Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur

Taking our horrifically bad record against Spurs out of the equation and this game into isolation, I'm just hopeful that we can finally see some bloody goals.

Spurs will undoubtedly be very low on confidence at the moment, they look like a shadow of the side they have been in recent seasons and for me they are there for the taking.

But this is Everton, the team that can't score goals.

At some stage we need to start winning football matches, because as bad as the bottom three are, all it will take is one of them to take 4 points from 2 matches and we will start feeling the jitters.

It's Brighton away after this, another fixture which looks very daunting, and then we come to a 9 pointer against Leicester.

4, 3, 2, 1. with overlapping full backs.

Pickford,

Patterson, Tarks, Branthwaite, Mykolenko.

Armstrong, Gueye, Mangala.

Lindstrom, Harrison ( or Garner if fit).

N'Diaye.

When Carlo was panicking so much he very nearly had to put his coffee down

That cup game was amazing... in every sense of the word. Wee Bernard had one of his better games, if I remember rightly.

Bernard's volley towards the end was one of the best goals in a long time at Goodison.

It would be nice to get a couple and win tomorrow.
UTFTs!

Since Moyes's first spell, we've had Martinez, Silva, Allardyce, Carlo, the waiter, and Dyche – 6 managers – and haven't beaten them since 2012! I doubt there's another Premier League side with a worse record than that.

Spurs are struggling at the minute and even little Tamworth took them to extra time whilst nearly winning it at the death.

Up next for them, the remedy club who cure everyone's ailments, another game I'm not looking forward to, even given Spurs injury list.

One thing is for certain: he has got to change that line-up; otherwise, I don't think we will get anything from the game. Yes, I understand he's only been here 5 minutes… but he could have tweaked it the other night but didn't – it was like Dyche was in the dugout.

We can't keep relying on the teams below us to carry on losing, we have to help ourselves – starting tomorrow !

We have won 5 league games against Spurs at Goodison since 1992 to cut a long story short.

Dismal.

352.
Pickford
Tarks Branthwaite O'brien
Myko Harrison
Lindstrom Gana Mangala
Ndiaye
Beto

Their team is set up to score goals but defence is vulnerable, especially with the injuries they have. Our defence is our strong point but we can't score a goal to save our lives.

So it looks like their attack versus our defence. The best outcome I can see for us is a goalless draw unless we get lucky at a set piece.

I don't know how it has got to this. With the possible exception of Richarlison, everyone knows we've needed a goalscorer since Lukaku left and yet here we are!

So yet another season of just hoping we can stay up.

Patterson at right-wingback and play a back 3?

Harrison??????

Moyes looks defeated knowing this. Mr Ego has realized it after one game.

Spurs, comfy 0-2 win, I'm afraid!

We can all see where the problem lies, yet those who are picking the team can't!

Bring Keane in to play a back five and play Ndaiye behind Calvert-Lewin, because the wingers are not working.

Me too, George, unbelievable!

Pickford
Patterson Tarkowski Branthwaite Mykolenko
Mangala Gueye Armstrong
Lindstrom Ndiaye
Beto

Strictly winner Chris McCausland and musical polymath Steveland Morris could see where our problems are.

It's fixing them that everyone has trouble with.

Surely it must be known around the club that those two have been gash for months… there's reasons we're Bottom 5.

He is one major problem... way too slow, negative and should be moved on pronto. We only need one defensive midfielder – Mangala.

Play a 5-3-2 system and just fucking attack them from the off... if not, then it'll be another grim day at Goodison!

I wouldn't be surprised if O'Brien lines up at right-back.

Pickford

Patterson
O'Brien
Keane
Branthawaite
Mykolenko

Armstrong
Mangala
Lindstrom

Beto
Ndiaye

Your team is half-decent.

I could forgive the fact that he does fuck all if he scored a load — but he doesn't!! We have never finished in the top half of the table with Dom as our number 9… we play with 10 men every single game and this is why we lose so many!!! It's clear to see!!!

He doesn't come deep and play football with the lads… ever, like ever!! Has anyone ever seen Dom knock it around and play triangles with any of our team? Ever, even once?

He never comes back and helps midfield pass it around and make space for Ndiaye or the wingers or Doucoure to run in behind. And does anyone ever remember him getting an assist or playing someone in?

What the actual fuck does he do?

Hopefully we'll get something.

Wasn't sure for a minute.

Forgot to get that in...

I'm trying to think of ways to change the shape with the people available. Patterson, Beto, Lindstrom & Harrison are the realistic changes possible. I can't see him changing all 4.

I'd like to see 3-5-2 but I'm expecting the same formation, probably with Lindstrøm for Harrison, possibly Beto.

He needs to be bold and try to change something, break the cycle, tell them it's not good enough. Losing trying to have a go is better, in my opinion.

So does diarrhoea, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it! :-)

We need to find a goal from somewhere tomorrow.

Pickford
Dixon Tarkowski Branthwaite Mykolenko
Patterson Gueye Mangala Garner (or Armstrong) Ndiaye
Calvert-Lewin or Beto or Doucoure up top.

I don't want to see Young and Harrison. Or Doucoure anywhere in midfield but he could cause problems as a forward with his effort and hit-or-miss play.

He battles for the ball, presses well, holds the ball up, can dribble and pass and is the one player in the team that has the ability to do something with the ball when he has it.

That one small change would make us more threatening in my view.

I would go with 4 hard workers in the middle and play Ndiaye behind Beto.

Pickford
Patterson Tarkowski Branthwaite Mykolemko
Doucoure Mangala Gana Armstrong
Ndiaye
Beto

I reckon there will be goals in this game, Spurs play wide open and attack a lot. I just hope it's us that scores.

I didn't want to pick Harrison, Lindstrom or Doucoure but we haven't got anyone else who can play in the midfield so I went with Doucoure for his athleticism. Splitting hairs I know, let's face it, we are pretty shite.

Lindstrom in the middle and Patterson wide right. Everyone else as before.

I would contest that, as the front of his shirt is covered in it – always.

Sean summed him up perfectly. Problem is... he thinks he's worth more than he is.

I don't care who is playing as long as they fight for Everton. This is not the time to feel sorry for themselves. Show spirit and go for it.

Do not fear anyone. The supporters will respect that. There is no reason we can't win.

Lindstrom needs to play deeper and we need to look to break fast. Spurs play a very high line and are short on pace at the back.

Spurs look to move him on, save wages and put him in the shop window. If he scores a few, his value goes back up. We get a huge lift, some goals and passion. He could do what super Kev did in 99.

The crowd is flat, this would really ignite the atmosphere. I know he's not done the business at Spurs and he's been injured but some players just click at certain clubs. Seems a no-brainer to me! COYB!

And besides, Paul Hewitt wouldn’t allow us to sign him, especially if he’s been injured! 🤣🤣

As their defence is so shaky, I hope we can finally take advantage and score some goals. I'm not confident but they are very beatable this season.

Will be watching nervously.

He's literally telling us he wants to come back!!! This is mental, fucking make it happen!

A sign, a sign, did he mention anything about the meek, or the cheesemakers? :-)

I'd have him back in a heartbeat, seriously though!

I predict 10-4... Jimmy Harris, you are duly avenged.

A crucial 1-0 and a 4-point gap over the Bottom 3.

Spurs are very good or very bad... That's from a long-standing work colleague season-ticket holder, and he reckons their camp is fractured. But regardless – believe, believe and believe, and Everton can beat them.

The 2012 2-1 come back was one of them brilliant Sundays.

Today, Everton can win.

UTFTs!

Ange gets sacked on Monday!

Moyes is no saviour; Dyche got it right at the start of the season with his prediction that we will struggle. He knows more than anyone on this forum.

It has to be a win. This is our chance.

Pickford
O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite
Patterson, Gana, Armstrong, Mangala, Young
Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin or Beto

We've all seen the crowd fully motivated well before the game kicks off; then, at the start of the game, they quickly become deflated as they see what's being offered on the field.

Aston Villa with Duncan Ferguson in charge after Benitez got his comics and P45, finished 1-0 to Villa with Everton huffing and puffing and doing little to rouse the game was one example — there have been more…

As Danny (54) says, the team has to show fight and spirit from the off, without leaving themselves the instigation coming from Moyes and his staff in the dressing room before the game, then we will pick up from that fight and get right behind them.

In other words, earn your fuckin' well overpaid bleedin' wages!

"Pissin in the wond"

Spent last 10 mins ignoring family as I searched Google to see the clever football related joke that this play on words
was.

Got nowhere and realised you meant wind and I relapsed to join you in pessimism.

We live in hope though mate.

The answer my friend is 'pissin in the wond'. :-)

With our defence and their attack, we'd be comfortably mid-table. Mind you any midfield with the geriatric duo of Gana and Duke would still be a nightmare.

I'd forecast a 1-1 – both sides nervous and clumsy.

Today, we urgently need to help ourselves, the record at home vs Tottenham is poor, but there's an opportunity here to take all 3 points.

Also today I think we learn whether Moyes is likely to improve us, or if we are destined to huff and puff to another nail-biting April and May.

No doubt Tottenham will be up for this one, I just hope that our bunch are too. It's hard to predict that we will score (at all) so it will have to be just 1-0 to the Toffees, I don't care who scores, maybe an own goal will do.

But Tottenham have goals in them, so it's going to be tough to keep them out for 95+ minutes. Moyes may need a miracle.

"Dyche knows more than anyone on this forum" — I don't really think that's strictly true.

He didn't know how to play a left-footed winger on the left, or a predominately right-footed player on the right, did he? No, it was the usual square pegs in round holes.

I'm no lover of Harrison by any means but he's never had a run on the left because your beloved Sean had to accommodate McNeil, and when he moved him to the No 10 role he threw Ndiaye out there.

If Moyes has got any balls, and I doubt he has, he'd drop Doucoure today and play Armstrong there… or Lindstrøm — another who has been criminally played out of position.

These managers and coaches complicate the game by trying to be smart; "Football," as Clough once said, "is a simple game." "Play to your strengths" is the phrase, isn't it?

So, no — Dyche might have known the inner workings of the club better than anyone, but he sure as hell didn't haven't a clue how to set a team up.

In fact, I heard they were looking at a chimpanzee in Knowsley Safari Park to take charge before the Dour One got the gig.

I'd like to forget all of them, especially the waiter.

3-5-1. 6-0. Get in!!

Show some pride, spirit and determination and get the 3 points here.

My first game was Davie Johnson, 1-0 against them and many more exciting games. (Yes, 'excitement' was a thing at Goodison Park!)

Now I have no hope for todays game -as Éomer said ‘… do not trust hope – it has foresaken these lands'.

Maybe Leicester will lend us a stick to lean on…

To score goals, we have to stop playing with one isolated forward who gets next to zero service and ends up all over the pitch simply to get a touch of the ball.

Mykolenko is a stopper, that's all he has; he's no Baines or Digne – asking him to do a similar job is pointless.

Okay, I agree, Young isn't ideal but he's still one of the most technically astute players we have and can use both feet.

We have to get at Spurs as they concede, they've lost more games than we have.

We need to play 3-4-1-2 for me, we have the players for it and the players to adapt to differing formations:

O'Brien, Tarkowsski, Branthwaite.
Patterson, Gana, Mangala, Young.
Lindstrom.
Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin.

They have an entire team out; we have to capitalise despite the possibility of Richarlison starting for them.

I am sure Moyes is looking at every option to change that whether its a change of tactics or buying a couple of players in this window. But we need to bring in the right couple of players. We have seen Dyche and Thelwell bring in some supposedly attacking players that just hasnt worked, Danjuma, Harrison, Beto, Lindstrom, Broja and Chermetti.
Today Spurs will play there usual high line and the one thing that easily unlocks a high defensive line is pace, unfortunately we don't have any. I am sure Moyes will try and get this team on the front foot from the first whistle, but with confidence in our front players very low it wont be easy today. Seems now he is coming back from injury it would be typical of Everton for Richarlison to score the winner. I see he posted a picture of him playing for us, I think he would love to come back but cant see any circumstances in which that could happen. Just hoping and praying we can somehow get 3 points which would be a massive lift for fans, players and the manager.

- good attitude, concentration, organisation and hard work;

- more imaginative set pieces than the high looping ball the back stick; and

- better link up play between the full-backs and wide midfielders / wing-forwards to get crosses into the box.

Dyche did okay with the first of those but couldn't deliver the latter two. I hope Moyes has been working on that very hard in training.

Moyes will also have a dilemma about whether to press very high or not. Spurs give up a lot of chances / goals by knocking the ball about their own 18 yard box (and even 6 yard box) - but if they break our press we'd be instantly exposed. I suspect Moyes will not take too many chances with this - but we might pick and choose our moments to catch them out.

I’d suggest not starting Harrison (ever) Doucoure, or Calvert Lewin constitutes a major boost, as at least we’ll start with 11 v 11.

Against Villa - We are too easily bullied and harassed, Villa were too tough, rough and determined especially at our corners, and we and the ref let them get away with it

Currently freezing at Keele Services COYB

We may not win 6-0 but a scrappy 1-0 is doable.

Looking at the Spurs absentees I can see us getting a result today. 2-1 no idea who scores but I’ll bet at least one from a corner.

Dyche knows more about football than you or I ever will.

If you hadn't noticed we have had to weaken the squad year on year. The club has taken chances on loanees and cheaper players and it generally has worked out. We have stayed in the division. The football was been terrible long before Dyche showed up.

We now have the latest fire fighter in place who has already stated that he isn't a magician in his presser after the last game. Get used to square pegs and round holes as that is what makes up the entire squad.

We all know we are crying out for better players, are we going to get them? Probably not judging on the previous 5 years.

Are we going to continue to be work man like at best, given the current manager and restrictions very probably yes.

Today's game or in fact any game involving us will be a scrappy affair, I just hope Beto plays instead of DCL. The young CBS of spurs won't have an easier day if DCL starts.

Coyb

It's swings and roundabouts, push further up field with the same players and you are likely to concede more goals, that's the gamble. If Dyche had been in charge of the Villa game ,we might have come away with a draw.

They score for fun, so how do you line up today? Do you go for the win and risk conceding plenty, or shut up shop?

As I say, it's swings and roundabouts.

Pickford
O'Brien Tarkowski Branthwaite
Patterson Mangala Gueye Young
Armstrong Calvert-Lewin Ndiaye

Subs: Beto, Lindstrom, Harrison, Doucoure, Mykolenko, Keane, Virginia

Out: Garner, Coleman, Iroegbunam, McNeil, Broja, Chermiti

And as saddo, found this.

"Wond is an obsolete Middle English word that means "wound" or "injury"

Bugger.

Attempt to cheer us up!

Passing time.

I am trying.

(Over to you with that last line!)

Everyone has had their chances and only 3 or four have been consistent and that includes the keeper.

Even though Spurs are below their best they will of course be up for a game against us.

We need some luck for once !!

'You're all just pissin' in the wind
You don't know it but you are
And there ain't nothin' like a friend
Who can tell you you're just pissin' in the wind' - Ambulance Blues

I hum this in the Top Balcony

On the Beach one of Niel's greatest! My favourite from it has to be For The Turnstiles.