Friday, January 30, 2009

Everton visits Old Trafford

After the heart-breaking conclusion against Arsenal, David Moyes leads the Toffees to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. With Man Utd, stomping forward and looking very much in control of the trophy race, Everton has quietly crept to sixth in the table.

With a wishful eye towards a Europa bid, the Toffees need to continue to squeeze up points in the most difficult of conditions. Enter Old Trafford because if you're looking for "difficult", it might be the definition of it for their opposition as they have yet to lose once in their home and fell to a draw once. Hence, Old Trafford is "difficult."

Sir Alex Ferguson's highly complimentary words of our David Moyes in Inside United magazine as he singled him out for his work with limited resources will be tested again as Everton, already weighed down with injuries might without both Timmy Cahill and Marouane Fellaini for the match. Both will have late match fitness tests to decide if they can go.

David Moyes said of the concern:

"He’s (Cahill) a doubt for tomorrow - I won’t take any risks with him.

"He’s been for an x-ray and his foot is badly bruised so we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see if he’s okay.

"But Fellaini is a doubt as well. He’s had a stud through his shin so we are going to have to assess him tomorrow.

"The sign of a good player is if they can perform in the big games. Tim Cahill performs in the big games. He scores important goals and that’s why he’s important to us.

"Defenders do cope but the timing in the box is instinct and there’s no point in me going out there and teaching him what run to make."

Obviously these issues will have a "major" impact on the lineup and the youth core of Jack Rodwell, Dan Gosling, Lukas Jutkiewicz could be deputized in the most difficult of matches. However, I am confident they will provide tremendous service as always because This is Everton.