Apollon Limassol vs Everton

Allardyce has a medical appointment, sounds a bit more serious than a checkup. Lee is to stay with the players left behind and work with them (the first team). Whilst Shakespeare and Ferguson will take the team itself.

So why not Unsworth?

Having said that, I don't know if any of the possible starters for the derby will feature or not. I suppose it is fairly difficult to motivate yourself as a player for this, knowing that a good win will deliver nothing, except recognition and possible consideration for Sunday.

Robles, Klaassen, Besic, Mirallas, Schneiderlin and youngsters. Send Robles back after the match and keep the rest there for a few days on the bevy.

Okay his spell at Birmingham wasn't great but didn't he win the league's U23 player of the season last season?

And a spot in the Intertoto Cup...

I just hope everyone gets back injury free.

Who knows – the total lack of pressure and hugely changed team might turn one up out of the blue...

Robles
Charsley Besic Feeney Collins
Klaassen Banigime Schneiderlin
Lookman Broadhead Mirallas

Charsley is a midfielder who has played at RB on occasion and Collins is a pacy CB, not sure what other FB options they've taken.

There is absolutely no point getting into the Champions League without any previous European experience.

Also, we'd be one of the lowest ranked clubs in the competition as well just because of that.

I don't get this. If we ever want to become successful it means we will have to be able to handle a European campaign next to our Premier League campaign.

What else is the point of getting into the Champions League knowing we won't be able to handle the extra fixtures, meaning we will not qualify again for the next season?

All this moaning about extra games. Grow up. Successful teams deal with it. Small teams moan.

Have you ever been on a European trip with the club?

Sensible move though as we have quite a game coming up!

He won't get another chance to do this until at least the second week in January, when most of the squad will probably be looking for a few days off, considering the hectic schedule that is about to begin.

I'm made up he's taken this decision, because the players need some time together to work out the new methods that will be getting drilled into them, and also getting a lot more rest to help them prepare for Anfield on Sunday.

I was reacting to someone saying it was either Champions League or nothing for him, so you might have misunderstood that.

Because for tonight, I agree.

It offers Champions League football for invariably a failed Champions League team. Most of the time, the dropouts from the Champions League win it anyhow.

If it were a 2-legged knockout including more teams, I would embrace it but it is awful to watch and generally a pain in the arse going to Thursday and Sunday games.

I think Allardyce has done the right thing. A derby game is way more important than a dead rubber. Blood some youngsters and fringe players, while giving the main squad extra prep time. Let's hope it pays off on Sunday. :)

Barry, I think we can freely play any U23 players in games as they don't need registering.

That makes sense, thanks!

And take our 1 point away!

Regarding going abroad with Everton. Well, I first went to Greece and Germany in 70-71.

Some pre season games. Rotterdam. Couple of games in the Martinez time, Holland, Germany.

So yes I have been with the Club a while, possibly before you were born? However, that is immaterial.

In my opinion, history has shown, for whatever reason, The Europa League does not favour too many British Clubs in progression. For some reason, we don't seem to have good seasons during the competition.

Regarding your observation that for some reason we need European experience to progress in Europe, well we didn't do too bad winning the Cup Winners Cup.

Similarly, Leicester seemed to do well without prior European experience.

Let me remind you, as if it is needed, he was the man who almost destroyed us from within, and oh yes, walked away with the thick end of a 㾶M wedge, which would choke a donkey at both ends!

A lot of people devalue the Europa League, but since last year, it is an alternative route to Champions League football. I know it's a pain Thursday and Sunday, but you know what they say – 'no pain, no gain'!

I have big hopes for young Mr Gordon.

1985 was a different sort of competition so you cannot compare to today's set-up.

Leicester did do well in the Champions League but how did it affect their league form? .... which is my point. And, apart from the memories, it got them nothing.

I'm sure your memories of going to Greece and Germany (although European Cup) are worth a lot. Similarly, I wouldn't have wanted to miss my memories of travelling across Europe with Everton because it wasn't European Cup / Champions League and we wouldn't have bothered.

As we are a club renowned for its long-term vision, all these youngsters were probably registered to play in the competition given the fact that the last match was scheduled for Cyprus, by which time we would surely have qualified for the knock-out stages, plus the small detail of a derby three days later.

While I know it's a dead rubber, like a perished condom, it's still interesting to know who to look out for, with the new breed of Evertonians.

Link

Brilliant!

- club: trained at Everton for 3 years from the age of 15
- country: trained in England for 3 years from the age of 15

A player is home grown if he's home grown, not because he is registered as such. In fact, clubs often leave gaps in the registration rather than registering players as the gap counts as a homegrown club player. Example being, don't register Tom Davies: leave a gap but play him anyway.

Whether Uefa would go mad at us for playing such a side, and bringing the game into disrepute, is another matter. The fact that the game is meaningless for both sides (in terms of qualification) means that it is unlikely Uefa would actually be bothered.

Actually more interested in this game now if we are trying out some youth – good experience.

The first teamers who are going must be a little embarrassed – but how they react to that should tell Sam all he needs to know; you'd expect a few of them to be sold.

I tell you who should have been wearing one, that Dutch Daylight Robber!

No I am glad you've enjoyed following the team abroad. It was just that you'd asked if I'd ever been abroad with them. Every time there were great memories, not least our week stay in Rotterdam! Still suffering.

It's not the time we have there; it's what and how it affects the team. This season was a disaster and the results coupled with the Premier League results helped with the rut and lack of confidence in the team. Not only has it caused the Club embarrassment at home but also overseas. We were laughed at.

Until we get a large squad where we can rotate equally good players from the bench, in my opinion, we should keep clear of the Europa League.

I have not gone to any away Europa League games this season as I had no interest in it from the minute we got in it and found out when we had to start. With our opening league programme I always felt it would be difficult, however, I must admit not for a minute did I expect it all to be so disastrous.

We will have to agree to disagree but for me it is a competition I am quite happy to steer clear of but if we ever get back into the Champions League and the level of competition there, then trust me, my passport's ready.

Maybe the U23s needs some of them?

Also, once a match against a top German or Italian or Spanish club begins, which competition it is taking place in quickly becomes of secondary importance. If we were in the Europa League final against say, Atletico Madrid, I doubt you would find it a waste of time.

Before I reveal the outcome of this conversation, I must explain to the younger readers of this post that what you call mopeds were at that time referred to as scooters, mopeds were ordinary bicycles with a small engine attached, giving the rider the choice of pedalling or powered movement. I don't think you will be surprised to learn that I declined his kind offer.

I would like in his honour, to give you a brief description of his devotion to Everton Football Club. In barroom discussions one could say all manner of things such as, "Brian Labone is a carthorse" or "Alex Young is a fairy", and he would stand his ground and defend them. However if someone was to mention anything relating to Liverpool, he would say, "Gentlemen, I don't wish to discuss this" and however much or little was left in his glass, he would down it and move on to the next pub.

To return to my own experience of European away days, I have only been to two, circumstances and finances playing a major part. My first away game was the first leg off the Fairs Cup at Old Trafford, in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United. You may think that this is no big deal, but imagine the stick I was able to give my Liverpudlian mates. My second game was the night in Rotterdam for the Cup Winners Cup final.

Like many, I believe the Europa League is a distraction, but because I'm programmed to attend Everton games, irrespective of opponents or competition, and because I have a 13-year-old Grandson who attends matches with me, and I want him to see teams from Europe as part of his football education.

A player may be registered on List B if he is born on or after 1 January 1994 and has been eligible to play for the club concerned for any uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday by the time he is registered with UEFA. Players aged 16 may be registered on List B if they have been registered with the participating club for the previous two years without interruption.

Each club is entitled to register an unlimited number of players on List B during the season. The list must be submitted by no later than midnight CET on the day before the match in question.

I imagine, you may well have figured that out, any more slip ups like that, and I may exceed the six-post limit.

The ruling is that a player must spend 3 seasons or 36 months continuous or noncontinuous at any English club prior to their 21st birthday.

It's why both Lukaku & Schneiderlin were classed as homegrown when our club squad was re registered after the January 2017 window.

It's why David Henen would be classed as homegrown if he were to be named in the 1st team squad.

My first was at Zaragoza in 1966. Filled my school rucksack with tins of beans and set off hitch-hiking with a mate. Took us five days. The Spanish club were great, gave us free tickets, four other blues had come down by car, so six of us saw Johnny Morrissey sent off and a 2-0 defeat.

Almost blagged our way back on the team plane. Norman Wynne of the 'People' told us to get to the team's hotel and we should get on it. Eventually the pilot told us that there were 'insurance difficulties' and it was another five days to get back.

Other trips to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Panathanaikos, Dukla Prague, Feyenoord, Finn Harps and the Final at Rotterdam followed. It could be a few years after tonight before the chance to support the Blues in Europe happens again...

I suspect the Dumfermline trip would have actually been proposed in October 1962, and it was strangely called the Inter-Cities Fairs' Cup (I always that that was something to do with the trains...). The Man Utd game you speak of was in January, but 1965.

That was the first of our record and rather impressive (at the time) five consecutive seasons in European competition. I thought that run was ended in 1967-68 by Liverpool and the ridiculous one city, one club rule that was unique to this competition. But I think I'm wrong on that score.