Elston Gunnn

Besides Davies for Gana (or Schneiderlin), give Sigurdsson 10-15 minutes. If no productivity, Rooney on for him. Then Lookman for whichever of Niasse, Vlasic, or DCL is exhausted, ineffective. No Klaassen, please.

Amen, amen, amen. Only a few seconds left, just time to get it into the box, and Baines.......

Gana out, Davies in. Or for Schneiderlin. Gana is neither playmaker nor shotmaker. Davies can be both. Can’t waste a sub to get Williams out, unfortunately.

Gana is neither a playmaker nor a shotmaker. He’s a disruptor. We need goals now. Davies now or at halftime. No waiting beyond that.

Amen. Make it 4-1-3-2. Davies RW, Sigurdsson ACM, Vlasic LW. Yes, take the game to them.

I don’t see Sigurdsson as a wide man. Maybe others on TT do. And I guess Koeman does, unfortunately.

My impression is that Vlasic has been effective on the left. Hope he’s over there, and Sigurdsson in the middle.

I guess it’s a 4-4-2, but he’s still starting both Schneiderlin and Gana. No doubt Gana will get forward, but his shot is so far way off. He’s still mostly a disrupter, not a playmaker.

Agree here: "drive, determination, guts." This has been a problem in most of our matches this season. Our players are more tentative than opponents, less alert, just "softer" in virtually every way. Our players were not ready for that free kick, still getting "organized." Koeman's comment that his players "are afraid of playing ... scared to play forward" speaks volumes. About them, probably about him, too. It is a boring commonplace in sport that winning coaches credit their players' "character." Our players have not, so far this season, demonstrated the on-pitch mental and physical effort needed. We can hope - I do - that as our players get used to each other, they will gain confidence and play differently. They are a sad lot just now.

Apollon were the more alert, aggressive team the entire match. Including on the tying goal, when several of our players were not ready for the free kick. Now a longshot to make it out of group stage. Baines and Vlasic played well, DCL a danger but missed a clear chance at the winner. Unfortunately Williams will probably have to start again Sunday, as Jagielka and Keane are both doubtful.

Koeman is committed to 2 DMs, even at Goodison against mediocre opponent. Disappointing, but I won't be moaning if we play well overall and that pairing is effective. I'm sure Gana will get forward often enough, but his shotmaking is abysmal so far.

It's not clear to me that all that many want Gana and Schneiderlin or maybe any combo of 2 DMs. It's more that many of us are grimly resigned to what appears to be the fact that Koeman strongly prefers them and the 2-DM formation. I suspect many of us, recognizing need for extra attacker, prefer 4-1-3-2. Perhaps especially at home against mediocre opponent, when we want to see relentless forward energy.

I gather Martina had plenty of opportunities for crosses, but was mostly off the mark? OS blog seemed to hint that.

2-1 Niasse?

OS blog describes Niasse goal as "a pearler." Comments?

1-1 Niasse

OS blog makes it sound as if Rooney spent 4-5 minutes being treated for injury. Accurate? That's a lot of minutes to be playing a man down. OS blog compliments Klaasses twice, and says Martina defended well a late cross from Defoe. Comments from those of you viewing the match?

I wonder whether this will look something like a 4-1-3-2? Pickford Martina (gulp) Holgate Williams Baines Schneiderlin Gana Klaassen Sigurdsson DCL Rooney

Televised in England? It's only paid stream over here in US. Any American subscribers to NBC Sports Gold? Quality?

As I noted in earlier post, there's a substantial difference of opinion on TT about whether to rotate massively, especially after a winning performance. But given the number of Koeman's early-season first-choice players left out against Sunderland, this rotation can't be all that surprising. True, one or 2 specific selections are highly debatable.

Yes, I worry about Martina in a back 4. He's sometimes effective going forward, but Kenny looks much the better defender.

There's clearly a difference of opinion on TT as to whether Koeman should and/or will rotate significantly the starting lineup, now that we've finally had a good match performance by a number of players. I am in the camp which thinks he will and should do so, as we are in the middle of 4 matches in 12 days, starting with Sunderland. Many of Koeman's first-choice players this season didn't play a single minute against Sunderland: Pickford, Rooney, Baines, Sigurdsson, Gana, Schneiderlin. I'll guess all of these will start. I don't prefer the 2-DCM formation for this match, but it's Koeman's default pairing, so I'll guess he defaults back to it for Bournemouth. I'll guess Jagielka will start, and that Koeman will rest one or both of Williams and Keane. I'll guess that Koeman will start, at most, 3 players who played 90 minutes on Wednesday night: Holgate, Kenny, and Davies if it's 4 at the back. So, if 4 at the back ..... Pickford Kenny Holgate Jagielka Baines Gana Schneiderlin Davies Rooney Sigurdsson DCL Subs - Stekelenburg, Sandro, Niasse, Klaassen, Vlasic, Besic, Keane If 3 at the back ..... Pickford Holgate Keane Jagielka Martina Gana Schneiderlin Baines Rooney Sigurdsson DCL Subs - Stekelenburg, Davies, Sandro, Niasse, Klaassen, Vlasic, Besic Although I'd like to see Mirallas on the bench, it appears he may be in Koeman's doghouse, deservedly or not. I'd also like to see Lennon on the bench, but I don't know whom Koeman would leave out. I think yesterday Koeman said, "I have 29 players." So a few players wouldn't even make the bench for this match, no matter the alignment.

"Hopefully Koeman doesn't make too many changes for Saturday because this victory will have done those players a world of good." Imported this post from Romey 1878 in the Sunderland thread, as it gives us a good starting point to start thinking about Bournemouth in view of tonight's positive-to-strong result. I assume Romey will not get his wish for few changes, but of course I could be wrong. I assume all of Rooney, Baines, Schneiderlin, Gana, and Sigurdsson will start. DCL, surely. Davies or Klaassen, but not both? Niasse on bench. No idea who will start at RB if it's a 4. Probably Martina at RWB if it's 3.

Carabao 4th round - away to Chelsea. Blecchhh.

Radio: more criticism of Besic. I'm glad Besic is playing this match, discouraging to hear he's not done so well.