Season › 2015-16 › News Barnsley vs Everton Lyndon Lloyd , 26 August, 49comments | Jump to most recent Capital One Cup Second Round Preview How curious is the hand of fate that Everton should be facing Barnsley when they kick off their League Cup campaign. The Tykes have been prominent in the Toffees' recent history with two of their homegrown defenders completing transfers to Goodison Park and while Mason Holgate could make a quick return to his former stomping ground, big question marks hang over the appearance of John Stones following his decision yesterday to hand in a transfer request. What would have been a glorious homecoming for one of the Yorkshire club's best graduates will either not happen at all or it will take place under a swarm of headlines and the glare of media attention. That choice will fall to Roberto Martinez as he and the Everton hierarchy presumably weigh up how to handle the 21-year-old's request to be allowed to leave before Tuesday's transfer deadline. Assuming Stones's mind has been made up for some time and he has been biding his time to see if Everton would bow to one of Chelsea's three bids to date for his services, he has been remarkably composed in his three appearances so far this season and has betrayed few effects of the attention it has garnered or the dilemma he has been facing. Whether he will still be in the right frame of mind to play in this second-round tie is another matter but Martinez, having waited until the last week of the window to sign a replacement for one of Antolin Alcaraz and Sylvain Distin, finds himself worryingly short of options at the back. Article continues below video content Phil Jagielka is the only other senior centre half at the club and Brendan Galloway, a more than capable deputy on the evidence thus far, is almost certain to be ruled out with the knee injury that forced him off against Manchester City on Sunday. That leaves Tyias Browning and Holgate as the remaining choices if the manager doesn't consider dropping Gareth Barry to centre half. Thankfully, with Bryan Oviedo lined up to make his first start since February, Martinez has a natural replacement for Galloway at left back but the rest of his team selection will, by his own admission, allow some of the players who haven't featured much thus far to get some game time. That is likely to mean opportunities for players like Leon Osman, Gerard Deulofeu and, perhaps, Arouna Kone, Kevin Mirallas and Conor McAleny. There are also likely to be places for some of the U21s squad on the substitute's bench as Martinez balances squad-rotation with the need to progress in one of the two most likely routes to silverware this season. A sizeable chunk of the Evertonian fanbase will be uncomfortable with anything other than a strong line-up this evening, however. Putting maximum focus on winning a trophy – and, in particular, a competition that Everton have never won – has become a priority for many supporters. Indeed, it's a competition that has been unkind, even painful, to the Blues in its 55-year history and not since winning away at Hull six years ago has an Everton side won an away tie in the League Cup. A match against a League One side should be routine for a Premier League side, however – only one top-flight team was beaten in last night's fixtures – so let's hope it will be the Toffees and not the Tykes making the trip to Reading next month in the third round. Kick-off: 7.45pm Full coverage: ToffeeWeb Match Report Live Forum Reader Comments (49) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Craig Mills 1 Posted 26/08/2015 at 06:53:30 Please no whole sale changes Roberto, play your best side, and make the necessary changes to rest players when the game is comfortable. I'd also opt for Browning along side Jags, he put in a very solid shift at Leeds pre season and on that showing, this game should not be too much for him, he has the pace, strength and height and deserves his chance Phil Sammon 2 Posted 26/08/2015 at 07:04:07 Howard was at fault for both goals at the weekend. I'd like to see him dropped for a game at least. Barnsley 0-3 EvertonDeulofeu '31Mirallas '45Mirallas' 68RoblesColemanBrowningJagielkaOviedoDeulofeuMcCarthyBesicMirallas (Osman '78)Barkley (McAleny '61)Kone (Naismith '72)Feel free to get cracking on that match report, Lyndon. Craig Fletcher 5 Posted 26/08/2015 at 07:38:35 Are you kidding Phil?!Miralles subbed (and for Osman?!) before he had the chance to complete his hat trick? Martinez out !!!! :) Dave Abrahams 7 Posted 26/08/2015 at 09:14:56 I hope a team is picked that can win this match, especially for all the dedicated fans going to the game.We have all had a massive kick in the plums before the game has even started, give us a bit of respite by winning this match.Everton forever, Kenwright you are leaving a terrible legacy to your name, which already stinks to a lot of Everton fans. Dave Abrahams 8 Posted 26/08/2015 at 09:17:49 By the way forgot to add, thanks very much for keeping the lines going last night, Michael and Lyndon take a bow, you did very well. Phil Walling 9 Posted 26/08/2015 at 09:18:02 Nobody gives a toss about this fourth grade trophy and with league position the only money making competition we feature in, Roberto must opt for a run out for the stiffs tonight.Rubles; Browning, Holgate, Jagielka, Oviedo; Mirallas, Osman, Naismith, Deulofeu/McGeady; McAleney should be more than able to take us through. If not, we are in real trouble as the season gets underway proper. David Chait 11 Posted 26/08/2015 at 09:25:28 Nothing like some real footie to divert to more important things than employees shifting companies. Dick Fearon 12 Posted 26/08/2015 at 09:34:05 Would those players and various so called pundits say how Stones transfer is good for Premier league competition or does it tilt the playing field even more favourably toward foreign billionaires and their backing of so called super coaches. Tom Bowers 13 Posted 26/08/2015 at 09:34:15 Most clubs still don't get serious about this trophy unless they get to the later rounds.Everton will play some back-ups but one would think they are good enough to win this but how many times have we said that.Barnsley won't be easy as many lower clubs see this as a revenue trail and many a lower club has done well in this competition. Mike Oates 14 Posted 26/08/2015 at 09:42:42 Timing of Stones request - just before League Cup, maybe Chelsea have said they want to give him game time in their League Cup games and don't want him cup-tied - so PLAY HIM TONIGHT and let Chelsea rot Mike Allison 16 Posted 26/08/2015 at 10:19:14 Oviedo, Besic, Mirallas and Deulofeu must start.It's not a case of weakening the team, but giving players important game time early in the season. Martinez failed to get this right last year and it cost us really badly.I'd go:Robles; Coleman, Stones/Browning, Jagielka, Oviedo; Besic, Cleverley; Deulofeu, Barkley, Mirallas; Lukaku. Stuart Mitchell 17 Posted 26/08/2015 at 10:30:30 I would pick the exact same team as Mike Allison, maybe with McAleny replacing Lukaku 2nd half to give him a chance to shine. John Malone 18 Posted 26/08/2015 at 11:34:14 Just glad Oviedo can get a game under his belt we need him fit asap! Victor Jones 20 Posted 26/08/2015 at 12:38:04 Beat Barnsley. Then beat Reading. Everton have a real chance of progressing in this cup. Can we beat these two teams? It is a sad indictment of where Everton are under Martinez, that no one can ptedict how Everton will perform with any confidence. Will we turn up? Who knows. I sure as hell don’t know. But heres hoping.And remember, we have no european distraction this year. So let's give this cup a proper go. James Stewart 21 Posted 26/08/2015 at 12:54:40 Robles Coleman Browning Jags OviedoBesic CleverleyDeulofeu Barkley MirallasLukaku3 games into a season is not the time for wholesale changes. We should be taking the cups seriously this season and pick sides as such. Thomas Surgenor 22 Posted 26/08/2015 at 12:57:04 Stones must play tonight to prove he is in the right frame of mind.There can be none of Roberto ''shielding him from the media spotlight''. Andy Mack 23 Posted 26/08/2015 at 13:06:00 Give Stones 5mins at the end. May as well get to wave at the Barnsley fans who will be very cheerful at the windfall he's about to give them. Cuptied from then on. Jason Thomas 24 Posted 26/08/2015 at 13:07:23 James, if that side works well, I would hope he takes it into the league. Rob Newling 25 Posted 26/08/2015 at 13:15:53 What are you on Phil [2] ?I've got:Mirallas with the equaliser '68& Hibbert (late sub) with the winner '90+5 Andrew Ellams 26 Posted 26/08/2015 at 13:18:03 Apart from it being the Leagur Cup, why shouldn't Stones play. I find situations like Utd not pick De Gea totally bizarre. David Booth 27 Posted 26/08/2015 at 13:41:45 Bearing in mind our mixed start to the season, our appalling record in this competition and the Stones debacle - don't you dare ponce around with the team tonight Roberto!Best XI and get it won.Storm clouds looming very large on the horizon if we p*ss about with the team and go out. Brian Wilkinson 29 Posted 26/08/2015 at 14:18:46 II would play Stones, tell him to face the sellout away crowd. But you just know he will avoid it.Do you play a player who wants out and have the fans on his back with every touch, or does Bobby drop him, then get slated by us by saying he's on his way.Love Bobby or dislike him, whatever he does tonight in regards to Stones will be wrong, play him half will slate him, drop him and remainder will say dropped he is on his way Everton have took the money. Tim Greeley 30 Posted 26/08/2015 at 14:31:57 If anyone is actually feeling confident about this match, give me some of whatever you’re on. Give me a lot of it, actually!Watford were the only EPL club to go out yesterday. All the rags will be itching to dig one more foot of Everton’s grave. Losing Stones, losing to Stones’ old club, losing our GODDAMN MINDS!RoblesSeamus - Ty - Jags - OviBaby Barry Besic CleverlyDelBoy Osman LukakuBench: TH, Kev, Kone, McCarthy, McAleny, Henen, Holgate, STONES Ian Jones 31 Posted 26/08/2015 at 14:32:00 Hard as it may seem, it might be good to actually support Stones if he plays tonight rather than getting on his back. Barracking individual players doesn't always help the team overall, although probably feels great! Paul Kennedy 32 Posted 26/08/2015 at 14:37:58 I'm amazed that some people seem surprised that Stones is going. Did they really think we would reject 30 million or more or stand up to bullying? Not nowadays, we know we are only in the league to make up numbers. It would be a short season if it was only the 6 teams that the media want!!Go for it tonight – what have we got to lose? Zac Farbrother 33 Posted 26/08/2015 at 15:09:40 Who else is coming tonight? Steven Jones 34 Posted 26/08/2015 at 15:28:22 My Team for Tonight ...RoblesColemanBrowningJagsOviedoBesicBarkley(As per QPR)DelboyOsmanMirallasKonePennington or Holgate on the Bench to come on for Jags if we are 3 up 20mins to go. Alexander McNamara 35 Posted 26/08/2015 at 15:33:39 I think cup-tieing Stones out of spite is a silly idea. If this fiasco turns into an even more volatile situation atn Goodison, leaving us no choice but to sell him, we need to have maximized the value of the transfer. Play Browning/Jagileka. John Crook 36 Posted 26/08/2015 at 15:38:20 There is no betting at all on the first/last/anytime goalscorer markets for John Stones. Yet you can get prices for Mason Holgate. Looks like William Hills don't think Stones is being played tonight. I suspect Browning will get the nod alongside Jagielka. I would normally be looking forward to cup match. This time last Saturday Stones was staying and we were signing Yarmolenko and two South Americans. How the moods have changed in the last 2 days! Santosh Benjamin 37 Posted 26/08/2015 at 15:51:26 Really upset by the news of the transfer request Stephen O'Donnell 38 Posted 26/08/2015 at 16:34:57 I definitely would not play Stones now. Doesn't want to play for us so do one to the Chelsea rent boys. Mason Holgate, grab your chance son... Brian Hill 39 Posted 26/08/2015 at 16:36:14 We are playing tonight! Almost forgot. If you are looking for a link go to:www.cricfree.sxand click on skysports 1 on the left of the site. Harold Matthews 40 Posted 26/08/2015 at 16:45:55 The fans have been distracted but the coaches and squad will have been training hard and I'm expecting a strong line-up and a solid performance. Conor Skelly 41 Posted 26/08/2015 at 16:56:21 The team will be: Robles ColemanBrowningJagsOviedoBesicBarryDelboyNaismithMirallesKone Mike Keating 42 Posted 26/08/2015 at 16:57:06 After his nightmare at left back on Sunday, Browning needs a run out at CB as a boost to his confidence. Stones should play a part just to keep Chelsea guessing - I hope we stand firm against selling him but I doubt it. Mike Powell 43 Posted 26/08/2015 at 17:01:02 Stones should play, he is still under contract to Everton. I don't give a shit if he gets cup-tied for the rent boys. Dave Pritchard 44 Posted 26/08/2015 at 17:06:00 Conor, how do you know? Helen Mallon 45 Posted 26/08/2015 at 17:30:48 Roberto should resign on principle if we sell Stones. He has stated that even if he has put the transfer request in he would not be sold, so if Stones goes then he has been undermined. That cannot be tolerated by him or the fans. Chelsea and the rich clubs need shackling. Conor Skelly 46 Posted 26/08/2015 at 17:38:39 I don't know, Dave. Your guess is as good as mine. Ian Bennett 47 Posted 26/08/2015 at 17:47:59 I'd go:-RoblesColemanOviedoBrowningBarry - can we really risk Jags getting injured?BesicOsmanDelMcalenyMirallasNaismith Mark Murphy 48 Posted 26/08/2015 at 18:03:51 Can I just ask, cos its one of the many nails in my Everton coffin.The people who pick Barry in the team – is it because you think he is still good enough or is it because you think Martinez just wont drop him? Dave Pritchard 49 Posted 26/08/2015 at 18:05:54 OK Conor, it just read like you had some prior knowledge. My guess would be that Osman will definitely start along with Mirallas, Del and Besic. We already know that Oviedo is due to start. I hope we go two up front in this one. Tom Cuffe 50 Posted 26/08/2015 at 18:15:09 Hope Stones plays, if does he's going nowhere this season, if doesn't play, the deal will happen. 3-0 nil tonight Barry Hatrick !!! Dave Pritchard 51 Posted 26/08/2015 at 18:33:25 Tom, get to the bookies if you fancy the Barry hat-trick. I'd give you odds of 1000-1 on that one. Colin Glassar 52 Posted 26/08/2015 at 18:35:23 Looked pretty cool and relaxed arriving at Oakwell. Colin Glassar 53 Posted 26/08/2015 at 18:38:05 I'd go withRoblesColemanBrowningStonesOviedoDelMaccaBarkleyBesicMirallasKone Ian McDowell 55 Posted 26/08/2015 at 18:42:21 HowardColemanJagielkaStonesOviedoBesicCleverleyMirallasBarkleyDeulofeuKoneStrong team. There was a player for Newcastle last night. Seen him before in France. Thauvin looked quality when I saw him over there and he was for Newcastle last night. Don’t understand why we weren’t in for him. Jim Hillier 56 Posted 26/08/2015 at 18:44:34 Barry Hatrick? Didn't he manage us once? Paul Kossoff 58 Posted 26/08/2015 at 18:51:34 Stones plays! Highlights channel 5, 11 o clock tonight lads. 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