Stones likely out until Christmas

We are now at the point of manager, staff and players being ready to roll sleaves up and be as one in graft and determination which will ensure the twelfth man will create the bear pit atmosphere and allow every player who gets on to play with the determination and effort of a Straq. with quality.

We are often at our best when up against it so lets start with Villa and make it hard for returning players to get the shirt back.

Allez-Allez O. We are Everton.

When the "big clubs" tempt him
I hope he doesnÂ’t take the bait
With hard work ,and some improvement
He could become one of the all time greats
In the constellation of those that went before
Jimmy Gabriel, Brian Labone
And for England, the impeccable Bobby Moore

When the phone rings John, donÂ’t take that call
With Roberto and a few bob
We can dream of winning it all
Everton is your team
We are The Ones
Like you John Stones we are
Cooler, cooler, cooler
Cooler than the Fonz

I think a revitalised and focussed Distin will do the job, especially against Villa with their pace.

I have more concerns about Jags who is a confidence player and doesn't seem the same since the England World Cup debacle was blamed on him and Bainesy by the Southern media.

This period is actually a good test of the Martinez style of play.

The whole idea is that if we have possession then the other side canÂ’t hurt us. The midfield and forwards will have to do their part in protecting our fragile back.

Stones
Oviedo
Barkley
Alcaraz
Pienaar
Mirallas
Kone
Coleman
McCarthy

Meanwhile, both Distin's and GibsonÂ’s full-match fitness is questionable following time out recently.

Is this bad luck or are we doing something wrong?

....but his shoelace is undone.

1. One winger;
2. One number 10;
3. One centre back;
4. One full back;
5. One centre forward (who was injured pretty much all last season);
6. One centre midfielder, who may be back against Villa.

Hardly catastrophic injury list and programme known at the start. ItÂ’s not like weÂ’re having to put square pegs in round holes. ItÂ’s up to manager and team to now recover from shot start and how true form. I have every faith and will back manager and team.

Really hope our luck changes.

Speaking personally I think that we are in real trouble at the moment and am rapidly losing faith in MartinezÂ’s judgement and approach.

I take KunaiÂ’s point - 17 - that at a time when we can ask questions all over the park defence has been the biggest culprit. Jaysus, 16 goals conceded in 7 matches! WeÂ’re on course to top FulhamÂ’s 85 from last season!

The horrible irony here was the defence was beginning to look better over the last couple of weeks precisely because Stones was starting and comb through the live forums was getting more praise than just about anyone else.

And now we are back in the August/September Jags/Distin horror show!

I hope not. Perhaps the web whispering about Distin falling out with the gaffer is indeed true and Distin might remain in the cold.

So, a forgiven Distin? Alcaraz? Browning if Coleman is fit (he does prefer to play in the middle doesnÂ’t he?)? Galloway is too young surely?

Given those four options I would probably lean towards either Tylas or Antolin (I have read what others have said but I thought that Distin was xxxxxxxx appalling in August and September). My hunch for what itÂ’s worth, you know already, it will be Jags and Distin reunited with Peaches and Herb crooning happily in the background.

Hang on, didnÂ’t Besic play in central defence in Hungary (remember the headline, the best central defender in Hungary)? Could Besic probably drop back and fill in the gap in the back?

Whatever happens, I agree with what some others have said. ItÂ’s hardly the gafferÂ’s fault that this situation has developed but he is at fault for not buying a central defender at the end of the last window when the world and his wife could see that we needed one. Instead we got rid of one who, quite frankly, we could have done with right now.

The gaffer has to shoulder some of the blame when there is inadequate cover (in terms of quality) in both centre-defence and between the sticks.

Team v Villa (fingers crossed that nobody else gets crocked and a couple of the current crocked will be ready to return): Howard - Browning - Jags - Alcaraz - Baines - Macca - Besic - Oveido - Coleman - Naismith - Lukaku.

These next six weeks or so, needless to say, will quite possibly make or break this season for us but IÂ’m staying brightly optimistic!

Get well soon John mate!

This... just... sucks...

HeÂ’s been so solid and without him weÂ’ve been poor in the back.

ItÂ’s just getting ludicrous our injury list!

I meant central defence not centre-mid, weÂ’ve got enough of them, I think!

Gutted for Stones. Looked nasty when it happened and, in the long run, having the op will pay off.

Team to play Villa:

Robles,
Browning, Jagielka, Alcaraz, Baines.
McGeady, Barry, Besic, Naismith, Oviedo
Eto'o

Subs: Lukaku, Barkley, Gibson, Distin, Hibbert!

For me, it isn't the individuals who are suddenly poor players, it is what they are being asked to do. Jags and Distin are wooden players and not suited to playing it out from the back. Last night it was painful to watch Jags receive and distribute the ball. He looked so uncomfortable, he really does need Barry to come over and take it off him.

However, we all know how solid him and Distin have been for ages, and I don't agree for one second with some of the posts on TW that attribute Distin's recent mistakes on his advancing years. It was only last season that I heard commentators expressing their admiration for his pace, as he out-muscled many a fleet-footed youngster!

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, and the well-oiled publicity machine of Martinez is trying to hide it.

Maybe Roberto can't adapt to changing circumstances... I do not know – but we'll start winning, with the Villa, and move up – you'll see!

Also, Tim Howard has not only had a few lapses in concentration, but also some temper tantrums, and could have got into hot water with his antics.

Perhaps it's just frustration.

I'm sure a win would help everyone, and the sight of our wounded returning should also give us a boost.

In fact, we'd have no injuries at all if it wasn't for Wigan.

Desperation or he is super human?

That and we aren't playing until a week Saturday

Martinez needs to add that dimension back into our squad. If not, he needs to make sure we're unplayable no matter how predictable we are,

Today's selection in their 50 Great FA Cup Goals series is none other than Sheedy's Retake.
Happy days indeed - a pudding of a Goodison pitch, some vintage hairstyles and one of Sheeds' greatest moments.

You can find it here
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