Martinez to make late decisions on Stones and Coleman

Especially when we now have an abundance of riches in defence!!

First Time in a couple years I am not bricking it about the derby, I just hope Martinez gets his tactics right. COYBB

If I had my wish, the derbies between us would be played behind closed doors and definitely no cameras. Yes I am paranoid about playing them, they have done more escapes in games than Houdini managed.

The whole of Goodison should unite and, no matter if we go a goal behind, cheer the boys in blue to an emphatic victory.

"If Stones picked the injury up at Swansea, why the hell was he selected for the Reading game?"

Seems fairly straightforward — the injury was picked up at Swansea, but wasn't bad at all. Playing against Reading aggravated what was believed to be a non-issue.

I wish Stones hadn't aggravated it, but hindsight is 20/20. I'm glad Martinez recognized (before Reading) the importance to the fan base and club's mentality of avoiding an early round exit from a Cup and he selected a relatively strong team. That Stones ended up getting hurt is unfortunate, but playing him wasn't imprudent.

I would have thought he'd have been well fit for Sunday's Merseyside derby. Coleman we have heard less about but likewise surely he must be near fully fit now?

Haven't we got the international break (yes, believe it or not, ANOTHER break) after the match on Sunday, so it will be interesting to see Martinez's stance on the selection of Stones and Coleman for the England and Ireland matches, has anyone heard any news on their possible selections?

I am now actually very confident in our defenders. They have tightened up considerably since last season, although I would still worry about Tim Howard.

We have all been here before. Everton playing well; Liverpool not playing great. Confidence high... and then our team freezes. Our managers cop out. We don't turn up.

It's time that we did turn up. Take Sturridge out of the game. Don't give Countyballs a kick. And keep an eye on Ings (cause he could be a threat).

Play a positive 4-4-2. Or 4-4-3. Boss the game from the start. And our defence will be fine. No more choking like in past derbies. We can win this by two or three goals. COYBs

I see Buck Rodgers trying to be funny, when he said "Everton have had a fantastic start, we've had a disaster, they're a point ahead of us." Arrogant prick, he forgot to mention his transfer record.

I think we will win because our defence is better, and please referee keep both eyes on Skrtel, I have never known anyone get away with as much holding and shirt pulling since Baresi of AC Milan!!!

Rodgers is a bum stain.

He is a deluded blurt with visions of this dynasty he thinks he's building but really all he's done is waste a shitload of money on shite players that are nowhere near worth what Voldemort paid for them.

Lets really put the wee Irish one on his arse on Sunday.

Voldemort, Voldemort, Brendan Rodgers Voldemort!!!

In any event, I believe very few players are 100% fit when selected as there are always areas of fitness that can be improved upon.

I really hope both he and Coleman are fit for Sunday.

I honestly think Naismith is a better player at home were the opposition set up a bit tighter and his movement between the lines can be useful. On the other hand, you can't deny Kone seems to bring the best out of Lukaku and is bagging goals himself so it's going to be a tough call for Martinez.

At a push my team would be a 4-4-2 of:-

Howard

Galloway
Jagielka
Stones
Coleman

Barkley
Barry
McCarthy
Deulofeu

Kone
Lukaku

COYB! FTRS!

Side note: Stones and particularly Coleman are so refreshing in this day and age. It's by no means all ability with these guys, though they both have it in spades.

Dedication, work-rate, fitness, humility, hunger, personality, toughness, pace, strength – the superlatives could go on and on.

I look at Porto and they get these kind of guys on young, succeed, sell on, rinse and recycle. Easily one of the best clubs in Europe and a model we should aim to replicate.

Even their present squad – Aboubakar cost about ١M and is on a par with Lukaku at least. Brahimi cost about ٣M and would improve each and every team and the supposed "best league in the world" particularly ours.

No chance of getting these guys now, but the next batch are out there. Only issue is dealing with 3rs parties, but there are ways round that – even if we have to fork out a million or two.

I digress – proud of our present squad, and laugh at the expensive RS flops.

Translation- they are too good a side (in Brenda's opinion) and should be at the top of the league coz they are Liverpool, and we are, well just a shite club who should be made up to be in the top 10.

What a deluded little gobshite, who will be out of a job this time next week.

Batter them and get him sacked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAaa5dSqfhs

We SHOULD beat them quite comfortably.

And that's the problem.

My phobia is all about controlling discipline as we usually have physical matches with lots of stupid bookings inter laced with red cards. This team of late is much more controlled in that way with Jags a shining example of keeping his cool. I am wary of Barry and the two kids in defence and I really hope that both Coleman and Stones are back fully fit. Liverpool are pacey and Sturridge really needs looking after along with Coutinho who is a player I would love in a Everton shirt.

If we can keep them in defence mode I will be really happy as they look to be leaky at the moment. Despite their poor start they do have good players and we must maintain full concentration throughout the game.

I reckon that we must score first !!!! COYB

In the run up to "these games", I listen to no-one, nor am I even microscopically interested in any opinion as to what the outcome will be. I am a man focussed as sharp as a laser beam solely upon being an unstoppable force to deliver my fullest effort to drive our Noble Blues on.

Anyone who does less than that is failing William Ralph, Alan & Big Nev. You have been warned, now bugger off and get your shit together!

The problem is for Liverpool is that they've allowed him to invest in a lot of players crucial to his style. It would be a huge admission of failure if they fired him now as they'd have a lot of players who wouldn't fit other more orthodox systems and would have to be sold at a loss.

Southampton must be laughing their arses off!

I'm feeling more confident than I have for a while, and that scares me. Come on blue boys.

Let's face it, footy fans are a fickle lot.and have every right to be, and if the derby result goes against us, we certainly won't be happy campers considering the tough games to come... so COYB.

WE are their fear factor.

Keep your powder dry. Breathe steadily. And wait until you can see the whites of their crossed Norwegian eyes.

This is the sperm of the devil we are playing, no matter how shite they are playing, or how well we are playing, very rare do we tear one off them, so forget all about form.

Let's just hope for once, we play the right tactics, lady luck does not shine on them, but I have a horrible feeling this Sunday.

I'll have some of that. COYB!

I know it's good to keep cards close to chest and all that, but I get fed up hearing players are "almost" ready every week and three months later we're still waiting... seems to happen quite a bit.

Best to ignore it all and I'll look at the team sheet an hour before kick off.

I will make a bold prediction (ahem) we will win on Sunday,psychologically this will then set us up to progress further than that lot, a possible 4th or 5th place finish and a cup final.

This could well end up similar to the 83-84 season... maybe I'm talking bollocks but I've got a bizarre positive feeling for the first time in many years.

Take the roof off on Sunday & let them 'av it!

Rodgers will undoubtedly set up his team to play defensive with the intent of not losing. Say what you like, such tactics have proved successful at Goodison in the past. Let's get our tactics right. In Martinez I trust... COYBs

I think it's natural for blues to think we should win but temper that with the usual dread. I would have thought most neutrals would be tipping us but the bookies seem to be calling it pretty even so my bias is probably showing up there too.

I always think we can win but I just have a feeling that they could fall apart if we get ahead early. We really owe them a battering.

Last season, he couldn't organise a fish supper. The season before, he was woeful in one of the derbies. He set up all wrong.

I am always optimistic that Everton can win football matches. You have to be. But Martinez has to get everything spot on. As do the players.

The 4-0 defeat (in our so-called good season) is still on my mind. We balderdashed that game. Here's praying that lessons have been well and truly learnt. In Everton I Trust. Always.

The trick now is that we don't fear them. We do not allow any RS player to make a name for themselves, at our expense. Our time has arrived.

Their season hasn't been that bad yet, and they're still well in touch, even if they're not right up the top of the league – they're only 1 point behind us (though that will be 4 come Sunday) and 5 off the top.

Being turned over by us ans then sacking him would look really bad, and saving face starts to come into it when firing a manager – after being beaten by your longest running rival and neighbouring team? Doubtful.

Anyway, I think we'll be all over them tomorrow and I'm going for a win.

"If Kone starts he will score".

I hope your latest prediction is right. If we do beat them, we as a football club will have overcome a huge psychological hurdle and anything could happen from there.

I can feel my nerves starting to jangle from 12,000 miles away.

I believe we have a better team, despite the millions more they have spent. I think we play better football. We are above them in the League. We have recently beaten the Champions – convincingly. We have had 6 days to prepare, they had a Europa League game on Thursday night. We are at home.

If I were a neutral player standing outside of the dressing rooms and had the choice of which dressing room I'd prefer to walk into, and shirt I like to run out in tomorrow, the answer would without a doubt be Everton.

We just need to be confident that we are the better team, remain disciplined and focus firmly on a win and I think we could beat them by a clear couple of goals, if not more.

This article demonstrates how James Milner is more effective in a similar role: http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/10/02/milner-vs-mccarthy-one-betters-the-other-in-six-key-areas/

McCarthy is a good player but I'm still sure he's capable of better and I think that's what we need if we are to have any aspirations of top 4 this season or over the next few years...

Do agree that McCarthy needs to step up, but his work rate for the team is fantastic. Everyone thinks we could get more out of McCarthy, so it's up to the player to bring more into his overall game, but it's going to be hard for the lad having watched the way he's been schooled by Martinez over the years.

That said, if we do get on top, McCarthy will be crucial, because there's nothing worse than playing against simplicity, when your chasing the game. His second half performance against Chelsea proved this, when he continuously made himself available and kept playing simple passes across the pitch, its invaluable to have when your team is winning.