Vranny

Stoke aren't that physical anymore. Reckon we'll just start with the same team we had after 35 mins against West Brom, although there's a good chance of Williams slotting in for Mori.

The lad would only be a back up to Coleman, rather than somebody that would challenge him for a place at RB. Part of me thinks we'd be better off just giving Holgate game time there instead.

Hart is a perfect example of exactly what is wrong with the English press: build him up and ignore his mistakes when he's young and promising, give him a few years at the top, then suddenly expect perfection from him and tear him down for the same mistakes that were earlier ignored. He's a good keeper. Not absolutely brilliant, not shite and he always has been.
 
Also hasn't Guardiola openly admitted that it's not his keeping abilities that are the problem, but his ability with the ball at his feet? You can't exactly call Everton possession obsessed now that Martinez is gone.

Hart is a perfect example of exactly what is wrong with the English press: build him up and ignore his mistakes when he's young and promising, give him a few years at the top, then suddenly expect perfection from him and tear him down for the same mistakes that were earlier ignored. He's a good keeper. Not absolutely brilliant, not shite and he always has been.
 
Also hasn't Guardiola openly admitted that it's not his keeping abilities that are the problem, but his ability with the ball at his feet? You can't exactly call Everton possession obsessed now that Martinez is gone.

Hart is a perfect example of exactly what is wrong with the English press: build him up and ignore his mistakes when he's young and promising, give him a few years at the top, then suddenly expect perfection from him and tear him down for the same mistakes that were earlier ignored. He's a good keeper. Not absolutely brilliant, not shite and he always has been.
 
Also hasn't Guardiola openly admitted that it's not his keeping abilities that are the problem, but his ability with the ball at his feet? You can't exactly call Everton possession obsessed now that Martinez is gone.

In that one cup game against West Ham. Poor lad was so buggered after 50 mins he had to get himself sent off to "earn" an early shower.

For our bowling attack maybe On your end it's basically pedestrian, slightly above pedestrian and a little slower than pedestrian. But your boys still demolish us -_-

Might have to start visiting the chip shop after ordering a couple of curries next time. Haha.

Agreed. I wouldn't be surprised to see the club invite Howard back for one over the summer since he was only a few months off being here 10 years.

He missed one in the cup exit to West Ham last season too, so he'd missed 2 of his last 3. Throw in the whole Mirallas debacle and I'm not too surprised he stopped taking them.

The bottom line is neither keeper should be a guaranteed starter for a team like Everton. If Howard's contract is up this summer, as I believe it is, we should be looking for a keeper of clear No. 1 quality to bring in. Ignoring that though I think there are certainly more positives to be found in starting Robles over Howard.
 
For starters, Robles should still have his best keeping years ahead of him, where as Howard is obviously past it.
 
Secondly, when given a run of games last season we all saw a level of consistency and assuredness develop in his game, while the only thing consistently seen in Howard's performances over the last 18 months is a tendency towards shambolic keeping. I'd much rather have Robles' consistent 6/10 level of keeping over Howard's 3-4/10 with the odd 7/10 performance poping up.
 
Hopefully by next season though we'll have gotten the check book out and will have a 8/10 quality keeper to call our own

The bottom line is neither keeper should be a guaranteed starter for a team like Everton. If Howard's contract is up this summer, as I believe it is, we should be looking for a keeper of clear No. 1 quality to bring in. Ignoring that though I think there are certainly more positives to be found in starting Robles over Howard.
 
For starters, Robles should still have his best keeping years ahead of him, where as Howard is obviously past it.
 
Secondly, when given a run of games last season we all saw a level of consistency and assuredness develop in his game, while the only thing consistently seen in Howard's performances over the last 18 months is a tendency towards shambolic keeping. I'd much rather have Robles' consistent 6/10 level of keeping over Howard's 3-4/10 with the odd 7/10 performance poping up.
 
Hopefully by next season though we'll have gotten the check book out and will have a 8/10 quality keeper to call our own

Thought Kone, Deul and Rom were all excellent. Also liked Barry's and Mori's games and was glad to see McCarthy contribute well in our attacking third for the first time in ages.

I'm just hoping Martinez has the balls to drop McCarthy and give Tom a go in his prefered CM spot. McCarthy has been mostly average so far this season and just hasn't developed his attacking game as I thought he would after his initial season with us. It does feel like we need to start getting some goals and assists from our CMs under Roberto.

I'm just hoping Martinez has the balls to drop McCarthy and give Tom a go in his prefered CM spot. McCarthy has been mostly average so far this season and just hasn't developed his attacking game as I thought he would after his initial season with us. It does feel like we need to start getting some goals and assists from our CMs under Roberto.

If we win it 6-3 I won't mind none

Sorry, but IF we sign 10 players over the summer (and we all know that's a massive if) either:
 
a) Quite a few of those signings will be youngsters to sit in the reserves and will get there chance in the future, or
 
Our squad will look ridiculously disjointed, aka Spurs post Bale and Liverpool post Suarez, and large amounts of that money will be wasted.
 
 
Without any European football and assuming we can keep ahold of our key players I'd be happy for us to just add Lennon, a solid, reliable back up CB, a playmaker of real quality and ideally a better back up for Lukaku over the summer. If Mirallas or any other starter were to leave they'd need replacing too.

In my short time as an Evertonian McFadden's goal v Charlton would have to be the best I've seen, while Saha's in the FA Cup final or Arteta's to make it 3-3 against United a few seasons back were probably the most enjoyable goals I've witnessed.

I'd be voting for Hazard or De Gea if I could. Both have been consistently outstanding this year, while (in my mind at least) winning the most points for their respective teams off their own boots (or gloves).
 
On YPotY I really think they need to drop the eligibility age to 21 and under from the start of the season from the current 23. I don't really understand how a 23 year old (turning 24 during the season) likely to have a few seasons under his belt can be considered a true young player in the game. Would much prefer it to be given to players 21 years and younger in order to better highlight a true breakout season.

I'd be voting for Hazard or De Gea if I could. Both have been consistently outstanding this year, while (in my mind at least) winning the most points for their respective teams off their own boots (or gloves).
 
On YPotY I really think they need to drop the eligibility age to 21 and under from the start of the season from the current 23. I don't really understand how a 23 year old (turning 24 during the season) likely to have a few seasons under his belt can be considered a true young player in the game. Would much prefer it to be given to players 21 years and younger in order to better highlight a true breakout season.

While I'd like us to bring in Lennon on a permanent deal, for me I won't be happy if he's brought in as a Mirallas replacement, or an undisputed starter.
 
I'd like him to be 1 of 3 main wingers in the side with Mirallas (or his replacement) and a quick footed playmaker-esc wideman (Pienaar if he shows form & fitness in our remaining games, else a young replacement). That way we'll have 3 genuinely differing options to call on, with Mirallas (or replacement) the direct goal scorer, Pienaar (or replacement) the slick build up player and Lennon to provide some width and grit out wide when needed.

Regarding Paddy's point on youngsters as reserves even Moyes was willing to keep a Shane Duffy as our second? back up CB while at the club. I think Browning can do a similar job having been given a couple of runs (albeit at RB) in the first team and looking up to a decent standard. Otherwise we're just spending money and wages on a player that realistically we'll barley see played, while he also blocks the development of our young CBs at the club.

Regarding Paddy's point on youngsters as reserves even Moyes was willing to keep a Shane Duffy as our second? back up CB while at the club. I think Browning can do a similar job having been given a couple of runs (albeit at RB) in the first team and looking up to a decent standard. Otherwise we're just spending money and wages on a player that realistically we'll barley see played, while he also blocks the development of our young CBs at the club.

I felt Lennon was our best forward thinking player by far. Loved his pace to get forward, as well as to work the other way and snuff out opposition attacks.
 
Didn't think much of Barkley tbh, though I could say that about most.
 
Also enjoyed McCarthy playing a bit more box to box today. His forays forward didn't exactly lead to much, but it's an element I think he desperately needs to add to his game if we're going to continue playing two holders in midfield.

No.