Everton to face Boro in Capital One Cup 5th Round

, 28 October, 95comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton have been handed a quarter final tie at Middlesbrough in the League Cup in this evening's draw.

Like the Blues, the Championship side prevailed in a penalty shootout in their fourth round match, beating Manchester United 3-1 from spot at Old Trafford after the scores finished 0-0.

Full draw:
Middlesbrough vs Everton
Southampton vs Liverpool
Stoke vs Sheffield Wednesday
Manchester City vs Hull City

Ties will be played the week commencing 30th November.  



Reader Comments (95)

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Matthew Salem
1 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:42:06
I'll take it. Boro are a great team, but better than play the shite or Citeh
Karl Jones
2 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:42:32
Good draw... Better away than at home too.
Tony Hill
3 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:43:30
Good one for us. I remember us getting a late draw at the old Ayresome Park in the FA Cup. I fancy us to get through.
Tony Marsh
4 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:44:16
Ah well nice while it lasted. Bad draw for us. We needed Hull at home to progress any further. Give the cup to Man City now and and have done with it.
Brent Stephens
5 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:45:46
Premier League club against Championship. Come on, FFS.
Dick Brady
6 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:48:52
Full strength team, Roberto. Don’t make changes. Play the best team available or else they will beat us.
Lyndon Lloyd
7 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:51:23
That’s the spirit, Tony. FFS...

It’s not a bad draw all things considered. Certainly better than a trip to Old Trafford, the Etihad or Anfield, if you ask me. One step at a time but, yes, we have to play a full-strength side and do ourselves justice.

Dave Pritchard
8 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:51:24
Not too bad. Remember the FA Cup (quarter final?) when Walter was in charge though.
Peter McHugh
9 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:51:33
The teams left in apart from City are pants (including us). Surely we’ve got to put full strength teams out now and if anything rest players for the league fixture before we play.

If we can avoid City in semis that will probably mean Europe if we assume they will get to the final. That means 2 more games to into Europe and more importantly have a chance of a trophy.

Jim Burns
10 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:51:54
Definitely fancy this one - smacks of our invasion of Sunderland a few seasons ago for a midweek FA Cup tie – brilliant atmosphere and result that night.

This will be the same – stronger support away from home and the players don’t seem to be as tightly wound as they are at Goodison .

If we come out on the front foot, we will be through. Come on, the Saints.

Conor Skelly
11 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:52:08
I was there the last time we played them in a Quarterfinal at their place but that was a team with Bocsic and Jouninio. It’s a tricky tie but it should be more like the more recent Quarterfinal we played up in the North East.
Gerry Quinn
12 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:52:20
Agree with Karl about playing away - we have a dreadful home record for the last year!
Andy Finigan
13 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:52:23
Which goalkeeper then, Dick?

John Raftery
14 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:52:27
Yes, it could have been worse but we'll be up for it. We'll need to be because Borough will fancy it. This will not be a game to mess around with the team selection. It would be good if the club could lay on free travel for this one.
Garry Corgan
15 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:54:47
@9 Peter - Sorry to piss on your parade but losing finalists in the cup competitions no longer qualify for Europe under any circumstances. The places go to the Premier League if the winner has already qualified via their own league position.

I'm not sure the losing League Cup finalists ever did qualify for Europe, did they?

Danny Broderick
16 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:55:07
The players are up for it. Look at their reaction to winning last night. We just need to do a professional job here, and hope for a good draw in the semi. A day out at Wembley and European football is within sight, as long as we don't fuck it up and as long as we avoid City!
Jim Burns
17 Posted 28/10/2015 at 22:57:12
Brent @ 5 - not sure Leicester, Man Utd or Arsenal would understand your point!
Andy Crooks
18 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:00:09
#4... where is the old passionate Tony Marsh? Tony I’ve liked your stuff for years and you are better than that negative nonsense. I don’t care much for our coach but we have the players to win this cup.
Conor Skelly
19 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:00:31
Does anybody know the dates roughly when the semis are played. Imagine knowing we are going to a final and having the transfer window still open. I think we'd see a big signing.
Lyndon Lloyd
20 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:02:10
The two SF legs are scheduled for the week of the 4th and the week of 25th of January, Conor.

For the uber-optimistic, the final is the 28th of February.

Ste Traverse
21 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:03:48
We’ve come up against the ’smoggies’ a number of times in cup comps over the years, and have come out on top more often than not.

I remember the marathon against them in 1988, Big Norm scoring a late winner against them in front of a delirious Street End in 1990, Back-of-the-echo netting up there during a win in the League Cup in the same game Big Dunc famously kissed a fan after scoring and knocking them out of the FA Cup at Goodison in 2009.

They have done us twice: League Cup in 2003 on pens and in Walter Smith’s last game the year before... but, considering we could have got Man City, getting them isn’t the end of the world.

John Keating
22 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:03:54
Dick (#6) and Lyndon (#7). What is the full strength team you would play? Would it include the goalie who has got us this far or Roberto's No 1?

We should always play our best team but the goalie might cause an issue.
Christy Ring
23 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:03:54
It could have been worse, play our strongest team, and that means Robles in goal Bob, and looking good for last four.
Jamie Barlow
24 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:04:12
Tough place to go Boro but I agree with Karl. It could be better that we're away.

Tony Ashcroft
25 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:04:58
Hard draw. Could have been worse, but at least we will have Robles in between the sticks!
Matthew Salem
27 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:09:18
Assuming we get past Boro, away goals do not factor in the semi-finals, correct?
Lyndon Lloyd
29 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:09:50
I was going to leave that one unsaid following my report on last night’s game, John (21) but strongest team would include Robles at this point.
Rob Halligan
30 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:11:12
Tony Marsh (#4), Exactly why is it a bad draw?

We have been playing much better away from home this season, and with about 6,000 blues at Boro, we can easily win this one. They won’t exactly be relishing playing us.

Jamie Barlow
31 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:11:51
There's no way Roberto would drop Robles in this cup. If we go all the way, so does Robles.
Rob Halligan
32 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:13:34
Away goals only count double in the semi-finals after extra time. The losing finalists do not qualify for Europe.
Matthew Salem
33 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:15:38
What a silly rule about the away goals counting only in extra time. Thank you for clarifying, Rob.
Mark Riding
34 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:20:16
I'd be worried under Moyes.
Roberto smashes Boro. It's on.
Terry Murphy
35 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:22:35
Just thinking about Europe... I'm trying to find a bookie who will take a bet that Everton get fourth place in the same year that the Premier League are only given three places - seems a nailed on certainty to me.
John Keating
36 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:22:35
Jamie 28, I agree. However, as I mentioned in a thread from Lyndon, what does Martinez do if we were to go further or all the way?

He, in my opinion, has let Robles and everyone else know that Howard, regardless of how he plays, is his Number 1.

If we were to be in touching distance of our first chance of silverware for years, he would have to play his strongest team. If he continued playing guys coming back from injury, squad players (and that includes Robles) and we were to lose the final, then he’d be finished at Goodison, and quite rightly.

Martinez by his actions and words has made a rod for his own back.

Rob Halligan
37 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:23:31
It is, Matthew. Definitely an advantage to play at home first leg I think. If you draw at home, say 2-2, then the second leg is 0-0 after 90 minutes, goes to extra time then finishes 1-1, the away team goes through, virtue of their away goal counting double, even though scored less away goals.
Colin Hughes
38 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:24:24
Ste traverse, they also done us at Goodison in 2005 League Cup when Hasselbaink scored the winner, so that’s three times this century.
James Stewart
39 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:24:48
Good draw. Could have been a lot worse. Full strength side now please and that includes Joel Robles.
Bob Parrington
40 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:26:48
OMG, Tony (#4). Did somebody steal your computer and type the message? As Andy wrote - this isn’t you.

We know we’re not the brightest team on the planet at present but we have a good squad of players. We should expect them to pick up their game again.

Jack Woods
41 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:27:16
That sort of Tony Marsh pessimism is everything that I love about the ToffeeWeb comments section.
Eugene Ruane
42 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:33:58
I'm just relieved we've avoided the possibility of getting close to that whole world of drugs, gangsters and torture.

Link

Simon Turner
43 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:38:09
Made up with that draw.

As long as we avoid Man City in the semis I believe we have a very good chance of getting to the final.

When do the tickets for Boro go on sale?

Dick Fearon
44 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:38:55
Far more important than us using a full strength team is: Will this team of super stars have the same kind of hunger for success the Boro will produce?
Brian Porter
45 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:39:13
Could have been much worse and I agree we seem to be more relaxed away from home at present. Martinez has to take a lot of the blame for that because his selections and tactics have been seriously trying the fans’ patience for too long and the atmosphere at Goodison is rather toxic nowadays, and will, I fear, grow worse as long as the manager sticks with Howard

Boro will fancy this one though so it’s a potential banana-skin tie. We must go with Robles in goal and the strongest outfield we can muster. I’m confident in Funes Mori at the back and if Baines is fit, Stones plays as he should and not as he did last night, and Seamus is up for it, we should be solid at the back.It’s the midfield and forwards that worry me.

Boro will play with high intensity so we need pace up front. Deulofeu must start, and Rom needs to find a new pair of boots that don’t cramp his bloody shooting ability.

Will Barry have the pace to cope with Boro’s pressing game? Besic an alternative to break up their attacks early? Left wing, Mirallas? He needs more game time before the tie though. Unfair to judge him harshly on last night’s game as he’s hardly had a kick all season.

Was Martinez talking out of his backside when he said Kev had an important part to play for us this season? So give him the chance to prove it. With him and Deulofeu raiding down the wings, Rom up front and maybe Barkley in his best role as #10? We might just be too much for Boro to handle.

Problems begin, however, if Martinez starts tinkering again as he did last night when a full strength team might have polished Norwich off in normal time. If we’re really going all out to win this cup I’d agree to see him resting a couple of key players in the preceding league match if it helps w the semis.

Come on, Roberto, let’s see some real management from you for once! We’ll never have a better chance of silverware methinks.

Tony Marsh
46 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:41:30
After watching us this season and having an eye on the Championship for betting purposes, I think we are in trouble. Boro are a Premier League club in waiting with a top manager in charge. Add into the equation our terrible record in this competition and I see disaster looming in this tie.

I don’t trust Martinez any more and the only way we could possibly go through to the semis was with a home draw in my humble opinion.

We always fuck up when it really matters. Well, in my world we do.

Mike Green
47 Posted 28/10/2015 at 23:58:06
Nice link Eugene – I particularly like the ’Danny Dyers Deadliest Men’ reference. Why a deadly men list has been named after a dramatic artist I don’t know....they should’ve named it after a real hard man, like Ray Winstones Deadliest Me... n.... oh, that’s the same thing isn’t it....

As for the draw, as perverse as it sounds, no matter how bad home form is, I would always opt for a home draw; but, as away draws go, considering who was left in the pot, I would take ’Boro.

Will we play a full strength side? Nope. Will we win? Maybe.

We have to really focus on this tournament now though – we are three victories away from silverware, silverware we’ve never won before.

A must-win tournament Roberto, get it done.

Andrew James
48 Posted 28/10/2015 at 00:05:56
So 12 months ago we were hammering Wolfsburg and now we’re worrying about a Quarter-Final at Boro?

We have arguably a stronger side now so I can only surmise that Roberto’s erratic selections along with some very bizarre tactics have caused such pessimism.

Strongest 11 should start, clear message being, destroy them. No stupid defensive howlers and we win. Boro are a good team but we saw how it went at Reading who aren’t far off Boro. As soon as we upped the tempo and our flair players tired them out, they were spent.

This cup should mean more to us than anyone else. Boro simply must get promoted this season. City will prioritise the other competitions. Liverpool face a scrappy encounter with Saints who will be targeting this one imagines.

We have not won this trophy and we haven’t won a trophy for 20 years. If they win the next 4 matches in this competition they can play this suicidal if not sometimes exciting brand of football for the rest of the season and finish 9th or whatever.

I see Lukaku, Barkley and Deulofeu and can see a core of kids emerging and bonding. All three were cool customers with the penalties last night.

Minik Hansen
50 Posted 29/10/2015 at 01:01:23
We have Joel Robles! COYB.
Colin Metcalfe
51 Posted 29/10/2015 at 01:01:28
Sorry to be negative but we don't a chance away to Boro !
A very good team on their day and they and their fans will be well up for it ! They will be quietly confident I am sure !
Next year lads !
Harold Matthews
52 Posted 29/10/2015 at 01:29:36
It could have been worse but a difficult tie with danger from Downing when he cuts in across the weak side of our defenders. It will take a right footer to stop him legally and Galloway, Funes Mori and Barry are all lefties. Many players can kick with both feet but are only able to tackle with one. As soon as leftie Ozil switched to the right we were in trouble. Bang, one nil.

That said, for all our chaotic playing style, we are very difficult to beat and Barkley, Lukaku and Deulofeu are a formidable trio.

Victor Jones
53 Posted 29/10/2015 at 02:20:28
We need to play our strongest team (that is if Martinez even knows his best eleven), or we could be going out. Middlesboro will be no push overs. And when Martinez chops and changes, we are usually rubbish. In fact when Martinez tinkers and tries out new formations, there is no usually about it. We are shite. Full stop.

So a strong team, the team that most punters on here would pick. Most of us preach from the same book. Let's hope Martinez does... soon.

How about after 50 years, a cup final against the Owls? Fifty years on from the 1966 Cup Final... and I bet that we would still go two goals behind. That's Everton; we never make things easy. Anyhow, that would be my dream final... Why not?

And maybe Hull City might do us all a favour. Cause TBH I wouldn’t want Man City at any stage. But they do slip up now and again. Only thing is, they never slip up to Martinez’s Everton.

Anyhow, not a bad draw; it could have been much worse, so no excuses. Let's hope we play our football and do ourselves justice. And also three points at the weekend. Thank you very much... Mr. Martinez.

Victor Jones
54 Posted 29/10/2015 at 02:56:09
Was it not after a dismal defeat to Boro that poor old useless Walter Smith got the boot? And I think that I remember Boro beating us in the FA Cup in the 1970s as well. And we were favourites both times. A wee bit of a bogey team in cups, me thinks. If you believe in that... and I don’t really.

Martinez needs to be on his game to win this one. Do you think that old BK might have a word in his shell-like? "Advise" him to field his strongest team? I would...

Kieran Kinsella
55 Posted 29/10/2015 at 02:59:56
I think last night exposed the myth of squad strength. Even Greg O’Keeffe in the Echo said Osman and Gibson are finished. Add those two to Pienaar and Hibbert and we’ve some holes to fill. Howard’s on his last legs, Barry is doing well but is 35.

The "diamonds" Ledson, Dowell and Co are in danger of going the way of Kissock. Hence our reliance on the poor-man's Joe Parkinson — James McCarthy. We could possibly get a decent midfield if we can develop Barkley, let Cleverley move inside, and keep Besic and Oviedo fit.

Center halves? We are laughing. More than we need plus left backs.

Up front we are weak. Rom's agent is trying to engineer a move; if the money is right we should take it. I like Kone but he’s past it, Naismith seems ready for a stint as a starter and he’s just not good enough to hold that spot for us. McGeady? Can we sack him? Mirallas, Lennon, worth a shot but they’re not top four quality. Get rid.

We really need someone with a personality to lead us. Someone with an eye for goal and a player who WANTS the ball and use it.

Ernie Baywood
56 Posted 29/10/2015 at 03:06:08
How can anyone say that we don't stand a chance at Middlesboro with any kind of credibility?
Michael Polley
57 Posted 29/10/2015 at 03:59:44
It will be a tough game, so RM needs to field a full strength squad with Robles in nets. No messing around - a full strength team and we should get through.
Mike Price
58 Posted 29/10/2015 at 04:11:48
Kieran (#49)

Great post; I agree with all of that.

Tony Cheek
60 Posted 29/10/2015 at 05:32:01
The biggest worry isn't Boro, it's Martinez. If he thinks Gibson, Ossie, and the others that got a cup game will get us to the semis with this tie, he's wrong! Full out team and go for it now.
Phil Sammon
61 Posted 29/10/2015 at 05:58:52
If we somehow win this competition it will be despite Martinez, not because of him.

We have fumbled our way through this far by sheer luck. Tactically we are hopeless and crucially, for me, we are incredibly bloody boring to watch.

I'm totally fed up with this deluded, faux-intellectual at the helm.

Christopher Timmins
62 Posted 29/10/2015 at 06:40:23
A winnable game and better away than at home.
Darryl Ritchie
63 Posted 29/10/2015 at 06:50:09
No matter what RM says, I think that the League Cup means next to nothing to him...or any other Premier League manager, for that matter. It's an opportunity to get some fringe players and a few kids, some playing time.

We're not in Europe, so the the schedule shouldn't be a reason not to field a truly competitive squad. Martinez will pick the same players for the next game, no matter what the fans think, because he believes he has to. To show them that he has faith in them, even if, in the process, we lose faith in him.

If we actually win the thing...bonus. But no big deal if we don't.


Peter McHugh
64 Posted 29/10/2015 at 07:05:23
Phil 54 - behave. Boring to watch? I would say it's been the complete opposite in this competition. It's been fantastic entertainment.

Even this week when we were shit for 70 mins the next hour was very exciting with the pinnacle being the shoot out.

James Hughes
65 Posted 29/10/2015 at 07:13:05
Kieran (#49), Do you deliver motivational speeches by any chance???
Phil Sammon
66 Posted 29/10/2015 at 07:26:56
Peter

You think we’re a good team to watch? You must be in the very small minority.

Rahman Talib
67 Posted 29/10/2015 at 07:31:03
It doesn't matter where we play, Robles needs to replace Howard.
Paul Kelly
68 Posted 29/10/2015 at 08:03:48
Phil ,"I'm totally fed up with this deluded, faux-intellectual", kind of sums it up for me.
Mike Hayes
69 Posted 29/10/2015 at 08:05:35
The worrying thing about the possibility of winning the league cup for me is that it will mean we keep Martinez - that's more frightening than losing to boro.
Liam Reilly
70 Posted 29/10/2015 at 08:08:00
A couple of penalties either way and this could be Norwich at home to United; so lighten up and enjoy.

This is the last 8 of a cup against a Championship side; very winnable.

Dave Pritchard
71 Posted 29/10/2015 at 09:18:00
Many on here are giving the Cup to City. They are obviously the favourites but do these people not watch any football? Back in September they lost 3 games out of 4. Injuries and loss of form mean they are beatable. If we beat Boro and City beat Hull I would rather avoid them in the semis but the defeatism is strange.
Gregg Sergeant
72 Posted 29/10/2015 at 09:18:57
I wouldn’t count our chickens just yet, we’ve been here before, remember 3-0 to Wigan? Boro will provide a real test, they play great attacking football. Roberto is on the back foot and rightly so; lose this and the season might as well be over for us...
Dave Abrahams
73 Posted 29/10/2015 at 09:20:21
Regarding Robles, he was the reserve goalie the year Wigan won the FA Cup, but Martinez played him in all their cup games, I think he is duty bound to continue to play him in this League Cup campaign.

Then again, Martinez does what he wants at Everton and all we can do is let him!!!.

Phil Guyers
74 Posted 29/10/2015 at 09:25:52
Rob #34

Surely in the example you give the team that's drawn 2-2 away would go through by virtue of scoring more away goals. It's overall goals, not just the second leg. What would happen in your example if it had stayed 0-0?

Playing away first is always an advantage on paper as you get to play any extra time period on your own ground. No guarantee of success, of course. Fiorentina!

Brent Stephens
75 Posted 29/10/2015 at 09:53:56
Jim #18 "Brent @ 5 - not sure Leicester, Man Utd or Arsenal would understand your point! [about Prem club v Championship club].

All I'm really saying is we'd rather have them than a Prem side. On paper that has to be the less challenging game. OK, I know, that all goes out of the window. So we'd rather play City, or rs or Saints or Stoke! Or would we?

Gavin McGarvey
76 Posted 29/10/2015 at 10:34:30
I love this stage of cup competitions when you can start to see paths to the final. Unfortunately, we’re not really playing well enough this season to win anything. Still, the draw’s not a bad one, although we really needed a home draw.

Fingers crossed we can turn things around a bit, and hit a streak of form, before the end of November. You’d be surprised if Middlesbrough weren’t up for this, so we definitely need to be. COYB.

Kim Vivian
77 Posted 29/10/2015 at 10:43:26
Anyone feeling a sense of deja-vu - like...RM vs Man City at Wembley again? If we can avoid them on the way.

Ridiculous except for greedy bastard reasons having a two leg semi in this comp. Takes the gloss (what little of it there is) off imo.

Craig Mills
78 Posted 29/10/2015 at 10:44:03
A good draw given who is left, we should have too much for them with our front 3.
Paul Hewitt
79 Posted 29/10/2015 at 10:54:12
Very winnable game. The only way we will lose this is if Martinez picks the wrong team.
Ray Roche
80 Posted 29/10/2015 at 11:12:03
Kim, a two-leg semi will always favour the "big" club. A minnow can sometimes pull of an unexpected victory by last-ditch defending etc but over two legs? The odds will always favour the big guns which will please Sky etc.
Kim Vivian
81 Posted 29/10/2015 at 11:14:43
Exactly Ray.... Like I say, Greedy Bastard reasons.
Rob Halligan
82 Posted 29/10/2015 at 11:45:15
Phil #64. Maybe you're right. As far as I'm aware away goals only count double in extra time. As there is no extra time in the first leg, doesn't that mean only away goals in second leg extra time count? Too confusing for me, mate.
Liam Reilly
84 Posted 29/10/2015 at 12:40:04
It's simple really:

There’s no Extra Time in the first leg.

If the teams are level on aggregate after 90 mins of the second leg, then Extra Time is played. Away goals only count double if the match finishes level after Extra Time in the second leg.

Tom Bowers
85 Posted 29/10/2015 at 12:40:45
It doesn’t really matter what the draw throws up, all games will be tough and the way Everton have been showing of late, they will be even tougher.

Penalty shoot-outs are a pure lottery and the teams remaining could all be so different than what they are.

Boro will be tough but they do have their sights on a higher target and assuming Everton have the first eleven out and have improved then they can get a result at the Riverside.

Ste Traverse
86 Posted 29/10/2015 at 13:47:36
The League Cup semis have always been two legs. I can't believe we have an above poster cry arseing about it.

Charlie Burnett
87 Posted 29/10/2015 at 13:50:32
Why are people getting worried. Reberto knows he needs to win silverware. And I think we got a good deal out of the draw.

Middlesbrough have won one game in the last 5. (Including Man Utd as a draw...)
Mark Riding
88 Posted 29/10/2015 at 14:08:56
On Sky on the Tuesday night.
Jamie Crowley
90 Posted 29/10/2015 at 15:01:07
Darryl at 57;

If we actually win the thing... bonus. But no big deal if we don’t.

I have to respectfully disagree.

It’s this kind of "we’re better than this competition" arrogance that drives me certifiably insane.

Everton have won nothing – zilch, zip, zero, nada – for a really, really long time.

This is silverware. Who the hell are we to look down on a trophy?!

I’ve got news for you: We’re not Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal, et al. We should not be playing the kids or second-rate teams in this competition. We should be going all out to win the thing.

Honestly, who do we think we are at present? We’ve not won a single thing in over 20+ years and haven’t gotten to the holy grail of top 4 in 10+ years. Acting like this competition is a "bonus" is so lofty.

A club can act arrogant and field kids if they’re actually winning something. We’ve won the sum of sweet FA for how long? And yet we act as if this tournament with an actual trophy at the end of the tunnel is beneath us?

A bonus?

I don’t understand the thinking. Win something, then go ahead and act holier than thou. Until that time? Well...

Let ’s actually win something! Like this year’s League Cup for starters.

Kim Vivian
91 Posted 29/10/2015 at 15:06:33
ST (#75) You're right and I actually don’t actually remember it like that going back some. Shows how relatively little interest it used to hold (for me at least). Have we actually ever won it?

I still don’t like the two legs.

Tom Bowers
92 Posted 29/10/2015 at 15:52:08
Agree with Phil Sammon that Everton have fumbled their way through so far but so have some of the other teams. It is still treated as a Mickey Mouse cup by the Premier League teams and that is reflected in the early rounds by the team selections.

However, I am sure that, now that things are heating up, there is more likelihood of stronger teams being fielded, except by the teams still in Europe: Man City and RS.

Everton certainly have an opportunity here of capitalizing in the Capital One Cup. Excuse the pun!

Denis Richardson
93 Posted 29/10/2015 at 16:02:24
Well, we are currently awful at home and only seem to be able to play on the counter, preferably when already a goal to two down.

An away tie to a lower league club is exactly what we could have hoped for.

Rennie Smith
95 Posted 29/10/2015 at 16:24:49
Lighten up people! It’s not a bad draw with a good chance of progressing. Although it won’t be easy, and that’s not because like a lot of people say on here "we’re crap", it’s because away to a decent Championship side is never an easy game, doesn’t matter who you are or how well you’re playing. Just ask the Mancs, Leicester and Arsenal.
Darryl Ritchie
97 Posted 29/10/2015 at 16:59:46
Jamie @ 77

I agree with everything you say. I should have put quotation marks or something around the last line. It's not what I think, it's what I think Martinez thinks.

Let's win this thing!

Craig Mills
98 Posted 29/10/2015 at 17:06:45
I can’t understand the negative comments on here, give me a trip to Wembley with a chance of a cup any season over league position as long as we’re safe!!

We should be all out for this cup, we are one win away from a two-leg semi-final. Avoid Man City and Wembly's on the horizon!!

Jim Lloyd
99 Posted 29/10/2015 at 17:21:49
I totally agree Craig. I don’t see any of the top 4-6 not doing their best to win it, should they get there.

If we can’t win the Premier League, then win cups! Win what we can, when we can and do anything we can but win!

If we finish 11th or upwards, that’ll do me until we’re stronger to aim for the top six, if it means we go all out to win a cup.

Brian Wilkinson
100 Posted 29/10/2015 at 17:26:37
Kim@78, Everton played a two-legged semi-final in 1977 against Bolton, before the epic 3 games final against Villa after two replays, so as far as I can recall, it has always been a two-legged semi-final.

I agree with you, though, scrap the two legs.

Peter Weaver
101 Posted 29/10/2015 at 17:49:33
Jamie @ 77; whilst I'm broadly in agreement with your comments, it is Roberto and his fellow managers who have reduced the importance of this trophy by repeatedly fielding under-strength teams.

I seem to remember that Harry Catterick once brought about a heavy fine for our club by fielding his reserves in the old League Cup. Lack of respect for the supporters was given as the reason. Nothing has changed it seems.

Ian Jones
102 Posted 29/10/2015 at 18:51:29
Let’s win it for Howard... Kendall, of course!
Jamie Crowley
103 Posted 29/10/2015 at 19:43:26
Cheers Darryl! Let’s take ’er down! Apologies for me not recognizing those weren’t your personal thoughts. I see that now. Thank you or the clarification.

Peter Weaver, I agree with you regarding the way Roberto, and frankly Moyes before him, set our team up in this competition. They’ve continually acted like a team whose britches are too big for the League Cup.

Frankly, at Everton, that’s just fucking laughable. Yes, we’ve a history second to none, but we don’t have any results to brag about at all in the last 20+ years. Because of that, I think we should have targeted this competition, year-in and year-out.

In short, I’m with you 100%. I’m a big backer of Roberto. But his line-ups in this tournament have just thoroughly pissed me off.

He’s not Jesus though. And coincidentally I hope he soon realizes neither is Tim Howard...


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