Everton squeeze past Reading into the fourth round

One things from sure I can see Reading getting quite a few chances tonight, could be another 5-3.

We were all over the place and went from complete control to panic stations and just about got home 2-0. To the best of my knowledge, he hasn’t tried it since!!!

Robles
Stones Jagielka Funes Mori
Lennon McCarthy Barkley Osman Deulofeu
Kone Lukaku

There is a lot more to being a striker than the odd goal!

With a Chelsea/Southampton performance, we would have won this in a canter but RM insists on sailing close to the wind. Luckily tonight it did not bite him in the arse.

Roberto may just have the luck of the devil in this cup and it’s about time we won it!!!

Deulofeu should do his best to stay on his feet over the next few weeks because he doesn't want to gain a diving reputation (fairly, or perceived) which is easily earned but hard to shift. Ask Andy Johnson.

Advantage is that we managed some pitch time for our squad.

The Sky app lined us up 3-5-2 with Deulofeu at left wing back. If this is correct then the other ten make sense. But Deulofeu at left wing back doesn't make sense.

Also, how did the substitutions affect the formation?

Didn't work, Bobby made adjustments, and we played definably better second half.

Barry was immense it should be said as well.

Lennon was back occasionally but no way in a solid, consistent RB position and it wasn’t a case of a RB "bombing forward" either.

You’re probably right. The stream was shit but that’s honestly what I saw.

That change at half-time was needed.

Deulofeu looked interested, deserved his goal.

I lost count of the amount of times Lennon gave possession away (he worryingly looked like a senior pro who had just signed a contract).

Lukaku played like a complete fucking puddin’ and must apply himself better than that and show more smarts.

Anyway, we’re in the hat. (I hope Stones is okay.)

Positives to take from the game:

Barkley looked a class above everyone else;
I thought Galloway was great when he came on, first time I’ve seen him live;
Deulofeu took his goal well and put some great balls into the box. Still blows too hot and cold for me and some of his passes were lazy when he could have put Rom through quicker.

On that note, Lukaku was poor tonight. I’d have taken him off and left Kone on. He could do with a full 90 mins.

Anyway we won, which I am so grateful for as took my two young lads for their first ever live match tonight. Thank you, footballing gods!

Do they have anything in common?

Somehow Roberto didn't see it that way and we're stuck with a toothless attack until January. Lukaku needs a rest, his confidence is shot, but we have no real cover, so he has to play through his nightmare.

Sticking with my 3-5-2 guns, I thought the formation was worth a punt.

3 solid defenders in the back, and with Coleman and Galloway out / rested, bring in 2 speedy wing backs to cause havoc out wide and stretch the field east-west [apologies for that horrific American term, east-west. next time I'll say something about a quarterback, while I play country-western music, promise].

Didn't work. But the idea? Not the worst surely?

Funes Mori was constantly near the throw-in line, he made a few runs forward from left back. Lennon was right back, and for the majority of the game, Deulofeu was ahead of him. So how can we say he was left wing back??

Robles played well. Defence a bit iffy apart, although Funes Mori had an excellent second half. Barkley and Deulofeu class above anyone else. Barry made a huge difference when he came on.

Kone and Lukaku both very poor, surprised Naismith didn’t come on. But overall, a good game and a good win. I’ll take it definitely.

It was clear we only had 3 defenders on the park, and it’s clear that they were all centre backs. Add to that the fact Lennon is an attacking player and it brings me to the conclusion we played a back 3.

If the above is true, I can’t understand people’s concerns as in my eyes it’s good to see the manager try something different at time to time. It is also refreshing to see he can change it when it’s not going right too.

I’m Martinez biggest critic as I never wanted him in the first place and wanted to eat my season ticket last year. That said I have to give him credit for this seasons performance so far.

I think we have done well against teams who have to have ago either because they are the home team or because they are a big team. The biggest struggle we have had this season was the Watford game at home.

The 3 at the back may well have been an experiment for future games were teams turn up at goodison to go home with a point. Again, this clearly did not work but it is good to see a manager take the opportunity to see how our lads react to certain formations.

Well done to the boys for getting us through anyways, we are further now than we get most years in this competition. Let’s see what’s next up.

Where were all those penetrating passes from our fleet footed genius? This is the guy who makes us control the game with his football brain and super touch. The player who creates so much with his vision and open’s so many door’s with his control of the game!....

Yea RIGHT!... He’s finished!

I thought Funes Mori did really well as a CB in the second half, justifying his price tag and looking very comfortable alongside Jags.

Galloway was superb as well and added an attacking threat we had been missing, apart from Gerry who was are most dangerous player (though lucky not to get booked for a dive).

All-in-all, a decent performance against a good Reading team. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in our league next season.

I felt sorry for Rom; he ran the line without any real service, but you can see he needs a goal to settle himself down. What did piss me off about him is he walked off without acknowledging us.

Ross took his goal really well and at the end of the game gave his shirt to a young lad near me. Class. Martinez got it very wrong but we got away with it when you think our only two shots on target went in.

Hopefully a home draw, as we are sure due one.

These types of games are always scrappy and I thought, under the circumstances, it was a decent performance. Gerri and Barks were a cut above the defense was solid although Joel was very indecisive for their goal. Lukaku was awful he needs to be sat down for a game or two.

This was an easy game for an embarrassing loss but it's a win and in the end we won going away.

That may well be good but I suspect our squad are more traditional in outlook and like to do familiar stuff. Lennon wasn't doing familiar stuff.

I was longing for Naisy to replace Rom for the last 15 minutes to get in their defence's faces and break up their play out of defence, but Roberto is determined to stick with square-footed Rom no matter what.

Well done, Ross and Del Boy, that was a well deserved goal, and hope RM gives him a rum in the team now. He’s definitely matured since his loan season.

Thought Barkley started brilliantly, then struggled with the malaise that was our Laurel & Hardy front pair. Gerard deserved a goal for his effort. Like the fact he can do them from set pieces.

Kone is okay but I can’t really understand why we bought him. We might as well have retained Big Vic. Lukaku is incredible. I cannot believe how little he runs, fails to read a pass, fails to know where to knock the ball to win a race with a defender, dominate headers....

Lukaku will score 20 goals this season but the amount of chances we create he should be knocking out 30. Osman, Barkley and Gerard put him in tonight and he failed everytime.

All that said, we won, we experimented and we have some tremendous players on our books like Gerard and Ross.

At best that is only relevant for the first ’45 and I am in 100 per cent agreement with Jamie (Crowley): it was worth a try. I have in mind the still (unbelievably) Martinez attack-line that recycles ’inflexible’, ’stubborn’, ’no Plan B’ (I think that was Plan G tonight) ...........

How about something along these lines?

It was a tough draw. Reading away Tuesday night: dicey. I would not have been surprised if we lost the game. But we won it. And we won it quite simply because the manager changed things at half-time. He set us up and watched for 45 minutes and decided that he had made a mistake and like all top managers he changed things.

Bringing on Barry was as it turned out one of his most intelligent subs in his time here. Barry was super tonight and bossed the midfield. Martinez chose not to start with Barry - and why not,. hardly the worst of calls? - but he changed his mind on the basis of what he saw in the first half.

Full marks to ’stubborn’ and ’inflexible’ and ’one plan’ Martinez for me!

I just look at Barkley with utter pride right now - but then I always have done and have never said a bad word - and marvel at what he is becoming and will be. The ’assaults’ on Lukaku on the Live Forum tonight were on the one hand understandable - as he had a stinker - but on the other myopic: he will score 20 plus goals for us this season and will on his own in a flash change the course of a handful of games to come over the next eight months.

Barkley last season, Lukaku so far this one, and, like our Wavertree gold, our Belgo will turn it round.

It has been a very good start to the season given the first nine game challenge. We are in the LC 4th round for the first time in a few years and top six with that starting nine games: the vast majority on here would have bitten a hand off for that. And remember the ’he will be gone after nine’ group who seem strangely silent these days (there was one who said after one)!

A squad with real depth now; a young edge to the squad who bleed promise (especially in defence - but GD, RB, RL?); a manager who is evidently not ’stubborn’ or ’inflexible’: in a nutshell, a boss time to be blue!

Aside from the Swansea game, where he cost us two points, his conversion rate is decent. Would we rather have Kane upfront right now who has scored fuck all in goals? Or Rooney? Or Giroud?

Rom isn’t playing well right now. No doubt. But Stones, who can do no wrong because he is "just a lad", was poor against Watford and Barnsley. Lukaku is about the same age, but he now has suddenly turned to shite, is lazy, bla bla. I wish he had scored tonight just to shut you lot up.

Naismith also shite, let’s not forget...

Good start to the season; let’s hope Brenda doesn’t like his job with that lot from across the park. For once I think we will get the better of them. Shit, I shouldn’t have said that out loud.

A result was the all important thing here. Well-taken goal from Barkley. Deulofeu had a very good game, he was a constant threat and noticeably tracking back supporting Aaron.

Tonight that missing No 10 linking the midfield to the striker(s) felt all too prominent. There was a disconnect between the two and way too much space.

Great to be through to the next round, seems a life-time since we were in this cup.

A nice fairly easy home draw would be great to take us into the quarters.

Good post, sir; also, I thought Funes Mori showed further encouraging signs.

His lack of goals (6 in last 28) has bought him under the microscope and his fanboys are scrambling round looking for excuses for him... 21, lack of service, broken toe, split with girlfriend, playing for Belgium, wrong style of play, I've heard them all and it's a bit tiring. He has a good game -gives an interview explaining that he is wearing size 14.5 instead of 14 and he looks forward to proving how great he is and he just puts in another 5 games of craps till he realizes he's getting slated.

The lad does not care for the shirt. It's his own ego he cares about. Drop him and he responds with "I'll show you"... Errr that's what you are paid £75k a week for Rom, I can honestly say I have seen him have 7 games in total where I have thought "his application was spot on there" .

I really don't think we can carry this lad for all that his 1 good game in 5 gives us.

As for the two strikers? The least said the better about them. I can’t believe we were happy to give Lukaku the responsibility of taking us through the season with only mediocre back-up in Kone and a relatively unknown Uruguayan lad.

Lukaku, I’m sick of making excuses for his total no-shows, he’s 22 not 18 and last night it was a complete waste of time the fella being out there. For a supposed goalscorer, I’ve rarely seen a man attack the ball with so little hunger or desire. Imagine Alan Shearer playing in a team with wingers?..Or Graeme Sharpe.

Lukaku just lacks so much mobility it’s unbelievable at times.

Barkley has really stepped up this season, you got the feeling he was genuinely hurt by his own form last season and has made sure he has taken responsibility for it rather then blame others, what a shame the penny hasn’t dropped with Rom yet!

Anyway next round beckons, let’s hope we step it up and get a favourable home draw.

My sentiments too, a lot to be excited about so far!!

The thought of playing Kone as a lone striker isn’t an option; his goal return is zero. Naismith missed a couple of sitters at Swansea as well and only operates best in 4-4-2 system, something Roberto rarely uses.

Really?

I would have thought the Southampton game would have been the massive boost and set the tone for a great run of form from Rom?

Why exactly is he low on confidence?

Strikers can hit a barren spell, as fans we accept that, but we appreciate seeing a guy wanting to bust a gut to get himself out of that barren spell and put in a real hard shift.

I’m not saying Lukaku needs to start throwing himself into crazy challenges like an extra from Halloween or behave like the gutter snipe that Diego Costa is, but the very least he can do is make defences know he’s about by looking at least half-interested.

I remember last season at Old Trafford, Man Utd had a complete rookie kid Paddy McNair in defence, we were just desperate for Lukaku to give him a real hard time but he ambled through that match like a lost poet in the Alps.

At 22, he really needs to start learning faster; at £28 million I want him to become swashbuckling, a matchwinning striker and I hope so much he does, but hand on heart, has his touch, his reading of the game, his overall contribution improved at all in 2 years??

The only thing that annoys me about him is it never seems to be his fault. I’m getting sick of him staring at the ground with his two arms stretched out pointing at some spot 3 yards infront of him. (Watch him for 10 mins and you’ll see the gesture I'm on about.)

Did anyone else notice Gerry screaming at him last night for not playing a pass. Well played, Gerry – a fancy Dan who seems to care and play with passion! High hopes!

Look at it this way. If Leandro Rodriguez had been picked and had turned in a performance as dire as Lukaku did, these threads would have been full of people declaring that he is not a Premier League player, has no touch, no desire, is more suited to the lower leagues, waste of money etc., etc. But, be honest, if he had come on last night he could not have done any worse than Lukaku.

Some are saying that Lukaku will bag 20 goals this season. I will be astonished if he scores 20 league goals this season if that is his level of performance.

I don’t have a downer on him, I desperately want him to do well,to be the player we think can be on the strength of the occasional game, but he has to start doing it on the pitch and not in the Belgian press.

Yes, he can be lazy and frustrating at times, and at 22 that excuse "he is still young and learning" will not really wash any more. But the man does score goals.

All strikers hit a bit of a bad spell from time to time. Yet you have games like Southampton where he will just bully your back line. Defences set up to mark him out the game now, when he first came in that 2013-14 season he was still relatively unknown and had more joy but now he is targeted.

Also, I think this diamond formation thing we are playing now means he has to change the way he plays. I would love to see a Premier League game with two natural wingers (one of them being Geri) and just feeding him all game.

He does have parts of his game to work on, but finishing is not one of them, give him the ball in the right areas. It shouldn’t be an issue that his touch is bad when he is on the half-way line. For me he shouldn’t be on the half-way line.

He just needs a goal and watch him come to life again, you all won’t be complaining when he slots his second against them lot from across the way at the Street End in 11 days time.

Lukaku needs to get his head out of his arse, and start putting the ball back in the net.

Look at him. Would you like to fight him for your wages every week? Doubt it. So why not use his physical attributes to "bully" teams every game and not one in five?

He hasn't scored 55 goals for Everton at all. More like 40.

On a good day, he is very good, but on every other day he stinks the place out – there are no shades of grey, nothing in between.

Last night was the 3rd game in a row where he has been very poor in respect of effort and attitude. There was one instance in the first half where we broke in numbers with Lukaku entering the box with his give it to me gesture (see Thomas @75). Two Everton players (I think it was McCarthy and Barkley) went past Lukaku into the 6-yard box, but the ball did not get through to any of them and was cleared.

The camera followed the ball to where it was contested for about 30 seconds before it was played forward by Jags – not surprisingly, Lukaku could not go for the pass because he was strolling back towards the half-way line about 10 yards behind the Reading defenders.

McCarthy and Barkley were back on the half-way line having chased back to get into position. Rom was not just slow coming back, he had made no effort whatsoever to get back. The ball hadn’t been played to him earlier, so he was sulking.

For those who say we do not play to his strengths need to ask themselves: What are his strengths? The last few games he’s been played in on goal with a nice weighted ball and he’s managed to fluff the lot – either a weak shot straight at the keeper or blazed into Row Z. Considering that he’s such a big strong lad, he is poor in the air – how many headed goals has he scored? (A handful?)

We’d all love him to be bashing them in from all angles, but he just doesn’t appear to put the effort in to get in those positions.

I do not think that we can put it down to confidence; he should be demanding the ball at all times in order to get an opportunity. Last year, Ross looked to be trying too hard to make things happen – too many overly ambitious passes or mazey dribbles. I doubt anyone could ever accuse Rom of trying too hard.

If we hadn’t almost doubled our transfer record to buy him, he would probably get more slack, but he needs to show more for the team and for the fans. The fans will always support players who give 100% effort all the time, but lack of effort and also lack of end product is a sure fire way of attracting criticism.

We were continually told during the summer we didn’t need another "main striker" because we have Lukaku, I challenged people on this but was continually shot down.

Are we really well off for striking options? The mere fact we are talking about the lad Rodriguez, who we know nothing at all about other than a few goals at U-21 standard suggests we are not well off striker wise.

Naismith is a useful player but he’s more in the Cahill or Nick Barmby role than as a striker. It leaves us with Kone, who tries but just doesn’t look like he has many goals in him.

Lukaku has no threat to his place. He doesn’t need to fear being dropped for long because the options are not top drawer to replace him.

Charlie Austin has one year left on his contract down at QPR, I’d suggest a cheeky bid of £8 million in January just to test any resolve that QPR have; they know they’ll end up losing him but we could risk waiting and waiting and then you’ll get Spurs or someone taking him for free.

Mate, it’s not like I don’t share your frustration with his current form and some past games, but that he is "a very poor footballer" who "makes the stats for him" is really totally off the mark. You are entitled to your opinion, however.

He scored 17 goals for West Brom in the League, then 15 for us (plus goals in domestic and European cups). Some of them were indeed braces, but that is still a pretty good return rate, you don’t think so? I do. And I’m not even counting his assists.

Belgium has somewhat of a golden generation in term of gifted footballers at the moment, so if he is really so very poor, why do they bother playing him in their first team over and over? If Lukaku was English, he’d walk into the national team.

I don’t know him personally, but he seems very humble in interviews and highly intelligent. He speaks 6 languages, has insisted on concluding his education and has often done social work in Brussels, so he seems to me like a very aware and level human being. I of course don’t know that for sure.

I have no problem admitting that with Jagielka and Deulofeu, Lukaku is amongst my favourite Everton players, but I concede that he has been very poor as of late. So no excuses.

If I were Roberto, I’d drop him for the West Brom match and not involve him at all unless we are chasing the game. I’d make it clear to him in training that he needs to have a hard look at himself and earn his place back, including for the derby.

In my utopia, a frustrated and somewhat angry Lukaku will come on in the second 45 mins and tear the Shite a new one, a la Naismith. You may say, I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one...

Did last night do Lukaku any good? Was it the "system" that had players struggling? Can Lukaku play through this little blip? And it is a blip.

I agree with everyone who says we need options in attack. With a little push and guile, we could land Charlie Austin. Why not?

It is just as well that when we play, at least half the team decide to turn up. We are getting results with about 6 players deciding to play. And the rest going walkabout. God help teams when everyone starts playing. And god help us if the good half stop playing.

I hope that Martinez does not start tinkering with systems. A plain old 4-4-2 seems to work for Everton. A solid back four. Two holding midfielders. Two other midfielders. Barkley and Naismith . And two forwards. And for now that has to be Kone and an out-of-form Lukaku. The wingers are a luxury on the bench. We have played well, going narrow. Let's now take this League Cup serious. It is winnable.

TBH, I like our squad this season. I like about 16 of our players. But we cannot accommodate everyone. Who would be a manager?

Hopefully Roberto is thinking along these lines but who knows.

Some players just can not get up for a game, everything is an effort until something generates adrenaline.

This is not Rom's hobby – this is his highly paid job. Someone needs to get him though sports psychology or hypnotherapy. Ronnie O’Sullivan suffered from bouts of "I really can’t be bothered" and actually won games whilst thinking of his holiday away or his 10-mile run that he can’t wait to do. The reason he could do this was he is a "GENIUS" – the most naturally gifted player who, if he applied himself like a Hendry or Ebdon, would have won 15 world titles by now.

Rom isn’t a genius, he isn’t naturally gifted with anything other than a big hulking physique, reasonable pace and a heavy left foot. In short, unless he gets himself in a place where he applies himself properly, he will continue to insult those who pay his wages.

But those who keep hoping for "THE BEAST" – what you are actually hoping for is him to actually be bothered – nothing more, nothing less. He may actually have had a reasonable touch if he was "bothered" to work on it – bit late now though.

How long till he gets a kick up the backside from the manager and is told to start putting the graft in or else? I can’t imagine turning up at my workplace with his attitude and getting away with it for too long...

Lukaku regularly states his desire to play once more for "a big team in the Champions League". I’ve nothing against that ambition if you actually do more to back up such a statement with performance levels that demand a Champions League club becomes interested in you, much like John Stones who seems to be getting better on a weekly basis.

It strikes me mental strength is a major factor in footballing and I’m concerned by Rom at times regarding this.

Bench him, get him angry (not so angry that he comes on and stamps on somebody!) and then unleash the old beast.

I’m sure it’ll click again soon for him and he will score 20+ this season as he is a top striker, in my opinion.

I would also suggest that even his sternest critics want to be proved wrong, and want him to be successful. My concern is that his game hasn’t improved one jot since he has come to Everton. His faults are well documented on here. Now although I am not RM's biggest fan, I can't believe that he hasn’t tried to improve his faults.

I believe the majority of fans are desperate to see Lukaku turn things around, but I worry that their patience won't last much longer, and if the crowd turn on him, I don’t believe he has the strength of character to overcome it.

Lukaku like a lot if strikers go through sticky patches but you need to look at the long game before making a judgement. He’s still only a young’un with a stack of goals, so he isn’t a one season wonder. My guess that this time in May providing we keep passing the ammo he’ll pass the 20+ mark.

There’s a great CF in there and at times an unplayable CF. Get off his back, he’ll come good.

David, I said earlier that people can have an off day regarding form, but you can't have an off day regarding effort. Lukaku is short of both right now. There is nothing to stop him running his chunks off and tackling defenders etc. instead of the "always me" attitude of the clown who used to play across the park.

Kone, on the other hand, a player in need of goals himself, is unselfish and looks to play-in his colleagues in the hope that the team will benefit. It is a team game and it doesn’t matter who scores, as long as someone does. We don’t need pointing, and sulking, we don’t need ego, it is the collective good that matters. Teams full of "individuals" win nothing.

Imagine if we have a good season, and finish in 5th, just outside the Champions League, and Rom nets 20 league goals. The following season he would not be playing for us, he would have proved himself and be off to a CL team. This is why he wants to take the pens, and free-kicks.

Rom is playing for Rom. Naismith and Kone are playing for the team.

The game? Deulofeu learned a lot I hope. Martinez too, bringing Barry on at half time to give us our best shape. Aaron Lennon must have been wondering what the hell was going on but did well in his new "position"? Robles looked reliable, as did Ramiro Funes Mori and Galloway is developing into a gem. Ross’s good season continues, so plenty of pluses from what could have been a very bad night.

Man of the (half) Match: Barry. Back to form.

Here you go, David. 2 mins of "high-lights". Trust me, mate. This is all you need. You’re better off watching paint dry than watching an extended version of the highlights.

Also, you say... Changing formation and personnel effected his performance! (surely you’re joking about that) I can’t believe you think that... How many professional games has he played?

Lastly you say... Not enough playing time under his belt!...being selected by Robbie means he is fit to play 90 mins!....(eg, Geri and Lennon) Very lame excuses- the games will pass him by now... not up to the rigours of the game anymore, it’s too quick, physical and mentally demanding for the lad.

I hope Ossie stay’s on next year In some coaching capacity, if there is a place for him – but please stop making up ridiculous excuses for the lad.

Touch was intermittent but not as bad as some say in here.

The long ball to him was a lot more evident last night than last season. It just did not work as in the Championship they are used to it and train for it.

He kept running the channels and stretching their defence. He drew many fouls and was unlucky once or twice. It was a low key game to get up for but he put in more effort than say Kone or Osman on the night.

In fact no one apart from McCarthy put more effort in.

He will come good ....

However, last night, I did think that he only worked occasionally, ie, it is as if a light suddenly comes on and he legs it around a bit, drawing fouls and nearly getting in.

For the other 75 minutes, he looked languid and at times disinterested – to be honest, I do not care how he looks, if he bangs them in.

At the same time, I do not think he really worked hard at all, not to close down their defenders, and I think it was the taller one (Cooper) had him under control quite comfortably.

Therein lies our problem. Lukaku is still only 22 remember, and he has the burden of scoring our goals so people need to get off his back.

Strikers often score goals in spells, and the kid will come good again.

Knock him all you like, but you'll be cheering again when he scores and then go back to slating him when he doesn't. Nature of the beast.

Tactics bordering on the Walter Smith with Lennon at RB. Funes Mori is also no LB. Looked atrocious there but solid when he switched to CB.

Kone holds the ball up well but doesn’t offer anything else. Lukaku had a night to forget. I could go on but the problem was Martinez tinkering too much.

If Man City can play full strength, then there should be no reason why we can’t. Hopefully a lesson learned.

Competent in the main but a couple of scary moments and one occasion when he could have caught the ball but crazily punched it straight to the edge of the box.

Still, a bit of proven competition would do him good. Also, Graham, I do think your last paragraph might be a little harsh.

Bristol City is in my top twenty favourite games watching Everton; it’s the first time I’ve ever left a game, genuinely feeling that our name was on the cup!

Remember coming home from Millwall, and Liverpool were two down at Luton, when we got on the train at Euston. By the time we were at Northampton they had won 5-3 and ended up winning the cup. I just pray the same thing happens to us after the way we turned it round at Barnsley.

I remember that Bristol City away game in 1995 well; you’re right, they murdered us and we scrapped through.

Paul Rideout’s dad was sat in front of us, so instead of the usual shouts of "Fuck Off, Rideout,you’re shite!" every time he lost the ball as usual, it was "Ohh unlucky, Paul!"

As you say, our name was on the Cup that year. Even getting back to the car to find a Parking Ticket on it – after me and a few other lads had moved a load of cones into someones garden so we could all park up – didn’t seem to matter!

Also, playing only one up top does make it really easy for two defenders to cover his short run or knocking it over the top. Kone has done a decent job on the right, but him and Naismith lack pace to get ahead of Rom which makes it easy to play against.

Against weaker sides I'd like to see us change Naismith's endeavour and Kone's strength, for the out and out pace of Deulofeu and Mirallas.

That all said, I'd have dropped him last night and vs WBA to have him chomping at the bit for the Derby.

He's a good player who scores goals, although has scruffy control and his aerial ability is poorish for his size, and makes him an easy target when the team could also be better.

I too hate the arrogant attitude some Blues have towards the League Cup. This club has hardly been a trophy machine over the last few decades. I’d love us to win this so-called Mickey Mouse Cup and end this 20-year drought.

I want us to win every game. I believe the Reading victory was a fine result because it was a win with something learned.

More people make take note and give a reassuring nod then.

Deulofeu whipped in some great crosses; he just needs to sort out his falling over every time a defender gets near him. I thought we were good value for the win.

Looking again though you have to say the keeper is at fault. He should be saving those but lucky for us he didn’t.

Can I have my job back please.

Told you so!