Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Everton

Why does this club never see potential for injuries during a season?

The fact we have to play Tosun now, a poor Sam Allardyce signing, away from home in two tough looking Premier League matches, it's just embarrassing.

Sort it out Carlo lad and get that Brands in the office today and tell him to start delivering or get him shipped out.

We have been lacking goals from MF for years. Some thought initially Tom Davies might solve the problem but while United bring in the likes of Fernandes we still have not brought anyone in to help with the goalscoring.

I guess we will keep on relying on Mina and Keane for a KITAP1 tactic.

Fair point, in truth you should expect a combined 25 goals from midfield, wide men included.

Look at Gomes, Allan, Sigurdsson, Davies, Bernard, Iwobi and how many will they get between them, about 6 if lucky.

James and Doucoure should but don't score as many as I first envisaged.

A striker as cover for DCL is imperative however.

As a whole unit though we just don't committ enough men to score goals under Ancelotti.

This is where we lag behind the top teams by not being able to go to the strength in depth as they have.

With the options of Tosun, Bernard, Siggy or Gordon it is likely a rearguard action might be employed which never works out much for Everton.

As has been mentioned many times, the lad is a technically good scorer but only when it's on a plate, the game generally seems to pass him by, as being too quick for his style of playing. This was exemplified on Saturday when he was anonymous before getting the first goal. His second which was well taken, but disallowed again proves that point again, where was he in any build up? (which were few and far between)

If you offered me the 0-0 draw now I'd snap the old mitten off you.

The middle field performances of the Rotherham game has no chance against Wolves. That's where the biggest problem could be.

Sims probably will. be back up, unless Ancelotti has someone in mind as a make shift Centre Forward.

Oumar Naisse is still living in Liverpool , trying to. link up with Big Sam in Birmingham.

Ancelotti has shown he can adapt the horses for courses technique, so it will ben interesting to see how Tosun performs.

I'm feeling positive, we have a history of young strikers coming in and doing really well in their break through season before they end up being average at best. Simms therefore should do well tomorrow. Bring it on. Richarlison will play, kidology from carlo

It's the ability to run into a through pass and the fact that James and Gordon can provide such a pass is the main hope. Tosun has only played twice with James and once with Gordan. . In the Rotherham game and as a isolated sub in the West Ham game.

Throughout his career at Everton Tosun has never played with a player who could play a through pass till now.

.

Wolves have struggled to score goals themselves so this could be a very dour game.

Another chance for fringe players to stake a claim for the shirt and players to show some character.

This just highlights the lack of strength in the squad. Man city have recently played without a recognised striker knowing that their 6 man midfield have enough quality and goals in them to control games. I would love us to try something similar but we don't have the quality in midfield to be successful.

Personally I would leave Digne on the bench and put Godfrey against Traore.
Slot Holdgate in as a holding centre mid with dacoure, iwobi, Sigurdsson. Rodriguez free role with Cenk up top.

Pickford
Coleman,Mina,Keane,Godfrey
Iwobi,Doucouré,Holdgate,Sigurdsson
Rodriguez
Tosun

Would prefer to be watching football, but fringe benefits 'n' all that.

In the meantime it has to be Tosun and Richy (have they had any serious game time together?) with Gordon, as Jerome says.

We all knew after the last window slammed shut that if DCL gets injured we are bolloxed with letting Walcott and Keane go, and guess what yup.

I take it we cannot reacall Kean? Even if we say to PSG you can buy at the end of the season.

Pickford
Coleman Mina Keane Godfrey
Davies Doucoure
Iwobi James Siggy
Tosun

SUBS: Olsen, Holgate, Kenny, Digne, Gomes, Nkounkou, Gordon

If Wolves can survive without Raul (plus Marcal and Daniel Podence), we can survive without some of ours as well.

Maybe it's a COVID prevention measure. Here's a quote from Carlo on Sky this morning:

“We are wearing masks in the changing room, we are trying to keep social distancing, so we are really strict to follow the protocol. If they say don’t celebrate, we are not going to celebrate. Or we don’t score goals, and that will be better, no? You don’t score goals, you don’t have to celebrate (smile).”

We have great owners and great coaches at the club and I really hope that for once we can have a whinge-free zone here if we don't play brilliantly and win.

As a supporter, I offer only my best wishes to the team and hope to see a good performance by what we know will be a weak side.

It's no good giving him the hoof ball because he is nowhere near Calvert-Lewin in winning them. We have to try to play smarter. Cenk isn't a bad player he just a bit more of a one-dimensional finisher of a striker. He's pretty useful at his speciality too. Defense splitting passes from James, wicked crosses from Iwobi or Digne are what's needed.

What's the formation then? 4-2-3-1?

Pickford
Holgate Keane Mina Digne
Doucouré Godfrey
Iwobi James Richarlison
Tosun

Sorry, I just can't leave Godfrey out of the side, so he gets the nod as a DCM ahead of Davies and Gomes.

Maybe he said, you know what lads, some fans are bored, can you break dance instead of the standard shuttles we usually go through?

Along with a clever run that pulled a centre half out of position to allow Duke the space to run into and score.

Play the full-backs, Digne especially if he starts, to get crosses into and around the 6-yard box.

Tosun will get goals. Play him as a back to goal centre-forward and he won't.

Olsen
Godfrey Keane Mina Digne
Iwobi Davies Sigurdsson Nkounkou
Tosun Richarlison

Subs: Pickford, Coleman, Holgate, Gomes, James, Gordon, Simms.

But I didn't tell anybody how they should respond. I expressed a hope, that is all.

Olsen
Coleman Keane Mina Godfrey
Richarlison Doucouré Holgate Nkounkou
Tosun James

His mentality should be positive because he should be either performing to stay or performing for a move which hopefully will work in our favour.

What other hope do we have with our leading scorer out and Richarlison playing for free kicks every game?

I'm sure that the club are looking to fill that hole but difficult to see them stumping up money to replace so many weak spots. Must be difficult for Ancelotti when Calvert-Lewin is out, Richarlison a shadow of his pre-ban self and our best midfield player out too.

Our current game seems to sometimes suit away games though so here's hoping. I hope that Richarlison isn't playing for a move.

If we get through it, Tottenham will be a great test. We'll need Allan and Calvert-Lewin back, and to be at full strength but win that and we will have belief that it's our year.

Someone stated on another thread that Richarlison maybe is disgruntled, out of form, and disinterested because he has been our main player the previous 2 seasons, and then he sees Kean going to PSG to play with Mbappe and his mate Neymar in the Champions League.

Anyone offers the reported £70 million I would sell him.
As long as the full amount is reinvested.

I think it is more about the role he is being asked to play since Digne and Seamus have been missing. He is being asked to provide the crosses for Calvert-Lewin and finds himself most of the time outside the penalty area. When Digne and Seamus were at their best, he was in the penalty area hoping to get on the end of one of their crosses.

When he plays for Brazil he plays in more central attacking position and so is always involved in the penalty area. It's obviously clear he loves scoring goals regularly and this is what has been missing.

Do you remember the quality goals he scored last season with both feet and head? So maybe if he is fit, and I think he will be, and Carlo sticks him up top we might see a re-energized and happy Richarlison.

If Richarlison is fit then drop Tosun.

I can't understand why we are repeatedly told, players were being rested but will definitely be fit next game, then they are not and end up missing 3-4 games.

The possible outcomes with regards to points available are: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6. To hell with form, to hell with injuries, to hell with common sense, I'm going for SIX POINTS!!!!!!
COYB!!!!

As for his departure, he was always likely to be off this summer or next. I don't think anything has changed. Depends a bit on what offers we get and where we finish in the league.

Oh, and thanks to the go who worked out the possible point outcomes the next 2 games! Must have taken a while!

Given the likelihood we will not enjoy the majority of possession it might be worth Richarlison being used in a central striker role tomorrow with Tosun making an appearance from the bench.

Also, who is running our training? Is it Klopp or something? We seem to get far more injuries in training than we do in matches.

I know both teams are located in London, but surely this game being announced at such short notice doesn't give Fulham much time to prepare. Does anyone know why there are only six games in this round of league games?

But Tosun proved what he is, a goal scorer. He's a little slow and not particularly strong to hold the ball up but play the ball into his stride and he can get a shot off on target.

That means we need other forward runners to help open up space. Ric, Gordon, Bernard, Iwobi are the choices to play up front and support / make runs. They have a bit of pace and can do the running.

I would rest James and play deep and stay solid at the back.
Godfrey has proven to be our best left back.

It highlights our many weak points so lets bring in some attacking talent this month. Scotland and Championship full of good players.

Clubs are skint. Strike whilst the irons hot and take advantage of their financial issues.

Olsen
Coleman
Keane
Mina
Digne
Doucouré
Sigurdsson
Goddfrey
James
Tosun
Bernard

That lad Godfrey can play anywhere.

COYBs.

4-4-1-1 for me, with James allowed to roam.

Pickford
Holgate Mina Keane Godfrey
Iwobi Gomes Doucouré Nkounkou
James
Tosun

Get Simms on the bench and give Gordon a go later on. If Richarlison is back, put him up top instead of Cenk for a game.

Calvert-Lewin hasn't had a chance to make much of a contribution in the last few games, we won't miss the goals he hasn't scored (because of the way we play, not his fault!).

It's time for others to step up and show some energy, hopefully with some cunning.

I agree, mate, on Tosun's ability – or lack of. I posted earlier he can only be of use to us in one capacity. Get balls across the box from wide positions.

He can't or won't head it with his back to goal. He can't hold it in. He has got no pace.

What he has got is he makes good, thoughtful movement around the box when we have possession. He varies his runs, sometimes he makes the run and stops, losing his marker. Mostly he attacks the near post.

I would take the first bid of over £5 million for him but, if he is going to play, play to the one asset he has.

Ancelotti has to show, if he is a world class manager, Everton have to finish in the top 4 this season. He has had money to spend on transfers, so, has to deliver.

Unless we have the start of the season players and more importantly, the form, we're better off going with the 4 at the back - until we do get players, either back and on form or brought in who can attack in force in such a manner that teams don't get to put or defence under too much pressure, too often.

Darren Hind is right about this one - we can lose ugly or draw ugly, but until we get better players back and/or in, we might have to be content first with winning ugly, then work on winning well.

We all know at least 9 of the starters. If Gordon starts, l will turn the telly off.

Then, as seems to be the wont when we go a goal up, there is still the option of moving Holgate or Godfrey into midfield and playing Nkounkou and Davies at full-backs.

I cud doo dat, gis a job, lah.

Sigurdsson, Bernard and Iwobi have already got 6 for us.

Gordon needs to play and Nkounkou as well. Defensively it will weaken us but we will create more chances, which is something we have been seriously lacking of late.

Digne is not fit and Godfrey is a good defender but if he bombs forward he is totally lost what to do next. He can't cross the ball either.

He scored again last night against Celtic. I think he would be a great signing for us, he's an old school footballer the type of player Moyes would've signed during his time at Everton with limited funds.

There you go Brands player scouted. :{} 1878

Richarlisons passing and ball retention ls not good enough for Barcelona, PSG or Juventus.

I can see Tosun ploughing a lone furrow up front with Richarlison (or Siggy) just behind with James.

Wolves do have a few playmakers although they are not as effective as last season. Everton just have to out work them to get a result.

For now I'd rather see us try out Simms in that league, than take Nisbet.

A draw would see us hold on to a top half slot, the height of ambition in my view.

Considering James played a full game and a bit more on Saturday it will be interesting to see how much game time he will get tonight, he offers some skill to the team, he is excellent at taking breathers and preserving his energy.

At Everton, he'd probably be thinking - 'Andre Gomes is gonna be picked ahead of me, as will Delph, Siggy and a host of other 'experienced pros'. Nah.'

I'm sure we're aware of these players, I just think the club lacks the willingness to take a risk on them. unfortunately.

However, If by signing Caicedo, Brighton open the door for Bissouma to leave, we should get on that on pronto.

Traore is dangerous, but also is a bit of a 2020 version of Bolasie. Great MOTD player - fast, powerful - but look at his stats - he's on par with the likes of Bernard.

Who made them tick was essentially Moutinho, was was a great player but age is catching up with him, and the Jota and Jiminez strike force. The latter is injured, the former is with the shite. Their replacement for Jiminez is a kid who is far from ready for PL football. Neto looks a decent replacement for Jota, but still young and not prolific.

So this game is totally winnable. Wolves sit in 13th, 7 points behind us having played a game more. They have scored just 18 goals in their 17 games compared to our 26 in 16.

It won't necessirily be an easy win, it isn;t guaranteed, but we should consider ourselves favourites.

Mike G has previously suggested the MLS for S. American talent - and to tap into the now fast developing market for quality US players. As an aside, the US first 11 would give most national sides a good run for their money now.

This would help us bag players like Caceido and give them an attractive route to first team football with us. Much cheaper than signing someone like Bissouma for about £40m.

Charlie to score the only goal and move us closer to the top!

I can see Tosun ploughing a lone furrow up front with Richarlison (or Siggy) just behind with James.

Wolves do have a few playmakers although they are not as effective as last season. Everton just have to out work them to get a result.

Still, not having the scoring talisman is a big blow and unless Richie is fully fit and focused the chances of a win are somewhat diminished. It will need a totally committed performance by the starting eleven with a consistent intensity level from the start to get the result.

I personally hope that Digne doesn't play, he struggled last game and Godfrey or Nkounkou are able deputies. A win would be an exceptional result, a draw a good result, and a defeat not the end of the world. I'm going for the draw.

If we get anything from this game, I'll be stunned.

Might be harsh on Coleman, Digne and Rodriguez but I'd rather be solid at the start with people who can turn a game on the bench. For Richarlisons role, I would like to see Nkounkou. He can bomb forward and put in a cross, however is also naturally defensive.

Holgate, Mina, Keane Godfrey
Davies, Docouré
Nkounkou, Sigurdsson, Iwobi
Tosun

If we need goals, or keep it tight for 55-60 minutes – then we have 2 attacking full-backs and Rodriguez to call on.

I don’t see why we can’t win, but obviously a lot depends on Richarlison being fit, so I’m hoping he’s chomping at the bit, and can’t wait to play centre-forward.

His form started to dip when they got into Europe as he didn't want to “get on no airplane, fool” but I still think we should be cautious and start our back 4 of centre-halves. I'd very happily take a scrappy 1-0 win tonight, but won't be expecting it.

I’d like to see Nkounkou being used more too. I like the way he can get a quality cross in with minimal space. He seems to find a fraction of room and it’s enough to fire one in. His left foot has a bit of magic in it.

With Cenk Tosun in the middle it this type of supply he will score from.

Tony @ 137, I'm with you there regarding Nkounkou playing ahead of Godfrey, I think that could work, and have Digne on the bench in case of emergency or plan A is not working. I felt he was rushed back against Rotherham and it showed. Godfrey has proved what a shrewd acquisition he was and he has generally delivered each game. I think to drop him would be a travesty and won't help the lad's confidence either.

If he plays here, he has to get more focused instead of looking for free kicks all the time which gets him sulking too much.

It goes without saying that we need big games from everyone to win this one, although I would take 3 points the ugly way.

Wolves are a little bit like Leeds. High energy fast paced breaks which seems to cause our MF problems no matter who plays.

So I would play the Wolves game tight defense and the likes of Iwobi and Nkounkou on the flanks with Richy leading the line.

I also hope Ellis Simms has done enough to justify a cameo appearance.

Ritchie is the back up so play him if 100% fit other wise Tosun backed up by Simms.

Digne has to play as he’s one of the top left backs in Europe. I hope Coleman can find some form because I have a lot of respect for him but his body is old and he can be a big weakness if he’s not at his best.

Its a very tough game but if we can keep it close we could scrape by.

I think the betting tells the game as it is 6/4 Wolves 2/1 Everton and 2/1 Draw.
Good chance its a draw, with Wolves just fav because of home advantage.

Their not playing as well as last season, and we are all over the place with injuries.
Leave Digne out, give him more time to get over his injury. He's our best player don't get him crocked again, theres nobody in the league fast enough to keep Traore quiet all game.
Its probably going to be a back to the wall, stop them scoring type of game, and I'll settle for a draw now and be highly delighted if we can win.

If Traore didnt have the blistering pace he wouldnt get a game.
Same trick every time, it works on occasion I will give him that.
Show him the line, Godfrey for me at left back tonight, and match the speed of the run and the cross wont go in.

Suddenly we look a stronger team, especially when Allan is back in the team, could do with another battling midfielder, but for now, I would be content on Edouard coming in.

First time I went to The Molineux we went around to the players entrance waiting for our coach to arrive. The Wolves players were just mingling with the home supporters as was the way back then.

A big guy with the strongest black country accent I've ever heard pulled me and me mates over to two players. He pointed at one (a man mountain) and said, "He will soften you up". Then he pointed to the other and said..."And he will put you to sleep" All three gave us big smiles and get this; They thanked us for coming.

We hadn't recognised Derek Dougan and John Richards until they were pointed out. They were just part of the pre-match get-together. They were proper MotD Icons too.

What a fucking noise that crowd would make back in the day!!

A long time ago. The locals were fantastic, but the bizzies began to make it very difficult for scouser's to enjoy a bevy. near the ground.
As you know. The overwhelming majority of coaches. Started to park up at Penkridge and make their way to the ground near kick off time.

There would be so many Evertonians in the ale houses of Penkridge. You would think you were on County road.

Landlords loved us. Free Sarnies...The lot

We play well, we feed the ball out wide out of necessity , we get dangerous crosses into Tosun, James feeds him with defence splitting passes, Tosun starts averaging a goal every game and we are winning them. DCL gets fit and can’t immediately win his place back.

Would that bother you?

With prior knowledge Kean looked good at Juve when we peaked through door number one. So we signed hoping we'd get more, and he just couldn't perform and in fact showed us door number two which was not as we thought and would lead to a loss. Only option was to switch to door number three and he went through PSG and became a player "in their eyes" and is now worth a lot more. Ancelotti and Brands played a blinder. Maybe we can do more football trials like these. Get young good players in and see if they make it and we get a very good player for many years, or switch them to another club --> can't lose.

Jeff @ 167 agreed.

Traore would trouble our French International even if he was fully fit, so therefore he is a very good player. We'd love a player with an engine like him in the squad, like have Ben Godfrey x 2 in terms of acceleration and drive.

As for Wolves’ goal threat, they are obviously missing Jimenez and Podence, but Neto will be a worry from start to finish. Hopefully we’ll be well-organised and hard to break down.

What planet are you on? The first 11 is 4 players short of top 4 quality let alone the squad. What have you been watching to suggest we will finish ahead of city, Liverpool, spurs, Chelsea and Leicester to name just 5?

Do you not remember how many points we were off last year? Have a look and then reasonably think if a team that bought 3 new first team players can make that up in one season.

Some of us stuff people write on here is comical.

Basically the youngest two haven’t looked good enough and I doubt any other youngsters have shone in training hence not being near the squad. Too many “football manager” experts on here

Apparently not just Googled it. They have never won it.

Lost in the final of the inaugural Uefa

They had a great team in the late forties and early fifties, winning the cup in 1949, and playing at Goodison on the Wednesday night after that win and parading the FA Cup around the ground at half time, wonderful for an eight year old kid like me to see and better still when Tommy Eglington scored the winner with a header in the Gwladys Street end. I think they won the league a couple of times not long after that, brilliant days and memories for me to look at, we never won anything then but I saw some fantastic players and teams at the “Old Lady”.

I don't remember it. Only found out when I googled it

I always remember them for being the opponents when Roy Vernon made his debut. We got beat 2 0 and Norman Deeley ran us ragged.

Maybe Joy might get her sisters to join them. A bit chilly tonight!