Besic starts for Bosnia against Wales

Don't let Besic get hurt. Please!

http://bhdragons.com/muhamed-besic-dominates-wales-bosnia-tie-neutralizing-gareth-bale/

He was obviously pressing in his early cameos and who can blame him, but I do believe we have a gem in Mo Besic. And he plays with PASSION which is so sorely missed in this group of gentlemen. We need a Bosnian pitbull.

Mix Diskerud is a Martinez type player and he's fantastic.

Some of the Englad U21 lads looked decent. Redmond was good again; I still don't know why we didn't splash out all of £2m for him. Also, Lascelles looked solid; Newcastle got him cheap this Summer. Berahino looks a good prospect too... if he keeps scoring, he won't stay at WBA that long. Him and Lukaku could make a good little and large combo.

The Real Madrid winger was not as influential as usual, primarily because the world's most expensive player was stalked everywhere he went by Everton's Muhamed Besic.

Seems to me that we have a defensive midfielder of real quality who needs game time and will surely get it given our injury pile up.

I would expect McCarthy to still be out against Villa judging by what I heard from Martinez so I'd be starting Besic, and when McCarthy returns I think the one to leave out, or give a rest to as manager's like to call it, would be Barry. After all, we paid £4 million for Besic, then let's start enjoying him.

I think it's a sign of the times and a massive wake-up call to Lukaku though being benched. You'd expect at £28 million he would be doing enough to start for his nation, especially in a game where he should have been filling his boots.

Let's hope the fella starts knuckling down now and getting back to the basics of hard work and goals. He's took some justified criticism lately not just off the fans, but Everton legend's, men you can't argue with, so now it's down to Lukaku to start throwing those words back and live up to the hype.

While the season so far has been a let-down, it's way too early to write it off.

He wasn't simply overlooked. He was left out of the starting line up earlier in the season at his own request, apparently.

Anyway, nice to hear he played well but it's probably wise not to get too carried away by what the press say about his performance against Wales. After all, the last Everton player to win widespread plaudits for marking Gareth Bale out of the game was... err... Phil Neville.

Baines went straight into the team when he arrived.
OFM changed it to Lescott at LB against I think Stoke as he feared the long high balls and Baines dropped out. OFM never changed it back for quite a few months before he returned.

At this time Valente had retired through injury and Naismith didnt even arrive until four years later

I am trying my best to think of circumstances that may be working against him at present, a loss of confidence, the loss of Ross Barkley, they are two valid claims that may potentially rectify themselves.

The circumstances that I simply won't buy into are the fact that tiredness is an issue.
It is not and cannot be at this early stage, tiredness is a psychological factor and comes to the mind when confidence is low.

I also worry that Lukaku is in a comfort zone because this season compared to last, you feel motivation could become a issue for a player known to sometimes slouch when he has nothing to aim for/things aren't working his way.

I only say this tentatively because nobody knows Lukaku's mind but his performances lately are backing up this point.

Last season he was at Everton on loan, he was playing his football to impress us, Jose Mourinho and many potential futures suitors and there was also the fact of the most glamorous World Cup for many years, he knew to be part of the Belgium squad that big performances were needed.

Of course there's only one man who can prove this theory wrong and show the fans and people who have been most loyal, and shown the most faith in him that he is the real deal.

Step forward Romelu Lukaku.

If ever a man may need to take a step "Back to the Future" it's you.

He isn't a waste and I don't think he's out of form. He just isn't getting the chances. It's not as if he's doing a Jelly and missing everything that comes his way, is it?

I only say this tentatively because nobody knows Lukaku's mind."

Sheer genius.

I'm seriously gonna have to try pitching a new pisstake of 'Cracker' (called 'Bennings') when I get back home.

What I liked most about him was that, at only 21 years old, he seemed like the main man for Bosnia. He was ordering all of his team mates about, bollocking them for missing chances, getting everyone into position. Seems like a real winner and someone who thrives when given a job to do.

There was a point in the second half where Bale was at full tilt with the ball down the wing and Besic not only stayed with him but also caught up and competed a brilliant sliding tackle.

He is very comfortable on the ball and, unlike McCarthy, he seems to have a real intent to play and pass forward and take a risk which I also admire in him.

The final thing I liked is that he is a dirty bastard, it's been too long that we've been far too nice as a team. We've needed a player with an edge for a while now and with this guy, we've got him. He's the player that opposing fans are going to hate but if he's on your team, you'll love him!!

I just hope he turns out as good as I think he is as in my opinion, there's an absolute diamond there.

Lescott was on fire but never looked as assured at CB when he was moved there to accommodate Baines – and we seemed to struggle defensively when we brought Baines into the back four. Not so much because of Baines but just the way that our settled back four fitted together. Moyes said himself that Baines was the best left back at the club well before he made the position his own... You just have to think of the team before the individual.

So no stick to beat Moyes with. I think he made some very good decisions at that time and ultimately integrated Baines into the team very well.

Him and Barkley in the same midfield together is something to really build around.