Team v Everton

Stekelenburg and Briggs are still out but Jol says Berbatov, Ruiz and Hughes are all available. There’s no official word on Dejagah but stories around are that he is “on a leave of absence for personal reasons”. [The guy from the Fulham Chronicle is supposedly going to publish an article tomorrow with more details ]


I think Jol will want to give Hangeland and Amorebieta another game to get the partnership going so wouldn’t expect to see any change in the back four.

Will he risk Ruiz or Berbatov? I think not. Will he give a debut to Zverotic in midfield? I think not - although he may come off the bench at some time. Will we see Boateng? I think not.

The starting line-up I reckon will be:


………………Stockdale………….
..Riether..Hangeland…Amorebiets…Richardson..
………..Kara………….Sidwell………
….Mesca……..Kasami…………..Taarabt..
…………………Bent………

Subs: Etheridge, Zverotic, Hughes, Parker, Berbatov, Hugo, Kaca,

 

I think we'll go for very nearly the full strength line up (whatever Jol thinks that is!) The one exception, as Cottager says in his line up, could be Mesca building on his sub appearance against Chelsea with a place in the starting eleven.

 

Got a feeling our unsuccessful cup firm will continue tonight. Everton look stable and settled....and we, we'll don't! Despite home advantage, the Toffees are 7/5 favourites to win. I'll have a cheeky £5 on them (as long as they field a decent team). But my luck punting on our matches had been appalling thus season (got stung on both the Chelsea and Brom matches). So no doubt we'll scrape or draw or nick it tonight. I fancy 0-2 with Lukaku opening the scoring. Apologies in advance for the pessimism.

 

Betting against us? Poor show, Bobby!

I know what you mean - I'm approaching tonight more in hope than expectation, but I still feel we're close to a great leap forward. Maybe it will come tonight.

 

I look at Everton, Cardiff and Stoke as must wins for Jol. Tonight not a big deal and to be honest I worry a cup run will affect our league form which we know continues to struggle. In fact i'm not even bothered about tonights results. if we lose fair enough, Everton are a better side than us. However we're at home and you expect a reaction, we haven't seen them win yet at the Cottage. I do however expect 6 points in our next 2 league fixtures. I think Jol will field a very strong side, we need confidence bigtime.

 

Going to the next round over Everton will be a huge boost in confidence... As for the next two games nothing less than 6 points will be acceptable. I can't remember the last team I have seen the team winning at the Cottage. Must have been the QPR game last season...

 

Forgive me Captain. But I need some beer money for Saturday, I've just booked tickets and it'll be my first trip to the Cottage this season. I'm in the Hammy end and am taking my mate who's a massive Cardiff fan (I'm hoping he stays quiet and we last 90mins without getting turfed out)!

And our big leap forward will come on Saturday....I'll be reinvesting my winnings on a big Whites win!

 

Tonight is a massive game. Not so much the result but the way we play. The fans need to leave with a buzz so that we start on Saturday with everyone one hundred percent behind the team.

COYW.

 

The man in the middle tonight is Mr Atkinson.

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Stockdale; Zverotic, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise; Taarabt, Karagounis, Parker, Kacaniklic; Kasami; Berbatov

Bench: Etheridge, Riether, Amorebieta, Sidwell, Mesca, Rodallega and Bent

Looks like some resting involved, but looks a strong enough squad.

COYW!

 

We are now playing Kaca on the right. What on earth did Dejagah do to upset Jol so much?

EDIT: That said, Kaca doesn't look too bad on the right. Although he still has no right foot...

 

We're looking okay going forward. We look absolutely inept when Everton come forward. We can safely say that a Hangeland-Senderos-Parker combination in the middle isn't working - I'll let you decide which bits of that need replacing.

 

Zverotic looks handy

 

Surly how do we look going forward ? any signs that we could open their defence up

 

Likewise the triad of Parker, Kara and Tarbuck (at least Jimmy was funny) can't get on the same wavelength and I know which 2 to trust. And it was not funny that he left Riise exposed.
At least Stockdale looks assured.

Berbatov does deserve a goal.

 

Certainly looks good to me based on the first 45

 

Berbatov, 1-1.

Would like to see that tackle on Lukaku again though!

 

I felt Taarabt played more for the team today than he ever did for QPR in the Premier League, but he's just not up to speed with our first team yet. I can't help thinking he wants to play the central role rather than the wing; he's behind Bryan for that role and honestly both of them are currently behind Kasami.

On another aside, how on earth have no Everton players been booked? I know Kara likes to make a meal of it, but the tackles are really flying in.

EDIT: Bent, 2-1. Great finish. We look a different team since half-time.

 

Buzzing! COYW!

 

Come on lads listening online and we sound good. From what I am listening to the linos are not doing us any favours