You're right, he fell off the managerial merry-go-round once he left Goodison. Shame he left us in the first place but that was also in part down to the Chairman at the time. Tonight? The way we are defending? Home win. That is quite a serious problem for us, and has been for a few seasons and not really addressed. Got away with last season with lesser teams in the Championship but in the PL there is no place to hide.
Possibly because two of them prefer attack to defence and find bounding up the wing a darn sight easier than marking a man or putting in a tackle....
Seb too often goes on safari into the opposing half and then often gets caught out with a sloppy misplaced pass. And I don't suppose for a moment it was him you were alluding to?
Nice to hear some views from some sensible opposition fans on here. I know there was a thread about our board going quiet, but I also felt other boards must be too because we haven't had many others coming across other than the odd Newcastle WUM after last match. Great thread as ever KIO. I suspect our cup run ends tonight unfortunately, but hopefully one or two of the second string can put down a marker which forces the first teamers to wonder how secure their position is.
I'm really hoping that Gladys gets a game and impresses, and that Mulumbu gets pitch time. We miss some physicality in the centre of the park (maybe all over the pitch) - Howson and Wes look like they'd get blown over by a strong fart from the Barclay so having a couple of guys in midfield who have both skill and a bit of beef on them might be what we need.
Whitts nearly always worries me defensively, as he seems quite happy to just track his man, rather than put in a tackle and try to win the ball occasionally. Going forward though .......
Excellent thread KIO thanks again. It's a bit late for me to watch the juvenile river and our progression into the next round. Everton was my first ever home game 16th Jan '88 where we got whacked 3-0. Next outing against them was to Birmingham for the semi final. Haven't really featured in happy memories, although the first game gave me a great view of the writhing pit of the Barclay, where from then on I decided to stand. Some things have happy endings! Would like to see Mulumbu too, perhaps next to Vadis and Martin at RB, Wisdom and Bennet CB and Bassong dropped. Watching Bassong on the ball reminds me of a dose of giardia I once had - gave me uncontrollably loose bowels.
So play a wing back system, which allows them the freedom to get forward more without leaving cavernous holes at the back. Elliott Bennett did it most effectively last night for Bristol City - though I admit Cardiff, the opposition, are not quite as daunting as most sides we'll face this season!
Grabban starts up front, Mulumbu and Vadis in centre mid. No characters left to use in the OP so can't add to post. Memo to self: Shorten MDT's
Apart from O'Neil who I expect will find this really hard going, this is stronger than I had expected! Mulumbu is going to be rusty, but really happy to see him back. No Martin... Kone and Lukaku start for the toffees. I don't reckon this game is going to be short of goals. Strangely looking forward to this one, possibly because not bothered about the result (so many big teams left for a change).
Guessing we are starting 4 4 1 1 and looking to keep tight. Redmond or Vadis on the left? There's certainly some grit in midfield!
Won't it more likely be Grabban out wide - so we would be a 4-3-3 of sorts? Weird line-up, but interesting
Good point. I suppose maybe a 4-3-3 with Hoolahan on the left and Redmond on the right with Grabban through the middle (I can't get a stream to work so can't tell if I have made that up!)
SIX corners in 15 minutes?? What the hell is going on out there! Mind you, Everton probably watched our corner abilities against West Brom and Newcastle and thought "might as well let them have corners as we get a good chance to score on the counter"
