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Post by Everton News. on Aug 16, 2019 10:49:59 GMT
Marco Silva has set out Everton’s ambition to make Goodison Park “a fortress” ahead of the Blues' opening home Premier League match of the season against Watford on Saturday (3pm).
The manager is eager for his side to build on the momentum created at the Grand Old Lady in the final months of the 2018/19 campaign.
Everton took maximum points from their last four matches of the season, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Burnley decisively dispatched as Silva’s side consistently mixed attacking flair and purpose with defensive solidity.
Silva says his players are relishing the chance to play at Goodison again, emphasising how the rousing atmosphere at the stadium helped inspire those impressive performances.
“There are no doubts how important it us for us to play at Goodison,” said Silva. “It is really important for us to make Goodison a fortress.
“We finished really strong last season at home, playing well, with a fantastic connection with our fans.
“The team and the fans were together and what we want is to start in the same way – and we are really confident in that. Our fans were fantastic.
“Our players have worked very hard during the week, with that enthusiasm to play a match at Goodison with our fans and to get the three points.”
Silva revealed Fabian Delph will miss the Watford game as he continues his recovery from a thigh problem while fellow midfielder Andre Gomes’ fitness will be assessed after being forced off with an ankle injury in last weekend’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace.
Everton were the more progressive team for large spells of that match, creating numerous chances and dominating possession at Selhurst Park.
While the Blues had to settle for a point in south London, the result meant Silva's team have now kept nine clean sheets in their past 12 Premier League matches.
Asked what was behind Everton’s excellent defensive form, Silva’s response was emphatic.
“Work and work and work – you cannot achieve anything if you do not do that.,” he said.
“We have to put quality in our work, too. The players have to understand the idea and philosophy, and we have to make them believe this is the way we can be stronger as a team.
“To have nine clean sheets in 12 games is fantastic in a tough competition like the Premier League.
“Even in that period, with some changes in our backline, we did really well. The numbers are really, really good. Not just at Goodison, but away, too.
“That means we as a team – not just the backline and the goalkeeper – are working really well and hard.
“We improve clearly in this situation. Last season, we had the fifth best defensive record in the Premier League.
"If you keep a clean sheet then you are closer to winning matches. Now, we have to do be more clinical in the other box, to convert the chances we keep creating.
“But I like that the team is solid like we are – we are not a defensive team at all. We play using a full pitch, and we like to press high.
“I am really happy with the clean sheet numbers, and now in the opposite box we want to convert the chances we keep creating.”
Everton FC
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Post by Everton News. on Aug 16, 2019 13:48:02 GMT
Marco Silva refused to rule Alex Iwobi and Andre Gomes out of Everton’s first home game of the season against Watford on Saturday but the Blues boss will definitely be without Fabian Delph.
Deadline-day signing Iwobi reported to USM Finch Farm for the first time on Monday following three weeks off after helping Nigeria to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations and has taken part in only a handful of training sessions with his new teammates.
Gomes, meanwhile, was withdrawn shortly before half-time of last weekend’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace with an ankle problem and will face a late fitness test on Saturday morning.
July signing Delph will again be sidelined by the thigh injury that prevented him from making an Everton bow against the Eagles.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Silva said: “There is still a doubt with Andre Gomes, let’s see how he will be tomorrow.
“It is possible he will be in the squad but we have to see tomorrow.
“Fabian Delph is still out. We have to wait some more days. I hope he can start with the team next week but let’s see at the beginning of the week if he will be in a better condition.
“Leighton [Baines] started working with the team during this week, and all the others are okay.”
Asked about the availability of Iwobi, Silva added he still needs to assess whether the time is right for the 23-year-old to return to top-level action.
“It’s a matter of us putting him in his best physical condition possible,” he said. “Of course, we’re trying to do that as fast as possible so he can start with the team.
“It was a difficult week for him. But that is normal - it was a difficult week for JP Gbamin the week before because it is just one week working with the team.
“But it is what it is and you have to put them in the best conditions.
“Alex is working really hard and well, like all the others, and it’s up to me to decide if he will be or not in the squad list for tomorrow.”
Everton FC
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Post by jimmy on Aug 16, 2019 20:20:48 GMT
If we win, it will be looked as a good start but if we lose it will become a bad start. They're the fine margins tomorrow. This is a club who thinks they're our rivals. They're a joke.
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Post by Everton News. on Aug 17, 2019 13:04:09 GMT
Jean-Philippe Gbamin will make his full Everton debut against Watford on Saturday – the Ivorian starting in midfield next to Andre Gomes, who has recovered from the ankle knock he sustained at Crystal Palace last week to feature. Gbamin replacing the suspended Morgan Schneiderlin is the lone change from the Blues team which began the opening-day encounter against Palace. There is a place on the bench for deadline-day signing Alex Iwobi. Brazilian duo Bernard and Richarlison will operate on the flanks and either side of Gylfi Sigurdsson, deployed behind frontman Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Everton’s back-four remains unchanged. Yerry Mina and Michael Keane, outstanding together in the meeting with Palace, continue their partnership in the middle of defence. Captain Seamus Coleman is at right-back. Lucas Digne, last term’s player of the season, takes his customary left-back position. Jordan Pickford is Everton’s goalkeeper for the 78th Premier League match on the bounce. Former Arsenal player Iwobi is joined among Everton’s substitutes by fellow attackers Moise Kean, Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun. Manager Marco Silva also has Tom Davies, Mason Holgate and ‘keeper Jonas Lossl in reserve.
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Post by Everton News. on Aug 17, 2019 13:04:39 GMT
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