Video summary
The video presents a detailed preview of the upcoming match between Everton and Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium, which serves as the final fixture before a three-week break. The host emphasizes that securing three points in this game would mark an excellent start to the season, particularly given Everton's unbeaten run in the Carabao Cup. A key focus is on providing playing time to players returning from injury or recently signed, with the only notable exception being Doucouré, who is still awaiting his return. The team faces a promoted Ipswich squad that has begun the season well, setting the stage for a competitive encounter where Everton aims to maintain their momentum.
In terms of the proposed starting lineup, Jordan Pickford is selected in goal with the expectation of achieving back-to-back clean sheets, despite some recent lapses in concentration against Spurs and Wolves. The defense features Ainsley Maitland-Niles at right-back, who has found his rhythm after a period of adjustment, and Vitaliy Mykolenko at left-back, who continues to deliver consistent performances despite occasional struggles. Center-back duties are shared by James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, both of whom have returned from missing the previous week's game to allow for rest; while Tarkowski has had his moments, Branthwaite is viewed as the player with the extra class needed to potentially displace him in the long term.
The midfield combination includes James Garner, who is described as Everton's best midfielder and is expected to start due to his energy, passing ability, and tackling, alongside Hayden Hackney. The host justifies selecting Hackney over Harrison Armstrong due to a minor knock suffered by Armstrong, arguing that it is safer to rest players with slight injuries rather than risk them. Keinan Dewsbury-Hall is also included in the midfield, hoping he can regain the high form displayed last season after a slower start this term. On the wings, Tariq George is chosen for his direct pace and ability on the right flank, while Jack Grealish is selected to start on the left despite mixed recent impressions, with the possibility of him being rested if his body does not respond well to his return from an eight-month absence.
Up front, Taiwo Awoniyi is named as the striker, tasked with scoring a goal after a disappointing performance against Wolves where he missed clear chances. The host acknowledges that Brennan Johnson will likely come off the bench as the backup striker, noting that keeping him fresh allows the manager to use him as a weapon when needed, even if Johnson prefers starting roles. The video concludes by inviting viewers to share their opinions on potential lineup changes in the comments and encourages them to engage with the channel's other content, including match previews and post-game player ratings available through the associated app.
Read the full video transcript
Welcome to Doffy TV. It is the starting
11 show. Everton
versus Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson
Stadium. The last game before a 3-week
break and if Everton can get
the three points, then it will be a
really, really good start to the season.
Obviously going through
in the Carabao Cup as well and being
unbeaten. And yeah, it will represent a
really
really good start to the season with,
you know, most players getting good game
time as well. Those coming back um from
injury or or who've just signed, mostly
getting game time. Obviously we're just
waiting on Doucouré now as the only one
really who's hasn't had any involvement
in the team. So,
hopefully we um we do the business
um against obviously a promoted team
who've started actually all right. I
think they've started quite well. So, uh
let's get into it. Anyway, obviously
Jordan Pickford in goal, clean sheet. Um
or back-to-back clean sheets now and
although he's had a couple of moments as
in he's had a kick from the kicking.
Um
yeah, the kicking it has been a little
bit less than
desired. Couple of moments in this uh
obviously one in the Spurs game and one
in the game against Wolves where uh he
let himself down a little bit.
Just needs to calm down a little bit on
that, I think. Um but obviously he
starts in goal. At right back, Ainsley
Maitland-Niles who I thought played well
against Wolves. Think he looked
looked the part.
Obviously
that's a Championship team. But he done
well against Spurs as well. But, you
know, finding his feet, getting his
fitness.
And really does know how to play the
position and it it's it's been a while
since Everton have had like a regular
right back who really knows how to play
the position.
Um positionally puts himself in good
positions.
Uh, you know, overlaps, underlaps and
yeah, so
he started right back at left back
Vitaliy Mykolenko who against Spurs
[clears throat] had an excellent game,
probably one of his best games. Didn't
have a of him, honest.
Done really well.
Um,
he struggled a little bit against
Wolves, had a couple of moments where he
could have done better, but you know,
you know, you know what you're getting
from him every single week, so and and
you know, you haven't got another left
back. Um, the two center backs, James
Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite
returned to the team. Obviously both
missed the game in the week, both got a
a good rest.
Um,
both were excellent against Spurs, both
have done
you know, pretty well this season.
Branthwaite obviously a little bit
better than Tarky. Tarky's had his
moments that we all know.
Um, but it's up to it's up to Jeka
Branthwaite to
displace him from the team. Well, and
Michael Keane I suppose, but mostly Jeka
Branthwaite
um, to displace him from the team, so
but uh, having Branthwaite back just
gives you that little bit extra class at
the back and the back four have done
pretty well
this season in whatever combination
we've used them in, so obviously they've
had their moments, but
for me they've done they've done pretty
well. Into midfield, uh, James Garner
continuing in there.
As I've said a few times, I can't
believe sometimes that when I hear
people
how they have no issue sort of saying
I'll now leave him out cuz he's like
James Garner is our best midfielder and
saying he was our best midfielder last
week the last season, the energy,
um, the passing ability, the tackling,
the pressing,
>> [snorts]
>> you know, it's it's I for a you know, I
for a shot as well. It's all really
important.
Um,
got loads of experience now.
So,
he has to start and you know, I think
he's pretty much up to the levels now.
>> [snorts]
>> Um,
with the amount of games he's played.
So, he's starting there. Alongside him,
I'm going to go for Hayden Hackney. I
think
I just just just because Harrison
obviously
had a knock in the week and I just think
I just think
you've got to There's not much between
players. I know they are slightly
different players. If there's not much
between players, I think sometimes if a
player is not fully fit, and I know I'm
sort of
contradicting myself now on the James
Garner thing, but that wasn't fitness
that was fitness rather than injury. If
a player is not is got a little knock,
then I think it's just it's better to
leave them on the bench and just be, you
know, safe than sorry. With the way our
squad is, I think Hackney
brings something a little bit different
as well. I think he drives forward.
Probably just means James Garner have to
sit a little bit deeper in the game. He
can drive us forward. Got a nice for a
good pass as well.
Um
And he's been bright this season. So, I
think you've got to use your squad.
You've got to rotate. You've got to move
people around and I think this isn't
this isn't a a
you know, the worst game to bring Cayden
Hackney in and give him a go knowing
hopefully that you've got the likes of
Harrison Armstrong on the bench ready to
come in. Um and ahead of them, Keinan
Dewsbury-Hall who, I'll be honest, I've
I've not been massively
impressed with so far this season by his
goal against Crystal Palace, but
listen, he's one of those players who
can even in bad games can find moments
and
full of energy. He's just He's just got
to pick up
He's just not really sort of
>> [snorts]
>> had the same form so far that we saw
from him last season. So,
hopefully that begins
in this game and and we move forward.
You know, he starts moving forward
like he was last season. He was
excellent obviously excellent last
season.
Uh on the wings, um on the right,
I'm I'm I'm
I've been thinking about this obviously
with the different combinations and
where people are on the fitness, but I'm
I'm going to go for Tariq George on the
right. Obviously, he come off the bench
the other night and
again, the manager using all of his
squad and keeping him fresh for this
game. I think he's just
his direct pace and his ability is is so
important.
Um
and I just think yeah, for me, that pace
he has to start. He has to start most
games if I'm honest. Uh and he starts on
the right cuz I'm going to start Jack
Grealish on the left, I think.
>> [snorts]
>> Well, again, I wasn't massively
impressed with him uh
in the win against Wolves, but it was
his first start for 8 months.
Um I mean, obviously, it all comes down
to how he reacted how his body reacts on
that game.
And it might be a case that he starts on
the bench again and the manager probably
plays Brennan Johnson and uses him as a
sub again and then uses the break to
give him like a mini preseason. Uh
listen, I don't know. I don't know where
he is, so we'll have to see. The the the
the start against Wolves might be enough
for him.
Um but I'm going to go for them. I'm
going to go for sort of like the tried
and the tested. I think Tariq did really
brilliantly the other night. I also
think that Brennan Johnson has has to be
for me,
he needs to be that backup striker and
I think when you start him in games, you
lose that ability to
put him up front if you if you need him,
so for me, I'm just going to go safe and
I'm going to go for Grealish on the
left, Tariq George on the right. And
obviously, up front, Taiwo Awoniyi.
Didn't have his best game in the world
against against Wolves. Um
should have definitely have scored. And
this is an opportunity for him now to
try and get a goal. He hasn't obviously
hasn't scored in the Premier League
since the Palace game.
So, we need him to start getting back in
the goals for us.
It's important for us. It's important
for him.
And as I said, Brennan Johnson coming
off the bench like we showed the other
night, I think that's what we're going
to we're going to see. That's going to
be the weapon we use. Um it's a little
bit
difficult situation for Brennan Johnson
because
he he wants to start games but
what can you do if he's going to be the
backup striker he's going to have to be
he's going to have to be used probably
off the bench at times and that's just
going to be part of where he is in the
squad but
listen if he does well in some games
Brennan Johnson he might find himself
starting if if body doesn't start sort
of having
more better games than worst games so
that's my 11 it's you know listen
there's there's there's a few different
choices that you could make but I just
think for now
as we get to the break start the game
with a bit more of a tried and tested
team
I mean let's let's be honest there isn't
there isn't loads of options like we're
not talking about having loads of
options are we
but you know we've got to be obviously
you've got to be cautious with players
you've got knocks as well
so for me that's my 11 anyway so
there you go let me know your thoughts
in the comments what would you do what
would you change who would you start let
me let me know don't forget to check out
the match preview as well don't forget
as well head over to the
fanalysis app and pick your starting 11
like I have done
and you can also do the player ratings
after the game like I do and I'll be
doing our full the player ratings for
after the game as well so
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