FK Krasnodar vs Everton

I think most fans will settle for a point.

There is only so long fans want to read good talk, it's about time we saw better performances, not just from McGeady and the defence but the likes of Lukaku needs to start looking like a striker that's alive! For heaven's sake, it's October 2 now, we are no longer in pre-season so we don't want to keep hearing about a lack of fitness.

If Rom or any of the others are not fit then stick them in the reserves for a few games and tell them they don't play until they start looking capable of doing basic things, which in Lukaku's case is trapping a ball and then moving off the ball and looking interested. Too often with Lukaku, games pass him by, whether you're out of position or not. He's a young lad, he should be dragging himself into the game.

A point tonight would be deemed an okay result.

I'm usually positive but I'm afraid I can only see a defeat here. I expect RM to go very defensive in hope of frustrating their fans and getting a goal from set play.

3-1 I'm afraid with Atsu and McGeady getting loads of stick.

From what I've seen of him, he looks a lot fitter and has more footballing nous than Lukaku and McGeady combined.

The later being a total waste of a shirt for the majority of the time.

Howard
Browning Jagielka Stones Garbutt
McGeady Gibson Besic Atsu
Naismith
Lukaku

I would also like Oviedo, Ledson and Eto'o to get game time.
It will be tough but I think that team should have enough quality to win.

"I will always be interested in Tom in terms of the experiences that I had with him. That will never change. Tom is going to be one of the best midfielders in the England camp," said Martinez.

9 Dave

Solely his age and that he needs to be used sparingly. If he plays 60 mins today and 30 at Man Utd, he’s still playing a full game which is largely how I expect Martinez to use him – starting or coming on in 90% of matches but rarely doing a full 90 mins.

Interestingly, with regards to the youngsters and a quick google of Ledson, I just found this article.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/509655/Roberto-Martinez-reveals-why-Man-Utd-rejected-Everton-s-bid-for-Tom-Cleverley. Extract below:

"I know the player inside-out but ten months in football is an eternity. Anything could happen in that time.

"I can’t say we are going to be after him. We’ve got two or three young players at Everton who might come through and take their opportunity – Liam Walsh, Ryan Ledson, Kieran Dowell – and they would fit into the squad."

Walsh is due to sign a professional three-year contract when he turns 17 on Monday.

Referring to two players that Martinez has high hopes for in coming through in CM that we’re all aware of in Ledson and Dowell.

Walsh I’ll admit is one that I wasn’t aware of as a potential player breaking through. Anyone seen anything of the lad and rate him?

That said, I'd like to see Atsu come in for Mirallas rather than Ossie or Naismith shifted out wide.

Another Melbourne-based Toffee here. I'm off to bed at 8pm to get up for this at 2. Better be worth it! Almost certainly won't be.

So it's one max for us then... Browning.

Don't you just love technology!

I still remember Coleman being thrown in vs Benfica. Out of position and torn a new one by Ze Maria. I know he had a serious injury after, but I always wonder if it held back Seamus before his breakthrough.

We're in a strong position at the moment in the group, so a draw would be a good result. Get qualified for the next round before we play the youngsters.

As mentioned above, it's now October and World Cup weariness should be long forgotten. Every club seems to have half their team unavailable so comes the time we should judge by results and not the verbals that accompany them.

Howard
Browning - Stones - Alcaraz - Baines
Besic - Barry
Atsu - Naismith - McGeady
Eto'o

I would like to see Garbutt or Oviedo for Baines, Gibson for Barry, ideally after 45-60 mins (score line depending). A win here would see us go clear at the top of the group and give us an opportunity to blood youngsters further down the line of the competition.

After watching the god awful game in Basel yesterday, I think a good display by us, win, lose, or draw, will go a long way in cementing an already excellent reputation on Â’foreign fieldsÂ’.

I will be watching the game here in Canada live at 12 noon. Best of luck, you Blues, both on and off the field, especially our travelling support, who I am sure will be warmly applauded by ALL of our players at the end.

Let's just see what phenomenal tactics the smooth talking Spanish barsteward unleashes.

This link from 2012 seems to suggest it's "average":
http://www.psft.ru/content/pdf/Ranking_of_football_pitches_in_Russia_spring_2012_eng.pdf

I hope Martinez goes for the jugular and plays a strong side and then subs out the players who need the rest. If we can secure our place in the next round early then we can effectively play a B team in the remaining games.

Howard
Browning Stones Jagielka Oviedo
Besic Barry
Atsu Osman McGeady
Lukaku

I don't know whats wrong with Kone. Are we ever going to see him get fit again and pull on the shirt?

This is a "men only" game where McCarthy will be sorely missed. Gibbo is tough but will surely not cope with the speed of their Brazilian attackers and I wouldn't want to start with Ossie.

To be honest, this match has arrived at a bad moment and we can only hope that Roberto successfully shuffles the pack.

Anyway, tonight. I think he’ll mix the team up a bit but that doesn’t necessarily mean loads of kids. Eto’o, Gibson, Osman and Hibbert hardly come into that category

I'm feeling more positive than many others, I'm looking for a win, not a draw.... hope Roberto is more positive than you lot!!