Wednesday, 4 December 2013

The FourFourTwo Preview: Man United vs Everton

The FourFourTwo Preview: Man United vs Everton

The FourFourTwo Preview: Man United vs Everton

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 08:03 AM PST

Billed as "You are cordially invited to Moysie and Marouane's new digs. Bring your own wine." The lowdown There are unbeaten runs and there are unbeaten runs. Manchester United's now stretches to 12 matches, their last defeat coming at home to West Bromwich Albion in September, but that includes five draws, some against very beatable teams in Real Sociedad and Cardiff. Sunday's draw against Spurs represented a good point in that the visitors twice came from behind, but it seemed like a game Sir Alex Ferguson would perhaps have attacked with more gusto, certainly in the closing stages. David Moyes seemed happier with a single point than Andre Villas-Boas. The 1-0 win over Arsenal was supposed to mark the beginning of Moyes' Manchester United, but it's been followed in the league by two 2-2 draws, two too many for a team targeting the tootle – sorry, title. Everton can relate: last weekend's 4-0 marmalising of Stoke followed three consecutive draws. Against the Potters, though, they displayed a ruthlessness not always associated with either Everton or Roberto Martinez, something they'll need to bring to this game. Romelu Lukaku can't stop scoring (making him the polar opposite of Nikica Jelavic) and 19-year-old Gerard Deulofeu showed on his first Premier League start why he won Player of the Year for the Spanish second division last season. These are exciting times for the Toffees. However, if they're going to turn Martinez's belief that they can reach the Champions League into a reality, they can't fear the champions. Instead, they must show Moyes that they can succeed without him. Team news For the visitors, Bryan Oviedo will continue to deputise for Leighton Baines at left-back, while Arouna Kone and Darron-ron-ron Gibson are long-term absentees (or absent-KNEES, right? Yes? Never mind). Manchester United should welcome back Robin van Persie from a groin injury, though it's touch-and-go, and are without central midfielders Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher. It'll be interesting to see if Marouane Fellaini starts. Nobody knows the Belgian's strengths better than his former Everton team-mates – and the same goes for his weaknesses, especially in his mentality. Discretion may be the better part for Moyes in his team selection. Key battle: Wayne Rooney vs Phil Jagielka Actually, this could easily be Rooney vs Sylvain Distin too. Both the latter and Jagielka have been integral to the Toffees' excellent backline that has conceded fewer goals than 15 other sides this season - including five fewer than United. They both feature in the Premier League's top five clearance makers - Jagielka third (126) and Distin fifth (120) respectively - but on Wednesday night they're up against the in-form Rooney. In Van Persie's absence it was the former Toffee who stood up to be counted at Tottenham on Sunday with both United goals in the 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane. But it's not just his net-ripplers (eight of them) causing problems - with five assists he's the Premier League's joint-second highest goal maker. All in all he's doing rather well this campaign. You could even say it's the kind of form Garth Crooks would raise a glass of champagne to. The managers Moyes appears to be settling into the Manchester United manager's chair, even forming his own bum groove after 27 years of work from the previous occupant. Beating his old team wouldn't bring him any great joy, you'd expect, but he knows a win is vital to his ambitions of winning the tootle (title, damn it). Martinez is getting the best out of players, being patient with Deulofeu, trusting Ross Barkley, as Everton play nice football with an end product, all in a rather smashing kit. There is a suspicion of short-termism, however. Lukaku and Deulofeu, the star turns in their last two games, are both on loan, as is Gareth Barry. But of course, if Everton qualify for the Champions League they can buy who they like next season. Facts and figures Everton have won none of their last 20 Premier League games at Old Trafford (W0 D4 L16). More facts at FFT's Man United vs Everton Stats Zone page Tips and trends This will be the first time David Moyes takes on his former team, with Everton currently above United in the table. Manchester United have led at half time in seven of their last 10 home games against top-half teams. United's record without Robin van Persie is W2 D2 L3 since the start of last season and they've failed to win any of the four games he's missed this term. Everton have won just one of their last 10 road games at top-six sides, conceding first in three of their last four trips. Everton have lost fewer games than any other team this season (1) but no side has drawn more matches (6). Find the best odds with Bet Butler FourFourTwo prediction A lively score draw, with Lukaku and Rooney on the scoresheet. Man United vs Everton LIVE ANALYSIS with Stats Zone

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Van Persie set to feature against Everton

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 06:44 AM PST

The Netherlands international, who has been struggling with groin and toe injuries, has been absent since notching the winner against former club Arsenal in a 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford on November 10. Van Persie - who has seven Premier League goals to his name this season - travelled with the squad for their 2-2 draw at Tottenham on Sunday but was deemed not fit enough to join the matchday squad. But, speaking ahead of the home match against his former side, Moyes confirmed the 30-year-old could return to the fold. "Robin is okay," he said. "He has a chance of playing." The fixture with Everton marks the first time Moyes will take charge of United against the club where he enjoyed an 11-year spell as manager. And the Scot admitted he is not sure what sort of reception he will receive from the travelling support, while also praising the job done at Goodison Park by successor Roberto Martinez. He added: "I had a great time at Everton, they were fabulous to me. Overall we had a (good) level of consistency. "I think it will be a mixed reception tomorrow night. The Everton fans understand their football and I think they'll understand I brought in a lot of good players there. "He (Martinez) is doing a very good job. He has very good players there. I always told them they could play without a manager because they are very well organised. But Roberto is doing a really good job keeping it going." Unitedhave recorded 2-2 draws in their last two Premier League matches at Cardiff City and Tottenham, and are on a seven-match unbeaten run in the top flight. And Moyes is keen for the reigning champions to build on that consistency. "The job is to keep it going, keep winning and keep on a good run of form," he commented. "We've done that but as I've repeated myself many times we let in a late goal at Cardiff which turned what would have been a really good week into one that wasn't quite as good as we would have liked."

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Neville expects Fellaini to thrive at Man United

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 05:55 AM PST

The Belgium international midfielder has struggled to recreate the form he showed at Goodison Park in his five seasons with Everton since he followed David Moyes to United, whereFellaini is awaiting his first goal for the club. Neville, though, is not concerned about the 26-year-old's form and believes he will only get better for United as the duo, along with manager Moyes, prepare to welcome their former club Everton to Old Trafford on Wednesday. "We are really relaxed and we are really patient with Felli (Fellaini) because you have seen it with players in the past like Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic. It took them six months to settle in here," he told the Manchester Evening News. "It is not just the games on a Saturday or midweek, it is the intensity of the training, the size of the club and the expectation from the fans. "All the other things like that that go with playing for Man United, it takes time to get used to. As the games keep going on, he will just get better and better." And former Everton captain Neville thinks Fellaini's confidence will begin to grow when he produces match-winning performances for the team. "What is important for Marouane now is to play well in a match that we win and he scores a goal," he added. "He needs to score and win. That is the next step for him. "The United fans haven't seen the best of Marouane Fellaini."

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The FourFourTwo Preview: Man United vs Everton

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:05 AM PST

Moyes took over from Alex Ferguson in July after an 11-year stint at Everton, during which he established the Merseysiders as a top-half Premier League club. The Scot endured a tough start to life at United, winning just three of his first eight Premier League matches in charge. But a 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions, which has stretched more than two months, has eased the pressure on Moyes, who has seen his side rise to eighth in the table. Any finish outside the top four would be unacceptable for reigning champions United, but they are now just three points off local rivals Manchester City, who sit third. They came from behind twice to claim a 2-2 draw at Tottenham on Sunday, with striker Wayne Rooney scoring both of United's goals. Rooney has netted 10 times in 16 appearances for his club this season and is in excellent form - something that will delight Moyes given the absence of Robin van Persie, who is battling toe and groin injuries. Moyes is expecting a win against Everton and knows they need to act quickly to keep the pace with Premier League leaders Arsenal, who lead United by nine points. "We have to win all of our games. I'm concerned we're not as close as we'd like to be (to Arsenal) but it's a long season and hopefully we'll be there or thereabouts," he told MUTV. "There are a lot of games to go. I think the Premier League is tight and we'll try to stay on the shirt-tails and put ourselves in a good position at the start of next year." Midfielder Michael Carrick (calf) is sidelined for United, while Everton will be without Leighton Baines (toe), Arouna Kone and Darron Gibson (both knee). The absence of Baines - a close-season transfer target of United - will be a blow, but Everton are in good form and sit fifth on the back of a six-match unbeaten streak. They thrashed Stoke City 4-0 on Saturday and goalkeeper Tim Howard has kept four clean sheets in his last five matches. Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku has scored eight in his 10 appearances since arriving at Goodison Park, and his season-long signing has been hugely important for Roberto Martinez's side. Everton have a decent record against United in recent years, having won two of the last seven meetings and drawing another two. United have not lost at home to Everton in their last 20 top-flight meetings, though, and won the corresponding fixture 2-0 last season thanks to goals from Ryan Giggs and Van Persie.

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