Read Everton editors Paddy, Rhodri and Sean give their opinions on how the Blues should set up to face Mourinho’s men on Saturday.
Paddy: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Galloway, Besic, McCarthy, Barkley, Lennon, Mirallas, Lukaku.
I’ve plumped for a 4-3-3 against Chelsea for a number of reasons. First, it’s become apparent that Martinez’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system has gone a bit stale. Not for the first time, the Barry and McCarthy defensive axis failed to get to grips with opposition runners against Spurs, and on another day we’d have lost that game comfortably. It’s my belief that this discord is partly down to shape, but also Barry’s general lack of mobility- although both players have been below-par, these lads are being asked to cover a lot of ground and I just can’t see the former City man being able to track the likes of Hazard, Pedro and Willian. The 4-1-4-1 employed during our best spell in the league last season is also an alternative I’d like to see used with the players at our disposal.
In defence, Galloway gets the nod over Oviedo, purely because the Costa Rican hasn’t looked the same player since his return from (serious) injury and could well be a liability on Saturday. People have suggested that Galloway struggled against top quality opposition in Manchester City before his injury (in truth, he did), but he’s more defensively sound than Oviedo if he’s given the type of cover sorely lacking when he faced the league’s best team. For this reason, I’d go with a three in midfield- Barkley, Besic and McCarthy is dynamic and ideally placed to counter Chelsea at pace, but also close down the away side’s options in the centre of the park. Importantly, Besic adds bite to a team short in that particular area, while this fluid three gives Martinez a numerical advantage that may well be crucial to our hopes of gaining three points.
The returning Aaron Lennon may be slightly short of match fitness, but provides a solid option on the right, both with and without the ball, while the all-Belgian combination of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas has the necessary blend of pace and power to pressurise an ailing Chelsea defence. This could well be an area in which the Blues may get some joy, particularly with Gerard Deulofeu set to be unleashed off the bench with the game stretched.
Sean: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Galloway, Barkley, Barry, McCarthy, Lennon, Lukaku, Mirallas.
After almost single-handedly earning Everton a point at Spurs, Tim Howard should retain his place in goal. 3 of the back four picks itself, but once again left-back poses a problem. With Oviedo an injury doubt, and Funes Mori completely untried in the Premier League, Brendan Galloway seems like the best option, although he will need support from the midfield. A midfield 3 of Barry, McCarthy and Barkley will give us plenty of bodies in middle to stifle Chelsea. Barry and McCarthy in particular will need to offer protection to the back four. Up front, a change in system wouldn’t go a miss after two blunt attacking league performances. A 3 of Mirallas, Lukaku and Lennon will give us plenty of pace on the counter. Throwing Lennon straight in is a gamble to an extent, due to the fact he hasn’t played any competitive football recently. But he knows how we play, and is disciplined defensively, so hopefully he can around last 60 minutes, before perhaps replacing him with Deulofeu.
Rhodri: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Oviedo, Barry, McCarthy, Barkley, Mirallas, Lennon, Lukaku.
I’d go with a 4-3-3 formation to face Chelsea, as these games are often won and lost in the centre of the park. Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic are yet to find their form, while their other central midfield options, Oscar, Ramires and John Obi Mikel, aren’t enjoying the greatest spells of their careers.
Gareth Barry is an experienced head who has probably faced every situation a footballer can possibly face on a football pitch and he still does a good job of hounding opponents and disrupting their play, though he needs to stop dilly-dallying on the ball.
James McCarthy is due a big performance, he hasn’t started the season brilliantly and needs to justify the hefty pay-rise he received in the summer. Hopefully he shakes off his minor knee knock and is ready to have a big impact.
Ross Barkley should be brimming with confidence after an impressive start to the season with club and country, and he’ll be important in driving Everton up the field with his strong, powerful runs. His passing has looked sharper recent weeks, too.
The back five pretty much picks itself but if Bryan Oviedo is available I would plump for him over Brendan Galloway, simply because a natural left-back helps the balance of the whole team. Galloway had a torrid time against Manchester City, but that wasn’t primarily his fault and besides, he’s a teenager playing out of position.
In attack, Kevin Mirallas and Aaron Lennon should be reintroduced to the starting line-up. Mirallas ups his game for the big matches and will be chomping at the bit to make an impact after predominantly starting on the bench for club and country this season. While Lennon’s lightning speed, defensive nous and ability to make things happen makes him a slightly better bet that Gerard Deulofeu for this occasion, though I would love to see the Catalan in the starting eleven sooner rather than later.
