Everton vs Leeds United

This really is a six pointer. Theoretically we could be in the bottom 3 after the weekend

Unfortunately Lampard doesn't have many options and I don't envy him regarding putting out a team.
He has to go with Lyndon's front 3 of Richie, DCL and Gordon. Behind them it's a shambles though Donny boy had to start
Personally I'd start Patterson in place of Coleman a bit of youthful exuberance and someone not tainted by continued failure might be a plus

The rot in this team is well and truly set in and it's going to take something like an Oxford moment to change our season. If it doesn't happen against Leeds I doubt it will happen.
A bloody nightmare

There are decent players in this squad but their confidence has been utterly drained by season upon season of underperformance, inconsistency and turbulence both on and off the field. The atmosphere has become increasingly toxic and naturally the fans are on edge.

A raucous support will help tomorrow and Lampard and his team must try to find a way to make us less vulnerable to counter attacks and set pieces. Mina will be a loss as will Gray; I was somewhat impressed with DVB on Tuesday but less so Alli; DCL has looked no better than Rondon since his return. I've no idea what team or formation we should play and suspect it will be more about the players giving everything and playing with the sort of confidence and belief we saw at moments against Brentford and which deserted us entirely after Newcastle equalised. A loss would not necessarily be terminal but it would certainly move us a big step closer towards Monday nights away to Luton.

How we have spent so much money only to plunge to these depths is almost as baffling as it is upsetting. Negligence and naivety of the highest degree.

I can't see Lampard playing an open game against them, so, expect a defensive set up and a passing game. We had sixty one per cent possession against Newcastle and got beat. I'm worried for us against Leeds, but we have to live in hope.

Leeds will press us continuously so we need to flood the MF with bodies to try and contain them. I have no idea what team Lampard will pick and what tactics he will use but I'd go with:

Pickford
Coleman
Holgate
Branthwaite
Mykolenko
Gomes
VDB
Allan
Gordon
Richarlison
DCL

I wouldn't even have Keane on the bench! His organisational and leadership skills are zero and he's usually the first to panic.

Hopefully no stupid errors from Keane and Holdgate.

The crowd will be up for it if the players are.But could turn nasty if they are not.The players have ran out of excuses at this stage.

Tbh, I'd even try Iwobi on the left of a middle 3, or Townsend on the right of a middle 3 if it's not working with both of the new boys in cm. Would give El Ghazi and Dobbin a go from bench maybe too.

Assuming no Gray:

Pickford
Patterson
Keane
Branthwaite
Mykolenko
Alli
VDB
Allan
Gordon
Richarlison
DCL

Should we have brought in a sports psychologist?

The players seem to wilt under the slightest bit of pressure.

The lack of leadership and stern character in defence and also in key midfield area's has been a massive problem for years.

What exactly is the problem?

Why are they all so piss weak?

It's no use us pretending there is no problem because a mere THREE clean sheets all season suggests there's a monumental issue with being able to keep opponents out.

Let's play our part as fans boys & girls and get right behind the team no matter what. I am praying for 3 points and I don't care how we get them.

Onward Evertonians.
Full support 💙

It's the midfield that's been our main issue, when Doucoure has been out, it's been awful. Allan is a good footballer and never gives up, but we signed him a few seasons too late. We've really missed having options like Davies and Delph. Donny has to start.

The most important thing is for Pickford and his defence to play calmly. I could feel the excitement in Pickford from my TV screen on Tuesday and sure enough we were treated to a nervy, flappy display which must have made his defence very shaky. They had one player causing trouble and we gave him all the freedom and space he could have wished for. It was such a shame that our fastest player wasn't fit to try to close him down.

Leeds are strong, fit and fast but they don't have a player like ASM. Their best players appear to be injured. We have to play with energy, aggression and fight and we all know that we don't have a team of eleven players who can do that. Donny will play after looking decent on Tuesday and if Alli is doing it in training I could see him starting too. No one mentions El Ghazi after the ridiculous loan move apparently by our owner. Is he worthy of consideration being fresh and unaffected to date by our plight?
The crowd is so important- we need a deafening response all game and mustnt go quiet if we start poorly. Lampard, Cole and Duncan to come on for the last 20 minutes if we need a goal.

I couldn't stand Phil Neville but he was a gobby little fucker who was very vocal even if he himself was shite. Look at that lot across the park (I hate making comparisons but I have to). They contest EVERY decision that goes against them. They whip up the crowd into a frenzy which intimidates the refs. They shout and argue with each other to keep the adrenaline going etc… our players on the other hand are like a bunch of Trappist monks. You can't get a peep out of them!

I hope Frank and his Chelsea boys bring that in-your-face attitude that Mourinho installed in Chelsea. That's why they were the most hated team in the prem with Lampard, Terry, Cole, Droghba etc… leading the way. And that contributed to their success.

We need not only to weed out the shitty players (Iwobi, Tosun, Keane) but the mute, mentally weak ones as well ie most of the first team squad!!

Brian 13, in a perfect world I wouldn't have Gomes or Allan anywhere near our starting XI but that's all we have left.

Same with Jagielka and the Mirallas penalty embarrassment – no leadership. Remember Spit the Dog saying they knew that had us beaten in the tunnel with our players – Baines, Jagielka etc – wanting to shake hands saying "All right, Carra". He said they just wanted to go to war against us.

I certainly hope my fellow match-goers will be in a much more positive mood come kick-off tomorrow, and I am sure they will be.

Many on here saying the players lack fight – maybe they mirror the defeatist attitude of some of our posters? Just to be clear: we are not in a great place and we need to turn things round quickly, but Lampard has been in the job less than a fortnight, he has beaten one Premier League team and lost away to another.

I know the fans in the ground will get behind the team as that's what supporters do – they support their own team, not throw in the towel when it gets tough.

Have to feel for Patterson, there was an article somewhere yesterday saying he was the player that was the most over-paid-for player during the transfer window, saying that we paid 3 times more for him than what he was worth considering his inexperience.

He has also scored in his last game at Goodison and his shot was turned into his own net by Lascelles. Holgate couldn't get out of the way for his own-goal.

One thing is clear, though: him and Keane do not combine well. I would drop Keane to the bench and play Holgate and Branthwaithe and hope that Mykolenko is clear of Covid and I would keep Coleman at right-back (if he is fit enough).

Pack the midfield, close down the space and hunt them (Leeds) down from the whistle. Get ready to empty the bench if the tempo drops. And if Richarlison is not cutting the mustard, haul him off and put El Gazi on.

Frank has to try something different as the same old faces have let everyone down time and again. A 2-0 win with Dominic getting the first and Dele the second.

I put Seamus at right-back only for his experience as the other three are still quite green behind the ears.

I chose Gomes over Alli as this is his natural position whereas Alli is an attacking midfielder who likes to get forward more and not scrap in midfield.

Van de Beek seems, to me, to be a more obvious choice to play alongside Gomes and Allan in the centre of the park as he has good vision and great passing skills.

Truth is they'll play because we have nowt else. I would love to see Patterson given a go but we'll stick with the captain who never leads, whose legs have gone, and so there we have it. We start the game with 8 or 9 players, week-in & week-out.

I can't wait for it to start but dreading the result. Things can only get better after this game in terms of the injury situation, surely.

The players need energy to feed off but the atmosphere at Goodison goes incredibly quickly from positive chanting to passive moaning. I think we've just all become so battered down over the last few years that it's impossible to sustain any kind of positivity as a fan.

The only thing that will keep the spirits up is if the players work their balls off for 90 minutes, running, fighting, tackling. And pass to their team-mates rather than the opposition.

Just go toe-to-toe. Don't sit back and defend as we don't have the players or defenders to do that.

And I don't like that anyway.

Get at them and play them at their own game.

4 - 3 Everton with some nerve relaxing grape juice required to see me through.

Then win our game(s) in hand and we're fine and can focus on Wembley and Europe next season.

I agree. If Gomes plays, there is a deadly inevitability about what will happen. At some stage, he will be done for pace and have his inability to make a proper tackle exposed. Leeds will get a free-kick and score.

If he starts, the best outcome will be that he gets sent off in the first minute for a foul committed at the Leeds corner flag. The 10 men will have a fighting chance.

I'm hoping that Leeds have a few issues with injuries, is Raphinha fit after the Villa game? James has speed and dribbling skill, but lacks physicality. Nevertheless Everton will have to be at least as good as they were last Saturday.

Picking the team must be a nightmare. Injuries, tiredness and poor form can't make it any easier. Mykolenko's early displays have been worrying, Patterson wasn't a regular in the Scottish Premier League and the three at the back weakens what is a very weak midfield. I'd like to see Van de Beek start alongside Gordon and Allan with Alli used as an impact sub if needed.

Gray or Townsend, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin, if fit, would make up the attack. We need at least a point and we need no more injuries.

Gomes needs to be rested for this game; Leeds aren't his kind of opposition… you could ask who is, but we'll leave that for a while.

COYB.

I agree it's okay to criticize on websites, just that all I have read since our defeat is doom and gloom merchants on all forums predicting we will go down.

Seeing as you mentioned a time scale I have been going to Goodison for 65 years and been a season ticket holder for about 50 years, not that it matters if it's your first season, we are all blues and this club needs our full backing at games which I am sure they will get.

Sorry just getting a bit down with all the negativity which I know is understandable, just that this negativity seems to be enveloping the whole fan base.

My back 4 would be Patterson, Keane, Holgate, Mykolenko. A midfield 3 of Allan, Van de Beek and Townsend. A front 3 of Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin and Gordon.

On paper, we have some very good attacking players. Our forwards – Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, Gray, Alli, Gordon, El Ghazi –- need to start scoring to get us out of the doo-dah.

Let's face it, with the midfield and defence we have, I don't expect us to keep another clean sheet until the end of the season. So, it is the goals that we score that will keep us in the League.

Pickford
Patterson Keane Holgate Mykolenko (if not, Branthwaite)
Townsend Allan Van de Beek
Gordon Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

It seems Bamford and Phillips are still unavailable but the team from the Villa game appear to be all fit – that is bad enough!!!

Let's see some real fight. Take on Leeds by competing for every ball from the off and never give up. Then the crowd can really do its job and have Bielsa crapping in his bucket. COYB.

Pickford
Patterson, Keane, Branthwaite, Mykolenko
Gordon, Allan, Van de Beek
Delle, Richarlison
DCL

Unfortunately Seamus has the heart but it is too easy to get round the back of him these days.

Four young guns in that team and two newcomers who will want to impress - and I think Allan could keep them organised. He has a huge part to play in this game.

Oh Oh, I just felt a glimmer of hope.

On a positive note Richarlison is by far better as a left-sided forward. He makes the team stronger on attack and defence when he is played on the left. He can collect and run at the defence, cut inside, shoot. Also he is diligent and committed in tracking back and defending with just enough pace and aggression.

The whole team is stronger when Richarlison is played on the left.

Calvert-Lewin will be an asset in the centre if he's fit enough.

Gordon has been consistent, which is a massive thing for a young lad in the Premier League. He leaves it all out there on the pitch and is a great young player for us to have.

More positives

Donny Van de Beek is a midfielder we need right now. He needs to play in a midfield three and be given licence to play his natural game. Looking to advance quickly forward and distribute the front three.

Allan and (Mr X) will play the midfielder essential engine room battling roles and sit deeper quickly feeding long when it's on and consistently feeding Van de Beek.

Even more positives.

Patterson looked the real deal, young tough and full of energy we need that tomorrow. He will help change the dynamic. Branthwaite ditto. Mykolenko will have settled down and be much more ready tomorrow. Keane is fit.

Team : 4-3-3 / 4-5-1

Pickford
Patterson Keane Branthwaite Mykolenko
Allan Van de Beek Mr X
Gordon Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Mr. X = Gomes, Gbamin or Holgate

No easy answer by any means but Holgate has the tenacity to tackle and break up play. Gomes far too slow for Leeds's incessant, high octane pressing. Gbamin, does anybody know? So Holgate it is. Any better ideas?

I think a couple more have also dropped out – but yes, I know what you mean: the way they played the other night at 100 mph is worrying for our slow ponderous midfield!

Let's hope they burnt themselves out a bit (I can only hope)...

We need to assign someone other than Pickford to make sure the wall is in the right place if they get a free kick….

Of all the teams around us I see Leeds as the team we would least like to be playing due to our utter lethargy and lack of fight.

Others on here are saying our players will fight hard and match Leeds for 90 odd minutes. Will we? Where is the evidence that we even have any if that in our locker? Our players always look slow and unfit and to be honest, not even arsed.

I hope for something different but for the life of me I just can't see it happening.

Gomes should never play for us again, for example – he is not strong enough or quick enough to be a top class Premier League midfielder.

Coleman is clearly finished too – what the heck has Patterson got to do to get a game?!

There are others we could all name too. I think playing with 4 at the back helps, as would having 5 in midfield (however you arrange them) but much of it comes down to not continuing to pick players who aren't good enough.

I know the squad is thin but we need to give others a chance – keep picking the same failures and you get the same results

We won at their place last season so lets just look at the positives.

They are very beatable as their league position shows and they leave bigger holes at the back than we do, so please, if you are going tomorrow, lets get behind the team and support them. No negativity. Just full on support.

The new lad played an hour of a U23s game against Spurs late last month, and set up Lewis Dobbin with a pinpoint cross that the young striker headed home for the only goal of the game.

Match Highlights

The move starts at 0:52.

And watch the rest for a fine volley by Lewis Warrington that smacked the post. I hope we don't regret sending him out on loan to Tranmere.

This game will be won by protecting the defence instead of filling it with central defenders, and by staying on the ascendancy.

I do however wish we'd have got Warrington involved in our first team squad rather than loan him out.

I would hope Coleman is not playing but I fear Frank may worry about youth as we are in a relegation scrap and just play Coleman and stick to experienced players until we are safe from relegation.

The problem with Gomes is he needs quick quality players around him to do the dirty work, if we win those midfield battles he seems to flourish, but if we don't then he falls apart and can't keep up and ends up just fouling.

I would like to see a five man midfield this week of Richarlison, Allen, Donny, Gomes, Gray and DCL up top.

Four at the back with Patterson, Brainthwaite, Mina (if available) and Mykolenko

Confidence is the difference between us and all the teams around us and one win could change everything. We need one hell of an atmosphere at Goodison to get us over the line.

The lad has to start tomorrow.

"I know the fans in the ground will get behind the team as that's what supporters do – they support their own team, not throw in the towel when it gets tough."

Brian, the fans will get behind them while they see them competing with Leeds, If Leeds take the lead (no pun) they'll wilt like the team does.

This is a test for the fans as much as the players. Let's see if the fans in the stands are as good trying to lift this team when it desperately needs it as you demand the players be on the field. The team and players need it. Silence, booing, and ripping is the easy way out for the fans. Get it done.

The bottom line is that we are a moderate squad, hoping that the above two can make a difference, all these injuries are killing us though.
Our defence is poor, theres no confidence that we can keep a clean sheet, and I cant see us nilling Leeds.
I think we are going need plenty of luck on our side for this one, but even then I'm struggling to see us winning.

It appears to me that if something is said often enough, it becomes the truth and given Michael Keane's comments this week it obviously gets into our players heads, but why? They are professional footballers, who should be able to do the basics regardless of whether the stadium is full of negativity or in front of a hostile home crowd when they play away.

Imagine actors blaming the audience whenever they fluff their lines? Imagine a band blaming the audience for not being able to play their instruments properly or forgetting the words to their own songs?

I just don't see how the media and fans can have it both ways, Goodison Park is one of the most hostile places to play in for opposition players, but the Goodison crowd is one of the most difficult places to play in front of for the home team, which is it?

Get a grip Everton players, you are responsible for any bad vibes that happen at Goodison, perform to a reasonable standard and the crowd will get behind you, act like a bunch of frightened children and fail at the very basics and the crowd will respond accordingly.

If the players don't react accordingly to the situation that the club finds itself in, they won't have to worry about any crowd reaction - good or bad - next season, because quite a few fans will save their time and money and stop attending Goodison.

And Laurie @ 37 that 4321 formation is "the Christmas tree" famously used by England at Euro96.

I'm not sure anyone is specifically blaming the Goodison fans but it is telling that opposition players and managers believe they can put Everton at a disadvantage at home via their own fans for whatever reason.

Goodison has not been one of the most hostile places to play in a long time. The match announcers on NBC, when they mention the atmosphere, talk about how it used to be one of the toughest places to play. I will let others surmise why this is.

Pickford
Coleman,Keane, branthwait, Mykolenko
Gordon dvdb, Allan, Ali, Richy
DCL

Sit deep and hit them in the break.

I keep looking at the table in more blind faith thinking that we can get out of this and that there are 3 worse teams but I don't think there are.

Win tomorrow with a scrambled og may just start a bit of momentum.

Utft

We are in a battle that is for sure, Alli for now I would keep on the bench, either El Ghazi or Onyango might at least be able to put a tackle in, or feed off Allan and Van De Beek.

Perhaps, it's due to having so many highly paid players in the squad who are not worth a carrot, perhaps it's because most of the squad are way below the expected levels and many of them who are good enough pick up injuries on a regular basis.

The raucaus atmosphere created during the Moyes reign and to a certain extent under Martinez didn't help the team to win anything and mostly ended in great dissapointment for the fans and the club on too many occasions. The domination of the elite for the last half-decade could also explain the failure of our crowd to react in a positive manner as deep down they realise that the chances of winning silver or even qualifying for Europe is a distant and possibly unnatainable dream. What none of us bargained for was how quickly we would fall or how far that fall would be.

If anybody is to blame for Everton's failures it is the leaders at the club not the fans who pay to watch their team.

Down to the bare bones in defence particuarly, and playing a team like Leeds is scary.

1.
Pickford

Holgate Keane Branthwaite

Kenny Allan VDB Myk

Gordon Richarlison Townsend

Good chance Frank will go for the 3-4-3, as it's a compact formation, which could be good against Leeds, given the kamikaze football they play.

2.

4-2-3-1 option could be good also. A few permutations for the 3 behind the striker. And the No. 10 position is probably Deli's best.

Pickford

Kenny Holgate Keane Mykelenko

Allan VDB

Towns/Gord Richie/ Deli Town/Richie/El Gha

DCL

Listening to his comments about Patterson, he's definitely not up to scratch, and Myklenko not available; getting rid of Digne by Benitez has backfired.

And we can't play Townsend tomorrow – Raphina will destroy him. Kenny is the only option.

Pickford
Holgate Keane Branthwaite
Coleman Allan Van de Beek Townsend
Gordon Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Unless Calvert-Lewin isn't ready to be risked, which is entirely possible. In which case... we might have to call for Rondon.

If you look at our 2 results over the past months, the first one was against Arsenal, the fans got behind the team, never gave up and the players responded with a win.

The other game was Brentford in the cup, managers name chanted, got right behind the team and again we won the game.

This is a must-win game, we have to get right behind the team, even if we go a goal down, we simply have to try and rally the team. We never gave up against Wimbledon, the crowd were electric and eventually Wimbledon came undone and we nicked it.

The worst thing we can do tomorrow is give Leeds an easy ride with a silent Goodison, their fans will be making a noise, we need to stifle it and sing our bloody hearts out.

No matter what show we put on, let's get behind them for 90 minutes. If we can do our job, then it's then down to the players to get us over the line.

I don't care about Coleman's experience – he is playing rubbish and part of the reason we are where we are. Time to give someone else a chance!

I give up if he also plays 3 at the back again – even with all our defenders fit, it just does not work for us. It just leaves us short in midfield and with no protection for a shaky defence. Surely Lampard can see that already?! We need a back 4, with 5 in the midfield!

As for Mina, I give up with him. Funny how he always seems fit enough to fly around the world and play for his country, that's all I'll say about it.

With Mina out for 8-10 weeks, that is his season virtually over, so once more we have to make do with what we have. With Godfrey also missing that means Keane, Holgate and Branthwaite at centre back.

Incidentally, Frank described Mina as a big positive personality in the squad, as well as being a good player.

Mykolenko also still out. Judged on what Frank said about Patterson, he is not getting a start any time soon. So our only other senior full-backs are Coleman and Kenny.

People say they want players with more fight. More bottle. More passion for the club. Jonjo Kenny is such a player. And to my eye when he has played this season, he has played as competently as any other selected full-back.

I fully expect Donny in for Gomes. With Gray missing, but hopefully DCL returning, the easy solution is a front three of Richy, DCL and Anthony.

To repeat what I said post-Newcastle, I believe in the style in which Frank is trying to get us to play, more than anything I saw under Benitez or Duncan's single game.

We need wins, that is self-evident. Trust the process and wins will follow.

Pickford
Coleman - Keane - Branthwaite - Mykolenko
Van de Beek - Allan
Gordon - Alli - Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

I know this site is a moanathon inhabited by right miserable bastards at the best of times but fuck me, at least post something sensible and don't make Leeds sound unbeatable!

There's a reason why they're down there – like us, they've played shite. We're at home and whilst we don't have Top 6 players, we're certainly better than any of the shite around us.

It's time for everyone – players, coaches, fans... and even some of those on this site that appear to know the square root of fuck-all about football – to realise that and step up.

We have a manager and coaches who have been winners, so I'm sure they'll do alright. If the players listen, then they'll be alright... but I'm really not sure about some fans.

Far too many appear to have run up the white flag already. I'll never be one of them and I hope most of the match-going lads and lasses won't be too.

Just embarrassing.

COYB

Both him and Mykolenko I think were bought for the future and, because of mismanagement by Benitez in selling Digne, Mykelenco will be used more than Patterson.

We may not like it but the position we are in, I think Lampard will use the more experienced players in a 4-4-2 set-up and will have to include Holgate and Branthwaite in the back 4.

I don't know why I try and guess what Everton's formation will be as I have never got it right before. But what I do know is you have to match Leeds in intensity for the full 90+ mins to get a win or draw; anything less is unacceptable.

Let's play the Lampard way and take 3 much-needed points.

It is not negativity, it is just realism, unfortunately.

Isn't a “pressing game” just another way of saying working harder than the opposition? So why don't we do it?

Yes totally agree mate, on his day he is a really good centre half but as you say way to injury prone, we can't afford to keep carrying these players, Delph is another one

No one is putting out the white flag as we are in no position to do that even if we desired to do so. It's the players on the pitch who control such things not the crowd or posters on ToffeeWeb. Everyone hopes we will win every game but looking at the situation presently, one win in 15, plus the way we match up to Leeds in terms of strengths and weaknesses, it's reasonable to deduce that we might lose and most neutrals would likely agree. But no one is wanting that outcome, hoping for that outcome or completely resigned to that outcome. Everyone is hoping for the best but feeling trepidation based on the obvious

Subs: Townsend (if Mykolenko is unfit) Begovic, Keane, Alli, Coleman, Gomes, Onyango, El Ghazi

Or something like that jazz...

Reality exists between these extremes. Let's be realistic, Leeds are shite, worse than us, and are readily beatable especially at Goodison.

It would be a risky move but due to injuries a necessity though something radical. Using his influence and persuasion skill, now this will sting, but due to lack of a certain type of midfielder I would play Holgate in midfield with Allen and VDB and er, make him captain! He is one of a very few of our players that has a nasty streak and may be, as captain, it might give him a push to improve. It might bring out his fighting spirit and of course he will be further away from our goal!

"Leeds are shite, worse than us," on what basis? They are above us in the league and still would be even if we won our game in hand. They also finished above us last year. Yes we won last year at their place but they won more convincingly at ours. So they are almost as crap as us not worse.

Holgate sitting in front of the back four with VDB and Allan more mobile, covering every blade of grass!

Leeds were lightning the other night, so I cannot see even a draw. I so want to be wrong but Everton 1 Leeds 3. We are having to choose players who are not PL standard, probrably the whole defence, and Pickford ain't great either (England keeper argument can you know what off)

If we can find a way to get compact in our third without their passes pulling us out of shape we may have a chance but there will be stretches of time where they will dominate possession. Not sure how the crowd reacts in those instances but if they can stop Leeds with a few tackles before they get a shot at Pickford it could be the spark that gets us going. Staying in our third too long and we are in for a working over.

As for how it gets received, hopefully everyone has adjusted their expectations for what is before us and the players pick up on it. They are probably a bit surprised as well and are clueless on how to get it going again but they still understand the home field advantage with a supportive crowd. A couple of decent tackles and I think they could switch mode given how frustrated they must be. Clement may be the key as to how that gets tapped.

On that training video I saw Tosun sniggering like a Cheshire cat with Holgate and Gomes. I wonder what he was saying? "Keep it up lads and you'll be like me getting paid a fortune and not even having to play."

We could guess most of line up. Frank hasn't got that many viable options and not much time to tune tactics.

To get a result we must get, and stay, on the front foot, playing with tenacity. Our survival depends on this. Mentality is everything tomorrow and for the run in.

Having Goodison behind the team from start to finish will give us the 12th man to win this. COYB!

At the moment all our supporters want us to win desperately but that doesnt mean we all think they will win, we are just trying to assess our chances.

Mina, Godfrey and Doucoure could miss the remainder of the season. Add in Delph and Davies, and you're looking at regular starts to Holgate, Keane, and Gomes

Mentally and physically that isn't going to quell any opposition. It's not just bad form, it is players in the spine of the team that aren't going to stand up and be counted upon.

Without him, I think we have no choice but to go a back 3, and bring through a Welsh/Anderson for the bench. Townsend never worked, so [sorry, I know it's controversial] try Iwobi at LWB in the hope of chemistry with Richie….or Kenny for the reason John suggests above.

Pickford
Holgate Keane Branthwaite
Patterson Allan VDB Iwobi
Gordon DCL Richie

Anyone who thinks the crowds reaction does not or should not affect the players had obviously never performed before a live audience in any capacity.

It doesnt matter whether you are getting a million a game or a tenner a game players still go out to do their best but the crowd can either lift or destroy a player.

I know we are in a tough spot but we have probably had the worst injury and suspension experience this season in history. Combine that with unrest and uncertainty behind the scenes and you will realize the importance of a united front and supporting the team in any event. We know some of the players arent good enough but encouragement rather than moaning will help them rather than destroy their confidence.

Players don't play badly deliberately and to counter a few cynics they do not feign injury. I hope all those posters who said Mina didnt want to play the other night reflect on that now it has been confirmed he has one of the worst injuries going.

343 picks itself with Mykolenko out.

The crowd is an excuse. The RS come to Goodison every year and get dogs abuse and respond by playing better. Someone or some people making sounds of any kind in reaction to you doing your job has no tangible effect on your performance unless you are weak minded. Beckham for example was targeted by boo boys for England after 1998. It had no effect on his performance and made them look silly. Ross Barkley was not targeted by boo boys in the cup game but created a fantasy he shared with Jags that the fans were booing him so he had an excuse not to perform. Jags said “they're not booing you” but Barkley was still crap as he is weak minded. We need some intervention like in that Monthy Python episode with that cuckolded bloke and God asking “are you a man or a mouse Arthur Pewtey?” Then God dropped a 10 ton weight on him as he refused to man up. We need John Cleese on the tannoy Saturday to ask the same question of Keane and Gomes. Then the “time to go Bill and co” pilot can drop the weight if they don't man up

It is precisely the reasons that I couldn't stick seeing him playing against us that makes me want to see him playing for us. He's a narky bastard, got some good skill even though that's not been much in evidence recently - but it's there, and he does score goals. His cameo on Tuesday was no benchmark to judge him by - dropped into a team ravaged by injury inside half an hour which completely screwed any planned strategy of a manager 8 days into the job, and probably still jet lagged after his journey to Merseyside from London/Borehamwood or wherever he lives.

I'm not a strategist but looking at who we've got could we not try a midfield diamond of Allan, VDB, Gordon and Alli behind DCL and Richie with whoever Lamps/Cole reckon can do the best job at the back keeping James and Raphina quiet.

Looking forward and dreading it in equal measures, but I do think 3 points are there for us tomorrow. Leeds ran themselves ragged with a good display on Weds and hopefully will not be fully recovered, and as we know at this end of the league, consecutive good performances are a rarity.

They may be looking forward to playing us but lets give them a shock boys.

Clean sheet and 2/3 goals to the good.

Same again barman...cheers

I think you're missing the point good players aren't arsed about the crowd but poor players are fragile about everything including the crowd. We have had predominantly poor performers for decades exacerbating the situation to a point that "toxic GP" for the home team rather than "fearsome GP" for the opposition is the common outsiders view.

There's a vid doing the rounds of Ben Foster talking about teams knowing how it works here and trying to take advantage of our fans getting into the team.

I'm afraid it's all true

At the end of the day players are all individuals with unique personalities.

The Everton crowd makes a huge difference when supportive.

"Ross Barkley lost confidence in that cup match because he BELIEVED he was being targeted for abuse," that is precisely the point. It had nothing to do with the actuality of the fans noise it was a mental issue of his that occurred regardless of the actual crowd.

Barry

I agree with what you say except you overlook the element of choice. The good players make a deliberate decision to ignore the crowd, the bad players make a deliberate decision to allow the crowd noises to impact them. Nothing requires them to react a certain way it is entirely up to them to decide. It's like Marcus Aurelius said, if you have a problem you decide whether it's a mound or a mountain. Keane, Gomes and co. have decided before they even put a foot on the field that they will pass off responsibility for their work onto 40,000 strangers just as they pass off responsibility with sideways passes. It's 100 percent their choice.

I don't think poor players have a choice at all their lack of ability throws up more mistakes hence more grief from the crowd and a vicious circle ensues. I might add I don't see this as an "Everton thing" all supporters are the same the difference between fanbases is standards.

Rightly or wrongly our standards involve winning titles - there ya go I've said it.

Presently the best "supporters" appear to be Crystal Palace fans primarilly because being in the Prem equates to them winning the league before them it was Portsmouth and the Pompey chimes and WBA going "boing boing".

Contrary to what some say the idea we will put up with consolidation for a season or two is delusional. If we survive Frank will be expected to improve things every month till we win silverware then repeat the trick every year. EFC will only be truly happy when the success graph is a straight line upward trajectory anything less and we will continue to gripe

With no left backs available at all at the club, its got be 3 at the back and that means
Holgate, Keane, Branthwaite. The 4 in midfield will Coleman, Allan, Van De Beek and Townsend. Upfront Gordon, DCL and Richarlison.
Whether that midfield is good enough, and which I don't think it will be will dictate the outcome of the match. If we don't win that battle we wont have the service to the forwards. Lampard might well have to utilise Gomes and Delle Alli if we find ourselves struggling.

As I said on a thread on Wednesday after watching Villa vs Leeds, That if Leeds play at that level, their pace, their fitness, will totally dominate us.

Sorry but bad vibes !

But we really shouldn't be shitting our pants about players like Luke Ayling etc.

I don't think it's a question of the fans or the players in isolation. I think we are all shell shocked.

We have been through heaven knows how many managers, Carlo deserted us, they gave us Benitez, Brands got the bullet or walked, the medical staff got the bullet, we sold Digne, his replacement has covid, and we have injuries to key players. No wonder we are reeling.

The teams that avoid relegation are the ones that are able to dig deep when the odds are against them. It goes without saying that the fans will have to help whatever team is put out to do that. This won't be a game for faint hearts.

No Patterson and no Mykolenko! As I see the options it will have to be three at the back. That means we have no choice.

Pickford
Holgate, Keane, Branthwaite
Gordon, Allan, Gomes, VDB, Richarlison
Delli, DCL.

Ben Foster, Watford goalkeeper:
"One thing I will say is, if you can get on top of Everton early doors, the Everton fans are horrible to Everton players. They get right on top of them. For sure they get into the players' heads,"

With our squad at the start of the season I expected no better than 10 to 12th position. We still have a game or two in hand of some teams around us, if we can squeeze a few wins out we could finish 14th. Ok I'm getting carried away there, but you never know.

Things I latched on to was Colman selected over Kenny and Patterson. This is a aged player on a one year extention.

Secondly rest and recovery after the Brentford game with alot of respect for Medical Services. IMO Medical Services has singularly failed in achieve resilence in the squad, down to a policy of rest and recovery.

Thirdly respect for so called big players, who have underperformed and have often not been available, especially Mina who made ejits out of the Medical Services.

Fourly is lowering of expectations. Has Frank realised how poor Everton are and hoping for a future upturn.

Frank is coming across as having bought into the Everton way, rather than challenging Players poor performances.

If Gomes starts tomorrow instead of Van de Beek it's going to a while before a turn around.

Hope I am wrong.

Gbamin must be a dead loss.

UNLESS of course, we, Monaco Mosh, and his puppet-master/s get ultra lucky with Frank and HIS coaches knocking our current largely spineless squad into a shape unrecognisable for years, whereby nearly every team we face has to chiefly worry about what we'll do to them.

Personally, with no apparent leadership on the pitch or general command of basic football skills, or governance-know-how in the boardroom/Monaco, and devoid, due to recent mass sackings, as we now apparently are of a proper scouting system, coordinated medical unit and whatever else has been fucked up at Finch Farm, I'm not hopeful.

If anything the fans are too nice.

The Sky teams are still at the top with or without fans and so when all is said and done it's down to the players where we finish in the league, not the fans!

This is a desperate situation now! No leaders, no defence or midfield to control matches. Our biggest problem tomorrow will be controlling the energy leeds have. Newcastle ran us! First 20 minutes is crucial as leeds will come at us from the start. As slow starters we could be out of this by half time.

I am fearing the worse tomorrow as this could be the match that reality hits home. Oh please please let me be wrong! To get no points this week will be a disaster!

I quite like Paterson and Mykolenko as prospects, but with Digne sold and Coleman fading we really needed full backs who could hit the ground running. Despite Benitez being in last chance saloon the club sanctioned the spending of almost £30m on two young full backs who are arguably not yet at PL standard. In normal times this could prove good business and they may yet both prove excellent players but in this season with our backs against the wall it once again seems like poor decision making.

Dele A. 'IS' a bust your very 'brave' assessment towards a player basically only plays about 60 minutes football for Everton FC as a sub.

Dele A for the past few years 'WAS' a shadow of himself for Spurs after his exculsion in International football. There are many examples for footballers resurrect their careers after changing clubs so let's give him fair chance to prove himself. same goes to Mykolenko, Patterson and El Ghazi... we Evertonians are better than that.

Mind you, we Evertonians do relish our darkness and mystery, I often think. Andy Crooks @160 has pointed it out: Eros and Thanatos. The death drive can be exhilarating too. Until you're dead.

I read various rationalisations of the sale of Digne to Aston Villa at the time. He was 29 years old, 25 million was a good return, he wasn't the player he was, we were investing in young talent etc. Those thought processes might have made sense during the summer.

To sell our French international full-back to our closest rivals during a relegation dog fight, replace them with youngsters who might not play 15 games between them this season all to satisfy the ego to a manage who we then rightly sack?

Incredible incompetence and stupidity. Lampard could have made a balanced retain/sell decision in the summer and played Digne for the rest of this season when we really need him.

I thought that those who claimed that it was right to sack the DoF and put all our trust in Benitez to shake the club up had lost their senses. And so it proved.

I'm not sure that Leeds are relentless pressers more than they just like to counter. As such, they may sit off us enough for the players to follow Lampard's apparent short-passing, possession-based plans.

We have to hope he and his coaches have an X-Factor which enables our players to improve their pass accuracy. Otherwise, he is heading down the Martinez / Silva route of trying to play the style he wants without players who can do it.

Donny van de Beek has the ability but you could see his frustration mounting on Tuesday as others didn't make the required runs / feints to open up the opposition. Hopefully the few days since then has seen the penny drop for more of the players and we can get ahead and stay there tomorrow afternoon.

Does anyone think the jeers and abuse works? Or that players aren't already embarrassed when they make a stupid mistake or play poorly?

Right now, the only thing that matters is supporting the team, no matter what. No-one wants to make mistakes or play badly, we all want a win. So, if a player stuffs up, if mistakes are made, bite the lip and bury it.

There will be a time to make feelings plain on the club, it's management or players, but park it, it's not now, no matter how galling. We have to win games and do everything we can to make that happen.

Absolutely spot on. Some of our players looked mentally fucked, they look doomed. Newcastle were as shite as us till they equalised, after that goal it was one way traffic. Their fans created the bear pit and their players responded.

We have players who cannot even see the finish line, they look terrified playing on their own pitch. We have to drag them over that finish line, we have to support our players for the full 90 minutes.

He is a modern manager who wants to play it out from the back. We probably have the worst ball-playing defenders in the Premier League. Playing out from the back was an absolute disaster against Newcastle and today we are up against a top pressing team.

So will Lampard insist on Keane and Holgate playing out from the back and give us all heart attacks? Or will he play Calvert-Lewin and play long and over the Leeds press?

Some would call it good old-fashioned football and others would call it Allardyce football if we play long. I think Lampard finds himself in a big dilemma here. The rude remark could be that, if we were to play Allardyce football, why didn't we hire the master himself?

It is going to be interesting to see what Lampard has got in his toolbox as a manager.

Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Holgate, Kenny, Allan, Gordon, Richarlison, Beeky, Mitch and Titch.

For fuck's sake, why do we torture ourselves?

Jack # 172, sodomising the board with sausage rolls would be a terrible waste of sausage rolls – but I agree with the sentiment.

Fingers crossed for today.

The other night was a perfect example of this imo, because Newcastle were not better than Everton, they just worked harder and wanted it more, and were also driven on, by their very passionate and vocal crowd.

This is something that Goodison can also produce, but the players have got to lead the charge, by showing the fans they really care, and also being prepared to do something about it.

Football is about many different things, but bravery in possession has got to be one of the main ingredients, and this is where Everton fell down the other night, and is something that will not have gone un-noticed by Lampard, so I definitely expect a different and better Everton today.

And yes, many factors determine a performance. Ability, desire, commitment, fitness, mentality.

Win today Everton. Just win. Have winning mentality.

That means at least four across the middle, five if we revert to a defensive (KITAP1) game but who would they be? Allan, Van de Beek, Townsend, Gordon, Gbamin hoping for Van de Beek and Gordon to supply the creativity with Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin to run themselves daft up front.

Which leads me to ask what we do if Leeds play somebody wide on both sides and a deep lying centre forward, hope we out number them in the middle or our defence doesn't get stretched?

Who would I play? Well, after Pickford in goal then whoever Frank thinks will fit the pattern needed to win, but win we must.

"If I'm a man I must be brave Or lie a coward, a craven coward or lie a coward in my grave Although you're grievin', I can't be leavin' until I shoot Frank Miller dead"

Sorry Leeds but today you are Frank Miller

I agree with you to a point. During the match get behind the team. Absolutely. That's what most do.

But supporters reserve the right to voice their opinion. Having been at Brentford and Norwich away this season amongst others, but they stick out, the loyal and dedicated Evertonians rightfully gave the team and the club both barrels. We are entitled to do that. But yes, hold it to the end. And in fairness, we mostly do. Yes there's always that shouty bloke who kicks off after 5 minutes because we aren't 2 - 0 up, but mostly the supporters are behind the team throughout. Our younger generation impresses me as they are consistent and passionate in their support despite having only having experienced mediocracy and failure.

We're a family. In families you are honest with each other and tell your brethren when they are not doing what they should be. It can cause fallouts, but it's family. But that doesn't mean you aren't supporting them. You are being honest. Evertonians have been honest with their team. Not good enough.

3 points today. The poor boy dog had a rough walk today. I overstepped the mark on talking Everton. Come on blues.

Very appropriate. I forgot that was the tune to "we all fuckin' hate leeds"

You have two deeper midfielders and two more advanced midfielders (in the half space between wing and number 10).

You avoid being outnumbered by having the two advanced midfielders (or one of them) tuck back in.

The trouble is that DVB isn't ideal for this because he's not a sitting midfielder. Gomes is suited to the position - but unfortunately he's usually awful. DVB is probably the best we can do.

We didn't need Dele Alli, we needed a proper sitting midfielder.

1) I'm getting skitted at school by all the reds about getting relegated.

2) the atmosphere will be rubbish at the match, everyone will be angry.

I explained to him that this is our club, and no matter how bad it gets we'll always support it. I told him this is the same as how I'll always be there for him no matter what. What the red kids think is absolutely irrelevant, just smile and call them the McDonald's franchise, and then remind them they have one covid inspired league title in 32 years.

Anyway, fortunately he's back in for now. Not entirely his enthusiastic self, but he gets it.

Hopefully the players get it too…….the pain we go through when we make them such a big part of our lives, and the fact that NO MATTER WHAT we'll support them ever more (remember singing that from the Gladys back in Keown days!)

Most of all I hope us fans get it too. I've been fuming at Rafa and the whole club for months. I'm still saying there should be protests (away from match days or in the summer). However, for the 100 or so minutes from tunnel cam to the very end, let's come together as one.

Bollocks to the threat of relegation, no amount of grumping is going to change that…..but supporting the team just might.

Come on you fucking blue boys!!!! #WeWillSupportYouEverMore

Very much so, keep Digne and hire Trippier as a short term RB was a way of finding better defensive stability . Patterson signing could have waited until June and would have been the backup for a year or two. Also a tenacious midfielder was needed to keep our core strong with Doucoure out and Allan will not play all the remaining games.

But still we have to be positive and fight with what we have got. We have so much more quality than Brentford, Watford, Burnley and Norwich that if we match (or exceed) the desire and commitment we will be ok.

That little word ‘if' is a big word. I think Frank and his excellent coaching set up will find a way.

It's going to be a very hard fought game today , late tackles , bookings , commitment and blood on the pitch. If we can snuff out Leeds's pressing game for 60 minutes I think we will get big opportunities to win the match in the last 30.

Everton 2 Leeds United 1

I was also salivating at the prospect of nabbing his seat, (only joking) hope he goes away after that pep talk from his Dad, saying what a great game and win Dad, I'm glad you talked me round. :-)

It's a shame Gray is out, but we go with the best we have.

Going forward Everton can pose problems for Leeds as arguably they are the fittest team in the EPL, but some times play flat out and don't keep shape.

A foul weather day is likely, so there could be unforced errors, but I hope that our defence stands up to a man, and fights to the last ball and communicates with the team.

No lamenting round the pitch looking at the sky. Today failure isn't an option for Everton, as they must win.

In the old days there was literally a War of The Roses type mentality ( not historically, as both sides then were crooked) but there was a seething hatred in the day and in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s going to their place.

Let's beat Leeds today and focus on what matters..

Hopefully no cowardly officials on the pitch and at Stockley Park.

I've no idea who should start. Gray is a terrible miss but at least Gordon should start. The rest are all sub par so the formation is important and style of play, so over to Lampard.

As for the crowd I always voice my frustration and throw a few expletives towards the players when they're patently shite. I find it incongruent to cheer and empower rubbish. On the other hand if what I see is good I will scream Everton to the rafters with the next man.

We pay our money and make our choice.

Gary(#190); Try asking your lad if he really wants to go shopping with his Mam, or even let him try it once and to remind those at school whose old ground they play on, usually shuts them up as they don't know it is.

If we play open like we have done all season we will have a tough game on our hands. We haven't got the legs to match them.

Tactically Leeds play one way only. Any savvy coach can beat them playing pragmatically.

Stay tight between defence and midfield. Pack the midfield and hit them on the break. Fundamental to this is by not picking Gomes or Holdgate. The pair of them are doing more harm than good.

The Dave Dee story is indeed true - he was a copper at the time and attended the scene of the Eddie Cochran car crash. He also took Cochran's guitar and admitted he played it briefly before it was given to his family.

Earlier on the same tour, Eddie Cochran gave the same guitar to a teenage kid at the stage door to carry to his car - the kid was Marc Feld who went on to become Marc Bolan - and die in another car crash.

3-2 to us as we can't keep a clean sheet UTFT

Around 1962 when I was about 12 /13 years old and living on the corner of Smith Street and Great Mersey Street I remember feeling quite cool and sort of adult and told my Mum - - who looked and sounded like Ma Joad - - that I wasn't going to Mass on Sunday as I didn't believe in it all anymore - - like Ma Joad - - Anne - - my Mum, and like all of those marvellous pinny clad arms folded hair pinned up philosopher/politician/poetess/ Ma's who knew everything - - sent me to see Father Winder - - The John Wayne Parish Priest of St. Alphonsus Church Great Mersey Street - - like a personal meeting with the Pope - - I went into his private sacred room at the back of the church and he asked me about my comments to my Mum - - by now I was sort of impressed with myself thinking I'd taken on the whole Roman Catholic Church - - so I told him (not even with my sort of new courage would I dare say that I didn't believe in God) that I didn't like some bits of the Church - - sort of some of the rules - - he was a wily character and ruled our Parish with a mixture of compassion, justice and toughness - - so he cleverly asked me how Everton were doing and I sort of looked at him - - how did Priests know about Everton or that I supported them - - clever man - - he then went through the whole team - - what do you think of Alex Young - - great - - Labone - - Jimmy Gabriel - - Alex Parker - - yes all great - - love them - - what about Jimmy Fell or Albert Dunlop or Billy Bingham - - he asked - - well not my favourites - - not mad on them - - Ohhh - - think Gordon West is better goalie than Dunlop - - said Father Winder - - so you don't like all of them - - No - - so I can tell your Mum that you wont need pocket money to go to the match next Saturday - - Arrrhey Father I never said that - - I love Everton - - so are you going to the match - - yes - - even if Dunlop plays - - yes of course I am - - I'm an Evertonian - - OK George said The Wise Man - - see you at Mass next Sunday - - and hope The Blues win.

Now this morning when my wife and I will pick up Dave Owen and drive through what we still call The New Tunnel - - along Scotty - - and all of you Match goers coming that way from Town - - when you get to the Lights at Kirkdale Road along from Boundary Street - - where the Big Buoy is on the pavement - - look left - - Thomas Winder Court on the corner on the site of my old home - - The Britannia Pub - - my wife will then drop me and Dave at The Dark House - - today is about being together - - a team - - players and fans together - - let's sort the problems out when we are safe - -for now nothing but “posso waves” all day long:

And just to finish this in memory of all of Our Ma Joads/Father Winders/friends and fellow Blues - - Rave On Father Winder:

“Take me back, take me way, way, way back
On Hyndford Street
Where you could feel the silence at half past eleven
On long summer nights
As the wireless played Radio Luxembourg
And the voices whispered across Beechie River
In the quietness as we sank into restful slumber in the silence
And carried on dreaming, in God
And walks up Cherry Valley from North Road Bridge, railway line
On sunny summer afternoons
Picking apples from the side of the tracks
That spilled over from the gardens of the houses on Cyprus Avenue
Watching the moth catcher working the floodlights in the evenings
And meeting down by the pylons
Playing round Mrs. Kelly's lamp
Going out to Holywood on the bus
And walking from the end of the lines to the seaside
Stopping at Fusco's for ice cream
In the days before rock 'n' roll
Hyndford Street, Abetta Parade
Orangefield, St. Donard's Church
Sunday six-bells, and in between the silence there was conversation
And laughter, and music and singing, and shivers up the back of the neck
And tuning in to Luxembourg late at night
And jazz and blues records during the day
Also Debussy on the third program
Early mornings when contemplation was best
Going up the Castlereagh hills
And the cregagh glens in summer and coming back
To Hyndford Street, feeling wondrous and lit up inside
With a sense of everlasting life
And reading Mr. Jelly Roll and Big Bill Broonzy
And "Really The Blues" by "Mezz" Mezzrow
And "Dharma Bums" by Jack Kerouac
Over and over again
And voices echoing late at night over Beechie River
And it's always being now, and it's always being now
It's always now
Can you feel the silence?
On Hyndford Street where you could feel the silence
At half past eleven on long summer nights
As the wireless played Radio Luxembourg
And the voices whispered across Beechie River
And in the quietness we sank into restful slumber in silence
And carried on dreaming in God.”

Let your blue Soul And Spirit Float Into The Mystic - - sent with full cosmic Blue grooves all the way from New Brighton up into The Astral and onto All Blues and to Float over Goodison and keep us safe - with a firm handshake - - George.

I'm a bag of nerves and I can imagine the players will be the same. We need VdB and Alli if and when he gets on to have blinders I feel, because if we lose the midfield we are done.

I wish I could feel confident, my heads saying I fear the worst, my heart is hoping for a change of form and luck.

I truly believe you can carry them to victory.

Represent those of us who aren't / can't be there - literally millions of Blues around the world.

This is the biggest game in my Blue life. Bigger than the FA Cup final in 2009. We lose, we stare into the abyss. That's just not acceptable.

Shake the foundations of Goodison today, please.

George - your poetry is as inspiring as always. I'm sprinkling it over Goodison today!

Gary Jones. I was there in the late 70s although never got to the stage of not wanting to go. He'll be fine when you take him to Wembley in a couple of months!

3 points Everton. Nothing else.

I am sure that spirit they got from the noise of Goodison inspired that victory will again be apparent today, so even if we go a goal down don't stop cheering and don't stop believing. Frank Lampard has been here 2 weeks and had already lost Doucoure through injury, and has since lost Godfrey,Mykolenko, Mina and Gray. So probably half of his starting 11 injured.

Hope to see Bill, Jim, Derek, Steve, Danny and Dave and anyone else, will wait by the trinity statue after game for ten mins, then head back into town.

We signed 5 players in January. If we enter the last couple of games in the mix to go down, then we'll quite honestly deserve it. It will be the culmination of a scattergun transfer policy which continued in the January window.

After signing van der Beek - which was fine and addressed a problem - if I was given the option of Delle Ali or a centre back/holding mid, I'd have taken the centre back or holding mid all day. No contest. It was an absolute priority. I'm really concerned that not addressing this problem could see us go.

Leeds? Who are they, Fxck them, we are Everton and we are going to win by any means possible even with the help of a bent referee we've had plenty of them against us this season.

Go out and enjoy it Blue Boys it's only a game, a game we are going out to win.

We've got plenty enough to beat Leeds at home anyway.

If we play open like we have done all season we will have a tough game on our hands. We haven't got the legs to match them.

I'm not so sure about that?

Our strength is with our attacking players. Our weakness is our defending players. I'd turn the game into a track meet and play to our strengths.

But I know the sum of fuck all and watch on TV.

I don't care who plays or how we play in an honest moment, I just want three points.

He's coming in under cooked and can be tricky to fit it. He's a very good in a good side type of player. But away from home in a shit, demoralised team that's won 1 in 15? I just don't think its a good signing when there are very apparent problems in the defensive spine. It was the signing of a club that doesn't comprehend the danger its in.

Lampard wants to play a slightly more open or progressive style. This will expose our centre backs to even more risk which they just won't be able to handle. I can see a few hammerings coming away from home.

Its a must win today, for sure.

Having said that almost every side fancies their chance against the beleagured Blues at present.

Could this be a turning point results wise ?

If the front two can stay fit and get the service then we can be a little more optimistic added to the fact that some new faces may also make a worthwhile contribution.

We have Soton away coming up and Man.City so we need three points right now.