ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

Allan Hobbs
1 Posted 22/01/2008 at 14:35:24

Who knows, will DM change a winning team? Chelsea are missing Lampard, Terry, Drogba, Shevchenko, Essien, Obi Mikel, Kalou and now SWP - result!

I’m glad he’s not playing because he’s been their best player in recent weeks - and the reason they were shit against Brum is because he went off after half an hour. I have a sneaking suspicion it’ll be a draw; I hope I’m wrong.

John Lloyd
2 Posted 22/01/2008 at 14:40:09

Its saying all over the international worldwide web that lampard is gonna be involved tomorrow???

In my own opinion, if your gonna win a cup your gonna have to beat the best teams & players somewhere along the way. Yes they are missing players, but we too are missing 3 very important players, so its up to the squad that Moysey picks along with all us going mental tomorrow night & hopefully, fingers crossed we turn them over and WEMBLEY here we come!!!

COYB

Karl Masters
3 Posted 22/01/2008 at 14:39:51

Don’t underestimate them and also Lampard may just be fit.

They could still put out

Cech

Belletti
Carvalho
Alex
Ashley Cole

Malouda
Sidwell
Lampard
Ballack
Joe Cole

Anelka

for example. Think they will be happy with a draw trying to catch us on the break. Patience will be vital. Personally, I think it would be better to have Fernandes in midfield instead of Neville with Neville playing in one of the full back roles, but I am trusting Moyesie to get it right!

COYB

Dan Mckie
4 Posted 22/01/2008 at 14:48:00

I think Moyes team on Sunday was purely down to the pitch and I think he will have realised he needed Nev and Cars in the middle that day because Fernandes would have been wasted on that dirt track like many of our other players were! Would love to see him put a team out on wednesday which really suggests we are going for it from the off and that to me would include Fernandes in the starting 11, COYB!!

Callum Greenall
5 Posted 22/01/2008 at 14:56:40

Don't underestimate chelsea, but i do believe that we will win 3-1.
Cahill will outplay Lampard if he plays.
Arteta will score 1 Johnson 1 and I think Phil Meville will get 1.
Fernandes will come on just after 70 mins I think.

Ryan Jones
6 Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:03:25

Isn?t Anelka cup tied?

Ray Roche
7 Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:04:48

Anelka?s not cup-tied. Bolton fielded a weakened team when they played.

James Elworthy
8 Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:04:45

1) Annelka did not play in the League Cup for Bolton so he is not cuptied, they rested him in both of their games.
2) Fernandes, Osman, Hibbert and Johnson face fitness tests according to the official site
With Baines injured, 3 players on African Nations Cup duty we are really scraping the barrel now.

Michael Cummins
9 Posted 22/01/2008 at 14:46:39

I for one am buzzing about tomorrow night, I think we'll do it. Don't ask me why it's a feeling I get deep down inside my stomach, much like in 1995 when we beat United to lift the FA Cup. It's time to stop thinking about 4th place for 90-120 minutes and close you eyes and dream of Wembley! Tomorrow night when Z-Cars plays I will be standing a screaming COME ON YOU BLUE BOYS, with a lump in my throat, my head held high and proud to follow the boys in blue.

Come on Folks lets all get behind them will and sing them to Wembley, Get The Street end to "Suck the Goals in".

Tell Me Ma!!!!!!

COYB - We're all very proud of you boys!!!!!!!!!

Daniel Barton
10 Posted 22/01/2008 at 13:25:05

I've already got that churning feeling in the pit of my stomach ahead of tomorrow's game - but what team should DM pick for this vital game?

I wouldn't shuffle the pack too much, and if the reports are right and Baines is out injured then I would move Neville to RB with Fernandes filling the void in the middle of the park.

That would mean a 4-5-1 starting formation with Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Valente, Carsley, Arteta, Fernandes, Cahill, Osman and Johnson. Osman would start on the left, Carsley sitting in front of the back four, and Fernandes dictating the play in the middle with Cahill breaking into the box. Wessels, Stubbs, Hibbert, Anichebe and Vaughan on the bench.

Is this the team to fire the blue's into the final?

Don Flintoni
11 Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:28:26

Fernandes will be lucky to get a 15 min sniff tomorrow.

Nev will play CM with Cars. Ossie and arty will be the wing men with AJ being supported upfront by Cahill.

Graham Nolan
12 Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:24:16

I think Moyes will play it much the same way as he did the first leg. He will try to keep things as tight as possible for as long as possible. I can see things being very tight and then with an hour to go the game will open up.
Hibbert will start at right back & Neville in midfield with fernandes on the bench.
Fernandes left for Valencia at the 11th hour. What better way to repay Everton FC & it’s fans than to come off the bench and win the game for us?? It could be fate? It could be bullshit? Only time will tell. Can’t wait....COYB!!

Mike Erickson
13 Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:29:42

Reading a preview recently of the Wimbledon game and a quote from a fan said, "If you haven?t got a sore throat after the game, then you haven?t done your job" rings true for tomorrow dont you think ? Oh and sorry to be the voice of doom but Steve Bennett is the ref for tomorrow!!

Dan Mckie
14 Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:39:51

The four fitness tests are a worry but I'm hoping that AJ and Osman's are just to make sure they didn't do anything to re-agrivate their injuries, Fernandes just to check his general fitness... and not too sure about Hibbo?s but he will bust a gut to make it for this game!

Neil Styles
15 Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:43:35

Callum I love your belief in our boys and I hope that your clairvoyant talent makes its presence felt...lets hope the chavs and that bastard lampard dont do likewise.

COYB!!!!!!

Dave Lynch
16 Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:43:05

Danny, i have the same feeling in my stomach.
Have been positive all last week, but the closer it gets the more me arse is going.
Don’t mind Steve Bennett as the ref though, he may be card happy but he does not buckle or bow to the so called big 4.

Tony Part
17 Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:53:31

Just heard the news that Baines could be out for eight weeks..What is it with us and left backs???

Ron Joynson
18 Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:55:00

Apparently, Leighton Baines will be out to up to eight weeks. How come therefore that he?s named in the squad for tomorrow?s game. Who?s playing games??

Tom Rowe
19 Posted 22/01/2008 at 16:05:15

I?ll be honest im more excited than I was on xmas eve this year, and the mrs was gettin me a Wii with Fifa08 (which is shite by the way) but i was still excited. COYB!!

Dan Mckie
20 Posted 22/01/2008 at 16:06:51

Ron, I think its one of those where if he has an operation now then the injury wont keep happening, if the club go ahead with the op on his ankle then he will be out for 6-8 weeks!

Graham Nolan
21 Posted 22/01/2008 at 16:10:04

I am not too concerened about baines’ injury. we have been doing well without him and Valente has been playing well in his absence.
better get it fixed now than have the lad picking up niggles all the time.

Bob Turner
22 Posted 22/01/2008 at 16:27:52

Just read on the OS that Chelsea returned part of their allocation for tomorrow's semi-final. I'm amazed that they can't sell out their allocation for a Cup semi-final - I guess the frozen North is a bit too far for them to travel... After what was written on their OS after the first leg, I think this just shows them to be the nouveau riche, classless, soulless club they really are.

At least it means there'll be more of us genuine fans roaring on the Blues - let's hope we stuff them!

Ben Smith
23 Posted 22/01/2008 at 16:40:36

What’s the rule on away goals in the league cup? Will 1-0 see us through?

Stuart Mitchell
24 Posted 22/01/2008 at 16:59:35

1-0 will see us through if we hold on for 120 mins

Away goals count after extra time has been played

Mark Griffiths
25 Posted 22/01/2008 at 17:10:31

Just read that Lampard will not be fit tomorrow but SWP could well be!

Stil think we can do this though, with the noise generated in the ground it will put the fear of god in to Cheslea!!!

If Hibbo is fit, then Neville will play in midfield as he will not drop Neville, so manny probably will not play unless ossie is injured.

Andrew Fletcher
26 Posted 22/01/2008 at 17:16:55

I think Mark Griffiths is right, Manny will only get on if we need a goal with 1/2 hour to go. However, I think Arteta and Cahill will rise to the challenge and go for it.

James Keating
27 Posted 22/01/2008 at 17:19:21

I don’t think the side he put out on Sunday will be good enough to beat Chelsea tomorrow.

If he does include Fernandes in the starting line up then I think we have a very good chance, but Neville and Co in midfield will be sussed out too easily by Chelsea because they can only play one way and lack creativity. Really hope my prediction is wrong.

Brian Waring
28 Posted 22/01/2008 at 17:17:02

The biggest worry for me is that we have to go for it and score. Chelsea are one of the best sides at catching people on the break. So I can see them sitting back and picking us off. Also, if we put the side out that played against Wigan, would you be confident that we could break them down?

John Lloyd
29 Posted 22/01/2008 at 17:21:29

I fucking love you’s all, I’m bricking it, nervous, butterflies are going yet I cannot wait to get outta work tomorrow. Meet the lads have a few jars & give it some fuckin welly.

I’m not surprised that they have sent tickets back.....to quote Bob Turner ’it shows them to be the nouveau riche, classless, soulless club we know they are!!’ quite right Bob.

COYB

Mick Simo
30 Posted 22/01/2008 at 17:22:55

I think hes got to play Fernades in the middle, we play 1 up front, we need someone who can split a defence with a pass, I would put Neville RB, I think he might start with Fernades out wide though and bring Arteta in the middle, Carsley and Osman out on the left, Cahill in the hole and Johnson up front, see how it goes, he can always swap things around with Fernandes and Arteta, even Ossie can interchange.

James Murphy
31 Posted 22/01/2008 at 17:40:00

John Terry was saying on Sky, the key is to quieten the Goodison Park crowd down in the first 10 minutes, sounds like their going to park a bus in the goal for the first ten and then try and hit us on the break. I am starting to get the butterflies now, my arse is twitching and its 24 hours away, few pints before the game should sort it. We have got to lift the roof off tommorow night, this is a massive chance for the younger fans to taste Wembley, so sing and shout lads and I am sure we can be the 12th man and do it

Stuart Mitchell
32 Posted 22/01/2008 at 17:49:00

I would go:

Howard
Neville
Valante
Jags
Lescott
Arteta
Fernandes
Carsley
Cahill
Osman
AJ

Bench: Wessels, Hibbert, Gravesen, Anichebe, Vaughan.

James Murphy
33 Posted 22/01/2008 at 18:02:22

Stuart I agree, but how would you play the midfield?

Kenny Jones
34 Posted 22/01/2008 at 18:05:56

The crowd will sing their hearts out and I hope the players give it everything, Bayern Munich dvd should be played in the dressing room and the goals played before the game, just to remind the players and fans what can be done when the crowd go mad

Stuart Mitchell
35 Posted 22/01/2008 at 18:50:33

Arteta and Osman Wide and interchanging. Carsley sitting and protecting the back 4, Fernandes playing box to box and Cahill supporting AJ.

Ben Goodman
36 Posted 22/01/2008 at 18:39:15

WOW! I am only 15 and can’t remember the ’95 cup final. This is the first time I have been involved in a semi final with Everton!

I would love Hibbert to be injured because it means that Neville will have to play right back and that means Fernandes will play in midfield with Osman in the center. Otherwise if Hibbert is fit I wouldn’t be surprised for Moyes to think ’’Oh i know we may be losing but lets put Nev and Cars in together!’’
NO CREATIVITY with those two and we really need someone on a night like this to put their foot on the ball like Fernandes.
I can’t believe Fernandes is injured it is either a ploy or he just needs to prove fitness. I for one think Moyes could surprise us but knowing Moyesey like we do it will be defensive.
MOYES’:
Howard
Hibbert Lescott Jagielka Valente
Arteta Carsley Neville Osman
Cahill Johnson
MINE:
Howard
Neville Lescott Jagielka Valente(no1 else)
Carsley
Osman
Fernandes Arteta
Cahill
Johnson

John Jones
37 Posted 22/01/2008 at 21:26:27

I?ve been told that Tony Hibbert was at Finch Farm today but never trained due to an icepack around his knee, which suggests that Phil Neville will be RB and Manny will play.

Steve Carter
38 Posted 22/01/2008 at 21:29:12

It’s pissing a bit on everyone’s happy parade, but reading through the above, a few things: (1) When was the last time we beat Chelsea by at least 2 goals at Goodison? (2) We can score against them, but keeping them scoreless for 120 mins...(3) Which out of Karl’s starting side wouldn’t walk straight in to our team?

John Kay
39 Posted 22/01/2008 at 20:55:29

I have been home and away this season and I am excited - cautiousy optimistic and think the old lady will be rocking and this is a great opportunity.

I think Ossie was playing his best football of his career in the few months before his injury... and he was playing in the middle. Sure he needs a yard of pace, or a stone of bulk, or a half foot of height to be international standard - but the lad gets stuck in, is probably second only to Arteta in technique, and will work his socks off. He should play in the middle. Neville to right back, or even right-mid, where he played in the first leg

I can see the appeal of Fernandes ? but he has hardly played recently and it is likely to be frenetic initially ? the boys will be snapping at ankles and working hard. Also I think that the lad could do with not being put straight in the team following his summer activities... the players we have got us 4th and earned the right to play in the semi. Apart from the first 30mins against Chelsea in the first leg and maybe the end of the Arsenal game, no-one has really given us the run-around. Villa was sloppy defending; Joe always has a couple of moments like that a season; the ref ruined the derby; we deserved a point at Old Trafford; got a point at The Bridge, and dominated Arsenal for the first half ? playing really good football. Fernandes is quality but he should be on the bench (and should come on) ? let's not make out (if he doesn?t start him) that Moyes is being too cautious - he is sticking with avery succesful formula and also quietly letting him know that Fernandes is not bigger than Everton.

Jags kept Anelka in his pocket vs Bolton ? which i know is different - but psychologically its good for ags who has occasionally struggled ? has anyone noticed how many balls bounce over him??! All we can do is hope there are no moments of magic from their stars or a moment of madness from a blue shirt ? otherwise a clean sheet is on.

He?ll never get it with the eye catching talents of Cahill and Arteta, but Carsley has been Everton's player of the year ? the man is a hero ? so underrated outside everton (and disappointingly by some inside!) he is so often the man making the last-ditch saving tackle ? I turned the guy next to me a few years ago when Radzinski was having a storming game but had missed two one-on-ones ? and said "if that lad could finish.." he replieds ? if he could finish he wouldn?t be playing here..."

To be fair we were a pretty average team 4/5 yrs ago. The point is people say that carsleys technique is poor - if it wasn?t poor, i tell you that guy would be considered as good as the likes of hargreaves or ince. he does what he does so well and you can see how highly rated he is by the team.. He?s the one who put the ball in the Liverpool net a couple of years back and I have a feeling he is the guy to send a side foot curler into the bottom right corner of the Gwladys Street goal. I am sure his replacement long term will be better.

Arteta needs a big game. I have a growing concern with Howard and crosses. must keep a clean sheet in first half. 0-0 is fine - just clean sheet.

I think we are going to do this. 1-nil.

We?ll really shake it up when we win the Carling Cup...

COYBB

Roy Coyne
40 Posted 22/01/2008 at 22:44:03

Steve, Spurs had a worse record against Arsenal and look what happened! 2-0 to the little club from Merseyside who can always sell their quota for away semi-finals...

Simon Gemine
41 Posted 23/01/2008 at 16:25:19

Dont know why, but I can see a 3-1 win for us tonight. Arteta, Timmy and Leon getting the goals. COYB