Tactics v Everton.

[dwr17477]

As we have now taken five points out of a possible nine, do we surprise Everton and go on the offensive, push them back and play like we have done against Newcastle and Aston Villa after going two dow?. Or do we sit back, settle for a shut out and what would now be a major point?
I think we should maybe try to go for the shut out. I wouldn't have said that had we dropped more points in the last three games but I sense that keeping a solid run going would be more beneficial just now.
It would be great to nick a win at Everton though, as this would set us up for a fairly comfortable run in, fingers crossed, of course.

[powchirper]

I know its a pipe dream but a win at the Toffees would in my eyes see us start a run which would see us home with games to spare.

[dwr17477]

Surely we will win one away game but I guess that it is set up to be West Brom (if at all).
I suppose the point is we have nothing to fear now against Everton - a loss wouldn't worry anyone unduly but a win well...
As I said, though, I'd be more than happy for a point under the circumstances.

[expectedtoulouse]

A shut out hasn't really worked all season. We managed it at Liverpool, but we were very very lucky indeed. The personnel employed for a shut out would be run ragged by Everton's midfield, so a more attacking approach with a more mobile midfield ie Lawrence Whelan Delap Etherington would see us attack more and contain their attacking threat.
With the likes of Osman, Arteta, Cahill, Fellaini and Pienaar being a threat from distance, then our shut out method would fall down. Attacking all the way for me.

[dwr17477]

Fair comment joethestokie. It will be interesting to see what team TP selects. It's a bit of a dilema but at least it's a positive one rather than wondering how the hell are we going to get anything from this game.
If we did set up with Etherington and Lawrence out wide would Delap and Whelan be able to give enough cover for the defence as well as be able to get the ball out to the wide men? Erm...I can't see Pulis being so bold away from home. He'll set up for the draw.

[powchirper]

I'll be well pleased with a point whichever way it comes so just think how happy i'd be with a win. First half the team should be set up to attack and go for it, this wont happen, i can see us sitting and defending as deep as is possible for the best part of an hour then at 0-0 bring super dooper sub Riccy on to maul their tired* defence.

*Tired through attacking the first 60mins.

[Paul Spencer]

I'm not really expecting us to get anything at Goodison, however I genuinely believe that we will have a better chance of getting something if we DON'T start by parking the bus.

[abboscfc]

Mar 7, 2009 1:17:38 GMT Paul Spencer said:

I'm not really expecting us to get anything at Goodison, however I genuinely believe that we will have a better chance of getting something if we DON'T start by parking the bus.

adsacly if we try to sit back for 90 mins and as put above "park the bus" i think we will prob loose but i would rather us loose by having ago than to loose by not even trying to get somthing, and you never know if are luck is with us we could get something. GOARN STOKE!!!!

[imallstokedup]

Mar 7, 2009 0:34:54 GMT expectedtoulouse said:

A shut out hasn't really worked all season. We managed it at Liverpool, but we were very very lucky indeed. The personnel employed for a shut out would be run ragged by Everton's midfield, so a more attacking approach with a more mobile midfield ie Lawrence Whelan Delap Etherington would see us attack more and contain their attacking threat.
With the likes of Osman, Arteta, Cahill, Fellaini and Pienaar being a threat from distance, then our shut out method would fall down. Attacking all the way for me.

Arteta is out ( I think for the season ), so that's one less to worry about.

2 back to back wins will really ease the pressure, as stated a win whilst not excepted is possible, so we must play with a plan and a team to get one.

We won't concede a goal with the ball in their half.

[white wall boy]

if we sit back I think we'll loose, too much possession, too much time for Everton to string together some half decent chances and that may well be that. If we try and win we may still loose but at least we'll give ourselves a chance of achieving something. I say lets take it to them, West Brom played them off the park the other week, true they lost but then they havn't got an infrom Beattie, Fuller, Matty Eth who can and will take chances. I say gooooooooooarn Stoke, Pulis you know its time to take a chance on a game in all honesty you've probably got us down as loosing anyway

[Ddraigcoch]

Take it to em, have a right go. The pressure is on them to win at home. We have width and pace so lets use it away from home.

Camara worth a shout form the bench for me at some stage during the game. He will want to get involved and improve his chances of a contract with the Mighty Potters.

[daviesall]

its no dilema lads you know whats going to happen 10 men at the back going for a bore draw
the pulis way whelan will be dropped and amdy will start and we will either get the draw or crash 2 or 3

[Deleted]

Surely we have got to have a go in all our remaining away fixtures,the importance of 1 or 2 away wins at this stage of the season would be massive and take a little bit of pressure off our home fixtures.
ethers and liam out wide with whelan and delap in the middle(like others have said)would be my midfield with fuller and beats up front.
We could surely cause everton problems with that line up whilst still keeping a good balance to the side as long as liam and ethers get back in when we are not on the ball

[stokie4life]

Everton will be a very difficult game but I cant see the point of sitting back all game. We have done that all season and havent won a game! That tells me that we should just go for it. I think that we should go with this line up:

Sorenson
Wilkinson
Shawcross
Ab Faye
Higgy
Lawrence
Whelan
Delap
Etherington
Fuller
Beattie