McCarthy expected to be fit for United clash

I think. We should revert to a no-nonsense 4-4-2 against Jose's, over-hyped, over-rated, over-paid, under (pants) performers. And I would go with the following...

Stekelenberg
Coleman. ? Williams. ?
? Gana. ? ?
? Lukaku

Please note, 75% of this team was brought in by Koeman!

If he's been looking tired in training, then perhaps a run out in the U-23s may give him some idea.

Not sure who or what we can try next as we seem to have tried all sorts of combinations in midfield and on the wings.

The problem isn't the formation, it's too many players who don't give a fiddlers fuck. For all his faults, at least James McCarthy will put in a shift in midfield.

Stekelenburg;
Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori, Baines;
Barry;
Gana, Barkley / Davies;
Mirallas, Lukaku, Deulofeu.

Personally, until Koeman is in a position to take remedial action in the transfer window to solve the midfield quandary that we currently have I would be playing McCarthy in the engine room alongside Gueye and Davies.

It looks like Old Father Time is catching up with Gareth Barry and Ross Barkley has seriously been devoid of both form and confidence. With the schedule of fixtures coming up we definitely need a different approach, it needs to be a more backs to the wall 'dogs of war' attitude and approach and McCarthy could add some much needed steel to support Gueye and allow Davies to play in a more advanced position.

I would also give Deulofeu 3-4 games in the starting line up to try to prove himself – if he fails to deliver then I'm afraid that this would also signal that his time at Everton is up... along with Lennon and Mirallas.

You couldn't give half of them away, let alone demand a fee, I have never been so disinterested in a bunch of wasters as I am in this lot.

The question marks represents the fact that I am well and truly stumped to find any suitable player from our lot to fill the void. They should be all shown the door... Yes, including McCarthy!

Leicester, along with Atletico Madrid and Portugal, didn't exactly make arses of themselves when they employed such an archaic system last season.

I've been a huge critic of McCarthy but I actually might play him in this to give a bit of much needed energy.

In other news, Darron Gibson is out with a (insert body part) strain.

As gash as Barkley is, it's no excuse to introduce McCarthy... though given Koeman's adversity to give Davies, Walsh, Charsley etc an opportunity... it's so deflating how shite our situation is.

I can see Koeman selecting a midfield comprising Cleverley, McCarthy Barry, Gana, and Bolasie or Barkley... depressing as that may seem, it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

All the hype about the investment in the club etc ... Whatever!! I've seen it all before. I have supported Everton for 55 years and I just don't see us doing anything again for a long time at this rate.

Robles
Kenny Holgate Williams Baines
Coleman Davies Gana Bolasie
Calvert-Lewin Lukaku

4-4-2
Not sure on the availability of some of these players. (Although, if not available, they'll likely contribute as much as the players who have recently played...)

Tell the players that are not selected that they've been replaced due to a lack of commitment, pride and passion. Tell the ones selected the same will happen to them if they slack off for even 30 seconds!

Rooney caught McCarthy with a stray elbow when playing against Wigan at least four seasons ago now. He got away with it, Man Utd went on to win the game and the league. The two have played against each other a few times since then.

Keeping with the same starters as against Southampton will leave Ronald getting all sorts of flak should it end in another defeat.

I read the other week that Jose Mouriniho's style is finished because football has been took over by the styles of Conte and Klopp, despite Portugal boring their way to winning The Euros just 4 months ago.

I also recalled Mouriniho winning the Champions League with AC Milan, a few years ago, whilst eliminating possibly the finest free flowing football team,that most of us have ever had the pleasure to witness.

Football has got many different formations and styles, and only when the correct style/formation is used in the correct manner will a team get real long term results.

Koeman's no fool, and he will no this better than anyone, which is why is next actions are so important, to see how much he really fancies managing both these players and Everton Football Club right now?

You could try it but the ref might notice.

Ooof.

Tell these underachieving lazy gets that 100% is required from now on, and anyone not giving that will be dropped to the Under-23s until they give 100% for them.

I wouldn't be surprised if we beat United on Sunday, but that's Everton isn't it.

I was calling for us to play it last season before Leicester walked the League with it; don't you think we have to at least try to do something different?

That's how desperate it is, picking a young, untried newbie because the alternatives are a huge kick in the nuts to us fans...

How are we supposed to press with just four players in the opposition half. We need 6 or even 8 with full backs pushed up, we are too deep and that makes pressing impossible. Either the players are too dumb and aren't doing what he is saying and dropping far too deep or this tactic doesn't work.

On another note, Mason Holgate and Tom Davies must be due a go soon. Lennon, Cleverley, Mirallas, Oviedo, Jagielka and the bench warmers need moving on. Massive January needed.

However, Valencia should not be written off, at Everton, without being given a proper chance, he has hardly played since coming from WHU, and looks like he has a bit of life in him at least.

It's almost a year since we bought him and he has yet to get grass stains on his arse for us!

The guy's a national hero at home, a regular scorer at international level and with Lukaku "I need Champions League football" playing with his concrete boots on after a bright start.

Now's the perfect opportunity to drop the lump, (like other clubs do with out of firm players, Ronald) to try Valencia as a replacement or, give him a run as a second forward in a twin striker role.

We certainly can't get much worse than we are at present, so show some guts, Koeman. Make drastic changes – Funes Mori for Jagielka, Davies for Barry – and try to win a game for once, instead of praising a second half that may be mildly better than a poor first half as we slide to another predictable defeat.

1) Nice video, but Macca hasn't played like that in more than a year, and he's far more static now due to his injuries;

2) Gana does everything Macca does, but better and on his feet instead of sliding, so draws fewer fouls;

3) Gana also knows how to slot a pass through or chip to the far post, which Macca cannot.

I like Macca, but whatever the question is, he's not the answer.

(like a new signing)

*hides away*

Stekelenburg;
Holgate, Williams, Funes Mori;
Coleman, Barkley, Gana, Davies, Baines;
Mirallas or Delofeu or Valencia, Lukaku.

I always think playing Barry causes a massive lack of mobility in the midfield and a huge gap which causes problems for Barkley and the front players. We don't look like a cohesive unit. Fill the midfield with energy.

I think your maths is a bit suspect, quite apart from your initial correction, plus whatever point it is you are trying to make is suspect too.

Five players is not a team, so your "60%" is 60% of ~45% which is ~27% so I still don't know what your point is?

(Actually I do, and there's nothing like statistics to distort a viewpoint.)

As for McCarthy returning to bolster our team... whoop dee flipping doo!

It's no coincidence to me that Jagielka's loss of form has coincided with the current poor run. Difficult to come back now at his age. But at least his attitude cannot be faulted and he always tries.

Far too many in the first team play like they know they have no long-term future under Koeman and look like they don't care, which is the most inexcusable thing for a professional footballer getting paid a fortune to play a game all of us would play for fun.

Only a month to the transfer window – when we can ship out under-performers / poor-attitude characters, and increase that team percentage. A huge transition period for the team, and anyone who thought otherwise was deluded.

With all due respect. Although my post was meant to be sarcastic and tongue-in-cheek, the figures tot up.

I initially chose four players, of whom 3 players were brought in by Koeman. 3 out of 4 represents 75%.

I forgot that I had (reluctantly) included Lukaku, only because there was no-one on the frontline. Realising my mistake, then the percentages were wrong, I then corrected it to the sum of 60%. 3 Koeman players out of 5 represents 60%.

I know 5 players is not a team, hence the question marks. That's why we are in the shit as, in my opinion (only an opinion), we have only 4 players worth their salt (Lukaku being reluctantly thrown in to make up the frontline, of which, the situation is critical!).

Well, at least we agree on the McCarthy issue!

The clubs recent record in January of talking big but failing to deliver.

Who would want any of the dross we need to offload?

Why come here when there are clubs who could offer ambitious players a lot more than just big talk?

I agree with your formation and selection apart from the omission of Gareth Barry who is one of a few players that is a "team" player.

I would opt for Davies or Barkley but not both.

I think our problems have lain with midfield which has not been strong enough not the back four.

For years our midfield has not been strong enough or contribute any goals.

I would have Fellaini back in a heartbeat.

As far as newcomers are concerned the better Africans will be otherwise involved although I hear Sissoko is anxious to leave Spurs already. If we sign him, I think I'll give up on 'New Everton'!

Man Utd are their own worst enemies and to have a chance, we must get in their faces and try to get some sustained fast action around their box... which, for this team, is gonna take some doing.

This is a critical period; if we don't get results, we could be on our arses again by New Year's Day. Surely now, we must put in a full 90 mins?

It will be interesting to see how the defence and midfield are picked and how they show. Last week hopefully was the pits, but I seriously wonder now if the team still believes in itself?

I've never seen Jags so out of sorts since his midfield stint under Moyes. I hope he sticks one in against Man Utd and we win.

The club hasn't changed since Mr Moshiri has come in. All too familiar, eh, Phil.

Stekelenburg. Kenny. Funes Mori. Williams. Baines. Coleman. Gana. Davies. Bolasie. Lukaku. Valencia.

Yes, that team will give United players sleepless nights.
Stekelenburg. Williams. Baines. Bolasie. Lukaku. Valencia. All useless, over-rated or over the hill. I said before Williams was bought that he's no better than what we have, he's a cart horse. Slow, not big, fast or mobile, 㾸 million?

Apparently Tony Cascarino said that Koeman will be gone before season's end... well, he can go now if he wants.

I actually wonder what would happen if a manager had some balls and said

"To hell with this defensive midfield crap. I have four defenders to defend, I'm putting two central midfielders who can distribute the balk and assist in attack, two wide players to attack down the flanks, and two strikers up front to keep their defense occupied."

When the hell did it become law that you just have to have all this defensive oriented support?

That's the catch, McCarthy can do no better or no worse! He's been seen, so on that basis give a go to someone who has more skill and vision or possibly could have it.

One way appears to me to be lose-lose while something else may have a win element about it particularly if it has been shown at other levels.

Or are we only preparing to play as we did against Man City?

We seem to have gone, against the teams above is in the League, from KITAP1 to let's snatch a draw.

I get your point on Barry. My thinking was that if he plays, you are then looking at the two DMs again. The idea of this formation is that the extra defender should allow you more attacking license in midfield. The more Barry plays, the more reliant we are on him, which is worrying for a guy his age. Maybe we need radical change and make a choice between him and Gana?? Not sure Koeman will read my post though...

I loved Fellaini when he was with us but was never sure of his position. Would he and Gana provide in defence & attack enough?

Stekelenburg
Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Baines
Barry, Gana
Lennon, Barkley, Bolasie
Lukaku

Groundhog Day!!

Need to shake it up: Davies, Holgate, Funes Mori will all show passion and desire. I'd go as far as saying McCarthy would too!

The bare minimum I expect from any Everton side is passion, fight and desire. That's simply not happening at the minute. We are too nice.

You're about as funny as herpes.

Geoff (#70), I didn't say I was putting faith in anything. There are only two windows a year, and most people seem to think that Koeman has a three-year project in mind so, irrespective of what has happened previously (I don't actually agree with your assertion either by the way that we have never done well in January), why would anyone waste 50% of the available time?

There is a common belief that there is less value in January but I don't necessarily subscribe to this either. Deals get done or they don't. It is a shorter window, granted, but negotiations are typically done outside of the actual window itself.

It isn't a question of faith, more an issue of what HAS to be done and I do think we will see signings and departures in January, especially if we don't appear to have a great deal to play for this season, which was always going to be a transition year after the awful mess left by the last administration.

I also think Moshiri is resigned to paying over-the-top prices for better players given that a) we are not a great draw right now, and b) clubs know we are sitting on funds. Historically, unfashionable clubs at certain times in their history have had to adopt this policy. I'm thinking immediately of Blackburn, Chelsea and Man City, all of which had to pay way over the odds for better players initially.