Tom Cleverley

[Carlito]

And they've walked through us far easier when those two haven't played (Barnsley, first half at Reading, Bournemouth after McCarthy went off - to name a few examples).

Most of the goals we concede (in fact, the vast majority) are from crosses into the box, that the goalkeeper and defenders fail to deal with.

McCarthy and Barry constantly get stick from a certain section of the fanbase. And that's just down to opinion. But they're quite clearly our best two options there, and I'm pretty sure that any other team in the league barring the teams above us would happily have quality like that in their midfield.

There are better players at worse teams than Everton.

It wouldn't be so bad if there was a little bit of rotation for games where they're likely to get overran, such as next week against Palace, but there's more chance of Howard sitting out than either of those two.

 

[maccavennie]

True.

personally think it may be something along these lines...

Joel

Coleman - Stones - Mori - Baines

Besic - Barry

Mirallas - Barkley - Cleverley

Lukaku

Subs: Gibson, Kone, Lennon, Naismith, Deulofeu, Osman, Howard

I went for close to that and think it will be

Joel
Coleman
Stones
Mori
Galloway
Lennon
Besic
Barry
Mirallas
Naismith
Lukaku

Bench -

Howard
Baines
Cleverley
Deulofeu
Kone
Gibson or Osman
Barkley

That's my guess anyway.

Whatever he picks, it better be a winning one

 

[neil999]

baines is a weird one, cos the worry of extra time means we wont know how long we need him to play...

 

[ChicagoToffee]

baines is a weird one, cos the worry of extra time means we wont know how long we need him to play...

Lack of match time didn't stop Bob from sending Cleverly on, did it?

 

[neil999]

Lack of match time didn't stop Bob from sending Cleverly on, did it?

missed my point about extra time

 

[BlueToff]

There are better players at worse teams than Everton.

It wouldn't be so bad if there was a little bit of rotation for games where they're likely to get overran, such as next week against Palace, but there's more chance of Howard sitting out than either of those two.

We got overran a lot easier with Cleverley in that holding role. I like Cleverley, but he's not suited to that role. He fits in perfectly as a link player on that left hand side, and I reckon (as much as it counts for nothing) that's what we should do in away games, and switch it for Kone when at home.

 

[ChicagoToffee]

missed my point about extra time

Probably.

 

[Hantakun]

Not really suited to fill in for McCarthy, but seeing him maintaining the spring in his step all the way up to the final whistle was a positive. Looks ready.

 

[sageyefc]

Covered alot of ground bit rusty though

 

[Kev The Rat]

Poor player want him nowhere near the first team. That he somehow threatens to put Gibson and mirallas out of business completely is disgusting.

 

[Chang Elephant]

Poor player want him nowhere near the first team. That he somehow threatens to put Gibson and mirallas out of business completely is disgusting.

Strong views Kevin old chap

 

[Sir]

Did he play?

Sir

 

[Abraders]

Needs some games and fitness but was solid if not relatively invisible

 

[Kev The Rat]

Strong views Kevin old chap

We have a few very good players at the moment ( Deulofeu, Lukaku, Barry, McCarthy ) and a couple who let the side down when they play. Naismith seems to be off the scene completely which is good but Cleverley and Lennon still hang around at the expense of proper footballers like Gibson and mirallas and that is a sad indictment of the manager.

 

[Jags..class]

We have a few very good players at the moment ( Deulofeu, Lukaku, Barry, McCarthy ) and a couple who let the side down when they play. Naismith seems to be off the scene completely which is good but Cleverley and Lennon still hang around at the expense of proper footballers like Gibson and mirallas and that is a sad indictment of the manager.

Gibson who can't play more them 2 games in a run, Martinez is right to take it easy with gibson and try and sort out his issues