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Swansea City vs Everton

Lyndon Lloyd , 22 September, 13comments  |  Jump to most recent
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David Moyes may have effected what was almost the perfect summer transfer window for the financial resources at his disposal but the harsh realities at Goodison Park dictate that he still began the new season with one of the smallest — if not the smallest — senior squads in the Premier League.

With that, of course, comes the threat to the season posed by injuries, particularly to key personnel, and they don't come much more key than unsung midfield linchpin — and lucky charm! — Darron Gibson and goalscorer Nikica Jelavic.

Just four games into the new League season and both have already picked up injuries that will keep them out of action until early to mid-October.

Thankfully, as long as the numbers of walking wounded don't start piling up, the manager has cover in both positions, although, after the defeat at West Brom, many fans were calling for Marouane Fellaini to drop back into the defensive-midfield role in which he made his name at Goodison and were disappointed on Monday against Newcastle United.

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Deploying Phil Neville in central midfield alongside Leon Osman again seemed to backfire once the opposition started to get a grip on the game but it's injury to Tony Hibbert that might force Moyes into a reshuffle at Swansea City this weekend.

Seamus Coleman was handed a start at right back in the Capital One Cup against Leyton Orient last month but it's more likely that Moyes will opt for Neville's experience and leadership in that position this time and that would leave him with little option other than pulling Fellaini back from his more attacking role, most likely to partner Osman.

Up front, Victor Anichebe could get the nod to replace Jelavic after his goalscoring exploits against the Magpies, partnering either Kevin Mirallas or Steven Naismith.

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup has selection problems of his own, with Chico Flores serving a suspension, Kyle Bartley, Garry Monk and Neil Taylor all out injured and Ashley Williams also rated doubtful. Given the Blues' success in creating chances in most of their games so far, Moyes might see plenty of opportunity for his mobile forwards, particularly if they can grab an early goal or start the second half even.

Victory, a third successive win over Swansea since they returned to the top flight last season, would provide a massive boost for Everton and go a long way to erasing some of the bad memories from Monday's controversial 2-2 draw in which they were robbed of two perfectly good goals and three points by poor officiating.

A win would also put the Blues joing top, for a couple of hours at least, and would keep the challenge for Europe ticking along while the injured due recuperate.

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Reader Comments (13)

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Mike Allison
1 Posted 22/09/2012 at 09:41:21
With Hibbert now out the team seems to pick itself, with Fellaini dropping back into midfield and Naismith, Mirallas, Pienaar and Anichebe forming an attacking quartet the like of which we haven't seen for a while.

Expect to see Heitinga in midfield instead though.

Kevin Day
2 Posted 22/09/2012 at 09:51:53
As much as I rate Heitinga, midfield Is certainly not his best position, especially with the movement of Swansea, he would get in a right mess.
Joel Durkin
3 Posted 22/09/2012 at 09:53:44
I agree that Fellaini is naturally a holding midfielder and with Gibson out he's definitely needed for that role, but with Jelavic also out he's also probably our main goal threat.

Anichebe's dynamite off the bench, giving weary defenders a hard time, so I'd keep Fellaini up top to start and see how it goes.

Mike Powell
4 Posted 22/09/2012 at 11:43:59
Anichebe is dynamite? Have I missed something or is there another player with the same name? The Anichebe who plays for Everton is lazy, cannot control the ball, cannot win a header... you must be on about the other one
Kev Johnson
6 Posted 22/09/2012 at 11:59:10
The O/S says the team = Howard, Neville, Baines, Heitinga, Jagielka, Coleman, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Mirallas, Anichebe.
Subs = Mucha, Naismith, Gueye, Vellios, Duffy, Distin, Oviedo
Trevor Lynes
7 Posted 22/09/2012 at 11:54:34
With three missing and leaving our first team squad at 15, we are definitely the smallest in the division. We are smaller than before and still we lend out the likes of Barkley???? I could see this coming and have written ever since the season began on such a good note that we are really exposed.

Where the hell is Oviedo? What is going on? Why doesn't someone from the club write and tell us the situation and how long it is going to drag on before our 19th squad member arrives???

All the claptrap about European football is stupid with the sparsity of the squad we have. We will struggle to meet our domestic requirements unless we are very lucky with injuries.

We are back to the old familiar situation of players being used out of position because DM is expected to make do and mend. It's pathetic for a club of our size and should not be tolerated.

Kev Johnson
8 Posted 22/09/2012 at 12:03:01
So, Hibbert out, Neville to RB. Heitinga in for Distin. Coleman in at RM with presumably Mirallas behind Victor. (Unless Mirallas switches to the left and Pienaar comes inside?)

Coleman needs a good game, I think. I suppose it toughens up the midfield, allowing Mirallas to concentrate on threatening Swansea. Personally, I'm happy to see Heitinga in. COYB!

Neil Wood
9 Posted 22/09/2012 at 12:06:16
Mirallas hat-trick today.....you heard it here first!!!
Shane Corcoran
10 Posted 22/09/2012 at 12:15:47
Funny, I was just going to post that that would be team I'd go with. I think almost everyone would be happy with it. You could say Naismith for Victor but I reckon this is the way to go. Well done Davie.
Mike Allison
11 Posted 22/09/2012 at 12:14:57
Kev that looks like the team I'd have picked, and is very close to the one Ben wrote in his article the other day. I get nervous when that happens, because if it doesn't work it means I was wrong! I might have gone for Naismith over Coleman, especially with Swansea having a very inexperienced young left back, but otherwise I can't complain.

If Moyes doesn't pick the team you would have you can't be proved wrong.

James Martin
12 Posted 22/09/2012 at 12:14:18
Good team, great to see Heitinga deservedly back in the team, wonder what's happened to Naismith? Would be hilarious if the lineup was actually Coleman at RB with Neville in midfield and Fellaini still up top, the vitriol on here would pour in.
Peter Barry
13 Posted 22/09/2012 at 12:33:41
I think that's the team we would all have picked with the possible exception of Naismith instead of Vic. But that is a tactical option for Davey when he sees how Vic performs.
Mike Allison
14 Posted 22/09/2012 at 12:34:37
James, Sky have just lined it up like that:

Howard; Coleman, Heitinga, Jagielka, Baines; Mirallas, Neville, Osman, Pienaar; Fellaini, Anichebe.

Oops. Although, I have wanted Coleman to have a run at right back for a while, because if any of the three right backs are going to offer a genuine attacking threat its him.

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