Everton v Manchester City (Evening KO)

The Volt

Live on ESPN at 5.30 we have a mouthwatering clash between to in-form sides. Everton are slowly but surely showing signs that they are improving while Mancini's City side have swept aside everything in their path the past few weeks. For the neutral it all leads to what should be an entertaining match but as an Evertonian I'm ****ting myself

Team News: Everton

Injured Rodwell, Gosling (both hamstring, 23 Jan), Jagielka (knee, Feb), Anichebe (knee, Feb), Hibbert (hernia, Feb), Arteta (knee, unknown)

International duty Yakubu, Yobo Suspended Jô (internal sanction)

Team News: Man City

Doubtful Barry (groin), Wright-Phillips (ankle)

Injured Onuoha (calf, 26 Jan), Ireland (hamstring, 23 Jan), Bridge (knee, 31 Jan)

International duty Touré

Compassionate leave Adebayor



I'm going to go out on a limb and predict Everton to sneak this one 2-1. Pienaar and Cahill to bag the goals. Fellaini will need to boss the midfield to the same standard he has done of late. One hinderance will be whoever partners Heitinga at centre back.

flahavaj

Fellaini was a monster against Arsenal, was really impressed with him, doesn't get the praise he deserves that fella.

That_Guy

Though Everton are at home I can't see anything but a City win. It'll be a close game and I hope that it'll be an entertaining one.

Home win

Xavi6

One change for us - Santa Cruz in for Benjani

Everton: Howard, Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Donovan, Fellaini, Pienaar, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Saha.
Subs: Nash, Vaughan, Forshaw, Coleman, Duffy, Baxter, Mustafi.

Man City: Given, Zabaleta, Richards, Kompany, Garrido, Petrov, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Tevez, Santa Cruz.
Subs: Taylor, Onuoha, Sylvinho, Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Mwaruwari, Boyata.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

The Volt

Good Interview there with Donovan. Hope he stays a bit longer

That_Guy

Xavi6 wrote: »

One change for us - Santa Cruz in for Benjani

Strange choice imo. Benjani played fantastically well against Blackburn especially for someone who isn't really getting their game that regularly.

Instant Karma

That_Guy wrote: »

Strange choice imo. Benjani played fantastically well against Blackburn especially for someone who isn't really getting their game that regularly.

He did indeed, but I like Santa Cruz also, he could be the perfect foil to Tevez. Benjani has no future at City I believe, I think he got a few games recently so he could be put in the shop window.

Think City will win the game tonight.

eagle eye

I honestly cannot see Everton being up to stopping City. I have to admit that whatever Mancini has done since he came in to City, well they have been amazing.

I predict a 4-1 win for City today.

Raskolnikov

Robinho on the bench. What an embarrassment to professional football that man is.

The Volt

eagle eye wrote: »

I honestly cannot see Everton being up to stopping City. I have to admit that whatever Mancini has done since he came in to City, well they have been amazing.

I predict a 4-1 win for City today.

We're no Blackburn

eagle eye

That_Guy wrote: »

Strange choice imo. Benjani played fantastically well against Blackburn especially for someone who isn't really getting their game that regularly.

Imo Santa Cruz is potentially the most complete striker in the Premier League. He has to stay fit but if he does he has no weaknesses in his game.

Warper

I can see this as being a cracker of a match with around 5 goals (0-0 imminent). Everton have got a star in Donavan and lets hope we can somehow sign him. Tevez is on fire but Everton have finally hit some form despite their well-know injury crisis. Good to hear that Arteta is back training and once Jagielka and himself get back playing Everton should have very productive final third of the season. 3-2 Everton.

Warper

eagle eye wrote: »

Imo Santa Cruz is potentially the most complete striker in the Premier League. He has to stay fit but if he does he has no weaknesses in his game.

He wouldnt be in the top 10 strikers in the League.

Xavi6

Love our white shirt

That_Guy

Xavi6 wrote: »

Love our white shirt

It's very nice. If I were a City fan I'd be all over that.

flahavaj

Whos the minute's applause for lads, just tuned in.

That_Guy

I'm looking forward to see Donovan today.

Xavi6

That_Guy wrote: »

It's very nice. If I were a City fan I'd be all over that.

Our shirts are class this year. I have all three outfield ones.

That_Guy

flahavaj wrote: »

Whos the minute's applause for lads, just tuned in.

Did they say Alex Parker?

He was an Everton defender who passed away recently.

That_Guy

Xavi6 wrote: »

Our shirts are class this year. I have all three outfield ones.

It's very rare that you get 3 nice jersey's from the one club. Our away jersey this year is fcuking disgusting. The less said about that the better.

MagicMarker

Xavi6 wrote: »

Our shirts are class this year. I have all three outfield ones.

I like the black one, but that white one sucks.

That_Guy

Good early possession by City. Playing like a team full of confidence.

That_Guy

Santa Cruz going off with 4 mins on the clock.

Kess73

I should not want a City win tonight with me being a Liverpool supporter, but I love watching Everton lose, so I am rooting for a City win.

Sorry Everton fans, but take it as a compliment as I regard you lot as our natural rivals and the two derby games are the first two I look for when the new fixtures come out each season. Maybe if I grew up here in Ireland I would have grown up with Man Utd as the big derby game for Liverpool, but I didn't so Everton have always been the team I love to see lose instead, but I never want them to lose enough to be relegated though. Would miss the derby games too much for that.

Xavi6

Lol Crock-que Santa Cruz

IvySlayer

Kess73 wrote: »

I should not want a City win tonight with me being a Liverpool supporter, but I love watching Everton lose, so I am rooting for a City win.

Sorry Everton fans, but take it as a compliment as I regard you lot as our natural rivals and the two derby games are the first two I look for when the new fixtures come out each season. Maybe if I grew up here in Ireland I would have grown up with Man Utd as the big derby game for Liverpool, but I didn't so Everton have always been the team I love to see lose instead, but I never want them to lose enough to be relegated though. Would miss the derby games too much for that.

A City win would see Liverpools chase for 4th a lot harder

Kess73

IvySlayer wrote: »

A City win would see Liverpools chase for 4th a lot harder

I know that, that's why I said that I should not want a City win.

But I do.

That_Guy

Here's Robinho.

Xavi6

And here's Robson

flahavaj

Kess73 wrote: »

I should not want a City win tonight with me being a Liverpool supporter, but I love watching Everton lose, so I am rooting for a City win.

Sorry Everton fans, but take it as a compliment as I regard you lot as our natural rivals and the two derby games are the first two I look for when the new fixtures come out each season. Maybe if I grew up here in Ireland I would have grown up with Man Utd as the big derby game for Liverpool, but I didn't so Everton have always been the team I love to see lose instead, but I never want them to lose enough to be relegated though. Would miss the derby games too much for that.

Surely your desire to see your own team get into the CL (which is so so so crucial for far greater than footballing reasons) should outweigh your dislike of Everton?

kinaldo

Man City remind me a lot of Ranieri's Chelsea under Abramovich year one. They're entertaining both on and off the pitch, they have some real nice kits, and I kinda want them to succeed. By next season I'll probably be sick of them.

That_Guy

I've never seen City close down like this before.

IvySlayer

Shot by biyaledintov, biyaledinaov

Bill.

That_Guy

IvySlayer wrote: »

Shot by biyaledintov, biyaledinaov

Bill.

Not so much shot but a header.

Kess73

kinaldo wrote: »

Man City remind me a lot of Ranieri's Chelsea under Abramovich year one. They're entertaining both on and off the pitch, they have some real nice kits, and I kinda want them to succeed. By next season I'll probably be sick of them.

They remind me of Chelsea in a similar way, but I see Hughes as the Ranieri in this version, with Mancini being their Jose.

Once Mancini gets his ways ingrained into that squad, along with cutting a few and bringing in a few of his own, they are going to be a hell of a force in the Premiership.

I really think that they made a great decision in terms of booting Hughes and getting Mancini in with half a season to get used to the English game before going for it next season.

Instant Karma

Robinho should have done better there.

IvySlayer

That_Guy wrote: »

Not so much shot but a header.

Well, it will count as a Shot on Target

That_Guy

Close from Robinho there. Petrov is looking very lively.

Xavi6

Robinho unlucky there.

The Muppet

Saha unlucky there.:)

KittyeeTrix

That_Guy wrote: »

Santa Cruz going off with 4 mins on the clock.

Christ, that was quick.
No access to see the match today...What happened to him??:)

Xavi6

Nuts!

That_Guy

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

Christ, that was quick.
No access to see the match today...What happened to him??:)

No details as of yet.

http://www.veetle.com/viewChannel.php?cid=4b48556118484 Stream for you lad.

The Muppet

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

Christ, that was quick.
No access to see the match today...What happened to him??:)

sounds like a reoccurrance of his old injury

eagle eye

Warper wrote: »

He wouldnt be in the top 10 strikers in the League.

I said if he can stay fit which looked unlikely again, but in his first season in the Premier League he had 19 PL goals and 7 assists, at that level he would be one of if not the best in the league, although personally I think Drogba this season has gone to another level.

KittyeeTrix

That_Guy wrote: »

No details as of yet.

http://www.veetle.com/viewChannel.php?cid=4b48556118484 Stream for you lady.

FYP, and thanks for the linky.:)

The Muppet

OOH close Donovan should have scored

That_Guy

Donovan....... Cross cum shot. Very close.

IvySlayer

Ohhhh Donovan should've just tried to put it in the net.

That_Guy

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

FYP, and thanks for the linky.:)

You're a wimmenz? :eek::eek: