Feb 19
Everton will not roll over for United
After conquering AC Milan at the San Siro, Manchester United face their second tough road game in five days when they go to Everton on Saturday.
But the Betfair layers are taking no chances with the champions and rate the Reds as just 1.85 (5-6) chances to win at an opponent in very good form at present.
Everton have lost just once in 2010 – a fractious derby game with Liverpool – while Chelsea and Manchester City have been beaten at Goodison Park. They will not roll over for United.
And with Phil Neville, Tim Howard and Louis Saha in their side, the Toffees have a strong backbone of ex-United players who will be pumped up for the visit of their former club. And, of course, Wayne Rooney – United’s hero again this week – will get no love from the home faithful, who still cannot forgive him departing for Old Trafford back in 2004.
But despite good domestic and European form, recent results between the two do not give Everton fans much hope for a famous win over their old rivals. The Toffees boast just one victory over United since April of 2005, with seven defeats and two draws their miserable sequence since a 1-0 win at Goodison.
Everton’s good Premier League run has been based on a tight defence that has given up four goals in six games and an attack that does just enough to get the win. Only Sunderland and City have been beaten by two goals and the profile of those results should be taken into account. A tight affair looks likely and draw/Manchester United in the halftime-fulltime market appeals at 5.5 (9-2).
If you’re convinced a low scoring, closely fought contest is on the cards, then a trio of correct scores – 0-1, 1-2 and 1-1 – could tempt. They work out to combined odds of just under 3 (2-1) if backed together.
Should United score, then we all know who’s likely to be netting. It’s hard to take your eyes off Rooney at the moment and, back at his old club, the temptation is there to back him for a goal. A price of 2.25 (5-4) should be achievable once the market opens.
Follow Everton v Manchester United live online here.
Related items from Red Rants:
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- Featured Lookalike: Nani and…?
- Will United Leave It Late against Everton Again?
- So What Does United Do Now?
- United get Milan, Giggs gets new deal
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@ Colver – I fear they might win their first trophy for a while on Sunday…
If you were Fergie would you play our first team, in the fear that it’s our only chance of silverware this season? Or do you start some of the youngsters (De Laet, Gibbo, Obertan, Diouf and so forth?)
I’m on the fence. Of course I want us to win, but it also feels slightly embarrassing being too worried about the Carling Cup.
As to the midfield debate, I stand by my opinion that Anderson is one of the best players in his position at his age, and that we’re stupid to want rid of him already, particularly if he’s happy in Manchester.
What would be really nice is if this forces a certain Canadian to get off his ass and provide support, even if just as an impact sub in the last 30 minutes of matches. If it’s true that Hargreaves is training normally now, but not ‘mentally’ ready, then Fergie should just deep end him. Strikes me as truly baffling that a character as strong as Hargo could have mental issues, but what do I know.
What is apparent is that we’re stuffed in the next few matches in the middle.
One more point for Sunday – who do you play at CB? Given the last few times we’ve played Villa they’ve been long ball merchants using Agbonlahor’s pace, do you go with Brown (who is just about faster than the other two) or with Evans and Vida? Tough one…
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@Beachryan: It’s nice to win silverware but come on, after all this is only the Carling Cup. Winning it is nice but only under the proper circumstances. Fergie should play the kids that got him to the big game. To not play the kids who played in most of the cup games would be an injustice and would also send a message that yes indeed, this is all we are going to win this year, so lets send out the heavy artillery. I want to see the kids. I want Villa to feel relaxed when they see the likes of Obertan, Gibson and others on the lineup sheet. Make them feel worthless and not worth starting our best. It will make them nervous.
United still need to take the league and CL serious. The Carling Cup was always about playing the kids and getting to the final is their reward. They deserve to play in the final. If we lose, no skin off my back. I’d rather lose that game than any more league contests or a CL match. In fact i’d be bold enough to sit Rooney down and play Owen. Why not?
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Id prefer us to go out there with an enterprising 4-4-2. Owen deserves to play because he has been badly treated by Fergie, and getting to play in a cup final would be some compensation. Apart from that there isn’t really much choice. I suppose Gibson deserves to play, and Obertan should start over Park. Rafael needs the big game practice. So does Kuzchk. And Id prefer to rest Vidic seeing as he has only just come back from injury and we need to keep him fit for the Milan game.
So id go with:
Kuzchk-Rafael, Brown, Evans, Evra-Valencia, Gibson, Fletcher, Obertan-Owen, Berbatov
A nice smattering of youth and not our strongest XI, but good enough to give us a fighting chance.
Obviously Fergie is too scared to not play Rooney in the final. But Id prefer Rooney gets a bit of a rest, especially as this game will in all probability go to extra time.
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@Grognard: i could agree with that.
not as concerned with winning the Carling as i was with keeping city from it
i think obertan and owen should defiantly play in the final
i might even start diouf and gibbo. gibson came on in the second half of the game the other day after a shit start to the match. maby more time vs the likes of villa would do him good and we may need him in the first team by the end of the season
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I disagree with all this talk of playing the kids for the cup final!
It really is our best chance at silverware this season – and I think we should seize our chance.
Playing a good competitive team on Sunday and then resting some key MF’ers for the game at Wolves on the 6th, would be my approach.
We have 10 days between the final and the Milan game and I would certainly risk the injury factor for the trophy.
Lets not forget that in 2006 we struggled a lot, went on and won the Carling Cup, – and the rest, as they say, is history.
Could be that a victory on Sunday is catalytic in drawing the side together for the challenges to come.
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Finally, confirmation that many US cable/satellite systems will carry Fox Soccer +, as of Monday March 1st.
Phew!!!
Still no word on the HD broadcasting (other than Dish) though!!
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@colver: Mate, your lineup would guarantee a loss in this game.
Try;
VDS
Rafael, Vidic, Evans, Evra
Park, Scholes, Fletcher, Carrick, Valencia
Rooney.
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@Grognard: You ready for this USA-Canada
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@Redrich: It’s the Carling Cup mate. Personally, I rate toilet paper as more valuable. I agree , I like winning silverware too, but the Carling Cup must be made out of copper, not silver.
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@Johnsom33: Sure am. Jeez, Canada almost gave it away tonight vs Slovakia. The choke collar was on a bit tight in that third period. Should be a hell of a game on Sunday. I expect Canada to rise to the occasion. No way are the US going to beat us twice in a row in our country. That’s like Bolton beating United twice in a row at OT.
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