This tournament is getting more important, particularly with the decision to award the winners a Champions League spot from 2015/16.
With the top four increasingly hard to break Everton will see this tournament as a great opportunity to get to the top table of European football over the next couple of years.
Everton’s squad looks as deep as it has in a while so there is no reason at all to think that they won’t be going for it in this competition.
Samuel Eto’o and Sylvain Distin are available so Roberto Martinez can, if he wishes, put out something resembling his favourite side – Ross Barkley apart of course.
An excellent result at the weekend can be complemented by a really commanding performance at home against arguably Everton’s toughest opponent in the group. But it’s a chance to hone the collective early season match fitness against quality opposition.
Martinez won’t want to blunt his attacking options by overplaying them but we would like to see Lukaku and Eto’o start. By the time Eto’o gets knackered the requisite damage can already have been done to the opposition. The other great thing about Eto’o and Lukaku is that they are both intelligent enough to play anywhere across the front line. So we’d give Naismith a rest and pop Eto’o in from the off to see how he and the Belgian continue to dovetail.
We might also give Distin a run out and give Stones a rest – however difficult he’s becoming to leave out. Other than it’s a similar line up to the victory over West Brom.
Everton fans: would you start with Eto’o and Lukaku tonight? Click for the full size line up.
Russ Fairhurst
Sep 18, 2014 at 3:28 pm
Yes, I would give it a try. Not sure about leaving Naismith out…he has to be on the bench at least the way he is playing.
Personally I would play him instead of Pienarr at present based on relative form …plus he’s already warmed up and ready if Eto has to drop out.
I agree that an early take off in scoring would be good but we have a terrible weakness in giving away late goals and defending a lead. That lead has to be big enough to allow for at least one failing in the dying minutes.
But it would be great if Martinez is prepared to step out and play the two up from at some stage…what a prospect if they gel and fire on all cylinders.
Russ
Jamie
Sep 18, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Not sure about dropping Naismith. I think we need Eto’o to play. Great player, won 2 champions league and has loads of experience. Only thing I would change is Besic for McCarthy, Lukaku for Eto’o and Eto’o for Naismith. 🙂