ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

This Time!!!

This time in the FA Cup we have a real chance of getting to the final. The team that stands in our way is probably close to the best team in the world; saying that, they are not playing very well at the moment. However, an underachieving Man Utd team is still more than a match for 98% of teams. What we have got going for us is the immense team spirit that we possess, the unwillingness to ever say a game is lost and a unique knack of raising our game when we are playing the country's finest.

I honestly think this could be our time, our season, our FA Cup. Watching Man Utd at the moment they certainly have weaknesses (never many). I would suggest that we definitely pile the pressure on Johnny Evans who I do see as a weak link in the team.

With Jo being cup-tied it is almost inevitable that Moyes will play the tried and trusued 4-5-1 and I suggest the line up (barring any injuries against the Villa) will be Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Jags, Baines, Pienaar, Neville, Osman, Fellaini, Cahill, and Saha.

However, with Saha's fitness in mind, I would like to see him play Cahill up front, and bring Gosling into the midfield and bring Saha on if we are chasing the game. Whatever he plays, this could really be our time!!! COYB
Ian Mullin, Liverpool Posted 11/04/2009 at 15:19:42

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Michael Kenrick

Oopps, I think I wrongly deleted this from Fergal O'Regan:

Just after watching the Man Utd v Sunderland game, we really have nothing to fear about heading to London next weekend.

Man Utd are rattled.

In United's last four games, they have been woeful. Their defence are leaking goals from all over the place. The only striker to fear is the new lad, Kiko (who surely we can bully), and he will probably start on the bench.

Also, they have a huge match to win Wednesday night, before we play them. I think from our point of view it's a very good time to play them and turn them over...

Anthony Dyer
1 Posted 11/04/2009 at 18:56:09

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Fergal, I hope you?re right about United being rattled. Unfortunately they know how to win football matches and therefore trophies. Despite the Media (RS Supporters) hoping that they will fall flat on their face, they are still top of the Prem, still in Europe and for now still in the FA Cup and have only lost 2 of their last god knows how many games.

If Everton do progress to the Final, it will be some achievement as, player for player, we don?t match them. But, given a good rub of the green, I?m sure we can pose them problems and hopefully progress. Two things in our favour: firstly, they have a tough European game on Wednesday; and secondly, a home game straight after the Semi, which they have to win. What Everton must not do is treat them with too much respect.

COYB We?re all going to Wembley.

Oliver Reed
2 Posted 11/04/2009 at 19:02:15

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I reckon you?re correct there, Fergal. I haven't seen a Utd team shit it so badly for years... hopefully they can concentrate on the title ?cos I can't take those other fuckers taking it!

Ian McDowell
3 Posted 11/04/2009 at 20:23:10

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The thing is that Ferdinand will be back when we play them and he really holds the defence together. Vidic is good but not world class like Rio.

Mike Oates
4 Posted 11/04/2009 at 21:11:40

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I totally agree with Ian ? Rio Ferdinand will make all the difference if he?s playing. Without him, their defence is all at sea; with him, it's the meanest defence around.

Jay Harris
5 Posted 11/04/2009 at 21:13:14

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The thing is, although they are playing badly, and I don't think anyone would dispute that, they have WON 13 out of the last 15 games.

Even if we had a fully fit squad, it?s a big ask but we should never bet against the blues turning it on on the day. After all, the RS couldnt beat us in 3 games and the last time the media had their darlings (Spurs) set for the dream final, we played them off the park in the semis.

Joeynkoo Ludden
6 Posted 11/04/2009 at 23:31:45

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Oh the joy. Man Ure are in a rut (but still top of the league), so we will beat ?em. I'm not a doom and gloom merchant, but who and where are Pompey? Couldn?t beat dead and buried WBA today, but beat us twice and 5-1 this season. How long ago was the Pompey away game???

Eggs, counting etc.

The semi-final is a lottery ticket for us. We are in it.... but will we win it.......

John Martin
7 Posted 12/04/2009 at 01:15:47

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Who is the referee for next weeks semi?s. I am worried we will get Alan Wiley who in the past has given some terrible decisions against us and again today showed bias toward a sky 4 team by not sending off an Arsenal defender and only giving a yellow. I have no doubt if it was the other way around he would have sent a Wigan player off. Wiley always favours top 4 sides and his reward for his latest mistake will probably be a big game.

Matt Traynor
8 Posted 12/04/2009 at 04:41:50

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Anthony Dyer, you may be right, in that player for player, they are ahead of us. But in the 1995 final, they were streets ahead of us on the same basis.

The advantage for us that day was the week before had seen them blow the league title, and there was a definite hangover amongst players, and fans, alike.

As others mentioned, it is a lottery. If 2009 is to be our year, we will certainly have had our most difficult run in my memory - 3 of the Sky 4, plus 2 other Prem teams...

Martin Berry
9 Posted 12/04/2009 at 07:42:08

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Utd are woeful at the back at the moment, and Fellaini and Cahill will give them all sorts of problems, so hopefully we will have a few set pieces in place
Our defence is very solid, and we have nothing to fear, I expect a 2-0 scoreline (for US OF COURSE)

COYB?S

Paul Mackie
10 Posted 12/04/2009 at 11:02:48

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It depends entirely on which Everton side shows up in my opinion and how they approach the opening 20 minutes. If they get stuck in right from the off then we really do have a good chance. If on the other hand we sit back and stand off them then it?s a lot less likely.

I?m just hoping that we have Hibbert, Jags, Lescott and Baines all fit as nothing is gonna get past that back four.

Mike Oates
11 Posted 12/04/2009 at 13:36:30

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Referee for the semi is our good old friend!!!! Steve Bennett.