Will tricky Toffees Come Unstuck? Everton v Newcastle United Match Preview
Posted on May 12th, 2012 | 51 Comments |
Date: Sunday, 13th May, 2012.
Kick-Off: 3pm.
Referee: Andre Marriner (Sheldon, West Midlands).
UK TV: None.
United travel to Merseyside for the final game of the 2011/12 season against Everton on Sunday knowing that there is still plenty to play for.
This is the culmination of a season which has been a very enjoyable roller coaster ride for everyone involved with the club, with plenty of thrills and more ups than downs. Hopefully, the sun will shine and we will register our first victory in the new Puma Burgundy away kit, which we understand will be worn by the lads for the first time on this occasion.
We’ll have our usual “Match Banter” thread, which will be posted about an hour before kick off, and watch out for our season review feature – coming soon.
Going into this game, basically the position is this. With one game left to play United are assured of fifth place in the Premier League and entry to next season’s Europa League. However a win, and results elsewhere for Tottenham and or Arsenal going our way, could see us qualifying for the Champions League from third or fourth position. There is an added complication however, in that the team finishing fourth would not qualify if Chelsea win this season’s Champions League – but the situation for Newcastle is a simple one – we must win to have any chance of the Champions League!
This game at Goodison also follows the excellent news that Alan Pardew has been named The Barclays Premier League Manager Of The Season for 2011/12. This is an excellent achievement which has Tyneside celebrating, but which Alan has been quick to point out reflects on everyone involved with the club not just himself. No doubt United’s travelling Toon Army will be delivering appropriate accolades during the game, and I’m sure our chums from Everton will wish to join in on the congratulations.
This will be a tough game. Everton are always a strong proposition at home and David Moyes will, as ever, have them well organised and motivated. The incentive for Everton, apart from wishing to finish as high as possible, is that a win will ensure they finish above their local rivals Liverpool for only the fourth time in the last 42 years. By the way
Everton’s last two home games have both been 4-0 wins, against Sunderland and Fulham. They were also recently in that 4-4 draw at Manchester United which played it’s part in pitching Manchester City back into the title race. Since the Fulham game they’ve been on the road, earning draws at Stoke City and relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers. Man to watch is Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic, signed from Glasgow Rangers, who has had a significant impact on the team and is banging them in for fun.
United’s form has also been ok in recent matches with 4 wins out of the last six games. Swansea, Bolton and Stoke were all put to the sword before that 4-0 reverse at Wigan. We bounced back with the 2-0 away win at Chelsea before going down to Champions-elect Manchester City at home. Hopefully we can produce another “Chelsea” away performance at Goodison and bag the points. It would also be great to see Demba Ba sign off the season with a goal or two – he’s been getting closer and closer in the last few games!
What The Managers Are Saying
David Moyes: “We want to finish the season strongly, we want to finish the season in good form and we will go into it not looking at it as our last game of the season. It is good to be at home in your last game, but you have to play everybody home and away and sometimes that’s the way it works out.
“I think everybody would be a little bit surprised but I think once Newcastle got going they have been there all season. They kicked on again after January and have done really well. They are a really big club with an excellent support. I think what Newcastle got was a big deal for Andy Carroll which allowed them some cash to spend and change things around. They have spent it very, very well.
“I have been really pleased with how the [Everton] players have played since January, We have had one or two disappointing results but tell me a club who has not, we have certainly played well, much better than the first half of the season. I am looking forward to the break and nearly all the managers will be. We have all been at it for 10 months so come this time of the year we are entitled to a break.”
Alan Pardew: “Even to finish fifth is an absolutely marvellous achievement by the group, from where we’ve come from, We’re a new team, we’ve brought in new players who have all done exceptionally well, and to a man I cannot look one of my squad players in the face and say they haven’t performed this year. They have all done brilliantly. To actually be in a position where we could finish third is astounding.
“Sunday will play itself out. The way the media is now, the feedback will come down from the stands as to what is going on elsewhere. But the most important thing is that we concentrate and try to win the last game. We are really looking forward to it. It is a tough place to go, Everton, and in the last five league games there they have only conceded one goal.
“So we are under no illusions that we have to try and win at a very difficult place, and other teams need to slip up. But it is a lovely position to be in. A lot can happen on the last day and there’s still a lot to play for. This is where you want to be, the pinnacle of the game is the Champions League and to actually be competing for it is more than we imagined. To have that opportunity is something that doesn’t come along very often, and we want to try and grasp it.It’s been a magnificent achievement by everyone at this football club and we can’t wait for Sunday to unfold.”
Team News
Everton
Everton could welcome back Leighton Baines, Phil Neville and Darron Gibson. Left-back Baines has been out for a month with a groin injury. Utility man Neville and midfielder Gibson missed last week’s draw at Wolves. Midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) and forward Victor Anichebe (groin) are both unavailable.
Likely Squad: Tim Howard, Jan Mucha, John Heitinga, Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin, Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville, Seamus Coleman, Leighton Baines, Marouaine Fellaini, Leon Osman, Darron Gibson, Nikica Jelavic, Magaye Gueye, Shane Duffy, James McFadden, Denis Stracqualursi, Steven Pienaar, Tim Cahill, Ross Barkley, Jose Baxter, Marcus Hahnemann.
Newcastle United
Peter Lovenkrands, Steven Taylor and Haris Vuckic are all still on the sidelines whilst Sammy Ameobi returned to light training recently. Danny Simpson, who has yet to agree a new contract, has not been able to shake off his ankle injury.
Likely Squad: Krul, Rob Elliot, Steve Harper, Davide Santon, Ryan Taylor, Shane Ferguson, James Tavernier, James Perch, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Danny Guthrie, Hatem Ben Arfa, Jonas Gutierrez, Gabriel Obertan, Sylvain Marveaux, Mehdi Abeid, Dan Gosling, Haris Vuckic, Demba Ba, Papiss Demba Cisse, Shola Ameobi.
Prediction
If you check the NUFCBlog.org prediction competition you will see that when it comes to predicting the outcome of footy games, I’m more of a Xisco than a Cisse! I don’t hit the target very often. With that in mind I’m tempted to predict we’ll lose, just to bring on the win! However, I can see us winning this game given how much is riding on it and how pumped up I expect the players to be as a result. I’m going for Everton 1 United 3 and Demba Ba to score. There, I did it!
NUFCBlog Author: UTD111
UTD111 has written 59 articles on this blog.
One thing about us this season has been that we have responded well to a defeat and bounced back the next game. Lets hope we can do it.