Morning Merseyside! Be gentle with me. I can file an 800 word analysis on the whistle, or top and tail a 1,000 word runner before the match has even finished, but I’m new to this LiveBlog lark! Plenty going on today … including Roberto giving his press conference ahead of Monday’s visit of QPR. Get involved!!
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Barely 14 hours after he last spoke to the press, there was nothing dramatically revealing from the pre-QPR press conference.
Salient points were: John Stones has trained and is contention for QPR, along with James McCarthy, Steven Naismith and Darron Gibson. Be a big surprise if Stones is involved though after such a long absence.
Ryan Ledson is ready to compete for a first team place.
And if Roberto IS planning any transfer activity in January, he’s keeping it a closely guarded secret!
Everton’s John Stones. Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Report on Christian Atsu hamstring injury is due in the next couple of hours.
Roberto Martinez believes two or three of the young players who faced Krasnodar are ready to fight for their first team places now.
“To see Kieran Dowell and Ryan Ledson at 17 cope with that environment was a phenomenal sign,” he said.
Martinez added: “It is true that at the moment, points-wise, we haven’t got what we want and we are catching up a bit. But I do feel we are ready to set real high standards in the league.”
On transfer speculation Martinez added: “We must be getting close to January. I am happy with the numbers and squad we have here.”
Gareth Barry wanted to be involved against Krasnodar because he is suspended for QPR and wanted to help Ryan Ledson. “That was a nice touch,” said Roberto Martinez.
On Monday’s visit of QPR the Blues boss added: “Harry Redknapp has found the right formula and QPR are at the best moment of their season.
“It’s a very, very important period of the season for us and this is the worst time of the season to play them. We will give them the respect they deserve.”
We’re underway!
Steven Naismith, James McCarthy, John Stones and Darron Gibson “All have an opportunity to be involved” on Monday says Martinez.
“Arouna Kone is fully fit and back in the fold too,” says Roberto. John Stones is two or three weeks ahead of schedule and has trained once with the first team.
Roberto’s obviously working them hard today. Press Conference scheduled to start at 12.15pm. But video link now counting down from nine minutes!!
As soon as it starts we’ll bring you all the relevant details
Gary Speed started the season as skipper, Dave Watson got the armband back when Speedo was injured on Boxing Day at Old Trafford. Howard Kendall took the inspired decision to then give Duncan Ferguson the armband v Bolton. When he got injured it was a less inspired decision to hand it to Slaven Bilic for a goaless draw v Newcastle. Then finally, Nick Barmby wore it for three games in March. Everton even won one of them!
Nick Barmby, in the 1997 Everton kit
Steven Pienaar described it as a honour to skipper Everton against Krasnodar last night. Link:
In 1997/98 Everton had FIVE different skippers. Reckon you can name them? Clue. Mitch Ward was the following season! I’ll let you know later
OSC Lille v Everton FC in the UEFA Europa League,at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy,Lille,France. Steven Pienaar on the attack.
I don’t mind the switch to be fair …..
Nothing says magic of the FA Cup like Everton vs West Ham on a Tuesday night on BT Sport….
— James Masters (@Masters_JamesD) December 12, 2014
Will Evertonians see Christian Atsu in an Everton shirt again? He’s set for a scan on a hamstring injury Then could be heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations. He actually looked bright for 11 minutes last night …
Christian Atsu Hands up if you’re off to Equatorial Guinea …
Leighton Baines is a contender for the FA@s England Player of the Year award? Will he get your vote? Link:
Leighton Baines during a training session at St George’s Park, Burton-Upon-Trent today
Everton have had a result with the rescheduling of their FA Cup tie against West Ham. It will (Free £25 bet offer) Kick-off on Tuesday Jan 6 at 7.45pm. A much needed five day break between the trip to Hull and the third round tie
Our FA Cup third round tie at home to West Ham United will take place on 6 January at 7.45pm. #EFC
— Everton (@Everton) December 12, 2014
If you’re at a loose end in Southport tonight Big Nev’s always worth a listen. Kevin Ratcliffe might even get a word in edgeways too
Looking forward to visiting the Atkinson theatre in southport tonight with rats
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) December 12, 2014
Everton’s blank last night means that the long-running wait for a 500th different Blues scorer goes on. Antolin Alcaraz and Arouna Kone both went close. Monday maybe? Mo Besic anyone?
Aaaaghh! So now I’ll have to carry on bringing up that 500th different scorer thing before QPR on Monday and into the forseeable future #ffs
— Steve Johnson (@stevejohnson95) December 11, 2014
In case you were up at night wondering ….
Brilliant spot by @ecwc85 – Kieran Dowell now has the honour of wearing #EFC’s highest ever shirt number (51) in a competitive game!
— Steve Johnson (@stevejohnson95) December 11, 2014
Everton’s Kieran Dowell (left) and Krasnodar’s Yury Gazinskiy in action Numbers game. Kieran Dowell, Everton’s number 51
One from 27 years ago today! Echo columnist Ian Snodin with a VERY rare goal. Past Peter Shilton. From 25 yards!! Shilts was clearly getting on a bit then
Round-up of last night’s other Europa League action. My personal wish for Monday? Guingamp. Currently 16th in La Ligue, a lovely part of of France, easy to get to … and I have friends in Brittany. C’est la Vie!
Brittany coast 460 Brittany. Bit cool at this time of year though!
Big Sam has been moaning about the frantic festive fixture list. Howard Kendall has a simple message for him: get on with it! Read today’s Echo column here
Goodison Park, home ground of Everton football club, covered in snow the day before their match is called off. 7th February 1969. it will take a stud, ref!
Want something else to read? How about ‘Grievous Censorship’ By The Guardian: Israel, Gaza And The Termination Of Nafeez Ahmed’s Blog
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