Everton - Opposition Views

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Our own Shogun has been kind enough to answer a few questions prior to our match with Everton on Sunday (And did a bloody brilliant job at it!). Here's what he had to say:

-First, how long have you been an Everton fan?

Hard to say, I was born into a blue family (not literally) so all my life. I had my first season ticket when I was 9 years old, so about ten years now.


-Another great season so far for Everton under Moyes, how important do you think he is to your success?

Great season might be a bit of an exaggeration thanks to a succession of draws but it has been good. We started off well with victories over Manchester United, Villa and Swansea and a draw against Newcastle which compared to pervious starts is like a miracle despite losing to West Brom. Story of our season so far is drawing too many winnable games like Norwich H, Newcastle H, QPR A, Fulham A which has been disappointing, I think we've only just put an end to a run which prior to the West Ham game was 8 draws in our last 11. Losing to Leeds in the cup was annoying, Looking at the current four and seeing as we'd have been on your route then I'd have fancied our chances against Villa, Swansea and Bradford, Though it would have been close between us two at Goodison Park. We've done well against the top teams. Against last seasons top four we've gotten 8 points from a possible 12 (City A - 1 pt, Arsenal H - 1 pt, Man Utd H - 3 pts and Spurs H - 3 pts) which is obviously a sign of how good a team we are despite complacency in other games.Things are looking on the up again with 6 points from our last 2 games.

I think that whilst the current board are in place and where we are now then he's probably the most vital piece in the jigsaw. He has his limitations which isn't always picked up on but then again, you can say the same for any manager in the league. I think he's the best man to pick out a bargain. £5m for Leighton Baines must be one of the best deals over the last five or so years and there's many others like Arteta, Cahill, Lescott and more. I'd fear for who would replace him if he left. We would probably end up with Hughes *shudders*


-As it stands, it looks like Everton are fighting Arsenal, Tottenham, WBA and ourselves for two CL spots. How do you rate your chances of a top four finish? Can you predict which of the five teams will get those two spots?

I think you being a little pessimistic, i don't think there is any doubt that you'll be in the top three, I think the top three will include Man united, City and yourselves then I think it will be touch and go between Everton, Spurs and Arsenal for fourth place throughout the season, Hopefully West Brom slide away. We have a great first XI but our overall squad isn't at the same level compared to Arsenal and Tottenham in particular. As long as we get a bit of luck with injuries then it might just happen. The thing we've had in our favour is a good record against the top sides this season which might be decisive at the end of the year.

I think Arsenal will get fourth, Wenger always manages to get them there one way or another. I do think we will be in the race until the wire though. Who do we play last game of the season again? go easy on us!


-With Jan market just about to open, what business, if any, do you think Everton should be doing during next month?

Not much. I don't think we will sell anyone important, the only one I think might go is Heitinga who is third choice CB anyway. I think we will bring a CM in such as Vadis Odjidja Ofoe from Brugge (I'm sure the Belgians on the site know a bit about him). We tried to sign him on loan in the summer but the paper work didn't go through in time. There are also rumours of Lescott returning on loan which would be a good move.

We also might buy a goalkeeper. Tim Howard has been disappointing and making a lot of costly mistakes this season. David Moyes has quietly mentioned how many mistakes he's made lately as well. I think Butland will be an option.


-Fellaini has been your most vital player this season, but not without attracting interest from many top teams, Chelsea included. What are the chances of him leaving in Jan? And how would that affect Everton if he does leave?

Very minimal chance of him leaving in January, well that's the feeling around Everton fans anyway. He doesn't seem to care that much about money (he drives a Vauxhall Corsa!) and just wants to play champions league football. I think he'll see out the season at Everton and his future will be settled in the summer and no earlier.

Difficult to say how we'd do if he left, assuming David Moyes is still our manager then I'd be ecstatic with the prospect of him spending a big chunk of £25-£30m with his record of signings in the past. Also we have Ross Barkley who's a very highly rated youngster that plays in the ACM role Fellaini has been operating in. I don't think Fellaini is as important to Everton as the media portrays.


-Speaking of Fellaini, he along with a couple more players will be missing from your side on Sunday. How vital will that be for deciding which way the points will go?

Fellaini isn't a vital part to Everton's side which may sound laughable but ill try to explain. In my opinion Fellaini is the second best player in the squad behind Baines but we usually cope without him. One of the most underrated players around Leon Osman links up really well with the rest of the team and has quick feet which makes us easier on the eye than when Fellaini plays. We've won the last two games (West ham A is tough on paper) without him and Osman has been MOTM on both occasions.

The most vital player we have is Darron Gibson who is still yet to finish an Everton match on the losing side in around 20 appearances now which isn't a coincidence. He picked up an injury at half time against Wigan. If he's out for Chelsea then he will a much bigger miss than Marouane Fellaini.


-Fellaini has obviously been outstanding, but who else has been among your best players this season and who should we look out for on Sunday?

Pienaar and Baines are our most dangerous attacking threat. You'll have to sure up the right hand side because that's where most of our play will stem from. With the added inclusion of Osman in the mix means that the passing in and around the opposition 18 yard box can be a menace to opponents. Jelavic is still dangerous too. If you had me cornered with a Bengal tiger set on to me then I'd choose Baines as our one player to watch out for.


-I expect you're not a big Rafa fan. What have you made of Chelsea under him so far? Do you think we're still in the tittle race with him in charge?

You guessed right, luckily for you he won't be around enough to ruin your team like he did in his later years at Anfield or at Inter Milan. He is a good tactician though and very good at rotating players to keep them fresh for a season. You could see Hazard tiring this season and to his credit he's given him a rest in the last few games.
Made an awful start 0-0 against City and Fulham and then defeat to West Ham along with the result in Japan. Things seem to have picked up lately but doesn't necessarily mean he's turned the team around, Aston Villa are awful at the moment and I think you're result against Norwich was a better result.

I don't think you're in the title race, but I barely think City are either. Manchester United have had too much in attack this season which is hardly a surprise. They have RVP, Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck whilst you somehow got left with Torres.


-If you can have one player from Chelsea at Everton, who would it be and why?

On talent alone I'd have Juan Mata without doubt. He's not only Chelsea's best player but he's the best player in the league in my opinion. Tim Howard has been inconsistent and made a lot of mistakes this season therefore I'd probably take Cech if you offered me a player now.

-What formation and line-up is Moyes likely to put out on this game?

4-2-3-1
If Mirallas, Gibson, Coleman and Hibbert are all unavailable then I'd expect...

----------------------Howard---------------------
-----Jagielka-----Heitinga---Distin-----Baines----
--------------Neville----Hitzlsperger--------------
--------Anichebe-----Osman-------Pienaar-------
----------------------Jelavic-----------------------

Neville could play right back with Jagielka replacing Heitinga at CB and Osman dropping in alongside Hitzlsperger with Naismith coming into that trio behind Jelavic.
I hope Gibson and Coleman are fit though.


-Finally, please predict the result.

Rafa usually got the better of us in his Liverpool days but he had the better team anyway so I'm a bit wary.

With Gibson 2-1 to Everton
Without Gibson 2-2 or 2-1 to Chelsea

[Rmpr 8,977]

Great Job Shogun, finally an Opppsiton Views worth reading, with intelligent answers and not some pre-fabricated artificial answers even I could have figured it out!

Choulo19, it may have sounded mean to you, but it was not your questions that were shit (they were actually pretty good), but some people just couldnt answer it in a natural and intelligent way...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Great Job Shogun, finally an Opppsiton Views worth reading, with intelligent answers and not some pre-fabricated artificial answers even I could have figuered it out!

He does all the work and I get all the likes

[Rmpr 8,977]

He does all the work and I get all the likes

And I am sure as the generous moderator that you are, you will add to his reputation all the like you get!

[rafafan 10]

Shogun.

what exactly did rafa ruin at liverpool ? even in rafa's last season and the problems with hicks and gillett he still finished above you ???? the club of stability...

Oh where is your academy ??/ how comes you not producing players of any decent quality ?? the man you claim ruined liverpool has structured an academy in place that has produced 12 players in the last 2 seasons, Moyes is a genuis...by the way how much has moyes has spent , do the correct figures and come back to me..its all a myth he does not spend ( how much was feilani.)...look at it carefully and all everton have achieved is a CL qaulifier against villareal...(lol)

What happened to the genius of moyes even in rafa's lowest point ??? lol....you guys are so bitter ( he could not even beat Kenny D.), give the man the credit he deserves, and regarding Inter Milan , where are they now ?? go and have a look at his stats while he was with them before believing all the media bullshit,

[Corner 456]

Great job Choulo and Shogun. Really interesting read.

Also, how brilliant is it that Fellaini drives a Vauxhall Corsa?

[CHOULO19 24,332]

And I am sure as the generous moderator that you are

You obviously got me confused with someone else

Only admins can edit reputation (I think!).

I have to say @Shogun, did a great job. The answers are really insightful.

[bushman 2,043]

A very realistic point of view, I might add.

Sometimes, it´s great to read other outlook on it.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Shogun.

what exactly did rafa ruin at liverpool ? even in rafa's last season and the problems with hicks and gillett he still finished above you ???? the club of stability...

Oh where is your academy ??/ how comes you not producing players of any decent quality ?? the man you claim ruined liverpool has structured an academy in place that has produced 12 players in the last 2 seasons, Moyes is a genuis...by the way how much has moyes has spent , do the correct figures and come back to me..its all a myth he does not spend ( how much was feilani.)...look at it carefully and all everton have achieved is a CL qaulifier against villareal...(lol)

What happened to the genius of moyes even in rafa's lowest point ??? lol....you guys are so bitter ( he could not even beat Kenny D.), give the man the credit he deserves, and regarding Inter Milan , where are they now ?? go and have a look at his stats while he was with them before believing all the media bullshit,

Ooh, touchy! I wouldn't take a look at the opening pages of the Benitez thread here if I were you..

[Stats 7,056]

Baines one of the best LB in the world IMO. Highly underrated. I think on a performance level, he has been the best back in the PL for the last 2 seasons and is bang on form this season

[Shogun 721]

Shogun.

what exactly did rafa ruin at liverpool ? even in rafa's last season and the problems with hicks and gillett he still finished above you ???? the club of stability...

Oh where is your academy ??/ how comes you not producing players of any decent quality ?? the man you claim ruined liverpool has structured an academy in place that has produced 12 players in the last 2 seasons, Moyes is a genuis...by the way how much has moyes has spent , do the correct figures and come back to me..its all a myth he does not spend ( how much was feilani.)...look at it carefully and all everton have achieved is a CL qaulifier against villareal...(lol)

What happened to the genius of moyes even in rafa's lowest point ??? lol....you guys are so bitter ( he could not even beat Kenny D.), give the man the credit he deserves, and regarding Inter Milan , where are they now ?? go and have a look at his stats while he was with them before believing all the media bullshit,

If this was a Liverpool site then I'd respond but it's not so with all due respect I'd rather keep this on topic.

[Stingray 9,441]

Great job Choulo and Shogun. Really interesting read.

Also, how brilliant is it that Fellaini drives a Vauxhall Corsa?

A huge fro in Vauxhall Corsa. Just take a mental picture of that .... Moehahahahaha, lmao!!

[rafafan 10]

Ooh, touchy! I wouldn't take a look at the opening pages of the Benitez thread here if I were you..

I have read all the comments and its understandable , "sometimes hatred comes from those that hurt you so much" but I thought I wind up my mersey bluenose friend about his rafa bashing the same applies to him also " we hate you because you hurt us so much , while you were the boss of our greatest rivals" ...all fair in peace and war with the blues across the mersey ....

[rafafan 10]

If this was a Liverpool site then I'd respond but it's not so with all due respect I'd rather keep this on topic.

Fair enough Shogun, by the way did he say once "you were a small club" !!! lol...

its all good, mate, don't worry...

[robsblubot 3,508]

Baines one of the best LB in the world IMO. Highly underrated. I think on a performance level, he has been the best back in the PL for the last 2 seasons and is bang on form this season

Personally, I don't rate him too highly. Cole is twice the player IMO.

Cole is a lot quicker and defends far better; Baines is only better in attack, and not by a huge margin.

[Stats 7,056]

Personally, I don't rate him too highly. Cole is twice the player IMO.

Cole is a lot quicker and defends far better; Baines is only better in attack, and not by a huge margin.

Seriously? I reckon Baines is underrated by many. He is definitely brilliant in attack with his runs, pace and set pieces but I feel he is quite solid as well. Tbh I would take Baines if Cole was to leave the club

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Wow never thought gibson was this important to everton!Now i am definitely hoping he misses our game.

[Shogun 721]

Wow never thought gibson was this important to everton!Now i am definitely hoping he misses our game.

Definitely, he's one of those players that tend to go unnoticed but probably makes the biggest difference in a team, sort of like your Makelele days (not as talented obviously).