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Neville Jagielka Heitinga Baines - I'd go with this defence. Solid in the middle, attacking down the left and Neville on the right. I'd still want Neville in the team. Hibbo can't be that far off, either. The midfield would then look something like this: Rodwell, Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill, Osman, though that's not a perfect line-up - too many centre players and no one really to operate down the wings. I think we're gonna really miss Donovan, he's given us a bit of pace down the wings, and a few more attacking options.

What do you reckon our chances are of winning all our games in March: Hull (H) Birmingham (A) Bolton (H) Man City (A) Wolves (A) I think we're gonna have to win most of our games from now until the end of the season to have any chance of qualifying for Europe this year. I think we need at least 13points from the games in March, preferably 15. This month could well turn out to be just as hard as the last, with two key away games at Brum and City, which are must win games, and then Hull and Bolton at home and Wolves away, three games which I would expect us to win, but knowing our inconsistency, nothing can be taken for granted. I'm still going for 8th as our final spot.

I thought he did well last night, was hoping he'd get a start and a good run out, but getting the full 90 minutes is fantastic for Bainesy. I thought he put in a solid performance, a bit reserved maybe but I don't think he's done himself any kind of disservice. His delivery was a bit inconsistent, a bit like it is with us, but he got a bit lucky with some of his crosses, with one eventually finding Wright-Phillips to fire in. I think with one or two more games, to get him more settled, he'd may do well. Well done Bainsey lad!

Another loss because we could only be arsed playing for half the match. I'm getting a bit tired of us doing that. I can't be too gutted though, I said at the beginning of Feb that I'd be happy with 6 points out of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manu and Spurs. We've got that, so I suppose the rest is just being greedy. Still we need to start playing for 90 minutes, too many times this season we've not been at the races and conceded stupid goals, then in another half we play well and look like a quality side.

We need to be getting more balls into the box, crosses, set pieces; Gomez is a flapper. We also need a good frikkin slap across the face.

Looks like we might get our arses kicked again today.

This is the main point I think, when you change managers, those managers want to bring in their own players, get players to play in different systems and/or positions. There's always a transition period and it always costs money; none of which are we abundantly endowed with. Additionally, one of the main reasons for our success has been the stability of not changing managers every time something seems to not be going our way.

I'm really happy for the lad, he's worked hard and played well this season and deserves it.

here's a link guys. It's poor quality aswell but be warned that this is not nice to look at so if you're fainted hearted,weak-stomached in any way, I don't recommend you click it. Link Stupid stupid, challenge, I dont think he's done it intentionally, but what a shame for the lad.

My theory is that, the league is fixed. They're postponing it till the last minute when it's going to be billed as a showdown match and the decider for who gets forth place in the league.

A win here will be a really good result for us, that would mean 9 pts from Feb, at the beginning of the month, I'd have taken 6 and we have that already, so in one way I'm not too bothered about the result, however, this could potentially be a six pointer depending on how results go from now till the end of the season. I'll take a draw, but that's all we needed the other night, so that kind of attitude is a waste of time. I'm hoping the boys are able to bounce straight back after the defeat in Lisbon, something tells me we're gonna be hungover still, I dont expect a good performance, at least for the first half. It'd be good just to get some confidence back. But as MikeO and Iggy have stated, it depends on which team turns up - Jekyll or Hyde. I'm going with 3-1, not sure yet which way though!

That doesn't sound like a bad idea in theory, not sure how or if it would work, but bringing in someone with a bit of European experience as I kind of 'consultant' could work, (as I say in theory).

Don't really think it's worth adding to this thread but I feel I've got to give my two-penneth. This sums it up for me: Mark Hughes? Sven Goran Erikson? Avram Grant might be out of a job by the end of the season? I don't think Tony Adams has found a new job yet? Then there's Paul Ince who I'm sure would like another crack at the premiership. But wait none of these are better than Moyes, so lets create a list of Managers who are better than Moyes, well ok there are quite a few - Mourinho, Guardiola, Hiddink - Hmm, realistic!? not sure. Ok, so we need to narrow down the criteria: Managers who are better than Moyes, who we can afford to pay, and who can operate on tight transfer budgets. Honestly, I don't know who you would put on that list. I can agree somewhat, that Moyes may have taken us as far as he can, but there's two things that you need to keep in mind - First, the glass ceiling outside the top four, which over the passed few seasons we've reached, and tapped on, and even fractured a little, something no other team, yet this century has managed to do. Secondly, the fact that we don't really have any money, and unless anyone wants us to end up like Pompy (on the brink of oblivion), I seriously hope we stay wisely within our means. Moyes is by no means the best manager in the league, but we'll be hard pressed to find someone who can match him. To return to the question, "Has Moyes taken us as far as he can?" - in my opinion, maybe, at this moment in time. Who is it then that can take us further, well the answer to that is, as we all know, not 'who' but'what' - Investment.

Second that. I'm a fan of the lad, but last night he was absolutely dire. The worst player on the pitch by a country mile, and that's saying something. Gave it to Howard in the end. Baines and Pienaar were the only other players worth mentioning, Arteta maybe gets a shout, but honestly they were mostly made to look good(that should be 'better') by the badness of the rest of the team than anything else.

Wrote this as the site went down last night, can't be bothered to relive and rephrase/write it, so I'll just give it as I thought last night: Embarrassing, awful, shocking, unacceptable, there are just no words to describe how bad that was. I was afraid of this before the match, and it the thing I hate about this team, just the sheer crap inconsistency, we've play really well this month and looking as if we're getting back to form and then they go and pull out a performance like that. It stinks, I've been extremely proud of the lads this month, this year actually, but tonight there was virtually nothing to be proud of, the first half looking as if we were just there to make up the numbers. The second half wasn't much better, and it wasn't until we were chasing the game, that we seemed to come to life a little, meaning we actually had the ball in their half, but with 5 minutes to go, that's unacceptable. We needed to get at them from the start, attack and get the first goal, that would have seen us through. Instead, we stood off, we let them play, we gave them time, and half the team looked as if they'd just rolled out of bed and hadn't had their Weetabix yet. Just not good enough at all and I'm gutted. Still feel pretty much the seem now, just a bit more simmered-down, still gutted though. Don't even feel like looking forward to the Spurs game at the moment.

Fucking idiots, they've got no one to blame for themselves, they should be ashamed for the performance they've put in tonight. Disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful.

Jags on the bench. Senders and Yobo at the back.. Everton: Howard, Neville, Baines, Yobo, Senderos, Donovan, Bilyaletdinov, Arteta, Pienaar Osman, Saha. Subs: Nash, Jagielka, Anichebe, Coleman, Rodwell, Gosling, Yakubu.

Question is then ... who was driving Rodwell's car away?

[sorry Romey, it wasn't working when I tried it, nevermind, it is now. ] Although I'm glad when any of our players get called up for their national team, I just hope that they go gentle with our King Louis as we don't want him getting injured on us. That aside, good on him, he deserves it as he has done really well this season.

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I'm a bit nervous about this one. I think it'll be important to score first. If we score first, they're gonna be chasing it, and they'll be more nervous, however, if they score first then it's us that's gonna be nervous. {I've got a sneaky feeling they're gonna score in the opening minutes, we're gonna be nervous the whole game, get one back in the second half, before they equalise in injury time and I end up chewing my friggin fingers off to penalties!} I'm just hoping that the team really go at them from the off. If we can hassle them, play quick premiership style football, then we could get that goal early on and give us that bit of a cushion. I am worried though, cos they did open us up once or twice and I think at home they'll be more likely to do that again. As for Jags, apparently he's been training with the team for about 3 weeks, so if he does start he'd have had more training time than Arteta had had before he came into the team, so I don't think there would be a great problem, don't think he'd make 90 minutes though. However, on the other hand, this is quite an big game in which to risk and throw him into. Hmm, decisions, decisions!

He needs to make it soon then. He's 28 now, if I was him, I'd be trying to make the move permanent now, he's probably peaking in his ability about now, and he can always go back to the MLS, the sunshine and retirement when he's passed 30. If he was to go back to the US for another 6-12 months then com back here I think he'd be missing a great opportunity. Come on Donners, we all want you to stay, make it happen.

Nice one. Can't wait to see Johnny and Jags line up at the back for us. :0)

We've yet to play Spurs, Villa and City away, those I think will be key games as to whether we can get into the Euro places. Any or all of those matches could be potential six-pointers for us. I think Spurs are going to be the ones most likely to drop down the table, so a win against them next week is vital, as they could be the team we need to battle with for 7th. (btw, does anyone have any idea when our match with City is gonna take place?)

I reckon at this moment in time we'll finish 7th