Manchester United vs Everton

We are putting too much faith in a player that isn't staying here.

'Reliance' implies he scores and we have to worry about him not playing.

He looks to have a good turn of speed and decent ball control so it will be interesting to see if he is involved on Sunday!

You need to give the team talk on Sunday!!

Wow, wouldn't that be a nice Christmas gift!

With the name Gardener he certainly knew how to plant a few in our net. Our weedy efforts in defence and midfield, misplaced passes etc, made him grow in stature! :-)

Branthwaite, on the other hand…!!

Must be special grass for Broja.

Set up not to concede, smash ball to isolated striker's head, concede self-destruct goal, continue to smash ball to isolated striker, game reaches 75 minutes, off goes isolated striker subbed for another isolated striker, shortly after concede second goal.

Full time.

Dyche is pleased we had hard yards on the grass.

I hate to say it (and I do hope you are completely wrong) but I think you may have saved Lyndon, Michael, Danny, Paul etc the task of writing a match report.

You forgot about VAR robbing us, Fernandes conning a penalty and possibly a red card out of Young.

I think we'll throw 3 points away and emerge with a draw.

But there's no excuses for not shooting and every player must play for the shirt.

Looking at this game as the next game and not thinking about past games... and their cack decisions. Clear minds and focus on the game.

Sean Dyche needs a result, at least a draw… but why not try and win?

1-0 to us. UTFT

There are two things that have dropped off significantly from last season. One is set pieces, a reliable source of goals for us last season but much less so now. The second is winning the ball in the opponent's half. This was a major source of chances for us last season but has almost halved this season.

This may be mainly due to McNeil playing centrally who is less able to turnover the ball than the likes of Doucoure, who in turn lacks McNeil's technique and ability to pick a pass.

They nabbed a draw against Ipswich and gained a narrow win against some Danish team, conceding two goals.

There's no reason we can't get something.

Just use the players we have to effect, rather than miss them out. And of that predicted 3 behind Calvert-Lewin, I hope he plays Ndiaye in the central position. I don't see a reason not to if McNeil and Harrison are starting. Then again, I often think McNeil can play the central role.

Pity Mary Poppins wasn't an Evertonian, she could have made that result supercalifragilistic expialidocious !

And replace Dyche with Bert the Chimney Sweep ? :-)

Some people moan relentlessly that Dyche has sucked the life out of them.
Then come on here to relentlessly try to suck the life out of everybody else.

If you don't believe we can win. I'm sure there would be lots of other things to do besides dragging everyone else down with a negativity which makes Dyche sound like Danny O'Neill.

I’m all for realistic views and fears, and I’m not one of the famed “happy clappers” myself but, what do you get from repetitive negative predictions? Is it the “told you so” feeling afterwards?

Realistically I accept it’s difficult to forecast a win tomorrow (and no way will Dyche play Beto and DCL up front at OT, Paul B) but I live in hope that sooner, rather than later, we’ll put in a performance, as we did in the last derby.

As for your last point, UTD couldn’t even beat Ipswich away - we did! Why should we fear them? They’re not the team their name suggests.

I’d take a draw now but we can win it!

UTFT

I’ve got a funny feeling 0-1 DCL myself Colin, I don’t think December is going to be as pointless as many are predicting.

United are still getting their act together they are vulnerable in defence and Beto could be the man to upset them for an hour or so, as long as he gets some support and backing upfront, is there anyone who can provide it, the on loan striker? Or maybe Dominic if he comes out of the stupor he’s been in for most of the season.

Derek Knox has given my scoreline 2-1 to the Blues or maybe 3-1 while United are attacking furiously to try and get the equaliser!

Read Dave Abraham's post @36.

Why can't we win it? 90 minutes, 11 against 11. Whoever lines up and whatever formation we play, just have a go at them.

‘There's been little evidence of two strikers working for us’.

That is true Sam but have we really given it a sufficient go, there does seem to be plenty of evidence that one up top isn’t working.

Can’t say fairer than that Paul.

I’ve just got a good feeling about this game, don’t know why just do, it’s the enigma that is Sean Dyche, when you least expect it.

No idea what the bookies are predicting but i'd guess we are 2nd favourites.

I would pack the midfield and have McNeil and Ndiaye out wide. This type of game should suit our rigid game plan. We will be forced to sit deep, they will leave gaps at the back for some counters.

I predicted lots of feed the Scouser chants and a 1-0 defeat.

I suppose it's more of a free hit, as long as we don't get tonked, most will expect a lose. I would take a point now.

Pickford
Young tarks Jarrod myko
Mangala Duke Gana
Ndiaye. McNeil
DCL

There is no right or wrong and none of us can predict. But we like to guess. Some are optimistic come match day (fools like me). Others are more pessimistic.

Either way, we all want Everton to win.

We can't and won't win them all, but we can win enough.

But when I went on Microsoft Edge, it asked me to log on, I remembered my user name but can't remember my password. So does anybody know how I find out what my original password was? Sorry I know this really isn't the place to post this.

Dyche does a press conference and says how great the players performed and how the fans became the 12th man, he says how magnificent Patterson was for his first full 90 minutes of the season.

May as well post something positive, even though it will be the usual suspects and tactics, but hey ho, no point stating the obvious and being labelled a doom monger.

Up The Toffees.

I hope Lyndon doesn't mind me singing his plaudits, but he was a massive help to resolving my technical issue.

As a result, I now only use the TW app to access the pages.

Best of luck. UTFTs!

Normally you're given a "Forgotten Password" option but, if that's not appearing immediately, perhaps you need to type in an incorrect password to generate that option.

Alternatively, you could Google what to do.

Pretty sure my wife had a similar issue a while back and it wasn't an easy process.

I've been getting that, but only on my phone when I'm out.

I find connecting to WiFi helps resolve it.

In the house, no issues.

Yes changing browser can resolve. I often flick between Safari (Mac) and Google Chrome.

In terms of password, you can just a reset password and pick another one.

The reality is that very few teams play with 2 strikers these days, or at least not 2 traditional strikers like Beto and Calvert-Lewin. Playing with a striker and and then a forward off him (such as Calvert-Lewin and Ndiaye) could be a different matter.

I think it's extremely unlikely we'll see Dyche start the two together but the bigger question may be who is first pick. There seems little doubt that Calvert-Lewin is the better player overall but Beto seems able to get involved more frequently, even if he does give the ball away more often.

It seems clear to me that Calvert-Lewin is leaving this summer, if not before, and that is a good reason to give Beto a run of games in my opinion as Calvert-Lewin is hardly pulling up trees.

First home game for their new manager so the players and the crowd are going to be right up for this game.

We do play teams at the wrong times.

We are going to need some luck, but we might get something from the game. We do seem to play better in these types of games.

Here's hoping.

We just need one of our players to be able to pick up any loose balls Beto generates.

If it ain't broke don't fix it… same XI possibly with Lindstrom out for Harrison and we need to provide more cover to protect that precious point.

All true, especially about Calvert-Lewin's imminent departure. I think Beto warrants a start and at the moment we have no other partner options than Calvert-Lewin.

Just thinking of the future when Broja and Chermiti are available. I think back to that Under-21 game against Tranmere, where Beto played alongside Sherif and for 15 minutes he looked a different player, I know it's hardly the Premier League.

I think he could be a handful with another striker alongside, I'm not sure he's got enough to play the lone striker role.

I will be glad to see Broja finally close to being in a position where he can make a contribution.

Should work fine then.

Play to win tomorrow, and 2 strikers, albeit depending on fitness; otherwise, it will likely be the same old story, but they are beatable and if the crowd gets turned, it's a part of the battle won.

Realistically, I see the same line-up as last week, which is frustrating. Sean Dyche is now on the roulette wheel, and his future as Everton boss is in the balance. Team selection he can control and, I believe the players he has are capable of better.

Can he deliver tomorrow?

Broja will come on and get a couple and Calvert-Lewin and Beto will come on in the last 5 minutes and complete the rout!

Nothing like being positive. (And living in dreamland!) More meds, Nurse Ratchett

We've chatted many times about this. One game at a time, starting tomorrow.

And your ending statements sum it up. He has players that can deliver better, he's just not using them.

Speak to you soon mate.

I think Dyche has passed his sell-by date and some members of the team aren't as good as we should have, but anything can happen on the day as we saw in that last derby.

You're entitled to your opinions and views of course – I'm just questioning the urge to spread the gloom. You didn't just post once that you thought we'd lose – you repeated it.

There'll be 3,000 there tomorrow and yes, some of them will expect we'll get beat, but they won't be telling everyone who'll listen that we will. They'll be waiting until the final whistle before they give up.

To all travelling, I envy you and I wish I was there. I'm going the Arsenal game and whilst I won't predict a result, and I'm quite nervous, I'm definitely going there hoping we can click and beat the twats! UTFT!

I wonder if he starts with Keane and Harrison for this one. Going to a back five possibily. Harrison and McNeil tracking back for defensive duties. Expect Mangala in there alongside Gueye.

Low low block defending here.

He is a defensive midfielder and surely not even Dyche can be expecting creativity from him to any degree… or is Dyche swayed by the low chance of one of his shots actually going in?

Anyway, I hope tomorrow that he defends and defends well. I believe that it will be a difficult game to win tomorrow; they have many good players and a new manager and I believe that the bookies probably have it right.

We are due a decent performance and, if we don't start producing them soon, then I will start to worry about our position. We aren't safe yet and relegation is a massive risk.

The only problem with Dyche playing further forward is that he tends to go gung-ho, which does not work.

2) Dyche is finally hurt by the criticism and plays Bournemouthball – we take a early 2-goal lead before losing 6-2. Man Utd do have players that can tear you apart, regardless of how well they have performed this season.

Whatever happens, I cannot see anything other than defeat.

Oh, and was it the U21's the other night that had their keeper injured and we were caught with only one keeper on the bench? Sort it, Mr Dyche.

I guess Alan at least it would give the opposition something different to consider unlike now.

I’m also interested in trying to create a bit of competition for places, Ndiaye Lindstrom Harrison and McNeill all coveting that Number 10 spot.

Likewise Garner Tim Mangala Gana Doucoure all fighting for the central 3 midfield slots.

A few ex Everton players are better away from here.

Sadly Sean Dyche is holding the players back from having the belief to do so, I firmly believe this.

Our record away to the top sides under Dyche has been abysmal:

Two losses at Old Trafford
Two losses at Spurs
Two losses at Liverpool
Two losses at Arsenal
One draw one loss at Chelsea
One trip one loss at Man City.

For me, what is striking about our performances this year is how consistent we are. You can't deny that, there really isn't that much variation between performances, it's always pretty much the same thing. So I'm on the side hoping (rather than believing) that we can have another Brighton away style outlier because that is what will be needed.

COYB

"We plan to sub Bryan in around the 80th minute, just in time to score his gamewinner," said Everton manager Sean Dyche.

For those who dog Dyche in most of their posts, since he became manager we have bought £90m worth of players and sold £165m worth.
Dont forget we were already struggling at the time he arrived, he's had to try to get results with a squad thats been depleted by £75m since then.

Hard to see us getting anything the way we've been playing so why not try to change tactics, surprise them ?

Got to win the middle of the park, their pace will be the biggest issue. Sloppy giving the ball away will likely be punished.

We are due some decent performances why not start tomorrow.

Play Ndiaye off dcl. Mcneil & Harrison wide.

With them 3 you can change around if things not working, all can play the 3 positions or is that too much to ask of Dyche?

Some tactical awareness in games ?

Some of us would like to see a change in formation and tactics. Unfortunately, Dyche is one of the most predictable managers in the Premier League and we're an easy team to prepare for – don't need to spend hours analysing our games, pity the poor sod that does!

We can still win, so I'm going for a hopeful 2-1 to the Blues.

It remains therefore that the defense has to be strong to get a point… which always makes for a nervous game against any opposition.

I would like to think that Broja and Chermitti can make a difference when ready but realistically I believe improvement will take another month or two.

Man Utd are looking to impress the new gaffer and I hope it's not tomorrow.

IMO you are right to wonder what is going on with Gana. It seemed to me that Doucoure instantly ceded possession to him last week and then proceeded to amble forwards to get into some sort of attack-supporting position.

Just not Gana's forte, is it? It's asking him to be way more creative, risk-taking than I would want him to need to be.

Adding to the poor balance of the team is Ashley Young who is steady and capable of a decent cross or pass but who must be capping our overall mobility.

I'd love to see Gana delegating all truly creative play to others and Patterson getting 30 minutes to see if he at least has the athleticism to pose a different sort of problem for the opposition on our right flank.

A quick effective start should put the Mancs in a tizzy given the pressure on them. Our guys can fully adopt the underdog role and the freedom that comes with it. At least we've got to see some fight and passion. COYB!

Counter-attack for a 1-0 win.

We've been solid and we've created chances. We've also mixed it up when necessary and gone for late goals. Fine margins are all that's come between us and a couple more wins (and losses) in the last eight or so matches.

Wins are the currency. We need eight more of them. An unlikely win today will be a great start.

Is it not possible to re-set your password using 'forgotten password' or words to that effect.

Edge should be no problem for Evertonians – we've been living on the Edge for years .

Man Utd are weak in defence so it would be our best option.

I have to be positive today as Man Utd can be beaten at the moment. Don't ask me why they called scousers bin lids.

A 1-0 fluke would be perfect as the main-stream media sports sections will be wailing and whining and we won't get a mention.

We'll have to be smart, and keep in the game for 98+ minutes.

I'm happy to believe that we can grind out a result against the odds. But Wolves is more crucial to our campaign and we really need a performance later this week.

Their defensive record isn't as bad as I thought it was but you could see the other night against an energetic Bodo Glimt they found it difficult to cope.

Man Utd are really an odd team at the moment. A lot of individual talent but so far off a cohesive unit. The new manager's got his work cut out and I hope he hasn't had enough time to iron out many creases.

Not being doom and gloom but I can't see better than a point in today at best. Stadium will be packed, players wanting to make an impression to the new guy, and we can't score in a brothel with a wad of cash in both hands.

Can we really keep a clean sheet over 97 minutes?

It will be nice to at least see some change in the starting XI – and I don't mean just swapping Harrison for Lindstr0m.

Playing at Old Trafford is far less daunting than it used to be, so there's always a glimmer of hope, but with their new manager bounce, we might need a bit of luck.

All the best to anyone travelling to the game today, you regulars deserve something to cheer. UTFT

I hope he is right !

I have a good feeling about today. The stakes are massive.
UTFTs!

Paul 107, I'll have a slice of whatever you had for brekkie!

Am going to watch today trying not to feel too much as until the ownership changes we’re in a holding pattern, including the players.

Hope the travelling blues have something to cheer about. Ar least bottom clubs didn’t win this weekend so a free hit to us.

Checking the line-ups, will we be surprised...

Viva Santo Domingo!