Adam Idah scored for the RoI U21s in their 4-1 defeat of Sweden and was also named the MotM: "Idah picked up the Man of the Match award but there were quite a few contenders as Stephen Kenny’s team blew their opponents away with the speed of their passing and movement in what was (towards the end) an increasingly playful performance." Might he be on the bench if Teemu is injured?
Apparently he picked up a knock but don't know whether it's serious. Sadly Jamal Lewis was sent back early because of an injury. Doesn't bode well for Everton, but sometimes we play our best when under adversity, as against ManCity. I've just checked the EDP and there's no mention of a Pukki injury, but McLean and Lewis may be doubts for Everton. https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/mclean-misses-scotland-game-idah-scores-1-6384196
If Pukki is injured, drmic is too by the looks of it. Who do you start? Srbeny or Idah? Idah for me. Bah!
On current form it should be a 2-0 to Everton but we have to break this away day hoodoo eventually so I'm going for an ambitious 2-1 win for us .
It's tough to call with any optimism until we at least see some sort of injury update. If Pukki is unavailable, 2 goals looks hopelessly optimistic. Even if Hanley returns, can he be match fit? Unfortunately I can only see one winner and Everton by the now customery 2-0, hope I'm wrong. But even with defeat I hope it is the first steps to having a fit defence and the beginning of a turn around. Even if I think that turn around will be 2-4 games away if it is to come. Bah!
I feel much the same, unfortunately. While we wait for the content to follow, here's a look at the match from both sides: https://www.footballfancast.com/pre...cing-a-stern-everton-test-against-teemu-pukki
If McLean and Lewis are out and Hanley back, please can we see Leitner and Amadou in midfield, Aarons at LB and Byram on the right.
An injury to Jamal is a blow but I'll be pleased to see Byram back in the starting XI. If Hanley's fit, I expect him to start (and take back the captaincy). Finally means we can see Tettey or Amadou in the DM function. I've got to assume DF will start Tettey but i'm really keen to see what Amadou can do there. Injuries (Pukki) permitting I suspect it will start like this: Pukki Argos Stieps Buendia Trybull Tettey Aarons Godfrey Hamleys Byram Krul
Patrick Roberts hasn't featured much either. I'm guessing Farke judges them on the displays in training but does seem extremely loyal to the group that got us up no matter how poorly they perform this season. We just simply don't have players that can compete at this level , especially hindered by defensive injuries.
I'd forgotten about him too Thing is I though Roberts looked quite good (Byram too) when we saw them briefly. Certainly didn't disgrace themselves when called upon. Last season it was those opportunities to impress that actually cemented spots for players like Aarons early on.
For me, the players are good enough as Newcastle and ManCity showed, the latter when we had 8 players missing. Significantly we changed our tactics for that game and the players carried them out beautifully. A week later those tactics and Byram were dropped and we went on a slide down the table. We're exposed in defence and too slow in attack. Playing out from the back is fine, but do it quickly like we did against ManCity and be open to opportunities to break quickly before the opposing defence is settled. We've become too predictable as attacks are blunted and our defence left exposed. Unless we do something, we're in for a very long season with very few points.