Goodison derby moved to Sunday

Better than the early Saturday kickoff at least

One more day to wait before the Cloggers arrive.

Another 24 hours away from Gerrard's two footed tackles.

I wonder what we'll do to mess it up this time? Shambolic refereeing performance, wonder goal, lucky deflection, injury crisis the week before, Moyes plays his B team, our A team wilts yet again... Who knows, but you can guarantee that at least one of these reasons will be getting pedalled out again as to why we've gifted them a much needed boost to their season and destroyed ours.

Imagine where we would have been over the last few seasons if we didn't make a habit of losing both derbies. How many times have we been a couple of points off a European spot (usually being occupied by Liverpool), that 12-point swing makes a massive difference. We finished 4 ahead of them last year, imagine if it had been 16!

Something has to change; as usual, we have the poor fixture draw of being at Goodison first but just for once it would be nice to have a full team in good form who play to their potential and just do a job on an inferior Liverpool side and we could have one of those routine Goodison wins.

For us to win a derby, it seems to take a Herculaneun effort, whilst they can seem to play whoever they want and perform however they like; how they did the double in 2009 despite being battered home and away is beyond me. I wouldn't even mind if we were battered for 90 minutes then Fellaini handballs one in, anything for a win... surely it's time for one.

Ugh, I hate 1:30 kickoffs. Just doesn't feel right....

It seems to me there is a lot of pessimism based on past experience about playing at GP first. We now have a better team then the RS, Moyes is growing a pair against the old 'Sky 4' now we are properly competitive with them, so reasons to be cheerful:

1) Playing them at home makes it easier to give them the hiding they deserve, backed by fervent home support.
2) New signings should be bedded in by then, Mirallas etc having found his stamina and shooting boots for the Prem.
3) Giving them a doing at home, á la the 3-0 when AJ tore them a new one, will set us up nicely confidence wise to get the long overdue win at Anfield that Moyes's Boys owe us.

The past ain't the future, this is a real power shift, finishing above them last year was not a fluke (we fucked up in both derbies, were shit for the first half of the season before improving the team in January — and we still finished above them).

BRING IT ON.

COYB.

After last season I've grown to HATE derby day. I'm my efc watching life we've won so few

At least there is extra time to down enough pints to slightly settle my nerves and generate a bit of a nasty volatile atmosphere which the team tend to thrive on, Saturday mornings don't offer that.

James Martin

12 point swing?????

What are you on about?!

Phil – 12-point swing:

Last season, we finished 4pts ahead of Liverpool. However, if we had won both derbies last season, take 6 points off the Red Shite and add those 6 points to us; the difference in points, at the end of the season, we would have 12 more points than them. So those 4 points we finished above them would have been 16 points ahead.

Pete #443, it's got nothing to do with playing them at Goodison first, it's largely down to the inherent fear the manager and players have playing them, which naturally permeates to a fair proportion of the fanbase.

Last season the defeat at Goodison was marred by a refereeing mistake, made at a time when we were on top (though that in itself means nothing). But the defeat at Anfield, in as much as the side put out was weak, which handed them some belief such that they have no fear in the subsequent semi final - despite their appalling league form at that time.

On balance I think Moyes works minor miracles, but if there is a criticism it's his safety first attitude, particularly against the "bigger" teams, and particularly away from home. We've all watched much worse sides than this win in Derbies, including at Anfield, win at OT, Stamford Bridge etc.

Had the debate before but I really cannot see how liverpool have an advantage playing us at GP first or us having a disadvantage. Its our own fault that our season starts over the last 4-5 years have been shite, hence we're low on confidence/goals/playing shite when we meet them.....leading to them usually getting a result. Add to that the fact that Moyes seems to brick it when it comes to derby most times and the tactics have left a lot to be desired at times.

I feel however that come October this year, things will be totally different. Reasons being;

a) barring a complete melt down, we will have a better start this season than in reacent years so our confidence will be up.
b) our squad is much better and carries a higher goal threat
c) moyes will not have forgotten the reaction of the fans after chucking away the 2nd derby last season and will want to put things straight
d) Rogers is a decent manager but I don't think he's right for the RS, they look really really ordinary at the minute and just had their worst start in 50 years (granted they played arsenal and city in their first 3 games) I cannot see it getting better for them anytime soon (put a cheeky bet on with a RS mate of mine that rodgers would be gone by xmas).

So lets hopefully enjoy the next few weeks and hope that gibbo, jelly and the hair are not injured (or suspended) come derby day next month.

RS bastards, buggered up Melbourne to Brisbane Family Flight plans, should've been Fly in Friday, Derby Sat, Fly out Sun, back to work Mon.

In view of the fact that everyman and his dog takes delight in pointing out that we are better in the second half of the season, surely it's advantageous to play the Shite at their place when we are performimg better? I just don't get this "conspiracy" stuff because we play away when we're supposed to be having a better time of it. If we were away first, every bugger would be moaning that " We always play at Anfield when we're crap".

Theoretically there should be no disadvantage to playing home first, but Ferguson always says that he looks down the fixture lists against his rivals and feels confident of winning the league if Man U are at home in the second half of the season, which they were the last time they won it. Had Man U been at home for that title decider then who knows how it may have ended up. The business end of the season is always the back end and regardless of your points tally before hand that second derby always seems to be more crucial than the first one, and when it is its always at Anfield. No other city rivalry has this sort of fixture anomaly.

Matt, #462, that's a fair shout. I was appalled by Moyes chucking the Anfield derby away last year by resting most of our best players and agree it helped the RS confidence for the semi. I think it was because we had the quarterfinal replay at the Mackems though rather than a fear of that shite. This season I am hoping he realises we are just better than them and goes for it home and away.

You still in blighty by the way mate, would be good to catch up, I'll FB ya!

How come Newcastle had to play Chelsea on the Saturday after a Thursday night game and the derby has been put back to the Sunday all of a sudden, which gives them an extra day's rest???