Everton (A) - Sun 14th May, 14:00 | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction

  • Total voters
    572
Status
Not open for further replies.
alexmcity said:
No, percentages are pretty reasonable.

Mahrez, Foden and Alvarez have scored much more goals than Grealish, Bernie and KDB this season. It's not like they aren't brilliant players. For instance, Alvarez was our best player at Fulham and the likes of Foden and Mahrez can be on their day as good as Grealish and Bernie, or even better. It's not like we are replacing Grealish and KDB with youngsters...
Click to expand...
I’d say you are pretty much right there; 77% at full strength on 538
 
alexmcity said:
Guess we have planned lineups for Real and even Chelsea. One game at a time is a great principle, but it's also professional to manage the squad so that we are in top condition for the next games.

Given we had several high quality players on the bench vs Real, we'll have to use them. Not only because they are fresh both physically and mentally, but because they should feel like genuine members of the first team. Otherwise, they won't be ready when we need them due to lack of rhythm, plus squad harmony may suffer. This holds particularly of Foden, Mahrez and Alvarez, and to a lesser extent of Laporte and Lewis.

Read yesterday about the Leeds quest for the Treble in 69/70. They fell apart in the last 6 weeks due to injuries and fatigue. Rotation is vital: to not run in the ground the star players, to keep the squad players in form and motivated, to maintain squad harmony, etc.
Click to expand...
And we have a fully fit squad…madness not to use it.

The PL might be poster’s priority but for the club its the CL and always will be until we win it.
 
schfc6 said:
I don’t think we’ll see that many changes. Pep will want the height and strength of the likes of Rodri, Dias, Stones and the commanding presence of Ederson.

I think we could see

Akanji
Dias
Laporte

Stones
Rodri

Mahrez
Foden

Alvarez
Haaland.
Click to expand...
You only have 9 there. I'd hope we would want to play with 11.
 
alexmcity said:
Guess we have planned lineups for Real and even Chelsea. One game at a time is a great principle, but it's also professional to manage the squad so that we are in top condition for the next games.

Given we had several high quality players on the bench vs Real, we'll have to use them. Not only because they are fresh both physically and mentally, but because they should feel like genuine members of the first team. Otherwise, they won't be ready when we need them due to lack of rhythm, plus squad harmony may suffer. This holds particularly of Foden, Mahrez and Alvarez, and to a lesser extent of Laporte and Lewis.

Read yesterday about the Leeds quest for the Treble in 69/70. They fell apart in the last 6 weeks due to injuries and fatigue. Rotation is vital: to not run in the ground the star players, to keep the squad players in form and motivated, to maintain squad harmony, etc.
Click to expand...
Totally agree and that’s what Pep has been doing since the start of the season, firstly playing them into form, not utilising the off-season for friendlies, all in the understanding that they will be there or thereabouts at this point of the season.

To get us in this position has taken a lot of work behind the scenes, we have to be confident that Pep has a plan to take us to the end.
 
alexmcity said:
No, percentages are pretty reasonable.

Mahrez, Foden and Alvarez have scored much more goals than Grealish, Bernie and KDB this season. It's not like they aren't brilliant players. For instance, Alvarez was our best player at Fulham and the likes of Foden and Mahrez can be on their day as good as Grealish and Bernie, or even better. It's not like we are replacing Grealish and KDB with youngsters...
Click to expand...

Bernie does a certain job at RW. Mahrez does a different one. Foden is always a goal threat. As is Alvarez. Everton will play direct. Any throw in, free kick or general play it will go forwards quickly and then they'll get into a defensive shape.

We should control possession. We need to be smart to the counter which is why I would start Rodri. Then it's about quick passing and moving and people willing to shoot. The changes up top help in that regard.

I'd wrap Walker up. Other than that most can manage because they've rested recently. Pep has known the turnaround for a while. We rested against Leeds in anticipation and I'm sure he will be bold with changes tomorrow.

Arteta's comments were interesting. I think he sees tomorrow as the game we could slip up in and Brighton as their opportunity to go top.
 
supercity88 said:
Arteta's comments were interesting. I think he sees tomorrow as the game we could slip up in and Brighton as their opportunity to go top.
Click to expand...
If Arsenal are pinning a lot of their hopes on Everton being the game where we slip up then a win for us could really deflate them before they play Brighton.
 
Deepest Blue said:
Sneaky feeling Rodri will sit this one out and Stones will play his hybrid RB/DM role alongside....Bernardo.
Bernie is on a yellow in CLSF so maybe he'll start that one on the bench with Mahrez or Foden wide right on Wednesday.
Click to expand...
It's three yellows for a suspension, and they were wiped after the QFs, so makes no difference at this stage. You only miss the final with a red card.
 
David El Mago Silva said:
If Arsenal are pinning a lot of their hopes on Everton being the game where we slip up then a win for us could really deflate them before they play Brighton.
Click to expand...
It appears they are. Their fans are certainly thinking this is the opportunity of us slipping up because we were in Europe midweek. And arteta seemed to hint at it probably thinking pep will rest a lot ready for second leg. They seem to think we will prioritize the champions league
 
David El Mago Silva said:
If Arsenal are pinning a lot of their hopes on Everton being the game where we slip up then a win for us could really deflate them before they play Brighton.
Click to expand...
You can see where Arteta is coming from. Everton are in a fight for premier league survival and won’t be rolling over for us. I expect us to win but it will be a fight. Arsenal should beat Brighton at home.
 
LongsightM13 said:
They wouldn’t be playing shite most weeks. Mid to lower table teams here have players that would walk into all their top 4 rivals in Spain and Germany. Budgets make our league massively more competitive
Does the 16th/17th place team over there have a Rice or Paqueta? Maddison? Lavia? Do they fuck
Click to expand...
Maybe they do, but they've not received the same media exposure? How many had heard of Rodri until we showed our interest? I don't doubt there are some good quality teams in the depths of the Prem, doesn't change the fact that Madrid and Bayern would annihilate them. Frame the question another way; how many teams in the Prem are definitively better than Madrid?
 
An admittedly tough team selection for Pep, but I trust him to get it right, as he frequently does.

That said, the CL has to be the priority at this stage. Which means Everton is the only game that should require rotation.
 
This is the game I'm worried about the most just because of where it sits.

I think it's inevitable Pep will make changes and Everton away has always been a tricky one for us. A slow start and their crowd will be right on us. Their last 2 performances will have given them confidence and less pressure on them now aswell.

A win here and I think its done. Come on the Blues!
 
If it's about playing players to get them into some sort of form for the CLSF, then Kev's got to start! The brilliant goal aside, he had an absolute stinker on Tuesday!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top