Does fit-again Leighton Baines deserve to start for Everton at Swansea?

[sageyefc]

Baines has been a shadow of himself this season, them two free kicks aside

 

[efc.1878]

We're going to get our first pen tomorrow ... Baines it is.

 

[Brennan]

45 times........not 50 or 51 or 51.25. Mate I can´t swear on here but do me a favour ........Why hasn´t he shown it then ?It´s great being 45 times better then some one but is he 45 times more committed? Oviedo has not put a foot wrong scored the winning goal aganst United, assist against Arsenal .Drop him just like that. Baines isn´t fit anyway but if he was I would still bench him.

Baines is fit.

 

[Sheedy's Third]

Baines is fit.

I presume you mean fit to play. I would bench him then. But Roberto will no doubt in his wisdom reveal all tomorrow.

 

[rochdaleblue]

This is a real difficult one for roberto. If he sticks with Oviedo the press will have a field day saying baines will force a move to protect his England place in World Cup year etc. etc. with the transfer window just around the corner. On the other hand if baines is fit and regains his place automatically then to me it sends out the wrong message for the rest of the squad, as Oviedo has been brilliant in the last 4 games. Myself, I would play baines tomorrow as Swansea will offer more of an attacking threat and I would bring Oviedo in for the sunderland game when the onus will be on us to attack more

 

[Khalekan]

It would be like Barca leaving Messi on the bench because Alexis Sanchez had a few good games while he was out.

But not if Messi was looking to leave in a couple weeks, Mr. B.

Then I bet Sanchez would get the nod.

 

[Khalekan]

Baines has been a shadow of himself this season, them two free kicks aside

This.

Baines's performances this season have been below par.

And we have moved up a gear since he was injured in the derby.

There is no reson why Oviedo baby should be left out tomorrow.

 

[Sheedy's Third]

This.

Baines's performances this season have been below par.

And we have moved up a gear since he was injured in the derby.

There is no reson why Oviedo baby should be left out tomorrow.

Spot on .

 

[nigelcoyb]

Poor if the man in form gets dropped it just sends the wrong message, the first eleven should always be picked on merit not reputation had enough of that nonsense with Moyes.

Plus Baines has studiously avoided sorting his contract (haven't we learnt?) the odds are massively in favour of him leaving
Moyes and his "they'll be sorry" speech is only weeks away from fruition so why potentially weaken with someone not match fit and potentially uncommitted for fear of injury.

 

[EFC Si]

we've played our best football without Baines....just sayin'

 

[Brennan]

But not if Messi was looking to leave in a couple weeks, Mr. B.

Then I bet Sanchez would get the nod.

Is Baines looking to leave ?

Seems to me that if he wanted to leave he'd have pushed the issue last summer or this summer.

 

[SteKelly]

Everton aren't even trying to get Baines a contract otherwise they would have sat down with him whilst he was injured

 

[Khalekan]

How do you know they haven't been?

 

[toffeejack]

you play your best XI imo. Based on this season, oviedo gets there ahead of baines. I wouldn't like to make this decision. but it's a good decision. This is the harder game of the next 3 so probably baines should play, bit that would be incredibly harsh on oviedo.

 

[stevo27]

Let Bainesy rest up over the Christmas games, maybe give him a run out against Stoke on New Years Day then start him against QPR in the cup. Oviedo deserves at least a couple more starts for the form he's shown since coming in