LOSC Lille vs Everton

I donÂ’t know if itÂ’s my imagination, but we do not seem at all precise with injuries. This one has run and run. Perhaps after getting it wrong so often, the club are reluctant to say anything about Kone. But most clubs seem to give a clearer idea of injury recovery times. Mostly ours seem to drag on and on interminably (in addition to Kone, youÂ’ve had Gibson, Oviedo, Alcaraz, Deulofeu for example). Every so often, we get someone back quicker than we thought- BarkleyÂ’s recent injury. But that seems the exception.

I noticed Mirallas is not being given a return date on the club site, but he only has a hamstring injury and normally you can be fairly precise about those once you know the scan results. Two weeks ago Martinez said he expected to Â’have him fully fit soonÂ’. Maybe my definition of Â’soonÂ’ is different.

Is there something wrong with the clubs medical expertise or am I over reacting?

I expect to see a younger striker come in to replace EtoÂ’o when the time comes.

Re the OP - I can understand Naismith being rested but would have thought the European games would have been made for Ossie - cannot see how he needs a Â’restÂ’. Guess RMs planning on starting both against Burnley. Good to see heÂ’s taking the game seriously, if we can avoid defeat there then the groupÂ’s ours for the taking with 2 home games to come. Obviously a win would be great but Lille are no mugs.

Looking forward to it either way..

Or, to put it another way, gave Big Vic away for free and continued to pay his wages. Vic IÂ’m aware had many limitations, but was quite the handy player in the Europa.

Ah well, may as well give his squad number to someone else. Onward and upward in the Europa though, I would like to see EtoÂ’o grab a goal or two. Put your feet up, Naisy, and watch it on ITV4.

After almost 18 months this is probably as good as KoneÂ’s knee will get, I am afraid. Unfortunately for him, the game is so fast now I canÂ’t see him playing at the top level again, for us or anyone else.

Re baby Bryan, I can’t remember if this was before the screw went loose – he has played in a game, hasn’t he? I know I’m knocking on a bit but don’t think I was dreaming. I thought it would be at least 4 weeks before he was back.

The problem I think is that Roberto is always telling us the best case to give some good news and we all get frustrated and fed up!

Hope everyone has a great time tomorrow and the players give the travelling fans a win!

IÂ’m having deja vu of Â’Danny WilliamsonÂ’ here with the... "Is he fit or isnÂ’t he??" It usual means you have to prepare yourself for some ominous news when the info the club puts out is so vague.

Kicking him again while heÂ’s down is not the action of a true fan, although I do have sympathy with those who request up-to-date medical reports. Preferably from a senior member of the medical staff.

Buying a jersey also springs to mind. The most basic and simple of commerce, and yet we ask fans in the US to stump up $120 to buy a proper shirt and have it shipped over. Insanity.

I thought the likes of Baines, Barry and Lukaku were more viable alternatives than Naismith and Ossie to be left out so one can only assume they will start on Sunday or have had small knocks which need resting. Interesting to see the teams he fields in these two games and it looks like he will go strong in both.

Amazes me that we can sign two injured players like Kone and Alcaraz and reject Leroy Fer on medical advice.

Maybe Moyesy was right about the medical staff...

I canÂ’t see us doing much in the Premier League... or in the FA Cup. So it could be our only chance of European football for a couple of seasons. And I think Roberto knows that.

We dodged a bullet. Not a good player in the slightest.

This will be a match of "high surveillance". The authorities are worried about the influx into the city centre of so many away supporters before the game.

There will be "hundreds of police officers" and about 500 riot police (CRS) on duty.

They will be targeting the estimated 500 or so supporters turning up without tickets. Furthermore, neither the purchase of alcohol to take away nor the drinking of alcohol in public will be allowed.

They have bitter memories of the visit of Eindhoven in 2011 when there were running battles on the Grande Place and the side streets.

Take it easy, Blues.

Scource: La Voix du Nord (French edition).

Kunal – Fer is a good player, mate. I think in a better side he would shine even brighter. Wonderful feet and smart on the ball. He can drive it forward too, which is something we cannot do without Barkley.

ItÂ’s actually something IÂ’d like to see much more of from McCarthy. He has the ability to be a far greater force going forward. I feel he takes the easy option way too often.

There are reports of Evertonians being attacked by French fans outside the Aussie bar in Lille then tear-gassed and cordoned off by police. Sounds like there were some injuries.

McCarthy is there to recycle the ball and own the midfield. He does it very well and I donÂ’t think there is a desperate need to force him into the wrong position.

There arenÂ’t many players like Barkley, thatÂ’s why heÂ’s coveted.

IÂ’d be interested to see Besic with McCarthy in midfield with Besic being a bit more forward thinking but still a pitbull.

4-3-3? Barry, McCarthy, Besic; Pienaar, EtoÂ’o, Lukaku.

Giving Nessie a rest isnÂ’t so bad as he has worked his socks off this season and shown he can still get goals so we need him fresh for the Premier League at this stage with Kev out.

EtoÂ’o is invaluable and can fill in tomorrow but I thought Oviedo was fit again?

Pienaar and Gibson have bags of experience too and can do a job tomorrow. As for Osman, the less said the better.

I also hope there isnÂ’t major trouble with over-zealous 5-O in Lille and an easy slaughtering in the media to follow blaming the fans...

Howard
Coleman Browning Jagielka Garbutt
Besic Gibson
McGeady Naismith Oveido
EtoÂ’o

Travelling with the blue army to foreign fields and representing our great club. And after hearing the latest on the welcome weÂ’ve got from the locals, which by all accounts isnÂ’t very nice, I hope we twat the bastards. COYB

I hear the leader of the Lille mob was yelling, "You ruined three years of Magaye GueyeÂ’s life!!!"

Hoping it wasnÂ’t as serious as some reports. I love booze but so many people in this world should not be allowed to partake. Lightweight poseurs.

Come in you Toffees. Freedom Fries for all!

Leaving him and Ossie at Finch Farm suggests that Martinez has a definite plan in mind... but I hesitate to guess what it is. These two lads get in on the chances and have the the most attempts on goal. They also track back the whole length of the pitch to help foil the opposition and combine with both wings and fullbacks.

No room for passengers tonight. If everyone busts a gut, a decent result is possible. COYB.

If I had said we should make wholesale changes because weÂ’ll wipe the floor with them regardless, your response would be fair. All IÂ’ve called for is a little caution with a very important player for us. IÂ’d say the same with Barkley, but Bobby left Naismith and Osman, the two players most likely to fill his role, at home.

So, I think Bobby will go with:

Robles
Coleman Alcaraz Jagielka Baines
Besic McCarthy
McGeady Barkley Pienaar
EtoÂ’o

Subs: Howard, Hibbert, Distin, Garbutt, Gibson, Barry, Lukaku.

IÂ’ll be watching alone in a bar in Bangkok. Up the blues.

I usually say fellow posters are entitled to their opinions but yours is just plain daft. Sycophancy doesnÂ’t begin to describe your blind faith in the guy.

The fans of Everton are already many on Thursday morning in the city center of Lille. On the Grand-Place, some play ball, sing. Others have installed flags on the facade of the North Theater.

Disgusted by whatÂ’s happened. But it will not dampen the spirits off or on the pitch. This has gone from a draw would be good enough to a massive performance and three points.

That said, I agree with pete z that playing Coleman and Barkley so soon after injury should be done so cautiously. We need enough in the tank to take care of Burnley as well.

I hope all 12,011 blues return safely.

Howard
Coleman - Jagielka - Alcaraz - Baines
McCarthy - Besic
Atsu - Barkley - Pienaar
EtoÂ’o

In an ideal world, Garbutt getting on for Baines, and Barkley getting 75 mins and Browning / Gibson getting some game time in place of Coleman / McCarthy

But first and foremost lets win, a win here and we can start to tinker with the team and play the youngsters all we want towards the end of the group stage once weÂ’re already qualified. :-)
COYB!

Burnley away on return, should also be treated likewise, a couple of wins will not only see us get back up the table (Prem) and also will boost confidence further, and see us start a decent run of results.

COYB

IÂ’m confident weÂ’ll get a result, COYB.

Howard
Coleman, Jagielka, Alcaraz, Baines
McCarthy, Besic
McGeady, Barkley, Pienaar
EtoÂ’o

I was about to post this when I noticed itÂ’s the same team (bar goalie) that Ajay has put above. Though I think Atsu will be on the bench.

Gavin (#15) – I think itÂ’s standard for clubs to insure playersÂ’ wages against injury but IÂ’ve never heard of insurance for the transfer fee. I think weÂ’d just have to write off the ٤M...

Harold (#18) – I wasn’t having a pop at Ossie; I meant that, if RM has ’rested’ him, I would be surprised as the Euro games would suit him better, them being at a slower pace. Also, he hasn’t played 90 mins in every game so should not really be knackered in October, despite his age.

I hope the fans who made it are okay and we come away with a result...

The club had better get some officials down there pronto and see the truth before the propaganda machine grinds into gear and whitewashed the real truth.

Before Saturday, our best performances were the first 2 games of the season, and we also maintained a very high tempo in the 3rd against Chelsea.

How does this tie in with your theory that we were "undercooked" in pre-season?

Obviously we made some fatal defensive errors in these games to cost us points. Maybe if we had spent less time in pre-season on fitness and more on defensive drills, we wouldÂ’ve won these games.

Maybe if we didnÂ’t suffer some freak injuries, we couldÂ’ve kicked on and won a few more points.

Maybe Roberto did make some errors of judgement in pre-season that he would like to have done different - hindsight is a wonderful thing in football.

All conjecture, as football is not an exact science and is almost impossible to predict. I think what IÂ’m trying to say is that you have made your opinion (which I respect) known to every member of ToffeeWeb on several occasions, so feel free to stop spouting the same rubbish in every bloody threed - we get it ffs!!

P.S. Fairly comfortable 2-0 Everton COYB

1.) French thugs chance a pop at a few Evertonians minding their own business.

2.) Tensions increase.

3.) French police move in and resort to beating the crap out of anything wearing blue, men women and kids.

Why did we play at a higher tempo for longer periods in our first 3 games if we were undercooked from pre-season?

If conceding late goals is an indicator of poor fitness, do the late goals/flourishes in the Liverpool, United, Krasnador and Villa games indicate improved fitness?

DonÂ’t blame everyone over there for organized groups of thugs who are very probably not supporters. Unfortunately it’s the way things go when international games are played.

As the saying goes Â’put another record onÂ’. YouÂ’re starting to sound obsessed. Even you in a moment of unusual clarity a few weeks ago said itÂ’s too early to make a call.
ItÂ’s been a mixed start but nothing a run of three or four wins wonÂ’t sort out. IÂ’m not a Roberto acolyte by any means. I believe he can be a little one-dimensional against the better sides letting games become to open, but some of the knee-jerk drivel being spouted is laughable.

It is clear from early reports, that a section of LilleÂ’s residents attacked Everton supporters going about their lives lawfully; and since the violence has escalated where the police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets (something more akin to the previous troubles in Northern Ireland); there is no place for football in this violent atmosphere.

Fuck the authorities, UEFA, the mayor of Lille and Platini – it’s not against the law to drink. Why have bars in the first place?
This is anti-English racism and thuggery by the so-called authorities and they canÂ’t hide behind hooliganism because NOTHING happened to cause it apart from normal fan behaviour.

Drink by all means, but to get pissed and attack the police? I donÂ’t think so. Tourists normally go to places and treat hosts with respect, not to take over a square with drunken yobos.