Elston Gunnn

Martinez has to make changes to to start second half. Oviedo out, McCarthy at RB, Besic at DCM. Switch Lennon and Mlrallas. And don't wait until th 85th minute to get Deulofeu in. Unless Barkley is willing to shoot, his bursting forward is fool's gold. I'd be happy to see ..... Mirallas Lennon Deulofeu ..... to start second half.

Started off with spirit, then collapsed last 15 minutes. Barkley in love with clever dribbling. Oviedo lost at RB. Lennon lost at LW. Stones and Funes Mori lost at basic defending. Martinez lost.

Defending corners = mare. Sorry, make that defending = mare.

Two defenders, useless.

Just really strange, Martinez's thinking there.

Blast it, Barkley, you idiot.

Defending corners = mare.

Yes, big, big problem

Poor call there. Some simulation.

Blast it, Lukaku. Don't take lessons from Barkley.

Keep shooting, Kevin. Pay attention, Ross.

Blast it, Barkley.

Surprised that Mirallas is on right, Lennon left.

If I'm optimistic, make it 2-3 today, past Chelsea for 10th, then past Stoke by season's end for 9th. Win Cup, too. That stretches the limits of wild optimism.

Two possibilities: either he knocked himself out with his scintillating display last Saturday, or Martinez is saving him for a secret weapon at LW at Wembley.

We've stopped scoring goals. A major concern, probably best symbolizes the lethargic play. Only 3 goals in last 5 matches.

Some praise here for hafnia's turn of phrase(s). He tells us that Stones fails to do "what it says on the tin," and that Lukaku "downed tools after Christmas." No matter one's views of the merits of these critiques of Stones and Lukaku, the images are delightful, even literary. Occasionally TT does actually read as if it's populated by Thinking Evertonians. Occasionally. Are these Britisms, or hafnia-originals?

It doesn't seem at all controversial, or even the smallest of issues, that Martinez would be planning to set out his "strongest possible side" for the derby, despite the short turnaround for the FA Cup. Of course he will want a strong side against Liverpool. But the key word is "possible," since injuries will limit a few of his choices on Wednesday night. Martinez did plan to put his strongest possible sides out for this week's two big matches. Injuries threaten to complicate his plans, but not destroy them. He wisely rested Barry and Lukakau against Southampton, and played Barkley only as a sub. McCarthy was suspended, so he rested, too. Baines, Jagielka, Lennon, and Cleverley were rested because of injuries. So really, it's these last four who are questionable for Wednesday night. His earlier comments implied that Jagielka and Cleverley probably won't have recovered sufficiently by Wednesday. Saturday? Maybe. Coleman isn't possible. Gibson and Oviedo were not, presumably, significantly injured, so they're available. That leaves Baines and Lennon as the key question-marks for the "strongest possible side" for the derby. Will it be Baines or Oviedo? Will Lennon start instead of either Mirallas or Deulofeu? Also, will Pienaar get on the field for 15-20 minutes Wednesday, with a view to starting on the left with Baines at Wembley?

Don't know why Auto-Incorrect threw in that emoticon for what I typed -- ( -- but it worked out ok. Edit - Ha, I see Auto-Incorrect insists on being automatically obstreperous. I didn't typed what Auto-Incorrect says I typed.

I'm glad to hear your informed and/or pedantic views, especially about the FA Cup. If by the slimmest of chances (a) you're wrong, and ( if ManU can still be thought a major club (.......), and © if they don't give a toss and put their U-21s on the pitch at Wembley, well, (d) I'll forgive you, especially if (e) we nick a place for the Final on PKs, after (f) having given up a 2-goal lead twice, (g) in the 91st, 95th, 114th, and 122d minutes.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/apr/16/everton-manchester-united-roberto-martinez-fa-cup-semi-final-wembley

Worst time for injuries to be piling up. From Martinez's comments yesterday, the following seems likely: Coleman -- out for several weeks Jagielka and Cleverley -- out for Liverpool, 1 or both probably out for ManU Baines and Lennon -- probably out for Liverpool, both probably available for ManU No mention of significant injury concerns for either Oviedo or Gibson, though both picked up knocks yesterday. So for Liverpool, I'll guess it will be: Robles Connolly Stones Funes Mori Oviedo McCarthy Barry Deulofeu Barkley Mirallas Lukaku Bench: Howard, Galloway, Besic, Gibson, Pienaar, Kone, Niasse, possibly Davies. I hope Martinez uses 3 subs, given the short turnaround before Wembley.

I assume Coleman is out next match (and probably more). Hope RM doesn't rush Jagielka back in so Stones can move to RB. Prefer to see Connolly or even McCarthy or Besic at RB for this one match. So many injuries, more today. Will either Oviedo or Baines actually be fit for Liverpool? Very glad Barry was rested today. I think maybe he can go all out twice next week. Mirallas still a decent bet to get a goal in any match.

I fully concede that I have no faith at all right now in Barkley. His play over the last several matches has been abysmal. Too much dribbling, rarely shoots, wanders around looking lost, loafs on defense. Paul Merson's first words about the Southampton goal were, "Barkley doesn't follow his man." If he isn't going to dominate with the ball at his feet rushing forward, knock defenders off, and blast it from near the edge of the box, he's just a liability the rest of this season.

Probably had to leave him on, as no Baines or Galloway on bench. Tough situation for RM this time, as early injury to Oviedo, later to Coleman, Deulofeu's mysterious exhaustion, and Gibson and Osman clearly needing out -- not enough subs. We got unexpectedly strong efforts from the two young players.