Everton have been a bit of a bogey team for us recently. Last season we lost three times to them. Today we need to exorcise some ghosts and hopefully we will do it in style.
We are all bouyed up after the Aston Villa result, and the prospect of climbing to twelfth place should be enough to gee up the players – as if they should need it.
It seems likely that both Carlton Cole and Herita Ilunga will miss the match after having to go off in the first half against Villa. Jonathan Spector is likely to replace Ilunga, although it would be good to see Fabio Daprela. It’s also clear that Zavon Hines will replace Cole. They are very different types of players, so a shift in formation may be required, with Franco taking on the role of central striker and target man. I’m sure Diamanti will be frustrated not to be in the starting lineup, but his turn will surely come. I don’t see that happening tomorrow as it is difficult to see who Zola would drop from the midfield four – especially after Mark Noble came back to form on Wednesday.
It would also be astonishing if Da Costa didn’t keep his place after his more than impressive performance on Wednesday. Tomkins is one of my favourite players, but I’d like to see Da Costa get a run of a few games so he can show us what he is made of.
So I’d expct the lineup to be Green, Da Costa, Upson, Spector, Faubert, Nible, Parker, Collison, Behrami, Franco, Hines.
Prediction: 2-0
Am a bit nervous if we're without Carlton Cole, especially as we'd have no recognized cover on the bench (Diamanti is more of an attacking midfielder, it seems to me). Let's hope CC is back soon. But our midfield were on fire against Villa, and Franco and Hines are still unknown quantities for most opposition defences, so with our now-famous tackles flying in(!) I reckon we have a chance, even though Everton usually do well against us. I'm not as confident as Iain that we'll keep a clean sheet though – I'd bet good money that there will be a lot of pressure on our left! 2-1 to the Irons, I'd say.
Everton are a team I do not enjoy us playing – three defeats last year was almost too much for me! I am nervous too about today, but confident we can do well as there is a lot at stake and the boost in confidence by climbing to 12 or 13 (depending on results) would be too good an opportunity to miss. I will go with Iain on the team selection but fear the loss of Cole and Ilunga may prove too much. A hard earned 2-1 to us! Also, I hope Parker doesnt pick up another yellow card – would he be banned next game if he does?
I believe the next milestone for Parker is 10 bookings. He is on 6 at the moment. When he hits ten that is a 2 match ban. The two yellows he got against Arsenal are not counted as they resulted in an automatic 1 match suspension for the resulting red card.
Parker was suspended at Stoke which was 4 games ago, so we've probably still got a couple of games or so of him left before he's off again! I'd hope to see him in the England – he's at least as good as Gareth Barry.
With Hull meeting Stoke & Fulham Wigan today we have a good chance to climb the table. With Everton playing Thursday and their injuries along with their run of not winning since September it all looks good on paper. We have a renewed confidence after our win against Villa and must not complacent and make the silly mistakes that have cost us in the prevoius games. We must now build on Wednesday win and make todays game count in our favour. We also must not continually rely on CC as now he is injured so must look to Hines & Franco with others to fill that gap. Heres to the same result against Villa 2-1.
Chris i agree with your point about CC we can't keep relying on him all the time,the other strikers have to step up and be counted.This is a great opportunity for Franco & Zavon to stake a claim,we need some competiton for places so when we can we can we can give CC a rest. Going to be a tight game today another 2-1 i think.COYI!
Loving the new nickname for Nobes – Nible.
As long as he Nibles away at the opposing team and get us a win__he can have any name he wants.Lol!
Given our track record against Everton, I wouldn't be too disappointed with a point… but… after the win we got midweek and Evertons terrrible run of form, I'd really like to see an attacking formation and go after them from the start. I'd love to see Diamanti or Jimenez in at the tip of the diamond from the start, but I think you're team selection Iain will be the one we put out.
From all the stats I've read this week about this fixture, its obvious a lack of goals has been our problem (We've scored 23 in 26 games against them). So, like during the week with Villa, we need to cut out mistakes we've been making recently and score at least 2 goals… I don't see our confidence being sufficiently high enough to be able to eek out a 1-0 win.
Hines and Upson to score today… Hammers 2-0 winners…
COYI !!!!!
I'm not sure history is too relevant in the modern game, with the exception of big match derbies. Will Illunga, Da Costa, Franco, etc know anything of our recent record against Everton or care? I think it comes down to form and confidence, something which we seem to be regaining and Everton are losing. So I will also go for a 2-0 win and hope that I don't have egg on my face come 17:00! (I may well change my mind if Kovac is picked!)
i think the score will be 2nil to the Irons, west hams starting to get results, everton got poor run of results, expecting a result from west ham, Cm ‘ on u Irons!
Everton will play hard and still have dangerous players like Saha and Yakubu who can score a great goal. In this game it is purely down to the teams attitude. We are at home and have touched on a bit of form so we have to boss them early and then hold it throughout the match. So often we have lapses in the game where the whole team slows and we lose momentum. We cannot allow that today. We must strike early and keep going at them. Everton never give in and if they have a sniff of it towards the end we will get nervous again and either draw or lose. Predicting 1-1, Collison to score.
I can't see us keeping a clean sheet, I'm afraid, but do fancy us to score. Another 2-1?
Shropshire – I would rather have Quashie in front of Kovac and I'm not joking!
Does John Terry's dad attend matches? If he does, he should be banned – or do West ham ban people that run on the pitch and condone drug pushers?
What a family.
Even 10 men might be better than playing Kovac! Sorry to have such a downer on the guy, but he has done nothing to inspire me.
Oh and I know we completed the last game well without Cole but the team will miss his presence today. It is quite different starting a game without your main man, which Cole now most certainly is. Franco has big boots to fill and it is a lot to ask himself (only a couple of games in prem), Hines (a 20 year old) and Diamanti (still finding his feet) to win us the game. But this is what they will have to do – Collison and Noble will have to help them out a lot too. Also looking forward to seeing if Costa can repeat his performance today or whether he just had an unusually good game. He has some experienced tricky players to deal with.
You make some good points broganq, but I do feel that Everton are there for the taking at the moment. Rodwell seems to be their main man at the moment, he was one of the few that looked good against Benfica, if we can keep him quite then I think their chances will be limited. At the back I think they will struggle to handle Hines pace. All in all this must be a good time to play them, if we don't pick up points then we will need to take a long hard look at ourselves.
Totally agree Shropshire, it's just that I'm not yet convinced we are as confident a team/squad as the match against Villa may have made us look. We have to get at them the whole game because though they are most certainly there for the taking, we haven't beaten them in a while. It;s simple really; everyone stand up to be counted, play their hearts out and we'll win. There are no excuses but Zola has to give them a rocket and an even bigger one at half time. It is such an important game!
Just been over to west ham to drop our car off so as we've got it to come home in tonight, my wife can't handle the trains & crowds!! Coming along the barking road, we pulled up a long side Behrami going on his way to the ground at 11.15am, he's got a long afternoon ahead! hope he has a better game than he did on wednesday night!
I have a bit of a domestic situation. My wife is a Manc and is determined to watch the Chelsea game – which is on the other channel, kicking off as our second half begins….A test for my powers of persuasion!
siingapore just watch the game on line and get yourself some free brownie points. Let her think you are making a big sacrifce and then put those brownie points in the bank for the next time you meet the lads for a "quick pint" and fall in the door a few days later!
masterful!
Did you know that we would be 5th if matches finished at half-time?
That's quite some stat Devo. It probably underlines the immaturity in the team and perhaps Zola's inexperience too. Being able to score and get in front is one thing but holding out and then grinding a win is probably even harder – just look at Man City! Getting nervous mate..
No, I didn't realise that . Guess that means if we just played for the 2nd half we would be stranded at the bottom?
Agree with broganq, a sign of immaturity from both the team and Zola, plus that lack of leadership that we have harked on about.
Still feel good about today though, even if I will have to make do with 5 live and MotD2, as off travelling to my daughters in the next hour or so.
COYI
does any1 know the Irons line up against toffees? thanks.
2-0! Come on boys!
Was suppose to be going! But bloody power steering went on the car
Any decent streams anyone?
ye matt i also think its gonna be 2nil, do u know the west ham line up m8, thanks
Watching the Hull v Stoke game, well I say watching am actually sprawled on the couch suffering through a hangover with the match playing on the tv. I am torn between my intense dislike of Stoke and my wish to keep Hull below us going into our game against Everton.
I think I will just have to hope for a draw and wish for Stoke's demise to come another day.
Why do you dislike Stoke intensely???
Ehthers just scored for Stoke and what a splendid goal it was! 2 in 2 now!
Hahahahaha sis anyone just see that free kick from Stoke? What the hell was that??? lol!
Nearly worked though! lol
Just seen Jiminez is starting ahead of Nible:-)
1-0 Everton! Green should have had that!
We're back in Bottom 3 by the way!
Hull beat Stoke 2-1