Season › 2012-13 › News

Everton vs Swansea City

Lyndon Lloyd , 12 January, 45comments  |  Jump to most recent
Match Preview

After starting the New Year away from Goodison Park with trips to the northeast and the southwest, Everton are back on Merseyside to face a Swansea City that is still trying to establish some rhythm under the management of Michael Laudrup but turned heads again in midweek when they took a commanding 2-0 lead in the League Cup semi-finals over Chelsea.

Michu may be grabbing headlines as arguably the signing of the season with his stunning goalscoring feats but the Swans have an open, exciting footballing side that is now unbeaten in six games since they lost narrowly at Tottenham in mid-December.

As Everton found out at the Liberty Stadium earlier this season, though, they have a propensity to concede goals and that has seen them fall off the pace a little in the race for European qualification via the Premier League placings. Swansea lie in ninth coming into this weekend, seven points behind the Blues.

For David Moyes, the task is a simple one — keep his team's impressive form, which has seen them win five of their last seven in all competitions, rolling through what is a favourable part of the fixture calendar.

With all the clubs chasing Manchester United betraying fallibility at various times in the season so far, any team that can put a run of victories together can make decent headway in the battle for the Champions League places and Moyes will be hoping that Everton can be that team between now and the trip to Old Trafford in a month's time.

As ever, he will be challenged by injuries and he will again be without the services of Darron Gibson in midfield and he will be monitoring the fitness of Leighton Baines after admitting that the Englland international has been playing with an ankle injury recently.

Tony Hibbert remains sidelined as he recovers from surgery on his calf but Seamus Coleman's impressive return action in the 5-1 thumping of Cheltenham last Monday will ease the manager's concerns at right back.

Assuming Baines is passed fit, Moyes is likely to field a similar team to the one that that started at Whaddon Road, though anxious Evertonian eyes will be scanning the squad for any sign of Kevin Mirallas who is believed to be nearing a return following his troublesome hamstring injury. If he is fit, it would not be surprising to see his manager ease him back in from the bench rather than pitch straight into the starting XI.

Being on home turf and mindful of the fact that they're unbeaten in all prior meetings with Swansea, Everton will be confident that they will have enough to take all three points from this one. Certainly, if they can repeat the performance with which they tore Laudrup's side apart back in August, they will have no problems.

The game will mark 10 years to the day since Leon Osman, now a vital cog in the Blues' midfield machine, made his debut in injury time at White Hart Lane. It would be fitting — and, given the fact that he's in the form of his life right now, not altogether unexpected — if he were to be central to an Everton victory this weekend.

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Reader Comments (45)

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Kevin Day
1 Posted 12/01/2013 at 08:03:48
If Marallis is fit then please keep him on the bench and give him a 30 minutes run out in the second half. He could prove pivotal to our too 4 challenge and not worth taking any more risks with him.
Phil Sammon
2 Posted 12/01/2013 at 08:11:49
Kevin

His hamstring is either ok or it's not. If its ok, I'd start him - if its not then leave him out of the squad. It only takes one sprint and he's back to square one, as we saw against Spurs.

That said, there's surely a case for Anichebe to keep his place and Miralles waits in the wings as a fantastic sub option....something Everton haven't had in about 20 years.

Should be a good game, this. I like Swansea, bar Ashley Williams who's an arrogant to55er. If we can keep Michu and Routledge quiet then we can get this one in the bag. Coyb

Kevin Day
3 Posted 12/01/2013 at 08:36:26
Phil,

I see what your saying and kind of agree, but, how many people came in here after he started and pulled it last time saying he should never of started, but like you say, he'll be an excellent impact sub against tired legs, we've had an extra days rest compared to Swansea who played away on Tuesday.

Bill Griffiths
6 Posted 12/01/2013 at 09:24:43
I would start with, Howard, Neville, Jags, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Ossie, Hitz, Piennar, Fellani & Jelly. If needed take off Hitz move Fellani back and bring on Vic. Know it's hard on Vic but given players available I think that's the way to go at the start. Off to the game soon from Sunny North Wales.
Phil Sammon
7 Posted 12/01/2013 at 09:28:54
I wouldn't have Neville at RB. He's looked agonisingly slow of late.

Howard

Coleman
Jagielka
Distin
Baines

Anichebe/Miralles
Osman
Hitzlsperger
Pienaar

Fellaini

Jelavić

Bill Griffiths
8 Posted 12/01/2013 at 09:34:06
Phil, you're probably right with your comments regarding PN but given that it appears Miralles will not be available I think having Coleman in Midfield gives us more creativity and attacking potency rather than Vic out wide.
John Crawley
9 Posted 12/01/2013 at 09:35:44
Phil sounds about right but I would start Neville in central mid instead of Hitzlsperger.
Craig Fletcher
10 Posted 12/01/2013 at 09:58:08
I'd have Coleman playing at RB just to give us a bit more attacking potency on our right. Neville as Defensive Mid, and Anichebe I think deserves his spot on form, and at home against Swansea it'd be nice to have him up front with Jelly, with Pienaar/Ossie/Felli making up the midfield.
James Martin
11 Posted 12/01/2013 at 10:53:00
Anicehebe won't play in a 4-4-2 if Fellaini is playing. Moyes hasn't used Fellaini pushed back from the start all season so I don't see why he will now. It will probably be Anichebe outwide once again which is a shame as he's been playing well upfront or even in the position off Jelavic rotating with Pienaae outwide like he did against Chelsea.
Steve Sweeney
12 Posted 12/01/2013 at 11:05:34
Can't believe I'm saying this but Vic deserves to be in from the start.
My guess is that he will play wide right, he seems to be full of
confidence and enjoying playing.
He even smiled against Cheltenham .
Swansea will be no pushover tho, they are well organised
And get people behind the ball, if Howard cannot start keeping
clean sheets he has got to be replaced.
Sam Hoare
13 Posted 12/01/2013 at 11:25:20
Tough game today. Swansea are one of the best away teams and will be buoyant after beating Chelsea at Stamford bridge. Would imagine its

Howard

Coleman jagielka distin baines
Anichebe. Neville osman pienaar
Fellaini
Jelavic

Hope mirallas is back to fitness and Oviedo looked good last time out too.

Rahul Gandhi
14 Posted 12/01/2013 at 11:28:41
Live telecast of our game by ESPN in India - Excited!
Matt Traynor
15 Posted 12/01/2013 at 11:38:17
Congratulations Sam Hoare, #164, being the first person on the thread to spell Mirallas' name correctly. Even if you didn't capitalise!
Nick Waters
16 Posted 12/01/2013 at 11:56:12
Given that Vic's main problem is confidence - according to the club, and supported over many threads by a number of us - not selecting him to start today would be baffling and counter-productive. His form recently and the way he gave Swansea a torrid time early on this season fully justifies a place in the XI.
John Otway
17 Posted 12/01/2013 at 12:04:29
Can we all come round to yours to watch Rahul??
Sam Hoare
18 Posted 12/01/2013 at 12:04:50
Thanks Matt! Do I get a badge? Or does the lack of capitalisation mean no prize?
Martin Berry
19 Posted 12/01/2013 at 12:04:55
Vic has to start his form has warranted it.

Rahiu, I'm in India in February for three weeks. Will any other Everton games be on.?

Conor Skelly
20 Posted 12/01/2013 at 12:05:18
Anichebe should start with Jelavic dropping to the bench for this one. The timings right for both players.
Steavey Buckley
21 Posted 12/01/2013 at 12:00:17
Oviedo contributed a lot against Cheltenham last Monday, so how about him on the left with Baines and Pienaar on the right with Coleman? Both wide positions, potentially, very strong. Sorry about Vic, but providing crosses for Jelly is vital if he is to score more than of late.
James Martin
22 Posted 12/01/2013 at 12:12:40
Why drop Jelavic? He scored against Cheltenham and now has a perfect opportunity to build on that. I know Vic has improved but Jelavic in top form is miles ahead of Anichebe. If we only have one chance in this game out of the 22 players on the pitch who do you want it to fall to? It will aways be Jelavic. He's worth perservering with.
Mark Press
23 Posted 12/01/2013 at 12:25:46
Martin, ESPN telecasts almost all Manchester United games in Asia, because the region is teeming with fans of that club. Our visit to Old Trafford'll surely be telecast, but nothing else seems likely, except if it is an early kickoff. All early kickoffs are telecast.
Conor Skelly
24 Posted 12/01/2013 at 12:17:52
All players get dropped sometimes. It's not that Anichebe is suddenly better than Jelavic but sometimes benching a striker is what he needs to get the bit between his teeth again and bring him on with 20 minutes to go and he'd probably bag one in anger. Also, it takes the pressure off him mentally if he see's us coping without him. If it were me picking the team today I'd drop him and give Vic the responsibility his performances warrant. Just at this point in time it makes sense.
James Morgan
25 Posted 12/01/2013 at 12:16:29
I'd like to see

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
Anichebe Hitz Osman Pienaar
Fellaini
Jelavic

Give Mirallas a chance later in the game, I doubt he's ready just yet to do a 90 minute performance.
Lets have a flippin' clean sheet for once!

Ged Simpson
26 Posted 12/01/2013 at 12:34:46
I agree Conor that he has the mentality to take being dropped but I don't think he deserves it. Because some Dick seems to think he is awful on the live forum, I have been watching his play overall - off the ball etc. Have been impressed and think he still deserves place.
Martin Berry
27 Posted 12/01/2013 at 12:36:34
Thanks Marc. I'll be watching that one in the J2 Bar, Candolim no doubt surrounded by plastic Mancs
Martin Berry
28 Posted 12/01/2013 at 13:44:15
Mark not Marc!
Ged Simpson
29 Posted 12/01/2013 at 13:58:25
Hey Martin - we are going to Candolim for first time in Nov. What's it like ?
Kunal Desai
30 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:02:39
Everton XI (v Swansea): Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Anichebe, Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jelavić
Sam Hoare
31 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:06:28
Predictable team. Hope Vic plays well and Jelly gets on a goal run...
Ged Simpson
32 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:09:58
Subs Kunal ?
Kunal Desai
33 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:11:00
(Subs: Mucha, Oviedo, Naismith, Hitzlsperger, Vellios, Kennedy, Duffy).
Kunal Desai
34 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:11:25
Will have to wait another week or two for Mirrallas in the side, better that he's fully fit and is eased back by making sub appearances and not blooded back in the first 11.
Ged Simpson
35 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:10:47
Subs: Mucha, Oviedo, Naismith, Hitzlsperger, Vellios, Kennedy, Duffy
Ged Simpson
36 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:14:14
Agree Kunal. We will need him from Feb to end of season. I just have a feeling we may have a full team at end of season as Moyes is not taking too many risks
Jon Bentley
37 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:10:32
I would like to see Felli drop back to mid and push Vic up top rather than have him out on the wing. Our midfield is too exposed at the moment and we can't keep a clean sheet. With the big man in there it might tighten things up? But what do I know??
Steavey Buckley
38 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:24:10
Everton Football ClubEverton (to play Swansea): Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Jelavic, Distin, Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Coleman, Fellaini, Anichebe (Subs: Mucha, Oviedo, Naismith, Hitzlsperger, Vellios, Kennedy, Duffy).
Today 14:09
Ged Simpson
39 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:26:37
Today 14.02 !
Phil Sammon
40 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:25:11
No Mirrrallez then? (Stick your bloody badge!)
Sam Hoare
44 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:32:37
Its Mirallas, Phil.
Nick Entwistle
46 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:34:00
Kunal, you put out the team as the team lines up, Stevey, the moment I saw Baines at RB and Jelavic at CB I gave-up with line-up dyslexia!
Patrick McNnally
48 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:36:12
spurs drew
Sam Hoare
49 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:37:36
See that Ross Barkley is starting in the Leeds game, good sign that he is going to get games at Leeds hopefully...
Dean Adams
51 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:45:32
C'mon lads. Spurs failed to win lets capitalise on that
Kevin Day
52 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:48:53
So where's Heitinga??
Justin Widdop
53 Posted 12/01/2013 at 14:50:26
Heitinga = injured still!

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