AlbanyNYToffee

Will miss the squad debate, but this is fantastic news for us. We'll be healthier and better rested when it's rearranged and City will likely be back playing in champions league and will rotate. COYB.

Come on Bill that's twice now. There isn't a fan in the world suggesting we should not try to win this, or any, game. Your argument suggests we should only have a squad to cover for injuries. We've got a huge squad if that's all we're doing. I believe that rotating for this game, and the starting XI above rather than our regular XI, gives us the best chance to win. City will be tired as well. Fresh legs and minds could win this game.

Been thinking about this lineup for days and I'll be happy with any XI that doesn't include him. Too important to what we're building and played too much recently. We have this same debate every year at this time and it's always fun. No one is suggesting we shouldn't play our best team available, and none of the players are crying because they're tired. It's science. The players who played Sheffield United cannot possibly be back to 100% in 46 hours. So the question for everyone is would you rather play our regular starters at say 70% fit or are any of our reserves at 100% fit better than our starters at 70%? Everyone will feel differently about this. I'm going to amend my earlier lineup, here's what i think and hope to see: Olsen Coleman Mina Keane Kenny Davies Holgate Gomes Bernard DCL Tosun We cannot afford to lose Doucoure or Godfrey right now. Gomes and Davies as the holding mids has been and would be a DISASTER. If Carlo hasn't played Niels yet I doubt he'd do so against City - that's pretty much throwing him to the wolves. Hoping Tosun would help lighten the load on DCL. It's a big risk starting him but if we don't we simply cannot score. Not starting him would in my opinion be the closest thing we could do to accepting defeat before a ball is kicked.

Everton 1 - 1 City Keane

Sorry to sound defeatist here but getting anything from this is a huge success. 6th game in 17 days for us, ridiculous injury list, City unbeaten I think 20 in a row. positive: de Bruyne played full 90 today so we should avoid him playing. negative: surely we have to give Doucoure a rest now. let us pray: James is fit. Olsen Coleman Godfrey Keane Niels Gomes Holgate Davies James DCL Bernard

Get after Jack Robinson. He’s the weak link.

Completely agree. Especially as all the teams around us drop points today.

Hope it's ok to be posting this here. I'm really curious how folks are approaching the next 3 games. Everyone is posting separately in each appropriate match day thread, but could folks humor me and post their lineups for all 3 in one spot? I'll start: ManU: Pickford Holgate Mina Keane Godfrey Doucoure Davies Gomes James Richarlison DCL Sheffield: Olsen Coleman Branthwaite Keane Niels Davies Siggy Gomes Iwobi Richarlison DCL ManCity: Pickford Kenny Mina Keane Godfrey Doucoure Holgate Davies James Bernard DCL

Don’t think big rotation is needed til weekend. Here are the changes (using Arsenal XI as starting point every time) I’d make for these games: Utd: Gomes and James for Siggy and Iwobi Sheffield: Olsen Coleman Branthwaite Niels and Gomes for Pickford Holgate Godfrey Mina Doucoure City: Kenny Bernard James for Siggy Richy Iwobi (Holgate would slide into mid along Doucoure) im hopeful Keane can play every minute and we can start DCL every game and get him an early sub against Sheffield.

Everton 2 - 1 Arsenal DCL

Seamus is fit. Now what?! Surely there's an argument to be made he should start? Yes 4 CB's has worked for us recently but it is not a long-term solution. Do you start Seamus? If so does holgate go to LB? And either way do Holgate or Godfrey replace Mina? Things are going to get interesting with so many games coming up.

I disagree somewhat. The value in VAR isn’t in getting offsides right, that’s strictly camera technology and drawing lines. Its in getting split second penalty decisions and violent conduct reviews correct. By and large it has done a really bad job at both.

Haha don't be daft. Finally finally finally VAR gets one right.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Bernard for Siggy please.

This is brutal to watch. This feels even more likely to end 2-1 for Leicester than it does 1-1.

Let's see what Gbamin's got. But also how quickly can we get Khedira in? Do the paperwork right now so Jan 1 he's at Finch Farm when they turn the lights on and is ready to go.

Worst referee by a country mile and that's giving slightly too much respect to the also horrible Jon Moss. Lee Mason doesn't know the day of the week let alone anything related to the sport of football.

This game is killing me already. So excited to see Olsen but also dreading Lee Mason. Why must things be so complicated?

Leicester 0 - 0 Everton None

Absolute yes from me. He'd be on a free and we could sign him for 18 months. He would immediately be that 3rd midfielder in the Gomes/Siggy role and rotate with Allan when needed. Incredible quality and versatility in the midfield. Even just to come on and lock down games with 10mins left he's worth it. We don't have anyone who can come in and do that.

HUGE 3 pts. Chelsea came in 17 unbeaten and would have gone top with a win, they had everything to play for and we defended for our lives. Keeps up in striking distance in the table and gives us momentum as this was the start of 6 games in 16 days. Let’s go to Leicester full of confidence.

I don't know much about Dele personally as he's rarely talked about here in the States so I'm approaching this from a different angle. Generally speaking I don't think you can take what is happening to him now as the nail in the coffin if you will - Jose had Salah, De Bruyne and Schurrle at Chelsea (all at the same time) and none of them were deemed quality enough to play for him. Dele may be a total knob and never amount to anything more than he already is/was but I'm not going to let the last 3 months make that decision for me. Certainly the scouting dept and Carlo need to do their due diligence here.

Everton 1 - 0 Chelsea DCL

Love this so much!! For goodness sake play a back 4 and let's have a go at them. First game with fans back, I trust 2k Evertonians to create an atmosphere worthy of a positive performance.