Southampton vs Everton

As we approach matchday, the rest can wait. We have an ineffective board until the ownership issue is settled, so nothing is getting done before this weekend or even this side of Christmas.

All us mere supporters can do is get behind the team that walks on the pitch.

The injuries are constant. And they hit us harder than most due to an already small, limited and unbalanced squad. If he fell into a barrel of tits he'd come out sucking his thumb.

He will put Docoure there, and play Harrison on the right with Ndiaye on the left.

The big question is who to leave out for Jarrad?

Another option may be to bring Coleman in at right-back and play Young in right-midfield, with Harrison on the left in front of Mykolenko, that would, at least, offer additional cover on the flanks.

Apart from that great victory down there when we wore our "one-off" army green strip, with Lukaku as centre-forward, we've had very little joy down at St Mary's in recent years, so here's hoping!

No room for strategic thinking with this manager.

As mentioned above, it will probably be Doucoure.

If it's Calvert-Lewin, then give Lindstrøm a go. Jack's pressing is wasted if Dom doesn't help.

I still feel for Mangala losing his place. I wouldn't mind Doucoure in the No 10 role if it meant getting Mangala back into midfield. He's far tidier than Gana.

They want to play and we can punish them.

He may press at No 10 but he can contribute little else.

We have had 2 wins and 3 draws in the last 5 games but the manager still can't please everyone.

We've actually had two wins there since Lukaku left. Under Silva in 2019 we won 2-1 and with the same score line under Lampard two years ago when Coady and McNeil scored.

Any player or team who haven't won or scored, the best team to play is Everton.

I take it you won't be watching?

Lindstrom likes the No 10 role and is a better option but, for me, the first name on the team sheet has to be Branthwaite – and that's not me being anti-Keane.

Train to Southampton, beers with good friends and the Blues giving another red-and-white shite team a good hiding as we click!

Beto to come on, but maybe as a 2 with Calvert-Lewin late on, 80 minutes.

Branthwaite stays on the bench unless needed because of injuries; Lindstrom for Harrison on 75 minutes.

We're going in blues and know the pre-match meeting place.

See you there.

Spirit. We can take the points.

Belief and desire.

Hoping that Mangala and Lindstrom come in. Doucoure out and one of Harrison or Lindstrom into no.10. I'd prefer Lindstrom but I'll guess that if our coach is finally done with the Doucoure 'experiment' then he would probably opt for the industry of Harrison.

Or maybe a change of formation... actually, forget that.

There is a factor no-one else seems to have mentioned yet: deadball set-piece delivery. With both McNeil and Garner sidelined Lindstrom pretty much has to start, doesn't he?

I'd like to see Iliman Ndiaye played central but putting Lindstrom there is probably better for a player still getting up to speed in the Premier League.

Keep the midfield pair (or better yet, put Doucoucre on the bench and start Mangala, IMO).

But to answer the question of the attacking quartet;

Calvert-Lewin as always up top, Jack on the right, Ndiaye (where he has excelled) on the left, and Lindstrøm in his favoured No 8/10 slot. The reason being, even if he isn't up to the Premier League stresses yet, at least play him in his favoured and statistically best position?

Why do we always look at moving players when things have started to work at last, or try and put square pegs in round holes?

However, and this isn't having a dig at Dyche, Dale, who knows what Dyche will do?

I suspect that Branthwaie will start on the bench (to come on in emergency or for the 2nd half), and that Doucoure gets pushed up to the No 10 slot, and who knows whether it'll be Mangala, Tim Iro or A N Other in the midfield?

Maybe he'll put Jack at No 10 and Lindstrøm on he right?

Who knows? Who cares… just support whoever is playing in the Everton kit. (Are we in Grey again this weekend, or the Black?)

Three points will be very welcome regardless!

Si, I agree wholeheartedly, that at last Dyche has (genuine?) options in all but two positions, which are left-back and right-wing.

Yes, we have Mykolenko and Young for left-back, but Young seems to have cemented the right-back position for now? Watch him start Seamus to shame me!

And other than Jack, we don't have any other players who can genuinely fulfil the role of RWF imho? (Maybe Young or Patterson in a more RWB role?)

Lindstrøm is nota winger – QED; see Napoli 2023-24 – (though with a very different setup at Frankfurt, he managed a few decent games on the wing there).

Couple of Guinness in Yates then on to the ground and a 0-3 win.

Come on Everton.

Let's have it straight, we're playing Southampton. There are no easy games in this league but this is one we should be expecting to look decent in.

I can't see anything but us winning. Maybe even a day where we pick them off and win comfortably. Bedlam in the away end. And online cries of "miracle worker" and "the Dyche haters have gone quiet"!

Of course, I will be watching.

Hoping as always for a win, but we will have to work for it. No stupid team selections, Mr Dyche, and we can bag three points.

Pay better attention next time Derek K. City's goal was in the 5th minute.

I agree, McNeil works well creatively as the Number 10 but, at the same time, he is a liability. He often loses the ball running sideways or backwards or heads back towards goal when there aren't good options and this has cost us when he loses the ball in dangerous positions.

On balance, I don't think he has the “football intelligence” to play as a No 10 even if he has some of the requisite skill. I'd be interested to see Lindstrøm play there.

Our guest writer pre-season said the reason he floundered at Napoli was because he was played on the wing versus Number 10 and so far the wing is where Dyche has put him. But, like Colin, I suspect Dyche will go for Doucoure. Unfortunately.

Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko[
Gueye, Mangala;
Harrison, Lindstrom, Ndiaye;
Calvert-Lewin.

However, it will be:

Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Calvert-Lewin, Ndiaye and Harrison.

The team should pick itself but the guy who picks it will likely pick something else.

The only change will be Mangala for McNeil,with Doucoure moving further forward.

Hope I’m wrong though.

No disrespect to Southampton but they are a championship team and for most of this season they have looked it.

If we are not beating these tomorrow then I'm convinced it's another long relegation battle on the cards.

Start Lindstrom ahead of Harrison (or McNeil given his fitness) and let's try and get at them.

Jack Harrison works hard all day long don't get me wrong but he'd be a hell of a lot more effective if he didn't think he was Cristiano Ronaldo trying to beat men and just take one touch and whip crosses in, he hasn't the footwork to beat fullbacks, keep it simple lad.

Not Tarkowski.

Gueye and Mangala to provide a good screen in front of the defence. Lindstrom definitely prefers central (No 10) and Ndiaye has been great on the left, so why would you change that?

"Offbeat prediction: Keane and Branthwaite. Not Tarkowski".

Mike, I think that's a good call. Tarkowski has been struggling with an injury for a while now. Keane has been playing quite well. Tarkowski gets the rest he needs.

The focus has been on the Keane or Branthwaite debate, but I think Dyche will not drop either and either play a 5 at the back, 3 central defenders or Branthwaite will be on the bench.

Why? Because Dyche has his favourites and the biggest are Tarkowski and Keane...

Why can't we try 4-3-3 for a change with Mangala, Gana and Docoure in midfield and Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin and Lindstrom as the front 3?

Southampton like to play it out from the back so our 3 forwards could try and pin them in, I'm sick to death of watching Calvert-Lewin stuck up there on his own – I'm not his biggest fan but what a thankless task he has.

As for Jarrad Branthwaite, I think he will play. I can't see Keane being dropped though.

However you are watching it, send that positive energy. The league is tight and we can climb it quickly with a few results.

21% possession, ugly win.

Dyche to rub his nose constantly in the post-match interview and proclaim himself a 'miracle worker'.

ToffeeWeb extremely quiet on Saturday evening.

The other injuries make life very hard.

Like others, I'd like to see a hard-working midfield trio of Mangala, Doucoure and Gueye to allow a trio of Lindstrom, Ndiaye and Calvert-Lewin to stay high up the pitch. It'll be Harrison though, won't it?

Might even be tempted to go with Beto over Calvert-Lewin because he's got the momentum.

McNeil gives us more of a goal threat but it doesn't sound like he will start the game.

They are bottom for a reason and hopefully we will have too much experience for them. In a tight game, maybe 2-1 to us.

He's not great but he doesn't deserve the disdain he gets from some.

The planets must align at some time and Calvert-Lewin's scuffed shots will find the back of the net; this could be the difference tomorrow.

With the fixtures ahead, all 3 points would be perfect, but head says huff and puff for a point and keep the train rolling. UTFT!

But please Sean, please... you have to start Jarrad Branthwaite, you just have to!

Southampton dominated possession last time we played them. And as we're experts in giving the ball away, it doesn't augur well. Anyway COYB.
.

Dyche will have this one marked out as an important fixture against one of the teams in our relegation-threatened mini-league. He'll have the players up for it on this basis and will enjoy deploying some of his patented anti-football methodology against a promoted team who like to actually play a bit and string a few passes together.

Dyche seems to relish spoiling these types of parties.

I'm going an easy home win, 3-0.

MNU 45

CHE 43

NEW 41

BRI 41

AST 39

TOT 37

CRY 37

FOR 36

LIV 35

LUT 35

EVE 33

SHU 31

BRE 29

MNC 26

WHU 26

WOL 26

BOU 25

BUR 25

ARS 23

FUL 22

Also, Man City currently only have 13 fit first team players.

Please.

If George McKane is reading, send us positive grooves.

What on earth is that shite, why bother posting that bollocks!

0-3 Everton!

Begovic
Coleman Tarks Slim Shady Myko

Will the real Slim Shady please stand up? :)

It doesn't sit with me.

I go to every match, as I will tomorrow, wanting to win or get a result.

Let's make more noise than ever and make them regret it!

Anyway, I'm going for a convincing pretty straight-forward 3-0 away win.

I don't predict a win (cos I put the mockers on it) not a defeat but sometimes I have a bad feeling about a game and keep my mouth shut. I can only assume it's a wind-up – in which case it's working.

Mark @ 67, they have actually moved the away support to the other end of the ground this season! As such we'll just get the Chapel and Kingsland stands staring at us, the more shouty saints will be up the other end of the stadium!

I've watched all of Saints home games so far, they like possession and to play out of the back, they run the channels as their front line are all short, unless they bring tall Paul on, they did that against Stoke but then didn't put any crosses in! They get caught on the ball and are susceptible to the break. I don't think Martin knows who his best 11 is.

If we play like we did against Ipswich, we should smash these. However, Saints are desperate for their first win and as we know, who do you want to play if you haven't won in a while! Everton that!

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to being amongst fellow Toffees once again! 3 - 1 to the Blues!!! UTFTs 💙

Not a single reason to do so.

Let it sit there and Tony takes his licks

If they have moved the away fans to the opposite end, have you any idea if the coaches are still parked in the same place, which was usually, as you come out the “old away end”, turn right and then turn left. I don't know what the name of the road is though.

Do you remember the away end at The Dell? I think it didn't even have any kind of roof?

I only went to The Dell once but we beat a Southampton team with Shearer and Le Tissier.

Ipswich v Leicester
Southampton v Everton
Wolves v Palace

Hoping for 3 away wins, or Everton win and 2 draws. An important week, especially considering our fixtures coming up.

Do we know what percentage of the squad these injury numbers represent?

And is there any note of the reliance on those injured or if there are like-for-like substitutes available?

I think with those considerations, Dyche's situation is more severe than at other clubs.

So, now they are out of the way, can we have an upcoming manager who plays four at the back?

Looking at how well Girona and Brest did last season, one of their managers would probably do.

He is a sub until he gets defending in the Premier League.

What about someone who continually slags off the same player regardless of how he plays, that pisses me off more than saying we might lose.

On the subject of injuries, the teams playing in Europe are going to or should get more injuries than teams that aren't.

As the Southampton keeper gave us “a look” I shouted “Fuck Off, Sherwood, you're shite you!” followed by silence…

Then my mate saying, “It's Flowers, Murph.”

Have my other readers experienced similar embarrassing guffs?

I suppose that's progress in some cul de sacs.

Yes, they have moved the away coaches to Melbourne Street, there is also additional fencing around the outside of the ground as they have introduced more fan zones. The family zone at the Chapel end of the ground is accessible to away supporters before kick-off.

If you are travelling in on foot from town, Chapel Road will be the best access as opposed to Northam Road. Hope to meet you for a beer, Rob H.

Hoping that our experience prevails and that we win this, reckon it will be a tight game and we will be pressing their defenders into mistakes.

2-1 to the Blues, Dominic to find his shooting boots behind the sofa.

Earlier it was suggested we should ban opinions that state "we might lose" and the BBC banning the Fawlty episode just sprang to mind.

Never been a fan of censorship and echo chambers.

Like some have said, do not be surprised if McNeil is out, Dyche throws Coleman in at right-back and moves Young over to the left side of midfield.

Why can't Harrison be left on the bus?

He's been shite this season. Not a hair out of place.

That post is just a bit too clever, in my view.

It's like playing with nine men, for different reasons, one is useless, the other runs all day and produces zilch!

I got told they had switched the away end, but probably wouldn't have noticed!!

Looking forward to it and getting a result.

The player I’d like to see at 10 is Ndiaye. He has the two-footedness, the agility and the vision to really excel in that position.

As good as McNeill has been in individual moments I do think his playing at 10 has not helped the team. He loses the ball frequently and struggles to press in tandem plus his reliance on left foot can make him predictable. I have a feeling Ndiaye may prove a more reliable fit there in the long term.

I’d love to see Harrison on the left (his strongest position), Ndiaye in the 10 and Lindstrom on the right. All with a bit of rotation.

Southampton will not be easy. They will have nearly all the ball and we will have to be patient. As ever one result will not make the season so I hope there will not be too much toy-throwing if we lose or draw.

I keep hoping we'll remedy that. I'm very fickle, so my current hope is that we sign Dedic from Salzburg. I'll change my mind next week.

I'm probably over hopeful but 2 or 3 signings could really lift us - because we do have some of the components of a decent side.

Not sure Dyche even wants or would play an overlapping full back to be honest.

Episode 1. Full Backs

Halloween special. Cenk Tosun

Dyche turned Kieran Tripper from a journeyman fullback into an England international regular who also achieved great things at Atletico Madrid and who we’d have in a heartbeat here

Not sure about having another 33 year old ex international here.

Had/Got enough of them.

If you google 'Everton', you have to wade through about ten gobshite sites like Evertonnews and Goodisonnews, sites that are deliberately set up to push negative stories about the club.

How weird is that?

As others have said, there is nothing to be gained by simply broadcasting negativity without anything constructive.

Against censorship, all for appropriate self-censorship.

UTFT!

Mind you, I don’t like the posters who insist all our injuries have to be down to something the club is getting horribly wrong, which is exactly what James’s statistics counter.

COYB!

Trippier first got called up two years after he left Burnley.

It will be a good day out.

Safe travel to the blues making the long journey.

Great start to the weekend and better news on my mums battle, not out the woods, but promising with plenty of hope.

UTFTs!

Two years later I was living in Portsmouth. I always made sure I was in another part of the ground!

And the return game under the lights,at Goodidon, and OKeefes screamer, to win the game.

Also my first pitch invasion of Goodison Park, from the Street End.

Wheres time gone?

UTFTs!💙🤍🙏⚽️🍻🍻🍻🍀🍀

Best Wishes to your Mum.

I think that Brands had Patterson in the pipeline the season before Benitez arrived, so god knows who actually was involved.

Dyche is as you say not interested in overlapping full backs.Mykolenko was good as a overlapping full back, but has always been a bit ropey as a defending fullback.

There is a problem with different Managers bringing in different players for their system.

Dyche does not appear to be into dual roles.A player is selected to play his position with a emphasis on defence ..All well and good if he happens to have a shot in him.

https://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/08/25/eamonn-okeefe-saudi-arabia/

O'Keefe moved to the lower divisions after Everton, Wigan, Port Vale, Blackpool, Chester then Cork City. He got more goals for those teams than he he did for us.

Agree that, "Dyche does not appear to be into dual roles" yet he regularly plays players out of position, which seems a dichotomy in my estimation. Hoping the reported injuries are not as bad as portrayed; otherwise, we will see another mish-mash of a team!

The Mickey Mouse cup game gave us the typical result we always get but this is the Premier League.

Hopefully they can get off to a better start than last week and Soton are not Fulham so getting a win is not out of the picture.

Realistically though a draw seems more likely.

In terms of past use of full-backs, I thought Trippier and Taylor (though not exactly Cafu and Roberto Carlos) were used as a source of balls into the box by Dyche at Burnley.

We seem incapable of taking even the softest of chances whilst Southampton are already on the way down!

You are right that Lindstrom wasn't used as a traditional number ten but he wasn't a player that played on the wing either.

Frankfurt operated in the same way that Amorim sets his team out at Sporting. Glasner played with effectively two number tens with Lindstrom on the right and Goetze on the left.

Goetze as you know was no wideman n his latter days so he was the more creative of the two where as Lindstrom had the license to go past Kolo Muani and always looks for that space between the full back and centre half.

It was a very attacking side that Glasner deployed often with two midfielders offering the width. Ebimbe played on the right side of a midfield four and never really played as defender or a wing back throughout his career. He is naturally an offensive player.

Contrast this to Glasners current Crystal Palace team where both Mitchell and Munoz are effectively full backs providing the width even though they operate in the similar system.

Seems Southampton might be missing a few through sickness, which would be a bonus for us.

3-5-2, McNeil at No 10

Fed up of being scared of teams like these, we should be putting them to the sword.

2-0 and Calvert-Lewin to score, CYOB