Everton vs Nottingham Forest
Abdoulaye Doucouré is expected to be sidelined for 3 weeks with a hamstring problem
Everton host Nottingham Forest for the first time in 23 years this weekend as the newly-promoted club travel to Goodison Park for the third fixture of the 2022-23 campaign.
The two clubs last met in January 1999 when a solitary Pierre van Hooijdonk goal proved to be the difference between for the Midlanders who were rock bottom of the Premier League at the time and heading for an extended stay in the Championship.Â
This time it's the Toffees who are in the relegation zone in the fledgeling League table having lost both of their opening games while Forest got off the mark last weekend against more fancied West Ham with a 1-0 win at the City Ground.
For Everton, Frank Lampard will be without Abdoulaye Doucouré for around three weeks after the midfielder injured a hamstring in last weekend's defeat at Aston Villa.
The Mali international was withdrawn during the second half of that game after feeling tightness in the muscle that was later diagnosed as slight damage by scans that will sideline him until early September.
There was good news regarding Allan, however. The Brazilian, who hasn't played yet this season after recovering from surgery over the summer and then taking a knock to the foot in training, is available again and can step into midfield if the manager doesn't elect to start new signing Amadou Onana.
"Allan's fit and he's in the squad," Lampard confirmed, "He's missed games in pre-season so we're trying to get him match fit and Doucouré's going to be about three weeks." Â
“He’s certainly in contention and that’s a call I need to make and I’m giving it as long as I possibly can before the game tomorrow because as much as we want his impact — and I think he’s going to have a big impact — we need to make sure we do right by the player and the team.
The manager was circumspect on Amadou Onana's chances of making his full debut in midfield following his arrival from Lille 10 days ago, even though the young Belgian international made an exciting came off the bench last weekend and Doucouré's absence will leave him short in that part of the pitch.
“He missed a big chunk of pre-season and this is the Premier League and I don’t want to throw him there in too soon," Lampard said of Onana. "I want to use him at the right time and [give him] the right minutes so that’s something we’ll be managing over the next couple of weeks — we don’t want an injury situation either so it’s important to get that one right for the longer picture.â€
With neither Allan nor Onana sufficiently match fit, it's possible that Tom Davies could be given a starting role after deputising for Doucouré in competent fashion against Villa, with Alex Iwobi reprising his role as a No.8 alongside him. The duo would, presumably, play in front of a back five that is likely to be unchanged.
Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin returned to running on grass ahead of schedule earlier this week as he works his way back from the knee injury that has ruled him out of the early-season fixtures.
The striker's absence combined with a worrying lack of progress on the transfer front where forward players are concerned has left Everton desperately short of firepower. Lucas Digne's own goal at Villa Park last weekend was the only goal they have scored so far this season and unless Lampard is confident that Salomon Rondon is fit enough and sharp enough to lead the line, it could be a case of same again up front, with Anthony Gordon, Dwight McNeil and Demarai Gray.Â
Forest travel as a largely unknown quantity given the dizzying amount of players that have come through the door during the close season. In Morgan Gibbs-White they are hoping to land their 16th signing of the summer, with a £15m deal for Brighton's Neil Maupay also reportedly in the works.
That takes there spending well past the £100m mark but all those incomings also make it difficult to assess Forest as opponents for this one so early in the campaign and with the new players just bedding in.
Steve Cooper's side looked vulnerable and somewhat over-awed in the face of Newcastle's intensity on the opening day at St James's Park where they were comfortably beaten 2-0 and if Everton can start well and get the Goodison crowd behind them then they can hopefully have enough to compensate for the glaring lack of firepower up front.Â
At the very least, if Onana doesn't start, if Lampard's men can keep things tight until a good way into the second half, the Belgian could, along with Allan, provide the necessary drive that he showed in midfield on his debut to help get the team over the line. Â
Kickoff: 3pm, Saturday 20 August, 2022
Referee: Andre Marriner
VAR: Tony Harrington
Last Time: Everton 0 - 1 Nottingham Forest (Jan 1999)
Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Holgate, Coady, Tarkowski, Patterson, Mykolenko, Davies, Iwobi, McNeil, Gordon, Gray
Reader Comments (88)
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2 Posted 19/08/2022 at 15:54:18
Pickford, Patterson, Holgate, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Davies, Iwobi, Gray, Rondon and Gordon.
If Gordon is left out
Pickford, Patterson, Holgate, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Davies, Allan, Iwobi, Rondon and Gray.
3 Posted 19/08/2022 at 16:02:48
4 Posted 19/08/2022 at 16:03:50
5 Posted 19/08/2022 at 16:28:45
Not too unhappy about Doucoure being out as Onana looks like a decent signing. Personally I'd have him starting against Forest - most of the Forest team is new as it is.
Another game tomorrow with no striker. You've got to think all hell would break loose if we get to 31 August and haven't signed one. There'll be people with pitch forks outside GP. I think we've got irons in the fire for a couple of Chelsea players and the dominos will fall once the Gordon situation is done and Chelsea have signed one or two more. The likes of Broja, Gallagher and Gilmour can then leave. I'd be very happy with all three.
We'll be waiting until next week however before anything else happens. Hopefully Lampard will start Rondon and he can score or give one of the AMs the space to. Here's hoping the ball goes in off someones arse for a 1-0 win tomorrow. Already don't care about the performance.
6 Posted 19/08/2022 at 16:48:09
……nah too risky.
7 Posted 19/08/2022 at 16:55:16
Does this mean you think Lampard will start with Gordon?
8 Posted 19/08/2022 at 16:56:41
9 Posted 19/08/2022 at 16:58:45
10 Posted 19/08/2022 at 17:11:23
Hope they get a result against Forest, a crisis in August is too much for most battle-weary fans.
11 Posted 19/08/2022 at 17:27:08
What I think we need most though is luck, coz we got fuck-all in the last two games.
12 Posted 19/08/2022 at 17:36:16
13 Posted 19/08/2022 at 17:36:23
Always remembering that we will only get all 3 points if we score and we certainly looked most likely to score last week when Rondon and Onana were on the pitch.
14 Posted 19/08/2022 at 17:58:19
Pickford
Holgate - Coady - Tarkowski
Paterson - Onana - Iwobi - Mykolenko
Gray - Rondon - McNeil
Like though as above with Davie instead of Onana, and Gordon instead of Rondon.
Big three points already.
15 Posted 19/08/2022 at 17:59:21
Pickford
Patterson
Holgate
Tark
Coady
Myko
Davis
Iwobi
McNeil
Rondon
Gordon
Home win!
16 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:00:27
17 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:01:19
Pickford
Patterson Coady Tarkowski Myolenko
Iwobi Allan Onana
McNeil Ronson Gordon
Suspected lineup:
Pickford
Patterson Holgate Coady Tarkowski Myolenko
Onana Allan
Gordon Gray McNeil.
If we don't get 3 points tomorrow, I expect the crowd to start turning.
18 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:03:09
Thought I'd look the game up. It was 1977, but what has surprised me is that it was on the very same day, the 20th, which evertonresults.com has pointed out.
So, we'll be playing them 45 years to the day. And kicking off at the very same time, quite something these days as we don't have too many Saturday 3pm kick-offs.
Small things amuse small minds, some of you may be saying. But if it takes my mind off our revolutionary 5-5-0 set-up, that's fine by me.
With Forest having signed 137 players in the summer, I'll be interested to see how they gel as a team.
Anyway, I am hoping for another shock 3-1 win, this time to us.
19 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:04:28
It might have been tongue-in-cheek but it was a very unusual thing to say.
20 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:05:03
Good team; however, Gordon has to play unless a deal has been agreed with Chelsea.
Gray or McNeil, either, should make way for Gordon.
Onana has to play.
More important — we have to get 3 points.
21 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:06:52
Now… realisation that he is dealing with serial losers, without the two players who scored the goals and drove them on, is showing and causing him pain. This is not what he signed up for.
He wants a steady upward journey and plaudits at each forward step. This is not how its panning out another relagation fight is the most likely outcome of he stays, which I think he won't. So I don't know what the answer to fixing this self inflicted mess is, but it's going to be a long hard road,just to stay up.
22 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:07:39
So Pickford, Holgate, Coady, Tarkowski, Patterson, Mykolenko, Davies, Iwobi, Rondon, Gray, McNeil.
Onana on after the hour mark and, if fit, Coleman getting 15 minutes too. Vinagre or Allan to get a run out at some point. I would love to see Stanley Mills at some point too.
COYBs – 3 points to get the season really underway.
23 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:19:59
Hmm, or was that a combined Gordon/Onana hat-trick? Why is it so tricky to be a prophet???
24 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:22:22
Other than hoping that Gray doesn't start, it's pretty much the usual suspects.
Everton 2 v 0 Forest
25 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:25:12
4-2-3-1:
Pickford
Patterson Tarkowski Coady Mykolenko
Allan Onana
McNeil Iwobi Gray
Rondon
26 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:28:56
As much as I like Mykolenko I think the 3-4-3/5-2-3 (whatever formation you wanna call it) will work better with a left-back who can produce more from an attacking point. I'd be tempted to start Vinagre tomorrow and save Mykolenko for the matches where we expect to be defending more.
The squad is not ready yet. But Chelsea have apparently bid for Aubemeyang today. If they get him in I think there's a decent chance they'll let Broja leave on loan, which presumably is what we've been waiting for.
27 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:30:20
I believe we will see gradual improvements as the season goes by and very strong performances in the New Year. We are going the right way (McNeil apart?) and I see now as the start of the Everton revival.
28 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:30:49
29 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:33:51
So a starting eleven of:
Pickford, Patterson, Mykolenko, Coady, Tarkowski, Holgate, Iwobi, Allan...
Up front now this is where it gets tricky. Is it the same front 3 who don't look like scoring or will he play the lump Rondon?
Not liking the look of that midfield or strike force (ahem) indeed. Hope he doesn't leave Onana until we're losing at half-time. Why not just start him? The lad is raring to go.
30 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:36:01
Nottingham Forest will come to Goodison and take 3 points with ease. They won't have an awful lot to do all afternoon by way of soaking up any pressure from our non-existent forward line which I would not even consider as being powder puff.
Dennis, Lingard, Gibbs-White (take your pick) will see off a comfortable 1-0 or 2-0 victory. Everton are that predictable these days.
31 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:36:51
32 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:40:07
Writing on the wall for Frank, I think. What do you expect with no proper, fit striker?
33 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:44:56
34 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:48:45
Also concerned about Frank's health, he wears his heart on his sleeve and being Everton manager is ageing him by the day.
35 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:50:15
We don't know his level of fitness as his last game was on 3 June with the national team. I don't know if he was a starter for that game or a substitute. Prior to the international game, he played 20 minutes for Lille in a 2-2 tie on 21 May.
He does not seem to have played a lot before his transfer, unless they had pre-season games, so I guess that Lampard is a little nervous about his match fitness.
36 Posted 19/08/2022 at 18:51:47
Despite our obvious issues in attack, I have no doubt we'll also step up tomorrow and pick up much needed 3 points. It won't be particularly pretty but that doesn't matter.
I just don't get people going against us at home against a bottom to middling team. Just glad that most doing that don't seem to actually go to the game. We need positivity at the ground to create an atmosphere to drive the lads on.
38 Posted 19/08/2022 at 19:00:37
Sure he could get injured but he is an Everton player unless he is sold, and with all the talk about him wanting to leave, no problem, just put a transfer request in and show you want to leave.
39 Posted 19/08/2022 at 19:06:45
Thankfully we have a wonderful board who sold one of our forwards thinking they could get by without replacing him. Yet again, the board go under the radar.
They are a rancid lot but Evertonians give them a free pass as every season goes by sadly.
40 Posted 19/08/2022 at 19:10:27
Anybodys guess about Gordon, I think they should start him, we need the points.
We all have seem to have picked the same defenders, Keane got us the first goal against Palace though, but he seems to out of favour for now.
I'd go with Rondon up front, Iwobi is the first name on the teamsheet, Gray is due a goal, and I think Davies will start.
I thought earlier in the week that we might win a close game, but I'm not that confident now, we are all over the place.
41 Posted 19/08/2022 at 19:10:46
By the end of September, we will have paid the price for trying to win football matches without scoring goals! First time it's ever been adopted as a new tactic and definitely will be the last.
42 Posted 19/08/2022 at 19:23:28
43 Posted 19/08/2022 at 19:30:42
44 Posted 19/08/2022 at 19:41:05
45 Posted 19/08/2022 at 19:55:19
I think after wrestling the ball off Gordon, Coady will bury it!
46 Posted 19/08/2022 at 20:00:48
As for us, I think Gordon has already stated he wants out and may well refuse to play or just put in a token effort. Don't entirely blame him because we would only pay a fraction of what Chelsea have probably offered. We prefer to reserve the 𧴜k plus wages for sick notes and wasters.
Lampard looked completely demoralised at his presser as I would be if facing the prospect of having Mr Puft as your only striker. All the early optimism about us finally getting things right is rapidly evaporating.
Best hope is that our new defence holds out until the second half and Onana and Mills are brought on to snatch a winner. Otherwise, we will soon replace Man Utd as the official crisis club.
49 Posted 19/08/2022 at 21:04:57
Duncan Mackenzie wouldn't get a look-in today.
50 Posted 19/08/2022 at 21:06:00
This tactical masterpiece means you haven't a target man, but in the cases above you've enough talented midfielders to improvise that role.
In our case, it defines insanity in that you repeat something that manifestly does not work and believe it will get a different result.
51 Posted 19/08/2022 at 21:07:14
Yes, Gordon playing wide would be better for him and Everton but I doubt very much he will be playing or even on the bench.
I think he is definitely going to Chelsea – he's played his last game for Everton.
52 Posted 19/08/2022 at 21:30:17
We are a good team of players against a team of good players - and the good team usually wins. So it's 3 points for us!
53 Posted 19/08/2022 at 21:42:01
54 Posted 19/08/2022 at 22:11:40
I think he plays tomorrow...
55 Posted 19/08/2022 at 22:35:25
1-0 To the blues header from a free kick.
56 Posted 19/08/2022 at 22:51:11
57 Posted 20/08/2022 at 00:26:50
We have already seen, he can get into the box and certainly has better heading ability than Gray or Gordon. We have tried Gordon there without success; put Gordon back out wide and play to Gordon's strength.
I'm going for a 2-0 win, McNeil and a centre-half from a corner for our other goal.
58 Posted 20/08/2022 at 00:44:04
But like Forest, Everton, have a few newbies, Forest are almost all newbies. That's for Everton to exploit on the park, but the midfielders and wingbacks will have to be in good synch and tune.
Steel, belief, keep possession, verbal communication, and belief, Everton, have a great chance to beat Forest, and I believe they will.
59 Posted 20/08/2022 at 01:04:09
https://livetv.sx/enx/?fbclid=IwAR0P4xhAubsGm0V9yVqTW-uKu5JH3lEujX6b-A81OIkLMv27MY_jLWv8P4A
or
https://phatgoc.tv/xem-bong-da-truc-tuyen?page=1
60 Posted 20/08/2022 at 01:43:46
In most games Everton's fitness, on average the last 5 years, in my view is lacking, compared to all opposition, across all competitions.
61 Posted 20/08/2022 at 02:14:54
I have being having a long hard think about Alli. I can't see him wanting to go to Turkey – that really would be a personal disaster. I wouldn't say much to him I would just say “You're starting with Rondon up topâ€. He would then be faced with an opportunity to re-ignite his career. A bit of pressure might be just what he needs.
As for the rest of the line-up I think Lampard will stick with three at the back. My starting line-up would be:-
Pickford,
Holgate, Coady, Tarkowski,
Patterson, Allan, Onana, Vinagre, Mykolenko
Alli, Rondon.
Up the Blues!!!
62 Posted 20/08/2022 at 07:38:48
My gut feeling this time yesterday is that no way would he start but, reading and hearing comments over the past day, my thinking has shifted somewhat.
Start or not, I'm expecting a tough contest this afternoon. Based on what I saw last weekend, our defense will be having a busy afternoon but hopefully someone somehow can manage to get on the score sheet for us (a couple would be nice) rather than relying on an own-goal here and there. I do hope and expect to see Rondon start.
Hoping for better of course, but predicting a draw today.
63 Posted 20/08/2022 at 08:59:43
Obviously a lack of firepower is worrying, but we've more than enough in us to get a win. Our crowd will see to that.
UTFT.
64 Posted 20/08/2022 at 09:08:21
I hope Frank and the lads are going into it with the right mindset: we desperately need 3 points.
65 Posted 20/08/2022 at 09:31:16
66 Posted 20/08/2022 at 09:58:27
67 Posted 20/08/2022 at 10:07:24
Did you leave Iwobi out on purpose? He's not my favourite player but might need his energy in two-thirds of the pitch, the final third attacking part needs him to do a lot more.
68 Posted 20/08/2022 at 10:22:04
Hopefully see a few of you there. I can't hang around after as I've got catch a National Express coach to head home and timing is tight.
69 Posted 20/08/2022 at 10:38:18
While I agree – don't just buy a striker for the sake of it, as it has to be someone the manager wants, and that looks like it's Broja – but I think Gordon will have to go to Chelsea for them to do a deal with us over Broja.
Many posters have speculated about maybe Gordon not starting. Well, if he doesn't, you have to ask why they haven't done the deal, because sitting him on the bench doesn't help us win today's game. I hope he plays and Lampard plays him in his proper position, out wide, and not as a false 9 which doesn't work for Gordon or Everton.
I hope Lampard puts our best defensive midfielder back in the team, as I think Allan and Onana is our best pairing if he wants to continue with just 2 in midfield – another poor tactic like his 5 at the back.
I think Lampard listens to Uncle Harry too much, last season Allan was playing well and Uncle Harry was on TalkSport saying Allan had no legs and Frank needed legs in midfield; from that day onwards, Allan was hardly selected.
70 Posted 20/08/2022 at 10:39:04
Will Gordon play or not, that's the question.
71 Posted 20/08/2022 at 11:07:06
72 Posted 20/08/2022 at 11:23:58
73 Posted 20/08/2022 at 11:41:42
74 Posted 20/08/2022 at 11:46:57
75 Posted 20/08/2022 at 12:00:14
Thanks Paul. It's been a strange and disjointed trip. On the plus side, it's not rammed as usual and I've got a table to myself.
Downside; due to the strike action, no catering, so nothing to put on the table. Guess it will have to wait until I get to the Northwestern at Lime Street!! A couple in posh 'Spoons before heading to the ground.
76 Posted 20/08/2022 at 12:05:12
Brian - Really? - I thought he was in the building at Finch Farm recently.
77 Posted 20/08/2022 at 12:06:40
78 Posted 20/08/2022 at 12:06:40
79 Posted 20/08/2022 at 12:34:54
Looking back at the side I picked though to my eyes it looks balanced. Vinagre can get round the back, cross a ball and defend. I think there is more chance of us scoring with Rondon and Alli up front than the forward line we put out last week.
Allan and Rondon have to play in my opinion so for me it's down to perm any two from the three of Onana, Vinagre, and Iwobi. Unless of course the manager drops Holgate and goes 4-4-2 which I can't see him doing.
80 Posted 20/08/2022 at 12:58:10
Please prove me wrong lads!!!
81 Posted 20/08/2022 at 13:03:48
Good crack with Forest fans, they are believing they'll beat Everton 2-0.
In good spirit, I said the best team will win today and it's Everton!
83 Posted 20/08/2022 at 13:26:41
84 Posted 20/08/2022 at 13:32:53
Patterson, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Vinagre;
Allan, Onana;
Gordon, iwobi, Rondón.
85 Posted 20/08/2022 at 13:36:03
Jimenez has been injured and is just getting bavk to fitness. He is normally first choice but like DCL has had some injury concerns in the last couple of years.
86 Posted 20/08/2022 at 13:40:01
87 Posted 20/08/2022 at 13:43:15
88 Posted 20/08/2022 at 13:43:35
89 Posted 20/08/2022 at 13:48:38
Honestly don't know what to think about the game today. It seems like August is a write off until we get a striker or two in. I'm not a Lampard fan but I'm also not sure how any manager is supposed to function properly in this league without any decent striker available to him.
Penny for Lampards thoughts. Bet he never in a million years envisaged being in the situation he's now in. Problem is, about 30k people could see the slowmo car crash from a mile off, have been seeing it for years.
Fingers crossed for today - no idea how we'll play.
90 Posted 20/08/2022 at 13:49:20
I still think we should have enough to beat Forest and I will be going shortly and cheering the Blues onto a win no matter how we get it, shades of last season already.
I hope you are keeping okay Laurie and we get that win which will cheer us all up and by the end of this transfer window we will be feeling much easier about our future prospects.
91 Posted 20/08/2022 at 14:00:15
I hope Onana starts, but listening to Frank's press conference yesterday, he's not match fit, neither is Allan.
92 Posted 20/08/2022 at 14:03:17
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1 Posted 19/08/2022 at 14:17:11
Lampard was a model of obfuscation in his presser today and gave no assurances that the striker problem was of particular concern to him. He even mentioned Rondon's availability as a relief!