Feel free to mess with this or disregard if someone is going to do a match thread. Seems Baines could be fit. Distin, Jagielka and Deulofeu are probably out: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...mier-league-game-against-norwich-9044348.html
Baines apparently has a fitness test Thursday. Would be a boost if he misses out, but I suspect he'll be back.
Tough to gauge what our lineup will be at this stage I suppose. Johnson, Bassong, Hoolahan, Turner and Howson could potentially all be sidelined, along with the longer term injuries we've got.
At a guess: Ruddy Whittaker-Bennett-Bassong-Olsson Snodgrass-Johnson-Fer-Redmond Hoolahan Hooper/RvW Away at Everton isn't the time for two strikers, and it'd put the Hoolahan rumours to bed hopefully. Would almost be tempted to play Fox instead of him though and try to create from a deeper position.
Presumably alongside Alcaraz? A defender they don't want and one that got relegated last season? Combined with attacking full-backs perhaps they might not be the strongest at the back.
John Stones played against QPR alongside Alcaraz and looked very good. Although, he wasn't the best against Stoke.
i'd play martin rather than whitaker personally, he's better defensively. i like the idea of wes playing though
That's kind of what I was thinking with my second comment. I think there'd be enough defensive discipline with that 3 to allow us to press Everton and try and break their play up, then Fer can commit more to attacks. Johnson keeping it simple and giving it to Fox to play the more difficult ball might work if we do get any possession. It only takes one good through ball to RvW.
This is the line up I'd go for: Ruddy Martin Bennett Bassong Olsson Johnson Fox Snodgrass Fer Redmond Hooper Though I have to say, I wouldn't be averse to having Redmond and Murphy on the wings and Snodgrass in the middle with Johnson and Fer as the holding midfielders. I think Snoddy would excel in the central role because he has a good brain on him and he wouldn't be so predictable as on the wing where he wants to cut inside every time. And the talk of Baines coming back is a bit of a worry but for me Coleman is the real danger at the moment. The way he bombs forward makes Baines look like a slouch and he's hit some pretty neat scoring form. The more you press their full backs the more you stop Everton playing, at least that's how it seems to me.
Further confirmation of Distin and Jagielka being sidelined: http://www.bluekipper.com/news/misc__news/6988--.html?
Also, it looks as though we haven't taken up our full away allocation! http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2014/01/08/great-norwich-seats-released?
Two possibilities spring to mind, 1) that the expense of the xmas and new year period has strted to bite, and 2) people are voting on the calibre of recent away performances with their feet. And wallets?
I think your first point (coupled with it being a relatively lengthy journey) is probably to blame. Our away following are usually excellent at turning up, regardless of any discontent with performances - even if it is just to shout at Hughton!
aren't we unbeaten in our last 3 away games - WBA, Sunderland and Palace - not poor at all although everton is a different calibre
In terms of their defence, they'll have Coleman and Baines (provided he's fit - Oviedo if not) for FBs. CBs - Alcaraz, Heitinga or Stones. I don't know much about Stones, but Alcaraz is dodgy from what I've seen.
