Next Up: Manchester City vs Everton

Micheal, set up, 4-5-1 for me. Flood the midfield, draw them in, ball over the top.

With the talent we have now Moyes has to try something different. I did say before we signed Grealish, that he tends to slow the game down, and he has started to revert to his Pep Instructions of keep possession.

Any of our forwards I would have in the side instead of Beto or Barry. False nine time, Moyes, false nine time.

I reckon he will pick – if fit :

Pickford
O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko
Gueye, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall
Alcaraz, Beto, Ndiaye.

If Branthwaite is on the bench, expect to see him, unless there’s an injury, at 75 minutes.

Same feeling as the Palace game for this one, that being, I can’t see us getting much from this game, particularly away. However we somehow managed to win the last one so why not?

My own personal challenge is to leave my past concerns behind and expect us to keep competing with the lot of them.

He must play Beto upfront next to Stones, whose brain will be flabbergasted by where the ball will bounce off to, and with Alcaraz playing close by to give us the early advantage of knowing that nobody knows where it will go next.

That and Beto may be better than Barry at chasing the long punt now that Grealish will be torn in his allegiance, apparently.

Moyes will play a defensive formation. Hopefully it works for a change in the first half. Players have to be on the front door from the start, even Moyes has to get that message.

Should be better in the second half and hopefully he does not need to go a goal down in the first half to get the type of performance we have been seeing with Everton trying to attack and get forward in the second half.

‘I think he holds the ball too long, doesn’t look to play it off quick enough, or shoot at goal often enough. There, I’ve said it. I’m sorry. And part of the problem is not enough support players close enough to him.’

Michael, not sure why you are apologising for your comments about Ndiaye. It’s true.

Paul K, I have also noticed Grealish slowing things down and keeping possession but I also think that he may not have confidence in some of his team mates especially when the movement around him is non-existent so tends to hold on to the ball longer than perhaps he should.

As for formation, I can’t recall how some of the lesser teams that have been successful against City have set up but imagine it’ll be a defensive mindset for us. It would be nice to go there with an attack minded get at them approach and stick two up front so that their defence have something to do/think about but it’ll no doubt be backs to the wall with them having 4 free defenders walking around with little to do.

Well unfortunately unless Moyes does decide to go with a back three as you suggested, Michael, I think O’Brien should make way for Garner in the right-back position and Beto played up top. In which case my team would be:-

Pickford
Garner, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko
Dibling, Gueye, Alcaraz, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye
Beto.

Regarding Ndiaye, I was delighted with his late creation of the winner v Palace. (Doesn’t go down as an assist due to Beto missing the header.)

Usually he is hooked at around 75-80 minutes as he is blowing hard and spent. I think the first half in which we created nothing probably helped him last the game.

His fitness in hard games is a slight concern but, as he does more than most to lift the gloom, he is forgiven for that.

Hugh #7, I don’t see any post indicating Grealish will be playing.

Did you comment in the wrong thread?

Obviously Grealish will be a big miss, and with Dibling still finding his feet, then I guess it will be Alcaraz out wide. Problem is, when played out wide, he has been ineffective.

But my biggest worry is O’Brien trying to keep Doku quiet, he is probably the quickest winger in the Premier League, and Jake has really struggled against pacey wide players.

Laurie@8 – yep, that’s a neat starting line-up. Alcaraz in mid to feed Beto & Garner to chase Doku.

The problem is:- what’s the finishing line-up going to look like? City can keep it going full pelt for 96 mins. We can’t. Not without Grealish.

Haaland vs Keane & Tarkowski is a mis match.

He put Branthwaite on his arse last season, these boys will struggle.

Harsh to drop Keane, but Jake might be able to handle his pace and physicality.

Is Michael Keane fit?

Remember he went off in the last match v Palace.

I like Michael’s 3-4-3 idea, but would play McNeil instead of Dibling. He can really test their goal with his long range rockets.

Pickford
O’Brien Tarkowski Keane
Garner Gueye Dewsbury-Hall Mykolenko
Ndiaye Alcaraz McNeil

Subs: Travers, Coleman, Patterson, Iroegbunam, Branthwaite?, Rohl?, Dibling, Beto, Barry

My guess is Moyes will go with the usual back 4 and play Beto instead of McNeil. Still, that’s not a bad starting XI, and if Moyes sends them out with the right mentality, we should give Man City a bloody nose!

If we play a back 3 I’d go with OBrien, Keane and Mykolenko. Much more balanced (with a left footer) and mobile that trying to accommodate both Keane and Tarkowski together.

Wing backs would then be Garner and McNeil.

Then possibly a narrow 3 of Gueye, Iroegbunam and KDK.

Ndiaye then playing off Beto.

The main flaw with this is that:

– Keanes lack of pace moves the back 3 deeper than where you’d want it to be

– moving Garner to RWB weakens the central midfield (Iroegbunam isn’t especially good)

– McNeil is slow and out of form.

– Beto isn’t very good.

Unfortunately by moving to a back 3 you create as many problems as you solve. There isn’t a magic tactical approach or formation etc that puts us in the driving seat.

Realistically we will have to cede possession, defend deep, double up on their wide players and try to eke out a few chances on the break and from set pieces. Shame that we’re still talking in those terms but with each round of spending the squad should become better equipped to properly compete in these gsmes.

Robert @ 18, your 3-4-3 formation makes a lot of sense.

Unfortunately, the manager would never pick that formation or team.

City are strong in MF and on the wings but suspect at the back because they hold a high line.

This is ideal for Beto who I would hope has enough confidence left after a miserable couple of months and international disappointments.

I would go 4-3-2-1
With Coleman Tarks Obrien Myko
Garner Gana KDH
Alcaraz Ndiaye
Beto

With Ndiaye dropping in to help KDH when we’re under pressure.

It’s time for sentiment to be put to bed. Seamus, our amazing servant and right-back, should not be starting any Premier League game for us unfortunately and Jake and Keane as well as Branthwaite start before our captain Tarkowski.

He has been a massive liability last season and he’s been awful this season too. As I said wonderful servants and players but not now. I like to see Jake playing centre-back from now on. He is our future at centre-back and in his natural position.

Garner is a great pro and plays well wherever we put him but I’d love to see him play regularly at right-back and utilise his crossing and foward runs from there. That’s where the brilliant England coach Lee Carsley used him to great effect.

Let’s face it, a player of Garner’s intelligence and work ethic can make the easiest position in football all his. Alcaraz or Ndiaye are real Number 10s and one of them should play there regularly with Dewsbury-Hall in central midfield.

For the Man City game, we are without Jack Grealish so I’d play Alcaraz there and Ndiaye left, his next best position. Unfortunately up front it’s a toss of a coin as both are useless but at least Beto has a go and occasionally gets a goal.

Barry is new to UK and us but his body language stinks. I hope he proves me wrong. Dibling should start vs Man City, he needs games; he will come good I think.

I don’t think this is a game for passengers, so Barry & Dibling need to be on the bench.

3-5-2:

Pickford
O’Brien Tarkowski Keane
Garner Gana Alcaraz Dewesbury-Hall Mykolenko
Ndiaye Beto

Michael, I’m a fan of Ndiaye, but I wouldn’t argue with your observations on his play this season. Equally, the same comments could be made of Jack Grealish.

Alcaraz and Dewsbury-Hall have neat footwork and an eye for a pass, but their involvement in games is spasmodic.

The problem, I fear, is that they all play too far away from one another. These players show in patches how well they can combine. Unfortunately, there is a Number 9 size hole in the middle of the forward line, into which the ball too frequently disappears.

Interesting opinion on Ndiaye, Michael.

I like him, I think he’s our most dangerous player, and I think he must get really frustrated playing in our current set-up because, when Dewsbury Hall is in the team, then nearly everything seems to go left.

We obviously also go left because of Grealish and this is something Garner also does because he seems to have a very good understanding with Jack Grealish.

Unless Alcaraz is on the pitch, then Everton tend to overlook the right and prefer to attack down the left, which makes me think that Ndiaye must sometimes be thinking to himself that he would like to get a part of the game playing in his strongest position.

Tony # 30 – I agree with you that wide left is Ndiaye’s strongest position and that he should definitely be played there in this game.

Looking further ahead, I also think that when Grealish is back, there is an argument for leaving Ndiaye on the left and bringing Grealish inside.

That would allow Dibling to play on the right and — dare I say it — putting Dewsbury-Hall in Gana’s spot in the same line-up and formation that I posted @16.

That would have O’Brien, Gana, Iroegbunam, and McNeil ready as subs to come on and close shop.

I think we will give City a game this weekend.

Tony #17,

Referee: Tony Harrington.
Assistants: Simon Bennett, Steve Meredith. 
Fourth Official: Leigh Doughty
VAR: Nick Hopton.
Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis.