Everton vs Burnley

Ifs siggys fit him for Gomes.

COYB!!

So we are going to miss Doucoure’s workmate, I wonder if Ancellotti will play Holgate, alongside Allen and Davies, in midfield? Or Maybe he will play Iwobi ahead of Allen or Davies? Or maybe he will play King, or Bernard from the start?

This is a very big game tomorrow, so I’m hoping Carlo might just be a bit more adventurous with his starting eleven.

I look around the team and again we always seem to be in that familiar situation of where do the goals come from if DCL or Richarlison don't score.

Personally I'd give King the nod on right midfield tomorrow and maybe start Bernard in front of Davies and Allan.

We need to start showing more attacking intent in home games, I believe we've only scored two goals at home since December so that's got to improve if we want top six.

Apart from that 5-1 hammering we gave Burnley under Marco Silva, more often than not it's always a really close hard fought game and I expect a similar pattern tomorrow evening.

He made that hint, and given Siggy doesn't work as a midfielder and Gomes has been poor, think Iwobi could add energy in the middle, with Allan ball winning and Davies sitting.

And I do think it is time to give King a start. So 4-3-3.

Bad news about Doucouré and James's minor problem is dragging on.

I believe

Pickford; holgate keane Godfrey digne; Coleman/iwobi Allan Davies Siggy/Gomes; Richy and CL are the players with the best mindset looking forward to this match given what we’ve got.

But Carlo is a surprise box, so...

Pickford
Coleman
Holgate
Keane
Godfrey
Digne
Davis
Allen
Gomes
DCL
Charlie

It's never pretty against Burnley and I will take last season result if offered it.

The team has found it very difficult to play against teams which sit in and play on the counterattack. Our defenders are uncomfortable outside their own area and without a midfield shield immediately in front of them. Our midfielders lack the pace to move forward quickly when counterattacking and equally struggle to get back when possession is lost.

I see little prospect of tomorrow’s game being much different than many played at Goodison since October. Burnley will defend as though their lives depend on it. This could be our first 0-0 of the season.

I'm not sure how I would set up I just want to poke holes in the other suggestions for now. How's that for courageous commentary?

Burnley are a strange side, they are either on fire, and a match for most sides, or pretty awful, let's hope it is the latter that turns up tomorrow. We need to put Monday's result behind us and start a new run, if we are serious about finishing in a respectable position.

I know it's probably unlikely, but I'd prefer to qualify for the Champion's League rather than the Europa. I know we are ill-equipped squad-wise for either, but hopefully that will change in the Summer Window.

The other reason is at least the games would be Tuesday/Wednesday not Thursdays and Prem games on a Sunday. Not many have prospered under that regime, plus the financial benefits are nowhere near that of CL. The other aspect is that should we qualify potential targets are going to want to come for CL inclusion.

I’d hope that Gbamin’s rehabilitation would be of a better standard than what I received on the NHS but either way, I went from being a very athletic and competent footballer to being completely unable to run faster than a decent jog by the age of 30

Never ever have I heard him use player absences as an excuse, unlike other managers (cough!).

Carlo Burnley Presser

'We dealt with the absences of Digne, Mina, Allan and James. We will deal with the absences of Doucoure and James now.'

He excused himself from going into detail of Olsen's home assault, but did say the club is doing all it can to protect people.

In respecting Burnley and Dyche for their efficient way in playing 4-4-2, he made the comment that although football continually evolves, it isn't being re-invented. The basics remain the same.

In answer to a question whether he might go with a front three of DCL, Richy and King, he said that it is a possibility and that Josh is ready to start. I think he was just being polite to the questioner.

He explained the precautions they are taking to get James fitter rather than risk him at 70% and was quite giggly when asked about Iwobi's social media post looking forward to playing his preferred position with Nigeria.

'I read it and I look forward to talking to the player and hearing him tell me what he thinks his best position is. If that is number 9 or number 10, then I will play him there. I want my players playing where they feel comfortable.'

That, I fancy, is going to be quite an interesting chat.

Let’s hope Everton turn up and can beat Burnley, whom will be up for it.

Pickford
Holgate Keane Godfrey Digne
Coleman Davies Allan Richarlison
King DCL

Everton 3 Burnley 0

If Mina is fit, I think I'm leaning towards he and Keane in the middle with Godfrey on the right and Digne to recover from the depths of last game. I guess I would set up with Davies-Allan and take a gamble with Siggy as the invisible 10, don't stand in there move thru constantly. DCL up front with Richy on the left and if Carlo can reach communion with Iwobi okay otherwise maybe go with Coleman staying deep with he and Godfrey taking some unexpected runs.

I knew Doucoure would be a great signing and he will be sorely missed.

We need to batter someone to get our Goal Difference up but I doubt it will be Burnley. Nevertheless, we should win maybe 2-0 or 3-0.

King must be getting restless by now but if picked l want him up front, he offers little out wide. We need balance to properly function.

Apart from that l hope Siggy is fit for at least the next game. Whatever his doubters say, where would we be without him this season?

Looking forward to Allan and Tom together, the return of a mean Mina, capt Seamus and 3 points or bust!

We have to stay solid, but we have to be more creative. Calvert-Lewin is stuck in a timewarp on 13 goals while his peers have surpassed him with plenty more opportunities.

In the absence of Sigurdsson and Rodriguez, we could really do with a good game from Iwobi. I know he's frustrating but he can move the ball about nicely and create openings. Probably worth a start otherwise we're left with a very ponderous midfield trio huffing and puffing against a very disciplined, deep defence. I'd start him.

Carlo understands football and he understands people. Everybody loves him. Because there is mutual respect there. He will acknowledge the fact that Dyche is doing a phenomenal job at Burnley. Because he is. And if we don’t get 3 points against them, it will be out fault for not outdoing them at what they are good at and then progressing onto what we are good at.

You won’t beat Burnley without spirit, hard work and guts. Match them for that and quality will win you the game.

Why? Because Burnley have possibly one of the worst squads I have ever seen in premier league football. They operate off about 16 core players and very few of them would make the starting XI of other premier league clubs. What an outstanding job Dyche is doing.

I agree with what you say about Burnley's squad. Sir Alex often said that the mark of a good manager was what they could achieve with the resources available. What Dyche has achieved over several seasons has been remarkable.

Whatever the team, let's hope for (1) 3 points and (2) a decent performance.

At set pieces, they put their centre-backs, Tarkowski and Mee, to the far post and aim for them every time. They then look to knock it back across the face of goal, mainly.

If I know this, then there's no excuse for the players not to know.

They'll probably know we leave Keane, Calvert-Lewin and Mina in on the edge of our 6-yard box in a zonal system.

So, they're going to bypass them and aim to the back post for their centre-backs. Like I described earlier.

Tarkowski and Mee are good defenders if they're allowed to sit deep. Bring them out and they look very vulnerable.

Only an early goal (for us) can do that.

I feel for you, mate. I was never great but worked my arse off and loved every minute. Totally wrecked my knee in a completely nothing challenge and now I can hardly jump. Run like it's through treacle etc. Ended up coaching.

As with you, I really can't see Gbamin ever coming back with any consistency. Pity as the one and only time I saw him play, I thought he had potential.

Hopes of getting past Man City in the FA Cup fading fast...

I think given the constant injuries to key players, it will be a struggle until end of season. Quality additions (not with an injury record defo needed).

I would go for

Pickford
Coleman Keane Mina Digne
Davies Holgate Allan
King Calvert-Lewin Richarlison.

Can't see him playing anything other than just a handful of games for us before he's moved on at a big loss. Shame it hasn't worked out.

For now, it's about getting the points to qualify for Europe and/or win the Cup (hopefully).

All in all, I'm not that hopeful about tomorrow.

Doucouré is likely to be out for 8-10 weeks. Carlo said James could be available after the upcoming international break. Just 2-3 weeks, not 10.

A bit like the current Everton manager managing a squad where in reality we use about 14 - 16 players? I mean those that actually appear regularly rather than make the numbers up on the bench.

Doucouré will be a big miss; he gives us energy in the engine room. But, no point crying over spilled milk as they say and to the manager's point; we cope. I'm a romantic footballing purist and want entertainment but now we're in the business and results end of the season.

Olsen,
Holgate, Keane, Mina, Godfrey
Allan, Davies, Sigurdsson, Bernard
Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Up the Blues!!!

Pickford
Coleman Mina Keane Digne
Davies Godfrey Allan
Iwobi
DCL Richarlison

SUBS: Olsen, Holgate, Nkounkou, Gomes, Bernard, King, the kids.

I do think that King will start, he is now more up to speed and does have good technicial ability, maybe even better than Calvert Lewin and Richarlison. . As for Iowbi, Carlo would love to play him in his best position, when he has a clue where it is. Iowbi problem is more inconsistency than position. He is now going to get special attention, which he craves if his twitter post is to be believed.

I am glad that it looks like Tom Davies is playing and hopefully Carlo can find a way for Allan and Davies to play together. He did say that they did not play well together two weeks ago. I am sure he has been working hard at this during the intervening weeks. If Carlo can it could be something special.

It is good that Carlo has cut his teeth on the 4 4 2 system that Burnley play and will know how to counter it. We will now see how good Dyche really is, often heralded on ToffeeWeb as a potential Everton Manager, by some.

Holgate was better against Chelsea and wasn't the cause of the first goal. Though he is still off the standard of the pre injury Holgate. His Final ball was useless. I think it would be a good idea to play Colman in front of him, with Godfrey at left back with Digne in front of him. The way Burnley play in front of the opposition defence suits Mina, who I expect to play.

The Spirit needs to be up, no flat Newcastle /Fulham attitudes.

With James ruled out till after the international break and doubts about Sigurdsson, then Carlo may have to play Iwobi in his preferred position. But after his comment on twitter he would certainly have to perform better than he has for weeks. I never understood why we signed him he never impressed when playing for Arsenal, that's why they let him go and his good games for us have been few and far between. We know exactly how Burnley will play, so there will be no surprises but they will put in a shift and they will ask questions of how good we defend high balls into the box.
From our point of view we need to be on the front foot from the first minute and play like a team desperate to get into the top 4. Dominic certainly needs to get back to the form he was showing a couple of months back, and I think Richarlison will be key for us today.

Lets hope we are not bemoaning another sub standard display against another side in the bottom half of the table as we have done against Newcastle and Fulham.

This will give Manure, City, the RS, Chelsea and Spurs the automatic right to qualify for the CL even if we finished above them in a CL qualifying position. Of course, it also means that it would be impossible for us to ever improve our performance coefficient. You can't if you aren't even allowed participate in the competition! Although the proposals will be introduced for 2024, you can bet the crooks at Eufa will fast track the rule change if any of their favoured clubs are threatened.

As for today, I would love us to get in a position to show up Eufa for the corrupt con artists they are, but we are down to the bare bones. I just hope we don't lose any more players through injury or suspension before facing City in the FA cup, where I at least want us to force City out of second gear this time out.

The key to this match is to get crosses in to DCL and Richarlison as often and as accurately as possible, which will be near impossible if Iwobi is selected to provide the width, so I'm hoping Carlo gives King the opportunity to show what he can do. COYB.

It seems a European Super League by the back door is going to happen, and as you say it has been decided largely who is going to play in it. Hopefully Everton can upset the apple cart. There is definitely at attempt at Structural Elitism.

King on the wing instead if Iowbi is a possibility, Carlo even mentioned that he can play on the wing in his Press conference. I do think that Everton let Man City away with murder and that the spirit that Everton had in the Chelsea game, with a few better replacements would give Man City more of a game.

Subs: Olsen, Mina, Holgate, Bernard, Gomes, Oneyango, Simms, Hibbo & Ossie.

Iwobi - He can hand out the refreshments and double up as ball boy.

I spoke to him once coming out of Goodison, and I was cursing Koeman, for his complete lack of any discernible style, but Dyche told me that Spurs who had just destroyed us, were a very good team.

I couldn’t disagree, and went to tell him to fuck off, just because Burnley had drawn with them the week before, but thought better of it and held my tongue!

Something dawned on me right there and then, and I went to say to Dyche, that I bet you his team exploit Everton’s very weak right flank the following Sunday, but he was to far away by now, and I never said it.

The following week Burnley carved us open down “our right” and beat us at Goodison one nil, so maybe I’m wrong, because the EPL is a very unforgiving league, for anyone who doesn’t prepare!

I have only one thought for today’s game, play with width and go and get three points please Everton🤞

Godfrey Keane Mina
Coleman Davies Allan Digne
King DCL Richie

Agree with all those suggesting we play with width, DCL has not been utilised to his strengths, why, because he has virtually had nothing to feed off. Even if it means pushing Seamus and Digne forward ahead of Godfrey and Holgate, that would certainly pose Burnley problems and give them a new conundrum to cope with. One I'm pretty sure they won't have planned for.

Come on Blues bury this poor home form and start to play to our strengths.

Personally I'm not convinced with wanting the centre backs to play midfield. I'd get it in a needs must, but if we have midfielders fit, play midfielders. I think today is an opportunity to give King a start. It will give us something different to throw at a Burnley defence that is comfortable dealing with an aerial threat. Width and pace for me today.

Strewth mate, what's got into you?

Derek(#82); Not seen that but I remember a part of a Jim Carey film where he became God and his first commandment was that everybody should win the Lottery and they all ended up with $2 each.

A ray of sunshine there mate

Mina, Keane, Godfrey
Davies, Allan
Coleman, Siggy, Digne
Calvert-Lewin Richie

Who knows what the result will be but you can’t go far wrong with a scrappy 1-0 to us.