Everton vs Salford City

It will be interesting to see which players start. Hopefully, pride, drive and hunger will now increase in the squad, now we have a trio of solid and reliable midfielders. Hopefully it will improve the desire in the squad.

Pickford
Kenny, Keane, Gibson or Branthwaite, Nkounkou
Davies, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Gordon
Kean, Walcott

Give Bolasie a half to put himself in the shop window. Hopefully, with the arrival of the new signings and the good performance against Spurs, all these players will be up for the challenge and produce good performances.

Hard one to call. The more options we now have, the more permutations. I don't think we necessarily need the same team for the continuity of form, this being very different to the Prem. but the match fitness angle is a help so early in the season.

It should be almost a given whichever team we field - but we've heard that song before.

Obviously some players from Sunday will be on the bench giving an opportunity to some others who aspire to be regular first teamers especially the youngsters, Gordon, Branthwaite etc.

And to think he was brought in to sort out the crazy spending (just thank god we got Carlo).

I admire his cool approach, his recognition, of what are mostly, useless players through no fault of his own inherited.

I also admire Farhad Moshiri, because he has never walked away from whoever was the Manager, although mostly the incorrect choice, and provided the necessary funds, on the advice of those you would think would know better!

Let's take this Cup seriously for once and get our hands on it, something we have NEVER done before, come close, but no cigar!

Winning silverware makes a statement. I haven't seen Man City, Liverpool or Manchester United turn their nose up at this.

And as the article and Derek elude to, it's frustrating that this is a competition that has eluded us. Let's take it serious, end that void in our history and get some silverware back in the cabinet.

If Pep was pleased holding it up last season, I will be this one!

Not quite the Five Boys on the old chocolate bars, whoever can remember them, but not too far away! :-)

Put the deadwood on display in the hope someone might be daft enough to buy them. My team would be:

Lössl
Kenny
Keane
Branthwaite
Nkounkou
Walcott
Davies
Besic
Bernard
Kean
Oh go on then, bloody Iwobi as well just to make up the numbers.

It's the Mickey Mouse Cup against sodding Salford so, if we don't win, this lot need shooting.

In four of five years time when the likes of Rodriguez and Allan have either moved on or retired, hopefully they will have been replaced by younger but equally as good players. You have to start somewhere and winning this cup is as good as any, and boy, do we need to win a cup!

Play the expendibles. They need game time and frankly we won't get many chances to give them that / show other clubs just how fantastic they are :)

But lots of firepower on the bench just in case it goes tits up.

On a side note, I quite like the Salford City logo. It looks like a lion Sith Lord (i.e. the villainous counterparts of the Jedi, for any non-Star Wars buffs).

This is being streamed on ESPN+.

Obviously some players from Sunday will be on the bench giving an opportunity to some others who aspire to be regular first-teamers especially the youngsters, Gordon, Branthwaite etc.

The top clubs in particular don't take it too seriously mainly because it clogs up their fixture list when they have Euro games to play which are more important.

I think a lot of my gripes goes back to the Moyes area, and him pretty much insisting on playing a weakened team, and showing little interest in this cup. The sad thing was it was probably the best hope for any silverware during that time.

Looking back to when Man City started with the oil money, they took this competition seriously. Success breeds success and I'd love to see our name on it this season.

Having said that the only players I would retain from Sunday is Pickford, Kean, Doucouré and Calvert-Lewin with Richarlison on the bench just in case.

That gives an opportunity to Kenny, Branthwaite, Nkounkou, Davies, Sigurdsson and Kean to show us if they are interested in a place in the new Everton squad or not.

If they can't beat Salford at Goodison Park, they shouldnt be playing football.

ps: I would also give Big Dunc the manager's hat for this one.

Personally, I would rest James, play Doucour all game and maybe give Allan the first 45 minutes. Some posters suggest playing Branthwaite while I would play Gibson alongside Keane.

I like that Branthwaite too, but through more or less emergency, he has been given a few chances. He looks to be a decent one for the future but has some rough edges that need polishing.

He may actually play Doucoure and Allan, as they have the experience, but are still relatively new to playing alongside each other. A few fringe players too will be expected to either showcase for Transfer purposes or prove their worth in The Last Chance Saloon.

Lossl
Kenny Keane Gibson Nkounkou
Sigurdsson Delph Davies
Walcott Kean Gordon

That still leaves the likes of Iwobi, Bernard, Bolasie, Besic, Sandro etc on the bench. Shows how bloated our squad is!

No club has feared the banana skin quite like we have.

I've lost count of the number of times managers have shied away from prospect of humiliation by playing a second string...Only to be humiliated anyway.

These cups have represented our only hope of silverware for years. What are we saving our players for ? To be out of both of them in January again ?

Get your best team on the pitch. Get more game time with them playing as a unit. Get the game won and Get the fuck out of there.

Rest ? most of them have just had more time off than a furloughed Barber

They should be told to train on their own, and to find another club ASAP. If they want to play, take a wage cut and move on.

If they want their wages, tell them they won't play football again at this club. We've got to move them out, they're sucking us dry.

TW is always then full of posters who quite rightly point out that you should always start your best eleven, changing things only when we are comfortable.

Let's not get burnt again please Don.

Full strength and full support as always.

Onward Evertonians 💙

Lössl
Kenny, Pennington, Besic, Nkounkou
Bolasie, Delph, Baningime, Iwobi
Sandro, Kean

That's a team that would strike fear into the hearts of many a Sunday League Veterans team...

For me as a rank amateur, I would start with Lossl, then Seamus, Keane, Branthwaite, Digne as the back 4. I'd include Doucoure in the mid-field along with Gordon plus Bernard as the nr 10, Kean, DCL and Richarlison.

Preservation plus enough clout would be the background for this based on the thought not to underestimate the underdog!

The pre-match team talk should be along the lines of, 'get out there and chase everything for 45 minutes. Prove you are worth your contracts because if you haven't wrapped this up by half time your careers, not just here, are over'.

I think Keane will be the one starter from Sunday to play (probably as captain). If any others are needed then we are going to be stuck with a bloated squad of over paid nobodies for a long time.
A good performance from those players listed in various orders above could create interest and allow us the funds to have fun in the last knockings of the transfer window.

I remember it well ( but couldn't recall it's name) so googled it. Link and history below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fry%27s_Chocolate_Cream

On the matter of the Salford badge, when I first saw it in the header I thought we were playing Millwall again (shudders).

Therefore after careful consideration I would pick the below. I am conscious of the powder puff midfield but still feel they should have enough for a league 2 side at home.

Pickford
Kenny Keane Branthwaite Nkounkou
Siggy Davies Iwobi
Walcott Kean Bernard

Subs - Virginia Digne Gibson Allan Doucoure Gordon Calvert-Lewin

Rest - Coleman Mina Gomes James Richarlison

Inj - Holgate Delph Gbamin Tosun

I would like to see a few if the new boys get 20-30mins

Rest Richarlison. Rest Digne. Rest Coleman. Rest Mina. Rest Gomes.

Pickford
Nkounkou Kenny Branthwaite Keane
Iwobi Davies Sigurdsson
Kean DCL Gordon

Take DCL off at half time and bring on Simms

Fixtures will be coming thick and fast and we don't want to force unnecessary injuries. We also need games for the fringe players for them to be some level up to speed when we need to call upon them.

GK: Virginia (if Pickford were to pick up an injury during the season, shouldn't our backup have had at least some competitive game experience?)
RB: Kenny (able deputy for Coleman)
CBs: Branthwaite (already played and impressed in the PL last season), Gibson (again, needs some game experience as he may be called in during the season)
RB: Nkounkou (impressive in pre-season, he will be eager to show what he can do)
MF: Iwobi, Davies, Bernard, Gordon (all of them have a point to prove)
Forwards: Kean, Walcott/Bolasie

SUBS: Lossl, Coleman, Keane, Delph, Siggy, DCL, Simms

Liverpool's kids beat us last year in the FA Cup, surely Everton's 2nd XI can ease past Salford? As someone suggested, Ferguson should be made the manager - so that Carlo can work with the first XI to get them prepared for WBA on Saturday.

GK: Virginia (if Pickford were to pick up an injury during the season, shouldn't our backup have had at least some competitive game experience?)
RB: Kenny (able deputy for Coleman)
CBs: Branthwaite (already played and impressed in the PL last season), Gibson (again, needs some game experience as he may be called in during the season)
RB: Nkounkou (impressive in pre-season, he will be eager to show what he can do)
MF: Iwobi, Davies, Bernard, Gordon (all of them have a point to prove)
Forwards: Kean, Walcott/Bolasie

SUBS: Lossl, Coleman, Keane, Delph, Siggy, DCL, Simms

Liverpool's kids beat us last year in the FA Cup, surely Everton's 2nd XI can ease past Salford? As someone suggested, Ferguson should be made the manager - so that Carlo can work with the first XI to get them prepared for WBA on Saturday.

Back in the' frantic fifties', we used to say that just about summed up the Everton front five although which of Catterick & Co deserved 'acclaim,` I know not !

Oscar Hold ? Just maybe.

But God love 'em all, we are here because they `looked after us` and our familes !

Sigurdsson (we have Delph & Davies who aren't going anywhere)
Iwobi
Walcott (assuming we are in for Bailey)
Besic
Sandro
Baningime

Also there's a balance to be struck with having inexperience down one side, so having Gibson/Branthwaite at LCB with Nkounkou doesn't work for me. So out of Mina and Digne, Digne has to start (can always be subbed when we're winning).

Pickford
Kenny - Keane - Gibson - Digne
Davies - Delph - Doucoure
Gordon - DCL - Kean

Bench: Lossl, Branthwaite, Nkounkou, Gomes, Bolasie, Bernard, Richarlison.

Salford will be up for this, luckily with Carlo at the helm we will too!

Years later I remember nan and later my mum would break the leg of the lamb before cooking.. continuing the tradition I asked mum one day why break the leg before cooking, was it to cook better?, quicker? No she replied, " it's so it can fit in the oven"
Never even thought to ask before haha

I agree this is a perfect opportunity to give a few of the tougher youngsters a game and allow Kean a full 90 minutes. There should be no place for Sigurdsson who doesn't seem to have the backbone for any sort of physical encounter.

It will be interesting to see what Carlo comes up with to balance the need to pace out the season against the priority of getting some silverware. We need to score early and kill them off by half time. 3-0 please.

Don't think that'd make any difference whatsoever to our fire sale!

Pickford
Kenny Keane Gibson Nkounkou
Walcott Doucoure Delph Iwobi
DCL Kean

Kean needs game time

The clubs we'll be selling those clowns to might be worried about the League Cup, it won't be anyone above us!!

" Haha, yes Derek they did, out of those pockets would come salt fish and the occasional leg of lamb ". Rumour has it that once he was stopped by the normally lackadaisical security, when the aforementioned cut of meat accidentally fell on the floor. Aye, Aye lad what are you doing with that? " Roast Potatoes, Carrots Peas, Mint Sauce and Gravy came the reply "! :-)

The "Fry's Five Centre" was based on the same shape as "Fry's Peppermint Cream",which was a five segmented semi oval shaped bar with each segment filled with peppermint flavoured fondant cream.

The "Five Centre" version had five segments with a different fruit flavoured fondant filling in each segment.

The "Five Boys" was a flat chocolate bar with five segments each imprinted with the face of a boy with different facial expressions.

A heavily rotated side should still have enough about them to see us safely through to the next round.

I'm one of the "play your best 11" voices on here. But for this game, with the congestion of the fixtures right out of the gate, and absolutely not wanting any of Allan, Doucoure, or James injured, we have to expect the squad to step up and prove their worth.

Save the three amigos for later in this tournament and also the weekends.

John Reynolds @ 34 also nails it for me:

but a reasonably strong selection from last year's squad would be best (if that's not an oxymoron). Starting a jewel like James against a 4th Division side would be a reckless endangerment.

Seriously, what's the over-under on something like that? Four? Five?

More than enough to beat a league two team but has height, strength, pace and power if they want to mix it up?!

Richy and James on the bench in case

If we are 3 up take off Mina, Keane and Doucouré

Last season's crab-like midfield combination could mean 0-0 after 70 minutes and we'll be shitting ourselves. I'd probably start Dacoure & Allan with Gomes or Walcott and Davies, Bolasie instead of Rodriguez, Kean instead of Richy.

Same defence and Pickford in goal, hopefully they shouldn't be too busy.

Seems Carlo is taking this seriously.

My grandad used to get off work every Friday afternoon and would take me to a sweet shop on the corner of Islington and Commutation Row and get me a Frys five boys which as you say was a flat thin bar of chocolate with boys faces imprinted in the chocolate.

Maybe we can have the Everton version of five boys with Allan, James, Doucoure, Richy and Digne. Now that would be very digestible.

We'll win the game. The 2nd string gets to prove themselves to signori Ancelotti, the has-beens get to show off for potential buyers and the youngsters gain valuable experience. In theory.

For the Scandinavian fans this game is shown live on V Sport 2 (formerly Viasport 2).

The feeling of winning a trophy again will unlock this club and be a statement. I remember feeling a wave of anticipation at Wembley in 1984 and want to feel that again. I didn't care then it was the Milk/League Cup and I don't now.

That said, I get the argument and the sentiment of not risking players. But, I hate this perception that foreign players and South Americans in particular can't "mix it". It's hardly like growing up in the Favellas or Bogota doesn't toughen you up a bit.

Likewise, as per another forum, a Man United fan reserving judgement on James until he sees him in the winter. Please, have you been to Munich & Germany in the winter?

Whoever plays tonight, let's take it serious, get the game won and get a game closer to Wembley.

Our starting midfield from two months ago will be just fine for Salford. Leave out the newbies.

Subs: Virginia, Branthwaite, Davies, Allan, Gordon, Bernard, Simms

Subs: Virginia, Branthwaite, Delph, Walcott, Bolasie, Sandro, Simms

I personally wouldn't play Rodriquez for those reasons alone. I also would not include any players that definitely don't have a future at Everton; we need to build a tight-knit squad and understandings and relationships between the players who will stay. If they're marginal but possible, maybe give them a runout.

As stated previously, and without naming names, that should still leave enough talented - and motivated - players to win this game.

I'd go:

Lossl
Kenny
Nkounkou
Branthwaite
Gibson
Davies
Gomes
Sigurdsson
Walcott
Gordon
Kean

Defence is a bit inexperienced / youthful but Gomes and Sigurdsson should control the game and plenty of goals in the front 3.

Iwobi, Bernard and Simms to make an appearance too, maybe 2nd half.

Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Nkounkou Doucouré, Allan, Gomes' Bernard Richarlison, Kean

COYB 25 years and counting

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I am glad our suffering amuses you

Be interesting to see how they feel about being picked to play Salford whereas others get rested. Lets hope the attitude is correct