What wrongs the wrong that’s always in wrong..?

"What wrongs the wrong that’s always in wrong..?"

“Alive and Kicking at the greatest club.

“We’re always singing at the greatest club…”


But with which formation?

4-3-3?
3-4-3?
3-5-2?
4-2-3-1
4-5-1?

Or all the way back to 4-4-2..?

Dundee’s greatest (The Associates).
And to throw-in some Julian Cope for good measure:
“Bless my cotton socks, we’re in the news [rather a lot lately]!”

Far from for all the right reasons, but still, plenty being discussed, in front of and behind closed doors.

Who’s firing who?
The Apprentice season is back in full swing.
“Yawn”.
I agree!

By that I mean Frank Lampard is still the best candidate for the job in hand.

Whether or not you all agree, there’s much else to ponder than the Everton manager’s identity.

For starters, Lampard has staked his future this season thus far by building a team entirely around the credentials of one player.

A player who is now injured and will be missing for some time.

What does this mean for the club’s immediate future – regardless of who is the manager in the days/weeks ahead?

Well, a change in formation.
By ‘change’, do/should it mean a slight tweaking, or a juggling act in shuffling the pack in view of opposing teams, as they come, game-by-game, or does it need completely ripping up into major squad surgery – in a matter of days?

Like most clubs, Everton have tried 4-3-3.
Like some, Everton have had to use Plan B formations, or indeed Plan B gameplans.

But is there an answer staring us all in the face?

Is there a delicate balancing act, among a painfully short level of attributes within our squad, in comparison to most we’re competing against?
Or do we have to contemplate revolution from scratch – even though we’ve just re-started a season from a seven week break, given that things may be heading in a very unpalatable direction.

Friends: it’s time to play Fantasy Football!?!

Get your cheque books out.
Consider all the options you think are available and together let’s (for want of a more apt term) brainstorm Lampard/Thelwell/Moshiri’s decision-making possibilities…

Formation(s).

Personnel already here, and is needed – in realistic AND hypothetical terms.

Budgeting in accordance with the smoke & mirrors good bond we’ve effectively been granted by The F.A. over the Summer months of 2022.


One of the reasons why I’d back Lampard, over a quick-fix hiring, is how well he did in his first Summer transfer window (albeit not alone in the success). Of all those recruits, a worrying dip in McNeil’s form-aside, only Maupay’s form is a cause for more than just concern.

The player staked his transfer budget – AND his managerial credibility – in Summer 2022 upon: Amadou Onana has given our players just enough belief to TRY to pass the ball a little more expansively. Not as many set-piece goals being conceded; solid defensive hirings in Conor Coady and James Tarkowski. Hanging on to Anthony Gordon gave us just enough to get by early on, but he’s now got to show mettle and maturity from himself, now opposing scouts/coaches are successfully identifying weaknesses in his own game.

All this, with Alex Iwobi and (lately) Demarai Gray finding form at crucial times, Patterson and Mykolenko maturing – if the latter remains a question mark in talent; and Jordon Pickford retaining both form and fitness post-England World Cup duty (touchwood, as they say).

Taking into account the previous transfer windows (the possible exception of Summer 2020 aside); would we prefer to trust someone new, rather than build upon what we already have?

Lots to ponder upon, in the antidote of political [you-know-what] in the media roundabouts of today.

Please may we discuss the finer details…