Season › 2012-13 › News
Norwich City vs Everton
Match Preview
Anichebe was withdrawn from the Oldham tie with a groin strain and may miss out at Norwich
Still alive in the FA Cup but with work to do in the Fifth Round replay and some difficult trips to top-four rivals Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal still to come in the League, Everton's season enters a crucial phase in the coming week.
An eminently winnable game against Reading awaits next weekend, the Blues' first Premier League game at Goodison Park since the beginning of the month, with the replay against Oldham on the slate for Tuesday, but first up it's a trip to Norwich City, a team on a wretched run of form.
Since recording a narrow home win over Wigan in mid-December, Chris Hughton's side have won just once, that a 3 - 0 win over Peterborough United in the FA Cup Third Round. Humiliation followed in the next round with a home defeat to non-League Luton Town, and although three consecutive draws appear to offer hope of stability now at Carrow Road, the Canaries have scored just twice in the League in 2013.
So, certainly some vulnerability and insecurity for David Moyes and his men to exploit as they look to re-establish some pressure on the teams above them in the chase for Champions League qualification. Everton are 11/10 to beat Norwich according to bookmaker Ladbrokes.
Norwich's home form suggests that the Blues will need to be at their best this weekend, however, if they hope to take all three points back to Merseyside. Hughton's team frustrated Tottenham by holding them to a 1 - 1 draw at the end of last month and have only lost on home turf three times this season. And while they've found goals hard to come by, they've conceded fewer at home than Everton so far, with nine of those coming in just two games against Manchester City and Liverpool.
While the Blues have re-discovered some of their potency in front of goal since the 0-0 draw against Southampton a month ago — the shut-out at Old Trafford aside — it is at the back where they continue to nobble themselves by conceding late or preventable goals.
Moyes should be able to call upon his first-choice central defensive pairing of Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin and may be able to welcome back Seamus Coleman after a month on the sidelines with a thigh injury. If the Irishman is not available, Phil Neville should be fit to continue at right back, though his manager will no doubt contemplate shuffling him out of the starting XI at some point with three games in seven days.
Further forward, Kevin Mirallas could be restored to the starting line-up after being named on the bench at Boundary Park last Saturday, particularly if the apparent groin strain that Victor Anichebe picked up in that game will rule him out. Nikica Jelavic would get the nod as the lone striker if Anichebe doesn't make it and would get a rare chance to profit from Mirallas's creativity up front.
For the Blues, this week really has to be where the rubber meets the road if their dreams for their League and cup campaigns are to be realized. The players know that victories are all that matter now and a couple of them have insisted that the manager's further postponement of a decision on his future will not affect them down the home straight.
Three successive victories, a feat they have not achieved since the start of the season but which will be paramount in their twin quest for Wembley and Europe, would really ram that home with the kind of conviction needed.
Reader Comments (51)
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2 Posted 22/02/2013 at 01:08:03
3 Posted 22/02/2013 at 05:35:31
4 Posted 22/02/2013 at 06:53:22
Will David attack from the off? First goal is important. Or will he keep it tight, start Mirallas on the bench, and see how it goes?
I know where my money is.
5 Posted 22/02/2013 at 09:52:37
"Be careful, guys, I know Norwich have been on a bad run recently, so all the more reason for them to come out fighting, so don't forget keep it tight, track back and let's see if we can nick one and hold on."
6 Posted 22/02/2013 at 11:25:03
7 Posted 22/02/2013 at 11:29:32
8 Posted 22/02/2013 at 11:35:44
Anyone but Neville Jag Distin Baines
Fellaini Gibson
Barkley Mirallas Oviedo
Jelavic
9 Posted 22/02/2013 at 12:30:26
10 Posted 22/02/2013 at 12:30:26
Here is a compilation of Ovideo's contributions against Norwich. As you can see, a very decent player who should figure regularly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FthtOA-ILag
11 Posted 22/02/2013 at 12:36:28
Howard
Seamus, Jags, Distin, Oviedo
Mirallas, Gibbo, Felli, Baines
Vellios, Jelavic
Attacking, solid in midfield, big man & goal poacher up front.... 2 wingers
12 Posted 22/02/2013 at 12:56:59
13 Posted 22/02/2013 at 13:05:26
Anything less and I'll feel like a wet weekend.
14 Posted 22/02/2013 at 13:14:07
Norwich shouldnt be in the same league as us.
Depends how Moyes feels about us now re his future or whether he really is offski.
as much as Im not a fan of Neville I'm ok with him at right back if Hibbo and Coleman are doubtful.
Howard
Neville Jags Distin Baines (it aint broke don't fix it)
Mirallas Gibson Fellaini Pienaar (ditto - but due a good game!)
Osman
Jelovic
15 Posted 22/02/2013 at 12:48:19
Having said that we know all too well how Everton seem to let us down in games they expect to win. Anichebe has popped in a few goals of late but I still think Jela, Fella and Kev.are the best options for Everton's offence.
Moyes has kept faith with the likes of Neville,Osman and Peinaar but it's obvious these players are not producing what is necessary to take command of games these days.
The passing has been very sloppy and giving the ball back cheaply to the opposition even Oldham keeps pressure on Jags. & co. as wel as keeping the opponents in the game.
This game is really crucial. If Moyes blows this then it will be obvious he has no better ideas for turning the situation around especially with Arsenal and Spurs having good opportunities this weekend.
16 Posted 22/02/2013 at 13:47:53
17 Posted 22/02/2013 at 13:55:34
If Coleman was fit, he'd be playing of course but I don't see where the opportunities lie for him.
I know there are murmurs that him and Duffy will be used at some point.
This has to be a win, it will be difficult because of there good home form recently but they do struggle to score it seems.
With a fully fit first XI we should be able to get past these, and hopefully Jelavic does find a goal sooner rather than later, preferably this weekend.
18 Posted 22/02/2013 at 14:42:08
Having said that I would not break up Distin and Jags.
Ossie has looked tired in recent games and is not that strong in a 50/50 anyway so I would choose if fit
Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
Mirallas Gibson Fellaini Pienaar Oviedo
Anichebe
19 Posted 22/02/2013 at 14:49:14
No, Stones isn't ready from what I've seen. Still a very young lad.
20 Posted 22/02/2013 at 16:13:02
21 Posted 22/02/2013 at 16:23:21
22 Posted 22/02/2013 at 16:33:47
23 Posted 22/02/2013 at 17:23:33
Everton have conceded in the first 15 minutes more times than any other team apart from the Hammers and the Blues have made the fewest substitutions than any other team and used fewer players than any other team.
Everton have had more shots away from home than any other team in the top 5 European leagues apart from Manure.
Everton have failed to score in 3 of the last 5 Prem.games.
Time to put things right again.
24 Posted 22/02/2013 at 18:37:17
28 Posted 22/02/2013 at 19:01:55
We have to do more attacking if we are to progress and stop giving away silly and last-gasp goals by falling back on one-goal leads and inviting the opposition to come at us with the predictable outcome.
42 Posted 22/02/2013 at 21:08:26
46 Posted 22/02/2013 at 21:05:28
Now, every Friday, I'm filled with trepidation and fear as I watch our manager strive in his relentless pursuit to "rescue" us from a top four finish, in order to leave us languishing in the the "comfort and safety" of mid-table obscurity.
If Coleman is not fit, he'll bring in Neville. If Vic is injured, he'll start with Jelavic. He'll keep Heitinga on the bench. I would like to see all 3 of them take a long holiday far way from Norwich as possible. Osman should be benched.
I would even play Jags at full-back and bring in Duffy at CB. It's got to be better than having Neville on the pitch. I would play Barkley and start up front with Vellios. Anything has got to be better than the dross Moyes has been serving up. Our first X1 have gone stale – and it's affecting the morale of the team and the bench. We have to freshen things up – we cannot go on watching this crap, week-in, week-out... how many more chances does he need to give to Jelavic???? He's lost his touch – and he's turning into a donkey. Vic isn't much better, but he scrapes. a goal every 4 games. I think at best we can hope for a draw – but I fear Howard is due a major clanger which could lose us the game.
As ever, the eternal optimist.
49 Posted 22/02/2013 at 21:29:00
56% to stay.
According to the Yahoo on line poll 10,000 votes cast to date.
Which means he's off, he said he'd go if the fans turned.
52 Posted 22/02/2013 at 21:34:11
Its not 'do you (Evertonians) want Moyes to go at the end of the season'? It is in fact... 'Should David Moyes leave Everton at the end of the season?' not specific at all to Evertonians. And its only 5.000 votes.
Take your dirty propaganda filth away with you, Barry!
55 Posted 22/02/2013 at 21:49:53
"Billy Bluelight
William Crotch
Bernard Matthews
Ed Balls
Stephen Fry
Myleene Klass
Delia Smith
John Tickle
Your boys took one hell of a beating."
57 Posted 22/02/2013 at 21:32:43
58 Posted 22/02/2013 at 22:28:12
Everton do not possess many high energy players except maybe Baines and Mirallas (still trying to get to his best). They need to be totally focussed tomorrow from the first minute and Moyes should for once not be slow in using his subs.when legs start to tire.
59 Posted 22/02/2013 at 23:14:59
60 Posted 22/02/2013 at 23:07:34
The team tomorrow should be:
Howard; Coleman (if fit) or Stones, Jagielka, Distin, Baines: Mirallas, Gibson, Fellaini, Oviedo; Barkley (just behind Jelavic) (1st half) / Vellios (2nd Half) or vice versa; Jelavic.
I think it is very important to include the youngsters in every game from now on.
61 Posted 22/02/2013 at 23:14:19
It sickens me to see the abuse that Steven Piennar gets from so called Everton Fans on this site as was the same with Tim Cahill. While I agree he has had a couple of bad games my view is thathe should start every game for us as he is one of the few classs players we have who is csapable of scoring or creating goals.
Didn't see the Utd game at all but he was one of the few players who stood out against Oldham despite what some so called fans on this site argue otherwise.
62 Posted 23/02/2013 at 00:09:14
63 Posted 23/02/2013 at 01:23:03
64 Posted 23/02/2013 at 05:12:13
Does tactically inept Davey Boy know any other way to play?
65 Posted 23/02/2013 at 05:28:58
People praying for Stones and Vellios to start need to go see these lads play before chastising Moyes. They're not ready. I'd much rather see McAleny and Barkley be the ones pushing for a start. Barkley in particular could be the man to drag our midfield outbid this slump.
You just know, however, that Moyes will never displace Osman. I'm an Ossie fan... but he's really dipped of late and I think a fresh face is needed.
I await the team sheet with baited breath...
66 Posted 23/02/2013 at 06:23:12
67 Posted 23/02/2013 at 07:40:56
How about:
Howard
Coleman Jagielka Duffy Baines
Mirallas Gibson Fellaini Oviedo
Barkley
Jelavic
Zero chance of that team I would say but would like to see what they could do.
68 Posted 23/02/2013 at 08:02:58
To start Oviedo, Vellios or even Barkley would be an admission finally that some of his favourites are not performing and god forgive he would want to upset those. He will persist right to the very end of his tenure as he knows his future is secure at a money club.
As mentioned, the next seven days are crucial to defining the season in most Evertonians minds and hopefully things will happen positively so that beating RS on May 4th will not be our only memorable moment of the season.
69 Posted 23/02/2013 at 09:56:22
70 Posted 23/02/2013 at 10:52:11
'of course it's KITAP1... Does tactically inept Davey Boy know any other way to play'?
Tom Bowers @456
'Everton have had more shots away from home than any other team in the top 5 European leagues apart from Manure'.
71 Posted 23/02/2013 at 11:12:46
72 Posted 23/02/2013 at 12:15:57
While KITAP1 'may' be a viable for 38 Prem games, boring but viable, it is shown up and shows up Moyes's record in must win games... aka he hasn't got one.
The more Moyes (and the team) are put under pressure to win, the more he reverts to type.
All our games from now until the end of the season are must win.
We need to be lucky
Well, ask yourselves, do you feel lucky?
73 Posted 23/02/2013 at 12:12:35
Neville Jagielka Distin Baines
Mirallas Osman Fellaini Gibson Piennar
Jelavic
I’d be surprised if the team was too much different to that. I think that's a fairly strong starting 11. In my opinion it’s all down to the mentality of the team that turns up. If they’re up for it, I think we’ll do it. It’s always tricky getting results away from home and Norwich tend to score goals (although I hear they’ve been having problems). My prediction: 3-2 to us.
COYB
74 Posted 23/02/2013 at 12:31:26
75 Posted 23/02/2013 at 12:34:57
76 Posted 23/02/2013 at 13:14:00
81 Posted 23/02/2013 at 13:20:29
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1 Posted 22/02/2013 at 00:41:26
Put the ball in the net gents.