Season › 2012-13 › News Everton vs Fulham Lyndon Lloyd , 27 April, 26comments | Jump to most recent Match Preview With the every-game-is-a-cup-final mantra made virtually redundant following their abject showing at the Stadium of Light last weekend, Everton come into what is their penultimate home game of the 2012-13 season with much of the drama having been sucked out of what remains of their Premier League campaign. Quite rightly, David Moyes maintained in his pre-match press conference still has European qualification in its sights and that the Europa League was the most realistic target but privately the manager will know that the best he can hope for will likely be a sixth-place finish. The Blues sit six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and five behind Tottenham in fifth but have played a game less than both clubs as the two London outfit still have to meet in a fixture postponed because of Chelsea' involvement in the FA Cup a fortnight ago. Everton have 12 points to play for and still have to travel to Stamford Bridge on the final day but while Moyes would love to go into that game within reach of Rafael Benitez' side, it's going to take a significant improvement by his players and an unlikely collapse in form from their rivals for that to become a reality. Still, while the possibility remains, the Blues must push on and, given how much money is at stake for each position in the table, at least retain sixth place. Article continues below video content Though he has injury concerns over Darron Gibson and Phil Jagielka, Moyes should have a fairly strong squad from which to choose. He indicated that both players "have a chance" of being involved, though you would think that it would be prudent to allow Jagielka's ankle another week to heal after he re-opened the wound he sustained against Reading last month. Gibson has been battling a thigh issue for much of the season but has battled on since returning from a lengthy layoff in January and he could be risked. If not, Marouane Fellaini will likely continue in central midfield, probably alongside Kevin Mirallas, Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar, although the latter duo did not cover themselves in glory at all against Sunderland. Likewise Victor Anichebe up front who, since scoring the second goal against QPR two weeks ago, has marauded around up front with great industry but to almost no attacking effect and Moyes could opt to return Nikica Jelavic to the starting XI, if only because Anichebe has looked particularly jaded in the later stages of the last two games. Given Everton's remarkable home record against Fulham — they have a 100% record over the Cottagers in the Premier League — and the fact that Martin Jol's side failed to trouble either Arsenal or Chelsea when the Blues needed them to over the last 10 days, this should be a routine win for Moyes's boys. Things are rarely so cut-and-dried, though, and they will need to create enough chances in the final third to get the job done, something they singularly and infuriatingly failed to do last weekend. Defeat for Spurs at Wigan and any dropped points by Chelsea at home to Swansea would make the European qualification picture look a lot more interesting again but Everton have to hold up their end of the bargain, even if if feels a little late in the day. » Read more Reader Comments (26) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer James Flynn 1 Posted 27/04/2013 at 02:53:06 C'mon Gents. We can get to 68 points.Fuck Fulham.COYB! Tim Jones 2 Posted 27/04/2013 at 06:02:55 A 100% record against Fulham in the Prem and I presume without researching it that 100% means all wins . So we all know whats going to happen today don't we - it happens far too many times under Davey. Nick Entwistle 3 Posted 27/04/2013 at 07:15:18 Tim, does the fact every one of Fulham's losses in the PL at Goodison have come under David Moyes' time in charge, including his first ever game, make you think you're a slightly glass completely fucking dry kind of guy? Nick Oakley 4 Posted 27/04/2013 at 07:26:45 Please let's start Jelavic, and get him playing in the width of the penalty area, not running channels. I know it's against your policy Mr Moyes but Spring has finally sprung, the rat faced red is banned til kingdom come and you've booked your holiday caravanning around North Wales with Mrs M so all's well with the world - relax and let's score some goals. Oh, and by the way, the ink is running dry on your bic, get using it! Keith Edmunds 5 Posted 27/04/2013 at 08:50:54 I wish the preview hadn't used the word `draw'!! Tony Cheek 6 Posted 27/04/2013 at 08:48:45 Lets hope Wigan do a job today, and a barcodes win gives us an 8 point lead over the RS!Oh, by the way I have found a new striker for us next season. Furth are now getting relegated from the Bundesliga, they have a good striker, Name :Nikola Djurjic. Think this lad could help us next year!Have a look here:http://vglive.no/#frontpage=20130427&lv=clip-63752-vgtv Andy Meighan 7 Posted 27/04/2013 at 09:30:08 I'd be gutted if we didn't beat these today. Their away form is shocking and their record at Goodison Park is even worse. My only worry is we haven't created much in the last couple of games going forward and, to be honest, if Anichebe or Jelavic never kicked a ball again for us, I wouldn't be in the slightest bit bothered. As it is, we're stuck with the pair of cabbages... at least until the end of the season, so you know at least one of them will start today. So... er, that's a comfortable 4-0 win for us then. With Vic or Jela getting the match ball. [He says, tongue firmly in cheek.] Kevin Day 9 Posted 27/04/2013 at 09:57:04 If there was ever a game for Barkley to start then this it, in front if the fans too. Would love to see Oviedo today at some point, Pienaar should be given a chance to redeem himself, he's earned the right too overall. My team would be.... Howard (obviously) Baines distin Heitinga ColemanPienaar Fellaini Gibson Barkley Mirralis Jelavic Kevin Day 10 Posted 27/04/2013 at 10:07:26 Before I get abused for choosing Heitinga it's only cos jags is injured! Phil Sammon 11 Posted 27/04/2013 at 09:57:10 I really hope Jags is back. I like Heitinga - he's a good pro - but he has completely lost it. If we can get £3M for him in the summer then we should bite off some hands. Pienaar and Osman are painfully off form and have been for months. Barkley came in for Ossie and did a good job and I'd like to see him start in the middle today with Fellaini dropping deeper. Pienaar will continue despite his form as we don't have anyone better. I would like to see Oviedo come on there in the 2nd half though and add a bit of energy. Up front, we are completely stale. You can tell in the first 5 minutes whether Anichebe is up for it or not. I hope he is, because he's a waste of space when he's in his lethargic mood. Jelavic is 'having a Torres'. Every decent move ends with it bouncing off his shins and I honestly don't know what we can do with the guy. The only thing he hasn't tried is just loitering in the box. It's what much of the crowd say they want to see - but no doubt they would get on his back when it looks like he's being lazy. Many say Vellios deserves his chance - and they may be right. But he really hasn't been doing enough in the U21's. and does he really offer something different to Anichebe or Jelavic? I would like to see McAleny on the bench. He scores goals, has bags of skill and blistering acceleration. It would be nice to have an option on the bench that is completely different and may be able to change the game should we need a goal. Of course it won't happen - but I'll continue to dream until 2:15 Ernie Baywood 12 Posted 27/04/2013 at 10:31:58 HowardSeamus Duffy Distin BainesMirrallas Gibson Fellaini Oviedo...............Barkley..........................Jelly4 games to find out if Duffy and Oviedo can cut it. To get Barkley some real experience. And to see if there is anything of the old Jelly left in there once we stop playing up to Fellaini.And give Stones 30 minutes. I know I won't get all 5 on my wish list but 3 would be nice.Question for toffeeWebbers... would you accept the risk of finishing below Liverpool for the long term benefit of finding out about these fringe players? Brent Stephens 13 Posted 27/04/2013 at 10:40:53 Timpeter #063 - Predictable. Ernie Baywood 14 Posted 27/04/2013 at 10:53:14 Fulham are paying 6/1 Tim. Make yourself rich. Phil Sammon 15 Posted 27/04/2013 at 10:53:07 ErnieI agree with your sentiments, but I'd be cautious about playing so many youngsters all at once. I'd be very happy to see Barkley and Duffy start and see how we get on. Nick Entwistle 16 Posted 27/04/2013 at 11:01:39 If we lose this and the shite win, then next weekend they could be above us, so no fannying about with the second string players. But then again this is Moyes and it will not happen.Bar any injuries it will be the standard line-up with only the striker role up for grabs.I wanted to put a bet on for 5-0 with Ossie to score but couldn't figure how to make it a double... oh well. 1-0 it is. Jon Withey 17 Posted 27/04/2013 at 11:16:21 There's not time, amputate his leg ! Colin Glassar 18 Posted 27/04/2013 at 11:26:39 We always beat fulham at home so shouldn't be a problem. If we'd defended better at their place we'd be on 58 points and still in with a shout. But then you could say that about most of our drawn games which we threw away most of them. Nick Entwistle 19 Posted 27/04/2013 at 12:26:21 I don't buy the whole if we did better here, if we saw that game out there, if we didn't drop points etc etc, because then you'd have to say the same for the teams above us and Spurs and Arsenal had their shockers too.Also, if this is as 'routine' a fixture as it gets, and shouldn't be a problem, Colin... win, lose or draw, do we blame the players for not being up for it? Max Murphy 20 Posted 27/04/2013 at 12:17:50 I would really love Moyes to give a run-out to some of our untried players like Jelavic, Anichebe, Heitinga, Naismith and Osman. I'm sure Jelavic has goals in him, and then we can also watch the wonderfully creative and dynamic Steven Naismith. And there's Heitinga – the rock of our defence – who rarely puts a foot wrong.I would like to see Oviedo, Duffy, Vellios, Thomas Hitzlsperger & Barkley kept on the bench – they've had far too much playing time this season.I find it very sad that as the season draws to a close, the only things we have to shout about is if we finish above the RS. Well done Mr Moyes. Tim Jones 21 Posted 27/04/2013 at 12:47:07 Brent Stephens # 095 Nothing about the thread subject just stalking again - PREDICTABLE. Denis Richardson 22 Posted 27/04/2013 at 13:11:07 This is normally our one banker 3 pointer of the season and I expect nothing less. For some reason Fulham shit themselves at GP.Just hope Jelavic is played to try and let him get a goal and get some of his confidence back before the derby. Predict either 2-1 to us, can see Berbatov getting one. Denis Richardson 23 Posted 27/04/2013 at 13:16:24 or 3-1, (maybe the beers from last night are still talking........) Mike Green 24 Posted 27/04/2013 at 13:41:35 I think you could be right on that score line Denis #127 but something's gnawing away at me (Wha-hey! Ive been waiting all week to get that one in!) that we'll do something stupid which will lead to points being dropped. Lets hope not! COYB! James Morgan 25 Posted 27/04/2013 at 14:06:12 Fellaini in the middle today, I prefer him there. Ernie Baywood 26 Posted 27/04/2013 at 14:08:27 No Gibson. Jelly and Vic both play.Otherwise no surprises, which is a shame. Hopefully Ross gets 30. Frida Ericsson 27 Posted 27/04/2013 at 14:11:10 We should refuse to pay him anything, I mean seriously...11 years on and he has won nothing. He is already on a king's ransom for winning nothing and for me, his only ambition seems to be naming his favourite players week-in and week-out. He has earned a heck of a lot of money while being a manager of a football club doing absolutely nothing.We are well aware you are petrified of him going and us going down... but I wonder just how many knew a certain David Moyes before he arrived here? I am willing to bet very few, and I am willing to bet 100% that no-one would have thought he could have done a job here.To suggest there are no other managers capable of doing better is silly to the extreme. Then we hear who could do better, of which there have been many answers... but ultimately it's up to Fat Billy and his liars to find someone — not us, it's the role of chairman.I would take administration than put up with one more season with this manager, enough is enough, he has proven he is incapable of winning anything... always bends over to the old Sky 4 and we go into the derby knowing we'll come away battered by Gerrard.I am happy the season is done soon, but really he has to go at the end. 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