Fan Comment Match Preview: Norwich City v Everton Patrick Gillen 10/12/2015 18comments | Jump to last So, Norwich away. I'm not going to this one as I didn't fancy a long trip to East Anglia for a stupid o'clock kick off, so I will be off to my Dad's house with a few fellow blues huddled around the TV with some beers and Michael Owen's commentary for company (I know, but he's growing on me). After a frustrating couple of results in the Premier League, I'm sure Martinez and the players will be desperate to get back to winning ways against 16th place Norwich City. In spite of the frustration though, we have been playing some really good football and I think the general consensus is that there is a really good side here with bags of potential. The only issue is can this exciting young team become a winning team before our star players, namely John Stones and Romelu Lukaku, move on? ADVERTISEMENT About these ads What comes to mind when you think of Norwich? Instantly I can't help but think of Alan 'smell my cheese' Partridge, his 'LIQUID FOOTBALL' commentary and his choice of favourite Beatles album. But a few footballing memories of Everton at Carrow Road do spring to mind: The 04/05 season when we finished fourth. It was early(ish) in the season I think, and new signing Tim Cahill was fast becoming my favourite player. His reverse pass laid on an opener for Kevin Kilbane, before Marcus Bent raced through to slide us 2-0 in front. With it being Everton, we had to win it the hard way and Norwich came back into the game, making it 2-2 shortly after half time. Steve Watson's late cross was headed in superbly at the back post by the aging Everton hero Big Dunc and we left we all three points in a thrilling victory. *** David Moyes' last season in charge saw us pushing up the table and we went 1-0 ahead through a Leon Osman header. Living in London at the time, I was following the game on my phone and, travelling back home my phone died with ten minutes remaining. By the time I got home, I flicked on final score and, to my horror, we had lost 2-1; I couldn't believe it. Goals coming through a Kei Kamara header and a last minute Grant Holt winner. I avoided Match of the Day that night. *** Roberto Martinez's first game in charge. I remember this mainly due to a great performance from Ross Barkley, who scored his first Everton goal in emphatic fashion, shifting the ball onto his 'weaker' left foot and rocketing a strike beyond John Ruddy to equalise from 25 yards. Seamus Coleman then scored his first of seven goals that season and it looked like Martinez was starting off with a win. Alas, the £8.5million Ricky Van Wolfswinkel headed home his only goal for the club and denied Everton the three points. *** How do Norwich shape up now? Former Everton goalkeeper John Ruddy has been dropped, so drop the 'y' and expect Declan Rudd to start in goal. Centre backs Bennett and Bassong were exposed time and time again by Ighalo and Deeney in a 2-0 defeat at Watford last weekend, so Lukaku may get some joy here. Liverpool loanee Andre Wisdom and Martin Olsson are the full backs. In midfield, the speedy Redmond and Ireland international Robbie Brady provide pace and width, and expect the midfield to be packed with Dorrans, Tettey and Howson or Hoolahan, with just one up front – probably Lewis Grabban or Cameron Jerome. Nothing too much to worry about on paper, although football is played on grass and they did play well against us earlier on in the season in the League Cup, where we had to win it on penalties. They have also had good results in their last two home games, beating Swansea 1-0 and drawing with Arsenal 1-1, a game they could have even won. With tough fixtures away at Man Utd and Spurs to follow, Norwich will be well up for this, so Everton will have to be at their best. *** Enough about Norwich, how will Everton line up? In goal, number 24 Tim Howard, who is not exactly a fans favourite at the moment and hasn't been since a drop in standards following the 2014 World Cup finals. He did, however, make three good saves against Crystal Palace and so deserves some credit. The back four will be Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori and either Galloway or Leighton Baines, who Martinez has said is "very, very close" to being ready to complete 90 minutes. How the midfield will shape up depends on the fitness of James McCarthy, who is said to be having a late fitness test. But Martinez is being a bit quiet with this one, which is not always a great sign, so I expect him to miss out. If he misses out then Cleverley should continue next to Barry in the middle and Kone will probably start on the left hand side, linking with Lukaku upfront. Although listening to the Radio Merseyside phone-in the other night, it sounds like a lot of people want to see Kevin Mirallas be given a start, which I tend to agree with. I understand that Martinez may not want to risk Mirallas and Deulofeu in the same line up but I say why not? It would show great attacking intent. But if not, at least use him off the bench please, he is too good to be completely left out. The frustrated Naismith may play some part against the side that tried to sign him for £8million in the summer, after paper talk this week suggests he wants to leave. 'Diamond' Ross Barkley and the 'magic' Gerard Deulofeu will occupy the other attacking positions, giving Norwich manager Alex Neil something to think about. *** This one won't be easy, it seldom is with Everton, but come on Blues, it's time now to turn potential into results. Prediction: Norwich City 1-2 Everton Share this article Follow @PatrickGillen94 Reader Comments (18) 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 Eddie Dunn 1 Posted 11/12/2015 at 09:16:45 It may be before your time, Patrick, but we wrapped-up the League Championship there in 1987, so I have fond memories of the place.I just saw that Lawro has us down to lose (no surprise there!), and the equally odious Mumford & Sons have us down to win 0-2. They can't be all bad then... Terence Leong 2 Posted 11/12/2015 at 10:01:55 I will give Naismith a runout, alongside Barkley and Deulofeu. I think in recent games, both Barkley and Deulofeu have been more fluid i.e. they don't just stick to their positions and move about. And I think that comes from confidence and understanding. So, I think that Naismith deserves a runout where can possibly be behind Rom (or interchange with the other duo).Naismith can do the 2nd striker role; I just think that when he was played there, it was with Kone; and whenever he was played with Rom, he was out wide.Mirallas and Lennon to come on in the 2nd half (to give them at least 30 mins).Rom can go off, get a breather; Barkley can do with one too.That can leave Naismith up front, supported by Mirallas and Lennon and Deulofeu right him. Duncan McDine 3 Posted 11/12/2015 at 10:27:43 I very much doubt we'll see any change in the lineup, unless he feels Macca is fit enough to get back in ahead of Cleverly. Will he start Bainsey though?... would be tough on Galloway.I'd possibly like to see either Mirallas or Naisy to replace Kone, as I think his contribution has been less impressive lately. Don't think Roberto would agree though! Graham Mockford 4 Posted 11/12/2015 at 11:06:36 I remember going away to Norwich the year we won the League in 84/5.As with most away games that season I got the coach from outside the Supporters Club on City Road. We were on a really good run and if memory serves we were top of the League, so spirits were high.In the end we got a 4-2 spanking including a collector's item of Big Nev letting a pea roller through his legs. To make matters worse because of the seperation between the fans I watched most of the game through a huge fishing net.It was a long trip home. Jim Bennings 5 Posted 11/12/2015 at 12:43:11 Tomorrow's clash at Carrow Road is very very winnable but has all the ready made hallmarks of the kind of match in which we always seem to struggle in for some weird reason. On paper, of course we have the better team, but it rarely ever works like that with Everton as we know. We should beat Norwich if we play as we did on Monday night, but it's a big IF, and you also have to question if we can defend crossed balls, setpieces any better than we have all season, again the evidence proves we rarely learn our lessons from previous week's so it's going to prove a difficult afternoon. We could quite easily win convincingly but we could also easily throw away a good performance with two stupid headers from close range conceded again, neither would surprise me.Whatever happens I.just hope it's not yet another frustrating draw again, too many already. Simon Hermansen 6 Posted 11/12/2015 at 12:43:44 I'd bring in Baines and Mirallas for Kone and Galloway. They have linked up well in the past and will make us more balanced again (everything went to Geri on Monday and I think this might have overwhelmed him a bit judging by the general poor quality of his delivery ... for a change).Both will be hungry to play and bringing them in together may mean we get more than the sum of the parts etc. Finally, anyone that's watched us recently (assuming Norwich will have) will assume its all gonna come down the right and this will bring something unexpected. James Stewart 7 Posted 11/12/2015 at 13:09:06 @6 Completely agree with you but no chance of it happening. Jon Cox 8 Posted 11/12/2015 at 14:02:20 "I'd bring in Baines and Mirallas for Kone and Galloway."I'm with Simon on that one.We need a Baines - Mirallas partnership to develop so we have an equal attacking threat on the left. Also Mirallas is about the only guy after Lukaku who can shoot from outside the box.I'd also try Cleverley out so as to give some rest to JM. Cleverley is the better attacker and his link up with Deulofeu and Seamus on the right could be used also on the left with Baines and Mirallas.We've not really seen this tactic since the Pienaar, Baines and Arteta axis. In those days, we were feared because of this, so it's about time RM swatted up on recent Everton history and tried out this simple but effective formation using Cleverley as the fluid fulcrum.Tomorrow is all about three points. Bollox to any woodwork and bollox to how beautiful or intricate football we play.I don't care if it's a boring 1-0 smash and grab. Just come home with the points!COYB Andrew Presly 11 Posted 11/12/2015 at 21:57:15 I remember this fixture mainly for the Mike Walker return and the predictable MNF battering that ensued. 3-0 if I recall. Grim.There was the 1-5 at HQ a year or two earlier too, Efan Ekouku scoring 4. Dear God.So in conclusion, much like Alan Partridge realising he dislikes the general public, I think I hate Norwich. Armando Canaj 12 Posted 11/12/2015 at 23:13:31 I've always wanted to go to Norwich for some time and am travelling down tomorrow. I'm taking my 72-year-old dad who's never been to a footy match, not even a Sunday match in the park. So for that alone I quite excited.As regards the match, I'm hoping Kone is given a rest making the changes of Baines for Galloway, Mirallas for Kone, Cleverley for injured McCarthy with Naisy to come on in second. Self-confidence is wonderful but not when it turns in showboating and distracts you from your core job... Keep learning, Stones. Stay strong, Funes Mori.0-3... COME ON YOU BLUES... Ste Traverse 13 Posted 11/12/2015 at 23:40:03 Andrew Presly #11.Those two 0-3 and 1-5 thrashings off Norwich were in the same season, the utterly depressing 93-94 season.And that 1-5 reverse was a week after a comfortable Goodison derby win over the RedShite. Paul Kelly 14 Posted 11/12/2015 at 23:41:01 Same here Andrew, the Mike Walker return... I made that trek with two mates. Grim journey, grim result, made worse by the fact I puked all over the coach toilet after one to many Kestrel Supers, or was it Tenants? Probably both. Mark Andersson 15 Posted 11/12/2015 at 23:58:48 I will go for a good win with a nervy last 10 minutes. I don't care what team Roberto picks, as long as they go out with a desire to win and concentrate until the final whistle. Hope our traveling fans are in good voice and have something to cheer about on the way home. Andrew Presly 16 Posted 11/12/2015 at 00:02:46 Ste & Paul - to think we have someone like Lukaku up top now when in those days it was a willing but limited Rideout with the odd Cottee on the wane cameo. The Angell of death waiting in the wings too! I wondered why we never tried to get Wright, Ferdinand or anyone of that "ilk" but our failure to do it did write off the early part of that decade. A pity.If that Derby win was the Ward & TC 2-0 with Grob & McManaman slapping each other (my first live Derby....magical) that makes it all the worse to follow it up with that ungodly 1-5. Jesus.To think we won the cup within a few years of this. Shows anything can happen. It's high time we did it again. Michael Williams 17 Posted 11/12/2015 at 00:03:19 I'd like to see Baines too but he barely looked up to playing the 30 minutes he was in for last week. Baines and Mirallas as second half subs might be good - depending how the game progresses.Let's just get three points. I don't care how they look. Style points don't transfer to the table. Andrew Presly 18 Posted 12/12/2015 at 00:50:17 Hope you and your Dad have a great time Armando. We should win this one but as you know, it's Everton! Nick Jones 19 Posted 12/12/2015 at 01:12:56 Patrick, great write up – I enjoyed reading that as much as I enjoy Ken 'Essential Reading' Buckley's From My Seat. Andy McNabb 20 Posted 12/12/2015 at 03:27:56 Thanks for that, Patrick. Enjoyed reading that write up and the intro to the Norwich team, who I must admit haven't figured much on my radar.Let's hope the early match is worth staying up for over here in Oz.Is it my imagination or has Kone gone off the boil? Personally would start Naismith in there instead and when he fades, bring Mirallas on for last 60. He is the most self-centred player I have seen at Everton for some time but agree with another comment he is too good to just languish on the bench. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads Find out how to browse ad-free and support ToffeeWeb © ToffeeWeb