Everton vs Southampton

Gulp!!!

I can no longer travel. I've got to take my dog to the vets as he has suffered rapid weight loss, so I need to get him checked out.

I have a ticket stored in my Google wallet, but I can share it. I can do it by email, which should give the option to print out. Let me know if anyone wants it. Lower Gwladys Street Stand.

Probably best it is someone local.

dannyefc26@gmail.com. 0796 600 7546.

After losing my wife 2½ years ago at the age of 51, I fully get how important our 4 legged friends are.

Given current performances, I'm not sure it is possible to make it any weaker.

I don't like team predictions, but if Branthwaite is fit and training well, get him on the pitch. And give Dixon a run out. Malanga too.

This competition has evaded me all of my life. Lift the gloom Everton.

Danny, I remember you giving Neil your Luton ticket, says everything we need to know about you. Fingers crossed for your man's best friend.

I kind of like Lyndon's team and think that he is probably right, alas, about Doucoure. I think that DCL will start and he will score for two games on the run, making the fella who said on here the other day that DCL only scores one in three chances and is therefore shite even more silly.

3-1 us, DCL one or two.

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANNY

I also didnt get the whole DCL comment, hes not the problem for Gods sake.

My wife went recently at 55.

You are right about our dogs. I always say, they know loyalty like we can only talk about.

Apart from Everton!

I’m sorry for your loss, gone but never forgotten mate.

It’s always with you but you do learn to live with it.

Sorry Danny, thought a bit of black humor might raise a smile.. at least I bloody hope it did!
Let's hope the blue boys can give us all some light relief! God bless Danny!

Virginia,
Dixon,
Keane,
O'Brien,
Young,
Lindstrom,
Garner,
Mangala, (swap for Harrison after 60 mins ),
Harrison ( swap for McNeill 2nd half ),
Doucoure,
Beto.

Give Tarks a rest to help him get over the knock he's obviously carrying.
Mykolenko too.
We need DCL and Ndiaye as fresh as possible for Leicester.

We played most of the 1st team against Doncaster and half them were running on empty, after 75 minutes against Bournemouth. We cannot afford to have that happen on Saturday.

I don't like playing, such a weakened team but given the thinness of the squad and the need, to make sure that whatever happens. we are still in the EPL come May, it's what we need to do.

I'll watch the blues tonight and keep an eye on Villa, as well as AC Milan. Although the last time I done that was when AC were 3-0 up at half time and I was busy texting red relatives. That came back to bite me in the arse!!

Weill, let's get into the next round tonight so we break our duck in the competition.

Yes, let's get to the next round and then onto Leicester.

As grim as the start to this season has been, dependent on results, we could be 15th at the weekend.

Hoping for a win as per usual but a lot depends on who stubborn arse Dyche selects, perfectly winnable with the ' right combination ' we know who they are. How come he doesn't as manager ? Maybe he wants sacking as he is out of his depth !

Otherwise the only question for me is whether Tarkowski is carrying some sort of knock. Certainly his poor form this season might suggest it. If so then he should be rested.

I'd also play Iroegbunam because this is the sort of match that suits him far, far more than the Villa match. It worried me that Dyche started him in that match as I think it looks quite obvious that he is not taking good positions defensively and makes us easy to play through. I don't think he should be starting yet in matches where we expect to be defending for large periods. Mangala is a less dynamic and more defensive player.

Virginia
Dixon O'brien Tarkowski Young
Garner Iroegbunam
Lindstrom Doucoure Ndiaye
Beto

Sometimes all of the footy pain pales into insignificance.

I too have two dogs, and as the kids have left the roost, they are my kids now.
I hope your pooch gets better soon Danny.

I lost my brother at 53, last year and my Dad a year before.
It's been weird going back to the family home and sifting through the memories with everyone else gone.

I did find my old Everton centenary mug from 1978.
Also found a couple of tickets from around that time when I had dragged my Dad to the match, they were in one of his diaries in his shed.

Everything changes but some things are forever.

Thanks mate, couldn’t have put it better myself, my dog was my saviour.

UTFT

Thank you.

Eddie, I used to collect programmes and occasionally read the ones from the 80s. As much as they make me smile, it also fills me with what could have been. I've still got the one from the League {Milk} Cup final in 1984.

Let's get through this tonight Everton. At some point, we are going to win this competition.

Nigel, that’s terrible news. Dogs give so much, when I got divorced I missed the dog who stayed with my ex more than her! Since then I now have 2 Springers who keep me sane and help massively with just about everything.

Hopefully the blues will lift everyone’s spirits tonight.

UTFT

No game is a pushover for the Blues these days even when getting a two goal lead.

It's getting to that make or break time for Dyche if not already. Getting his defensive tactics correct seems to be a problem for him and his staff.

Medical department at fault for not getting Branthwaite injury cleared in off season.

Dyche is a complete muppet for playing Michael Keane, when he knows he's not good enough dropping him for Mina & Branthwaite previously - and costing about 10 managers their jobs previously. But yeah starts him over O'brien for fear of conceding 13 goals in 4 matches, only to conceded 13 goals in 4 matches.

The full back situations are a joke, such that Ashley Young is a guaranteed starter at 53 years of age.

Keeping Beto is proving to be a waste of time. When he eventually comes on, he offers bugger all.

Ditto keeping Doucoure is proving an expensive mistake. Top earner, but offers increasingly less.

The possession and pattern of play is terrible, and the players are getting flogged.

Dyche will get sacked after Leicester. And Moyes will be back.

We have no Board as such, Colin Chong acting as CEO, Kevin Thelwell DoF, who seems to be very 'in' with Dyche, and an absentee owner who can see no further than what's in it for him, and seemingly doesn't care what happens to us in matches!

Milk Cup final, my first trip to Wembley, just remember being amazed how steep the terracing was at the old Wembley. The semi-final away at Villa will feature as one of my fave ever away games. Lost 1-nil but it was enough to get us through on aggregate.

If I could, I'd hit fast forward to a post-Moshiri, post-Dyche world, because frankly it can't come quick enough.

Start Virginia, Dixon, O'Brien, Garner, Mangala, and Lindstrom, and hopefully they'll be ready for Leicester on Saturday, because playing a midfielder Garner at fullback didn't work.

Keane has cost us goals as well, and forget about Harrison and play 3 in midfield tonight and Saturday, because you're stubbornness with your formation and tactics are the reason we're at the bottom of the table.

Cheers mate, never a truer word said.

Doesn't that always happen to us in this competition?

They do help to get us through the bad times, don't they?

🤣 Couldn’t make it up could you

Saints will be up for it and a good win would settle more than a few nerves. Not to mention we need a trophy… play O'Brien with the intention of him replacing Keane as 3rd choice centre-back (or first-choice in a back 3).

I would try a reinforcement in MF and give Keane a well deserved long rest (hopefully rest of the season).

My team would be
Virginia
Dixon Tarks Obrien McNeill
Garner Mangala Ironman Harrison
DCL Ndiaye

Would love to be able to rest Tarkowski for this also. He's not 100%.

Can McNeill play left back or is that you just trying something different, can’t be any worse any rate mate.

Personally I would swap Ndiaye for Lindstrom, I really wouldn’t want that guy getting crocked in the 3rd round of the league cup nor would I play DCL for the same reason, Beto for me.

I just want our best available for the weekend, all fresh and rested. I would also swap out Tarks, he needs a rest, I think he’s injured ( just too hard to admit it).

Very hard coming on as a sub at centre half mate, no time to acclimatise into the game, every mistake magnified, against a good International team.

Understood and get it

Another evening of stress-free unadulterated pleasure for me, with light relief provided by the live forum on TW.

I could argue it's an easier situation being subbed in and down already. There's no pressure.

Start him today and give Tarkowski a break. We can talk again after the match.

No excuses,no bullshit... just fucking win this in 90+ minutes eh Blues!

Also best wishes to Danny & his Hound too.

Sadly the injury situation means that's not realistic. Surely can't risk Tarks or Mykolenko so sadly it'll have to be experimental (McNeil or Harrison or even Gueye or Doucoure?) at LB or Young.

Shame we had to sell Samuels-Smith to Chelsea. He'd be a first team player with us by now.

We need energy and commitment from the midfield. Let's get stuck in and Ndiaye and Beto to work their defence. Maybe a set piece goal for a CBs too. COYB