McCarthy and Mirallas 'not risked' due to fitness concerns

Pity really as we were a more balanced side in the first half, and he's been really unlucky with injuries over the last two seasons. The bonus is, there are so many good midfielders in the squad, he's not badly missed.

A regular in the Premier League a lot of years for a player his age. Especially a player whose calling card is covering every blade of grass.

From here on out, I can't see his hammy healing completely.

It's all opinions and it's so good that at last we have a few genuine candidates again.

Schneiderlin doesn't need to press forward all the time as a defensive midfielder. He just needs to protect the defence and be able to pick a forward pass, the same role Michael Carrick had at Man Utd for years.

Steavey (#11), Besic is already on his way to his next club.

Some of his passing was well below par as well. With more expected from the Everton fans from the Everton team no player should take it for granted they can play week-in & week-out without proving it.

Please do tell, where is Mo Besic going? You have made that comment several times so you must be very sure of what you say.

On Boxing Day, when Everton beat Leicester away 2-0, Gueye was in the team, and looked good again when beating Southampton 3-0 at home.

I do believe Everton will see the best of Gueye and McCarthy when they are playing together in midfield. Where that leaves Morgan, I don't know?

I think any combo of Davies, Gueye, McCarthy and Schneiderlin should give us plenty of energy and presence in the middle. Two of them have only just come in and they need time together and the right system around them and they will flourish.

As for Schneiderlin, we knew what we were getting when we signed him. United signed him to replace Michael Carrick and we signed him to replace Gareth Barry, and I'd argue Man United played a high pressing game under Fergie with Carrick in the side. Not to mention the very Saints side he played in under Ronald Koeman.

Antonio (#17), I'm sure enough that I've made several bets with other TWers. To condense my previous comments, I'm confident Koeman doesn't fancy Besic because having seen a good deal of him – managing against him and then watching him in training and preseason prior to the injury – Koeman made offers to Gueye, Witsel, Sissoko and also pursued Schneiderlin and, as we recently learned, Thomas Delaney. All defensive mids. And all before Besic was hurt.

Reckless, liability and crab are all words I would use to describe him. He constantly over-hits passes which must be a nightmare to control and, the Man City semi-final apart, I struggle to remember him having any impact on a game.