Seasons » 2014-15 » Everton News
Seven players under assessment for Hammers clash
Everton's medical staff will assess the fitness of seven of Roberto Martinez's squad ahead of Saturday's home fixture against West Ham United as a series of knocks and soft-tissue injuries threaten to deprive the manager of a number of first-team players. | 20/11/2014Gareth Bareth is rated as highly doubtful while Leighton Baines and James McCarthy will undergo late tests on minor hamstring strains.
"We're checking Leighton on a daily basis," said Martinez said in his pre-match press conference this morning. "He's someone who heals really quickly and at the moment it's difficult to know if he's going to be involved on Saturday or not - it's going to be touch and go.
"I've seen him recover from a similar grade one hamstring problem before in eight days, so we're going to give him as much time as we can to see if he can make it on Saturday."
Steven Pienaar and Darron Gibson have both picked up knee injuries recently and they are doubts as Everton resume their Premier League campaign following the international break, but Kevin Mirallas is close to making his long-awaited return from a hamstring injury of his own.
Finally, the club will check on Seamus Coleman's ankle after he played in Ireland's Euro2016 qualifier against Scotland with five stitches to a wound on his ankle.
Reader Comments (36)
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3 Posted 20/11/2014 at 17:34:25
5 Posted 20/11/2014 at 17:44:54
7 Posted 20/11/2014 at 19:17:26
I will be surprised who we have but I think we will win folks!
8 Posted 20/11/2014 at 19:30:25
Sounds like every week, Steavey!
12 Posted 20/11/2014 at 20:08:38
13 Posted 20/11/2014 at 20:15:45
17 Posted 20/11/2014 at 21:10:24
19 Posted 20/11/2014 at 21:12:01
20 Posted 20/11/2014 at 21:44:23
21 Posted 20/11/2014 at 22:40:16
22 Posted 20/11/2014 at 22:54:43
23 Posted 21/11/2014 at 06:15:01
WeÂre just not going to know whoÂs fit until Saturday. Howard, Distin and Jags are set. Up front, we have enough talent with Lukaku, Naismith, EtoÂo and McGeady to cause trouble. The big question marks are the midfield and the fullbacks.
Is Osman still capable of playing a full match without running out of gas?
If McCarthy canÂt go, are Besic and Barkley ready to step it up a notch and take control of the centre of the pitch?
If not Baines, then who?
IÂm not going to make any predictions until I know which Everton is going take the field.
24 Posted 21/11/2014 at 07:37:16
26 Posted 21/11/2014 at 09:11:25
I think we will nick a win, however, as they may miss a few key players and we have a bit more depth to our squad. If fitness tests are failed...
The team: Howard; Hibbert, Distin, Jagielka, Browning, Besic; Barkley, McGeady; Osman; Naismith, Lukaku.
(That is the team I think Bobby would play but I would probably opt for EtoÂo in behind the front two in a 4-3-1-2 formation.)
28 Posted 21/11/2014 at 10:02:13
IÂm really looking forward to the game and hope we attack them with a little more urgency than we have been doing of late.
29 Posted 21/11/2014 at 10:49:24
ItÂs a shame that Gibbo is out as well (although not really a surprise) but we should have enough to match West Ham. Other than left-back, the back five are pretty much the same (I am assuming Coleman, Jags and Distin will all start). So central midfield is the big question – who plays next to Besic.
IÂm not knocking Osman but I hope itÂs not him... yet I have a feeling itÂs going to be, as RM has played him there before... On the other hand, it may be good to have an experienced head next to Besic in the middle but Ossie gets brushed off the ball so easily... tough one.
I would be tempted to play a 4-4-1-1 with Coleman at right midfield and Browning or Hibbo at right back. Besic and Ossie central midfield and McGeady at left midfield and Garbutt at left back (assuming Baines and Oviedo canÂt make it.) Barkley and one of EtoÂo or Lukaku up front.
The midfield would be a bit light in the middle but Barkley would hopefully keep them on their toes with Besic and Osman playing more defensive. Good options on the bench.
Not an ideal line-up but looking at our squad, we only seem to have four midfielders fit!
30 Posted 21/11/2014 at 11:48:39
33 Posted 21/11/2014 at 12:11:13
Howard
Browning Distin Jagielka Hibbert
Besic Osman
Barkley McGeady
Naismith Lukaku
Doubtfuls: Coleman, Baines, McCarthy, Barry, Gibson, Pienaar, Mirallas.
34 Posted 21/11/2014 at 12:21:38
35 Posted 21/11/2014 at 12:26:06
Hardly a crisis just because we had to call on ONE junior player at left back, surely?
37 Posted 21/11/2014 at 12:45:43
Leon did well at central midfield last year against Chelsea... much better stats, interceptions, no dribble pasts, higher number of tackles etc than Gareth for that game; it was easier for him facing the play.
However, I fancy Besic and one of Gibson or McCarthy (one has to make it surely).
At home, I would go for Ross and Romelu and McGeady and Atsu on wing to start with and Mirallas on after 60 mins EtoÂo, Baines and Osman saved for Wolfsgurg
38 Posted 21/11/2014 at 13:00:24
Lukaku must also be more involved and spend more time in his supposed position instead of being elsewhere when the crosses come into the area. I would like to see Atsu get more playing time with EtoÂo.
West Ham have done well so far this season so, if we are as weakened as we are expected to be against Big Sams Âstrong arm tactics, everyone playing must give 100%.
39 Posted 21/11/2014 at 13:27:42
40 Posted 21/11/2014 at 13:19:48
41 Posted 21/11/2014 at 13:30:32
42 Posted 21/11/2014 at 13:27:41
Also, I hope EtoÂo starts – IÂm looking forward to him meeting up with his old pal Alex Song.
43 Posted 21/11/2014 at 13:59:43
44 Posted 21/11/2014 at 15:12:05
45 Posted 21/11/2014 at 15:22:58
Please let him know every blue is right behind him and our time is coming and so is his.
Team for Saturday assuming fitness:
Howard
Coleman Jagielka Browning Distin
Besic McCarthy
Barkley
McGeady Lukaku Osman
Subs for second half:
Garbutt for Browning
EtoÂo for McGeady
Pienaar for McCarthy or Osman depending on fitness.
46 Posted 21/11/2014 at 15:32:56
I cannot really see RM playing Distin at left back although this will really test RMÂs commitment to giving youth a chance. As playing Distin at left back and Browning would mean changing half the back line, whereas giving Garbutt the left-back role would only mean changing one position, with Browning as replacement on the bench.
It would also be a blow for Garbutt if he couldnÂt start with both Baines and Oviedo likely out – the guy needs to be given a chance at some point.
47 Posted 21/11/2014 at 15:45:37
On the post itself outta all the palyers possibly out the biggest misses for us has to be Bainesy and McCarthy as I expect Coleman to play especially if he played the other day for his country.
I know we will miss Barry hugely but if ever there was a time for Mo to step up its now and give RM a selection headache when he returns, I see this as his biggest chance to get his feet under the table so to speak and get a good run under his belt and show us what he has shown in glimpses pre-season and to date.
Looking forward to having Barkley back firing on all cylinders too and once he and Mirallas are back performing together with a fit first 11 I feel we can kick on and have a great second half of the season.
Onwards and upwards. COYB & ÂThe BomberÂ
48 Posted 21/11/2014 at 16:04:32
49 Posted 21/11/2014 at 16:51:30
50 Posted 21/11/2014 at 20:31:35
Denis, given the current resources, in the absence of Pienaar Mirallas and the relative poor form of Atsu, I think we have to play narrow with the full backs overlapping to give width.
There again, RM will make the decision so my post is only my thoughts....
51 Posted 22/11/2014 at 09:27:37
Is all the animosity between them for real or is it played up? It's pretty convincing either way, he's got a job as an actor when he packs up if he doesn't mean it.
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2 Posted 20/11/2014 at 17:33:19