Everton vs Leicester City

A win today could really change the complexion of things. The new year coming, with a new exciting manager and a semi-final could set us up for a really positive second half of the season.

COYB!

League status is paramount with Arsenal at home coming up, and that is a winnable game with their current form.

Knowing Dunc's passion, he'll want a full-strength team to go for the win, but he should bear in mind the Arsenal game in team selection. Conundrum?

I'm not worried about relegation at all. Let's go all out and win tonight. I'll be gutted if we lose.

As Lyndon says they will have one eye on Saturday's clash with Man City, so hopefully they haven't prioritised the Carabao Cup. Goodison will indeed be rocking – especially with all the events that have happened recently.

If we can keep it tight and we get a good old fashioned Goodison night time atmosphere going with a dogs of war attitude on the pitch, then we have a chance.

Leicester's a tough tough game & I would argue tougher to play them at home with their speed on the break (Vardy always scores against us). I would love us to sneak through but not at the expense of further decimation of the squad going into the next week – particularly if facing the Arteta manager bounce on Saturday – let's see how Dunc sees it.

What's more his success has been achieved at established top clubs, there's no real evidence of him succeeding with a 'project' as we are. This is not to mention the cost involved (of him – £5m a year at least, plus a no doubted massive transfer budget in January).

After 4 ultimately failed and hugely expensive managerial projects, 3 foreigners, I really feel we should be trying something different right now, and re-establishing some grit, character and heart (in the way Moyes did when he first came) seems tight to me.

Ferguson has brought some pride and fight back to the club that's been missing for years and got immediate results against clubs we traditionally struggle against. Maybe it cant continue but why not give him till January at least to see? He's also not a financial risk and would happily step aside when needed for the best interests of the club – he basically offers the board a total free hit at something different... why the hell we wouldn't make the most of that I don't understand.

We tried, and failed, with Unsy. This is not a time for sentimental claptrap.

Davy boy?

We must land Ancelotti now. It's within our grasp.

Are you one of the 400 odd who have 'voted' no to Ancelotti?

A few losses and they'd be back to that view.

Let's just enjoy it for what it is. A boost. For our pride and for Duncan's coaching experience. I think he's shown us a bit of what we were missing and hopefully demonstrated to the board and incoming coach that it is both important and possible to connect with the fans.

Hope he gets a raucous Goodison and steps aside knowing he did a great job.

And then maybe one day...

Edit: Can we bring him back for the Anfield match?

Leicester City are going to know they are in a game this evening. Good Luck, Duncan, send the Liverpool failure back home.

We are so near silverware that we need to approach this as the biggest game of the season so far. Let others play their kids — we need a trophy.

I also think that the board have seen the connection between the fans and Duncan, and will have said to Ancelotti that they want him to be involved in the new set-up. Also, Ancelotti is a very shrewd man so why wouldn't he want to utilize someone who has a great rapport with the fans?

If the football reverts to more of the sleep-inducing continental stuff previous managers like Silva have used too, this would be a big mistake. I also think that the players could go back to their bad old ways under a manager who they don't fear, respect or get a good telling off from like Big Dunc. We have seen just what an effect Dunc's more direct style of leadership has had – I can't see Ancelotti recreating that.

Why risk upsetting the momentum we are building now and potentially drop back into a relegation scrap? For me, people are just seeing a big name and automatically assuming it will work out, without really thinking if he is right for us. Has he ever been in a relegation fight without a squad of world-class players to call on, for example?

Sigurdsson
Walcott
Schneiderlin
Delph
Digne
Mina
Sidibe
Coleman
Davies

All have missed games recently with injury or illness. I expect Mina, Coleman and Davies to be available for selection. Surely, Sigurdsson and Sidibe are now recovered. Maybe Schneiderlin and Walcott can shake off their calf strains. Delph appears to be constantly injured. Digne looks more long term, but Baines can cover and Sidibie can also play left back.

Anyone else have any up-to-date info?

It will be an achievement to beat Leicester with basically no midfielders but I'm backing us.

There seems to be a pattern here.

Cups are won through character, grit and granite.

We do not have the players on the squad roster to play like Barcelona or Man City so don’t even worry about pretty football.

We have a bunch of players that outside maybe two or three technically very gifted lads, the majority should just be encouraged to keep things simple within their boundaries and keep up working hard.

Huge game and I expect we will need to defend quite deep almost like an away game with Vardy’s pace, he always seems to hurt us and I can’t remember a season that’s passed without him scoring against us at least once.

We could be playing Villa in the semis, with players coming back from injury, a new signing or two, a world class manager. Also I firmly believe will be a big threat and have a great chance whoever we face in the semis.

Would Sidibe come in for Baines or Coleman? Note he is very comfortable at left back.

Would Gylfi come in and knock Holgate back to centre-back or down to the bench?

I'm worried that it has to be decided tonight because our penalty record is woeful.

1. We should be going all out to win the next game, whatever it is. Momentum is massive.
2: I want us to win the cup
3: We aren't getting relegated, not while Norwich, Southampton and Watford are playing the way they are.
4: I think we are at the point whereby the only changes we could make are up front, so it almost moot.

17+12+19 = 48 the year of my birth. 1+7 +1+2+1+9 = 21 = the age I got married. 66 years of supporting EFC removes 2x 6es from the devil's number. Forget the devil's number I think the numerologist would go with me! Ha ha! 3 - 1 to Everton

A fully fit Sidibe is the better option at right-back and I would rather have a more natural midfielder in Sigurdsson in the middle than Holgate.

I think Mason should retain his centre-back spot with Mina and Keane benched, but it looked to me that Mina had a bit of a niggle too so it may be Keane & Holgate as centre-backs. We need that extra yard of pace that Mason has got, a tackle or challenge on Vardy from Mason because of his pace could make all the difference.

I think the injury/recovery situation will be being closely monitored today to make the best decisions.

Remember the home game against Newcastle – they were flying, aesthetically pleasing with exotic football, the neutrals' favourite, 2nd in the league. We ground out the win with a scrappy Waggy goal from a corner. That'll do tonight thanks.

Hoping too that Leicester don't field their strongest eleven, we will have a game on our hands, but the 12th man may just carry this one over.

I wonder if Ancelotti will be there tonight? Some reports saying that he has hired a suite overlooking the Mersey, but that has not been confirmed as yet.

Link

Digne definitely out.
Sigurdsson and Sidibe close, but not certain.
Delph recovering well, but today is likely too early.
Davies carrying a knock, but playing through it.

Quite a number of regular U23 players didn't play v Wolves on Monday. No surprise if some of those make at least the bench tonight.

If they play with a combination of the spirit against Chelsea and the determination against Man Utd, they can definitely get something out of this game.

Good luck, COYB.

The Arsenal game is extremely important and Ferguson should definitely be in charge for it regardless whether Ancelotti signs before the game. Even if Ancelotti signs before Burnley big Dunc should be given a major say in it. Give Ancelotti a bit of time to weigh up players in training and a couple of games before he takes full control.

Great chance for us to progress tonight and I suspect Leicester City might rest a couple, hopefully Vardy, with the Man City game coming up

Link

"Mason has really matured. He's a real leader. A go-to guy for the players in the dressing room."

AND what he says about Seamus Coleman, and all the players really.

Link

"Seamus Coleman is an incredible human being. We all look to Seamus Coleman for leadership. I look to Seamus Coleman for inspiration. Seamus Coleman wants me to be a better Evertonian."

And people were outraged by his treatment of Kean on Sunday and alleged poor man management?

If these videos are anything to go by, he is the exact opposite. He is talking them up and giving them spades of confidence.

It is also on beIN Sports 13HD, so if I can't get the ESPN, I can fall back on that!

The tactics employed will be to break down Leicester's setting up shop and then bottle them up in the second half. I have more confidence in Duncan than I would have had in Silva, in achieving this objective.

Leicester will find a lot more crosses coming in on them, and a lot of attacking pressure on their central defence, than the last game.

Unfortunately it'll be a stream for me once again, as the Manc sides take the preference on my cable channel, really Colchester...

Luckily, this'll be more of the past as we progress with Carlo.

I hope he plays Holgate in midfield again tonight, he really showed his presence there against Man Utd. Delph will hardly be back. If he is, he'll be gone again shortly.

The last time I tried to get over for a December game I spent 5 hours sitting in a fogbound airport and didn’t make it. At least we’ve made it onto the plane today though it’s blowing a gale here.

Looking forward to a bearpit Goodison under lights. It’s been a while. Leicester are likely to make changes and with City coming up they might not fancy it. On the face of it, things are on the turn for Everton. Let’s keep that going tonight.

Leicester have a really strong MF and plenty of pace throughout the team with finishing Utd can only dream about.

We have to limit space between the lines and not let Chilwell, Maddison or Tielemans get on the ball too much.

This will be difficult given our paucity in MF but I would like to see Beni or Adeniran given some time if only to sit as rearguard.

Anthony Gordon to come on and get the winner.

In both Duncs games we have got an early lead, lets hope we get the same tonight because I cant see us keeping Leicester out for 90 minutes.

Everton to win by the odd goal.

Coyb.

A Meat Loaf moment.

'You took the words right out of my mouth.'

"I will be sitting on a rock while continuously glancing around for stray dogs, hyenas and wolves."

Watching the game with RS supporters, David?

Hoping for a good night and Colchester in the semi-finals. Also if Dunc has to give another player the hook after bringing them on. Then far from being outraged I will again applaud the man. He is not the first manager to use that tactic and he won't be the last.

He has shown pride, passion and fight for the club and it is only right the players do the same on the pitch.

If Moise Kean has not got the message that the game is about effort and application, then it will be a worry.
Just look at Balotelli, a man with massive talent but an attitude that stunk so badly, that even skunks held their noses.

It’s a game I’d love to be at & hats off to Big Dunc for steadying the ship. I’d say Silva would have give Man U a “walk over” last week when presented with the squad available. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

Guess you won't have access to the Match then, unless the goats have IPTV or a decent link. Give my regards to Billy and Nanny! 💙😋

It's £9 a pint here. Nice girl at the bar, loving the accent... obviously. 20 years younger than me... but that's not illegal! I've fed the goats, all 69 of them, so l'm due a goal.

Derek, sorry l've not received any message. It's hit and miss Wi-Fi. I either have to go the coffee bar which shuts at 8:30 or sit literally on a rock while keeping a look-out for critters. The goats were attacked last week. 5 dead. Either a wolf or a hyena.

Nice to see Gordon and Adeniran on the bench. Expected for me given our injuries and how many regular U23s were rested v Wolves on Monday.