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Moyes focused on the task ahead

Michael Kenrick , 5 January, 40comments  |  Jump to most recent
''We will not underestimate Cheltenham''

David Moyes is brooking no complacency as his Everton side travel to League Two Cheltenham Town on Monday in the FA Cup Third Round.

The Blues manager held his pre-match press conference at Finch Farm today and insisted that neither he nor his players will be taking their lower-division hosts lightly.

“We want to go as far as we can in the FA Cup and we will be doing everything we can to get through," he told reporters.

"We will not underestimate Cheltenham and we will have to go there and do a really good job if we want to get into the next round."

“Cheltenham have done very well at home and they are a decent side. I watched them against Hereford in the replay and they are going well in their division. They have got a wee bit of confidence because they are playing well in their league."

Moyes's own side will be in good spirits following their win at Newcastle on Wednesday that got them off to a winning start for the New Year but whoever is selected on Monday will have to perform to avoid the kind of giant-killing that Moyes experienced at Shrewsbury Town a decade ago.

"Our players have to play — that's what they're here for," the manager continued. "Otherwise, they'll be thrust into the really big games and people have to be ready. We'll have a look at it and see what we plan to do in terms of selection.

“We have seen both sides of it. I can go back to ties we have lost in the early rounds of the FA Cup, so we know what it's like and how difficult it can be."

Medium-term absentee Kevin Mirallas is making progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury but will almost certainly not be risked but Seamus Coleman could return.

Quotes or other material sourced from EvertonFC.com

Reader Comments (40)

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Steve Edwards
1 Posted 05/01/2013 at 17:13:13
It's all predictable stuff from him. What else could he say?
Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
2 Posted 05/01/2013 at 18:41:28
Yea, you're dead right, Steve. I felt exactly the same when I read it... but I also felt compelled to ramp up the mood, excitement and 'romance' of the FA Cup Third Round to the extent possible.

Okay... I failed. Anyone got something better we can lead with??? I hate Saturdays when we don't have our blue skin in the game!!!

Colin Ryan
3 Posted 05/01/2013 at 18:58:41
I'm hearing Coleman is back for this and Mirallas is close too. Start with our strongest team. Get 2 early goals and make 3 early changes at half-time.
Bobby Mallon
4 Posted 05/01/2013 at 19:11:59
Do not play Mirallas!!!
Mike Keating
5 Posted 05/01/2013 at 19:37:02
I don't want to be a Jonah but I couldn't help wondering which league Pardew thinks his team should be playing in – on today's performance, he was correct to say they are in a different league to us.
COYB
Gerry Quinn
7 Posted 05/01/2013 at 19:45:33
Lead with Tony Bellew fighting at Goodison Park under the lights....would Big Dunc somehow get involved, or would he leave it to Fellaini?
Phil Sammon
8 Posted 05/01/2013 at 19:46:40
Mirallas surely won't play.

It would be nice to see Coleman back.

Hopefully there are starts for Vellios, Barkley, Oviedo and Duffy in an otherwise familiar team.

Howard in the net please.

Eric Hardman
9 Posted 05/01/2013 at 19:48:53
Moyes says:

"Our players have to play — that's what they're here for. Otherwise, they'll be thrust into the really big games and people have to be ready. We'll have a look at it and see what we plan to do in terms of selection."

This is code for "our fringe players will be playing".

Why does this so-called 'great' manager never seem to learn? How many weeks ago was Elland Road?

“They have a little bit of an advantage because they are at home but I would hope that our experience and the players we have got can overcome it, albeit it's never going to be easy."

No match is ever easy with Moyes in charge, even when we're 3 - 0 up at HT. Can't we just have one game where we're not biting our nails and counting the clock down?

Brent Stephens
10 Posted 05/01/2013 at 20:12:35
Eric, "This is code for "our fringe players will be playing".

Why does this so-called 'great' manager never seem to learn? How many weeks ago was Elland Road?"

He ain't said what his team is yet so how can you say he never learns?

Harold Matthews
11 Posted 05/01/2013 at 20:16:29
Sounds like he is going for a good win.
Joe McMahon
12 Posted 05/01/2013 at 21:01:38
Nevermind meeting Shrewsbury and Oldham again, what happens if we play Liverpool in the semi?
Andrew James
13 Posted 05/01/2013 at 20:50:19
After the debacle at Leeds, we simply cannot afford to play a weaker side. It would be a good opportunity to give Duffy and Barkley some time though. If Barkley doesn't start getting more game time we might as well send him back out on loan again.

See Jose Baxter scored in the cup today!

Jack Okell
14 Posted 05/01/2013 at 21:20:25
Mike #619 – My sentiments exactly. Love how the Cheshire cat grin has been wiped off the cockney wide boys face. Now that Cisse is injured, they're goal threat is very limited. I was made up with that result the other night. What a bellend he is!
John Crawley
15 Posted 05/01/2013 at 21:29:51
He needs to keep the same basic shape to the team and fit in a few youngsters such as Barley, Duffy & Vellios. What he doesn't need to do is to start completely fucking about playing players out of position and also throwing in youngsters ala Leeds.
Andy Meighan
16 Posted 05/01/2013 at 21:30:09
We should be able to rest at least 6 and still have enough to win at a canter unfortunatly on planet everton life isn't like that is it. Maybe 2 or 3 and if we are winning comfortably bring 3 off with the Swansea game in mind ill fucking strangle the bastard if we slip up in this one I really will I'm still having palpitations from the Oldham and Shrewsbury debacles I'm going for a comfortable 2 nil win Just hope I'm right
Tom Bowers
17 Posted 05/01/2013 at 21:45:53
Absolutely no reason to play Mirallas! Only a fool makes the same mistake twice and Moyes is no fool is he.

It`s for sure some bench players will play just like the Leeds game and it will be a struggle.

David Hallwood
18 Posted 05/01/2013 at 21:57:47
C'mon gents, the team have just played 4 hard games in 12 days; I'm hoping that Howard, Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Osman, Pienaar and Jelavic are all rested.

My team for Monday would be: Mucha, Neville, Heitinga, Duffy, Oviedo, Coleman, Barkley, Hitzlsperger, Gueye, Fellaini, Vellios

All due respect to Cheltenham but that team would have well enough to win.

Dave Lynch
19 Posted 06/01/2013 at 00:07:41
He has already blown 50% of our chances to win anything this season. So go with a strong team and finish them off by the 70th minute then make the changes.
Edward Simpson
21 Posted 06/01/2013 at 00:29:44
If I was Moyes, I wouldn't change too many things around for this game. The last time we played was Wednesday and we next play against Swansea next weekend so I don't see why we would need to change too many things around. We all know that Cheltenham are no Leeds but we are away from home and it will be tough regardless.

Baines or Pienaar need a rest as they were both carrying knocks. Hopefully Oviedo, Duffy and Barkley will start but I would only put those three in. If we have a commanding lead then put Junior on and Kennedy if he's in the team, to give him some experience.

There's no point risking going out as we are only in this competition along with the league of course. I will be disappointed if Mucha starts. Putting out a first XI would really signify the seriousness and respect for the competition that as fans we would want to see win.

Drew O'Neall
22 Posted 06/01/2013 at 00:42:42
If Mirallas is fit I'd stick him in to start, he's been out so long he'll need a loosener here or in the stiffs.

He's the type of player who could rip em apart in the first half and give himself and all our key men a rest in the second.

Tony Twist
23 Posted 06/01/2013 at 00:56:14
It has to be Howard in goal. He doesn't need a rest. Then Neville, Heitinga, Duffy and Oviedio. Midfield to be Coleman, The Hammer, Fellaini; up front Barkley with Naismith and Vellios furthest forward. Strange formation but the right mix of youth and experience. It will be tough unless they work as a team and create space for each other. COYB.
Gavin Ramejkis
24 Posted 06/01/2013 at 01:29:52
Even Man Utd had to bring on the guns to get a draw today. Personally I'd like Moyes to go for it from the off, build a decent goal cushion (and I don't mean score one and defend for 85 minutes), at least 3 goals and then swap out some of the players and give the fringe players a shot.
Peter Jones
25 Posted 06/01/2013 at 04:21:34
It's fucking Cheltenham Town. Relax people. Leeds is in the Championship and West Ham gave United a game because they are a Premier League side. This is League Two. We will win the game.
James Stewart
26 Posted 06/01/2013 at 04:56:17
Drop Heitinga — his performances have been a disgrace.
Ian Bennett
27 Posted 06/01/2013 at 08:54:34
My team would be:-

Howard
Coleman
Duffy
Jags
Distin

hitzsberger
Osman
Barkley

Anichibe
Fellaini
Vellios

Simon Temme
28 Posted 06/01/2013 at 10:04:35
Seeing as this is the only route to silverware this season, we should play with as much of a full strength side as possible.

Keep Jelavic in the side (if he scores confidence improves) keep Big Vic in the side (as a mark of respect to his recent excellent perfomances) and then make squad subs once the game is won.

Sam Hoare
29 Posted 06/01/2013 at 10:16:02
Moyes will put out a strong team no doubt. A few years ago I would be more worried about a game like this but we have some really good players and if they perform to their usual standards we should be fine.

I would say ossie, pienaar and jelly are the ones most in need of a rest. Possibly replaced by Barkley, Oviedo and anichebe?

Rob Edgar
30 Posted 06/01/2013 at 12:45:32
He must surely pick Oviedo, Barkley and Anichebe?!?

Maybe Vellios too?

Should still be an easy win for us though no matter who he picks....

Colin Ryan
32 Posted 06/01/2013 at 14:48:51
Once he doesn't play Mucha we should be ok. My ex was more of a keeper than him.
Bill Griffiths
33 Posted 06/01/2013 at 14:56:21
Given that Coleman appears to have no chance of being fit, my team would be:

Howard; Neville, Duffy, Heitinga, Oviedo; Barkley, Hitzlsperger, Fellaini, Gueye; Anichebe & Vellios.

Geoff Trenner
34 Posted 06/01/2013 at 15:50:03
Away to Sunderland or Bolton if we win it!
Paul McGinty
35 Posted 06/01/2013 at 19:11:14
The Mansfield game just demonstrates the danger of playing a weakened team against lower league opposition. High balls, long throws, bad conditions and who knows what can happen. On today's game did the RS fearless leader actually say the Suarez handball was not deliberate. Talk about leading from the rear. Every blue knows those calls aren't going for us Monday. But here's hoping they do.

The Mansfield center forward was decent... he ran Carragher and Coates ragged. Gives me hope there are some low priced gems around to keep us solvent, as our financial woes continue on.

Gavin Ramejkis
36 Posted 06/01/2013 at 19:37:32
Paul, Mansfield deserved the replay there today, blatant handball from the sewer rat and out came the excuses. 6 games to win it and 90 minutes of football with nothing to lose in each game, the lower league teams get a few games and earn more than they will for years so they will definitely go for it. The cups offer the only realistic silverware on offer and should always be taken seriously.
Gavin Ramejkis
37 Posted 06/01/2013 at 19:42:37
Plus getting to the final and winning it is worth nearly £3.4m.
Graeme Jenkinson
38 Posted 06/01/2013 at 19:47:44
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BTwOUOEXRg

Watch the goal at 4:45.

Gavin Ramejkis
39 Posted 06/01/2013 at 19:51:51
Graeme, very grainy but ball to shoulder or arm its hard to say definitely as its poor quality copy but nothing like sewer rats in the box in front of countless camera angles and he still had two defenders plus the keeper to beat to put it in the net. - http://videa.hu/videok/sport/mansfield-vs-liverpool-02-suarez-tZN9CKBTNt200iC1?start=7.948
Ian McDowell
40 Posted 06/01/2013 at 20:06:27
What I can’t stand is the pathetic defeatist attitude of managers. Why didn’t Mansfield’s manager come out and show some balls and fight and tell it like it is.

Suarez is a cheating disgrace, the referee was a complete joke and why not just have this game called off and call it a by for Liverpool and save all the money of the fans and everyone who watched on TV as it was obviously a deliberate handball which was ignored as everyone wanted Liverpool to advance.

Can you imagine Alex Ferguson putting up with that? No can you imagine the backlash? Would the ref dared to have given that goal at the other end? No not a chance.

James Martin
41 Posted 06/01/2013 at 20:11:01
Let's not make Suarez the martyr they all want him to be. Fellaini did something similar to set Anichebe up at the Liberty stadium. Everyone turns a blind eye to their own. He's a disgusting human being but him and them just revel more and more in this anti-Suarez campaign, let's not add to it. If everyone ignored it then maybe someone would notice how bad they were against a non league side.
Ian Bennett
42 Posted 06/01/2013 at 20:24:24
The RS have Man Utd away next week. Let's see what Brenda makes of those ref decisions. I suspect that'll take the wind out of sails.
Tom Bowers
43 Posted 06/01/2013 at 21:27:48
Do we have anyone who is good in the box with his hands who isn't a goalkeeper?

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