Season › 2012-13 › News
Newcastle United vs Everton
Match Preview
The first game of 2013, and a big boost for Everton will be the return of Marouane Fellaini on the completion of his three-match ban for headbutting Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross last month. But it seems unlikely that many of the other injured half-team of players who missed out against Chelsea will be available, with the possible exception of Phil Neville.The yellow-card rule changes too: seven yellow cards are now needed before an automatic one-match ban kicks in. This should provide welcome relief to Osman and Neville, who are both sitting on four yellows. Although Fellaini has received six yellow cards, having picked up another since he served a one-match ban back in November, his count is presumably reset to one for this next disciplinary cycle.
The challenge for Champions League places has hotted up since Everton were able to cling tenaciously in or around 4th place for most of the Autumn programme. But the monied teams around them have finally shown improved form, with a four-point gap now opening up beneath the top four, and Everton in danger of seeing a significant gap start to develop after the agonizing loss of a major six-pointer with Chelsea at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Everton are still struggling to implement the rigours of an effective defence that can deliver clean sheets: they have managed just two in the first 20 games of the season. Two players appear to be the focus of fans' concerns in this regard: Tim Howard's erratic goalkeeping, and Johnny Heitinga's questionable degree of commitment. While Howard has been between the sticks in every game, it would be unfair to blame him for all of the goals that have been given away; although Heitinga has started just under half of those games, with often frustrating performances that seem to have pleased few Evertonians.
And upfront, the frustrations that continue to plague Nikica Jelavic show little sign of abating as the Croatian worked hard to create but then spurned three golden chances that would have completely changed the game against Chelsea. While it remains frustrating to see him going out wide with the ball when he should be front and centre to finish himself rather than make chances for others, he appears to be putting in plenty of effort — almost too much in terms of the equally frustrating tendency for not staying onside as attacks develop.
Some say Jelavic just needs a goal, but there's much more to it than that. He's scored six but none of them have seen things really turn around as he seems to have almost completely lost that lethal knack for scoring with his first touch. Some have said it's lack of service, but that was certainly not the case against Chelsea. The most worrying possibility is that the natural goalscoring game he brought to Everton a year ago has somehow been changed, to no good effect.
The biggest irony is that, on his arrival from Rangers, he slotted right into his new team and continued to fire in his trademark first-touch goals almost at will until the Premier League season ended. Yet, with the supposed benefit of the much hyped pre-season training beloved of the manager, and described in almost horrific terms by some of the players, he has simply not been himself since.
Newcastle are without Danny Simpson after the full-back broke a toe in the 7 - 3 slaughter by Arsenal, and there is speculation surrounding the future of lethal striker Demba Ba, who has been talking with Chelsea. Midfielder Yohan Cabaye and defender Steven Taylor are not fit enough for a first-team return. Everton are no strangers to horrific scorelines against The Gunners and will be hoping the Magpies are still shellshocked and not in too much of a mood to prove a point by bouncing back. Indeed, with just 20 points from the first half of the season, Newcastle sit on the cusp of the relegation battle, which might make manager Alan Pardew question some of his more overblown statements about the club and how it was operating in a different league to Everton.
Let's hope The Blues can help to make that different league bit come true and hasten their decent to the Championship by bucking the trend of recent visits to Tyneside — Everton have won just one of their last 10 matches away at Newcastle.
Kick Off: 8pm
Reader Comments (52)
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2 Posted 02/01/2013 at 08:05:35
Howard;
Neville, Distin, Jags, Baines;
Coleman, Fellaini, Osman, Pineaar;
Jelavic, Anichebe
Hitz and Naismith have been blowing for tugs after 60 mins in the last 2 matches.
3 Posted 02/01/2013 at 08:40:47
4 Posted 02/01/2013 at 08:47:28
And despite all the talk of better Everton football, our defence cannot shut-out, and teams will know that. We need two Jags and a Butland. If we don't, you'd better start showing it Howard, Heitinga et al. Surely Neville will have to go RB, as the others are out. But would that mean Hitz in the middle? I'd even consider Anichebe upfront with Jela, will Felli at defensive CM, but that ain't gonna happen.
Two Fellis wouldn't go amiss, one at CM, the other upfront. Can but dream. The lads should be confident of getting three points based on our last home games v Newcastle. Here's hoping.
5 Posted 02/01/2013 at 08:57:25
6 Posted 02/01/2013 at 09:11:38
This round of fixtures has again seen dropped points by rivals - Arsenal and WBA. Spurs winning a simple home game shouldn't surprise us. String 3 or 4 wins together and we'll have the rest worrying. COYB!
7 Posted 02/01/2013 at 09:12:50
It will be a tough game tonight and though there are plenty games left you have to feel that if the top 4 opens up a gap to us then we may struggle to close it.
Difficult team to pick but (assuming no-one is back from injury) I think I might actually give Jelavic a rest and go:
Howard
Jagielka Heitinga Distin Baines
Pienaar Hitzlsperger Osman Oviedo
Fellaini
Anichebe
Controversial, I know, putting in Big Vic but he has been playing okay and Jelavic could do with a little rest perhaps before coming on in the last 30 to grab the winner.
8 Posted 02/01/2013 at 09:27:30
Howard
Jagielka Heitinga Distin Oviedo
Naismith Fellaini Hitzlsperger Osman
Jelavic Anichebe
Subs: Mucha, Duffy, Vellios, Gueye, Barkley, xxx, yyy
Grim ..:-(
9 Posted 02/01/2013 at 09:25:58
3 points tonight means we are only 3 points behind Spurs, with Swansea (h), Southampton (a) and West Brom (h) up next.
Spurs look good at the moment, whilst Arsenal are wobbling by their standards. The Cup game will give us a chance to rest a few players, and go again the week after.
9 points from a possible 12 will be a great return for the festive fixtures, but losing to a poor Newcastle may do a lot of harm to our confidence.
10 Posted 02/01/2013 at 09:47:07
Our record there though is quite bad.
11 Posted 02/01/2013 at 09:38:54
We shall see if he learned anything from last year's derby debacle. I wait with dwindling optimism...
12 Posted 02/01/2013 at 10:08:44
13 Posted 02/01/2013 at 09:59:08
I think it is important to realise that strikers, save for a very select few, go through form periods....I wonder if some on here expected Jelavic to score at the rate he did from January to May for us? In the process becoming one of the most efficient strikers in world football....
Jelavic, over the course of his career, will be a 1-in-2 man for us I expect. This season he is clearly suffering from tiredness... and needs a break, but unfortunately we don't really have anyone as good as him. He is off form now... but he will come back, and given the FA Cup tie at the weekend, he will get over a week off (I hope). If I was Moyes, I'd give him a few days off of training as well. Jelavic has made 79 appearances for club and country since the start of last season... and I think he looks to be suffering from it.
14 Posted 02/01/2013 at 10:04:30
I am a little concerned over the fact that Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea have all hit such good form, just when we have an injury crisis. I appreciate how defeatist this makes me sound but right now I would be as happy to see us nail down a fifth or sixth place finish as early as possible as I would be to see us nail down a CL place.
15 Posted 02/01/2013 at 10:25:43
If we can keep going as we have been for the first 19 games then at some point you would hope our injury problems would clear up and we could get a run of games with our top players in the team. The last 12 months have shown what sort of form we're capable of. Even if we lose a few, if we win some around them, it will have been better than drawing and staying unbeaten. Let's not add crippling fan negativity to the list of problems we already have tt face over the next few games.
16 Posted 02/01/2013 at 11:04:48
If you are including the saves made against him and the great free kick and header that both hit the woodwork then your idea of misses and most others are at odds.
I watched Van Persie and Chicarito both miss chances yet each scored a brace against Wigan. Every striker misses chances and let's face it, Jelly deserved to have at least one goal against Chelsea.
The lad does not need a rest and will come good sooner rather than later. He never shirks and puts lots of effort in.
Its injuries which are now biting hard and some of the players are tired as we do not have the amount of players to give us the luxury of rotation. Just looked with envy at Fergie's bench with Valencia and Co, all of whom would be playing every game for us.
Osman, Pienaar and Baines in particular have been immense this season when you look at the amount of ground they cover. This team for my money is one to be proud of and I would not swap Jags and Distin for any other centre back partnership in the league.
17 Posted 02/01/2013 at 11:49:02
So although we may have to be lucky, if we can grind out a few wins during this month we may well still be in the mix come the start of February. It will still be a tough ask, but it is not impossible.
Tonight is a very important game, a win would do the confidence so much good and settle the nerves of all of us Evertonians.
18 Posted 02/01/2013 at 12:19:15
Howard
Heitinga Jagielka Distin Baines
Pienaar Fellaini Hitzlsperger Oviedo
Vellios Jelavic
19 Posted 02/01/2013 at 12:35:22
Jelavic to score two and Everton to score three!
20 Posted 02/01/2013 at 12:58:52
I personally thought Jelavic was superb against Chelsea just desperately unlucky. I've got a bad feeling about tonight and their a poor side. It's the lack of clean sheets that has me worried...
21 Posted 02/01/2013 at 12:59:49
22 Posted 02/01/2013 at 13:22:25
Hopefully Neville can play at RB, but Jagielka had a decent game at the weekend.
Fellaini back in his usual place I expect meaning that Anichebe drops to the bench.
23 Posted 02/01/2013 at 13:16:56
Hard game tonight... But most definitely winnable, and winnable by a decent margin. I would love nothing more than a 2-0 win with Jelavic bagging both, as the goals would do him good and the clean sheet even more so for Howard's confidence.
Come on blue boys.
24 Posted 02/01/2013 at 13:18:42
25 Posted 02/01/2013 at 13:47:05
We are 6th in the premier league. We gave the Champions of Europe a run for their money. Torres cost them £50 Million! He's only netted one more than Jela this season. Give the guy a break!
He proved he was a quality player when he arrived. Let's give him a season before we start saying he can't put chances away! Think about what position we were in this time last season. We're doing very well! Let's get behind the team and stop being so negative.
26 Posted 02/01/2013 at 13:39:14
He seems to be doing more on the defensive side and more running, working harder for the team; whilst some want to see that, I don't like it.
Maybe, as mentioned above, that's why he is looking tired? Moyes likes his players to work hard for the team, so maybe Moyes has asked more of him.
28 Posted 02/01/2013 at 14:23:29
COYB!
29 Posted 02/01/2013 at 14:33:40
No Ba for them.
Neville says he's 'rested' on Twitter.
30 Posted 02/01/2013 at 14:37:54
31 Posted 02/01/2013 at 14:56:55
It'll come for Jelavic.
32 Posted 02/01/2013 at 14:55:02
If we do have all the injuries that have been suggested tonight this is what I'd start with:
Howard;
Jagielka, Heitinga, Distin, Oviedo;
Naismith, Barkley, Fellaini, Osman;
Anichebe;
Jelavic.
Then pray they all last 90 mins...
33 Posted 02/01/2013 at 15:13:41
34 Posted 02/01/2013 at 15:30:04
35 Posted 02/01/2013 at 15:30:58
There's no way I want to see a midfield with Barkley starting tonight. I watched a fair bit of him at Wednesday, undoubtedly he has talent, but he concedes possession far to easily and away at the Toon in an evening match with a full crowd no doubt in full voice is not the place to risk him. Experience will count tonight.
36 Posted 02/01/2013 at 15:13:18
After such a long run of closely contested games, can something be read into that?
I was inclined to the view that if we go a goal up, we tend to sit back too much. But I think it was only in six of those games that we scored first; and in two of those games equalisers came from Man City and Chelsea which should not be a surprise, given the firepower they have.
Possibly that theory was correct in games against Reading, Norwich and QPR.
But what I find most astonishing is that, I think, in only seven minutes of those 21 hours of football has there been a two-goal difference between us and our opponents: 5 minutes against Wigan when we were 2-0 up and two minutes against Liverpool when they went 2-0 up.
37 Posted 02/01/2013 at 15:36:07
Meanwhile Chelsea , Spurs and Arsenal have been blitzing teams with bags of goals. I still hope for a win tonight but a score draw is more likely and more points dropped. I'd expect a 5th place finish this season, at best.
38 Posted 02/01/2013 at 15:45:11
39 Posted 02/01/2013 at 15:55:44
41 Posted 02/01/2013 at 17:35:48
As usual by the Manager out of position.
He should be told to stay in the 18 yard box
Let the other players win the ball nd be ready or that
Pass .
From my reckoning he has had about 10/12 clear cut
Chances and has scored 6 he has also created the space
For Fellaini to score his 8 goals.
Moyes as usual is using the thoroughbred racehorse
to pull the dray.
He is being fought offside because our mid field are not
quick enough in seeing the pass, lay off him he is class.
42 Posted 02/01/2013 at 17:52:38
Lay off Jelavić. Lay into everyone else.
43 Posted 02/01/2013 at 18:00:35
44 Posted 02/01/2013 at 17:34:13
I would keep Ossie central for his creativity. If we are missing a load of regulars what about starting Anichebe, Vellios and Jelavic to try to physically dominate their defence?
45 Posted 02/01/2013 at 18:22:55
You may hate him but do you think the Man U manager would put up with such a crap goals return from his star striker?
46 Posted 02/01/2013 at 18:31:25
The day that Man U have to rely on one striker for a complete season is the day that pigs will fly and Kenwright will find a buyer for Everton FC. Everton have not had the luxury of having 2 out and out goalscorers for eons.
47 Posted 02/01/2013 at 18:29:42
If he is not tired and is performing in training then the manager has to assume that every game he starts he stands a chance of finding his scoring touch again. If we had another proven regular goalscorer I would go along with you, but at the moment Jelavic still represents our best chance of scoring simply because of his record.
48 Posted 02/01/2013 at 18:47:07
Dropping him into the reserves and playing him there will give him a chance to rediscover the ability to hit the net, which will get his confidence back then put him back in the first team. Don't think you really think he shouldn't be dropped because it could upset him!
I obviously hope he scores if he plays tonight, but I'd much rather Felli came In for him. Standing by him has already cost us points, if he'd been dropped a couple of weeks back I don't think we would have been on less points, he'd have had chance to score for the reserves and might have had his confidence restored for a return tonight. Instead it's a fingers crossed job. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and take the hard decisions, Moyes has gambled he'd score over the last few matches, he hasn't and the longer it goes on the more damage it does to our team as well as Jelavic.
49 Posted 02/01/2013 at 18:52:04
We are having a great season all considered and just played Chelsea off the park with a scratch side.
We all know Bill is totally useless so the no money argument is superfluous until we get new owners.
The manager and players are pulling their tripes out for the cause and I just hope they are not reading some of the tripe on here.
If you get behind the lads instead of constant moaning and deluded "football manager" syndrome we might just get a few better results.
COYB.
50 Posted 02/01/2013 at 18:58:25
There are no guarantees whatever you do Andy. You could play him in the reserves (now under-21s) and watch him wreak havoc, then put him back in the first team and watch him continue to have problems against the better quality of the oppositions first team players. You 'talk' as if it is guaranteed to work and would have definitely earned us more points in the games he has played in, but the reality is you are just guessing and have no idea what conversations he has had with the manager nor what his team-mates think of the situation.
It is easy to theorise remedies, but you have nothing concrete to prove you are more correct than those supposedly wearing rose-tinted glasses, so don't be so condescending.
51 Posted 02/01/2013 at 19:06:49
In those fixtures we had Spurs(H), Stoke(A) and Chelsea(H) hardly a bad return, unless some people expect us to be sweeping all before us.
If we could average the same for the next 18 games that would give us a total of 69 points.
52 Posted 02/01/2013 at 18:42:37
At first blush this looks like a match that we are destined to lose. We are decimated by injuries, struggling for form up front, for basic competence at the back and are going to a place where we never seem to play well, and rarely get results. Moreover, Newcastle, a team with talent that is nevertheless in free fall, have scored SIX goals in their last two outings: at Old Trafford and Arsenal, no less, and will be confident of picking up three points today.
Having said that, I am a firm believer that this is the best Blues team since the glory days. There has barely been a match this season that we haven't utterly dominated for a significant period, creating a hatful of chances time and again....and usually scoring a couple of goals in the process. In Leighton Baines we must have one of the three or four best full-backs currently on the planet. How many clubs would NOT want Bainesy in their team? Not many, I imagine. With our most creative forward players, Osman and Pienaar, both generally playing well most days, we are always likely to score, and sooner or later this year we are gonna put 5 or 6 past an outfit or three.
I don't have a very good feeling about this one, but I sure hope my instinct is off. Recently, the media seems to have turned away from us; it suddenly seems to be being taken for granted by scribes that Arsenal and Spurs are going to compete with Chelsea for 3rd and 4th place, and we don't even appear to be in the conversation any more. Anyway, even if we do lose tonight, I won't take much discouragement from the result. For once, we've got ourselves into a decent position when the calendar turns. It's winter, it's cold, and as everybody knows, this is fucking Moyes Time.
Who knows? Maybe our squad is just simply too small. Maybe we will inexplicably go into the tank. But I'll tell you this: I'll take Moyesie's record in the back half of the season over AVB's any day of the week.
Home on holiday. A rare treat to get to watch a weeknight match live. Come on you Blues, don't disappoint me!
53 Posted 02/01/2013 at 18:50:23
He generally puts it in, playing on his own until recently. I thought he was great against Chelsea. He put a massive shift in and was tremendously unlucky.
Thing is, he has to go again tonight in all likelihood and retaining your sharpness across a whole season is tricky. Well it's more that that: it's physically impossible.
Theres is a case for giving him a break mentally and physically at some point. Even just not starting a game or two if Vic is fit and Fella can play off him.
Ultimately, as most people acknowledge, this is symptomatic of small squads and a lack of depth if even one or two injuries bite. My big fear is that this season will mirror Moyes's first when we died at the end; we need a couple of loans badly.
54 Posted 02/01/2013 at 19:35:53
Utter nonsense.
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1 Posted 02/01/2013 at 08:05:00