Everton vs Huddersfield Town

A good win is on the cards.

Huddersfield played their hand cannily last term but this season will see them fold.

If Goodison is rocking, then that will happen, Lenny.

The young defence needs all the backing from the fans.

I wonder if Silva will consider giving Dowell a run out on the left side of midfield? With Richarlison missing and Lookman doubtful, maybe the lad has a chance of pressing his case?

Lyndon, I think you might be right with your selection, also your assessment of a failure to manage games is spot on.

There is no doubt that it appears Silva has done a remarkable job transforming our attacking prowess and general play. It is great to see us looking for a forward pass now and again rather than sideways or backwards.

As much as Silva should be commended for his attacking improvement, he has to be accountable for our continued inability to defend

It is quite obvious after preseason and 4 competitive games, that Silva will not be moved on his insistence and belief on zonal defending. That is his decision, rightly or wrongly. However, we have to hope he will at least tweak it to improve our chances of defending set pieces

Martinez stubborness in his belief that possession and number of passes won games was his Achilles heel. I hope Silvas, so far, stubbornness to adapt does not do for him.

Many pluses so far. 6 points in our next 2 games is more than achievable and gives us, and Silva, a great platform for the rest of the season

Just don't concede any corners!

Huddersfield had the fewest headed shots on target last season and only scored 6 times from set pieces. They failed to score in 55% of their matches last season and have only scored one goal in 4 matches this season.

Even with injuries and suspensions I'm expecting a comfortable win and a first clean sheet.

Anyone up for meeting for a quick pint either before or after the game in the Royal Oak?

Kunal if I can sort a ticket I will happily buy you a pint pal.

No easy matches in this league. We've yet to go behind to a team in Silvas reign. Will be curious to see how we will react when that happens. Hopefully not today.

The only lineup decisions will surely be left back and left wing.

I think Silva may well start Baines though I hope Digne gets the chance to build on his good midweek showing.

On the left flank I think Dowell might be the best choice. Calvert-Lewin will not get the space behind to use his pace and direct running so against a packed defence I reckon Dowell's vision and long-range shooting may be a better route. Or perhaps Silva will play his joker and start Lookman.

I'd like to see:

Pickford
Coleman Holgate Zouma Digne
Schneiderlin Davies
Walcott Sigurdsson Dowell
Tosun

Is Bernard fit?

Sam @ No 8 – yes agree entirely.

The only new signing to play will be Zouma (and he's on loan), and possibly Digne. A sign of Silva's progress that no-one appears worried by this.

There's no doubt that this is a slightly under-strength team but I'm confident we'll win this one... and we need to.

I think Lyndon's projected line-up will be fairly accurate, and should hopefully be adequate to deal with Huddersfield.

As has been mentioned it is these set-pieces where we are getting caught, apparently Silva intends to persist with Zonal marking, brave decision, one which I hope will not come back to bite us.

3 - 1 win. Can't see us keeping a clean sheet. Tosun to break his duck too! Up the Blues.

Kunal I arranged to meet Dave Williams in the Oak before the game. I think we said 1:00pm. Is that okay with you?

Somewhere over the river, there is a man drinking coffee, possibly reading, or maybe even listening to Don McClean singing about Vincent. I hope you are well George, I hope the excitement is starting to go through your veins mate. You kept me going before some of the games last season, just like I know the blues are going to keep you going strong!

Saturday home games at 3 O'Clock, have a little extra bet on 4-1 George, until we can figure out the Zone!

Pickford
Coleman Holgate Zouma Digne
Walcott Schneiderlin Dowell Calvert-Lewin
Lookman (Free Role)
Tosun

Hi Steve, I'll try & pop in for a quick pint.

Neil, you can't drop Sigurdsson.

Steve Ferns – leaving now. Travelling up from London. Should be there around 1:30pm. Drop me a text and i'll meet you in there. 07958683245. Cheers

Neil #15, no Sigurdsson in your line-up?

Yeah and if you gave Lookman a free role you would see him leaving the pitch and buying a ticket to Leipzig.

Thank you Tony — sitting at my writing desk in New Brighton, getting my spirit and soul ready for the day. More later.

Jakub that made me chuckle! I just think it's time we gave him a chance and I think this is the game to do it.

He will excel in a free role and would cause them no end of problems. They are very poor and we should be expecting to put three past them minimum.

The Sigurdsson absence was to allow this but I do get it would be difficult to drop him. The alternative would be to swop Siggy with Dowell in my line up or as some have mentioned move Dowell to the left and remove Calvert-Lewin.

I just didn't want Lookman on the left as I feel he will be more effective floating.

Like him or not, Everton will miss the energy and effort of Gana. Schneiderlin is not bad when he gets the ball... have you ever seen him break into a sweat? And he can't make a tackle without sliding on the floor.

George (20), try Harry Choates performing Jole Blon to lift your spirits and have you dancing around your living room. Stick to 4-0, we've got to keep a clean sheet some time and Huddersfield are toothless.

Huddersfield aren't exactly packed with goal-scoring potential. I don't see much threat from them today. But I'd still like to see a rock-solid defence at set pieces. And I anticipate a good few goals for us. Would like to see Lookman get some time at least. He needs to feel part of the set-up.

This is an opportunity to improve our goal difference and for Tosun to get a couple of confidence-boosting goals. Possibly for Walcott to add to his tally too.

Digne over Baines. And if Lookman is available, would like to see him play.

Whatever the team Silva selects, it's just good to be looking forward to each game with optimism again.

On the subject of looking forward, what an attacking force we could be if Walcott, Tosun, Sigurdsson and Richarlison are all confident and scoring regularly. Mouth-watering!

I know it won't happen but I would like to see a front three of Walcott Lookman and Calvert-Lewin. With all three interchanging to pull the Huddersfield defence out.

A midfield three of Davies, Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson with a back 4 of Coleman, Holgate, Zouma and Baines with Digne to come on in the second half.

Nothing less than a 3-0 win today.

COYB.

If Lookman has asked to leave then he shouldn't even be training with the first team regardless of how many injuries we have. I have no evidence that is the case, but reading between the lines it would seem that way. I think DCL deserves a start following the cup game, but will Silva have to adjust the formation to get the best out of him?

Uncomfortable win today, 3-2 with a Cenk double, and Dowell late winner.

Does Dowell have the pace to play wide left? A feature of our play this season has been the pace we have shown up front, something that has been lacking in recent seasons. Dowell is not quick physically but has a 'quick brain'. Better suited to the middle of the park in my opinion.

Brent @23, I couldn't agree more with all your points there, and yes, hopefully Lookman gets involved at some point, can't see it being from the start though.

We don't know what goes on behind closed doors, or in Lookman's head, and can only speculate whether he is happy or not.

At least now the Euro Window has closed, he is committed to playing for us, whether he treats it as a shop window for the January Sales, or realises that he is best staying with us remains to be seen.

I share the view expressed early in this thread that if Silva is as intransigent with his zonal marking as he professes to be the team will go the way of Roberto's charges and him with it.

Just let's hope we can keep on scoring and keeping in front of the opposition!

Zonal marking worked very well for us in the 80's Derek.

However, if you remember, in the early days of that team, they too were struggling and vulnerable. Indeed, if I remember rightly, wasn't it a cup game that saved Kendall? And the rest is history, as they say.

4-0. Tosun x 2, Walcott, Davies. Let's do this.

I woke early this morning and of course on Saturday's my mind wonders to thoughts/dreams/visions of the game. I thought of that scene in The Third Man at the Big Wheel in Prater Park in Vienna ( I have been for a ride on it) where Orson Wells – - the Great Oloroso (and great Evertonian) - - explains to Joseph Cotton how he makes his money and how The Medici's, full of incest, corruption, bribery and theft, created The Renaissance and Leonardo and Raphael and Botticelli and how through centuries of peace and openness The Swiss are famous for “the cuckoo clock”. My mind thought of our own Medici/Moshiri and our Michelangelo and Masaccio - - our M&M/Marco and Marcel. Maybe it's time for our Renaissance - - Rebirth - - Renewal.
Woke up this mornin' feelin' fine
There's somethin' special on my mind
Last night I met a new girl in the neighbourhood, whoa yeah
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
She's the kind of girl who's not too shy
And I can tell I'm her kind of guy
She danced close to me like I hoped she would (she danced with me like I hoped she would)
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
We only danced for a minute or two
But then she stuck close to me the whole night through
Can I be fallin' in love
She's everthing I've been dreamin' of
She's everthing I've been dreamin' of
I walked her home and she held my hand
I knew it couldn't be just a one-night stand
So I asked to see her next week and she told me I could
(I asked to see her and she told me I could)
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
(Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin', ahhh)
I walked her home and she held my hand
I knew it couldn't be just a one-night stand
So I asked to see her next week and she told me I could
(I asked to see her and she told me I could)
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
Somethin' tells me I'm into something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
To something good, oh yeah, something good (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
To something good, something good, something good
I remember going up to a girl in a Club when this song was out and tapping her on the shoulder and dancing with her - - thinking I was The King of Cool :
Cool jerk, cool jerk
We know a cat who can really do the cool jerk
We know a cat who can really do the cool jerk
Well, this cat they talkin' about, I wonder who could it be?
'Cause I know I'm the happiest cat
The happiest cat you ever did see
When they see me walkin' down the street (hey, hey, hey)
None of the fellas want to speak (hey, hey, hey)
On their faces they wear a silly smirk 'cause they know I'm the king of the cool jerk, whoo
ha, ha, ha
Look at them guys lookin' at me like I'm a fool (cool jerk, uh-huh)
But, aww, deep down inside they know I'm cool (cool jerk, uh-huh)
I said, now, I said now, the moment of truth has finally come (cool jerk, uh-huh)
When I'ma to show you some, some of that cool jerk (cool jerk, uh-huh)
Now, give me a little bit of drums, by himself, there
Now, give me a little bit of bass, with those 88's
Aww, you're cookin' baby!
Hmm, You're Smokin'!
Hmm-hmm-hmm!
Now everybody, I wanna hear you all
- - Green Shot Silk Suit, Dove Tail Vents in the back, Black Silk Hankie in my pocket, Half inch turn-up and parallels - - Ox Bloods - - thank God for the Harrison Brothers on Kirkdale Road and Saxone

I am at the top room in my House - - my writing room - - surrounded by my postcards, posters and poetry - - and also by Everton programmes and books and my Goodison Park Snow Shaker alongside a working model of the Littlewoods Clock on my desk - - pens in my Everton Supporters Mug and Everton notes in a Blue Holder - - turned all my Calendars over today - - first day of September - - Vincent and Florence and Everton - - it's Tommy Lawton today - - I look out the side window in my room and can see St.Peter and Paul Dome in New Brighton - - like Brunelleschi's Domo in Firenzi - - Blue Sky's with white streaks drawn across them - - like our home shirt - - and to the left - - The River - - I stand like Casper David Friedrich surveying nature from the top of the world - - like Atlas - - silver and gold streaks on the water - - slight shimmering's - - somehow magical and the City standing proud against the sky - - silhouetted grey against the sky - - like some image from The Beatles Yellow Submarine - - I remember when that came out on the Odeon and I thought how mystical and magic Liverpool looked - - it's like that this morning - - I am standing like a Latter Day John Lennon on The Roof - - Don't let me down - - my favourite piece of music history in the world - - seeing The Boys singing together and Lennon screaming - - beautiful:
Don't let me down, don't let me down
Don't let me down, don't let me down
Nobody ever loved me like she does
Oh, she does, yeah, she does
And if somebody loved me like she do me
Oh, she do me, yes, she does
Don't let me down, don't let me down
Don't let me down, don't let me down
I'm in love for the first time
Don't you know it's gonna last
It's a love that lasts forever
It's a love that had no past (Seeking past)
Don't let me down, don't let me down
Don't let me down, don't let me down
And from the first time that she really done me
Oh, she done me, she done me good
I guess nobody ever really done me
Oh, she done me, she done me good
Don't let me down, hey don't let me down
Heeeee, (Love This Bit) don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down, don't let me let down
Can you dig it? Don't let me down
The whole act of going to the game still fills me with wonder and beauty - - knowing that in a few hours I will be in The Dark House surrounded by The Beautiful Gargoyles - - - I earn my living as an artist and I can honestly say that I cannot bare the “periphery” of the arts world - - the crass and phoney - - the false and banal mediocrity - - but in TDH with real live people - - warts and all - - there is something about the spirit, the heart, the purity (even with the swearing - - that somehow is totally inoffensive), the honesty - - the depth and - - I will say it - - the overwhelming feeling of love - - I could not think of going straight to the game and then coming home - - pre-match discussions - - after match debates - - Man of the Match:
Beer
Words
Scouse and bread
The quiz
Sausage rolls and meatballs
Trays of Cheese and Ham and Tuna Butties
All passed around
Talks into the night
Tables full of glasses
Full, half empty and empty
Stories told and half told and yet to be finished
Pints, people and poets
Mouths always in action
Eating, drinking, talking
Men that love each other
Not knowing how to say it
But
Showing by little actions
Touches
Moves and words.
- - it's wonderful:
“It's all too much, it's all too much
When I look into your eyes, your love is there for me
And the more I go inside, the more there is to see
It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around you
Everywhere, it's what you make
For us to take, it's all too much
Floating down the stream of time, of life to life with me
Makes no difference where you are or where you'd like to be
It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around here
All the world's a birthday cake
So take a piece but not too much
Set me on a silver sun, for I know that I'm free
Show me that I'm everywhere, and get me home for tea
It's all to much for me to see
A love that's shining all around here
The more I am, the less I know
And what I do is all too much
It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around you
Everywhere, it's what you make
For us to take, it's all too much”
It's like Memory Lane cakes for me - - going over - - or under - - The Water - - onto Scotland Road - - by the New Tunnel - - I remember when they was building it and one night/early morning coming home from Town - - seeing 1000's of rats running across the road - - walking along Westminster Road - - Lambert Road - - Memories Memories Memories - - - for a moment I drift into Reece's Clayton square On Monday Night for Soul Night - - Mary Walsh and the gang from Harcourt Street - - passing Athol Street - - Mary Martin with Otis Blue tucked under her arm to play on my old Blue (of course) Dansette in Vesuvius Street where I lived for a while with my sister Joan - - The Woolworth Girls - - who had great records and were really cool dancers - - I remember going into Woollies on Church Street for my cardboard collars for my “granddad shirt” - - we would go to each other's house with our latest LP under our arm - - of course to show off a bit - - to try and look cool - - of course were all skint and had to improvise a lot with clothes and fashions and creating our own style:
When I wake up in the morning I'm gone
And I need a friend to lean upon
Why don't you see what you can do?
See me through
See me through the days of wine and roses
See me through one day, one day at a time
When I'm already mixed up and gone
And you know it's just not on
You know exactly what to do
Baby, see me through
Hey get down, baby please don't go
I love you so, you know what to do
Listen, when we were young
When I was a school boy, you used to love my tie
It ain't nothing like I love you now
Set my soul on fire yeah, I believe you
See me through, see me through
See me through before, before, before,
TV, before rock 'n' roll, previous, previous,
Previous, in the days

Great Mersey Street - - Take Me Back Take Me Way Way back ( I saw Phil Furlong at the game against Southampton - - wow - - still going Phil - - like me over 60 years going to the game) Collete making her Communion and Joan getting married in St.Alphonsus and Father Winder - - spenso - - drinking it like Guinness - - toffee apples and tar sticks - - skipping and dancing around the lamp-post - - being “in love” with Marjie Meadows when I was about 12 - - and getting embarrassed and running out of the room when my older sisters sang “there's a bright golden haze on the Meadow” - - snake belts and short kekes - - back olla football and skipping with your Mum and the girls - - And now into TDH - - curtains till open - - light shining through - - beams of light brightening up our world - - I will sit with my back to the telly - - I never watch or talk about or mention “those” in TDH - - It's a Blue House for me - - Ohhh let your Soul and Spirit Fly Into into into The Mystic - -I love this day - - Saturday 3.00pm KO's - - my soul and Spirit Life me - - Higher and Higher:
Fair play to you
Killarney's lakes are so blue
And the architecture I'm taking in with my mind
So fine
Tell me of Poe
Oscar Wilde and Thoreau
Let your midnight and your daytime turn into love of life
It's a very fine line
But you've got the mind child
To carry on
When it's just about to be
Carried on
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
There's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
A paperback book
As we walk down the street
Fill my mind with tales of mystery, mystery
And imagination
Forever fair
And I'm touching your hair
I wish we could be dreamers
In this dream, oh
Let it dream
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
Fair play to you
Killarney's lakes are so blue
High-ho silver, tit for tat
And I love you for that
High-ho silver, tit for tat
And I love you for that, love you for that, love you for that
High-ho silver, tit for tat, tit for tat
And I love you for that
High-ho silver, tit for tat, hah!
Yeah, yeah
And I love you for that
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And I, and I say "Geronimo"
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And we say "Geronimo"
Geronimo
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And we say Geronimo
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And we say Geronimo
Fair play to you
Well must go and get ready - - dear friends - - I will be in TDH at 11.55 on the dot - - cannot drink too much these days - - under orders - - but I can drink up the atmosphere and the beauty and the spirit and the good feelings and thought that I receive from Fellow Blues from TW - -I open my heart - - here and now - - and I give each one of you a slither of it - - take it and care for it - - - you are in my thoughts, my dreams, my visions, my heart - - you are burnt onto my soul - - I am your friend:
Something inside is telling me that
I've got your secret
Are you still listening?
Fear is the lock, and laughter the key to your heart
And I love you
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
You make it hard
And you make it hard
Sent with absolutely Blue Posso Waves - - with a firm handshake and an open invitation to you all to call in to TDH - - or write and comment or call into New Brighton.
Will you come see me Thursdays and Saturdays?
What have you got to lose?
Cosmic grooves floating Over The Blue Blue Skies For Each and Everyone of You.
George

Brilliant George, thought you had turned into a Herman's Hermit for a minute there. Good that Matchdays are back, well temporarily, an International break coming up, unbelievable.

Hopefully get a win today and all will be good.

COYB

Amidst all the well-wishing for Keane last week there was little mention of his getting under the cross for their first goal. He did exactly the same at Wolves.

For it to be suggested that Baines, who has played really well, should be dropped because of a push on their player that he should never have needed to make is daft. Thought Digne played well Wednesday. Lots of others looked good too including Davies, Dowell (in spells) and Calvert-Lewin. Let's not carried away though, the opposition made shite look appealing.

Lots to be said for maintaining as consistent a team as you can when it's going (reasonably) well. And we absolutely don't want to play 4-4-2.

George, you just gave TW another dimension.

George - snake belts. I'd forgotten about them! Thought I was the coolest kid on the estate with one.

Herman's Hermits - ah, that song will be bouncing around in my head all day now!

I agree with Lyndon's team. Dropping Baines will be a momentous event if that happens as I believe it would be the 1st time he will not play in a competitive match when he is available for selection – since when he broke into the team. Great, great player for us.

Subs: Stekelenburg, Jagielka, Baines, Kenny, Dowell, Niasse, Lookman

Goal scorers: Tosun, Calvert-Lewin, Davies

Lookman... What the Fuck?! He shouldn't be in the squad.

Don't be creaming about Davies or Calvert-Lewin as well —both not good enough. Replace soft lad Richarlison with maybe Digne and Schniederlin back in, if fit.

1-0
Tosun 19 minutes

How can anybody make sound judgements on players' merits based only on their performances against Rotherham Reserves?

Today will provide much stronger competition.

Taking my 84-year-old dad to this one for his birthday treat. Lad, Dad and Grandad.

Please, almost anyone other than Schneiderlin, it's like playing with 10 men. Has he improved, could he have got any worse?

Spot on Bill @17

I would just like to see us be in control of the game. I can't remember the last match when we have been comfortable.

I am delighted with what is happening at the club but I still don't feel that we have the personnel to run a game from start to finish.

Hopefully I will be proved wrong today.

Mark Brennan,

Cherish the day mate. Your post brings back great memories of when I could do that with my dad. Have a great day and regards to your dad.

Good on you Mark, just trying to figure out how old your grandad must be :-) Guiness Book of Records on Red Alert!

Sorry for the blasphemy there, should have been Blue Alert! :-)

George,

Thanks.

Inspirational.

George @ 33 you must have woken up VERY early this morning.

Let me guess, if the Ox Bloods were from Saxone, they have to be Comos, right?

A classic shoe long since available.

Mike - Saxons's Ox Blood Comos and Hit Silk Suits - we were The Cool Ones - Great Days Indeed - just going to TDH now . Cosmic Grooves

George, Tonic Mohair suits and Ben Sherman shirts, como shoes. The dogs danglies.

The guys selling shrimps and seafood snacks from baskets who would go from pub to pub. Happy days indeed.

Crombie to get warm or just pose

Just a reminder for anyone who gets the train that Northern RMT have a strike day, today.

George, don't forget the Flemings jeans and what was the jacket with the big collar that Adam Faith used to wear? Was it a Budgie jacket?

Love reading your Posts on TW. Ray Kershaw's seafood.

Hopefully try and get our first clean sheet of the season, injuries to Keane and Gana and Richarlison suspended it will mean changes and with Mina, Bernard and Gomes still not ready Marco has a tough choice today.

The choices today are Schneiderlin for Gana as we don't have another option until Gomes is fit, also does he stick with Baines or bring in Digne. Then who replaces Richarlison, probably Calvert-Lewin after his double against Rotherham.

I think if Lookman was match fit he may have got the nod as its replacing like for like which is something Silva likes to do. But I think he will be on the bench and may get some game time in this game.

I think Huddersfield will pack the defence and try and hit us on the counter-attack. So using pace out wide to get round the back of a packed defence will be key today.

Let's hope Tosun gets off the mark, as the longer it goes without a goal the pressures will rightly mount, irrespective of how well his general play is strikers have to score goals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D27HlqEZWiY

For the under 50s - No need to have the song in your head when its on You Tube

I'm always suspicious when unhappy players are missing games because of minor knocks. Especially when they were on loan and didn't appear to pick up any knocks at all. Lookman has fallen into this category.

Yet again with Richarlison out he has the chance to play but he has a knock just after failing to get a move to Leipzig. What an unfortunate coincidence. I love the way some players insist on wrecking their own careers instead of facing the reality of their situation and getting on with it.

"See me through" — I absolutely love that tune. Thanks for reminding me, George. Just gonna put it on...

My team is due to injuries at the back and the quality of the opposition. 3-4-2-1 formation:

Pickford
Holgate Zouma Baines
Coleman Davies Schneiderlin Digne
Walcott Sigurdsson
Calvert-Lewin

Today needs to be the first of back to back home wins (West Ham in 2 weeks) against mediocre sides that are really bread and butter three points with correct application.

Agree Tosun needs to get up and running ASAP on the scoring charts, irrespective of some good honest hard work so far he hasn't got into scoring positions enough and he will know himself that for £27 million we bought a striker predominantly to score goals not just offer a workhorse model.

Let's hope for the win!

George, your description of the dark house, even for a scall like myself, can only be described as beautiful mate.

Mark, enjoy the game mate, I said the other day how great it is to see Everton's support, especially because it covers every generation, so well. The kids are fanatics, because there parents, and grandparents were fanatics.

I'm listening to Floyd, because I think I can tell, heaven from hell, now that Koeman and Allardyce are no longer part of our great football club! Enjoy the game everyone, and don't forget to put something into the food bank, in memory of the Evertonian who tragically died in that fire last week.

David @57, unfortunately not in the under 50 bracket but had a look at the link for nostalgic reasons.

Had to laugh at the girls at the back performing some chronic (dance?) moves, looked like they had Bernard Cribbins as their Choreographer.

Geoff, Kershaws seafood, thanks!! Was it a Reefer Jacket?

George @ 33
Inspired and inspiring words.

Squad looking very thin for today.

Was about to start typing my line up - only to realise it was exactly the same as Lyndon's. That'sreally the only team we can field without changing things too much with a Lookman or Dowell. 4-3-3 again. Or you might like calling it a 4-2-3-1; they're basically the same thing.

The bench is where the mountain of injuries stare us in the face. Somehow from having 6 centre-backs at the beginning of the season, (Keane, Jagielka, Holgate, Zouma, Mina, Pennington I suppose), just 2 are fit for this game. Unless an u23 centre back is promoted, we'll be seeing two full backs in Kenny and whichever of Baines/Digne does not start, as our defensive subs. Dowell as a midfielder - with who else? Baningime is supposedly injured too. There are no other fit, senior midfield players in the squad.

Sub winger? Again, absolutely no one. No one.

Bench looks something like this:

Stekelenberg, Kenny, Digne/Baines, (SOMEONE?), Dowell, (SOMEONE), Niasse.

/////////////////////////

We've cleared out millions of players... and all the ones we've brought in are injured.

Perilously low on squad depth here.

Two issues for me LB & LW. I think Digne should get the nod over Leighton. This is an ideal fixture for the lad to get his feet wet.

There has been enough to like about Baines' performances to date but also enough question marks to justify Dignes inclusion.

Moving on to LW, this could really be anyone I guess. I'd prefer Silva to pick someone comfortable in that role. That's leaves me thinking it's Dowell or Lookman.

Kerian deserves a shot for his attitude and did okay Wednesday but if Silva wants to replicate pace and style, this is Lookmans chance to focus and get playing time.

It would be a gamble, but a more natural fit style wise. Either way it leaves the onus on Sigurdsson to be the creative hub.

Pickford, Coleman, Holgate, Zouma, Digne, Schniederlin, Davies, Sigurdsson, Lookman, Tosun & Walcott.

Ray my uni uniform: reefer jacket, jeans and desert boots (and reefer).

The James Maddison lad that we were linked with is looking pretty decent for Leicester isn't he?

You reckon, Jim?

I think he's looked pretty timid. He clearly has class but plays too safe.

He's just lost his man for that goal there too. Commentator is blaming zonal marking even though Maddison was clearly with Firmino the whole time.

#69 Ahh Brent-----Desert dogs. you could never keep the laces tied.

Brent @69, bet you had double breasted socks and diaphanous Y fronts too, as you travelled on the Marakesh Express!

And the rs score again - against a zonal marking Leicester side from a corner.

But to us...- I worry about Schneids and Davies together a lot! My preference is Gueye - Davies. Scheiderlin has actually played well under Silva, however sideways he can still be, and him and Gueye work well.

Davies and Schneiderlin together isn't near comforting for me. Hopefully they play well, but it's a concern.

Baines will start in my opinion. Digne just played Wednesday and I think he will be on the bench.

Need a win today.

To be fair Phil he's playing against a great side as much as I hate to admit it and arguably this season's Champions.

I think Maddison looks good and certainly for a young lad offers more than some of our younger guys.

Don't know what diaphonous means, Derek. I'm an ignoramus. but double-breasted socks are now on my xmas list.

Calvert-Lewin starting and Lookman on the bench. Delighted to see Digne starting.

Hi George from Vienna with its famous Riesenrad, on which you rode. It's still there and functioning.

Brilliant name checking my favourite track on my favourite Van Morrison album.

Enjoy the game. I will be over for Fulham and Palace games.

Derek (#73),

Have you ever been on the Marrakesh Express? Slowest bloody train in the world... Camels overtake the damn thing.

Robert, I love Vienna – please contact me when you are over and we can meet in The Dark House. One of the guys in the back parlour has a daughter living there, it would be nice to chat.