Elston Gunnn

I worry that Coleman's head knock may continue "under observation," rendering him unavailable. But desperately hoping he's fully fit, I wonder how this would work:

 

Howard

 

Coleman Stones Jagielka Baines

 

McCarthy Gibson Barry

 

Lukaku Naismith Mirallas

 

Three DM's, but Barry has excellent all-field vision, good for a few long passes into space to create opportunities. And Gibson's passing is a real strength, yes?

 

Second half subs -- Besic in if Gibson can only go 60 minutes. Eto'o for Lukaku at 60-65 minutes. Oviedo or McGeady in for either Naismith or Mirallas.

5 at the back? Cannot be using Hibbo as a wingback, can we?

I'm still guessing Oviedo at LM. Surely.

Is it likely to be Garbutt at LB, Oviedo at LM?

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/22/everton-bryan-oviedo-capital-one-cup-swansea-city

 

Suggestions here that Oviedo will start, Hibbert will start or play, and RM considering starting Howard.

Everton 3-1 Crystal Palace

 

Eto'o

Just watched RM's pre-CP press conference. Not very revealing, unfortunately, re squad changes for CP. Have to guess, based on just a few tantalizing comments.

 

1. RM said Coleman's knock wasn't serious, but also said he's "under observation." I assume this is standard precaution protocol, but wonder whether it just might mean Stones at RB on Sunday.

 

2. Praised Eto'o. But my impression is that RM isn't likely to start him v. CP. As Lukaku was substituted last eve, I'll guess he plays 60 on Sunday, Eto'o for 30.

 

3. Gibson -- Although I'd hope he could start Sunday in place of Barry, my impression from RM is that Gibson will be more gradually reintroduced. Surely Gibson might come on for a little longer stretch Sunday, then start v. Swansea??

 

4. But if we see Gibson and Eto'o as subs on Sunday, that would leave but one more sub, and if RM starts essentially the same 11 on Sunday as last 2 matches, wow, we'll have some tired lads in second half.

 

5. Which seems to suggest at least a few changes. Not just that hypothetical 3d sub, but as starters. Especially given another of RM's comments, that "some players need 48 hours to recover, others need 72." So, if -- if -- my impressionistic guess is accurate that Gibson and Eto'o are likely subs, who might actually start in place of any of, say, Barry, McGeady, Naismith, Mirallas? Obvious candidates seem to be Osman, Besic, Atsu. Possible back line of Baines, Jagielka, Alcarez, Stones?

 

6. RM made one minor error, in noting that of our next 7 matches, "6 are away from Goodison, and in 4 countries." He's close, as it's 5 of next 7 away from Goodison, and sure enough, 4 different countries!

It's going to have to be changes at the weekend as we've put in a real shift tonight.

Yes, we'll have a vigorous discussion on the forthcoming CP thread, given the final 30 minutes tonight and Swansea away 2 days after CP.

3-3 probably would have been a fair result. Disappointing, but closer to actual play on the pitch. Baines really good defensively today. Eto'o very impressive. Jagielka wildly inconsistent. Many good hustle plays on our goals. Defense tired last 20 minutes, or more.

 

Shots/on goal -- Everton 12/7, W 27/13.

Lukaku gets some rest, good. Now get Naismith out before his second yellow. Preferably Besic, but Osman if necessary.

Want to see, well, a 4th goal, of course, but also gradual subs starting around 60 minutes -- Eto'o for Lukaku, Besic for Naismith, Atsu for Mirallas.

That's no penalty, outside the box.

Mostly evenly contested match. Still seems we give too much space when W are advancing ball from midfield. W look dangerous on build-up, crosses. One horrendous back pass from Jagielka (I think) near end of half. Lukaku, Mirallas, Coleman have pace, shows in this match. Baines with wonderful, smart, smart header (!) off bounce toward poacher Coleman for goal just before halftime.

 

Will be hard to keep clean sheet. W has some talent, will test our center-halves.

Mirallas working hard, Baines, too, and Coleman poaching! 2-0.

Nice defending by Baines, shielding against 2 rushing Wolfsburg players as nice cross came in.

Some beautiful football there. Three good passes, Naismith with wonderful control. Might be own goal, or Naismith's. Wonderful one-touch passes. Everton 1-0.

If anything, I think changes will be more likely for the Palace game.

Agree. I expect Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Stones, Coleman, Barry, McCarthy, McGeady, Naismith, Mirallas, Lukaku.

 

Then, no matter the scoreline, 3 strategic subs at 60, 70, 80 minutes, probably for both wingers and Lukaku.

 

Then, some revision for CP on Sunday, but still a near-as-possible strongest squad. Major revisions v. Swansea (= not our very strongest squad, but still a group that could nick a surprise away win), by which time the derby v. Liverpool takes priority in terms of squad rotation.

OK for some. FoxSports is not showing any of the games here. In previous seasons only some of the knock-out ties have been shown. Otherwise Europa coverage here is abysmal, no media coverage whatsoever, (unlike CL) so I'll be relying on the pass-by-pass reports on ToffeeTalk.

COYB!

Europa coverage in US on FoxSports 1 and 2 is usually English clubs, Celtic, and for some reason, Napoli seem to be covered sometimes. So today we get Everton, Celtic, Napoli, and Spurs.

 

I feel for your frustration. Until last season, when new NBC Sports Network obtained the EPL, I rarely got to see Everton, maybe 3-4 times a year at most.

To those who will be in attendance tomorrow please understand how jealous everyone of us Americans is....

Yep. Hope to attend a match someday. For tomorrow, happy we get it in US on FoxSports 1. I plan to be screaming, preferably for each of Everton's 3 goals, and not at a disastrous back pass.

You're thinking WAYYYYY too much into this. He'll play a revised team Thurs he'll have his strongest team out against Palace and then practically a reserve side out at Swansea.

3 points against Palace are an absolute must after a dodgy start and Liverpool and United coming up both Away from home in the league after that. Points dropped at home there and 2 away defeats (which is a real possibility) and our seasons on the ropes before it's even got going.

He'll play probably Baines, Coleman, Jagielka, Mcarthey , Barry, Mgeady and Howard with maybe Eto'o Atsu and Distin coming in as well as maybe Osman then Sunday we'll be full strength (like the WBA game then Swansea will see the likes of Hibbert, Stones, Garbutf, besic, Gibson etc getting a run out.

It's true that RM is being paid rather more than I to think way too much about the problem - or as RM prefers, "enjoyment" - of this crowded list of matches. Still, thinking in some detail about possible lineups must surely be an acceptable expression of Everton football obsession. Next you'll tell me there's no Santa Claus, or that Basil Fawlty is a kind-hearted soul.

 

Take your own speculation about the revised 11 RM may play Thursday. Unless I'm once again overthinking - distinct possibility - you suggest no Lukaku or Mirallas starting v. Wolfsburg. Although it would surprise me a little, yes, I could see Mirallas rested, even held out totally; but for Lukaku, given his publicly professed desire for European football, to be held out entirely from this first EL fixture - that would surprise me a lot.

 

As I said in my post, I agree with you that we're likely to see several to lots of new faces v. Swansea.

Here's Roberto - somewhere between useful update and maddening double-talk/imprecision - on squad depth for next three matches.

 

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2014/09/15/eto-o-and-distin-injury-boost

 

First big test of squad depth, as Everton play 3 matches in 6 days. This first Europa Leage Thursday/Sunday challenge will be relatively easy, as both matches are at Goodison. But that 3rd match on the 6th day [not to be confused with Dylan's "5th daughter, 12th night, 1st father, 2d mother, 7th son" hilarity], away to Swansea only 2 days after CP, must surely require massive changes. Unless Roberto's strategy will be to feature essentially the same, current-first-choice, lads for Wolfsburg and Swansea, and inserting a mostly different group in the Sunday tie with CP.

 

For me, this 3-in-6 presents an intriguing squad depth problem for RM, made more problematic because of long-term injuries to Barkley, Oviedo, Kone, Gibson, intermediate-term to Pienaar, Hibbert, short-term to Distin, Eto'o.

 

The video in the link is from the WBA post-game interview. Roberto deflects the interviewer's inquiry as to how he'll "juggle the resources" in upcoming matches, by referring to the "enjoyment" of competing in several different competitions. We then learn - maybe, for Roberto is perpetually optimistic - that he will choose his Wolfsburg 18 from the WBA 18, plus Eto'o, Distin, and Browning. No way Browning [right?], but if both Distin and Eto'o come into the squad for Wolfsburg, I'd guess Garbutt and one of Atsu/Besic/Osman would be dropped, probably Atsu. Ossie will surely be rewarded with a spot, both because of his service to the club, and because he showed well v. WBA.

 

I'll guess we'll then see some minor "juggling" for CP, and major juggling for Swansea. As RM is quoted as saying Hibbert "will be back" for Swansea, I'll guess he will be in the Swansea 18, and that Atsu, Besic, Osman, Garbutt, Alcarez, Gibson, Robles, Eto'o, maybe Hibbert will start v. Swansea. And 2 others. I suppose Oviedo and Kone might be "available" for Swansea, but I'm skeptical. That Pienaar isn't even mentioned by RM in this "injury boost" update implies he's not back soon. Not good.

 

An alternate "juggling scenario" might, of course, be to start essentially the same eleven v. Wolfsburg and Swansea, using a mostly different eleven in the middle fixture v. CP. But I'm guessing Roberto will see CP as more important than Swansea, and thus will try somehow to have the strongest feasible squad [14 who actually play] for the first 2, then juggle major changes away to Swansea, the relatively least important of the upcoming 3-in-6.

 

Will any player actually play 70-90 minutes in all 3??

WBA 1-3 Everton

 

Lukaku

More re Martinez on Cleverly loan.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/11/everton-roberto-martinez-tom-cleverley-manchester-united

You want players who take on defenders, its one of the best things in the game.... We have 2 players in Mcgeady and Mirallas who can do this - Ross Barkley does this. Lets enjoy them.

Coleman, too, right? A lot more often than the vast majority of fullbacks, anywhere.

 

Actually, that "anywhere" is hyperbole, or a guess.

Was that a McCarthy assist on the first one?

McCarthy and Coleman each credited with one assist in box score from ESPN.

I am intrigued by several of RM's comments in this short piece, assuming he's being quoted accurately.

 

http://www.nsno.co.uk/everton-news/2014/09/october-return-for-injured-duo/

 

1. The news is, at first glance, that Kone and Oviedo will not play in any of the September fixtures, but will be ready "when September ends." That might simply be interpreted as Krasnodar (10/2) or ManU (10/5).

 

2. But Martinez is more precisely quoted as referring to "a big block of games, seven games in three weeks," which clearly refers to WBrom (9/13) through ManU (10/5). So I continue to think of the League Cup tie at Swansea as the least important -- as a purely practical matter -- of a very demanding 7-in-3-weeks. I understand Newty82's dissent from my view, and so will be interested to see how Martinez juggles the lineup over 7-in-3. I tend to think of this as, "Which 14 lads will play in this match?" And I speculate that against Swansea, Martinez will field a slightly less experienced team.

 

3. Back to Kone and Oviedo, and to this from RM: "We would feel confident if we can replicate the work we are doing in the next international break, and then wed be confident they will be available for the next block of games." I interpret this to mean that he's planning for Kone and Oviedo to return -- to "availability" -- beginning with the Aston Villa match on 10/18, i.e., after "the next international break."

 

4. So, to state the obvious, if Lukaku misses much more than the WBrom match, some combo of the following must surely happen: Eto'o will be exhausted, Mirallas will play striker in many matches, and/or Naismith will have to play up front, as opposed to his ideal role as AM.

 

5. Martinez is looking not merely at September fixtures, 5-in-2. He's looking at 7-in-3, the fixtures between this and the next international break. Lukaku's setback, Kone's tantalizing not-quite-readiness, Oviedo's will-he-even-be-"available"-in-October, and Barkley's no-news-isn't-good-news combine to portend, well, portentousness, or something.

 

6. But on the "Predict our result" thread, I'll probably predict 3 points every time. Maybe a draw v. Swansea. Just so we can play an extra match at Goodison, When more of our lads are available.