Nov 21
Manchester United vs Everton: Preview
Another international break has ended finally giving United the opportunity to avenge the 1-0 defeat against Chelsea. Willing victims, Everton, line up at Old Trafford in the day’s late kick-off, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s touchline ban not set to begin until after the match; he will surely demand a victory before he takes his seat in the stands.
In the terraces, for sure, will sit Gary Neville, who is suspended. Our defensive injury crisis worsened as John O’Shea picked up an ankle injury against France and remains doubtful for today’s game. Jonny Evans is touch and go with a calf strain and along with long-term absentee Rio Ferdinand, our defence will be stretched to its limits.
The good news is Nemanja Vidic — who has been out of action for three weeks with a calf problem — should return to marshal the defence after playing 70 minutes for Serbia against South Korea on Wednesday. Lining up beside him will no doubt be a jubilant Patrice Evra; Wes Brown, fresh from a woeful display against Brazil, and likely Rafael at right-back.
One thing you can probably guarantee is Nani won’t be getting on the pitch this weekend, despite his heroics for Portugal over the last week. His recent attack on Sir Alex will have not gone unnoticed by the manager. Paul Scholes, a lover of the much-maligned international break looks a certain starter; well rested and having missed out against Chelsea, he will surely be raring to go. For the other midfield slot, it is probably between Fletcher and Carrick, although since Carrick is carrying a slight thigh strain expect the Scot to start beside Scholesy.
Ryan Giggs, stuck on 99 Premier League goals, is expected to feature at some point as well in a bid to grab that all-important 100th goal. Gabriel Obertan will be pushing for a start, given his recent performances for both the first team and reserves, while Valencia will provide the attacking thrust down the right. Let’s hope he can deliver a few telling balls and carry on his recent run of good form.
Stand-in England captain, Wayne Rooney will no doubt lead the line against his former team. Dimitar Berbatov will look to carry forward his form with Bulgaria, as he bagged brace in the 4-1 thrashing of Malta to become Bulgaria’s all-time leading scorer with 48 goals in 74 appearances. He replaces Hristo Bonev, who held the record for 30 years.
The Toffees bring a number of ex-United stars back to Old Trafford. Louis Saha will be out to prove a point, if he manages to stay fit between now and kick-off. Tim Howard and, of course, the other Neville brother will be back, though the latter is out through injury.
Fergie clearly has a great amount of respect for Everton boss David Moyes, commenting on the injury crisis at Goodison and comparing it to our own. “Everton have had a tremendous run of injuries and David Moyes is facing much the same situation as myself at the moment. You can understand how difficult it is to win games when you don’t have your best team out. Once they get their full squad back they will soon come up the table again.”
Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov will definitely be out for Everton as he serves the second of his three-match suspension while Tim Cahill is doubtful with a groin injury. Among other absentees for the Merseysiders are Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman and Victor Anichebe. Despite this Everton find themselves in exactly the same situation as last season, 12th on 15 points after 11 matches.
They are also bring a potential United star of the future, Jack Rodwell, recently linked with us for a staggering £20m fee, who will have the chance to show his potential employers what he is capable of. With a cool head and likened to Rio Ferdinand in style, it is easy to see why SAF is interested given the injury problems Rio has.
This season has been a tale of inconsistency for Everton but a run of 7 games without a win was ended with the 3-2 victory over West Ham two weeks ago. An injury ravaged Everton should provide a relatively simple test for us, especially after the injustice at Stamford Bridge. However, recent home results against Birmingham, Manchester City, Sunderland and Bolton do not exactly inspire confidence.
We can’t afford to drop any more points despite proclamations that the five point lead Chelsea hold isn’t ‘insurmountable’. Unbeaten at Old Trafford since 1992 against Everton, United have only lost once in the last 28 meetings between the sides.
Prediction: 3-1 United
Probable Line Up: Van der Sar; Evra, Vidic, Brown, Rafael; Obertan, Scholes, Fletcher, Valencia; Rooney, Berbatov
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Manchester United 2006/2007 Season Review
- The Manchester United Pledge
- Will United Leave It Late against Everton Again?
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (479)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@owen: Ray “the crab” Wilkins would have 100% passing accuracy from always passing sideways. Does that mean he was better than Rivelino?
Some player may have a lower % of passing accuracy, but trying tricky passes that can get behind defenders and end up in assists.
Ronaldinho at his peak >>> Xavi at his peak
And I’m not even taking consideration of entertainment value!
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@Jay wire: Xavi is in the same league and Iniesta is a true magician…joy to watch
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@owen: Rooney is a World class footballer mate quite simple and there is a lot more to come.
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@NicoQB: What is at his peak..Peak means 1 or 2 years…I already told all time stars should show great consistency..
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@NicoQB: Does Xavi’s passes are side ways passes…plz dont tell like this
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@Grognard: This is where it all started (This one). I made a general remark you responded. One thing led to another, etc etc
If anyone else responded, I would have said the same thing. Nothing personal.
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@owen: Man Utd 5 – Tottenham 2
MotM: Wayne Rooney
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@redpenguin: I want Pato bad… no homo
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@Rahul: Honestly, how often have you watched Xavi playing? Ronaldinho was at one point unplayable,that is between late 2004 and end of 2006. Xavi has been unplayable for a while. Even Scholes in his prime could never consistently find his teammates as much as Xavi. A misplaced pass from that man is a momentous and historic event of the same magnitude as a crash on Wall Street. And don’t assume these are just sideways unimaginative passes. No. He is currently leading the assists charts in Spain and it’s not a big shock,it’s expected. Ronaldo and Messi are marginally ahead only because of their more “marketable” positions.
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@NicoQB: Go and watch the whole Euro cup
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@NicoQB: vidic = mutumbo
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@owen: Read my comment about how Rooney is quite similar to Ryan Giggs when it comes to form:
@NicoQB:
@owen:
@Jay wire:
Xavi is a top midfielder, but the most important player at Barca is Iniesta. Everytime Barca underperformed last season was when Iniesta was not available, mainly though injury. Barcacould still turn on the style without Xavi, without Messi even, but not without Iniesta.
Barca
But of course, that was before Pep went ballisitic and wanted to change his well-oiled machinery. Now there’s even talk of selling Toure for Mascherano!
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@Jay wire: I watch Xavi a lot…I am just amazed by his consistency…The ball just sticks with his legs…Carrick was not a bad player that time and he was almost dead in front of him…At the end of his , there will be very few players ahead of him assists list…He is a complete package…takes good free kicks,never misses penalties , scores goals,wondeful reader of the game ,great vision and most important CONSISTENT through out for his club and same for the country
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@Grognard: The same goes for Xavi and Iniesta. Both are big game players. Zidane could disappear especially when playing against Inter when he was at Juve.He was a great player with technique and creativity of astronomical magnitudes but the same applies to Xavi and Iniesta. I’m not suggesting they are better than Zidane,but they surely are not far behind. Especially Xavi
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@NicoQB: and Grog told Iniesta is light years behing Ronaldo and Messi…This is completely false…
Iniesta is a true magician
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@owen: Go and watch the whole of euro 2004!
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@Jay wire: Grog always try to proove by citing one game i.e in this case against Chelsea…Against Chelsea also Barca had a lot of possesion due to Xavi …and it was actually the bad day for Messi,Eto and Henry that they were wasting the chance…
that day also Xavi bossed the mid field which is not a easy task against Chelsea
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@NicoQB: I have seen a lot of magical moments of Rooney so no need
I already cited the big games which Grog Wanted to know and where were the magical moments…
And this is end of 2009 not 2004…
There is a bench mark of 25 goals set,dont forget
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@NicoQB: Whaaaat? Iniesta ahead of Xavi? I have always stated that Barca is my 2nd team and I watch em almost every single game. I would say that Xavi and Messi are the two most important players for Barca and whilst Iniesta is one of my favourite, he is definitely not the most important
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@owen: Exactly
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@Red Ranter: I enjoy the stick though RR, I wouldn’t STIR up a HORNETS NEST amongst all the United Rooney respectors and not expect any incoming missiles
. I can assure you all that I shall be visiting again with THE HORNETS, so watch out for the STINGS 
.
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@owen: Don’t make me say what I haven’t said!
Iniesta and Xavi are two great players, but much of their usefulness in my opinion come from the system they play in.
Put Iniesta or Xavi in a mid-table team, I don’t think they would be able to “carry” the team on their backs, as Ronaldo seems to do.
And also Fletcher would eat them alive!
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@Red Ranter: I’m King of the ABSURD RR, I wouldn’t be such a loyal Nani supporter if I wasn’t, considering most United fans pour out vitriolic shit upon the lad everytime he plays, and its not always justified. However I learnt a looooooooooooooooooooong time ago to let that arguement GO
.
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@NicoQB: When Ronaldo played in a mid table team???Why he does not do the same for portugal???Why is Messi criticized be Maradona???Why Spanish coaches praises Xavi the most???Why Essien did not eat him ??? What happened to Man utd with 3 men in mid field???
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@owen: My response was a dig at you not seeing how Rooney is able to carry a whole team (in this case England) when he’s on form.
Seen that youtube of Rooney vs Spurs? In the last few months of last season, our most important player who was dragging United forward was Wayne Rooney.
He was considered for Player of the Year because his form at the end of the season was demonic. Ronaldo was playing second fiddle to him by then.
That was less than a year ago.
I will not deny Rooney has a consistency problem, especially couple with his injuries, but if Rooney is to be put down because of that, then it seems to me that if you were a United fan in the mid nineties, you would have been among those constantly berating Giggs for his consistency.
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@NicoQB: Well and fine but Xavi doesn’t just do sideways passes, otherwise he would not be at Barca. It’s taboo at Barca to pass like Paul Scholes of 2009. To give you an indication of what type of passing is expected of Barca midfielders, I will refer you to Fabregas (product of Barca youth),Rivaldo,Riquelme and Deco. Oh and by the way, Xavi si the current assist king in Spain and that should tell you what his passing is like
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@NicoQB: I am never against Rooney but someone compared with others and told that Xavi and Iniesta are light years behind them???
is it true???
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@Grognard: Equating Rooney in the same breath as Sir Bob Charlton, Bestie and Cantona – IS SO WRONG. United fans have made Rooney a legend, but to me he isn’t up there with the VERY UNITED BEST yet!
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@owen:
Fletcher never played against Barca.
Every time we faced them we had a piss poor midfield with either Fletch suspended or the geriatic Scholes playing (still scored a belter though!)
Essien did own them – remember? Chelsea outplayed Barca in possession (supposedly their forte) and needed a rare individual moment of brilliance by Iniesta to bail them out.
Maradona is an idiot, everybody knows that. And argentine players get stage fright to play under their “god”.
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@NicoQB: Rahul ,i think,has never watched Barca…he told that Ronaldo has scored 90 goals in 3 season so Xavi stands no where him…hahaha…is this sensible by any means???
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@NicoQB: Let’s imagine Ronaldo playing for Blackburn Rovers. How would he match up to his current performances? You say it’s because of their system. Well every team has their own system so every other player that is performing well is doing so solely because of the system they are playing in according to that reasoning
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@Grognard: Oh I think you’ve cornered the market on Lamb Kebab’s Grog
.
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@Grognard: Dare I say I dream of Rooney going to Real Madrid as well
.
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@NicoQB: Ronaldo was provided the tailor made system here which is not in case of others…Xavi is a complete package with no selfishness…Toure and Keita looks good bcoz of Xavi…They give him the ball to do anything…
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@owen: Crikey, that means that if Rooney scores 24 goals this season, then he would have failed!
@owen: Mate, nobody is telling you that Iniesta and Xavi are crap just that Ronaldo and Messi (arguably according to Grognard, which I’m not even sure by the way) are better than them.
On top of his game Ronaldo > anyone; as his game is more complete than Messi.
You’re just took personal offence from Grognard’s propensity to make use of sensaional writing when he wants to get his point across.
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@CraigMc: Now you are Provocating others
Get ready mate
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@owen: If Ronaldo was only successful because of our system, he would have failed at Madrid, which is not looking the case now.
@Jay wire: Have no problems saying XAvi is world class, nearly as good as vintage Paul Scholes
.
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@NicoQB: In my wild dreams also i know Ronaldo is better than Xavi but at any moment this is undigestable that Ronaldo is light years ahead of Xavi…This is the question,not that who is better but is helight years aheaf??
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@Grognard: Mmmmm you tell me why he is loved mate because I can’t understand it sometimes. Just like Tevez and his running around all energy, and Rooney – action men seem to get the accolades at OT, (by whom you used to call the blue collar working fans who didn’t understand finesse of the game Grog) that’s why Rooney and Tevez are loved. But everyone is entitled to support and cheer for whomever they want at OLd Trafford, and that includes me.
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@owen: Xavi has also not failed anywhere
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@gator:
Not in my house!!!
Xavi = John Stockton
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Rooney is world class, believing something else is actually astonoshing! Cant believe we are even having this debate, because we all know that he is WORLD CLASS! If he wasnt, then why would so many players deem him as the one they would want to buy to their team? Why is he rated at £80 million? Why is he rated as Englands saviour in every tournament these days? Why does he get the respect only Ronaldo previously did by opponents? Why is he the heart and soul of Manchester United? Because, ladies and gentlemen, he is world class. He simply is, finish, end of story, finito!
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@Grognard: Gabriel pulled me on the git comment and we got it sorted, that’s what grown ups do, not make a long song and dance about it.
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@NicoQB: Once again you are wrong. Barca had by far the superior possession. And I mean just that. Chelsea 29% and Barca 71%. But I do agree in that leg Xavi was behind Iniesta and was not at his best
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This debate is getting tiring.
Night’ all.
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@owen: Exactly
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@NicoQB: How can you even think that Barca has less possession than their opponent???
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@owen: Mate that game also Barca dominated but they missed a lot of chances and Chelsea were playing with 10 defenders and if If Messi and Eto were at their 50% best,then they would have won easily…Yes this is true that chelsea were denied 1 penalty chance but you cant expect that opponents will not have 1-2 chance in a whole game…
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@Grognard: Mmmmmm you need to read back thru this posr of yours, if you want to see bitterness and anger. If I am not impressed with Rooney, I am not impressed with him, and can express my opinions just as freely as anyone else. To quote an OFTEN quoted Grognard phrase, this is a RANT BLOG – remember! I am not worried about expressing my thoughts on ANY player, and that includes Rooney. I expect when criticising Rooney it will ruffle the Rooney fans feathers, but I am not doing it deliberately to upset them, it is what I truly feel about the player. So seperate the two things – ok?
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