Former Everton star Michael Ball explains why he feels the tie with Mansfield Town must be taken seriously
David Moyes on the side line during the Premier League match between Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images
David Moyes on the side line during the Premier League match between Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images
Making genuine progress up the Premier League is the long-term goal for Everton but wouldn’t a cup run be a great way to start this new era?
Everton supporters have been starved of success for so long and anything that can increase positivity through this season would be a good thing. The club has to believe that such a feat is possible and when you look at the success Newcastle United and Crystal Palace had last year then there is plenty of evidence that a trip to Wembley is there with a bit of luck and good planning.
That can start on Wednesday night with the visit of Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup. This has to be viewed as an important game even if it comes at a busy time when the club has its eyes on the new Premier League campaign and the final days of the transfer window.
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It is a big match for so many reasons - not just because it is the first cup game at the new stadium.
After the win over Brighton this is now an opportunity to breed more confidence and build momentum, wiping out that disappointing start at Leeds United and putting the players in a good place ahead of the trip to Wolves at the weekend.
For that reason I do not want to see what I have witnessed on so many occasions when Everton have been involved in the early stages of the cup competitions.
So often the team seems to get dragged down to the level of the opposition. That is not meant to discredit Mansfield in any way - they are on a very good run and scoring plenty of goals in the process, they are not to be taken for granted.
But I would like to see standards remain high in this match, for the Blues to make the most of another opportunity to get to know each other and the new stadium.
It is also an important match because this is one last chance for some squad players to prove their worth ahead of the end of the transfer window.
For the likes of Youssef Chermiti, Nathan Patterson - if he is available - and Harrison Armstrong this is a chance to state their case for inclusion within David Moyes’ plans for the season.
I suspect Everton will be open to allowing some players to leave but the squad is short and anyone who can make an impression may be of value to the manager - particularly in some of the more problematic areas.
The player I would most like to see get a game is Adam Aznou. He was on the bench on Sunday and so will hopefully be available. He is clearly highly-rated but struggled against Roma and it would be really useful if he could get some minutes to start gaining in confidence at his new club.
Everton are having so many issues at full-back that Aznou could be really useful if he can develop through the campaign.
That is what I am looking for - a good performance, some good signs from some fringe players, and a route through to the next round after another confidence-boosting result and display.