So I’m currently in Torrevieja, Spain, chilling, after having just bought a very nice bungalow, and it now seems a good time to write something.
Now that the EUFA Nations league (pure money spinning rubbish) is over and we get back to real football, it’s even more a good time.
What to think then, about our upcoming game?
Well, I’ve watched all of Everton’s games and they are truly abysmal in my opinion, hence this ought to be one of the best chances we’ll get to win a game this season.
Of course, the usual proviso, where we seem to have been incredibly prone to losing to any team that’s performed poorly and been on a bad run, over the years, I have to think that even so, it’s going to be difficult to lose against them.
It’s quite strange, as I think Sean Dyche is a decent manager. Yes, he has a very defensive style, that I think Everton needed in an attempt to consolidate and it’s been quite successful for him, but it seems to me that they’ve been getting worse as his tenure has gone on.
I’ve spoken to a few Everton fans of late, with me working in Liverpool and they seem to have resigned themselves to seriously struggling this season. I’ve mentioned the money they’ve pulled in from big fee transfers and the reply is that the new ground has killed the club financially.
I’ve also asked if they’d sack Dyche, and the answer is always “yes, but who would we get in?” That’s a really bad place to be, I’d say.
Ian Wright has apparently predicted that we’ll win this 4-0 and while I don’t quite agree, it is an indicator of things. If indeed, that does happen, I think Dyche will be gone. He’s in the last chance saloon, as it is.
I’ll give my prediction now, as much as it’s a bit early and I’m going for a gritty 2-0 win. It wouldn’t surprise me if Everton get one on a counter, as we go for them, but I’ll live with that.
I’ll post squad news etc after the press conference if I get chance. We fly back just after dinnertime 🙁
30C back to 15C? I’m not looking forward to that.
Get Duran on. Watkins looks leggy.
I take it back.
I’ve been watching this thinking it has Pool Forest written all over it.
Our defence is useless, Martinez is having a shocker and Watkins looks miles off it.
I agree, get Duran on, as Ollie looks a liability.
COME OOOOOOOOOOON!!!!
And Ollie gets one. With a header though.
Everton’s defence are worse than ours!
Onana’s having a stinker.
Unai’s taken him off. Let’s see if Barkley can pull some strings. More than capable…
We were all over these for the first half of that and then they looked the better team.
No wonder the world loves watching the Prem.
Possession football v Direct…
Direct is winning at the moment (perhaps Charlie Hughes was on to something?)
Pleased for Ollie.
For me McGinn wide right doesn’t work. Onana is a ‘marked man’ and is having a poor game so hook him bring McGinn into a central role and put Philogene on the right wing so we can stretch their defence – and I’d do that at the start of the second half.
We can’t keep clean sheets anymore and that will stop us progressing to challenge the likes of City and Arsenal. We are missing Mings who offers more defensively than Torres in terms of his heading ability and turn of speed in recovery. We are also missing a quality RB which we all knew about. I can see them snatching a 3rd to kill the game when we over commit.
I got it half right 🙂
Barkley on for Onana.
I didn’t think he was too bad, but what do I know?
YEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS! COME OOOOOOOOOOOON!!!!!
WTF?
Exactly what I was thinking. We’re terrible at the back.
Go 443 and pummel them. Jhon up top. Ollie left. Chesty right…
What’s wrong with Barkley?
Decent player imo
I hate to say it but it all looks a bit stale. And that’s because, in real terms, the team and squad weren’t really strengthened in the summer.
Duran must come on. And how long before Buendia can make some contributions?
Yes yes yes
It’s far too easy to get in behind our defence and as has been said, we will not get far at CL level.
Watkins equalises. Fair play to him in proving me wrong.
But so we should against these. They’re junk.
Am I the only one to notice that Ollie doesn’t seem to smile much lately?
Feeling the pressure, I’d guess.
He’s on record as saying he doesn’t like the fame side of it all. The aftermath of the Holland game won’t have helped him.
Shoot, Chesty FFS! 🙈
Wow, Watkins is actually Mr angry there. That’s so not like him.
What gives?
Captain Chaos is coming on 🙂
For those of you who are Cannon Ballers 🙂
Ramsey off, who has been MOTM for me.
Duran on. two up top or Ollie out wide left????
Really, Badger???? I was thinking he’s nowhere near back to where he was before the injury.
Still a big threat for me.
Jesus Duran. He’s on fire!!!
Oops, sorry, I was thinking of Chesty.
Seriously?
I thought he was awful
Wow, did anyone see that Duran stat? He’s in the PL top 4 of goals per minute, behind Haaland. And propping up Aguero and Henry! The floor is yours, Jhon…
What a goal 🥅!
And he duly obliged.👏👏👏