Season › 2014-15 › News McCarthy is fit for the derby Lyndon Lloyd , 4 February, 89comments | Jump to most recent Reports of an injury setback were wrong UPDATED Roberto Martinez has denied reports that James McCarthy's hopes of making his first-team comeback in Saturday's Merseyside derby had been dashed based on false reports that he had suffered a setback in his recovery from a persistent hamstring problem. National media reports had claimed that the Irish international aggravated the troublesome muscle in training this week, likely setting back his return for another fortnight at least. However, it seems James McCarthy is in contention to make his return from injury against Liverpool after Roberto Martinez confirmed that the midfielder is set to be in the squad for Saturday's Merseyside derby."Reports surfaced overnight that the Republic of Ireland international had suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury but the Blues boss quashed those suggestions when speaking at his pre-match media conference on Thursday morning."McCarthy hasn't played for Everton since the game against Newcastle United at St James's Park at the end of January."Martinez said: 'He [McCarthy] was in hospital yesterday having a scan to make sure he is fully recovered. The scans have shown that he is perfectly healed and now it is about adapting him to the match intensity. "I expect James to be in the squad for the weekend so it is terrific news in that respect." The 24 year-old hasn't featured for Everton since being withdrawn at half time of the defeat at Newcastle at the end of last year. It was the latest disruption to a season that has been wrecked so far by a succession of hamstring issues that he appears still unable to shake. Roberto Martinez expressed his confidence last month that the club's medical staff had got to the bottom of McCarthy's problem and had declared him fully fit during the team's recent warm-weather camp in Qatar. He did not travel with the squad to Selhurst Park for last weekend's win over Crystal Palace, however, casting doubt on his readiness after five weeks on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Martinez provided an update on the condition of Tim Howard who has now resumed training but is about a week away from being fully ready to return. The American tore a calf muscle in late December and has been sidelined with the injury since but has been deputised impressively by Joel Robles. Reader Comments (89) 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 Oliver Molloy 1 Posted 05/02/2015 at 00:05:50 Well Lyndon, we all know by now that whatever our manager says we take with a pinch of salt! It is bad news and of course questions need to be asked what is going on with McCarthy. Lyndon Lloyd 2 Posted 05/02/2015 at 00:17:10 I think a visit to Dr Muller-Wohlfahrt with his cockrel crest extract and calves blood is in order for Mr McCarthy! It seemed to work for Mirallas a couple of years back. Tony Hill 3 Posted 05/02/2015 at 00:25:21 Very worrying, this has been predictable. If he has to be out for the rest of the season so be it, if it means he gets properly fit. Too good and too important to take risks. But he’s been a major loss. Andy Crooks 4 Posted 05/02/2015 at 00:31:03 No doubt Roberto will give us some positive spin on this one. Every coach gets his media stuff wrong sometimes. Roberto never seems to get it right. Len Hawkins 5 Posted 05/02/2015 at 00:36:36 Lyndon #2 Can Everton not afford some bushman to chew a few leaves and spit the resulting saliva over the players to end this constant hamstring problem? We are the 20th richest club in the world after all. Tony Draper 6 Posted 05/02/2015 at 00:48:25 Len @ #5Does seem that some form of "Voodoo" or "JuJu" is needed to end this very unprofessional seeming preponderance of "hamstringitis" affecting our first team players.We’re not alone in this, but it really does beg the question, "What the fuck are all these sports science wankers getting paid for?" Bloody hamstrings pop like cheap guitar strings then are fragile for (what seems like) a season or more. Lee Mandaracas 7 Posted 05/02/2015 at 00:53:32 That’s the slimmest of slim chances of getting something out of the derby this Saturday utterly screwed then. Pffft! Phil Sammon 8 Posted 05/02/2015 at 01:41:53 An explosive player like Aaron Lennon must be mad to join us. I can only imagine what his hamstrings are going to be like after a week at Everton. I wouldn’t be surprised if his legs are blown clean off. RM: "It was a phenomenal moment in Aaron’s career. His legs left Finch Farm at an incredible speed. We need to be patient. At 27 Aaron is still young. Bio-mechanical surgeons estimate we should see the best of Aaron in January 2087. It’s a very exciting time for this football club." Jackie Barry 9 Posted 05/02/2015 at 04:26:10 Has this actually been confirmed yet? Everything I have read says he could be out. James Marshall 10 Posted 05/02/2015 at 05:53:44 Do we really get more hamstring injuries than anyone else? Is there any substance to this claim? I’ll wager it’s merely a supporters-eye-view stained by personal feeling toward the club and that we don’t get any more or less than anyone else.I can think of Macca, Mirallas and Jagielka having hamstring problems this year, and Jags was back pretty quickly. Am I missing something? Have you ever popped your hamstring by the way? It can take a very long time to heal - it’s a complicated process. Matt Traynor 11 Posted 05/02/2015 at 05:58:21 Len #5 "We are the 20th richest club in the world after all."Where did it say that? I know we were 20th in terms of revenue (enjoy it while it lasts), but that has sweet FA to do with cash in the bank. Dick Fearon 12 Posted 05/02/2015 at 05:55:22 Len @ 5, He could soak his feet in a pot of piss, it didn’t work for Alex Young but if it were Roberto piss the result could be incredibly fantastic. I know the difference between blistered feet and hammys yet the thought James paddling in Roberto’s piss helps to divert my thoughts from imminent disaster. Neil Pickering 13 Posted 05/02/2015 at 06:32:47 No. This cant be true! Roberto was only saying last week that he was fully fit and was going to play an important part this season, and as we know our manager rarely gets it wrong? God I wish our prick of a manager would just shut the fuck up. He’s embarrasing. Jimmy Salt 14 Posted 05/02/2015 at 07:08:48 I’m sure there is a more eloquent way to put this but, FFS. Brian Hill 15 Posted 05/02/2015 at 07:00:13 Dick@12, your urinary insights remind me of a, probably apocryphal, story concerning Meat Loaf. He apparently lost his voice whilst recording the follow-up to ’Bat Out Of Hell’, and, eventually, in desperation, followed the advice of an ’alternative’ doctor and injected his own urine into himself. Did it work? Have you heard ’Dead Ringer’?Anyway, our DM choices are Barry, Besic and McCarthy. If one is injured then two out of three ain’t bad...sorry Terence Leong 16 Posted 05/02/2015 at 07:29:12 In this case, it’ll be Barry & Besic in the middle then. Unless Martinez is pulling a fast one, and then have McCarthy start at the weekend. David Ellis 17 Posted 05/02/2015 at 07:34:10 Brian Hill #15 - apology accepted...oh deary deary me. Although of course there is the fit and ready Gibson! Kieran Fitzgerald 18 Posted 05/02/2015 at 07:29:02 Phil @ 8, Bio-mechanical surgeons? Dick @ 12, homeopatic alternaitve remedies? What have you two been smoking? This is Everton lads.We would hire some bloke out of the yellow pages. He would pull up outside Goodison in a twenty year old Ford Transit that is being held together by rust and duct tape. He would open the back door and all the tools of his trade would be in a biscuit tin his mam got in for Christmas in 1970. The sole contents of said bin would be three small spanners, a nail hammer, three-in-one oil and an out of date bottle of turtle waxThe guy would muddle about for an hour, chat up the tea lady, rub some turtle wax into Lennon’s legs, explain that he would have to order more parts in and then charge us 10 grand. You can forget about a VAT number and all. How long have you all been on ToffeeWeb? You all should know better. Colin Glassar 19 Posted 05/02/2015 at 08:15:30 As soon as he was pulled out of the squad against Palace I knew something was rotten in Denmark. Two weeks out they say? It could be a smokescreen or, more likely, heÂll be back in March at the earliest. Sam Hoare 20 Posted 05/02/2015 at 08:33:28 So itÂs gonna be Sturridge, Sterling and Coutinho skinning Barry all day... fun. Jim Bennings 21 Posted 05/02/2015 at 08:39:40 Slightly worrying but I donÂt think we will see that much more of McCarthy the rest of this season, itÂs no use forcing game time out of him as that will lead to yet more setbacks.I think the warning signs were there when we were told he would make the Palace game yet failed to make even the bench. I still reiterate what I said a week ago, we are two or three more injuries away from a crisis.IÂm chuffed with Lennon coming in but if I was Roberto, IÂd have been thinking of at least three new signings just to cover for these injuries or suspensions. Are Barry and Besic not both close to a ban also? Eddie Dunn 22 Posted 05/02/2015 at 08:55:42 I wonder if an answer to the hammy problems could lie in the material/construction of the training pitches at Finch Farm. Do they have this artificial mix, what is it and are we different to other clubs? Colin Glassar 24 Posted 05/02/2015 at 09:00:22 ItÂs all a bit beside the point isnÂt it? This derby, according to Sky and the media, is all about captain creasehead and his farewell tour. We could lose half our team between now and Saturday but that wouldnÂt get a mention only captain fairy tale and his media blitz. Andrew Laird 25 Posted 05/02/2015 at 09:16:37 Positive: At least Besic will retain his place if this is true.Negative: Darron "treatment table from ikea" Gibson might be in the squad. Len Hawkins 27 Posted 05/02/2015 at 09:19:34 Colin, you are right if Isis were rampaging through London and raping members of the Royal Family the redneck bar brawler would be first on the news to confirm he has had his house painted in a colour he invented after seeing the contents of a boozers stomach on the pavement outside a West Derby boozer. Ian Brandes 28 Posted 05/02/2015 at 09:19:04 Absolutely spot on,Colin. I exploded with rage when I watched the Sky advert for the match. It was like Liverpool vs Liverpool.Nevertheless we still have a fighting chance . Crease head and most of their team were rubbish last night.If our players motivate themselves (given up on Bobby), we can do this. Shame our season makes this one match so important though.Just hope we donÂt have Redknapp as our new manager next week! Derek Knox 29 Posted 05/02/2015 at 09:35:45 Lyndon @2DoesnÂt Aaron Lennon count as Cockerel Crest Extract? :-) Phil Sammon 30 Posted 05/02/2015 at 09:46:26 Well there you go...heÂs not had an injury setback after all. AllÂs well that ends well. Charlie Gibson 31 Posted 05/02/2015 at 09:50:40 False alarm, it seems. OS this morning: "James McCarthy is in contention to make his return from injury against Liverpool after Roberto Martinez confirmed that the midfielder is set to be in the squad for SaturdayÂs Merseyside derby."Reports surfaced overnight that the Republic of Ireland international had suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury but the Blues boss quashed those suggestions when speaking at his pre-match media conference on Thursday morning."McCarthy hasnÂt played for Everton since the game against Newcastle United at St JamesÂs Park at the end of January."Martinez said: ÂHe [McCarthy] was in hospital yesterday having a scan to make sure he is fully recovered. The scans have shown that he is perfectly healed and now it is about adapting him to the match intensity. "I expect James to be in the squad for the weekend so it is terrific news in that respect." David Ellis 32 Posted 05/02/2015 at 09:57:15 No wonder no one buys newspapers anymore! Tony Hill 33 Posted 05/02/2015 at 10:03:39 God knows, anything could happen. Andrew Clare 34 Posted 05/02/2015 at 10:11:44 The problem now is that Besic will probably be dropped to accommodate McCarthy and Besic has been our best player in recent matches. Paul Burns 36 Posted 05/02/2015 at 10:11:31 We should show our players the two footed assault carried out by the coward Gerard on Gary NaysmithÂs ribs and insist that retribution is taken given any chance.Everton continually find new ways plumb the depths of gullibility and a Hillsborough memorial at OUR ground for fans of a club who have damaged OUR club beyond belief is another kick in the ribs. Why donÂt we play in red "out of respect"?My own Grandfather died after a match at Goodison and has no memorial there yet there erecting ANOTHER one to our worst enemies. Sickening. Nick Page 37 Posted 05/02/2015 at 10:20:55 "The problem now "...Lol! Talk about pessimism for the sake of it. As long as that crying faced prick isnÂt granted his media wish I donÂt care who plays. if we end up with 8 men and break a few of their fucking legs, even better. Andrew Ellams 38 Posted 05/02/2015 at 10:38:59 Does anybody really believe we get a single decision from the ref on Saturday? As Colin says above, itÂs all about one odious, cheating, diving, cowardly piece of redshite. James Kirrane 39 Posted 05/02/2015 at 10:43:28 According to the official site, McCarthy is fit and will be included in the squad for Saturday. His visit to the hospital confirmed that his hamstring injury was fully recovered. Murdo Laing 40 Posted 05/02/2015 at 10:57:30 Phil#8.I pissed meself laughing at that one. There is definitely something not right about the training regime with so many hammys going "twang".I did feel for Mirallas pulling up at Anfield with his own particular brand of hammy problem, he was just starting to cause them problems as well. Ah well, if Macca isnÂt fit then itÂs just another setback in a season of setbacks. I would have played Besic regardless, and had him man marking Sturridge. As for Lennon, if he can just succeed in getting past his man twice in a game and whip crosses in for the big man that will be an improvement upon what weÂve seen so far this season as regards traditional wing play. COYB KAG Nigel Gregson 41 Posted 05/02/2015 at 10:47:16 I love the spirit Nick. Haha COYB !! Brent Stephens 42 Posted 05/02/2015 at 11:58:30 Agghh! Roller-coaster supporter-poster emotions! HeÂs fit, he ainÂt fit, heÂs fit. DonÂt do this to me! Dick Fearon 43 Posted 05/02/2015 at 12:15:05 Not wanting to blow my own trumpet but was it due only to my suggestion that McCarthy paddle in Robertos piss that brought about his phenominal recovery. Andrew Clare 44 Posted 05/02/2015 at 12:26:36 Nick #37,So we havenÂt got any problems then? EverythingÂs great?What are you talking about?I see plently of problems. Too many to list in fact. Simon Jones 45 Posted 05/02/2015 at 12:34:36 Just heard Martinez on 5Live say that he was only in the hospital for a scan and he will be in the squad on Saturday. Christopher Dover 46 Posted 05/02/2015 at 12:47:13 Would think he will be on bench to start, coming on later so as not to try for a full 90 minutes.Makes sense as he has been out a while and better to ease him back. Kevin Tully 47 Posted 05/02/2015 at 12:50:27 As well as ruining players hammyÂs, Martinez has made another huge cock-up of epic proportions. I couldnÂt believe this when I read it, canÂt the fool do anything right??http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2940815/Everton-boss-Roberto-Martinez-blames-photographer-Aaron-Lennon-looking-miserable.html Denis Richardson 48 Posted 05/02/2015 at 12:27:31 So heÂs fit but weÂre Âadapting him to the match intensityÂ? Why canÂt Roberto just speak normal English. FootballÂs a simple sport not a science lesson!So basically in normal lingo heÂs healed but not match fit - which means heÂll at best be on the bench come the weekend. Unless this is all mind games and heÂs actually not ready at all.Either way its Barry and Besic to start. So as usual the only question re team selection is whoÂll be the 2 AMs playing next to Mirallas, the remaining 9 players are a given.Next. Adam Luszniak 49 Posted 05/02/2015 at 12:53:22 Kevin Martinez made a joke of saying it was the photographerÂs fault in his press conference today. How is that another huge cock up? Also said that Mcarthy is fine and was only in hospital for a scan, which proved his muscle has totally healed. Brent Stephens 50 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:01:20 Roberto "It has been great to see the way Aaron has adjusted"!At least we wonÂt have to wait until some future date for us to "see the best of him". Brent Stephens 51 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:06:46 ...IÂm slowly grasping RobertoÂs subtle wit. Jon Withey 52 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:06:49 Sense of humour failures all over the shop.LennonÂs face is funny, but really does not matter. Eivind Nyhus 53 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:10:44 Martinez said in todayÂs presser that McCarthy is healthy and ready for the derby. Phil Walling 54 Posted 05/02/2015 at 12:50:29 More a case of wallowing in a bath full of Martinez bullshit than drinking his own urine, Dick. Supposed to be incredibly good for hamstrings! Jackie Barry 55 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:20:36 Blimey some of you need to freshen up. Kevin Tully 56 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:25:13 If Martinez canÂt get new signings to smile, or whistle a nice ditty in the tunnel before a game - he simply has to go. Eddie Tully 57 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:23:29 Some right miserable bastards on here!This video will shock you, guaranteed.https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=662098823900562 Bill Gall 58 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:51:36 On another note, Mr Martinez saying that we have better balance in the team with Lennon. Pity our commercial side of the club are not on the ball and maybe we might have helped him with New Balance. Dave Lynch 59 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:47:14 I personally wouldnÂt risk him in such a high intensity game.He will either be off the pace and a liability or will tweak it again and be out for the rest of the season.Midfield for me would be Besic, Oviedo, Barkley and Barry. Daniel A Johnson 60 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:57:38 To be honest leave him out.He wont be match fit anyway.Stick Besic on Gerrard. Barry McNally 61 Posted 05/02/2015 at 14:08:19 Roberto Martinez on the imminent return of keeper Tim Howard: "Tim is back in training. He feels strong and ready but the medical advice is to give him another week to make sure he is fully healed. "We wonÂt take any risks. But it is incredible how quickly he has recovered and how well he has done in training."Martinez also says Leon Osman is Âmaking good progress after his injury.http://www.bbc.com/sport/live/30994927 Dave Abrahams 62 Posted 05/02/2015 at 14:05:23 Martinez said Howard will be ready next week. Tim can rest himself for as long as he wants as far as I m concerned. Barry McNally 63 Posted 05/02/2015 at 14:13:50 Martinez on Lennon: "Will he start the derby? We have to be careful and make sure he knows the way the team plays." Every dog on the street knows the way the team plays! Sam Hoare 64 Posted 05/02/2015 at 14:30:43 Really hope that Howard does not walk back into goal. Robles has done well in his absence and itÂs not Tim has been on fire this season anyway... Brian Hill 65 Posted 05/02/2015 at 14:20:33 Barry@63, unfortunately it often appears that the team doesnÂt know how the team plays!! Andrew Laird 66 Posted 05/02/2015 at 14:35:01 A great result for all the "half full" brigade.Positive: Besic retains starting placePositive: McCarthy in squad instead of Darron "geriatric knees" Gibson. Tony Draper 69 Posted 05/02/2015 at 14:42:51 So let me get this straight.......Lennon is going to be rubbish because he wasnÂt laughing his cock off in the pictures.Martinez is rubbish because the photographer should have tickled LennonÂs balls with a feather for the "laughing my cock off" look.Everton are rubbish because McCarthy went to hospital for confirmation that his injury is fully healed.Tim Howard is rubbish because he is progressing well from his injury and may (or may not) be available earlier (or on time or indeed later) than the original estimates.Barry will be rubbish because McCarthy wonÂt be available (even if he is available).And finally.Martinez is rubbish because he has confused a handful of ToffeeWebbers with apparently contradictory statements regarding the squad fitness/availability ahead of a home derby match.Clearly these "cheeky tactics" have never ever been deployed by an Everton (or LFC or any other club) manager in the run up to a derby match before. What really needs to happen here is for RM to invite a number of LFC representatives (of their own choosing) in to GP & FF for a week (or longer if theyÂd prefer) and grant them free access to all coaching, treatment, and tactical discussions and then upon their recommendations do precisely what they request regards training, recuperation, team selection and tactics for the forthcoming "DJ Slippy G" memorial derby match in what is his final year on earth and also the year that their name is on the FA Cup, the EPL, the World Cup, the AmericaÂs Cup, the Grand National Winner and the deep space probe leaving the fucking solar system. Breandan Clarke 70 Posted 05/02/2015 at 15:27:05 Great comment Tony alot on here will spin anything it seems to suit their own narrative. On a side note anyone see Dortmund get beat again? Klopp had this to stay: "ThereÂs no doubt that nerves play a part in our situation. We need to bring them under control. We can be accused of anything tonight and it is all justified, but we wonÂt give up. We keep going. We had some good ideas but they were not enough. We have to be much more clinical in front of goal. "We lack confidence there, and we have to work on it. We have to give the lads their confidence back. We create chances, and we see improvement, but the result is always the same. IÂm very disappointed. We knew itÂs not going to be easy. I can understand the fans frustrations."I think there is alot of correlation with our own season and DortmundÂs. ItÂs refreshing to see Klopp say what he means in contrast to the Martinez positive spin. But if Martinez stopped being positive I bet many on here would give off about his negativity. CanÂt please everyone. Christopher Dover 71 Posted 05/02/2015 at 15:39:42 Dont hold back Tony-- Say what you think !! Nick Page 72 Posted 05/02/2015 at 15:40:00 Definitely dem luvable kopite tactics, Tony. Like the comedy Tesco bags. Oh, how we laughed.... Mark Andersson 73 Posted 05/02/2015 at 15:21:32 Tony 74, thanks for the reminder of a sense of perspective and humour. Looks like the derby is already a loss. The fear factor and pessimism of most is justified to those who believe in the negative. We could win if the team believe they can and if the supporters do so too. Make no mistake about the power of suggestion. They come to the old lady every year knowing that we fear them. itÂs time to turn the tables and start to believe that we can and will put those smug bastards in their place. Fergie had no fear and instilled it into his side. Knocked them of their high and mighty perch. Now itÂs time for us Evertonians to believe, no matter who the manager is. Get behind the team show them you believe and inspire them to a victory. Jimmy Salt 76 Posted 05/02/2015 at 16:10:24 Daniel@60. Gerard will be too deep for Besic to mark him. Thomas Surgenor 77 Posted 05/02/2015 at 16:31:36 Was Aaron Lennon looking 'miserable'? or 'serious' and 'determined'?Like he knew that he had to get down to business striaght away.I'd be furious if a player was pictured laughing and joking with the predicament we are in. I'm more than happy to see that at least someone is ready to roll up there sleeves and graft our way back up the table.PS: Does anyone know if the Dortmund fans have turned on Klopp this season? I still believe in Martinez and believe he is our best option available. Phil Smith 78 Posted 05/02/2015 at 17:47:54 A lot has been said of Lennon but if anyone has seen him in interviews before he ALWAYS has the same expression, which is why he almost never appears on TV. He's pretty emotionless. He'll be beaming if he sets up the winner on Saturday. Let it lie. Paul Tran 79 Posted 05/02/2015 at 18:20:12 So what we've found out in the last couple of days is that Lennon doesn't smile on demand, Martinez cracked a joke about it with the media, a newspaper report about McCarthy turned out to be bollocks and Mirallas wants to sit on the bench of a club that plays in the Champions League. Yet more reasons to dislike Martinez or another desperate attempt to mangle fiction into fact? You decide. . Phil Walling 80 Posted 05/02/2015 at 18:57:34 Just taken 48/20 against Blues triumphing on Saturday. Think that's the best odds for a home derby I've had for some years !Of academic interest only, Reds at 5/4 and draw 9/4. Paul Tran 81 Posted 05/02/2015 at 19:03:52 Who's that with Phil? Tempting. Wayne Smyth 82 Posted 05/02/2015 at 19:20:03 Neil (#13)"God I wish our prick of a manager would just shut the fuck up. He's embarrasing."Not as embarrassing as some of the posters here now look... Andy Crooks 83 Posted 05/02/2015 at 19:31:13 Tony, you're right. Martinez has us Evertonians and the kopites fooled with his mind games. It has worked a treat all season and never once has he looked like a complete and utter out of his depth fool. Tony Rutherford 84 Posted 05/02/2015 at 19:43:50 Just seen RS new shirt deal 𧷤mill......what have we got. To do to get a decent sponsorship deal...that will help us compete....! Discuss! Colin Glassar 85 Posted 05/02/2015 at 19:47:30 Tony, get Chang to pay us an extra ten grand a year for our mega shirt deal? I’m sure elstone is scratching his tiny head as we speak. Darren Hind 86 Posted 05/02/2015 at 19:48:15 48/20 ? ? ?Is that a less than subtle attempt to make 12/5 appear bigger Mike Jones 87 Posted 05/02/2015 at 21:10:33 Mark #73 - well saidTony #84 - the RS aren't competing Brian Hennessy 89 Posted 05/02/2015 at 21:31:04 I see the Guardian has published it's "combined Everton & Liverpool Eleven" ahead of this weekend.A grand total of 3 Everton players make their line-up.Baines(at left back), Stones (at right back) and Mirallas right midfield.http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/05/liverpool-Everton-derby-combined-eleven Mike Childs 90 Posted 05/02/2015 at 21:46:37 Maybe it's the Christian upbringing but I have HOPE for Saturday. It just feels like the planets are aligned. I still think Jimmy Mac ain't playing. Our (choose your adjective) manager has proven over both years he plays it fast and loose with "fitness" as far as injuries players coming back.I believe the game he wore the brace and made the fifty yard sprint to make a saving block inside the 6 yard was the start of a serious problem only agrivated by the match and first half early rush back. Phil Walling 91 Posted 05/02/2015 at 23:33:47 Hey, Darren, you are good at sums! The actual bet was 㿀 on Everton at 12/5 with Corral. With only half-a-dozen wins this season, I'm over 𧵘 down so far. Never happened in Moyes's reign! Darren Hind 92 Posted 06/02/2015 at 06:39:11 I try to avoid backing us in most games Phil – I'm a jinx – but just to prove I'm as big a mug as the next punter, I had more than one nibble at 13/2, 7's + 8's for CL qualification.I've pulled Baines out of the sweep to score first, so I may have to back that up tomorrow – Penalty early doors?At least under TGT I knew Baines would definitely take it. Chris James 93 Posted 06/02/2015 at 08:42:39 To be fair Brian, the piece in the Guardian does suggest it's about 'form' and if you can make a case for any of our players in form, I'd love to here it. Likely to be the style rather than the players, but we've been largely abject since Xmas. Tony Abrahams 94 Posted 06/02/2015 at 10:00:24 Darren, leave it alone mate. I was thinking we are due a penalty off this Anthony Taylor, who many have assumed is a closet Kopite. He says he supports Altringham, but is more likely a Man Utd fan. The bastard has never given us nothing good, but might have been waiting for tomorrow?It would be a pressure penalty alright but I promise you, if the jinx leaves it alone, and we score, I will give you half of my winnings.I will have a score on Baines anytime, but I will have to get someone else to put the bet on, because I'm as bad as you and Phil! Will Firstbrook 95 Posted 06/02/2015 at 14:05:13 I have no issue with everyone and their dog picking us as the underdog in this match. Guaranteed we would cock it up as favorites (or evens!).If there is any pride and fight left in this squad, then surely it must come out in this match?? Agreed no way McCarthy starts in this one. Too soon. The pace will be blistering to start with full-blooded tackles to set the tone (as is usually the case in these) and I would seriously doubt RM would risk him.Gotta think Besic will be frothing at the mouth for this one. Hopefully he keeps his head on as I would really despair if we're only left with Barry in CM (unless, of course, he get's his walking papers before!)COYB!! Tom Bowers 96 Posted 06/02/2015 at 14:35:53 Sounds like he won't be starting if he was having scans yesterday. Would have been great to have him fully fit and ready to go but who knows what head games RM is playing if any?With Barry and Gibson not available and Besic playing his first derby, the Blues might be a bit vulnerable where it really matters. God knows they could do with a few lucky breaks like the Redshite often get. Thomas Surgenor 97 Posted 06/02/2015 at 16:30:07 Tom #96.Besic isn't playing his first derby, he was in the starting 11 earlier in the season. 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