Will Fellaini be fit for Sunday?

, 24 October, 67comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton remain hopeful that Marouane Fellaini will recover from a knee injury in time to bolster the midfield for Sunday's Merseyside derby with Liverpool. The Belgium international missed the 1-1 draw with QPR and continues to receive treatment on the injury he suffered against Wigan a fortnight ago.

Quotes or other material sourced from Daily Express



Reader Comments (67)

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Jimmy Sørheim
1 Posted 23/10/2012 at 23:16:57
Fellaini will be key going forward. Too bad it looks like he will not be ready for the derby.

Gibson has been out much longer than was first thought, and it is a slow and painful road back to health for him. Hopefully different people will be right in that he will at least be ready along with Hibbert, but their fitness is a serious question.

I would play Gibson no matter what, he is the key to us keeping it tight at the back and he helps out the defence as well as gives us good quality long range passes going forward. I would go as far as saying that if Gibson is not ready then we will lose the derby.

Neville is a disaster, a waste of space in central midfield and must be replaced if we are to not lose by high numbers. Moyes has a habit of picking players out of position and players totally out of form. Phil Neville is this year's example of that, last season it was Cahill who was dismal throughout, and Moyes stood by him all the way.

We simply can not afford to play Neville in midfield any longer, he is way too old for that job now. If Gibson and Fellaini are not ready, I would go for Heitinga, and have Hitzlsperger on the bench ready to come on if things go wrong. Moyes waits too long to make a change when things go wrong, sometimes he never does.

The red shite look weak going forward, but pretty strong in the back. I would bet on them having possession most of the game, they will get chances to score, but all-in-all this match is won in the midfield, just as QPR won against us there... Wigan did the same.

Without Gibson and Fellaini I would be pleased with a draw, we need more than luck to win, we need to fill the HUGE hole in midfield.

Drew O'Neall
2 Posted 24/10/2012 at 07:18:05
Had a sneaky feeling he would be playing although it seems odd that he/Everton would announce it given the fact the opposition have to prepare for two completely different styles, so maybe it's a red herring (as appose to a red herron, the likes of which adorns the kit of our own noisy neighbours).
Tom Bowers
3 Posted 24/10/2012 at 08:21:06
No doubt about it, on his current form, it would be a big boost, assuming he was able to get some training in before. I don't want him rushing back too soon. Nobody can really replace him but, if anything, I would prefer to see Heitinga playing in the defensive midfield spot instead of Neville but Moyes has made him Captain and seems obsessed with playing him no matter what or where.

Heitinga could do a good job on Gerrard whilst Jags could take care of diver Suarez. If that happens then the Blues can get all 3 points — providing we don't concede first, which is becoming a bad habit.
Dermot O'Brien
4 Posted 24/10/2012 at 08:58:55
All prayers to Saint Anthony please. Any chance that Pienaar's red card can be over-turned?
Anthony Flack
5 Posted 24/10/2012 at 09:02:07
Amazed and delighted if true but strikes me as bullshit.... hope I am wrong.
Anthony Flack
6 Posted 24/10/2012 at 09:04:29
Dermot, I've not heard that for a long time. I always thought he was patron saint of lost causes.
Kevin McKenna
7 Posted 24/10/2012 at 09:20:29
St Jude is the patron saint of lost causes.
Mike Keating
8 Posted 24/10/2012 at 09:55:18
Patron Saint of lost objects e.g. Trophies.

If Fellaini is fit, he needs to play better than the last derby match – they all do!

And no Pienaar again.

Who is the patron saint of despair? We need a miracle.
Paul Gladwell
9 Posted 24/10/2012 at 10:26:27
I can see Gibson starting too and maybe get 70 minutes from him.
Pablo Connelly
10 Posted 24/10/2012 at 10:31:20
Paul, I think if Gibson was anywhere near fit after such a length of time out, he would have played a part in the U21 game Monday night. I know like me you are probably desperate for the Neville/Osman partnership to be broken but all need to accept they will both be starting in the engine room on Sunday.

That will still be still be the case even if Fellaini is fit (and I am praying he is) because Moyes will definitely y play him off Jelavic. He will do this because he trusts Osman and Neville in midfield so blindly that he will refuse to contemplate or recognise that Wigan and QPR's midfield outplayed them in consecutive games. We all know it.
Billy Seignarack
11 Posted 24/10/2012 at 11:11:51
Howard
Hibbert Jagielka (captain) Distin Baines
Naismith Fellaini Osman Mirallas
Anichebe Jelavic

Keep Neville out of midfield and use Fellaini to control Gerrard, Allen and/or Sahin. Hopefully they can control downing.........

James Morgan
12 Posted 24/10/2012 at 11:58:36
I hope to God he is fit, put him in midfield with Osman, just no Neville please!
The guy is useless and we should have recycled this calibre of player out of club about 3 years ago, yet Moyes hangs on to him like a toddler with his safety blanket. I would rather have a non match fit Hitz in there than Neville.
I hate derbys.
Billy Seignarack
13 Posted 24/10/2012 at 12:07:52
I think Mirallas should be on the left so he can drift in and either release Baines or shoot. He obviously won't be as good as Pienaar but better than Anichebe. IF Fellaini is fit, play him defensive to deal with Gerrard, Allen, and Sahin.
Tommy Davis
14 Posted 24/10/2012 at 11:58:54
What I find strange re: Felli, is that on Monday, he was still in Belgium... apparently, surely if he had any chance of making the derby match, wouldn't he be getting treatment at Finch Farm instead?!?!?

Last season, I was very confident in all 3 matches against the dark side & look what happened... This game on Sunday I am dreading; perhaps, just maybe, it could be a Neville inspired, backs to the wall, Dogs of War battle, which surely will be on our only option... injuries dictating ultimate team selection of course!!
Peter Mills
15 Posted 24/10/2012 at 12:28:31
Lost objects - St Anthony. Lost causes - St Jude. Take your pick or try them both!
James Martin
16 Posted 24/10/2012 at 12:46:12
Look, we battered Newcastle (referee ineptitude aside) with the midfield pairing so widely condemned of Osman and Neville. Admittedly we had Pienaar but it shows that we can play against good sides without Gibson. Neville also played against Man Utd in centre mid so all this 'He should have been recycled 3 years ago' is ridiculous.

I could accept (painfully) defeat if I thought we played our best but they just outclassed us. This never happens, however; in fact, the times we have won we've not usually had our best team out. We're unbeaten at home over a long period and have beaten most of the league's top sides there. The worst outcome should be some sort of limp low-scoring draw.

If it was anyone else, even Man City, no-one would be expecting us to lose this game — regardless of the personnel out. We have always been defensively strong and solid at home. For some reason, whenever that lot turn up, we just turn into amateurs and several of our players lose their heads and forget stuff that they do so well every other week of the year.

Phil Bellis
17 Posted 24/10/2012 at 13:23:01
Sealed envelopes – St Brendan.
Gavin Ramejkis
18 Posted 24/10/2012 at 13:25:07
Anyone know the odds of a blue being sent off in the derby? With a card happy Marriner in charge and the spawn of Satan making the short trip from Mordor I've got a feeling a red card against us is nailed on.
Chris Keightley
19 Posted 24/10/2012 at 13:28:43
Liverpool have been very poor this season, lie below us in the table with one recognised striker available, and a game Thursday — and we have people on here saying they are dreading the game!

A comfortable 2-0 win with Jelavic and Mirallas scoring.
Edward Simpson
20 Posted 24/10/2012 at 13:48:02
Tommy- if you watch the highlights of the U-21's game on Monday you will see Fellaini next to Neville watching the game on the balcony.
Sam Hoare
21 Posted 24/10/2012 at 14:38:49
I hope you're right Chris, but the fact is that we have got progressively worse after losing Gibson and then Fellaini and now Pienaar. the RS have been getting progressively better. I really hope we do win but i'd bet my last penny that if we do it won't be comfortable.
Antony Matthews
22 Posted 24/10/2012 at 14:59:23
I can see both Neville and Johnny playing in an ultra defensive line-up just like the Man U game. Let's hope we get the same performance and result !
Mark Tanton
23 Posted 24/10/2012 at 15:11:37
My team for Sunday (dreading, can't watch, fear the worst):

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
Mirallas Fellaini Osman Oviedo
Naismith
Jelavic

Sean McCarthy
24 Posted 24/10/2012 at 15:42:08
Mark, so you fancy Coleman against Sterling?? Rather you than me!!!

Hibbert will play if he's fit and — like he's done against the likes of Ronaldo, Lennon, SWP and countless other wingers with growing reputations — he will put the young pup firmly in his place.

Coleman v Sterling would give me cold sweats!!

Ray Ingram
25 Posted 24/10/2012 at 15:49:37
Good team, Mark... should be strong enough for 3 points.
Gavin Ramejkis
26 Posted 24/10/2012 at 16:31:19
Mark, it could be:

Howard
Neville Jagielka Distin Baines
Mirallas Fellaini Osman Oviedo
Naismith
Jelavic

but knowing Moyes far more likely:

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
Mirallas Neville Osman Oviedo
Fellaini
Jelavic

with Anichebe nailed on to make an appearance later on — or, worst case, start at the expense of Mirallas or Oviedo.

Eugene Ruane
27 Posted 24/10/2012 at 16:42:48
No.
GJ Butler
28 Posted 24/10/2012 at 16:34:46
Yes, we'll miss Peinaar, we'll miss Gibson and we'll miss Fellaini, but we are playing a distinctly average mid-table side (and I don't mean that as a snide remark - we are genuinely playing a very poor Liverpool side). It's our own inferiority complex that has most fans worried about Sunday, and my only fear is Moyes will once again instill this into his players rather than show them the facts - man for man, we're a better team.
Mike Gaynes
29 Posted 24/10/2012 at 17:05:49
DEFINITELY prefer Neville to Coleman at RB, even if Fellaini isn't ready to go.
Sam Hoare
30 Posted 24/10/2012 at 17:11:16
To be honest I would be pretty surprised if Moyes threw Oviedo straight into a derby on his first league start.

For that reason I reckon Anichebe is nailed on to start on the wing. Probably the right one, with Mirallas on the opposite and either Fellaini or Naismith behind Jelavic.

Kevin Day
31 Posted 24/10/2012 at 17:14:13
Can't believe what I'm reading on here, nearly everyone's comments has us losing this game before a balls been kicked, people point out the shite are improving, but against who??? Their last 2 games have been Norwich and Reading, hardly tough opposition by anyone's standards. Positivity please.
Sam Hoare
32 Posted 24/10/2012 at 17:22:20
Arsenal fans might disagree Kevin.
Eugene Ruane
33 Posted 24/10/2012 at 17:20:30
Sam (re Anichebe on the wing) surely SURELY not.

(I'm not saying you're prediction is wrong just...SURELY not!)

Paul David
34 Posted 24/10/2012 at 17:25:24
Kevin

Wigan and QPR are hardly tough opposition either. The reason a lot of people (myself included) are fearing the worst is because we've seen it all before. It doesn't matter what players either side has missing, how their form is, who has the better team, who is at home, who deserves to win, history tells us they usually win

Sam Hoare
35 Posted 24/10/2012 at 17:30:44
I hope not Eugene, but you wouldn't bet against it would you? By the way, my name's Sam, not Shirley........Taxi.
Terry Myers
36 Posted 24/10/2012 at 17:32:38
Paul

The reason they will most probably win will be because of some sort of refereeing error/decision that will go their way. It always does. I firmly believe we have a far superior team than them but we always get major decisions go against us in derbies. FACT.

Eugene Ruane
37 Posted 24/10/2012 at 17:37:04
Brrrrrrrr-TISH!

Ithangyew!

Al Reddish
38 Posted 24/10/2012 at 18:35:57
I reckon Gibson Hibbert and Fellaini will all play. Nev will be in the middle with Gibson. Hibbert at right back (please!!), Fellaini behind Jelavic. Mirallas right wing, Osman left wing, therefore Moyes incorporates all his favourites and apart from Nev, it aint a bad one!
Patrick Murphy
39 Posted 24/10/2012 at 18:41:52
Extract from Football 365 website: -

The striker was sent off two minutes before half-time in the 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road after being shown a second yellow card for an alleged stamp on Nicky Bailey.

Hornets boss Gianfranco Zola indicated after the match that he would appeal against the decision and the FA have upheld his view.

The 20-year-old, who is currently on international duty with the Czech Republic, will now be available for the clash with Peterborough on 20 October.

Do the same rules apply in the Premier League? If so why Have Everton not appealed Pienaar's yellow?

Ian Bennett
40 Posted 24/10/2012 at 18:59:03
Al - I'd go with that.
Paul Andrews
41 Posted 24/10/2012 at 19:17:54
No he wont be fit.He may well play though.
Edward Simpson
42 Posted 24/10/2012 at 19:17:56
Firstly I wouldn't put Coleman at RB for this game, put Coleman at RM and start with Hibbert.
This then would mean that Anichebe does not start on the wing, Mirallas needs to be there if Fellaini is able to play.

Patrick-Poor journalism, the player got a straight red. And as someone pointed out to me on another thread, you can't have two yellow cards rescinded.

Ian Bennett
43 Posted 24/10/2012 at 19:18:45
If you looked at it objectively you wouldn't rush the players back, given that the next 5 games are winnable.

That said, lets get a bloody win:

Howard
Neville
Baines
Jags
Distin

Mirallas, Gibson, neville, osman

Fellaini
Jelavic

Philip Roberts
44 Posted 24/10/2012 at 20:02:40
I don't think there's much chance of Gibson being fit (as said previously, surely he"d have got a run out on Monday if Moyes was thinking of using him). I think Fellaini will be on the bench at best, so I think the line-up will be something like this:

Howard
Hibbert Jagielka Distin Baines
Coleman Neville Osman Mirallas
Anichebe Jelavic.

Hope I"m wrong!!
Andy Meighan
45 Posted 24/10/2012 at 20:55:01
It's not the Shite I'm worried about, it's Moyes and his negative mindset going into this fixture. I'd remind him they're not Man Utd, Chelsea, or Man City, who we've rolled over this year, they're a mid-table side who have struggled against far far worse sides than us and are easily beatable.

My only worry would be seeing Neville's, Anichebe's and Coleman's names on the sheet in midfield. Isn't it typical of us that we could be going into our biggest game of the season so far with 3 of our key midfield players missing. Mark my word, they won't lose anyone on Thursday because he won't risk them, knowing how tough it's going to be for them.
Kevin Day
46 Posted 24/10/2012 at 21:20:12
Sam/Paul,

I understand your points, and do not disagree, but....... I think that this weekends derby is there for us to win.

Sam, you say Qpr/Wigan aren't tough opposition, but both games away from home against teams battling with all they have and we never lost, one with 10 men, and the Wigan game we should of won because of reasons we all know.

We're going to bury them Sunday.

Patrick Murphy
47 Posted 24/10/2012 at 22:00:43
Edward Simpson - Thanks for clearing that up - It was indeed a straight red card the player was shown - just cannot believe what you read anymore.

As an aside I was surprised to see that you can't appeal any yellow card if it is a judgement call by the referee.

Matthew Rigby
48 Posted 24/10/2012 at 21:42:21
Fantasy football I know, but imagine if we could field the following:

Howard
Hibbert Jagielka Distin Baines
Mirallas Gibson Osman Pienaar
Fellaini
Jelavic

I'd be confident of a 3-0 win....

As it is though,

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
Mirallas Neville Osman Oviedo
Anichebe Jelavic

I know Oviedo hasn't started in the league yet, but I think his pace could offer something different and he can also defend. Furthermore, we paid good money(-ish) for him, so he should be a direct replacement for Pienaar.

I've got everything crossed for a 1-1..... Sad but true!!!

Mike Gaynes
49 Posted 24/10/2012 at 23:43:45
Ian, you must be the biggest Neville fan on TW. You've got him in your lineup twice.
Tom Bowers
50 Posted 24/10/2012 at 23:48:20
Who's kidding who here? Ponderous Neville at right back against Sterling???

Okay so he's just a kid but he is very fast; for those older Evertonians who remember how many Redshite derby debutantes have buried us, let's not add one more. Moyes will not play any of his youngsters unless they are on the bench and he gets desperate near the end. Hopefully that won't be necessary.

Moyes will be stubborn as usual and pick the same experienced starting crew as last week minus Pienaar. If ever there was a time that I would like to see Osman and Anichebe star in, the Derby match it's now. However, we have to be philosophical; anything can happen in a derby match as current form goes out the window.

Also, of course, is the referee changing the game against the Blues. God knows they have never changed it in our favour. Let's just hope Marriner has a good game and in particular with the Suarez antics.
Ian Bennett
51 Posted 25/10/2012 at 07:17:49
I meant Hibbert. Sorry chaps.
Ian Bennett
52 Posted 25/10/2012 at 07:18:54
Tom, Bale is about the quickest thing I have seen. Tell me, how did he get on against ponderous Neville?
Nick Entwistle
53 Posted 25/10/2012 at 08:57:30
There's a number of possible line-up (obviously) but should all come under one of four titles. In order of probability they would be: What you...

Expect
Fear
Hope
Want

James Morgan
54 Posted 25/10/2012 at 10:26:45
According to most reports, Fellaini will be fit for Sunday, so my team would be as follows:

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
Mirallas Osman Fellaini Oviedo
Naismith
Jelavic

Makes sense to me. I just pray Neville doesn't play in the middle and Vic doesn't play on the wing. Square pegs and holes etc.

John O'Toole
55 Posted 25/10/2012 at 10:11:40
Ever since Neville took the trip down the East Lancs Road, he has been a true Blue and tried hard... but I think the time has come for him to either get another bus ticket out of here or be put out to grass (perhaps protecting Stanley Park).

He may have been inspirational in the dressing room but no way on the pitch. You watch him closely and you can see he is petrified when he receives the ball and invariably passes backwards or to a teammate who is closely marked. I can only recall one decent pass that he has made this season. Sorry Phil but it comes to us all – time to move on.

Why does Moyes keep chasing lost causes? I'd rather see one of our youngsters or new lads given a chance.
Kevin Tully
56 Posted 25/10/2012 at 11:01:31
Apparently, Rodgers is playing his first team in their Europa league tie tonight. A morale sapping defeat tonight will set up Sunday's game nicely.

The buck-toothed acrobat will be exhausted after abusing the ref, and that rolling about must take it out of you.

The stars are lining back up in our favour: 2-0 to the tricky Blues!!!

Tony Farrell
57 Posted 25/10/2012 at 11:46:37
All you, ToffeeWebbers! Please stop worrying about playing the RS on Sunday!!! As a new member to this site, all I read is doom and gloom comments! Has anyone noticed we are 4th in the Prem!!! Yes we are!!!

Give or take a few dodgy performances away from home, I have watched my beloved Blues Home and Away and in Europe; the glory days in the mid eighties are like yesterday.

This weekend I want to ease the anxiety about Sunday: whomever is fit, whomever DM selects, we will be up for it... and we will beat an average LFC side!

Come on, lads, let's be confident: Are we Everton fans? Don't we love our blue 11 gods out on the pitch? Get a fucking grip, everyone;, 3 points our well within our grasp.

Nil Satis till I die! Thank You.
Ian Bennett
58 Posted 25/10/2012 at 19:12:51
Oviedo over Neville in a derby ain't going to happen.
Paul Kelly
59 Posted 25/10/2012 at 20:54:00
Sorry Tony #207. But we've been here before. The better team,better form and then got shafted firmly up the rear by inept tactics and performance (semi).

We just go to shit when we play them. I hope we lose that mentality but come Sunday I bet a few of us will be scratching our heads at the team selection, positions etc.

So forgive us all for being negative. It's just that getting shafted up the rearjusain't

Paul Kelly
60 Posted 25/10/2012 at 21:42:56
Just ain't that nice... metaphorically speaking.
Sam Hoare
61 Posted 25/10/2012 at 21:52:42
Hate to say it but RS look quite handy tonight. Lots of good youngsters too in wisdom, sterling and assaidi. Crap.
Patrick Murphy
62 Posted 25/10/2012 at 22:08:06
How can you stand to watch them, every time I see their scarves, shirts, logos I switch over the TV. I think maybe we are becoming over-obsessed by the other lot if I want an update on their up and coming I'll start supporting them.
Sam Hoare
63 Posted 25/10/2012 at 22:13:09
Fair enough Patrick, just watched a few minutes during an ad break out of curiosity as to how they're playing. You're right though, no need to talk about them anymore.
Tom Bowers
64 Posted 25/10/2012 at 22:47:01
Bale like many speedsters can kill you when they have the room to break fast from their own half. Much depends on how the opponents are setting up their formation and tactics.

I think most people would prefer more natural, quicker and better tackling fullbacks than Neville to play against the likes of Bale, Walcott, and Sterling.

Looking at the prognosis for Sunday one has to notice that Redshite's only 2 wins have come against Norwich and Reading who both just happen to be propping up the rest of the table.

This looks like a perfect time to beat them as I am sure we are way better opposition than either of those 2 teams.

However, as I said earlier, current form usually goes out the window in these games but the main thing is that Moyes has his boys well focused and that we don't commit stupid errors particularly early on to give them any encouragement because you know we will get nothing from the referee.

Neville's poor tackling and Osman's lack of tackling are my main concern.
Barry Granton
65 Posted 26/10/2012 at 00:03:23
Guys why all the negativity, come match day we'll see. 3pts, 4th place retained. Leon 'Pele' Osman & Diego MaraNeville will earn shared man of match and we get a new hero: Kevin Mirallas. Our shot ratio per game has been fantastic, this has really got the potential to be a classic, I can't wait.
Bren Connor
66 Posted 26/10/2012 at 18:38:31
Prediction: Despite our injuries we'll play quite well but they will win from a combination of a wrongly disallowed Jelavic goal, and a penalty after a blatant dive from Suarez.
Tom Bowers
67 Posted 26/10/2012 at 19:33:17
I am thinking if Moyes cannot tactically outwit Rodgers and his sorry bunch then we have to admit we have a real problem despite his 10-year tenure.

We are an unbeaten side and have been far more impressive despite some lapses and if Fella is fighting fit we should prevail providing there are no calamitous refereeing decisions (or linesmen decisions for that matter).

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