Everton Vs Newcastle United |
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Date:
Saturday 7th May 2005
Kick Off: 3.00pm BST
Venue: Goodison Park
Ref: Barry Knight (Orpington)
Comp: Premiership |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
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By
Ally
The 3-1 win at Fulham on Wednesday finally gave us something to cheer
about as we head to our last away game of the 2004-2005 season. Good
news on the injury front gives renewed optimism going into this match,
but against an Everton side desperate for Champions League qualification
at the rather amusing expense of their rivals makes this game a tricky
one.
Bowyer returns from his suspension, but according to assistant manager
Alan Murray has a 'niggle' and might not play. With the season running
out of games, have we seen the last of Bowyer? Jenas and Babayaro
return to the squad after injury and the unexpected return of Bramble
mid-week gave the defence a boost. Shearer also returns after his
rest.
The return of the injured players (and Shearer) gives Souness a selection
dilemma as to whether to persevere with the youngsters who have impressed
many, or to return to the players that have let us down many times
this season. At left back, I expect Babayaro to return. This is very
harsh on Taylor, who although out of position again performed well
and is having a good debut season. Baa gives us left-footed balance,
but personally I'd rather see a player with hunger and desire playing
there (blimey, I'm sounding like Graeme Souness!).
In midfield, the trio of Milner, Ambrose and N'Zogbia did well again,
all contributing in the way of goals or assists. The crosses by Milner
and N'Zogbia against Fulham were excellent and they really don't deserve
to be dropped. Ambrose is scoring goals from midfield - something
our other midfielders have a tendency not to do. To recall Jenas at
the expense of one of these three would be extremely harsh. In recent
months JJ has been poor and I can't think of any reason, especially
in and end of season match, to recall him.
Up front, Kluivert and Ameobi did well on Wednesday, and like the
three midfielders they both made telling contributions. Shearer returns
though and I expect him to play this one, although who will partner
him (if anyone) is anyone's guess. Souness must have realised by now
that Shearer and Ameobi just don't work up front alongside each other,
and because of this I'd give Kluivert another chance. He's not impressed
me much this season, but he was good on Wednesday and even Alan Oliver
had praise for him! There is no harm in giving him another chance,
we all know about Shola after all.
To win this one, we need our wingers to get the ball into the box
once more. There is nothing to lose for us here, but Everton have
everything to lose. They'll probably be a bit nervous and we should
get at them. If our pacy players run at them it will worry them and
put them under pressure. At the other end, the return of the Boumsong-Bramble
partnership is good news and I hope it retains the level of quality
it had before Titus' injury. Everton are strong at set-pieces so we'll
have to be on guard.
Given |
Carr |
Boumsong |
Bramble |
Babayaro |
Milner |
Faye |
Ambrose |
N'Zogbia |
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Kluivert |
Shearer |
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Everton - Tim Cahill is their most effective player
and has done very well since his move from Milwall. He's actually
an injury doubt for this game, but if he plays he's an influence.
If he doesn't, expect them to play 4-5-1 with Bent upfront and Big
Dunc coming on later in the game.
Newcastle - James Milner could have a big say in
this game. Until recently he hadn't really impressed me, but he's
done well the last few games and has shown great skills on the wing.
His final ball is improving, and if we're to score goals we'll need
him to be on form.
| NUFC Squad News &
Pre-Match Reaction |
Assistant manager Alan Murray on the match:
"The team has been picking itself because
of the problems we've had in the last few weeks, so it is good to
welcome a few of the lads back.
"JJ and Celestine have both been training this week and will be in
the squad, and we're hopeful that Charles and Amdy will be able to
recover from a couple of knocks they got at Fulham.
"Lee Bowyer is also back from his ban though he has a slight niggle,
so I think it's fair to say the manager will have a few headaches
when it comes to picking his team.
"It's great that we've got a rested and refreshed Alan Shearer available
for selection. Patrick and Shola both played well and scored at Fulham
- so there's another headache for the manager.
"I think they are seasoned campaigners who have lots of experience.
The young lads have acquited themselves well over the last few games
so the manager has a few things to think about.
"The general conception is that the manager picks the team, but lots
of times the players pick the team. If they are playing well and contributing
to the performance, then the manager will be reluctant to leave them
out.
"I'm sure he (Souness) will look at what's available to him before
the game, but it's good that he has selection problems because over
the last few weeks that hasn't always been the case.
"David Moyes deserves a lot of credit, they have had some excellent
results over the season and they've been consistent. It will be a
tough game for us, we know that.
"Some of our performances have been a lot better than the results,
but we're in the results business. We're looking forward to finishing
the campaign with two good results, then look to next year and bring
some players in and sustain a challenge at the top of the table where
we should be.
"But the table doesn't lie after 38 games, I think you finish where
you deserve to finish.
"We're playing with confidence and we'll go to Everton on a high after
beating Fulham. We felt the performance against Fulham wasn't as good
as the ones against Manchester United, Palace or Norwich, but we didn't
win those matches.
"We're both going for three points. They want three points to get
fourth place, and we want to finish as high as we can. If we get two
good results in our last two games then things won't seem so gloomy."
United (from): Given, Harper, Carr, Babayaro, Taylor,
Boumsong, O'Brien, Bramble, Ramage, Faye, N'Zogbia, Milner, Ambrose,
Bowyer, Jenas, Robert, Shearer, Ameobi, Kluivert.
| Fulham Squad News &
Pre-Match Reaction |
'Keeper Nigel Martyn on the match:
"It's in our own hands, we have got three games left and the others
only two each.
"So it's fair to say that the lads will be putting in a big push to
finish the job as quickly as possible and that means with Saturday's
last home game with Newcastle."
Everton (from): Martyn, Hibbert, Weir, Yobo, Stubbs,
Watson, Pistone, Arteta, McFadden, Carsley, Cahill, Osman, Kilbane,
Ferguson, Bent, Beattie, Plessis, Wright.
This is a massive game for Everton, who need only 4 points from their
last 3 games to reach the Champions League qualifiers. It's their
last home game so they'll want to put on a show for the fans. United,
on the other hand, have nothing to play for and can only dream of
returning to the Champions League. It'll be an open game with goals,
but I just feel the occasion of it will spur Everton on to a 2-1 win. |
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