FK Krasnodar v Everton

[marnie]

If Costa picks up a bad injury which costs them possibly the title you don't think Mourinho would take a bashing from the fans/media over not resting him?

And Costa didn't exactly influence the match result which Is because away matches in Europe are difficult regardless who you play, 1 player often is never the difference in these competitions it's totally different to the PL. having eto'o and long would make no difference to having eto'o and lukaku tonight other than it keeps rom fresh for the utd game which time we fly back from Russia will have 2 days to prepare.

If liverpool still had Suarez ,I think he would have made a difference for them in the CL.

 

[EverBlue86]

If liverpool still had Suarez ,I think he would have made a difference for them in the CL.

Did you watch madrid last night? Ronaldo for me the best player in the world done nothing but score a pen on the 2nd attempt. I'll be shocked if eto'o doesn't start and will be subbed off around 75 mins probably, is it really worth justifying taking our main striker to play those remaining 15 minutes When he could be rested and fit for Utd?

Sorry mate I just don't and will never agree with it risking our league position/challenge for top 4 on a cup competition which is a lottery.

Like the FA cup last year, everyone was optimistic then BAM arsenal away drawn that's the lottery of the cup competition we shouldn't throw all our eggs in one basket

 

[crusade]

That settles it.

Atsu
Oviedo Hibbert Jagielka Baines
Gibson Besic Barry
McGeady Naismith Eto'o
Lukaku

​

 

[jackyboy]

To be fair, Bolasie is one of those and he rips us to pieces every time

He really does tear us to pieces doesn't he, should be a thread for obscure average footballers who seemingly turn boss against us.

 

[Boxcar Ira]

what channel is this on in Enlgand then?

ITV4 my good man, coverage starts at 4:45

 

[bicycleheader]

No I like martinez but I fear he's put all his eggs in one basket this season and is going for the europa without too much care about our league position. Problem is all it takes is a city or roma to drop down from the CL and suddenly it no longer looks that easy to win it.

I can't be arsed writing it all again but like I said previously the top 4 is more achievable than ever this season as is top 6 which equals more money, a better calibre of player who you can attract and more chance of your players like Mirallas signing new contracts rather than being tempted away elsewhere.

Also the drop in finishing money for say 5th to say 10th Is quite a bit for a club like ours, Fans would soon moan if we are a couple of million short of signing a Tadic type player in the summer which we would have had for finishing a few places higher etc.

I personally would imagine he is a sensible chap who will make decisions as and when, and will be prioritising both the league and Europa.

It seems you are already implying a drop in league position would be something unacceptable. The knock on affects of finishing lower in the league, whilst getting knocked out by a Champs League team in the Europa, are not really up for dispute. Of course it affects money in and there are knock effects from that.

I would prefer to step back and say we have a new manager who is changing a good bit of what we have been so used to. He has only had a season and a bit, and is only having a really poor patch now. Any set of reasonable fans should be willing to accept even a season of poor results, so long as not drastic, and he has already built up a level of trust beyond that with a most excellent season last time out.

I think moaning and putting him under pressure, whether you´d be a part of that or not, is just a nonsense really and statements like the one I put in bold also just adds to it. Do you really think he doesn´t care less about our league position, I mean what would make you fear this? Would it possibly be the handful of games at the start of this season. Surely you are not overjudging based on just that......

As an aside, if we are to win the Europa we will have some difficult games. I personally wouldn´t write us off across two legs vs City and definitely not against Roma.

 

[bicycleheader]

Also cmonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn EVERTONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

finishing work early, can´t wait to get home to see this.

 

[TheBlueGibbon]

That settles it.

Atsu
Oviedo Hibbert Jagielka Baines
Gibson Besic Barry
McGeady Naismith Eto'o
Lukaku

​

Bollocks, we're going to forfeit the match, we've got an extra man there.

 

[stevo27]

It is when your juggling europa league games aswell as league matches. That's the point for me he was banging on all summer about needing a squad to cope with the demands yet 3 days before a big league match he sends both our main strikers to Russia alongside a number of other first team players.

Lukaku is hardly full of stamina regardless why take him when you have eto'o, Kone and long?

What was the point in even qualifying for the competition if fans want our best players rested for an important group game, which tonight is as a win will give us max points going into the Lille double header that could effectively seal qualification for the knockouts if we take 4/6 points from?

 

[Efcjake]

What was the point in even qualifying for the competition if fans want our best players rested for an important group game, which tonight is as a win will give us max points going into the Lille double header that could effectively seal qualification for the knockouts if we take 4/6 points from?

Exactly, I am fine with us having a go right now with decent strength teams if it means we can qualify earlier. The lads shouldn't be tired yet, the season is just 2 months old, getting qualification sorted sooner rather than later will be more beneficial for when the players really are tired.

 

[Ashtonian]

ITV4 my good man, coverage starts at 4:45

Thank you very much.

In work til 5 and apparently have my mum on her way here about a cv but i'll make the second half....just.

 

[EverBlue86]

What was .the point in even qualifying for the competition if fans want our best players rested for an important group game, which tonight is as a win will give us max points going into the Lille double header that could effectively seal qualification for the knockouts if we take 4/6 points from?

Because we could be loaned Messi for the night and still face an uphill battle to get a win. Russian away games are notoriously difficult to get a win regardless of if you play your first or 2nd choice players.

Everyone wants us to progress but their seems to be a section of evertonians who would accept 16th for a trophy which whilst I want us to win a cup more than anyone I wouldn't accept simply for the massive fall in money and the effect it has on the team, you would be a swansea, a Birmingham and a Wigan, a bottom half side that won a trophy that's not everton if we want to continue to progress, continue to attract players of lukakus ilk then we need to stay competitive in the league and not erase the hard work made by martinez and the players in trying to over turn this media image of "plucky little everton punching above it's weight" to "realistic top 4 challengers" win a trophy great, but do it whilst getting a top 6 finish not risking that challenge for CL or europa league next season.

Point being a big match against a top 4 rival on Sunday should be on martinez's mind just as much as tonight he needs to use the squad

 

[blue4eva77]

Any team news yet ?

 

[snipellis11]

Looking forward to this, come on Everton a win would be great and would take some of the pressure off us for the other games but i would be happy with a draw. COYB!!!!!!!!

 

[1966efc]

I personally would imagine he is a sensible chap who will make decisions as and when, and will be prioritising both the league and Europa.

It seems you are already implying a drop in league position would be something unacceptable. The knock on affects of finishing lower in the league, whilst getting knocked out by a Champs League team in the Europa, are not really up for dispute. Of course it affects money in and there are knock effects from that.

I would prefer to step back and say we have a new manager who is changing a good bit of what we have been so used to. He has only had a season and a bit, and is only having a really poor patch now. Any set of reasonable fans should be willing to accept even a season of poor results, so long as not drastic, and he has already built up a level of trust beyond that with a most excellent season last time out.

I think moaning and putting him under pressure, whether you´d be a part of that or not, is just a nonsense really and statements like the one I put in bold also just adds to it. Do you really think he doesn´t care less about our league position, I mean what would make you fear this? Would it possibly be the handful of games at the start of this season. Surely you are not overjudging based on just that......

As an aside, if we are to win the Europa we will have some difficult games. I personally wouldn´t write us off across two legs vs City and definitely not against Roma.

Happy to accept crap results. I'm an Evertonian ffs! Will accept a lower league position but would be annoyed / surprised if those things happened because of a, in my view, loony priority of Europa over PL. If he's here to improve Everton, it happens in the league. If he wants to build his reputation in Europe he needs to have a word.

Big supporter of R M but his theories / philosophy have to dovetail with the country he's working in and here, we regard the league as the #1