Elston Gunnn

I'll guess it will be. -- Robles Coleman Stones Funes Mori Baines Gibson Besic Lennon Naismith Mirallas Lukaku Howard, Deulofeu, Osman, Barkley, Galloway, McGeady, Browning Clearly not our first choice 11, but there's solid talent all through those starters, and should win. I will be very, very disappointed if Mirallas doesn't start. No Kone, period, for this one, Happy to see Deulofeu on at 60-70 minutes for Lennon, but he needs a little rest. Also, no Osman starting, please. Obviously can't be sure about Baines, so I guess I'm saying I hope he's "match fit.""

"Martinez, while disappointed, admitted the result must serve as a lesson for his players." I don't see anything in the report of his post-match comments where RM takes any responsibility whatsoever for his own shortcomings today re tactics and substitutions. Did Roberto learn any lessons today?

Here's what I'd like, but do not expect, Roberto to say: "Despite several wonderful goals and a pretty good first half, we didn't even deserve the point, honestly. I have to take full responsibility, as I held back too long on substitutions. I just didn't do well by our fans, today, so they have every right to be upset with our -- my -- second half. Bournemouth embarrassed us. I embarrassed myself." Here's what I expect: "We deserved three points today. Very unlucky not to have won this match. We could and should have scored perhaps 2 more goals. Very disappointing. Our play was sensational, a little more in the first half than the second. We just needed that little bit of luck today."

I like Roberto, but he deserves worst manager of the week. Kone gassed, why no Mirallas? Barkley nearly saved us, but he played poorly today. Cleverley not quite ready, I guess, as he gave the ball away, and then at the end was nowhere near the goal scorer. Galloway today ..... blecchhhh.

The question is, what is the right way to take advantage of squad depth In the next 2 matches, as we have two away matches close together, plus some travel time that will reduce recuperation by a little. So is the right way: (1) to "prioritize" either Bournemouth or Middlesbrough, thus starting 4-6 different players from Saturday to Tuesday? (2) to start the Aston Villa 11 v. Bournemouth, and if win there, start same 11 v. Middlesbrough, with minimal changes? (3) to substitute 2 players no later than, say, 60 minutes at Bournemouth, and a third at 80 minutes. Ditto v. Middlesbrough? For me, if our squad are almost all healthy and "match fit," I'd think Roberto could make 4-5 changes from Bournemouth to Middlesbrough, and Everton should win both matches, solidly. Should.

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2015/11/18/martinez-hoping-for-clev-comeback Not clear whether Galloway and Browning will be available Saturday. Baines seems a definite no. So, is Oviedo available? He wasn't in the Costa Rica side for either of its WC qualifiers last few days. If not Oviedo, Barry? Wait, a perfect opportunity for Mirallas........

If Deulofeu's improvement is steady -- excellent performances but mixed with some matches when he's ineffective, petulant, diving -- I'd guess Barca would be inclined to hold off until summer 2017 to try to buy back. Yes, they'd presumably pay more by waiting, but they'd not be bothered by the difference (somewhere I recall it's 4m in 2016, 9m in 2017, but I don't think that's certain). They don't clearly need him in 2016, and they'd surely want to be as confident as feasible that he can play fairly regularly for them. 2017 looks a likely decision time for all concerned.

The only debate should be whether Roberto should start his "best team" (no changes) at Middlesbrough if that best 11 win 3 days earlier at Bournemouth. The issue in this scenario is straightforward: can all outfield players who log 75-95 minutes at Bournemouth get sufficient rest in 3 days. Travel is a small factor, too. Presumably if Everton lose at Bournemouth, most on TT would not oppose a few changes for the Middlesbrough match. Indeed, I'd guess most on TT would demand several changes, perhaps starting with a new manager...... (An exception might be if Everton outclass Bournemouth, but lose or draw because of a couple of howler goals let in by our GK. In that case, many might say, keep everything the same, but change the GK.) For me, if our squad are almost all healthy and "match fit," I'd think Roberto could make 3-4 changes from Bournemouth to Middlesbrough, and Everton should win both matches, solidly. Should.

I'd have thought there's something approaching an overwhelming consensus on TT that Barkley's best position is further forward than the DCMs, but not as far forward as Deulofeu and Kone/Mirallas. A sort of "withdrawn #10," since he isn't quite a 10 and is best with ball at feet moving forward. Slightly left of center of pitch going forward, too. So ....... .................. McCarthy ................ Barry .................. ........................................... Barkley ....................... ...... Deulofeu ................................... Mirallas ....... (Sorry, should be in Barkley thread.)

Keep it going, even if it means back to Barca at end of this season or next.

Just to be clear, "friendlies" doesn't refer to England's friendlies with Spain and France, right? Baines hasn't yet been recalled into the national team. As a point of info (for me), do EPL teams routinely play informal, closed-door friendlies during international breaks? If yes, against other EPL clubs?

At the beginning of the season, it was commonly said that Everton's first 10 matches were very challenging, so that if the Toffees could survive through the Arsenal match, they would the have a run of 9 matches to move up the table. I'd guess that most Everton fans saw Sunderland as a must-win, and we're delighted with the result, even while acknowledging that 6-4 might have been a more accurate scoreline. Then, I'd guess most would have seen the away to WHam as on paper the most challenging of our Nov-Dec fixtures. Taking a point was hardly a poor result. So, are we now optimistic about our prospects for the next 7? Sitting on 17, how many points do we need at halfway mark to stay competitive for top 4 at season's end? Some recent history: For last ten EPL seasons, the mean number of points for #4 is 71.2, the median is 70. To be "on track" for 70, we need to get to 35, which means we'd need 18 points from our next 7. Looking at the fixtures, yes, we could conceivably take anywhere from 17-21 points. Absent more injuries among our internationals this coming weekend, we should have a healthy squad except for Jagielka. For me, 13-14 points won't really suffice; and 9-10, forget it. If we have aspirations for 4th, we need 17-18 points from our next 7. Is that expecting too much?

Especially after next weekend's international break. McCarthy will probably play 90 minutes in both Euro qualifiers v. B-H. Give him a rest the weekend after v. Aston Villa. If RM sticks to 2 DCMs, then use Gibson, whose passing is often impressive. If not Gibson, ok, move Barkely back a little. Just give McCarthy a rest for once.

Unless Barkley plays well in one of the friendlies v. Spain or France, I hope Mirallas starts v. Aston Villa at LW, moving Kone to ACM. Barkley on as first sub, ok, with 2 of Lennon, Naismith, and Cleverley -- not Osman -- also subs. Please use 3 subs, Roberto. Three, it's allowed under the rules, and advisable. Deep squad, remember? Roberto, remember? Also, as McCarthy is likely to play more than Gibson in Ireland's massive Euro qualifiers, I hope Roberto will rest McCarthy v. Villa, and start Gibson with Barry. Wonder whether Besic plays for B-H. Hope all our internationals make it through with no more injuries, just in case Roberto actually intends to use his deep squad. Some day.

Barkley's passes aren't connecting. Naismith?

Unlikely Deulofeu plays the full 90, so play through him for next 15-20 minutes.

I agree with that prick Noble.

McCarthy should have been red-carded. Is he playing so well that Roberto can risk a second yellow? Not for me.

Gibson on for McCarthy, I hope.

Get it to Deulofeu. Over and over and over.

Two hours from the start, thinking about lineup. I assume the only questions involve the front four, as I'd be surprised to see anyone starting other than Howard, Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Galloway, McCarthy, and Barry. Lukaku and Kone seem highly likely. I myself would prefer to see two wingers, specifically Deulofeu and Mirallas, so I have a question for the many of you more familiar with both W Ham and match tactics. Are there either likely advantages or disadvantages of starting two wingers against this club? If advantages, then maybe Barkley moves to bench, and we finally get to see Deulofeu and Mirallas together (unless Lennon?). If disadvantages, then I suppose the only question might be whether Naismith might start ahead of Barkley.

Modern reporting headline -- "Sources say Barry looks set for 5-year extension with Toffees"

I think mjb has RM's preference right, but I see Mirallas as a LW "mid who cuts in," rather than fighting Deulofeu for minutes mostly at RW. Although Mirallas played a lot at RW 2 seasons ago -- good combo with Coleman at times -- I think last season he was mostly at LW. In fact, I'd have thought Mirallas an exact example of a wing who likes to cut inside for his shot. As I see it at this moment, Mirallas is just behind all of Deulofeu, Barkley, and Kone for the 3 spots in Roberto's preferred 4-2-3-1, but ahead of Lennon, Cleverley, Naismith, Osman, Pienaar, and McGeady. If anything -- again right now -- Mirallas might occasionally replace Barkley, starting at LW, with Kone in the hole behind Lukaku. But in any case, Roberto suddenly has many options. If the Lukaku-Kone partnership falters, if Barkley's decision-making disappoints, if Deulofeu doesn't quit diving, Mirallas would surely get a start on a wing. Maybe he'll soon get his chance simply because Roberto wants to rotate. And then there are 4 obvious wild cards: Lennon, Cleverley, Naismith, and nostalgic hopes for a Baines-Pienaar partnership. Ironically, if everyone stays healthy for months at a time, Roberto has "too many" options to satisfy the expectations of quite a few players. I'm a bit disappointed to see Osman even on the bench, and McGeady -- absent another wave of injuries -- surely leaves in January.

I don't think any Everton fan opposes winning the Capital One Cup. Surely every single Everton fan would like to win it, even the numerous crack(er)-afflicted TT-ers. The issue is whether to "prioritize" it over fielding our strongest starting lineup for EPL matches. This seems to reduce to a single concrete question: should Roberto or should he not field his strongest starting lineup for both Bournemouth and Middlesbrough? So when you say -- -- do I interpret this to mean you think Roberto should field whatever he thinks is his strongest group for both Bournemouth and Middlesbrough, with minimal or no changes? So that the specific schedule here -- both away, very little rest/recovery between -- is really a non-factor for match-fit young men? Or do you mean, since winning this Cup is a no brainer, Roberto would be wise to give some -- some -- of the lads a rest at Bournemouth, so he'll have a mostly rested squad for Middlesbrough? I'm not trying to start (or continue) a pissing contest here. Rather, Everton having survived to the quarter-finals of the Cup, Roberto will in fact have to decide how much, if any, lineup juggling will give the club its best chance of advancing both to the Cup semi-finals and up the table. He's depending on TT for advice. Mine is: we have squad quality-depth, so use it between the matches of November 28 and December 1.

I hope Barkley begins this one on bench. He made too many poor decisions and passes today. Maybe Roberto will move Kone to the middle, start Mirallas out left. Use 3 of Barkley, Lennon, Naismith, Cleverley second half. I assume Howard starts. Tough match. Not unreasonable to hope to take 19 points from next 8 matches. (Or is it?) Getting a point from this one wouldn't be disappointing.