Everton vs Manchester City

Teams below are slowly bringing us back in to it

Last 2 games haven’t been good for us results wise and we can’t afford to slip in to a bad sequence

Next 2 games 6 points

To be honest, would it be a bust if he is still injured for the start of Afcon, or not fit enough to take part at least, which would mean that he would be available for us.

As Dyche himself has said on many an occasion, good performances are nice, but it is a results business... I'd take 4 points from the next 6 (Obviously 6 from 6 would be great!)

Like John said, and Jerome echoed, never mind a performance, I just think we need the win, else nerves might creep in if we keep dropping points while the teams around us keep picking up points.

Lastly, I've got to say I hope the players have managed to get some R&R as some of our regulars looked shot after the 60-70 minute mark again.

The bonuses were Danjuma's performance (let's hope if called up he can convert a chance or look up on occasion), Gomes played very well (let's hope that is his new norm, and he doesn't revert to type), Onana has his game face on and gets involved more, and that Patterson can raise his game against Man City as I think he'll be targeted by Pep.

Good luck Everton indeed, despite City's dip in form, I think we'll need a little luck; and indeed, for City's poor form to continue...

WSNBM COYB

Obviously we have the Palace cup-tie and another possible cup-tie to play if we get through that. Given that situation, we need to pick up a win from the remaining 2023 fixtures.

There's no reason for the players not to continue to have a good go tomorrow and on Saturday, as they'll have plenty of time to recuperate in January, especially without any two-legged semi-finals to play.

We are unlikely to get a point tomorrow but three v Wolves is a realistic target. After that, we have a lighter workload for January and have to hope we don't get forced into selling players to raise cash.

We have shown we are good enough to pull clear and need to continue in that vein.

A sort of unofficial 'winter break'?

Thanks, I hadn't realised before I looked at the fixtures, but why not have all the teams resting on the same weekend and the ten fixtures played on the other weekend?

Probably telly wanting to continue their coverage uninterrupted.

I would be delighted. But if you offered me 1.5 points per game for the remainder of our League season, I would bite your hand off.

Just home from a tough 1-1 draw for Marine against Warrington Rylands. I said at half-time I would settle for 1-1, the Mariners could have won it at the last, but sometimes it's just best to take your point and move on.

All the best, Danny.

Safe journey all.

They won't enjoy playing us at this time. UTT's

I think we can get something tomorrow if we continue to play like we have been doing, but must make the most of any chances we get.

COYB 💙💙👍

With no Haaland and De Bruyne, we have got to fancy our chances of getting something against Man City. Beating City alone is hard enough but when you have bad officials and VAR, we have to hope we catch a break for once and we get a fair crack of officiating.

I note that just because getting a point then was quite shocking and I would think in some small psychological way, it helps that we've played them well on a couple occasions in recent years, including the match we should've had a penalty on the handball — was it Rodri? — they found a way not to give us.

All of which is to say I feel good about our chances under the lights at Goodison. We can't afford to switch off at all, like against Spurs, but if we stay compact and hit them on the counter, we can do this.

No knives, no gunfights.

Young exciting wide players. Dominic and Beto the beast in the armoury to bully their defenders.

Be brave and bold Everton. Play with belief and confidence. Fear no-one.

"Be brave and bold Everton. Play with belief and confidence. Fear no-one."

What about the Ref and the VAR? They're the ones that usually upset the apple cart!

Bent Bastards that they are.

It's been that way for decades - going back to Clive "The Book" Thomas. And he complains that all Everton fans ever say to him is about the disallowed Brian Hamilton goal in the cup against that lot. And he still maintains he got that decision right.

At least Clattenburg admitted to me that he had a nightmare in that game in October 2011. Again, versus that lot!

It is the inconsistency of certain players that is costing Everton and it is the same culprits all the time. Such is the lot of a team that has to make do and mend.Everton will survive in the Premier League, but that is all that they can do at the moment.It is hoped that they can beat Man City, which they can do if the play goes for these certain players, but there is the lurking feeling that certain games will be lost.

I think that Dyche threw the kitchen sink at the Caraobo Cup, when he would have been better to concentrate on his Premiership plan and rested some of the players with that in mind.Ironically he might have done better in the Cup had he do that and got a result at Spurs

Take their chances and hopefully, don't get done, by soft penalties and free kicks to City.

Every player in the squad must do their best, as it will be very difficult

if any player is being carried, I will be very difficult and almost mpossible if x2 or more players are being carried.

Hopefully Everton shoot on site and can dtart taking the chances their hard work deserved v Spurs.

UTFTs!

We must remember though that we are playing the best club team in the world. For that reason I cant go along with the idea that this is a must win - Undue pressure.
I like Peter Mills's thinking. He's done the maths.

A win would be fantastic and like I say. I think we cant get it. Cant wait.

J L A T T S B T W S

One of my best mates supports City, but he also has a very large soft spot for Everton, mainly because we're not Liverpool. He never knows what to do with himself when we play this fixture but I'll get a good natured text from him after the game whatever happens.

I'd gladly take a flukey 1-0 win all day - a late goal off Beto's knee after being battered for 85 minutes. In fact I'd be happy with a point. But what I'd really love is a raucous 3-1 win, Gomes bossing the midfield, Dom heading the opener then O'Neill smacking one of his raspers in to finish them off in the second half.

COYB!!

Pickford
Patterson Tarkowski Branthwaite Myko
Harrison Garner Gomes(advanced) Onana McNeil
DCL

Gomes was impressive in the advanced role, but will get less time on the ball today, Man City will press hard. The game could well be won or lost on us passing well and not spilling the ball cheaply in midfield. The Spurs performance replicated would see us very competitive today, as long as we are more ruthless taking the inevitable chances.

COYBLUES!

Hope Gomes has a good game again, he’s a player who can pass well and find time on the ball (when in form) which is often lacking. We will need some respite from relentless defending.

Looking forward to seeing how we perform, City have been shown to be vulnerable of late. If Haaland and De Bruyne are both missing then that will be a bonus, but they still have 20-odd World Class players to choose from.

Would like Goodison to be intimidating and raucous, COYB!!

I wonder if we start with Gomes and Danjuma who both made big impacts when they came on against Spurs. Play with same high press as we did against Spurs, rather than sitting back and letting City dictate play. Yes they will have the ball a lot more than us but keep our shape when defending, but when is possession don't give the ball away, and I think we get something from tonight provided VAR doesn't referee the game.

We'll do OK tonight because we play better against sides who have more of the ball than us. A win would obviously be amazing but a point would be great too.

I'd give Gomes the start and see what he can do.

We need some kind of creativity and out of all the midfielders him and Garner are the two that can use the football.

If Dyche can get Gomes back to the player he could have been but only on a far more consistent basis then that would be some serious bonus.

We are playing half decent so I will only cross the fingers on one hand for tonight

COYB

“But please, don’t be drawn in by the inevitable daily churn of social media rumour and conjecture - as enticing as I know such chat can be. This is likely to be a low-key transfer window for Everton”.

It’s unbelievable how many are taken in by transfer rumours, and go ape shit over it. I’m not expecting any incomings next month, and although the squad may be stretched with one or two more injuries, plus any going to the AFCON, I’m convinced we have a good enough squad to steer clear of the relegation zone.

Having said that if Burnley get relegated we could do a lot worse than try and get Odobert from them. He has impressed me each time I have seen him play, and is a right sided player. I was made up when we got Harrison from Leeds but although he has done okay-ish, I feel he has been a bit underwhelming overall.

However on any given day one team can get the rub of the green and win against the odds.

Every game is difficult for this Everton squad whether it be City or Luton however we are playing a little better but if it is enough we will have to wait and see.

Mistakes at the back have tarnished December so far and the finishing hasn't done much to help.

City have been in a mini slump themselves and we hope that continues.

I hope though that Thelwell is still looking to do one or two deals like exchanges and loan deals, the squad is far too small and injuries and suspensions can undo a lot of the excellent work done by Sean Dyche and Thelwell.

Definitely a no no against Man City.

I'm not making a 500 mile round trip and getting home at god knows what time in the early hours tomorrow morning hoping for a draw.

Just like many others putting the miles in whether they are local, travelling like me and those tuning in at ridiculous hours around the globe.

The game would have meant a lot more to me if we were still in the carabao cup, but I suppose if I was given a choice, I would much sooner win the FA Cup, and this has got me thinking about going to London, for another ridiculous kick off time, next Thursday night.

Hoping, however, that the stars might start to align for us over the next few days and we could be suffering vertigo up around 13th at the end of the weekend.

A point (or 3) today and somewhere in between would be a fair compromise. This was always going to be a tricky month.

My big worry would be the rumours around Branthwaite.

No better than any other Evertonian Tony. My nephew has just said the same about not going because of the kick off time. He only lives 7 miles from Goodison. I wish he'd have told me as he has a now unused season ticket!! I'm sorted though.

No consideration for supporters, especially at this time of year. Night matches are special,, bit it seems to ne getting ridiculous

FA Cup it is and your trip to London.

Last time I looked, 20 games to go including tonight. That's 60 points to play for notwithstanding the appeal.

I don't know if you meant that tone. But it didn't come across well. As my mother used to say, think before you speak.

I hope you are at the match tonight or watching from somewhere, cheering the Blues on just like we all will be.

What we want is a win feeling like a draw ! :-)

If we can get it together off the pitch while getting it done on the the pitch, we have a decent future ahead. UTFT!

Rob #57, I would take a draw and not be disappointed. City are still City. I have no doubt we will play with full bravery and commitment, no sitting back. But the last-pass and finishing incompetence we showed against Fulham and Spurs concerns me. Most of our recent goals have come from great individual efforts off opposing turnovers, and I don't see City making those mistakes. 1-1 for me.

January is unlikely to be a busy month here. But hard work is ongoing to ensure a squad that has performed consistently well this season can continue to evolve and develop this season, in the summer and beyond.

Of course, if we feel an opportunity arises in this window for a player we have earmarked and we believe that moving now would deliver an immediate boost to the squad in the short-term, we will explore such an opportunity. But please, don’t be drawn in by the inevitable daily churn of social media rumour and conjecture - as enticing as I know such chat can be. This is likely to be a low-key transfer window for Everton.

I know that message may not be the most exciting festive update. But it is important that I be completely honest and transparent.

We have a great group of players, working consistently hard for a manager who has navigated the most challenging of periods expertly.

kind regards from a Feckin Bluenose Goldfish and a happy new year, as well

I'm listening and they think it's a done deal.

I don't.

Martin Krogh, Bell End.

(Danny, tell yer mum I did).

Any chance of a pep talk before I go?

Billy Shears, Happy new year to you and now get back under your bridge. Unless you are Billy Goat Gruff

Personally I have nothing whatsoever against negative thinking scoundrels if their negativity remains in their thoughts.

It's only when those thoughts are aired or posted do I find them to be simply miserable, defeatist fuckers who's only goal is to make others miserable too.

Who, in their right mind (remember that bit) makes the effort to post on their own fansite that they believe we're going to be beaten easily. That's not being realistic it's going out of your way to be fucking miserable and negative, IMHO.

It’s cold, it’s wet and it’s very windy, so try and make it scrappy and make sure we contest every single second ball, and then let the crowd help us to do the rest.

Keeping it simple, that would be my team talk tonight!

While Danny Blanchflower, Spurs captain said “ Everton for the cup and Wednesday for the middle of the week!

Can’t be there tonight but I’ll be watching from my armchair, kicking, heading and tackling every ball as we let City know they are in for a very hard night, win lose or draw, COYBB’S !

Genuinely, I'm interested in who you think are the regular inconsistent performers. I'm not picking a fight here, I'm really curious as to who you think have up and down games?

I know that there is a general consensus that Onana blows hot and cold (Tho, he is only a 22yo International), and that Patterson can perform from the sublime to the desperate (in the same game usually). NB I still think both are heading in the right direction development wise.

Oh, and maybe some criticism (fair or otherwise) can be levelled at DCL. Though, this is more complex (subjective) as it usually depends on the tactics selected, and how much service/support Dom gets as to how effective he is.

Note the disallowed goal vs Spurs, he ran the channel heading near post (for the Yanks on here, and 'out-to-in' route), received a very well weighted pass (from Gomes) and slotted it home nicely. That is what he is good at, but he doesn't always get that service.

I'm looking forward to being able to watch the match on the TV today, rather than the laptop.

2-1 to the Royal Blues for me... Hopefully, the crowd will gee them up and City will be tired.

WSNBM COYB!!

Re the Jan TW, I'm unfortunately expecting one outgoing of our first team. Maybe, some news about Dele's contract situation (as I think he will want it clarifying before the window closes)

Will Holgate come back? I personally don't think so. as isn't 70% of his wages being paid by Soton; and we're not really interested in his development (i.e. playing time)

I do however think that we may try for one or two more loans (if we shift some wage burden) and maybe a quick snipe for a player on a deferred buy-now-pay-later contract.

However, all that is dependant on the takeover. IF 777 do get the green light in the window, I'd definitely expect two, maybe more loans to come in.

Also, that those personal reasons improve, so that Life itself gets much better for you and yours.

Seasonal good wishes Bill and all the very best mon ami. 🙂👍

COYB!!

Still gonna be a difficult game regardless of City poor form and recent travel excursions. COYB..

You worry too much.

Brian Williams.

Good luck mate.