Seasons2021-22Everton News
Burnley vs Everton
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Fabian Delph could feature in Everton's crisis-hit midfield for the first time in almost four months
Everton and Burnley face off this evening in a quintessential relegation “six pointer” at Turf Moor.
The Blues will make the relatively trip for the latest “most important” match in the club's recent history wracked by selection problems that were exacerbated over the weekend with Michael Keane's dismissal at West Ham, an injury sustained during the warm-up at the London Stadium by Donny van de Beek, André Gomes's absence with a knock and the news that Nathan Patterson will require surgery to correct an ankle injury right when he was being primed for his first Premier League start.
Those issues were layered onto longer-term injury lay-offs for Tom Davies, Andros Townsend and Yerry Mina and Allan's three-match ban, the last of which he serves tonight before finally being available again this weekend for the visit to Goodison Park of Manchester United.
A potential crisis in central midfield should be eased, however, by return of Fabian Delph after almost four months out. The Yorkshireman hasn't featured since coming off just before the hour mark against Crystal Palace in the League back in December and has been sidelined by Covid-19 and then another significant soft-tissue injury since but Frank Lampard indicated in his pre-match press conference that Delph will be in the squad.
Article continues below video content
He will be joined by Seamus Coleman who is, according to his manager, feeling better after coming down with an illness that kept him out of the defeat to the Hammers on Sunday but it remains to be seen if he is fit to start or whether Jonjoe Kenny will be asked to deputise once more.
The rest of what is likely to be a back four should be rounded out by Mason Holgate, Ben Godfrey and Vitalii Mykolenko, unless Lampard opts for three centre-halves and the additional height of Jarrad Branthwaite against Wout Weghorst in Keane's absence.
While the 6' 6” Dutchman will be a concern for a defence that struggles against big attackers, particularly at set-pieces, a back five might be an unnecessarily conservative posture against a Burnley side that will be missing defensive stalwart Ben Mee who is out injured and another centre-half in the form o Nathan Collins who is suspended after being sent off at Brentford before the international break.
Indeed, it's in the forward areas where Lampard has the most options and, potentially, an edge in what could be an attritional scrap between two teams fighting for their Premier League lives.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, certainly due a first goal in 2022, will likely lead the line again with Richarlison playing off him and then it's a case of selecting Demarai Gray or Anthony Gordon as the other wide player with Alex Iwobi a good bet to continue in a more central role behind the forwards despite his costly slip-up against West Ham.
Though the Clarets are winless in their last five games since beating Tottenham in February, they are seldom an easy nut to crack on their own turf. However, Chelsea's recent 4-0 rout of Sean Dyche's men at Turf Moor and Leicester and Manchester City's comfortable 2-0 victories offer hope that if Everton can find more of the penetration they showed on Sunday and marry it with better finishing, they could take three precious points from this one.
First and foremost, though, this is a must-not-lose affair for the Blues; preventing Burnley from closing the gap between the two clubs at the bottom from four to one point is the first order of business. Three points, however, must be the ultimate goal.
Kick-off: 7:30 pm BST, Wednesday, 6 April 2022 on Sky Sports
Referee: Mike Dean
VAR: Darren England
Last time: Burnley 1 - 1 Everton
Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Holgate, Godfrey, Mykolenko, Delph, Doucouré, Iwobi, Gordon, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin
Reader Comments (106)
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2 Posted 06/04/2022 at 06:19:56
Gonna try stay positive though after listening to the ToffeeWeb pod this morning and go with a scrappy 1.0 win.
COYB!
3 Posted 06/04/2022 at 06:30:03
I'm not even sure DCL has done enough in recent weeks to warrant starting, he's too easy to play against at the minute, doesn't move anywhere near enough even when the service isn't there.
It's obviously got to the stage where if there is a winner tonight you'd have to say the loser will go down.
Given our next three games after this are Manchester United, Leicester and Liverpool, you can't exactly see an abundance of points, after all this is an Everton side that doesn't seem capable of winning many football matches whatsoever.
Huge game but how many will turn up for it?
You can bet Burnley will fight and scrap, they know that tonight and their away game at Norwich at the weekend are the last two hopes.
4 Posted 06/04/2022 at 06:44:46
5 Posted 06/04/2022 at 07:14:11
6 Posted 06/04/2022 at 07:22:41
If the squad cant get motivated for this game…?
Cmon Frank! Getm going!
7 Posted 06/04/2022 at 07:35:43
Burnley will just throw everything into our box and their height will be our undoing
Pickford absolutely has to command his box and maybe Begovic should get a shout
I really think we need 6 points from these next 2 games anything less and I fear its all over
8 Posted 06/04/2022 at 08:09:32
What could possibly happen?
9 Posted 06/04/2022 at 08:20:31
10 Posted 06/04/2022 at 08:29:55
Who would you rather have in charge for a must not lose match ?
11 Posted 06/04/2022 at 08:34:44
12 Posted 06/04/2022 at 08:38:24
A top side can accommodate Pickford (not a compliment). In our predicament we can not, regardless of the opposition. Begovic is the best available option.
13 Posted 06/04/2022 at 08:47:39
14 Posted 06/04/2022 at 09:00:11
Jonathan, who would I rather have in charge tonight? You know what, Frank Lampard. He has won more than everyone else involved put together. Like many I have reservations but... cometh hour etc. Let this be the day when our players become heroes. The start of a new era.
Our bad luck is all used up. Bring it on!!
15 Posted 06/04/2022 at 09:22:57
There are no surprises tonight we know Burnley will launch as many balls as they can into our box, and we also know they play a very physical game, and unlike us still manage to keep all 11 players on the pitch. So keep your shape keep your discipline and hopefully get a bit of luck for a change and pick up all 3 points.
16 Posted 06/04/2022 at 09:25:03
Pope
Lowton
Taylor
Tarkowski
Long
Brownhill
Cork
Westwood
Lennon
Mcneil
Weghorst
You can see why they are struggling. It is poor side.
Out of this lot, the only player with any pace is geriatric Lennon who we discarded some years ago.
They will be committed to the point of violent but only Mcneil and Weghorst have any real quality in attack and both are very slow.
In their last home win (a 1 nil v Spurs) they played a 442 with Jay Rodriguez up front with Weghorst. Ben Mee scored the goal.
If there is one away game to play a high line it is this.
If we play deep, they will pin us back putting great pressure on Pickford (or Begovic) and a defence lacking it's best header of the ball.
If we play high, we will nullify them and our extra quality in condensed space should tell.
We also need a referee to stop Tarkowski snapping our players in half.
17 Posted 06/04/2022 at 09:34:47
Kenwright Out!
18 Posted 06/04/2022 at 09:35:07
For now, our future depends on not losing to mighty Burnley. Would be interesting to see whether Burnley fans are as concerned as we are.
19 Posted 06/04/2022 at 09:41:25
Kenwright out too, though!!
20 Posted 06/04/2022 at 09:42:35
Fortunately, I have had an invitation to go to Tiverton Town v Farnborough with a pre-match meal and drink at the club and an enjoyable wholehearted competitive match to follow. No-brainer.
Just the angst of checking my phone for updates (and probably the misery that accompanies it).
21 Posted 06/04/2022 at 09:51:33
1000% keen to be proven wrong. But that's what I see with this shower, they're fucking dreadful. A team spirit moulded in the image of the utter fraud of a club Chairman.
The man that claimed he saved Everton by remortgaging his house. Utterly mediocre and spineless, mired in nostalgia, looking backwards not forwards. Slow and pedestrian. Obvious.
Kenwright Out!
22 Posted 06/04/2022 at 09:52:50
Kenwright Out.
23 Posted 06/04/2022 at 09:54:11
COYB, time for a miracle, please.
24 Posted 06/04/2022 at 09:56:24
Look back from Southampton onwards there's been a pattern of starting in the front foot but as soon as we went a goal down, heads went down, which was the most worrying aspect.
The West Ham game followed a similar pattern with the exception that the heads didn't go down.
Even though I'll have the rosary beads out, I'm expecting to get something from the game.
25 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:00:40
Luck is what you make it often, and I think several players' perpetual brain-farts have contributed greatly in our recent defeats, often amateur mistakes from so-called professionals.
Having said that, in our recent game at West Ham, who are a decent side, I felt we played better as a team and, if not for wasteful finishing, could have seen a much different outcome.
This won't be easy, as Burnley have home advantage, and they need the points as much as we do, so it does make it an interesting contest.
COYB 💙💙
26 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:17:50
Frank mentioned after the window he was 'one for the future'; my guess around that is they were looking to get him through till the end of the season, slowly integrating him into the team, with a view for a big pre-season etc... but what good is that if we are relegated?!
I'm not even sure if he's a player Frank wanted at this point... case in point when Van de Beek got injured before West Ham and he decided to move Holgate into midfield rather than bring Alli on.
I also find it weird that there doesn't seem to be many media questions directed to Frank to explain his lack of starts, or game time in general.
Moving to tonight's game, I am struggling to find any confidence. I do believe this is a poor Burnley side, but unlike us they find ways to draw rather than lose games.
I think the first goal is absolutely massive. Moyes bigging up our strikers this week, be nice if they actually showed some quality and create something early on for us.
27 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:31:01
28 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:32:08
29 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:32:20
94 minutes, run your fucking arses off for 94 minutes. COYYB.
30 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:33:15
I thought the team did enough on Sunday to justify same again with Branthwaite in for Keane. (Assuming Yerry is still not fit.) Delph on the bench. The only other change I'd consider is Gordon for Gray. His attitude is first rate and he is a leader on the pitch.
We have to play as if we are the home team. Burnley are weak at the back without Ben Mee. So we must take the game to them and not sit back and invite pressure.
31 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:34:45
I'd be very tempted to start with Rondon and tell him to put himself about and rattle their back line for a half or so and then use Calvert-Lewin or even young Dobbin on a battered and bruised defence. This would depend on how Rondon is looking in training and how up for a battle he is – only Frank will know this.
Delph on the bench for me – I thought Holgate played well apart from his foul and I'd stick with the same midfield as for West Ham with Gordon to also come on against a tiring defence.
There's not a lot of choice for Frank and it says it all about Dele Alli that he can't break into this team with so many absentees. His training must be very poor or his attitude very wrong.
Begovic
Coleman Godfrey Branthwaite Mykolenko
Gray Iwobi Holgate Doucouré Richarlison
Rondon
Quite simply, we have to field a team that is up for a fight and will not back away from rough tactics and robust tackles. On paper, we have better players but we have to compete and not back off before we can make our better quality tell.
Frank needs to be looking individuals in the eye at training to see which ones are up for this. Gomes must not play for starters as he understandably doesn't like this sort of a game. Delph might just enjoy it.
32 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:40:03
I don't see anything other than Holgate and Godfrey at the back unless he throws Mina in as a risk which has bitten us several times before.
33 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:42:35
A win tonight would see Everton almost safe. A draw would be commendable. A defeat might well leave Moshiri pondering whether to get Allardyce back on an 8-match contract.
34 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:44:37
This match is very winnable, but will depend upon our discipline. They will be looking to draw free kicks and force corners as that's where they'll be most dangerous. We have to be 100% focussed and professional.
With regards to snuffing out their main threat, Begovic's height for set pieces and corners could tip the balance for his selection.
Another thing, I want us to be all over the referee protesting about Burnley's inevitable violent and dangerous play. Tarkowski's two-footed assault on Richarlison at Goodison escaped any punishment. We have to be more vocal and surround the referee demanding he takes action.
35 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:50:06
I'd possibly keep Holgate in defensive midfield instead of Delph.
RIcharlison and Calvert-Lewin are equally as important in our box tonight defending set plays. They must be aggressive!
36 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:57:33
Coleman Godfrey Branthwaite Mykolenko
Doucouré Delph Iwobi
Gordon Calvert-Lewin Richarlison
37 Posted 06/04/2022 at 10:58:49
I'm not confident at all but will be watching from behind the sofa.
It comes to something when a lot of our hopes depend on Fabian Delph and Alex Iwobi. How did it come to this?
COYB
38 Posted 06/04/2022 at 11:10:30
If Delph starts, Lampard must have a Plan B if he is struggling, whether it is bringing on Price or Kenny or moving Holgate into the defensive midfield position.
4-5-1 with a high line and with the two wide men supporting Calvert-Lewin.
COYB, fight for your lives tonight for the full 90+ minutes!
39 Posted 06/04/2022 at 11:26:35
I'd go for 4-3-3 with wingers tracking back:
Pickford
Kenny Godfrey Branthwaite Mykolenko
Holgate
Doucoure Iwobi
Gordon Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin
C'mon lads, you can do this!!
40 Posted 06/04/2022 at 11:27:50
You Twitter users, how do we get "Kenwright Out" trending, whatever that means? Just do it!!
Kenwright Out!! 1-2 to the mighty blues, UTFT!!
41 Posted 06/04/2022 at 11:36:13
100% Kenwright Out
42 Posted 06/04/2022 at 11:41:32
43 Posted 06/04/2022 at 11:55:09
Now I recognise the need for change, for better leadership off the pitch, but screaming for that now is not the time. We need togetherness, camaraderie, fighting spirit. Not negativity.
Johan (39) I'd go for that team too. I'm going to miss tonight's game unfortunately, though in some ways I feel relief, I'm not sure my nerves can take it. We really need some luck to go our way.
44 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:03:32
We win this tonight then batter Man Utd 3-1 on Saturday. How different things will look then, lol.
Kenwright Out no matter what.
45 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:16:46
Hopefully they will not play Cornet off Weghorst, as that combination of pace and trickery, height and strength could cause us problems on the counter. And I expect they will let us dominate possession and hope that we overcommit and leave holes to exploit – like we did against West Ham.
Hopefully we'll get some early pressure and manage to convert a chance. But I can see this being 0-0 going into the last 20 minutes. Please God we still have 11 players left on the pitch come the end of the game.
46 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:28:02
Please enlighten us Earthlings when is the best time to start a Board Out campaign in your opinion (I thought it had already started, anyway)? Is there a specific date you had in mind?
June perhaps? Because every board out campaign I've seen has completely fizzled out either by hook or by crook.
Should we start one when we're safe and everyone is happy clapping Kenwright in the Directors Box again for 6 months, watching the same shite football, week-in & week-out, with the occasional fly-by of the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock on the OS (tiresome). Or when we've been relegated?
The football is played on the pitch not in the stands and paying punters have every right to complain because they've been fleeced and lied to for years. It's their hard-earned money. Enough is enough, I say.
Kenwright Out!
47 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:30:40
48 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:32:17
Keep Holgate in midfield and Branthwaite for Keane. Start Gordon over Gray, who can come on to change the game. 1 point is not enough for this game, we have to win.
49 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:34:22
Other than that, the suggested team is as good as it gets and we simply need prayers to whatever God you pick.
50 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:37:58
He offers little more than Seamus from a crossing point of view and doesn't get in at the back post like Coleman might.
There was also one incident that Hinchcliffe mentioned in commentary where he allowed a cross in with no attempt to close it down.
51 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:40:56
We just don't have the players necessary offensively to get out of this mess, even against fellow strugglers like Burnley.
Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong this season and, despite the injuries, they should have had some quality in reserve to have gained a few more points. Now, every game is a cup final, confidence is low despite what Lampard says.
Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Gray and whomever just haven't done anything worthwhile for a long time and that would need to change quickly.
Perhaps with a little luck they can squeak out a win today but how many times have we said that?
When needed, they did squeak out win against Newcastle but they have been awful since.
52 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:41:37
53 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:49:30
Picking up on some nonsensical comments above - by the way, not only will I watch it, I'll be there (like I and thousands of other Blues always are). I just can't fathom any rationale for people who have the ability to watch it, to decide not to. Madness and if you're that flakey, we really don't need you.
54 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:56:48
55 Posted 06/04/2022 at 12:58:06
Coleman, Branthwaite, Godfrey, Mykolenko
Holgate (or Delph)
Gordon, Doucouré, Gray, Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin
56 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:04:16
Kenny has 2 assists (both crosses) from 16 games and Coleman has a big fucking doughnut hole from 33. Coleman is the better defender (by far) but offers next to nothing going forward these days.
I'd rather Kenny any day. If we're winning, bring Seamus on to solidify the back-line. Not a starter for me.
57 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:04:43
58 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:29:21
59 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:29:22
The only derbies we'll have to worry about in the future will be against Tranmere. That said, we could arrange the protest in advance. How about in the Bill Kenwright Centenary stand in the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, 2024-25 season vs Forest Green?
Kenwright Out!
60 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:34:14
It's a battle tonight, won't suit Iwobi. Win the midfield and feed Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin and Gordon.
61 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:40:00
He gives the ball away too easily and mistimes attempts to desperately recover…
62 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:44:21
If Fabian Delph starts in this game, or frankly goes anywhere near the pitch, I'll just lose it. Find another option – any option – other than letting that man near the pitch.
I'm sorry, I know it's not very polite and the English simply don't like this sort of thing with "one of theirs", but us Americans aren't as proper.
I don't like Delph. In fact, I think he's absolute shit. Furthermore, he's continually injured and therefore makes me wonder if he's on the ride at the team's expense.
I question his heart and effort to the Blue cause. I frankly fucking hate him as an Everton player and, with the enormity of this game and the stakes, if we turn to that absolute waste of resources and space in any regard to get a massive 3 points, then I fucking give up.
No Delph. No way. Over my dead body – the Lord come take me if that guy starts or even substitutes because I'll have a heart attack.
63 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:46:20
64 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:48:27
65 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:49:51
Maybe I was avoiding a relentless slagging off... but I think there is a player with a football brain in there somewhere. And I think he cares, unlike perhaps Gray who looks sulky and petulant.
What I meant to also say is we tap the ball around without conviction, almost afraid to make a decisive contact, as if the ball is an unexploded bomb – it is easy to read and easy to cut out, assuming it does not go straight to their player... which it usually does if Holgate passes it.
66 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:54:03
I don't disagree with you regarding Delph. I said it here before we signed him, he was constantly injured at Man City, out the door in the summer, 3 years of massive wages wasted.
But desperate times for desperate measures, we're depleted in midfield, with no defensive midfielder, and I'm still scratching my head why a fully fit Gbamin was loaned out, the only defensive midfielder we have apart from the suspended Allan. He came on against Hull, did well, and never got a chance after.
67 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:54:10
Get off that bloody fence, mate!
68 Posted 06/04/2022 at 13:57:00
69 Posted 06/04/2022 at 14:07:25
70 Posted 06/04/2022 at 14:08:34
Delph under Frank is very interesting to me. If Frank set a good amount of fire on him in the middle of the park.
I've always advocated Iwobi to play behind the striker. If my memory serves me correct, we've seen the better of him in this position.
From Greenland, All the best, and of luck, to the lads! COYB!
71 Posted 06/04/2022 at 14:09:14
Controversial to keep Gordon on the bench, but I am hoping that Gray or Richarlison will come good in our hour of need. Gordon can always come on in the second half once the game opens up a bit.
Keeping everything crossed…
72 Posted 06/04/2022 at 14:12:08
Reality tells me Lampard can't set them up to close the gaps and memory tells me we won't score a goal. Can something finally go our way?
My hope is that the fashionista finds his footy boots amongst his plethora of Manolo Bollocks and we actually put them to the sword.
My fear is that Burnley will outfight us and bang in a couple of their own, leaving us dangling on a thread above them with a fixture list more scary than our injury and suspension list.
Hope versus expectation.
73 Posted 06/04/2022 at 14:12:36
Benitez trusted Branthwaite at Chelsea. I see no reason why Lampard should not trust him to combat what is likely to be a fairly primitive approach from Burnley. Moreover he might just provide some threat in the opposition penalty area at set-pieces, as he did at Chelsea.
74 Posted 06/04/2022 at 14:25:09
75 Posted 06/04/2022 at 14:27:29
Alan McGuffog - too funny! I'm off the fence mate!
Danny Broderick - I agree with your lineup except I'd start Gordon and bring on Gray instead of the other way around. Anthony is a Blue. This game and its importance will mean the world to him, and I'd expect him to play out of his skin.
When and if he tires, or when (I unfortunately think predictably) Calvert-Lewin has been ineffective, put Richarlison up top and bring Gray on the wing.
Cheers, fingers crossed, if ever there was a "must-win", this is it.
76 Posted 06/04/2022 at 14:33:16
If they have a giant sausage playing up front, our defence may just be able to cope.
77 Posted 06/04/2022 at 14:33:43
Burnley 8/5
Everton 15/8
The draw 21/10
78 Posted 06/04/2022 at 14:33:47
We must win like every single second ball. It's an absolute must. Burnley will play long and there are going to be a ton of second balls they'll try to scoop up and make something out of. We have to be first to every second ball from headers, long balls, hell any touch from a hoof by Burnley.
Win those second balls!
And yet another thing!
First touch on every single corner we concede.
In short, first to the ball, first to the ball, first to the ball. Every single damn time.
79 Posted 06/04/2022 at 14:37:47
"Where is the Horse and the Rider?"
80 Posted 06/04/2022 at 15:03:15
As far as tonight is concerned, Delph might just be the only real leader we have. If he is fit enough, and his body holds up, and he keeps his head, and he can stay on the pitch, then he might end up being invaluable - not just tonight, but for the remaining matches of the season.
With the long list of players unavailable for this game, Delph is going to be there or thereabouts.
81 Posted 06/04/2022 at 15:09:28
Dyche will be drumming into his players the magnitude of this home game: "It's us or them," he will be saying and he's right, in my opinion – lose tonight and we are fucked.
Hoping for a big performance from the whatever team Lampard picks, we can suffer no passengers tonight folks – this is a must-not-lose game.
82 Posted 06/04/2022 at 15:15:05
The first thing I thought about when I read that Hail Mary, was Fredo still going fishing, when young Anthony was taken off the boat in The Godfather 2.
I look at some of the different teams that people have selected for tonight's game and it's quite sad because we honestly don't look that bad on paper.
It's that bad, I'm praying for some of those “good times” this evening.
“Kenwright Fucking Out!!!”
83 Posted 06/04/2022 at 15:24:03
He keeps his position, doesn't panic with the ball, always looking for an Everton player to pass to, the other players respond to him and they look to find him with the ball knowing he will use it well, he is talking all the time to his teammates encouraging them and urging them on. If he plays tonight, we will benefit from it and the longer he stays fit during the run into the end of the season, the better I will like it.
Might seem strange to praise a player who we have seldom seen since his signing but that's the way I see him and, when I look at the alternatives, I want him to play even more so.
84 Posted 06/04/2022 at 15:24:45
I respect and understand your plight, I just question the timing. Whipping up mass negativity towards the club before the relegation battle run-in does not feel like a good move.
If we get through this shit show of a season still a Premier League team, then yes, I do think then would be a good time to demonstrate against the mismanagement from the top down.
If we get relegated, then what further fuel for this movement would you need? Either way, waiting till the end of the season is sensible.
85 Posted 06/04/2022 at 15:27:44
I could not agree more. He helps to organise the team around him – which we lack without Allan – and provided he doesn't get drawn into making any rash challenges, then his name on the team-sheet, or at least on the bench, will be a plus for me.
86 Posted 06/04/2022 at 15:45:18
Begovic
Coleman Branthwaite Godfrey Mykolenko
Gordon Delph Iwobi Alli Richarlison
Rondon
The end result will stay the same unless Frank makes changes.
87 Posted 06/04/2022 at 15:50:13
We can't afford to be bullied at the back so, even if there are minutes in, I would go with Branthwaite and play Holgate as the holding midfielder. Seamus has to start if available.
A nervy night ahead!
88 Posted 06/04/2022 at 15:51:41
This is already one of our weaknesses, so I'm not sure how playing someone like Delph, is going to benefit us tonight. I agree he's comfortable on the ball, I'm just not sure he does enough without the ball – something I think is going be crucial tonight?
89 Posted 06/04/2022 at 16:01:57
With that in mind Brandthwaite in for Keane is a no brainer. I would also play JJK in front of Seamus as we need a couple of battlers to stop crosses coming in from McNeill.
Its then a tossup between Delph and Holgate (both red card candidates) for the remaining MF place alongside Doucoure.
Front 3 for me Gordon DCL and Richy.
COYB
KENWRIGHT OUT
90 Posted 06/04/2022 at 16:27:56
It won't be pretty from them, they will be firing the ball into our box every chance they get and we are not good at dealing with that.
A draw won't be a disaster, a win would be fantastic, a loss and we are in very serious danger of going down.
They're being made favourites which is all about home advantage and homer referees. I just hope we end the game with 11 men on the field for a change. Surely we are due some good luck for a change.
91 Posted 06/04/2022 at 16:38:14
Come on Blues please give us 3 points tonight
92 Posted 06/04/2022 at 16:46:58
93 Posted 06/04/2022 at 16:53:06
94 Posted 06/04/2022 at 16:55:25
Oh yeah, Oh yeah Oh yeah! UTFT!!!!!
95 Posted 06/04/2022 at 17:06:45
4-5-1 as a few others have suggested to pack the midfield and a low defensive line. Try to get them on set pieces and counters.
Pickford
Coleman Holgate Branthwaite Godfrey
Gordon Doucoure Delph Iwobi Richarlison
Rondon.
DCL is just way off form and we need some physicality to challenge their defence.
96 Posted 06/04/2022 at 17:12:07
97 Posted 06/04/2022 at 17:19:24
Everton are truly finished if they don't beat these tonight.
98 Posted 06/04/2022 at 17:31:24
99 Posted 06/04/2022 at 17:34:46
Fuck clarity and fuck the Clarets!
100 Posted 06/04/2022 at 17:40:05
101 Posted 06/04/2022 at 17:45:11
Kenwright out.
102 Posted 06/04/2022 at 17:47:15
103 Posted 06/04/2022 at 17:48:58
104 Posted 06/04/2022 at 17:51:46
On the upside, I've got enough THC in my fat cells that all it takes is a bit of excitement and that green feeling kicks in. If I may add, I think I get extra points for getting a 'fuck' to display on the front page. ;)
105 Posted 06/04/2022 at 18:04:54
“Couldn't face following on the live forum from work so I've pulled a sickie to watch it.”
Hope your boss isn't a ToffeeWebber!
UTFT 💙
106 Posted 06/04/2022 at 18:20:36
I am sick of Everton starting lethargically and then conceding always leaving us behind the eight ball.
Wouldn't it be nice to keep a clean sheet again !!!
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1 Posted 06/04/2022 at 06:08:21
The key will be sensible football, dont give them easy corners or set pieces in our half (take note, Mason Holgate) and dont let the likes of McNeil shoot on his left foot.
They need to win more than we do Id say but have limited tools to score.
We need some consistency and Id be tempted to play the same team and formation that started and played decently against West Ham, with Branthwaite coming in for Keane. Alternatively you start Delph and move Holgate back but having some extra height in the team could be useful. Oh for Yerry Mina.
Will be interesting to see how Delph does and how he is used. As awful a signing as he has been he is still one of our few midfielders who can pass, tackle and communicate effectively on his day. If he hadnt been decimated by injury I suspect hed have played a lot for us this year.
Burnley have been in a few relegation battles before and have usually done well. Our team has seldom been under much pressure either way at the tail-end of seasons. Do they have the mental strength to cope with such occasions? Im not sure they do honestly but hope they prove me wrong.