Desperate times for Everton manager Roberto Martinez have caused him to call on forgotten man Arouna Kone, a player who a few days ago was at best 5th choice as an option out wide after Lennon, Deulofeu, Mirallas and Cleverley.
Deulofeu and Mirallas are both left on the bench, whilst Cleverley is injured. Rather bizarrely the blues manager feels this leaves the bench without enough options on the wings so also selected Niasse and Pienaar in the 18, with Oviedo (also able to play on the wing) the only defender as an option in case of injuries.
A bench made up of a keeper, left back, defensive midfielder and four wide players seems at best an unbalanced use of the players available. What possible scenario will Steven Pienaar be used in off the bench with Deulofeu and Mirallas already there? If we’ve got four wide players fit and available why is a striker starting on the wing, especially one who hasn’t played since February? Why hasn’t Martinez been sacked yet?
The only other change from the farcical ‘effort’ at Watford last weekend is Funes Mori returning to the side in the place of the injured Phil Jagielka, Gareth Barry captains the side in his absence.
Full team: Joel, Baines, Funes Mori, Stones, Coleman, Barry, McCarthy, Kone, Barkley, Lennon, Lukaku.
Subs: Howard, Oviedo, Mirallas, Niasse, Besic, Deulofeu, Pienaar.
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