Dynamo Kyiv vs Everton

A bit off topic, but Lyndon mentions MirallasÂ’ "dead leg". Over the years, IÂ’ve seen that injury term used a number of times. ItÂ’s not a term used over here in American sport.

So when a player is out with a "dead leg", what is the actual injury?

Doubt weÂ’ll keep a clean sheet so itÂ’s important that Gibson starts and hopefully Osman can play a part as theyÂ’re the only players we have who can play a decent pass forward. We need to keep it tight at the beginning so as to hopefully frustrate them and the home crowd.

IÂ’d be tempted to play 4321 to start with, with Barry, Gibson, McCarthy as the 3, Atsu and Osman as the 2 and Rom up top. Garbutt, Kone and Naismith available on the bench depending how things are going - can switch to 442 if needed.

Fingers crossed - hopefully this isnÂ’t the end of our season in mid March!

(Whilst playing up front in my younger days, CBs would sometimes try a cheeky knee in the thigh when the ref wasnÂ’t looking - if they connected you were no longer able to sprint around and itÂ’s not possible to run it off.)

to lose a player through an inexplicable sending off.
for a Dinamo Player to commit a pair of yellow/red card offences and remain on the pitch.
to be denied a blatant penalty.
to have a penalty awarded against us for no apparent reason.
to score a superb goal which will be ruled out for some non-existent trivial infringement.
to concede a goal which clearly should not be awarded because of a blatant handball/offside.

I donÂ’t say that all of the above will occur, just that I fully expect them all.
The games began with the pitch.

But bloody hell, I really want us to do the fuckinÂ’ business tonight !

This is our season defining moment in my opinion.
I believe we will not go down if we get six more points in the league which, given our fixture list shouldnÂ’t be that difficult really.

The league now means little, the only thing that can save our season and make it memorable for the right reasons is if weccontinue this European adventure to at least the quarters or semi final, or perhaps even dare to dream of winning it.

We need to score tonight.
What I donÂ’t want to see is us sitting back surrendering possession to Kiev because you just know the inevitable hard luck story will follow with us conceding a late goal and losing the tie due to away goals.

If we get the first goal then that will really plant doubt in the Dynamo Kiev players minds about their own ability to beat us.
We can hurt their defence if we play like we have in the last three halves of football, play like we did in the first half against Kiev or in the entire Stoke match then we will get smashed up and elimination will be deserved.

The loss of Mirallas is a big blow, a frustrating guy but nevertheless a match-winner, couple that with Aaron Lennon ineligible then our wide options are looking sparse.
I donÂ’t think McGeady or Atsu are really the reliable duo to play in such a high pressure hostile atmosphere but what else?

Lets just hope we do ourselves justice tonight and donÂ’t go out on a whimper or another hard luck story.

This is a chance to defy the bollox that has gone on all season, can these players for once do it when the real pressure and spotlight is on them?

Make it happen Blues.!!

ItÂ’s funny being a Blue, you always expect a "hoof in the plums." (TM EJ Ruane) Definitely builds character though, IÂ’m a miserable fecker after every game.

Then again neither did Hull

HereÂ’s the team IÂ’d pick (I think), except goalie but no point suggesting an alternative:

Howard
Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines
Gibson, McCarthy, Atsu
Barkley
Kone, Lukaku.

Really looking forward to watching tonight. Usually means it ends in tears but come on me, be positive for goodness sake.

The big worry is that weÂ’ll concede because weÂ’re generally good for letting in at least one goal in every game this season, while at the same time very dodgy going forward.

But first things first. Get through tonight. Keep it calm and disciplined with fast breaks to try and get that crucial away goal.

Tough lineup but:

Howard
Coleman Stones Jags Baines
Besic Barry McCarthy
Mcgeady Lukaku Naismith

Think Mcgeady has to be preferred over Atsu for his experience and work rate.

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Stones Baines
McCarthy Gibson
Naismith Barkley Atsu/McGeady
Lukaku

The Atsu/McGeady decision is really difficult - itÂ’ll be interesting to see what Martinez does. I think IÂ’m leaning towards Atsu simply for his international performances, but McGeady has European experience and can change games if he brings his A-game.

Recently, however, weÂ’ve only seen his F-game.

We need to score the first goal. Actually, scratch that, we need to score. I think the scenario IÂ’m dreading most is 0-0 with 10-20 minutes to go, as I donÂ’t think I could see us holding on to that scoreline. And if we do I wonÂ’t have any fingernails left.

IÂ’m not going to be able to concentrate on anything today... This is such a massive game.

COYB.

Nuff said!

ItÂ’s usually a trivial injury that lasts a few days and IÂ’ve seen a few people voicing suspicion that he could be out for a week with it but if the muscle gets smashed against the bone hard enough, it can take around 3 weeks to heal. It happened to me last year and I couldnÂ’t train on it for two weeks because of the extent that it affected my thigh/quad.

Having few options tonight on the right side of midfield itÂ’s McGeady tonight for me. His experience in the Russian league will be an advantage on the field. Atsu has not had many chancees to impress but I would not play him from the start in such an important game, maybe to come on for McGeady in the last 20 when no doubt he will tire having been out for quite a long spell.

Watching Barcelona last night, it was interesting how they have tweaked their passing game. I wouldnÂ’t say they have ditched their tiki taka style of play but itÂ’s clear they are more direct nowadays, an observation I hope has not gone unnoticed by RM.

I can see us soaking up quite a bit pressure tonight then trying to hit them on the break which has brought us a lot success in this competition but also important we try to keep the ball when in possession. For once I will be happy to our sideways backwards style of play while the minutes count down! My prediction 2-2

HeÂ’s energetic, pacey, keen to get his scoring and would keep their defenders occupied on both flanks.

McGeady, in a game like this, is surely not an option. But I would be happy to see Atsu given a chance. DonÂ’t think he has really had an opportunity to show what he can do yet.

IÂ’d like to see us play virtually the same team as Saturday - with the possible exception of Stones for Alcaraz (although the latter didnÂ’t do much wrong at the weekend).

But whoever plays, get at them Blues. Sitting back or packing midfield with defenders, is not the way to go into this tie. No Barry, McCarthy, Gibson axis. But Barry is RobertoÂ’s number one favourite, so not much hope of him not being re-instated?

And much as I love Nais for his guts and workrate, not him in midfield either please.

I love Barkley in Europe too, where he gets the chance to run at defenders as part of a marauding trio up front. We so need to show what weÂ’re capable of tonight, not try and sneak through by holding on to what weÂ’ve got.

So McCarthy, Gibson and for once in my life, Osman, across the middle for me tonight, with Ross, Kone and Lukakuuuuuuuu up front.

We showed at Goodison how good Kiev can be if we fanny around and allow them to dictate the pace. Equally, we showed how they can be beaten by taking the game to them and going direct.

Hope the same Everton that played the second half at Goodison that night kicks off this evening.

WeÂ’ll know the way this game is going to go within a few minutes of that happening. Hope the right team turns up and realises how winnable this tie/leg is. We CAN win this competition.

Having been to Lille, Wolfsburg and Bern, I want to end up in Warsaw after a couple more European adventures...

COYB! Make it happen.

Amen Brother Kieran

If they score first then expect our lack of creativity to once again be our undoing.

I think that the main consensus is that we need a goal (or maybe even two goals). I don't want to see Everton setting up to try and defend their 2-1 lead, because that won't work. I don't want to see Everton trying to pass the ball aimlessly about for 90 minutes, because, no matter what Martinez thinks, we do not have the players to do that. I want Everton to take the game to Dynamo Kyiv. I want Everton to set up with intent and to be attack minded. Try and put Kyiv on the back foot from the kick-off.

The team selection will show what Martinez's intent is. Should he approach this game with 2 or 3 defensive midfielders, then I think that we are in for a long night. Should he approach this game a bit positive, with maybe Osman and Gibson in the team, and go for the first goal, then this could be our night. Play 4-4-2. With Lukaku up front, partnered with either Kone or Naismith. Play players in their proper positions. And forget about wingers (for tonight).

Be positive. Get a lead. Play this game in their half. Make them worry about Everton. Not Everton worrying about them. Here's hoping that we give this match a proper go, and not regret anything afterwards. No hard luck stories, no leaving some of our game out on the pitch. I have faith. But only with the right approach.

Normally I would say for everyone to keep an eye on the QPR game. But not tonight. Let's field a strong and attack-minded team, and win this match. Nothing beats a good win, and a bit of confidence. The QPR game will take care of itself.

Sorry about my last comment, but the only man who can lose us this game tonight is Roberto Martinez. And ironically the one man who can win us this game is Roberto Martinez. Do you trust him to do the right things? Do you trust his philosophy? I'm not so sure. But I of course want Everton to win regardless. This could be a long night... FOREVER EVERTON.

I've had a dead leg, and it's brutally painful. You can't walk let alone play football. It's when your thigh muscle takes an almighty whack and the muscle gets severely bruised to the point where you simply can't use it. Can take a couple of weeks to heal sometimes.

Please boys ....please do this and banish the ghosts of Villarreal away and Fiorentina home. I'll be sat at my desk here in the US getting sod all work done. COYB!!!

I couldn't even deal with the Newcastle match on Sunday and disappeared until the end. Was viewing this one as "gravy".......but now I'm losing it all over again.

I don't think we are equipped to go for a 0-0 draw and I agree with Barry for us to have any chance of progressing we will have to score.

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Alcaraz Baines
McCarthy Barry
Naismith Barkley Atsu
Lukaku

Shame about Stones, but otherwise a strong team. My only change would be Gibson over Barry, but it's easy to forget how recently Gibson returned from months on the sidelines.

Getting so close now...

COYB.

Never one to disagree with you but I think for the most part we allowed the run around in large measure last game. Agreed they were up to the task when we *did* allow that, but once we changed the play after 30 mins it was really disappointing that we didn't score more goals and kill the tie off. They certainly looked a much more containable team once we started applying pressure of our own, which is how we must play tonight in my view.

We simply must score because then three is a big ask of any team (though 2-1 and penalties is not appealing either) but 1-0 to Kiev would be enough for them and I can certainly see that scenario playing out unfortunately.

Prepared to eat my words but I really don't think this guy learns from anything.

On another note it seems that Mirrallis will be out until after the internationals. Surely not another friendly match or is it the Euro qualifiers? I think it's a wise move to keep Alcaraz in.

Everton have just got to go for it all tonight just keep it tight in defence. Howard has got to stay alert and not make stupid mistakes like he has been doing. Everton have got to attack, attack, attack — don't just sit on the ball.

Alcaraz shouldn’t be in the 1st team he is gutless poor defending bloody shocking.

The dream is now over.