Aston Villa vs Everton

Everton, please do the doable this Saturday.

Branthwaite and Patterson training, but not ready.

Seamus "touch and go".

Mangala available, midfield we are okay.

No Chermiti or Broja.

I wonder who will partner Tarkowski? The manager has two choices: Keane or O'Brien.

Start him this week and give him a run.

At least 3-0 I reckon.

Pickford

Garner Tarkowski Keane Mykolenko

Iroegbunam Mangala Gana

Harrison Calvert-Lewin Ndiaye

Subs: Beto, McNeil, Lindstrøm, Doucoure, Armstrong, Young, Dixon, O'Brien, Virginia

Then, shortly afterwards, a chance for revenge in the League Cup. A rare home defeat for a strong Villa side, we showed more fight and togetherness and victory resulted.

May there be fight and togetherness for the entire match this time, not less than the entire match til the final whistle.

I am sure the magnificent away support will give their all throughout and may the lads match the spirit, fight and quality. May the best team on the day win. May that team be us. 🙏 COYB

Lyndon is never too far off the mark and glad to see Ndiaye; he has to feature in my opinion.

I would rather see O'Brien than Keane… So now watch Keane go and score the winner!!

Who cares as long we get something?

I'm sorry but this will be one to write-off. I'm expecting a similar result to Spurs. Leicester away is the big one and one we need all 3 points from.

I remember waiting 15 years for our time to come after the excitement of the sixties. Then Howard Kendall delivered an exciting time in the eighties.

Somehow 37 years since our last league championship seems far too long – are we 'out of the picture'now?
Another gruelling season ahead, me thinks.

Perhaps he will sub himself off in the 87th minute (but not his fault if things go badly thereafter).

This is the perfect set up for us to go and get an unexpected victory, typical of Everton to win when nobody outside of Goodison gives us a chance.

I'm going for 2-nil.

He still accepts no fucking responsibility 12 days later. So what do you "continually learn from", Dyche?

Lyndon's team looks about the best in current circumstances with don't-blame-me-yer-wazzack-twats in charge.

Not picking Ndiaye to start will be footy insanity, but the three hard-boiled eggs are capable of anything.

But it doesn't, Sean. That was the biggest collapse in Premier League history.

As for tomorrow, eyes might as well be on the end of the month and the visit of Crystal Palace. Everything in the meantime is a distraction.

Dogs of war for a 1-0 away win.

Sit deep and hit them on the break, no other tactics will work.

A betting man would go all in on Villa to win this.

Not sure I get the fascination with playing O'Brien, he can't get in the Ireland team.

I was at Elland Road, as so many of us were, and we played the cocky twats off the park.

I also would go for Mangala – but no Ndiaye, Rob? He wouldn't dare surely!

So, after watching it an unbelievable 47 times, he couldn't see that both Iroegbunam and Coleman were struggling – yet most of us inside Goodison could see they were both struggling after 75 minutes.

Seamus hasn't played much and Tim is still getting used to playing regularly in the Premier League, so it was understandable that both would struggle to see out the 90 minutes, in Tim's case he covered acres of ground during the game.

I think Dyche knows that, when the takeover happens (if it happens), his days are numbered; he is talking like somebody who knows the writing is on the wall.

So again he takes no responsibility for the defeat; instead, he blames the players. Yes, they have to take responsibility. But for me, the players played well for long periods.

If he can't realize that taking off your two main attacking threats gave Bournemouth the green light to throw men forward, then it's very worrying.

He can barely string 2-3 club matches together as it is yet at his age he insists on still playing international football. As a result, he gets injured 'again'.

He is now taking the piss. Supposedly a great bloke but one who is now stealing a living off Everton. If he had any respect for the club, he would retire from international duty.

The radio commentators for the game made the point that Dixon was playing very narrow and close to Tarkowski, so the latter could help him positionally – and also to leave less space available to beat Dixon one one-on-one.

However, this left a lot of space to attack into on our right flank – and Harrison therefore did his dutiful but boring job of tracking back and becoming an auxiliary RB instead of any sort of attacking threat.

To put in another way, the team and tactics adjusted to make sure Dixon was not hung out to dry on his debut. This helped Dixon, but exposed all sorts of weaknesses across the rest of the side.

I think Young's value (to the extent he offers anything) is now to play a bit higher up the pitch in later stages of games to keep hold of possession. He can't be used as a full-back.

So the options are to go with Dixon in the usual 4-4-1-1 – and maybe trust him to look after Philogene or Rogers without Harrison as Chaperone. Or go 3-5-1-1 and put Garner and McNeil or Mykolenko as wing-backs.

Neither of these options really get us past the fact that, even with Coleman in the side, we have the weakest right flank in the Premier League. There's no tactical solution to overcome that.

However, I quite like the wing backs option because we can then have the aerial threat of Keane, Tarkowski and O'Brien at corners and set-pieces. During open play, the three big lads can sit deep and hopefully repel whatever Villa hit us with.

If Dyche doesn't trust Dixon, then play Garner there; if he does trust him, play Garner in midfield and utilise him there along with Iroegbunam, Gana and Mangala during the game.

Dyche has five substitutions to use during the game — let's hope he has a good look at using them all if necessary.

He doesn't seem to get the correlation between players being spent and then making mistakes such as in midfield and defence.

Also, having watched it 47 times, he still can't see the consequences of taking Ndiaye and Calvert-Lewin off and the subsequent loss of momentum that caused.

He just makes it worse for himself.

I thought Mykolenko was more of a problem v Spurs than Dixon's performance was and he was even poorer v Bournemouth. He certainly doesn't add very much going forward as a wingback whereas Dixon's pace and willingness to get up the field, attack and get crosses in will improve the more we play and with players moving back to cover his position when he goes on these raids upfield.

I realise Mykolenko is the only genuine left-back on the books and that makes the problem huge. Maybe play the young Irish lad there, at least he will be useful at corners both ends of the field.

It will also be interesting to see how the players react in this one; a subdued performance will tell us they may have felt they were 'thrown under the bus' by Sean Dyche after the Bournemouth debacle. I don't for a minute believe they were, but let's see what happens.

I think we should take some positives going into this one. We scored two and created other chances in the last game. We have more creative players for Dom to feed off. A point at Villa would be good, three would be dreamland but we have players capable of hurting them, I hope to see a positive reaction regardless of Dyche's team selection.

COYB.

If that's correct, he's having a laugh, and/or trolling the journalists in the room. There wouldn't be time to watch the game back 47 times, that has to be Dyche's somewhat obtuse sense of humour.

Or (as I agree with some with doubts on O'Brien and haven't seen enough to judge if he's the answer), bring Mykolenko inside so he's not exposed to the pacey winger?

Anyway, I stupidly agreed to an early meal out with my missus and sons before checking the kick-off time so I won't get to watch this – probably a good thing... UTFT

O'Brien, being 6ft-6in and right-footed, is a bit of an unlikely shout for the left-back slot if that's what you mean.

As for Dyche saying he watched the match 47 times, I presume it's not meant to be taken literally and just means "lots".

Mykolenko has been roasted at times and his forays down the wing have seen him gift the ball for counter-attacks.
McNeil is so ineffective and yet gets picked every game. It's baffling.

I would start with Keane and have Dixon at right-back. A point or three would do wonders for us and shut the carping from the media. I fancy us to bounce back and win.

I said it before the Brighton game and I will say it again. How many minutes will pass before he is sent off?

People can nitpick Dixon's performance against Spurs all they like (actually an admission that he did well) but he is a far far better option than Young.

To be clear: Young is finished. It is an embarrassing nightmare selection, yet again, if picked.

It was Coleman's first Premier League game of the season and he left him on for the full game. Tim Irooegbunam was gone after 70 minutes, if he watched the game back 47 times, he must have seen that?

Against Villa he has to add Mangala or Garner in midfield or they'll slice through us, two in midfield is a disaster and play Garner or Dixon at full-back, but knowing Sean, he'll stick to his Plan A.

If Dyche plays Young, that is the end of him for me.

Both full-backs played narrow and it was evidently under instruction – not to protect Dixon but to set up in a fairly defensive shape away from home for Dyche.

Dixon was not given “protection” by Tarkowski at all. He had to independently manage his position when facing Odbert in the first half and Son in the second half – he did it excellently. Harrison did not track back any more than normal and Dixon's pace and athleticism helped our attack.

Your contortions to justify why Academy players would weaken the team are getting more elaborate by the week. And comical.

And your answer? Repeat the disastrous error of playing Ashley Young at right-back that failed so badly at home to Brighton.

Honestly.

Anything better than a 3-0 loss will surprise me.

I've said the options at right-back are Dixon and Garner. I've said specifically that Young can't be used as a full-back (although I can see why he was in earlier games).

And as per lots of articles I've written and comments in threads over the years, I'm very keen for us to use academy players. I'd sincerely like us to become an academy led club.

The main point I made a few weeks ago is that, when the shit hits the fan, there seems to be an expectation that youth can dig us out if only we'd give them a chance – when sadly we haven't invested enough in the academy to provide the requisite quality.

Hopefully Dixon kicks on and bucks a trend.

Pawson, all so predictable…

I think Branthwaite actually benefited by having Tarkowski next to him when he first came into the team as did the whole defence, this season I don't think Tarkowski is fully fit, he has not been his usual dominant self.

As for O'Brien being 6ft-6in and, being right-footed, not being suitable for left back, I don't think it's stopped Dan Burn at Newcastle being an adequate full back at 6ft-7in – plus O'Brien is not useless with his left foot.

An in-depth analysis based on what you heard on the radio.

I can see Garner playing there, but we have options in midfield.

We don't have many forward options, so a lot will rely on support to Dominic from the midfield. Take your pick from Ndiaye, McNeil, Doucoure, Idrissa, Iroegbunam, Mangala and, depending on the right-back decision, Garner.

We've been getting targeted on the flanks for the past couple of seasons and the defence has played narrow. Tarkowski has been trying to do everything, which is an impossible task. Young Dixon is still learning, Mykolenko off sorts and Branthwaite out, who Tarkowski struck up a good partnership with.

Let's see what the manager does. We don't have any control over it.

It would give us a better balance if he played with Tarkowski.

I called it a few weeks ago that Tarkowski looked like he was playing with an injury and wasn't fully fit.

If you need to, take your inhalers. If not, you can borrow mine.

We go into any match believing we can win. The manager will pick the team. We will support those players on the pitch as always.

And for fuck's sake don't boo Calvert-Lewin off if he's got a face like Peter Beardsley…

We now have better options in midfield plus more pace and threat in attack. With improved defensive shape, this is a game in which we can gain control from the outset and win.

For me, it's Dixon, but he could play Garner. I don't think he'll risk Young. Forget these calls for O'Brien. In an abysmal back 4, Keane has stood head and shoulders above the other three in every game.

It's not a high bar though. He'll definitely play 4-2-3-1 and be prepared to change it to 4-5-1. We have a chance.

It looks like a lot of thought went into those posts, as opposed to next to no thought whatsoever for the 3000 fans making the journey to Villa Park tomorrow.

I seriously wonder why some people bother calling themselves Evertonians?

Did you not get the attention you're obviously seeking in post 5 so had to follow it up with post 38 saying the same thing in a different way?

I just don't get some people, I really don't.

Sure we're all allowed and encouraged to have an opinion but why the fuck any Evertonian would actually put in the effort to typing posts like that before a ball is kicked rather than posting nowt is truly beyond me.

I also think this is a game for Mangala so I would play 4 across the midfield: Gana, Mangala, Iroegbunam and McNeil, with Calvert-Lewin and Ndiaye up front.

This should beef up our midfield and enable us to hit them on the break.

I missed you on the other thread mate….

Anyway, I don't know about you but I don't understand why people like @38 bother.. why predict a loss? Anything can happen on a match day.UTFT

In the past, this has served me well but this season I've applied for tickets so far for 3 games as soon as I got the alert but there were no tickets available each time.

I get that this is the last season at Goodison Park so I'm really concerned I won't get to enjoy at least one game.

Serves me right for marrying a bloody southerner, I suppose. UTFT

What radio station said all the stuff that Rob said??

I agreed with most and would like to tune in.

At least my last game was a win: 1-0 v Brentford last season.

I would have tuned in but I was at the game and actually watching it.

With the current injuries to Branthwaite, Patterson, Chermiti (if not deemed fit) don't help our last season's 4th ranked defence.

The announced knock to Tarkowski has been showing in his appearances thus far. As is the probable situation with an obviously not fully fit Mykolenko.

Keane has been the 'obvious' target of abuse by fans who can't actually see that he has been the most effective defender so far this season (ignoring the one-off show by Dixon, who still made mistakes and really should have taken one for the team and stopped the 3rd Spurs goal by fouling van den Ven).

Mykolenko has repeatedly felt his ankle in every game this season, and I personally don't think he's fully fit yet, plus for some reason, this season the same as last, he doesn't seem to shine (or look confident) when partnered with Keane (pretty much like Tarkowski, to be honest).

Therefore, I would hope that Dyche either picks O'Brien or goes with a back three of Tarkowski, Keane and O'Brien.

If a back four, stick with Mykolenko at left-back, and keep Young on the bench to cover him, with Garner or Dixon at right-back.

Midfield would be Harrison, Mangala or Gueye, Iroegbunam and McNeil, with Ndiaye at No 10 and Calvert-Lewin at No 9, 4-4-1-1:

Pickford,
Garner (Dixon), Tarkowski, O'Brien, Mykolenko
Harrison, Mangala (Gueye), Iroegbunam, McNeil
Ndiaye
Calvert-Lewin

Or play a 3-5-1-1, or 3-5-2

Pickford
Tarkowski, Keane, O'Brien
Harrison, Garner, Mangala (Gueye), Iroegbunam, McNeil
Ndiaye
Calvert-Lewin

Tarkowski, Keane, O'Brien
Harrison, Garner, Mangala (Gueye), Iroegbunam, McNeil
Calvert-Lewin, Beto

I would just like to see a proper 95+ minute performance, some proactive subs, or at least the correct reactive ones, some sports analysts on the bench, some proper attitude from the players, and I hope 1 if not 3 points.

Dyche really is in need of a 'statement' performance tomorrow, which includes his selection, subs and game and player management during the game.

If we go 0-4 tomorrow with a -10 GD, that is a big hole to start to gain momentum from, and might even arouse Moshiri from his hands-off approach...

Good luck and good wishes to all the travelling fans tomorrow. (And those watching from afar!)

COYB

I'd forgotten about Ndiaye...He has to start after his debut.

Maybe Mangala will be on the bench.

I do think we will be better going forward, we look much stronger now in the middle, Ndiaye and Iroegbunam also look more of a threat. When we get all the new players settled in I think we will fine but the defence is looking like our achilles heel.

I think we will score tomorrow but we will probably need 2 or 3 to win.

Rob, I’d start with Mangala and Tim in centre mid and use Gana as back up, if any of the midfielders tire.

I would also play Dixon at right back with Garner covering, or the other way round.

I think Coleman, Gana and Young should only ever be used as cover for fatigued players now for the last 20 minutes.

We're on Sky...low on confidence,with key players still missing.

3-1 home win methinks & the misery continues...sigh.

I'm realistic - we've been shite this season and they stuck 4 past us last season as I recall? Apologies for the repeat post to those who got offended. Clearly I'm not a real Evertonian despite following Everton for 42 years.

Shame on me for having an opinion - and the 30,000 people going to the game must be desperately upset with my shameful comments.

I will now go away and self flagellate with a piece of birch tree and say 30,000 hail Mary's which I hope will go some way to recompensing those I have so horribly saddened.

Please forgive me.

You learn something new every day!

I hope I'm wrong but I don't see any reason to think otherwise.

I agree, our recent results haven't been good, in fact bloody awful, but certainly the first half against Brighton I think we were the better team, and we definitely weren't shite against Bournemouth.

As I say, it's on the day what matters, and hopefully it's our day tomorrow.

Pickford
Young
Tarkowski
Keane
Mykolenko
Garner
Gueye
Doucouré
Harrison
McNeil
Calvert-Lewin

Hope I am wrong but that's what my gut says.

We're not playing well enough to stop the inevitable Villa waves of attack and when they get in full flow the Holt End can produce as intimidating a noise as it gets. It is not just about introducing youngsters because you don't like the alternative.

You have to choose the moments. Not throw them in to see if they swim. I suspect most Premier League managers would believe they were acting irresponsibly if they threw a kid into a team playing this poorly.

Tarkowski has been poor this season but, if I remember rightly, he took a few games to get into his stride last season too. If he defends well, we defend well. I expect our boys to stand firm and defiant tomorrow. I also think we will score.

Still 105 points to play for. For the life of me, I don't understand why any Evertonian would want to concede any of them before we even get on the bus.

I dream of Kevin Sheedy's volley, 85? We could do with similar brilliance now eh. 97 goals, #legend.

Praying for an upset!

Recent form and past performances will have many selecting Villa as a banker for tomorrow, but that doesn't mean that will definitely happen.

There's no point in giving up before kick-off, and hopefully the manager and players don't take that sort of attitude on to the pitch with them.

The pundits and so-called experts are almost gleefully predicting our demise, let's hope the players rise to the occasion tomorrow and in all of our future games and shove it right back in their faces.

We might actually be worth watching.

We've probably all got unreasonable expectations of Ndiaye now but not picking him would surely be managerial suicide.

So far.

Cue George McKane. 💙

Meltdown's happen and players make hairbrained errors which cost teams points.

I, like everyone else hope the last game was a one off and that Dyche has got the mental problems sorted for the next game tomorrow.

Sadly some arguably key members of the squad are still injured and that means people like the aging Young may still be in the starting eleven.

Villa have some very quick players and that could be too much for the creaky Blues defence to cope with.

It's going to take a big showing defensively to get anything from this game as we all know but anything can happen on any given day so let's hope it's one of those days.

xG!xG!xG!

That isn't what happened though, Brian. Bournemouth didn't ‘accelerate' in the final 10 minutes of that game – they simply ‘sustained'.

I'd agree with Dyche that his substitutions didn't cost us the game as they were (near enough) like for like. It was the substitutions he didn't make that enabled Bournemouth to ‘overtake' us simply by keeping their work rate up whilst, throughout our midfield and defence, players were ‘hitting the wall'.

I hope Dyche has learned something about how the game is (still) progressing – even if he isn't broadcasting it – but I need to see evidence of it starting from tomorrow.

By the way, the dog is fed up with it. My shouting at the laptop. I have given up with positivity, turn it off after 2-nil.

I wanted Bielsa, now I want Moyes, because all the trendy options with nice hair and now the three buttock-ed mooners have failed.

Nothing short of a Chet Hanks sized shocker right through Villa's fraudulent rectum will get me back on board. Any chance that happens!?!?! Nope!!!

At least they don't have to worry about him and know he's got their back when the pressure comes on. Whereas…

Sean Dyche is in charge today and he will pick the team. Any game is winnable.

Go out on that pitch with confidence and belief blues, because those travelling 3,000 supporters will do.

And wear blue!!

Gone is the correct answer and Dixon it is then, every game, until, taken over the whole game, there is somebody better – and, up to now, there isn't.

Villa, like every team, can be beaten, and today Everton can earn the right to play and take their chances and win.

Jimmy Garner at right-back if he is available, else Dixon.

But believe and believe. Forget the press, the vultures and focus on the game.

A cracking stadium at Villa and hopefully a perfect weather day for football.

Now is the time Everton, to deliver. Turn up and play and win.

UTFTs!

I'm off to bed here in Chicago after perhaps too much dry white. Thank Sheeds it's an 11:30 AM kick-off for us over here.

We will not lose, Danny, but if we do, congratulations to you and you will deserve your 'Fecking told yer so, I called it'.

Meanwhile, Danny O, Rob, Neil, Brent etc. Thanks for being there. We can get something from this. Be loud and proud.

We have a result in us after the 87 minutes vs Bournemouth, but that would mean the three hard-boiled eggs would have to get it right this time. Dyche, start Ndiaye and keep a fucking eye on your flagging midfielders and defenders.

Let's hope we see some of the attacking play from a few weeks back, some calmer heads on and off the ball when defending, and that we're pleasantly surprised this evening!

Can Dyche organise the team to shut out Villa and create the chances to get ahead, and/or stay in the game? That's what we need to see.

I don't blame ToffeeWebbers going into this one expecting another defeat. It's up to Dyche and the players to put in a shift, keep the ball and not fold.

If they can't put the Bournemouth debacle behind them quickly, then could be messy.

Up the F Toffees and the travelling blues!

Bournemouth was the low; now let's experience the high. Go get 'em, Blues!!!

I enjoyed Chicago, not just because we happened to be there for the 4th July, but my son took us to Gibson's as he'd watched a TV series. Smart place.

Well, soon I'll be off to my first trip of two to Birmingham this coming week. Very different reasons, but today is all about the Blues.

However...

the squad knows they put together a pretty good showing for 90% of our last match, and no reason they can't do that again, but they will, consciously or subconsciously, be thinking "...we still fucking lost...!" - and how long actually is it since we put together two enjoyable to watch, winning performances (we should have won) on the bounce. Some time I reckon.

We are away to Aston Villa. Dyche will set us up to try not to lose. Villa know where our weaknesses lie. Fucking sods law says Onana will have a worldy. Watkins gets to start (might be a good week to have him captain your FFL team, lol) and we revert to type.

As always I am hopeful, and pray for the points, but with very supressed optimism this week. I'll probably only be able to catch the first half due to social commitments unless I can engineer a delayed start so hopefully we can get our noses in front by then, and hold onto the lead for the remaining 45.

Good luck to the travelling faithful - UTFT and I wish you all a happy weekend.

Praying...!

All going the game, take care and here's to victory!

"What's Our Name?"

Ndiaye is pivotal and with Iroegbunam and Mangala in midfield we should surprise a few people today.

C'mon the Toffees! Dyche —sort yourself out, mate.

I'd take a dour draw today. Perhaps a 0-0 to show we've recovered some defensive stability. We'd have to play well to achieve that against a very good Villa side.

I am still livid with Dyche. He lost a fair few respect points from the Bournemouth debacle. A performance isn't managing to last 90 minutes plus 10 minutess added time before flaking out. The game has radically changed.

When a team can put out a different 50% of its side at any given moment, that is a major tactical switch. One that the dinosaur managers really have to get out from under the meteor and adapt to a new world.

No one can cope with 5 fresh players bombing about when they have jelly legs. That, Mr Dyche is where you come in. Where you do the hard yards in your head. Like for like the opposition. Stimy them. Wind out of their sails etc.

Let's see you put out a side that wants to kill the Villains and make those incredible away fans proud. COYB!!!

Get Ndiaye on the ball as much as possible and he'll give them food for thought, I'm sure of that. I'd like to see Lindstrøm given a run out for 25 minutes or so to see what he can do.

Bournemouth's gaffer showed a couple of weeks back what the use of fresh legs yields. Without the risk of repeating myself, there's a coach or coaches out there who could do something with this squad. Streghten the full-back positions in the next window and we are better than the results will have you believe.

But for fuck's sake, Dyche — no Doucoure or Young!!! — and bring your baby McNeil off if he's struggling.

A draw for me if we stay disciplined. Oh and don't play Young!

My opinion was that Dixon's teammates became a lot more confident as the game went on. Perhaps we should just look to the future?

Buzzinga!!!

All Dyche had to do was get O'Brien on in that backline and perhaps Garner to settle things down in midfield and we probably cut one or two of those goals.

Still hurts. Donkey Dyche will he haven't learnt? probably not.

I believe it'll be the same horses being flogged for 80 minutes before he brings on one sub.

His attempts at excusing himself of any blame for the Bournemouth debacle was yet another bad tactic on his part that did his cause no good at all.

We do look more dangerous going forward so it's swings and roundabouts, we are second favourites though.

Are the anti-Dyche gang giving him credit for the first 87 minutes against Bournemouth when we played well, or the players? It's very easy after the event to blame the manager and say he should have done this that and the other, and let the players off.

He was in charge last season when we had the 4th best defence in the league; he proved he knows how to defend a lead, shit happens sometimes.

The difference is the players are not the same due to injuries and one or two leaving; all the coaching staff are the same.

He won't get credit off some, whatever he does, it seems.

I know what you mean but, if we have the 87 minutes performance, we'll probably lose again. That's the point – we need a 90+ minutes performance.

Here's hoping they've learned that harsh lesson.

That's a level of stubbornness that ends up costing a manager his job eventually – when he can't see what all of us can see plain as day.

Dyche's record in the early games of each season at all of the clubs he has managed is really, really poor. I wonder is it down to over doing the physical stuff in pre-season and that the players start the season over-tired and not "fresh"?

UTFT!

It's going to be a long day for them.

Something needs changing after conceding 10 goals in our last 3 games. I'd like to see Garner in a right-wingback role... a position he's played well in the past and maybe McNeil on the opposite flank.

3-5-1-1

Pickford
Keane Tarkowski O'Brien
Garner Mangala Gana Iroegbunam McNeil
Ndiaye
Calvert-Lewin

Whoever plays at right-back needs to be careful, as do all the players. Then again… fair tackles will be penalised too!

However, unlike the Bournemouth game, where nerves as well as fatigue got the better of us, this is to some extent a free hit, so poor are our prospects, and sometimes that makes players perform better and more freely.

And with that optimistic thought, I'm getting the sofa set up to hide behind...

Hope Young doesn't start; if he does, then I hope he puts in a MotM performance…

We played some great stuff against Bournemouth, the players need to keep striving for that. There were times last season when we were creating loads of chances but just couldn't stick it in the net, there's always hope.

I'll give him credit when he wins some football matches, which is what he's paid vast amounts of money to do, not just perform well for 87 minutes.

[Perhaps I spent too long in Yankeeland...]

What if he starts Young and we win?

What if he doesn't start Young but we still get battered?

Is he ok in his relationship with Phil?

What if he starts Young and we go behind until Young is substituted and after the substitution we equalise and then we go on to win?

The permutations have my head spinning I tell yer!

What do you reckon Dave?

I think you've got it!

Okay, Professor Higgins.😀

We have lost the last 4 Premier League games that Keane has played for us. Perhaps he will make it 5 today.

Anybody know the odds of another red card for Young?