Everton vs Manchester City

Robles
Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines
Barry
Mirallas, Besic, Oviedo
Naismith, Lukaku
Bench: Eto'o, McGeady, Barkley, Alcaraz, Kone and somebody, anybody, who can play keeper in a pinch.

Barry to cover the back 4 and make that first pass to get us upfield. Mirallas and Naismith interchangeable, same on the other side with Oviedo and Rom.

Having stones back should in theory inspire a better defensive display. Personally I'd say Barry has to be dropped, and I'd play Baines in the middle with Oviedo at left back. I know their are mixed views on Baines' capacity to perform as a CM, but he's only as bad as Barry surely? His passing is better I think, and he's definitely more mobile. Play him alongside Besic, With Mirallas left and McGeady right. Naismith to replace McGeady if he proves ineffective.

I guess somebody has to keep what physio's we have left in a job, they must be chuffed with Gibson and Pienaar.

I agree though, you can't even get excited anymore about Gibson returning to action because you just know less than 6 games later he's down for another few months with a so-called "minor knock" .

Both him and Pienaar need putting out to grass in the summer, along with a few other's.

Its a scary though tomorrow even a half fit rusty Aguero up against Jagielka.
Anymore farting around in defence and we will get torn to shreds because you can't allow players of City's quality to have the helping hand that we dish out in most games.

Tomorrow has to be a virtually faultless display from EVERYONE.

The question is, are we capable of a performance of such near perfection?
You'd have to say no at the present moment.

I'd say a draw would be a good result but it's another game without a win making it 1 win in 11, we really need to win some matches soon.

GK, Garbutt, Alcaraz, Naismith, McGeady, Eto'o, Kone.

City dominate possession in front of a team so this is the thinking of the 'defensive' midfield with Baines left of center for Zabaleta and Besic the same for Kolarov on the other side. Barkley to tuck back in when they have it and the license to roam when we have it. Mirallas pulling wide and for the threat in behind and Lukaku coming of the front like against WHU.

That would be Mcgeady substituted in the warm up then, he's fucking hopeless and should be sold as soon as possible.

As for the result? Depends on what philosophy Barcelona Bobby decides on. Tipy tapy and we get a mauling. Direct in their faces and we stand a chance.

I'm not holding my breath!

Against the Hammers we just about papered over some glaring cracks in our team and a team like Man City will expose them further. The only way we can get something from this game is to get at them for 90 minutes and we are clearly not fit enough for that.

I would prefer to have Oviedo as DM rather than Baines or Barry for that matter.

But if the WHU Lukaku+ turns up and gives them a severe beasting the corner could, just could be turned...but this is Everton.

I just can't see us getting anything out of this, I'd dance round the living room if we come away with a 0-0 draw.

Naismith or McGeady on the right but I hope we get a chance to see Atsu.

With Distin missing we'll need to avoid corners at all costs or Dzeko, Kompany and their other big lads will have a field day.

Not confident but Martinez beat City with a poor Wigan side and may have a few tricks up his sleeve.

Speaking about today’s squad, and not cherry picking golden oldie memories to suit a pro-Martinez agenda, if Tuesday’s defensive shambles was anything to go by, we’re going to struggle and I really fear that we could get a hiding.

If we challenge for second balls ( there’s and ours), defend corners, have defensive understanding, play Ross through the middle, have a motivated Rom’ that comes short and holds, prepare a plan B, be smart with well timed and canny substitutions, etc etc etc then we might have a chance.

In other words, if our manager actually manages, maybe we can compete. If not...well, come in Martinez cos your time is up.

Yes, even Robbie Savage can see through our problems - so they must be glaringly obvious.

The concerns could have been lifted from ToffeeWeb posts.

However, I know that quite a few people had a similar opinion to me on RM’s appointment: underwhelmed but open-minded.

In the early days, the major concerns were the need to "mix it up" / adapt rather than to adhere to a footballing philosophy. That concern has come home to roost and is the gist of Savage’s article.

I still want RM to succeed but I do fear these next 2 games are really the "pivotal" ones to use RM’s new word.

I fear that if we don’t get 4 points from the next 2 PL games then the game may well be up.

I have never seen an injury problem like this in many a year and all in the worst possible positions too.

Get in their faces but no fannying about with it at the back.

Need to just keep concentration for 90+ minutes and we might have a nice surprise, especially as Yaya won't be playing

With enough effort and a fair go from the ref, we can win this.

Robles
Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines
Mirallas, Besic, Barkley, Ovieda
Kone, Lukaku

I've grown increasingly disillusioned with Robertos team selections, specifically the constant lack of width in the side, which in turn dampens the threat of Coleman and Baines. I'll watch the game and hope the blues get something out of it but until he starts picking a balanced side, I just can't get excited anymore.

It took Moyes a good 7 or 8 years to get me to the point where I stopped looking forward to Everton games, Roberto's managed it in a mere 18 months!

FWIW, I'd play Oviedo, Barkley and Mirallas as the 3 AMs, with Besic and McCarthy as the two CDMs. If McCarthy's not fit then Barkley to play next to Besic and Naismith or Eto to play behind Lukaku.

I just hope he doesnt play any of Barkley, Eto or Naismith out wide again.

Barry needs to be on the bench but as usual he'll start.

IMO he is one of the worst signings ever made along with Glen Keeley.

He is slow and does not do well with pressure.

Dzeko and Aguerro will have a field day if he plays.

I like the look of Shaun's side with Besic, Barry and Baines in a 3 man defensive MF which is where we have lacked strength all season.

Barry has lacked pace but reads the game really well and with players alongside him looking for the ball will not be subject to the pressure he has had to endure all season under the RM tactical disaster (ER plan).

Yes, like scoring from a corner as Wigan did that day!

Fortunately my predictions are usually wrong...

Please, Roberto, set us up to hit on the counter.

Performance is what counts tomorrow, if we try hard and show some courage then I won't mind if we lose, even if we lose by a few.

If we up the tempo and aggression against them they are not as formidable as they should be but can we maintain a high tempo game.

Charles(and Harold) IMO Alcaraz is a disaster waiting to happen every game but Jags is capable of so much more but is not a confident lad so needs the crowd to get behind him.

I don't want us to play like a Moyes team but a Martinez team that can at least get a point.

Then 3 points off WBA.

More than ever the performances mean nothing - and they never ever mean more than the result. Glorious defeat? Stick it. There’s too much at stake.

4 points is the minimum from these next two games or I suspect it’ll be ’Goodnight Vienna’.

If he’s right we’ll be 4 points off the bottom side this time tomorrow night.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Lukaku was really, really good against WHU. If a few more can raise their games as well we will right the ship.

Once a year, every year, me and my boys get together to literally drink booze and eat ALL DAY LONG and that day is tomorrow. A home win verse City would start such a day off so DANGEROUSLY!!
And yes, we are in our mid-30's and our wives hate us.

Some delusional folk on here. Will be nothing but misery from this one. I predict a spanking for Martinez with absolutely no pleasure involved

Who know, stranger things have happened, we might cause an upset!
My heads telling me its a win for City though, I'd take a draw now if it was possible.

A player like Silva in the middle for us (fat chance) would transform our attacking play, oh and a centre half that could actually get his head to a ball would be use-full also!

On a sour note, I remember about 18 months ago saying I was nonplussed by the signings of Kone and Alcaraz. I didn't get much stick for Kone, and I still believe he was as big a waste of £5m as Kroldrop, but the outright abuse I copped about not rating Alcaraz bordered on criminal. Smug certainly isn't a great way to self promote, and I wish that every signing Everton made was a corker, but if I could remember all the people who swore at me and told me I was an idiot, I'd certainly be asking for an apology right about now.

You should be ok around that time.

A spec by the blue fence and you should get autographs and maybe a quick snap.
Link

John stones was great midweek with my nephew. Made his day.

Also Steve Mcmanaman was chatting to the kids for a while. Also brilliant and referring to Everton as us and we!

Enjoy.

Head says a comfortable City win but hey, this is why we all watch sport, anything can happen.

A win tomorrow by any way possible and it could change our whole season.

Here's hoping.

Makes me laugh during International matches when he refers to England as "We" when he is on British TV and when on Irish media he refers to Rep of Ireland as " We", bit of an identity crisis going on there.

I reckon we'll do alright tomorrow - losing by a goal is doing alright.

We have ’stopped the rot’ against West Ham, but we were only average. As usual, we will start well in front of a full house at Goodison, but the least we want to see is 90 min’s of busting a gut. I can take a defeat, but if we look clueless in our passing, and we don’t get into dangerous positions to test Hart, then that just isn’t acceptable - not after a run of four defeats.

If we meekly surrender, then nothing has changed and Martinez hasn’t got the nous or motivational ability to get us out of this tailspin towards a relegation dogfight.

The players have a duty towards the shirt, if they want to sulk then they all need fucking off - along with the manager.

I’m not overly optimistic on this one as far as results; however, the attitude of the performance is as important as this will give us a indication of if the players have the stomach for a relegation fight. The longer Martinez stays, the harder it will be.

My replacement manager would be Martin O’Niell.

If I see any of those fuckers yuckin it up, smiling, giggling, getting all friendly with the opposition while in the tunnel...

I'm gonna punch a fucking hole in the TV.

Especially Jags. Fucking Captain - try to at least act like one for the love of all that is holy!

You just gave me something to do on a Friday evening Colin, Thank you.

My view of the situation is that we have to take a minimum of 5 points from the next 3 games. I would prefer 7.

Anyway time to put our differences aside for now. I am sure everyone at Goodison will get behind the team for this one.

We need a big shift from all the players for this one.

Does he not have the intelligence to just say, "None of that is remotely true."

We have a laugh at it all. Bainsey is a lover, not a fighter.

Har-har hardy fucking har.

Jeezuz.

Robles
Coleman Jagielka Stones Baines
Naismith Besic Barkley Barry Mirallas
Lukaku.
I am not too keen on one up front but needs must. The reason for including Naismith on the right is to negate any left back runs and candidly Naisy can be a fucking nuisance and will hopefully annoy City. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves and although everyone loves Mirallas he needs to do a bit of Naisy work esp re Zabaletta (he can still do his bit of magic) I wish he would do it more often.

Let’s get behind all of them. Barry’s form has dipped significantly but we need him (on form) in a 5 man midfield Barkley Naisy Mirallas MUST tuck in as quickly and tightly as possible when not in possession and we must break at pace even if it’s an outlet ball to Lukaku. Leave Lukaku up for City corners, I hate the ball being cleared to the opposition what do coaches see in having all 11 back – pointless. I’ve tried to pick the best players in the most formidable formation possible to frustrate City match them in midfield and counter. I can’t improve this personnel except for McCarthy.

We normally do well against them, and the last time out was heavily influenced by some very favourable refereeing in City's favour. Yes Barry should have been red carded for his elbow but by that time City should have had nine men for nearly an hour.

Referee aside, we still didn't put in a performance.

I want to see players in their natural positions, no square pegs and round holes.
I want us to be difficult to play against, with and without the ball.
I want the players to play with confidence and belief in themselves and their teammates.

And perhaps most of all, I want them to play, and the manager to have them set up, like it means something to them to play for Everton.

Not sure all of the above will happen so having said all that, 2-2, with City getting a late equaliser courtesy of Mr Atkinson.

Kone and Oviedo could have big parts to play if used correctly in a 3-5-2 later on in the game.

Three left backs ? How could that work ?

Well it won't happen but...its balanced with right side of Coleman and Mirallas, Baines and Besic sit in front of back four and basically spend all the game snapping at the heels of City's world class forwards......Oviedo really will help stop City getting the width they enjoy and he can attack with strength and surprising pace AND he can cross the ball.....Garbutt can defend AND he can take a corner and cross the ball.....harsh on Naisy but for me for the next few games it feels solid yet with attacking potential and Ross behind a returning-to-form Lukaku is simply light years better than a Barklay left wing berth.

Wonder how many minutes it'll before one of Barry or Besic is carded, am going for 27th minute.

Can't believe Mirallas doesn't start.