AlbanyNYToffee

Digne was and is a huge miss. We’re going to continue to struggle without him. Especially with the fixtures piling up, expect to see some controversial selections from Carlo. Whether we want to admit it or not this team is only as good as Richarlison’s form. He was poor yesterday hence the result.

Everton 2 - 2 Leeds richarlison

I hate a back 3 about as much as anyone but it’s our best formation with both full backs out injured. When Seamus comes back I’d like us to go back to 4.

Generally speaking we should be concerned with the defending. However we shouldn't have expected to see a marked improvement against Fulham. All 4 of our preferred starters went away on international duty (and Seamus came back injured) so what exactly was Carlo to work on? I think it's really important we keep Leeds to 1 goal and keep the clean sheet against Burnley heading into the December fixture gauntlet. Also for Fulham the 2nd half was discouraging but predictable. Richarlison, James, Allan, Mina all just back from across the world and playing big minutes and/or suffering a small injury (Allan). We went up 3-1 and took our foot off the pedal when we went into half, couldn't get the legs back. I expect much more energy with a week of rest. We're going to need it - Leeds play like wolverines.

What in the world has happened to Alex Iwobi? Where the f*** has this been?

Fulham 0 - 2 Everton DCL

Yea agreed, for our best chance to win I'd prefer the last game on Monday, just saying selfishly I want Everton back in my life and on my TV ASAP.

Moved to Sunday. Hate waiting an extra day after the international break. Always hope to be the first match back on lunchtime Saturday

Haha well played. commas would have helped. Chelsea, Arsenal, Sheffield, City.

If we’re serious about top 4 we need the next 9/9. Fulham Leeds and Burnley. After that it’s Chelsea Arsenal Sheffield City.

Whole game. We had just the one shot on target. as I said before the game I wouldn’t start holgate. Carlo deserves blame there. Also why switch their positions? Keane has been LCB all season and Holgate is right footed. At least leave Keane where he’s been comfortable. allan’s display in the 2nd half is one of the most impressive 45 mins of football I’ve ever seen. He was everywhere and did everything. Just not enough quality around him today unfortunately.

Been out for months and just joined full training this week - dealing with Rashford and Martial straightaway seems cruel and more importantly unlikely to be a recipe for success for the team tmw. Can't wait to see him back in the team after the break though!

James, Gomes, Coleman and Holgate are fit with Digne back from suspension. Delph, Gbamin, and Richarlison unavailable.

Everton 1 - 1 Utd Digne

Agreed on all fronts. Typically very hesitant to 'rush' players back from muscle injuries but if Seamus pulled it again in this game he'd have the intl break to recover and limit games missed. He'd be a huge boost this weekend. Also agree with Godfrey. Utd's pace will be very difficult for Mina especially with Coleman and his bad hammy next to him. Is Godfrey fit? He didn't even make the bench against Newcastle - Branthwaite did. It pains to see Iwobi (and Siggy) out there but he's the best we have to keep the balance of the team.

Thank you! Not encouraging for Saturday sadly. We're endanger of undoing all of our great work to start the season. I've said this sentence more than any other and I'll say it again: It's the hope that kills you.

Lost the post sorry but someone mentioned we haven't won a PL game without Richarlison. Is there more context to that? Since he signed, since Carlo started here? I'm curious what the actual stat is. Thank you!

I'm mostly cool with that too. I've always considered it 442 cuz those were the words Carlo used. You have James Allan Doucoure Gomes across the midfield and Richie and DCL up top. I agree with you tactics-wise it rarely looks 442. Biggest worry with the above is Gordon and Nkounkou on the same wing. An experienced team like Newcastle could cause them a lot of problems. My thoughts with my lineup were Gomes can go out right wing and not play any defense since he doesn't do that anyway. We can look for him when we win the ball back and he's the best outlet to get the ball to DCL or Bernard. I put Bernard as 2nd ST (LW) so he could help cover Nkounkou along with Delph. Allan goes out to cover Kenny. This puts Doucoure in the original Gomes role where he's just a little bit more free on the left hand side of CM and can facilitate more direct play and be that midfield runner into the box when Nkounkou or Kenny get forward with a cross. He's the most athletic CM we have. Admittedly I know next to nothing about tactics so this could get us killed 5-0 just made sense in my little pea brain.

Pickford Kenny Mina Keane Nkounkou Gomes Allan Delph Doucoure DCL Bernard Can't stand seeing Siggy and Iwobi out there. I think Gomes is the most natural replacement for James. Doucoure can be more of an attacking presence with Delph there to cover and help Nkounkou.

I'm a huge fan of picking a formation and sticking with it but I don't see anyway to make our backline successful if Kenny remains sidelined. Pickford Mina Keane Godfrey Davies Allan Doucoure Nkounkou James DCL Bernard

Final IN: Nkounkou, Allan, James, Doucoure, GodfreyOUT: Schneiderlin, Hornby, Baines (retired), Dowell, SandroLOAN IN: Olsen LOAN OUT: Markelo, Gibson, Adeniran, Kean, Walcott, ConnollyYOUTH: Jagne YOUTH pro deals: Markelo, Ouzounidis, Quirk, Kristensen, McAllister, Hagan, Onyango, Kouyate, Whitaker, Welch, Price CONTRACT EXT: Branthwaite, Keane, Gordon, J VirginiaOFFICIALLY RELEASED: Stekelenberg(Ajax), Niasse, Martina, Garbutt (Blackpool), Feeney (Sunderland), Denny (Salford), Foulds (Como 1907), Adedoyin (Sheff Wed), Mampala (QPR), Phillips (Huddersfield), Tarashaj

Fair play to Godfrey for stepping in at rb but that can’t happen again. Complete disaster. requires cover as he’s not athletic enough to mark wingers. The cover was Allan cuz James can’t do it. The entire team is unbalanced at that point, and it happened all the time as Southampton is well-coaches. You can man-mark James all game with no threat of Godfrey getting forward. That allows them to keep their shape all game and we can never get numbers advantage on the left where we can be lethal. Bad day at the office. We’re still top of the table!! Hopefully Kenny is fit for Newcastle (if not play Davies or Delph there) and Digne gets his red overturned (unlikely).

Iwobi wasn’t on the left he was in for Richarlison as 2nd striker. It’s usually Gomes and today it was Siggy. Who was shit too for most of the game.

Only because it would further prove what a complete fucking farce VAR is.

Iwobi. Terrible.