Everton vs Luton Town

Is Tyler Onyango still around and fit?! The likes of Jenson Metcalfe may have to fill the bench from the U21s. Or maybe the glorious return of Holgate to defensive central midfield, as some called for back in the day?!

The surgery for Dele Alli would strongly suggest that he won't appear again for us this season (or ever) so we could really do with trying to loan in a central midfielder.

If we can't bring anyone in during the next few days, even on loan, then we could be in trouble here, numbers could fall in our squad very quickly.

Try Godfrey if he's not being sold, he can play across the back, very versatile so could work as defensive midfielder. We may forget about Allí, another Gbamin.

As much as I'm a fan of Calvert-Lewin, it also feels like a good opportunity to give Beto the start and see what happens.

It's too bad that it's looking like we won't get to see a potentially rejuvenated Dele Alli this season. Here's to hoping we get that one or two sparkling appearances from him, à la Palace, to shoot us up the table in the last month.

Onyango and Metcalfe are also in the U21 squad.

The thought of Holgate in midfield doesn't excite me.

As for Dele Alli, he's joined the long list of Everton players that spent more time injured than playing.

I'd give Godfrey a go as a holding midfielder it may just be his best position. He's no full back, left or right! Never been convinced when he's at centre-back.

He's got the engine and energy, he likes to tackle. His distribution is not the best… but please not Holgate!

It's probably the only genuine option if it's 4-5-1.

Other sides looking at bringing players in; we are watching our thin squad getting anorexic by the day!!

I doubt if Tyler Onyango is available. He hasn't played for almost 4 months and didn't appear for either the U21s or U18s last night.

Giving Hunt or Metcalfe a chance might be something Dyche is forced to consider.

Please keep Mason Holgate away from any matchday squad, including the bench!

Subs bench is going to look a lonely place for whoever sits on it.

"Try Godfrey if he's not being sold, he can play across the back, very versatile so could work as defensive midfielder"

He can't play anywhere across the back: Why? Because he's not versatile, he's not adaptable, he's not good enough. Who is your next choice, Holgate? Keane?

Oy vey iz mir already.

As a defender, you can all argue the case of a mistake in him, but playing him high up the pitch, that lad can score and create goals. Worth trying him out in a Number 10 role.

If he can get close enough for knock-downs, he will knock their goalie into the middle of next week, one hell of a shot on him.

Play the kids.

Simon@10, I've no desire to see either Godfrey or Holgate in the starting XI to be honest; certainly not in midfield! If push comes to shove, it will be interesting to see if Dyche considers them before the youngsters.

If such an emergency were to occur, then I wouldn't be surprised to see Branthwaite moved forwards as he is so comfortable on the ball and seems to read the game so well.

No surprise we're short in centre-midfield – the most physically demanding position on the pitch for me by a mile. We only had 4 seniors players for 3 positions there at the start of the season (2 of those in their 30s) and Afcon coming up.

The thought of poor Ben Godfrey at the heart of the Everton formation gives me the shivers. He could hardly put left leg in front of right in that horror show vs Doncaster and we've scarcely seen him since, unsurprisingly. Eddie, in this instance, I would rather see an Under-21 who plays that position regularly.

So Onana and Garner together again with McNeil, Danjuma and Harrison in front of them behind Calvert-Lewin, with Beto and Dobbin primed and on the bench.

Then same again next Tuesday and next Saturday… etc, etc.

Otherwise, we might just switch to a 5-2-2-1 – which matches up to Luton pretty well.

I will be moving my daughter over to Cardiff and going to Ikea to eat meatballs. (Only a 200-mile round trip for me.) It's only the meatballs that's keeping me interested.

I'm sure Dychey will put out a respectable team!

As for Godfrey – I think that he may be on his way, and so won't be risked.

He's a totally different player playing higher up the pitch. I would say he is a better option than Godfrey but played closer to our striker for knock-downs.

That is assuming we do not play Danjuma in midfield. I have a feeling he will play Young in midfield.

Maybe change our tactics and try and pair Beto with Calvert-Lewin? I'm aware that not many teams are prepared to go with a 4-4-2 nowadays because of the gaps that can be left to exploit in the middle of the park but, if we can defend from the halfway line with eleven men behind the ball and then look to break forward quickly, then maybe it might just work?

It might be a better option to try Chermiti or Dobbin with one of the strikers as a 4-4-2 option, like Tony suggests.

Likewise the midweek game; he hardly bust a gut last night, it was more of a training game for him.

I think it could suit the personnel that we have available, but I suppose it's dead easy sitting in the living room, trying to be a football manager!

Not that we were in any financial position to do much about it.

The first team pretty much picks itself from those still standing. With Young apparently not recovering as well as expected from his injury, I guess McNeil or Harrison will have to be centre-midfield back-up and I imagine Dobbin and Chermiti can expect to see some action at some point.

For the rest of the bench, I hear we're asking for volunteers.

Pickford (or Virginia again?)
Patterson Tarkowski Keane Branthwaite Mykolenko
Garner Onana McNeil
Harrison Calvert-Lewin

Same for all the teams – just too much and all about the money.

We've played Luton in cup competitions 9 times. Drew one (replayed obviously) won 8 and lost just once.

When and what was the one defeat?

With the squad being diminished daily, I wouldn't mind Keane being used upfront if necessary. It wouldn't do much for Beto's confidence but, being honest, he doesn't look like he is ready for the Premier League at the moment.

Keane does have better control than Beto and, with goals very scarce, Keane might just supply one or two.

The only possible variation on Sam's team would be Danjuma playing on the wing in Harrison's spot and Harrison replacing Doucouré in our usual formation.

But we are now starting to scrape the barrel; if Onana or Garner get injured, we are really in trouble.

Same goes for Dele Alli. I can't even remember what he looks like.

I would love to see Calvert-Lewin and Chermiti upfront, but he does love Young and will play him in the middle.

It feels very much like the squad is now down to the bare bones. Dyche might have to put Woan and Stone on the subs bench alongside 5 keepers.

Likewise, Luton will be weighing up the significance of the cup tie versus the following league matches. It will be interesting to see if they rest some of their key players.

There's no way he's ever going to be up to the fitness or mental demands of being a top-flight footballer in England again, he couldn't even manage to set the Turkish league alight.

I don't know what went wrong in his life at some point just before he left Spurs but I don't ever see him rediscovering what he once had.

The Premier League will find you out big time. I believe our chances of staying in the top flight depend on our ability to claw back some points from the ongoing appeal.

Strap yourselves in, it's going to be a bumpy ride until the end of the season.

It's the injuries/missing of Doucoure and Gueye which will cause the problems to us – not Dele and Gomes. I cannot see Dele ever putting a blue shirt on again, and the club should look to pay him off now.

Whoever crosses that white line and plays is representing Everton Football Club and us, the supporters who will be behind them.

They have an opportunity to prove themselves.

Time to stand up and be counted in front of what looks like another sell out as well as the sell out against Fulham at Craven Cottage next week.

I for one would love to see Ross on our side on Saturday. However, for those with the opposite view, can they at least not spend all afternoon booing his every touch.

I totally agree with your first point and said the same before the Palace game after which a bunch of "I told you so's" said "well Calvert-Lewin is suspended now and McNeil critically injured."

Luckily those comments didn't age well :)

For me, Gomes was an impact sub at best, hopefully unmarked, and could not be dependent on as a deep defensive midfielder. Godfrey is a possible defensive midfielder. Holgate back from loan is fantasy football.

We are competing in a cup match this weekend. And then we travel to Fulham.

Spirit. Forever. We shall not be moved

Believe!

Neither has my hair.

Yes I was one of the 4.5k ish in the crowd. 4 page programme was 20p. The minibus of Luton fans went home happy...

Certainly Dobbin is ready for a 1st team try out, but Chermiti is miles away, not strong enough for a centre forward, doesn’t show for the ball, and lacks any drive, very fortunate to get the full 90 mins. At the moment I just can’t see why we paid £13m for him, he needs to feed off a big lad.

Metcalf was the only other player who looked as though he could develop into a decent player, but he’s not ready yet.

Yes finally although I think it may have been an earlier round. You were one of the true blues who showed up! I'd actually forgotten about that cup and the fact Luton were good in that era. I think they beat Arsenal to win the League Cup that year. My mate’s dad, a big Arsenal fan, claimed to have thrown a brick through the TV.

Mike. lol mine either. Especially when it comes to managerial appointments

Re your Dele Alli comment, sorry don't agree about him never going to be up to the fitness or mental demands of being a top-flight footballer in England again, although I suppose it depends on your definition of top-flight etc.

If, and it's a big if, he can get through his latest injury unscathed he could do a decent job for a Fulham, Luton, Palace, Bournemouth type team or perhaps another team aspiring to be a mid-table team like us, because like it or not that's where we are at the moment.

I don't think his time in Turkey is a great gauge of his ability. It seems he had some mental health issues and chuck in another injury, it wasn't the best of times for him. I think Turkish football is pretty unforgiving when things aren't going well.

I hope he can get past his various issues and perform at a reasonably high level. If that was at Everton, I would be delighted. I imagine he'll go south to his 'home' area where he is likely to get more support from family.

There's a decent player still there.

Apart from watching Graeme Sharp score right in from of me at Wembley in 1984, my favourite FA Cup moments were at the semi finals against Luton and Sheffield Wednesday at Villa Park.

I'm going to have to wait another year for that elusive League Cup but tomorrow, we can take one step further to Wembley and our 6th FA Cup.

That said, the penalty shoot out at Stamford Bridge was special. I wasn't in the ground as I only had one ticket and gave it to my son. I was marching around the nearby cemetery and took to talking to one of the gravestones asking if they could help.

I know, madness. But I could hear the crowd and knew we had done it.

Here we go.

I know we are thin on numbers, but I also believe in keeping any player 'on his toes' and not being a 'shoo-in' which I believe induces complacency and lack of effort. It's not that he is the only available striker either – Beto, Chermiti and Dobbin – if pushed forward.

We are facing an existential threat to our future. We have lost Gana to Afcon and Doucouré is injured leaving just two of our regular midfielders.

Onana has already missed games due to injury and may well be playing despite niggles.

If one or the other gets a knock(or worse) then we will be drafting in kids for crucial league games.

If we were sitting comfortably in 11th (as we should be) then I would be prepared to play an unchanged side, but our squad is so stretched already, that another midfielder getting crocked would be very serious.

We won't win the cup anyway.

Why? Because we can't score enough goals.

So, we need to concentrate on the Premier League – it's that important.

Much more mature than Dobbin, although, as you say, Dobbin had a spell where he caused them all sorts of problems.

More playing time for Patterson, McNeil, Danjuma and Gomes if possible.

Let's make it 2 wins and 2 draws in our last 4 as we head to Fulham on Tuesday.

I expect that the team Lyndon has selected will be pretty much on the money. He doesn’t seem to fancy Danjuma and with Gomes being injured don't know who he will play in Doucouré’s position.

Certainly with Gomes injured and Gueye at the Afcon for a few more weeks, we have only got Garner and Onana and if either get injured we may have to play an untried youngster.

I think both sides won’t want a replay so maybe we see both sides going for it from the off.

Pickford
Patterson, Tarkowski, Keane, Branthwaite. Mykolenko.
Garner, Onana, McNeil
Harrison
Beto.

I would go

Virginia
Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko
Harrison, Garner, Onana, McNeil
Danjuma
Beto.

Whatever COYBs.

I hope we can progress. We need wins, we need to build confidence

Personally I'd have given Dobbin a few more minutes but Danjuma is much better in the same position.

So right I am sad to say. I have watched both age groups numerous times and they are a pretty average lot. Can honestly say all of them should be looking outside of top flight football (Pl & championship, Lge 1) for future employment

They seem to be without any life. Ponderous. Very poor... touch. Passing. Finishing.

Maybe it's recipe soccer. Following what the coaching manual says. But not one player is a diamond.

I don't rate Dobbin either.

So Dyche, whilst taking criticism of not introducing a youngster or two has my sympathy.

Whoever walks on that pitch, fight for the Royal Blue shirt and take us to the next round.

Imagine the positivity from an easy win - I'm thinking like vs Brentford under Lampard a couple of years ago.

Morale-boosting ahead of the trip to Fulham for players and fans alike.
And if we're in the draw for the 5th round, there's guaranteed to be at least 6 non-Prem teams out of 16. So a home game vs Maidstone please.

And more income for the club from more cup / TV games and the fans dreaming of putting the champagne on ice - just like '84!

I know you watch the younger teams which I don't, so I respect your views in saying how poor the youngsters are. So you have to look at the coaches and the recruitment as to why we are struggling to produce any youngsters. Both Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin were bought from other clubs so we cant claim to much credit of bringing them through.

Just to highlight my criticism of Sean Dyche's reluctance to start youngsters he allowed Branthwaite to go on loan to PSV and if they had the funds he probably would still be playing there. Also when he came back after his loan spell finished Dyche still selected Keane ahead of him. Branthwaite now must be the first name on the team sheet.

I would like Dobbin to be given more time than he is presently getting and Robert said that he was impressed with Chermetti against Benfica the other day, yet he gets no minutes from Dyche. And its not as if we are blessed with goal scorers at present.

The entire team were just going through the paces, doing just enough, against Benfica for goodness sake. I watched it hoping to see someone, just anyone pop out for me to go "Wow, there is a new star in the making.”
Oh well, when Saturday comes, UTFT's

Lampard let Branthwaite go to PSV, not Dyche. Dyche is the one who is developing him in the first team.

Also whilst Chermiti is developing, he is not as good as Beto or Calvert-Lewin hence no minutes.

Nothing to see here.

Can any of our Rebel cousins across the pond give us some feedback on him ?

Get down to Goodison Park.

Yes, it was a very easy 4-1 win v Brentford in that cup game but Brentford had a weakened team out and when it came to the league game a few weeks later Brentford won 3-2 with a proper team out.

I hope we get through, as against Palace, without a replay, but it won't hurt too much, to me, if we go out. The Premier League is everything to me. The cup would be a bonus but too many games could hurt us in the long run.

You mustn't have watched us much, because Godfrey played everywhere across the back.

Whether he's not your cup of tea, is irrelevant.

It was the Simod Cup and if I remember correctly it was Paul Power who scored for us. It was 1988.

We got to the final the following season but lost to Forest in an excellent game at Wembley. I never did discover what a Simod was.

Athough I do remember being stood in the Kop (I know, unclean) for a derby in one those tin pot competitions that were created after they got us banned from Europe. I'll leave it there.

As always, my friends (blue and red) headed to my Grandfather's flat on Arkles Lane after the match to be fed and watered by his wife who was a great cook. She used to run a bakery on Walton Breck Road.

As Eddie @ 59 said earlier, we have very little chance of winning the cup whatever teams we pick.

We could be teetering on the brink of going bust as it is, relegation at this time would be another possible nail in the coffin that we can ill afford.

The Screen Sport Super Cup was played over two legs I remember beating Man Utd 4-2 at Goodison. The 1985-86 final was carried over to the following season; we lost 7-2 on aggregate to the Orcs.

Play Danjuma, Calvert-Lewin, Beto, Harrison, McNeil, Onana, Garner and give the opposition something to worry about.

We'd all like a cup run but, with this thin squad, it could be to the detriment of our league position.

Another midfield injury tomorrow and we are goosed!

Howe states Joelinton has probably paid his last game for Newcastle due to FFP, PSR etc. With him being injured & without signing a new contract (he has 18 months left) he is likely to be sold.

Almiron may also have to be sold to balance Newcastle's books.

Dobbin is an interesting one. He seems to be widely dismissed as first team potential. But if you compare his Under-23 record, loan spell away and initial handful of Everton appearances with Gordon's, he seems better than Gordon did at that point.

Personally, I think Gordon is overhyped now but nonetheless he was sold for £50 million and playing regularly for a team who were in the Champions League.

Dobbin by comparison has only been capped twice since a good showing at U17 level.

Now 21, he's miles behind his peer group of Madueke, Bynoe Gittens, Iling Junior and Philogene.

Really he should be on loan in the Championship or abroad to develop, but the squad is so think we need him just in case.

There are not a lot of Americans who can cut it in the Premier League outside of our top 5-6. Danny O’Neill is a big fan of Weston McKennie and he’s one of them, but for now we’ve missed out on him. Yunus Musah is one heckuva player. And we may find out if Gio Reyna can cut it if he ends up at Forest. Tyler Adams did a pretty good job at Leeds last season, all things considered, but has been injured all season while at Bournemouth.

There are others who have a better pulse on the 18 year-old Americans we might want to take a crack at, but those players are typically better off developing in MLS or Belgium or the Netherlands, and once they’ve proven themselves there it becomes a bit of a risk to pay £8-15 million to see if they can cut it in the Premier League. But Kellyn Acosta is not the answer.

Jonathan #123, far and away our best USA addition would have been Tyler Adams, but we couldn't afford him any more than we could have had McKennie. Adams injuries have been unfortunate for the USA and for Bournemouth.

The young Yank I would love to see us take a chance on is Paxten Aaronson, younger brother of Brenden. Hasn't broken through yet at Eintracht Frankfurt but a tremendous young talent.

1-1 methinks.

Interesting the shout for Aaronson. I've read plenty about him but never seen him play. I very much trust your judgment, though, so will be interesting to see how his career plays out.

The one under the radar Yank who has caught my eye when I've seen him play is Cade Cowell, who has just gone down to Mexico. I wouldn't be surprised if he breaks through before the next World Cup.

I recall the days after the scourge of the RS banned all English teams from Europe.

Beating Man Utd 2-4, at their place in mid-week was a well-deserved result by a fine Everton squad in 1986. Sheedy took the piss in a fine Everton display.

Losing to Palace and Forest in finals was also a sign of the times.

Those were the days... but tomorrow can be another great day.

UTFTs!

* Taps Nose

I can't bear our great club worrying about Luton at home, so I'll say it: One day we'll put all our chances away and someone's getting a hiding.

So tomorrow, it's going to happen. UTFT!

Man City playing Spurs and Chelsea playing Villa right now, so 2 of them 4 going out in the 4th round. Could be a good opportunity for a cup run with a bit of luck in the draws.

Dave @90. I personally think Everton would have bettered that 4-1 victory against Brentford in the league game, if it wasn't for those 20 seconds when the silent (he definitely held back his little smirk when he didn't break stride, running to send Branthwaite off) assassin, Michael Oliver took over proceedings, and sent us down to ten men at a time we should have been taking a penalty to go 2-0 in front.

How about playing Calvert-Lewin later in the game for the last 35 mins when their defence is tired and maybe he can use his speed to his advantage.

Also, I remember Dobbin replaced Gordon in one game and I was amazed at Dobbin's speed. I also think he is faster than Gordon but far less confident that is down to the manager.

Some suggestions seem ludicrous. I remember Moyes saying he was going to move Coleman from winger to defence… nuts absolutely nuts; how did that turn out?

Branthwaite was already on loan when Dyche came to Everton, and PSV allegedly made a bid for the kid, which would have made him the costliest player they had ever signed, but Everton obviously said No to that offer.

I'm sure that decision would have been made between Dyche and Thelwell, so although he played Keane before Branthwaite, I'm sure he will have been key in keeping the player at Everton.

Brian @ 79, I have been banging that drum for so, so long. Our recruitment at all levels is pants. When not one of the Under "whatever age" is nowhere near consideration for the first team (when its quality is so poor), then one must wonder what the point of that entire set-up is.

There should be a half dozen at least banging on the door.
Bear in mind they come in to the club at a ridiculously young age so a huge amount gets put into this system. (Not that I personally agree with that, the low age.)

Yes, we produced Gordon. However, that was one lad from dozens and dozens over the last decades. As for Dyche, he has Premier League survival at the top of his agenda.

There really are no players in the above system that are good enough to risk. But Onana, Garner and Patterson are all 22; Branthwaite (also Dobbin) 21; (and Chermiti is only 19). That's six young players.

McNeil and Mykolenko are 24, so realistically we have 5 first-teamers still developing, learning, young.

I think the coaching and the recruitment part of the Academy need a good looking at and have done for a long time at Finch Farm, a very long time.

He's a centre-back for a reason in that he's a defender first and foremost, albeit not a great one but at least an adequate replacement.

No, if Dyche had anything about him, he'd go 2 up tomorrow and go for it. But, let's face it – there's more chance of Lord Lucan riding around Goodison on Shergar.

I think we'll just scrape through tomorrow but it'll be another poor watch.

Goodnight all.

Every player in the Everton squad who is available should be chomping at the bit to show what they can do in light of the adversity aimed at them by the ''authorities''.

Every game is important and cup ties can be very tense but the defense hasn't been too shabby of late which is an important factor.

Personally, I am more concerned about the next Premier League game.

Another surgery? Man can't catch a break now.

You know my views on grass root, development and modern academies.

Meanwhile, Everton boys and girls or people, cup match today.

Get behind them whether you're at Goodison or watching from the far flung areas of the globe.

For me, he will never be a Premier League player.

He runs like he has two left feet with seemingly very little football intelligence.

He doesn't time his runs well enough and wins few if any important headers.

£20M buys very little these days. We will be lucky if he does any better than Maupay who stunk the place out.

Tom Cannon.

Ellis Simms.

Anthony Gordon.

Antonee Robinson.

Nathan Broadhead.

Kieran Dowell.

Adam Forshaw.

Tom Davies.

Jonjoe Kenny.

But sure. Our youth system produces nothing.

Our youth system is fine. The issue isn't the youths, or even the coaching (at least, within the youth system itself), but the way that so many of these players were subsequently managed, and failed, by a club who were too busy wasting a king's ransom rather than building a squad and working to an actual fucking strategy. These are all players who have, or will, play in the top flight.

There's so much wrong with Everton, you could literally write a book. But the youth system is low on the list.

Tom Davies, for example. If we'd either given him the chance to develop, or sold him years before we allowed him to leave for nothing, he'd have paid the money it cost to develop him fivefold.

Good work if you can get it, so No I don't feel sorry for him but I do for the others we let go for a pittance, apart from AG.

Lampard didn’t really have a clue lining up his teams in too many games and he either didn’t listen to his coaching team or they were as clueless as him.

Just noticed that after the West Ham game on March 2nd, we could go five weeks with no home game until April 6th!

Goodison derby is scheduled for March 16, but that is also quarter-finals weekend. If either of us make it to Round 6, the derby's cancelled, I assume.

Ther tearjearkers being interviewed on Stanley Park this morning almost made me smile nut equally cringw.

Can't wait to hit the Arkles later.

We know the chant Every single one of them.

Meanwhile, we have Luton to think about.