Stones “should be ready” to face Manchester United

I agree but have to say I’m not sorry about it. I wonder how many Man Utd games aren’t televised throughout the season? Must be very few. Must be because it’s us!

I’m a bit worried Rooney will not be the same after his warm reception from the Goodison faithfull, so I hope Stones is ready to return, as good as Funes Mori has been.

I think that to date we’ve probably been on TV more than anyone else.

The first goal against WBA was the fault of Howard by throwing the ball into a dangerous area. As was the red shite goal, by not coming for the cross into the 6-yard box.

Give Stones a bit longer... and Coleman if needed

Anyway, I can’t usually handle the pressure and cut out at half-time, record it, and watch later!! I’m sure this Saturday will be more of the same.

And I’m only 36... ten more years and I’ll probably drop dead screaming at us down 2-1 second half against the upstart, newly promoted Aldershot Town! How do you Scousers do it for an entire lifetime!?

Great news on Stones and Coleman. How many have we won at home versus the Red Devils now? Three straight I believe. That is the only reason that I am feeling a draw: 2-2.

Surely Mirallas should be back in the squad as well? He has been an important player against them in the past, let's not forget.

Mirallas has always done well against Man Utd, and surely he’ll feel like he has a point to prove to RM.

Galloway, outstanding as he is, doesn’t provide that width on a consistent basis. Therefore Martinez can afford to be a bit less conservative.

This has been a problem for quite some time now. The athletic Stones and McCarthy carefully guard the right and allow Coleman to venture forward but Jags and Barry tend to stay central. Without Distin and Pienaar, Baines couldn’t budge and all the subsequent left backs have landed in the same boat. Martinez is well aware of this.

Funes Mori made a difference but is still finding his feet and it was interesting to hear Mo Besic saying that he was being trained for the Number 6 role which has always been left midfield.

All-in-all, with the amount of money laid out we have decent quality on the pitch and on the bench. Howard splits opinions and I won’t bother going there. Martinez knows the situation and it’s up to him.

How we’ll do against Man Utd is anyone’s guess. I hope MotM is a toss up between Howard and Lukaku.

Second half, Barkley barnstormer 2-1. Then Funes Mori fouls Martial – red card. Funes Mori does a Materazzi and flips out. Howard then drops a few crosses, Man Utd hit cross bar. More boos.

Then quick break Kone to Rom 2-2. Few nervy minutes, couple of last ditch Jag tackles. Game over.

Martinez seems to have forgotten how we played against Southampton. If we are not up for United then I think fans are going to start turning pretty quickly against Martinez again.

I have not forgotten last season, and neither have the fans.

The hardest job RM will have come Saturday, will be picking a starting 11. It's a "problem" that we haven't had too often.

I really like the way things are shaping up!

But I don't get to go to games, so y'know....

Wise words. For sure, all EPL teams are aware of our weakness down the left and for me Martinez looked at Cleverley to fill this hole. When both boys are back to match fitness, I believe we will see Baines and Cleverley running the left side.

No question, Galloway has more than compensated for the loss of Baines, so much so, that he has probably put Garbutt into 3rd place for the LB slot.

When he’s passed the ball by the left full-back, he can naturally receive the ball on his stronger foot, and also pass to the left-back with his stronger foot.

Personally, I think given the way we play across the back from left to right and right to left, having left- or right-footed centre-halves is irrelevant.

Don’t get me wrong, Stones is world class but the new lad Funes Mori has slotted in incredibly well alongside Jags.

I totally agree with you – it’s not an issue. I don’t know why some people worry about it. It’s not like he’s getting to the byline and struggling to swing in crosses.

I think Harold is correct about Jagielka being better value on the right. Most right-footed defenders will not only trap and pass the ball with their right foot but will also tackle with their right foot.

In my view, a full-back’s primary role is to show the winger the touchline then tackle or block a cross. It is easier to tackle or block with your favoured foot. This is why Baines plays at left back.

When the full-back bombs forward, the centre-half’s job is to cover him therefore it is preferable for his favoured foot to be the same as the full-back's.

As Harold points out, Baines knew that in Distin he had someone who would cover his back adequately and perhaps why the Baines - Pienaar partnership was so successful.

This is, according to my understanding of the game, a "square pegs in square holes" issue. Left-footed players playing on the left flank bring balance to a team. That is why they are so highly sought after.

I could never understand why David Moyes played Lescott at left-back and Heitinga and Jagielka as centre-halves. I always thought we looked safer when Lescott played centre-half.

I will be interested to see what happens when John Stones is fully fit because he it would seem is an automatic choice and Martinez will be faced with, because of Funes Mori, a similar situation as Moyes was with the Heitinga, Jagielka, Lescott conundrum.

It is a good problem to have.

Assuming he is fit, Stones must return. He is one of our big players and an automatic choice. As Funes Mori will still be recovering from his long flight home, he will be on the bench at the most.

I doubt Deulofeu will start this one. Mirallas could start in one of the wide positions, preferably on the left, with Kone or Naismith to support Lukaku from the other side.

The return of Seamus will give us the additional dimension in attack we lacked against the RS.

I wonder with this will RM look to maybe sell Stones in the January window and use the £40 million to improve in other areas? Hopefully we wont sell Stones and just increase competition for places, because if we are serious about challenging for a top 4 place we will need Stones to stay.

@24: I like your thinking and think you are right. I have a feeling Mirallas might start this one on the left-hand side. Naismith won’t like it but he is better from the bench.

I agree with your points. Now, without using emotive terms like "we are / aren’t a selling club", we would all agree that every player has a price... Ronaldo, Suarez, HIbbert et al. Why, though, should we even be talking about sums in the region of £40 million for John Stones?

If Abramovich or his opposite number at Real Madrid, or wherever are serious then let’s take them to the cleaners. The lad is on a contract to play for us, but, if he expresses a desire to leave then slap a reserve price of at least £50 million on him.. let potential suitors get into an auction.

For once, let us turn the screw!

But I’ve read today that Martinez is gonna keep an eye on Funes Mori and is concerned about him after all the air miles he’s put in. Sorry, but if you was going to be worried about a player travelling so far to South America and wherever, why sign him? Why not go for a European player? Funnily enough, when Stones was injured, Martinez wasn’t worried about Funes Mori the last time he came back from international duty.

If you ask me, I think Martinez is looking for an excuse to throw Stones straight back in and to be fair most would as he’s a top player, but Funes Mori has played well and deserves to keep his place for now. There is no need to rush Stones back.

Over the next month, the squad is gonna start to look seriously healthy, especially if the players can stay fit! I really do hope Pienaar can stay fit for a sustained period when he does come back as he can add something to the team down our left. It looks like Martinez doesn’t want to use genuine width down the left and is using the likes of Kone, Naisy & Cleverley there. Don’t get me wrong, all three at certain times have done well there but if we’re not going to play someone like Mirallas or Deulofeu there, a genuine winger, then Pienaar as we know is the best player for that position and will improve our play in the final third further!

If Stones is fit, he plays.

You play your strongest team — it’s a simple as that.

John Stones will get better and that is a scary thought. We need Stones's athleticism in this one to take care of Martial while Jags looks after the prodigal son.

I would definitely start Mirallas in this one to give him a confidence boost and test his will to reestablish himself although I don’t think Martinez likes him as much as we do.

We need to go out guns blazing like Arsenal and not do our typical snails-pace first half and pick it up second half.

At least the crowd will be up for this one as Fortress Goodison starts to reestablish itself.

Let's see how the media react to that one (hopefully).

The same goes for Coleman; you have to play your best eleven. COYB

And Jay, you talk about this "love in" for Funes Mori and tbh, the lad as done well and shown some early promise but in the same sentence you say we need to put Stones in ahead of him but don't get the instant love in with Funes Mori and say we need to give him a run of games and then judge?! How's that possible then when you want him dropped for Stones?!

I'm not saying for one minute that Funes Mori is better than Stones, but whilst the lad as been out, Funes Mori as stepped up to the plate and looks more than capable and personally I'd be happy to see the lad continue until Stones is 100% right. If he is, then great, start him, but listening to Martinez in his presser yesterday, I'm not sure he is fit enough to start. So why not hold him back and start him midweek.

As for Coleman it's a different kettle of fish as he got 90 mins under his belt with Ireland through the week and came through with no issues so he should come in for Browning, even though he's done well.