Welcome back to Merseyside for October 2027. An interesting month:
Tough bookends and a softer centre.
First up a bit of News before the Arsenal game.
Fernando Trujillo played a full 90 and got 7.9 in Mexico U23’s 3-0 win over Costa Rica in the Olympic Qualifiers for LA 2028. He looks like a bit of a player!
Martin Terrier, on loan at Slavia Prague gets 2nd in the Czech 1 Liga Player of the month, behind teammate, a 35yo Mo Salah, in his first season since leaving Liverpool on a free.
We still have >£50M in the bank, that should increase as gate receipts go up by c. £500k per home game with the expansion to Goodison.
Zinchenko is called up to the Ukraine squad.
I’m still a C+ with the board, but the only concerns were losses to Liverpool and Man Utd and Dynamics are Good (Trending Very Good) Very Good and Very Good.
Friday Night Football – Derby 1 West Brom 0, Derby leap-frog us into 11th.
21yo defender Paul Crawford signs for 3 years – £13.25/wk
Our U18’s lose 1-0 to Stoke.
And Keeper Rogerio tweaks his ankle – Matteo Rossi in for the Arsenal game.
There’s a full Saturday program before our Sunday game.
And Jimmy Errington has been called up to the England squad as Keren Tal (Arsenal!!) has fractured his toe. Double Bubble!
Man City rescue a point in the 94th minute at home to Leicester. 18th place Burnley get a draw versus Man Utd. Bournemouth and Chelsea the winners in the top 7.
Fernando Trujillo plays another 90 for Mexico U23’s at DR in their 4-0 win over Jamaica in another Olympic qualifier. The Semi Final and Final are in March 2028.
Matt Harris is also called up to the German squad after his injury.
Liverpool v Tottenham is the early game on the Sunday – Liverpool 6 Tottenham 0!!! TAA, Ansu Fati with a brace and Bukayo Saka the non-newgen goals.
3rd October 2027 – Arsenal (A) – English Premier League
FT Arsenal 2 (Alessio 16, Ajer 20) Everton 1 (Errington 85) Att 60,432 (3,000 Away)
A trip to Arsenal is never easy, so anything today would be a bonus. They sit 4th, a win for us would put us 8th after 8 games. A 30yo Kieran Tierney is rated their 2nd best player, and they pipped us AET in the FA Cup Final at the end of last season. Staying 4-2-3-1 2DM, Prochazka fills in a Centre Back with Marseic injured and Trujillo on Olympic qualifier duty. Arsenal with a similar formation.
Arsenal on top in the early stages, Alessio buts them 1-0 up with a tap-in after Rossi parries an Everton(!) shot. Ajer makes it 2-0 in the 20th with a header from a corner. Rubbish. Sitting back a bit now – don’t want this to turn silly. Felliphe tweaks a knee in the 30th – Prescott on. 2-0 at the break. A quiet second half, until a ray of light? Errington with an 85th minute 1-on-1 after great work by Prescott to dispossess Umar in the Everton half. Kick off Highlight… Nothing doing . A 2-1 loss – could have been a lot worse. We’re not good enough to defend – I think we may need to Brentford-it a bit.
Man U, Liverpool & Arsenal in the first 8 games means it looks tough to get Euro places at the moment. We shall see. Liverpool with a perfect record – we were seconds from stopping that at Anfield…
International break now – time to step back and look at the tactics.
Our U23’s beat Sheff Wed 4-0 in the U23 Premier Division Cup, goals from Alan Short and a hattrick from Eddie Nketiah.
GK Matteo Rossi made it into the EPL team of the week with a 7.2 versus Arsenal.
A Consortium takeover has been rubbished by the board – expect more news soon.
And there was a mad one in the Leasing trophy.com group – our U23’s beating Lincoln 9-4!! Goals from Lee Robinson (20yo STC) with a brace and 2 hattricks – Alan Short (22yo STC) and Kevin Kennedy (20yo STC) – We have too many strikers I think! Liverpool youngster Caoimhin Kelleher, now 28, in goal for League 2 Lincoln – Rogerio in goal for us got a 7.1 even with letting 4 goals in!!
Fernando Trujillo played 90 at DR as Mexico U23’s beat Honduras 3-1 – 3-from-3 in their North American Olympic qualification group.
Joe Aribo got a 9.0 and scored the winner in Nigeria’s 3-2 friendly win versus Guinea (32yo Naby Keita, now at Chonquing in China, not in the Guinean squad) and Chris Whitehead and Steven Guest both play 90 in England U19’s 3-0 win over Estonia, Steve with a goal and an 8.3.
3 Senior Euro Qualifiers – Dario Maresic played 90 in Austria’s 2-1 loss to Sweden, Olexandr Zinchenko played 90 in Ukraine’s 4-0 win over San Marino, and 19yo Kris De Moor came on as a sub for his debut in Belgium’s 1-1 draw versus Romania. And 3 U21 Euro Quallies – Mitchell Douglas came on for the last 10 in England U21’s 4-0 win over Finland, Tiberiu Hagi had 79 mins in Romania U21’s 2-1 loss to Norway and Vaclav Prochazka played 90, scored 2 and got a 9.3 for Czechia U21’s in their 4-0 win over North Macedonia – Playing as an AMC, which is his most natural position TBH.
Jamal Lewis played 90 in N. Ireland’s 4-1 win over Azerbaijan – Big Colin McGarvey and ex-Dundalker Barry Reilly with goals. Rafa Munoz played 4-1 minutes in Spain U23’s 3-0 win over Tunisia, and Steven Guest and Chris Whitehead were in action again in England U19’s 6-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina – Steven with another goal and a 9.0.
Our U18’s drew 3-3 with Liverpool – goals from Chinedu Effiong (17yo DL), Bradley Lane (16yo DL) and Ryan Scott (16yo DR)
Edon Zhegrova played 90 in Kosovo’s 3-0 loss to Turkey.
Dario Maresic played 90 in Austria’s 3-0 loss to England, and Olexandr Zinchenko and Kris De Moor went up against each other in a 1-1 Ukraine v Belgium draw.
Our U23’s beat Liverpool 3-1 – goals from Eddie Nketiah and a brace from Alan Short.
Matt Harris came on for the last half hour, scored and got an MotM 8.1 in Germany’s 2-2 draw with Hungary. Jamal Lewis played 90 in N. Ireland’s 1-0 win over Estonia. Top of the group with 7 wins out of 8!! Mitchell Douglas got more game time in England U21’s 4-2 win over Poland, Tiberiu Hagi played most of the game in Romania U21’s 1-0 loss to the Netherlands and Vaclav Prochazka played 90 in Czechia U21’s 2-1 loss to Albania.
Joe Aribo got an 8.4 in Nigeria’s 8-0 friendly win over Zambia, Edon Zhegrova scored and got an 8.3 in Kosovo’s 5-2 loss The Netherlands, and both Steven Guest and Chris Whitehead had another 90 minutes in England U19’s 4-0 win over Sweden.
Our U23’s beat FC Heidenheim U19’s (Their first team is in the 3. Liga in Germany) 2-0 in the U23 International Cup – a brace from Eddie Nketiah.
Our U18’s had a 4-0 friendly win over non-league Hull Utd – Goals from Sean McCulloch (17yo AML), Jamie Moncur (17yo AMR) and a brace from Garreth Cross (17yo MC)
Dodo out for a month with a sports hernia… Trujillo will be Munoz’s backup.
And we get to the 16th October – 19th placed Aston Villa at Goodison…
A bit of a shock in the 12:30 – Norwich hold Man City to a 1-1, Ben Godfrey with the equaliser just before half time.
16th October 2027 – Aston Villa (H) – English Premier League
We welcome an Aston Villa captained by a 32-yo Jack Grealish – Villa stalwart for all but 1 loan season at Nott County for 16 years in this game. They also have a 30-yo Jarrod Bowen. We need 6 points for these next two (Burnley next, 18th) so we go out on the offensive. 4-4-2 wings. Lets go.
FT Everton 1 (Harris 48) Aston Villa 0 Att 43,821 (3,000 Away)
A good start by the Toffees – Errington missing a sitter after 80 seconds, nice expansive play. Medina with a few really good early saves. Half time, 0-0, we should be 3-0 up.
Rocket given at the break – 1-0 Everton, 48th, Matt Harris with a sublime drive from just inside the area. Better. And then very quiet. It finished 1-0 – hardly a highlight after the goal. But I’ll take it. Medina with a 7.6, saving 5 clear-cut chances!!
Up to 9th, 2 points off the Euro spots. Liverpool 9 for 9, 13 points above City in 6th.
Watford v Arsenal is the Sunday game – Bottom v 4th – and a surprise 2-2 draw. Watford’s 2nd point out of 9 games.
Next game – Friday night football at Turf Moor. Mikel Arteta is the manager there now, Dyche is now unemployed after his England tenure 2020-22, a year at Sheff Utd and 2 at Motherwell. In game Arteta stayed as Ass Man at Man City until 2024, then his first management role was at Swansea for a year before joining Burnley in 2025, gaining promotion last season.
West Brom beat Burnley on the Monday night 1-0 – West Brom now 12th.
Zinchenko made the EPL team of the week.
Our U18’s beat Beitar Jerusalem 2-0 in the U19 Champions Cup 2nd Qual Rnd. Goals from Sean McCulloch and 16yo STC Louie Morley.
22nd October 2027 – Burnley (A) – English Premier League
We make the short journey to Burnley to face 18th placed Burnley on Friday Night Football.
FT Burnley 0 Everton 4 (De Moor 26, Harris 39, 78, Prescott 79) Att 22,546 (2,254 Away)
Going to Burnley with an Asymmetric 4-3-3 – Matt Harris out wide AML, Prescott up top on the right, Errington central. More open play, and a Pen, 5th minute, Harris fouled by Kavanagh. De Moor to take… saved brilliantly by Pope (Now 35, 3 caps for England). Munoz picks up a knock in the 18th minute – Trujillo comes on. We take the lead in the 26th minute, Kris de Moor making up for the penalty with a bullet header from a Matt Harris corner. Matt Harris makes it 2, making a bit of room for himself just inside the area before finishing well. Harris gets his second just before the break, but was a yard offside. And in the 4th minute of stoppage time we have the ball in the net again – Prescott offside this time… Just the wrong side of the last man. 2-0 at the break. A very quiet second half – we go to a more conventional 4-2-3-1. Harris gets his 2nd with a fine volley from a fizzed Trujillo cross. 3-0, 78th minute. And within 90 seconds its 4 – Prescott with a 30-yard curling free kick. Gorgeous. Burnley get their first highlight in the 87th minute – Rogerio saving well when 1-on-1 with Bell. 4-0 it finished. That’s more like it!
Up into the European places temporarily 🙂 Just Checked and Matt Harris is now in the Media Dream 11 on the left wing now! He’s not going anywhere for less than £200M.
Before the Saturday games our U18’s lose 2-1 to Man Utd – Harry Molloy (16yo DR) with the goal.
The early game – Man City (7th) v Chelsea (4th) – Man City 6 Chelsea 2!!!!!!! English newgen John Hill with 4.
We finish Saturday in 7th – Liverpool 10 for 10 11 points clear now of Chelsea in 4th – Them and Man Utd running away with it currently.
And we finish the weekend in 7th – Spurs lose 3-2 at Leeds after Arsenal go 4 points clear of Chelsea with a 2-0 win over West Brom. Next up for us, Leicester away in the Carabao 4th Round in 3 days, before hosting Chelsea in the 5:30 game on Saturday 30th to round off the month.
Monday Night Football – Newcastle beat Brighton to join them and Fulham on 10 points after 10 games – 5 points above Villa and the relegation spots in 18th.
Our U23’s lose 2-1 to Spurs – Alan Short with another goal. Moved him to the senior squad.
We had 3 players in the EPL team of the week – Trujillo, Zinchenko and Harris.
First 4 Carabao games on the Tuesday – no real shocks (Maybe bottom team Watford beating Palace). Chelsea have an extra day off before our match on Saturday…
27th October 2027 – Leicester City (A) – Carabao Cup 4th Round
We make the trip South to face a Leicester side currently just below us in 9th. We will be putting a strong side out, 4-1-2-3 Gegenpress. Their best player is Daniel Arzani (AUS, IRL on loan at SK Lommel in Belgium from Man City) and they have an aging Kurt Zouma, James Ward-Prowse, Jan Bednarek, Caglar Soyuncu and Demarai Gray. Looks like they are putting a strong-ish side out, but not the EPL side.
FT Leicester 1 (Gray 90+5) Everton 1 (Prescott 73) Att 24,518 (2,029 Away) – Everton wins 5-4 on penalties
Quiet early doors, Everton in their Coral away kit. 0-0 at the break – 15 shots to Everton, only 3 on target. really quiet – Harris hits the bar with a header from a Trujillo cross in the 65th minute. But then an absolute rick by Leicester – short goal kick, keeper Bodart and defender Varnier passing back and forth – Prescott catches Varnier and taps in from 8 yards or so!! OP High-Press FTW 🙂 1-0 Everton, 73rd minute. We enter the final 5. Last highlight… Gray gets in and scores somehow. FFS! Straight to fucking Penalties. Leicester 5 Everton 4 (Rogerio saved Choudhury, Short missed wide left, Zinchenko saved by Bodart, Sosa missed outside of left post with a kick to win the game. Sudden Death Zouma saved by Rogerio, De Jong scores the winner. Into the Quarter Final draw.
Southampton the only Prem team in the last 8. And we have the draw:
Chelsea at Goodison – same as our next game in 3 days. That’s in Mid-December.
We are joint 5th in the leading development clubs table – 12 Everton-developed players are at top flight clubs, more than Liverpool.
Friday Night Football – Watford move off bottom with a 2-0 win over Brighton (15th).
We are the 5:30 on Saturday – the 12:30 is the Manchester Derby. Man Utd 2 Man City 1!!
Our U18’s beat Leeds 2-1 – Goals from Sean McCulloch and Garreth Cross.
in the 3pm’s Spurs nick a 3-2 in the 93rd minute v Villa, Liverpool’s perfect start is ended with a 0-0 v Fulham and Bournemouth lose 2-1 at home to Derby. It’s a 6-pointer – we go 5th with a win.
30th October 2027 – Chelsea (H) – English Premier League
Chelsea have a mix of youth and experience today – Frenkie de Jong (30yo) rated as their best player. Frank Lampard is still their manager! 3 Prem wins, 2 Champions League, an FA Cup and Carabao Cup in there so he’s done well! We start with our best team. This will be interesting.
FT Everton 3 (Prescott 5, Felliphe 22, Harris 52) Chelsea 1 (Hudson-Odoi 79) Att 50,000 (3,000 Away)
We go man-for-man. And we take the lead in the 5th minute – A Zinchenko free-kick bundled across the line by Bradders, his 6th of the season. And it’s 2 in the 22nd minute! Jefferson Felliphe with a back-post header, completely unmarked, from a Zinchenko cross after Chelsea failed to clear!! A great start. Should have been 3 soon after – Prescott 1-on-1 with Kepa shoots weekly straight at the Keeper. 2-0 Everton at the break. Waiting for the poked Bear to do something. It’s our first 50,000 sellout today as well 🙂 Another chance for 3 – Felliphe this time heading over from 5 yards after a nice move, Harris with the whipped cross. And it is 3 soon after!! Harris with a thunderbastard after a number of attacks are rebuffed. Bradders with the assist. Munoz picked up a tight hamstring in the build up – Trujillo on. Kick-off highlight… should have been 4 – Felliphe with a weak shot, should have been an easy goal after Harris nicks the ball in the midfield. Chelsea pushing on on, Rogerio with a good save. 3-1 in the 79th – Hudson-Odoi gets inside of Trujillo and finishes easily. Come on lads!!! Into the last minutes – Zhegrova, on for Harris, well saved by Kepa. And it’s all over! 3-1 Everton! We go 5th! A great way to end the month.
Would have taken this at the end of October! Those top 3 are very good, but a Champions League spot isn’t outside the realms of possibility.
That’s our last game of the month, but there are Sunday games to report back on. Arsenal 2 Wolves 1 in the early game, Burnley 3 Leeds 0 in the late in the War of the Roses.
A good month after a disappointing first game at the Emirates. November only has the 3 games, plus a little international window. All 3 are winnable – Derby are 9th, Spurs 8th and Wolves 14th – and these are the games we need to maximize on to get European football next season. See you soon for November 2027.