Martinez excited for first European night at Goodison

Wolfsburg have some top players in the likes of Diego, De Bruyne, Benaglia, Luiz Gustavo and Naldo. If they play full strength, they will be a tough nut to crack.

Our squad is not as deep as most top 6 teams and I'm curious to see how much rotation Martinez employs. I suspect we will see no more than 3 or 4 changes from the WBA team with Mirallas, McCarthy and Lukaku possibly getting a rest along with maybe Baines as we have good options at LB.

De Bruyne is their main man, the lad is a player, their linchpin.

They have got some decent players but, if we're on our game tomorrow night, we'll win... and I think we will be. The weekend's result at West Brom, with a clean sheet, will give us confidence and we'll want to start well in this competition and get off to a flyer.

And Olic, one of my favourite players.

As for team selection, I don't think there will be much rotation for this one, but there will need to be for Crystal Palace on Sunday and especially Swansea on Tuesday, which is three games in six days. Throw in the Anfield derby next Saturday and it makes a fourth (massive) game in ten days.

I would expect a second XI against Swansea, and only a couple of changes for the others. The forward positions are the easiest to rotate, and substitutions are normally made in those positions anyway (although Martinez seems to have developed a Moyes-like aversion to using all three substitutes this season).

If they're fit, I do think he'll want to give game time to Besic either on Thursday or Sunday and Alcaraz on Tuesday. We could also see Garbutt and Browning on Tuesday. I've been disappointed with how little we've seen of Atsu so far, and I'm certain this will change in the next six days.

As for 'please God not Robles', Martinez's past form suggests he will play both Thursday and Tuesday. I still think it is too early to judge him, he is an FA Cup winner after all, and still very young for a goalkeeper, but this season we will find out a lot about him if Martinez does play him in all three cups.

COYB

It depends what strength each manager sends on the pitch, so it's impossible to gauge our chances at this stage! That, along with being unsure how the Prem. measures up to their league, is giving me a no-win type situation.

If we win, it will be sort of expected, but if we lose it will be seen as a bit of a disaster!

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Stones Baines
Besic Barry
Mirallas Naismith Astu
Eto'o

Robles
Coleman Stones Alcaraz (yes really!!) Garbutt
Gibson Besic
Atsu Naismith Pienaar (if fit)

EtoÂ’o

Not a bad second XI and it just shows how far weÂ’ve traveled as a club.

Unfortunately this group is a lot tougher than the ones of Metalist Kharkiv etc. We go up against a full strength Wolfsburg with that team and we'll be lucky to draw. If I were going to rotate I'd...

Howard
Coleman Distin Stones Baines
McCarthy Besic
Atsu Osman McGeady
Eto'o

Howard
Coleman
Garbutt
Stones
Distin

McCarthy
Gibson

Mirallas
Osman
McGeady

Eto'o, or Naismith if he isn't fit to start.

Robles
Hibbert
Stones
Distin
Garbutt
Atsu
Besic
Gibson
McCarthy
Pienaar
Eto'o

Subs: Robles, Lukaku, Atsu, Gibson, McGeady, Garbutt, Distin.

Also, I really liked him when I saw him play for Wigan in their cup-winning side, and was genuinely pleased when we signed him.

That said, he looks a bag of nerves for us. Harold often speaks of an experienced reserve keeper and Robles getting his miles on loan. Sounds like a plan to me.

I'm not at all happy with the goalie situation right now. Yep we had a nice clean sheet at the weekend but Tim Howard had very little to do until late on and quite frankly 14 shots on target in the first three games and 10 goals conceded says something.

Tomorrow?

Robies
Coleman
Stones
Alcaraz
Baines
Barry
Besic
Atsu
Mirallas
Naismith
Eto'o

Every time I've seen Robles play he's looked jittery and out of place, like he's not really sure what he's doing.

His penchant for Robles in cups does not and should not equal a start in our first home European match in five years. Howard needs to be in. By the time Swansea rolls around, who knows what we will see but for Wolfsburg and Crystal Palace, I think he sticks with those mentioned above... for better or worse!

First time back in Europe — play the strongest XL!

Stones had a look on his face that said "I'm trying here!" And yes, Barry and McCarthy did a lot more defensively but were both guilty of some shocking mistakes. It was only a profligate West Brom attack that stopped it being another two-all draw or worse.

However, we look awesome going forward, which is why I can't wait!

I think the hardest decision might be Stones or Distin, but I think we'll see Distin against CP perhaps.

Possible 11

Howard
Hibbert - Stones or Distin? - Jagielka - Baines
Mirallas - Besic - Barry - Atsu
Osman
Eto'o

Subs: Robles, Coleman, Garbutt, Gibson, Pienaar, Lukaku

Likely subs are Gibson for Besic (or vice versa), Pienaar or Lukaku for Atsu depending on whether we're winning (Lukaku if we're not), and Garbutt for Baines to rest him (unless it's very tight).

Not sure if Gibson, Pienaar are fit, if not that would bring McCarthy and McGeady onto the bench, respectively, else we are leaving out:

McCarthy, McGeady, Distin, Garbutt + kids

If any players in the normal 11+6 have any fatigue or niggles, they should automatically be left out with a view to Sunday and week Saturday.

But who knows, it's all about how the manager sees it and senses his players, and what he wants. We certainly can't afford to throw such an important game, a draw would be a decent first result, a win just lovely.

Ah to be with the smell of beer, hotdogs and horse sh1t as I head up Goodison Rd and under the floodlights .... enjoy it lads ... and sing out your hearts and let them know we're back ...

Wolfsburg is a big game so I foresee Howard in goal and Robles getting a game at Swansea next week. Atsu and Eto’o to start with options on the bench. We could see Osman and Gibson in the middle. Should make interesting viewing. 2-0 will be very handy.

If we can get three wins (2 from home and 1 away) then that should be enough.

Looking forward to the Europa League, very happy Everton have another chance at silverware.

In a normal year I wouldn't expect to see much of Atsu or Besic before Nov/Dec. It's all about understanding our system and the boss likes to give them a certain number of sessions at the Farm before bringing them on for the odd 10 minutes here and there. By the end of Jan into Feb they will hopefully be fully integrated.

Starting tonight, this is not a normal year but I can't see him taking too many chances. There's is also the fact that all the experienced players from last season, quite rightly, think they've earned the right to play. Let's hope they have a good night.

After watching the European matches over the last few nights I am desperate for the Blues to get involved, there is just a totally different feeling in the air at night games, especially European games under the floodlights at Goodison.

I think we will all see come kick-off time tonight that all the naysayers who deride the Europa League will be wrong, the atmosphere will be rocking and the knowledge of getting the important win in the first match will count extra.

Let's face it Everton v Wolfsburg sounds like more of a Champions League occasion than Liverpool v Ludogorets.

We know that top 4 is probably out of bounds until further investment comes in to the club so I aim to make every enjoyable minute of our European nights worthy.

German football is far more competitive than the Premier League now, in fact everything about German football is what English football should aspire to be, from how to treat the fans to how to properly coach players.