Everton vs Manchester United

I canÂ’t see what convinces you that we have two goals in us lately, itÂ’s been one against Burnley, Swansea and Southampton in the previous three games. United will want to ensure they finish as high as possible and ahead of rivals. Manchester City so I can only really see one outcome.

IÂ’m not at all fooled by our unconvincing mini-revival lately, I think against QPR, Southampton, Swansea and last weekend the games could have easily been drawn or lost, we havenÂ’t exactly outplayed any of these sides.

Manchester United tomorrow, and probably next week at a rejuvenated Aston Villa, will be a totally different kettle of fish and a truer test of whether this team really has turned a corner in this dark dismal season or not.

I remain to be convinced myself, letÂ’s wait and see.

Why canÂ’t our players for once use a little common sense and let the football do the talking?

IÂ’m sure weÂ’ll put in a decent performance tomorrow though, the fanÂ’s will demand it.

Sure would be great to see Robles for a few more games but him donÂ’t do that; him plays favorites.

As for me, after the RS, this is the team I enjoy seeing our boys beat the most.

Incidentally whilst I agree with Jim with regards to the four matches prior to Burnley, I believe our play last week merited and deserved three or four goals... poor finishing and excellent keeping not withstanding.

Mike Allinson made an excellent point several weeks ago... supporters have a fixed world view that is then Â’provedÂ’ by events viewed through their own preconceptions.

When I wake up, IÂ’ll let you know how the game finishes.

Says everything about this season, when I am making up my own scoreline. Fact or fiction? Which Everton will turn up tomorrow? I half expect Martinez to start rotating. And bring Alcaraz back into the team. Anything is possible with our resident genius. But at least we are now safe, so I will try and enjoy the game.

ThatÂ’s the way I feel about this season. Supporting this Everton team, is like going 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. You get the stuffing knocked out of you, but you keep getting up , and going back for more. But we will soon be put out of our misery, at least until August. Then it all starts again. Who said that I am punch drunk. Never. Just a crazy Evertonian. COYBS.

Final thought; I hope the supporters show a bit of class, and if theyÂ’re not going to applaud Rooney & Fellaini then donÂ’t boo them. They played for us, did a job and we made a good profit on both players. Get over it and move on.

Realistically, itÂ’s gonna be tough. But hereÂ’s hoping that we beat them, and not just sneaking it, but comprehensively. We need to will on the players, be that 12th man. They have players who are still injured, we have most of our players back. IÂ’m believing for a win.

Their backline is weak and can be pressured to make mistakes. ItÂ’s unlikely that Man Utd will sit back (though I think that they will do that for the first 20 minutes, to suss us out). If we can get an early goal, or be able to keep it even after 30 mins, I think we can expect Man Utd will come at us. That will leave gaps for the team to exploit.

But I am hoping that we still get an early goal, and that might suit us further. HereÂ’s to a 2-0 victory! Optimistic (some say deluded), but why support the team if I am not expecting them win?

Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Stones and Baines.

Really no point in risking the likes of McCarthy and Osman in a game thatÂ’s basically a dead rubber for us. Barry and Besic is is then in the middle with Mirallas, Barkley and Lennon in AM and Rom up top I guess.

I would love to win and see Man Utd avoid 4th, otherwise not too fussed tbh. Waiting for the summer.

Fatigue!!!

We will get beat, Martinez will embarrass the club with his post-match bullshit. The deluded ones will blame the ref and Ozzi.

Well that is the "glass half-empty" side of me; the "glass half-full" using logic says Naaaaa... we will get beat.

Have to agree with the sensible post like Jim B, James Halewood and the like. But I love to be proved wrong, just ask my wife.

But if your previous posts, when Robles was put back where he belongs, were more than hot air, you would have to agree that you canÂ’t take out a keeper who is part of an undefeated streak and has a clean sheet, can you? I too want to see Robles in goal, just not for Everton.

Their goalkeeper had a fantastic first half of the season and that’s the only reason they are in the hunt. We were better than them by some distance last season and if we were managed properly this season, weÂ’d have finished above them again.

Let’s not talk about them as if they are Bayern Munich.

I see Stevie P is about our only doubt with Ossie and Macca both fit again so I donÂ’t see why we canÂ’t go out confident of a result. IÂ’d be disappointed if we lost this one, and see no reason we canÂ’t beat them at home.

You want us to stop Utd making the top 4 – you do realise that if that happens, the likelihood is that the RS would take 4th spot? I know who I’d rather see finish 4th and they don’t play anywhere near Stanley Park...

It’s pure fantasy that they can’t defend – the stats don’t lie.

So we are safe. So surely now the shackles should be cast aside. Darren is spot on. Man Utd are not anything special. Their manager is nothing special. If anything he is just an old nark, moaning and crying about everything. Let’s send him home tomorrow with plenty to cry about. Let’s see him chew the ear off some poor reporter.

Here’s hoping that Everton start the game on the front foot. Lukaku and Kone up front. And yes, I said Kone. For now he seems to allow Lukaku to play. Let’s put early pressure on the Mn Utd defence. I would also let Mirallas and Lennon loose... and hope that KM turns up. Naismith on the bench.

And finally this season the defence is starting to look tighter. Here’s hoping that Baines and Coleman get down the wings. And Baines starts taking penalties again. The Everton midfield is a lottery.

So once again, here’s hoping that they turn up, especially Barkley. He is due a big game. And they donÂ’t come much bigger. I love Everton beating Man Utd, second only to the shower across the park. I repeat, as DH has stated, we are not playing Bayern Munich. I go for an Everton win. 2-0 or 2-1. But no tippy tappy pissing about. Thank you. COYBs.

Thanks for the info on UnitedÂ’s defensive record. I didnÂ’t know that one.

I would however like to see Garbutt played at left midfield in place of Barry as we are overloaded with defensive-minded players IMO We are basically playing seven defenders and one of those players should be able to create and be used in counter attacks.

Perhaps against Man Utd we may need these seven for the first hour but surely we can afford to bring on an attack-minded player for the last half hour Our attack is not strong enough to cause Man Utd as much trouble as I would like.

IÂ’d settle for a draw though a win might go someway to building some momentum into the start of next season.

Personally I dislike both the Dark Side and Man Utd with equal passion. My fear is that Man City will drop out and both the red teams will make the top 4. Although if that happened it would also be hilarious given the ٟbn thatÂ’s been invested in them in just half a dozen years or so.

Once the prem only gets three Champions League places come 2017, at least two of the Â’Big FiveÂ’ will be left out each season. That will put the cat amongst the pigeons.

If Rooney does score, itÂ’s one for them... could be anyone on the pitch we just gotta score more than them, innit.

Mike @6, yes, I agree. I’m more scared of Young diving. Who is the ref? Never thought IÂ’d say this but I wouldnÂ’t mind Clattenburg. There you are, Denis, thereÂ’s your pigeon.

Fighting for tenth in the table sums up the season – below expectations.

A draw wouldnÂ’t really help us after todayÂ’s results so letÂ’s see us treat this like one of those Â’eight cup finalsÂ’ our wonderfully phenomenal, ultra positive manager spoke of recently.

Having said that, if Kone starts, forget it. For GodÂ’s sake, start with 7-goal Naismith, not 1-goal-a-long-time-ago Kone.

I want us to win, but donÂ’t see it happening somehow. Oh, and if we get a penalty, BAINES MUST TAKE IT, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

I would love to beat them, but think we will give them too much respect. The only way to beat them is by going for the jugular, but I fear Roberto will try to stay in the game, and hope for a bit of luck.

Unfortunately they will give us a pasting 1-3 methinks, with Rooney scoring. Their defence is suspect, but we wonÂ’t try to take advantage till it is too late. Hope IÂ’m wrong.

I want us to win of course and see no reason to believe that we won’t if players perform to their undoubted ability.

TheyÂ’ve had better sides and weÂ’ve had worse ones in the past but we usually give them a game regardless, so hopefully weÂ’ll do that tomorrow, the players certainly owe the supporters a special performance.

"I think it’s muscle fatigue rather than plain ordinary tiredness."

So, which muscle do you think heÂ’s been exercising?

Compare this to last season’s game against them at home: all the crowd up for it, the players the same... somehow, I donÂ’t really think this game has got the same feeling about it.

WhoÂ’d have thought when Moyes walked out on us to join them, his last game as manager would have been against the club he served so well for 11 years? Poetic justice, I suppose. This time, it’s a different story. The shackles are off; weÂ’ve nothing to play for so just once this season, IÂ’d love us to play with a freedom thatÂ’s been sadly lacking all season.

If we lose, and having entertained... so what? – That’s football. Somehow, though, I get the feeling it’ll be the same old turgid shite we’ve had to put up with for what seems like a life sentence.

Prediction: one-nil, either way. Underwhelmed? – You bet your sweet life I am. Time for a drink, I think!

I have a feeling weÂ’ll win. The confidence looks to be coming back.

I donÂ’t care how we win just as long as we win.

They miss Carrick massively, and still have plenty of players out. Plenty of reasons to be cheerful – I wish you lot would let go of the doom & gloom and looking forwards instead of back over a shit season.

WeÂ’re playing better, safe in the division and should at least try to enjoy the last few games without much in the way of pressure. Jeez.

Yes, totally agree, it’s been a twat of a season. but let’s try and get behind the team for the Man Utd game... Who knows who will be here or won’t be next season? Players and managers come and go but we as Evertonians stay – it’s our club. I will take a hard fought gritty one-nil win.

On paper Man Utd have the stronger side and although they have not been pretty to watch they have become difficult to break down and they are creating a lot more chances this season.

I think Man Utd will be just a bit too strong for us tomorrow. Yes, we have some positive results of late but against sides lower in the league and certainly not of the caliber of a team such as Man Utd.

My prediction: 1-3.

The bookies agree with you, William Hill have United at, err... 23/20... HeHe (how far are these odds makers prepared to go with their margin splitting?)

There's no doubt that LVG has found a winning formula – Don’t you just love the way the big hoof to Fellaini has now become the long pass? – But this United team has yet (IMO) to reach the heights our group of players reached last season.

The Mancs have good players, we know that, but they will be without their ringmaster. IÂ’m working on the theory we can't underperform in EVERY game this season. We have to click at least once. Right ? ... Maybe not.

Anyway, I usually avoid backing Everton in individual matches, I’m a bit of an Hillman Minx, but I think on this occasion, the Bookies – like many pundits – have over estimated the Mancs and I’m straight onto odds checker after posting this. I will be disappointed with anything less than a win.

We may be good value today. Darren, if youÂ’re a Hillman, keep your money in your pocket!

However, if we do win 3-0 weÂ’ll be up to 10th and feeling a bit dizzy. WhoÂ’d have thought that would be possible a few weeks back?

Still canÂ’t see us winning as they have too much quality and one of Jagielka or Stones will take a battering from Fellaini, who I predict to score.

A draw or narrow loss for us.

However, it seems likely that RM will stick with the Â’Â’old brigadeÂ’Â’ who will just produce the same kind of display we have become used to this season even though it is Manure.

Manure still have a big incentive and have been playing well despite some reservations about their defence but EvertonÂ’s is very suspect also. Could be a 3-3 game.

After the RS, MU is the team that gives me greatest pleasure to beat so hopefully (with lots of blind optimism) we can turn them over and give us all a bit of hope going into the close season. It's a lovely day and for the first time in weeks IÂ’m looking forward to going to the game... Man United generally seems to bring out a unity amongst Blues fans so hopefully we can make the Grand Old Lady rock today and come away with a win. COYB

On a side issue from another thread (sorry) Harold #25 I will quite happily eat humble pie and apologise to you if we witness your new quick football style.

The Fro will be looking to pull onto Baines and Coleman for the long diagonal – without Carrick, they will use that a lot today. I’m confident Stones is physically up to the challenge and he should be the one who moves to protect as Jags stays central.

No "blind Optimism" here, just the belief that every game is winnable as long as you donÂ’t surrender before a ball is kicked.

PT – You’re right of course – I’ll leave it alone.

The odd time, usually in the league, hardly ever in the cups when it gets to the business end, we do over some one.

Please, please, please, let this be the day, just for once.

You owe us one, give us something to shout about and we will... oh and intensity, always intensity, get into those Manc twats.

I donÂ’t think weÂ’ll get beat today.