Sunderland v Everton. Monday 22nd November @ 20.00.

[Alio]

Is this on Sky or ESPN or beta max or what?!

Sky Sports 1 sir.

Nice write up Azul =)

 

[kenada_blue]

No point in going 4-4-2 away from home against a team who will play 4-4-2 especially after their mauling of Chelsea last week...they're gonna be gunning for it and ready to go.

Best option....pack the midfield and hit them on the counter.

Howard
Neville Jags Distin Baines
Heitinga
Coleman Arteta Pienaar
Cahill
Yakubu​

That's probably the team. And I hope that if its not working that Moyes will change players around - not be afraid of sticking Rodwell on for Cahill, Heitinga off, pushing Neville in midfield and Hibbo at right back...Bilya for Arteta, pushing Pienaar in the middle etc.

 

[DionDublin]

451 and hit them on the counter?
Where playing sunderland.
442 and we win.
451 and we draw or lose.

Knowing moyes and the nightmares he has about attacking football, i reckon we will go 451 and the game will finish 0-0.

 

[Neiler]

Not a chance!

Telling you now lads we're going to win this one and win it well - remember were you heard it.

 

[Extratime]

Not a chance!

Telling you now lads we're going to win this one and win it well - remember were you heard it.

Yep it's a win regardless of formation. Sunderland is going to be on a false high after playing a crocked Chelsea. It's an Everton win.

 

[EFCNIK]

If anyone thinks we arn't going to get mutilated 1-0 then you're dellusional.

 

[njligernj]

If we start 442, then I say we win 2-1

If we start 451, then I say draw 1-1

451 and hit them on the counter?
Where playing sunderland.
442 and we win.
451 and we draw or lose.

You both sound quite certain -- do we win a prize if we play 4-5-1 and win? How about if we play 4-4-2 and lose?

It's odd how it's now apparently impossible for us to win with 4-5-1. We've won quite a few games with one striker but after seven unbeaten followed by one loss (to the, at the time, 3rd placed team in the league) it's obviously finished.

 

[kenada_blue]

451 and hit them on the counter?
Where playing sunderland.
442 and we win.
451 and we draw or lose.

Knowing moyes and the nightmares he has about attacking football, i reckon we will go 451 and the game will finish 0-0.

Yes, we're playing Sunderland...who have lost only 2 games this season, havent lost against Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, United, hammered Chelsea away, beat Citeh, are 4 points above us and have 2 of the leagues top goal scorers.

Going to a formation with 2 strikers on the back of that, is a bad idea.

West Brom at home is a better option

 

[Jamo Martinez]

Yes, we're playing Sunderland...who have lost only 2 games this season, havent lost against Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, United, hammered Chelsea away, beat Citeh, are 4 points above us and have 2 of the leagues top goal scorers.

Going to a formation with 2 strikers on the back of that, is a bad idea.

West Brom at home is a better option

Some people just look at the names mate. He probably thinks all African teams are crap

 

[DionDublin]

It's odd how it's now apparently impossible for us to win with 4-5-1. We've won quite a few games with one striker but after seven unbeaten followed by one loss (to the, at the time, 3rd placed team in the league) it's obviously finished.

4-5-1 brings with it a limited attacking structure, it brings a message we are more concerned with stoping the opposition scoring that going for it ourselves, it says we are into control and containment.

This negative half empty football under moyes is boring and self defeating as we end up going 4-4-2 to chase the game if we dont get the 1st goal; But desite hating his negativity im addicted to everton and I cant bear missing a game.

Role on a cold monday night up north.

 

[DionDublin]

Some people just look at the names mate. He probably thinks all African teams are crap

are you a racist?

 

[njligernj]

4-5-1 brings with it a limited attacking structure, it brings a message we are more concerned with stoping the opposition scoring that going for it ourselves, it says we are into control and containment.

Formation is so overrated -- lots of top teams play (or have played in their day) a 4-5-1 and scored asshats (that means a lot) of goals. There are lots of times we've played 4-4-2 and looked far LESS likely to score than normal.

The only thing I know about Monday is that nobody here knows that one formation equals a win and another equals a draw/loss.

 

[TX Bill]

I agree with this, if we go for it and play two strikers I think we can get something out of this one. Beckford and Yakubu have to be given a chance to see if they can combine, on paper they have all the attributes to make a great partnership Beckford is quick and pacey and knows where the goal is. The Yak is strong, can hold up the play and also knows where the goal is. Even pushing Cahill up top in a 4-4-2 is an idea he's played the position before and has done well up top.

I hope we can finally get a run going, it's like Groundhog's day being an Evertonian.

HOLY COW !!!

We have a Zero sighting.

Where have you been mate??

Good to see you again.

 

[TX Bill]

You both sound quite certain -- do we win a prize if we play 4-5-1 and win? How about if we play 4-4-2 and lose?

It's odd how it's now apparently impossible for us to win with 4-5-1. We've won quite a few games with one striker but after seven unbeaten followed by one loss (to the, at the time, 3rd placed team in the league) it's obviously finished.

I'm not certain at all.

I've just watched every Everton match (except Bolton) this season and we're seriously lacking a cutting edge while not really stopping the opposition.

I think being a bit more aggressive at Sunderland might be the route to go.

 

[njligernj]

I'm not certain at all.

I've just watched every Everton match (except Bolton) this season and we're seriously lacking a cutting edge while not really stopping the opposition.

I think being a bit more aggressive at Sunderland might be the route to go.

Aggression can come from a mind-set just as easily. For instance, if (when?) we get Donovan we could play a 4-5-1 that really does become a legit 4-3-3 in attack (or actually 4-2-4) with Coleman and Donovan pushing up from midfield (to join the striker + Cahill). I'd argue that's more aggressive than a standard 4-4-2.

I've seen past Everton games in which we've played 4-4-2 and looked far less aggressive because we can't control the midfield. We certainly don't have the kind of in-form strikers right now who can thrive on just a couple of chances a game. If we have a four man midfield with Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar and Coleman that's pretty light-weight. If we have Fellaini and Rodwell fit (or sub Heitinga for one) that might give us enough steel in the midfield. But then who are we leaving out? Do we bench our leading scorer? Our only midfielder who has looked like an attacking threat? Our creative center (who admittedly is off-form of late)? Pienaar?

You have to remember we have (aside from Distin) a pretty small back 4 as well so when we're defending (I know, I know ... we should never be defending ... all out attack at all times ... FM FTW) if we've got Arteta, Pienaar, and Cahill out there it's not exactly ideal. When they are part of a five man mid it doesn't factor in as much because we can boss the midfield. If they are a four man mid we could have problems. If a team like Sunderland decides to turn it into a physical battle where do we stand?

Is Fellaini still suspended? If he and Rodwell are both fit to play a full game (or maybe one of them with Heits) then it's more viable. I really would question 4-4-2 with Pienaar, Cahill, Arteta and Coleman.

Not to mention our worst players so far this year have been our strikers and now we're doubling down on them? I understand it would be nice if Beckford could form a good partnership with Yak. It's probably more likely they just play like they have all year: not scoring any goals. It's not just formation -- Yak (and Saha and Beckford) have all had some good scoring chances they've squandered. Now we want two of them out there bollocking it up? What if they're just as bad as they've been most of the year and our midfield looks super-light weight? It's always glass half full when fans talk about making a change -- realistically it's just as likely (if not more likely) to go tits up.

Rodwell and Fellaini available to play a whole game? We could give it a shot. It'd be nice if we had at least one in-form striker to go along the second one. This is not just a hypothetical argument of 4-4-2 v. 4-5-1 -- we have to play our strikers. 4-4-2 might be viable with the right players and against the right team. However putting two out of form players (one of Beck, Saha and Yak) on the field doesn't appeal to me no matter what the formation.