[Archived] Everton v Rovers Preview

[LeChuck]

I think adding Donovan and Gibson to their midfield will make them too strong for us - if this game was a few week ago I'd fancy us to take something.

[Audax]

Consecutive wins definitely is the talking point here as Kean seems to lack them but it's probably the only way the Rovers can stay up without hoping everyone else does real poor. A win could possibly get the Rovers in around 16th place, that would be something.

This weekend:

Wolves Aston Villa

Queen's Park Rangers Wigan

Bolton Liverpool

This is a real crunch game for the Latics, this is close to the season on-the-line for them. Win and they could go in front of QPR.

You would not think Bolton would draw Liverpool but it's a possibility, it's getting interesting.

Likewise, Stoke City West Brom , can't leapfrog the baggies yet who are in 15th with 22 but it could come down to them and other clubs definitely being in the mix. I guess Martin Jol is a good manager for Fulham, seems like he certainly has problems at times but he's no Avram Grant.

[Ossydave]

Can you pay on the gate for this one? Very tempted but it will be a last minute thing...

[cn174]

Can you pay on the gate for this one? Very tempted but it will be a last minute thing...

We have bought tickets on the day the past two years so you should be alright. Just before the turnstiles there's a ticket office just as you turn in the street.

[RibbleValleyRover]

He's never won consecutive games in the league, I don't see that changing.

2-0 Everton.

[FFP83]

Its a shame that Everton have a defensive crisis but we are missing the Yak to take full advantage of it.

Sounds crazy but I would love a nil nil, good solid point away from home against tough opposition but more importantly a morale boosting clean sheet which would also show Samba hes not irreplacable.

I think as for the drop its any 3 from Fulham downwards but with Bolton just having lost Cahill and now playing Liverpool then Arsenal you would hope they would be cut adrift (maybe not mathematically but morale wise at least)come end of January.

What do we want from Wigan QPR match? Draw? Certainly not a QPR win right?

[joey_big_nose]

Team for me:-

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

Lowe----Hanley----Givet----Olsson

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

--Pedersen----Dunn----Hoilett

-----------------Rochina

Subs:- Bunn, Samba, Henley, Formica, Vukcevic, Goodwillie, Modeste

Goodwillie did well against Fulham but I just don’t think he has the attributes to worry a very physical Everton back four. Formica unlucky to not get a start but hard to see how he could displace Dunn who was excellent against Fulham. He will certainly make a cameo at some point.

What was the point in buying Vukcevic you have to ask...?

[LeChuck]

Goodwillie did well against Fulham but I just don’t think he has the attributes to worry a very physical Everton back four.

And Rochina does?! He's no more a lone striker than Pedersen. He's got potential but very little end product at the moment.

Goodwillie has earned his place. He's scored 2 goals in his last 3 games and put in a very good performance against Fulham.

Agree 100% with the rest of the team though.

[joey_big_nose]

And Rochina does?! He's no more a lone striker than Pedersen. He's got potential but very little end product at the moment.

Goodwillie has earned his place. He's scored 2 goals in his last 3 games and put in a very good performance against Fulham.

Agree 100% with the rest of the team though.

Personally I think Rochina is stronger, quicker, and has far more technical ability that Goodwillie. Not an ideal target man but more suited to the job. His main issue is that he is selfish and makes poor passing decisions.... still a much superior player to Goodwillie. However fair point about the two goals in three games, so maybe Pingu does deserve a crack.

[FFP83]

I think Rochina as a lone striker is a great shout, hes 50 times the player Goodwillie is,he ripped apart Everton at Goodison last season single handedly, his achiles heel is that he doesnt like passing but thats ideal for a lone striker, if he receives the ball in the final third I dont want him to pass, I want him to work his magic and score a wonder goal like he did vs Fulham and Stoke (both away matches ) or try skinning their centre backs (shouldnt be hard if Distin and Jags are out)

Im optimistic about this game

Oh and Vuckevic is probably Juniors replacement? I like him cos he gives us lots of different options and I think he has done well for us when hes actually played, assist, won a pen and scored

[MarkBRFC]

I think Rochina as a lone striker is a great shout, hes 50 times the player Goodwillie is,he ripped apart Everton at Goodison last season single handedlY

He showed a few nice touches from what i can remember.

He certainly didn't rip anybody apart though.

That being said i think he's a better option than Goodwillie, but David probably deserves to start based on his showing as a sub last weekend.

[little_joe50]

I think I'd go with a 4-4-2 for this game. Although we haven't been playing this formation, with the defensive injuries that Everton have, this is a golden opportunity for three points. Akin to when Norwich played Newcastle a month back and Newcastle had all their centre halves injured. Norwich went with Holt and Morison up top despite usually only playing with one of the big men. I'd gladly sacrifice one point to give us a better opportunity for three in this game, which in my opinion the plan below would.

As mentioned by a few people, I'd also go for Samba up top, preferably with Modeste if he is fit and is registered in time. From what I hear he is strong and quick. If not available/fit, I'd go for Rochina ahead of Goodwillie, but I'm sure Kean would do the reverse.

I'd also play a more direct style than usual to really get the benefit of Samba up front. We'd have to make sure that the lads are up for it as this formation and style lives or dies in how you compete for the second ball. Unfortunately, this is far from our strength, but if we concentrate on it then you never know.

[No Nay Never]

Tickets are available for rovers fans on the day according to official website.

[LeChuck]

I think I'd go with a 4-4-2 for this game. Although we haven't been playing this formation, with the defensive injuries that Everton have, this is a golden opportunity for three points.

Hmm.

Everton still have Heitinga and Distin available, so it'll probably a back four of:

Neville Heitinga Distin Baines

They've got no cover should anything happen to anyone, but that's still a solid defence.

Everton pack their midfield, we probably wouldn't see the ball if we went 4-4-2 (especially with a centre back up front). We need to go 4-5-1 and go with a similar team that has got 7 points from 12 games.

We can change to something like you suggested if we get desperate, but why do it on the back of possibly our best performance of the season?

[little_joe50]

Hmm.

Everton still have Heitinga and Distin available, so it'll probably a back four of:

Neville Heitinga Distin Baines

They've got no cover should anything happen to anyone, but that's still a solid defence.

Everton pack their midfield, we probably wouldn't see the ball if we went 4-4-2 (especially with a centre back up front). We need to go 4-5-1 and go with a similar team that has got 7 points from 12 games.

We can change to something like you suggested if we get desperate, but why do it on the back of possibly our best performance of the season?

Thats a fair question to pose, I thought Distin was struggling with injury too, but if that isn't the case I see your point. If, for example, it was Heitinga and, say, Duffy, I'd prefer to put them under pressure, particularly aerially as Heitinga would struggle against Samba.

My worry is that if we play just one up front, who can't hold up the ball as well as Yakubu, then we are left with no attacking threat and the ball constantly coming back at us. If we had numbers up top, then at least this raises doubt into the oppositions mind and forces them to be wary of over-committing, as well as enabling us to achieve a greater territorial advantage.

You would, rightly, argue that this approach won us the game against Fulham but let us not forget that this was a Fulham side with severe imbalance as Jol tried to shoehorn all his attacking players into a system that, frankly, didn't work or suit his players. Moyes is far more astute.

I understand and agree with your concern over the lack of numbers in midfield, however this is not an Everton side that lists ball retention as one if its greatest strengths. My point would be that this is a risk that could yield a greater reward than playing safe, but that is only my opinion.

[Lathund]

Not winning consecutive games, and never keeping a clean sheet, feels like something that'll go on forever. I think we have the ability to get at least a draw, if not more, but do I think we actually will? No.

I'd start the same XI as against Fulham, with Goodwillie (He's earned it; players in good form should continue in the team) replacing the Yak. No way for any of us to know Samba's state of mind so I don't really know if I'd play him or not.

[Stylish kid in the Riot]

Despite Everton being truely dreadful to watch, how they beat us at Ewood I'll never know, I never fancy our chances away at Goodison. I am quite optimistic about at least a point though and confidence must be sky high after the last few weeks.

Cant get to the game as Im working in Manchester till 3. Does anyone know of a boozer in the city that I might be able to catch the game on after Ive finished? Cheers

[colin]

Nice One Roverwhelmed & Thank you for you time & effort

Cheers

Colin

[Steve Kean's Barber]

2-1 Everton sadly. We'll drop back into the zone and this 17th place we're in now will be the highest position we'll occupy in the pyramid for decades.

[FFP83]

He showed a few nice touches from what i can remember.

He certainly didn't rip anybody apart though.

That being said i think he's a better option than Goodwillie, but David probably deserves to start based on his showing as a sub last weekend.

Let me refresh your memory, he kept ghosting past 2 or 3 Everton players each time he picked up the ball (usually osman and hibbert I think) unfortunately all his runs started from the half way line and with no support didnt amount to too much. But if he started up front and received the ball in or around the area I fancy him to go past Duffy or Neville etc and we know he can spank them from the edge of the area too.

Problem Rochina had vs Everton last season was he ran out of steam early second half? But I think it was pretty much his debut and was still adapting to the pace of the EPL (also I reckon he was one of the main focus points of Moyes half time team talk)

Im struggling to see why everyone rates Goodwillies performance vs Fulham?

[Brad]

Dare to dream, 3-1 Rovers would be crazy, can only hope!!

[Colt Seavers]

We have to consider ourselves favourites for this one! We were desperately unlucky in the home fixture; Everton absolutely stole that one and I thought they were really poor.

I think we can be a completely different (much better) proposition this time round. We are currently a lot wiser to our frailties and I expect us to keep things tight early on,play one up front and counter attack with the likes of Junior really getting at them. Our goals scored record is much better than theirs so I expect us to outscore them; I think we have enough to nulify Everton, I think they are quite poor.

I suppose what I am trying to say is 2-1 Rovers!

Robinson

Henley Givet Hanley Olsson

Pederson Nzonzi Petrovic Hoilett

Dunn

Rochina

Dunny and Rochina could wreak havoc in that side, Petrovic is due a stormer and Junior and Olsson have another week training under their belt.

COYB!!

[BuckyRover]

My head says we will lose but my heart says differently.

I'm going to go with my heart because it's boring actually thinking about things properly.

0-3 and a big party in Blackburn.

[Mercer]

Not a chance tomorrow.

Moyes, IMO, is a horrible, miserable b@st@rd whose sides always come on strong in the second half of the season.

Comfortable Everton win and I doubt we will even score.

[LeChuck]

Moyes, IMO, is a horrible, miserable b@st@rd

Based on what? I'm not sure "IMO" covers it! He's certainly not the cheeriest soul, but "horrible" and "b@astard"? He seems a decent guy.