Match Prediction: Everton at Goodison
Friday, 05 December 08, 05:29 AM · Comments (40)
We go into this game needing three points and if we don't get them and Everton do, they could go above us, as could Portsmouth and Hull by the end of this weekend, although in reality it will probably only be Hull, if we lose and they win as our goal difference would save us.
Saying that, if Everton beat us by a few we could be in trouble, but seeing as I think they only have one recognised striker, you can't really see that happening. A draw would keep us in 5th place whereas a win could put us up to third, but again, we'd need to score 10 and hope Manchester United lose.
We are actually better away from home this season having won four of our seven games. We lost the other three so this could turn out to be a very good game of football and that is what I'm expecting.
Everton had a good result at Spurs last time out and will want to carry that into this game but if anything this season they've struggled to do that. They've had a good run recently, with three wins on the bounce against West Ham, Fulham and Bolton but apart from that it's been fairly average. Some would say, much like us this season.
It will however be a good game and without John Carew you might fancy us to play 4-5-1 again - as we might have to, because Everton only have one striker so it might be a case that they have to play five in midfield.
Also, don't be too surprised if you see Nathan Delfouneso on the bench and maybe making an appearance - you can never tell what Martin O'Neill is going to do and the manager might just see this match as a good gamble after his goal last night.
So, to my prediction. Seeing as we haven't drawn all season away from home and we've won more than we've lost I should pick three points, but I'm not going to, despite us needing the win. I'll have a bet on it, don't worry about that, but I'm going to go for the draw and a very good game of football.
Everton are a decent side, well managed and they're at home and only one person can score at a time so them only having one striker is going to make it difficult for us to break them down.
Player to Watch: Agbonlahor
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40 Comments · Add yours
Everton are really struggling with injuries. We are struggling to score but on the law of averages I am hoping for a tight scrap where one of our 5 midfielders finally put the ball in the back of the net.
We're due to give someone a pasting soon but it won't be Everton this weekend. Score draw.
you know this is the most played premiership game!
hopefully we can beat everton, but as you said it will be a tough game, and hopefully a good one to watch!
we really do need another striker, because I dont think that it is fair to rely solely on Agbonlahor, he has already started/played 23 games this season.
Hi Guys, Everton fan here.
I think it will be a tight game, with Villa playing on the counter attack. Most of Everton's threat will come from set pieces, from Cahill, Yobo and Fellaini (one to watch).
Villa will no doubt employ Young on the wide areas with Agbonlahor through the middle. I feel you will really miss Carew up top as he caused havoc last time out when he played at Goodison.
I think it will be lively and entertaining, but with very little to separate the two sides. I fear a 0-0!
Reply to GaryToffee:
Its nice to have a level headed prediction from other supporters sucha s yourself....unlike those scumbag Liverpoo fans!!
Anyway, I agree, this will be a close match, just as it was last season. If there is a team that wins, it will only be by a 1 goal margin I think.
Come on the Villa!
everton are a good side with a good manager they have finished above us for the past few years now and not by luck.
i would be happy to come away with a point as i yhink everton are ready to kick start their season again.
home win.
we are not as good as we think we are.
prove me wrong lads!!!
Over the past few games we seem to have faired better away from home. I think this is because when other teams come to Villa Park they put 10men behind the ball and hope to grab something on the counter. This doesn't suit our game. We do better in games that are open or where opposition teams come and attack us so we can catch them on the break.
I agree that Everton are finally coming good, bu they are going to seriously miss the Yak and to a lesser extent Saha so I think this is a good chance for Villa to grab all three points.
Close game 0-1 to Villa Gabby to score
It's not the end of the world if we lose. I'd rather have our dip in form now then towards the end of the season, as long as it doesn't become a season long dip in form I think now is the perfect time to have it. The timing of the one last year cost us a real shot at fifth place.
Reply to Villa_Chris:
I don't think I've ever met a non-level-headed Everton fan, it seems to be a requirement of being a supporter of the club.
Another Everton fan here, I think you guys are giving us a little too much credit. We have played poorly most of the season, and a lot of the wins have been last minute goals (Bolton, Fulham and West Ham). Our home form is terrible as well, just lacking in confidence it seems. I see a 1-1 at best, but we could well lose this game. Best of luck to you guys for the rest of the year, always had a soft spot for Villa.
Reply to Villa_Chris:
Chris, you only replied to him because you thought his name was GayToffee
Anichebe is Everton's only forward and so we've got to keep a clean sheet surely
2-0 to Villa with Sidwell and Gabby doing the business.
Reply to keefvilla:
Tim Cahill is as good as a striker especially from set pieces so if we can keep him and Arteta quiet we should be able to get a result. I have a feeling it will be 1-0 to the Villa.
2-2
villa own goal and an everton free kick
then for villa, a barry penalty and agbonlahor tap in
I think its actually the most played league game ever!
any ideas what second these goals will go in?
would be a nice bet! and how many corners and yellow cards will the villa get?
1-1 barry, osman woth the goals!
ok i know i went for a draw or put us down for a draw come sunday but we can't play any worse then we have in november and hopefully ashley won't be either, you can't argue the fact his form has been poor and predictable but in general the whole squad has been dire and desperate. We look forward to his setpieces and great delievery but lately
around the time he signed that new deal aint it
im serious on this one sun4pmsky
Anyhow because other than beating troubled arsenal we aint won or have looked like winning a game
But on sunday we will win im almost certain and we seem to be playing better away and rubbish at home for one
Just clock osman's runs, Pienaar with his funny hair is easy and Cahill with the headers then we should nick it, just
Away win 1-2 or 0-1 to the villa
I agree with Goldie, Villa will have the edge. I expect Ash or Gabby to attract a foul or two in the area, giving us a shout for a penalty. It;s about time Milner showed some of his (how much Damian) worth. I've been watching CC and I have a sneaky feeling he will score a goal soon. Eventually things will open up in front of him when he pushed forward up the middle, the men in front going on little diagonals pulling defenders away, then BANG Ugly Betty hammers in the winner.
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Last season we didn't have a single 0-0 draw at home and yet this season four already
Other example of oneil's poor ability as a manager
I Still think we'll win away though
Reply to Goldie7:
it goes to show that other teams are showing us respect and putting 10 men behind the ball
1) I thought it was because our set-piece takers have lost form and we scored most our goal from them
2)we needs a striker
3)playmaker like Yossi Benayoun
"As we start to make progress with the squad we are going to have to find different ways of playing and winning a football game." Quote from MON. Looks good on paper!
Reply to John:
And same good luck to you and Everton. I have a lot of respect for David Moyes and what he has accomplished (after all we want to break into the top 4 like you did). Your away form has been pretty good, but not so good at home (and Villa's away form is pretty solid).
If Everton had a healthy forward line this game would be different, but I see a 3-1 to Villa. Barry scores first, then Arteta ties it with one of his excellent free kicks, then Gabby scores twice to win the match.
Hope you Toffees go on a good run after this match.
I'm going.
It will be 1-1.
Nothing happens in 1st half. All get excited for middle 20 of second and then settle for a point all round.
Nothing gained, nothing learnt. the season moves on.
Hi all.
Didn't have time to write anything after the game last night. Just feel I need to bring up a few thoughts i've had today.
Firstly poor result last night, but great news that we qualify. I was impressed with young Delfounso, but i'm afraid we have to off load 3 players that I witnessed as dead wood last night. They are Osbourne, Salifou and Harewood. Simply not good enough to be squad players in the premiership and I hope we may have seen the last of them.
Positives also to be mentioned, displays of Luke Young and Cuellar!
Ash Young is off form and needs some shooting practice.
Reply to ronvilla:
Good to hear both some positives from Villa fans and some sanguine and intelligent input from Toffees supporters.
Villa's 4-5-1 formation, brought upon us by Carew's plight, is the same as O'Neill started out with. It's basically a 4-3-3 counter-attacking formation, and with pace down both flanks and through the middle can be devastating if Everton a) can't break us down and b) then lose patience (like Arsenal did) and commit too much forward.
We're in a standard pattern for a pacy counter-attacking side: great away where the opposition has the onus to bring the game onto us; struggling at home where we are expected to take the game to the visitors.
But O'Neill knows that - so we should expect a big centre forward signing (or two) and a midfield "lock picker" in January. My sources suggest that's all on the cards. Doc.
Thanks for that Doc. I have missed your post match analyses - they're usuallly both entertaining and get to the meat.
Fancy us so much more away from home even at goodison which is a tough place to go.
2-0 villa
Both teams likely to play 451. Very tight in midfield. Neither team able to control the game. Scrappy football. Therefore it will end 0-0.
But given the way results have gone this season I am going to go against logic and say it will be 3-4 to Villa.
Just to prove my point the bookies are offering
Correct Score
Everton 1 - 0 13 - 2
Draw 0 - 0 15 - 2
Aston Villa 1 - 0 13 - 2
So they don't have a clue of the result either.
well if you ask me, i think we are going to win by a large margin.
3-0 to the villa. gabby and two goals from the midfield.
i dont care who scores what the score is as long as we win 3-0
I think it will be a tight game but the game could be won and lost from the bench!if we are chasing the game with 10 mins to go then at least we have delfouneso or harewood to call upon (even though mon prob wont use them) where as if everton are chasing the game they wont have a recognised striker on the bench and will probably only have youth team midfielders as options so i dont see how they will change it around if they are losing and thats why i think if we score first then we can win the game!
it's about damn time we picked up some points. 2-1 villa, including a goal from damian's favorite son, james milner.
sarha out but got to keep tabs on cahill . id feel a lot happyer if he was not playing. but i think we r to strong in midfield for them i expect to be in 5th at leased at xmas period is over but wont some quality in jan. and i dont mean 4 the future but players who can get in the team from the start and kick us on. 4th is a great reality at the moment P.S any one in the aston social before the bolton game
After today's results Villa really need the 3 points.
Reply to George_Templeton:
Without any decent strikers for Everton 0-2 for Villa. Everton will meet great difficulties!
hiya guys, just wanted to voice my opinion of the current first team affairs down at villa park at the moment.. 1st things 1st under NO circumstances are mr knight, mr salifou, mr harewood mr osbourne and mr joker @ right back to be let anywhere near the starting line up again.. they proved the other night they have no premiership quality and shud consider stepping down a few divisions in search of regular football. this is the reason why mr o'neil neva makes any changes during important leauge games!
there are several players missing from us being top 5 never mind the BIG 4...
so if your reading this mr o'neil
right back cover
attacking midfielder (merson mould)
2x strikers
guys im off so ill finish this post l8a.. look out
oh yh for the record i think GOLDIE IS A GRADE A PR*CK..
4 SOME REASON HE THINKS HIS STALE YELLOW TEETH ARE GOLD.. WAHAT A NOB
Seem to remember a few seasons back when a certain young striker made his debut at Everton and scored, reckon that's an omen for starting with Fonzie up front.
Bout time Milner scored,& lets get Luke Young back in his proper position and put Barry at left back if Shorey is injured.
I'd play Petrov, Gardner, and Sidwell across the middle.
When's wonder boy Bannan going to get a game, and what about the Larsson rumours, he'd be great for the rest of the season.