Everton vs Rotherham United

Come on – let's rother 'em!

Olsen
Coleman Keane Holgate Nkounkou
Davies Doucouré Gomes
Iwobi Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Go 3-0 up then Gordon and Tosun replacing Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin after 60 mins so they are fresh for the important match against Wolves. (Inner voice is telling me ‘get real, this is Everton you know'...)

Prediction: Everton 4 Rotherham 1

However, I believe Rotherham have had a problem recently with Covid cases in their playing staff, so the game may not go ahead at all, at the moment.

We might be holding back Branthwaite, Bernard and Tosun to protect them while there's a chance they might be moving on (the former only on loan). I agree with Martin that it won't be easy – with weather and lack of crowd being a bit of a leveller.

Looks like that Aston Villa are to make up a team of Under-23s and academy players for their Cup game tonight, yet Man City, with 5 players with Covid, in conjunction with the Premier League, called off the game against us.

I think with so many lower league sides still involved in the Cup, and the outbreak of Covid high in the lower leagues, I really can't see how the FA Cup can possibly carry on in the normal way. Leyton Orient had to forfeit their League Cup tie with Spurs because of Covid, but Shrewsbury have been allowed to postpone their FA Cup game with Southampton because they have an outbreak of Covid in the team.

We all know that the FA Cup is a lifeline for many clubs, and it would hit the lower leagues hard if those that have qualified for the 3rd round had to forfeit their games because of Covid. Well maybe one solution would be for the FA to guarantee those lower league clubs a set amount of money should their game be called off because of an outbreak of Covid in their team.

COYFB!!!

Hopefully the first step to a successful career. What a man and what a blue. Loved him in our shirt.

Olsen
Kenny Branthwaite Godfrey Nkounkou
Davies Holgate Gomes
Iwobi Tosun Gordon

Subs: Pickford, Keane, Coleman, Doucouré, Baningime, Simms, Bernard

If we can't beat Rotherham with this team, then we don't deserve to be in the FA Cup anyway!

I can see Football being locked-down like the rest of society unless they let them have the vaccine.

What about:

Olsen
Coleman Godfrey Keane Nkoukou
Davies Holgate
Iwobi Gomes Gordon
Tosun

Not the strongest XI but still a team full of internationals and highly paid players that should be more than capable of seeing off Rotherham at home.

The season requires a squad that is ready to help and few games will be as 'easy' on paper as this one. It should be the best opportunity since the Carabao to give the likes of Gordon, Tosun and Nkoukou a start.

It's Doucouré, not 'Dacoure' or 'Doucure'.

And it's Nkounkou, not 'Nkoukou'. That one is easier than it looks – if you get the first four-letters right, then just repeat.

Sorry to call you out but it's starting to bug me... a lot.

ps: That's another one of your faves: not 'alot' – no such word. Sorry.

I don't tend to think of TW as somewhere I have to check my spellings rigorously, which is something I spend enough time doing in my day job.

Is there such a word?

Oldsen, Colemen, Kean, Holegate, Nkoncou, Davis, Dacouré, Gomez, Ricarlison, Ewobi, Tuson.

Sorry Michael, I couldn't resist.

Most difficult to spell Everton XI anyone?! : )

I cheat now and have the free version of Grammarly running in Chrome. But it's not much help with those pesky foreign names!

Meanwhile, I'm never in favour of starting with a weak team. I'd rather send players out with the message that if they put it to bed by half time 3 of them can have a rest. But having said that, at the back we have options to rotate without really weakening the side. Equally in the midfield.

So I have no worries about playing any combination of square pegs in square holes along the back 4 (and stop thinking of Holgate and Godfrey as makeshift full-backs. They are both versatile players who can each play centre back, full back or (probably) midfield.

Also with James, Siggy (I can't spell Sigurdsson) and Iwobi all able to play the number 10 role we can rotate here.

But up front we have no adequate replacements for DCL or Richarlison so they have to be in until the game is sown up.

Further forward it gets tricky to call. Surely Calvert-Lewin needs a rest? There has been no mention of James who could start, with Iwobi or Bernard on the left and Tosun up front. Hard to call.

Funny player Bernard, he has the talent to play left or in the middle but likes to give the ball away. Bernard is the only player of his kind in the squad, if only he could have two good games in a row.

Digne says he was on the training pitch and about to fire a cross in when he got tackled from behind and his ankle couldn't take it.

Amazing news, but surely he can't start that match, bench at best?

Considering the fact that our game against Man City was postponed, we have only had to play three games in the last three weeks. I'd rather see much closer to a first-choice XI (maybe rest Coleman, Doucouré and James – and play with a front 3 of Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin and Gordon) in the hope of having a comfortable lead come 70 minutes.

Not being able to break Rotherham down over 120 minutes would be poor preparation for Wolves on Tuesday night, and not being in the hat for the 4th Round would be a big downer.

Olsen
Coleman - Keane - Godfrey
Kenny - Holgate - Davies - Nkounkou
Gordon - Tosun - Richarlison

Mobile, a blend of youth and experience, and gives a few a chance to regain form (Richarlison, Coleman, Davies) or show their skills for potential buyers (Kenny, Tosun)

Or will he just replicate the 3rd Round last season and become infamous in the history of the club for another embarrassing Cup defeat?

Tosun to carry the forward-line?

As for next weekend's fixture at Villa, it may be in doubt due to the quarantining of so many Villa players.

Deifinition and usage of 'fave'

Gets by as 'informal' usage. I blame those young people.

Having said that this should give a chance to some of the fringe players who if they don't show up against Rotherham will have no chance in the Prem.

I am thinking mainly of Nkounkou (Hope that spellchecker works) and Gordon with maybe Ellis Simms given some time on the pitch.

Other than that I would treat this as a practice match for the Wolves game which will be tough.

Maybe Keane and Mina if they play and a Siggy penalty if were lucky.

Olsen
Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Nkounkou
Gomes, Davies
Iwobi, James, Gordon
The Cenkmeister.

Save the others for Wolves.

The theory behind bringing in the big guns late, is that the lower league team will have ran itself out and class would then prevail.

If you start with your best team with a view to taking a few off early to rest them. They will be on for the part when defiance is at its peak.

If Jay is right about Richy and DCL this could be the ideal moment to give younger strikers a chance. I think Cenk's chance may have gone. If so, I would rather play junior forwards than push senior players into a position they don't normally play...

Get yourself onto Betfair. There will be plenty of people who'll be happy to give you better odds than that.

Stay away from sharks like Paul Tran though.

Not much value around for this game.

Im going with Everton win and both teams to score.
2/1 generally available.

Hope I do better than my last one which included Sheffield United to break their duck!

I think Lord Lucan as first scorer was less of a risk.

Especially with the City cancellation meaning he's only played once in the last two weeks.

Granted, he has been 'run into the ground' this season.

Cenk is 25/1 to get a hat trick tomorrow with Sky Bet.

Welfare and health is the priority for the UK governments and across the globe, but in English football terms, it seems to me the EPL, and the FA, are bringing the game into disrepute, as they have no longer got standard rules to confirm the playing compliance requirements, for all foot ball clubs in the top professional tiers of the game.

Throw in the VAR farce, those hamshankers on 5Live and TalkSport...

Let's hope that Everton, this season can deliver and kick on for a consistent and winning 2nd half of the season.

Belief, guts and hard work can do it and this season, any team that fancies a good battle to the end of the season has a chance of success.

Let's beat Rotherham for me this should be comfortable, but the FAC, and giant killing is legendary but not tomorrow at GP.

Let's do them and then to focus on Wolves and go there, to play like the players lives depend on the result at Wolves.

A couple of big games and Everton, are in the mix.

All stay safe and well.

I'm concerned we're without DCL tomorrow as he's one player who I don't think needs resting and wouldn't be phased with this type of opposition. They might try and rough the Premier League "prima donna" up, but within 5 minutes would realise they are dealing with Dom from Sheffield who has a fitness level and engine on him they will be praying for after 60 minutes.

With these games, I'm in the traditional camp. Go out strong and win it, then bring players off. Certain teams have the depth, but if we go out weak, we go out on a banana skin and then risk chasing the game against a team that would likely dig in and we're not great at coming back against that.

Not being negative and we should beat them, I would just rather go strong, get them beaten and then rest, not vice versa.

I suppose what John might be trying to say is that we are better now than when we played in 2018. So theoretically should cruise this. Theoretically.

Thing is, I don't know if they are improved, worse or similar to then.

And throw into the mix it's a cup fixture in an already unpredictable season, then who knows!!

Just get through to the next round. So take it serious, play a strong team. Happy with a couple of changes.

Keep the defensive unit strong. Allow Holgate and Godfrey the chance to have a little more freedom to play as more attacking full backs and see what they have to offer.

Happy for Cenk to play, it may be his last game for us and see what magic the FA cup can do for us in the next round.

As for football carrying on.. stupid is as stupid does. Elite sports should take a break.

I can't see James starting against a team in the Championship relegation zone though. Maybe Bernard at 10? Save the magician for Portugal... sorry, Wolves on Tuesday.

Will listen to the game on talkSport. Wonder which ex-Liverpool player they'll have as "expert summariser"?

Justin (67) – If it is attacking full-backs you are after, then I wouldn't look towards Godfrey or Holgate. They are both very good young centre-halves but neither possesses any significant attacking talent or intent.

Olsen
Coleman Keane Godfrey Nkounkou
Davies Gomes
Iwobi James Gordon
Tosun

I just watched Howard's Way again with my 6-year-old son as he loves it!! We are surely due our day in the sun!! Some luck please and let's win the Cup!!! All the young Evertonians out there deserve it and need it!

With them training at Finch Farm seems it's only a matter of time the lads will become an issue.

Tony #73

It's a cup-tie, Rotherham will be rested due to having no match last week, they will also be highly motivated, and given Everton's inability to create and score chances in recent weeks, it will not be an easy match for us. We should have enough to beat them, but they could easily achieve a draw and take us to the lottery of penalties.

I believe we have improved since August 2018. Of course shocks can happen but providing our players, whoever they are, turn up they should have little difficulty in winning this one.

I know you are joking, but if that was the case, we'd either fulfill the fixture with the youth players, etc or we'd forfeit the match and our place in the FA Cup.

According to a tweet from Alan MyersThe Premier League has told all its clubs to crack down hard on players who breach Coronavirus rules, or face punishment by the governing body. The approach is a response to a number of transgressions, particularly over Christmas, where players were seen to be flouting the rules

Can't remember who said that.

We should win this, I'm expecting a drab affair with few goals as we have been dire to watch for some time now. I am not even sure if I want to watch it, given the crap we were served a week ago – I should have washed the car or something instead of wasting that 2 hours of my life.

It would be really nice to be still in this after January. I actually think it's a hard game the pressure is on Everton to get through and the home form with no fans is poor at best.

Everton should win but they should also have beaten West Ham and Leeds at home so I will take nothing for granted.

In the entire history of the club since 1878 he has to be close to the very top of worst value for money.

What do you expect? The player to say "That's a bit too much, lower the amount"?

Think Sandro must top that list – he's spent almost his entire career playing for other teams at our expense. At least Tosun is in the squad.
UTFT

How do watch BT Sport Extra 2?

Subs: Lossl, Holgate, Branthwaite, Mina, Nkounkou, Doucoure, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Simms.

Anyone who doesn't think we need better forward players with pace, (a winger and forward / striker), are kidding themselves or supporting another team.

We now have players that can pass and create but there's no one to pass to.