Cornish Steve

If they do go ahead with a WC in Qatar, I really hope that Israel qualify.

I agree with this - except Stones for Distin as mentioned earlier. Also, I'd include Kone instead of Naismith. The weakness of this setup is that there's no natural winger.

A box of Kleenex soft tissues for the team physio.

A T-shirt for Eto'o saying: "I'm not really 41 ya know".

What might be appropriate presents for the Everton team? I'd suggest blue hair dye for Kone.

Southampton 1-1 Everton Lukaku

Howard – 5 Coleman – 4 ^^ Jagielka – 6 Stones – 7 Baines – 6 ^ Besic – 6 ^ McCarthy – 7 ^ Barkley – 5 ^^ Mirallas – 5 ^ Naismith - 7 Lukaku – 6 ^^ Average team rating is a little under 6. I expect Coleman, Barkley, and Lukaku to turn around their seasons the most. Bench/Squad that have been used: Joel – 4 ^ Distin – 4 Browning – 4 ^ Hibbert – 6 Garbutt – 7 ^ Barry – 6 Osman – 4 Pienaar – 3 v McGeady - 5 ^ Atsu – 4 Kone – 6 ^ Eto’o – 7 I added a down arrow for Pienaar. Sadly, I just see him deteriorating further - hopefully after having been traded in January. Maybe I can add one more: Oviedo - 4 ^

Oh, like me, he makes it up as he goes along.

Barry will be back, I've no doubt. With rest, he'll be much improved. We forget just how important he's been in games this year. The biggest loss for this game is not Mirallas but McCarthy. I'd like to see Lukaku and Kone paired up front, and Stones in place of Distin.

Even I associate Z-cars with Everton - from watching on TV years and years ago. Some traditions ought to stay. I'm sure you don't like everyone singing "Abide with me" before the FA Cup final either.

I suspect very much that it will correlate closely to current MOTM vote totals.

No. It would be terrible. I have very little respect for teams that buy their way to success. Anyone can do that. The truly great teams earn their way there - a true team and not a bunch of expensive prima donna individuals.

Good on you for having thick skin, because you certainly expect it of others! Personally, I don't get all the name-calling, and I can understand why one new (American) member commenting in this thread was at a loss. It seems to be a peculiarly British thing. Of course, it's a British forum so no big deal. It does seem to be related to the issue of semi-anonymity. I've even had good friends post some surprisingly negative and strongly worded comments online when we disagree: It's an odd phenomenon. Personally, and pull me up if I stray from this principle, I'll post strong opinions at times on issues but I won't hurl personal insults. Maybe I'm simply holding to values that are outdated, but I just don't see the need for it. Plus, some people can be unduly sensitive, and online it's difficult to know who is and who is not. And finally, my sense of humour and quality of attempted light-hearted jokes can be poor - sorry! They are sometimes attempts to get us to laugh at themselves to relieve any tension that's building up - for which purpose they may backfire spectacularly.

Trying to figure this one out since we have no goalscorers. Maybe we're awarded two goals because Southampton field ineligible players?

Four players tied for first this week: Congratulations to c1982, millwallforever, pete0, and TonkaRoost. For the month of December, TonkaRoost has taken over the lead. For the season, the TT Average retains the lead. As for average points per prediction, MikeO stays on top.

Ah, the semi-anonymity of the Internet. In part, keyboard warriors are compensating because, in real life, they wouldn't dare do or say what they boast about online. Not meaning to imply that's true of anyone here, of course. Just an observation. Yes, I have met other forum members, when I've traveled to other parts of the US. Indeed, I traveled hundreds of miles to do so. And, years ago, when I was flying half a million miles a year, Rusty was probably the pilot! I suppose that means, since I've actually made the effort to do this in person, in the rain I might add, that I have the right to hurl abuse and boo at other forum members, whereas those who just sit in front of a screen do not.

He's Everton's leading scorer, tied with Eden Hazard and Wayne Rooney, and way ahead of any Liverpool striker. You don't have to be entertaining or overextending yourself to do your job. http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/premier-league/top-scorers

We really need to strengthen the middle of the field. That is our Achilles Heel right now. Winger vs wing-back may be an interesting discussion, but it shouldn't distract from our lack of depth in midfield.

Pienaar?

Hmm - so you're not completely sold on Lukaku after all?

Your personality is different to mine. When that happens to me at the airport, I immediately demand they switch channels. Almost always, they will.

Phil Neville is such a joke. Here's his quote on the BBC website: "Harry Redknapp has picked a really good team to play Everton. He's got pace in wide areas and that will help nullify the threat from Everton. They'll pack the midfield and Goodison is a similarly tight ground to QPR. Now they just need to recreate their home form here." QPR and "really good team" should never be heard together in the same sentence!

Injuries have really had an effect on the midfield - which is usually where games are won or lost. Hopefully it won't matter too much against QPR; still, that's very much our Achilles heel. We really need McCarthy back.

In every discussion, it seems, no matter what the subject line, I'm seeing this same "8 year old nonsense". It would be such a relief to read this forum without wondering how long it will be before Lukaku gets slammed yet again. It is so BORING! :dont know:

One bad game and he was completely written off as a waste of money. Now, thankfully back after a major injury: One good game and he's not only better than Lukaku but the team's potential messiah. I've been a consistent supporter of Kone throughout, but let's not get carried away. I seriously wish him well, but only time will tell whether he can repeat his goalscoring abilities from previous seasons.