Seems nobody else has bothered so with the game thought I'd get one of my minimalistic ones up. We travel to Merseyside for our penultimate visit to Goodison Park (barring an FA Cup draw) to play an Everton side who've made a similar start as Saints to the season with 4 league defeats and a win in the previous round of this competition against a lower league side. Both teams have huge fixtures coming up at the weekend so you'd imagine we'd see full XI changes from both managers although I'd like to see us go strong to try and get some confidence up as we're desperately low on it. But then I always want strong teams in the cup, a decent cup run could be a welcome distraction this season as it was in 22/23. We actually won on our last visit to Goodison so let's try and keep that winning run going. UTFS
Yeah so pleased they have similar game to us at weekend. That balances things out for this game. 1-0 Saints
Tuesday, 17th September 2024 Everton v Southampton (19:45) Referee:- DARREN BOND Assistant Referees:- Scott Ledger and Blake Antrobus Fourth Official : Anthony Backhouse
Oh. In that case I wouldn't mind seeing that Noel Buck in midfield. And move Adarma up front with Cornet on the left.
——————-McCarthy——————— -Bree——Wood——Edwards—-Taylor- ———Downes——-Ugochukwu——— —Armstrong (c)—-Aribo——Ameyaw— ———————Archer———————- Subs: Lumley, Manning, Sugawara, THB, Lallana, Cornet, Fraser, Fernandes, Stewart. Ameyaw or Fraser interchangeable. Armstrong back in to captain. Persist with the formation from the weekend. Archer needs more game time to try and get him up to speed if it is possible.
I'm fine with us rotating the side, but I don't see the benefit in starting players who are unlikely to feature in many PL matchday squads this season (beyond some sort of injury crises) - the likes of Bree, Manning and Wood. Because whilst progressing in the cup is by no means essential, I do think it would helpful confidence wise (both for our confidence and, for the opposite impact, Everton's confidence). So I'd like to see balance between giving players a chance, and putting out a competitive side. I did say the other day that I'd start Edwards and ABK at CB. But with Stephens suspended for Ipswich and Bmouth, I think I might instead change that to THB and ABK. Because right now, I'd suggest that THB is the prime candidate to replace Stephens - but he could really do with getting through 90 minutes error-free. So start him vs Everton, see if he can do just that, and if he can then hopefully he'll continue it against Ipswich. And if he can't, then maybe it enables Martin to look elsewhere instead (eg ABK). That said, I would still be fine with Edwards and ABK. Maybe something like: McCarthy Sugawara THB ABK Taylor Lallana Ugochukwu Armstrong Fernandes Cornet Archer Could easily have KWP for Suga, or Fraser for Cornet, or Aribo or Diaz for Fernandes, and I'd be fine.
I agree about the confidence factor. Could be a disaster if we get beat pretty comfortably by Everton (very possible) giving them a morale boost before playing Leicester and us a kick in the balls before playing Ipswich Absolutely would be playing the same formation, and would be keeping in probably about half the team that we want to start v Ipswich, the other half being players on the brink of possibly starting (Cornet, ABK/Edwards, Armstrong)
Id admire the thinking and rationale, but sadly this is Russel Martin and modern football McCarthy Bree - Wood - Edwards - ABK - Taylor Aribo - Ugochukwu Cornet - Armstrong - Fraser Just who needs a game and we can risk before Saturday
If I can get off work early enough I've got tickets for this one. Never been to Goodison before and it'll mean getting home 3hrs before I have to get back up, but will be worth it providing we don't get totally dicked!
Interested to see how Everton approach the game. Like us they have a huge game on Saturday so may make a lot of changes. Reading Grand Old Team and sounds like they want changes as their best players haven’t been involved and Dyche is sticking with his favourites who aren’t performing. If they continue their scoring a couple early trend then that will be enough to beat us you’d think. Can’t see us scoring 3 like Villa or Bournemouth
