Bolton Wanderers vs Everton

Lyndon Lloyd , 25 January, 27comments | Jump to most recent

FA Cup Fourth Round Preview

Should weather conditions and the state of both the Reebok Stadium and its surroundings permit, Everton will take the next step along the road to Wembley this weekend as they take on Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup Fourth Round on Saturday afternoon.

Steady snowfall on Friday evening has cast doubt on whether the ground staff and the local council will be able to clear the pitch and the streets and pavements outside the stadium in time to stage the tie but, with a midweek game against West Bromwich Albion already on the immediate horizon, David Moyes will no doubt be hoping that the game is given the green light so he can avoid further fixture congestion in the coming fortnight.

The Blues go into a second successive away tie in this competition with relatively few injury worries, although the absence of Irish pair Seamus Coleman and Darron Gibson does rob Moyes of two players who have proven to be very important members of his first team.

Despite enduring a stop-start campaign that has been disrupted by injury, Coleman has shown very encouraging signs that he is the answer to succeed Tony Hibbert as the first-choice option at right back. More and more question marks over the defensive side of his game are being erased with every game and his attacking talents have been providing a welcome alternative to the reliance on the Baines-Pienaar axis down the Blues' left.

Gibson, meanwhile, has quickly grown to become the linchpin of Everton's midfield and it is his absence for what is approaching four months already this season that is being mostly keenly felt. Phil Neville and Thomas Hitzlsperger have deputised with middling results but though he is progressing well from a recurrent thigh strain, the ex-Manchester United midifielder is not expected to be back until Wednesday at the most optmistic.

With Coleman and Hibbert out and Neville required to fill in at right back, the manager will be forced to make a change in central midfield, with Hitzlsperger or Marouane Fellaini the most obvious candidates.

Should he opt for the latter, it may make the Jelavic question a little easier — withdrawn after an hour at Southampton and facing criticism for his lack of goals, the Croatian could potentially be dropped or rested at the Reebok but with Fellaini deployed in the middle, a Jelavic-Victor Anichebe partnership makes more sense.

Kevin Mirallas, who came through half-an-hour at the St Mary's with no ill-effects on his hamstring, would be an obvious replacement for the struggling Steven Naismith wide on the right.

Moyes has made it clear that this competition is a high priority for him again this season so there is plenty riding on what will be a difficult tie against a team from the Championship who will relish the reminder of what was an annual fixture for them before they were relegated.

As the League Cup tie at Leeds proved earlier in the season, these away ties can be dangerous if any complacency is allowed to creep in but, with two consecutive 0 - 0 draws in the League, fear and uncertainty could be the Blues' biggest enemies this weekend if they allow them to be.

Lyndon Lloyd

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Reader Comments (27)

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Anto Byrne
1 Posted 26/01/2013 at 05:22:39

No transfer activity to date just to freshen up the side. I would have Tim Cahill back for a couple of months, he may be past it but old dogs still have a few tricks they can perform.

Ray Robinson
2 Posted 26/01/2013 at 08:20:23

Game on.

http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/everton-game-to-go-ahead-26.1.13-620226.aspx

Adam Luszniak
3 Posted 26/01/2013 at 08:17:48

Rose tinted glasses there Anto, remember that 12 month period when he didn't score a single goal? As far as I can tell he hasn't set the MLS alight either. Talented Everton legend but i'm not sure he's the answer to our current problems.

Kevin Day
4 Posted 26/01/2013 at 09:07:15

Adam,
You right in what you say about Cahill but, we do have City at home soon, I'm sure they wouldn't like to see the little terrier coming off the bench with 20 minutes left.

Tony J Williams
5 Posted 26/01/2013 at 09:16:12

Wouldn't he have to serve his three match ban first?

Kev Johnson
6 Posted 26/01/2013 at 09:47:31

Does anyone know how Bolton play these days? I'm not sure what Freedman's tactical style is.

We need to counteract them as well as do our own thing. I suppose I'm thinking mainly of Fellaini, Anichebe, Naismith, Mirallas, Jelavic. Who plays, and where? The rest of the team pretty much picks itself, although Oviedo has an outside chance of playing.

Kevin Day
7 Posted 26/01/2013 at 11:44:57

This could be a perfect game to either rest Baines or Pienaar, Oviedo has always looked useful when he's played and has a sweet left foot. Could start Oviedo left back with peanut in front then switch peanut for Baines pushing Oviedo up the wing after the break. Need to give some players a rest at every opportunity.

Kev Johnson
8 Posted 26/01/2013 at 11:56:24

I had a look at a Bolton fans' site and I found this post, which made me laugh...

"I really, really want to stuff Everton, btw... For those that don't already know, I really, really hate those total bastards (though my two Everton supporting mates are tops!)..."

Football fans, eh?

Phil Sammon
9 Posted 26/01/2013 at 12:13:47

Jelavić has been poor but now with Mirallas on the right he might actually get some regular service. I'd start him for one last time before dropping him. We need the man firing.

---------------Howard

Jagielka Heitinga Distin Baines

Mirallas Osman Hitzlsperger Pienaar

--------------Fellaini

---------------Jelavić

Neville and Naismith should be left out. Oviedo and Anichebe on the bench ready to come on. I'd also love to see Kennedy or McAleny given a go. I feel like our youngsters are rotting. Though that's probably a topic for another day.

I realise that back 4 I've picked isn't perfect but I'm so keen to keep Neville out of the side. I even considered Oviedo at right back. I've been a loyal supporter of Neville but I've really ahead enough. He is an influence, I've always said that , but his ability is now at League 1 level, and even that is being generous. I think any of us could do the job he does in centre mid. And at RB those clipped balls up the line are getting beyond a joke. Jagielka also slipped back into his long ball game recently. Long ball is fine now and again, but not when it's entirely aimless.

Come on lads, lets have a 4 niller

Ste Henderson
10 Posted 26/01/2013 at 12:30:26

Just hoping Neville is not playing, especially in midfield. I've got a feeling it will be the same as Southampton bar Coleman.

Peter Cummings
11 Posted 26/01/2013 at 12:32:10

As we have seen v Leeds and Southampton, we don't seem to be able to cope with bad winter conditions so I think it could be another stalemate today if the game goes ahead... Although in a fairly new stadium they should have undersoil heating.

Steavey Buckley
12 Posted 26/01/2013 at 12:45:55

It should be ackowledged that Everton have a more important game at home to WBA (who don't have a cup match) next Wednesday. So, why not play the academy and see what they are truly like against Bolton.

Noel Early
14 Posted 26/01/2013 at 12:53:45

I would safely say Steavey that the chances of an academy player getting a run out today is about the same as Phil Neville scoring a hat-trick. Moyes is targeting a trophy... after all, he is due.

Ian Bennett
15 Posted 26/01/2013 at 12:59:21

I'd go with the attached. Get a couple of goals up and then bring on some youngsters on. Let's win the game first eh.

Howard
Neville
Baines
Jags
Distin

Oviedo
Osman
Hitzsberger

Mirallas
Fellaini
Big vic

Colin Ryan
22 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:07:37

Howard, Neville, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Mirallas, Pienaar, Osman, Fellaini, Anichebe, Jelavic

Subs: Mucha, Heitinga, Oviedo, Naismith, Gueye, Vellios, Duffy

Wayne Smyth
24 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:08:34

I like that team. Probably the strongest one he could've played. I just hope we don't hit more injuries

Ray Roche
25 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:09:02

Hitz not on the bench.

Ian Allaker
26 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:19:45

That's probably our best 11 at the moment. I know we are off-form but, if we don't batter these today, I will be quite surprised.

Gerry Quinn
27 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:22:47

Morning Gents, only 5 options on Free Streaming:

http://www.footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links/

Ian Glassey
28 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:20:08

Strong team... let's get Jelly back on the score sheet..

Martin Handley
29 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:19:31

At least Moyes hasn't been tempted to mess about with Jags and Heitinga .

Surprised by the Hitzlsperger omission though injury possibly. Wonder if he'll be tempted to move Pienaar to the right with Mirallas left to start with then switch. That line up should definitely be good enough to see off Bolton .

Ian Bennett
30 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:24:36

Happy he's picked a decent side. Come on Fellaini and co.

Sean Condon
31 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:21:30

Holy shit, that's a strong team.
We owe a lot this season to the form of Nuts and B. Iniesta, but also to their ability to remain healthy. These guys both stopped growing at puberty and routinely suffer 90 minutes of physical abuse from lower brained backliners like Ryan Shawcross, Vincent Say-hello-to-my-little-studs Kompany, Cashley Hole and FrankenSkrtel.

Oh, Shitty are bringing on Rodwell. Heh heh, this oughta be funny.

Ged Alexander
32 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:32:53

Sea, you are not all bitter are you?! That post made me lash a lot. Best things about evertonians....we only have eyes for blue. Approaching Philadelphia on Amtrak to DC and yo guys are getting me vey excited about this match.

Ged Alexander
33 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:38:20

Clearly I meant laugh not lash...trains!

Martin Handley
34 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:41:49

Tell you what that City keeper is some height!

Sean Condon
35 Posted 26/01/2013 at 14:53:27

Ged: I've been an Evertonian since birth -of course I'm not bitter. I mean, if I'm ever feeling that way I can just remember our stonking run to the 1986 European Cup triumph. I mean...

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