Everton to face Lille, Wolfsburg and Krasnodar

Could have been better, could have been a LOT worse.

That could have been easier that though.

Krasnodar is the only game we have to go to the other side of Europe for.

Agree, no doubt there will be a few Howard's way types heading to Lille thinking "Great, train on time, nice quiet trip, arrive relaxed, refreshed and ready to present a successful pitch for the new Higgins And Crint range of garden tools" only to find themselves subjected to....

"Eh mate...eh mate...eh mate...EH MATE!"

"YESSSSSSSSS!!!"

"D' you wanna bevvy lad"

"No. Thank. Y..."

(STOMP STOMP STOMP) "OH IT'S A GRAND OL' TEAM TO....." etc

I blame the red balls.

Under the Keppen climate classification Krasnodar has a humid subtropical climate climate (Cfa).

Winters are cold and damp, with unstable snow cover. The average temperature in January, the area's coldest month, is 33 °F (1 °C). Weather conditions in winter vary greatly. Temperatures can exceed 68 °F (20 °C) for a few days, but temperatures below −4 °F (−20 °C) are not uncommon for Krasnodar as the city is not protected by mountains from cold waves. Summers are typically hot with a July average of 75.4 °F (24.1 °C).

The city receives 28.94 inches (735 mm) of precipitation annually, fairly spread throughout the year. Extreme storms are rare in the Krasnodar area. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −27.2 to 105.3 °F (−32.9 to 40.7 °C), recorded on January 11, 1940 and July 30, 2000, respectively.

Home wins against Lille and Wolfsburg will provide a real injection of confidence. I hope to see a strong line-up against those two (and that means no Robles...)

Ro(u)bles might come handy in Russia. *Ahem* I will get my coat.

Eugene (#16) a few HowardÂ’s Way types ... Hahahaha, quality But my god, you do show your age at times.

Notice at the very beginning of the draw how Villarreal were the first team out and went into Group A. Seville came out next but went into Group G.

We can get past the group stages, the other teams in or group will be shitting themselves when thinking about playing us.

Howard, Lukaku, Eto'o, Mirallas, Coleman, Baines.... come on the Blues

It is a top group for star international goalies: our Howard, Switzerland's Benaglio for Wolfsburg, Nigeria's Enyeama for Lille.

Howard gets a rematch with Belgian goal scorer De Bruyne when we play Wolfsburg...unless Roberto sends Robles to The Wolves, literally.

And vs. Lille we get to take on RS loaner Origi. Bring it on!

Wolfsburg and Lille are cracking teams. Going to Krasnodar will also be tough.

I think due to the nature of draw, Roberto may change his initial strategy, which seemed like he would field young players in these matches. I wouldn't expect the likes of Browning/McAleny to start.

But the competition itself is arduous and, in my opinion, should have greater financial rewards and prestige for the effort of actually winning it. (Obviously market forces go some way in determining this).

It should naturally be the smaller brother of the Champions League - but not its infant brother which is how I think it is perceived. Winning the Europa League is no mean feat.

Think it will a shame not to play at their ground. It seems relatively short for a Russian trip and the weather may be significantly better than Moscow. Likely to be much safer on the Russian side of East Ukraine than the Ukrainian one.

Look them up.

Lille have Salomon Kalou and Liverpool's Divock Origi as well as the formerly very highly rated Simon Kjaer. Their keeper is the Nigeria World Cup keeper Enyeama, who is highly rated but seems a bit of a calamity from what I've seen. They've had two wins and a draw in the league so far and lost the Champions League play-off to FC Porto.

Wolfsburg have just signed Nicklas Bendtner but also have some very highly rated players, especially in attacking midfield with ex-Chelsea player Kevin de Bruyne, Aaron Hunt and Ivan Perisic (who I believe was one of the legions of players linked with us earlier in the summer). They also have Luiz Gustavo who played for Brazil in the World Cup and a left back in Ricardo Rodriguez who is very highly rated and rivals our own Leighton Baines in terms of goals and assists from left back. They've played one league game this season and lost 2-1 away at Bayern Munich.

The only Krasnodar player I've heard of is Marat Izmailov but if you go to transfermarkt and look them up you'll find most things you need to know. They're currently fourth in the table and unbeaten in their first five games.

Still, we're in it and that's the main thing. Really hope we get the ruskies away early, so we don't have to play them in minus 10 degrees!

If it is, it looks brilliant draw travelwise for the squad and fans.

Just confirmed, bloody typical.

I would imagine that the League cup will see very inexperienced eleven getting an outing.

2/10 Krasnador A followed by Man Utd away on 5th Oct
23/10 Lille A followed by Burnley away on 26th Oct
27/11 Wolfsburg A followed by Spurs away on 30th Oct

So every single away game in the EL is followed by an away game in the league. What are the odds on that happening??

At least Burnley and Man Utd are not too far away to travel although the Russia trip is far......

2 October: Krasnodar v Everton.
followed by Sun 5th Oct: Man United v Everton

23 October: Lille v Everton.
followed by Sun 26th Oct: Burnley v Everton

6 November: Everton v Lille
followed by Sun 9th Nov: Sunderland v Everton

27 November: Wolfsburg v Everton.
followed by Sun 30th Nov: Tottenham v Everton (they will have played home vs Partizan Belgrade)

11 December: Everton v Krasnodar
followed by Sun 14th Dec: Everton v QPR

So not great then, all three away fixtures are followed by away Premier League games including Tottenham and Man United, and only twice are we at home after a Thursday game at all.

Still, not much point whingeing about details like that anyway, but this campaign will need some careful squad management and some big decisions from Roberto.

Message to Roberto ; Roy Hodgson and Steve McClaren took Fulham & Middlesborough to the final of this competition. We can win this!

What do we reckon our second string team is currently (assuming the first XI that started vs Arsenal)? Something like:

Robles
Browning Stones Alcaraz Garbutt
Gibson Besic
Atsu Osman Mcgeady
Etoo

With maybe the likes of Oviedo and Kone to feature? And some of the kids who are not on loan to come in.

Will be interesting to see what Roberto prioritises.

We need to take this comp seriously and not simply an opportunity to blood younger players. If we had a piss easy group then that would be fine but Wolfsburg at home first game needs to be 3 points and we probably need to beat the russians home and away to stand a chance of winning the group - so need to look to get 6 points from the first two EL games to set the tone. I.e. no messing about with the team, play a strong side.

7 games between 13th Sept to 5th Oct but we only have one game between now and then so there should not be the need for massive rotation (also the 4th game in the sequence is the LC). 7 games in 3 weeks is not that much of a load, its two games a week at the end of the day and we're at the start of the season. We'll probably rest a couple of players away to Swansea in the LC as we have the rs away after that.

On the Eurpean road again and 6 games guaranteed - can't ask for much more than that, am really looking forward to it.

Lille and Wolfsburg are two of the better teams in their respective leagues and Krasnoder are an unknown quantity.

The way we played against european competition in pre-season is a worry, but I'll be optimistic and say that these games weren't really competitive and were just fitness building.

I just hope Roberto names his strongest team and actually tries to win this competition. I actually think the Europa Cup is Everton's best chance of silverware this season.

MATCHDAY ONE: Everton v Wolfsburg, Thursday 18 September, 8.05pm (UK)

MATCHDAY TWO: FC Krasnodar v Everton, Thursday 2 October, 5pm (UK)

MATCHDAY THREE: Lille v Everton, Thursday 23 October, 6pm (UK)

MATCHDAY FOUR: Everton v Lille, Thursday 6 November, 8.05pm (UK)

MATCHDAY FIVE: Wolfsburg v Everton, Thursday 27 November, 6pm (UK)

MATCHDAY SIX: Everton v FC Krasnodar, Thursday 11 December, 8.05pm (UK)

I think we can forget about blooding the youngsters unless we have qualified with a game or two to spare. Samuel Eto's' experience could be our secret weapon. I agree with the post that said we are the team the others will fear in this group! Bring it on!!

WonÂ’t be easy but we should be able to get through.

I think Martinez has to prioritise the Prem. then the Europa followed by the FA Cup, lastly the League cup.
Some very tricky decisions to be made!

Wolfsburg are an open team and there for the taking, despite the addition of Bendtner instead of Lukaku.

Lille are the opposite but we should out-match them man for man, let alone being the superior team.

Russians are a tough one outta pot 4 but we are faves for group winners and rightly so.

Looking forward to this. Pissed off as usual at this time of year about the pointless internationals coming up.

COYB

I was hoping for something kinder so we could blood a few kiddies but we do seem to step up against better teams in Europe so letÂ’s have it.

WfL are a much more challenging opposition with the likes of Diego Benaglio, Naldo, Luiz Gustavo, Josuha Guilavogui, Junior Malanda, Ivan Perišić, Ivica Olić, Kevin De Bruyne and er Nicklas Bendtner. Getting a result against them will make or break our group stage. Hopefully the atmosphere at Goodison will give us the boost we need. Should be very exciting!

There again, if we play against European teams like we did in pre-season, it may not be as exciting... I get the feeling this competition will only get better with Champions League as the main prize.

Getting to Wolfsburg from Hanover is quite easy on the train and costs about €18, but getting back could be difficult as the last train leaves at 8pm... Any ideas?

We thought someone may know of a shuttle or coach, and according to Trip Advisor, a cab ride for the journey is about 𧴰.

I know that probably sounds like stating the obvious, but none of these sides should be taken lightly, and try and field the strongest side possible.

This will be our team:

Robles
Hibbert Stones Alcaraz Oviedo/Garbutt
Gibson Besic
McGeady Osman Astu
Eto

Its not a bad side but is it strong enough to see us through the group? Very debatable. It may also be conceivable that Lille and Wolfsberg won't play their strongest side either. whatever, I'm really looking forward to the games... and it will be nice to get a closer look at the likes of Besic and Astu.

Now we have to think about how we can play these ties and we know these teams can hurt you if your wits are not about you but on the other hand these games if we use a strong squad then they are definitely win-able. COYB.

Going to need our crowd more than ever if we are to be successful because this competition looks very difficult on paper. I sense real belief coming back into our club which hasnÂ’t been felt for a long, long time though, and just hope we can continue to improve. If we can sort our defence out then IÂ’m sure we are going to start winning cups again, and wouldnÂ’t it be great to start with this one!

Of those currently not starting, Stones, Oveido, Besic, McGeedy, Atsu and Eto could arguably be in our best first 11 anyway.

I very much doubt we will see much of Hibbert. I think Martinez has kept him due to the family nature of the club.

COYB. Now lets stuff Chelsea and Maureen first.

Playing two games in a week every now and then shouldn't be a problem for the players. We only have six games in the Europa League before Christmas, so it is hardly overloading them. I would expect the League Cup to be the competition that gets the lowest priority in the early rounds.

I can see maybe 4-5 players being rested / benched for Europa League games that will be followed by particularly tough Premier League games once we are a couple of months into the season, but until then I think 8-9 first team regulars will be doing double duty and they should be able to handle it. Minor injuries will obviously shake things up.

I don't think I am deluded, but I suppose we will find out. ;)

A couple of loan deals on Monday with experience and I think we really have a chance this season of picking up some silverware.

Just sorted trains and hotel for 𧴺 from London. Unless they release more tickets, I would get your skates on.
Cheers.