Wolfsburg - how do we line up??

[hktoffee]

Well ideally Howard would play every single game but he's gonna give Robles the cup games I reckon, or at least the earlier stages of the cups. Including Europa that is.

To be fair we need to put a bit of trust in the lad, I know we tend to think he's a bit of a liability but he needs our faith first and foremost if he's to improve!

Not this one. Maybe a game for Robles when we play against a League One side in the Mickey Mouse Cup.

If we wanna win, we play Tim Howard in goal.

 

[EFCPaul]

Howard

Coleman Stones Distin Baines

Gibson

McCarthy Besic

Mirallas Atsu (or Pienaar if fit)

Eto'o



If we get the win in the bag then give Oviedo and Kone some minutes in 2nd hald if they're up to it. Would definitely play Howard over Robles, don't trust that lad whatsoever.

 

[Tree13]

Same team to start from the weekend for me. Eto'o and Gibson etc on Sunday.

Have to be honest here, how often do we moan about going out of cup cause we played a weakened team?

I think the idea is looking for ways we can rotate without weakening the team. The whole point of building up the squad is surely to reach a point where you don't have to rely on eight or nine particular players starting every "big" game. As a stepping stone, I think we should be looking to rotate in positions where we have some depth - so not at RB or GK.

I'd go with:

Howard (Cos Robles is poo)
Coleman (No effective replacement) - Stones - Distin (if fit) - Baines
Besic - Barry
Atsu - Mirallas - Pienaar (if fit)
Eto'o (if fit)​

McCarthy has played every minute of every game and isn't looking to be on form; we have players who can take that spot and allow him a rest so why not do it? McGeady has played a lot of minutes in every game and has wilted towards the end each time - give Atsu the start and have McGeady on thre bench if needed. There is no point running players into the ground when you have other players ready to start in their place.

Get the lead and then look to bring on three of the following:
Garbutt (or Oviedo, if fit) for Baines
Hibbert for Coleman
Gibson for Barry
Osman or Naismith for Mirallas
Lukaku (or Kone, if a squadron of flying pigs happens to zoom past) for Eto'o

Obviously it all depends on fitness though. If Distin, Pienaar and Eto'o aren't ready to start then realistically only McGeady and McCarthy can be rotated, with Osman starting at 10 and Mirallas going on the left.

 

[hullefc]

Everton start their Europa League adventure this week, at home against Wolfsburg on Thursday night, and if Roberto Martínez is true to his word – and there is no reason to suspect the Spaniard will not be – Goodison Park will be treated to a club taking the competition seriously from the word go. “Last year we had to work so, so hard for 38 games to achieve that [qualification], so it would be nonsense or stupid to say that we don’t want to be giving everything we’ve got,” the Everton manager said.

Seems like Martinez will play our strongest team possible. Same as Saturday.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I hope Howard plays

I just don't trust Robles

He was shaky in both the Swansea and Arsenal Cup matches last season

 

[Callum_efc]

Howard
Coleman stones distin baines
Mcgeady McCarthy Besic atsu
Naismith
Lukaku

 

[Jags..class]

Would go with the defence we had at West brom, which kept a clean sheet, maybe throw Besic in, Gibson will be to much of a gamble as we don't know if he fit enough, will need to ease him in a easier game. Bring Atsu in for McGeady and play Mirallas


Howard
Coleman stones Jags Baines
Mirallas Barry Besic atsu
Naismith
Lukaku

 

[deipnosophist]

Everton start their Europa League adventure this week, at home against Wolfsburg on Thursday night, and if Roberto Martínez is true to his word – and there is no reason to suspect the Spaniard will not be – Goodison Park will be treated to a club taking the competition seriously from the word go. “Last year we had to work so, so hard for 38 games to achieve that [qualification], so it would be nonsense or stupid to say that we don’t want to be giving everything we’ve got,” the Everton manager said.

Seems like Martinez will play our strongest team possible. Same as Saturday.

so he should. I am somewhat perplexed by suggestions to the otherwise.

 

[deipnosophist]

We have this game live on the telly in NZ...cannot wait to see GP in full voice under lights

 

[Tree13]

I bet Chelsea don't rest Costa for their Champions League game.

They will if he's injured or knackered. They won't if his backup is injured or knackered. It's a subjective decision.

 

[Callum_efc]

Press kit

http://www.uefa.org/mediaservices/p...0587/day=1/session=1/match=2014446/index.html

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Howard

Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines

Gibson McCarthy

Atsu Osman Mirallas

Eto'o
​

Rom, Naismith, Besic, McGeady, Stones, Garbutt & Robles bench.

 

[FTY]

I bet Chelsea don't rest Costa for their Champions League game.

I bet they do.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

What I'd go with

Howard
Coleman (Bring Hibbert on towards the end so Coleman has something left for Sunday), Distin, Stones, Baines (Bring Garbutt on after an hour)
Gibson, McCarthy
Mirallas, Naismith, Atsu
Eto'o


Martinez will probably do something similar, but I'm guessing Robles and Alcaraz will start. Maybe Osman as well

 

[LinekersLegs]

I bet Chelsea don't rest Costa for their Champions League game.

They are away at Man City at the weekend and might not want to risk Costa's hamstrings for 90 mins against Schalke.

Given his good debut against Swansea would guess they will start with Remy and bring on Costa if needed.