Let's talk about the Everton game

[NickDRFC]

My mistake then, I thought it had been re arranged when the TV schedule was announced for it to be this Thursday

We've got Harrogate on a Thursday but think that's a good couple of weeks away.

[ravenrover]

Yep you"re right, I've got my calendar  all to pot

[ncRover]

We are playing a team that’s lost their first two games and will want to get back on track. I believe Everton will play the strongest side to win this game. They are premier league side who will be hurting. We go there do our best and then get ready for Saturday the important game in our league

I disagree. With the financial constraints Everton are under and the impending move in to their new stadium, their main priority will be to stay in the Premier League. They won’t care about tonight.

They are there for the taking. With the potential reward at play and our squad size we shouldn’t be putting out a 2nd XI.

We need positive momentum and a good performance. Beating the worst side in the league thanks to a goalkeeping error is not bouncing back from the Newport defeat.

[roversdude]

Will be supporting from afar tonight (unfortunately) cmon Rovers

[Thorney]

We are playing a team that’s lost their first two games and will want to get back on track. I believe Everton will play the strongest side to win this game. They are premier league side who will be hurting. We go there do our best and then get ready for Saturday the important game in our league

I disagree. With the financial constraints Everton are under and the impending move in to their new stadium, their main priority will be to stay in the Premier League. They won’t care about tonight.

They are there for the taking. With the potential reward at play and our squad size we shouldn’t be putting out a 2nd XI.

We need positive momentum and a good performance. Beating the worst side in the league thanks to a goalkeeping error is not bouncing back from the Newport defeat.

Too right NC.
A potential for an even bigger team in the next round, the best chance in a long time of gaining a premiership scalp.
 
We should not be resting anyone, its too early in the season to even think about tiredness playing a part.

Lets go out there smash them get the feeling around the town upto 100% and draw a manchester club or Liverpool in the next round.

[Pancho Regan]

Have arrived nice and early, having a pint in The People’s Pub across the road from the ground.
Got my ticket finally!
 

[Nudga]

Trying to hurry my missus into getting ready so we can go out, find somewhere for tea and watch the match in puerto rico, gran canaria.
I'm five pints deep on happy hour San Miguel and getting pre match nerves. 

I honestly wish I was in Liverpool tonight with my brothers.

[scawsby steve]

Looking at our last 2 performances away from home to Premier League teams in cup competitions, the contrast couldn't be starker. Against a very strong Arsenal side we competed really well and went down by the odd goal. At West Ham we froze on the day and were lucky it was only 0-4.

I wonder if we'll get a repeat of either of those performances, or somewhere in between.

[drfchound]

Looking at our last 2 performances away from home to Premier League teams in cup competitions, the contrast couldn't be starker. Against a very strong Arsenal side we competed really well and went down by the odd goal. At West Ham we froze on the day and were lucky it was only 0-4.

I wonder if we'll get a repeat of either of those performances, or somewhere in between.

…..or a complete contrast?

[knockers]

Trying to hurry my missus into getting ready so we can go out, find somewhere for tea and watch the match in puerto rico, gran canaria.
I'm five pints deep on happy hour San Miguel and getting pre match nerves. 

I honestly wish I was in Liverpool tonight with my brothers.

Make sure you go to VIP pizza. Cracking food!

[scawsby steve]

Looking at our last 2 performances away from home to Premier League teams in cup competitions, the contrast couldn't be starker. Against a very strong Arsenal side we competed really well and went down by the odd goal. At West Ham we froze on the day and were lucky it was only 0-4.

I wonder if we'll get a repeat of either of those performances, or somewhere in between.

…..or a complete contrast?

You must mean a win, mate. Can't see it myself, but I hope you're right.

[ForsolongaRover]

We are playing a team that’s lost their first two games and will want to get back on track. I believe Everton will play the strongest side to win this game. They are premier league side who will be hurting. We go there do our best and then get ready for Saturday the important game in our league

I disagree. With the financial constraints Everton are under and the impending move in to their new stadium, their main priority will be to stay in the Premier League. They won’t care about tonight.

They are there for the taking. With the potential reward at play and our squad size we shouldn’t be putting out a 2nd XI.

We need positive momentum and a good performance. Beating the worst side in the league thanks to a goalkeeping error is not bouncing back from the Newport defeat.

Too right NC.
A potential for an even bigger team in the next round, the best chance in a long time of gaining a premiership scalp.
 
We should not be resting anyone, its too early in the season to even think about tiredness playing a part.

Lets go out there smash them get the feeling around the town upto 100% and draw a manchester club or Liverpool in the next round.

This Article gives one perspective  https://www.everton.news/sean-dyches-job-could-depend-on-starting-magic-everton-player-vs-doncaster-in-efl-cup/

[RoversInSpain]

No Clifton, and after his interview and mentioning his family in Liverpool, and his experience beating Southampton with Grimsby, that’s some decision from GM. Wow!

[jmt23]

To add to that, we are missing his energy and forward play, hope he is fit and well.

[steve@dcfd]

As I said a strong Everton side did what they had to do and we had a good first half second wasn’t in the game. We move on to Saturday and as yet I’ve not seen a promotion winning side as you said NC Rover we scraped a win on Saturday can we do the same next Saturday,
For me I’m not sure as yet this squad are top of the table candidates

[jmt23]

Everton made similar subs to last seasons game and same result. I think Everton played better tonight than last season though, we were chasing shadows for much of this game.
Good effort lads, but let’s win on Saturday.

[ncRover]

That centre back pairing of Joe and Jay looks good.

Olowu winning headers and holding strong against Beto shows he has really improved in the physical aspect of the game.

Westbrook played great - including a filthy nutmeg in the first half. He looks tidier and more composed on the ball compared to Kelly. I would play Zain at the base of midfield on Saturday.

The attacking balance looked a lot better when Hurst came on for Gibson.

I think Nixon’s injury was just a knock as he played on for a while after getting whacked then was holding his shin more than his ankle.

[drfchound]

Looking at our last 2 performances away from home to Premier League teams in cup competitions, the contrast couldn't be starker. Against a very strong Arsenal side we competed really well and went down by the odd goal. At West Ham we froze on the day and were lucky it was only 0-4.

I wonder if we'll get a repeat of either of those performances, or somewhere in between.

…..or a complete contrast?

Somewhere in between it was then SS.

[Thorney]

Thought everton were just about to kick the ball out when nixon was down in the build up to the goal. Then they saw him hobble up and carried on to score the 1st.

Wonder if he did stay diwn then that goal wouldnt of come at that point. He was clearly hurt and not faking to slow the game down.

[scawsby steve]

Looking at our last 2 performances away from home to Premier League teams in cup competitions, the contrast couldn't be starker. Against a very strong Arsenal side we competed really well and went down by the odd goal. At West Ham we froze on the day and were lucky it was only 0-4.

I wonder if we'll get a repeat of either of those performances, or somewhere in between.

…..or a complete contrast?

Somewhere in between it was then SS.

Yes, mate. Not as good as against Arsenal, but much better than against West Ham.

[ForsolongaRover]

That centre back pairing of Joe and Jay looks good.

Olowu winning headers and holding strong against Beto shows he has really improved in the physical aspect of the game.

Westbrook played great - including a filthy nutmeg in the first half. He looks tidier and more composed on the ball compared to Kelly. I would play Zain at the base of midfield on Saturday.

The attacking balance looked a lot better when Hurst came on for Gibson.

I think Nixon’s injury was just a knock as he played on for a while after getting whacked then was holding his shin more than his ankle.

Westbrook was often calling for the ball and then just passing it back and sideways in the first half which gets us nowhere. Kelly did not play as well as he has before, but he’s more attack-minded

[scawsby steve]

If Clifton is OK, I think he'll be back in on Saturday.

[Chris Black come back]

That centre back pairing of Joe and Jay looks good.

Olowu winning headers and holding strong against Beto shows he has really improved in the physical aspect of the game.

Westbrook played great - including a filthy nutmeg in the first half. He looks tidier and more composed on the ball compared to Kelly. I would play Zain at the base of midfield on Saturday.

The attacking balance looked a lot better when Hurst came on for Gibson.

I think Nixon’s injury was just a knock as he played on for a while after getting whacked then was holding his shin more than his ankle.

McCann saying Nixon is a “concern”.

[Alan Southstand]

Nixon’s injury concern is just what we didn’t want from this game and, for me, it was a foul that wasn’t given (nothing new there).

McGrath was head and shoulders our best player tonight. Other than that it was huff and puff. The 2nd half we couldn’t lay a glove on them.

Question marks about a few players tonight.

[danumdon]

That centre back pairing of Joe and Jay looks good.

Olowu winning headers and holding strong against Beto shows he has really improved in the physical aspect of the game.

Westbrook played great - including a filthy nutmeg in the first half. He looks tidier and more composed on the ball compared to Kelly. I would play Zain at the base of midfield on Saturday.

The attacking balance looked a lot better when Hurst came on for Gibson.

I think Nixon’s injury was just a knock as he played on for a while after getting whacked then was holding his shin more than his ankle.

Westbrook was often calling for the ball and then just passing it back and sideways in the first half which gets us nowhere. Kelly did not play as well as he has before, but he’s more attack-minded

Westbrooke was quite wasteful tonight, his first 4 touches had him giving the ball away and kept killing any momentum we could muster with his turning back to his own goal every time he received the ball.

If he's to play in that position then he needs to be better, quicker and more probing, it was too slow to predictable and destroyed our go forward. Obviously he's playing against much better players and its a learning curve for all. Really missed a player like Craig in there. Clifton would of also been handy.

[ncRover]

That centre back pairing of Joe and Jay looks good.

Olowu winning headers and holding strong against Beto shows he has really improved in the physical aspect of the game.

Westbrook played great - including a filthy nutmeg in the first half. He looks tidier and more composed on the ball compared to Kelly. I would play Zain at the base of midfield on Saturday.

The attacking balance looked a lot better when Hurst came on for Gibson.

I think Nixon’s injury was just a knock as he played on for a while after getting whacked then was holding his shin more than his ankle.

Westbrook was often calling for the ball and then just passing it back and sideways in the first half which gets us nowhere. Kelly did not play as well as he has before, but he’s more attack-minded

Westbrooke was quite wasteful tonight, his first 4 touches had him giving the ball away and kept killing any momentum we could muster with his turning back to his own goal every time he received the ball.

If he's to play in that position then he needs to be better, quicker and more probing, it was too slow to predictable and destroyed our go forward. Obviously he's playing against much better players and its a learning curve for all. Really missed a player like Craig in there. Clifton would of also been handy.

Unpredictable passing relies on unpredictable movement.

And anyway, he was quite literally our least wasteful midfielder.

[Chris Black come back]

That centre back pairing of Joe and Jay looks good.

Olowu winning headers and holding strong against Beto shows he has really improved in the physical aspect of the game.

Westbrook played great - including a filthy nutmeg in the first half. He looks tidier and more composed on the ball compared to Kelly. I would play Zain at the base of midfield on Saturday.

The attacking balance looked a lot better when Hurst came on for Gibson.

I think Nixon’s injury was just a knock as he played on for a while after getting whacked then was holding his shin more than his ankle.

McCann saying Nixon is a “concern”.

McCann now saying Nixon has a chance for Saturday.

[ForsolongaRover]

That centre back pairing of Joe and Jay looks good.

Olowu winning headers and holding strong against Beto shows he has really improved in the physical aspect of the game.

Westbrook played great - including a filthy nutmeg in the first half. He looks tidier and more composed on the ball compared to Kelly. I would play Zain at the base of midfield on Saturday.

The attacking balance looked a lot better when Hurst came on for Gibson.

I think Nixon’s injury was just a knock as he played on for a while after getting whacked then was holding his shin more than his ankle.

Westbrook was often calling for the ball and then just passing it back and sideways in the first half which gets us nowhere. Kelly did not play as well as he has before, but he’s more attack-minded

Westbrooke was quite wasteful tonight, his first 4 touches had him giving the ball away and kept killing any momentum we could muster with his turning back to his own goal every time he received the ball.

If he's to play in that position then he needs to be better, quicker and more probing, it was too slow to predictable and destroyed our go forward. Obviously he's playing against much better players and its a learning curve for all. Really missed a player like Craig in there. Clifton would of also been handy.

Unpredictable passing relies on unpredictable movement.

And anyway, he was quite literally our least wasteful midfielder.

I don’t understand what you mean by your comment about unpredictability. I would also be interested in knowing how “wasteful” is defined in your stats. If it is the percentage of a player’s passes that don’t find a teammate, how does it take account of unproductive passing around at the back as Westbrook and others did a fair amount of - early on particularly.