everton fans very worried about their team, and no saha (hopefully) and moyes looking depressed....................so we need to take advanatage

expect they'll play 4411 with cahill behind the striker and everyone else sitting deep and working hard and hoping for a set piece goal

we have to work as hard, play back to front quickly and get it wide and get some crosses in - carlo won't do this but we could play 352

with no saha I'm going 2-0 blueboys

They are always a difficult team to beat. Even if they have some injuries. We dont beat them often enough and I think the last time was in the FA cup final 2009. Torres cannot play so I reckon it will be our usual front three with maybe Kalou starting ahead of Anelka. I hope to see Ramires-Josh-Lamps midfield and maybe give JT a rest and play Ivan and Luiz as the centrebacks.

Even with them in bad form it will be far from easy. They usually do very well at the Bridge, and Moyes usually sets up teams that are combative and are hard to beat. I'd love to see Josh start but not holding my breath, which is quite sad to be honest.

No Saha you say? That's the best news I've heard all week.

Petr, Ivan, Luiz, JT, Ash, Mikel, Ramires, Lampard, Anelka, Kalou, Drogba. 4-3-3.

I've picked Anelka, Kalou and Ramires because I view them as being the best three players we have on the quick counter. Kalou in particular should sit high on that right hand side behind Baines, because that will be our best chance to stretch Everton when they turn possession over and Baines gets too far forward. I haven't picked Josh because I think he might be overpowered by Felliani, Cahill etc. in that Everton midfield, particularly given that Phil Dowd is refereeing and he will let them bash Josh from pillar to post.

It'll be a tight game with Moyes looking to defend narrow shut down Drogba and track Lampard as he always does. There won't be a lot of space and it'll take a mistake or a good piece of work to win it.

I actually think it'll go to penalties after 1-1 we'll get through 4-2.

Cech

Ivan, Luiz, JT, Ash

Josh, Ramires, Essien/Lampard, Malouda

Torres, Drogba

As others have said, if Saha isn't fit, that's great news as he always gives JT fits - probably one of the players he consistently does worse against. If Saha does start, I would be tempted to play Branners and Luiz in the centre and give JT a rest, but that's never going to happen. We really should win this, but given the difficulty we've had of late breaking teams down, and the fact that Moyes' teams are always very well drilled, it might not be as easy as we would like.

Cech

Ivan, Luiz, JT, Ash

Josh, Ramires, Essien/Lampard, Malouda

Torres, Drogba

Torres is cup tied.

I think Everton will be massively up for this after an awful performance at Bolton. Moyes said it was one of the worst he has seen since hes been in charge so I cant imagine they have had an easy week on the training ground. No Saha would be a bonus but Cahill is dangerous so will need to be tight at the back.

Hopefully a 2-1 win though.

Cech

Ivan, Luiz, JT, Ash

Josh, Ramires, Essien/Lampard, Malouda

Torres, Drogba

Torres is cup tied.

And Josh on the right wing would be a complete waste of talent.

No Saha you say? That's the best news I've heard all week.

Petr, Ivan, Luiz, JT, Ash, Mikel, Ramires, Lampard, Anelka, Kalou, Drogba. 4-3-3.

This one please.

Mikel playing as he's the best player we have for defensive midfield, and is more disciplined and less likely to stray. Means that Cahill will have less space to operate in.

This one please.

Mikel playing as he's the best player we have for defensive midfield, and is more disciplined and less likely to stray. Means that Cahill will have less space to operate in.

I assume though that if Saha isnt playing that Cahill would be right up top as opposed to an attacking midfielder. But i agree that Mikel should get that defensive position. He would need to support Ramires against Fellani, as Ramires will probably be outmuscled by him most of the time.

Without Saha I can see us having a very frustrating time trying to break them down. They will pack the midfield and if we faff about without any width again our forwards will see little service.

Option 1:

A telling pass from Josh to Drogs for a 1-0 win.

Option 2:

Borini off the bench with a hat trick in the last 5 minutes.

:)

Bos --- Ivan ----- Terry---- Cole

------------Luiz---------------------

Ramires--------Lampard--------

Anelka--Drogba-----Kalou

Kalou earned the start before Torres came with strong performances. I want Josh in there for Lamps but its not going to happen.

We all know Everton will sit back so having the more attack minded Bosingwa will help us with our width. Luiz can offer a ton as the link between defense and midfield, he has so much energy and enthusiasm and I think we need to maximize that in midfield.

If Anelka or Kalou flop I'd like to see Zhirkov brought in. He has resumed full training so an appearance isn't out of the question.

Edited February 17, 201115 yr by Saaladin

Borini off the bench with a hat trick in the last 5 minutes.

:)

"Captain Fabio Borini netted an amazing five times to bring Chelsea Reserves back from 3-0 down on a cold afternoon in Birmingham, against West Bromwich Albion Reserves on 20 Oct 2010"

Time we sent him out on loan then

Without Saha I can see us having a very frustrating time trying to break them down. They will pack the midfield and if we faff about without any width again our forwards will see little service. Option 1:

A telling pass from Josh to Drogs for a 1-0 win.

Option 2:

Borini off the bench with a hat trick in the last 5 minutes.

:)

That's how I see it.

All this talk of "Play Mikel as the DM....................". WHY THE f**k DO WE NEED TO PLAY WITH A DM???!!! A DM is the last thing we need for a game like this.

At home, against an average Everton side, with little in the way of attacking threat in a cup match where there has to be an outcome and we're not playing for a 0-0 a la Champions League. No doubt the arguement will come that if we play with Mikel, it gives the oppurtunity for the full backs to bomb on but I can't remember the last time that happened.

Wasn't it Shankly who once said "football is a simple game made complicated by those who should know better"?

Let's play Josh, keep the ball on the deck and pass it and attack, attack, attack and beat them about 4-0 like we should do.

Edited February 17, 201115 yr by Nibs

Don't be surprised to see Saha play

That's how I see it.

All this talk of "Play Mikel as the DM....................". WHY THE f**k DO WE NEED TO PLAY WITH A DM???!!! A DM is the last thing we need for a game like this.

A DM gives players like Ashley and Bran the opportunity to go forward so we are less likely to be exposed on the counter attack.

If Saha doesn't play who do you reckon we're looking at up top? Beckford or Anichebe?

A DM gives players like Ashley and Bran the opportunity to go forward so we are less likely to be exposed on the counter attack.

I give up

I get your point. Its the same story of being over-dependent on the full backs to provide any sort of service to the front men. But then we don't have any natural width which is why the full backs have to be used. Unless we see something like this maybe.

................Cech

Ivan.... Luiz ......Terry.. Cole

.......Ramires McEachran

.............Lampard

Kalou ........................Zhirkov

................Drogba

A DM gives players like Ashley and Bran the opportunity to go forward so we are less likely to be exposed on the counter attack.

If Saha doesn't play who do you reckon we're looking at up top? Beckford or Anichebe?

Exactly, a DM doesn't mean yer playing defensively, it means you are assigning one player with a defensive role in order to free up your more offensively talented players. Playing Lampard without a DM behind him means he has to track back every time and that would surely reduce his effectiveness and that of Ramires as well.

Exactly, a DM doesn't mean yer playing defensively, it means you are assigning one player with a defensive role in order to free up your more offensively talented players. Playing Lampard without a DM behind him means he has to track back every time and that would surely reduce his effectiveness and that of Ramires as well.

What like against Liverpool you mean (and for the majority of the season)? If playing Mikel (or any DM) with Lamps freed up to make his runs, what has been going wrong then?

We've tried that. Time for something else (plan B?) IMO and no better time than the next match. FA Cup. Knockout. sh*t or bust.

Edited February 17, 201115 yr by Nibs

What like against Liverpool you mean (and for the majority of the season)? If playing Mikel (or any DM) with Lamps freed up to make his runs, what has been going wrong then?

We've tried that. Time for something else (plan B?) IMO and no better time than the next match. FA Cup. Knockout. sh*t or bust.

The problem against Liverpool and AGAIN against Fulham was a complete lack of width which made our attack ridiculously predictable and easily defensible. IMO, it had nothing to do with having a DM, it had to do with having a DM plus 2 central mids in front of him plus two more central attacking players in front of them plus Torres down the middle. Everyone was stacked in front of the other. It was a shocking strategy. Frank doesn't like having intermediaries between him and the forwards and Malouda and Anelka were in his way the whole game. We need to regain our width and let our central mids play the game.

Lamps is also in bad form as is Essien which has also contributed. Ancelotti has been rigid in both formation and player selection.

Edited February 17, 201115 yr by Saaladin

What like against Liverpool you mean (and for the majority of the season)? If playing Mikel (or any DM) with Lamps freed up to make his runs, what has been going wrong then?

We've tried that. Time for something else (plan B?) IMO and no better time than the next match. FA Cup. Knockout. sh*t or bust.

Agreed.

The logic behind playing a defensive midfielder is sound, but in practice it makes life difficult if a team is out of form.

Our entire front line has dipped in form at one time or another over the past few months. Therefore playing a defensive midfielder seems kind of counter-productive, especially in a game where we need to score.

The main reason I can see us playing 4-3-3 is because that's what the squad knows and is used to. Switching it all up before a cup game against a strong opponent could throw a spanner in the works, look at Liverpool (although this was to incorporate Torres).

I still think our strongest line-up suits the 4-3-3, and playing with 3 offensive midfielders could cause us serious trouble. We've created the chances with this formation recently, it's just the finishing that's gone to pot.

That's how I see it.

All this talk of "Play Mikel as the DM....................". WHY THE f**k DO WE NEED TO PLAY WITH A DM???!!! A DM is the last thing we need for a game like this.

At home, against an average Everton side, with little in the way of attacking threat in a cup match where there has to be an outcome and we're not playing for a 0-0 a la Champions League. No doubt the arguement will come that if we play with Mikel, it gives the oppurtunity for the full backs to bomb on but I can't remember the last time that happened.

Wasn't it Shankly who once said "football is a simple game made complicated by those who should know better"?

Let's play Josh, keep the ball on the deck and pass it and attack, attack, attack and beat them about 4-0 like we should do.

Really? Ash Cole is regularly the furthest forward player we have, and Bosingwa also gets up the pitch when he plays.

And Josh on the right wing would be a complete waste of talent.

Less of a waste than him starting on the bench.