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I think it has to be 3 in the middle. Can Alcaraz play with a bit of discipline in a deeper role.....doubt it but I don't see any other option.
Alternatively 3 at the back with Illi and Myko as wing backs. Grealish more central just off Barry. Still asking Alcaraz to step into a midfield 3 with Jimmy the Gardner and KDH.

But he's definitely ahead of Charly or KDH or McNeil or whoever else in the CM queue, and for whatever reason he doesn't seem keen to move Grealish into the ten. Probably because he's out best player and is performing well in his best position so you know understandable.

If you're making a three man midfield I don't think you can make it with Charly (who's played more out wide than cm for us btw) who is clearly not trusted, and KDH as the 8s unless you had a TOP CM and we do not.

Tim is at least by trade a CM, I know he played poorly but does that mean his chances are done and he's to get to the back of the queue? I don't think it does. Would be great if so and we had someone else but we don't.

Anyway I'll be surprised if he does this tbh he'll probably just do tim and garner and KDH in the ten.

brap2 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 12:49 pm But he's definitely ahead of Charly or KDH or McNeil or whoever else in the CM queue, and for whatever reason he doesn't seem keen to move Grealish into the ten. Probably because he's out best player and is performing well in his best position so you know understandable.

If you're making a three man midfield I don't think you can make it with Charly (who's played more out wide than cm for us btw) who is clearly not trusted, and KDH as the 8s unless you had a TOP CM and we do not.

Tim is at least by trade a CM, I know he played poorly but does that mean his chances are done and he's to get to the back of the queue? I don't think it does. Would be great if so and we had someone else but we don't.

Anyway I'll be surprised if he does this tbh he'll probably just do tim and garner and KDH in the ten.

I doubt Alcaraz would be worse as an 8 than Tim was on Saturday, just doing the same thing again and expecting a different result is the definition of madness.

Can't wait for the fume when the team sheet comes out and Irie Tim in the starting 11.

Isn’t PSR Tim also a yellow away from a suspension? Definitely can’t play both tonight.

I'll be shocked if we get anything here. Feels like a comfortable defeat to me.

They're not great at the back yes, but a highly energetic, pacy team is often our kryptonite.

AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 1:04 pm I doubt Alcaraz would be worse as an 8 than Tim was on Saturday, just doing the same thing again and expecting a different result is the definition of madness.

But...we wouldn't be, we would be playing 3 in the middle rather than a ten year out of date formation with a 10?

brap2 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 3:17 pm But...we wouldn't be, we would be playing 3 in the middle rather than a ten year out of date formation with a 10?

I don't think the formation matters when someone like Tim throws in one of the genuinely worst performances in recent memory for an Everton player who isn't Beto.

You can't be starting him again the next match, he cost us 2 goals in 45 minutes and didn't nothing else outside of it... Disgraceful performance, you don't just go again with the same player stinking the place out just in a tweaked set up.

I said the same in the Newcastle thread, I think it's really hard to predict us right now. We still play like the work in progress that we are and that can mean poor games like Newcastle (sadly) but also at times some surprisingly good results.

Bournemouth clearly favourites though and I don't know if Moyes has come up with a solution minus Gueye. So we'll see.

AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 3:53 pm I don't think the formation matters when someone like Tim throws in one of the genuinely worst performances in recent memory for an Everton player who isn't Beto.

You can't be starting him again the next match, he cost us 2 goals in 45 minutes and didn't nothing else outside of it... Disgraceful performance, you don't just go again with the same player stinking the place out just in a tweaked set up.

You've just described our attacking options

A change in formation causes other issues if we aren’t used to it as a way of playing. The unintended consequences argument comes into play. It’s obvious, but playing 3 in the middle means you sacrifice a body from somewhere else. If we are used to playing another formation and have done work in training, then I certainly wouldn’t be against it. But the decision to change systems shouldn’t be made lightly.

I am not the greatest fan of Tim, and the reality is that he is 4th choice CM. However, in my mind, the choice to play him or not comes down to his mentality. If he was absolutely gutted about the way he played and has shown a desire to make amends, then I would love that kind of attitude and give him that opportunity to make it right against Bournemouth. Only Moyes and Tim will know and I am sure they have had a chat/post-mortem of the result.

I know he had a terrible half against Newcastle, but it’s 45 minutes against a pretty good midfield. And we aren’t exactly overflowing with alternatives. Let’s not immediately throw Tim as an option in the trash just yet.

blueToffee wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 4:07 pm I said the same in the Newcastle thread, I think it's really hard to predict us right now. We still play like the work in progress that we are and that can mean poor games like Newcastle (sadly) but also at times some surprisingly good results.

Bournemouth clearly favourites though and I don't know if Moyes has come up with a solution minus Gueye. So we'll see.

We're very much looking like the midtable team that we are. Players like Grealish and Ndiaye but also fullbacks like JOB and Mykolenko. Our erratic squad is reflected in this season's results.

It's not terrible, it's just frustrating.

Gary1878 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 4:16 pm A change in formation causes other issues if we aren’t used to it as a way of playing. The unintended consequences argument comes into play. It’s obvious, but playing 3 in the middle means you sacrifice a body from somewhere else. If we are used to playing another formation and have done work in training, then I certainly wouldn’t be against it. But the decision to change systems shouldn’t be made lightly.

I am not the greatest fan of Tim, and the reality is that he is 4th choice CM. However, in my mind, the choice to play him or not comes down to his mentality. If he was absolutely gutted about the way he played and has shown a desire to make amends, then I would love that kind of attitude and give him that opportunity to make it right against Bournemouth. Only Moyes and Tim will know and I am sure they have had a chat/post-mortem of the result.

I know he had a terrible half against Newcastle, but it’s 45 minutes against a pretty good midfield. And we aren’t exactly overflowing with alternatives. Let’s not immediately throw Tim as an option in the trash just yet.

4th choice is the new 1st

Can’t be playing Tim if Moyes puts him in I will seriously question his ability as a coach having watched Saturday game

Keane out has forced a change. Might work in our favour