Lincoln City vs Everton

Lössl
Sidibe Holgate That Young Stud Baines
Davies Delph
Iwobi Sigurdsson (undroppable) Walcott
Tosun

Bench - because we'll be losing 1-0 at 55 minutes and Silva will hit the "OH SHIT" button - Gomes, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Kean, Mina, Pickford, Richarlison... Insert another good player.

Swear to God if we lose this I'll go postal.

For USA people, the game is only via ESPN + stream.

What in the holy hell is that Lincoln City logo? Looks like clip art of an imp gone terribly wrong.

Is that not the worst looking team logo / mascot / whatever the fuck that thing is, thing you've ever seen?

No wonder they're in league 47! Shite! Bush-league marketing. My 22 year old in art school could do better than that on a bender with his eyes closed!

I'd go with - Pickford, Sidibe, Holgate, Keane, Baines, Davies, Schneiderlin, Iwobi, Bernard, Richarlison, Kean.

From Wikipedia: The Lincoln Imp is a grotesque on a wall inside Lincoln Cathedral, England, and it has become the symbol of the city of Lincoln.

Lincoln City currently sport a "traditional" Lincoln Imp badge, a crest synonymous with the success of the 70s and 80s. The badge was returned in 2014, with general manager John Vickers billing it the start of a "new era".

This represents something different for the fans rather than the now predictable mundanity of another expected 8th or 9th place Premier League campaign.

How most of us would love a Cup Semi Final at Goodison under the floodlights on the first week of January.

This has to be won, preferably handsomely like Aston Villa last night at Crewe, we need to start learning to find the back of the net in away games and start realising that away games are actually available to be won.

Don’t let us down.

Normally starting players such as Baines, Sidibe and Delph would be a no-brainer, but are they match sharp?

Do you start Holgate? I'd worry about overworking Mina so early in the season.

Starting Kean certainly seems logical, though Calvert-Lewin has traditionally feasted in these early League Cup matches (a brace against Rotherham last season and a brace against Sunderland the year before).

Starting Richarlison would be a sign of intent... only no one seems to think Richarlison is playing well.

"Swear to God if we lose this I'll go postal."

You mean as opposed to your demeanor after Friday?

How will we know the difference?

Gomes - was clearly not fit for Villa having not played all week. We need him at 100% against Wolves and moving forwards.

Mina- Has has injury issues recently and we can really not afford a long term injury to him.

Richarlison- Had mumps this summer and a very long year last year with Copa America. He looks a touch jaded.

Coleman/Digne- Silva expects a huge amount of work up and down by his full backs and both have high level replacements.

Pickford
Sidibe Keane Holgate Baines
Delph Schneiderlin Davies
Iwobi Calvert-Lewin Kean

Hopefully bring Iwobi and Delph off when winning as it’s their first starts and I’d like them both in starting XI on Sunday.

I might have been tempted to give Anthony Gordon a start but he played for the U23s last night (and scored an absolute cracker).

Pickford Coleman Keane Mina Digne Schneiderlin Delph (If fit) Iwobi Bernard DCL Kean. Iwobi at no 10, DCL on the right.

Interesting article on The Athletic about Richarlison and how he's too hard on himself hence the constant sulks and how Silva isn't happy that his English isn't progessing. You'd think by now he'd have mastered the language much better.

Mina hasn't had any injuries "recently"... he's been healthy since last spring and played four full games this summer with Colombia, plus our friendlies and three league games now with no problems. He's fine.

And Gomes didn't look the least bit unfit on Friday. Even late in the second half he was showing acceleration, gliding through the Villa defense on the dribble and getting to the top of the arc at will. He was just making timid, stupid decisions once he got there. like not shooting and making idiot passes instead. IMO his poor play had nothing to do with any physical fitness issues.

John #10, can you post a link to that article?

So: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne, Schneiderlin, Delph, Davies, Iwobi, Kean, Walcott.
Subs Lossl, Sidibe, Holgate, Bernard, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Lose this and the feel-good factor from the summer signings will truly be over.

We are playing Wolves who are up against Torino on Thursday in the Europa League, so not being able to handle two games a week when the top 6 do this regularly won't was.

Pickford, Iwobi, Kean have to start.

I hope we go with that front three and Tosun on the bench, he should of been replaced in the summer as a matter of urgency but it never happened, he will have a part to play untill January at least.

We should win easily, there will be a huge inquest if we fail to beat Lincoln.

This could be an opportunity to get the show back on the road, or it could be a huge blow if we pass on this chance to win something.

I just hope we take our game seriously against the Imps and put out a decent side, they will already have a whiff of blood, after our performances with them from last time, and our poor showing against Villa.

I'd go 4-4-2 against them. Davies sitting deep and Richie, Iwobi and Bernard interchanging

A couple of deserving youngsters on the bench:

Pickford
Coleman Holgate Keane Digne
Richarlison Davies Iwobi Bernard
Kean Calvert-Lewin

Surely 11 players picked from our handsomely paid squad should be able to win this match! If not then the mentality and ability of these players is simply not at the required standard!

I’m hopeful rather than confident I’m afraid to say!

For what it’s worth I’d go:

Pickford
Sidebe, Keane, Mina, Baines
Davies, Gomes
Richarlison, Iwobi, Bernard
Kean

As you know he is very stubborn, bordering on arrogant with his attitude towards these Cup games, I really don't think he knows or realises that we as fans are desperate for a Trophy, and this one, for the sake of 7 or 8 games, is not only a passage into Europe (not the best way I know) but that elusive piece of Silver, which we have NEVER WON.

I wouldn't mind betting we don't even have any Brasso, Dura-Glit, or Goddard's on site either, there has been no call for it, so come on you Muppet Silva, smell the coffee and this Cup Tie.

So many people patient with the likes of DCL, I wonder if they would have been the same ones who would have said “stick with Stuart Barlow” or “play Preki here or here” and “give Brett Angel longer”.

Would have been interesting reading back in the day.

They are an ambitious club, managed by Danny and Nicky Cowley, who have a great record of promotions and Cup runs.

Lincoln lost the game 2-1, but were unfortunate to do so. They played mostly in a 4411 system, with all the play coming through their number 10, a small lad named Jack Payne who is a very good player. He will need watching, it could be worth man-marking him, he is so instrumental to their game.

They played the ball wide a lot to their wingers, particularly Number 26, Harry Anderson. Their centre forward is Tyler Walker, who has inherited a few speed genes from his dad, the great Des of Notts Forest. He took his goal well.

The fullbacks push up, which leaves gaps which Everton can exploit, particularly down their right hand side. The two centre backs hang back, which again leaves space.

Lincoln play decent football but are not afraid to mix it up, their centre half hitting the bar with a last-second header at the back post, something to look out for.

Lincoln won their first 4 games, then have lost two. This could be a difficult evening for us, we need to be up for it, because they will be.

What next? Digne gets polio and turns out in an iron lung? Pickford gets leprosy and one of his arms comes off doing a brilliant save? Sigurdsson gets scrofula and has to go and get touched by the Queen? Schneiderlin eats some ergot-infested bread and wanders around randomly seeing things that aren't there and generally not being involved in the action (OK, that may explain things)? The rest of the team get Fournier's gangrene and all have gigantically inflamed testicles?

I have noticed that Everton footballers are always getting weird diseases and having time off. I travel on trains into London and on the tube on most days, so I share rebreathed air in close proximity to inhabitants of most of the countries on the planet, and I am almost never ill, as are my family and colleagues.

Does anyone actually think or plan for normal risks at Goodison?

Let's also hope that Jack Payne is not a pain in the neck come the final whistle.

Charles, like your humorous post on the various afflictions which could affect our players, mind you the one regarding Schneiderlin is eerily accurate to what he does/doesn't do now.

The patience is down to be fact that he’s clearly a very talented player. He’s strong, quick, good in the air, has a nice touch and is able to hold the ball up and link play well, often whilst isolated and having to wait for teammates to get within 30 yards of him. Everyone accepts that he should be scoring more (including him) but he’s still a young player and is in the middle of his first ever proper run in the team, one in which we’ve been successful.

Many Blues don’t want to see talented young players jettisoned because of the impatience and entitlement of our apparently least knowledgeable fans.

I have visions of the players in the changing room.

Long, dirty, greying hair. Swollen, pussing buboids like filthy volcanoes on their faces. Warted puny legs in a state of gangrene decay, ready to fall off and fly into the upper Gwladys when taking the next corner kick.

Anyway, it will make some of the PL referees feel at home.

When all said and done he was in the French National Team (World Cup Winners) not so long ago.

A midfield of Davies Adeniran Gomes

Defense of Sibide Mina Gibson Digne

Pickford in goal

Gomes to sit in front of the back four. DCL to start to see if he can blend with Kean and score against lower league to give him some confidence. Delph to get 25 minutes at the end if he is fit enough.
The squad is strong if everyone plays to their potential and if we don’t win regardless of who he selects it will be a very poor show.
They had nothing back in January apart from physical presence hence why I would leave Holgate on the bench and have Keane and Mina to deal with their big lads.

And Gomes did not train all last week with injury. He looked pretty knackered to me when El Ghazi breezed past him to score. Not sure it’s worth aggravating his injury.

At least I hope he had scouts there!

Sat with the home fans for this one so will have to keep quiet, no doubt Silva and co will help me out on that front!

It’s just a shame we don’t have Besic, Garbutt and Sandro to play alongside them!!

Davies has to play in the middle, none of our other midfielders have done anything to suggest Davies doesn't deserve a chance. He would come in for Siggy for me, as this way we can move to a 4-3-3. If none of the younger centre mids are available, and with Delph still unfit, I guess that means continuing with Schneiderlin and Gomes - yet as a combo, just not working.

I want us to play with no6 and 2 no8 midfielders - high energy.

I wonder, I can't remember - where are the likes of Callum Connolly? Really wish we hadn't sold Joe Williams.

Maybe, with this lack of central midfielders, 4-4-2 is the way to go

Iwobi - Davies - Schneiderlin - Walcott (i know, I know - but out an out winger, him or Bolasie)

DCL and Kean up front.

The stakes couldn't be higher, lose and it could be the beginning of the end for Silva.

Birmingham, Swansea, Bradford, Villa, Southampton, Cardiff and Sunderland have recently been to the final, how hard can it be?

There's a case for putting more into this cup than the FA cup.

I am however an Everton fan.
Changes must made after the debacle at Villa Park.
Especially in the pedestrian, and non-performing midfield.
Alex Iwobi was the best player when he came on, he and Moise Kean must start.
Hopefully Delph can start, and let's see what Tom Davies' energy can bring.

So many of us are fearful that a team from League One are likely to be more than a match for a Premiership team who are fielding a "number of their back ups"

To express it as a mathematical formula it would probably be
Quality of players x familiarity of playing with other team members x desire to win = Performance

How many of the Lincoln players would we be happy to be on the bench on Sunday afternoon when Wolves come to visit? Stekelenburg, Holgate, Sidibe, Davies, Iwobi, Walcott and Kean are your choices to be replaced by any of the Lincoln players. I think the answer is zero. How many would replace not just players on our bench but starting last week's game. Again the answer is zero. And I am sure that Norwich and Palace are saying the same about replacing their players with those from Cawley and Colchester.

So if they won it would have to come down to the other two factors compensating for their shortfall in the first.

If we are lower in the second then why? What happens when we get an injury to a regular? Do they not all practice games together? Do we take 3-4 games for the team to recover from the loss of a player? What on earth is the benefit of squad rotation if it means we preform less well each week?

And then the third, which is probably the biggest. And at that point it is the headshaking depressing thought that a bunch of highly paid, skilled professionals just do not have the passion and desire to win at all costs and to show the manager that they should not be on the bench but in the team.

So if tomorrow we have our normal result, do not blame the manager but point the finger at the players who let their superior skill and abilities be overwhelmed by the passion and desire of the opposition and ask them to look in the mirror and ask themselves when they are leaving our club.

So many of us are fearful that a team from League One are likely to be more than a match for a Premiership team who are fielding a "number of their back ups"

To express it as a mathematical formula it would probably be
Quality of players x familiarity of playing with other team members x desire to win = Performance

How many of the Lincoln players would we be happy to be on the bench on Sunday afternoon when Wolves come to visit? Stekelenburg, Holgate, Sidibe, Davies, Iwobi, Walcott and Kean are your choices to be replaced by any of the Lincoln players. I think the answer is zero. How many would replace not just players on our bench but starting last week's game. Again the answer is zero. And I am sure that Norwich and Palace are saying the same about replacing their players with those from Cawley and Colchester.

So if they won it would have to come down to the other two factors compensating for their shortfall in the first.

If we are lower in the second then why? What happens when we get an injury to a regular? Do they not all practice games together? Do we take 3-4 games for the team to recover from the loss of a player? What on earth is the benefit of squad rotation if it means we preform less well each week?

And then the third, which is probably the biggest. And at that point it is the headshaking depressing thought that a bunch of highly paid, skilled professionals just do not have the passion and desire to win at all costs and to show the manager that they should not be on the bench but in the team.

So if tomorrow we have our normal result, do not blame the manager but point the finger at the players who let their superior skill and abilities be overwhelmed by the passion and desire of the opposition and ask them to look in the mirror and ask themselves when they are leaving our club.

Thank God you’re not picking the team. Not sure I’d trust you picking a nose.
Martina? Holgate? Sidibe and Baines?
A back four that’s never played together and two haven’t played AT ALL, in a Cup we’d like to win? Christ on a bike!

I imagine Silva will want to see most of his new signings in action as well as 'the lightly raced' Davies.

Taking a form line through Aston Villa's destruction of Crewe last night, I'll be looking for a 3-0 victory for the Blues. At least.

People going on about us scoring freely and winning to nil, where do you dream this stuff up from? We couldn't score in a brothel pre-season or in the 3 league games we've played. We've scored one goal, from a deflection.

If I wasn't teetotal I'd have some of whatever you're drinking!

This is the League Cup and so entry should be restricted to League teams.

Whatever you think of Martina and Baines now they are experienced players who should have enough nous for Lincoln. Sidibe and Holgate is obviously risky but that's the hand that the manager has been left and I just feel they would offer more experience than Gibson.

I left Coleman out as I'm not sure you want him playing three games in a week.

Delph should start but not sure with who. And Baines and Sidibe. I wouldn't change the centre backs.

However, whoever starts l hope (but don't expect) that we wait till they cross the white line and start playing before laying into them.

Conor, tonight's game is our most important game this season, in one respect. More important than Wolves on Sunday or Villa last Saturday. We have zero chance of finishing top 4, and the way we've started and the (already) dropped points mean that top 6 is also a pipe dream. This Cup competition is our best chance of a trophy this season, consequently, we should field a side as strong as if we WERE playing Wolves.

Kean and Iwobi to start, Delph if he's fit, Mina and Keane. Ok, I'd be happy to play World Cup winner Sidibe and Baines on the other side, that is not significantly weakening the side, but we must take it seriously, no revisiting nightmares like Shrewsbury or Tranmere, Wigan etc. Shove as many goals past Lincoln as we can manage. Defeat or a draw is not an option.

Maybe Don giving it to Kenwright, or myself doing the same to Schneiderlin? but one thing I know which is certain, is that if we are to win a cup then we need a united fan-base, and this is what worries me the most.

If we field our strongest eleven there they will end up with one eye on the Wolves game. Tonight's game is about application and those with a point to prove may offer more.

If we can match Lincoln's desire we will go through, if we don't the personnel is irrelevant.

I agree Conor, it is about mindset. We need to play those hungry players but without disrupting the defensive base so much. We could make a few changes tonight but actually improve the team for it.

I would play the following:

Pickford
Sidibe Kean (c) Holgate Baines
Schniederlin
Delph Davies
Walcott Kean Iwobi

I'd play Virginia but he's busy for Reading u23s and Stekelenburg is about to join Real Madrid (!!). Pickford should play anyway.

Sidibe needs a game, whereas Coleman needs a rest. I'd rest Keane rather than Mina and Holgate needs a game. I'd play Digne only he's had a knock and so should be rested and Baines could do with a run-out if fit.

Midfield, id like to see a 433 enacted. Rest Sigurdsson and Gomes who are both off form. Davies needs a game, I hope Delph is ready, and let Schneiderlin steady the ship behind them.

Richarlison is off form and needs a rest or just dropping, Bernard was not at the races against Villa, so I'd give Walcott and Iwobi a game. Kean comes in for Calvert-Lewin, who needs taking out the firing line and giving 15 minutes off the bench against tired legs.

It might be a few too many changes for some of you, but most of this side would expect to play at least half the games this season. Most of the guys I dropped where either gassed or out of form. Save them for a massive game against Wolves, and give others the chance to take their place with a good performance.

Kean and Iwobi have to picked, I'd give Davies a game too and maybe Sidibe, after that it depends how seriously you take this comp.

Score 0-2 or 3, I hope...

We must go all out to put 5 or 6 past these tonight and show zero mercy. 4-0 at half-time then afford a few a rest.

Nothing but a convincing victory is good enough for me.

I have been alarmed by the number of times forwards have gone through 1 one 1 at Pickford so far this season (I can think of seven off the top) That not good enough. Neither one of them is playing particularly badly, but they are simply not on the same wave length.

Would love to see Holgate figure, but if he doesn't fit into Silva's plans, what would be the point? May as well give the other two more game time to form a credible partnership

Football is a team game, you can't just pick names out of a hat.

Silva definitely prefers the big stoppers but Paulo Oliveira would give you some hope. He is listed as 1.87cm tall which is around 6'1.5". He missed 5 of the first 6 games of Silva's time at Sporting, before getting in the side and missing only one more league game through suspension. Paulo, as Jay Wood might confirm, was a decent player (capped for Portugal) who was similar to Holgate in that he liked to come out of defence with the ball, he liked to be the one who stepped into midfield to make tackles, and he had a decent range of passing.

So if he can force Silva to go against his preferences, then Holgate might also be able to do so. I have said before that I query Holgate's listed height of 1.84m but he is listed elsewhere as 1.87m, ie the same as Oliveira and about what I would have estimated having seen him up close (6'2" was my guess).

''It may however of been Saturday that you finished drinking.''
You know me so well

Conor, we have been reading on here for God knows how long that we need a trophy for the fans to celebrate. This Cup is our best chance. We should be going all out to win this and the FA Cup when that comes around in January. Any player selected SHOULD have both eyes on the game tonight, not one eye on a match against Wolves that makes the winner more likely to finish 8th. What would you have? An improvement on last Season and a 7th finish or tenth and a Cup victory and entry into the Europa League via that route?

Keane's defending for the first Villa goal was just as bad as Walcott's miss the other night, and I'm not sure that the two big central defenders really compliment each other?

One last thing Steve F, but stop selecting Schneiderlin because he fits the Silva model... please!

Also consider the fixtures, the QFs and the SFs take place in December and January. So, the CL has wound down for the winter and they have some room in the schedule for the games. The final is then in February.

However, the FA Cup has important fixtures that clash with the important rounds of the CL and when the league enters it's final furlong. So, they are more likely to rest players as it is third fiddle.

So for me, the FA Cup is the easier of the two progress in, and if you make the final, there's always a chance.

Then there is also the issue of Martinez and his two semi-finals. He got no leigh way for that. He was duly sacked for poor league form, under pressure from us fans. So, if I was the manager, I would prioritise 7th, as 7th and out the cups early means I keep my job. 13th and 2 semi's and I lose it.

Pickford
Sidibe Keane Holgate Baines
Davies Delph Iwobi
Calvert-Lewin Kean Bernard

I would also say that Scheiderlin was far from our worst player on Friday, not that that says too much. But on current form, I'd select him in our best XI on merit, not because he fits the profile Silva likes.

I generally like the idea of three fixed positions in a side. The centre-backs, the centre forward, and a defensive midfielder. The defensive midfielder in a fixed or holding position is where the term "pivot" comes from. In that others rotate around him. By holding that position and allowing others to be more fluid, the team can play better, more attacking football, without losing their defensive stability. For me, there's no one on our books who can do this, other than Schneiderlin.

And regarding Matinez' and his two semis. EFC have changed since then I think. Silva is Moshiri's man and I think he'll have some patience with him.

And after watching us spunk away five points already in games that posters on here were stating before a ball was kicked would be ''winnable'', is 7th a likely outcome? Leicester look a good side now as do Wolves. I fear we'll be scratching around trying to pip WHU to 9th or 10th. Apart from a smallish monetary advantage finishing 8th or 10th comes secondary to a brilliant and (hopefully) successful Cup run.

I am fed up of not having decent cup runs and finishing mid table.
We aren't going to finish top 4 so try and win a cup.

None of this resting players. It's an insult to the fans.

In one post you referred to your hatred of Scheiderlin as follows, " I hate the Bastard" and in a more recent post you referred to Marco Silva as a 'Muppet' I don't suppose that either Schneiderlin or Silva will ever know of your feelings towards them, but for me it leaves a bitter taste, I firmly believe that criticism and dislike can be conveyed in a more acceptable manner.

Solid first team, with 3 young players given a chance to show their stuff

Pickford
Baines Mina Gibson Sibide
Davies Schneiderlin Gomes
Gordon Simms Kean

I know that Gordon played yesterday and it will never happen, but would have been good to see.

Ideally this is a comp to test drive young lads. But I also understand that with Everton nothing is ever ideal.

But I guess it will be
Lossl
Baines Keane Holgate Sibide
Delph Schneiderlin Davies
Iwobi Kean Walcott

We will probably win 2-0. We may just fuck it up. However, we should be winning 5-0 with the last 30 minutes being a "Let's not embarrass them, Lads" run about.....

As for Leicester, I always thought they had a decent side, but like us they lack numbers in depth at the back. Once injuries strike they will struggle and if we capitalise, we can beat them to 7th. I think we are much stronger in depth than them, as our only real weakness (centre-back) is replicated by them were Wes Morgan is their third choice and they have no one of note as fourth choice.

John, Derek is a mischievous Scotsman, and that humour comes across talking to him, whereas the written word lacks the fact that he often has his tongue in his cheek.

Did you see Gordon's goal? Good to see the lad stepping up a notch in his first competitive match since his debut in the Europa League. He was in and out, and hit and miss last season for the U23s. Big season for him I think. I hope he can end it with two feet firmly in the first team squad, and I hope Silva has one foot their already. Although he's not in the first team training videos unlike Gibson and Adedoyin.

Absolutely they're making hard business decisions on where to put their energy and resources, but this one would be good for moral and we have to start somewhere.

4-4-2 away at Lincoln is achievable surely? Or are we scared of getting over-run in midfield? At Lincoln?

Unless you are suggesting we go 4-2-4 like we did against Villa, for the last 20 minutes or so, when we threw the kitchen sink at them and got nothing but hit with a sucker punch on the counter. If so, that's the risk.

Why not play a genuine 4-3-3 that Silva has yet to play, prefers to play, and hopefully has been working on in training. Drop Sigurdsson as you say and play three up top in a narrow formation and allow the fullbacks to get forwards?

I get what you're saying, I just figure a nice flat back-line, Davies and Delph alternate sitting and going forward, and the traditional wingers attacking (yet both are hard working and can drop back to cover if necessary).

Calvert-Lewin and Kean should be a real handful together too.

That said, I do actually like your 4-3-3, and the reasoning you give too

Yes, I've seen Wolves. Unfortunately I've also seen us. One goal in three games and a crap pre-season? Okay, maybe a 19-year-old Italian lad will make us world beaters but let's not put pressure on the lad, eh?

We are at the moment a 25-minute team. After that, we either run out of ideas, what few we have, and just play possession football which gets us nowhere. Leicester DO have a smallish squad, but it's young and full of energy and skill. (Why didn't we go after Maddison for Christ's sake?)

Morgan is indeed a lousy back up and they are short in defence but their attacking play is full of energy and ambition and they're a damn sight better to watch at the moment than we are. If they stay injury free they're my bet for a top six or seven.

We may finish above Wolves. In 8th.

Sam #36, Mina did sit out a preseason game but I do not recall reading that it was for any injury. And regarding Gomes I would point out that he got all the way back in the 93rd minute, which speaks to his fitness, and I would say that failing to tackle Elghazi was simply because Gomes, as we all know, cannot tackle. Or defend in any form.

I saw him a few times for Monaco, he was on the right and Mendy of Man City was on the left. They got forwards like our fullbacks did in the 72 points season. But they were wide open to the counter. I didn't see enough of Monaco's follow-up season when they were bottom 3 for most of the season, but if I remember correctly, Sidibe was injured for most of it. I don't recall too much about Sidibe as Mendy was the one who really impressed, but he got forwards well and in tandem.

I would also like to think that Brands / Silva would have signed Maddison rather than Sigurdsson. Is Maddison better right now than Sigurdsson, I am not so sure, but it was a transfer with far more value.

As for taking him off Leicester, I doubt you meant that, I presume you meant off Norwich when they got him. We were heavily linked, but if it came down to us or Leicester, Maddison was always going to choose them. He had the opportunity, as he has done, to take the number 10 position for himself, whereas for us, he'd have been sub to Sigurdsson and played out wide when he did play. So, he'd always turn us down.

Good to hear from you John, and best wishes to you too, especially tonight and Sunday!

Pickford
Sidibe Keane Holgate Baines
Schneiderlin
Davies Delph
Iwobi
Calvert-Lewin Kean

Wolves 2-2 draw (Jags sent off and Holgate on as sub)
Southampton 2-1 win at home, with Keane
Bournemouth 2-2 draw away, with Keane
Rotherham 3-1 home win, in LC with Zouma
Huddersfield 1-1 draw at home, with Zouma
West Ham 1-3 defeat at home, with Zouma

Then he was dropped to the bench as if West Ham was down to him, when Schniederlin was more of a liability (the day after his dad died), and then went to West Brom on loan in January.

I thought he did well in the Wolves and Southampton games, and whilst he was poor against West Ham, he was alright in the others.

We can't score as both pre and new season have shown. If, and I mean if, we are winning by more than 3 goals make some changes. You never know converting a few chances might be good for morale.

Lincoln will want this game and will throw everything at it. Personally, I don't want us to go out at the first hurdle again. Please, Marco, don't let us down.

Hoping for a good result in what has been a very sad week for the game.

That's why I will continue to assume (until I see evidence to the contrary) that Silva sees him as an emergency measure only, not a potential starter. But we'll know in a couple of hours.

Regarding your faith that Silva can get more out of his squad than Rogers can out of his... let's just say I remain highly skeptical and leave it at that.

I can see Big Nose, Merson and Le Tissier all sniggering now, and criticising, Charlie Nicholas gets a reprieve, because he is normally more pragmatic in his assessments, and doesn't seem to relish seeing any team under-perform.

While I fully appreciate we have the propensity of 'humiliating ourselves' with a weakened team selection, I just hope and pray, as does every other Evertonian, that we take this game with the seriousness it merits!

Hopefully it's a good showing and nobody picks up any injuries before Sunday's game.

So I don't really think it's a conspiracy against us specifically.

Let's give these minnows a Moby Dicking!

You're obviously all have a whale of a time, taking the ambergris (rhyming slang) out of me, but being a blue, I won't take the hump(back) over it. I'm hoping for an Orca attitude tonight, and put the Baleen the back of the net!

Sorry, DK, I know you tried to corner the market on whale puns, but you missed one.

Call the Coastguard and get them to bring a Video link for tonight's game!

Pickford (Lössl I guess)
Holgate Kean Mina Baines
Davies Schneiderlin Delph
Walcott Kean Iwobi

I believe that gives us pace and goal threat up front with a hardworking and mobile midfield flank with an anchor (with no disrespect intended for anchors) in the centre of midfield.

Subs: Gomes, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Keane and Coleman.

I am anticipating a tough game as evidenced by Palace and Norwich going out and West Ham very luckily beating Newport.

He seems to be a delicate individual. He grew in stature last season helped no doubt by the fact that many of the home fans at Goodison really supported him, no doubt because they can see what talent he does possess.

Long term I think finding the right sports physiologist for the lad could be the key to getting the best from him.

Shouldn't these puns be on the Live Forum? I mean, we've had fish, cats etc

Brian, he was awful. I can’t remember a player making so many mistakes as that in one game.

Starting playing a formation and tactical approach that is sooo predictable and diminishes our centre forward and no.10.

The player which made your formation work, Gana, is gone. Gomes cannot cope without a minder to mop up after him. Change it fella.

Davies, Kean & Iwobi in. The lads above out. Maybe Sidibe for Coleman.

Stop fucking about Marco, you’ll get herself sacked.

😘 Jp

Tosun? You's are having a laugh, he should never play for us again. This is possibly the worst team in terms of threats to score goals I've seen as an Everton fan for 35 years. Put Kean in now and get his match fitness up, we need him badly.

God knows what's up with Gomes and Sigurdsson, they look totally out of it. If they don't hit top form soon we will be stuck at the bottom of the table before long. We need GOALS.

Pickford

Sidibe Keane Holgate Digne
Schneiderlin Delph
Richarlison Sigurdsson Iwobi
Kean

Disappointed in Marco here, to be honest.

Come on. Don't you remember John Spencer etc etc etc etc etc???

Who are the subs, Steve?

The manager's complement of substitutes is completed by Andre Gomes, Yerry Mina, Leighton Baines and goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott.

Too much faith in his favorites. He his completely chastened that without Sigurdsson and Richarlison we don't score. Therefore never drops them.

He has two players for most positions, he says talks about competition for places but several players know it ain't happening unless his ‘pets' get injured.

Not impressed.

It has been discussed at length in previous posts. I honestly don't know but the debate is fascinating.

Trouble is, Silva is generally crap in the use of his subs.

I like your prediction, Neil.