Everton vs West Bromwich Albion

Run riot and really make a statement of intent. It was fixtures against promoted teams that generated some of the worst results last season.

I must admit to also getting carried along on that wave of euphoria and expectation, but this time it DOES feel different.

We have a Manager that hitherto we could only have dreamt about, and 3 outstanding players, 2 of whom, would never have considered us, had Carlo not been there. A win tomorrow will see us at the top of the, albeit early League Table, maybe that will just spur us on even further to stay there.

COYB

Geoff@10, yes, I share your wish, but to get more than a striker on board, early doors and two games and a pre-season, have seen 2 CB's injured already.

We are dangerously thin on the ground in that department as it is, and when you think the unthinkable, should (God forbid) any of our new stars suffer similar, do we have like for like?

Of course as it has been mentioned numerous times, I think Carlo knows who he wants and who he wants to get rid of, but because of the profligacy of his predecessors, an almost Herculean Task!

One step forward, two steps back. This has been the story’s of Everton for far too many years, now is the time to put that to bed. We have the players, the manager, the DoF and Owner. We have the momentum now to give us the consistency we crave. We need the Tottenham performance now each week , like clockwork.

We have signed three brilliant players all complimenting each other and all have slotted into their roles to perfection with no issues whatsoever. We have good squad depth (apart from a Tomori or similar CB signing and definitely a striker/forward if Kean is off to Italy)

All this leads to a flood of optimism that we can play to a higher level consistently and really compete for the top 6 positions.

We now have more grit in midfield with Allan and Doucoure, generally the midfield is looking solid with lots of options on the bench, that should be enough to ensure we win this game comfortably.

Nice to see big Slav back at Goodison. He was only there a couple of years and we didn't see too much of him due to injuries and suspensions but I always remember him being a decent CB when he turned out.

Team sitting deep against us. Let’s face it, West Brom will be delighted with a point. We all know that.

But Everton often fall into the trap of being sucker punched by teams like this. And not only fail to win the game but find a way to lose it.

I’m hoping that with the additional guile that would should have in the side then we can be more creative and decisive where it matters.

It’s a simple as the midfield and defence winning their individual battles. Throughout the game and especially at set pieces. We do that, then our quality should get us the 3 points

My optimism feels different this year!

It will be a very different game to spurs away. WBA will presumably play very deep and hope to get a nil nil or pinch a goal. They have possibly the weakest first 11 in the Prem.

It will be up to Rodriguez to unlock them with good movement from Richarlison and DCL.

The only change I might suggest is that we go more 442 (ish) with Gordon playing wide (ish) left instead of having Gomes in a central trio.

This gives us more attacking threat / movement at least. But maybe something for the 2nd half.

Agreed. That would be ideal.

Glad the crowd isn’t there in some ways though. We’ve been 0-0 or 0-1 down at half time against sides like this and I’ve witnessed our team being booed of the pitch.

A lot of fellow blues need to realise that football is a 90mins game and what matters is the result at the end of those 90 mins. Not being 0-1 down or even 0-2 down against a poor side and turning on the players / manager.

It’s a change of mentality the whole club could benefit from I believe. We love being the underdog at home but we have to treat each game and each opponent with the respect they deserve and will our team on until the final whistle.

Sometimes the 'booing' is not aimed at the team, oftentimes it's aimed at the officials. During this period where fans haven't been in attendance, it doesn't seem to have affected the players too much, they continued to perform poorly at the back end of last season, and perhaps not having the crowd to gee them up had a detrimental effect on their performances?

We need fans back. They're doing it here in the USA in certain places, and it really makes the games so much more enjoyable. I'm hoping the fans over there can get back in the stadiums as fast as possible.

And yes, as safe as possible before anyone chimes in. That goes without saying.

Everton have this tendency to lose games they should win. They also have this tendency to lose games that would really send a message to the rest of the footballing world that they're serious about contending.

This is one of those games. Are we typical Everton with little regard for scaring the crap out of the "big boys", or are we actually turning a corner? We'll see. We live in hope.

Can only speak from my own experiences of being sat there. Lukaku and Barkley used to get it all the time.

Effort presents itself in different ways depending on the player and their qualities. Fans could and did complain that they wanted Lukaku to run more and chase stuff down more... but if you want that then you sign a different player. Jon Walters or someone.

If you want 25 goals a season, you get Rom. And I’ve no doubt he tried his best for our club.

If you want the chasing down and the 25 goals a season then you are then talking Suarez, Cavani, Tevez, Drogba, Tevez etc and people we could only have dreamed of signing.

I didn’t say that the fans were the reason for the players performing poorly, but that the fans should stick with them until the end. Despite whether they are playing poorly or not.

Onto our boys, a totally different challenge to last week. We have added expectation and need to play in a different way.
The key will be to press this side high, dragging out back line up, gulp! Although in this WBA doesn’t have a massive threat in behind.

I’d keep the same side save for Coleman, who was defensively sound last week but as we will have the majority of possession we need a better technician at right back. I’d pick Kenny, who is a much better crosser of the ball than Seamus.

If last week showed anything it was we can keep the ball better, three new additions excellent technicians. It will interesting to see if Doucouré’s power makes the difference and how far James will wander to get the ball and try and dictate the game.

Injuries aside, same 11 as Spurs for me.

Here's hoping for a win, clean sheet and no injuries.

We need more commitment and be resilient in front of goalpost .

To me there are only two teams in Barclay Premiership EVERTON FC and the rest.

Is on this premise we should be ruthless tomorrow and every other game days.

I watched West Brom play Villa last weekend and West Brom looked the better side for most of the game but couldnt put the ball in the net.

I would hope that we are much better than Villa so anticipate a good win but we may have to be patient in breaking them down.

You must’ve m been the perfect age during the mid 80s then.

Jealous. Would love to hear some stories.

I was born before our last title win but I wasn’t cognisant enough for any of the glory years unfortunately.

Would like to see Nkounkou, Gordon and Bernard get a run out in he second half if the match has been put to bed by then. COYB, want to see us sitting top of the league, even if it’s only for a few hours.

My main gripe is with those who think that Goodison is more toxic than any other major club's supporters and somehow imply that Everton fans are to blame for Everton's lack of success.

We should win but, if not, it's important that we learn and improve. Slowly, slowly if needs be.

I pray the scoreline (4-0) is repeated.

Most soccer fans are digging around in the weeds rather than looking down from the helicopter. They see instances of giving the ball away or not being able to trap a difficult pass as defining a player rather than just being a small part of their overall performance or their contribution to the overall functioning of the team.

Tom Davies is hopeless, yet the reality is that he is a top class player with caps at every England level. Pickford is hopeless despite being England's top keeper. Why do fans see it as constructive to assassinate their own club's players rather than support them?

We must also remember that we fans generally don't have the in depth knowledge of football to quantify the sometimes irrational criticism that we make. We're all entitled to make criticism but it should be rational and constructive, for some it is vendetta and therein lies the problem.

Even as a teenager, I've stood on the terraces and had to listen to twenty kinds of shite from so-called supporters, often causing me to think "What a total gobshite". As I say, I first experienced it with the great Alan Ball.

It would be interesting to get your opinion about Iwobi – do you think he will come good at Everton? Or is he a big mistake that the club made – as many TWers (including me at many points last season) seem to believe?

Actually, you left out Da Bull, Dan Amokachi, the hero of the 1995 FA Cup. Amokachi is now special adviser to Nigeria President on Sport.

On Iwobi, he is a good guy, but lacks defending tactics and slow in speed and sometimes lacks vision on the field. But he is intelligent and good at dribbling.

I can't say he is a wasted buy – only the last gaffer can say why he was brought here.

I think Tom Davies is also like this. He started well the other night but found himself drifting out of the game at times, but the kid never hides, much to the crowd's disdain, and that's why I never ever give the kid any stick.

Paper doesn't actually play football, so forget the team sheet comparisons, I simply want the players to continue the positive start to the season with a win.

One game at a time and all that..

Despite liking big Ron Atkinson's '70s side, I still don't like ‘em.

Welcome to the forum. Everton have a modern tradition of signing up top Nigerian players.

The bull Amokachi was of course the first. What a tournament he had in USA 94. His goal against Greece was breathtaking and I believed we were signing a world-beater.

That he wasn't unfortunately. Perhaps the English game never suited him.

But he will always be fondly remembered for his brace in the Semi-Final that buried Tottenham. Then for another brace against a top Newcastle side to help our fight against relegation. And for me, a promising start to the 1995-96 season when it was clear Big Joe considered him a starting striker.

Fondly remembered.

A round of applause. At last a man who understands the game. Thank you for recognising this. I've banged the drum for so long. Barkley was the same, constantly showing for the ball, constantly trying to make things happen. Losing it often. Booed by their own fans.

You can steam into tackles all you like, shout and scream and run around like a lunatic. What's the margin for failure in doing that? Very wide. But it looks good (to some).

The margin for error in trying to get your team to play, showing for a ball, accepting it under pressure, looking for a forward pass. All full of risk. And those players get it in the neck at Goodison.

Last season such games against the promoted teams were our Achilles heel.

Hopefully the starting team, hopefully the same as Spurs, can carry on with the same level of performance.

Olalekan, welcome to ToffeeWeb and the Everton Family.👍☘️

This hopefully can be a good season for EFC.

That is the one time fans give the players stick, when they are half-hearted or worse chicken-hearted and they all deserve it when they do it.

One of the worst barracking of a player I saw was when Tom Cleverley was cheered off the field when being substituted. Good, bad or indifferent I never saw that lad give less than 100%. The fans who cheered that day were well out of order.

I always thought he played his best games with Gana and Allan would have been ideal for him, but Doucouré arriving will limit his game time. One thing you know with Tom: always 100%.

Has to be the same team from Spurs, now down to the players go out and do the business.

Be great get Richarlison's campaign off with a goal and Calvert-Lewin net again.

Welcome, Olalekan.

There was a 5-4 at Goodison a few seasons before.

Also bit of history, there was a 3rd or 4th round FA cup tie in the early 70s it was the first FA Cup tie to be broadcast on a Sunday. As a protest, WBA fans sang 'The Lord's my Shepherd' as a protest and it has been a Baggies song ever since. One of the seat covers in the stands last week reminded me.

Interesting. I figured that with Ross it simply wasn’t in his nature to be the aggressor. Whether this be going to win the ball or pressing / closing down.

In that event I often saw him attempting to do this but look really poor at doing it.

I get the impression some people think it is easy to be physical and chase like a lunatic on a football pitch.

But the majority of players are finely tuned athletes. Quick as lightning, tonnes of stamina and about 7 percent body fat.

Margins are fine. And for all of ross’ natural ability, he’s a big guy and I wouldn’t say blessed with stamina.

Gana going about a game at 70% effort would probably cover a hell of a lot more ground than Ross at 100%.

What Ross was blessed with were two excellent feet, a thunderbolt in each. And the ability to inject huge but short bursts of power into a transition, often dribbling it through himself. Unique talent, undoubtably you have to play to his strengths but when we brought him through for nothing with hardly two pennies to rub together I felt that’s what we should’ve done. And the fans should not have booed him.

Still blame the yellow and blue kit.

Welcome to the site.
Since you have been "Blue" since 2002 hopefully for you (and the rest of us) Everton can deliver some silverware this season, to mark the occasion of your "18th" season.

Make of that what you will.

But you are right about those shirts!

Did we work together once??

Is that a yes or a no?

In a nutshell Tommy, as a famous ex Everton player commented, Ross didn’t and hasn’t got a football brain but can still do great things on the field, witness his fabulous run and goal versus Liverpool last season in the league cup while possibly being the worst player on the field.

Ross will make absolutely Brewsters out of football and good luck to the lad, he could possibly have done a lot more with his career and the talent he had, but hasn’t really improved to any degree over the last four or five seasons and it is debatable he ever will.

Absolutely correct, as you say, he still doesn't hide, neither did Ross.

Opening night fixtures in the Bundesliga:

Bayern Munich 8 Schalke 0. Ouch!

Have to go back to January 17 apparently since Schalke's last win. Manager David Wagner must be hanging on by a thread.

Don't forget they are now without Kenny and McKennie who were two of their best players last season.

He's certainly done well for himself, signing for Pirlo at Juventus.

All good with you healthwise, I hope, Jay..?

It seems so.

A few years ago, one of the England coaches was discussing Barkley and commented that, although he had great natural skill, he was difficult to coach. In other words, he didn't have a football brain and little stuck.

Spurs stood back and gave us space to play in the last match, I don't expect the same tomorrow.

I still think we will win, I'm expecting us to have too much class. A home win by two goals.

I'm feeling quietly confident that this will be one of the best seasons in a very long time. I've been following the Blues since 1965 and have seen the best and the worst. If everyone can stay healthy I'm hoping this will be one season to remember fondly. COYB

I'm much better now, Thanks for asking.

I've just been out for a meal tonight for the first time in over 6 weeks, having got my second negative test this week.

I hope things are still good with the family and you are all staying safe and well.

And let's hope we have even more to celebrate this time tomorrow.

Tom Davies always shows for the ball, attempts to make a progressive pass and tracks back. That makes him highly visible when he has a bad game.

But give me that over Sigurdsson or Schneiderlin. Playing lateral or back passes, pointing to players like Tom or Antony Gordon where they should be, but positioning themselves so that they are rarely the go to ball. Give me Tom every day of the week.

Anyway, I love hearing from the international blues and gaining different perspectives and as a relative newcomer to the site myself it's nice to see people who have perhaps "hovered over the keyboard" for a long time, take the plunge and offer their views on ToffeeWeb.

Any current Nigerian players you would like to see in blue this season?

Top of the pops before 3 bells surely ?
Then again this is Everton but maybe, just maybe, not as we know them.

At them from the start, just like at Spurs and we can do it. If only we could be there to see it in person and roar them on. Hopefully won’t be much longer now.

‘so get your coat on, and get moving, cos we don’t know the meaning of losing’

Full support blues.
Onward Evertonians 💙

Also, BBC News had repeating bulletins of a skywalk from their stadium yesterday, all this follows the 0.5% BoE £175m loan to them (not for transfers or players wages). Are they becoming state sponsored?, the Real Madrid of the UK?

A couple of weeks ago when James Rodriguez signed for Everton the BBC didn’t even mention it at all on their sports bulletin. Like it never happened.

I believe the competition some clubs face to progress is not just a football one. There is powerful influence at work within the establishment on the preferential treatment certain clubs get and obstructions put in front of others.

MOTD is just another example of the drivel the BBC pumps out. The best thing Everton can do is just focus on winning games.

The TV is always at least two minutes behind the radio but for the Salford game it was a whopping four and a half minutes.

Even radios differ; my 1952 Bush valve radio is usually 30 seconds + ahead of the modern Roberts DAB.

Behind closed doors will be no different for them as all Clubs so Revenue is at an all time low, in terms of Gate Money and Stadium Revenue through sales etc. How do they pay it back, and are seemingly allowed to go deeper in debt with Bale's massive wages (even paying 40/50%?

Stan@120, again spot on there, we have never been a Media darling and I don't think I would like us to be either. Like you say let us continue to go under the radar and let the Football do the talking, in other words F*** em All, The Long and The Short and The Tall! :-)

I think a really good start is imperative as if you start with a couple of losses you are always playing catch up, which is never easy in this league. I always think the first 10 games is usually a good indicator of how the season will pan out.

With Carlo saying apart from Branthwaite and Holgate everybody is fit then we will start with the same team as last week, again if you start well and can keep free of injury it all helps. I see the papers are still saying that Juventus would like to take Kean back, I think the next few weeks before the window closes will be interesting to see what happens. I suppose the dilemma is Kean is very young so do you keep him and hope he settles down and becomes a player, or do you cash in your chips and sell hi back to Juventus, as if he stays and doesnt impress, then his value will be halved by the end of the season.

I talked to George last week (via email) about the new signings. He'd been in intensive care for four weeks, after an infection, but said he was recovering well in a side ward.

I've Just discovered Pat Smullen finally lost his fight against pancreatic cancer this week. What a desperately sad time for Irish sport. In fact what a desperately sad time for world sport. A true great.

The word 'legend' is thrown about like confetti these days, but here's a competitor who deserved the mantle. The tributes paid to him by his peers say just about everything you need to know about this man.

RIP, Pat Smullen, Champion.

I will have to go soon - ”medication time” - and need to charge up my iPad so I can watch the game - let's take a few seconds here - just a few - and give each other a thoughts - a ”posso” wave - think how much we miss our football friends and our football - and know that soon we will be back together and watching The Blues.
From here in hospital, I send Cosmic Bluetiful Waves, out of the window in my isolation ward, over Bidston Hill, across The River and up into the astral to reach all you World Wide Blues:
”Earth has not any thing to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!”

Sent with cosmic grooves with a firm handshake from your friend - George - Up The Blues.

3 points for sure.

Nervous but excited at the same time! UTT.

Wishing you all the best on your recovery, firm handshake returned with a wheelbarrow load of bluetiful cosmic grooves.