Baines has played more minutes than other player and has needed a rest for a while. Moyes bought Oviedo and has underplayed him, should've rotated at some point.

Jeff,
totally agree with your post.

It seems he has been carrying an ankle injury for a while and may not want to push himself too much.

Moyes doesnt seem to have faith in Oviedo which, given the few times he has played he hasnt looked out of place, is surprising.

Hopefully with Pienaar back this weekend it may take some of the pressure off.

The combination of a long season, no Pienaar, and a slight formation change has meant he has been quiet of late. I don't think playing further forward helps him; he's better coming into the play from deep with another player in front of him whom he can run off. Still our best player by a mile, imo.

off topic, but how did Barkley look Sunday? I missed the match (probably for the best)

I noticed hm when he was subbed, Clarence. He ran off quick, applauded the away support, touched hands with Jely... One to watch for I reckon.

He looked OK playing for England albeit against useless opponents, he was running to the byline and crossing the ball. But I have also noticed that in recent Everton games he seems to be undecided as to whether to make the run forward or stay in his defensive position, obviously when he doesn't have Pienaar or Osman to cover for him it makes his job so much more difficult, I would think it's just a matter of mental fatigue, perhaps DM wants him to be more defensively minded or he is indeed considering his future. I would think he is trying his best and will do so until the end of the season, he seems to be that type of lad.

I just think he needs a break.

I think it's playing in Woy's England squad against pointless countries that has tired him out, and the fact that as a crucial member of the squad he hasn't had a rest is also a factor.

He hasn't been playing that bad really, we have just come to expect so much from this lad. When he's not quite on his game, we notice a lot more because we are used to his very high standards.

Its all the energy he's using up from overhitting every corner and cross. I was one of Bainesy's biggest fans up to the end of last season, in some ways I still want to be. Ironically, the blunder against Walker aside this has been one of his best seasons defensively. Going forward as well he has looked a goal threat from open play and has linked up well with Pienaar. For some reason though his dead ball and crossing ability has just gone to pot. Mirallas coming in has reminded us how a corner should be taken, with pace and swerve drilled in hard into the danger area. So many of Baines' are over hit and lofted in way too high. For the amount of imies he gets to the dead ball line and considering the targets of Fellaini and Jelavic in the area we really should get more goals from this route yet we haven't. To add to this he seems to retreat into his shell in big games against top teams (mind you could be said for the whole Everton team), but even for England he looks shaky whereas in the big games like Barcelona last season Cole usually ups his game. Baines is undoubtedly better but until he shakes off this underdog mentality he'll never turn into the world's best left back that he has the talent to be. Doesn't help with Moyes always saying he's the second best (perhaps some reverse psychology gone wrong). Pienaar undoubtedly helps him in every way (mind you the same could be said fo rhis effect on the whole team)

Can't believe this thread. Baines has carried the team all season. The lad looks a bit knackered tbh but it's not his fault Moyes is terrified of rotating players.

He's injured and has continued to play through it to a standard a smidge below his usual excellence.

He hasn't hit a good corner since... Sunday, onto Jag's head.

The reason why Baines is such a great player, he is comfortable with ball at his feet. That only other great players really understand so well.

The lad has been super human for the last 3 years! He's created more chances than anyone in Europe for God's sake! Even if he stinks the house out between now and the end of the season, he's still had a cracking campaign. I wouldn't swap him for any other left back.
Give him a break, he is human after all - he has also been carrying an ankle injury.

Perhaps Moyes has decided that rather than just destroying strikers he should extend that approach to the other areas of the pitch as well...

He has been playing with his ankle strapped up for the last 2 months.

Get off his back before it starts, best full back in England.

Nick, I take it you're not a Barkley backer then?

Clarence,nearly.
He is a Barclays banker.

He's a class act, our one truly world class player. The games I've seen him live this season he was man of the match in everyone, a rare thing for a left back.

That free kick against Newcastle was top draw, jaw dropping stuff. He's clearly carrying a knock, and in the absence of another left back in the squad is probably knackered. If he is pissed off it's from playing second fiddle to Cashley. An absolute insult. Any pro that still puts Cole of Leighton is advised to watch a game rather than ESPN Classics. Cole like much of the golden generation is on the decline.

Nice to see this get some national press:

Baines surprises Everton fan with heartwarming season ticket delivery

Sometimes, whatever else we might think of the business or the team, Everton can be a class act.

Genuine lad Baines. Great to see that video.

The club get a lot wrong but they get things right sometimes.

Paul Andrews, 534.
That is a quality one-liner!

He's boss Leighton, although he had a nightmare against Kyle Walker at the weekend. He'll be back as good as ever no doubt.

The cause is he wanted to get top 4 and stay at Everton. Now his mind is set on Unite. Simple.

The guy must be a bit tired right? He's played every single minute in the league I believe, is up and down that left touchline all day and also is relied upon hugely by us as our most creative player. Add a niggle or two in and surely he just needs a break. Perhaps Oviedo may get a chance or two before the end of the season, he looks like he wouldn't let us down.

I love Baines to bits but, if he does go to Man Utd, we should get Luke Shaw from Southampton. A quality young player, only 17 and probably available at half the price.

I don't think it's anything other than he's knackered, both physically and mentally. Playing with an injury takes its toll too.

Wouldn't this weekend's game against QPR be a chance to give Oviedo a chance to show what he can do and let Baines sit on the bench for some well needed rest?

Like most people, I've wanted to see more of Oviedo and don't understand why he gets used so little with Moyes preferring to use Naismith and basically a defensive role late on in games when he's really a forward, and not Oviedo who is a defender/midfielder....

If Moyes wants to play the 3 centre halves again, then it seems a reasonable opportunity to give Oviedo the role out left with Distin covering in behind him. With Pienaar back Oviedo will have some decent support close by and a chance to show what he can do.... how about it Davey boy?

Form fluctuates

You cant expect Bainsey to be 9/10 every match

Yeah, echo the posts above. I think the initial post is justified though.

Something else people havent mentioned either is Coleman is the better attacking force for full backs at the moment now. We are lucky to have two such good attacking fullbacks. Maybe the increasing attention of Coleman has something to do with it.

Ben, what you say is true. Coleman has provided a good alternative given that everyone is very aware of the Baines/Pienaar combination now.... but if we have the two flanks giving us options, this should open up more possibilities for us and keep the opposition guessing which flank will be used.... and in turn allows Baines more freedom than he was getting before Coleman (and Mirallas when on the right) have provided.... but lately he hasn't been so prevalent.... not at all a criticism, he's still great, perhaps we expect him to be the star performer every week.... and as I mentioned previously I think he needs a rest, just a tiny one to charge his batteries for Arsenal Tuesday, seems a good moment to try a little rotation.

The thing about giving Baines a rest is, he is just the sort of player that can get us a goal in a tight game like the upcoming QPR match. The Arsenal match won't mean much if we can't get a result against QPR. Oviedo looks a good player but Baines offers a genuine goal threat. If it was me picking I'd start with Baines but look to take him off if we went up a few goals up (which knowing Everton unfortunately seems unlikely)

Gavin, I would think the same way, but your comment in brackets says it all!

Normally I would agree with that philosophy, play your strongest team.... but for some reason this weekend I would make the change and show confidence in someone else.

Whilst not taking things lightly, if we hope to achieve anything we should be beating teams like QPR with a little rotation.... unfortunately as we have seen many times this season we have thrown away points against the lower placed teams....

Yes, the game against Arsenal will count for little if don't get 3 points against QPR, but we should be able to achieve that and perhaps save someone like Baines for Tuesday.

Am I alone on this one?

I can see your point Brian but we need to beat QPR and that means playing our strongest team. Even I'd we drop points against QPR we still need to get as many points on the board to stay ahead of the rs.

It's probably a purely academic argument anyway as we have seen very little in the way of rotation.... I certainly won't be going to the betting office to put my money behind my thoughts!

He's in a lull, by his own high standards, but you can't expect him to bomb forward and make himself look good if he doesn't have the cover. 2 weeks he's either had an out of position player ahead of him, or no-one. He's just doing the team stuff - not over committing and leaving us short handed.