Everton v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Merv]

'Is Cahill fit?' must be the first question every single opposing PL manager asks the week before they play Everton. The bloke's been outstanding for years. If he plays, we're in trouble. We'll have a man in one zone, another in the other zone, and Cahill running amok in between.

As for Rodwell, I like him. He's just a good all-round midfielder who does everything well; the type there used to be before everyone had to be classified as 'attacking' or 'holding' in a midfield role. Barry's a good comparison.I do get Supertom's point though - he's not outstanding at any one thing and I don't think he'll hurt us. Pick the right players in our midfield and we could/should at least match a Rodwell/Phil Neville combo.

[DB]

Just had a butchers at their website, no mention of Cahill on theinjury list - Arteta, Fellani, Coleman, Saha and Pat Van Den Howe.

[adrenachrome]

Just had a butchers at their website, no mention of Cahill on theinjury list - Arteta, Fellani, Coleman, Saha and Pat Van Den Howe.

Same information on PhysioRoom.

[VillaAlways]

OS says Walker and L Young should be fit

http://http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2328097,00.html

[luke25]

OS says Walker and L Young should be fit

http://http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2328097,00.html

Does that mean that we have a fully fit squad apart from Clark?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Luke Young at left back, hopefully.

[luke25]

Hoping for....


                  Friedel

Walker   Cuellar   Dunne    Young

  Makoun     Delph      Reo-Coker

  Young       Bent      Downing

Subs: Marshall, Collins, Bradley, Petrov, Albrighton, Gabby, Heskey

[Merv]

Not much wrong with that. It's Cuellar plus one in the centre of defence for me, can't decide whether I'd have Collins or Dunne there.

I'd switch the middle three around so it's NRC on the right of the three, Makoun centre and Delph left, but in terms of personnel, I'd like to see that X1 out there on Saturday.

[phantom limb]

I'd certainly put money on Cahill scoring from a set piece, if I were a gambling man.

Everton have been fairly guff this season too though, not quite as cack as us but not far off in some of the results they've had. I think we could get a point but it won't be easy.

[KevinGage]

Hoping for....


                  Friedel

Walker   Cuellar   Dunne    Young

  Makoun     Delph      Reo-Coker

  Young       Bent      Downing

Subs: Marshall, Collins, Bradley, Petrov, Albrighton, Gabby, Heskey

If the defence continues to look like a bunch of arse, I'd be tempted to go three CB's and Walker as wing back.

As good as McGrath was, he benefited from two CB's alongside him in the latter stages of his career. Dunne is playing like someone on his last legs (he was at fault for Macedonia's goal last Saturday and generally looked sluggish) so he could possibly do with the extra assistance. Would help us at set pieces too. Maybe.

What we gain in defensive stability we might lose in forward options, but I think we have enough attacking players to make opportunities - and a player in Bent who should be able to take them. Going too defensively may reduce some of the chances we create, but  ultimately if it covers our biggest problem this season it might be worth the trade off.

[VillaAlways]

Lawro,talking sense-surely not  ?!!

Everton v Aston Villa

There has been a lot of rubbish written about a player revolt under manager Gerard Houllier at Villa Park but I would not take too much notice of that. I would suggest that the players revolting are the ones who do not want to stay at the club anyway, regardless of who the manager is.

Villa's league position is a little precarious but Houllier has got enough match-winners in his squad for them to get out of trouble.

The problem for his Everton counterpart David Moyes is that some of his better players, like Louis Saha and Marouane Fellaini, are out for the season. This will be a big examination for the Toffees but they are at home, and they are tough to beat too.

Prediction: 1-1

[JJ-AV]

Friedel
Walker - Cuellar - Dunne - Young
Young - Makoun - Petrov - Downing
Heskey - Bent

[peter w]

if fellani and Saha are out that's a great start. Arteta too did someone say? well obviously cahill will score but at least we only have to score 2 or 3 now and not the the 4 or 5 I thought we would. Game on!

[peter w]

If we start with Makoun and Reo-Coker, how about Pires starting as the attacking midfielder?

[LeeB]

I don't get all the hype for Rodwell? What's so special about him. I haven't seen much of him, but anytime I have, he's not really done anything to warrant the hype or price tag. Granted he's young, but for arguments sake, Wilshere looks the mutts nutts. That one I get. Rodwell? Now. Is he a really quality attacking midfielder, or a quality defensive midfielder? Or is he a midfield dynamo, box-to-box? I don't think in any regard he excels. He might prove me wrong, but I doubt it.

A bit like a young Gareth Barry he's yet to find his best position but he hasn't looked out of place anywhere he's played.

Nah, a poor man's Ciaran Clark.