Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

The manager has to kick ass and motivate this squad which includes too many lightweights. The fans will be up for this on Sunday, it's Frank's job to make sure the team are.

Here's hoping that they are capable and professional enough to deliver it. Different kettle of fish to Brentford and Leeds.

Every day, I think what the strongest defensive set-up is for us, but I can't find an answer. Probably because Patterson and Mykolenko are unknowns, coupled with the extremely worrying reluctance of Lampard to play them ahead of Coleman and Kenny at left-back.

Also, what is Mykolenko's mental state like? It must be hugely difficult for him to concentrate on the job in hand. My heart goes out to him.

Is this the best side from our current options? 4-2-3-1 looks good from an attacking point of view but will require heroic, focussed defensive performances from the young lads. The alternative of using Coleman and Keane is maybe even more risky?

Pickford
Patterson, Holgate, Branthwaite, Godfrey
Allan, Doucoure
Gordon Gray Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

Got no idea why premier league have waited so long to schedule our backlogged games, we're now 3 games behind some, which puts pressure on points situation.

Regarding having Gray and Godrey back….whilst every ounce of common sense says ‘ease them back in' I don't think we have that luxury. We will need them both at their best asap.

Starting 11 for me:

Pickford
Patterson Godrey Branthwaite Mykolenko
Doucoure Allan
Gordon Dele Alli Gray
Richarlison

Calvert-Lewin, Van de Beek and El Ghazi or Townsend from the bench. Would be tempted to put one of the latter two in for Anthony Gordon if he can't add goals and end products soon but, for effort alone, he doesn't deserve a drop yet.

Holgate has almost been as culpable s Keane for being so poor in defence, so I hope he is not even on the bench, another liability in defence, we need the 'Dogs of War' attitude for the run-in, not pretty, but effective.

If Brentford win, I can see them slowly pulling clear of relegation and one less team joining us in the fight. These next 2 home games are crucial and I think we need the 6 points.

Godfrey's and Gray's returns are most welcome but it appears all our injury returnees need weeks to recover, look at Calvert-Lewin!

Tactics should be a bit more how we played against Man City and less like Spurs...

If he plays there, then who else would partner Branthwaite? An U23 would be just as big a risk as Holgate at the moment.

I agree with your selection. Keane simply cannot be trusted and I also agree with Derek, as Holgate has been positionally very poor.

If Frank sticks with the same defence, the message will be an acceptance of failure.

Gray and Gordon could create something but, if Calvert-Lewin doesn't show some improvement, I would get Rondon on early.

Pickford
Kenny Holgate Branthwaite Godfrey
Doucoure Van de Beek Allan
Gordon Richarlison Gray

3 out of Calvert-Lewin, Iwobi, Alli, El Ghazi to come on as subs.

I'd be surprised not to see at least two of them start against Wolves – along with Van de Beek and possibly (brace yourselves) Iwobi. We should win too.

As shocking as we've been this season the run of injuries and other absences has been very hard.

No Sigurdsson (15 or more goal contributions), almost no Calvert-Lewin (getting on for 20 goal contributions), long stretches without Richarlison (15 goal contributions) and Mina (fewer goals against) – plus Godfrey, Doucoure and Allan etc who all generally make us better when we play.

Add to that the shocking refereeing decisions at Newcastle, Man City etc.

What an appalling season – which has exposed the lousy squad depth to its limits.

Patterson
Godfrey
Branthwaite
Mykolenko

This provides a back 4 that are not punch drunk at this stage.

I watched the Wolves game. The score flattered Wolves, because of some awful mistakes by Watford and Wolves had some tap-in goals.

Maybe we play Godfrey in centre-defence with Branthwaite. Please drop Holgate, put Keane on the bench. Gray should give us more creativity, if the ball doesn't get stuck to his boot?

I would set up to defend and counter-attack. Watford had a few chances doing that against Wolves.

This is a winnable game if we show the same passion and commitment we showed against Leeds, with the Goodson faithful behind us. However, Wolves have a decent away record, 23 points away from home.

We have to defend properly. No mistakes!

Charlie Austin bullied Holgate and Godfrey earlier in the season at QPR, when they both played deeper than the ocean, and to bring both Patterson and Branthwaite into the side alongside Godfrey does seem like a very big gamble right now.

I do think Lampard has to gamble though, and the one thing a pairing of Branthwaite and Godfrey would bring to the table is pace. This might give Jonjoe Kenny the confidence to get square-on with his central defenders, instead of playing deeper and keeping the opposition on-side, because I think only the bravest manager in the world would add Patterson and Mykolenko to that back four.

The diamond in attack intrigues me though. Two wide players and a Number 10 playing behind the centre-forward and just in front of two competitive central midfielders might just really change the dynamics of this team.

I expect that's our most talented back 4 and it might well be the preferred back 4 by the end of next season – but it's not for now.

I say that with a heavy heart by the way because I don't like the alternatives. But that back 4 is the sort of thing you'd use in the early rounds of the League Cup against lower league opposition. Unfortunately, Patterson is clearly seen as far too green and none of us know any better, having not seen him play (apart from a bit of quality in the U23s).

Godfrey is a very likeable player but he's an immature defender. So for him to be the sole experienced head in the back 4 does not bode well.

Fair enough, you may say – but where has experience got us. And I don't have a great answer to that! But I do know that experienced guys like Ancelotti, Allardyce and Hodgson do not dig out results with kids or inexperience when things get like this.

Personally, I'd go with Kenny, Keane, Branthwaite and Mykolenko. Possibly Coleman ahead of Kenny.

Like I say, I'm expecting a win too.

Public health warning. Do not play 3 at the back with this defence.

Keane is an honest player but scares the shit out of me every time I watch him. Holgate; I just don't think we know his best position and I don't believe it to be centre-back. But I don't know where it is either. A lesser Phil Neville?

If I haven't bored everyone else more than I have bored myself over the past 2 years or so, we need at least one commanding centre-back, who is comfortable on the ball and forces the team higher up the pitch and can defend / recover when playing a high line, pressing game. Which is playing to the system the new manager wants to play from what I see. Just don't do it with these players or defenders.

I think I need therapy.

As for Coleman, it is a nice article to read but, if Frank doesn't play Kenny at right-back over Coleman, he deserves all that comes to him.

Sure, Coleman would die in a ditch for the team but can he chase down defenders anymore, week-in and week-out? No, he cannot.

Small steps, heavy-legged... It's simple: Kenny is now right-back. Use Seamus sparingly

Frank, or someone, needs to get inside the heads of these players. Do we actually have a Sports Psychologist working with us? and I don't mean the manager as he will always have that brief, but he is not a professional Sports Psychologist.

Wolves are a great team, and showed last night what they can do to the weaker teams.

If we can hang on for a point, it would be a great result, but a defeat won't decide the season, nor will a defeat on Thursday against a cock-a-hoop Newcastle side who beat one of the form teams last night.

We need a handful of wins over the next 13 games. Home to Brentford, home to Palace, away to Watford are the most winnable for us. Then at least one point from home to Leicester and away to Burnley, and at home to Man Utd. Anything else is a bonus. That's how we stay up.

My main worry if we lose to Wolves and Newcastle is not the missed points – because I don't think these are the games we are most likely to win – but the pressure heaped on the players by the fans and media.

I would imagine that the Samaritans in Merseyside would have to put out an urgent appeal for volunteers to help as they were being swamped with calls.

Look, I admit it's not good when you see us down there but I really can't see Norwich or Watford getting enough points to stay up and I think the 3rd place will be between Leeds, Brentford and Burnley.

For those who think we will go down, then hotfoot to the bookies where I am sure our odds against going down will be the biggest by quite some bit on the others in the relegation zone.

They have two near certainties;

Norwich 1/20 to go down
Watford 1/10

Then a big gap to

Burnley and Leeds, both 6/4 for the drop.

Then Everton at 7/2 and Brentford at 13/2

Newcastle are now 50/1

Far from secure but we still have a bit breathing space. Highlights the importance of these next two home games.

I think we're more in 'best of a bad bunch' territory when selecting our First XI.

Michael Lynch, you forgot Wolves home on Sunday. They best give me 3 points after traumatising me in North London on Monday night. And I've had to book return flights from London due to the train situation. This is what they do to you!

And sorry to be a scratched record, but I'm still annoyed with Wolves for the letter of complaint I got because I sat in one of the home stands at the away match earlier this season. We / I owe them one. Sorry, I can't let that go.

They may be a good team on their day, but so are we. I remember similar trepidation before the Leeds fixture. Confidence, Blues, there are plenty of winnable points and we are Everton Football Club.

Leeds look the most likely as they are a team full of Championship players who had a manager who got them to over perform for a number of years. They look shot to me.

It's a huge one on Sunday as a negative result might see us going into the Newcastle game in the Bottom 3. I am not sure if we have the characters to successfully deal with such a scenario if it arises.

Just been on Ladbrokes site and I think they are about bang on the money regarding relegation.

Norwich 1/18
Watford 1/5
Burnley 7/5
Leeds 17/10
Brentford 11/5
Everton 7/2
Newcastle 15/2

Thank goodness Traore is with Barca. We have to close Neves down when he is lurking on the edge of the box.

This time last year we beat Spurs at home 5-4 with Bernard netting the winner… it seems like a lifetime ago.

Pickford
Coleman Keane Godfrey Kenny
Gray Van de Beek Allan Doucouré Gordon
Richarlison

Defend deep and hit them down the wings. Wolves are no mugs.

Keane???

Not so thrilled about Godfrey though. Good to have another option in defence but he was not having a good season before his injury. Not much better than clowns like Keane or Holgate for me.

Godfrey gets caught ball-watching, switching off in games and doesn't seem to sense danger like a decent defender would. I have seen him get bullied in games too by more experienced attackers.

We have to gamble and stop picking players who have had their chance but have been poor all season and are just not up to it. It's not actually a gamble to give someone else from the U23s a chance when you think about it.

We are losing most weeks, making costly mistakes and playing badly anyway! Can't get much worse and new blood with some energy/desire might just surprise everyone.

One of the reasons I thought Lampard would work for us is his record for bringing young players through. Time for him to show that now and be brave,

Benitez had said, on quite a few occasions, that you can't buy character in John Lewis, meaning he was well aware of the flaws in the squad, and nothing was done to rectify this.

I did say a head-scratcher of a team. He is the best header of the ball we have available and best passer out of defence.

I would love to pick Branthwaite, Mykolenko and Patterson but they are too much of an unknown in situations like this.

I don't land the blame squarely with Benitez either since I think far too many people have been culpable for our incompetence in recruitment to single just him out. And Lampard had time and brought us the as yet completely non-productive Dele Alli.

Put it this way, though, Keane doesn't feature in the First XI for any of the team sheets I have scribbled down for how I'd like us to shape up next season.

Pickford
Patterson | Godfrey | Branthwaite | Mykolenko
Gordon | Doucouré | Allan| Van de Beek| Gray
Richarlison

I'll likely get slated for the defense… but the ones we've tried all season have been shocking – so try something new.

So while Godfrey and Branthwaite might not settle nerves too much, Holgate and Keane look mentally shot to me and need taking out the firing line. Myko is our only real left back so unless his head has gone, he gets in. Coleman ahead of Kenny but we are definitely in 'least bad' territory there. I've no ide why we bought a reserve full back from Rangers when we have such an immediate need in that area.

The rest is easier. Gordon, Gray and Richie- DCL has been gash since he came back. Probably Duke Allan and VdB in midfield but I might consider Dele in for Duke because the latter has also looked off the pace and then maybe play VdB a bit deeper than usual. I have to say, silk purses out of sows ears comes to mind here. I hope Wolves are off form. I think those odds of 7-2 are quite generous for us right now. Our form is bottom 3.

Logic I will never get. Same stupidity that kept the tumour that was Rafa in a month too long.

What's your team for Sunday?

Remember, 3 x 1-0 wins coupled with 3 x 5-0 defeats gets us 9 points;

While, 6 x 1-1 draws, gest us 6 points!

Food for thought!

However, out of 6 games, I'd take 3 x 1-0 wins and 3 x 1-0 losses. 3 x 5-0 losses wouldn't do much for goal difference.

Since then our neighbours lost a home European tie, three of our rivals all lost last night, Gray and Godfrey return to the team, we secure the steelwork for our new stadium, and Alan Myrers tweets we are not in breech of ffp, after the Panademic adjustments.

Yes damn right I am clutching at straws, but rather clutch at straws, then have some on here, be next to me in a trench, waiting to go over the top.

Stop the doom and gloom, what will be, will be, I think out of all the teams near the bottom 6, Everton are by far in the best position, I just do not see Watford or Norwich escaping, that for me then leaves Burnley, Ourselves, Leeds and possibly Brentford to fight it out.

Godfrey and Gray back are a big plus, ok not to be rushed right in, but those games in hand will benifit these two players, and surely again, only a matter of time before Calvert-Lewin starts finding the net again.

Like I said, out of Leeds, Burnley, Norwich and Watford, Everton are for sure in the best possible position out of those teams, we all know we need some points in our next two home games, but we got a massive helping hand last night, 3 points against Wolves would be great, even a point, just something out of the game.

I am not worried just yet, I know it is just a matter of time before we start picking points up again, we have been lucky that teams around us have hit an even worse free fall.

After about 2½ games, I don't understand how we are making judgement on a 22-year-old who, as well as settling into an unsettled team in a foreign country against the backdrop of a war in his own country.

Good job we didn't judge Seamus after 2½ games.

I was happy to be wrong when calling the Leeds game a few weeks back and I just hope that I will be feeling the same way at 4.00pm on Sunday.

Patterson, albeit only seem him Vs Borehamwood, doesn't look anywhere near ready to play in the premier league and must be the most 1 footed player in the squad.

Gray and Godfrey must come in.

I don't like the thought of either Keane or Holgate but have to play 1 of them as we don't have anyone else to play in the centre of defence with much experience and wouldn't trust Godfrey and Branthwaite together.

Pickford has been excellent other than the Spurs game.

My team:

Pickford
Kenny, Godfrey, Keane, Mykolenko
Allan, Doucoure, VDB
Gray, Gordon
Richie

We must get the 3 points or the pressure will become immense.

COYB!

I hope Lampard does not go for 4-3-3 formation again after Everton got a drubbing 5:0 on Monday. Spurs took full advantage of one less Everton player in midfield. Also 3-5-2 formation leaves 1 less player in defence in another critical playing area.

If Coleman plays again on Sunday from the start of the match that would be a surrender of commonsense, because he has been woeful as a defender all season.

The instant gratification expectations around here have become truly bizarre.

"...we know Branthwaites passing is awful."

Yes, we know this after seeing this teenager spend 600 minutes on the pitch. 7 Prem appearances spead out over three seasons.

"It's already fairly clear that Mykolenko isn't good enough and will need to be moved on."

Yes, it's fairly clear after 374 minutes on the pitch, under the most difficult emotional conditions imaginable.

(eye roll and head shake)

After that Spurs performance, I would be tempted to replace the entire back 4 and make a concerted effort to play on the front foot knowing that we have pace at the back.

Patterson, Branthwaite, Godfrey, Mykolenko

I also think these games might be good for Ali to start, he's started to look better in the last couple of games and looks to play forward a lot. Although who he'd replace is a totally different debate.

Never fails when a player is shot to ribbons and going through a roasting, they tend to pop up with a goal for us.

Any odds knocking about, on first or anytime goal scorer for Sunday for Keane?

For the record Benitez turned him down twice in the past and didn't want him this time, it looks like Mr. Moshiri and his agent mate, can't think of his name, did job of signing while agreeing the deal which took Digne to Villa.

The same two Mr.Moshiri and the hooky agent tried to land us with a different manager as well, can't think of his name either.

I'm trying hard to obliterate loads of data from this season as well and give myself some peace of mind before, hopefully, we end these depressing times by staying up and finish at Wembley with Danny and the FA cup!!

Kieran #80, ow. That one made me wince so hard I pulled a muscle in my face. ;-))

IMO we need to beat them at their own game. Stay tight and organized and hit them on the break.

We have the players to do this (Well except for keeping it tight and organized) with Gray, Richy and Gordon all quick on the break.

MF needs to be strong so I would go for Duke, Allan and VDB.

Back 4 is the enigma we all have. Do we play an experienced but error prone and mentallly weak Michael Keane or do we throw a novice in. Do we trust Holgate or go with Brandthwaite. Do we go with Seamus leadership and experience or put JJK or Patto in their. Is Myolenko's head understandably somewhere else or do we play Godfrey there or CB.

There is no easy answer and we have to assume Frank knows best but we certainly need pace and determination no matter which 11 start the game.

Christy (83) Benitez didn't want El Ghazi at any price knocked him back in the past and doubt the two full backs were wanted by Benitez, rightly or wrongly he said Patterson wasn't ready for premier league football so why would he sign him when we need him now? Not sure it was Benitez's doing that Mykolenko was signed either.

If we get the type of refs we have been saddled with this season, they probably won't notice that we have twenty one players on the field. I usually lie by putting my confusion down to old age. Not really good enough !!!Every Evertonian from three years to One hundred and three has to be equally confused by this "LOONY" season

I'm thinking of putting a few quid on us winning the next three games Brian, because I'm like that fella playing music on the titanic, where Everton are concerned!

My son home safe next month in time for the first trip to Wembley.

14th place finish and Wembley again in May Dave Abrahams.

Then, after I've fainted, cried, told everyone willing to listen about my unreserved commitment and had to have my son take his embarrassing dad home, we can regroup in the summer and look forward to Europe.

Everton. The girl I can't leave no matter what she does to me.

I've just been able to listen to Frank's presser from earlier today.

The good news is that Godfrey and Gray are back, but will they, can they, last without breaking down again? I certainly hope so, or it's back to square one again.

A worrying thing as well is, that Frank said that he, and his staff monitor and gauge 'confidence' and body language of the first team squad. I've had a quick sqizz on the website (EFC) and I can only find one mention of a Sports Psychologist, and that isn't actually their job title and that they work at the Academy level?

Does anybody know, if the Everton first team have a Sports Psychology department; and if so, what sort of staffing level does it have?

The reason I ask, is that, arguably, the most improved and consistent player in the club over the last two seasons is Jordan Pickford. Who funnily enough saw a psychiatrist and employed his own psychologist after the St. Virgil incident and the ensuing death threats etc.

Surely, looking at the confidence levels and lack of mental fortitude, demonstrated again and again, both home and away, would cry out for the need for fully professional help from a mental services/support team? (I.e. a team psychiatrist or two, and a team of sport psychologists; maybe even some independent and confidential sports counsellors?)

The second thing that stood out to me, was the fact that Frank said that he and his team have identified some unusual and preventable footballing mistakes in the Spurs game; but, this isn't the first time that this has been mentioned by Frank since his appointment. Along with the usual player mistakes that have been mentioned since Ancelotti.

My uninformed conclusion is that either he is asking too much of his players technical ability and or footballing intelligence; or his tactics and game-play instructions are too much for the players?

Is their anything else that could cause this, other than poor execution and the obvious, 'no plan survives contact with the enemy'?

I'm still a very, very positive Evertonian, but, as the games go by, my scepticism of Frank marginally grows. He really needs to cut his cloth according to what he has, and stop some of his more fanciful ideas of what his players can, or will achieve.

Why can't he see what we see regards the players limitations, and some of his formation selection shortcomings, and indeed substitutions?

Personally, between Frank and Kevin Thelwell, they need to start addressing the deficiencies in the back room teams now, and not in the summer. They also need to rapidly sort out a realistic system and style of play for now, which can be progressed as we move forward.

Secondly, that Frank should keep things as simple as possible, and as compact as possible, in order to give these players as much chance to reduce errors or mistakes as is humanly possible.

Lastly, despite his measured protests, at some point; Frank will have to rely on some youth, to replace the serial offenders in the first team.

COYB UTFT

Much weirder however is the Dele Alli signing. I'll reserve judgement till the end of the season but it's a worry.

We're not far away from that. Not, of course, to do what Leicester did the next season, but if we survive then we will be attractive and competitive under Lampard. The signs are there.

The older I have got the more I realise it's about holding your nerve.

Got high hopes for Patterson but we don't have the luxury of giving him minutes given the predicament we're in. Same goes for Branthwaite but to a lesser extent.

I refer to serious evidence so far - in flashes - of a proper Everton style involving precise, one-touch passing and aggressive intent. It is the philosophy more than the personnel.

I would have kept Benitez, but this manager and his team are very promising. We obviously have to survive first, as I believe we will.

We will also win the FA Cup. And yes, I have had a few wines.

I don't know which is worse; If Lampard thought it was a good idea or Moshiri and/or Kenwright have been playing FIFA 2016 again and bought him based on those stats.

Bolasie, Walcott, Iwobi...now Alli ffs, another expensive mistake who wouldn't pull you out of bed.

If he scores the goal that keeps us up then its - I always said he was good, a true Goodison legend.

Mina is obviously the biggest miss in our back 4, I'd have a solid back four and 5 in the middle switching to 4-3-3 in attack - we can't lose the bid for again:

Pickford
Holgate keane Branthwaite Godfrey
Gray Allan VDB Doucoure Gordon
Richy

Dom doesn't look fit enough yet, give him at least half hour

Pickford
Holgate, Keane, Branthwaite, Godfrey
Gordon, Doucoure, Allan, Van de Beek, Richarlison
Rondon

Gray and Calvert Lewin can come on when Gordon or Richy are knackered and Rondon has scored another brace.

Gordon will be first name on the team sheet.

Same as the City game would be a start but don't be inviting the Wolves players to come on and shoot.

Massive game and Everton must win.

Mykolenko
Doucoure
Allan
Patterson

Vdb
Gordon
Richarlidon

Their monthly wage bill is £28m evidently so unless the club spirals into administration, as much revenue as possible needs to used to keep the club itself afloat. I guess anyway, a form of adminisration will have to be set up to manage things, and prior to the club being sold - with receipts from the sale, I hear, going to Ukranian relief organisations.

Abramovich will have to write off what remains of his (£1.5billion??) debt but I guess the club will still have that indebteness to someone in the light of the success it's bought.

It's conceivable that we have signed five players in January that are not starters for the first team. Patterson, Mykolenko, Alli, El Ghazi - no one would be too surprised if these four didn't start on Sunday. Then VDB who is more likely to , but not completely guaranteed to start.

I think the signings have been made for next season and the longer term and the consensus at the club at the time was that the prospect of relegation was extremely unlikely. It also points to a complete maelstrom of chaos at the club around the time of Brands' , then Benitez's departure and afterwards.

I am praying for 17th or better because I think Frank and his team can give us some stability given an opportunity to structure the team better. Even one summer window and pre season will make all the difference.

Staying up this year, as challenging as that looks, will be a hell of a lot easier than finding a way back (and the staying up on our return).

Amen to that Brian, one worry at a time, waste of time worrying about next season, let's get this one over with first. In fact, as the song says: “Why Worry, Why Worry, Worry gets you nowhere at all”.

The one man who has to be dropped, or at least moved out of central defence, is Holgate whose defence and positioning is so poor and it has to be said that Keane looks a lot better with Mina alongside.

Unless there is somebody I've forgotten then we must start with Keane, despite his reported illness, and Branthwaite although the problem could be added to by who play as full-backs.

Even Frank must now show that he can earn his crust but I was surprised that Dobbin played U23s the other night and, while Dele Alli has shown one or two nice touches, he is hardly a bundle of energy. Interesting to know the coaching staff's thoughts or who they've been concentrating on at training.

Such is the attitude of this team, they really have to knuckle now and realise they are in a fight for survival. Gray and Godfrey coming back does help, but Frank needs to get the tactics right and impress this on Finch Farm.

Should they survive, Everton needs to completely change across the board, to get us all out of the 27-year nightmare. No guarantees that this will happen though.

That signing in itself is indicative of the mess we are in.

I read the other day that Frank has only had 13 minutes out of Gray who is very influential to us and has hardly any minutes out of Mina and probably wont for the next 4/5 weeks. The defence was poor against Leeds and although Godfrey being fit will give Frank options he hinted that there wont be big changes from the Spurs game. As well as the defence he will no doubt be pondering about his front 3, does Gray start does he start DCL also despite Richarlison saying he prefers to play the main striker role I still think his best position is wide left. But thats also a problem as thats were Gray and Gordon have played although both can swap to the other flank.
I think the dilemma for Frank is DCL is way short of match fitness so does he decide he needs to play him to get match fit or bring him on for 20/25 minutes in the 2nd half.

I am glad Frank has these choices and not me, as he will be criticized whichever way he goes if we don't win, but I guess that comes with being paid the big bucks to make these decisions. But whoever he picks I will be cheering and clapping from my seat in the Upper Bullens.

I know that this is fantasy football and I am a silly 73-year-old git but when we do get the ball we have to give their back three something to think about. My view is that Rondon, now that he is fit, has the physicality, guile and experience to hold the ball up for Gordon and Richy to run on to.

Get the ball up to him as quickly as possible. Get the ball into the box –- he knows out to get in front of his marker and he is in goal scoring form. That is the way to beat this lot.

ps: And don't let that Neves get anywhere near our box with the ball at his feet.

I actually think Rondon might do a better job than Dom in support of Richarlison tbh, but if it is Richarlsion who is to be subbed, then Calvert-Lewin on to replace him.

How Frank sorts out some sort of defence is beyond me in the absence of Mina, but it's a lottery as to who is going to be the least risk on the day from the lot of them. I would be playing Godfrey though.

Checked in online for my flight. It feels odd flying up for a home fixture, but needs must with the train situation. I should get to Lime Street from Manchester Airport for about 11am if anyone is around.

Early start with the boy dog tomorrow. I'll let you know which way he goes, but I'm sensing that he feels confident.

Let's be honest – he wanted rid of Digne from Day One, so he had to be the one who definitely signed Mykolenko, and he got rid of Brands, so he must have been involved in bringing in Patterson.

At this rate, I'm going to be very light in the wallet department and get into trouble at home.

But we adapt and overcome challenges. No plan survives contact as they say!!

More bad news. Looks like Uber fares going up 20% from April. VAT getting charged apparently.

Up at 4:30 to get the boy out for his walk. Land at 8:45, should be around Goodison by midday I think.

Make this worth it please, Everton. Not just for me, but for all of those who are willing you on in the stadium, from near and from far. I wish they knew how much this meant to us.

Calvert-Lewin should start on the bench; right now, I'd be happier to see Townsend, Iwobi, El Ghazi or Rondon get a chance to stake a claim, as they bring a higher level of intensity than Calvert-Lewin seems capable of right now. His lack of fitness and form is a worry, but getting minutes off the bench might be the most effective way to ease him back to the form and fitness we know he is capable of.

Hope not.

I agree completely in your assessment of Kenwright, but I don't think it's nonsense. Benitez had some input, he wanted sole charge of transfers, and should have been gone before he signed the fullbacks.

By all means play both in a midfield five away from home... but at home in a must-win game! Do me a fucking favour, be braver, Blues, for fucks sake!

Btw both Kilman and Podence, I would have here in a heartbeat! As for the game... a draw.

Anyway, to Everton. We have everything to play for.

Wolves - winnable and they owe me after the away fixture.

Newcastle - winnable and they owe me after the away fixture.

West Ham - winnable and they owe me after the home fixture.

Manchester United - we're Everton and can upset in those matches.

Frank does Chelsea is written in the scripts. The match I enjoyed the most this season. We can take that one.

Leicester is a difficult one. I'll take a point.

Brentford - we should and they owe me after the away fixture.

Arsenal. I don't care. By that point, we're safe and thinking of the FA Cup Final.

Danny, make sure you have the right cup final date in your diary! Turn up after the Arsenal game and you'll be on your own!

Pickford.

Holgate, Keane, Branthwaite, Godfrey or Kenny.

Gordon, Doucoure, Donny van de Beek, Richarlison.

Calvert-Lewin, Gray.

Subs including: Allan, Iwobi, Coleman, Kenny or Godfrey, MykolenKo

Stopping wolves passing rhythm is a must!!

Keep calm everyone!

Allan, van de Beek, Doucoure

Gordon, Richarlison, Gray,

Substitutes Begovic, Holgate, Townsend, Rondon, Gomes, Branthwaite, El Ghazi, D Alli, DCL.

Picked in hope.

Hoooooo-eeeeeee!

I hoped that I'd be at Heathrow to go and watch Everton in Europe. But Manchester and onto Goodison it is.

That's me getting old Brent. How foolish of me to assume tradition and the FA Cup Final would be the last game of the season!!!

Let's go and do this Everton. There has to be a reaction after Monday.

Pickford
Coleman, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Kenny
Doucouré, Allan, Van de Beek
Gordon, Richarlison, Gray

A risk, yes, but those two at the back have been so so poor. Branthwaite has been thrown in the deep end several times and never let us down when up against it. It's a depressing defensive line-up whoever you pick, eh? Fucking useless recruitment.

Gordon and Gray are going to have to work really hard and track back to support the midfield. I am not going to predict anything as I simply cannot work this team out. If I were a religious man, I would just resort to prayer.

Can we do it ? If we go ahead then yes we can. If we go behind then let's try to stay positive and who knows ?

I fancy Richarlison to score today.

Onward Evertonians.
Full support 💙

Danny, I salute you. You are my nomination for lead in the remake of Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

“Oh, that magic feeling
One sweet dream
Pick up the bags and get in the limousine
Soon we'll be away from here
Step on the gas and wipe that tear away
One sweet dream came true today
Came true today
Came true today (yes, it did)”

I will pick up Dave around 10.45 - - early start in TDH - - quick little nod towards St.Ollies in Great Mersey Street (the building is no longer there but Father Winder floats above, looking down, and all my memories of these streets and days are as strong, visible, powerful and as permanent as The Pyramids) - - my heart is full of these places - - my memories are easily and regularly triggered each time I head towards The Dark House and Goodison - - just now the image of My Mum Annie walking up towards Everton Valley on a Wednesday morning with the weekly washing wrapped in a blanket and carried on her head towards The Wash house - - I went with her to help sometimes and the women would chat and gossip together but would also sing - - Bluetiful- - God Bless You Annie/Ma Joad:

“There are places I'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all ………..
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more.”

These are precious times for Evertonians and today and from now until the end of the Season there is only time for “posso waves” - - all our energies - - Fans/Management/Players - must pull our hearts, souls, dreams and visions and thoughts together for just one thing - - survival - - and then we can regroup and rethink - - this little bit from my daughter Helen's ( I will meet her and Liam my grandson in TDH later this morning ) favourite band - - Haircut 100 - - is for Danny O'Neill and all the Blues making the great effort to be at Goodison to get behind “their” Team:

“Well there's a great amount of strain
About getting on that train
Every day and every night
The only thing that makes it good
Is seeing my favourite sight
Prance and flutter stride down that green escalator, yeah
When I'm getting off the train
And my love is on my brain
Every day and every night
The only thing that makes it right
Is seeing my favourite sight
Crying in the night with the summer in her eyes tonight
Fantastic day today
Fantastic day”

I am, allowing for the situation, overly excited about this day - - no matter what - - It's great To Be An Evertonian - - and it's fabulous that we can go to the game - - I guess the last few Seasons' of No Fans really taught us that Joni Mitchell (A Great Evertonian) was right - - so there is never a day - - a time - - a game - - when I think about “not going” - - right now I am sitting in my writing room - - listening to my music - - writing - - I am nearly 73 and I am sitting at my desk in Everton Dressing Gown - -Steady - - Steady - - Stand By Your Beds - - surrounded by my postcards/posters/poetry/drawings - -Everton/Gosia/Vincent Van Gogh/Beatles/Nijinsky/Wordsworth - - each match day - - I sit here – no matter what - - play some music - - read some poetry - - read TW - - lift my spirits - -
“Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will float
Into the mystic”

Sometimes I get the old gob iron out and just blow - - just putting a bit of music up into the Astral - - my health is so much better than it has been for around 3 years - - like Mc Murphy “ I'm a goddam miracle of modern science” - - and so today I can - - and will have a few pints of Golden - - like John Mills I will walk into TDH around 11.15am and order a Golden - - I will stand for a moment and let it settle - - the foam dripping down the side of the glass - - remember the old Liverpool saying - -“put a head on that pint or I'll put a head on you” - - my tongue will run along my dry lips and I will lift the glass like a Golden Chalice - -The Grail Cup - - Sylvia Sims - - behind The Bar will smile - - and so the day starts - - Mick The Bookie - -will tell me what odds I will get for my 4 - 0 - - - I will sit with The Kirkby boys and a bit later Gaff will come in - - we will debate the current situation - - give our differing opinions - - raise our voices - - then wiping the beer from our lips with our arms we will put our coats on and walk - - together - - friends and Evertonians - - mates - - buddies - - greeting to all Blues as we walk up - - Westminster Road - - Spellow Lane - - maybe spot Derek in The Spellow - -up to Goodison - - our hearts and souls full - -full of desire and hope - - tense - - of course - - but no matter what - -Blues and after the game back to TDH and then meet again on Thursday - - no matter what:

“I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons, knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you're here
Brighten my northern sky”

Up The Blues - - and God Bless All Evertonians - - Every One:

In light of the current situation in Russia/Ukraine - - I am reminded of a Piece of Work I did in Bootle in 1989 - - at the ending of Communism/Cold War - - Peace Breaks Out - - writing to The United Nations and Declaring Peace on the World - - saying we - - the people of Bootle would not invade any country - - it was an amazing piece of real meaningful theatre with local young people (still doing it today) and we used a track from XTC - - Melt the Guns in the performance - - on the beat of Melt The Guns we marched into the audience but gave them daffodils not guns:

“Programmes of violence,
As entertainment,
Brings the disease into your room.
We know the germ,
Which is man-made in metal,
Is really a key to your own tomb.
Prevention is better than cure,
Bad apples affecting the pure,
You'll gather your senses I'm sure
Then agree to,
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
And never more to fire them.”

And so - - now I have to go and get ready - - I send Blue Cosmic Posso Waves out to All Blues - - via The Astral with a firm handshake - - - your friend - - and here's a quick blow on the old gob iron - - just for you - - there you go - - - George

Enjoy the game today. I wish I could be there. There is no place like Goodison when the crowd are in full voice. The Goodison roar sends shivers down my spine. COYB!

Up the Blues.!!!

Danny Bailey @ 48 is just one other example of this line of idiocy. Writing off a 19yo CB who hasn't even had a run, and a 22 LB dealing with war in his homeland is pathetic beyond words. That's not personal, that's just fact.

George, inspiring - can you do the team talk before handing over to Frank please?

Always nervous but equally, always optimistic.

Pit stop in Manchester before the final leg "home". The day is already 6 hours gone since my first coffee this morning, but that optimism will turn to confidence as soon as we approach the place that makes it all worthwhile.

Pickford
Patterson Godfrey Branthwaite Mykolenko
Gordon Allan Dele Doucoure Gray
Richie

I think if we play like we did against City I could see us winning both games, but equally put in anything like the horror show we did at Spurs it will be a completely different scenario. Certainly having Godfrey and Gray back in the squad will help a great deal. I am not going to try and second guess what team Frank will put out but he sees them everyday in training so I trust his judgement. We know that Goodison will be right behind the team as they have been since Frank arrived. Lets hope we can put soe daylight between ourselves and Burnley.

Keane need a breather, his confidence is rock bottom. Get him out of the headlights for a few weeks. Also I think we need a leftfooted LB in the team to give us the right attacking balance.

----------------Pickford----------------
Kenny-Godfrey-Holgate-Myko-
--Doucoure-Allan-VanDeBeek--
----Gordon-Richarlison-Gray----

COYB!

We will also need to be aware that Michael Oliver is the referee, with Lee fu****g Mason lurking on VAR ready to do us in.

Our survival is at stake today so everyone needs to give 100%.

COYB.

UTFT!

We spend the day in angst, worrying about our fate in the PL and then I hear this morning that my partner's daughter and her husband (in Budapest) in their small flat have just given refuge to two Ukarainian ladies from Kiev, a baby and 5 year old child.....

A win today could give us the belief that we do have the quality, at least at home, to beat the teams we need to.

With our defence in shambles I can see why Frank would want to play three centre backs, but that effectively hobbles our midfield and nullifies any attacking threat.

If necessary, drop Keane and play Branthwaite or Godfrey alongside Holgate. Unfortunately the player we're missing is Mina.

Goodison has to be a bear pit today. Both us and the team have to give absolutely everything for ninety minutes. A failure to win could leave us needing snookers.

I think the same, but would prefer Holgate and Keane interchange positions, like both Ancelotti and Benitez did.Keep saying it Keane has a weaknesses on his right side. Keane was suffering for a fever, but was prepared to play in the Tottenham game. With Lampards tactics he wasn't protected at all.Godfrey to be right back and Seamus as a Sub.Reports are that Patterson and Myo haven't impressed in training and Frank finds it strange they were brought in for positions that demanded experience.Though Myo did play well against Brentford, but Kenny has been one of the better backs when he plays.