Jan 31
Man Utd v Everton: Preview
Tricky fixture although history suggests otherwise. Everton’s history at Old Trafford over the past 10 years has been dismal, but their recent form leading up to this game suggests it will not be a cakewalk. David Moyes deserves plenty of credit for making his patched up, strikerless squad achieve what it has so far. Goes to show you can do a lot with a good stable management structure — Tottenham, kindly take note.
United’s pace setting has unruffled some previously well-oiled feathers. First there was Rafa Benitez, whose mood swings have become a case study for aspiring psychologists. Now it’s the turn of Luiz Felipe Scolari — a manager who started his managerial campaign in England by charming everyone with his balanced press briefings and blazing a trail at the start of the season. Defeat, injuries, poor football and comical defending has weighed far too heavy on the man to retain his charm. So now it’s a case of ‘we don’t get penalties’, ‘the opposition doesn’t get red cards’, ‘we fall victims to fire hoaxes in training grounds’ and such like. Indeed uneasy lies the head, whose team run the risk of losing ground to Aston Villa.
A Liverpool-Chelsea draw would suit us best. But, then we have to win the Everton game too.
Meanwhile Daniel Taylor spins a yarn on Tevez’s possible move to another club — Man City, quite likely — if murmurs in ‘close footballing circles’ are to be believed on his perceived frustrations with negotiations with United. The thing with Tevez is this: he is the quintessential United player under Fergie. Gives everything on the pitch, is adored by fans, and keeps going even when he’s not sure of his place in the side. Recent form has been outstanding and, in the offensive third of our game, he, along with Giggs, Carrick and Berbatov, have been among our best performers over the past month. I’d say sign him. A lot of the OT faithful would say sign him. But so much delay hints at something that doesn’t readily meet the eye. I don’t expect anything to come of this till May. So watch this space.
In team news, Tevez-Berbatov should continue their partnership in the absence of Rooney. Ronaldo should be on the wing, and there is a possibility of Nani either starting or on the bench. Carrick would be an automatic choice in my book, while Giggs — having played in midweek might be benched in favour of Fletcher or Scholes. Rio and Vidic would be the central midfield pairing, and since Neville played in midweek, I think Brown might get a start at right back. O’Shea would be our left back.
Predictions: I think it’ll be tight, 1-0 to United.
Also, I plan to live blog this game, live streams permitting (and technical glitches on the live blogging software not harming it). So fingers crossed on this new experiment.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
- Rooney Out For A Month
- Porto it is then…
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (479)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
same team from last match, but fletcher for giggs. thats official.
you see, me and fergie are alike!
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Team News:
GK VDS
RB Neville
CB Ferdinand
CB Vidic
LB O’Shea
RM Ronaldo
CM Carrick
CM Fletcher
LM Park
CF Berbatov
CF Tevez
Cahill and Feillani both fit for Everton
@Dan: In your own words before the Chelsea match, senile
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@JB:
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@Patrick: the fact we have not allowed a goal in 1000+ minutes means that we are long overdue one.
What a slap in the face would it be, considering all the teams we have faced and shut out. we conceded to a team with no striker, and trust me football will do that to a team
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RR, live streaming will work for me. in fact this will come as a saviour as Gateway Broadcasting Corporation has been liquidated due to recession happening in the world. these lads have been showing live EPL games in Africa and i now cannot find a live game anywhere except being here and getting updates from you lads.
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@Dan: You should have written, “You’re not serious, are you?”
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Subs: PIG, Brown, Giggs, Welbeck, Da Silva, Gibson, Eckersley
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@JB: which da silva?
and can i add, i was right again, no tosic.
Dan2-Redrants0
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@Dan: The one that isn’t out for another three weeks, Fabio. And Dan don’t try keeping score, if someone starts back tracking the results you will be in a world of pain
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@JB:
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Come On United!
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new post up
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@Dan: I wouldn’t start him against Everton but when he does come in, he needs to shake the fear and intimidation and make things happen.
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yup we are ahead courtesy of a Ronaldo PK….gud half but gotta say park as been the better rightback than neville
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The Live Blog thing is way too techno for a Luddite like me. Having said that I am delighted we won 1-0. Everton are a classy side and not easy to beat. We’ve also extended our clean sheets to 12 games in the Premier League. With a defence like this and the ability to grind out results we may well be able to get that quadruple! We have turned into Mourinho’s Chelsea with a bit more style and class. We have that invincibility that we haven’t had in a long time
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I can’t see any posts on the Live match blog? Help
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@colver: Mate, you just have to read the live blog.. I’m sure the act of reading is not beyond you
Of course, in case you are not able to actually view the live blog on the site, it’s possibly because you are not aware that the live blog was in a new post.
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HOW COME I CANT FUCKING COMMENT?!
Im away for three days and suddenly this site is not working. I open the “Man Utd v Everton- Live” thingy, but all it says it something about making a comment. And when I do I fucking cant! Somebody please help me…
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Well, because it seems only this article is possible to comment on, I would like to say that I am pleased with the Liverpool-Chelski result. Chelski will be our biggest challangers, and I am sure Liverpool will screw up against Pompey next weekend. And as long as we seem so in control and dominating teams for fun I cant see anybody catching us. United win this weekend, while Liverpool draw/lose and we will be 5/4 points clear with one game less played. Am I the only one who thinks we may have won the title come late April?
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RedDevilEddy, i doubt pompey will take points off the scouse twats, have u seen the state adams has put portsmouth in, but yeah i get what ur saying about chelsea being our strongest challengers. Liverpool will drop points on a more consistent basis then i think chelsea will. Chelsea 9 times out of 10 beat the majority of the lower league teams home or away, liverpool meanwhile are likely to drop points at home to the west hams and wigans of this world. Home games against these teams you should be winning and i feel us and chelsea have this as an advantage over liverpool. I just hope to god we beat those hammers next sunday, why do we always struggle to them, there is nothing special about their players. They have improved alot recently under zola who i rate as a good manager but they as a team have no stand out players, a player who change a match suddenly. They are lower to me than say wigan who we would all expect to beat even at their place. We always struggle at upton park but i really hope it isnt the case again.
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@RedDevilEddy: If you are using Safari as your web browser, you might have trouble commenting on the live blog post. Still figuring out how to iron out that bug. Meanwhile, new post up where, I’m sure, you’ll be able to comment without issue.
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@Red Ranter: Doesnt help when you use an iPod touch for Internet browsing
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