The Europa League group stage is back. We strode our way to this stage as we bypassed MFK Ružomberok and Hajduk Split with relative ease, bar a Split wonder goal in Croatia. So our Europa League efforts are in stark contrast with our Premier League season, which has started woefully. But Thursday night is a time to forget about domestic woes and remember that we’re in the hunt for European glory.
So it’s going to be a team of change on Thursday, and hopefully Koeman will follow suit by ripping up the tactics book and revamping a lethargic side. The tactics are too similar to last season and there’s two problems with that: Firstly, we’ve lost Rom, and secondly, we haven’t replaced him. We have no one who offers what Lukaku could anymore, so the Romelu-centric tactics have to be forgotten.
Build the team around the talented midfield we have and let’s have a go. Our defe-… our Jordan Pickford is enough to stop most of Atalanta’s hypothetical attack and we have natural width on the left with Baines. Focus on our strengths Ronald.
But I’m not Ronald, so here’s my XI.
GK - Jordan Pickford
Well there shouldn’t be any debate over this one.
It all gets messy from here on though.
RB - Jonjoe Kenny
With Martina being verbally crucified on Saturday, it’s time for Koeman to wise up and introduce the U23s captain into the first-team setup.
CB - Mason Holgate
He is an accomplished centre-half already and he certainly will add more pace into a slow central defence. Alongside an experienced partner, Holgate can be a real asset to our side.
CB - Michael Keane
There is a gap now between Keane and the rest of our defenders, with Jagielka having some very poor moments this season and with Williams falling off of a cliff against Spurs.
This is not a game to be resting a player of Keane’s caliber so he starts again.
LB - Leighton Baines
Normally when players enter the twilight of their careers, they struggle to play 90 minutes more than once every week, or so is the consensus. Baines is showing no signs of slowing down after playing every minute of our campaign thus far. There’s no reason to ‘rest’ him now, especially with no cover in his position.
RM - Nikola Vlašić
We need some new blood in a dead attack, basically.
Vlašić had a brief cameo against Spurs and looked sharp, but we can’t judge anyone after 10 minutes, so let’s give him a start. With a free-flowing system with actual wingers, everyone would benefit rather than just trying to shoehorn names into a side.
CM - Gylfi Sigurdsson
He’s not a winger, and if we have to compromise on him not playing attacking midfield I’d much rather have him deeper than out wide.
He has been largely ineffectual since joining bar a wonder goal against Split, so he needs a real breakout game to establish himself.
CM - Idrissa Gana Gueye
Gueye has had some good performances this season but is struggling to be the Player of the Year that he was last season. Granted, the team as a whole is worse but that’s no excuse.
Hopefully with a revamped system, Gueye can shine again.
LM - Ademola Lookman
Lookman has been given a few opportunities this season, and has looked mightily impressive in Europe. Most importantly though, he’s an out and out winger, something which Koeman has shied away from utilising so far.
When the current shape isn’t working, alter the shape.
ST - Dominic Calvert-Lewin
We need to switch system ( I feel i’ve said that enough already) and we also need to switch the focal point of the team.
Lukaku was an excellent target to pick out, and Sandro most definitely isn’t. Calvert-Lewin has shown that he is supremely calm on the ball and most importantly, he knows where the goal is.
However, he’ll benefit from having someone alongside him…
Who could it be?
ST - Oumar Niasse
Something that looked unthinkable this time even a month ago, but Oumar Niasse should start for Everton.
The man’s attitude has been second to none and he’s scored goals wherever he’s been since his expulsion from Koeman’s first team, be that in the U23 side or Hull’s first team.
He deserves another chance, and if he comes good then we all benefit, but if he doesn’t then we forget about it. Not many downsides to this.
He’s still scoring this season, and he is giving everything he’s got for Unsworth, so it’s time for Koeman to swallow his considerable pride.