Elston Gunnn

This is a “Next Few Matches” post. It assumes that Doucouré will be available in 2 weeks. Even if our back 4 (any 4) improve, they’re likely to be average at very best, still prone to lapses. So we need: (1) 3-man midfield, and (2) goals. Good news is we have some attacking talent in Gray, Richarlison, Gordon, and DCL. Bad news is we can’t have on the pitch at the same time both our preferred 3 in midfield and all 4 of our attackers. (Unless we go 3 at the back..... Nope.) Best options seem to be: (1) 4-3-2-1, with DCL, whose lengthy absence has set him back noticeably, on bench, 2d half sub. Or (2): 4-4-2, with Gomes on bench, 2d half sub.

Had 4 chances 2d half, Gordon cross to Richarlison, 2 Mina headers, Gray way over bar.

Didn’t Gordon do exactly the same thing twice last match?

Not a foul, not a yellow.

Agree, and I like Gomes a lot .... going forward. But he’s no DCM, too slow, danger of red now.

Allan coming on for Gomes. Good, Gomes on yellow.

Need to score goals. Defense still porous. Ball not getting to DCL, or he’s not getting to the ball.

Doucouré has to stay back, as Gomes is no DCM. Play through Gomes a lot. No confidence in our defense, this back 4 included. We need to score 3 goals. Or more. To be optimistic, we do have 4 attackers who can score.

Play through Gomes. Doucouré needs to stay back mostly, not be ahead of Gomes much. Gomes is no DCM, so that’s gotta be Doucouré today.

It is an excuse, and not even in keeping with the PL Board’s own guidelines. They explicitly refer to “existing rules and adapted COVID-19 postponement guidance, implemented in light of the new Omicron variant.” They further refer to “the status, severity[,] and potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak at the club.” No reference to AFCON. So, although the Board claims that it “aims to provide as much clarity as possible,” in fact the explanation of this decision does, and is intended to do, the very opposite: it obscures the actual reason for the cancellation. https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2443484/everton-v-leicester-city-postponed

Yes, I have same impression as Bailey. If they’re down only a very few because of Covid, this match should be played. I assume league authorities can make the same distinctions Bailey has made in his first sentence. We could still lose, of course. Looks like we have to score 2-3 goals most matches, as our defense is so unreliable. If we ever get healthy — we’ve missed important players repeatedly, though I guess never as many at one time as Leicester right now — we might have 4-5 goal-scorers among DCL, Richarlison, Gray, Gordon, Townsend.

Second time Gordon’s done that. Why did he place the ball at the end line? Seems too stupid.

Think Leicester match is Covid-postponed.

Doucouré???

Awful Gray. Awful.

Impressive from Godfrey there. Next minute, Gray strangely flubs it.

Great control from Gomes, and even a hint of pace from him.

Hope it’s mostly 4-1-3-2, with Delph staying back, and playing through Gomes. Doucouré much more likely to help Delph defend than Gomes, whose best defending is a tactical foul. I’ll be surprised if Gomes doesn’t get a yellow. If we lead on 65-70 minutes, sub in Branthwaite and Gbamin/Kenny for tiring Delph and Gomes, probably Iwobi for Townsend.

I prefer Digne to Holgate, but I don’t think Benitez does just now. And it’s not as if Digne has been impressive lately.

Mina out, Allan questionable, Digne, who knows? If Allan is out, likely Gomes starts in midfield. I prefer Gomes as 2d half player, for reasons I've posted in 2 other threads. Hope Delph can come in and play well. I'll hope for ... Pickford Coleman Holgate Keane Godfrey Delph Gordon Doucoure Gray Townsend Richarlison Subs -- Gomes in 2d half for tiring Delph. Move Doucoure back to Delph"s spot, and play through Gomes. Iwobi, I guess, for one of tiring/ineffective Gordon/Townsend.

Apologies for repeating an idea I’ve posted elsewhere. On Romey 1878’s point re rotation, I prefer that he not start, but be rotated in, when we need an offensive controlling midfielder, on 55-60 minutes. Push Allan back, Gomes forward with Doucouré. Play through Gomes, a whole lot. But, to dunc’s point, my sense is that Gomes is just too slow, not yet in peak condition, and in the first half just can’t match opponents’ freshness and pace. But, as opponents lose a little steam — 55-60 minutes, even a bit later — a fresh Gomes is no longer disadvantaged by his own lack of pace. He can keep up with tired opponents, but much less so with fresh opponents in first half. His composure, dribbling, ball control, vision, passing show well late. Not so much early.

Either Gray or Richarlison, though I voted for Gomes, whose ability to control the ball while denying defenders a touch is always very impressive. He’s very hard to dispossess, and his coolness was a (not the) difference-maker in the final 30 minutes. I’ve said before and continue to believe he’s more effective in 2d half, when opponents begin to tire, so that Gomes’s lack of pace doesn’t show so much. He’s more likely to help the team in the final 30-40 than the first 60 minutes.

The variety of ways we manage to miss opportunities is dismaying. Godfrey and Richarlison in the last couple of minutes.

OS commentators are very critical of Everton effort today. Not just dearth of talent. Effort. ”No desire, no energy. I just don’t know what to say.”

Well, I had never considered being tear-gassed preferable to watching Everton football, but sometimes our play does bring tears to the eye and a pervasive foul spirit.