[Archived] Rovers v Everton

[philipl]

Thursday lunchtime and nobody yet complaining there is no preview- these are indeed strange times indeed to be a Rovers supporter.

Everton come a-calling for the perennial early season encounter, a tradition which has usually gone our way. Even Ince conjured a 3-2 win at Goodison whilst Sam opened last season with a 1-0 win at Ewood.

Wind back the clock further and Everton away was just about the only draw that came out of the hat for Rovers facing top flight opposition for donkey's years in the late '60s/70s. Two 3-0s and a 2-0 defeat come to mind.

More recently Rovers have done pretty well against the Toffees since being restored to top flight primacy and indeed in terms of the last 19 years, Rovers have enjoyed the extremes (two years out of the PL countered by a title and a Cup) but Rovers and Everton have pretty well shadowed each other in having times of top half permanence peppered with sojourns close to the bottom without ever really threatening the top or the bottom.

The financial woes of the Toffees are well documented which paradoxically means that even after the Venky's scorched earth demolition derby tenure, Rovers would probably be a better bet for new owners than the rumoured £150m necklace of debt at Goodison.

The lack of resources has meant more often than not Everton have been taking to the field with no recognised forwards for most of last season. Certainly the club endured the most horrific run of injuries over the past 24 month making 4-6-0 the only option Moyes could put onto the park.

But Everton survived with ease and the continuing conveyor belt of young footballers is producing yet more exceptional talents.

In fact, notwithstanding the lack of funds, if Moyes keeps his players at Goodison and fit, Everton could do some damage to more lauded PL outfits this season. But that seems to be a big ask and Rovers could be facing Arteta and Jagiela in their valedictory game on Saturday as Toffees on Saturday.

The crunch when it comes to forecasting a result comes in the dug-out and at that level this is a non-contest between Moyes and Kean. I suspect that Kean's total inability to organise a defensive formation will cost Rovers very dear indeed.

Lexking popped up on our MB asking for our input for the Everton supporters' site and he has kindly answered my questions.

It turns out he is Tommi from Finland which I had hoped to be able to pair with answers to the same questions from my stepson- an avid Toffee- who is Chief Conductor with an orchestra over the border in Russia- but he is pre-occupied with preparations for a concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London shortly so I will have to post his answers later if they come in.

So over to Tommi:

Q. You live in an unusual place to find an Everton supporter. How did you come to support them?

A. Haha, that's propably quite unusual story also. And yes, I'm Finnish and we have quite a lot Evertonians here. Its a long time ago, over 20years, when I was about 10-12years old. Don't honestly remember year exactly. I've always liked football most of all the sports, played myself until somewhere age of 16-17 and after that still with friends and some fun leagues. English football has very long traditions in Finland. Somewhere from the early '70s we have had sportbet, where you have to get the correct result for 13 matches, today its premier, championship L1, L2, and always on Saturdays. Also we saw every Saturday for almost 30 years one match live (first prem/, then about last 5y it was first division/championship), loooong time before C+ etc

But the story I was as a kid a huge fan of swedish comic book, Buster (published in Finnish also). I had couple of favourite stories in that and one of them was Harjumäen Sisu(name of that team, quick translation would be Guts Of Harjumäki) and they had a star player, Eki Eskelinen, played in Finnish national team (ofc ) and then he got pro contract from England, and it was Everton. Then I really became interested to look back more about EFC, loved the history, and... was hooked

Q. How have Everton managed to get into so much debt?

A. Thats a bit of mystery. I think there can't be just one reason. Most of the fans are still wondering where have all moneys gone, cause we haven't even got Pienaar, Vaughan moneys for use for transfers. And where is that £28M earmarked for new stadium etc. Lately we have to have got new loans to pay earlier and like everyone knows, that's a really bad way to handle business. We also haven't made major sales after Rooney, and paid ~£15M for Fellaini(these days I think thats cheap btw, even I hope he dont get injured anymore that often) Also, our main man B Kendrick haven't ever got that kind of moneys, what modern day owner needs. He has took also personal loans, mortgaged almost everything he has to get money for manager. At the moment, latest loan to keep team running has taken with 2012-2013 tv moneys guarantee it. Thats also very sad. But to be honest I don't have accurate answer for this, I say the main reason is overally bad bankroll management(bad sponsordeals etc). Last years income were ~£80M, all costs ~£85M. A major of our debts are coming from all those loans we try to pay off.

Q. Goodison Park- characterful or an anochronistic dump?

A. Hmm. For me its characterful, but same time its anochronistic. Dump? Never. Its a major part of history of EFC and even its old fashioned and impossible to make modern, major part of fans love it. New stadium? may be we would get bit richer owner and more income with it, but 99% of fans want it in the town centre and that ain't easy. In my opinion, I'm still missing those Kings Dock plans, even I love Goodison.

Q. All the non-Liverpool clubs are delighted that tribal loyalties are stopping the construction of a Merseyside San Siro or Allianz Arena. Any chance of a shared stadium in future?

A. Everything is possible, but can't say it is probably going to happen. Both teams have huge history, and rivalry and own sides of town is also a big part of it.

Q. Who is worse- Venky's or Kenwright?

A. To be honest, I dont know much about Venky´s , so I can't answer this. But I think I have to find out about it, so many rovers fans seem to be unhappy about Venky´s

Q. Who is better- Kean or Moyes?

A. Moyes

Well, even David Moyes has problems with tactical side he has done absolutely amazing job all these years comparing resources he has got and he is also getting out of team 110%. One of the best managers in prem.

Negative about Moyes is he is stuck too deeply to 4-5-1 which seems not work so well anymore(of course we haven't got best 11 on pitch for a loong time) and then there's some mystery about his relationship with players. If you get into his doghouse, you dont get out. For example Yakubu last year. He was having dry season and when he finally got monkey off his back and scored us a late winner(he said in EFC official that now he will score a lot more) something happened and he suddenly was on the bench next 10-15 games, before joining Leicester on loan. At least I don't know what happened between them or what was going on. Maybe there was a reason for it, but who knows. Moyes should also find a way to renew his view about football and not just stuck in that what has been working earlier.

Q. Who is leaving- Samba or Jagielka?

A. If we get that £17-20M from Jags, I hope its him. We need that money badly, and from 29year old player I think it would be great business. Love him no doubt, but with that money it was surely best for the club. Then we could get some winger we need. English national team level centre back isn't easy to replace, but we have promising youngsters(Duffy,Skodrafi) in that position, and Heitinga is better on centre back than defensive midfield what he has played lately.

Q. More bitter enemy- Liverpool or Burnley

A. Well, I have not much of history between Burnley or their fans, so its the reds for me, even its more love/hate relationship. Reds is also very much supported team in Finland. Even more than EFC. And by the way reds fans are the bitter ones

Q. So is this your second relegation six pointer of the season having (like us) lost the first one at home?

A. I don't think we are in that bad situation, we have been started last 5 seasons totally terribly and we have recovered it. Still, every autumn we wish, this is the season when everything will go fine from start until the end and we will show others what we are capable of. Of course result vs qpr at Goodison was a huge disappointment, but this time it was not just about the result, our game looked horrible. Starts of the seasons is also something what Moyes should work better. May be a league cup game vs Sheff U will help us and gives Arteta and Fellaini those minutes under their belt what they need to get fully fit

Q. Your forecast result with reasons?

A. If we find out our working gloves, get the REAL Everton attitude out, I think we will payback last year's result, we can't keep clean sheet so it will be 2-1 for us, Becks and Barkley for us and may be that praised Junior Hoilett for you.

So thank you very much Tommi. Both clubs come into the game on the back of knocking the two Sheffields out of the League Cup 3-1 so Saturday should see a degree of optimism in the two teams. However, if Rovers get off to a bad start, all that ill-will in the Rovers crowd felt towards Kean and Venky's might finally surface.

[K-Hod]

Good preview Philip. I can see a Rovers 1-0 win, (even allowing for some notable defensive lapses) as I just cannot see where Everton are going to conjure a goal from, added to the fact that are notoriously slow starters each year.

[Mattyblue]

Enjoyable read that phil, nice one.

Tough one to call, my main issue is that our midfield is looking poorer by the week, if Pedersen and Dunn start we are staring down the barrel.

[Amo]

Thanks for the preview.

Rovers should line-up something like:

ROBINSON

SALGADO - NELSEN - SAMBA - GIVET/OLSSON

NZONZI - PETROVIC

HOILETT - FORMICA - ROCHINA/OLSSON

GOODWILLIE

[BigUts]

Thanks for the preview.

Rovers should line-up something like:

ROBINSON

SALGADO - NELSEN - SAMBA - GIVET/OLSSON

NZONZI - PETROVIC

HOILETT - FORMICA - ROCHINA/OLSSON

GOODWILLIE

We can live in hope.

Anyone know if Samba is likely to be back??

[joey_big_nose]

Okeydoke, already could be said to be a 'must win' game?! I think it is really - we have a difficult run of fixtures and confidence is futher ebbing away. So who to play? I think there is a strong argument to drop Roberts and use his as a sub, and instead of playing the direct ball to the target man instead try and get round the back of Everton targeting their fullbacks. If everyone is fit this is the team I would go for:-

----------------Goodwillie

Hoilett--------Rochina---------Vukcevic

----------Nzonzi-------Petrovic

Givet----Samba-----Nelsen---Emerton

-----------------Robinson

Subs:- Bunn, Hanley, Olsson, Formica, Pedersen, Dunn, Roberts

The core plan would be to get the ball into Hoilett as much as possible. That simple really. He is unbelievably dangerous on the left and also holds up the ball superbly. Its as fool proof a plan as you can get in football to be honest.... thats how good Hoilett is.

If Vukcevic is not ready - to be honest quite likely - then I suppose we would stick Hoilett right and Olsson on the left. However for me Junior is so much more effective on the left. I would like to see Formica in there somewhere but with Rochina scoring two midweek he deserves a crack. The side also shows somewhat the bizarre squad position we are getting into. Four attacking midfielders don't make the side - Formica, Olsson, Dunn, Pedersen - yet we are critically short upfront and only barely cover defensive midfield. This has to be addressed.

Olsson can theoretically play left back but when we are trying to defend he is a massive liability - just does not hold the line, instead roming the left wing like Roberto bloody Carlos. It's ludicrous when our defence and midfield is so weak. At times such as this where we need to shore up Givet has to come in at left back.

Looking at the team I have to say I would be hugely more confident if we had Jermaine Jones in midfield and a target man striker who could lead the line with quality. As it is we are expecting Petrovic to really hit the ground running and not only perform well but marshall the troops in midfield - no way Nzonzi is going to do that. On the plus side Petrovic does look a confident soul.

Upfront Goodwillie is going to have to figure out a way to hold onto the ball against big Premiership defenders. His best bet is probably to play down the channels on the break while Hoilett and Vukcevic cut inside. Problem is what do we do if Everton sit back? He can't compete in the air or back to goal.... Then I suppose we will be looking to Rochina to work some magic in the gap between midfield/striker....

So many ifs out there. But to be expected when pobably your best front five are all under 26 - four under 23 - and lack experience... We are gambling big time.

ps. All that said it more than likely that Kean will put two out of Roberts/Pedersen/Dunn in the side but I just think by doing that we are limiting our talent on the pitch if it does give us a bit more expeience.

pps. Please please please no 442! We cannot handle it!

[frosty]

As much as I, and many others I'm sure, would love Roberts not to start - I'm 99% sure he'll be starting. He's practically the first name on the team sheet for Kean

[FGS5635]

As much as I, and many others I'm sure, would love Roberts not to start - I'm 99% sure he'll be starting. He's practically the first name on the team sheet for Kean

Starting? He'll be captain, penalties, throw in and corners. Its his ball and he's taking it home otherwise

[RibbleValleyRover]

I think our coach will put out a line up of:

Robinson

Salgado Nelsen Givet Olsson

N'Zonzi Dunn

Emerton Hoilett Pedersen

Roberts

Rochina, Formica, Petrovic and Goodwillie all faded badly during the second half of the cup game, I just don't think they will be fit enough to start this weekend. Dunny will come back into the side because he's Kean's mate, Pedersen because no matter how crap he is selected anyway and Roberts is his number one cheerleader. I can't see Samba playing, it looks like his head is not in it right now.

Vukcevic still hasn't signed as far as I know and even if he does by noon friday I can't see him starting. Other transfer targets if they are landed by Friday (unless have premier league experience) will need time to settle in and I can't see them starting this weekend.

On the game itself Everton got a confidence boost in their league cup win and should be fired up going into the game. My scoreline prediction would be a 1-1 draw or a 1-0 Everton win.

[ABBEY]

Goodwille ,rubes and peds have all scored so there's no chance of a start, the last two players who scored two in a game got dropped for a long time and then got shipped out!

Going for normal kean result 0-2 !

Positives from kean we got the ball from kick off positive

[newfan]

I don't know it is a good thing or not but 3 weeks in a row Blackburn are on TV in India prim time.(considering how poor they were last 2 games)

[Clitherover]

This game has got draw written all over it.

I think our coach will put out a line up of:

Robinson

Salgado Nelsen Givet Olsson

N'Zonzi Dunn

Emerton Hoilett Pedersen

Roberts

Has Emerton not joined Sydney FC?

[Amo]

Has Emerton not joined Sydney FC?

Not yet. Saturday will be his last game according to the offish site.

With that in mind, I'd be tempted to switch Salgado with Emerton in my line-up.

[slough_rover]

Two sets of nervous supporters going through uncertain times at their respective clubs. As this is at home anything other than a win will be disappointing.

[donnermeat]

I never thought I would ever say this but I would be so happy to hear a bloody Black Eyed Peas song on Saturday...

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

A very tight nervous game on Saturday,just 3 games into the season...says it all really!.

Coco..if you have any testicles do NOT play Jason 'the goal machine' Roberts,I could pose more of a threat to the Everton goal from my seat in the BBE!!

1-1

Att: 24,500

[Mercer]

Has all the hallmarks of a draw. Everton have form for losing their first game of the season and then usually make sure they don't lose the next.

I'd go with :

Robinson / Emo, Givet, Nelsen, Olsson / Nzonzi, Petra / Hoilett, Dunn, Rochina / Goodwillie

Salgado is a liability, I think we've seen the last of Samba and I don't think Petra is ready for this type of fixture, however, we desperately need a physical presence against Everton and need to shore-up the midfield to protect the defence.

However, fully expect Kean to start with Salgado & Roberts with one or both of Wednesday's goalscorers dropped to the bench.

Feel as though this will be a defining match for the season to come.

[JAL]

Anyone know what the Everton team will be ?

[92er]

Radio Lancs said Samba was expected to be available.

Nelsen will be missing because of a knee injury.

[colin]

Great preview (as usual from you.) Thank you.

After about the second line I started to read it in a "Stuart Hall" post-match Radio Five commentary voice. It worked a treat for me. You just missed the obligatory Shakesperian comment. How about ""Out vile jelly, where is thy lustre now?" quoth Moyles, after his 5-0 loss." Just keep the Stuart Hall voice. It works.

Now the obliglitory

25-0 Rovers..................

Line up will be blah blah..........

I'd start......

[Paul]

Enjoyed that Philip, thanks.

After a relaxing Wednesday evening at Ewood I see at the very best a draw from this game. I am starting to hope we are all utterly wrong about Kean and he is quietly putting together a side to challenge for the top half. Back on planet earth I expect Everton to nick a goal in the first 15-20 minutes and then shut up shop. We will then all be bored to death while Rovers search for an equaliser and Everton do all they can to kill the game as any sort of spectacle. 1-1 or 0-1 - so come lads surprise us.

Interesting to see Philip's comments on our results against the Goodison boys. My impression was since Moyes took over is Rovers have struggled to get much from Everton. I've yet to see anything like an exciting game of football involving Everton under their current manager, Moyes does an excellent job on a limited budget, and fully expect to watch the grass grow for sometime on Saturday. Everton are awful to watch and it's a surprise their support have put up with it for so long.

[CheeseOnToast]

Good match preview, like.

Anyone know what the Everton team will be ?

Something along the lines of:

---------------Howard-------------

Neville--Jagielka--Distin---Baines

Barkley--Fellaini--Rodwell--Arteta

------------Cahill----------------

-----------------Saha-------------

Maybe Osman for Arteta or Rodwell

Q. Your forecast result with reasons?

A. If we find out our working gloves, get the REAL Everton attitude out, I think we will payback last year's result, we can't keep clean sheet so it will be 2-1 for us, Becks and Barkley for us and may be that praised Junior Hoilett for you.

I think there's a good chance that Moyes leaves Beckford out of the squad due to the utter gashness of his touch against Rangers and, while Barkley has been a beacon of hope for Everton faithful, he's pretty woeful in front of goal (for now). I see this as being an infuriating game to watch for both parties. Probably a draw, or a winner scored from a shocking defensive blunder.

[Ralfinho]

I honestly think Kean will drop Rochina and Goodwille. He had a nack for dropping goal scorers for their next game last season. So we are stuck with Roberts up front tomorrow

[den]

This will be a far better pointer to our prospects than the game against Wednesday.

Everton will, and always have done, work their socks off. We'll get to see how our players do under real pressure.

Roberts will start up front I reckon and TBH, I think he's probably the best bet at the moment. How sad is that?

Great preview Philip.

[OscarRaven]

We need a good defenisve peformance above all, a 3rd PL loss will see our relegation odds tumble.