please log in to view this image Everton v Leeds United Saturday 18th February@15:00hrs | Goodison Park Leeds could be without the services of up to eight first team players, for their visit of Everton at the weekend for the relegation six pointer. With Southampton and Bournemouth dropping points quicker than a Nicola Sturgeon popularity contest, the most common consensus is a two horse race between Everton and Leeds as to which team can finish above the other, and survive for another season. Leeds will be without Rodrigo (ankle), Archie Gray (ankle), Adam Forshaw (groin), Luis Sinisterra (thigh), Stuart Dallas (thigh) and Sunny Perkins (foot). There are also concerns over skipper Liam Cooper, and Marc Roca who have been carrying knocks for the last fortnight. In his press conference, Skubala rated their chances as touch and go, but in his next breath commented that he didn't want to take any risks. Pascal Struijk has recovered from his concussion, and returned to training today. We can expect to see him on the bench Everton will be without Andros Townsend (knee) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh). James Garner (back) and Nathan Patterson (knee) have recovered from their respective injuries, but will have to prove their fitness for the their U21's on Friday evening before being considered for the first team, therefor ruling them out for Saturday.
We'll lose this one. They'll be bang up for it. The crowd will get behind them. They will react to their poor performance at Liverpool.
Wouldn't be surprised to see a few sent off in this one. We know Dyche's sides are going to kick the crap out of us. It's the kind of game that Kristensen, Firpo, Adams and McKennie would thrive on.
Would any of us trade squads with Everton for the run in ? Not me and yet we're still justifiably second favourites for Saturday because of our poor run of results. So should we play a conservative style and pick an extra solid midfielder in say a Marc Roca (if fit), or is that allowing the Toffees to get on the front foot ? On the other hand though, if we dominate possession and territory as happened at the City Ground and then subsequently concede the first goal will it be deja vu all over again. My view is we go there and try to win the game by playing 4 attacking players with Adams & McKennie in behind. If we get hit on the break, or concede from a set piece (highly likely) then we'll really be up against it but we can't let the tone of the game be a physical battle. Put simply we need to let our class show and win the game with a couple of first half goals and then nick another one in the second half when Everton have to throw the kitchen sink. 0-3 Leeds.
No predictions from me either, but I think everton will try and make it very physical and niggly. I see the jamster has gone for 0-3, what you drinking tonight?
It won't be 0-3 because we'll play into their hands by getting involved in all the niggly, argumentative and emotional stuff as you say.
Este I will be watching this from near La Zenia, sister lives on the Las Ramblas golf course so spending 3 weeks out there from tomoz. Hoping for a big win, but not expecting anything……
Looks like a nice course, and not too long, weather should be OK now the rain has gone. I'd pop over for a pint but it's 5 hours drive!
If Nathan Patterson starts, we've got a problem. The lad is jet-heeled RB, with a Rolls Royce engine, & incredible pace. Gets great crosses in, defends well, & scores goals. We need a LB on top of his game. Any idea where we can find one?
it's ok guys, jesse the clown has gone... we're playing champion's league football under scooby... our new formation and radical changes of tactics will surely be too much for Dyche's dinosaurs. well let's fckng hope so eh
at 8.10 it will be 0-3 at 8.45 it won't be 0-3 that's a swift change of heart jambo So we can't be sure of the score, but what we can be sure of is ... if everton win, we'll be reminded we should have got Dyche. If Leeds win, we'll be reminded how much better we are under Scooby If it's a draw... we'll be reminded of both
Whether they go 442 or 451 they're going to let us come at them, muscle us off the ball and look to score on the counter or from set pieces. That's what they're playing staff are suited to and it's Dyche's preferred game plan. However new, exciting and different we are under Scoobs - they'll be expecting us to play a pretty aggressive high tempo and will fancy they can outnumber us in the middle, force errors and capitalise. And they're probably right. The first goal is important in any game but i'd say it's critical in this one. They'll be really hard to break down if they have a lead to defend. If we get a goal up they'll have to come at us and it will open up a bit.
