread' is to say the least very 'Ferny'. It's all a little dull in my opinion. I sort of rolled eyes when I saw that master tactician Steve wants Williams and Schneiderlin to start tomorrow.

On the game itself, bloody hell it is a big one. Win and we are 11th with two home games to go. Lose...?!

Pickford.
Kenny, Keane, Jagielka, Baines.
Gueye, Baningime.
Lennon, Sigurdsson, Vlasic.
Calvert-Lewin

On another point why haven't the likes of Klaassen, Sandro and Lookman been playing in Under-23 team to build confidence.

Pickford
Kenny Keane Jagielka Baines
Baningime Gueye
Lennon Sigurdsson Sandro
Rooney

Subs: Robles, Williams, Schneiderlin, Besic, Mirallas, Lookman, Calvert-Lewin

I am hoping for an improved performance from our A team today and that we can extend our unbeaten run in the league to 3. 4 points over the next few days should see us in mid table and the need for an immediate appointment put on the back burner.

I still want Unsworth to succeed but if the Board chooses to make a change I will want the new man at the helm to to succeed.

There are too many contributors on this site who are half hoping that the team do not do well in order that they can complain.

These players should be forced to watch the great Everton teams of the past but would be painful for most of these dreadful tarts who are playing for us today. Get Gordon Lee in!!

Pickford
Kenny Keane Jagielka Baines
Gueye Baningime Sigurdsson
Lennon Calvert-Lewin Vlasic

Vlasic is perhaps a risk but he's quick and direct and I think as likely to score/create as any other wingers we have. I'd love to pick Lookman but he's been poor. Rooney is simply too slow in an already quite pedestrian team and I'd have Sigurdsson over him.

Team is not in good shape and we will really miss Niasse!

Without Niasse we only have one centre forward in Calvert-Lewin so he is in. Behind him we need guile and creativity which has to be Sigurdsson as it's what he used to do for Swansea so why not us.

We need width and pace which has to be Lennon and Mirallas who are both experienced Prem players. The centre of midfield has to be Guy and Bang and that's it.

Three most likely subs, Rooney, Lookman and Sandro mainly because we are unlikely to score so have to try something different. Personally barring injury I wouldn't make any subs maybe Lookman for Mirallas but that's it. Good, bad or indifferent we have to start getting some stability and continuity in the side.

Sorry everyone but it's as poor a side as I can remember and I have been a Blue for 54 years at least the bad sides of old had fight. I'm dreading the Derby I just want to hide away somewhere at one time we could have least kicked them off the park now we don't even have the players to do that.

Oh and I'm not impressed with any of the names we have been linked with for a new Manager might as well stick with Unsworth at least he has some pride

I agree with your team selection.

Sigurdsson seems to showing signs that better form is coming. I do still expect much more for £45m though.

It's clear to see why Rooney was phased out at Man Utd. Some flashes of the player of old but he's along way from his peak. Along with Schneiderlin it shows that Mourinho has judgement. I'd beware of another Man Utd fringe player we have been linked with, Luke Shaw.

Also, isn't it a turnaround to be saying we will miss Niasse. True though.

3-1 to us.

My team would be:
Pickford
Kenny
Holgate
Jagielka
Keane
Davies
Gueye
Baningime
Sandro
Calvert-Lewin

I know we have changed the team every game but I think with that team we could catch them out on the break.

Bench would be:
Robles
Martina
Sigurdsson
Rooney
Mirallas
Lookman
Lennon

Just hope for a win to get us up the table.

There is far too much standing and watching rather than anticipating and reacting resulting in lack of cover everywhere.

As a few have posted we have three winnable games now which would make us feel a lot better.

Can Christmas really come early??

Sit deep, frustrate them and hit them on the counter. No bombing forward from Baines and Kenny. Lookman and Vlasic on the wings. Gueye and Beni sat in front of the defence, Sigurdsson the No 10. No place for Rooney in a counter attacking team.

Easier said than done though. They haven't been drilled to play this way so it'll probably all go to shit – Unsworth's biggest mistake.

The only optimistic aspect of our squad, is that they have the ability to be better than they have played up to now. Who knows – they might pleasantly surprise us today!

I hope so, but I wish Niasse was playing, I would give us more of a chance if he was on the field.

I know, too much mulled wine at the Christmas Markets!

And as for playing Mirallas... words fail me. Him and Schneiderlin should never have got near the first team again after their disgusting behaviour a couple of weeks back.

Unsworth is just as big a clown as the other failure. Expecting nothing from today.

Kenwright Out!

And why the fuck has he dropped Sandro...? the lad scored, played a decent game the other night he will have confidence and now he's dropped...,expect same shit and another defeat today.

You never know, I might even go as far as to say I have a better feeling about this one !

Hey ho - come on you Blues

Southampton will be very much seeing this as a chance for 3 points. We have a pourous defence (Michael Keane has been truly woeful this last month or two) a slow midfield and very few goals. Gotta predict a Soton win but very much hope I'm wrong!

Although, having said that, whoever he picks only ever put in half a shift and that includes the goalie who specialises in making half saves that go in on the rr-bound !

Gueye and Schneiderlin together haven't worked for a while but we keep flogging the dead horse hoping a miracle will happen.

On the positive side at least Rooney's not in the starting XI, Sigurdsson has another chance to play in his proper position and Mirallas also starts. Am still a big believer in Mirallas as he's one of the few decent attacking players we have who also actually shoots!

Not too made up about Lennon and Calvert-Lewin has a big task.

On the whole, this looks like we're hoping to grind out some kind of result. Keep it tight and hope to nick one, now where have I seen that before?

Will take anything other than a loss if offered. 0-0 would be good just to get some confidence into the defence. We're about as safe as a fart in a net at the moment.

Even Williams gets a place on the bench??

Nothing down for us today.

Unsworth is totally out of his depth but it's not his fault. It's those knobheads above who are to blame.

They laugh that he cost us £30 million, they think it must be a joke. They are right – he is rubbish! Play anybody else – they cant be as bad as him.

I have moved my armchair - I am looking across the River - I can see the proposed New Ground and can see the Rood of Goodison - -there is some brightness around in this grey - - please please whoever makes these decisions - - please - - get it right - - go for broke - - a completely (non aligned - - brave, hungry manager - - out to prove something - - please.

Dead lucky if we escape with a draw.

Please don't embarrass us further!

I'd have preferred Besic to Sigurdsson, you know he's going to give 100% and wont hide, pessimistic I know but I can't see us getting a point from this game, just hope I'm proved wrong.

The OS describe the line up thus: "Mirallas joins Gylfi Sigurdsson and Aaron Lennon in an attacking triumvirate, deployed behind Calvert-Lewin." Well that's one way of putting it I suppose.

Might be a good plan.

As for the Gana detractors, he's made 31 successful tackles so far this season. The highest in the Premier League.

Reidy, perhaps ?

The fact our highest paid player isn't even deemed worthy of a starting spot sums up our summer transfer policy. Total ineptitude.

He has been absolutely hopeless this season, yet he keeps getting a starting slot if he's not suspended.

Yes Phil, nobody has mentioned Peter Reid, if we can't get Silva or Dyche, I would have no qualms about him given a shot, after all he has had managerial experience at the top level, I'm sure He's learned a bit more since then, and would certainly have the motivation skills much required.

I would have went for Beni instead of Schneiderlin or even try Rooney in front of the back 4 he can't be any worse than Schneiderlin has been.

Looks like Davies is the fall guy this week. Beni must have moved ahead of him now.

I can also only assume that Klaassen will not figure again after Thursday's display.

General concensus seems to be he is not up to it. A point I agree with unfortunately

Personally I wouldn't have Schneiderlin anywhere near the first team.

We need 3 points today let's hope the lads that have gone get something worth shouting for.

COYB.

If we don't get anything with what I see as our best side at the moment, then I will give up any management pretensions and rule myself out of the job. Good Luck, Rhino!!

He's suspended for this match, just FYI.

Yesterday someone said they've had 3 shots on target in the last 4 games. If we close them down and defend like men possessed we can sneak a win .

And also "In order to prevent discussions threads being dominated by protracted discussions between a small number of members, we have capped submissions to five per article."

WTF!