Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers: Preview, Predicted Lineups and Where to Watch

Changes must be made.

I would play Armstrong and drop Dibling. Bring Coleman in and put O'Brien in the centre. Drop Keane or Tarkowski.

Let's all just relax and enjoy the easy win.

I'd bring Patterson back in and drop Keane to bring O'Brien inside. Harsh, maybe... but we can't drop the captain.

Personally I would like the two upfront like in the 2nd half against Brentford, a direct approach until we get KDH and Illy back, we just need a result and save the pretty stuff for when the injured return.

I would go with both Barry and Beto, keep their defence busy.
Grealish, Garner, Iroegbunam and Armstrong. Mykolenko, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Patterson, Pickford.

Bench will include Dibling, Rohl, Keane, Aznou, McNeil.

If Moyes had his eyes open and saw how Armstrong never missed one pass, and played the ball forward in his 130-inute cameo, after replacing the so poor Iroegbunam, and Rohl no better, he couldn't even kick the ball with his left foot.

I know McNeil is probably lacking match fitness, but he couldn't control the ball in the first 45 minutes. We need a full-back as soon as possible, as well; how we didn't solve it last summer is still mind-boggling.

I'd flood the midfield, but have some creative runners:-

Pickford

Patterson
O'Brien
Tarkowski
Mykolenko

Garner
Iroegbunam
Armstrong
Rohl
Grealish

Barry

I know both had poor halves but two strikers need two wide men for crosses, don't they??

Even though he was rubbish and culpable for all Brentford's goals last game?

We also have Pickford as captain.

Boy Scouts would even be better than what we have!

I am not as optimistic as normal pre-match for tomorrow as usual after Sunday's pathetic display and team selection.

There has to be a few changes, but as I, nor anyone else on here, have any say in the matter of who plays and where. We will have to reluctantly hope that Moyes has a good head wobble and sees a solution.

I'm not saying I wouldn't drop the captain, or even we shouldn't drop the captain; perhaps I should've said Moyes won't drop the captain.

It's very unlikely and unusual for any club to drop the team captain. It's a big statement.

It will happen one day, when (if) Branthwaite comes back and if we have a decent right-back so Jake can come inside, but Moyes isn't going to drop the captain until that scenario is real.

Personally, I'm not confident he will even then -- he likes his grocks, does Moyes.

We need to get at them early and the crowd need to make them very uncomfortable.

I hope everybody had a great Christmas and New Year.

An Evertonian in the Concourse videoing everyone ' leaving ' and shouting "Call yourselves supporters, and your leaving after 0-2"

Someone shouted "It's 0-3 now."

Same guy says "Fuck that, I'm coming with yous!"

I am desperately seeking one ticket for the away at Brighton on 31 January and 2 (but would accept one) for the Fulham away on 7th February.

Murph 07708 615684

What happened to the tickets and travel threads?

That's exactly what I would do, pack the midfield and mostly defend, but ready to break when the opportunity arises and it will, it's how we won at Man Utd with 10 men and also at Bournemouth and Forest. Your starting line-up looks okay as well.

Some fans think Wolves will be pushovers. They won't be even though they've lost a lot of their last few games, they have been very hard to beat and played some of the top teams.

The back looks weak, so if we can get behind them quickly and onto their back 3, that gives us our best chance of scoring.

There's a link that says all-about/everton-fc -- Don't click on it!

It goes to all-about/Liverpool-fc --says it all about the red echo doesn't it?

Patterson could return, but I'd say unlikely if Keane is available. Same back four.

We will surely return to one striker, Barry, after the failed two experiment.

Midfield will be Moyes's selection headache. Grealish, Garner definitely, Iroegbunam probably. Then the other 2 places between McNeil, Dibling, Rohl, Armstrong. Moyes will pick McNeil… the remaining spot… anybody's guess.

Wolves will be no pushovers. They've improved, played with greater freedom in the last 4 games. Quite an important game for us, one we really need to win.

But I worry that he will tinker on Saturday in the cup tie and we will bow out.

It's my preference that he picks Wednesday's team with an eye on getting his best eleven on the pitch on Saturday.

Armstrong needs to start and O'Brien should replace Keane at centre-back. I have no idea who could play right-back, but it should not be Garner.

I would also have McNeil instead of Rohl and Beto instead of Barry.

But what do I know.

Everton lack those kind of players even though Grealish, Ndiaye and KDH have great skills.

Moyes likes the conservative stye of play but a ponderous back line prevents the ball being brought out quickly and only a few clubs can do that with assuredness and even those clubs (Arsenal and City fall afoul of it sometimes).

Wolves finally won a game and I think their last win was against an Everton eleven in the Mickey mouse cup.

Nothing is sure in this league and even though they are well clear of the bottom three a loss tomorrow would sound some warning bells.

I know both Barry and Beto scored but it is patently obvious to me that the pair are not up to scratch and would likely not get a game for anyone else in this division...we need bodies and quickly or the season will become another January write off

Hopefully, there maybe money to pay for a couple of loan players.

We can only hope, come summer we can increase our squad.

Guess it doesn't matter if it's a loan rather than permanent from the off but we have to generate sort of better right-back option this window simply to benefit the development of players who could be key to the club for the next 5 years.

Armstrong definitely looks the real deal, but from memory, his play on Sunday was mostly done without any pressure. I'm not saying he's not better than Rohl and Iroebugnam — I think he is — but Moyes is correct to send him back to PNE if Gana, Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall are all back and healthy in the next 2-3 weeks.

Harrison needs playing time, and if he's not going to get it here, he needs it there. The only caveat is if he plays the next 2-3 matches and bosses the midfield, then I think it's reasonable to think he's earned a spot with us, but that means sitting Gana, which would be a massive decision to make. Plus it means no true Number 6 on the field, which is not ideal either.

No way we should put Garner at right-back tomorrow, he's just too valuable right now in our midfield. Patterson or O'Brien is a toss-up. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. To profess otherwise is silly, as we're deciding between two bad options.

Yes, a good post... but I'd rather have too many players in midfield than as it is now, and they can all get plenty of minutes playing if they are used in the right way — as subs.

Definitely Garner should not be used as a full-back at the expense of losing him in midfield and I'd rather O'Brien played centre-back rather than being an handicap at full -back.

Between Patterson and Rohl, I'd go for Patterson in the full-back position and leave Rohl on the bench for now.

Moyes told us 3 weeks ago Branthwaite was back on grass along with Rohl; he told us last week he's now back on grass.

He's not great at injury updates, he wouldn't tell the journalists how long Dewsbury-Hall would be out for. It's like listening to Dyche talking about grass.

Just wages to pay... 🤔

On the recruitment side ,I don't care if we get a loan. Look at how we all didn't want Asley Young and how we have fared since he left.

We desperately need a right-back who is an improvement on what we have got... which isn't a very high bar.

Ditto a goalscorer.

Okay, granted he hasn't got the quality in depth needed to push the squad to the higher level, and the recent absentees plus Branthwaite have not helped his cause... but the Brentford blowout was not expected.

The recent rumor concerning Toney seems to have been just that and, whilst I was a fan of Callum Wilson, I doubt he would change our current poor attacking prowess.

On reflection, though, we know that when the whole squad is available, they can be a tough team despite the weakness of Beto and Barry.

I heard today that Liverpool spent half a million on new players this season so their fans must be even more frustrated than us Evertonians. COYB

Can ToffeeWebbers tell me if these press guys are not allowed to ask searching questions, eg, "If we expect to play at a top level, David, do you agree that our full-back situation needs addressing as they offer very little in going forward."

If someone asks a wrong question they are uninvited.

They’re pretty pointless.

As frustrated as we all may be with the current situation, it’s not an emergency. And if management chooses to slog through for four more months with Jake at right back and keep its powder dry for the vastly richer selection of players in the summer window, I’m OK with that. I can grit my teeth a little longer.

The betting is:- 4/5 Everton 4/1 Wolves and 5/2 a Draw. Approx. odds.

Wolves have just started to play better, their young left winger is a right handful, at least he was in their last game.

I'm picking us to win, but not with a lot of confidence.

It's a game we need to win so there's more pressure.

I don’t care if we don’t sign anyone on a permanent but, I’m fed up gritting my teeth, watching our right winger often being the most isolated player on the pitch, so I’d take a player on loan and believe it’s actually gross negligence if we don’t try and improve this position for the good of the team.

It's the bench I'd like to see shaken up as much as the team, Graham n Clarke out of the U21s need looking at, seem yo bag every other game, surely with this injury hit squad they must be worth a look, Clarke has 14 goals and 3 assists in 30 games, at very least he must be a wild card.

From the predicted line up I'd like to see both Rohl and Dibling left out, Rohl isn't up to speed (or if he is he's not good enough), and as much as I want Diblin to work out he seems like he doesn't understand wingers are supposed to run at defenders and beat them, he just passes back to Obrien, fouls or gives the ball away, looks like a dud to me.

It's not for us to find one or name one, it's up to those fellas who take a wage from the club for finding solutions, if a pro scout can't come back with a right back who can run, tackle and put a decent ball into the box then they need the bullet.

Yes 100% I'd take Wilson for wages, he will bag if he can stay fit.

Only way I wouldn't is if we have someone better lined up which I doubt.

If a player is that good, their current club is likely not looking to offload them for 6 months for little outlay. Also, people’s assumption that our scouting department can not only identify that player, but find the players who wants to come play for us, as a loan or permanent buy, complicates things even more.

People do realize that Aznou cost us £9 million and the closest he gets to the pitch is his warm-ups are off for 5 minutes in the freezing rain pitch side. Where’s Robert Tressell to give us the run-down on possible options at striker and fullback in the January window?

I believe we already tried two such targets -- rumors before the New Year had us in for loans of Julián Araujo and Juanlu Sanchez. But Araujo chose Celtic, ironically to play for Nancy (oops!), and according to all reports Sanchez has no interest in the PL -- he wants Napoli or nothing.

It's a no from me.

Many criticise the young players claiming they aren’t good enough for the first team, or aren’t ready. But how do we know without giving them a go?

I really hope Armstrong starts, but I seriously doubt it

Patterson has not been selected by any manager since he signed. Coleman has suffered repeated injuries over the last 3 years. O’Brien is now actively targeted by opposing managers due to his weaknesses in the position and Garner cannot be spared from midfield.

We also have wide men in Grealish, Ndiaye, Dibbling and McNeil who are all slow and look to cut inside. That creates space for an over-lapping fullback that neither O’Brien or Mykolenko have the ability to fulfill. Then we wonder why Barry and Beto cannot score?

I understand the model of incremental development of the squad, but when you have glaring weakness you address it immediately.

Roman Ivan Quintyne Dixon has not started since August 2024. The official site suggests that he has not played for the U21s this season. I don't know if he is injured but candidate for RB v Wolves he is not Mr. Kearns. Mick Bernard has more of a chance.

Moyes slammed the defence on Sunday but he will doubtless put the same crew out today. The rhythmic repetition of Jake RB/Keane CH is getting a tad dull and although in a small minority that drum will continue to be beaten. Sunday it was, seriously, to deal with long-throws. What will it be today?

We keep being told in more yawn that we must work with what we have. This is 'realistic'.

Fine, then make the best use of what we have and put Jake and I believe the epithet of choice is 'Tarks' in the middle and put Patto I think it is, or it might be Patts, at right-back. Garner must not be used as emergency cover. He has to be in the middle of the field.

Sacrificing players in their best positions for emergency right-back cover is not making best use of what we have at our disposal.

Pickford

Patterson O'Brien Tarkowski Mykolenko

Garner Armstrong

Dibling Grealish McNeil

Barry

If Patterson is struggling, bring Garner in at RB, and play Tim alongside Armstrong.

SUBS: 2 GKs, Rohl, Beto, Iroegbunam, Aznou,

Seamus Coleman had his lucrative contract extended. to very long and very loud cheers

I will never understand the thinking behind naming 2 goalkeepers on the bench. As we are so low on numbers, give the young lads a taste of first team match days

I'll get my coat, younger viewers will not get the co-relation.

Two fast fullbacks would transform the team. They must be the club’s priority this window.

I’m hearing though he’s been injured since august so maybe that was a factor in his performance that day.

Patterson may not be the long term answer to our right back needs but he IS a right back and O’Brien patently is not. Move Jake inside and play Patterson at right back until we have better. Patterson may well improve with minutes and confidence. I thought he began to look settled in the Forest game and was disappointed he was dropped for Brentford.

Instead we have seen a lot of money spent without improving this glaring issue.

If it wasnt for signing KDH and the Grealish loan we would be in a relegation scrap again.

We have to focus on dedicated fullbacks / wingbacks, with energy and speed.

A young Roberto Carlos and Kyle Walker would do!

Moyes does not give his full backs licence to get into the final third repeatedly.

Prefers to " keep the shape".

Hence Grealish having the extra touches waiting for the overlap.

O'Brien doesnt get forward anywhere near as much as a modern day full back should.

cup tie. We are in a position to prioritise the Cup this year so let’s

keep some fresh legs for Saturday.

Just thinking on any players with real,genuine pace that Moyes signed for Everton in his first go at our manager?

Moyes doesn’t rate Patterson, and my own opinion is that I can’t stomach watching O’Brien, playing as a right fullback for much longer. (It seriously puts me off going tonight, such is the lack of cohesion and imbalance, it brings to the team) even though I’ve no real problems with him defensively.

You wouldn’t sign anyone player who didn’t want to play for us Mike, but a professional outfit should definitely be able to go and sign a player to play right back, even if it’s on a short term deal.

Win tonight and we will only be three/four points off a champions league place, so common sense would surely suggest there’s no time like the present, for trying to make the team as strong as possible?

Sorry, I'm running behind the crowd here but you asked: Can ToffeeWebbers tell me if these press guys are not allowed to ask searching questions?

They have become a complete waste of time, in my humble opinion, Neil. I can't be bothered with them any more.

I think what might be happening is that what we plebs get to see is the 'open' session. This is then followed by the 'closed' session, where I imagine the journo hacks might indeed ask more probing questions so they can then file their 'exclusive' insights into what might or might not be happening.

Maybe this is where the additional Moyes pre-match quotes come from... but he's a cannae wee Scottish Presbyterian and is not inclined to give much away at the best of times.

I saw a video on X the other day under the heading ToffeeWeb and it showed thousands leaving the stadium on 56 minutes after Brentford scored their third goal. Was this ToffeeWeb or somebody using the name, either way what a sad indictment of some of our supporters, sorry they arent supporters they are spectators. Supporters stay till the end and support the team, the difference between the mentality of the away supporters and the home supporters is markedly different.

OUR team is depleted at the moment and needs all our support to help not booing at half time because we are a goal down, and leaving with a considerable time left in the game.

Yes Callum Wilson in a heartbeat...proven Premier League striker who can finish...a little bit of attitude too aka aggression! Not at his peak but better than whats here

Although right now a Tony Hibbert would be useful!

I take your point but I still see no point in having 2 keepers on the bench. Put it this way, with a fully fit squad, would Moyes still have 2 keepers on the bench?

But then again I wouldn't let Beto go either.

About having 3 goalies in the team, I agree we woudn't need to use 3 very often but we would look a bit silly if we did lose 2 and we hadn't got another.

When are we going to get a bleeding Edit Button?

Assuming this 11

Pickford, O'brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Ibroebgbunam, Armstrong, McNeil, Barry and Grealish. (not my choice but it will be Moyes').

Looking at our current squad for tonight's game I assume the subs will be

Patterson

Rohl

Beto

Dibling

Aznou

Travers GK

King GK

and then some kids.

Moyes isn't going to use anyone outside those first 5 as replacements (and even then probably wont use Aznou) so at least the 3rd keeper gets some match day experience?

My point is, it doesn't matter, does it?

I agree with what your saying but Grealish is anyone level, he's already had 6 assists for us, he's created so many more chances than anyone else in the side, even on a bad day he creates our best two or three chances including 2 assists last game. Also he wins us fouls, not gives them away like Diblin.

I get what your saying, Diblin looks like he wants to be a Grealish style player but he's miles off, I've onmy seen him create 1 chance and that took a deflection to make it look dangerous. Last game he had 6 touches of the ball in 49 minutes.

I think Armstrong has to start tonight as he was the one bright spot on Sunday.

Not sure I should be commenting on Everton, anymore. Some so-called Blue on Twitter doesn't think I'm a big enough Everton fan because Sunday's game was the first time I've been able to get to a game at the Hill Dickinson and I'm not from the city - "I'm a wool". I love this club to bits, spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about this club and kick every ball and have done for 51 years. My dad was a Blue, both my brothers are, my son is a Blue as our my nieces. I first went to Goodison aged 10. We've got a stone at on Everton Way with all our names on. I was in my seat an hour before kick-off and didn't leave until after the final whistle. I also didn't spend the game going for a beer or a piss every 5 mins but I'm not an Everton fan because I don't have a scouse accent - I'm from Wigan. It's the second or third time I've been told my fellow Evertonians that I'm not one of them.

Pisses me off.

Or at least I did until I saw "Wigan" hahaha Your even more wool than I am!

Don't let the bastards grind you down.

Doesn't that give us a better option than your dreaded O'Brien at right back?

Unless you want another stick to beat Moyes with.

I hope we can finish high but would dread a place in a Euro competition. We are not there yet at all.

As for your other comments.

Of course you should post and more and if someone thinks you are not a "True Blue", I would suggest that is a description of them not you.

I am originally from Wirral, attended every home game with my Dad when lived at home but got "wooly-back" stuff. Then it was funny.

Now the inward looking so claimed "true scousers" are the very one's that our national and, even more, international reputation is now of a of a bunch who still miss Derek Hatton, want "Boys From the Black Stuff" as a modern documentary and dream of when the docks were the proper docks and Goodison did not have that huge main stand..

Let's make our club great Craig.

Aged 65.

PS Never go to a game now. One money and secondly, won't pay overpaid lads.

Pickford

Mykolenko

O'Brien

Tarkowski

Patterson

Iroegbunam

Garner

Grealish

McNeil

Dibling

Barry

My preference would be Garner at right back instead of Patterson with Armstrong stepping into the midfield, but I'm half convinced Garner has spoken with Moyes about wanting to play centre mid and with new contract negotiations going on to he's being kept sweet. This is entirely in my own head though

I'm sure you'll enjoy the city and the great people and hope you have a great time...and result.

You support Everton, right? That makes you as good a Blue as everyone or anyone else " Once a Blue". etc.

Enjoy the game

No point in O'Brien pushing up if his partner wont go with him And we Know he wont go with him.

We know its not going to be SOS football tonight. So why not get behind the selected team instead of bitching about it before a ball is even kicked.

Once the match is over, you can praise/moan all you like, but at least you'll know what you are praising or moaning about.

My problem with Keane is not his pace but his speed of thinking and lapses in concentration.

Other than a few games this season, he has been gash.

I gave my ticket away tonight cos I couldn't be arsed travelling over midweek from Yorkshire.

Your commitment is to be applauded.

He's got to start Armstrong in place of Iroegbunam, his passing is abysmal. COYBs

Hard to believe, but it's my seventh game already. Since 2015 I've seen Everton play West Ham, Man Utd, Southampton, Norwich, Brentford and Liverpool... Wolves getting added to the list tonight.

The new pubs around HD look astonishing. Weird to be visiting these after spending so many evenings at the Winslow -- Guess that's why they call it the Blues after Brentford, anyone?

It feels like a new fancy bed that you have to get used to sleeping in. We haven't shaped it out yet, it takes time, but it does feel splendid. Or boss, as you'd say!

Strangely doesn't seem to matter as much after my six and a half decades... even when we win

Fucking hate over reaction!

Willing to trade McNeil and Patterson for a set of golf clubs, or two weeks away somewhere warm.

Nuno will be doing the same with Ward-Prowse.

Half expecting to see Ward-Prowse on loan at our place, to be honest.