Ancelotti welcomes changes to subs rule

Considering Carlo won't play any of the youth, do we have nine? Better keep Bolasie and Besic and bring Walcott back from his loan.

I think you're right about the youth, Paul. Small, Pennington, Baningime and Simms all played for the U23s at Brighton last night, so I wouldn't expect to see any of them.

Additions to the squad he used for the last 2 games (minus Allan) could include Delph (or is he injured?) along with Coleman, Nkounkou (surely not!), Branthwaite... and of course Lössl or Virginia, as we know Carlo likes to have 3 goalies in the squad in these circumstances!

Are the Goodison changing rooms big enough to accommodate two more?

I don't think the lead post does justice to what Carlo said in yesterday's presser. He was in good form yesterday.

On the question of five subs, as he has expressed before, he is at best indifferent to it. In a nice side swipe at the likes of Klopp, he said (and I'm paraphrasing, not quoting him verbatim):

'If you are concerned about a player's fatigue, don't play him. Select another player. Five subs is an exaggeration. It can upset the momentum and balance of the team too much.

'Nine subs on the bench is fine. It keeps squad players involved and gives the manager more options [using 3 subs only] to change things.'

He was also asked directly if, as 'evidenced' by Everton getting two clean sheets in James' absence, that the team is better defensively without the Colombian.

Carlo simply laughed. 'No! Not at all! We got a clean sheet at Spurs with James in the team. Our clean sheets are more due to better concentration, not because James is not playing.'

He was also very fulsome in his praise for both Iwobi and Doucoure.

Michael (2), Knounkou was taken especially to the Leicester game at Carlo’s invitation, as 19th.man, he sat in the stands along with Lossl, the goalkeeper, no chance of playing but to keep them involved with the squad.