Deulofeu skippers Spain U21s to win over Estonia

He's going to be a big player for us this season, his creativity is going to be vital.

Play him, Roberto!

As mentioned above, Ivanovic is low on confidence and Deulofeu could put him in a world of hurt.

We were really struggling against Barnsley and he showed his class by forcing us back into the game. A wonderfully gifted player who will terrorise the opposition. I certainly wouldn't want to defend against him!

In all seriousness it will be interesting to see who RM picks on the wings. Given his love of only playing one proper winger I'm thinking we might see Lennon on the right with Kone on the left but difficult to call.

Would quite like to see Del Boy given a chance in the number 10 slot. Imagine the attacking possibilities of:

Howard
Coleman Stones Mori Baines
McCarthy Barkley
Lennon Deulofeu Mirallas
Lukaku

Pace everywhere!!!

I would like to see an Everton side with Gerry, Ross an Kev behind Rom.

We may find ourselves up against a wounded animal v Chelsea as their quality will show through sooner rather than later, but one thing we have seen already this season is bold is beautiful in the EPL.

Let's go for the kill as Chelsea are doubting themselves currently and Gerry could be the man to punish Chelsea.

I've noticed on TalkSport and 5Live that callers come on and say 'I AM an England fan' where as before there was no need, it was just an assumption. We may all have opinions on England but the numbers of those who give a dam must be dwindling.

Anyway, could Del Boy do some tapping up and bring back some Miguels and Ramons?

That's why Mirallas and Deulofeu never start games together, cos they can't be trusted to get back and help out defending but with Lennon in the mix now, I can see him being on the right a lot as he does put a shift in and then Mirallas & Deulofeu will mix it on the left and sometimes play at 10 and the right as well.

Without that genuine No 10, I can see us playing either 4-1-4-1 like we did a bit second half of last season or 4-3-3 with the players we currently have. Tbh I think that's how we'll get the best out of the players we have. We'll be able to play with genuine width and wide players in those formations plus a CM 3 with Barkley in a deeper starting position with where he's best for me, where he can see the game ahead of him and run into the space with the ball as opposed to being in that pocket of space with his back to goal where I feel he's less effective that way. Plus you have both McCarthy & Barry in there as the disciplined 2 and give us that defensive protection. Personally, I'd rather have either Cleverley or Besic in there ahead of Barry but we all know how Martinez works!

As it's Chelsea, I'd expect to see Lennon for the first 60 as he'll offer more cover and then unleash Del Boy on a tiring Ivanovic for the final 30. Hope we are not out of it by then.

If Deulofeu and Mirallas want to start matches then they have to show a commitment and desire to work back. The reason Bobby doesn't play both is because they leave our fullbacks woefully exposed.

Given Cleverley's injury, this line-up could be closer than we think. Come on, Bobby, let's see some of that sexy football you were supposed to bring to the club!

Deulofeu has to be our best attacking threat behind Lukaku – get him on the ball as much as possible. He's not going to do much for our defence but we should work to accommodate that.

Then even if teams focus on those too, it would be good to have Mirallas and Barkley on the pitch to pick up the space.

As Nick says, sometimes it's not about the defensive capabilities of the individual players as much as it is about the organisation of the team. City have yet to concede a goal despite playing a lot of attack minded players with Aguero, Silva, Navas, Sterling and Toure.

I also think playing an attacking team forces the opposition to not commit too much for fear of the break so I reckon my team would do okay. They'd certainly be entertaining to watch!

I understand what ppl are saying about the defensive aspect but surely you would have Macca in there purely to shield the back four, a la Carsley? With him and a well drilled back five (please god), you shouldn't get too many problems in that regard.

Also, as has been noted, we get torn apart defensively as it is with two DMs, so I don't think we'd notice much difference.

Aidy, you say " McCarthy & Barry in there as the disciplined 2 and give us that defensive protection", something they somehow fail to do. With TWO defensive midfielders I would expect a lot more clean sheets than we seem to get.

Gerry could be a sensational player, but he is not going to get the required fitness and confidence if he is continually benched by Martinez. Young players in particular thrive on game time.

It is a mark of Roberto's selection policy that a player is much more likely to retain a place in the first team if he is a defender, or defensive midfielder? The only defenders I can think of who have had long spells out of the team are Oviedo, Baines, and latterly Galloway, all due to injury. I am ruling out Tony Hibbert for obvious reasons. With the exception of Lukaku, the "front four" including Deulofeu, are on a rota, game by game.

Who drills our boys, I would like to know. Who allows Coleman and Stones to back off into the area? Who allows every defender to wander into the opposition half? Who encourages every defender to remain fixated on the ball? Who discourages closing down, leading to teams like Spurs firing in over 20 shots?

There are a million other things which need sorting. Howard's legs will not come to our rescue every week.

Having said that, it would certainly be entertaining. Not going to happen with Bobby though.

Two current England players starting at centre back: one the captain and current Player of the Season; the other now worth at least £30 million and touted by all as the future England captain. Right back experienced £20million rated player wanted by PSG, Left back (albeit returning from long-term injury) an experienced international starting left back. Two defensive midfielders, current and past internationals, one worth £24 million if bids from Spurs are to be believed. The other as experienced as you can get in European competition and internationals. This back six should be pretty solid should it not?

Yet against Spurs the front three had space constantly in between these six players? I don't understand it? Are they coached to mark space not players? Are they coached at all? They must surely be being told to play this way because the experienced players would surely organise themselves better on the pitch during the game?

As my Sunday team does, "That twat's getting in between us; you sit on him for a bit, I'll cover the space" etc, if you've got David Silva tearing you a new one, why not put the player who marked Messi out the game in the world on him? (Besic). I just don't get it; when we play six specialised defensive players, how we are so shit at defending?

Amen!

As you say, why are we so appalling at defending with those players in the team supposedly offering us defensive protection? for me, seeing as it happened last season too, the finger points at the manager.

Sam. How can you immediately replace our captain, Player of the Season, and best defender for a guy that no-one has seen play?

I've always been of the opinion, that under Martinez, with our fullbacks, playing like wingbacks, we should introduce a third central defender.

I wonder if Deulofeu can develop into a player, that could play inside?

Deulofeu is a great individual talent but he has to consider himself as a part of a team. Him, Rom and Ross could be frightening; add Mirallas and we have real goal threats throughout the field of play.

I would love us to find a way to fit them all in together, with the option of Lennon off the bench.

I think we should split the pitch. A defensive unit and an attacking unit. Four defenders at the back with a defensive midfielder in front of them and then five all out attackers with no real responsibility to get back and help the defense.

It would probably mean converting Baines into a midfielder and replacing him at LB with a 6ft plus left-sided defender like Lescott, as before Baines broke into the team.

I agree with you that, with so many wingers on the books, Martinez, is unlikely to get us playing this formation. Saying that though, I believe both Mirallas and Deulofeu, could play inside.

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