chicagoblue

Just never really loks arsed for me. Terrible at tracking his man, always on his heels, doesn't seem to read the game. Apart from a decent volley or two I don't see what he brings to the table. We brought him over cheap, gave him a few chances and he hasn't quite cut it. If we recover our outlay I think we'll have done well.

I really like Heitinga, but his form is absolutely attrocious right now. Only ball in the air he has Any chance of winning is if it's completely uncontested. Absolute liability right now and I don't think Jags or Distin trust him, which leads to them trying to cover and getting sucked out of possition. If decent money was on the table I'd be one to gamble on shipping him out and bringing someone else in. Something needs to change at the back and it won't be Baines, Jags, Distin or Coleman. Cheltenham would be a good time to see Duffy again with either Sylvain or Jags.

The thing about Nais is that he does have some understanding with Jelly and I think Moyes is trying to use that. Experiment has to go on the shelf for now though, Vic is just bringing too much to the table right now to be left out.

Not quite sure how we got away with that, but it's three points we needed to take.

Agreed. That said Vic might be the type who needs a bit more rest, but bringing in Neville just feels wrong. I thought our balance last match was good and simply adding Felli to the middle is all we needed. Created lots of Chances between Vic and Jelly. Hope we create as many tonight.

Even Chicago has an Everton bar. Strange That London would not. Took a look at the suporters club list and nothing sounds terribly excitng. Think I may just take it in at Famous Three Kings. Don't know how we're going to do this, but it needs doing. COYB

And this is where our complete lack of depth makes those draws That should have been wins all the more painful. Don't even want to imagine the line-up without Baines and Pienaar. Do we draft Oviedo into left back or Duffy into CB and Distin out left? On current form we should be we'll able to beat them, but it's a hell of a different ask without a squad to choose from. Are we ever going to see Mirallas back fit? On a slightly different note, can anyone recommend a Toffee pub in London to catch the game?

Any idea what the fee might be?

He aparently has seven from twelve games and five in the last five. Exactly the kind of form we need. That said I don't know the first thing about him.

On loAn, sure. We need to ship Heitinga, so until duffy is ready we need an immediate third. Distin is a beast and Jags is mostly up to spec. Lescott could offer perfect competition there. Hope to see a deal worked out, but only if we're paying half wages or less.

For all the talk of his shooting prowess I think people may be overlooking his excellent set piece delivery. Don't think anyone else comes close to reliably matching his his calibre of delivery, corners especially. He's neat and tidy and has a better reach and aerial ability than I had suspected before seeing him live. If he is on half way reasonable money I think it would be a real shame to let him go. That said, having been sat directly behind Al-Habsi whe Hitz rattled the bar I can't wait to see the first one fly in.

On the whole it was a brilliant performance. Only thought Heitinga looked a liability, constantly misreading aerial balls and getting we'll beaten in challenges. A la American, he needs to sack up. Also thought Naismith soldnhimself like a schoolboy everytime he tried to chalenge Cole. Can't believe fat frank got plaudits for that performance, apart from the goals, one of which was pooor marking and the other a flubbed clearance, he was wank. Any other day we get to half up 3-0 and the game is over. If we can takebthe same attitude and energy to Newcastle we'll dominate.

Right now I'm eating at Thomas Frost on county rd. About to venture in search of players. In the game I'm in the upper bullens row M ,seat 116. I'll be wearing a cowichan tooque (brown and white knit winter hat) I've a local phone and I'll PM you the number.

Cheers Mike. It's been good some far and a win today would truly seal it. Is Players towards or away from the city centre on county rd? If anyone hears the Canadian with the Baines jersey come say hello. I'l be sat dead center in upper bullens today and hope to Jelly crack a couple. 2-1 as we've completely forgotten how to keep a clean sheet.

Caught my first match a Goodison on Wednesday been wandering the city since then, and second will be the Chelsea game. I know there's more than a few options, can anyone recommend a particular pub for pre match pints? As I'm travelling alone I'd also be we'll up to meet with anyone who is going to the game. Cheers lads.

Think that overlooks Dembele a bit. He gives them steel and guile, from what I've seen of them this year they're a completely different proposition with him in the side. That said, at Goodison I expect us to win this one.

We almost need a special tag for him, so new users and guests know its safe (and wise) to ignore his posts.

Still a few days away. Both teams on decent form, but Spurs picking up the extra points of late where we've left them on the table. Return or not of Mirallas will be key to giving us the extra dimension that we've been lacking. Can see this easily as very tight or wide open, first 15 minutes might well tell the story. We've not kept a clean sheet in a long while, and despite Spurs effectiveness in front of goal, but with Bale missing I can just about see us keeping them quiet. Not sure they have an answer for Fellaini, and if we're able to add a fit and willing Mirallas then I think we'll be comfortable. The first few minutes of each half has proven difficult for us of late, if we avoid self destruction I can see the tide well and truly turning here. 2-0

Got to be a defender, despite being fairly dominated possession wise in the second half Howard was never really troubled. After the first have we really didn't have any spark going forward. Between Jags and Distin for me, neither Baines nor Hibbert offered much going forward. Think Jags just about shades it on account of Distin looking shaky on a few occasions.

Decent point in the end. Hung on a bit at times and sat too deep for my liking, but Howard never really troubled. Not sure why we couldn't keep any possession in the second half, but that nullified our threat.

Do not bring on Heitinga

Didn't see the pen decision in real time. Looked a dive by Dzeko in slow motion, but pulls are sometimes easier to see at full speed. Definitely had a whiff of defending champions luck to it though. At the same time, we'd barely had the ball since scoring, giving them too much time and space put us under pressure. Need to come back out the way we started the game. The more we possess the ball, even if not penetrating with every attack, the better we'll fare.

Result will be a toss up. Both teams right now seems to be up and down a bit. If Baines is at all feeling the hamstring I'd leave him out. Can't afford to have him do it. Even if in hindsight it's clear that putting Oviedo or Distin on the left is what cost us this game, I'd still rest him. Surprised at how long Mirallas has been out, hope these frequent injuries and longish recoveries don't become a theme as we clearly need his invention. Apparently Jelly overcame a flu morning of the Arsenal game, so I'll revise my assessment of his performance. Hopefully he'll be rested and ready. He does seem to be getting closer to hitting a patch of form, the turn and shot over the bar against Arsenal was certainly more like it. Against city's big CBs though we'll need to be a bit more clever than simply lumping it up, even with Felli up there. Good spot that Toure is on 4 yellows. He hasn't played particularly well of late, but he is the type that can turn a game, and without him they don't have anyone that can really compete with Felli in the middle of the park. I'd like to see someone given the Rodwell roll to track Silva, but I'm not sure who I would put on to that, Osman? Think we could nick it, but again no way we'll keep a clean sheet. 2-1

That's all well and good, but I rather suspect he's the type that thrives on goal that he gets. Do agree though that we've not been playing to his strengths at all. Need more balls like the one Oviedo provided for Naismith against Norwich. Crisp passes into the box that an be redirected with one touch. Would love to see more of Fellaini bringing it down, feeding it out wide for someone looking to pick out Jelavic. Unfortunately we seem overly tempted to put it in the air whenever Felli is in the box and that doesn't help Jelly at all.

On his current form Jelly is more likely to go to Morecambe than Juventus or Arsenal. Both articles a joke.