JoeQuince

They need to drop inside and play in the pockets around Rom then. As, I say that, a fucking fluke ball confuses their defense and Mirallas finishes one of those plays he always finishes

I'd take Barry and Coleman (either he or Holgate, but Holgate is looking stronger today) off for Barkley and Davies. Go to a back 4, Davies a straight swap for Barry (but with directions to run) and Barkley into the 10. 4-2-1-3

He needs to get the fuck out of there. Instead of attacking the player with the ball, he's also backing into defense. Does he know he isn't playing CB today?

Haha happy to hear! I just hope the match is worth watching. So far, all I see is defending and bad passes to runners who aren't even there in the first place.

Well, as suspected, this is playing more like a 7-3 than a 3-4-3. Gareth Barry is driving me fucking crazy. When he receives the ball and can turn upfield, he consistently turns back towards defense instead. Maddening.

It's on one of the Premier League Extra Time channels. If your wife's family has a cable box, you should be able to just search for Everton. Or, if they have a laptop and know the username/password for their account at their cable provider, you can sign right in on the nbc sports website and watch it on there.

https://youtu.be/IM_H4CAAYxc I had no clue Koeman played sax for Wizzard in his younger years. Merry Christmas!

I think that this kind of formation would play perfectly to our strengths. When we're playing with true wingers or forcing players up front to huge the touch lines, it ends up negating our full backs' best assets. Either we discard Baines and Coleman for stronger defenders who don't bomb on, or we play a formation that is focused on interconnected play in midfield that allows them to break forward and do damage in the final third. This also would solve some of our massive gap issues in attack.

Steve, as always, bringing some sanity! No Davies (or Deuolofeu, I would add) in favor of a bench that for the most part lacked creativity and the ability to hold onto the ball. As a result, when McCarthy came off, it was either going to be Cleverley (light-weight but useful enough with the ball) or Barry (strong, but too slow to keep up with the pace of the derby). And, taking Valencia (already a square peg in a round hole) off for another striker (whose use of the ball and ability to retain possession aren't exactly his strong suits) forced to play the wing and defend was another poor decision that could've been averted. Mirallas made the most sense, considering the bench we had and what was needed. But, again, a player like Davies (who can do the dirty work and move the ball) or Deulofeu (who doesn't do much dirty work, but uses the ball well, stretches play and requires attention) would've been great options. Instead, we had two backup right backs.

I pointed it out as it happened. Lovren should've been off for running all the way up there and instigating that

Unbelievable. A comedy of errors at the back, we are.

Eight minutes... Shit!

Lovren should be off with a second yellow if that's a yellow for Seamus.

Ross is really growing into the game here. Could be the difference maker. Another Baines v Stekelenberg collision? Fuck me

On evidence, i would like to see Kev on for Valencia

Okay, well, this is exactly how we didn't need to start the half...

Barry on for McCarthy. Hopefully he keeps the intensity McCarthy showed.

Good hustle by Ross after a bad giveaway. I'm happy with the half. Wish we could have capitalized, but the effort and intensity is there. If we can keep it up, we will win this. The shite look a bit nervy and weak in comparison. We will make our own luck if we keep this up.

Seems like his hammy again. Hope it isn't.

I hope we aren't tiring. Seeing some signs of us slowing down. If we can calm down on the ball, it'll leave us with energy in defense. We need to keep closing down.

Unexpected lineup! Riding the wave from last match I guess! Gerry not even on the bench, though. Wonder what that's about...

Double swoop for bezoar and the friendly ghost? That would work for me. Two positions of need. Thank you very much, Ajax!

Still can't wrap my head around what happened at the end of the game there. Just watched that sequence again and holy fuck.

Xhaka will get a red for chopping down Gana. That's my prediction for the day.

I'm inclined to agree with you (definitely need someone to fill the hole Gana will give us/eventually replace Barry), but we are desperate for a creative attacking player and someone to step in for Lukaku. I'd rather not have us overspend in January, though, for the reasons you cite. That said, we will spend £70m on two wingers.