Season › 2012-13 › News
Everton vs Oldham Athletic
FA Cup Fifth Round Replay Preview
It's no exaggeration to say that with Saturday's defeat at Norwich, the entire complexion of Everton's season changed in the span of 10 minutes as the Canaries came back from a goal down to win 2-1 with the kind of breath-taking, stoppage time heroics that Evertonians have enjoyed on occasion this season… back when Champions League football appeared more than just a pipe dream.
In the aftermath of that defeat, though, has come the cold, hard realisation that a top-four finish was probably always a bridge too far for such a small core squad of players even if their propensity to throw away points from winning positions has been a key factor in the growing gap between the Blues and the top five.
Anything is possible over the final 10 games, of course, but it will take an extraordinary transformation in this Everton side to close that gap and finish among the Champions League places, meaning that the FA Cup campaign assumes paramount importance for David Moyes.
That, of course, puts huge importance on the Fifth Round replay against Oldham Athletic at Goodison Park this week. Victory over the League One side would set up another favourable tie at home against Wigan Athletic and make a repeat trip to Wembley — and the opportunity for atonement for last year's debacle against Liverpool — a real possibility.
Moyes suggested in his pre-match press conference that injuries will dictate his team selection, with Victor Anichebe still a doubt after sitting out at Carrow Road with a groin injury. The manager hinted at a couple of other fitness concerns that cropped up after Saturday's game, perhaps surrounding Marouane Fellaini who is the subject of injury rumour, Steven Pienaar who was withdrawn in the final few minutes, Leighton Baines who has been soldiering on with ankle issues since the turn of the year, or Darron Gibson who could still be feeling the effects of an apparent bone spur on his troublesome thigh tendon.
In the wake of the disappointment against Norwich, Moyes may make changes to his starting XI regardless. In the context of his pre-match call on Kevin Mirallas to deliver more now that he is back to something approaching full fitness, the manager's decision to leave him on the bench for 78 minutes on Saturday was perplexing so the Belgian could get the nod to start against Oldham.
And perhaps in the quest for leadership in what has become the biggest game of the season so far, he may turn to Phil Neville, perhaps pushing Seamus Coleman further forward on the right flank.
Whatever line-up Moyes opts for, the Blues' biggest opponents, at least against the lower-division Latics, will likely be themselves. They had more than enough in the tank to beat Oldham at Boundary Park 10 days ago and that will be the case again on Tuesday evening. The psychology of the players and their ability to create and convert the chances required to claim that quarter-final match-up with Wigan will be all important.
Reader Comments (95)
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2 Posted 25/02/2013 at 20:18:55
MOYES if you want to depart from this club with at least some people thinking positive of you--- then for christ sake entertain the fans with non stop attacking football you negative twat!
3 Posted 25/02/2013 at 20:52:03
4 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:02:25
1 - 1 at the moment. If they win and the gap stays at 6 points and we hopefully potentially possibly desirably beat Reading at the weekend...
Spurs are playing Arsenal which means the gap could well be down to 4 points with a draw. Season back on.
If anyone is watching, I'm lurking in the live forum.
5 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:11:41
http://toffeeweb.com/comment/live/
6 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:11:34
7 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:17:06
8 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:16:13
Under Moyes how many games have we won with 10/15 mins left, ie 3 or 4 up?
10 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:26:23
11 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:28:42
Surely that signals some involvement tomorrow.
Attacking football please!
12 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:20:43
Prediction 3 - 1 Osman, Jelly, Fellaini.
13 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:40:58
14 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:38:42
My team if I was given a choice would be Howard,Neville,Distin,Jags,Baines,Gibson,Felliani,Barkley,Coleman,Mirrallas,and Jelavic.
Obviously dependent on injuries.
Also there is the possibility of Extra-time and Pens, but let's hope it doesn't come to that and we get it done in style.
15 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:50:43
16 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:50:27
Jesus - what a goal from Bale. Where would they be without him?
It would be nice to have at least one player on form.
17 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:54:28
18 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:56:03
...stop it Nick, its the hope that kills you.
19 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:58:09
That was a decent game between the Hammers and Spuds, Bale is unbelievable.
20 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:00:38
21 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:01:38
Tell us something we don't know, when has he ever picked on form?
22 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:00:34
Who expected better than that in before the season's start?
Things aren't going well and I've had enough of the manager...but I still think I'm the most optimistic person on Toffeeweb
23 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:59:35
We had our chance and blew it
Just go for the FA Cup and get dumped out of the EuroDisney next season ASAP
24 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:55:37
1. Swansea
2. 5th in the Prem (Arsenal, Spurs or Chelsea)
3. FA Cup winners (or runners up, if Man City, Man Utd or Chelsea win it).
If Man City play Chelsea or Man Utd in the final then 6th in the Prem get in and that's my question – battle for 6th between us and the Red Shite.
Some fans might not want the Europa League but imagine losing it to them gloating bastards. COYB — let's finish the season strong!
25 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:06:10
26 Posted 25/02/2013 at 21:59:20
27 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:11:00
28 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:21:36
29 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:24:50
Howard
Coleman
Jagielka
Distin
Baines
Mirallas
Gibson
Fellaini
Barkley
Pienaar
Jelavić
Love Ossie but a rest would be good for him. And Barkley needs games
31 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:30:47
32 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:28:59
33 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:37:28
35 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:35:30
FOURTEENS!!!?
Sorry, did we sign Messi and Ronaldo this avvy?
36 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:53:34
Are we suffering from having a small team?
Fella and distin are the only two I can think of who are over 6 ft. Plus Howard isn't the biggest keeper.
Spurs have a pretty huge team with the likes of Dawson, caulker, vertonghen, dembele, Adenauer, and Sandro when he's fit all very strong in the air.
Just a thought...
37 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:59:00
39 Posted 25/02/2013 at 23:07:33
I bet we're not even 14-1 to win the FA Cup outright.
40 Posted 25/02/2013 at 23:15:52
41 Posted 25/02/2013 at 23:06:56
42 Posted 25/02/2013 at 23:22:35
43 Posted 25/02/2013 at 23:20:50
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/everton-vs-oldham-preview-david-1730991
I thought he'd have lost it for good after the Norwich defeat, like the rest of us have. With Spurs winning tonight, not much hope left for a CL finish unless the Arse and Chelski implode and we miracurosly go on the winning streak. The way things are, I can't see where are goals are going to come from. Our goals difference is poor in the league, which would have been our downfall anyway trying to secure 4th. When are we finally going to demolish a team by 3 or 4 goals?!
44 Posted 25/02/2013 at 23:27:59
45 Posted 26/02/2013 at 01:06:39
I'm seriously torn about the line-up for this game. Part of me thinks every player that started needs to be dropped, but, some of these players would see being dropped for a game against League One oppo as a compliment that they're simply being rested because they're the untouchables in our squad - we are getting far too many automatic selelctions lately.
If I was going to be ruthless, my team would be:
4-4-2
Mucha; Stones, Heitinga (c), Duffy, Oviedo; Hitzlsperger, Kennedy, Junior, Barkley (is he cup tied or not?); Mirallas, Vellios.
Knowing that won't happen, and Moyes will play as close to full strength as possible, my belief of games involving a Prem club at home and a team from League One down is that anything less than 4-0 is a bad night at the office. Not even going to predict a score though, but out of this game, and the Reading game on the weekend, I think we will lose one of them.
Editorial Team
46 Posted 26/02/2013 at 02:11:30
STONES IS CUP-TIED!!!
FFS!
47 Posted 26/02/2013 at 02:13:36
48 Posted 26/02/2013 at 02:02:39
49 Posted 25/02/2013 at 22:43:20
Play the strongest team. That's:
Howard
Coleman
Jagielka
Distin
Baines
Mirallas
Gibson
Fellaini
Osman
Pienaar
Jelavic
Tell them their careers are on the line. If we bow out to Oldham and Leeds and finish 7th in the league then they are not the players they think they are. By performance, they are third rate.
Win well, and maybe the season has something left.
51 Posted 26/02/2013 at 02:29:34
52 Posted 26/02/2013 at 03:30:05
Daft Davey's season now rests on progress in the FA Cup. Now we may possibly overcome 'mighty' Oldham with home advantage but will we be able to see off a resurgent Wigan? — I have my doubts.
After that, of course we will probably have to play a 'proper' Big 4 team and we all know 'safety first' 'tactically inept' 'big game bottler' 'knife to a gunfight mentality' Dour Davey's history there, don't we...
53 Posted 26/02/2013 at 03:50:46
54 Posted 26/02/2013 at 05:51:39
Sad to say, but Mark (750) and 'ugly' has might got it right. But, nonetheless, 2 - 1, Oldham score 1st, a rugged plucky goal.
Our biggest game of the season under the lights of The Old Lady... COYB.
Sad to say, on the evidence of today, we are so far behind the Spuds on all counts,
55 Posted 26/02/2013 at 06:19:13
3 - 1 to Everton. Penalty, Baines free kick and an OG for Everton :). Headed goal for them.
Shit. After the last two games, I'm nervous as sin!
56 Posted 26/02/2013 at 06:21:23
Because that is what Moyes does and it is really frustrating. I do believe he will play Mirallas instead of Naismith but you never know. No matter who is picked Moyes has to motivate them like Ernie stated in post # 747 that careers are on the line.
Ernie is a little more positive than me, if Oldham beat us, because that will start the decline and we will probably finish 9th.
57 Posted 26/02/2013 at 06:27:08
'Phil and Patrick, just curious... why do you want to start a player you haven't laid eyes on in a year? You haven't the slightest idea whether Barkley can get the job done. Or is your only reason to start Barkley is that he's not Osman?'
I watched him last week actually, Mike. He was brilliant. I'm no Osman hater...but the team needs shaking up. Isn't that obvious?
58 Posted 26/02/2013 at 06:04:06
59 Posted 26/02/2013 at 07:07:58
60 Posted 26/02/2013 at 07:23:52
Who's got the gun this time.
61 Posted 26/02/2013 at 07:58:23
62 Posted 26/02/2013 at 08:03:00
Howard
Coleman jags distin baines
Mirallas Gibson fellaini Oviedo
Barkley
Jelavic
That team really should be able to take down oldham at home.
63 Posted 26/02/2013 at 08:48:48
64 Posted 26/02/2013 at 09:17:29
What?
65 Posted 26/02/2013 at 09:17:54
66 Posted 26/02/2013 at 09:10:29
If ever redemption was handed on a silver platter Mr Moyes this is it - for once show some courage.
67 Posted 26/02/2013 at 08:36:16
This is the biggest game of the Oldham players lives. Playing at a premier league ground, probably a full house, chance of a quarter final, knowing that all they have to do is get the ball in the box and they have a chance of scoring. Oldham wil not show us the respect of putting 11 men behind the ball because if they do that they will definitely loose.
Nope - they will be up for it and what Everton has to do is got at them straight out of the blocks and bury them in the first 20 minutes. The longer we go without scoring the bolder they will get.
So if I was the manager (arf, arf) I would pick my most attacking formation and tell them to go for it.
If available my starting 11 would be:
Howard,
Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines
Gibson, Fellaini
Mirallas, Osman, Piennar
Jelavic.
Subs: Neville, Heitinga, Hitzlsperger, Oviedo, Anichebe. (Jags can go in goal if Howard gets injured).
COYB Go for the doctor!
i
PS If Naismith starts the game I think I will pop.
68 Posted 26/02/2013 at 09:23:52
69 Posted 26/02/2013 at 09:25:34
Trouble is he doesn't do must win; just recently he doesn't even do his one trick (pony) not to lose.
The only thing that should be handed to him on a silver platter is his P45
70 Posted 26/02/2013 at 09:30:19
71 Posted 26/02/2013 at 09:39:40
72 Posted 26/02/2013 at 09:55:11
And if he's not going to get back on the scoring trail then we are royally fucked as he's all we've got.
So no real choice is there?
73 Posted 26/02/2013 at 09:43:21
The other half of the problem is that we have got a lot of really good midfielders but not one of them is a soldier like Lee Carsley who patrols the area immediately in front of the back four. I rate Gibson but I don't think he quite fits that mould.
The answer to the strikers conundrum is simple - play someone on the right wing who can get behind a defence or put a decent cross into the box. We have got choices in that position.
74 Posted 26/02/2013 at 10:07:26
75 Posted 26/02/2013 at 10:15:51
76 Posted 26/02/2013 at 10:30:43
Next week`s news will reflect this with the announcement that he`s remaining loyal to Everton.Probably for ever.
77 Posted 26/02/2013 at 10:44:23
Howard
Coleman Jags Distin Oviedo
Fellaini Gibson
Mirallas Barkley Pienaar
Jelavic
78 Posted 26/02/2013 at 10:45:39
In my best frothy mouthed vein bulging red faced shout - "JUST FUCKING GO THROUGH THE FUCKING BELLEND YOU DOZY TWAT!!!"
79 Posted 26/02/2013 at 10:52:09
1967, October, Newcastle
Albert Bennett was trying to stop Gordon kicking the ball away
"Fuck off Ankles" said Westy
Once again, "Fuck off!"
Pause
Smack!
Albert spark out on the deck
Gordon just walked off
Penalty
C'mon Sandy
Oh bollocks!
"Get out my area"
Happy days
Gordon wouldn't have any nonsense - not like today's goalkeeping pussies.
80 Posted 26/02/2013 at 11:00:25
Fellaini should be docked a week's wages for their first goal. To not even jump is unforgivable.
81 Posted 26/02/2013 at 11:11:29
82 Posted 26/02/2013 at 11:16:16
Memories of Westy – I remember him decking Mike Summerbee for getting in his way when he was trying to throw the ball out – possibly in the FA Cup replay in '66?
Happy days...
83 Posted 26/02/2013 at 11:50:26
Come on Blues, it's not rocket science. Keep the ball on the ground, use the pitch wisely and play to your strengths.
Above all, don't have us hanging on screaming for the final whistle. We have had too much of that in recent games.
84 Posted 26/02/2013 at 12:07:08
I predict a game with very little football coming from our team and little difference in the quality between the two sides. We should nick it by the odd goal but I wouldn't put money on it. Maybe we would be better off going out... at least that way, there would be pressure on Moyes and BK again. Something needs to give.
85 Posted 26/02/2013 at 11:52:54
9th is the best I can see. After the Leeds game, I forcast that — unless we tightened up in defence — we would finish nearer the bottom than the top. Maybe that was slightly over the top but sadly not by much.
86 Posted 26/02/2013 at 12:59:37
Anyone ever wondered how come Moyes ruins all our strikers? Everyone one of them just ends up a complete shadow of the player we signed. Why?
87 Posted 26/02/2013 at 13:03:51
* Everton's 'haul' over the last eight games (nine points) puts them below Southampton and Wigan in the form table.
* They have thrown away a massive 19 points from winning positions – only Reading and Southampton have worse records.
* Lone striker Nikica Jelavic attempted more crosses (5) than shots (2) v Norwich on Saturday. He has now failed to score in 748 minutes of Premier League football.
88 Posted 26/02/2013 at 13:26:52
89 Posted 26/02/2013 at 13:32:34
Show some balls, Kenwright — a manager holding us to ransom and he can't even beat Oldham, FFS!
90 Posted 26/02/2013 at 13:51:01
Sadly the goalscoring department has dried up which would have seen off those teams and Jela is struggling to find the net whereas a year ago he couldn't miss. With what we have we have to go with and hope the form of several players returns starting tonight otherwise we have to start cleaning our golf clubs.
It would be nice if Moyes would start the likes of Vellios and Oveido in place of Osman and Jelavic but you know they won't get a kick unless it's 5 minutes to go and we are losing. It will be another battle and the fans will get on their backs after 20 minutes if they are struggling and I can't see much more than a 1-0 win.
91 Posted 26/02/2013 at 16:13:54
92 Posted 26/02/2013 at 16:20:56
Have a look at Kevin @ 830, last paragraph, for your answer.
The manger insists his centre forward works the lines and chases full backs down. Both left and right full backs. Result? The centre forward wastes his energy.
It`s not complicated. Manager .... "I don't want you to go wider than the 18 yard box, just work the areas between" Simple really. (You have to have the right-minded manager, of course...)
93 Posted 26/02/2013 at 16:26:22
94 Posted 26/02/2013 at 16:36:28
Back to the topic on hand, part of the reason I believe Jelli's goal scoring ability has dried up is the the poor service he has been getting. He needs balls slipped through to him, not hoofed up high, when his back is to goal. He is forced out to the wings to even get a touch of the ball. In fact, this may be the reason we have a goal drought in general, poor irregular service from the midfield over the last while. Miralles' absence has been a big loss in this regard as has the fact that Baineaar axis is being shut down by the opposition. We were creating chance after chance early in the season, probably more than I have seen us do in many years, but just couldn't get the ball in the net. Playing one up front doesn't help either.
95 Posted 26/02/2013 at 16:45:24
97 Posted 26/02/2013 at 16:46:07
Also, Moyes's attitude to questions from parts of the media is disgraceful, he has become a total control freak, all questions must be vetted and approved by a club PR lapdog and anything that challenges his megalomania is greeted with contempt and dismissal.
I can't understand how so many of our fans have allowed their expectations to be manipulated and lowered. I keep reading people on here jumping to Moyes's defence by saying it's down to the board for not backing him... WELL, NO SHIT, the board are a fucking disgrace but Moyes is in tandem with them.
He needs to go and take everyone of his staff and assistants who works with the first team,the likes of Chris Woods who has overseen a succession of goal keepers failing to make the grade. We need some passion and pride put back into OUR CLUB from top to bottom.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum... I could weep.
98 Posted 26/02/2013 at 18:01:31
99 Posted 26/02/2013 at 18:33:13
100 Posted 26/02/2013 at 18:46:14
101 Posted 26/02/2013 at 18:48:40
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1 Posted 25/02/2013 at 20:07:02