Blues draw City in the semi-finals

I don't expect they will fear us and all that passing around the defence.

Knowing our luck, we'll beat Man City and then lose to the RS in the final for Corporal Klopp's first trophy.

Semi not till January, lots of games to get through in December first... still a semi, tho.

I'm just glad it isn't the other lot because this site would have been full of how great they are and how we would get rolled over by them in any game due to our manager and naive defence.

It was fun while it lasted; we may as well play the kids and let the two Premier League giants battle it out at Wembley.

Two night-time Merseyside derbies to police...? No chance.

A lucrative Man City – Liverpool final. Yes please!

Even the fact we're drawn at home in the first leg smacks of meddling.

Knew we'd get Man City.

Spurs on the Sunday, City on (probably) the Wednesday and FA Cup the following weekend. Draw is next Monday night.

Could be three games in a week at home.

And after that week, there is City away in the league. All in 11 days!

I hope it's the same this time round: Stoke v Everton – a media shut-out!

I remember the game earlier on this season, we didn't particularly play bad... but they were just a class above us.

It would have been better to play them at Wembley in a one-off game where form usually goes out of the window because of the occasion, a la Wigan's encounter with them in the FA Cup final.

Yes, City are beatable but only if you do what Klopp has got the redshite doing. I hate to admit it but the high energy pressing game is paying dividends.

I just think we are too weak defensively to beat City over two legs. We stand off top class players too much; do that against the likes of Silva, Aguero, De Bruyne, and they'll kill us dead!

Martinez has a shite record against Manchester City too, can't we rent Moyes for those games?

I'm still to be convinced that Martinez has a good enough solid enough plan in place for us to regularly beat the best team's, we've beaten Chelsea, lost to Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal and drew with Liverpool and Spurs so far, it's pretty average really.

On a plus point, at least soft arse Howard won't be in goal like he was in August against City when he made a prat of himself on both their goals, getting beat on his near post and lobbed in the six-yard box!!!

Still... nothing to lose and we have goals in us.

City also wanted Stoke, not us in the semis. This is not City's biggest target this season. It IS now our biggest target given we are in the semis and haven't won the trophy before.

City have been doddery lately.... We can beat them. We are the form side.

Stoke should have no fear with a recent 6-1 win over that lot. Mark Hughes will have them fired up. It won't be a walk at St Mary's for the RS.

We might be a top midfielder away from being a top side, but our biggest enemy, is STILL ourselves. The only difference between Everton and Liverpool at the minute, is they play for ninety minutes, whereas we take our foot off the pedal.

SORT THIS OUT AND WE CAN BEAT ANYBODY.

To win a cup you have to beat every team you are drawn against AND WE CAN!!!! COYB I'm dreamin of a BLUE Christmas and a derby final victory.

If that other shower can beat City and comfortably, then we can do the same. Their first team isn't any better than us, but their manager seems to be far better than than ours.

I do really hate saying it, but I loving listening to Klopp, a more humble red you couldn't meet.

We've just drawn the Champs with an array of talent in every position. I'm not saying we can't beat them but it will be very difficult over two legs!

On the positive side, with the Xmas fixtures and City going for the title, they might mix it up, and Bob will have signed 3 top players in the Window.

Red Shite v Citeh Final!!! You wankers!!!

I would absolutely love it if it was us v Stoke in the final and piss them off!!!!

If not then we still haven't beaten them in a final, so nothing's changed. We've everything to gain if we make it to the final and if we don't, at least City will be out for vengeance.

I suspect the cubes were heated to provide the opportunity to charge maximum advertising prices etc for the final. Surprising this as I understand we have a larger worldwide following than Citeh.

We also play City in the League in January as well, so that's three times in less than a month, let's hope we don't draw them in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. That would mean playing them 3 times in a week!

I fancy Stoke to bend over the red shite an all.

I don't know what Klippety is like because I don't care about him or them. I support Everton and am not concerned with what any other club achieves unless it is at our expense.

This is where we'll really know the strength of our squad,

No, City will more than likely pick us off again. Why don't we do the passing in midfield? Reason: because we are not Barcelona, but it's the nearest thing that Roberto can do to make it look like we are. Piddle around at the back with no challengers.

Is it just possible that we are on the right track and we'll get better with time, or should we just revert to that tried and tested way we used to play, which if my memory serves didn't really achieve a great deal.

We have a very young talented, hungry bunch of players, who can beat anyone on there day.

Get ya Wembley scarfs out, lads, and enjoy the first cup in years.

OK we are not yet the finished article but we are getting there and we have players who can do a lot of damage to City. Lets get behind our boys and drive them on to have a real go – we might just do it!

Man City is the worst possible draw, out of every Premier League team – but we have to earn the cup.

There has been talk of them replacing the manager though so hopefully they aren't too stable right now.

For Man City our fans should be up for it so hopefully the old ground will be rocking and our players will respond accordingly with a 90-minute performance. There is a lot of football to be played between now and the first leg and both teams will be affected by injuries and suspensions.

Also we have a league game to play at Man City on 13th January so by the time the second leg comes round they will be sick of the sight of us. I am quietly optimistic about this tie.

Only EFC can defeat ourselves by not believing we WILL win it!

For me, we avoided the gobshites, which was the main thing, as we have a quite appalling record against them. In the last five years it reads: W0 D6 L4.

We certainly have the beating of Citeh and have nothing to fear at all. It's a very even contest between them and us, especially if their focus is split four ways. Stats for the last 10 games against them are: W4 L4 D2.

Stoke might have been the popular choice, but that preference is misplaced. We have an inferior record against them compared to the Mancs: W3 D3 L4. So one could reasonably argue that we have the best draw possible.

Certainly doesn't phase me. Nothing to fear and we are more than capable of putting them out. And if Aguero, Silva and Kompany continue to be injury-prone, they need to worry about us more than we do about them.

The pessimism already prevalent in this thread is massively out of order. All four semi-finalists are good enough to win it. The one that wants it the most will do. If our players believe in themselves, with the collective talent they possess, that could be us as easily as any of the other three.

And if we do go on to win it, it might be stimulate this young and great-looking squad to start living up to their potential. For years to come. So stop worrying about who we have to play. Instead, believe (on and off the pitch) and make them worry about us.

COYB!

They in my opinion just hold and wait for a stray pass and then the opposition can attack. I've seen this so many times against both Boro, second half and also Bournemouth.

I think that an Everton v RS final would be great. It would make it a bigger occasion for supporters and give it more media focus than it normally gets. COYB we can do it.

I realise that we have been made this way by the team letting us down – I was at Wembley to witness the dreadful capitulation in 2012 – but we have youth and more quality now and if the Cahill/Neville team could consistently beat City then why can't this new, younger and better version do likewise?

We need to find a lot of fight and determination but the team needs us to be positive and it might just filter through to them.

This is the best draw we could have hoped for as Klopp's flops will lose to Stoke, and we'll raise our game to blow Man City away.

How can City be affected by the Champions League for the semi-final when the CL doesn't get back under way until mid- to late-February??

Answers on a postcard...

I'm not arguing that we are still a work in progress but how many top sides have we knocked out of cup competitions in the last 20 years?

I remember beating the other lot at Goodison, Chelsea and Manchester United both on penalties and now I'm struggling to think of any more.

At the same token, we have been knocked out of the cup quite regularly by the richer clubs – Chelsea in particular – in the last couple of decades.

We'll be in the final, trust me. City will get fighting on many fronts, distracted by the Premier League, preparation for the Champions League, FA Cup etc.

We'll face Stoke in final. And I'll be there screaming my head off to the final whistle.. Ha... COYBs

So we drew Man City. Would I have rather drawn Stoke City? Of course. Yet this is an opportunity to finally put to bed the conception that Everton are "has-beens" or not a big club. The talent that exists at EFC now is the best I have seen in my 7/8 years of discovering this club. We have a core of young players that, if we can continue to let them "enjoy their football" and be successful, can lead us to amazing places. If we defeat Man City, we all know that this is a major statement. The shiteheads (aka pundits) will say that this is a minor competition and it doesn't really amount to much. We know that it could be the start to great things.

Just as we were proud that "money can't buy you Stones", let's look at this tie as an opportunity to show that money can't buy you silverware. How brilliant would it be to win this cup over the RS? If we lose, then we lose. I only hope that we win or lose with the grace and passion that is Everton FC. COYB.

It would be highly ironic (albeit unlikely) if Stoke went on and won this given how easily they've been dismissed. If Birmingham can beat Arsenal in the final, anything can happen. In fact, Birmingham, Norwich and Leicester are multiple winners of this.

At this stage (and I haven't peeked on any websites) if I was a bookie I'd have it:

Man City - evens (given their squad)
The RS - 2/1 (given they're jammy)
The Mighty, Mighty Blues - 9/2 (given we're scoring goals)
Stoke City - 9/1 (given they are no push-overs)

So it's a close 4 horse race IMHO.

We must win first leg at home and hope they get injuries and take us lightly.

I can see Everton vs Stoke in the final. I can't see us beating the RedShite at Wembley. We never beat them when it really matters. This would matter.

Man City: 6/5
The RedShite: 13/8
The Mighty Blues: 11/2
Stoke City: 8/1

I want an all-Merseyside final. Much as I think Stoke is more manageable, but I prefer people to be talking about how Everton is a worthy winner, rather than a 2nd tier cup final.

It's time to bring the attention back to Merseyside. The city of two powerful clubs dominated the 70s and 80s. Wembley was the Merseyside teams' second home in the 80s.

And then I want us to beat the Reds at the cup final; what better way to overcome the psychological barrier than to win it over them.

We've won Charity Shields over them, shared it with them, but never beat them for a proper cup.
It's time we do it and do it in style.

Our turn to do a 3-1 or 3-2 over them.

Yes, lots of wishful thinking, but why not.

That should be the mentality. The big boys are kept apart for the dream final; the rest are supporting cast.

We gotta start talking and believing like we want the cup bad enough. And then it can translate to the support all around, on the grounds etc. People want us to win it.

I am writing about those who keep ripping RM. Is he the best ever, certainly not. However, he has built a very young and very exciting team that actually made a semi-final. He brought in or promoted and kept so many young talented young players and they are actually developing.

With 5-6 players on the pitch under 23 and you are going to have a team that makes crucial mistakes. That's what young teams do before they mature. I hope RM can keep this team together one more year.

As far as those ripping the back-passing do you not remember the 28 passes that lead to a goal last game? The purpose of passing it around at the back when being pressed is to open up the opposition defense. RM plays a European/Spanish style and that's what they do. That's what over half the teams in league do now as well. Like it or not football has moved away from long punts and chase up the field.

Finally, we have a team that is exciting to watch. I watched this team under Moyes and it was one of the most boring sides to watch - almost as boring as Stoke 5 years ago.

I was reading the quotes from Boro fans after game (Echo) and they appreciate this Everton team more than many of the fans on this board.

I want Everton to be in the limelight for winning trophies but it matters not what the other lot might do. If we beat Stoke or the other lot in a final, it also matters not, although I agree that beating the other lot would be nice.

I would much prefer a day for Evertonians and Evertonians alone to enjoy – not to be shared by those from across the park.

It's what Everton have done well in the past – and will do again. That's the right attitude...

I was thinking at the start that I would have preferred a home draw in the second leg but now I'm thinking that playing them away is better. Get a home win and lead, then Man City will have most of the possession and we'll hit them on the counter.

We're probably the best team in the league playing counter attack. That's the way we'll beat City to face more than likely that other lot in the final.

COME ON YOU BLUES

So by now I recognise the blind faith of those imagining League Cup success (for the first time in 50+ attempts, if you're interested). I have to say that I will occupy centre stage at the top of the Town Hall steps, kecks removed in the time honoured fashion, if under this Calatonian Clown we this year win the least significant trophy available to us.

I saw City at Spurs and defensively they are far from impregnable. Both them and the RS are in Europe too.
I would be happy to draw at home and go there playing on the counter, which would suit us. We should not fear anyone.

Get a lead to defend from the home leg, and play a counter-attacking game in the second leg. Final against Stoke City or Liverpool less frightening than playing Man City there.

Am I being a touch optimistic?

Compare this with some of the RedShite's last four opponents this millennium: Wycombe, Birmingham, Cardiff, West Ham (in the Championship at the time) and Villa last year. The footballing gods do not like us for some reason.

Fear and negativity has crippled our club for years; it's time for a change. We have some of the very best players in the Premier League. We don't have anything to fear from the other teams, we are Everton, they need to fear us.

We are going to win this tournament!

Avoiding the RS was crucial for me and Man City are certainly beatable. Give it a go and I'll be happy.

At the moment, we're showing some magical stuff on the attack; if the defence can find the same consistency, then we're as good as anyone on our day.

Also, we're going into this significantly more comfortable knowing I'm not gonna see Howard get lobbed in his six-yard box again... thank fuck for Robles!

As for us and City, I really think we will beat them. Just like us, they've lost 3 Premier League games. So they're hardly unbeatable. And over two legs, I more than fancy our chances.

Is Robles, definitely playing in goal or is everyone just surmising that he will be?

Well how about I fix it for you: "How can our great club win anything with Martinez as the manager?"

Well how about I fix it for you: "How can our great club win anything with Martinez as the manager?"

By winning three games. Not exactly beyond the realms of possibility is it? We're into the semi-final yet you talk like we're a million fucking miles away.

So what are you saying, just forget about the trophy as we have a dud manager?

Maybe he is a dud and not the right manager for the job, but let's face it, we have been without a trophy for 20 years. We have lost our winning mentality, for almost three decades; that's something that needs to be addressed, but it won't happen overnight.

But, at the end of the day, us the fans have a big part to play in the lifting of this club. I don't know about you, but I've always performed better in life when someone believed in me.

Let's get Vardy in the January window. :)

It's the teams sitting back we have had problems dealing with.

I think that Stoke have a better chance of reaching the final than Everton as I can't see Everton beating Manchester City. I may have divided loyalties as I am from Stoke and want them to do well but I support Everton.

Funny that Wigan won a trophy with Martinez in charge???

Realistically, we do not have the manager who I trust to get us past City over two legs. One leg you can have a good game, get lucky etc... but two legs is a different story.

On a positive note, we have some fantastic players who, if hungry enough, are capable – if City have a bad night. I just wish we had a manager capable of doing it.

My only reservation is that I honestly don't see Martinez as a motivator of men. On our day, we are good enough to beat City; my fear is a narrow first leg lead then being slaughtered in the second leg, à la Kiev, because Martinez cannot set out a team to hold on to a lead.

We need to hit them hard and fast, no tippy-tappy rubbish which will play right into their hands. Put them under pressure from Del Boy, Rom, Ross and Kone and let them do the defending.

I hope Funes Mori retains his place because he at least has the sense to hoof it into Row Z if necessary instead of being suicidal at the back.

We can do it but Martinez has to prove his mettle as a manager if we're to have a fighting chance.

I hate to say it but they are looking good under Klopp; I can only hope the wheels fall off soon!!!

It has been 20 years without a trophy; let's take it seriously now that we are in the semi-final.

Same after the draw, except now we get first crack at them at Goodison.

Bring it on.

I also hope the RS beat Stoke and we stuff them in the final.

Fuck the short-cuts, I want blood and I want it to be red.

To lift the cup, we would have to have beat City at some point. If we can get to the final, then I really would love to play the RS and finally do them.

Surely for once we can have our day!

It's been the only thing that kept me going all these years.

We definitely have a chance... and City will be thinking more about the title than the League Cup perhaps.

We have an exciting young team, we have a good young manager, and we have good support. We need to believe we can do it. Unfortunately on here there are too many naysayers who cry after games like Saturday and call for the manager's head although plenty of contenders drew at the weekend.

Liverpool and Spurs are now alleged title contenders. Wtf??!?! The only difference between us and these teams is a winning mentality. That's been this club's problem for years.

City have some wonderful players, but so do we. Let's see how we get on in what could be, two classic games.

We are Everton and we are coming to get you!

As for City.... Humbug!

We need that atmosphere at Goodison to be truly terrifying for City that night, none of this sitting waiting for things to happen, the Old Lady needs to be full to the rafters 20 minutes before kick off and we need an absolute wall of noise and aggression.

If we start approaching the City game like we have started to approach too many of these matches against the top sides again then sadly there's nothing down for us!

It started well under Martinez's reign again st the top sides but over the last 18 months it's tailed off again, the "toe to toe" mentality he brought in his early months has lost its edge, we need it spot on full on against the Mancs.

So perhaps they'll put out a side in the 'lesser ' competition that won't have them in it. But even so we must be ready to beat anyone

I think this is a good draw for us. No expectation from the media, and the fans all know what a tough task lies ahead for the team. So no additional pressure. Also we avoid all of the extra emotion of a semi with those lucky twats from across the park. Who knows what the respective form of the sides will be like come the matches, and which players will be available.

We can do it.

Personally I think we can compete with any of the three but will need to be at our best. Bring it on.

I think we have on this occasion to forget about whether it's seen as tippy-tappy or not. Let's just have a bit of faith in our lads and create that wall of noise that'll scare the hell out of City.

If we had an Andy Gray and Peter Reid to get stuck into the opposition, like in then Bayern Munich game, we'd be on our way but we haven't. So really, we've got to let our lads know we're behind them, right from the kick off.

I know it's a massive debating point about whether the team are supposed to give us something to cheer about or whether we give the team spirit. All I'd say is, in this home match, we don't wait for anyone, we just kick off with the noise and keep on with it.

In the space of 12 hours, I have gone from despondency to ultra-confident. Wembley beckons for the mighty Blues!

This will be a tough ask, as City won't be poor in both legs, but I don't buy into this 'easier to play at home in the second leg' nonsense either.

We need a handsome advantage from the first leg and anything is possible.

I for one am looking forward to it.

So, as I see it, we have to knock City out now rather than beat them in the final. Okay, it's tough, but that's life. City will not be thinking "Everton – that's a great draw".

Then we have an easier final v two more average teams.

Bring it on. We're Everton – and we're pretty damn good.

Klopp has been at Anfield 5 minutes and they're better than us already.

The Mancs won't be doing cartwheels at the prospect of facing Everton. Our players are as good as any in the Premier League and they will definitely be up for these games. Remember, it's against the lesser teams that our standards fall. It won't be the case against City.

If not now then it would likely be in the final (supposing progression in the semi). So good to play City now – a win will give us the total confidence and belief to defeat whoever's in the final.

So victory now vs City and I fancy we take an psychological advantage to the final. Plus, if we lose to City I'd prefer it to happen in the semis than at Wembley. And two legs is possibly better scope to beat them too.

The way I hear it is that Capital One wanted a City v Liverpool final from Round 1. Southampton were paid off to throw last night's game and Arsenal, Chelsea and United just agreed it was a good idea. Everton were notified but as they're the unluckiest team EVER, the letter never arrived.

Colina is reffing the semi-final too I hear.

I don't think we have madly excelled against the so-called top teams since Martinez's first season in charge. Last season, we failed to beat Man City home or away, Liverpool home or away, Arsenal home or away, lost twice to Spurs and twice to Chelsea, the only win coming at home to Manchester United, but we failed away to them last season also.

That's one win in 12!

This season ,we have played 6 so-called top teams: Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs. We have won just the one, against a below par Chelsea.

All together, that's 2 wins from 18 against the "top bunch".

Maybe that's why over two legs we feel apprehensive; we'd love to see it change but I believe we need a substantial win in the home leg to have a good chance as we are not the type of team that looks capable of "keeping it really tight " when under the cosh and backs to the wall.

We need at least 2-0 from the first leg!

What's this comment about getting Moyes back as a defensive advisor? As if!

I know some will say it's as much chance of happening as it's random but I've never seen it before.

BTW, have you ever tried to open a dictionary at random? Very hard, the closest I got was at ramshackle.

Man City - drawn 3 Prem teams so far
Liverpool - drawn 3
Stoke - drawn 2
Everton - drawn 2

THE FA CLEARLY WANT AN EVERTON-STOKE FINAL!!

Everton v Stoke final... and we win 2-1!!!!

"Stats for the last 10 games against them are: W4 L4 D2" A little misleading, as the 4 wins and the other draw was before Martinez.

Please prove me wrong and give me another visit to Wembley... against Stoke.

Let's hope Man City play their reserves too.

The optimist in me thinks that this is Robles's time to shine. He will see a lot more action against City (if selected) and those two games should be enough for us to see if he is as good as many of us believe.

We will have to be in a good "moment" in both games.

1 in 24, the same as the other 23 variations possible.

Unless of course they put the 1 and 2 balls on the radiator before they put them in the bag!

Seriously though; weighted balls, Sky conspiracy theories; all nonsense. That's saying that Sky wouldn't have been happy with an RS v City Semi. Two bankers for viewing figures and advertising revenue as opposed to one in the final.

I'd expect us to score against City but will need a rock solid defense to keep them out. The irony here is that City don't whip balls into the box for target men so Howard may not be as exposed, so who is going to start in goal?

Robles of course!

Thanks guys, numbers not my strong point. I failed maths so many times in school, I can't even count.

In the National Lottery you have the same chance of winning the jackpot if you do 1,2,3,4,5,6 as if you do 10,15,19,43,44,55 etc etc.

And I'm sure the pot wasn't see-through either. Normally you can see a hand swirling around the numbered balls. I just think the fact City and the RedShite came out 2 and 4 just doesn't sit right.

"Our Capital One Cup semi-final 1st leg v MCFC takes place at Goodison on Weds 6 Jan (8pm).

2nd leg at the Etihad - Weds 27 Jan, 7:45pm."

But enough of this already! We're in the hat. The landscape will change before January – what with teams losing / picking up form, injuries, suspensions etc.

Like Harold said earlier on the thread, let's just enjoy being in the draw, have a great Christmas and New Year and then start fretting again nearer the time.

And also time to ditch the negativity which can pervade the club on occasions so that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. On our day, we're capable of beating anyone!

"After every training session (at Burnley) you felt like you were getting somewhere whereas under Roberto Martinez at Everton there wasn't as much running.

"It was nothing at Everton compared to what we do here and I think that's why we bring what we do into the game, because we train as we play."

Maybe that is why we start the season slowly and why we've tended to take things easier in the second half in these last two games, possible fatigue. We'll need to be on our mettle to complete the difficult run of games in January, that's for sure.

Any thoughts?

Very close, I failed five out of the four exams I took.

When the draw was made, number 2 suddenly became Man City. I thought straight away when number 2 came out we'd drawn Liverpool, but no, suddenly become Man City.

Yes, Moyes ran the club harder in training. He also caught a lot of flak for that at Man Utd because Fergie would work more on technical skills and tactics.

RM comes from Spain where they do less running and almost all five-a-side. Spain imported their training style from Holland and that's how most clubs in Europe train. England's players can already run with anyone in Europe but it's technical skills they lack.

You may have a point that this could cause a slow start at the beginning of the season but I thought they did well enough through the first ten tough games.

I also think that a player needs to be fit enough to do something with the ball once he gets it. Most top teams, Barcelona for one, are extremely fit with more to their game than just a good technique.

No team has enjoyed success without being supremely fit. And technically excellent. I also think that last season we we were as unfit an Everton side as I can recall.

I agree with much of what you say. Last season's team looked unfit. Part may be due to the training regimen, as you say, and part was surely the injuries and Europe taking it's toll on a short squad.

Perhaps the team could be more fit but in the end skill will win out – of course strength/fitness is important. If you look at the winners of the EPL, it was talent and skill these teams featured.

Now that I continue to ponder the matter, it appears the EPL features a lot more running around than the top leagues in Europe which feature slower technical play instead. Maybe a bit more running in training would do the team some good. Point for you.

In the end however, I would lean more towards RM than Moyes when it comes to training. RM trains and encourages skills and offensive aggression in young players while it seems to me Moyes's teams played a very constrained yet physical game. Not saying Moyes's way was bad, just saying the players coming up under RM will be much better – but perhaps tire quicker. How's that. :)

Middlesboro v Everton,
Southampton v Liverpool,
Stoke v Sheff Wed,
Man City v Hull.

So the numbers should have been:

1 Everton
2 Liverpool
3 Stoke
4 Man City

Perhaps someone can look at yesterday's Echo webpage to find out – please don't ask me to look there.

These are the same players who looked so ordinary under Rogers.Just imagine how good our players would look if they were fitter because, man for man, we are a better team than Liverpool; it just seems that we can't sustain the pace for 90 minutes.

Link

Everton as Match 1 and Stoke as match 3 were unchanged for the SF draw.

If, as you say, the EPL "features a lot more running around than the top leagues in Europe" how does that pan out when we factor in the number of foreign players who play in it?

Do they now train harder than before? If so, surely it makes sense to increase the training that we have at Finch Farm, to at least, the levels that made us such a difficult side to beat under Moyes? (Apart from the Sky 4, 5, 6, that is!)

How often do we hear that players from abroad are given time to adjust to the pace of the EPL? To me, that just underlines the lack of fitness, if not technique, that is prevalent in Continental leagues.

What we really need is Roberto Moyes, Martinez and his positive outlook and emphasis on technique, and Moyes to make sure we're not blowing for tugs after 70 minutes.

If that makes any difference...

Can't say I'm suspicious about any of this. I'm sure there would have been conspiracy theories if we'd been draw against rs or against Stoke. I'd have been slightly more concerned if they had announced last night that the finalists were RS and Citeh.

1983-1994 – season ticket holder.
1995 – skint hence no renewal; spent all night at Goodison no ticket win the FA cup.
1996-2015 –season ticket holder;
2015-16 – skint, no renewal became an Everton steward.

That's my omen. Everton to win the cup.
COYB

Anyway, I didn't notice that, but if they wanted to pull the numbers out in numerical order, it would have meant changing Liverpool's and Man City's numbers. That make sense?

So no, Man City is probably the best draw for us. Bring 'em on!!

I suspect even a self professed non mathematician like Dean might have worked out that with three others teams in the hat the chances of drawing any one of them was 1 in 3.

Coincidentally I have calculated the chances of Howard being at fault for a goal in the remainder of the season is ABSOLUTELY FUCKING CERTAIN.

It is the chance for our players to do something special. Not to look for a snide move but to actually fucking achieve something. We will win this cup.

The video looks legit to me.

The fact that there are now six variants of ten makes the possibility of six in a row almost impossible. Also, the fact that it has not been remotely close in 20 years suggests that even four from one decade is enough to win a jackpot.

If Romelu scores a hat-trick at Wembley and Kone gets a brace will that be enough to lift the cup or will the defence allow the opponents to score more than the five we scored in the opening 25 minutes. Given that rain is expected on that day, how much will it cost for a six-pack from the local off-licence?

If anyone has the answer to this question, keep the answer to yourselves or enrol in Mensa.

Probability is one of those exact things governed by scientific law as opposed to TW opinion, which is a good thing right.

Probability is just the number of events divided by the number of outcomes. For a consecutive series of probabilities you just multiply them together.

So in a four-ball draw the chances of 1,2,3,4 being drawn consecutively is 1/4 x 1/3 x 1/2 x 1 which is 1/24.

When it's a 60-ball draw and you were looking to draw 1,2,3,4 in exact order as the first four balls, it would be 1/60 x 1/ 59 x 1/58 x 1/57 which is 1 in 11 million.

1,2,3,4,5,6 in consecutive order would be about 1 in 30,000,000,000 or once every 690 millions years in a weekly draw.

Lesson you better backing a horse than doing the lottery.

My point is/was that, if you and I pick 6 numbers for the lottery, we both have exactly the same chance of winning the jackpot, even if I pick 1,2,3,4,5,6 and you pick any other set of six numbers.

The lottery example is actually not a perfect match anyway because I would win if the numbers came out in a different order eg 6,1,3,4,5,2

In relation to the semi draw 1,2,3,4 was just as likely as 2,1,4,3 (which would still have seen us paired with City) which was just as likely as 1,4,2,3 (which would have seen us paired with Liverpool) etc etc

The above refers to the situation before any numbers were drawn.

As soon as one number was drawn, all the above considerations change because something has already happened. So, after we were drawn out first and before the second number was drawn, it was then equally likely that we would draw City, Stoke or Liverpool.

Better shut up now or I'll get some flack (probably will anyway). Let's just batter City over the two legs.

All it does is give the impression of 'poor Everton' – everything is against us...

We are capable of beating any team – all we need is the belief.

I am aware we are boring the pants off most people but it has never stopped me before.

You are right in a random draw of numbers any combination of numbers are equally probable. So the numbers coming out 1,2,3,4 means nothing in particular other than it was just one of the 24 sequences available.

However I don't follow your fourth paragraph. So when the first number comes out the only thing that has changed is that the chances of another number being drawn has reduced from 1 in 4 to 1 in 3. The probability of who Everton were going to draw once they came out first were still the same as before the draw, that is 1 in 3.

As it happens, the probability of picking six lottery numbers is about 1 in 13 million. However should you chose 1,2,3,4,5,6 whilst it is equally probable you will have the winning combination you are significantly decreasing the chances of how much money you will collect. About 10,000 people every week choose those numbers which means in a standard jackpot pot of ٣m you you would win 𧺬. Now that would piss you right off.

I blame my maths teacher!

I have criticised the tippy-tappy style in the past but there are signs it is coming good. Some of the passing against Boro was brilliant. COYB

I agree with what you say that we had a probability of 1/3 of drawing any 1 of the other 3 clubs and that this was still the case after we were drawn first and the second ball hadn't been drawn.

What I was trying to get across was that, when considering probability, it can change depending on what has already happened. A better example would have been that the chance of 1,2,3,4 in that order before the draw started was 1/24. After 1 and 2 had come out there was then only a probability of 1/2 that it would be 1,2,3,4

Good discussion.

I'm delighted with the draw; I fancy us over two legs against Man City; I'd love to see a derby final AND I think the media would love one too.

I also think Stoke will provide very stiff opposition and I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the final either. They won't be pushing for a Champions League place and might put their full weight into progressing.

I don't believe you would get past a two-legged semi-final against Stoke without suffering the odd two-legged challenge and escaping without injuries during the business end of the season.

Draw both matches and then win on penalties! That'll do me

One of the most realistic posts on the thread. With doubt, you would have to fancy Stoke to put Deulofeu into the local A&E and our CB's would be in all sorts of trouble with their continuous set-piece play.

Yep, I'm glad we have avoided Stoke, for me the RS will not come out of those two games with Sturridge still in one piece.

Man City are definitely beatable and I feel with the first game at Goodison, it's game on.

Time some people grew a pair and got behind the team in the semi. (And the final!)

Perhaps we've got the better draw after all.

I have seen some very poor performances from City this season, with Stoke much the better team today without needing to be particularly robust. The fitness of Silva, Aguero and Toure will be key as De Bruyne can't do it all himself and Sterling is wildly erratic.

I would expect that the return of Kompany to the lineup will minimize some of the horrible gaffs made by the City centre-backs today. However, I'm confident Geri and Rom can do what the Alpine Messi and Arnautovic did today if given the opportunity.

I think we're good enough, if Martinez is as bold as he thinks he is. The question is; can he convince himself and his players that they are winners?

The final score was 2-2. I would really like to know the date of this game. I remember the crowd singing "Oh, Oh, Antonio" which was a song from the war years. I hope somebody can help, so thanks in advance COYB

Yes, we drew City but not Stoke City. They are playing the other lot.

As for the date of that match, looks like it was 29 March 1947.