Pienaar will miss the Chelsea game

, 26 August, 34comments  |  Jump to most recent
Steven Pienaar is out of Saturday's clash with Chelsea but Roberto Martinez is more optimistic about Romelu Lukaku's chances of recovering sufficiently from a toe injury to face his old club for the first time.

Pienaar limped out of the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last Saturday after just eight minutes' of action with what Everton are reporting as a groin problem while Lukaku was able to complete 75 minutes before making way of Aiden McGeady.

“They have both been assessed,” the manager told reporters this morning. “Stevie P is going to miss the game at the weekend. He is the one that is going to take a little bit of time.

“Stevie is going to be out and he is going to join Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo who are the only other two players that are not available.

“Romelu, we will keep assessing him. He has reacted well in the 48 hours after the game. At the moment it is too early to know if he will be available at the weekend but I am quite positive with Rom.”

Article continues below video content


Martinez confirmed, though, that Darron Gibson is now fully fit after missing almost all of last last season with a knee injury that required surgery and lengthy rehabilitation.

“Darron Gibson is fully fit and I consider him part of the squad,” Martinez continued. “He will be ready from now on to join the group and compete for a place.”

Quotes sourced from EvertonFC.com



Reader Comments (34)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Chris James
2 Posted 26/08/2014 at 14:00:08
Shame about Pienaar but if Lukaku's fit we could go the same as we did vs Arsenal first half with Mirallas and Lukaku wider and Nais central (and I'd advocate it to push back their wide players).

Not sure where Gibson would play mind, surely he's 4th in line to a central midfield slot now?

Mark Tanton
3 Posted 26/08/2014 at 14:02:49
I was going to say time for Atsu and then remembered... Duhhhh...
Colin Glassar
4 Posted 26/08/2014 at 14:07:06
Hopefully during the international break all our players will recover and be fully fit for the next game in September. Usually, international breaks are disruptive for us but this one could be a godsend.
Ross Hutchinson
5 Posted 26/08/2014 at 14:15:02
Only Pienaar and Oviedo out? What about Barkley?
Kristian Boyce
6 Posted 26/08/2014 at 14:14:10
"Darron Gibson is fully fit."

Did he say that without laughing?

Jim Bennings
7 Posted 26/08/2014 at 14:09:19
I love Pienaar and over the years I have been one of his biggest fans but these injuries nowadays are just becoming more and more frequent and more and more frustrating.

He is starting to fall into the Gibson and Osman bracket now for me, a player that will possibly struggle to regain former glories.

I think it's going to be even harder now against Chelsea, I also forgot that Atsu is ineligible, so there's two wide players gone, that leaves the frustrating Aiden McGeady and the frustrating and clearly another sharp Mirallas.

Again I like Mirallas but for Christ's sake why can't he do the simple things as we'll as he dies the heard things.?
Time and time again against Arsenal, just keep it simple and we have a better chance but he continued to infuriate.
That said he's a matchwinner on his day.

I think Martinez is also dropping the "half expect Lukaku to miss out" hint by saying "we will continue to assess him" basically meaning he has a slight problem that could still be there Saturday.

Ohhh Everton FC and it's injuries, and the Europa League hasn't even started yet.

Ross Hutchinson
8 Posted 26/08/2014 at 14:20:56
Meant to include Kone in the previous list of players who are out of the Chelsea game. But Martinez hasn't mentioned Barkley in the list of players unavailable. Does this mean Barkley is available?
Jack Cross
9 Posted 26/08/2014 at 14:39:22
Well I was told that Lukaku wouldn't play because of an agreement with jose and Roberto not to play him in this particular game. Phil Walling, seem to think if he didn't play an injury would be given as an excuse. Lets hope he plays. but lets see if my mate and Phil are right.

RM probably hasn't mentioned Barkley because he's out long term but Kone and company are nearing a comeback.

Patrick Murphy
10 Posted 26/08/2014 at 14:53:56
If Lukaku isn't fit it is better that he misses out on Saturday and is rested for a few weeks during the International break, I was also concerned to hear that he had a cortisone injection in order to play against Arsenal and that isn't good for young players - to be honest I thought those days had passed as too many of those injections can lead to problems in later life.
Peter Morris
11 Posted 26/08/2014 at 14:58:01
I couldn't get the 'tiredness' comment after Saturday,even though clearly many of the players were just that. Poor Ossie looked like he was about the faint and he got caught out not tracking Ramsey for their first goal, so his condition may well have played a part. I suspect Roberto would have thrown Besic on to shore things up but losing Pienaar meant a sub role had been used from minute 10.But 'tiredness'? Remember,Arsenal played in bloody Turkey midweek and they were fresh enough at the end.
Stay off the Mars Bars Blues!
Jim Bennings
12 Posted 26/08/2014 at 15:14:40
Peter

Ossie always looks completely shot to bits after 60 minutes nowadays, let's not forget he's 33 and never really was a hyper energetic type of player in his younger days, more a technical player than a James "iron lungs" McCarthy.

For me I know it sounds cruel but I'd have subbed Osman for Besic with 20 minutes to go and at least we'd have had another "chase everything" lunatic on the pitch, that was the kind of second half that required a hell of a lot of work done off the ball so we needed fit lads.

Tony J Williams
13 Posted 26/08/2014 at 15:23:35
Jim, it should have been either Ossie or McCarthy for Besic, as Ossie was blowing tugs and McCarthy had picked up a knock and wasn't moving as well as normal.

The midfield was non-existent and what happens? He brings on fecking McGeady......

Poor, poor substitution and every one in the ground knew that but Martinez. If all for the attack is the best form of defence but two of his midfielders weren't up for the last 10 so change one.

Ron Sear
15 Posted 26/08/2014 at 15:30:14
Do you think it would be bad taste to have the name 'INJURED' printed on the back of my team shirt or would it simply be the shirt most likely to last the greatest amount of time?
Derek Knox
16 Posted 26/08/2014 at 15:26:47
Jim# 12

Good point there regarding the subbing of Osman for Besic, the fact that Ossie came of for Pienaar in the first place, still has us all perplexed.

The fact is now mate, we are going to need, an all hands to the pump mentality, against Chelsea.

It doesn't look great for Lukaku playing even half a game, then if Eto'o signs will he be thrown in? And at what point?

Getting back to Besic, if he had been 'eased in' with some game time against the Arse, I not only think we would have held on to the three points, but he would have been initiated to serious first team football.

Hypothetical, perhaps, but will he be thrown into the match on Saturday? I hate to sound glass half empty, but it's not the best preparation for it.

Peter Morris
17 Posted 26/08/2014 at 16:09:42
interesting all this substitution stuff. Hindsight is always a wonderful thing, and I guess Roberto is what he is. Perhaps a time on this occasion where we wished for our former manager back? No, let's not go there!
Sean Kelly
18 Posted 26/08/2014 at 16:22:00
Ron if you have that on your jersey you will be signed up pronto either on loan with a view to staying for next season too. Now where did I read that before?
James Stewart
19 Posted 26/08/2014 at 16:30:40
Besic should have come on in the last match and it seems everybody bar RM thought so. He will surely play against Chelsea
Tony J Williams
20 Posted 26/08/2014 at 16:35:52
It's not really hindsight when most of the lower Gwladys is calling for Besic to be brought on for Ossie/McCarthy, as they were both shot.
Derek Turner
21 Posted 26/08/2014 at 16:58:51
Ron, it would be bad taste if you put Gibson/Kone's squad number underneath!
Harold Matthews
22 Posted 26/08/2014 at 17:39:27
Was that blood under big Rom's icepack or was it a red bandage? Either way, it didn't look good and I'll be surprised if he starts against Chelski, especially now those monster defenders know which foot to tread on.
Phil Walling
23 Posted 26/08/2014 at 18:37:34
.....or perhaps it was the pre-lim part of the deal for his transfer ?
Paul Ferry
24 Posted 26/08/2014 at 18:32:04
Jim Bennings 12 - Â’for me I know it sounds cruel but IÂ’d have subbed Osman for Besic with 20 minutes to goÂ’.

Jim, why is that cruel? Simply because Osman has been around for a long time, one club and all that?

Osman was as bad in the first half as he was in the second. Never mind not tracking back for the 1st goal; he was standing arms on hips watching the 2nd go in.

He (1) should not have come on at Â’8 in the first place and (2) certainly subbed by Â’68 his sub-after-hour-time.

Cruel?

No! He stayed on that pitch because of low-drawer quality decision making from the gaffer. We now have a double D dilemma; defence and decisions, and it has cost us 4 point in our first two games.

Osman! My gads are up in the air in despair. I just watched a replay of the full game and his name was barely mentioned in the 1st half never mind the 2nd! He should have gone to Wigan or Stoke this window and hopefully he still will.

Patrick Murphy
25 Posted 26/08/2014 at 18:50:59
Go on Phil prove it mate! Prove that it was a pre-condition of Chelsea allowing Lukaku to join Everton. You come on most threads speculating about this that and the other, questioning whatever aspects of the club you deem fit - but have you any proof?

I could speculate on a whole host of football related stuff and once in a while I would be proved correct with my speculation, but would I take any satisfaction from it? probably not.

If however, I had concrete proof of something happening within the game and it was an exclusive then depending on its importance I would probably take great delight in sharing it on TW.

I don't know why you bother me so much but you can take great satisfaction from knowing that you get right under my skin! As Eugene said on another thread, there is a right to an opinion on any forum, but if only it was an informed opinion instead of speculative bile disguised as opinion.

Peter Bell
26 Posted 26/08/2014 at 19:08:07
Patrick, don't let him wind you up mate, he is a professional WUM
Mark Andersson
27 Posted 26/08/2014 at 19:19:55
All this "Roberto should have done this or that" ... he did what he thinks was right, if in hindsight he thinks he was wrong then letÂ’s hope he has learned his lesson.
Dick Fearon
28 Posted 26/08/2014 at 20:55:05
A bit perplexed on hearing Pienaar has a groin injury. Slo Mos clearly showed him being hit in the small of the back by the bent knee of a Arsenal defender a la Neymar.
Ajay Gopal
29 Posted 27/08/2014 at 05:09:12
Against Chelsea, I don’t expect Lukaku and Bakley to be available (in addition to the obvious missing men - Kone, Oviedo, Pienaar). Eto’o - if he starts training with our boys, should be good for a 15-20 minutes cameo.

So, I would guess that Martinez will start with:

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
McCarthy Barry Besic
Mirallas Naismith McGeady

SUBS: Eto’O (after 70 mins of McGeady), Gibson (on for Besic after about 80’), Osman (for Mirallas after 80’), Alcaraz, Robles, Stones, McAleney.

Harold Matthews
30 Posted 27/08/2014 at 07:45:33
Guess I’ll be watching this one from behind the sofa with fingers crossed, hoping we stay awake if they play Schurrle on the right against Baines with Fabregas looking to put him in.

It’s interesting to note that Football’s two best pick-pockets could be facing one another. ie Eto’o and Oscar. Any dithering with these guys around results in them pinching the ball. Take note Jags, Distin & co.

Kieran Riding
31 Posted 27/08/2014 at 12:16:03
Pienaar is out for 4-6 weeks.

Lukaku is fit and will start.

Brian Wilkinson
32 Posted 27/08/2014 at 14:34:33
I still think we missed the boat not getting Lescott back on the cheap, it worked well when we brought Pienaar back and the way our defence is creaking he would have slotted in nicely.

I've no doubts McGeady will be the only change from last week should Lukaku be fit.

Brian Wilkinson
33 Posted 27/08/2014 at 14:40:49
Not sure if many posters agree but, in his latter years, whenever Hibbert has played more central in defence, he's actually had his better games there. He seems to get caught out at right back but, although I am not a fan of Hibbert's, I do like his passion when he slots in the middle.
Kieran Riding
34 Posted 27/08/2014 at 15:12:44
Brian, you may get away with Hibbert at centre half against a bum side at home in the cup, but the thought of him up against Costa on Saturday may give me a sleepless night tonight !

( good job he's injured )

John Malone
35 Posted 27/08/2014 at 20:08:20
We will need to stop/occupy their right back, Ivanovic, amongst others. Mirallas is not able to do that from what he showed on Saturday.
Rob Halligan
36 Posted 28/08/2014 at 19:29:29
Read today that Costa is a serious doubt for Saturday. And according to Sky Sports Mourinho is prepared to let Torres leave. With us having lukaku and now Eto’o, it appears Chelsea may be a little short of a striker.

If Costa is out then I imagine it will be Torres leading the Chelsea line before he departs to Italy on Monday.

Shouldn’t be too difficult to contain!!


Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads

© ToffeeWeb