Manchester City vs Everton

Its high time to start living up to the hype and achieve something.

Its no use bemoaning our injuries, Stoke won at Anfield last night and kept a clean sheet without Ryan Shawcross in defence.

Under Moyes we always pulled together and arguably got our best results with limited options available, what one or two are missing its hardly a injury crisis.

The talking now ends Roberto, let's see if these players possess the bottle, the steel, the character and the bravery to do it.

The jury has been out with most Evertonians this last 2 year's, now you can prove us wrong!

For that reason I hope we do set up with a solid midfield. Maybe bring Lennon in for Deulofeu on the right and save Del for later. Bringing McCarthy back would be a gamble after such a long time out so stick with Barry and Cleverley with Barkley in midfield. Rom will have to work very hard up front on his own.

At the back I am guessing it will be Stones and Jags although I would replace Stones with Funes Mori as he think he is in better form. We all need a lift and getting through would provide it. IF we do then after watching the other semi last night we would have nothing to fear.

Huge game and, even if we win, it won't compensate for the disappointment of the Premier League campaign.

I just hope we can grind out a snide nil-nil to be honest. I don't fancy us to win and keep a clean sheet, and if they get one goal then I think we will capitulate (as per) . So yeah, nil-nil for me.

Howard, Stones, Deulofeu, Oviedo, McCarthy, Kone on the bench

Duncan Ferguson to fire them up pre-match, and "remind" them at Half-time.

COYB, you CAN do this!

Why do we put ourselves through this eh? The worry, stress, frustration, anger and for very little joy.

Give us something to shout about Blues for a change.

We have travelled to Sporting Lisbon and Dynamo Kiev, capable sides but hardly European heavyweights, with a 2-1 first leg advantage but in both return legs away from home we've been convincingly smashed up!

Another example of whether a lot of these guys have learned anything from past experiences.

As far as selection goes I would go with Funes Mori over Stones in that not only could Stones do with being taken out of the firing line for a while but Funes Mori carries much more of a goal threat when we will probably need to score at least one goal to go through.

Anyway I hope we win and worry about the RS later.

Robles
Coleman, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Baines
Lennon, McCarthy, Barry, Pienaar
Barkley
Lukaku

With Deulofeu to come on early 2nd half

Come on Everton, the incentive is already there, a meeting with the stuffy RS.

Don't get me wrong, I fully understand and appreciate why many of us feel like that as I too have sat at Wembley and various other venues holding my head in my hands as we have been done over like a kipper no matter how well we have played or as has usually been the case, not that well to be honest.

But, and admittedly it's a big but, there has to be a day when we have our day in the sun and the other lot are left with that horrible sickly feeling that too many Evertonians have felt far too often.

Of course we have an enormous hurdle to overcome tonight both physically and psychologically before we have to concern ourselves with the other lot, but if it comes to pass, there is no earthly reason that for once in our lifetimes we can smell the sweet taste of success against our not so loveable neighbours.

Mind you, there may be a few unearthly reasons why we won't but we can't fight the forces of evil, if we don't show courage and largely concede a game even before the fixture has been rubber-stamped. Blues to win tonight and hopefully triumph at the end of February, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

I agree the only chance we have of getting through is to score one on the counter.

We need to be tight at the back and not give them pockets to play into. Keep them wide because they don't have tall attacking players to knock headers in so we should be able to manage crosses.

I predict a nail biting 1-1 draw.

COYB

As far as I'm concerned the cracks at them the better.

The Anfield derby was meant to take place on the date of the Cup Final so it will feel gutting not being in it but know they are.

Robles
Coleman, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Baines
Stones, Barry
Deulofeu, Cleverley Oviedo
Lukaku

Bench: Howard, Galloway, McCarthy, Lennon, Barkley, Pienaar, Kone.

Stones in midfield as a tackling replacement for Besic – I don't want McCarthy coming off injured and disrupting the flow and Stones then has a line behind him.

Drop Ross just because I think we need more responsibility on the ball tonight which Cleverley gives us. Pace with Oviedo and creativity with Deulofeu. Ross on the bench gives us a great sub which having lost Kev I don't think we have.

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/video/espn-fc-tv/86/video/2794820/extra-time-Roberto-Martinez-under-pressure

Like everyone else, our form over the season is a concern to me as are the usual suspects that plenty has been said about already. I would hope that a few members of the squad have had a good look at themselves these last 48 hours.

What id like to say is that regardless how the season has gone this game and maybe the final will live much longer in the memories of all of us. This season could be the year we can finally win the League Cup. It could be a year we quote at our rivals forever more.

With that in mind we have to treat this as a one off. Forget Swansea, Howard, Stones and RM and get behind our club. Forget all the negativity and get behind the lads who we can all agree have it in them to go there and get a result.

Today is not the day to be negative COYB

It's going to be a long tense evening and hopefully we can see it through!

As Patrick says, we are due a win against them, the RS. I have seen us lose three semi-finals and three finals against them. The law of averages says we are due a win.

Look at Swansea, never beaten us in the league up until last Sunday. Stoke hadn't won at Anfield for over 50 years, until last night. I count that as a win for Stoke by the way. They won the actual match, after all.

So everybody chins up, this is definitely our year to land a trophy.

COYB. NSNO!!

Please please please give us a performance and victory to be proud of and provide us with some optimism moving forward COYB !!!

With both Wigan and Everton, Martinez has established something of a reputation as a cup tactician and it says much for the man that he seems able to motivate his players for these games in the midst of a string of poor results in league competition.

Perhaps the paradox is explained by the fact that these are games in which he must accept that the RESULT means everything. So his players are excused if they dare to adopt a more pragmatic approach.

I suspect there may be one or two surprises in team selection as our man pulls out all the stops to prevent this season going completely down the drain. I hope they work.

Pienaar no longer has any pace, but then, he has never relied on it. He can, however, scrap for possession, and play an incisive forward pass, and in this type of game.

I would like to see him out left and Lennon starting on the right. This then leaves options on the bench of Kone, Deulofeu, Ovideo and Osman. Whilst Man City have star players, as a team, they can be frustrated, especially if Kun Aguero can be nullified.

Put Jimmy Mac (if fit) on Silva, and stifle him. Keep the ball out on the flanks, and let's have some crosses in to the big man. If he is on his game he will destroy their centre halves; they are dodgy without Kompany.

Good luck, Blue boys, give us something to be proud of and safe journey home to the 9000 souls making the trip.

That's a good suggestion if Mac is not fit. Would like to see what Stones could do there. Funes Mori does not deserve to be left out. He's our best defender in the air.

I had always thought about this but am writing this now in the wake of our need to beef up our defence today and for which the only way of doing it now seems to gamble on Macca. I am aware that this post might draw flak from the faithful, especially given the time of the year I am writing this.

Hoping that lady luck of Cup games is awake tonight. COYB!

Keep the faith!

Actually, didn't we face the RS in 84 also if I remember correctly when the were allowed two goalkeepers. Hansen was it; punched the ball off the line and that was deemed within the rules and we went on to lose the replay.

Robles
Baines, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Coleman (if not fit, Stones)
Barry, Osman
Lennon, Cleverley
Deulofeu (yes, through the middle)
Lukaku

McCarthy for Osman when he tires.
Barkley for Deulofeu when he tires
And a sub for the obligatory injury.

We've imploded so often in recent times that it seems almost sadistic to think we can do it. It's almost inevitable we will go down to a shite decision or a piece of bad luck.

I've no faith in Martinez's ability to out-fox Pellegrini and get us to Wembley against an ordinary Liverpool team. Then again, we only need a draw. We can get this in spite of Roberto, not because of him.

Will get the missus to turn off all mobile phones/Kindles etc so I can't look at the score until after 11:00pm or might wait until tomorrow.

Probably best to wait, so I don't go to bed angry again.

Come on Blues, prove me wrong and stuff the feckers!!

Once we get past the first 10 minutes when the heap of complicated instructions cause us to hesitate, we should be okay so long as Jags doesn't go suicidal with the high line. Won't be surprised if Ossie plays some part. Man City fans went bonkers the way he and Barkley ran rings round Ya Ya Toure and flaked him out. Besic helped us keep the ball of course, as did Kone when we went down to 10 men.

Clichy had Deulofeu well boxed off last time but Coleman might make a difference. He looked plenty sharp the other day. On the other flank, the big hole in front of Baines is an invitation for Navas or De Bruyne and our lad will need help. Holy smoke, Aguero, Silva, De Bruyne and Ya Ya Toure. If that's not scary, nothing is. How we've managed to keep them quiet over two matches is a mystery. We couldn't even keep Swansea out.

Can't be confident but we will get 2 or 3 chances and they'll need to be converted.

COYB

If we play an open game chances are City will kill us.

This Joker isn't learning from his mistakes whatsoever.

If Coleman isn't fit, Stones right back; if Coleman is fit, Stones on the bench.

"We'll go out because we've got a clueless old cretin in charge of us."

"Prepare to be disappointed."

The City fans are more optimistic about our chances than we are!

I reckon a draw and through.

"Romelu needs more goals and he needs to go to the first [near] post more," says Deulofeu, whom Lukaku calls 'my provider'.

"I always say, 'Rom, go to the first post my friend, because my crosses are dangerous'. Against Swansea, for example, we needed him at the first post."

More tactical nous there than I've heard from certain managers recently. Make Gerard the next coach.

I have sworn blind I won't watch tonight, but I know I will.

Don't ruin my holiday, Everton...

I'm bugging out of work around 2 pm to hit Lynch's Irish Pub directly across the street from the beach in Jacksonville Beach, FL, with two other born n bred Blues to watch. Normally, this is the dream afternoon.

So why do I have knots in my stomach and why am I dreading watching?...

Fucking win. Please...

When asked if he applied the same approach in his sex life, he said 'Certainly, and before you ask...... standing up in a hammock !'

Boom, boom !

Howard will be keen to prove the critics wrong and tends to rise to the 'big' occasion. He played well in the last game v City, kept them out after they put us under siege for most of the game which, predictably, they will do tonight.

Players to beware of...?? The Whole City Squad!!!

And yes, big gob Roberto opens his mouth and puts his four right in it... again. Not interested in keeping clean sheets when that's all we need to get to Wembley. Do we need any further proof that this man is totally unsuited to be managing us, or any Premier League team?

Very last-minute this, but has anyone got a spare for the game please?

07711 381384

Then to improve my mood, Roberto is spouting his usual drivel, I think he was speaking Esperanto.

I am looking forward to watching this tonight and I (have to) believe we will get a draw and meet the RS in the final. Where we score a goal like we did against Newcastle, as in last kick of the game so the fuckers can't come back.

Wemberley, Wemberley we are all pissed up and going to win the cup!

Nine games later we have six points more than we would have had that day – a desperate journey that culminated against Swansea on Sunday. It's the league that counts. RM has failed the test.

Today I've seen him quoted as saying that his team can't be said to be underachieving because this group of players has never won anything. Who do you think believes that Roberto?

We have to get an away goal. It's huge. We will not keep a clean sheet. If we set up to protect the lead we are doomed.

Surely we can knick one and find a balance??

Nah!

We know we have the players to hit City hard on the break, our defence has looked a little more composed with Robles behind them.

City will try to get the early goal, that could play into our hands, teams have worked us out and parked the bus, catching us on the counter attack, City have to come at us, we just have to hope that the chances we get, we put away and not rue on missed chances.

Big following there, playing better away, feeling more positive than if it had been at Goodison and 2-1 down chasing the tie.

Coyb

The pressure on Roberto is real. It made the radio today here in America on a satelitte "soccer station."

If people here are saying the pressure is on Roberto, they've got to be lining up with pitchforks over where you are!

Lukaku is off form and Otamendi will give him plenty of it tonight so Rom needs to be up for it from the start.

I'd go for FM instead of Stones. No way would I decided to try Stones out in CM in a semi-final even if it might prove a good move eventually.

I'm torn on who I'd pick in the wide areas; Pienaar to keep the ball and win soft frees and then replace with Geri when they tire. Or start Geri and try to get an away goal early.

Anyway, a morale victory losing on penalties is on the cards and words like "brave" and "gallant" will find us all giving Bobby a break...........for now.

I'd settle for a borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring 0-0 now.

I can see us scoring, but they'll score too – I reckon it's gonna be tight and really is there for whoever wants it.

I'll be watching from sunny Jamaica! Up the blues!

Getting new owners is the key, not our success or failure tonight.

Yours is the type of cowardly, shithouse post I can't stand. Terrified of a bit of stick off them should they do us in a final.

Why are some fans so fearful and paranoid of Liverpool FC?

Ross certainly gets it from the crowd, he needs to learn, and in time he will, but for now we should be encouraging the lad, and not shooting his confidence to bits.

Yes he needs to look up, pick out a team mate instead of the extra dribble, but all that will come with time and patience.

Last time this waffle merchant won a cup, he got relegated... I hope it's not an omen.

"cowardly, shithouse"

Bit over the top that, son.

Nope, it isn't over the top.

Anyone who is happy for us to lose tonight so not running the risk of getting beat in a final to them and getting some grief off their fans is exactly that.

Losing to them at Wembley was as dark as it gets.

Forget Liverpool. It's City were playing. When we see them off, then we will sort Shite out.

We say the team are not fighters. Just look at your posts and see how similar you are.

Less Negativity, if only for tonight.

COYBs.

Yep that source has moved on . .as in - There never was one.

Difficult to believe some actually bought it

I just saw through it instantly.

I'm with you all the way, bollocks to the shite, lets get this game done and dusted, then tear a strip off the shite in the final.

Let's be positive Blues, every dog has its day, we are due one.

Ossie starting tonight. Will he be marking Toure?

Why has he started Osman?

Why is Stones at RB?

I would have played Lennon or Pienaar on the left and why isn't Seamus playing.....

Rom needs to be connecting to Del's crosses.
Come on Everton WE CAN DO THIS!!