The Everton system at present is trying to play like Arsenal (eg - we get to the edge of the box and pass ourselves to death). Baines is the only player we have who can consistently hit good crosses into the box. It's not Neville's or Hibbert's strength and our wingers aren't wingers so you can't expect them to be great at it either.

Yes, Beckford has the advantage of coming on against tired players but the reason he produces chances is because he is running into space for the midfield.

If we stop mentally dragging our heels, I have no doubt we can put 3 goals in the back of the net.

I'm going to stick up for Ossie here ? I think he gets totally over-the-top unfair stick on here. It's not as if we've been flying without him is it? Maybe, just maybe, it's him we've missed the most?

Whenever I've been at Goodison (in the Family Enclosure), Ossie gets a great reception from the scousers around me and the banter that comes back is always friendly. From what I've seen this season I'd have him in the side before Mikel, Heitinga and Bily, that's for sure!

We'll hammer Wigan ? it's a long time coming but this team will batter someone soon!

                Howard
Coleman  Jagielka     Distin   Baines     
               Fellaini 
         Rodwell        Pienaar
Anichebe                        Gueye
                Beckford

This team might concede, but it would score more than it would concede, and it would give us something to look forward too: exciting football. We might as well play attacking footy and get beat, than shit stuff, and still get beat.

And I've got Cahill on the bench, as Robbie Shields said on another thread, Cahill does throw up a problem, ie 4-4-1-1.

And I know Arteta is suspended, he wouldn't make my team either. I believe we may have seen the best of Mikel, and the injury he suffered has finished him mentally. He was once the most fouled player in the Prem, he got us clever free kicks all the time... Now it's a hot potato, he very rarely wins us free kicks as he is concerned about the forthcoming tackle. I don't know how he will ever overcome this fear. It's a shame but I think we have lost him.

Anyway, with Timmy, Bily, Baxter, on the bench, there's plenty of options should we need to change it, you know, 20 mins to go...

As for Johnny Rotten being injured... great ? at least we won't have to look at his miserable kipper on the bench. Also, as a few people have already posted, let's have a look at this kid Gueye; Wigan is the perfect game for him to be let loose.

Secondly: The Carsley role no longer exists. Carsley no longer gets a game for Brum ? can we at EFC not understand that the game has moved on?

So Robert's positioning of Fellaini is as neanderthal as DM´s thinking. To play without Cahill who is not only the one who is scoring (playing from his most suited position), but even brings spirit and drive to the team which apparently is a quality missing in in most of his team mates.

Remember how Joe Royle got us going and you will understand. The football will follow.

Everton are a team that has been struggling to score, just like West Ham were before playing us, so I'm going for a 3 nil win to Everton. I hate this fixture with a passion. I'm lumping Everton into the "Teams we will never beat while under Martinez's tutelage" category (along with Bolton, Fulham and Stoke). Cahill at just 5'10" can leap like a frigging Salmon and could out jump our entire defence even if we stacked them on one another's shoulders. And he will, his goal will be a header from a set piece. You know he's there, you know what he's going to do, yet somehow we will be unable to stop him. Beckford has been struggling for goals, so no doubt he will score. Rodwell will probably score as well and the headlines will be about him and a forthcoming 20 million pound January bid from United.

I'm really sorry about posting such negative tripe, but the entire thought of this fixture makes my skin crawl, having to endure Moyes waving his arms in celebration at another Cahill headed goal while Cahill himself celebrates by boxing with the corner flag. The whole thing is a damn cliche, and for that reason, I'm out!

The inconsistency is there for all too see. Baines could do little of his attacking today as Wigan had a plan to stop him knowing Everton's ploy to use the aerial threats of Cahill, Fellaini & Saha.

Saha is very disappointing. Should have scored with his right foot but opted for a tame left-foot effort instead. Pienaar also ballooned one over from a good position. Cahill was unlucky with one header but should have scored in the first minute when poor ball control let him down.

Everyone knows the problems but we have to expect that the Management has no solutions as this squad just isn't good enough. January 1st may offer some hope. Coleman was excellent though and Howard saved us at the end.