Everton vs LOSC Lille

Seems obvious that Distin will play (I had expected him to be picked for this anyway) but what will be interesting is whether he can handle 2 games in 3 days and if not who would be CB for Sunderland game.

A game for Besic and Osman.

I will take a big quilted coat and pillow just to make sure I'm cosy during cat naps...

We should win with a shanky goal.

They won't give us much space so guile rather than pace is called for. With that in mind, I'd go for:

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
McCarthy Besic
Osman Eto'o Pienaar
Lukaku

Lille win few games and, despite having Origi up front, can't score goals. They are scared of Coleman and may try to counter-attack him with No 23 Souare who gave us a hard time in France. Reports say he turned down a possible move to Everton last week but I don't believe it.

The RS may swop Origi for Balotelli in January.

No excuse about tiredness, please; tiredness at this stage is a mere mental factor. Winning football matches should put paid to any mental fatigue – what player wouldn't want to get back out on that pitch at Sunderland on Sunday afternoon if we win tonight?

We need to really go after this Europa League, it may be our last taste of European football for a few years, we need to make it last and enjoy every minute of it.

Let’s hope that Barkley can start supplying the balls for Lukaku to run onto and then out-muscle the French defence and smack the ball into the bottom corner. Simple... no back-passing... no holding the ball up... no passing the ball around our 18-yard line for half the match.

Just simple, pass it to Lukaku to run at the defence... It’s not rocket science Roberto..

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
McCarthy Barry
Barkley Naismith
Eto’o Lukaku

3 points today would render the remaining 2 fixtures as inconsequential which gives Martinez the luxury to experiment as much as he wants without getting hurt. Experimenting in the league is proving increasingly expensive.

It's rumoured (how I hate rumours) that RM is thinking of lots of changes for tonight. As far as I know, the only changes Toffees fans would like is for him to play his best players together (where possible).

Howard Coleman Distin Jagielka Baines McCarthy Besic Atsu Eto’o Pienaar Lukaku

That side should win us the game with plenty of options from the bench.

"To become a big club with a big mentality, you need to be able to make lots of changes repeatedly."

Hmm.

I know he has to big up the squad players' confidence but surely can't he see that, by changing the starting team every week, that your not getting settled performances?

Big sides change players because invariably they have world class talent in every position; sadly we don't.

It's like Saturday against Swansea, we end the match with Eto'o, a guy who has made his living as a goal-poacher, out on the wing... then he takes off McGeady, who had been putting a few crosses in, and introduced Lukaku, a guy who would have appreciated those crosses.

Strange stuff at times.

I would like to think our manager is not so far up his own arse that he will want to make 'clever' changes for tonight. He isn't, is he?

I don’t see why we can’t do the same to Lille tonight if everyone turns up.

Also clever enough to make sure we have a proportion of players biting at the bit for the tricky away at Sunderland.

In reality, we do not have that strong a backup in all departments, so therefore, being the Devil's Advocate for tonight's match, I think we must field the strongest team available against Lille.

My reasons are simple: we are out of the Capital One Cup, have little chance on present (or even projected) form of getting back into Champions League qualification (ie, top four). Have not even started the FA Cup run (even though either Cup would only get us back where we are now in the Europa League)... so this is a good position to take seriously, and absolutely go for it!

Maybe I am being pessimistic about our Premier League form, but we don't seem to be as consistent as last year. I hope I am wrong, but still feel we should be taking this seriously (Europa) and if we qualify as well through getting into the top four, well that's a welcome bonus.

COYB

He is definitely one player that I hope is on Martinez's radar as he has had some complimentary things to say about Everton and, at 25, he could be what we are looking for to replace Distin / Alcaraz.

Get our strikers playing in a striker's role, have Seamus and Leighton bombing wide, midfield pushing on hard in support and they will fall apart like a cheap suit.

They will shit themselves if we go for the throat.

Only about three players have played in all the games so don't give me that tired crap. We have had our pile up of away fixtures so no need to rest players now.

Get our best side out, get the points and look forward to the next game. He has tried to be a smart arse two seasons on the bounce against Crystal Palace and recorded two defeats by the same score.

Don't let us down Bobby and stop talking shite about Distin not being a substitute at his age. Nose, face – meet spite.

To win this game, we need to get people in the box with the ball at their feet – otherwise, it will be another Swansea affair with lots of possession and very few chances. Deulofeu would have been ideal for us in Europe; unfortunately, he is not here... so it is up to McGeady and possibly Atsu to make the breakthrough.

"Get our strikers playing in a strikers role, have Seamus and Leighton bombing wide, midfield pushing on hard in support and they will fall apart like a cheap suit. They will shit themselves if we go for the throat."

Really? They have one of the best defenses in Europe. You don't get that by crumbling under a bit of pressure.

I think if anything we will have to try and draw them out in order to create space. Kjaer will deal with crosses into the box all day long.

Looks a decent defender though so we would have to overlook his dark side to employ him.

I expect (and hope) to see a similar team to the PL games. Play the strongest side and worry about the league game tomorrow morning.

Not fussed about the performance, need 3 points although a point would not be the end of the world.

Whatever happens don't lose!

We need to play at a higher tempo than of late and let's get the ball forward a bit quicker, and let's try and make sure that our attacking players have more touches than our defenders... now that would be a change!

Important to get points here as Wolfsburg are high up the Bundesliga (2nd last time I looked) so we don't want to have to get a result there to progress.

Getting my layers ready for tonight as it's bloody cold.

Unbeaten in Europe so far, they will try for a clean sheet but are not in a good moment of form. The injury to Man City loanee Lopes has left them short of creativity in midfield and they can't buy a goal. Most of their recent efforts have come from outside the box.

Villarreal, perhaps?

Lille don't concede many, and you can bet your arse that bloody Origi will get one tonight. Shit like that is written.

I still back us to win though, but then I always do so y'know...

There was me thinking it was Panathonikos.

Subs: Robles, Hibbert, Browning, Barry, Osman, McGeady, Eto'o.

I wouldn't be too upset with that line-up.

Certainly we can have criticism of our manager and team but to say he is clueless about substitutions when we won more games last season from Roberto's changes than any other team in the league is just a moronic statement. Yes we will have our different ideas in team formation and sometimes his subs will disappoint like Saturday but Roberto knows what he is doing and I have more faith in him than any manager we have had in 3 decades.

In Roberto we trust. COYB.

He hasn't even made the full amount in games that needed changing, and which were during busy periods where the squad needed to be utilised.

I'm all for having a go at the whingers, some of the childish knee-jerk negativity I read on ToffeeWeb is embarrassing, but the credibility of those of us who tend to stay positive is harmed by an argument that basically says you're not allowed to criticise Martinez even when he's wrong.

Whatever happens in Europe we will win the league if we keep our best players in a few seasons.

I think I will be in a minority but I am pleased Osman has another year and Disitin is also getting another year. Transition time people.

To be honest I would prefer 3 points on Sunday than today

Considering the fixtures we have had, the injuries, the WC hangover and having to deal with Europe, his management of the team has been very good. Moyes had us 6th and 7th every year and his subs were so predictable and his tactics negative yet Roberto gets slated because a few games don't go our way. I read on here how bad the performances are yet I see it so differently and other fans tell me we have been the best team they have played this season.

Roberto’s use of subs last year was fantastic. I didn’t realise the stat you posted about being best in the league, but it certainly seems feasible.

A win tonight and we’re big faves to top the group. I reckon we’ll do Te backend on sunday as well.

COYB