Match Thread Everton 2-4 Brentford. Sun Jan 4th. 3pm

[heatmeiser]

I think O'Brien and Branthwaite start if everyone is fit (and if we get a decent RB)

Nah, Tarkowski is still easily one of the first names on the team sheet if fit- which is most of the time

 

[GoldenToffee]

Nah, Tarkowski is still easily one of the first names on the team sheet if fit- which is most of the time

Aye, there's no way at all Tarkowski is dropped. O'Brien will highly likely go back to right back when Branthwaite gets up to full fitness, which anyway will be probably two months away. That or Branthwaite won't get back in if we get a right back and JOB continues to impress at centre back. He was brilliant last night.

 

[McCallsVolley]

They are a very good set piece and a tall team like Spurs and Newcastle. Big test.

 

[Connor mcloud]

Brentford play against Spurs on friday and EFC on Sunday

Thursday isn't it?

 

[Rich1878]

Thursday isn't it?

They play Thursday then Sunday

 

[Ivo]

Taking my son to this. It'll be our first game at the new stadium since the second test event. COYB.

 

[Saint Domingo]

These two home games are a massive opportunity to push on

 

[jazzy]

These two home games are a massive opportunity to push on

They are but neither ( even Wolves ) are to be underestimated.

 

[hallamblue]

They are a solid, well organised unit under Andrews, and this won't be an easy game. I see this one hinging on fine margins, and we'll need to finish any chances we do get. Two evenly matched teams so I'll go for a 1-1 draw.

 

[davek]

These two home games are a massive opportunity to push on

They're nailed on wins as far as Ilm concerned and so is the cup game against Sunderland who really are a team suffering with player losses.

Let's see if Moyes can take us to four straight wins, which is what should happen.

 

[BigBeto1]

Not the end of the world if we don’t win this. But if we do, it could be a season defining game. Would really push us up the table with a good opportunity for more points the following week

 

[ToffeeTim]

They're nailed on wins as far as Ilm concerned and so is the cup game against Sunderland who really are a team suffering with player losses.

Let's see if Moyes can take us to four straight wins, which is what should happen.

Football isn't that simple unfortunately

You can just say three games in a row are certain wins.

United failed to beat Wolves at home. We just failed to beat Burnley. Liverpool lost 3 nil at home to a poor Forest side who we just beat twice in 3 weeks with 2 clean sheets.

We would absolutely hope to win these games but we aren't good enough to have the attitude that a 4 game winning streak is nailed on just because the next 3 are at home.

 

[Nymzee]

These are an annoying team to play against. Long throws, good striker, Damsgaard is underrated too.

 

[davek]

Football isn't that simple unfortunately

You can just say three games in a row are certain wins.

United failed to beat Wolves at home. We just failed to beat Burnley. Liverpool lost 3 nil at home to a poor Forest side who we just beat twice in 3 weeks with 2 clean sheets.

We would absolutely hope to win these games but we aren't good enough to have the attitude that a 4 game winning streak is nailed on just because the next 3 are at home.

Villa have just come off an 11 game winning streak that's taken in top PL opposition and a couple of tough CL games. It shouldn't be beyond us to knock off tripe like Forest, Brentford, Wolves and Sunderland...the latter three all at home.

But this is what Ilm talking about: expectation levels at Everton dumbed down for years and it'll continue apace too because the man who got the ball rolling on expectation management is back as manager again.

No, mate. 4 games is what we can win here - I for one am never going to dumb down my expectations of what's doable.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Villa have just come off an 11 game winning streak that's taken in top PL opposition and a couple of tough CL games. It shouldn't be beyond us to knock off tripe like Forest, Brentford, Wolves and Sunderland...the latter three all at home.

But this is what Ilm talking about: expectation levels at Everton dumbed down for years and it'll continue apace too because the man who got the ball rolling on expectation management is back as manager again.

No, mate. 4 games is what we can win here - I for one am never going to dumb down my expectations of what's doable.

Can we win the next 3 games ? Yes 100%

Is it nailed on ? Absolutely not

Expectation levels are far higher than last season. But Villa are in third place so that's a very weird comparison. You don't go from hoping for 17th to expecting 3rd inside a year.

The expectation this year was top half and we have a shot at it.