Elston Gunnn

This is an interesting point. Off today's match, we probably couldn't expect, or even want, Roberto to rotate him out of the starting lineup 6 days from now at WHam. And then there's an international break, so if he and Lukaku work well with each other next Saturday, surely Roberto would start Kone again after the break. However, maybe Kone should start only one of Bournemouth and Middlesbrough. I'll guess he came off today because the match was in hand and Roberto wanted to save him from exhaustion. He ran/runs a lot. In fact, I think this is a good plan for Deulofeu: do not play him 90 minutes. Preferably start him, but occasionally rotate him to the bench, using him for final 30 minutes. Roberto must talk quietly but firmly with Deulofeu about the diving. He will be denied a penalty sooner or later -- or regularly -- because of a reputation for diving, which he has right now, deservedly. As Sideliner says, his skills and dribbling are so impressive, on full display today. Get the ball to him, over and over and over. (Hope Barca see more weaknesses in him than I do.)

From a fan's perspective, Stones's lackadaisical play there is very hard to stomach.

Looked like he just lost focus, wasn't aggressive, not thinking. Not thinking.. Or worried about Chelsea, I don't know.

Absolutely this. Sunderland unlucky first 10 minutes. Then all Everton. Barkley missed several passes. Should have been 3-0, on for 5-0 at the end.

Not exactly ball watching there by Stones, but lazy defending.

Galloway on bench. I think it's that RM was just very impressed with Oviedo on Tues night. Maybe plans to push forward with the fullbacks today, and maybe Oviedo offers more than Galloway there. Galloway's long-term future is probably central defense.

Yes, I strongly recommend this, in every match he starts. A sort of "Loony Matt change our luck" approach. Sure to get you the full 10 several times in Nov/Dec.

Looks as if Roberto was impressed with Oviedo in the Cup. By that logic, of course, Robles should be starting, but Roberto seems committed to Howard as #1, with Robles for Cups. Presumably that commitment will wane if Howard messes up going forward.

Glad to see Oviedo gets the start. I suspect that once Baines returns, Galloway will be the backup for Baines and Funes Mori, and Oviedo might see some time at LW, along with Mirallas.

Back to Matt's thread-starter and his suggested lineup. Interestingly, because the Norwich City match intervened and has led to a debate on the Capital One Cup thread about the importance of the Cup, we've not paid much attention to tomorrow's "must-win." The early-season talk, somewhere, was that if the first ten matches didn't kill us, we could make hay in November and December. But anything other than 3 points tomorrow will constitute a truly dismal start to our journey to, say, 5th in the table on Boxing Day, right? http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2015/10/30/coleman-a-doubt-but-baines-training So Coleman is not likely to be available. Will Roberto simply slot in Browning? Any chance -- whatsoever -- that he'd move Stones to RB, and either use Gibson at RCH or pair up two left-footers in central defense with Oviedo at LB? What about that experiment with Lennon at RB? Give that a go again? Any chance Oviedo starts at LB? Nor is Roberto likely to abandon his 4-2-3-1 setup, which probably means one of Mirallas, Deulofeu, or Cleverley starts on the bench. For all I know, all 3 will be on the bench, with Barkley flanked by two of Lennon, Naismith, and Kone. Any chance Oviedo starts at LW? Must win. So, assuming Howard and 2 DCMs, whom will Roberto start?

With respect to the debate re the importance or irrelevance of the Capital One Cup, for me the practical issue pivots on exactly where it comes in the schedule. Sat Nov 28 @ Bournemouth Tues Dec 1 @ Middlesbrough Mon Dec 7 Crystal Palace There's no problem playing the strongest squad on both Dec 1 and 7; there's sufficient rest/recovery time between those two matches. But presumably there's some question of whether RM could play his strongest group on both Nov 28 and Dec 1, especially given the extra factor of away travel. So, is it likely that Roberto will in fact be forced to prioritize one match over the other (EPL or Cup)? Or, if the squad is recovered from injuries (except Jagielka), does Roberto have enough quality (and "match fitness") that he can field 2 essentially different, but still strong, lineups between an away Sat and an away Tues match? If the answer to this quality-and-match-fitness question is "yes," then the only issue is how to mix-and-match for each contest. If "no," then the issue is whether Roberto "must" either play his very best 6-7 players in both matches or prioritize one match over the other.

Yes, I do a double-take regularly when I get confused by day/month system differences. I should be used to it by now.

Just for the sake of argument, if RM were in fact to prioritize Middlesbrough over Bournemouth, what might two totally different starting lineups look like? Let's assume Robles is keeper for Cup. Also assume all but Jagielka are healthy by late November. Bournemouth -- ................................... Howard ............................... Browning ........ Gibson ...... Galloway ........ Baines ....................... Cleverley ............. Besic ................ Lennon ................... Naismith ................... Pienaar .................................... Kone .................................. Subs: Osman, Lukaku, Deulofeu, Mirallas, Barkley Middlesbrough -- .................................. Robles ................................... Coleman ....... Stones ........ Funes Mori ...... Oviedo ................... McCarthy ............ Barry ....................... Deulofeu .................. Barkley ..................... Mirallas ................................ Lukaku .................................... Subs: Cleverley, Kone, Naismith, Osman, Lennon, Galloway

MikeO should have deferred to mjb, as we do not play a club called "Middlesborough." I'm confident mjb would have avoided MikeO's appalling gaffe. All this talk of "Boro" just leads to trouble. So we miss out on the extra day of rest after playing away to Bournemouth, but as Middlesbrough play on Fri 12/4, probably unfair to them to play on 12/2. I wonder whether Roberto will have to rotate the starters somewhat from Sat aft match to Tues eve match, both away. Enough rest after Cup match, but not as much as is preferable leading into Cup match. Only after MikeO goes.

I think this match will be played the evening of either Tues 12/1 or Wed 12/2. Everton play away to Bournemouth on Sat 11/28 and home to Crystal Palace on Mon eve 12/7. Thus, I suppose the (marginally?) better option for Everton would be to play at Middlesbrough on Wed eve 12/2. Yes?

I'm about half melted down already, as are many others on TT. I suppose RM's plan is for Howard to remain #1 for EPL matches, with Robles the GK in League and FA cups. I hope, but wonder whether, Roberto will be flexible enough to revise plans if either GK just isn't up to the task. On second thought, you don't suppose Howard will also be Roberto's choice for FA Cup matches?

Did Barkley's football brain fart again? I'm asking.

Thanks.

Has McCarthy moved to RB?

Including RM, presumably. Sorry, a little discouraged just now.

Those watching, who's playing where now?

Radio says Stones roundly booed when replay shown of Norwich goal.

Radio says Stones was ball-watching on Norwich goal.

Not entirely sure my above post #53 is accurate. Maybe you can stream it. Not sure. I'm also seeing contradictory listings from beIn as to whether Everton match will be shown on delay tomorrow. Not sure.

Sorry, I wasn't clear enough. To get stream, you have to get beIn over the air. So I guess if your cable/satellite package includes beIn, you can presumably stream it live. My package doesn't include beIn, so I'm out of luck until tomorrow, when I can go to my "beIn pub" and catch the delayed showing. For me, this means if we win. Don't know that I could stand watching a disappointing performance. So ... I'll be following it here on TT, and on Everton OS streaming radio.