Match Thread Manchester City v Everton (Mon 21 Aug 2017, 20:00)

[Westend Blue]

Need to press the bollocks off city to get a result here imo. If we can stifle there midfield and win a few balls between CB and midfield I can see us causing them problems

 

[degsy]

Up to now Ron seems to only 'do' 1 half...if this trend continues, He really, really needs it to be the first one...and do no tinkering / fine tuning unless absolutely needed.

1-1 and somehow they got out of jail, but we should've had it beyond doubt before then...cue renewed cries for this big man

 

[Eggs]

...I think the best time to play these tough away games is at the start of the season. When we go to these places I want us to be competitive, I want us to be a threat, I want to enjoy watching us play. I was much more encouraged by the display on Thursday, this will be a good indication of where we are at.

 

[Joey66]

...I think the best time to play these tough away games is at the start of the season. When we go to these places I want us to be competitive, I want us to be a threat, I want to enjoy watching us play. I was much more encouraged by the display on Thursday, this will be a good indication of where we are at.

yes v tougher opposition that's the test!

 

[mutley]

Bet 365 sticking it up the toffees this week, 11/1 to win

 

[TyphooToffee]

Greetings from Manchester,hope you are all well prior to your "cup final"....hold on just joking, had a quick look at the stats regarding this fixture and it's 68 wins each with 46 draws, pretty tight eh? Think it will be tight again come Monday with the Blues shading it. First time Isaw Everton was in 57, we won 6-2!,great game, Dunlop in goal for you but I always remember Derick Temple on the left wing, great player. If your coming to the game by car be aware that parking in the areas around the ground has been further restricted, you will have to park at least a mile away. All the best.

I can can't see the Blues shading it, I think we'll only get a draw. You do realise we play in blue too?

 

[Mozza1987]

Fancy us getting something tomorrow. So tempted to put money on us at 11/1 as well. Stupid odds that.

 

[Barnfred 55]

...I think the best time to play these tough away games is at the start of the season. When we go to these places I want us to be competitive, I want us to be a threat, I want to enjoy watching us play. I was much more encouraged by the display on Thursday, this will be a good indication of where we are at.

At the least we can say that arguably our three hardest games are out of the way 5 games into the season. Unfortunately, in my view they are coming too early in the season for us Eggs. We have a ridiculous number of new starters we are bedding in. Klaassen in particular is such a clever player that others need to learn and understand his game before he starts being effective for us. Plus you would expect City, Chelsea and United to have the majority of possession. We don't really have the pace in defence to risk playing a high pressing game, so expect us to be almost forced into a counter attacking game. At the moment, we don't really have the personnel to play this way effectively against defences as good as United's and Chelsea. We haven't yet replaced Lukaku's pace up front, our main ball carrier (Barkley) is injured and we will massively miss the presence of both Bolasie and Coleman in these games. I'd have preferred them to have come in the second half of the season tbh when the opposition may also have been juggling with the knockout stages of the champions league.

I think we will play a high pressing game, but that pressing will be done in front of a deep lying back 4. Due to the lack of pace on the counter we will need to rely on having lots of movement coupled with moving the ball quickly. Which basically means a hell of amount of work/effort with and without the ball, which will eventually take it's toll. I can see set pieces being very important for us, so the quicker Siggy get's upto speed the better.

If we come out of these 3 games with 2 draws and a defeat, it's probably a decent return given the circumstances. But dare I say that's no better than last year from the same 3 fixtures.

 

[Eggs]

At the least we can say that arguably our three hardest games are out of the way 5 games into the season. Unfortunately, in my view they are coming too early in the season for us Eggs. We have a ridiculous number of new starters we are bedding in. Klaassen in particular is such a clever player that others need to learn and understand his game before he starts being effective for us. Plus you would expect City, Chelsea and United to have the majority of possession. We don't really have the pace in defence to risk playing a high pressing game, so expect us to be almost forced into a counter attacking game. At the moment, we don't really have the personnel to play this way effectively against defences as good as United's and Chelsea. We haven't yet replaced Lukaku's pace up front, our main ball carrier (Barkley) is injured and we will massively miss the presence of both Bolasie and Coleman in these games. I'd have preferred them to have come in the second half of the season tbh when the opposition may also have been juggling with the knockout stages of the champions league.

I think we will play a high pressing game, but that pressing will be done in front of a deep lying back 4. Due to the lack of pace on the counter we will need to rely on having lots of movement coupled with moving the ball quickly. Which basically means a hell of amount of work/effort with and without the ball, which will eventually take it's toll. I can see set pieces being very important for us, so the quicker Siggy get's upto speed the better.

If we come out of these 3 games with 2 draws and a defeat, it's probably a decent return given the circumstances. But dare I say that's no better than last year from the same 3 fixtures.

...it's unlikely we'll get anything from these games but look at Burnley at Chelsea last week and if I remember rightly, the Reds went to Chelsea and Arsenal early last season and won. We might just have a fitness edge given our competitive games but the points you make about players bedding in are valid. At the end of the day City will probably have too much for us anyway but if we are around the top 6 after these games then it'll be a decent start.

 

[Sunderland afc]

Good test. Was saying yesterday at the match that i fancy you for top 4. If you can get a goal scorer In.

You've bought well this season and have a good manager. As things stand I think man u, man city, spurs are better. Chelsea will be a who knows but I reckon you'll do better than Liverpool and arsenal.

 

[Eggs]

Good test. Was saying yesterday at the match that i fancy you for top 4. If you can get a goal scorer In.

You've bought well this season and have a good manager. As things stand I think man u, man city, spurs are better. Chelsea will be a who knows but I reckon you'll do better than Liverpool and arsenal.

...that would be very acceptable.

 

[Barnfred 55]

...it's unlikely we'll get anything from these games but look at Burnley at Chelsea last week and if I remember rightly, the Reds went to Chelsea and Arsenal early last season and won. We might just have a fitness edge given our competitive games but the points you make about players bedding in are valid. At the end of the day City will probably have too much for us anyway but if we are around the top 6 after these games then it'll be a decent start.

If we finish this run of 5 games in the top 6 mate then that would have been a brilliant start imo. 8 points from those games will represent an excellent return, but even if we ended up with just 4/5 points, it's hardly going to dent our overall chances of finishing top 4 come the end of the season. But watch some on here go completely OTT if that does happen.

But everything is possible as you say. Pickford may play 3 absolute blinders and we could score worldies in each of the games too. But I do think it'll be a case of us grinding out results rather than playing FC Sexy football. But at this stage of the season I'd take that everyday.

Edit. meant to say in my original post that we would play a heavy pressing game rather than a high pressing game

 

[Eggs]

If we finish this run of 5 games in the top 6 mate then that would have been a brilliant start imo. 8 points from those games will represent an excellent return, but even if we ended up with just 4/5 points, it's hardly going to dent our overall chances of finishing top 4 come the end of the season. But watch some on here go completely OTT if that does happen.

But everything is possible as you say. Pickford may play 3 absolute blinders and we could score worldies in each of the games too. But I do think it'll be a case of us grinding out results rather than playing FC Sexy football. But at this stage of the season I'd take that everyday.

Edit. meant to say in my original post that we would play a heavy pressing game rather than a high pressing game

...3 away games in the space of 6 days, including one abroad will test that high energy pressing strategy. Not sure if he can afford to rotate, especially with Thursday's tie still in the balance.

 

[Barnfred 55]

...3 away games in the space of 6 days, including one abroad will test that high energy pressing strategy. Not sure if he can afford to rotate, especially with Thursday's tie still in the balance.

Good point mate. I'd almost forgotten about that Split game sandwiched in between. You can guarantee it's going to be a hot one out there too at this time of year. Luckily it'll be 10pm local time kick off, but it will still be hot.

Personally I would start Klaassen in Split and possibly Besic/McCarthy (if fit) and have Davies in for the premier games. Could have done with Barry for that one too.

If Siggy is eligible I'd play him for Rooney in Split. Would also play Martina in Split but Holgate in the league. With Mirallas and Lookman also in the mix we do have decent squad now, so there is some rotation we can do Eggs. Baines is my worry. We have absolutely no back up for him and he'll really struggle with that schedule.

 

[KaiserEFC]

This lot aren't all that. Just go at them defend from the front and pressure their naff defence. Just got to hope they don't outscore us