The derby

Badge1878 · April 3, 2018

Daveysgingerlovechild said:
Just said in the Rooney thread, we need legs in Midfield for this one. Agree with the comments above that Gana, Davies and Benigime are the best bets in the squad at the moment.

But as already pointed out I'd be amazed if BFS is anything but conservative in his team selection. "Big game, experienced heads, proven performers etc...".

Others may disagree because it is the Derby and they would want to avoid a hiding, but in general the senior midfield combinations have been absolutely rubbish and failed to turn up in many games (never mind the big ones) this season. So there's little to suggest they'll offer anything different on Saturday. So why not be radical and roll the dice?

We normally do something different, like play Pennington for the first time at Anfield, goal aside, he got roasted in a system designed to confuse our players never mind theirs. Or start Branch up front under Smith for his first start in months only to haul him off at half time, or simply rest half the team because we have a 1/4 at home three days later.

It’s as much about character this game as experience, loved how Holgate and Kenny showed no respect at the pit in the Cup game. Too many of our side stand off and watch, they need to realise what it means to represent Everton. Hope Tosun takes whatever scraps comes his way & Walcott puts in the type of display he is capable of. Let’s see.

Woolverhampton_Blue · April 3, 2018

longers said:
If we have a proper go and lose I can live with that, what I can't live with is another performance like the second half of last seasons Goodison derby where the gameplan was to park the bus and wait for the inevitable last minute Liverpool winner.

Based on some of the performances this season it's hard to see this lot doing enough to get a result unless we get very lucky, and we never seem to get much luck in this fixture.

Woolverhampton_Blue · April 3, 2018

longers said:
If we have a proper go and lose I can live with that, what I can't live with is another performance like the second half of last seasons Goodison derby where the gameplan was to park the bus and wait for the inevitable last minute Liverpool winner.

Based on some of the performances this season it's hard to see this lot doing enough to get a result unless we get very lucky, and we never seem to get much luck in this fixture.

roy vernon · April 3, 2018

I hate derbies, I never used to. We have been like rabbits in headlights for years now, when we meet our loveable neighbors.

MIKE85 · April 3, 2018

Think Liverpool will play second string team if they get something from their first tie against Man. City. I can see us winning this one :dance:

arch stanton · April 3, 2018

we need the youngsters in there who are hungry and will hate getting beaten but are used to having won in the mini derbies. The call of Gana Benin and Tom D in midfield was a good shout.

arch stanton · April 3, 2018

MIKE85 said:
Think Liverpool will play second string team if they get something from their first tie against Man. City. I can see us winning this one

Mikey baby, have you learned nothing from the last ten years? they could put out a team of the people cruelly evicted from the houses in the shadow of the hole punch stand and they'd still terrify our 'experienced pros'

macdog · April 4, 2018

MIKE85 said:
Think Liverpool will play second string team if they get something from their first tie against Man. City. I can see us winning this one

If they do there'll be calls from kopites to give them a 2 goal head start - only fair if the team is second string.

Charles Hawtrey · April 4, 2018

We will be lucky to win the coin toss...

Daveysgingerlovechild · April 4, 2018

Badge1878 said:
We normally do something different, like play Pennington for the first time at Anfield, goal aside, he got roasted in a system designed to confuse our players never mind theirs. Or start Branch up front under Smith for his first start in months only to haul him off at half time, or simply rest half the team because we have a 1/4 at home three days later.

It’s as much about character this game as experience, loved how Holgate and Kenny showed no respect at the pit in the Cup game. Too many of our side stand off and watch, they need to realise what it means to represent Everton. Hope Tosun takes whatever scraps comes his way & Walcott puts in the type of display he is capable of. Let’s see.

Hmm, Michael Branch you say? Wonder what he is up to this weekend?

Agree on the character point. Sadly some of our senior pros haven't got much / displayed a lot this season.