Everton 3 (Barkley, Mirallas, Naismith) v QPR 1 (Zamora)

So here we go, back with a bang on a Monday night. Harry 'Brown Bag' Redknapp brings his squad to Goodison Park in what will be the start of a productive festive period of games for Everton.

This is the first of six games in twenty-three days for the mighty Blues and a nice 3pts will kick of the run.

Everton 3 QPR 0.

TEAM NEWS:

John Stones could make his Everton comeback against Queens Park Rangers on Monday, manager Roberto Martinez has revealed.

The defender hasn't featured for the Blues since injuring an ankle against Manchester United in October and was expected to be out until the New Year.

However, Stones is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation and, along with Steven Naismith, James McCarthy (both hamstring) and Darron Gibson (knee), will be assessed ahead of the visit of Harry Redknapp's men.

Martinez said: "John is ahead of schedule - probably two or three weeks ahead - but I would expect that. He's such a quick healer and he hasn't stopped for one second trying to win those small margins to get back early.

"He's come back and trained once with the team and he came through that really, really well. Now it's just a matter of making a good measurement of when it's right to allow him to be involved in a competitive game.

"We've got four players who we'll assess - James McCarthy, Steven Naismith, John Stones and Darron Gibson.

"All four have got different situations but I feel all four have got an opportunity to be involved, so it's a good situation."

Arouna Kone, Bryan Oviedo and Antolin Alcaraz all made their comebacks from injury against FC Krasnodar this week, while Steven Pienaar - named captain for the night against the Russians - took another step towards full fitness with a 90-minute run-out.

Martinez added: "Bryan, Arouna, Antolin Alcaraz and Steven Pienaar all getting through yesterday was a real positive and I feel we're now getting strength in numbers at a really important time with the busy festive schedule we have ahead of us."

Meanwhile, Christian Atsu is expected to miss out against QPR with the hamstring injury he sustained against Krasnodar, while Gareth Barry is suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against Manchester City last weekend.

"We're expecting a report on Christian in the next few hours," Martinez said. "Then we'll be able to see the degree of the problem. We'll miss Gareth of course, but these things happen in football and I'm sure we've got the experience to cope."

Bloody hell, we need to win this (we've said that a few times recently).

1-1.

We HAVE to win this one. Not only win it but put in a decent 90 minute performance. I expect goals from Baines, Coleman, Mirallas,Lukaku,Eto'o and Kone.

3-0 to everton with goals from Lukaku, eto'o and..... a hat trick from Kone

This is a big test. Every fucker knows how to play us now. Just sit deep and let us pass interminably and with little incision, then press us on the ball and score on the break.

We need to show that we're either ruthless when we have the upper hand, good enough with the ball to break a team down or that we have a plan B.

Over to you bobby and the blues.

2-2; Kone, kone, Les Ferdinand and Ray Wilkins

We Can't Lose this one....................... Can we

Got to win this now. We can jump up a lot of places if we win.

Then with major confidence we can go and beat the Saints.

According to Opta, Everton have made more errors leading directly to goals than any other team in the Premier League this season (eight).

Finally, a match thread with no controversy. Without any snitching distractions we're bound to win!

Hinchcliffe Corner wrote:Finally, a match thread with no controversy.  Without any snitching distractions we're bound to win!

What are you insinuating Hinchcliffe...cough Cough.


Its a big game for us tonight, nothing less than three points will do.

2-0 Lukaku/Kone.

#IMWT

They haven't got an away point all season, the only fella who has scored on an away ground for them so far is suspended.

What could possibly go wrong?

Gravy & Chips wrote:They haven't got an away point all season, the only fella who has scored on an away ground for them so far is suspended.

What could possibly go wrong?

Everton defender John Stones could make a quicker-than-expected comeback after two months out with an ankle injury.
Gareth Barry is suspended while Steven Naismith, James McCarthy and Darron Gibson will be given fitness tests.

Come on Macca lad, we haven't half missed you

Gravy & Chips wrote:Come on Macca lad, we haven't half missed you

+1

Need McCarthy back in the middle, otherwise we're shitter than shit.

Was it once mentioned about Baines, potentially following Lahm, and playing that role, one day? Wonder if Garbutts emergence could speed that up, given Bobby dropped Oviedo in there Thursday.....

tadpole wrote:Need McCarthy back in the middle, otherwise we're shitter than shit.

Was it once mentioned about Baines, potentially following Lahm, and playing that role, one day? Wonder if Garbutts emergence could speed that up, given Bobby dropped Oviedo in there Thursday.....

He was crap there though.

Sefton wrote:

Hinchcliffe Corner wrote:Finally, a match thread with no controversy.  Without any snitching distractions we're bound to win!

What are you insinuating Hinchcliffe...cough Cough.

Well it can't have been easy for the players to concentrate with all that legal stuff going on!

Hinchcliffe Corner wrote:

Sefton wrote:

Hinchcliffe Corner wrote:Finally, a match thread with no controversy.  Without any snitching distractions we're bound to win!

What are you insinuating Hinchcliffe...cough Cough.

Well it can't have been easy for the players to concentrate with all that legal stuff going on!  

Sefton wrote:

Hinchcliffe Corner wrote:

Sefton wrote:

Hinchcliffe Corner wrote:Finally, a match thread with no controversy.  Without any snitching distractions we're bound to win!

What are you insinuating Hinchcliffe...cough Cough.

Well it can't have been easy for the players to concentrate with all that legal stuff going on!  

It wass more the thought, than the performance, i was referring to. A left back in the defensive midfield role. I doubt we'll see Oviedo there again

Last 3 games that have been live on TV:

Live on TV v Spurs – LOST
Live on TV v Man City – LOST
Live on TV v FK Krasnodar – LOST

Live on TV v QPR - ……………..

Super wrote:Last 3 games that have been live on TV:

Live on TV v Spurs – LOST
Live on TV v Man City – LOST
Live on TV v FK Krasnodar – LOST

Live on TV v QPR - ……………..

Don't worry about it Super. We've lost loads more than that this season.

Super wrote:Last 3 games that have been live on TV:

Live on TV v Spurs – LOST
Live on TV v Man City – LOST
Live on TV v FK Krasnodar – LOST

Live on TV v QPR - ……………..

But the one before that, we won. So I'm not sure there's much pattern to it.

Tonteau wrote:

Super wrote:Last 3 games that have been live on TV:

Live on TV v Spurs – LOST
Live on TV v Man City – LOST
Live on TV v FK Krasnodar – LOST

Live on TV v QPR - ……………..

But the one before that, we won. So I'm not sure there's much pattern to it.

Just highlighting the fact that we are currently on a losing streak for games shown live on TV.