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Everton v Stoke City. 28th Dec at 1500.
- Thread starter chicoazul
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TheAlmightyFloater
Player Valuation: £30m
This Stoke team bummed Man City 2-0 a few weeks back, they won't be easy.
2-3 loss, I think.
2-3 loss, I think.
Ring master
Player Valuation: £90m
did look to be pointing at something when he came off sat,after he seemed to be wondering why he came off,maybe he picked up a little injury on sat that he thought he could run off,but martinez subbed to make sure
CahillsCornerFlag
Player Valuation: £70m
A tough game indeed, they're more than just the set piece warriors they once were unfortunately.
Feeling a score draw but I'd be pleasantly surprised by a rom and del wonder showing.
Feeling a score draw but I'd be pleasantly surprised by a rom and del wonder showing.
Feeling quite confident today. We know our weakness is defending balls into the box and looking at their forward line, we shouldn't have a problem with that today. Corners may still be an issue though with the 2 towers they have at the back. I think if we can keep their more lively players quiet we should get the 3 points. This is Everton though.
Vampire bat Cleverley a particular highlight.
Do these Everton!
Do these Everton!
Deggo
Player Valuation: £20m
You haven't worked with any of these stokies have you Chico? You let them right off the hook there mateNothing like it really. That moment where your joy ejaculates at a last gasp winner, especially after you’d reached the point of brooding over yet another missed opportunity. Then BAM, up steps Cleverley with a header that took about four minutes to drop. But drop it did into the Newcastle net.
Then Cleverley is off, tearing away down the touchline, like an excitable wee vampire bat high off the vein of last minute success.
The finest battle ever fought on Scottish soil since Bannockburn may be going over the top but it’s always good to beat them Geordie biffs, and even better in a cruel manner that deflated them mid song, thinking they’d took a decent point.
Pipe right down.
Last point, is there any need for all the hoo-har they have going on with in game memoriam? They’re worse than the kopites for look-at-us mawkish embrace.
Enough of them scruffs though as it’s time to look forward to, well, even more scruffs as Stoke come to town for quick fire festive period game.
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Stoke’s only consistency this season has been their inconsistency as highlighted by yet another good result on Boxing Day as they beat Chelsea, but then they’re just as likely to dip against someone crap the following week. Maybe even Everton.
They’re sat on 26 points which is the same as us so it will be no easy game but one that is essential to win for both points and needed momentum with the games ahead.
So that’s the size of it, what about Stoke, their fans and local culture?
Well I’m sorry to disappoint as I don’t mind them so they generally get a pass from me in these previews. Could you call Stoke a hub of high society and cutting edge urban technology? Of course you couldn’t, unless we were currently writing this in 1879 in which case it would be a few rungs higher up the ladder.
Are the inhabitants famed for their quick repartee and snappy fashion? Absolutely not, but here’s the rub - they’re not pretending to be either. And that’s what I like about Stoke - that Stoke is quite comfortable being Stoke. You certainly won’t find Stoke trying to sneer at “them scousers” or lording themselves over many others. That’s to be applauded in modern society where aspiration is out of touch with self perception.
It must be not too easy being Stoke as there’s no real stand out features, maybe apart from “being near Alton Towers”. There’s lush Staffordshire countryside for sure but it reeks of cow pat for most of the year and that smell seemingly ingrains itself in the clothes of Stoke residents when their washing is hanging on the line.
There’s no seaside to stare out into wistfully and dream, no beaches to rag a stolen Ford Mondeo on. No tasteful city centre with beautiful architecture and historical areas of importance or gravita.
You’re somewhere before Birmingham, you know, by Alton Towers. Fighting for attention against other sign posts on the M6 such as Keele, Hanchurch and Stafford as you’re heading down the M6 going somewhere always other than Stoke.
They did however make ceramics at one point rather well, so that counts for something, if you’re on a massive comedown and watching The Antique’s Roadshow perhaps.
So that’s why I’m not going to mock Stoke as they’re alright by me. Long may they poke the eye of the mighty who seek to look down their nose at them and I’m pleased they’re an established club in this Premier League thing.
Since bingo headed manager Mark Hughes came in they’ve been going through somewhat of a rebrand to move away from their previous strong arm and direct tactics, towards something a bit more pleasant on the eye. Signing Bojan last season was an indication of that and they’re gone a few steps further since then with the result being they have a genuinely well rounded game equipped to deal with many in England’s top league.
Diouf should start on his own up front and and is a big energetic and effective presence, he will keep Stones and Funes Mori occupied while a skillful three behind them try and do some damage. There’s probably going to be some rotation in their team (as like us they have a league cup semi fixture crush coming up) so it’s hard tp predict who will start but the likes of Shaqiri, Bojan and Afellay could be involved
Same for the midfield two who will be competitive, it could be two out of Whelan, Van Ginkel, Cameron or that old fat scruffy smack teethed yard dog Charlie Adam.
Wollscheid and Shawcross are a really good central two who won’t be phased by the physical element of Lukaku’s play nor our piss poor set pieces. There’ll be two athletic type full backs and Jack Butland in goal, who seems a really good young keeper. Just what we need.
This won’t be an easy one as Stoke as set up perfectly to sit deep and counter with pace while taking opportunities through power on set pieces. So basically an ideal kryptonite for Everton.
But beat them we must.
Lukaku’s goal scoring run came to an end but he didn’t look arsed as he tried to bum the back of his team mates head’s in the celebrations.
It’s who to play around Lukaku that is the throbbing question at the moment and it was nice to see Martinez try a few different options with both Lennon and Mirallas coming, and both doing pretty well. He may be inclined to keep them but with with a run of 7 games in 22 days we are likely to see chances to impress for a few. Let’s hope they take them.
There was some murmurs of discontent over Barkley being subbed and it did look a weird one but hopefully that fires him up for the games ahead. Good to see Besic back who was quietly efficient, I think that’s his thing.
Barry has been really good this season taking the piss out of those who wrote him off as finished or saying his legs were gone. We’re a bit too keen to write things off prematurely at Everton from time to time, and Barry’s importance to the team is going to be difficult to replace when his legs do eventually fall off. Well done Tom Cleverley for really good goal and another effective performance in the middle of the park. It’s nice to know we have a few options there even if James McCarthy will be pushed back in as soon as he’s fit again. Cleverley should continue to grow on Evertonians as he has a lot of values to this game that we particularly are in tune with amongst our midfielders.
Stone sand Funes Mori were important in helping to keep a clean sheet, as likewise was Tim Howard and Newcastle’s forwards pissing some decent chances. It matters not. We need to get better at keeping clean sheets if we are to convert more games into wins, as we’re adept at scoring goals for sure. Helping all these processes are Coleman and Baines at full back which is a blessing for Everton and long may it continue.
So that’s it really, not much more to be said other than I have little confidence in us being able to shift together a winning run with January looming but it would be unexpected and pleasant if we could chat again in one month’s time and be excited about Everton and the direction we’re heading in.
This is the final fixture of the 2015 year and it’s been a weird one and frustrating at times but in amongst all that there is a decent Everton team trying to break out.
Here’s to the breaking out.
Absolute trolls who think stoke is great and eat nothing but oat cakes
If only the Luftwaffe had bothered..........
summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
From the OS.
Stoke City (H)
Goodison Park To Remember
@Everton28 December 2015 11:46
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Goodison Park will pay tribute to Evertonians who have passed away in 2015 before kick-off against Stoke City.
Ahead of the first whistle of the Blues' home game against the Potters, the crowd have been invited to take part in special memorial activities.
During a minute’s applause, supporters in the Park End will display a fan mosaic by turning over the blue cards left on their seats to spell out 'EFC'.
At the same time, a giant flag reading ‘Goodison Park Remembers’ will pass across the Lower Gwladys Street by fans.
The Club have mourned the deaths of Howard Kendall, Sir Philip Carter, Andy King, Tony McNamara and Kenny Birch, among others this calendar year.
In addition, hundreds of Evertonians have submitted the details of loved ones who lost their lives in the last 12 months and their names will be listed on the stadium's two giant screensduring the tribute.
Hope Deulofeu has a similar game against them as his first season, he had a goal and assist and it was a lovely 4-0 rout, would be wonderful to do that again.
But regardless of how we do it, just please win Everton.
But regardless of how we do it, just please win Everton.
We had a few in preseason iirc, must have used up our meagre allocation then!
Minimeister
Player Valuation: £35m
Come on Everton, these are tall.
Corners today though.....
Another clean sheet would be nice. And a hat trick for Rom would be the icing on the cake. 1-0 the Blues though.
we haven't had an offensive (s)explosion in a while, so here's to hoping.
afraid of another nailbiter, though.
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