Everton (H) - Thu 26th Dec '24, 12:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[Xhavenjoe]

Once you see Lewis, there goes your hopes of a clean sheet

He's not in goal, is he?

 

[dom]

The next 3 games on paper are nice games and very winnable but the way were playing you just wouldn't back us to win them would you?

I think we need to mix things up in midfield. Savinho in for Bernardo on the right, Grealish to start in the middle for Gundo and Doku on the left. Bring KDB on in the 2nd half if were struggling. Get a bit of energy in the team instead of the same tried and tested players who have been flogged and are offering nothing.

Interestingly roughly what Nigel Gleghorn was suggesting on GMR yesterday...I agree..the current system has been found out and is even more useless with players out of position because of injuries

 

[dom]

Stones has a recurrence of his foot injury

Ye gods...what is it with us and injuries?

 

[dom]

As much as people like him Stones has to be one of the first to go, he can play game after game for England especially at finals but for City it's injury after injury.

Sad to say but now true...we have to have a wider clear out as well

 

[Goater101]

We have to pick teams now that can match our opponents physicality. That means Walker,Bernardo,Gundo,Rico have to stay on the bench.

You think it’s toxic now just wait for a bad result Thursday

 

[dom]

..........................Pugh

.Pugh. Barney McGrew. Cuthbert. Dibble

........................Grubb

That, at least should cover midfield...I'd have 'Windy Miller' available as a super sub as we see fit...meanwhile, I assume the the missing back line in front of Pugh will be the legendary 'Pippin Fort' back four...(roughly the football equivalent of Welsh rugby's Viet Gwent...the Pontypool Front Row) !!!!

 

[Damanino]

I think 70 points we need to target for top4 and CL. that is likely enough albeit can happen it isnt.but would be very surprised if Forest, Villa, Bournemouth or Tottenham could do 70 points.. Villa is the most decent of this bunch but their extra CL schedule which continues into March will surely hit them fitness wise later on. last year they did 68 points with not having international schedule and were more relaxed easily.

but 27 points from 17 games for City, if that doesnt change it is projected to 60 points. we have to improve big time to even hit 70.

home games vs the clubs in the bottom 5-6 clubs need to be all wins, we dont have too many of these games. next two are like these games.

we need these wins to allow us some mistakes later on when we visit Tottenham, Arsenal, Fulham, Brentford, rags etc.

 

[2bluejacko]

Ortega
Lewis Walker Akanji Gvardiol
Kovacic
Foden De Bruyne
Silva Haaland Grealish

Would rather Walker at the back than JSP, might be unpopular but more experience. Need Foden at 10 alongside Kev. Need an Erling hat trick now.

Lewis is out

 

[Jack74]

2 0 Haaland with both

 

[eyalluvitt]

I think this has got 0-0 written all over it unfortunately

You think we will create that much?

 

[Gray]

I think this has got 0-0 written all over it unfortunately

A clean sheet?

 

[applecentral]

A clean sheet?

A tad optimistic!

 

[Blue Maverick]

Ok going to throw it out there if we need to change our style and play on the break
Ortega
KDB Akanji Pusey Gvuardiol
Nunes Kovacic OReilly
Foden Haaland Doku
Watching Liverpool (ye I know!) you could use KDB like they use TAA, just ping balls in from the right let’s face it he won’t need any speed if we are defending deeper, Nunes and OReilly have legs for the midfield with Kovacic. The front three have speed to play on the break. What’s the worst that could happen!

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

Ortega

Akanji
Pusey
Ake
Gvardiol

Kovacic
O’Reilly
Foden

Doku
Haaland
McAtee

 

[WorthlessPoster]

Hope it won't be another Dyche masterclass: park the bus and suck the life out of a football match. Everton are poor, we SHOULD win this.

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

Hope it won't be another Dyche masterclass: park the bus and suck the life out of a football match. Everton are poor, we SHOULD win this.

They’ve just drawn against Arsenal and Chelsea, and kept clean sheets in both.

I agree they’re no world beaters but I don’t expect an easy ride by any stretch.

 

[Bellamy's Caddy]

Hope it won't be another Dyche masterclass: park the bus and suck the life out of a football match. Everton are poor, we SHOULD win this.

Their midfield is packed with tall, physical players. It feels like we don't have anyone capable of winning a 50:50 and that's a big concern.

They're going to take parking the bus to another level so we need players capable of pinning them back and getting the ball into their box.

Really hope Pep finally takes Bernardo off the right wing. Love the guy, but the control he brings to that side is only effective when it frees up space for KDB, Foden etc and that hasn't been happening this season. Savinho has had a spell out of the firing line and a home game against a team that are going to sit back would give him chance to get at his man and hopefully get his confidence back.
He needs a goal too.

 

[JamesMCFC]

We have to win this match there is no other option - well there is but if we don't we truly are in the mud.

 

[shevtheblue]

Maybe Jack Harrison aside, they're not blessed with fast runners but they have got a hard-working midfield and this is where we are really struggling. Not really sure if Savinho and Doku are even the answer in this game, there won't be much space to run into - not that our players are finding anyone in space right now anyway!

 

[shevtheblue]

We have to win this match there is no other option - well there is but if we don't we truly are in the mud.

Brotha, we shipped 4 at home to Spurs, lost to Bournemouth, Brighton, the RAGS at home, drew from 3 up at Feyernood, we have gone past the part of being in the mud and are drowning :D