Everton vs Leeds United

Calvert-Lewin is making Delph look like Linford Christie in his pomp.

I'd love to know why we thought he would ever be fit this season, the logic should have been signing his replacement last August and if he was fit for any games then fair enough it's a bonus.

Ridiculous negligence of duty from the clown club.

Ffs just give him to away.

He is a distraction. It's why players like Simms, Maupay and even Rondon never got a game. It's because we are constantly MONITORING DOMINIC. Forget him. Stop talking about him. If he gets fit fine but wait until he's fighting fit which btw will be never. Give, sell, loan out, whatever but ffs get rid. Talisman my arse !!

If we are to blame anyone for Dom's poor run of injuries and our subsequent lack of firepower, then that blame should be directed solely at the board. It's criminal that a striker wasn't purchased in the summer, especially after trousering £60M for Richy. It's just gross negligence that we did not bring anyone in in the window just gone, despite trousering another £40M for Gordon.

We then hire a manager who notoriously needs a target man to play his system, our survival depends on this system being implemented correctly. Instead they cross their fingers and pray for Dom to suddenly shake off two years of injury problems. Now here we are trying to decide between an untested kid and Neal bloody Maupay. Fucking pathetic way to run a club.

Sean Dyche will have to write-off having DCL available to him for the rest of the season, and if the lad does regain full fitness, that will be a bonus, but until then, the manager has to formulate a plan that can win points.

It doesn't matter how he does it, but he has to somehow find a way, either by having Gray as a striker, or Simms and Maupay as a two, or whatever way is possible, we can't continue to be toothless, with or without Dominic.

Cancel his fucking contract. And tell him to fuck off. Down we go

I'm spending another day at of my life and a lot of my money to follow our team on Saturday.

I will leave at an early hour and get home late.

All I Iexpext is the same commitment.

Against Leeds we will certainly need this ability to retain possession, win free kicks and throw ins in the opposition half.

So it's down to Ellis Simms, or will he go left field and put Keane up there. Maybe Simms/Maupay in a 4411 the best combination? Simms' aerial ability is not great which is a big problem in our set up .

Who knows ? Keane and Gray could be better. Whatever you pick it's a shot in the dark.

It's a massive match that will be pivotal for our survival hopes. The supporters again will need to be the twelfth man to try to tip the balance and make the difference.

Madness, utter madness.

"You hear that, Mr. Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability"

Calvert-Lewin being out is very bad news, but moaning about it won't make anything better, but trying to find a solution, might?

Find another way Dychey, because it's us against the world, right now

I ask because the injuries seem to be quadricep muscle and hamstring.

I also recall Duncan Ferguson spending much of his patchy career injured - maybe that was all in his head? Possibly as a result of wearing a kilt instead of trousers.

I'm interested to, hopefully, see Simms given a run of matches to find his feet at this level. He's done so before, but is this a step up too far for him?
Fingers crossed!

It is pointless giving him a start in a vicious Anfield derby if you then take him out on Saturday in a game we need to be winning.

By the way Farhard "we'll get a striker don't worry" Moshiri, well where the f#ck is he???

Football is all about hard work and improvisation. I'm just glad the pragmatic Dyche, is managing us, rather than the diplomatic Lampard, and once the tackles start flying in, hopefully Goodison, can become a bear-pit.

WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED - it's our song for a bloody good reason! Sometimes football is just all about fighting, and fighting is always better, than sitting there feeling sorry for yourselves, so let's just get behind the team.

He is a slow starter with every step up since the u18s but performs once in a rhythm.

But we don't have time I hear you cry!

Well in that case how do we expect a player that hasn't even got a club to just slot right in? Kruse or Jorgensen would need time too. This isn't the solution.

It's a crap situation borne of our horrific financial situation and the mugs who combined to cause it.

But Simms and Maupay, probably as a double act, have enough to cause trouble for weaker sides than the RS.

Gross miss-management of the highest order. Thanks Bill

Best we all assume he isn't playing again this season and then anything above that is a bonus.

The real issue here is that the problem with his fitness was known months ago - and has been rumbling on for 18 months or so now. At least three transfer windows have passed. Failing to secure reasonable cover at the very least is negligence of the highest order and will quite probably relegate the club.

This isn't DCL's fault. I've no idea if Simms can make the grade, if Maupay can deliver his 7-9 goals per season in an end of year flurry or if Keane can turn into a latter day Mick Lyons; all I can say - all any of us can say - is that we shouldn't be forced into a position where - as fans, stakeholders in the club - we're even contemplating these questions.

What maddens me most is that the club did not learn from last season when banking on him coming back from fitness to rescue us almost got us relegated. What business bases their success on just one person? It's crazy - football is a team game!

It is also very frustrating because everyone knew we needed a decent striker to cover when DCL is out since before last season even ended. We have gone through 2 transfer windows now without it being sorted. It's a disgrace and could cost us dearly.

I'm not buying it being about lack of money or no-one being out there. We spent a good amount on various players over the summer - surely some of that should have been used to find a good striker to cover for DCL and give him proper competition. Other sides manage to sign strikers when they need them so there must be some out there.

I know we signed Maupay but that doesn't count as he is a non-scoring striker. That is about as much good as an open toed welly to us at the moment.

Simms hasn't got the tools to be lone striker, it's got to be Maupay playing off him.

Cloughie would often put his center halves up front when he was out of options. I wonder if playing MK or big Yerry up front has crossed Dyche's mind ?

I kinda skipped over suggestions on here a few weeks back that we try to put one of the center halves up front...But that was then. We grow increasingly desperate.

I would personally go for Simms, but I wouldnt be at all surprised if Dyche asks one of his defenders to try to do a Mick Lyons.

The young man has been expected to lead our front line for a good few years and mostly without support or a mentor apart from Dunc. Yet you want to slate him for not being fit to play. The man has already been on record saying he has struggled mentally being injured and he is also aware that he is our only option up front.

Might be a big burden for Him

So for some to say cancel his contract or he injured his skirt !! beggars belief

Glassar I expect better from you I always thought you were well rounded
Nick Page just fucking behave mate

Injury looks like it's with him for the rest of his career now and will need careful management. Source: Watched Toffee Twitter.

I read this tweet prior to Dyche's revelation that DCL would be out of Saturday's game. I'm still unsure what he means by all options explored including insurance on the player? More penny-pinching or just the usual protocol?

Probably BS but like I said, Sturridge was another one who convinced himself he was always injured.

Btw, I've been a massive DCL fan so I'm not bashing him.

That ones for you James.

You're not on your own. Many blues do the same week in and week out. The hope keeps us going.

Now in times of desperation and dire need risks have to be taken. He did ok against the reds the other night considering the circumstances. Time to give him a chance right now and it's up to Dyche to put a formation together that enables Simms to be more effective at this level. It's now or never.

I feel like I' going through an Everton Menopause right now.

I'll be good come tomorrow and Saturday.

It's Karaoke in the local tonight. That should sort me out..–

Fully fit, Calvert Lewin would be the first name on the team sheet every week. He's a class player. Of course, it might be that he is one of those players who's career is blighted and ultimately cut short by injury. WHich is why our useless, embarrassing, criminally negligent board should have been signing forwards, like every other team seems to have done.

Dyche in his presser was talking about how hard it was to find a forward. Really? How come everyone else seems to have signed dozens of the fuckers while we've signed jack shit.

Mind you, right now, I'd be grateful to have Jack Shit on the bench, rather than two hundred central defenders and our Tom.

May I suggest Thin Lizzy's " The Boys Are Back In Town " and Elton John's " Saturday Nights (well afternoon, on the pitch) For Fighting " ? Not suggesting fisticuffs v Leeds but Fighting for our Survival and carrying on from the Arsenal match.

COYB

Unless it's a double bluff.

Only way to hurt Fat Slug and his mob is to boycott the club on match days.
I been doing it for months and months.

My principals men more to me than attending Goodison.
Have been to watch Chester,Tranmere,and Man City…much more enjoyable.

Vote with your wallet 👹👹👹👹👹👹

Until its over we have hope!

Anyone blaming dyche? Only one willing to take this job on!

Mina: causes mayhem yet full of effort, certainly a consideration but unknown threat? Fitness an issue but good for an hour.
Holgate: young and fit, experienced but not so great in the air, but could adapt?
Keane: big presence but hardly mobile, knows where the goal is, not short of the odd goal or two.

Point being anyone of the three allows the rest of the team to play in their natural positions which makes the team look more solid as a unit. It's obviously not a preferred option for any, but circumstances need dealing with. We are where we are, the post mortem comes after we are dead, not while we have survival to fight for.

We have inexperienced kids as back up and expect them to be a Rooney overnight and pull the rest of the team out of the crap. It's not going to happen. Bringing in a free agent is not an option because they won't be fit enough to make a difference, remember Rondon?

Frankly, roll the Dyche, tinkering with formations with the same players will fail. As every single bloody manager has found out to his cost for the past 7 years.

We all know why we are here, we have all been quick enough to point the finger at players, managers or the board, with various degrees of justification I might add, but we have probably the best manager for the position we are in and he needs to forget the hype and put an effective unit out. The are footballers, mostly very experienced. I would gather the centre backs together and ask them, I need a centre forward, which one of you thinks they can do a job?
Ridiculous? Yes, absurd to expect? Probably. Effective? Possibly. Pointless? No.
For the good of the team.

Lets hope Newcastle are daft yet again to throw us another 㿙 million in the summer.

I don't expect Coady to be dropped but I would love to see how Mina and Tarks got on together and would certainly add to our threat at set pieces.

If I was Dyche I'd be fucking livid, not the trpe of player you need in a dog fight, and a dog fight we are in.

I've said it before, lose against Leeds and we're virtually EPL history.

Teams around us "will" win games, they have strikers, we don't, I cant for the life of me see anyway out of this for us, especially after the Liverpool game.

If/when we go down it will be the greatest tragedy since Hamlet.

I don't know, there's a chance the Rag n' Bone man may find some use for him. Or part of him.

I have to say I was puzzled by the comments by Sean Dyche at todays press conference when asked about DCLs injury. He said " The root of the problem is pretty easy from the medical side of things. Now its just a case of time. Facts are facts and Dom's not available so we have to focus on the other players". Surely if the problem is easy for the medical team, then why is this problem still persisting, after all its been going on since August.

Whereas we managed to claim only two weeks ago that "Dom is probably closer than he thinks he is". 60 minutes of football later he was back on the injury list.

We just get everything wrong.

There's insurance clubs can claim for wages when players are injured for a long time. But there's also the insurance clubs can claim if they think a player is finished. Remember Marco Branca of Boro and Casiraghi of Chelsea? Both kept getting injured and their clubs were able to terminate their contracts and get insurance for them. The players lost wages and weren't able to play again as post the insurance pay out it's kind of like when a car is a "write off." Both Branca and Casiraghi unsuccessfully sued for lost wages.

Dominic looked good against Arsenal, and probably ran more than he had ran in any of the previous games he has played in this season?

The scan allegedly showed nothing was wrong, although it's now nearly two weeks later and Dominic, is still not fit. Treating him with kid gloves hasn't worked, and has meant his body wasn't ready for the increased work load. I just hope the rest of the squad are benefiting from being asked to do more physical work, and hopefully this will stand us in good stead, and help the players show that all is not lost just yet.

If we see a team that is fighting, then all is not lost, that's got to be the most important thing right now.

But its my hunch, and I hope I'm wrong, that this is a managed decline of his fitness, which could lead to his early retirement to pursue other less physically demanding careers.

What is clear is that the team needs to be set up as the Arsenal match to function. Any diversion from the 451 will come unstuck. Carlo knew it and it worked for him, Dyche immediately knew it too.

I am concerned about Simms having the aerial ability and experience to win headers and hold the ball up. It's a big task for him under huge pressure. The dream scenario would be he copes with it well and we win.

It's a situation I'm glad that I'm not having to decide selections up front. Out of the three CBs you've mentioned I'd probably go for Keane and have Maupay playing off him tasked with winning every knockdown and second ball.

What would Everton do?

Pickford
Holgate / Coleman
Mykolenko
Mina (if fit)
Tarkowski
Keane / Holgate (holding mid)
Gueye / Garner
Iwobi / Gray (right wing)
McNeil (left wing)
Onana (Fellaini style 2nd striker)
Simms / Maupay

There's a lot of height in that side for set pieces - which is our best goal threat.

When in possession, Onana would play right up against their CBs to win the header with Maupay or Simms fighting for the 2nd ball.

Out of possession Onana would tuck back in to give us a good 451 defensive shape.

I expect Dyche will do similar but might try Simms and Maupay as a double act before using Onana this way.

Actually not a bad formation for Premiership survival.

My other concern would be playing Gana and Doucoure, who produce very little in creativity. Godfreys pace and strength may be an option in midfield.

Home advantage and the Goodson roar may see us over the line against Leeds, with an important three points.

That's Andy's bedroom chat!

Dyche believes Calvert-Lewin's determination to play with injury has contributed to the frequent setbacks. “I don't think he's been properly fit throughout this situation because of his own will and demand to keep playing. Some players don't realise until afterwards that they've put so much demand on themselves and they weren't quite ready. We have to align the process of getting the injury right and him completely right so that he doesn't break down and he can keep going. But that's what you try to do with every player.” Source: Guardian

It's time for Gana to sit. Iwobi needs to be in the middle of the park to succeed. Gray is our most dangerous player right now, even if he's not the most prolific in front of goal. We need more speed and height, and it's a close call between Mina's height and Godfrey's speed, but might as well take a shot with one or the other over Coady. I give the edge to Mina because our best chance is a headed goal. I agree that Simms wasn't half bad last week, especially in the air, which people said he didn't have in his game, at least from winning flick-ons if not scoring goals — so we play him again. Bring Maupay on at 60 to wreak havoc, and apparently he likes to score against Leeds. I know people hate on Tom, but to me he deserves a shot, and I'm done believing that Gana will be the Gana of old; he never had a pass in him, but now he's also lost a step.

Mostly I haven't a clue, because we're in a world of hurt without Dom. Need to find a way, somehow.

Pickford
Godfrey Tarkowski Mina Mykolenko
Garner Onana iwobi Gana Doucoure
Gray

We know Leeds are full of energy but lack goals similar to ourselves. It will be important to win that midfield battle.

Bill, He's now got all the info about Dom's mattress, but needs to sleep on it.

Anyway it is what it is. We need to play two up front with Simms and Maupay. I would sacrifice Doucoure to give the young lad some support up front. Would also play Gray instead of McNeil.

Dyche: Where did you get this mattress, Dom?

DCL: You're not going to believe it, someone just left it lying on the curb! If you turn it over, you can't even see the rips or stains!

Whether Doms issues be mental or physical, one thing is for sure, they aren't intentional. I have nothing but empathy for the lad.

It isn't his fault that our recruitment team have been so utterly incompetent over the last few seasons that there has been so much pressure on our one and only half decent striker to get fit / stay fit, even when made to play minutes that his body wasn't ready to play.

And what the fuck does what he wears off the pitch have to do with football? He could wear Sam Smith's latest number for all I care, so long as he gives 110% on the pitch as he did very recently against Arsenal. Don't suppose many of you were sitting there worrying about his dress sense when he scored possibly the most important goals in the club's history against Palace last season?!

I for one hope he eventually gets over his problems and comes back fitter, stronger, and scoring goals for us again. When that time comes, some of you arseholes won't deserve him.

Do people really think he doesn't care?!

I've had two ACLs that meant I couldn't play for about 18 months each. I hated it and football was just a hobby for me. I wanted to be fit so much but just couldn't be. For a guy who has it as a whole career it must be a nightmare.

Yeah he gets paid a lot but it doesn't mean he doesn't care.

And how him doing fashion shoots or whatever is an issue, I just don't understand. It takes time to recover from big injuries and a mental break from it by doing the fashion stuff is probably more of a help than a hindrance.

I wonder if the club is considering such measures because whatever it is they've tried thus far doesn't seem to be working.

But I also wish he'd shut up. He sounds like someone trying to sound like a genius. Or trying to prove he's more than people generally think he is. It's in a very similar vein, to be honest, to Sam and his sports science. The only thing Dyche loves more than a stat is telling us that he loves a stat.

Here's a stat. We've got the lowest goals scored in the league.

2 weeks ago him and his team had all the answers to Dom based on just a few days. Now the guy is broken again and he and his team have all the answers again - they're just completely different answers. It's gone from being in his head to in his bed.

Just get on with managing the team and leave the self marketing until you keep us up. Every Evertonian will help by telling the world how great you are.

No-one else sees through this?

We have to find a way to score goals. Same problem, same problem, same problem.

Our midfield is pretty poor. The answer to that seems to be to play an extra player in there. But it's where we take that player from that is the problem. We don't have a striker who can play on their own. We can't keep playing one up front.

We also can't keep on expecting Seamus to roll back the years. He can't. And we need to outright give up on Mykolenko. I've no idea what his level is but it's not this.

We don't really have the luxury of thinking what we'd like to do. The team is just so poor and under resourced.

By virtue of eliminating things we just can't do anymore, I get to a 3-5-2.

Pickford
Godfrey, Coady, Tarkowski
Wing backs - Iwobi and McNeill (yeah I don't know either, but isn't it worth a go?)
Onana, Gueye, pick one more
Maupay (what choice do we have?) and Gray (again, who else can score a goal?)

Instead of playing 5 in midfield and hoping they can link up with a non-linkable attack (they can't)... why not wing backs? We increase the quality in the team. If it means we concede more, well we might have to live with that because I'm pretty certain that we won't stay up at the rate we're scoring at.

And for those who say "what about the Arsenal game?" - the last 30 against Arsenal were terrible. You wouldn't want to repeat that.

I think it must have been a Thermo-Stat ! :-)

Personal view, I thought Simms done okay on Monday night. He just needed someone to play off him, which he didn't have.

Gray in a more central role or Maupay, who himself has cut a lone figure for most of the season?

I'm not sure I agree with you about Simms doing well at Anfield, but I fully understand your point.

He was thrown into the most hostile of situations and was given nothing whatsoever to work with. He did ok under the circumstances - I think thats what you meant. Does he deserve another shot ?. I think he does.

Playing in front of a raucous Goodison for a team being urged to get forward and support him would be a totally different ball game to the soul destroying task he was given the other night.

You never can tell whether a boy cant make the leap to first team football until you have given him his shot. He may not be good enough, but we now have very
knowledgeable posters giving serious consideration to playing one of the center halves up top.

I have sympathy for DCL, but he doesnt look capable of putting two games together. we have got to find a solution to his continued absence... Lets try the obvious one first

There has to be a little rain sometimes.

Just not a constant downpour!!

The fella has serious problems, made worse by wanting to play when not fully recovered. Let's show him some loyalty in the hope he gets fit and well again.

Simms didn't do much in the derby but it was a tough debut so hopefully he gets another chance. I wonder if players are coached so specifically to their roles now that we're unlikely to see one of our centre halves do a Mick Lyons.

I would start Gray and Maupay.

Nottingham Forest are attempting to register English defender Steve Cook, 31, back into their squad before facing Manchester City at the weekend. (Telegraph - subscription required)

Ridiculous.

Too many cooks springs to mind.

You an add Owen, Carroll, Ashton, Bridges, Duncan Ferguson etc etc to a long list of injury plagued strikers.

I think Gray or Maupay have got to start, hopefully playing just off Simms. I expect we will defend deep in order to counter their pace.

Must not lose this one!

The club have fucked us by not securing a proper centre forward. Simms is out of his depth (if the derby is anything to go by) and it's criminal that he's been put in this position. That just leaves Maupay and Gray… oh dear.

If we do manage a win, perhaps Sean Dyche can somehow fashion a silk purse out of the pig's ear which is Everton. How, I have no idea. Our problem all season has been scoring goals, but the club negligently has failed to address the issue. Neither Simms nor Maupay can play as a lone striker and there is no CF for them to play off. Neither do we have the passing ability to unlock defences. The Mick Lyons option is all I can think of, and that doesn't inspire confidence.

I also agree we need a target man up front who can win an arial duel so I think Keane is worth a try in that spot. He would also be an additional threat at corners.

Consequently I would play McNeill on the left and Gray on the right of a midfield 5.

Pickford,
Coleman, Coady*, Tarkowski, Mykolenko
Gray, Doucoure, Gueye, Onana, McNeill,
Keane.

The club could and should have signed another decent striker a long long time ago and so have not just a 2nd option but also some competition up front. I'm sure it would help DCL if he didn't think he'd walk straight back in when fit and also it would help him knowing there was less pressure on him to rush back before he was 100% ready. He'd also be able to have a break more often hence meaning he's fit more often!

All the above has been written about numerous times on this site and I'm sure discussed thousands of times down the pub and at the games - the powers that be have been utterly blind to the fact or simply not reacted.

Now we have a massive game at home with an Oompa Loompa leading the line.

Just hope Dyche goes two up top as neither Simms nor Maupay on their own are gong to trouble the Leeds defence. This is a real must win for me given remaining games and not knowing when DCL will be fit. Going to be another behind the sofa affair watching through fingers.

The board can show up if they have the balls and any decency about them.

We will as always, They'll only get shouted at just as you would do in any pub near Country Road, which I guess they've never visited. Not head locked or physically assaulted. Do they really not understand Evertonians despite claiming to be one of us? We might be a ferocious bunch and I get reminded of that a lot by my wife. But we aren't violent. Look across the park for that.

Focused on the team, whoever is playing. It doesn't matter to me. 10 blue shirts out there that need us. And they have us.

Sorry, getting emotional again ahead of tomorrow.

Makes sense.

Gray's fairly quick - let's put him at centre back because Tarks and Coady are a bit slow…

If we win great, a draw wouldn't be a disaster but lose and we are staring down an abyss.
Granted I'm of the half empty persuasion but as a form man I don't like this game at all.

Liverpool built a bloody empire on it with Toshack and Keegan.

DCL being in a coma could be the saving of us.

I liked Robert's suggestion yesterday of pushing Onana up like Moyes played Fellaini. Winning headers with Simms running onto the knockdowns and getting his shot in. A direct game that tries to play to the strengths of the players available. Dyche will want the physical presence and height up front so he may try this.

That's where the Onana / Fellaini thing comes in. He's still a midfielder but he just plays right up against the opposition backline when we're in possession.

From a defensive point of view Onana is one of the top 5 most effective headers of the ball in world football under 25 (or something like that - see the CIS football observatory if interested). So he should be a decent target man to play off. The main thing is to get bodies around him so we can win the 2nd ball.

A CB at CF is something to try in the last 5 or so minutes if all else fails. Mina and Keane can head a ball but there's a lot more to CF play than that.

Including a CB at full back or midfield might work too though to give extra height at set pieces.

It's very telling that Dyche in his first two games has opted for deep hit corners aimed at our centre backs. Tarkowski scored a winner and rattled the post.

So we we are effectively already playing our centre backs up front when we get a set piece opportunity. That's not new or footballing science.

But relying on them or expecting them to play up front is not a strategy.

We have Simms and Maupay until DCL comes back. Just get them and Gray playing off each other. Don't leave the main striker as lonely as a lighthouse in Cornwall..

Danny are we going to beat them by 3 - 0 as we did this time last year?

They had best have the decency to show up tomorrow.

Bournemouth times two and West Ham away, I was there. Earlier matches this season too. Three trips to my home city in the last month as well as a stopover in Manchester for the FA Cup when I had no hotel so sat and waited for an early plane..

Another one tomorrow.

God knows how many miles that adds up to. I don't care. It doesn't matter.

Again, not the big I am, but when the supporers make the effort, the very least you can expect is for the board to do likewise. Not shy away.

Sorry I'm emotional, but I will be up for tomorrow and be right behind them as always.

I feel however it's a bit of both 🤫

I have no idea whether Sean Dyche with such limited attacking options can gain enough points for us to survive, but what is abundantly clear is we have more chance with him in charge that we would have if Lampard was still in charge. Unbelievably up to him being sacked there were still some posting on here we should stick with him.

While I can understand your sentiments in hoping that members of the board attend the game tomorrow. I hope they don't, tomorrow will be a tough game and if Leeds were to go in front I could see sections of the crowd letting them know what they think of them if they are there. But we as fans cant be distracted once inside the ground it has to be 100% backing which they always do, but if some members of the board turn up I don't think that may be the case.

Joe, I am no bigger an Evertonian than anyone.

But I'll give you insane.

I think Everton should continue with Ellis Simms up front. That´s because he is also a big target man and imo we need that kind of player when we must make clearances with long balls and when we are putting crosses in the opposition´s box.

What is the most important thing is that the Everton players put in a "never-say-die" attitude and fighting mentality from the first minute to the last and get the home crowd instantly behind them.

It would help our cause greatly if we started Gray for this one.

Can we bring back Branthwaithe and Dobbin too?…methinks we'll need them,only our board could loan them out in the first place... clueless Tossers!

He does however have half an eye for goal, unproven at this level but even so to a degree exceeding any of our fit players. I don't personally see how he fits in a 2 striker set up with Maupay or Gray. The best of a pretty poor range of options would be Onana doing a Fellaini and Simms hopefully poaching. It's not much of a threat but it might be the best we have.

The other tactical option in semi desperate situations is pace up front and playing long balls through the midfield. But that works best with 2 or even 3 up front and we don't have the players for that. Simms, as mentioned is not fast, McNeil and Maupay are outright slow and Gray is never going to work on his own.

Thank god I'm not Dyche.

“Lampard instead of getting a striker in once DCL was injured instead played 5 games with either McNeil or Gordon as the lone striker. “

There is some solace in the fact that Sean Dyche would never in a million years let that happen on his watch.

If Everton can show the same resolve as v Arsenal, then I hope Everton can convert their chances and learn from the game on Monday night.

Who starts in attack and what formation is played remains interesting...

Tomorrow is the Saints Day of St Colmàn of Lindisfarne.

Hopefully Seamus, with his spirit, will get the support he needs from his teammates, and Everton can grind out a precious 3 points.

Hearts and minds, focus on the match, and beat Leeds.

UTFTs!

Getting 18 or 19 points from 24 played is too much of a gap to bridge to attain the required 36 points for survival.

I reckon we will need a couple of goals to win this, where the fuck they come from — who knows!

The ideal scenario is 6 points and this gives us breathing space; however, we have a poor record against Aston Villa. We've not beaten them in 7 and they've been going along well under Emery up until the last two performances – albeit one was against Man City.

I think a point isn't bad and, if that is the case, then tomorrow is an absolute must-win.

I'm glad there hasn't been too much “6-pointer” talk. It doesn't exist. A certain and direct gain of 3 points is all it is.

As Paul @ 181, said it is, "Tomorrow is the Saints Day of St Colman of Lindisfarne" so fingers and candlesticks and all things crossed tomorrow.

Patterson came off last night v Spurs U21s so all being well is available for Villa, another 6-pointer.

Today, Everton can't afford to lose and this could be the battle of the season so far. Hopefully the Everton team turns up and also earns some luck on the park today.

Arguably in the '70s, the dirtiest team around in English football at the time was Leeds. Today, Everton must hold and be strong and have the guile to pick Leeds off.

UTFTs!

Also Dwight McNeil – he's as bad as Iwobi. Let's get Godfrey, Gray and Mills on the pitch instead.

Dale @189, this is the dictionary definition of a six-pointer.

May he RIP

Calvert Lewin did play better against Arsenal directed by Dyche before and during the game, roared on by 31000 Evertonians on their feet.But still a times was coming too deep, didn't get into the right attacking position, sometimes being a yard late and missed chances.

Simms in his first Derby looked quite composed doing the right things, with the backing of a below par team.This was because of the exertions of the Arsenal game and Dyche up tempo training.Dyche did make a mistake playing McNeill rather than Gray.

This will be the three week of Dyche training, so the squad should be up to speed.Apparently it takes three weeks for players to adjust to such training.Simms will be playing his second match starting.Dyche will probably start with Gray, but if McNeill starts he will not be getting the same attention as the Derby.

Dyche main problem is how deep the team will want to sit.This is understandable given that they where badly caught out for both Derby goals.So it is how Dyche organises the team for counter attacks that will be important and whether the players buy into it.

All the players and those that manage them at Finch Farm we now know are being scrutinised in detail by Dyche, not just Calver Lewin.I think this will have a marked affect on the players application Lampard was all into his style of play and repetitive practise of it, with details flowcharts prepared by.Dyche is back to the individual player like Ancelotti,but not into the square pegs in round holes approach of Ancelotti, or the dual role emphasis of Silva.

Actually before the Arsenal game I had a sneaking confidence that Everton would do well, but sadly was not brave enough to post it.I also have the feeling that Everton will do ok against Leeds and can't wait the see Onano play.

If only Dyche was brave enough to play him as Robert#85 in his Big Sam paraphrased formation suggestion. That is exactly what Big Sam would do with Onano.He is far better than Walcott being motivated. The Liverpool players where mouthing at him all the time and he was answering back.He gets a badge all day long from me for that.

Must look where Walcott and his millions are now?

Frank, carpet offcuts? luxury! I could only afford slices of hovis to use as shin pads.

Spot on about Onana goes missing for large parts of the game, and this constant gesturing to the crowd for more support when he is one of the biggest culprits of doing nothing for large parts of the game really annoys me. Your 6ft 4ins get stuck in start to intimidate the opposition, make more runs into the opponents box with the ball, then you want have to ask the crowd for more support.

Tom deserves a shot?

I hope you mean Tom Jones

A horrible team, Leeds, with horrible fans, comfortably the most boneheaded and aggressive in the Premier League. I can't go today and I'm quite pleased about that in truth.

Agree on Onana. Like most of our players, he needs to add consistency to the potential.

Still only 21 though. Still learning.

Long day ahead but it will be worth it.

Barry Rees played full back for Everton that day, a Welsh kid who was a centre forward but had a go in defence that day and stood up to that brilliant football team but made horrible by Revie, God knows why, they could have been famous instead of the infamous team they became known as and rightly so.

Come onBlues into these today, get those three points, give us confidence and put a smile on our faces for the weekend.

I never watched him, but how how was Temple rated?

I've said before, I know, served with and speak to his son occasionally.

But I never saw him play.

I was supposed to be at Goodison today for the game against Leeds, but weather conditions combined with Ryanair-issues made it not possible to arrive in time (was supposed to travel from Copenhagen).

Anyone interested in buying my 3 tickets?

Gwladys Street End, block GT3, row PP, seats 68-70.

Feel free to contact on +45 61 24 47 81 or r3g1uz@hotmail.com if you are interested.

Thank you!

Best regards,
Alexander

The outgoing flight, in all fairness, was pretty much like any other, apart from having to pay extra for just about everything, but the return flight was a total nightmare, and I vowed then to never use them again, and haven't. Can't imagine you having too much trouble selling them on, best of luck there, and nice of you to post, please do more often.

Any idea how to get the tickets moved on? The game is fully sold out, but I can't re-sell via the Everton ticket platform.

Maybe he bought into the mouthing too much, but he is 21 and does show signs of potential. He is also dependent on the player's around him and some of them are struggling to show Premier League potential.He is more a attacking midfielder and the preference of Everton to stay deep is leaving spaces in midfield that running around like a blue ass fly trying to get a tackle in is not going to sort out.

Just spoken to him, he said you would have to notify the Ticket Office, but would have to have a name or names to give in, as I said a bit late. If all else fails, sue Ryan Air, because it is down to them the situation has arisen, and you have the proof of Purchase for both Tickets (Airline and Match) and one Cancellation has precluded you from the other.

I think he will be better today. The Everton midfield seemed overwhelmed in the derby. It was his first derby like Simms. Hopefully he will improve, as you say it is definitely needed at present at Everton.

Its the same old story for us - can we score a goal, I think we will probably have to, to get anything from the game.

I would be inclined to play for as many corners and free kicks in their half as we can get, maybe play Mina instead of Coady for a bit more height.

I'm nervous about their attack though, they have more firepower than us.

Thanks for your time and thoughts on this!

I bet you didn't need shin pads! No-one would go within 10 yards of you and your pussing knee boils.

Times are so bad around Goodison that we have again appointed a recently relegated manager and already the folly is showing!

‘They like death or glory – they love a good story'!

Whoever starts will need to give it their all, we need goals desperately and have very few players in the team who can create them or finish them.

Still think we will win this 2-1, hope those fortunate enough to attend create the same atmosphere as against Arsenal - with the players starting quickly with the same commitment as that game.

But I think Simms as an option on the bench, getting 15-30 minutes to adapt and learn and see if he can make the step up.

So for now, I'd stick with the 3 in midfield. If Maupay starts, maybe take out Iwobi and play Grey. Iwobi not suited to the wide midfield role.

Need to be aware of Gnonto. he's electric. Maybe Godfrey at right back for more speed. Also like to see Mina, if he's capable of playing without injury. He's a level above our other defenders, but unfortunately made of glass.

I'm going to put a whole pound on Seamus scoring today now, proper big money for me.

Wish I'd known yesterday that there'd be spare tickets going, would have driven up this morning but far too late for me now.

I certainly don't want to be getting on players backs particularly when we need to stick together at this time, they'll be roared on as usual during the match even though my tongue will be bit to pieces!!