Lille (A)

Lille OSC vs Everton

Europa League Group Stage

Stade Pierre Mauroy

Thursday October 23rd 6pm

Its here, its finally here! Got my passport, my flights, my tickets, my Euros, and Thursday morning just cant come soon enough. Its been five years since my last Euro away, a horrible long wet night amidst an injury and form crisis, but worth every second of a 1-0 win in Athens! We had around 1,500 fans there that night in December 2009, but Thursday will be slightly different. Over 5,200 in the official away end, and countless thousands of others all over the 50,000 capacity ground in the biggest mass migration of Evertonians since Rotterdam 85! Bring on the crepes!

Team News

With the exception of long termers Kevin Mirallas, John Stones, Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone, we have a fully fit squad to choose from. Leon Osman and Steven Naismith have been rested however and are not in the traveling squad.

Howard

Coleman-Alcaraz-Jagielka-Baines

Barry-McCarthy

McGeady-Barkley-Pienaar
Lukaku

Ones to Watch

I dont know a lot about Lille's players. just three of them in fact, Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, Danish international midfielder Simon Kjaer, and the very odd situation of Belgian striker Divock Origi. Odd because he was signed by Liverpool in the summer and loaned straight back to Lille...considering he hasnt even made an appearance for Liverpool yet, I imagine he wont know whats hit him when he gets booed!

The Ex Factor

 Kevin Mirallas (Lille 2004-2008)

Appearances: 76

Goals: 10

(Everton 2012-Present)

Appearances: 64 (13)

Goals: 20

Previous Meetings with French Clubs

Surprisingly maybe, but in our history playing in Europe, this will be the first time we have faced a French side. By comparison, despite only qualifying for Europe for the first time in 2001, Lille have played three ties against English clubs. They famously beat Man United 1-0 at the Stade De France in the group stage in 2005, as well as a 0-0 at Old Trafford, but then lost to them in the knockouts the following season. They have also faced our loveable rivals in the 2010 Europa League, winning 1-0 in France before losing 3-0 at Anfield.

Prediction

A win would leave us needing to win one of our last 3 group games to pretty much guarantee progress. Lille suffered a bad defeat at home at the weekend, so we need to take advantage of that. Lille 1-3 Everton

Everton 3-0 Aston Villa

Everton 3-0 Aston Villa

(Jagielka 18, Lukaku 48, Coleman 76)

39,505

 

Thats more like it Everton. Couple of important players back from injuries, most impressively Ross Barkley, and coupled with a dreadful Villa side, and we're on the up again. Barkley's return lifted the whole place right from the kick off, as did the returns of Coleman and McCarthy, and we looked slik and confident from the off. Missed a couple of early chances to score, befpre Guzan made a good save from Barkley's shot. But from the resulting short corner, the ball went back to Baines who crossed for Jagielka to bravely head in under pressure. Hutton's long range shot just wide was the only threat Villa showed first half, and it was just a question of how many we'd get, or given what happened against Palace, as long as we didnt concede a stupid goal and let them back into it. No such concerns, as just minutes into the second half, McCarthy won a challenge and sent Barkley racing down the wing. He passed inside for Lukaku, who's powerful shot squirmed under Guzan and that was pretty much game over, a chance to relax and enjoy the rest of the game. Lukaku's touch hasnt been quite there, but it seems that little bit of luck lifted him and he was fantastic second half, absolutely back to his best with a good touch and bullying defenders all over the place. Benteke had a goal disallowed for a foul, but we scored a deserved 3rd with 15 minutes left. A quickly taken free kick found Baines on the left to square for Coleman to score his 3rd of the season. 

So finally got that home win out of the way, bring on the Lille invasion!

Everton Man of the Match

Could have been one of a few. McCarthy, Naismith, Baines, Coleman, all outstanding. Has to be Ross Barkley though. Crazy how much we've missed him this season so far, and he played today like he's never been away.

Aston Villa (H)

Everton vs Aston Villa

Premier League

Goodison Park

Saturday October 18th 3pm

Nearly forgot we had a game this week with all the excitement over Lille away next week! A very important game, we have had a really tough start to the season in terms of injuries and fixtures, but we actually have a run of winnable ones coming up and a few players returning...now we just have to actually win them!

Team News

Ross Barkley is finally fit to return, and could be included in the squad today. Seamus Coleman, Steven Pienaar and James McCarthy are also expected to be fit again today. Sylvain Distin will likely come back after his er...hiatus to replace John Stones, who will be out for 10-14 weeks after ankle surgery. 

Ron Vlaar and Christian Benteke should return for Villa, but ex Blue Phillippe Senderos is doubtful. Fabian Delph picked up a shoulder injury on international duty and is likely to be out for 2 months.

Howard

Coleman-Jagielka-Distin-Baines

Barry-McCarthy

McGeady-Naismith-Pienaar
Lukaku

Ones to Watch

Ron Vlaar, defender and captain. Run of the mill defender who suddenly took on over the top world class status after a half decent World Cup for Holland.

Brad Guzan, goalkeeper. One of the best around, and a Fantasy League favourite.

Fabian Delph, midfielder. Villa's James McCarthy who will be a big miss for them today.

Tom Cleverley, midfielder, who could have signed for us on deadline day instead. Glad he didnt, so will probably score today.

Gabby Agbonlahor, striker and the bogeyman. Has an obscene scoring record against us since he scored against us on his debut in 2006. Even more remarkable for such an obscene player.

The Ex Factor

Gareth Barry (Aston Villa 1997-2009)

Appearances: 423 (18)

Goals:52

(Everton 2013-Present)

Appearances: 45 (1)

Goals:3

Phillippe Senderos (Everton 2010)

Appearances: 2 (1)

(Aston Villa 2014-Present)

Appearances: 8

Previous Meetings

(Premier League, February 1st 2014)

Everton 2-1 Aston Villa

(Naismith 74, Mirallas 85: Bacuna 34)

(Premier League, February 2nd 2013)

Everton 3-3 Aston Villa

(Anichebe 21, Fellaini 69, 90: Benteke 2, 61, Agbonlahor 24)

(Premier League, September 10th 2011)

Everton 2-2 Aston Villa

(Osman 19, Baines (P) 69: Petrov 63, Agbonlahor 83)

(Premier League, April 2nd 2011)

Everton 2-2 Aston Villa

(Osman 38, Baines (P) 83: Bent 47, 68)

(Premier League, October 31st 2009)

Everton 1-1 Aston Villa

(Bilyaletdinov 45: Carew 46)
Bilyaletdinov sent off 87: Cuellar sent off 90

Last Time

Everton 2-1 Aston Villa (Naismith 74, Mirallas 85: Bacuna 34) Premier League, February 1st 2014

A hard fought win in the middle of a tough run of games...same again please! Few injuries, battered in the week before the game, and Villa came to sit and defend. And it worked to perfection when Delph won a 50-50 in midfield allowing Benteke to slide in Bacuna who scored with Villa's only shot on target of the game. And then they defended, looked like we would never be able to break them down. Until 16 minutes to go, Steven Pienaar finally found the right pass to create an opening for Steven Naismith to score the equaliser. Then with just 5 minutes to go, Kevin Mirallas scored a beauty of a free kick to give us a crucial win.

Memorable Meeting

Everton 3-1Aston Villa (Rodwell 4, Arteta (P) 24, Cahill 76: Milner (P) 8) FA Cup 5th Round, February 15th 2009

 A game that always had the potential to be deflating, as it was our reward for beating Liverpool after a replay in the 4th round of the FA Cup, and Villa had a bit of a hoodoo over us at the time too. Got off to a perfect start when Jack Rodwell scored his first senior goal. His header from a corner was handled on the line by Stilyan Petrov, but before anyone could even appeal for the penalty, Rodwell lashed in the loose ball anyway. Didnt last long though, as just 4 minutes later, Villa won a penalty which James Milner scored. (A rather bizarre stat, this was the first penalty an opposition player had scored at Goodison in the FA Cup since Bill Shankley for Preston about 50 years earlier!) But less than 20 minutes later, we retook the lead with a penalty of our own, Mikel Arteta doing the honours. And from then on, it was the absolute epitomy of a great cup tie, end to end, could have gone either way, Villa looking the much more likely the later it got, then with 16 minutes left, we broke, Tim Cahill just with Brad Friedel to beat, and luckily for us, Cahill's mishit shot was actually more perfect than if he'd caught it how he liked! We went through the quarter final, eventually losing in the Final and ended the season above Villa.

Prediction

Must win. We lost last time I said that so we better not again! Everton 2-0 Aston Villa

Manchester United 2-1 Everton

Manchester United 2-1 Everton

(Di Maria 27, Falcao 62: Naismith 55)

75,294

Incredible. So much to feel cheated and angry about, but in the end, United are shit and it's only thanks to the difference between the two goalkeepers that we lost that game. The first half was a write off. Not positive enough, McGeady anonymous, no support for Lukaku from midfield, and United led from one of very few attacks through Di Maria. Its been blatantly obvious seeing United this season that they are diabolical at the back, but have the players who can hurt you going forward, so what approach should we take? Attack or defence? We chose neither, just sitting there containing and doing fuck all. Then right on half time, Pienaar and Hibbert combined down the right, and Shaw clattered through Hibbert to give us a penalty. Never felt confident for some reason though, and De Gea saved Baines' awful penalty, when had we scored, it would have been a real momentum shift and a route back into the game we never looked like we deserved.

Luckily though, as Ive already said, United are shit defensively. And we did equalise 10 minutes into the second half, when Baines found Naismith to power in a cracker of a header. And as expected, all the momentum was back with us. The game was still crying out for Eto'o to come on and give Lukaku a bit of support, especially as Pienaar was clearly starting to tire after his first game in ages. And so it proved when he went down injured. United played on though, and Howard came steaming out for a clearance. But instead of just belting it out play to let our sub come on, like he does seemingly every bastard time he touches the ball with his feet, he tried to keep it in. Despite us being a man down and our defence being all pulled out of shape. No, the dopey prick kept it in, United played on, and Di Maria miskick presented Falcao with a tap in. Another goal absolutely gift wrapped for the opposition. Another for Howard's collection this season. United were still shitting themselves at the back, and had started to drop back by now though, and we were still always in it, just get Eto'o on for the last...no, hang on, we'll bring on Osman and a full back, that'll fucking show them...and it nearly bloody did. Only for that bastard David De Gea who always has a bloody blinder against us, with three world class saves in stoppage time, first from Osman's shot after a brilliant team move gave him a one on one. Then even later, right on the edge of the free kick, Baines free kick led to Barry having a shot that De Gea saved again, the rebound fell to Oviedo who cracked a volley probably hit sweeter than he's ever hit a ball in his life, but De Gea tipped it over. Just to ruin our lives even further, John Stones somehow landed awkwardly and was stretchered off. Its ankle ligaments...the seriousness of which will be known in the next 48 hours, but I guarantee now it wont be good. Fantastic, we've had two shining lights this season so far, we lost Mirallas last week, and Stones this week.

Said on deadline day I wasnt happy with our signings. Not so much the signings themselves, but that there werent enough of them and our squad hasnt improved. That is now proving to be the case. And an international break next week, so knowing our luck we'll pick up a couple more, but our first team is currently without Barkley, Distin, Coleman, Mirallas, Kone, McCarthy and Stones. Potentially Pienaar too, who is only just back from injury and got another one today. One win in seven in the League...okay we've had a tough start, and we do have injuries, but its no excuse. So many of our problems so far this season are all of our own making. Today was just another of those in action.

Everton Man of the Match

Tony Hibbert. Fair play, he was out of the side for a long time and got destroyed on his return at Swansea, but has been solid as anything in the last 3 games, kept Di Maria fairly quiet today and done alright getting forward.

Manchester United (A)

Manchester United vs Everton

Premier League

Old Trafford

Sunday October 5th 12pm

Last game before the international break, and the end of a nightmare run of 4 away games in a row. Just 2 draws from the 3 before (albeit welcome ones coming so late on...) isnt a good return so far, and we could really do with a win here to get us going properly.

Team News

Kevin Mirallas is still out with the hamstring injury he picked up at Anfield, while other recent injury victims Steven Pienaar, James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman will have fitness tests.
Our loveable ex player Wayne Rooney is suspended after his red card at West Ham last week. Tyler Blackett returns from suspension, but Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are all still out. 

Howard

Coleman-Stones-Jagielka-Baines

Barry-McCarthy
McGeady-Naismith-Pienaar
Lukaku

The Ex Factor

Wayne Rooney (Everton 2002-2004)

Appearances: 48 (29)

Goals: 17

(Manchester United 2004-Present)

Appearances: 402 (45)

Goals: 220

Tim Howard (Manchester United 2003-2007)

Appearances: 76 (1)

(Everton 2006-Present)

Appearances: 355

Goals: 1

Darron Gibson (Manchester United 2005-2012)

Appearances: 37 (23)

Goals: 10

(Everton 2012-Present)

Appearances: 42 (5)

Goals: 2

Marouane Fellaini (Everton 2008-2013)

Appearances: 166 (11)

Goals: 33

(Manchester United 2013-Present)

Appearances: 16 (6)

The Stadium

Old Trafford, home since 1910.

Capacity: 76,100

Record Attendance: 76,962 Wolves vs Grimsby (FA Cup, March 1939)

Visits: 9 (2005-2013)

Old Trafford Review

Previous Meetings

(Premier League, December 4th 2013)

Manchester United 0-1 Everton

(Oviedo 86)

(Premier League, February 10th 2013)

Manchester United 2-0 Everton

(Giggs 13, Van Persie 45)

(Premier League, April 22nd 2012)

Manchester United 4-4 Everton

(Rooney 41, 69, Welbeck 57, Nani 60: Jelavic 33, 83, Fellaini 67, Pienaar 85)

(Premier League, April 23rd 2011)

Manchester United 1-0 Everton

(Hernandez 84)

(Premier League, November 21st 2009)

Manchester United 3-0 Everton

(Fletcher 35, Carrick 67, Valencia 76)

Last Time

Manchester United 0-1 Everton (Oviedo 86) Premier League, December 4th 2013

Probably my favourite away game ever, sheer perfection. The first time we had come up against Moyes since he left the previous summer, and the first chance for Martinez to put to bed that long winless run on the big four grounds under Moyes and beyond...and how! Fantastic performance, James McCarthy was superhuman all over the pitch, but it looked like it would be a 0-0 somehow. Until four minutes to go when Romelu Lukaku mishit a shot all the way across goal...where just slipping in at the back post was the unlikely hero, Bryan Oviedo to slide in a much celebrated winner in front of the delerious away end. Amazing moment.

Memorable Meeting

(Premier League, April 22nd 2012)

Manchester United 4-4 Everton

Manchester United 4-4 Everton (Rooney 41, 69, Welbeck 57, Nani 60: Jelavic 33, 83, Fellaini 67, Pienaar 85) Premier League, April 22nd 2012

Before last season's ecstasy, this wasnt a bad one! Coming a week after the FA Cup semi final defeat to Liverpool, nobody was expecting much. But we started pretty well, and Jelavic's far post looping header gave us a deserved lead after half an hour. Rooney equalised before half time though, and a quick fire double on the hour from Welbeck and Nani looked to have seen us off and pushed United into touching distance of the title. But a half volley from Fellaini gave us hope, only for Rooney to definitely see us off 2 minutes later with his second. We were still attacking though, and with 7 minutes left, a defensive mix up allowed Jelavic to score his second. And before United even had time to get nervous, Steven Pienaar applied the finishing touch to a flowing team move to silence Old Trafford. Still time for them to grab that sucker punch as Rio Ferdinand cracked in a half volley from the edge of the box that Howard tipped over to save the point. United lost the title on goal difference less than a month later...oops... 

Prediction

All depends on who's fit for us. If McCarthy, Coleman and Pienaar are still out, Im not that confident. If they are, I am! So Ill go in between and say a draw! Manchester United 2-2 Everton

Krasnodar 1-1 Everton

FC Krasnodar 1-1 Everton

(Ari 43: Eto'o 82)

I'll take that all day long. Bastard of an away trip, under the cosh from a pretty decent Krasnodar side for the majority of the game, but came away with a point, and top of the group as it stands after 2 games. Made a few changes from the weekend, but kept our back 5 the same, and they were under plenty of pressure in the first half, Stones having to make a couple of tackles, and Howard a couple of saves, while McGeady and Barry had shots saved, and Stones was unlucky to head one wide. But Krasnodar went in 1-0 up as Jagielka tried to clear a cross but only succeeded in nudging it into the path of Ari, who finished past Howard.

Lukaku came on for the pretty awful Atsu at half time, but it was still Krasnodar who looked the more likely, sub Wanderson dancing through and hitting the top of the crossbar. But we improved after that, and started playing much better in the last 20 minutes or so, and went close a couple of times, before with 8 minutes to go, Baines corner was cleared back to him, and his inswinging cross was touched in by Samuel Eto'o. Lukaku had a header saved by Dikan late on to deny us a late winner, but cant argue with a point from that game. Looks like no injuries either, so a successful night really.

Everton Man of the Match

John Stones. Growing every game, won tackles and headers, started every attack from the back, looks like a veteran rather than the kid he is.  

FK Krasnodar (A)

FC Krasnodar vs Everton

Europa League

Kuban Stadium

Thursday October 2nd 5pm

Firrst game Ive missed since Sporting Lisbon away in 2010, 210 games ago! Sadly £700+ including a Visa was just a little too far to stretch! 

Team News

Lineup could be unexpected, with us having United away on Sunday. The first teamers have all travelled though, barring the injured ones, Sylvain Distin, James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman, Steven Pienaar and Kevin Mirallas have all stayed at home.

Howard

Hibbert-Stones-Jagielka-Baines

Besic-Barry
McGeady-Naismith-Atsu
Eto'o

Ones to Watch

Unsurprisingly, I dont know an awful lot about Krasnodar. They are famed for their academy though, and a develop a lot of young players. Like a lot of Russian sides too, they have a couple of Brazilians on their books.

The Ex Factor

Again unsurprisingly, there are no former players of either club involved tonight. Samuel Eto'o and Aiden McGeady have both previously played for Russian clubs.

The Stadium

Kuban Stadium, home since 2009 (shared with Kuban Krasnodar)

Capacity: 31,654

Previous Meetings

(UEFA Cup Group Stage, December 5th 2007)

Everton 1-0 Zenit St Petersburg

(Cahill 85)
Lombaerts sent off 29

Thats our only previous meeting with any Russian club. Closest we have come to playing away there was the visit to former USSR Belarus, when we won 2-1 at BATE Borisov in the group stage in 2009.

Prediction

Given the unknown quantity Krasnodar are, its hard to really make a prediction. Given we have the lead in the group and a good goal difference from our first game, a draw wouldnt be a bad result at all.