Saturday 16th March 2013
Live on Sky Sports 2 12.45pm KO
Referee: Lee Probert
[/center]When the fixtures were released at the start of the season this was one of those fixtures that while not openly looked for, lingered in the back of the mind because of its significance in last seasons title race. Last January thousands of rags hailed Darren Gibson for his only positive contribution to United as he scored a dubious goal in front of 10,000 empty seats just as the transfer window was about to close. At the time the defeat was felt a significant turning point in the title race.
Unfortunately we arrive at Goodison looking slightly over our shoulders at the sides behind us rather than the one in front despite the players’ lip service in the week to the fact that the minute possibility that United could capitulate still exists. Tottenham are only 5 points behind us and have played a game more than ourselves but everyone knows that Gareth Bale has been crowned the best player in the world by Britain’s media so expect him not only to single handed lead Spurs to maximum points in their remaining games but also use his mind control to prevent us from winning too.
If, for a minute, we entertain the fact that we can still retain the title this starts a run of away games that see us visit Old Trafford, Spurs, Swansea (lost last season) and Reading (last meeting lost) so its imperative that we play well and collect at least a point.
[center]Everton
[/center]Well the biggest thing, for me at least, is the fact that Tim Howard will miss the game with a broken back. Howard has a record of decent games against us since joining United in 2004. Jan Mucha took his place between the sticks at home to Wigan last week and was less than impressive for Wigan’s first goal. City, however, have a long history of making reserve team goalkeepers look like world-beaters.
At the back both Tony Hibbert and Phil Jagielka are both out with injuries so they will most likely field a back four of the attacking Seamus Coleman and United (if the media have their way) left back Leighton Baines. The centre half partnership will be former City player of the year Sylvain Distin and Johnny Heitinga. Heitinga could be an issue for us as he has a history of horrific tackle going unpunished against us.
In midfield Moyes will probably field a five man midfield built around a central trio of Phil Neville, Manuel Fellani and Darren Gibson or Leon Osman. Neville we know all about and if the owners have a clue Fellani will be a City player in the summer but Osman has had a very consistent season having scored seven goals from 37 games. If Darren Gibson reprises his role of shoot on sight from last season then The Screener better be prepared to put in the best shift of his City career so far.
On the wings it’s likely to be, the single biggest example of agent forcing a move in football for the good of himself, Steven Pienaar on the left and Belgian international Kevin Mirallas on the right. Both will be instructed to feed balls into the box for Fellani and Jelavic to get on the end of. After taking the league by storm last season Jelavic has just 6 league goals this season which makes him dangerous as players have revived careers by ending goal droughts against us. In addition, Everton supporters will be looking for a response from their team after capitulating at home to Wigan in the cup last week and took add insult to injury Liverpool have overtaken them in the league pushing them down to 7th.
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City[/center]
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Thumbs up if Wio Ferdinand is a twat…[/center]
So it seems we are second in the league and second in the injury table as well injuries continue to mount up as Nasri (hip/thigh) and Tevez (hamstring), join Aguero, Rodwell, Maicon, Kompany and Micah on the injury table. No wonder the City youtube channel has been interviewing the youth team all week.
Last week was the kind of professional performance that would have the media drooling if it was made by another club. Unfortunately they cannot keep up the assault of club in crisis when you 5-0 at home in front of a sell out crowd. We scored the early goal, keep the ball, exploited the mistakes and took our chances: textbook. Cue Media Black Out.
As 17 players trained on Friday the team should pretty much pick itself. Hart should return in goal after Panti kept 4th FA Cup clean sheet this season. At the back Zabba will continue to captain the side and Kolo Toure will partner either Lescott or Nasti. Mancini might be tempted to keep Lescott in to try and deal with the height of Fellani. At left back it could go either way but Coleman is a very attacking full back and Mirallas tricky and I don’t think Kolarov has the defensive discipline so Clichy should most likely return much to the chagrin of the bloke who sat in front of me last week and said Clichy was the worst full back in the league. The Mind Boggles.
In midfield Yaya Toure picks himself with most likely Barry and Garcia. As stated above this is a big game for Garcia as there is no room for passengers; especially at Everton. Milner and the best player in the Premier League will provide us with our width.
Up front with Aguero and Tevez both injured Scott Sinclair will lead the line of…no wait; Edin Dzeko will lead the line as Roque Santa Cruz, 9 goals in 18 appearances for Malaga, will prepare himself to sit on the bench in the Champions League quarter final.
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Prediction[/center]
Loaded question this week as I can’t see us winning this one (admittedly its because I’ve not seen us play away from home since the Southampton debacle) unless we play to our absolute best and we create chances for Dzeko. I like Dzeko but he doesn’t create the chances from nothing the way Tevez can. So a lot rides on the presence of Yaya but you cannot truly rule out a team that has James Milner’s jaw in it. Tottenham and Chelsea both have winnable home games so if we can avoid defeat the gap could be 3 points with a trip to White Hart Lane to come.
2-1 (City)
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