Leicester City vs Everton

Lössl
Coleman Holgate Mina Baines
Sidibe Davies Iwobi Digne
Richarlison Bernard

Both Sidibe and Digne are wasted as full-backs, so play them as wingers instead... simples.

It’s certainly good news that schneiderlin won’t play, he is the very definition of a man short.

This might force Marco into something different on Sunday, although I doubt it.

Give Sigurdsson the start and tell him to start getting his arse in gear or he’s gone.

Play Davies next to him, and then put Iwobi in front of them, end of debate?

No disrespect but neither Schneiderlin or Delph have got the legs to cope with the energetic whipper-snapper style that both Leicester and Liverpool play anyway, so it’s hardly a big loss is it.

Schneiderlin runs around in a 10 yard circle and Delph is everything we probably feared and expected, injury prone and his legs have gone (that’s why City got shut).

Could be a blessing in disguise as he will be forced to re-jig the players and formulate a different strategy, assuming of course he has one.

They say that ' necessity is the mother of invention ' but should we get a result it will be by way of a forced change rather than by the ingenuity of Silva.

Do you like him too?

But Dave #1 is right, even within that formation this could mean good news. I've been advocating for nearly a year now that Sigurdsson should be pulled back to defensive mid. He's better than Schneiderlin in defensive nous, work rate and passing, and he doesn't make stupid fouls just outside the box.

Now it seems like necessity might force Silva to actually do it.

Perfect opportunity to give 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 a real shot.

3-5-2:
Pickford
Mina Keane Holgate
Sidibe Iwobi Davies Bernard Digne
Kean Richarlison

4-4-2
Pickford
Sidibe Mina Holgate Digne
Davies Iwobi Bernard Sigurdsson
Kean Richarlison

Subs for both (or close to it):
Lossl
DCL
Gibson
Gordon
Baines
Tosun
Keane (in the 4-4-2)
Sigurdsson (in the 3-5-2)

IMO we have to flood the middle of the park or the best in form midfield in the EPL - Ndidi / Tieleman / Maddison - will run roughshod over us.

Do people not realise this is the Premier League in 2019, a frenetic breakneck speed that takes no passengers and will ruthlessly punish you.

There’s not a cat in hells chance of Baines at the age of 35, playing in a position where in all his career he has never ventured.

If it wasnt for bad luck Silva would have no luck at all.

Sunday could be a right mauling. Even with a fully fit team we would struggle against this team.

Rejoicing in having even more players in rehab in an already depleted squad is counter intuitive to me if you genuinely want Everton to get a result on Sunday.

But then, there are some Blues who make it a virtue in wishing their team to lose.

We haven’t actually got a ball winner in our squad anymore.

Schneiderlin is too slow to get near players that have pace and mobility.

Delph is another one that can’t run anymore, fine player in his day but in the games I have seen him this season he’s looked very leggy and he’s not had the “Gareth Barry impact” that I hoped he would.

The loss of Gueye who in the second half of last season was immense at putting fires out in dangerous areas, has been very costly and exactly why I said before we sold him that we were selling him off on the cheap, he was far too important a player for Everton.

Davies is about the most likely to win the ball or put a tackle in, that’s why I’d sit him deep and put Sigurdsson next to him and then Iwobi in front.

Whoever we play there it’s not going to have any legs or energy and will struggle to cope with the running of Maddison and co.

Look at what you have pick a formation which emphasizes the strengths of those players. So it’s attack attack all the way for me.

4-3-3 or 3-5-2 will work.

Not holding my breath though Marco.

The next two matches should see us slaughtered on current form, even if we had something approaching a full squad. At least Silva now has an excuse. What's the Board's for not taking action after the Burnley fiasco?

I don't think so, mate.

John @34, you're right, there's a lot of whining about Silva.

Pickford
Digne
Mina
Keane
Holgate
Sidibe

Davies
Sigurdsson

Richarlison
Calvert Lewin
Iwobi

More than enough quality there to get a result, a strong centre, energy in midfield and pace in attack.
It's easy this football manager lark!

Coleman out, now that is a bit of a worry, at least he trys.

Though tbh, its got to the stage that if this Club told me it was Wednesday I'd check to see if it wasn't Tuesday or Thursday.

And there's not ONE player in the U23s or even U18, with a decent engine who couldn't come in...in an emergency...and do the very basic basics.?

I not asking him to come in put his foot on the ball and boss it like Charlton Vs Beckenbauer. Just run and run, block and tackle or stick to his man...and if in doubt, sling it up field or if all else fails row Z. I wouldn't care if he never set foot in their final third of the field...and there's not one?

Also, if players like Bernard or even Delph are borderline for Leicester. Silva please please please don't risk them - save them for the Derby.

Look upon Leicester as a Derby rehearsal. If it takes two lines of 5 to get the job done then do it.

Then double down on it midweek. If we have to be cast as the Rourkes Drift dedenders then fuckin do it, make them pay.

Pickford
Sidibe Keane Mina Digne
Iwobi Davies Bernard
Kean DCL Richarlison

Did we change managers and nobody told me?

Folks, Marco Silva has two alignments. 4-2-3-1 for most of the game and 3-3-4 in the final minutes when we're behind.

That's it.

I’d ask whether there’s ONE who could come in and do a decent job. Gordon, Beningami, Adeniran. The only possibles in my view. And not one guaranteed to do a decent job.

There are no guarantees with him at that age, there is no guarantee with any player at 16, but having worked with him in his first year scholarship - where he played as an attacking midfielder - I knew he had the temperament, he had the talent and he, most importantly, had the desire to work hard and to listen.

“He’s a great listener, he takes on board information and applies it on the pitch. That for me is what sets the best players out.”

And Unsworth believes that playing as a No10 - but in a different way Everton fans may be used to seeing - is Calvert-Lewin’s best position.

“For me, and it’s only my opinion, when teams play with a No10 and a No9 teams tend to use the No10 as an extra midfielder,” Unsworth explained.

DCL hasn't played attacking midfielder since a couple of appearances there in 2015 at Northampton in League 2. He never once played the position at Sheffield United or Everton, except for one 14-minute sub appearance two years ago.

So if there was a transition, he made it at age 18, not 20. And when Unsworth made that comment he was only 16.

DCL is a forward, has been for quite a long time. So no, he is absolutely not going to suddenly get a Prem start at the #10 spot.

The slow death continues.

Pickford
Holgate Keane Mina
Sidibe Iwobi Davies Bernard Digne
Kean Richarlison

Nothing to lose as we are expected to get tonked.

We need to be searching for a manager who has the ability to get back into the Premier League at first time of asking. More than one season in the Championship will be the end of any ambitions we have for a new stadium.

I'm not asking him to come in put his foot on the ball and boss it like Charlton Vs Beckenbauer. Just run and run, block and tackle or stick to his man...and if in doubt, sling it up field or if all else fails row Z. I wouldn't care if he never set foot in their final third of the field...and there's not one?

All that's required for the next 2 games (not even looking any further atm) is Uber KITAP1...and I'm not too fussed about the AP1 bit either.

I think the formation suits Holgate well enough, but it's typically been a disaster for Keane and Mina. In fact, I think the main reason people were down on Mina after last season could be traced back to the few times Silva tried to force a back three - he looked so clumsy and out of sorts, that's what ended up sticking in people's minds.

Otherwise, not much to do but put the negativity and gloom aside, circle the wagons and adopt an "Evertonians against the world" mentality. What the hell do we have to lose?

Sidibie Holgate Mina Digne

Iwobi Davies Sigurdsson Bernard

Calvert-Lewin /
Richarlison

4 -5-1 , 4-4-2, 4-1-1

Call it what you will, It should be flexible. DCL needs to be the conduit between the midfield and Richarlison needs to be feeding off him. There is youthful energy ,strength ,aggression, pace , and class in them two , defenders wont like facing them. Both of them can be a nuisance to defenders and hard to handle.

DCL can win headers all day long, he is indefatigable. He can get get flick ons or lay it off to our midfield to get a quick pass to set Richarlison on his way to go on his own or pull it back to the advancing midfield and DCL.

This formation bolsters the midfield whilst still retaining a goal threat, it's got to be worth a try. Those two forwards are not afraid to score, and all four of those midfielders have a goal threat.

Come on Marco !!!!!!!!, we need to try something different.

I am maybe deluded but I still want him to learn from his mistakes, not be afraid of trying something different and turn it around.

This week we are playing a team riding high and full of confidence with pace and power all over the pitch.

If Silva tries anything stupid with the under performing lot we have it could get embarrassing.

I think he has to be defensively minded but have an attacking option 4141
Davies has done well for England U21 as a defensive midfielder so play him in front of the back 4
Kean and Richie with pace out wide to support DCL

Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Davies
Kean Iwobi Sigi Richie
DCL

To ensure a result of some sort I have put a bet on Leicester, this is bound to tip the scales in our favour. If we win I’ll open a crowdfunding page to fund the seasons betting. This time next year we will be champions or I’ll be a millionaire 🤣

The realistic improvement that we should expect from Everton is that they will be better prepared through hard work, focus and determination on the training ground during the week.

Brands interview does not show that there is the leadership in the Club to inspire this.

I'd be amazed if Silva sees it that way, he can't think outside the box and his team selections are usually rigid and unimaginative.
Whatever the team is we will be lucky to even get a draw tomorrow, we can only pray we have a bit of luck.

Hoping for an upset but in all honesty and reality can't see that happening.

He is not only very highly paid, but was head-hunted, you can't make this stuff up, and to us mere mortals it simply beggars belief.

This thread reads like a game of FIFA20 in manager mode.

He's more likely to just stick to the same formation, and plug the gaps with some square pegs as usual.

You can probably make a case for us doing OK against the upcoming opponents, and Magic Marco somehow keeping his job. Sigh.

Pickford
Coleman, Holgate, Mina, Digne
Sigi, Davies, Iwobi
Kean, DCL, Richarlison

This is the team I expect:

Pickford
Coleman, Keane, Mina, digne
Schneiderlin, Davies
Walcott, sigi, Richarlison
DCL

The expected team is too slow and we’ll lose. Simple

We might get something then, as schneiderlin is the massive weakness in the team Marco usually puts out.

And Walcott is the very symbol of a snowflake footballer...

Fingers crossed

If, during the last week, the management haven't been tackling the first three deficiencies, then they don't deserve to be in post. Similar message to some of the players.

I think if they get an early goal we're going to get mullered. Vardy against Mina or Keane is almost just unfair.

Really not looking forward to this. (I may have to bench Digne in my FFL side to avoid the minus points.)

I am always a 'glass almost full' type and cling to the hope that injuries will force him to pick an energetic team with pace and desire to win. Calvert-Lewin has to play as he will lead the line with energy and has a point to prove. Tosun must not be anywhere near the team as he has no pace, no physical presence and is not a target man. Silva needs to gamble and challenge Kean to show him why he should have been in the team and I'd give the captaincy to Tom regardless of who else plays.

In a strange way, I am looking forward to seeing this game as it really is shit or bust with what is just around the corner. I am fascinated to see what Silva is made of because we sure as hell will find out tomorrow.

All we can hope for his 100% commitment from everybody, and as Chris Wilder has shown at Sheffield Utd a well drilled and well coached side can often overcome the lack of big money buys. Now some will argue that we are not well coached and results would tend to back up that argument. But most of the team that Silva will select even with the amount of injuries most will be seasoned internationals. You here ex players always saying win your personal battles, so that should be the basis we start from.

If I were Silva, I would probably say something like:

"If you can't play for me and get a result, then go out there and get a result for the 3,000 travelling fans, who have followed you through thick and thin this season. The least they deserve is a good performance and positive result."

Will it work? Hopefully. COYB!!

If we do not have a tight and organised set-up, it is a tonking today.

We have no organisation, no confidence, and therefore no form or as much freedom of expression. Davies tries hard but too erratic at present. He needs an experienced head around him. (Wonder if that means he will be captain again tomorrow).

Add to Tom the energy from Iwobi, Richarlison and Kean then we can should see some exiting times ahead... err with the correct management. I’d love to so in on he training sessions. The real training sessions. What patterns and shapes or passing do they practice, lm sick of seeing them give them ball away or watching Digne overhit a cross to the solitary man in the box.

Such is the life of an Evertonian

Flapper

Bottler
Ditherer
Panicker
Stroller

Shuffler
Plodder
Hider

Loser
Rotter
Roller

Managed by Bullshitter.

Because that is what we have seen for most of the season. Attach the monikers to whoever you like.

Noticed that your team and Manager all ended in 'er', so no scorer, or defender?

Wan#er
Tosser
Shi#er

Were hard to leave out. Do we have a scorer or defender?

Perhaps we "extra" dread playing them 🙂

Julian @90 I couldn't agree more. I especially liked the smirk when he said "well you guys have been asking that since the Wolves match in the 4th game." 😂 (About the 'do you get the sense you've been given this game as a 'must win')

Anyone think differently?

Leicester were a yo-yo club not too long ago.

It's another case of Kenwright's obsession with giving ex-players jobs, the worst example being Duncan Ferguson. Managers come and go but the old boys remain...

George @98, there was a really interesting analysis piece (video on YouTube) the other day by ToffeeTV. The general gist is similar to yours. We're not developing talent, and we're being far too patient in letting the ones who'll never make it to the senior squad stick around.

George @98, you make a good point; however, I've said that before and been boiled alive on here.

We have Gordon, Adeniran and Gibson who need to be given opportunities this season. Add in Kenny (a huge loss being out on loan), Davies and Calvert-Lewin, and Unsworth has not done too badly. Give these lads a proper chance before criticising Unsworth – you might find he has actually done very well!!

3-5-2:

Pickford
Mina Keane Holgate
Sidibe Iwobi Davies Bernard Digne
Kean Richarlison

I completely agree with this.

Phil @102 thanks, though another EFC-related site said it was clear I had "zero football management experience" (I don't).

The primary reason was that "Bernard is too diminutive to be anywhere near the midfield" and would be "bossed around the pitch." 🤷🏻‍♂️😂

Oh, and Bernard is tougher than people think and too quick for most opposition players – shows those people know nothing!!

Plenty of supporters, and they include the fans that go to watch the younger players, have often written that various young players are worth a shot in the first team. So put the blame on the person who will not give them a chance and instead plays veterans who are criticized weekly.

My recollection is that the Big Man brought Craig Shakespeare and another guy to work with him on the first team. Steve Walsh as Director of Football had also worked with him before. But I guess he had a point!

Coaches work on the training ground to ensure the players work on the tactics the manager has laid out for the upcoming game, help the players improve in the positions they played at, ensure the players maintain their levels of fitness, and most probably a lot more than we are aware of.

There have been a number of players that have shown improvements this season, Calvert-Lewin and Davies are a couple, and I am sure there are others who have improved through the help of the coaches.

How long before Calvert-Lewin, Davies etc are sold to put money in the already bulging pocket of Kenwright?

Please also bear in mind that the U23 are now what used to be called the "Reserves". As such, it may be that Unsy is "asked" by the first-team management to play certain players who are recovering from injury, or need "game time", or that have been out of first-team contention for some other reason and the first-team management want to have a 'look" at them.

They may not, actually be Unsy's choice at that time or place.

Well said, hilarious and it sums things up.

I'll just add a few for our dynamic directors and manager:

Schmoozer
Duffer
Shirker
No-hoper

Gueye a reject?

When we bought Gana from Villa he was valued at ballpark £8m. When we sold him to PSG he was valued at £27m. Maybe it was because Villa had a fire sale when they finished 20th and went down?

And I don't even rate Sigurdsson today, but it's pretty easily argued that we went after him when he was at peak value as well as performance coming from Swansea. He scored 9g, 13a his final year on their squad. So...yeah, probably not a reject. Perhaps you meant one of the only sellable assets for a team that finished 15th, and would be relegated the following year?

I hope you don't play the stock market!

I don't fear either. All the players must do is look to the terraces and see the best away fans in the world. Then, act like men and become heroes. Fuck defeatism – let us believe.

David @123 it's very hard to tell, but I'd honestly lean toward 'being serious'. There have been a great many comments/thoughts here on TW about Digne, Gomes and Mina being Barca rejects, or Iwobi not cutting it at Arsenal, etc. So the sentiment wouldn't exactly surprise me.

It takes a fan living in Ireland, who would love to be able to watch us every week, to bring a bit of cheer to this thread and to acknowledge the great fans who travel to away games everywhere to cheer us on. Let's get behind these fans and bring some glee to the support instead of outright defeatism.

I hope you're right and I am wrong.

Just kidding, Andy!

For some reason, l also forgot that Everton always let me down in my bets. I had City to draw and West Ham to win, 50/1 Double... now l just need Everton to beat Leicester and Liverpool for 4 grand, haha. You never know... Andy could be right. Coyb

Never in a million years would I have thought we would be where we are now. We have the same coach, many of the same players. If we play without fear we can win. It us up to Marco to remove the fear. This is his chance.

It does beg the question, though, that if you're correct, why can't they do that every game instead of strolling around, going side to side, and having all the penetration of an abstinent monk?

Truth is that they have good games in them, as we have seen at the back end of last season, although precious little this, but they have many days whereby they haven't got a clue. Being beaten at home by the likes of Sheffield United and Norwich City and losing 7 games out of 13 this season says it all really. And all the chest-thumping isn't going to change that.

I expect they may put up a bit of fight in the next 2 games but it won't change the fact that we look clueless most of the time. The players and manager have shown countless times how little respect they have for the Goodison Park faithful by their insipid performances and ridiculous excuses like being surprised at how good Norwich are!!

This is not what I expect of Everton. I expect a performance every game and, when it doesn't happen, we have a right to ask why not? Sad fact of the matter is that we have stopped asking that question a long time ago and now seem pleased when we put up a bit of effort against decent teams. Desperate times.

Mark (127), I doubt if Andy is drunk, but I wouldn't mind betting he'll have a good few if we get some points out of Leicester and Liverpool, especially Liverpool. Andy lives in Belfast but his football soul resides in the Blue side of Liverpool.

Dave @133 what you're saying is not wrong, though I think we have to consider that we've rarely been able to start the same XI back-to-back, regardless of injuries or not. It's impossible for these players to gel, especially the new Blues.

This is another area that explains why Leicester is doing so well. All their key components play together, week-in & week-out.

Over these many years, I have won big money by backing the 'hopeless' underdog; whilst this has usually been in the boxing ring, it works occasionally on the football pitch. 6/1 against an Everton win is widely available and good value for a modest fiver bet.

So why not join me in doing penance for all we have said throughout this week, you'll feel all the better for it – particularly if the lads shock the nation.

ps: Of course, if it comes off, we know things will return to normal in the derby!

Striker position is case in point. It was no coincidence when we had a decent run at the back end of last season that selection was consistent. He doesn't seem to have even learned that simple lesson.

We have to get points!

I would not be shocked if we got something out of the Leicester game, all logic points elsewhere, but this is Everton.

"though I think we have to consider that we've rarely been able to start the same XI back-to-back, regardless of injuries or not. It's impossible for these players to gel, especially the new Blues."

Cheers, mate, for being smart like me ;-)

Best of luck though mate.

And look at the ways dead cats bounce. Strangely, I travel tomorrow with not a little bit of hope. An early goal, a boost to confidence...

My missus has treated me to a first class train ticket. But it's only one-way. Is she trying to tell me something?

Close the Coffin Lid on your way out. :-)

Morbidly brilliant!

We could scatter him at Finch Farm - no cremation, just scatter him at FF.

And if ever there was a time for an Everton team to turn up at Anfield, then this is it. We don't want Klopp setting a new unbeaten record against us... doesn't bear thinking about!

That event will really signal something is seriously wrong.

A bttsw £10 treble on us Sheff Utd and Villa pays just under 10 gorillas.

Well and truly yesterday's man, achieved nothing since he left us, other than destroying Man Utd and taking Sunderland down.

He called us The People's Club and then dumped all over us when he left.

Moyes, no thanks.

Yeah right, he took over Sunderland in similar circumstances and took them down with an 18% win rate, and a misogynist threat on a reporter too. There wouldn't be the fanfare he received in 2002, and no 'new manager' bounce, so he would be the worst possible appointment.

Before him, I'd have Fat Sam back. (I think he's actually still being paid by EFC so it makes sense!)

If anything, I think Wednesday is the more likely to come off.

Moshiri on clarinet playing 'Stranger on the Dock'; Silva on trombone, blowing hot air; Brands, banging his own drum; and dear old Bill – on the fiddle. With Ferguson on vocals, singing "I wish I was a rich man."

All out of tune, out of sync and drawing boos from the fans. Venue Goodison Park, Liverpool and other theatres of dreams – showing weakly (sic). Tickets available on StubHub.

ps: Who is your bookie?

Made me chuckle that. What death throes our season would be getting relegated yet taking six points from that lot over the road!!!

Besides no decent foreign manager would come anywhere near us, all the crap ones would. Probably the ones Brands calls his friends.
We have to get this sorted after the Derby game and I think it will be, or we're going the same way as the Titanic.

Given the choice there's some on here who would prefer to take 6 pts off the dark side and then go down.

The Titanic stayed afloat for a while and tried to save the situation, we're about to do a Lusitania, that's disappear without so much as a radio message or splash.

That's actually a good idea, just image 39000 in them.

I still think they wouldn't get the message though.

Marco Silva did indeed handle himself really well in that interview as opposed to the characters posting the questions.

There “daggers drawn” approach now has me sincerely hoping he finds a way to turn this around.

I think this is part of the problem. I have it from a fairly reliable source that we sounded out Moyes about exactly this, but he turned us down due to the short term nature of the offer - this may not be new news to some, but it at least highlights the way we are thinking.

Even if he does get a few results from the upcoming games we'll probably slip back into the same old same old come the new year.

It would have been kind to release him many weeks ago, rather than put him and us through what's about to happen. A new manager or caretaker with a month or so might have had time to prepare?

See you all in church tomorrow!!

The current positon we are in cannot be underestimated.

We are still paying Big Sam from last time and he did a very good job of keeping us up, chuck him a few more million (make it worth his while) and a "Play it again Sam!" (until the end of the season, then adios).

We are desperate!

Ryan @180 what's your starting XI?

To play with guts, care and spirit for 95 mins is as rare for this squad, as me winning on the horses.

Tomorrow if they can’t get focused and driven for this game, then many will follow the manager.

Mediocrity is not an option in professional football, but at EFC, regrettably it’s become norm.

Rogers has proved to be a decent manager and I consider a good man manager.

The team must play like wolves tomorrow, and take their chances.

I’m blanking Leicester out iof my mind, for all their prowess this season.

The irony is we win we do the RS, a favour, but I always want us to win.

Let’s hope and pray we can cause a nice surprise.

Form suggest extremely unlikely, but let’s do one game at a time, and take the RS, after tomorrow’s game.

Surely the players will be up for it? I’d go 4-4-2, on the basis the team has a game plan and sticks to it. Forget about their players and form, it’s up to us on the day.

Nobody else has really mentioned Bilic. I know it’s a lot different being a manager to a pundit (Gary Neville) but l think he knows his stuff. I’m any case l think that Brands has to access the squad and choose a manager that would get the best of them while also identifying a style that fits them... and the crowd.

From Martínez to Koeman was the biggest mistake we’ve made since Moshiri came in, you can’t buy a set of players for one style of play then rip it up and start again with something completely different. Well, we can.

Trevor @186 that's about the only part that I can see, the less resources piece. They're not poor, but they've spent anywhere from 20-60% less than us. He's somewhat intriguing with Moshiri's pocketbook and working in unison with Brands.

But what if I want Arteta really, really badly? Think he'd come then?

Oh, and I mentioned it elsewhere on TW, but Marcelino to me is a very intriguing option, and he's available. Very nice recent CV, from a very similar situation in La Liga that we find ourselves in now.

"I just want someone to get us out of this shit we are in".

That is how I feel exactly. Paul, could you in a million years have thought at the start of the season we would be where we are now? No? Me neither.

I have "the fear" about us and I need a cool hand like Jay Wood, Steve Ferns or Darren Hind to put up an article saying we are safe and all will be well.

We have, through gross negligence, failed to equip ourselves with at least one reliable goalscorer for three seasons. It is no surprise that we are in trouble, we've been playing with fire and now we are getting burned.

We lose tomorrow

Moyes comes in on Monday

Ferguson is retained as part of the coaching staff

We lose on Wednesday

Moyes keeps us up -just

The new, foreign, manager arrives in the summer

The pattern starts again

Clear the heads, and start fresh. Years of stop, start, same old, result, and we are in a rut.

Same old, doesn’t work, and a ruthless restart is needed at board level.

The club is in a mess, and is in decline,regardless of what the club may say, as there’s no plan or desire to start fresh.

The focus is on tomorrow’s game, like none in recent times we need a result. Last seasons again would do.

"We have too much to go down"

Tony, I wince every time somebody writes that.

We won bugger all, we collapsed at every big game and we took on the ridiculous moniker of 'plucky little Everton' – I could go on but it boils the blood a little bit and we have a big week ahead.

Spot on there. We went for instant success. We need to do all you what you mentioned in your message starting with the Board.

We should have an U23 Squad full of players who can step right into the 1st team if there are a string of injuries (as now) as they would have been playing the same style of play as the 1st team. Presently, all the playing levels play differently.

We have to build; instant success is not working.

What do you want to happen tomorrow?
Everton to win (Giving Silva some reprieve)
Everton to lose (Speeding Silva's departure)

A moral dilemma. Remember where Kendall was before Adrian Heath scored the goal in the old League Cup. Are you a true Blue?

If we're not careful both fans and players are going to tie themselves in knots. We simply have to go out in games and develop some hardness of mind. It would help if our fanbase did not consistently delude itself as to the size of the challenge we face as a club.

Given the lack of confidence, the manager's stubbornness and miserable disposition, the injuries and the impending December fixture list, it's hard to see us not in the bottom 3 heading into the New Year.

Reality appears to be that there are no available options to replace Silva and, unless we can conjure a goal scorer in the January window, little chance of relief on the pitch.

It is getting near the time when we will have to circle the wagons and grind out some unlikely results I just hope the current squad have got the stomach for the fight because most of the teams around us certainly have.

If Everton as a club, start the day with belief and can do, attitude, we have a level chance of a result.

Injuries aside, tomorrow we should take the initiative and drive for a result.

Leicester are good, but never will be great. Seconds in time, moments in football, years at the top, no guarantee.

Only a few clubs can do it consistently. Everton have a good early history, but hand on heart, the last 30 years, we have been poor.

A business, football is, Everton, must move with stealth, to stay in the football business.

Bar a miracle, we will be in the bottom 3 by 31 December 2019. I hope, I'm wrong, and we win and draw, but form, and injuries, are against us.

Tomorrow, who knows, we could get a result?

"Leicester are good, but never will be great. Seconds in time, moments in football, years at the top, no guarantee."

It could be argued what Leicester did gives the greatness, they broke the monopoly of the SKY babes.

Did any club in our league look like giving the rest of us any hope like with what they achieved.

Where were we and our greatness when this was happening.

I'm proud of our history, but that's what it is history, our star is fading fast, Leicester's is shining rather brightly for a second time not so long after their most recent great achievement.

We have to dig in and build again, because we've cocked up the chances we've had to take a somewhat quicker route. It's a long road ahead; with realism and some luck we can get to the end of it.

Such is the way it is. I don’t believe that we are cursed or forsaken, but very,very unlucky.

Time, waits for no one. But Everton, if serious, must call time on being pretending to be a proper club, in terms of the board. It’s become a pendant to the long distant past.

Like many, we have given our hearts and souls to a club, which at current rates, in business, and at football levels, has no good stock value.

The hard work within the club, needs to start and tomorrow.

Rebuild and grow and learn from our mistakes, and what happens around us.

Let’s get our pride back, by playing the right way on the park.

We however have been terrible pretty much all season. Our results against the above and indeed the quarter final v Leicester will depend on how we play more than on how the opposition play. Even with our injuries, we can put out a strong team full of internationals.

Play as we did against Sheffield and Norwich and we will lose the lot. Show some guts and determination not to lose, play with energy and pace and really get stuck in and play as a true team with absolutely every player giving his maximum and we can pull clear of the bottom three.

Do I think Silva can do this? Well I've seen no signs so far this season and if two out of Morgan, Gylfi and Delph play then we are stuffed. Only one of them if not none at all and we have a chance if he can get the team motivated, knowing that his job is on the line and we are in desperate need of points for premier league survival. We are not too good to go down. We are here because our results and performances have been crap.

We have lost to all of the promoted clubs and not just by one goal – a dreadfully poor record even before the stat that we don't fight back to win with this manager.

It will be an interesting day.

Dave @213 great news then! Morgan & Delph are out, so 2 of the 3 you posed can't play.

Paul H@several posts/Tony H countering @several posts it's funny we argue about this, don't you think? Pessimism vs. optimism. There is no more accuracy in definitively saying "we will be relegated" than there is "we won't be relegated." Unless someone can see the future, in which case what are we even arguing about? Let's all go place some quid on future results and get rich!!

(I'm in the 'won't get relegated' camp, personally)

Some might say it could ruin a player coming into the current side, but it could also go the other way, where they do the business.

If Silva really wants to keep his job, he has to gamble and put trust in these players, he may get lucky Sunday down to certain players being ruled out for tomorrow's game and the ones coming in doing a job.

Make no mistake if Coleman, Schnids and Walcott were able to play, they would be certs to start with Silva.

This could be a big break for Silva, down to luck on forced team selection.

I don't wish injuries on any player but we need to win tomorrow and two of them will ensure we play a slow game and we will be swamped if we do.

Hope you're right mate!

Managers and players come and go, but as a supporter you are there for the long run even if, like it has been for a while, rather depressing, and what makes it worse is how well the other lot are doing on the pitch, and in their boardroom.

It’s a gauge as much of the result, but of the real back bone and stomach of EFC, board and all, for a battle.

The fans have, nor will ever let EFC, down. The board, need to decide, what’s it all about.

With the investment made in new players, the last four years, we are massively under achieving.

What’s the answer?

What a loss Jonjoe Kenny has been!

History for me is what I've experienced, particularly the best, which is 8 trophies and great football to go with them. For a current young Man City supporter, they will always view their team as a great footballing trophy winner. For a young Evertonian, they probably view Everton as mediocre. For a 65-year-old Evertonian like me, they view Everton as currently mediocre but great in the big sweep of things. It's all about perspective and what you've experienced, what has seeped into you blood.

Leicester fans will be content with that one Premier League title, whereas we would always demand more because of our richer history.

Worse still a defeat at home or away, but especially away, to one of the top four, six or whatever, became acceptable because we recognised that we didn't have the wherewithall to compete at the upper stratosphere of the league and somewhere in that 'truth' we lost our belief in our club our team and our identity.

Patiently, we all waited for the financial clout to arrive to help push us back to where we used to be, alas, when the money arrived the infrastructure required to achieve that objective wasn't in place.

In fact there has been no infrastructure whatsoever, for as many years as I can remember, success has arrived mostly due to the abilities of the manager whether that was Catterick, Kendall, Royle or even Moyes in the good times.

Unfortunately we are no longer a big club, I'm not certain that we have been one for most of my time of watching, even during the halcyon days of the 1980s. We have a big fan-base and always have had, which is mostly what has kept the club going in times of crisis, even when some fans didn't necessarily attend the games the interest has always been there, I don't suppose that it ever leaves us.

One of the issues we do have as a fan-base is as soon as the gap between the bottom three and Everton narrows we go into meltdown and hysteria takes over, where's our next point coming from? Who's going to score the goals required? How will we keep the opponents from scoring? It also works the other way, we beat a so called big club and hey presto we're on our way to the top, but the 'It's Everton that!' philosophy is never too far away, they'll screw up when it matters, they'll find a way to miss out etc etc.

I'm all for gallows humour as I'm a practioner of that particular dark art myself, I'm also in favour of seeing the reality of any given situation and we should all shout 'fire' if we see flames and smoke bellowing out of the windows, however, we mustn't totally give up on our club, we mustn't accept that we are beaten before a ball is kicked in any given game, we cannot lie down and accept relegation as a fait accompli

We have to somehow find that belief - even if it's deluded, mis-placed belief that we can win any fixture because football is a sport and in sport things can alter with a bounce of the ball or a lucky deflection or a bad call going in our favour (for once). Most of all we have to remember that defiance we once had, 'We are Everton' and we're proud to be so if not 'who are we?'

Such are the outrageous slings of fortune, whether that be good or bad, unfortunately most of them apply to the Everton we know our team today!

Do Man City have a better history than us? No, but their future is drawn well better.

I did notice that John Snr hasn't been posting recently so I sincerely hope that is because of lack of subject matter, and not attributable to anything else!

If you are his son, please give him my regards, a true Blue and a total gentleman!

He has my total respect!

Unless you play the Banjo (5 string long-neck, or the Guitar) our only chance is to re-watch that Classic Movie!

Though to be honest, I don't see anybody in the dressing room getting up and giving it the full Henry V. In fact we'll be lucky if somebody mentions, These are shite lads,

To be hastily followed by (to Silva) "Out, damned spot! Out I say!"

That's about how I'm seeing our chances this season, certainly no complacency and it will be a fair bit tighter than most would like.

That's the thing, Paul – a group of talented individuals don't always make a talented team.

My sister was once part of Burt Reynolds's and Loni Anderson's staff, I could ask her to give Burt a ring and see if he'd be interested in bringing some that 'Mean Machine' attitude over here and playing quarterback for us instead of Sigurdsson.

He surprised a lot of us last season when we started winning. We can hope that lightning will strike twice in the same place.

The season ended with Sheffield United relegated and West Ham staying up by the skin of their teeth.

Due to dodgy 3rd party ownership, the Premier League later acknowledged that they would never have sanctioned the transfer of the 2 famed Argentinians if they had known the true state of the players' 'ownership.'

Sheffield mounted a legal challenge, but West Ham paid a considerable sum to them to settle out of court.

The reason for the preamble is that it is being reported here in Brazil tonight that Kia Joorabchian is a close friend of fellow Iranian Farhad Moshiri and has been charged with negotiating with Gremio to conclude the €30 million transfer of Everton 'Cebolinha' Soares to the Blues in January, who EFC has been monitoring for months.

Kia Joorabchian has long-standing connections with Brazilian football so he knows the territory. Here is a link - basically an English translation of the original story in Portuguese.

Link/

Make of it what you will.

They'll be above us this coming Wednesday and we'll be in the bottom three if form is anything to go by.

The Blades were screwed by the FA and then they had to sell Jagielka to us.

A good result (a win, not a draw) could alleviate the pressure and result in an ok December and a mid table finish. It would mean Silva would probably remain until the end of the season.

I don't want Silva as manager, but we must all desperately hope for a win. This team doesn't have the character for a relegation battle.

Rob #237, your sister probably has some remarkable stories, although Burt told some of them in his book -- and judging by his account, Loni was meaner than anybody in The Longest Yard, including the guards. However, sadly Burt is no longer around to answer the phone.

Jay #239, interesting. I've never seen him for Gremio but based on what I saw of him in the Copa America, I'd be quite pleased to see Everton at Everton.

Gbamin and Gomes have been very bad luck. Delph less so as he had a history of such injuries. Banigime would surely have had a shot if he was not injured too.

I would maybe try an ambitious 433 with Davies holding and Iwobi and Sigurdsson as box to box players.

Pickford
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Sigurdsson Davies Iwobi
Kean Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Can't see Silva ever playing this team despite the fact it used to be his preferred formation. First goal will be crucial today as ever; the failure to come back from losing positions is one of the most damning reflections on Silva's time here; good managers can positively change matches with substitutions and tactical tweaks, Silva does this less than almost all his peers.

My game plan - take them by surprise and pounce on them from the kick off. That’ll rattle them.

Up the Blues!!!

I would be sending out a team to play football and really go at them.

Pickford
Coleman Holgate Mina Digne
Davies Sigurdsson
Bernard
Richarlison Kean Gordon

What annoys me is our failure to pick up 6 points from Sheffield Utd and Norwich at home. Those opportunities have been wasted on Silva due to the clubs inability to take action. The wring was on the wall over the Christmas period last year. What a difference those 6 points would make as well.

So come on you blues put a shift in and play for the fans and the shirt

Jay @ 239, thanks for the heads up on Joorabchian, assuming the link with Everton (Cebolinha) is true, we could certainly do with him, it raises various questions, which I hope you can answer.

1, Would it be all above board, no dodginess involved?

2, Is he still playing as well as he was when we last saw him?

3, Would there be any work permit issues, or does he have a Portuguese Passport?

You indeed have given me hope Jay, love the little guy from what I have seen of him. Thanks!

The reason I pick Kean in favour of Calvert-Lewin is not through a dislike of Dominic, however, I do feel Kean has that extra something and given an opportunity to show it could really kick start things for him and indeed us.

He is the type of player that I think thrives off notoriety and confidence and once that first couple of goals go in, he will be away.

I know I am always the optimist but I have a sneaking 0-3 feeling today and at 55/1 with Ladbrokes. Everton -2 is my bet of the day.

We could do a reverse Norwich and surprise Leicester today.

I know — let's have a fucking big party!

Sometimes you can learn more about people in times of adversity than you ever can during times of success. I would suggest the board watch closely this week and the true depth and allegiance of the characters they have employed will become clear.

I hope Marcel Brands will be taking notes.

Seriously, if he plays HIM, then he (Silva) deserves the Order of the Boot. I have never disliked an Everton player so much in nearly 60 years. He just oozes negativity, and quite often in a game I am seriously struggling to see him on the pitch, how can you hide on a football pitch (?), but he has mastered it.

Mind you, I wouldn't take your advice on where to place a bet to get the best odds. Add a nought to the 55 and make it an each-way double with Red Rum to win next year's Grand National.

Derek, there are two things that he does that let him hide on the pitch. The first is to move towards an opposing player so that he isn't in a position to receive the pass, the second is if he's next to an opponent rather than run into space, he stays beside him, again so he isn't in a position to receive a pass.

Anyway, no point in talking about him, just annoys me and he couldn't care less.

Hoping for the best today, fearing the worst. One nil win, DCL.

COYB

My heart will sink though when I see Shneiderlein and Niasse rolled out at 4:30!

Surely it just adds to the nightmare...

All I see is lack of energy & pace. Compare him Gueye, that guy covered every blade, non stop. Do you see that from Schniederlin?

Goals?

Cover for our defenders, read our stats.

Leadership? (laughter track insert).

All I see if a player sitting in deep, playing square passes, makes wreckless challenges that nullify his performance, so actually nullify nothing, but leaves us exposed if he gets a second yellow.

Offer me a player who gives 100% for 95 minutes but with supposedly less quality to replace Schniederlin and you have a deal.

Never in footballing history has so much money been spent by so many managers on sub-standard players on large contracts. Some of them are still at Everton winding down their contracts.

The next manager, whoever he is, will face the same problems as previous managers: who he can sell and who he can buy. Good luck to him, whoever he is.

For me, he epitomizes everything that's faltering at the club currently: poor decision making, pedestrian, lack of commitment and zero creativity. Basically sitting pretty, stealing a living.

Players of his profile need offloading, but who's gonna want him – never mind cover his wages???

What l want to happen today is;

● For us to win 5-0 with Kean, Schneiderlin, Mina, Digne, Richarlison all scoring.

● For Watford to sack their manager.

● For Watford to approach Everton for Marco Silva.

Or am l asking for too much?

Managing and playing sport is VERY SIMPLE: the harder you work, the better you will get and the more enjoyable it becomes. Excuses are for players who are not prepared to work hard, end of.

As for coaching, the more you confuse players with tactics, the worse it will get because the average player is completely selfish and only wants your praise. So keep it simple, so they have some success, and the rest will drop into place.

If they are not prepared to work hard firstly, whether it be physically or technically, then dump them – they will NEVER change.

Too much friendly chat at Everton, too much stroking the snowflakes' egos, when in fact, it should be the big stick. Life's tough, shit happens, deal with it and come back stronger.

Hope my kids get me Howard's Way for Crimbo, so I can at least sit and appreciate the work ethic and desire of real footballers. Stick this under their noses at Finch Farm.

Didn't we all complain when we played two DMF at home for so many painfully dull performances?

Gueye for the second half of last season (playing for a move admittedly) showed that a "complete" DMF can actually give so much more to the team than the back four "screening" that the moribund Schniederlin (supposedly) provides.

So I didn't see completely different roles what I saw was completely different attitudes and application.

Arguably Schniederlin is the more skillful of the two which makes his performance even more frustrating.

Apart from that David I agree (and pray) for all your other wishes.

Playing two midfielders who can do a bit of everything might just do us the world of good. If he doesn't play, I'm predicting a better performance but not necessarily a good result. I imagine it will be 4-2-3-1 – no matter who is at the manager's disposal.

Schneiderlin on the score sheet....

I dreamt it...

Nurse!!!!

That's one correct. Watford's manager sacked.

I've had this discussion on here many times. Schneiderlin plays behind his midfield partner. If there's only one other in midfield, we are therefore wide open. He plays his role as he should. But, if we play him that way just in front of the back four, then we have to play a diamond in midfield... but we won't. Silva never learns.

However, today it might work better as l can see him playing 4-1-4-1. That looks defensive but it doesn't have to be. Mourinho plays with 2 defensive midfielders and they have scored 10 goals in 3 games.

It's about time things clicked. All we can do is hope.

As I posted yesterday, all I can do now is hope that the boys have a major change in fortune. Sometimes it takes just a small incident to galvanise a season, a career even. Let's get behind them all today!

What makes it even worse it that it means Silva will play Sigurdsson in his now customary invisible man role further forward. So down to 9 men from the off. Davies will yet again have a lot of dead weight to carry.

Something seriously wrong there apart from the obvious. Could you possibly imagine any other side losing to their nearest rivals in similar fashion and sulking, playing crap for a year?

No, they would dust themselves down, roll their collective sleeves up and crack on with the job in hand, this where you need a Manager with something that resembles a back-bone, and positive leadership, not a wimpy, quivering lipped highly paid excuse for one!

1 out of 3 so far.

I'm holding out for a Meatloaf "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad"

One down.

We've seen this obsession with playing 2 holding midfielders with the last 3 managers (Fat Sam excepted) has got us precisely nowhere. if we could look back on the last 4 years with the meanest defence in the league, but we don't score enough goals, I/we would accept the system; but our goals against for the last 4-5 seasons has been piss poor.

I've just heard the joyous news that Schniederlin will be fit, so it looks like a Schniederlin - Davies - Sigurdsson 3 in midfield; if that's the case I ain't watching it.

Silva if you're reading this, don't do it; we are going to lose. Play 3 at the back with Bernard, Davies and Iwobie in midfield, with Richarlison and Kean or Calvert-Lewin up top. Lots of energy and plenty of scoring options. Then, after an hour when everyone tires, then bring on Sigurdsson or Schniederlin.

I know the chance of this happening is zero, but hey ho.

Leicester are no cert and I don't think they will be that over-confident.

It may be wishful thinking but stranger things have happened!

If the players really are behind Silva now is the time to show it, talk is cheap, roll your sleeves up today and show the manager and all the long suffering fans, who follow you everywhere that you care about this club, have a good go, hardwork won’t kill you.

Your first question asking about any possible 'dodginess' in relation to Kia Joorabchian's (alleged) involvement is particularly pertinent.

I'm pretty sure the football authorities globally tried to tighten up, if not completely eradicate, the 3rd party ownership following the Tevez-Mascherano-WHU transfer that Joorabchian brokered.

He argued it is common practice in South America and it certainly is. He is extremely well-known in Brazil where in the early 2000s his company MSI had a deal to cover the giant club Corinthians debts in return for 51% of future profits.

Three years into that deal, warrants were issued for his and others arrest as it was alleged the deal was just a front for money laundering. About 7-8 years later all charges were dropped with a judge ruling everything was above board and legitimate.

What further muddies the waters of Joorabchian's alleged involvement in brokering the rumoured Cebolinha transfer is that he is not, and never has been, a registered football agent. And unlicensed agents in transfers in the English Premier League is prohibited by the Football Association.

I suppose, if there is any truth in this, then Everton can claim he is representing the club in completing the documentation of said transfer, NOT as the agent of the target player.

As for his form, whereas his club Gremio has been a bit inconsistent, his own form continues to be excellent and he remains their 'main man'.

Remembering he is a wing man, or wide forward, he has still scored 11 goals and 5 assists in the league, 4 goals and 2 assists in the Libertadores, making him their leading goalscorer.

As those who watched it will recall, in the summer for Brazil he usurped both our own Richarlison and David Neres from their starting positions and ended up the tournament's top scorer.

He hasn't featured that much for Brazil since because his club was given priority to retain him for key Libertadores games.

Because he is now playing frequently for Brazil, there shouldn't be any work permit issues. No idea if, like many Brazilians with European heritage, he can fiddle a Portuguese or Italian Passport.

You would like the headline from the original Portuguese rumour story I saw last night: "Everton Cebolinha Soares interessa gigantes ingleses".

At least the Brazilians understand what a footballing English Giant is, even if some of our own fans don't.

Cebolinha and Gabigol in January would completely transform our forward line.

BUT! It is all just rumour!

I'm pretty sure these guys trawl all Fans Websites, and especially with you being in Brazil, along with Fran Mitchell, they immediately latch on, as it saves them doing any serious research into stories like this.

I am hoping as you say if we could get them both, Soares and Gabigol in the January Window, then wow, but under this current Manager God knows how and where he would play them.

Then there's the possibility that the likes of Man City, who are a more attractive proposition, stepping in to any negotiations and whipping them away.

I like the idea that I could be responsible for the Cebolinha deal now doing the rounds on all UK respectable and non-respectable football transfer rumour sites!

Move over, Tim Vickery!

The biggest question should be how it was given as a penalty in the first place ?
We weren't given a penalty against Deli Alli because he said he was contacted by Mina causing his arm to go up. What was the difference in the Norwich game, exactly the same but a penalty given.
A fucking joke VAR

The covering Media sources, ie, Sky, Bein Sports all questioned it at the time and it was CLEARLY SHOWN on the various camera angles available to them.

However the VAR panel were unable to come to a decision and allowed the goal to stand, which after the game and Watford lost the chance of a point, they admitted that they had made a mistake!

It's an absolute joke!

Norwich are no mugs - said it before the game and got laughed at. The parity in the League is at the highest point I've ever personally witnessed.

VAR is a good thing. Seemingly only the English have no clue how to use it, and continually screw it up, no offense.

They need to define when it is used, and implement it consistently. The game needs it.

But as you say, it's presently an absolute joke.

David @272 everything seems reasonable to me but you lost me with Schneiderlin scoring 😂

David Moyes did a great impersonation of ET! :-)