I don’t know why I find this one intriguing, but I do.
Last season I’d probably have described it as a run of the mill win for us, but this time, I wonder if Moyes can have a new manage bounce effect on the game and couple it with how awful we are at times and I think anything might happen tonight.
Let’s start with the good news and it is that we’ve signed Donyell Malen, who looks to be predominantly a right sided player in Unai Emery’s thinking, because the manager has talked about this being a “one in, one out” policy, adding Jaden Philogene into the mix, who seems to be an almost certain goner.
Or did he mean that this will be the policy for the whole of the window and all players involved?
Whatever, things are seriously starting to warm up now and we seem to have moved on from the 100% guesswork that we usually get at the beginning of the month.
Diego Carlos is apparently being chased by Fenerbache, if Mourinho doesn’t get the sack and my feeling there is that it’s probably the right time all round to do that deal. He could do a very decent job in Turkey and we recoup some much needed PSR cash. It’s win-win. I think probably a more salient point here is that Emery has said Carlos has a small injury. The player says he is not injured at all.
Things are not 100% happy in the camp, it would seem.
Not wanting to dwell on that, squad news and it isn’t great.
On the plus side, we should have Emi Martinez back and Jhon Duran has finished his suspension, meaning he’s available. Will he start? is another question and I suspect not, which will surely add to his frustration. It’s a tough life for a young lad on 100k a week or whatever it is, isn’t it? It would appear he’s going nowhere though and we’ve stuck an £85 million pricetag on his head, which, while putting pretty much all clubs off, might prove a disastrous mistake for them if he ends up as another Haarland.
Pau is probably going to be out for 2 months and McGinn is a week away from training again, if I read things right. I’m not sure how much that concerns me, to be honest, as neither have been great and they probably need the R&R.
And then, Ross Barkley is at least two weeks away from being fit, which is bad news, because as much as I didn’t fancy him when he came, he has done a very decent job and he’s being managed well and used sparingly to good effect. He’s a miss and the sooner he’s back, the better.
As for Everton, they’re not in great shape.
Dwight McNeil, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam are all out., as is Armando Broja who was stretchered off after an innocuous challenge in Thursday’s FA Cup match against Peterborough.
The good news for them is that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is back in contention, although he’s only scored two goals all season.
What to think then and I ought to be hopeful, I feel. Everton play pretty decent stuff from what I’ve seen of them and have often been unlucky, I feel. But they can’t score for toffee and that costs them some serious points.
I’d normally go for a very straightforward win here, but my money says we won’t get one.
At best, we’ll scrape one and I just hope it isn’t as dire as the first half of the West Ham game.
But I’m going for a 1-1 draw if I have to choose. I just can’t trust us to get a win, I’m afraid, although our record is actually better than I make things sound.
As per usual, UTV!
Intriguing, but probably a load of crap too.
I hope I’m wrong.
Villa unbeaten in 11 against Everton with 8 wins – Everton without a win in 5.
Villa 5 away defeats on the trot.
Moyes – who generally has a good record against the Villa.
New manager bounce and looking at the sequences means a sixth away defeat – sorry lads.
It seems Galatasaray are also interested in Carlos – looks like he’s headed for the exit door.
Price / wages might be the sticking point – Villa looking for at least £10m
I suspect they’ll take nearer 6 mill Hitch. It makes no sense to keep him now, imo.
I too, think he’s gone. Something isn’t right between him and Emery.
Certainly sounds like Emery doesn’t trust him in defence.
No Duran in the starting XI. Watkins is lucky to keep his place with his poor goalscoring form.
I would have liked Maatsen to keep his place because he needs a run of games. Digne has been good for us but his form has dipped recently.
For the same reasons Hitch mentioned, I think we will lose tonight. 2-1 is my prediction.
We can’t keep clean sheets; they can’t score for toffee (pardon the pun). Something will give. I fear it’ll be our defence…
Red card for Onana tonight. He’s wound up and already on a yellow…
Mings has given the ball away twice in dangerous areas already. Thick as, for me.
And this is going to be another awful game I suspect.
But he’s heading everything away as well, Badger.
Yep, fair comment.
But it gives me kittens.
Ollie FFS
And Whack it wide lives up to his name.
Wow.
To think people pay good money to watch this.
I’m sorry, but it’s pure junk and I’m bored witless already.
Me too, mate. I was just thinking football needs a new rule. 6 seconds to play the ball forward or it’s a free kick to the opposition. That’ll make em shift their arses. What do you think?
I’d go for 3.
What happened to the Ramsey who ran at defences, created and scored goals? Totally anonymous so far.
Checks back and passes back wards when presented with a 1v1 out wide. 🤦
Everton look much more vulnerable at the back than we do. And we’ve 6 better finishers…
…who are all asleep
Play them some Metallica at half time!
10 clean slaps across the face more like. Each.
They’ll get mugs of warm milk and scented candles…
WHAT ARE THEY F****** DOING!? AGAIN! FFS! 🤬🤬🤬
JUST CLEAR THE F****** BALL!!!
Should win this at a canter
Really?
1-0 Everton all over it.
We really are as impotent as them.
Shocking, really.
I’m looking forward to painting a ballustrade tomorrow.
I think it’ll be more exciting..
I’m digging some holes to plant some trees. Likewise, Badger.
Awful, awful, awful.
I didn’t think we were that bad to be honest, should be easily 2 up through Watkins and Ramsey.
If it wasn’t dark I’d tidy the garden
😆
Get Jhonny on for some heavy metal…
Happy now you whining bunch???
😆
Not massively, tbh.
Even Ollie couldn’t miss that.
Seriously, RSS, are you being entertained, would you say?
I’ll put this way…
Mate after years of watching our lot how many times can you say you been truly entertained???
It’s the hope that kills you.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSS!!!!
I take it all back. Bore me shitless if we can have more of that!
BFR you should be moist with us keeping a clean sheet? 😂🤣
Watkins is rubbish!!! 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Olllliiiieeeeeeeeee!!!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Get Onana off before he gets sent off…
Yeaaaaaasssss we are so good 😀😀
We need fresh legs.
Bailey. Maatsen. Duran.
Now let’s hold on and get a clean sheet
Pretty much sums up a lot of the season.
We win and 3 points, but god, it was utter crap to watch.
I enjoyed it! I don’t know what u guys expect…?
Me too BUM BUM.
Not a classic but edge of your seat stuff for the last ten minutes.