Everton pre match chat
Here we go
A week tomorrow we kick off our Premier League campaign live on Sky Sports at 8pm vs the blue side of Merseyside.
Opportunity beckons as we start with arguably our most winnable fixture of the month (and very possibly longer than that).
In terms of pre season we have been undefeated, performances may not have been brilliant but ok which is always good for confidence
Everton haven't actually won a game, draws with similar level opponents Accrington Stanley and Manchester United and defeats to West Ham, Blackburn, Roma and Bournemouth have seen boos ring out already.
In terms of transfers long term players Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucouré have gone.
6ft5 French striker Thierno Barry has arrived after an 11 goal season in La Liga from Villarreal. Former Leicester playmaker Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has arrived for big money from Chelsea and Everton continues to push for further attacking signings with Jack Grealish closing in on a move and pacey Southampton wonderkid Tyler Dibling as well potentially.
Despite the poor pre season the return of veteran manager David Moyes in January last season rescued Everton. Since Moyes returned Everton were 9th in the form table with only Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal losing fewer games and only Arsenal conceding fewer goals.
In terms of tactics it's hard to know obviously but it seems he has been experimenting.
He has used a 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 and even a back 3 on paper.
Moyes teams tend to be quite direct, quite physical, and defensively solid preferring a counter attacking approach to worrying about possession.
Also a high use of set pieces is an important tactic with Moyes putting a lot of stock in that.
David Moyes has also earned a reputation for a very flexible approach and in game these can switch to a more possession based approach if required.
Daniel Farke and David Moyes have met once before and Moyes won.
In terms of key players talented playmaker Iliman Ndiaye is the standout, a tricky, dribbling playmaker with an eye for goal.
So it's possible they may have a few new players (let's hope we do as well) but from our point of view what do we do?
Farke has used a 4-3-3 more in pre season, is that the way forward for this game?
Given we are at home and will probably have more possession is a 10 an option to try and break down a likely stubborn defence which we really are struggling with?
Many choices to make in terms of selection? Do you go for the more physical Nmecha going shoulder to shoulder with the cbs or the more intelligent dropping off Piroe?
Which cm do we go for? Tanaka? Longstaff?
And wingers as well, Dan James has struggled a bit in pre season, others have shone more so is his starting place at risk?
How important is a win? It seems ridiculous to say must win on matchday 1 but Arsenal and Newcastle realistically you'd expect to lose and then we travel to London to play Fulham which is never usually a good trip down south and this is clearly our most winnable early game and have to find some somewhere.
A week tomorrow we kick off our Premier League campaign live on Sky Sports at 8pm vs the blue side of Merseyside.
Opportunity beckons as we start with arguably our most winnable fixture of the month (and very possibly longer than that).
In terms of pre season we have been undefeated, performances may not have been brilliant but ok which is always good for confidence
Everton haven't actually won a game, draws with similar level opponents Accrington Stanley and Manchester United and defeats to West Ham, Blackburn, Roma and Bournemouth have seen boos ring out already.
In terms of transfers long term players Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucouré have gone.
6ft5 French striker Thierno Barry has arrived after an 11 goal season in La Liga from Villarreal. Former Leicester playmaker Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has arrived for big money from Chelsea and Everton continues to push for further attacking signings with Jack Grealish closing in on a move and pacey Southampton wonderkid Tyler Dibling as well potentially.
Despite the poor pre season the return of veteran manager David Moyes in January last season rescued Everton. Since Moyes returned Everton were 9th in the form table with only Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal losing fewer games and only Arsenal conceding fewer goals.
In terms of tactics it's hard to know obviously but it seems he has been experimenting.
He has used a 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 and even a back 3 on paper.
Moyes teams tend to be quite direct, quite physical, and defensively solid preferring a counter attacking approach to worrying about possession.
Also a high use of set pieces is an important tactic with Moyes putting a lot of stock in that.
David Moyes has also earned a reputation for a very flexible approach and in game these can switch to a more possession based approach if required.
Daniel Farke and David Moyes have met once before and Moyes won.
In terms of key players talented playmaker Iliman Ndiaye is the standout, a tricky, dribbling playmaker with an eye for goal.
So it's possible they may have a few new players (let's hope we do as well) but from our point of view what do we do?
Farke has used a 4-3-3 more in pre season, is that the way forward for this game?
Given we are at home and will probably have more possession is a 10 an option to try and break down a likely stubborn defence which we really are struggling with?
Many choices to make in terms of selection? Do you go for the more physical Nmecha going shoulder to shoulder with the cbs or the more intelligent dropping off Piroe?
Which cm do we go for? Tanaka? Longstaff?
And wingers as well, Dan James has struggled a bit in pre season, others have shone more so is his starting place at risk?
How important is a win? It seems ridiculous to say must win on matchday 1 but Arsenal and Newcastle realistically you'd expect to lose and then we travel to London to play Fulham which is never usually a good trip down south and this is clearly our most winnable early game and have to find some somewhere.