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Here's the low down on the players VVD - First name on teamsheet Yoshida - Now First Choice by default - has looked shaky in the past but generally good this season Stephens - ONE appearance at centre back where he was totally untested. Looked ok in a couple of games at right back but no real evidence is good enough to start in the prem at centre back Gardos - Been on and off injured for about 2 years, and only made the bench once(?) this season with zero first team appearances. Had previously looked good in a few matches, but would be a massive risk to think he'll play much. Cuco - OK as right back cover, again never seen at centre back but I've got a feeling could be a bit of a liability. McQueen - Why would he play centre back?! We'd be getting really desperate if that was the case. Jones - Looked pretty good in u23 games, but never made a first team appearance and would be a massive gamble to throw into mix at such a young age for a centre back Wood - behind Jones in the pecking order, doubt would get a look in at the moment. If one of VVD or Yoshida gets injured or banned for a significant length of time, would we really be alright with totally unproven players as their replacements. Maybe ok if we're happy to keep losing to save a bit of money, but would stink of Saints being cheap.

Is Stuart Taylor ever going to get a game for us?! Seems a fairly pointless signing if they thought Lewis was up to it. Lets hope he doesnt do anything stupid tonight like the penalty in the first leg, as other than that he looked ok.

That's not really true though is it... Maybe missing their best 4 or 5 players, but they still played Gabriel, Gibbs, Coquelin, Elneny, Xhaka, Ox, Ramsey and Iwobi for large parts of the match, and all of those make either the first team or bench every week. I agree that they'll probably field a slightly stronger team for the FA cup game, but to say we only beat their 3rd team is a bit harsh.

If Wilson was available (unlikely, especially for the price we'd want to pay) he'd be a good shout for sure.

I think this might break the forum - we've found something everyone can agree on!

Puel is in my opinion obviously being pushed to promote and play academy players by the powers that be - just read the commentary that came with his appointment, his continual rotation of players, (somewhat) unexpected debuts / selections, the 'promote from within' quotes about new players when we're obviously short in areas, and perhaps the least subtle clue - the massive bigging up of the famed academy products on our official sites / social media whenever they get into the matchday squad or play... I'm not saying this is a bad thing - but we can only sell so many great players and be able to unearth another Ox / Walcott / Bale from the academy... JWP is obviously the managements next big hope but it hasn't quite happened (as yet).

City, Chelsea, Utd, Spurs etc would be out of sight by now with all these chances we've squandered! Come on J-Rod!

Surely we need some competition upfront - the strikers just arent hitting the back of the net. I'm not sure who your young strikers are other than Gallagher (who's on loan all season). Seager who has been injured for ages? Olomola who proved in the cup game he was a long way from being ready? Marcus Barnes who again had been injured and totally unproven? I think it would be a massive risk to not bring another striker in, with the hope that Long or J-Rod can start scoring regularly between now and the end of the season.

I remember him looking very good in a game against us (fairly) recently...

So of the regular squad there's no Stephens, Isgrove, Sims, Olomola, Barnes and Hesketh? I guess Stephens is maybe more first team squad now along with Sims. Is Hesketh still injured?

A few weeks hanging out with Ronaldo and he's become a bit too big for his boots. I hope they are getting the deal done for a replacement ASAP - but knowing Saints it'll be Yoshida with Stephens being groomed to take over

We've struggled for goals from midfield for a while, with very little return from JWP, Davis and others like Romeu, Clasie and now Hojberg who dont ever look like scoring more than the odd goal every 10-15 matches or so. The problem this season is we've let go of our two main goal sources (Pelle and Mane) and haven't replaced them (although I like the look of Boufal - shame he's not off for a month!). Before anyone says it - Austin was already here and was signed when we had very little other options upfront with only Long as a realistic 'alternative' to Pelle at the time.

Any news on this? Clutching for any 'positive' news! haha

I thought it was fairly obvious that Puel is being told he has to give a lot of game time to the youngsters - as they always make a point via social media of all the 'academy graduates' playing. Yes, the style of football is pretty boring, but I think in some respects the rotation policy is forced upon the manager.

Imagine if where we'd be if we signed an 18m striker... I'm looking forward to our 3-8 million pound striker arriving in January.

Bertrand and Boufal were running rings around them. J-Rod looked lively and was good in the second half with a couple of goals to boot! Very relieved he put that goal from 2 yards in - thought he was cursed from that distance!

Probably had the most touches, doesn't accommodate for all the indecision and slowing down of play! Probably a 3.5/10 performance

Didnt see Hjojberg or Boufal in the video? Maybe just missed him but would be a shame if they were both missing. Maybe doing the Xmas challenge thing.

We are particularly blessed in midfield to have 7 or 8 players who can all do a good job in the prem, with Romeu, Hojbjerg, Davis, Clasie, JWP, Redmond, Tadic and Boufal joined by Reed, Sims, McQueen and Hesketh from the academy to mean we're pretty well stocked to mix and match there and keep a good quality through the team. Likewise, at full back, Cedric and Bertrand are pretty well supported by the likes of Cuco (who has had some good games despite what people have said), Stephens looking ok in his one appearance and Targett and McQueen proving themselves decent on the left side. It's upfront we're struggling, with Austin looking like the only striker we have capable of getting a goal and it not looking like he can do 90 mins twice in a week, with J-Rod and Long desperately out of form. We have some good youngsters there who might make a breakthrough there, but I doubt Olomola, Gallagher, Barnes or Seagar will do much this season (or be expected to)! What's really good to see though is that we could almost field a pretty strong all English / British team, or even all academy team in the not too distant future!

Hennessey is generally pretty poor, but yes, seemed to have his best ever game against us last(?) season. As I'm fairly local, have made it to a few games, and he's not great, but the real weak point is Martin Kelly at left back who is nowhere near good enough / comfortable on the left. Similar to when we used to play Yoshida at full back (but worse)...

Thought he played very well last night. Snapping at their heels and some good passing, as well as a great finish for the goal. He's maybe not a standout player in terms of skill, but has a good passing range, decent in the tackle and has had a couple of decent strikes on goal recently, and deserved his goal last night.

Reckon tonight could be the night Schlong breaks his duck. At least hope so!

I think this is the main thing - and he's done a number of other world class saves since he's been at Everton - when he looked like he'd never save a shot on target some matches with saints. He saved them another 2 goals at least.

I'd let him go at least out on loan. Hasnt looked anywhere near good enough ever since his injury in the multiple comebacks. Not saying I think he's a bad player, as he was good the season of his injury and before that, but needs some games at a lower level to build up confidence to score goals (and prove he can be relied upon).

What's our lineup for this? Any news on Hesketh?