Everton (H) - Sat 10th Feb, 12:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction

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Looking forward to this

Everton are better than they have been for a couple of years. You can't look at their league position and get complacent because without that deduction they're up around 11th of 12th and as good as safe.


No idea why people are saying rest key players like Rodri, like Everton are some relegation fodder team. Without their deduction, they're pretty much around the level of Chelsea, and I'd not be resting Rodri against them.
 
BlueMoonRisin’ said:
I agree. I'd be tempted to let him play as our holding midfielder to give Rodri a well earned rest.
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Think Rodri is just two yellows from a 2 game ban, it’s imperative he doesn’t pick up any in February, he’s got to get to the Palace game in April to avoid a ban.

The refs are well aware, just like his first ban v Villa, the game before the ref Tim Robinson booked Rodri for a very innocuous challenge, he knew the consequence, no idea where’s he from but it seemed premeditated at the time
 
Nunes and kovacic to start this one, both played well recently and suited to ay against a low block team, they have the ability to go past people with ease. kev on the bench, no idea who starts from Doku,Bernie,jack and Oscar...what a great problem.
 
What's happening with Jack? Apparently upset not to start against Brentford. We are going to need his experience in the big games but he needs to play before they come around.
 
blue cigar said:
Nunes and kovacic to start this one, both played well recently and suited to ay against a low block team, they have the ability to go past people with ease. kev on the bench, no idea who starts from Doku,Bernie,jack and Oscar...what a great problem.
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Everton are sixth in the away table. I don’t think Pep will be taking any chances.
 
Crooked_rain said:
Looking forward to this

Everton are better than they have been for a couple of years. You can't look at their league position and get complacent because without that deduction they're up around 11th of 12th and as good as safe.


No idea why people are saying rest key players like Rodri, like Everton are some relegation fodder team. Without their deduction, they're pretty much around the level of Chelsea, and I'd not be resting Rodri against them.
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I'm not too sure. without the deduction they'd probably not have had that 'golden patch' of a few results once they'd rolled over for the rags they went WWWW which isn't what you'd ever expect them to do especially as they followed that up with LLLDDDD.
 
blue b4 the moon said:
I'm not too sure. without the deduction they'd probably not have had that 'golden patch' of a few results once they'd rolled over for the rags they went WWWW which isn't what you'd ever expect them to do especially as they followed that up with LLLDDDD.
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That's pure speculation though

The fact is they've won 29 points on the pitch, not 19.
 
blueparrot said:
They still aren't very good.
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Neither are some of the teams we failed to beat...Yet people are suggesting we rest Rodri, that was my point.

There's no room to be resting your most important player at this stage of the season. Take him off if the game is done, certainly. Starting without him? No, it's just inviting problems.
 
It must be a headache for Pep to choose the XI with everyone fit. I'm sure he wants to keep guys content with their minutes but also not at the risk of messing up the current momentum. Guys like Nunes, Kovacic, and even Bobb probably deserve to play, but who do you drop? Is this a game you think of dropping Rodri due to his accumulation of yellow cards? It would also give him a rest before CL starts up.


Ederson
Akanji Dias Gvaridol
Stones Nunes
Doku Bobb Foden Grealish
Haaland​
 
Crooked_rain said:
Neither are some of the teams we failed to beat...Yet people are suggesting we rest Rodri, that was my point.

There's no room to be resting your most important player at this stage of the season. Take him off if the game is done, certainly. Starting without him? No, it's just inviting problems.
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If Rodri is played too much he'll suffer from fatigue (like some games last season) and is more vulnerable to picking up an injury. And if he does what do we do? He said himself he needed a rest and due to Phillips not being up to standard he's had very little rest.

I think Pep will have a contingency plan for when Rodri can't play or needs resting, and we have several options to cover his position. I think kovacic Aki and Akanji are capable, but i think Stones playing there wouldn't be much of a downgrade, and he's probably the most likely to deputise for Rodri when we to give Rodders a well earned rest.
 
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