[Archived] Everton v Rovers Preview

[Mercer]

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.

Sorry, should have made it clear, speaking entirely in a football context. Simply and succinctly then - Everton are a very difficult side to play against. Hope that helps.

[A cup of beans]

0-3 and a big party in Blackburn.

worth a bet, bucky!

actually looking forward to this 1.. for once! 1st goal all important.

if bolton and 1pr can go there and win, we can!

COYB!

[John Howarth]

worth a bet, bucky!

actually looking forward to this 1.. for once! 1st goal all important.

if bolton and 1pr can go there and win, we can!

COYB!

Current odds 66/1

[Howler]

Hmmm, in theory we should cancel each other out. They are poor going forwards, we have a poor defence.

They have a good defence, we seem to be good going forwards (6th highest goals scored in league this season I think?)

Should have beaten them at Ewood, would love to get revenge but feel this is one we will lose - we don't play well against physical teams so I expect a Stoke away type of performance and result. 3-1 Everton. Dunny getting a 87th minute consolation.

p.s. to earlier comments Moyes is indeed a miserable bar steward, well at least according to someone I know who worked at Everton a few years ago. Dislike him for his comments about the Bolton game/Kean abuse, although acknowledge he has done a decent job with his resources at Everton.

[Ozz]

I'm not superstitious, but I feel our only hope is to get David Gest back involved. It was his, erm guest appearance, was it not, that started this current tremendous run of form we are now enjoying.

In fact maybe the Venkys should offer the club to the Gest corp. The erstwhile banana giants must surely have a bob or two tucked away for a sporting rainy day such as this. If only for the reduction in pun based "jokey" headlines that accompany our weekly tubbings at Ewood and elswhere. Or not. I'm rambling now aren't I?

[LeChuck]

Sorry, should have made it clear, speaking entirely in a football context. Simply and succinctly then - Everton are a very difficult side to play against. Hope that helps.

Ah ok. I thought you were going to tell me a bit of gossip about him.

Yeah Everton are very dull. He hasn't played his trademark 4-6-0 formation for a while, I wonder if he'll play it on Saturday...

[m1st]

p.s. to earlier comments Moyes is indeed a miserable bar steward, well at least according to someone I know who worked at Everton a few years ago. Dislike him for his comments about the Bolton game/Kean abuse, although acknowledge he has done a decent job with his resources at Everton.

He always comes across as the stereotypical "dour Scot". Didn't he sack "Bas" Rathbone a couple of seasons ago because their players had a spate of injuries which Moyes attributed to poor physiotherapy, even though Bas had done a good job there for years?

Having said that, I bet we wouldn't be where we are today if Moyes were our manager.

[Mercer]

Ah ok. I thought you were going to tell me a bit of gossip about him.

Yeah Everton are very dull. He hasn't played his trademark 4-6-0 formation for a while, I wonder if he'll play it on Saturday...

His approach to Everton is unbelievably focused and as such, I am given to understand, it does make working life very challenging for those who work with him, from his secretary right up to his No 2 (Round) - just ask Mike Rathbone !

[OJRovers]

Ah the great 'Moyes working on a tight budget' line which the media love. I'm sure Big Sam has a laugh to himself when he hears that after his budgets at Bolton/Rovers:

1 £15m Fellaini

2 £11.25m Yakubu

3 £8.9m Bilyaletdinov

4 £8.6m Johnson

5 £6.5m Beattie

Add to that Neville £4m , Baines £5m, Howard £3m, Saha £2m, jagilelka £4m, Gibson ?

[LeChuck]

Ah the great 'Moyes working on a tight budget' line which the media love. I'm sure Big Sam has a laugh to himself when he hears that after his budgets at Bolton/Rovers:

1 £15m Fellaini

2 £11.25m Yakubu

3 £8.9m Bilyaletdinov

4 £8.6m Johnson

5 £6.5m Beattie

Add to that Neville £4m , Baines £5m, Howard £3m, Saha £2m, jagilelka £4m, Gibson ?

All those are dating back many years though, I think Bilyaletdinov is the most recent in 2009. He's had nothing for the last few years (Gibson was £500k by the way).

Even going back that far, net spend isn't huge. This article suggests they've had a net spend of £42 million since 2002-03.

Sounds a lot to us because we've had nothing, but it puts them 14th in terms of spending over that period. Considering Moyes has had them in top 6 (even as high as 4th) on a regular basis in that period, it's hard to deny that he's done fantastically well with the funds available, and overachieved on what can be expected from that kind of budget. Up until the last couple of years they were more of a threat to the Champions League places than big spending Spurs, and comfortably better than the likes of Villa and Sunderland, who have spent double what Moyes has.

An average of less than £5 million per season can be considered a "tight budget" in terms of the clubs they were competing with at the top end of the table.

[Waggy76]

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.

Unfortunately , I believe you to be correct !

Just cannot see us getting anything from this game , what is more I believe like death , relegation is a racing certainty.

Sorry to be so gloomy ..

[levirover]

Rovers win 2-1

[Wimbledon Rover]

Can't really believe the massive odds on an away win tmrw, currently 6-1 on betfair, are we really that bad! Though I guess this is a come down from 33-1 for the united game!

[Josh]

Distin, Jagielka and Hibbert all rumoured to be out, they definitely can be had

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Distin, Jagielka and Hibbert all rumoured to be out, they definitely can be had

It is a shame the Yak is banned - just as bad, it is shame Samba is unlikely to play - as I would like to have seen him play up front in this one

They have a number of absentee's across the team - all set up for a Rovers defeat.

[LeChuck]

Really, really don't get the Samba up front thing, for loads of reasons. He wasn't very good up front when we last played him there.

What is the likelihood of Samba contributing from open play? The beauty of someone like Samba is that you can put them forward for every set piece, even though he's a defender.

[Ozz]

"The one hundred and twenty eight brain cells in Blackburn have been grouped together and showcased by screffy fellas holding pieces of cardboard with "KEaN oUt" on it."

Oh Deary me.

[Mattyblue]

"The one hundred and twenty eight brain cells in Blackburn have been grouped together and showcased by screffy fellas holding pieces of cardboard with "KEaN oUt" on it."

Oh Deary me.

Aye, read it earlier.

Forget what a bastion of civility Liverpool is.

Last time I was in the pubs around Goodison, I had Scallies trying to flog me all kinds of crap; watches, DVDs, even white socks nicked from Sports Direct!

[jim mk2]

I'm feeling optimistic which as far as Rovers are concerned is always a bad sign. The last time this strange feeling came over me was after the ManU victory and was promptly deflated by Stoke so I expect Everton to pop this little optimism bubble too. 2-0 defeat.

[david_daft]

"The one hundred and twenty eight brain cells in Blackburn have been grouped together and showcased by screffy fellas holding pieces of cardboard with "KEaN oUt" on it."

Oh Deary me.

Harsh but well written and very funny.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

"The one hundred and twenty eight brain cells in Blackburn have been grouped together and showcased by screffy fellas holding pieces of cardboard with "KEaN oUt" on it."

Oh Deary me.

Well what a bunch of ******* that lot are. Hope we stuff them.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Really, really don't get the Samba up front thing, for loads of reasons. He wasn't very good up front when we last played him there.

What is the likelihood of Samba contributing from open play? The beauty of someone like Samba is that you can put them forward for every set piece, even though he's a defender.

I wouldn't be hoping for Samba to do too much from open play - his job would be to either hold up the ball, or flick it on. I would then have both Hoilett and Olsson in close attendance to latch onto those flicks and knock downs. It ain't perfect - it possible wouldn't be pretty - but playing against a team lacking its two first two choice centre halves - it might have worked.

[pick32]

Think we will win this one they have no threat going forward, im going for 2-0 after all there just a small team in Liverpool.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Well what a bunch of ******* that lot are. Hope we stuff them.

Obviously always hoped we would win - but I really do hope we beat them soundly - what a load of rubbish they spout.

[Stuart]

"The one hundred and twenty eight brain cells in Blackburn have been grouped together and showcased by screffy fellas holding pieces of cardboard with "KEaN oUt" on it."

Oh Deary me.

"When Kean does eventually go"??

Shows how completely out of touch that poster is with all things Rovers. Must have slept through the last 6 months.