FourFourTwo UK – September 2019

FFTVERDICT

FourFourTwo Season Preview 2019-20 19

LUCASDIGNE

SteppingintotheshoesofLeightonBaineswas

nevergoingtobeaneasytask– butbybeing

a combinationofsure-footedatthebackand

a constantthreatgoingforward,theFrenchman

alreadyhassomefansasking, “LeightonWho?”.

KEY PLAYER

8

TH

VIEW FROM THE STAn DS

ED BOTTOMLEY @DIXIES60

The big talking point among

the fans is coming to terms with

being rich. At first we spent wildly,

but now we go for more modest,

younger targets.

This season will be different

because our team will be settled,

with some considered additions.

Our most underrated player is

Michael Keane. Always solid and

occasionally spectacular – that

tackle on Mo Salah at Goodison...

Look out for Ellis Simms – filled

his boots at U18 level and will now

play for David Unsworth’s U23s.

The best away ground is Villa

Park. I’m happy they’re back up.

The best away fans are Palace’s

• full-throated and passionate.
  The player I’d happily drive to
  another club is Sandro Ramirez


• unerring ability to find Row Z.
  The opposition player I secretly
  admire is VVD. A world-record fee
  gets the world’s best defender.
  The pantomime villain will be Bill
  Kenwright, blamed for everything.
  The one change I’d make to the
  club would be heartbreaking:
  leaving Goodison.

The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is

that he’s still not loved: there are

doubts about him. I like him, the

players trust him, but if we falter

the “Silva Out” shouts will start.

If he left, he should be replaced

by Mikel Arteta. Risky, but I’d love

to see him in charge of Everton.

Save the date for September 29:

Man City at Goodison – our first

tough fixture after a winnable

series. The Old Lady will be rocking.

We’ll finish 6th, thanks to no

Europe, decent summer splurging

and the chaos at clubs above us.

FIVE-POIn T PLAn

1

REPLACE LUKAKU

That this is still an issue speaks
volumes of the Toffees’ recent
recruitment. It’s been two years
and the club have yet to adequately
replace the Belgian. Current options
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Cenk Tosun
and Oumar Niasse scored nine goals
between them last season. If Everton
hope to smash into the top six, they
need more from this part of the pitch.

2

TRAVEL BETTER

That Everton need to do better
away is nothing new. The club’s
away form has been problematic
for some time. In 2018-19, the Toffees
managed just five victories on their
travels, nowhere near enough for a club
harbouring dreams of a top-four finish.
They are particularly weak against the
top six, notching up just a single victory
away from home since David Moyes left
the club for Manchester United in 2013.

3

KEEP GOODISON ROCKING

Towards the end of last season,
efforts by a group of fans called
The Originals 1878 did much to
charge the atmosphere at Goodison
Park. Although this year’s promised
introduction of a singing section in the
Gwladys Street End looks to keep the
process going, both the club and the
fans need to continue working hard
to resurrect an atmosphere that has
lost much of its bite in recent years.

4

END PICKFORD’S COCK-UPS

Jordan Pickford’s last-minute
error in the Merseyside derby
might be his most memorable
mistake, but it wasn’t his only one.
Despite being a huge talent, Pickford
proved costly for Everton on several
occasions last term. His erraticism and
levels of concentration will have to
improve if he is to realise his potential.

5

CONSISTENCY IS KEY

The Goodison Park faithful got
to experience two very different
Evertons last year: the exciting,
high-pressing, attack-minded side of
the autumn and the spring, and the
hesitant, error-prone confidence void
of the winter. Until the latter stops
periodically appearing, which it has
done for several seasons, Everton will
remain a club of frustrated ambitions.

SEASOn PREVIEW

TheThomasFrost

tends to get busy,

so the city centre is

often the best bet.

The small fan zone

behind the Park

Stand also serves

alcohol and food.

@GrandOldTeam,

the independent

Toffees site whose

Everton Mishmash

cartoon includes

all the famous

(and infamous)

Everton moments.

BramleyMoorewill

be the Toffees’ third

stadium. Their first?

Anfield. Everton

even won the title

while playing there.

Scouse. Well,whatelse?The

hearty meat stew, commonly

eaten by sailors, is what gives

the city its nickname. Delicious.

WalkfromKirkdaletrainstation

to Goodison Park. Takes 20 minutes

among a sea of Blues; when the club

moves, it will be a thing of the past.

MATCHDAY PACK

AWAY PUB

SIGn ATURE DISH WHILE YOU’RE HERE...

DID YOU MUST FOLLOW

K nOW...?

AUGUST

10 Crystal Palace (a)

17 Watford (h)

23 Aston Villa (a)

SEPTEMBER

1 Wolves (h)

15 Bournemouth (a)

21 Sheffield United (h)

29 Man City (h)

OCTOBER

5 Burnley (a)

19 West Ham (h)

26 Brighton (a)

NOVEMBER

2 Tottenham (h)

9 Southampton (a)

23 Norwich (h)

30 Leicester (a)

DECEMBER

4 Liverpool (a)

7 Chelsea (h)

14 Man United (a)

21 Arsenal (h)

26 Burnley (h)

28 Newcastle (a)

JANUARY

1 Man City (a)

11 Brighton (h)

18 West Ham (a)

21 Newcastle (h)

FEBRUARY

1 Watford (a)

8 Crystal Palace (h)

22 Arsenal (a)

29 Man United (h)

MARCH

7 Chelsea (a)

14 Liverpool (h)

21 Norwich (a)

APRIL

4 Leicester (h)

11 Tottenham (a)

18 Southampton (h)

25 Wolves (a)

MAY

2 Aston Villa (h)

9 Sheffield United (a)

17 Bournemouth (h)

FIXTURES

After 2018-19’s green

shoots of growth, it’s

time Everton kicked on.