Elston Gunnn

Does anyone know where I can stream this game? I'm in the U.S., and we only have 1 channel that shows the FA Cup. Go figure, they are airing the Kopites vs Wimbledon. This isn't 1988, no one cares. I appreciate the help lads

Tuesday afternoon in US, FoxSports 1, pregame starts 2:30 EST.

My first concern for the WHam match is that no player - not one - who is other than 100% fully fit, fully match fit, totally healthy and capable of playing the entire match be on the team sheet. Sure like to get the win, but canot afford to bring anyone back too early, as we need to get healthy and capture points in the EPL table prior to Young Boys.

 

So, I'll assume nearly the worst, that none of the following are fully, totally fit and ready: McCarthy, Stones, Hibbert, Gibson, Osman, Pienaar. Honestly don't remember whether Mirallas has another knock, but keep him out, save him for ManCity. If Alcaraz is eligible, prefer to start him rather than Jagielka, save Jags for City.

 

Go with:

 

Griffiths/Robles

Coleman Alcaraz/Jagielka Distin Garbutt

Besic Baines

Lukaku Naismith Oviedo

Eto'o

 

Subs: GK, Browning, Barry/Alcaraz, Atsu, McGeady, Barkley, Kone

 

Keep Oviedo on left wing. If RM insists on "fluidity" up front, fair enough, let Naismith, Lukaku, Eto'o change around with flow of game.

 

Edit: Forgot Atsu's away, add Ledson to sub list.

Hull 1-3 Everton

 

Mirallas

This has been mentioned a few times now, can't find the links now though.

 

I just want some fair consistency from the refs.

Linked in "What is wrong?" thread.

 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/should-referees-apologise-everton-boss-8360973

 

Consistency is the issue. The number of decisions that have gone against Everton in the first half of this season is noticeable and has had an impact. We probably all agree that good play should have been able to overcome poor refereeing calls, but that doesn't totally negate the disadvantage we've faced in several games.

 

Surely one needn't be either a complainer or conspiracist to acknowledge that poor ref calls regularly have an impact in several sports. Just occasionally a poor call has such a major impact that it can be said to have come pretty close to determining the outcome.

 

We want RM to do a better job, players returning to fitness, players playing much better, and sensible, professional, consistent refereeing. In sum, a happy new year.

5. Some unfortunate refereeing decisions.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/should-referees-apologise-everton-boss-8360973

 

I neither expect nor want (unless things get really desperate in April) a bunch of awful refereeing decisions favoring Everton, to balance things out. But I don't want our boys to be subjected to any more of what at times seem like obviously incorrect calls, of both omission and commission.

Humor me for a moment. There's a near-agreement among MC11, Matt, Cornish Steve, and me about our preferred starting 11 v. Hull. Even if any of you out there prefer an entirely different setup, just tentatively assume this lineup, to clarify one issue.

 

Robles

Coleman Alcaraz Distin Baines

Besic Barkley

Lukaku/Kone Naismith Mirallas

Lukaku/Kone

 

The one issue, obviously, is which of Lukaku and Kone should play wide and which striker. I prefer, and I think Matt concurs, to see Lukaku out wide, driving inside to use his left foot. Kone looked fairly good at striker.

 

But MC11, supported by Cornish Steve, says Kone should be wide, Lukaku up front.

 

Assuming this 11, and assuming the other 9 are properly placed [leave aside Robles jokes just now], where should Lukaku and Kone mostly play?

Lukaku to make runs inside rather than act like a winger

Although I'd prefer RM drop the 2 DMs, I doubt he'll do it just yet. I do hope he'll try Lukaku out wide, as Matt suggests here, so he can use his strengths -- powerful running forward and strong left foot -- so maybe he can get a goal and get himself and the team going.

 

Might not be so good at tracking back to help Coleman, but if we're using 2 DMs, maybe Besic provides sufficient help over there.

 

Would the following expect too much of Besic? Be a(n even bigger) disaster defensively?

 

Robles

Coleman Alcaraz Distin Baines

Besic Barkley

Lukaku Naismith Mirallas

Kone

I'm a Martinez supporter, but this is hard to take: "Our performance today had guts and character and personality.”

 

For me, there were actually a few positives, if too, too few. Garbutt and Kone will surely play a lot in coming matches. Wonder whether Mirallas will switch back to RM, allowing Garbutt and perhaps Oviedo some play at LM? If RM keeps Mirallas on left, I'll still hope (against hope) to see Lukaku some at RM, where he can use his speed to cut in for left-footed power shots.

 

Not sure what position Baines played today -- it looked a new iteration of the "fluidity experiment" -- but he made 3 excellent passes in the second half, including a perfect set-up that Eto'o botched.

 

I fear McCarthy has been played too soon, and is again out for a few weeks.

 

I'd like to see more of Barkley paired further back with Besic, with McCarthy if he ever gets healthy, with Barry if necessary, any of which leaves Naismith in the -- what to call it?? -- "Everton false 10" slot.

 

Although recent results make thoughts of relegation no longer literally unimaginable, it's still at least difficult to think that 4 of today's bottom 6 could reach 38-40 points. [i think I can imagine the comeback line to my point here.....]

 

So, for me, (1) more Kone and Garbutt, (2) get back more consistently to playing through Baines's passes into box, (3) try again the Barkley experiment further back and (4) the Lukaku experiment out wide-right, (5) don't play Stones, McCarthy, Besic, Jagielka, Howard until they're fully match fit (or whatever), but when they are ready, (6) play them.

Newcastle 2-3 Everton

 

Kone

Can't tell whether this is to be a......

 

3-4-3 with Coleman and Baines as wing backs

 

4-4-2 with Garbutt at LM, McGeady at RM, and Eto'o and Kone strikers

 

4-2-3-1 with Garbutt LM, McGeady RM, Eto'o ACM, Kone lone striker

Injuries still piling up. Jagielka and Howard presumably out. Pienaar a mystery. Hibbert, Osman, Gibson probably still recovering. Mirallas, Stones struggled to finish v. Stoke, and McCarthy, too.

 

Pre-Stoke, I had foolishly hoped for 7 points from the 3 games. Now I'm desperately thinking it might be sensible to hold all these guys above out of Newcastle, in hopes some will be healthy in time for Hull.

 

So .....

 

Robles

Coleman Alcaraz Distin Garbutt

Besic Barry

Lukaku Barkley McGeady

Kone

 

Subs: Browning, Baines, Oviedo, Eto'o

I'd go with McCarthy and Barkley as CM's.

My team would be...(injuries as they stand)

Robles

Hibbert Stones Distin Baines

Barkley McCarthy

Mirallas Pienaar McGeady

Naismith

Naismith suspended, YC accumulation.

Everton 3-1 Stoke

 

Mirallas

.... I'm still dumbfounded by the starting 11 he put out.

I will assume this mostly refers to starting all of Eto'o, Barkley, and Naismith, though I could imagine other reservations about this player or that.

 

My own pre-match comments focused on what I could only assume was RM's plan for these 3 to play "fluidly, " i.e., each player sometimes going forward centrally, at other times on a wing, thus presumably confusing defenders. I was surprised McGeady didn't start, though it's not as if McGeady garners a whole lot of support/confidence here. Pienaar not deemed ready, Mirallas injured again, one-match experiment with Coleman on wing unsuccessful -- no good wing options, so to me McGeady seemed the "least bad" option. RM thought otherwise.

 

The match performance, in the event, was embarrassing, most obviously on defense. Is there a direct connection between the discombobulation of the "fluidity experiment" on offense and the atrocious defending? It's inconceivable -- isn't it?? -- that RM would start exactly the same 11 v. Stoke? But his own post-match comments "admitted" only to failures on defense. His "we had the right team out there" comments admitted no flaw in the attacking set-up.

 

Trying to be upbeat here -- not easy for anyone, save RM -- I will look forward to seeing whether and how RM reconfigures lineups for the upcoming 3 matches in 7 days. I would expect to see Stones start a minimum of one match, more likely 2. I'd think at some point RM will again pair Barkley with Besic/Barry/McCarthy, allowing Naismith/Eto'o to play centrally. Barry moved to CB at least one match to accommodate Barkley with Besic/McCarthy? McGeady bound to start in 2 of the 3 matches, yes? Kone surely starts up front v. either Stoke or Newcastle. Surely. Hope to see Garbutt and/or Oviedo soon, starting or for extended minutes.

 

Overall, I will hope RM starts no outfield player in all 3 matches, and that he does not persist in the "fluidity experiment." Frankly, over the next 3, whenever McGeady doesn't start at RM, I'd prefer Lukaku out there, where he might occasionally use his speed and power to beat a defender by cutting inside for a left-footed drive.

Squad list. COYB.

Thumbnail shows Naismith's number as 15. More of RM's plan to confuse Southampton defenders.

Southampton 1-2 Everton

 

Lukaku

Playing the advanced midfield 3 of Barkley, Eto'o, and Naismith does suggest that RM thinks [rusty747's earlier-post-word] a "fluid" attacking midfield will confuse Southampton defenders. Maybe Eto'o can be as effective on the wing as through the middle, but that hasn't been true for either Naismith or Barkley.

 

Maybe the attacking width will be provided by the fullbacks, with defensive-minded Besic and Barry joining Jagielka and Distin as a back four intermittently during the match.

It's one thing for RM to want to figure out how to keep McCarthy healthy enough to play "more games." But I'm not sure why the McCarthy "riddle" needs to be solved in such a way as to allow him to play three games in a week.

 

Now that Barkley can at times play further back -- not incidentally allowing Naismith and perhaps even Eto'o to play ACM -- it strikes me we have several duos who can be paired in front of the back four, depending on the opponent: McCarthy/Barry, McCarthy/Barkley, Besic/Barkley, Besic/Barry, Barry/Barkley. Gibson, who knows? But even without Gibson figuring into the equation at all, I don't fully see the wisdom of playing McCarthy 3 times in any one week. Not this season.

I would also like to see Besic keep his place alongside either Barry or Mccarthy. In front of them a fluid 3of Eto'o, Barkley and Naismith with Lukaku up front....

In Mirallas's absence, RM might start McGeady or even Pienaar, but maybe he will go with rusty747's recommendation. In which case "fluidity" must be key, as all of Eto'o, Barkley, and Naismith seem far more effective in the middle of the pitch than on the wings. The promise of fluidity is that Southampton defenders will be confused by the random-seeming positioning of 3 attacking mids. The downside, I suppose, is that the fluid trio will themselves be confused.

 

I rather like rusty747's suggestion for this particular fixture. Maybe it would get us off to a fine beginning to 4 matches in 13 days. [i realize the real challenge will be 3 matches in 7 festive days. For this reason, I prefer to see McCarthy withheld v. Southampton.]

Everton 3-0 QPR

 

Lukaku

Ey? How can you be "fully fit" but not "match fit" lmao.

."

 

In Roberto-speak-land, the are multiple levels of fitness. Here, fully fit might mean medically sound, no longer unfit. Whereas, match fit might mean now available to play in a match. In Roberto-speak, however, there's also probably a distinction between match fit and fully match fit, the latter, perhaps, signifying the player can play 70-90 minutes.

Best case: Celtic, Dnipro, Young Boys, Aalborg, Guingamp

Fair enough: Villareal, PSV, Trabzonspor

Difficult: Ajax, Anderlecht, Torino

Disaster: Sevilla, Roma

I'd think the very best case, in terms of combo of relatively weak opponent and close travel would be Aalborg, Guingamp, Young Boys. Celtic, too? Are they weak squad? Dnipro looks a long trip.

RM says 4 players are being assessed ahead of QPR -- Stones, Naismith, McCarthy, Gibson. I'd prefer none of these be rushed back, as Everton have 4 matches in 13 days starting Sat Dec. 20, and 3 of those are away.

 

For QPR, I'll hope it's .......

 

.............................. Howard ...............................

 

Coleman ....... Jagielka ....... Distin ....... Baines

 

................... Besic .............. Osman .................

 

McGeady ............. Barkley ................. Mirallas

 

.............................. Lukaku ..............................

 

Subs -- Hibbert, Garbutt, Pienaar, Oviedo, Eto'o, Kone

Any "peripheral" fit player who doesn't start is guaranteed to be off in January; if Bobby won't pick you for this he sure as hell won't pick you ever.

Agreed. Kone, Robles, and Atsu seem the obvious peripheral and fit players. Not sure what to think about Oviedo and Pienaar. Wouldn't want to "waste" them in a meaningless match if not absolutely fully fit, but if both are in fact fully match-ready, then start one at LM, other on as sub second half.

Surely Kone, Atsu, and Robles will start. As McGeady played only 13-14 minutes v. Hull, and not at all v. City, I'd like to see him get some minutes.