Pienaar will miss the Chelsea game

Not sure where Gibson would play mind, surely he's 4th in line to a central midfield slot now?

Did he say that without laughing?

He is starting to fall into the Gibson and Osman bracket now for me, a player that will possibly struggle to regain former glories.

I think it's going to be even harder now against Chelsea, I also forgot that Atsu is ineligible, so there's two wide players gone, that leaves the frustrating Aiden McGeady and the frustrating and clearly another sharp Mirallas.

Again I like Mirallas but for Christ's sake why can't he do the simple things as we'll as he dies the heard things.?
Time and time again against Arsenal, just keep it simple and we have a better chance but he continued to infuriate.
That said he's a matchwinner on his day.

I think Martinez is also dropping the "half expect Lukaku to miss out" hint by saying "we will continue to assess him" basically meaning he has a slight problem that could still be there Saturday.

Ohhh Everton FC and it's injuries, and the Europa League hasn't even started yet.

RM probably hasn't mentioned Barkley because he's out long term but Kone and company are nearing a comeback.

Ossie always looks completely shot to bits after 60 minutes nowadays, let's not forget he's 33 and never really was a hyper energetic type of player in his younger days, more a technical player than a James "iron lungs" McCarthy.

For me I know it sounds cruel but I'd have subbed Osman for Besic with 20 minutes to go and at least we'd have had another "chase everything" lunatic on the pitch, that was the kind of second half that required a hell of a lot of work done off the ball so we needed fit lads.

The midfield was non-existent and what happens? He brings on fecking McGeady......

Poor, poor substitution and every one in the ground knew that but Martinez. If all for the attack is the best form of defence but two of his midfielders weren't up for the last 10 so change one.

Good point there regarding the subbing of Osman for Besic, the fact that Ossie came of for Pienaar in the first place, still has us all perplexed.

The fact is now mate, we are going to need, an all hands to the pump mentality, against Chelsea.

It doesn't look great for Lukaku playing even half a game, then if Eto'o signs will he be thrown in? And at what point?

Getting back to Besic, if he had been 'eased in' with some game time against the Arse, I not only think we would have held on to the three points, but he would have been initiated to serious first team football.

Hypothetical, perhaps, but will he be thrown into the match on Saturday? I hate to sound glass half empty, but it's not the best preparation for it.

Jim, why is that cruel? Simply because Osman has been around for a long time, one club and all that?

Osman was as bad in the first half as he was in the second. Never mind not tracking back for the 1st goal; he was standing arms on hips watching the 2nd go in.

He (1) should not have come on at Â’8 in the first place and (2) certainly subbed by Â’68 his sub-after-hour-time.

Cruel?

No! He stayed on that pitch because of low-drawer quality decision making from the gaffer. We now have a double D dilemma; defence and decisions, and it has cost us 4 point in our first two games.

Osman! My gads are up in the air in despair. I just watched a replay of the full game and his name was barely mentioned in the 1st half never mind the 2nd! He should have gone to Wigan or Stoke this window and hopefully he still will.

I could speculate on a whole host of football related stuff and once in a while I would be proved correct with my speculation, but would I take any satisfaction from it? probably not.

If however, I had concrete proof of something happening within the game and it was an exclusive then depending on its importance I would probably take great delight in sharing it on TW.

I don't know why you bother me so much but you can take great satisfaction from knowing that you get right under my skin! As Eugene said on another thread, there is a right to an opinion on any forum, but if only it was an informed opinion instead of speculative bile disguised as opinion.

So, I would guess that Martinez will start with:

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
McCarthy Barry Besic
Mirallas Naismith McGeady

SUBS: Eto’O (after 70 mins of McGeady), Gibson (on for Besic after about 80’), Osman (for Mirallas after 80’), Alcaraz, Robles, Stones, McAleney.

It’s interesting to note that Football’s two best pick-pockets could be facing one another. ie Eto’o and Oscar. Any dithering with these guys around results in them pinching the ball. Take note Jags, Distin & co.

Lukaku is fit and will start.

I've no doubts McGeady will be the only change from last week should Lukaku be fit.

( good job he's injured )

If Costa is out then I imagine it will be Torres leading the Chelsea line before he departs to Italy on Monday.

Shouldn’t be too difficult to contain!!