Fulham vs Everton

Fulham's starting LB is Antonee Robinson.

Hopefully, this will provide a better balance, withholding attack, and defence.

The Best Glaswegian, Right Back, in Modern Times, for EFC.

I attest, he will be better than Gary Stevens, all in for EFC, crossing, and shooting, and balance, with development time.

UTFTs!

Let’s, see who starts and where, at Fulham.

“UTFTs!”

I think we have enough to win this but wouldn't be too disappointed with a draw.

Fulham 1 v 2 Everton

Think we remain unchanged. Lampard has been careful bringing players back from injury so I expect Coleman, who was superb last weekend, to start, with Patterson getting some minutes at the end. Gray is the one closest to being benched in my eyes as his attacking output is not good enough to justify his low defensive numbers. A winger upgrade in January is the key.

If we can play like we did against Palace, I think we'll have a great chance but consistency is the challenge for all bottom-half teams.

I knew you'd mention Robinson, I'm not sure you ever recovered from that sale! :) Letting him go the way we did, for the price we did, was further evidence (as if we needed anymore) of piss poor planning and business acumen. It wasn't long after we were scratching around for replacement left-backs.

I like Silva, I really wanted him to succeed with us and interestingly I also really wanted him to buy Mitrovic. I'm sure Silva never forgot the mauling Mitrovic gave us one afternoon at Goodison, if memory serves we lost 0-2 and Mitrovic put in one of the best bullying No 9 displays I'd seen for a long time. He ain't pretty but he's added more goals to his excellent hold-up play, he's certainly much more than a target man now and Tarkowski will have to try and match him for strength, a proper battle that.

I can see a draw in this but hoping to nick a win. I would start with Seamus with a view to giving Patterson minutes when he tires.

Let's get down to Putney and bring the points home.

Spirit.

Anyway, I'm just looking forward to the game tomorrow and despite Fulham having a good start to the season, we should have enough to get something from the game.

Let's just play some football, sexy football like last week!!

It will be an unchanged side from last week, the challenge will be to keep up the confidence to attack away from home, whilst keeping it tight and pressing them relentlessly. Another very winnable match and opportunity to see the progress continue.

Fulham 0 Everton 1

COYBLUES!

What we now have is some very capable reserves right through the team: Begovic; Coleman, Vinagre; Keane, Holgate, Mina, Godfrey; Doucoure, Garner, Davies; McNeil, Townsend and Maupay. We could put two sides out if everyone was fit – that would be as good as we have had for a long time (and we could lose a centre-back or more). That is without calling on the development players.

Yes we still could use some more quality up front. But this is why I am now pretty relaxed at the way we are progressing. I know we still have issues and all is not rosy. It is just less shitty than it has been for a while.

Let's get 5-9 points and a League Cup win; then we can relax for a month or so.

Undoubtedly Fulham are playing some decent attractive Football, so can't be underestimated in any way shape or form (no teams in the Premier League can) but apart from the blips against Man Utd, Spurs, and Barcodes, we are not so bad ourselves.

I am encouraged by goals starting to come from all departments and not just reliant on the front 3. This will not be an easy game by any stretch, and traditionally we don't fare too well in the Capital, but I feel we may just edge this and come away with all 3 points.

COYB 💙💙

Decordover-Reid isn't a wingback and could be their weak link. Robinson will want to prove a point against either Coleman or Patterson.

Oh and off-topic... Happy Andy King day everyone! One of my best days at Goodison.

I'd stick with Seamus and bring Patterson on in the second half. Hope Gordon plays with the same purpose he did against Palace. COYB

Had a rare opportunity for a ticket but, Sod's Law, personal reasons prevented. There simply wasn't enough time. I'm on the South coast but it would still have been a 12-hour round trip.

Could be tight, but I think we will shade this if we can keep the attitude shown last week. Palace are pretty average and not as good as Fulham but we have it in us to take 3 points tomorrow. No scoreline predictions from me – I just hope we score more than them.

Get in there Blues.

I'd start the same 11; how could you drop Seamus after keeping Zaha in his pocket, especially as Patterson has to get up to speed?

His pace will be a real problem for Coleman and Gordon so we will need a plan to deal with that flank. Pereira is another player to watch out for but hopefully we go on the offensive and do not sit deep and invite them onto us.

I might regret saying this but I'm not so bothered about Mitrovic. Tarkowski and Coady can take care of him and his antics.

Time for Frank to show his tactical skills and out-coach Silva.

We need the 3 points more than they do. Let's show it.

Fear no one. We are Everton.

A day out in Putney on the banks of the Thames is always to be looked forward to.

Brian, now you've taken me back to the '70s, can I add Duncan McKenzie alongside Andy King? Maybe it was just my boyhood view and clinging onto something. But he was magic as the song went. And I used to join in with the chant!

I was young so I don't know if I'm totally accurate here, but your '80s mention had me thinking. Was King a similar player to Adrian Heath? Not an obvious striker but a really good player with an instinct for goal. Just a thought in my head.

McKenzie was my first Everton hero. But then Kevin Sheedy came along and I sold my soul.

There you go, my daily Sheedy reference. I hope he's starting tomorrow.

Regardless, let's go and do this, Blue Boys. We're on the rise. Believe it.

I think we'll go with the same starting eleven, with Patterson on the bench. Hopefully we'll get a continuation of the performance against Palace. It should be a bit easier if anything because Fulham are unlikely to adopt the organised thuggery of Palace. I'll be happy with a draw, but a win with another clean sheet would do very nicely.

Re Andy (is our) King, he returned to us in 83? He was playing excellent and suffered a bad injury in 84? So just missed out on Howard's excellent team.

He indeed was a great character and player.

I found a great one back in Rooney's early days in the streets near the ground – proper wood-floored pub on a corner – but haven't found it since. It was full of Blues and a great atmosphere. Any ideas?

Fulham away is always a good day out. The pubs let away fans in, so no disguise needed.

Unlike Chelsea. Even Brighton where it was controlled. I done my best impersonation at the door until my brother, who had somehow got in, came to wave me in with his very strong accent. Cover blown.

The doormen looked, smiled and just let me and my son in!! Nice touch and no trouble mixing with the Brighton fans.

Marching. Here we go.

I was thinking we need to contain Willian and Pereira. Let's just agree to contain all four. UTFT!!!!!

The neutral would probably opt for a home win, but we'll see about that. Hopefully those of you that are going will have an “up for it” performance at the very least.

(I think I've heard you say that before, LOL)

If anyone has a spare, Martin Mason of this parish is still looking for one! He's a good lad and blue – not at all how some on the live forum think he is.

UTFT

Then the vast majority of our squad can have a 7-week break while the World Cup is on. A couple of weeks down under won't do us any harm either.

The reality is that for each game there's odds laid based on probability of either side winning, it is not negative to say that we believe that Everton will lose when the odds are against us.

As supporters we hope that we will overcome the odds and we can be pleased if we play well in such games and even overjoyed, clapping with happiness and happy to accept the mediocrity.

I would like to see McNeil come in for Gray. He has more of a goal threat, and delivery for Calvert-Lewin to head the ball as the away team could be key.

I'd leave the starting 11 the same as the last one. I doubt he will start Patterson but I won't complain if he does.

The same starting 11 as the Palace game unless Patterson is flying in training.

Calvert-Lewin is a massive plus. Look at that Palace game. Even if he doesn't score, he's a threat, he's making space, taking up defence's time to give others the opportunity to affect the game.

I think we will see a better Gray, Gordon & McNeil now Calvert-Lewin is back.
It won't be easy against a team who play good attacking football but, if Coady & Tarkowski can keep Mitrovic quiet, that will be the key.

1-0 Blues will do for me!

Put a bet on us, Raymond. Close odds, but we're bringing the points home.

Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon both have the speed to get past defenders, but I don't think they have the crossing ability of Dwight McNeil who, last season, had the third most crosses into the penalty area. His stats didn't look good, only registering one assist, but that was not his fault when you see the donkeys he was aiming for at Burnley.

Now that Calvert-Lewin is (hopefully) back for an extended run in the first team, I think McNeil will also get more starts. Maybe if Anthony Gordon is going to start regularly, then play him alongside Calvert-Lewin in the Number 10 role, for the flick-ons etc.

As for the Nathan Patterson - Seamus Coleman debate, it would be harsh to drop Seamus, but he just seems to be the kind of person who won't kick up a stink about it, and I'm certain he would fully understand if he were to be dropped, as Patterson was playing excellent prior to his injury.

Is it really only 5 weeks when he was injured? I seem to remember reading some on here saying he could be out for months, possibly even for the season.

We now seem to have healthy competition for every position, possibly with the exception of centre-forward, should Calvert-Lewin break down again. Keep a fit DCL and this season could turn out to be alright after all.

Keep up the tempo and form from last week when we slayed another London team 3-0. Granted, that was home and this is away, but under Frank's guidance and with the Spirit of The Blues projecting from the away end, We Shall Overcome the Cottagers. UTFT. NSNO. COYB.

McNeil will come good and, as you say, Calvert-Lewin thrives oFf crosses. It's why he worked well with Digne.

Early one with the dogs this morning. The boy has already asked me if I'm okay. I think he's trying to reassure me.

McNeil has a delivery, despite his supposed weak points; he deserves another run out. No-one else is pushing them two players and they know it.

We have had years of these nailed-on starts – it gets us nowhere – but hopefully that's about to change in the coming windows.

Hopefully it's a good game without controversy, but highly unlikely because the VAR does seem to have added a lot of controversy into the game. So let's hope I'm moaning for nothing, and Everton can put in a decent away performanceafter a couple of recent shockers on the road.🤞

I agree that McNeil is a confidence player. I think he has it in him, over time, to become a very significant asset.

I think we will get something out of this game provided Frank has done his homework and makes sure we guard the front post if we concede a corner.

Up the Blues!!!

That's a terrible decision to put him on VAR for our game a week after the FA have basically told him he lost control of Everton players.

The referees are bent enough without handing them an opportunity on a plate to get retribution.

As for today's game, I expect a tough encounter and a tight game. We can hope for a win on the road but I am still not convinced on Lampard's game management... we shall see.

At least after the World Cup or probably next season we will have the foolproof Champions League offside technology in the Premier League. We have to really dilute any human thought or input in these big decisions. That alone will see more points for the likes of us, no doubt.

I hope so, it seems better than the subjective muddle that the Premier League uses.

The foreign refs in midweek seem a lot better than our own dunderheads.

My beef is to ask why does it go back to the referee after the VAR has looked at it? That doesn't make any sense.

So much time wasted when they have the technology in place to make the decision.

Another beef is the stupidity of a linesman putting his flag up minutes after an offside offense. Why not do it immediately when the man who receives the ball is the offender. Which idiot put that useless idea forward?

1) How vocal Coady is, he is our future leader make no mistake;
2) How well we pinged the ball around moving forwards; and
3) What a monster Onana is.

Nervous and excited for today, it will be tight. Have to nullify both Periera and Mitrovic, do that and we will be fine.

On to Putney Bridge it is. See you all in the 8 Bells. If not in the Cottage.