Bournemouth vs Everton

11/11/2022 143comments  |  Jump to last
Match Preview

Everton return to Vitality Stadium this weekend, the scene of Tuesday’s horror show in the Carabao Cup, to face Bournemouth in a Premier League fixture that has taken on huge significance in the context of the upcoming break for the World Cup.

The Blues travelled to the south coast earlier this week looking for a fillip following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Leicester but left with the second string having been thumped 4-1 by the Cherries’ own reserve side and the gloom around the club having further deepened.

In making 11 changes to his starting XI, Frank Lampard extended an opportunity to a host of players to stake a claim for more regular involvement in the first team but he inadvertently signalled a marked de-prioritisation of the cup and made a rod for his own back when it comes to Saturday’s rematch.

The majority of the players who featured against Leicester will almost certainly be back in the line-up but with a significant amount of pressure on their shoulders to get a result that would send the club into hiatus for Qatar 2022 feeling somewhat at ease about Everton’s prospects of avoiding another fight against relegation.

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With Dominic Calvert-Lewin ruled out with a hamstring injury, a dislocated shoulder and ongoing problems with his knee, Neal Maupay is surely certain to start but whether he is the only one of those who keeps their place from the team that lined up at Vitality Stadium on Tuesday will likely depend on the respective fitness of Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana and whether Lampard opts for the experience of Seamus Coleman over the more dynamic but more raw Nathan Patterson at full-back.

With only an apparent ankle sprain, Onana is, perhaps, the more likely to be passed fit but if Gueye’s quad muscle complaint keeps him out, it will be between James Garner, Abdoulaye Doucouré and Tom Davies for who starts in midfield… that is assuming the manager doesn’t persist with the five-man back line he went with in the cup tie.

In the wide positions, Demarai Gray will have enhanced his standing with a beautifully-taken goal on Tuesday while neither Anthony Gordon nor Dwight McNeil will have done much to further theirs.

For his part, Gary O’Neill is expected to revert back to his regular line-up that will see the likes of top-scorer Phillip Billing, Dominic Solanke, Kieffer Moore and Jefferson Lerma return.

Scott Parker’s interim replacement had overseen an impressive uplift in Bournemouth’s fortunes following that 9-0 humiliation at the hands of Liverpool in late August, with the Cherries going on a six-match unbeaten run that lasted until mid-October.

They have lost four on the bounce now in the League, however, and have thrown away two-goal leads to both Tottenham and Leeds on their last two outings.

It’s that ability to score goals and Everton’s struggles to do the same that could be the problem for Lampard this weekend. His Toffees had the best defensive record in the division not too long ago but they have allowed opposition teams to average almost 20 shots a game in their last three fixtures, a tendency that severely tests the law of averages.

Get Conor Coady, James Tarkowski and Vitalii Mykolenko back along with Jordan Pickford to shore things up and get the approach right at the other end of the pitch in terms of desire, tempo and tenacity and Everton should be able to make their superiority on paper tell.

A repeat of Tuesday’s ineptitude, sloppiness and questionable desire would surely only lead to another damaging defeat. Over to Frank, his staff and the players to send us into the extended international break in more buoyant mood…

Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 12 November, 2022
Referee: Craig Pawson
VAR: Tony Harrington
Last Time: Bournemouth 3-1 Everton

Predicted Line-up*: Pickford, Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Gueye, Onana, Garner, Iwobi, McNeil, Gray, Maupay

*updated following injury update from Frank Lampard's press conference

 

Reader Comments (143)

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Tony Hill
1 Posted 11/11/2022 at 06:52:20
Patterson should play. I think we will win.
Jim Bennings
2 Posted 11/11/2022 at 06:57:03
Absolute must win game in my opinion.

The only way to right that cesspit of a result on Tuesday is to go back there and put Bournemouth, a team that leaks goals, to the sword.

Failure to win sees us sit here until Boxing Day with 3 wins from 15 league matches, an absolute pitiful return and one that is heading full-on into another relegation scrap against three far more punch-ready teams than last season.

As I said, Tuesday was an absolute shit-show of the highest order; however, it would alarm me far more if we arrive there tomorrow without any kind of intent to respond and react on that defeat.

Spend the next 6 weeks then getting the house in order and make plans for January, stop talking up our opponents and stop looking back to last season. The job is to find solutions to the here and now and make this team better.

Get at least one striker in January and another progressive attacking player and then start making some ground up.

Dean Williams
3 Posted 11/11/2022 at 07:10:22
Godamn this season is as depressing as my foray in the stock market. Zero talent up front, young up-n-comers who think they are better than they are. And a manager who, in my opinion, isn't experienced enough for our club. I truly worry for our club.
Mike Gaynes
4 Posted 11/11/2022 at 07:22:24
Must. Show. Pride.
Lee Courtliff
5 Posted 11/11/2022 at 07:28:16
We had times like this under Moyes, many a battering and slow start to a season but we persevered with him and he proved himself to be a good manager for us. And he was even younger than Frank when he was appointed.

I've seen enough from us to know that we've improved from last season, overall, and we must stick with the manager. 3 weeks ago, we all praised how well we played against Palace then we ground out a decent point away at Fulham the week after, despite not playing particularly well.

With our first-choice team back, bar Calvert-Lewin, we've got enough to go and win this. COYB!

Danny Baily
6 Posted 11/11/2022 at 07:31:46
This wasn't on my must-win list, but 3 points going into the break would change the current perception of the club, inside and out.

Even though it's only November we're running out of winnable fixtures, and we still need 7 or so wins. A well-organised set-up and a bit of luck when it comes to taking our chances and we can win this one.

Ian Bennett
7 Posted 11/11/2022 at 07:38:54
A must-win game, but the injuries worry me as do where the goals are coming from.

Maupay lacks pace or real work rate. I was expecting far better, to be honest, from Premier League highlights.

Pickford
Patterson
Mykolenko
Coady
Tarkowski

Gana (although he's been poor, we need an anchor away from home)
Iwobi
Onana (needs to add more)

Gray
Gordon
Maupay

Not a great team. The front 3 are pretty flaky, and the midfield had been giving the ball away for fun and create little.

A tight affair, hopefully 3 points. The fact we are worrying playing Bournemouth says a lot.

Kim Vivian
8 Posted 11/11/2022 at 07:57:06
Payback time...
Mark Murphy
9 Posted 11/11/2022 at 08:21:50
What worries me about tomorrow is, given the injuries to O'Nana, Gueye and Calvert-Lewin, the team will almost be the same team that played on Tuesday with the exceptions of Tarkowski and Coady at the back and Pickford in goal.

So will we see 0-0 as acceptable?

Mark Murphy
10 Posted 11/11/2022 at 08:24:37
Haha - my spell checker is obviously set to Irish! Onana!!
Jim Bennings
11 Posted 11/11/2022 at 08:27:29
There's taking baby steps and there's taking fucking baby snail steps.

At what point do we start looking at the club and saying "raise the bar"?

We have spent enough money in summer – we have spent enough money in the last half a decade – to go to Bournemouth and expect to make ourselves favourites.

Kunal Desai
12 Posted 11/11/2022 at 08:29:39
I look at a team one place below us in the league have scored 9 goals in 3 games whilst two of those have been defeats in the league, we have scored a solitary 1.

I think a difficult afternoon awaits in all honesty.

Maybe this break might be a very welcome one for Lampard and his team to reflect and reset.

Gary Johnson
13 Posted 11/11/2022 at 08:39:03
Try and win a game, Frank, and start people who score. Assuming they are fit…..

Pickford
Patterson Coady Tarkowski Mykolenko
Onana Garner
Mills Iwobi Maupay
Rondon

Let Iwobi play in the 8/10 role as Maddison does, and instruct Mills and Maupay to get into the box and help the striker. Fullbacks to provide width. Cannon on for Rondon in the last 40 minutes.

Might as well have a go; lose this and you really should be gone.

Christopher Timmins
14 Posted 11/11/2022 at 08:46:00
We should expect a reaction after Tuesday.

Pickford
Patterson
Mykolenko
Tarkowski
Coady
Gana
Iwobi
Onana
McNeil
Maupay
Gray

If Patterson and Gana are not fit, then Coleman and Garner or Davis to start

I expect a clean sheet and a win!

Ajay Gopal
15 Posted 11/11/2022 at 08:48:21
I like Lyndon's line-up, with a 4 man midfield of Garner, Iwobi, Onana (or Gueye) and McNeil. And Gray and Maupay playing as a front 2. The aim should be to create more than a few chances and hope that one or two of them result in goals.
Steavey Buckley
17 Posted 11/11/2022 at 09:07:14
Bournemouth will attack Everton from the start, as they did in the last game, and eventually Everton will fold because someone is bound to lose possession in the critical part of the pitch.

Everton are not helped by lacking a winning mentality by having an unremarkable win ratio of 1 win in 5 games. Also, not helped by having no recognised strikers.

Maupay has had one shot on target and one goal to show for it in 3 months. A terrible waste of £15 million on a player who can't find the target and can't score goals.

Martin Reppion
18 Posted 11/11/2022 at 09:17:39
Judging from the manager's post-match comments, what is needed tomorrow is a complete attitude shift. Play on the front foot. Work hard. Commit. Sadly, all of those should be givens.

That they are not, reflects badly on the players. Professional sportsmen should not need a manager to tell them to put in a shift. It is not acceptable to be below 100% on effort.

I would like to see the young striker (Cannon) get a chance, maybe off the bench.

The one thing that Tuesday proved, was that making 11 changes tells us nothing other than that we have a reserve team. Bringing in three or four players tells you if they can gel in the current team and improve it.

The team on Saturday will be the current Everton team, not 11 players who haven't played together before. For that reason, I believe we can win. But it will still be an achievement to do so.

James Hughes
19 Posted 11/11/2022 at 09:19:36
We need a committed performance from all involved, including Frank.

No passing aimlessly sideways and backwards for Pickford to boot upfield to our 5-foot forward. Get some shoots on target and just play bloody properly.

C'mon, Everton – give us some hope and something to get behind.

Paul Hewitt
20 Posted 11/11/2022 at 09:20:12
£500 million spent and we're going to Bournemouth praying for a win. Only Everton that.
Nick Page
21 Posted 11/11/2022 at 09:23:28
“ At what point do we start looking at the club and saying "raise the bar"?

Jim, Kenwright has spent 20+ years lowering the bar in order to cover his back which is exactly why we are where we are. It pervades every part of the club which is more a living museum now than an actual professional football club.

This trickles down to the playing staff who see no desire to compete higher up the table, you know, because they keep being told it's impossible and we can't compete. It's totally self-defeating.

Any other club is fighting tooth and nail to compete but we just seem to exist, like some bizarre make-weight that is totally aimless yet happy in the knowledge that we've won nine league titles and we're a nice family club.

Competing is way beyond his capability as it would mean upsetting a few people inside and outside the club. Oh but a new stadium will change everything, they say!! It's utter folly to believe that as every other club is upgrading facilities all the time to stay relevant (cos that's what competition does – moves forward). I would say it's another distraction being used by the Big Actor to cover his failings.

How much more revenue will it actually bring in a way that will allow us to go from 7th highest wage bill to 6th or 5th? We are massively massively under-performing – not the other way round – but they would try and let you believe the opposite because they are failing in their jobs. It's a club within a club and it's disgusting.

I fully expect us to at best get a lucky low-scoring draw, and paper over some of the cracks. Lose and yet another scapegoat will make way. Along with another bucket load of compensation – call it blood money – which in reality is just another example of the complete failure of EFC management.

Derek Knox
22 Posted 11/11/2022 at 09:23:42
Very rarely not optimistic, but years of experience as being an Evertonian, or should that be an Everhopian ? I agree that this is a 'must get a result game', notice I didn't use the word win ? I just fail to see where the goals are going to come from, unless there is a C-Change in both fortunes and other players possibly scoring. I thought a few games back we had turned the corner, and there were 'signs' of improvement. Didn't realise they were Indian Signs !
Pat Kelly
23 Posted 11/11/2022 at 09:24:11
If we concede the first goal, I can't see us going on to win. A draw might save Lampard but another mauling and he's gone.
Brian Harrison
24 Posted 11/11/2022 at 09:29:15
Reading the manager's comments yesterday, he knows how important this game is – not just for the club but, more important, for him. Can we produce a similar performance to the Palace one as, if it's like some of our away performances, I fear it won't be good enough.

I really don't know what style Frank is looking for, we certainly don't look like a side that will throw men forward unless we are losing. But tomorrow if any of these players really want Frank to stay, then they have to put in a performance, not just 3 or 4 but all of them.

I fear a loss will see Moshiri on the hunt for a new manager. Not what any of us want but I can't see Moshiri waiting till Boxing Day to see if anything has changed.

Kunal Desai
25 Posted 11/11/2022 at 09:51:34
Lampard referencing Arsenal and Spurs going out of the Carabao Cup are also probably disappointed as well as Liverpool nearly going out.

Guess what, Frank, they have bigger fish to fry. Disappointed by his comments there. Chance for a cup run but clearly prioritising the league.

Phil Bickerstaff
26 Posted 11/11/2022 at 09:52:40
Play Mills or a youngster from the start. No Gordon or Randon.

Lampard hasn't introduced 1 youngster since becoming manager. All he has done is loan them out.

Check the U18 and U21 results and performances.

Sam Hoare
27 Posted 11/11/2022 at 09:58:00
I'm all for giving the right manager time, something we've rarely done of late. But equally it is unwise to believe that every manager will improve things with time.

I've not really agreed with any of the manager appointments since Silva (though I was probably quite open to Koeman). Lampard is coming up to a year now and from a results point of view it's difficult to detect any improvement. Performance wise there are many who might say we look more solid but even that is debateable, certainly if you start diving into any deeper statistical anaylsis.

Lampard will undoubtedly be given as much time as possible, he's a likeable figure that the crowd have taken to and is a young, hard-working manager with progressive ideas. But ultimately the proof is in the pudding and if we lose against Bournemouth we will go into the Winter break in 17th or 18th.

Lampard wasn't my choice but I do like him. I hope he can find some answers. The Palace game seemed to hint at the possibility of an exciting path forwards, but he tinkers a fair amount with his tactics and immediately reverted to a 4-3-3 with Onana playing further forwards which was less effective.

The table is tight and a couple of wins could push us up into mid-table but that will not be easy. Lampard's points per games record currently is not happy reading; only just ahead of Benitez and a long, long way behind the likes of Silva, Martinez, Ancellotti and even Allardyce.

Arguably he inherited a poorer team but he is even behind the likes of Walter Smith who had to make do with some very limited players.

John Raftery
28 Posted 11/11/2022 at 10:23:46
Just win. I don't care how. I don't care about the style of play. If it needs to be ugly, make it so.

Maupay and Gray seem to me the best pairing at the front. Gray does all his best work through the middle. He is not a winger.

Alan King
29 Posted 11/11/2022 at 10:51:00
We need players who want to win and will put in a shift with their foot in.

Pickford
Patterson
Mykolenko
Tarkowski
Coady
Gana
Iwobi
Onana
Cannon (Plays off Rondon)
Rondon (Play Long Ball Please)
Gray

We cannot afford to rely on Maupay who just jogs around as though he's playing in a Friendly.

We cannot rely on McNeil who arrives 5 seconds too late every time – bthe ball has gone – he looks as though he is in slow motion permanently.

We must stop buying players from teams who nearly or do get relegated.

Joe McMahon
30 Posted 11/11/2022 at 10:56:16
Alan, you state: "We must stop buying players from teams who nearly or do get relegated."

Pickford was relegated (with Moyes) and Richie nearly was last season, it's not always a barometer.

I do worry about tomorrow's game though.

Sean Roe
31 Posted 11/11/2022 at 10:57:01
Well, I've been optimistic with my predictions so far but I can't see where a win is coming from.

I predict we pass the ball from side to side looking for someone to make a forward run, nobody will, and then we will pass it back to Pickford who will hoof it upfield to 5ft nothing Maupay, who will obviously concede possession. We will then defend for our lives... rinse and repeat.

The players will at least make some effort. which I believe will keep us a clean sheet, but without anyone to score for us, I will go for a 0-0 draw.

Matthew Williams
32 Posted 11/11/2022 at 11:02:26
I can only see another win for Bournemouth in this one too, as sadly our team doesn't do away matches and, for me, we never seem to play to our strengths. We just invite pressure and, coupled with not keeping hold of the ball with generally sloppy passes, another defeat is looming.

2-1...and Frank Out!

Danny O’Neill
33 Posted 11/11/2022 at 11:11:15
That's not a bad shout, John Raftery.

It's matchday and we're off to Bournemouth for the second time in a week.

Putting politics aside for now and I'm not too bothered who plays.

Whoever plays, just put in a performance. Do that and the result will come.

Steve Griffiths
34 Posted 11/11/2022 at 11:36:52
I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I would take a point tomorrow. We need to stop the rot quickly and a clean sheet will go a long way to achieving that.

My team would be:

Jordan
Patterson
Coady
Tarkowski
Mykolenko
Gueye (if fit)
Garner
Onana
Gordon
Gray
Maupay

In a 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 formation. We need to be solid and compact and, as I've said, keep a clean sheet. Who knows... we might even nick one at the other end.

Bit Moyseyish but who cares.

Joe Digney
35 Posted 11/11/2022 at 11:41:07
We need a big performance tomorrow, akin to Palace at home a few weeks back.
Almost feels like a must-win for Frank already or we could be seeing Bobby Brown Shoes and his lovely tan back after the World Cup…

Safe travels to all the traveling blues again, you lads and ladies deserve the best.

Ray Smith
36 Posted 11/11/2022 at 11:43:24
Alan @29,

I'll go with your team with the exception of Cannon. I'd play Rondon with Maupay in the first half, and if it's not working, Rondon and Cannon in the second half.

As long as they all put in a shift and fight for the team, we can win this one. Two different teams from the other night, so go out there and show how much you really care.

Those that played the other night might well see themselves going through the exit door, if anyone will have them!

Ray Smith
37 Posted 11/11/2022 at 11:57:27
Danny 33

You're a true blue, well done, lad. 👍👍👍

My travelling days are over (sadly), but I've put in a lot of miles since 1964.

I'm hopeful of a result tomorrow, if only for those loyal supporters like Danny. 😃😃😃

Joe McMahon
38 Posted 11/11/2022 at 12:05:36
My concern is what many of us have stated for years, we don't score goals, as there is no hunger to succeed in any area of the club. Why Frank, a proven winner along with Ashley, chose Everton is a mystery. But it's alarming that nothing has changed as previous managers have found.

The squad just doesn't have goals, with or without Calvert-Lewin, and the contribution from midfield is shocking.

They'd better put in a shift tomorrow and show that they do care about the fans. We have had nothing but crumbs for years. We have maybe 5 players that show any kind of fight (all defensive), the rest are just Spinleless Tossers!

Eddie Dunn
39 Posted 11/11/2022 at 12:16:15
Lampard will show us whether he has any cojones when he selects between Coleman or Patterson. If he plumbs for Seamus, then his conservative side will reveal that he is just going for a point. If he selects Patterson, then he will be looking to puncture the opposition and give us some pace down the right.

So far, Frank has just about squeezed enough out of his team to avoid relegation and keep the critics fairly quiet. Personally, I have seen enough of his tactics to conclude that he has learnt very little from his mistakes.

He is as stubborn as the other idiots that have gone before... Martinez, Silva and Benitez. His system stinks, we concede too much territory and for all of our occasional good play, we are constanty dominated in midfield and are peppered with shots, week-in & week-out.

Only the defence is an upgrade on last season, and Pickford's heroics, Mykolenko's blocking along with the two new centrebacks have kept us in games where we deserved little. Up top we are toothless and midfield has only Iwobi to provide any spark.

We are worryingly poor. Obviously Lampard and his coaching team can only do so much, but it is the system that has been so clearly wrong. This group of players are not of the quality of Man City and cannot play out from the back, lack basic passing skills and Iwobi seems the only one who tries the first-time pass.

At best, I can see us spending all season looking over our proverbial shoulder at how the relegation teams are doing. At worst, I can see us right in that mix. Do I think he deserves the sack? I think there is a case for it, but I don't think it will happen, and I think he will go for a point tomorrow.

If we lose, the owner might get twitchy, but I expect that the club are just hoping for enough reasons to avoid yet another upheaval.

Like Groundhog Day, supporting this team.

Brian Murray
40 Posted 11/11/2022 at 12:18:02
I said half-joking on the live forum that Pochettino is in The Brick having a glass of mild as we speak. Many a true word said in jest. Don't rule that out of this star-struck owner.
Ernie Baywood
41 Posted 11/11/2022 at 12:21:58
Patterson makes a difference. He's the one player in our back 6 who moves it quickly.

Front 3 and Iwobi practically picks itself. Hard really to judge them when by the time they get the ball the opposition have had 5 minutes set themselves while we pass it around the back 6.

The back 6 is crucifying us. I completely get that you build teams from a position of defensive stability, but we need to add something. Someone who will move the ball on the first or second touch and be ready to take it back again.

It's not Gueye or Onana (though he shows it in bursts). It's obviously not Doucoure who managed to be the most overrated midfielder at our club since Schneiderlin conned an entire fanbase for a few months. Davies just isn't good enough and we knocked all the forward intent out of that lad long ago.

Anyone left? What's in the reserves or youth teams? It would be worth giving them a go because we have nothing else.

Tony Everan
42 Posted 11/11/2022 at 12:25:56
Since Crystal Palace, we've scored one goal in 4½bhours play. Why ? Formations, personnel available, motivation – take your pick.

Frank will have to work his magic, if he's got any left, and try and come up with some goals tomorrow. I'm not sure sticking to his tried and failed ideas are going to work.

It's time to gamble as with Calvert-Lewin crocked, the alternatives don't appeal. How about going with a front three of Gray, Cannon and Mills?

Something has to change to invigorate our attacking play and it may or may not work, but at least this would get me onto the edge of my seat.

Pickford
Patterson Coady Tarkowski Mykolenko
Garner Onana
Mills Iwobi Gray
Cannon

Paul Burns
43 Posted 11/11/2022 at 13:09:37
When people are happy to take a point against Bournemouth... BOURNEMOUTH! – you know your club is scraping the barrel.

this club lost any sense of pride, ambition or order decades ago yet the chief engineer of this ruin remains in place. Shame on us for meekly allowing it.

Trevor Peers
44 Posted 11/11/2022 at 13:28:40
The predicted forward line is an abomination. We haven't a hope in hell of scoring a goal and will be lucky to see a shot in each half, something we've been brainwashed into accepting since Lukaku left the club.

Obviously I hope I'm proved wrong tomorrow and the return of our defensive players should at least help us keep the score down.

I feel sorry for anyone traveling down there, the entertainment value will be zero. The club doesn't deserve the great support it receives, which was undoubtedly the only reason we didn't get relegated last season.

The slim hope that we finally sign a strike force, after this game, which could possibly be Lampard's last, is our only hope of avoiding another long hard slog to beat the dreaded drop into the Championship.

Why wasn't the issue addressed in the summer? The club is hopelessly run by amateurs.

Christy Ring
45 Posted 11/11/2022 at 13:41:47
We need to be offensive and score goals away from home. We can't leave a striker isolated; for that reason, I'd play Rondon and Maupay together up front, two wingers aren't doing enough.

Can we please forget about the "Lampard out" comments. He had his first window with little money, improved certain areas, and lost Richarlison as well. He needs time, and Tuesday night's embarrassment showed us, that's more or less the team he inherited. The problem is way higher: Moshiri and Kenwright.

Brian Murray
46 Posted 11/11/2022 at 14:04:53
Trevor @44.

Before the recent derby, there was a girl no older than 3 on her dad's shoulders welcoming the team in, just shouting "Everton, Everton". That was it for me. I went all Kenwright and Niagra Falls, As you say they don't deserve these awesome fans.

Graeme Beresford
47 Posted 11/11/2022 at 14:09:41
Yeah I'm not sure if anyone should be ‘Lampard Out' yet. I mean, we are right in the sense that he hasn't had loads of signings and certainly hasn't had ages to create the team he wants.

He realised last season that Keane and Holgate are not up to it so replaced them with Tarkowski and Coady. And he realised that the midfield of Allan and Doucoure wasn't working, so replaced them with Gana and Onana.

What he now needs to realise is that the wingers and forwards aren't working and he needs to get some more quality in. My only concern is that really, he's already seen this and decided to bring in McNeil and Maupay – in my opinion, two really really poor signings. McNeil is far too one-footed and Maupay's first touch is awful.

I do wonder whether Frank should push Iwobi back into a winger-type role, even though he's doing really well. Maybe a midfield of Doucoure, Gana and Onana would be okay and Iwobi can be more creative from the wing.

The reality is, Gordon, Gray, Maupay, McNeil, they all need to start producing. It's all good getting into the positions but shots on target is a problem. We seem to blaze every shot over the bar: two against Spurs, one against Bournemouth in the week, and others.

We simply need to be more attacking and go first goal up in a game. Gordon needs the performance of his life if he plays. And for Christ sake we need to score from a direct corner or free kick. Please, Christ.

Frank Sheppard
48 Posted 11/11/2022 at 14:12:13
This game seems like the equivalent of a 3 foot putt, for a nervous golfer.

Miss it, you hate yourself and confidence ebbs away...

Hole it, and it's just a relief, with no credit.

Danny O’Neill
49 Posted 11/11/2022 at 14:31:56
Brian Murray @46, on this weekend of all weekends, if we're not careful, we'll turn into Brian and Danny the Kenwright brothers.

See you next month, brother. T-shirts, hugs and all.

Raymond Fox
50 Posted 11/11/2022 at 14:36:33
Alan 29 team, but Maupay instead of Cannon and Doucoure instead of Gana.

Give them 2-hour shooting session today and give each of them a 2ft x 1ft photo of a set of goals just in case they can't recognize them.

Calvert-Lewin's absence is killing us slowly, bring Gordon and McNeil on at half-time.

I'm more hopeful than expectant because we can't seem to get the ball in the net.

Stu Darlington
51 Posted 11/11/2022 at 14:41:30
Eddie @39,

Good shout, I think you've said it all there, depressing though it may be.
Despite the fact that some fans on here love him, his system certainly stinks. He's always struck me as being tactically naive and reluctant to change things about when needed.

I'm not advocating sacking him, that's got us nowhere in the past, but maybe some of his coaching team need to get in his ear a bit more.

Looking at fans' team selections above, the only constant is the keeper and the back four, the rest are just best guess, and yet this is where games are mostly won or lost.

How we could go through a whole summer transfer window without signing anyone remotely resembling a striker is beyond me; no wonder we have no idea where the next goal is coming from.

I'm afraid if results and performances don't improve soon, Lampard's days are numbered and we will be back on the Magic Roundabout of looking for a new manager.

On a positive note, we are a lot better at the back and have played some good stuff at times but not nearly often enough or consistently enough.

Michael Lynch
52 Posted 11/11/2022 at 15:12:37
Although they're fit, I'd worry slightly about playing Gana and Onana, as both of them are off to the World cCup after this game and might shit out of the big tackles. Less so Coady, because he's unbreakable and I can't see him shitting out of anything, ever.

Chances are Onana will limp off with an imaginary injury in the first half. He's fast turning into Richarlison, the amount of time he spends writhing around the floor with his hand in the air.

Anyway, I'd start with Garner. The rest of the team, sadly, picks itself so we'll have McNeil, Maupay and Gray up top, which must surely be one of the weakest front lines in the history of the club?

I'm praying for a backs-to-the-wall 1-0 win to take us into the break.

Brian Murray
53 Posted 11/11/2022 at 15:19:21
Just for once, Blue Boys, let's at least be able to look them shower in the eye and keep out of the bottom three. If nothing happens in January, hope a genie pops out of all the blue smoke in April and May.
Andy Crooks
54 Posted 11/11/2022 at 15:22:51
I am confident we will win tomorrow and will take the 7/5 available. Battle on.
Rob Halligan
55 Posted 11/11/2022 at 16:32:47
Whatever the team is tomorrow, just make Conor Coady captain.

He is the one who will give anyone a rollicking during the game, he is the one who will shout and encourage and get the team going. He is the one who will get in the referee's face when things go against us, like the VAR decisions or a shithouse tackle, like Van Dijk or Mitrovic recently.

In fact... He is De Man!! Get him signed up and make him the permanent captain.

Rick Tarleton
56 Posted 11/11/2022 at 16:41:38
Pragmatism will probably dictate Lampard's policy. We have a point at the start and we will try to preserve that point. But, like so many people on this thread, I just hope that Lampard sets the team up so that winning looks a distinct possibility.

Almost an old 4-3-3, or 4-1-4-1, something that suggests attacking intent. I'd like to see Garner involved and wonder what the state of Gordon's mind is before we offer him a starting place.

If we could get a goal early on, perhaps it could become rather like the second part of the Palace match?

COYB.

Jay Harris
57 Posted 11/11/2022 at 16:41:53
Brian,

That is probably more to do with the fact we don't get in the opponent's half that often.

I have been saying all season that, away from home, we should play 4-4-2 and forget about wingers who are our weakest link anyway.

Our midfield needs someone to pass to and build up progressively rather than having to constantly pass back or lose possession.

The back 4 picks itself; in midfield, I would go with Garner and Gana holding and Onana and Iwobi advanced, with Maupay and Rondon up front.

Rondon is not everyone's cup of tea, but we need a physical presence to unsettle their centre-backs.

Hopefully Coady and Tarkowski can be the inspiration to stay on the front foot.

We need a result to restore some confidence and belief.

.

Tom Bowers
58 Posted 11/11/2022 at 16:44:40
It may or not be but many World Cup selections may not want to get injured tomorrow and this could affect some of the results not just in England but other countries too.

Coady has done well for Everton but it's likely Southgate has favourites ahead of him in the England first eleven.

Still it would be nice to see a stalwart performance by Everton defensively tomorrow for a change. Even in the Fulham game, Everton were all over the place at times on defence.

We need something to make the bad taste of those last two games go away.

Mike Owen
59 Posted 11/11/2022 at 16:50:21
I'm no tactical genius but stuck in my mind from Tuesday night is a memory of square ball, square ball, square ball, as a well-drilled opposition dart up to close us down, making it difficult for our man with the ball to thread a pass through to our lone striker, so instead we try a diagonal chip that doesn't come off.

You can blame the players out there for not being quicker, if you like. But in 16 games this season, there have only been two games in which we have scored more than one goal.

For me, we have got to play two up front. A big man, whether that be Calvert-Lewin, Rondon or Keane or whoever; and then Maupay or someone else alongside. And to get the ball to them, we have to go direct. I am sure that way, we'll create more chances.

I know it's not School of Science, but we are light-years from those days. We very much need 3 points at Bournemouth. We need to score goals, plural.

Am starting to wonder though about squad spirit and morale. The three centre-backs have been heavily criticised for Tuesday night, but we have seen each one of them play a lot better than that.

I am a big fan of Anthony Gordon and think he has come in for some unfair criticism in recent weeks, certainly given his performances last season, and the fact he is only 21, but his reckless late tackle suggests to me that he is just too frustrated at the moment.

However, perhaps what struck me most was seeing the much more experienced and usually level-headed Alex Iwobi throwing a punch at one of their players. That's two red cards on another night.

Better self-discipline is required. And the more support the away end can give, the better, especially at that tight little ground.

Rob Halligan
60 Posted 11/11/2022 at 16:57:17
Tom, the easiest way to get injured is by “shitting out of a tackle”. Go in half-hearted and it's likely that player will be the one to come out of it worse. A full crunching tackle is what's required

Let's face it, at the moment I think there's only Gana Gueye out of our three outfield players going to the World Cup who is a certain starter for his country. He's not one for a crunching tackle, more of a pickpocket type, who will nick the ball of an opponent.

So we should be okay regards tomorrow, and players not wanting to get injured, unless Pickford has a few mad moments and starts playing like a sweeper, taking everyone out who dares get in his way, and gets injured in the process.

Graeme Beresford
61 Posted 11/11/2022 at 17:00:08
I don’t understand for the life of me people saying play Keane up front. Crazy.
Dale Self
62 Posted 11/11/2022 at 17:01:01
Good stuff Brian 46 I needed that image.

And yes we run out of options fast when trying to beat a press. With Patterson back, we will do better but, with Gana and Seamus, there will be times when we just have to send it forward.

I would be playing Gordon on the right if selected for specifically that task of chasing it down and at least forcing some problems rather than hacking clear.

Iwobi in the centre but moving left to help either Gray, McNeil or Vinagre for possession and creating space for Mykolenko as a backpass option. Those should be able to work some space and get some marauding stuff around the box.

Danny O’Neill
63 Posted 11/11/2022 at 17:32:18
Brian Harrison @59, very good post.

The most important statement is about having players comfortable with a football. For too long, it's why English and British football has failed. We're generally scared of the football and our youth coaching is more about "getting rid". Time and place.

And before anyone quotes me on the success of the Premier League, how many English or British players are in the successful teams? We're getting better but still not exploiting what's on our grassroots doorstep because youth coaching is not there. At least Pep is looking into it.

Rob Halligan; Coady is the captain. He doesn't need the armband. We can see it from the warm-ups. He and Tarkowski may only have been there a few months, but they are showing leadership that we haven't seen in a long time.

Mal van Schaick
64 Posted 11/11/2022 at 17:39:55
This is a must-win, or else shades of last season's struggle all because of a failure to buy a couple of more strikers.
Mike Gaynes
65 Posted 11/11/2022 at 17:40:46
Graeme #71, it's a holdover from our childhood games when we always played the big kid up front. It usually worked.

Rob #65, Coady is the vocal leader and a worthy captain, but I'd argue that Tarkowski's commitment makes him the leader by example. He may lack pace and have issues on the ball sometimes, but he is the best shot-blocker I have ever seen, anywhere, ever. He has 35 this year. Nobody else in the league has more than 16. When his teammates make mistakes, it's Tark that covers them -- and prevents them from getting through to Pickford.

Danny #73, amen. I wailed for years about this club's lack of on-pitch leadership. We have it now.

Rob Halligan
66 Posted 11/11/2022 at 17:41:48
Danny, I meant to say that Coady doesn't need the captain's armband to bark orders out, but he probably does need it when confronting the referee.

Anyway, there should be eleven captains out on the pitch, to bollock, give orders or encourage teammates. It doesn't need one player to do all that.

Colin Malone
67 Posted 11/11/2022 at 17:52:24
A bad manager always blames his players.
Paul Washington
68 Posted 11/11/2022 at 18:00:56
It's not a do or die, but certainly feels like one.

We seem to loose games in runs of twos and threes, I feel Frank could be in trouble if we don't get anything out of this.

If he does get the push, knowing us, it would take the 6 weeks of World Cup time to get someone in!!!

Brian Hennessy
69 Posted 11/11/2022 at 18:01:48
Anyone interested in going to the game tomorrow in a helicopter, I’m looking for 2 people to join me and my mate. Leave at 10am from John Lennon airport and land in public park near the ground. Have lunch, few pints, watch match and then fly home.

PM me if interested, preferably someone with a helicopter and stand tickets, otherwise we can’t go.

I’ll buy the pints.

Bill Gall
70 Posted 11/11/2022 at 18:02:11
The difference I notice between Everton and other clubs is they seem capable of scoring from good chances and easy ones, whilst Everton can’t even score from the easy ones.

We get chances but, as some people say, it goes to the wrong player who misses it.

I understand a top scorer is worth his weight in gold, but watching the training sessions at Finch Farm, everybody seems to have very little problem scoring both easy and difficult, so the only thing I can think of, on match day they lack confidence.

To me, this is not going to be easy as Bournemouth rested a number of their normal starting 11 and do score goals, but they do have a problem defensively.

And here's hoping that the team tomorrow perform a lot better than the team in the last game.

Bill Gall
71 Posted 11/11/2022 at 18:12:10
Brian,

I got in touch with a friend who owns a helicopter but he says, with the price of fuel going up, the best he can do from John Lennon airport is Southport beach.

Will Mabon
72 Posted 11/11/2022 at 18:13:19
Brian - sorry, awaiting new parts for mine. Weather not looking the most suitable either. Maybe next time.
Jeff Armstrong
73 Posted 11/11/2022 at 18:34:33
Brian 79,

I've got the chopper on standby, just waiting for the Mrs to give me the go-ahead, should be able to come around 12 ish, a couple of swifties and “game on”.

Mike Gaynes
75 Posted 11/11/2022 at 18:46:44
Brian #79,

My Lear jet is free, I'll have the pilot bring it back from the Maldives tonight. We've been hiding it to avoid sanctions.

Rob Halligan
76 Posted 11/11/2022 at 18:49:02
Brian,

It's a pity you didn't have a word with Brent Stephens, who's got a pedalo on standby for when the new stadium opens. You could have had a word with him about pedalling down to Bournemouth, setting off in August, and you might have just made it!!

Mike Owen
77 Posted 11/11/2022 at 18:53:04
Graeme, 71, would it really be crazy to play Michael Keane up front? Allow me to put it another way:

Please check this, but I think you'll find that nobody else in the squad, other than Seamus and the injured Calvert-Lewin, has more Everton goals to his name than Michael Keane. Eleven, I believe.

Mike, 75, If it's a holdover, it's from being brought up watching John Hurst and Mick Lyons being sent up front. I certainly remember Mick starting games as an emergency centre forward, sometimes to good effect. Arguably, managers were more pragmatic in those days.

Dennis Stevens
78 Posted 11/11/2022 at 18:57:03
Interesting idea, Mike.

I'd certainly prefer Keane positioned amongst their central defenders than ours. I believe he's currently second to Seamus on the oggie front, but from less appearances tbf.

Jeff Armstrong
79 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:01:44
Mike #85, if he’s under sanctions and he’s got to get from the Maldives to Speke in a few hours, I hope he’s not Rush’n
Rob Halligan
80 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:03:18
Yerry Mina could play up front. Remember his headed goal against England in the last World Cup, then his two away at Watford about two years ago. Not the quickest, but as a nuisance value, he would be an ideal target man.
Jeff Armstrong
81 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:05:44
Rob, he’d last about 10 minutes, don’t forget there’s a World Cup coming up!
Tony Abrahams
82 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:06:42
I was wondering if Moshiri was hiding himself to avoid sanctions, but there doesn’t look like there are any signs of him relinquishing his hold on our club just yet.
Rob Halligan
83 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:09:24
True Jeff, but he could still stand there like one of Lewis's dummies pretending to look active, and distract one or two of the opposition defence.
Mike Gaynes
84 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:12:29
Mike #87, it worked pretty well with Watson and Fellaini too!

Jeff #91, Colombia didn't qualify. Yerry's got a few weeks off.

Eddie Dunn
85 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:13:02
In that case, we should go 4-4-2 with Keane and Mina up top.
Paul Kernot
86 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:25:30
Bill. Can you pick me up on the way mate? I'll wait on the tarmac at Auckland airport. What time should I be there?
Dale Self
87 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:27:47
So it is settled, Iwobi at the 6 and Keane at the 9. Who said Frank's a conservative?
Jeff Armstrong
88 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:39:43
Mike 94,

Yerry's ALWAYS got a few weeks off.

If he was on a pay-as-you-play contract, he'd owe US money.

Tony Abrahams
89 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:49:27
I've just watched The Kiwi's putting more aggression into The Hakka than I see Everton put into a whole 90 minutes. Just got to see how they perform now against the best rugby league nation on the planet.
Brian Wilkinson
90 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:50:32
I think Lyndon has as good as nailed the starting 11, the only change I see in that 11 Lyndon is he will start with Patterson.

We would all love to try something different, but Frank will go safety first, without any surprises.

A few posters who have named putting Mills in, for either Gordon or Gray to start with, will get no arguments from me, Mills getting a start.

A couple of days after a 9-minute cameo role for Mills and Cannon, they then faced the PSG youngsters, with Mills contributing to both goals, and Cannon scoring both, in a 2-1 win.

At the moment, we are struggling for goals, so why not sacrifice a player and go two up top, either Maupay and Cannon, or like some have said, Rondon and Maupay?

I will still bang the drum on Mills getting a bit more game time, someone who does not run down a blind allay, and can pick a pass out to a team mate, a better footballing brain than Gordon and Gray, and unselfishness in his game, he knows when to shoot on goal, or if there is a better option to a team mate on.

Anyway waste of time even thinking Mills or Cannon will get any game time, but that's my thoughts on the starting 11.

Just win Saturday Everton please.

Graeme Beresford
91 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:53:01
Mike Owen @ 87,

He may just be. However, you can't just put him up front. We have Rondon who will be the better option.

It never worked when we put Steve Watson up front all them years ago. It's pointless. He won't do it, no point talking about it.

Jeff Armstrong
92 Posted 11/11/2022 at 19:58:52
Graeme 101, didn't Watson score a hat-rick playing up front?

And which performance made you think Rondon is a better option than Keane upfront?

People say Frank is a conservative, he proves it weekly with his selections and subs.

Jay Harris
93 Posted 11/11/2022 at 20:11:39
Mike,

Keane's best position is a seat in the stands.

I agree with the principle that our best chance of goals is from our centre-backs.

We just need someone to fire those corners and free kicks in though.

Mike Owen
94 Posted 11/11/2022 at 20:21:25
Graeme, for me, the way Keane controlled that ball then slotted it home against Palace last May showed the striker in him.

Danny Baily
95 Posted 11/11/2022 at 20:23:32
I'd put Gray up top in the nuisance Richarlison role that was effective last season. We started with that set-up this season but Gordon was the wrong fit for that role (apart from the diving).
Dave Abrahams
96 Posted 11/11/2022 at 20:33:03
Simms just scored a cracker for Sunderland!!
Bill Gall
97 Posted 11/11/2022 at 20:39:18
Paul sorry just got your message I am sorry once we work out the fuel stations it may take 5 days or more to get there. Meant to let Brian to know my friend also has a hot air balloon , the problem is depending on the wind he may end up in either Bournemouth or Glasgow.
Dennis Stevens
98 Posted 11/11/2022 at 20:40:30
Aye, Dave. Simms' 4th goal of the season - double our top scorer so far!
Tony Everan
99 Posted 11/11/2022 at 20:52:49
Dave, it’s a bit ironic isn’t it, when the thrust of the thread is about our lack of a front man who can find the net.

“Alex Pritchard and Amad Diallo work the way past the giant defenders in blue and find Ellis Simms in space in the box.

He does the business with a fine finish, shooting across John Ruddy into the bottom corner.”

Ray Roche
100 Posted 11/11/2022 at 20:53:35
Jeff@102

Wasn’t that Steve Watson who scored a hat trick playing as a temporary striker?

Brendan McLaughlin
101 Posted 11/11/2022 at 21:16:49
Dave #112

Simms "on his own upfront so it's a tiresome job"...sounds like the perfect preparation for his return to Everton.

Dave Abrahams
102 Posted 11/11/2022 at 21:47:41
Brendan, yes, he will feel right at home when he comes back, and another former Everton striker, Jutkiewicz, has just got Birmingham back in the game.
Si Cooper
103 Posted 11/11/2022 at 21:51:42
One-time Everton prospect Lukas Jutkiewicz has been making a nuisance of himself and has scored a nice goal for Birmingham.

Maybe he'd be the answer to our striking problems (or maybe decent form in the lower leagues doesn't mean they'd be banging them in weekly in the Premier League).

Who'd be a manager with fans second-guessing everything? We definitely need to be positive and sharp tomorrow. 3 points would be a big boost going into the break; losing would be depressing and worrying.
UTFT!

Brendan McLaughlin
104 Posted 11/11/2022 at 21:59:54
Si #117

I'm hoping Frank may go rogue and play his best 11 tomorrow in order to try and win a match...hopefully it'll be enough.

Si Cooper
105 Posted 11/11/2022 at 22:15:25
Brendan, at this point of the season, better to get beat going for it than meekly waiting for the opposition to fold.
Dave Abrahams
106 Posted 11/11/2022 at 22:16:11
That Birmingham v Sunderland game has just finished and what a hard match it was, with players having to fight for very ball and every inch of space, Simms might learn to fight and look after himself playing in that league but I imagined some of our players turning out in that environment at the moment, they’d just freeze.

No VAR in the championship and some of the tackles flying in and the referee just waving play on, I saw, to me, three clear penalties and I think you’d have to pull a knife out and stab someone to get sent off.

Please God, don’t let us go down there, it really could be the end.

Andy Meighan
107 Posted 11/11/2022 at 22:17:03
Brian 40. You don't actually believe that Pochettino would touch this basket case of a club do you. Anyone looking at that squad of players would run a mile. I'm firmly in the Lampard must stay camp. But as much as he is a likeable lad he's hardly doing himself any favours. We truly don't look like a side that's got a goal in us and I can't see anything changing tomorrow. I sincerely hope he's got at least ONE striker if not two lined up in Jan otherwise I fear this time next season we could be facing Blackpool, Millwall or Hull away tomorrow. Why can't they just prove me wrong for once.
Kieran Kinsella
108 Posted 11/11/2022 at 22:26:19
Jutkiewicz? He must be getting on a bit now.
Danny O’Neill
109 Posted 11/11/2022 at 22:52:20
I've been greeted by a Haka. Impressive as much as it is aggressive. Pure passion and in your face.

I hope Everton show passion tomorrow and get in the faces of the opposition. They don't need telling after Tuesday, they should know it. And they owe it to those travelling and those getting up around the globe, some at ridiculous times to follow and support them.

@Rob, I know what you meant. Traffic and trains dependent, the Mello, Mello this time.

Otherwise see you all there in the ground. In person or in spirit.

Colin Malone
110 Posted 12/11/2022 at 01:28:04
Just watched Frank's Bournemouth pre-match preview.

Getting boring now, Frank, getting fucking boring.

Bill Fairfield
111 Posted 12/11/2022 at 08:12:35
Our fans turn up every week, passionate and committed. It would be good if the players did as well.

The last two performances were just not good enough. Constantly giving the ball away in a casual manner can only lead to even more defeats. Looking for a massive improvement today.

Jonathan Tasker
112 Posted 12/11/2022 at 08:30:59
Bournemouth have players that can score.

Everton don't.

The 6-week gap until the next match will be interesting...

Robert Tressell
113 Posted 12/11/2022 at 08:51:10
When the team is playing this badly, I'm not sure there's a tactics / formation / personnel solution as such.

It's more about people knowing their jobs and doing them properly.

That said, I would probably play Rondon because Maupay on his own so obviously doesn't work.

Andy Meighan
114 Posted 12/11/2022 at 09:32:46
I hear some saying get Keane or Mina up front. We could have Haaland, Salah, and Kane up top today and they wouldn't see the ball. The service into our so-called frontmen is abysmal. And who'd supply the crosses for the two galoots up top anyway?

I don't know nothing about this Mills kid but a lot on here seem to, so why not give him a start, an unknown quantity might just work. Personally I think it'll be the usual suspects, Gray, Gordon and Maupay.

A draw I wouldn't be over the moon but I'd take it. It's the worry about where the goals are coming from...

James Marshall
115 Posted 12/11/2022 at 09:54:29
Bournemouth have conceded the most goals in the league so far (32) and we've scored the second least (11) in 14 games.

I mean, seriously. Only Wolves have scored less than us (8).

Mark that down as a 0-0 then.

Ajay Gopal
116 Posted 12/11/2022 at 09:55:09
Mike (post # 104, and others), I get where you are coming from regarding playing Keane as a CF, and strangely I got those vibes while watching the team training video on the Official Site a couple of weeks ago. For about 3-4 minutes, they showed Keane taking striking practice, and I thought 'Surely Not'? But like you said Keane is a decent striker of the ball, and now that he is out of World Cup contention (if ever he was), he could very well be a genuine option.
James Marshall
117 Posted 12/11/2022 at 09:57:47
50p head up front? I'd pay the admission to see that comedy show!
John Kavanagh
118 Posted 12/11/2022 at 10:11:26
So here we are, back in familiar territory. Looking to see if we can eke out a point by keeping a clean sheet against the mighty Bournemouth.

Everything depends on which Everton turns up. The competitive one or the metronome side to side then misplace a two yard backpass one.

I still have a small particle of undue optimism remaining that Blue Bill hasn't managed to eradicate yet despite our Board's best efforts over many years.

I'm therefore going for a goalless draw, but for Christ's sake Everton give our magnificent long suffering away supporters SOMETHING to cheer, even if it's only a tackle. A shot on goal (Davies' satellite busters don't count!) has become too much to ask for.

Jonathan Tasker
119 Posted 12/11/2022 at 10:15:27
On Tuesday Lampard made three massive errors.
Firstly, he chose a reserve team for a tournament which was the only one that Everton could reasonably win. This in itself showed he’s clueless.
Secondly Everton got battered in a match that Bournemouth weren’t even bothered about.
Thirdly, Lampard massively criticised his players in public.
All of these factors demonstrate that Lampard should not be Everton manager.
Raymond Fox
120 Posted 12/11/2022 at 10:21:34
The betting has us slight favs. but its also saying its a likely to be a drawn game.

I've no clue what the result will be as we cant get the ball in the net, away games are always difficult whoever you play.
We're battling Bournemouth at the bottom, so its extra important we get some sort of a result.

Your guess is as good as mine.

Nick Page
121 Posted 12/11/2022 at 10:25:00
You better fucking win this Frank.
Craig Walker
122 Posted 12/11/2022 at 10:25:15
For those saying we should get rid of Lampard, who do we get instead? Ancelotti couldn’t make us good and he won the CL again last season. People on here didn’t like the football we played. RS reserves dumped us out the FA cup. I don’t think Guardiola or Klopp could make this group of players be where we think we belong. We need changes at the top. Frank is doing okay with the limited resources he has available. People were advocating Potter last season. He’s not exactly setting Chelsea alight. Who else? Return of Roberto? Dyche? Parker?
Steve Shave
123 Posted 12/11/2022 at 10:26:53
I think this is a must win game for Frank. Pressure is mounting albeit prematurely in my eyes. We aren't going to win many with Gray and Gordon as our main attacking threat, both decent players but it's not enough not with the system we play. I fear if we lose the knives will be out.

For any of you deluded enough to think Poch would come, think again. To get him we'd have to "buy" him with a fortune, we know how that turns out don't we - see Carlo and Koeman. I think there is probably some legs in the Bobby brown shoes rumour.

I want to see renewed vigour and consistency this afternoon, the players need to stand up for the boss, he deserves that.

Tony Hill
124 Posted 12/11/2022 at 10:27:48
For no good reason, I am suddenly optimistic - both about today and the rest of the season. Leicester and the other night were inexcusable but now I sense the resurrection.

Old age, almost certainly.

Brian Murray
125 Posted 12/11/2022 at 10:41:08
A few blues on here and in general are having a moan me included sometimes but we are willing Frank to get this right. Not sure the owner sees it that way and his attitude and actions over the next month will tell us a lot. Until every and I mean every player that has let us down needs to go because their mentality will drag us down again. I know that’s an ideal world but that should be the aim. Same goes for the running of the club has to change.
Rob Dolby
126 Posted 12/11/2022 at 10:47:25
Keep it tight, sit deep and hit them on the break. 451.

Pickford
Patterson Coady Tarkowski Mykolenko
Garner, Gana, Onana, Iwobi, Gray
Rondon if fit otherwise Mauphey.

The manager has a point to prove after Tuesday.

We suffered 11 years of Moyes and after 10 months people are calling for lampard's head.

The club is a basket case from the top down and has been for 25 years. In one transfer window we look defensively sound, you only have to compare that to Tuesday night.

Midfield looks stronger defensively.

We lost our best striker to injury again and sold a Brazilian number 9. It doesn't take a genius to see where our problems are.

In January it looks like Dele might be back hopefully with a better attitude. We must already have players lined up to try and bring in.

I just don't see the point in pulling the trigger again only 10 months in. It will not solve anything.

Although it might be tongue in cheek people calling for a defender to play up top highlights what Lampard has got at his disposal.

Today will be a nervy game for the fans, Bournemouth like to attack but give opportunities. Fingers crossed Gray and Mauphey have their shooting boots on.

UTT

Danny O’Neill
127 Posted 12/11/2022 at 10:59:17
Made the tight train connection at Reading. Drinks trolley in view. Destination Bournemouth (again). Should be in before 1pm for a liquid lunch.

Come on Everton. Don't do this does us twice in 4 days. Let's go and do this.

Dave Williams
128 Posted 12/11/2022 at 11:04:32
I felt sorry for Frank on Tuesday( though more so for our fantastic travelling supporters). That team he selected was perfectly capable of winning and he, like his predecessors was let down by a bunch of highly paid so called “professionals) who should not be making the basic errors at this point in their careers.

I have always supported Tom but he had a great chance to push for the first team and completely blew it. Keane is just not good enough- Coady and Tarkowski are not quick either but they know how to compensate for their lack of pace and they defend as if their lives depended on it- not something that can be said about Keane. Doucoure has seldom been the player he was at Watford and Maupay has a thankless task leading the line with his physical stature. Rondon would be a better bet but he seems to have disappeared and Frank clearly doesn’t rate him. We could do far worse then throw in young Cannon and see what he can do.

I am still mystified at having loaned out Sims. Big, strong and showed again last night that he can finish- if we can recall him then we should, even if just to bring off the bench. Give him a chance and he is likely to score.

Frank will be under enormous pressure if we lose today and he hasn’t helped himself with the lack of a decent striker having to be at least in part down to him. He has to stop messing about with Onana and play him in his best position. Gueye needs a rocket up his backside and told to sit in front of the back four and just play simple passes to a man in space. Iwobi needs to be released to play as a number 10.

Wingers are part of the problem- we have them but Gray is inconsistent, McNeil is not convincing and Gordon is a red card walking. Frank needs to get hold of Gordon and sort him out. He needs to slow down a bit, think about the game he is in, and stop trying to kick opponents. He threw away a chance of going to the World Cup with his attitude and performances this season and we need him sorted out and back to form quickly.

I would ditch wingers for this game and go for:

Pickford
Patterson Coady Tarkowski Mykolenko
Gueye
Garner Iwobi Onana
Gray Maupay( Id go Cannon for Maupay but Frank won’t)

Four proper midfielders should give us decent possession at least.
We must not lose!!

Brian Hennessy
129 Posted 12/11/2022 at 11:10:11
Mike @75. I've been here at the airport since 10am but can't find you or your jet. Are you on the way? Starting to get worried we won't make kick-off.
Brian Murray
130 Posted 12/11/2022 at 11:27:17
Danny o you do know the first sign of madness or instability is doing the same thing over again 😂, Hope I’m wrong and you enjoy today
Rob Halligan
131 Posted 12/11/2022 at 11:40:19
Just leaving Cherwell Valley services, Danny, so it looks like a 2pm arrival for us.
Steavey Buckley
133 Posted 12/11/2022 at 12:00:29
Frank Lampard is far too cautious to make ambitious decisions, but for some unknown reasons he will select Gana and Onana who are not so cautious judging by the amount of times they lose possession of the ball to the opposition.
Rob Dolby
134 Posted 12/11/2022 at 12:17:14
133 Steavey, I have read you post a few times and still can't understand what you mean. Your not the helicopter pilot are you?

Steavey Buckley
135 Posted 12/11/2022 at 12:33:37
Rob #134 clearly Frank Lampard has to make drastic decisions about who plays today after 2 previous poor displays, but it remains unlikely Frank Lampard will make those drastic decisions, instead, he will keeping on choosing players who usually fail.
Christopher Timmins
136 Posted 12/11/2022 at 12:41:27
To those who are making their second journey in 4 days to the south coast, you deserve a positive result today, you are certainly owed one. It will be a very bad sign if there is not a reaction to the midweek performance.

At close of business for the World Cup we could potentially have a scenario that Moyes and or Lampard might be in trouble, in my view that would be a very harsh judgement on both but that's the crazy world of football.

Darren Hind
137 Posted 12/11/2022 at 12:51:37
I wasnt shocked by what Happened on Tuesday night. With the exception of the Palace game we have been garbage.

The only difference I saw was that the shots that have been saved by Pickford, whistled just wide of out posts, or smacked back off the woodwork finally found their way into the net on Tuesday. Unless we change more hammerings will follow.
We are a good performance from opposition strikers away from a hammering every game.

We've been on the back foot for ten years. Its about time we rewarded these magnificent fans with a performance of intent.
I don't care if our strikers are injured. Get players in the bournemouth box and lets approach this game like we intend to win it


Nick Page
138 Posted 12/11/2022 at 12:52:00
If only Everton some of the aggression and attacking capabilities of …. BRENTFORD. Fucking Brentford. Taking the game to City. That’s what you’ve done to us Kenwright you despicable lying charlatan.
Robert Tressell
139 Posted 12/11/2022 at 12:53:43
Steavey, it's a very good point. In the investment world it gets called reckless caution - being so cautious you can never achieve your goals. We need to be braver overall (which is why it was so disappointing to see Lampard pick a weak team in the cup game). We also need to be more more disciplined. I don't mind Gueye and Onana just sitting in front of the back 4 keeping it simple. You're right their attempt at possession is terrible. They just need to sit with the aim of releasing the full backs and keeping the likes of Iwobi and forward players higher up the pitch. And if Maupay needs a partner to play off (as he did at Brighton with Welbeck) then give him Rondon. Cannon has come on this season but I don't think he'll ever be a Premier League striker. I'd be delighted to be proved wrong though. Genuinely delighted.
Brian Murray
140 Posted 12/11/2022 at 12:54:57
Nick. Some fans ( and editors) still don’t see it or want to see it.
Nick Page
141 Posted 12/11/2022 at 13:13:20
The way Kenwright operates is like a dictator - anyone that wants “access” to the club can’t possibly question his leadership. Look at the TV fan forum (you know the one). It’s an absolute embarrassment - not a single word ever said about the state of the football club and it’s out of time management. Kenwright is a paranoid fucking coward with spies everywhere and he knows exactly what he’s doing …. basically it’s a fear of being found out. Which is why he won’t ever face the fans, comfortable in his directors box bubble. Wizard of Oz stuff; look behind the curtain.

If the team got as angry as me they’d be unbeatable lol.

Steavey Buckley
142 Posted 12/11/2022 at 13:21:45
Robert #139 Everton defensively have done alright this season especially when Patterson was playing. It's in midfield and upfront where Everton are weak and inconsistent, usually hampered by players who keep losing possession. Although it would help if Everton employed a goal scoring coach who could show Everton players how to score goals and beat the goal keeper on an one to one situation with goal keeper.
Robert Tressell
143 Posted 12/11/2022 at 13:35:46
Steavey I had hoped Garner would step into midfield and sort that out because he's better on the ball than Gueye and more mature (albeit probably less talented) than Onana. It looks like he's injured though unfortunately.

In terms of taking chances, I know what you mean. But I see the likes of Jesus, Nunez, Rashford, Sterling etc all miss tonnes of chances every game. It happens.

Our big problem is that we only create about 1 or 2 decent chances per match. We need to find a way to create more chances to score.

Andy Crooks
144 Posted 12/11/2022 at 13:54:11
Tony Hill @124, good post. I feel the same. I think we will win today and it will kick us off.

Darren, @ 137, good to see you posting again. I agree, if we approach today with fear and caution we will get beaten. But in the name of God, we should be going to Bournemouth, yes fucking Bournemouth with their shit squad, two dozen fans and stand-in coach, with the intention of thrashing them.

If we go negative, it is down to one man.

Pete Jeffries
145 Posted 12/11/2022 at 14:00:07
The only way we can get a result is to get players in and around their box
The odds are Bournemouth will score but they're also vulnerable at the back
Too many players either don't know what they are supposed to be doing or are simply not good enough or don't give us 100% on the pitch but are happy to take their overblown pay packets
They know and we know who the guilty ones are
Meanwhile its always the loyal fans who suffer most
Let's give the travelling support their moneys worth and go for it

Andy Meighan
146 Posted 12/11/2022 at 14:31:08
Nick 138.

If Frank is to perish, and I wouldn't put it past this board, Thomas Frank is the manager I'd want.


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