Talking points ahead of Leeds United vs Everton

There is also no clear indication how our midfield and forwards will line up. In other words, I think we are ill-prepared for the start of the season, and I think the manager may well agree.

I’ll happily take a draw at Elland Road. That’s not defeatist, I’m just being realistic. A newly promoted team, pressing hard, against an Everton team that, at that point, won’t have gelled.

Come 24th at The Hill Dick though, I expect 3-1 to The Mighty Blues™ and the real start of our 2025-26 PL campaign to begin.

UTFT! 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

Leeds are bound to put heavy pressure on us from the word go. Hopefully we will ride the storm and stay composed.

I hope this changes but I just can’t seem to get that excited about football, with it’s VAR and it’s PSR and the obscene amount of shite, that makes the game feel like a circus for an old timer like myself.

I put the highlights of last night’s game on my iPad before and I’m glad it only lasted 3 minutes because I couldn’t have listened to the commentator for any longer.

I suppose I should wait and see what Monday brings but right now I think it’s very disheartening seeing Everton so underprepared once again.

Substitutions: Iroegbunam for Coleman; Grealish in for Gana at some point and advance him to the No 10 position for Dewsbury-Hall.

We are still at least 3 players short if we want to have realistic aspirations of having a good season. There's no other magic.

My predicted starting XI: (4-3-3)

Pickford
O'Brien Tarkowski Keane Mykolenko (or Aznou)
Garner Dewsbury-Hall Gueye
McNeil Beto Ndiaye

Subs: Travers, Aznou, Coleman, Iroegbunam, Grealish, Alcaraz, Barry, Chermiti, Armstrong

Should be an interesting game, and the outcome would come down to who has the more clinical finisher.

If everyone is fit for Leeds they will probs use a 4231 like this:

F. DCL
LW: Ramazani
RW: Gnonto
AM: Aaronson
CM: Tanaka
DCM: Stach
LW: Gudmundsson
RB: Bogle
CB: Ampadu
CB: Bijol
Gk: Meslier

In terms of how we shape up, Pickford is clearly better than Meslier. The respective back fours are evenly matched. The central midfields are close too. We have better quality wide(ish) in Ndiaye and Grealish although Gnonto and Ramazani can be dangerous. Beto v DCL has been done many times on here. Let’s just say they are close.

So our real difference makers as they will be throughout the season are Pickford, Branthwaite (unavailable for this one), Ndiaye and Grealish.

I hope we go there set up for a win.

I don’t get our recruitment at whatsoever. No goals again.

Another bottom half finish coming up.

You want to get match fit, play football matches.

I work in Leeds and a lot of fans I talk to say they have very few of PL standard in their squad.

The interesting thing will be what the manager decides with the full back positions. Unless he goes with a back 3.

Take the back 4 for example, at the moment, I think either of Ampadu and Bijol are better than Keane. Bogle is a better conventional RB than O'Brien (although big Jake has his strengths too). Gudmundsson is about the same as Mykolenko…

Pickford, O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, McNeil, Gueye, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Grealish, Beto.

Not saying ours are brilliant or anything, but not sure the Leeds players you highlight are up to much.

What is in our favour is that Farke is not great. I think one of him or Potter will be replaced with Dyche this season.

The game has gone from a working man's sport to a rich man's circus run by corrupt people.

I will always watch football and particularly the blues but I feel just like Tony.

For me, the wind went out of my sails when all the emotion of leaving Goodison was torpedoed by the fact it was being kept – great news but I felt that was the start of the decline for me.

That was added to by purchasing the Forever Blue+ and getting nothing for it except “special offers”. Then having the gall to charge for preseason games which were sold out before I got the chance.

Then the preseason itself – such a let down as the only game we “won” was behind closed doors. For me it's been typical Everton or the famous phrase – Everton That! Fingers crossed this is just preseason blips which will all come to fruition at Leeds this Monday.

I can't remember the exact quote, but he cut the individual off and in no short terms, told him he wasn't sure where he'd heard that, because it wasn't from him. He then went onto praise Beto since his arrival back at Everton.

That was the end of that conversation.

Liam @20, I have made a lot of Leeds mates over the years and they say the same. From the moment they got promoted, they were saying they need to get players in or they will struggle. I know they have added, but it depends on if those players can keep them up, which is their aim this season.

I think Perri will likely start with Rodon and Strujik very possibly in front of him with Ampadu in DCM and then Stach and Tanaka. I'd also be very surprised to see DCL start for them after just signing, more likely Piroe.

I think we have a better team but they have an excited home crowd. It will be even with both teams most dangerous on the break. Quite possible it's settled by a mistake or piece of magic.

I feel we have a history of being terrible on opening day but I am excited to see Ndiaye, KDH and Grealish combine. My head says 1-1 and I'd be content with that.

We had 12 players leave us last season and I thought "Here we go." But you know what — we have signed young guns that we have all wanted to happen for ages; we signed Dewsbury-Hall — a top quality midfielder; Jarrad to a new long contract; and fecking Jack Grealish who wants to prove a point and get back into the England squad.

On top of that we have a brand new stadium that's just magnificent. Great to be a Blue, I say

For too long we've known exactly who would play, because they were the only players we had!! We became predictable.

Okay, so it's injuries that are forcing Moyes's hand. However, how the front 6 line up will be intriguing!

Bring it on!!!

Be careful, mate. This is TW, you can get banned for that kind of optimism!

Pickford
Mykolenko O'Brien Tarkowski Keane
Gana Garner
Dewsbury-Hall Grealish Ndiaye
Beto

I ould see Ndiaye moving over to the right if Grealish starts which I think he should.

Get him on the pitch from the start. Alcaraz hasn't looked too good in pre-season; he can affect the game from the bench, as can McNeil, who looks tired before a ball has been kicked!

We're signing players, probably slowly, and will sign more players before the end of the window. Definitely an upgrade on who left, and hopefully a good start to the season… but as you say, we have every reason to be cheerful.

"As long as it's not ‘toilet filled with dark yellow piss and a fag floating in it', like it was for most of the matches when I was a kid."

An old mate of mine would have totally agreed with you there on that despicable habit! He said it made them really difficult to re-light. :-)

Toffees are good lads and we look after our own. I don't think you need to pay the silly premium for access that the club are charging? Those guys have billions. We look after each other.

We are unbeaten there in the last five games, two wins and three draws. The last time we lost there in the league was December 2021!

Ndiaye, Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall and Beto are far too much for them, and they'll all start. COYB

I don't think we won there for about 40 years at one point. Even if you take home/away games out of it, we have a poor head to head record against them.

Which, for a team that has spent over half their history in the lower leagues, is awful on our part.

Those past results are almost meaningless now!

All I was saying is we have a poor record at Elland Road, mate. Which we do. Some teams struggle at certain grounds?

We had a great win away at Newcastle at the end of last season; if we can repeat or better that performance, we can get the win.

Sit back soak up their first big huff and puff… then smash them on the break! 💪

As Rob pointed out, our recent history against them is really good and that's when we had a bad team too.

Unbeaten in 5 should give us some confidence.

So we will rob a point at Leeds with a highly dubious penalty. By the way, I nicked a spud of my brother's plate once, or was it knicked?😁

Leeds United wins: 52

Draws: 34

Everton wins: 36

Further forward, I don't think there's a single position besides Gana in the middle that's nailed on. Which is actually a good selection problem.

You'd think Dewsbury-Hall's place is assured, though whether that's midfield or a bit further forward it's yet to be seen.

I'm still not sure the right winger issue is as major as made out. We don't really play out and out wingers? Grealish, Alcaraz, Ndiaye, even McNeil could all do a job there.

I'd imagine Beto starts. Yes there are rumours doing the rounds but they sound more likely to be nonsense.

Once you realise it, it's hard not to see. Liverpool “created” a football club (and mentality) in the '60s; Everton let it happen through arrogance. Overhaul the entire club; the backslappers, the hangers on, the Kenwright lovers, all of them. You know who you are.

Sunderland just battered West Ham, who made Everton look terrible… Sunderland!!!! Shambles of a football club, utterly directionless.

Poor Davie Moyes says we need 10 players, we've got 2 who go into the first team. Everton that.

Barry to come of age.

Most teams have the same issue with not getting players signed in time for the start of the season... it's always this way and, until it gets changed to be the start of the season, it will always be that way.

I can't see any reason why it couldn't be 1 August. Some backroom folk will have to come back to work early. Such is life.

As for the team and signings... we didn't let anyone go that I wanted to keep. The players we have got in are much better than last season. Dewsbury-Hall and Grealish are massive improvements.

I would love to see Dibling come in but honestly speaking we had Harrison there last season so any of Ndiaye, McNeil or Grealish is better than Harrison.

I'm not on cloud nine but there is no reason to be morose just yet... at least wait until we've kicked a ball. :)

Optimism beats negativity all of the way!.

What is it with Leeds and the annoying managers they appoint? Alright, after a look, Wise, Monk, and O'Leary were decent. Don't remember Grayson. Bielsa was a bit drama queen with a plastic throne. McAllister was respectable at Coventry, that's it.

So really, I am disgusted with Jesse Marsch and Daniel Farke.

And on Rico Lewis? Fuck that guy. I can't remember if he actually said anything dismissive of the club or if that is how a journo covered the rejected loan proposal. I don't think he would settle in, always looking beyond us.

Lewis definitely has the basic skills and some flair with the ball. So much is the natural ability that he struggles with being disciplined in the middle. I could be off but I see a player that benefits from that comfortable City space, and would not be interested enough in the utility we would need him for at this stage.

Nick @66, I'll leave that one as I'm not sure whether you're have a go at residual club staff, supporters or both?

On your other point, newly promoted team wins first game. No shock there. It's been quite normal over the years and decades.

West Ham are hardly looking in good shape. It's way too early to judge after one game, but I think they and Wolves, along with Brentford, could struggle this season, but it's anyone's guess.

I think the recent trend of the 3 promoted teams going straight back down will be bucked this season, with one, maybe two of them staying up.

Anyway, despite the frustration that all of us have with filling those final pieces of the jigsaw, there's no reason to be warring and tearing ourselves about tomorrow night's match. As always, as match day comes around, that's where my head goes. We can start again on Tuesday, debating the performance and result and transfers.

I know it's been asked before but nothing happened. Someone do the job and keep it up to date? (Miss you, Lyndon.)

Moyes continues to cover his ass, but alesst he is not asking for 10 players.I can't help wanting Everton to win something this season( as every season) and that is a benchmark I will not comprise. It is the rightful place where Everton should be

I know that improvement and possibly players are needed to put depth to the squad to compete in multiple competitions, but I expect Moyes to make progress.Finch Farm has to challenge, something I expect TFG to bring in with it change in Everton's Culture.

Hope Calvert Lewin plays and has a reasonable game, for the sake of my Leeds friends. They have had a difficult time. They are back in the Premier League something I am glad that Everton have not been tested on.

Tony I identify with your attitude, but I know you will keep the faith and make a valued contribution,as always.

I think you need to adopt the objective of being a International Popstar, who goes to bed early at night, like myself.I think Mike Gaynes should do the same.I am playing the Uku in a Battle of the Bands Competition at 10.00am.

Leeds will look at how Sunderland played yesterday and see that as a benchmark I think. The idea of Gnonto, Ramazanie and James running at Keane and Tarkowski scares me so I hope Garner, Gana and the full-backs can give them cover!

That said, we should beat Leeds shouldn't we? I expect some canny game-management from Moyes, Grealish appearing in the second half after we've played utterly boring football to nullify them early doors, a couple of flashes from Ndiaye and Co., eventually finishing them off courtesy of a couple of breakaway goals.

Nostradamus out.

But I am confident that we should be able to handle that, and start putting our stamp on the game. You've got to be positive; we all know why there is so much negativity connected to our club, but we have to try to overcome that, and the start of a new season should be the catalyst.

I agree with Tony and Dave that the game is not what it was – it's morphed into a seedy spectre of greed, corruption and cheating and those three things alone fill the football fan with negative and frustrated tendencies.

But let the players play, let the fans have their matchday experience, and let the true passion and emotion of football rule the day – and let judgement day be the day after and not the day before. COYB.

This could be a win - win if he is worth £50M we would buy him otherwise we only lose the £10M if he is not worth the extra money. For them they get £10M now and a possible £40M+ or at least a player who has gained another year of premiership experience.

The big sticking point is the 25% profit sell on clause which you haven’t addressed

Surely that is better than buying a cheaper and probably more mediocre player now (say Fellows) - then having that mediocre player for four years and possibly beyond? We may be able to buy such a player without a 25% sell on clause, but primarily because the expectation is no one will want to buy him!

Surely if we have the opportunity to buy a young player who wants to come and could be exceptional for the low fee of £40m (Brentford level spending) - we should be ambitious enough to take that opportunity.