Our first home game of the season then and I think this ought to be a lot easier than last week’s game. Not that any games are easy in the Prem, but I’m sure you know what I mean.
Put it this way. If we lose this, everybody involved with the club will be on a downer.
Not that it’s going to happen.
And before I forget, welcome back, Ashley Young! Hopefully it won’t be a happy return for him.
Squad news and it’s all been dominated by Ming’s cruiciate ligament injury. I don’t particularly rate him, as I’m sure many of you are sick of me saying, but I do appreciate that he is definitely some sort of talisman and it’s true that our results are better when he plays. Hence, he’ll no doubt be a big miss, as much as I want us to learn how to play better without him.
Mings apart, we also have Buendia out with the same injury, but in better news, Alex Moreno is close to returning and Jhon Durán and Bertrand Traoré have returned to training this week.
The big news this week was the signing of Nicolo Zaniolo on loan from Galatasary. I’m not sure what to think about his signing and it seems our hierarchy think the same, with us apparently having some clauses written into the agreement possibly surrounding his ability to stay fit.
Will he come straight into the team today as a replacement for Bailey? It’s difficult to see how he could be any worse in my opinion, as Bailey’s contribution to a game is generally close to zero, but I’d guess the thinking will be that Zaniolo shouldn’t be thrown in too quickly.
I’d expect him to get minutes at least, but if he does start, I’d see that as a sign that Bailey will soon be relegated to a back up status, if indeed he’s not sold.
It should already be obvious what I think about this game. It’s a straightforward win for us.And if we don’t get it, I think I’m going to be in a pretty dark place as Everton are a team that I expect to seriously struggle this season and this year might well see them being relegated.
I can’t quite work out what’s gone so wrong for the Toffees, but some players I thought were pretty decent just haven’t come good for them at all. Neil Maupay immediately springs to mind as a good example.
Still, Everton’s woes should be good for us and I’m going for a 2-1 win.
Fingers crossed as much as we shouldn’t need that and UTV!
I’m worried now I’ve predicted a win!
I don’t think Zaniolo is eligible to play Badger. Not sure if it’s a visa thing or a hip injury or both!
Aarghhh! Bailey starts! I’m changing my prediction to a 2-1 defeat. Philogene not even on the bench.
I just can’t handle how crap Bailey is. Played in on goal and passes it back and we lose possession.
Holte we lose no no way. Last match was an official disappointment but even Man Utd god was impressed. We are someone to be feared mark my words. 4 0 is my shout.
Calvert-Lewin starts for the toffees which is a worry without Mings.
And then Bailey sets McGinn up for the goal. Haha, typical.
Good play by Diaby and he looks like a great signing.
2-0 after a pen taken by Luiz. Why not Watkins?
Watkins was fouled by Pickford, but I wonder if there were grounds to argue that Watkins’ possession was over when he got clattered?
Just trying to keep my neutral head on.
VAR said it was a pen though.
Bailey is having a blinder (by his standards) I need to criticise more often.
🙂
I’ll admit he is! He looks more like a team player today which has been my biggest criticism of him. Maybe this is the Emery effect.
Bailey is trying hard to please fans and he’s winning, Emery must see something that pleases him, yes he’s frustrates but then he produces. Me give him a little more time .
Well !!! Bailey scored. Give him time .
Superstar Bailey. We need to go into positive goal difference. Before the goal we had definitely switched off.
Great performance today by all except Watkins I feel has been poor. His first touch has been attrocious again. Perfect opportunity to put Archer on for 20 mins.
Or Duran! Nice tidy finish happy days.
What did I say 4 0 .the rest is a bonus . UTV
Have you got next week’s lottery numbers Bill 😂
I did win a £1000 on the lottery Holte , must start the pools .
What’s going on with all these injuries! I hope it’s not another ACL. Everton also having bad luck today.
Yet another serious injury?
Because Everton were so bad it was hard to know if we were playing a high line today.
I’d agree with that Gerry, can’t argue with the result but Everton where truly shocking.
To half of the table