Scouting the Doubles – Everton
David Moyes must be wishing the season was just getting underway. Decimated by injuries earlier this term, Everton are now approaching something close to their gaffer’s first choice XI, following the return of key players such as Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka from long term lay-offs. As we reach the end of our comprehensive guide to double gameweek 31, here’s a rundown of the men from Goodison…
Opponents
First up for Everton is a home tie with Bolton. Owen Coyle has lifted the Trotters eight points clear of the drop zone, but like many of the teams in the bottom half of the table, there is some disparity in their home and away statistics. Bolton may well have four clean sheets in a row at home, but the match is at Goodison, and their form on the road is not particularly heartening. They have failed to score in five of their last six away from home, picking up just one clean sheet in the process.
Everton then travel to Man City, a team unbeaten in their last five league games, with Adam Johnson saving their skins in injury time last Sunday at Sunderland. Under Roberto Mancini, City’s home stats read: P5 W4 D1 LO F10 A1. They have failed to score just once, and picked up four clean sheets in those games.
Current Form
Moyes’ team have been beaten just twice in their last 15 league games, in tough away fixtures at Liverpool and Spurs. Along with Man United and Liverpool, the Toffees are the only side to have won their last six consecutive home games. They have picked up three clean sheets during that period, and have scored at least two goals per game.
Their last six on the road have seen one victory and the two above-mentioned defeats, where, both times, they were beaten by the odd goal in three. Everton have failed to score just once and managed to pick up a clean sheet just once in those six games, scoring two goals twice, and a single goal three times.
Rotation Risk
With Moyes spoilt for choice, Everton’s starting eleven has been unpredictable of late. Midfield, in particular, has been a proverbial minefield. Fellaini’s injury has seen Hetinga move out of defence to defensive midfield, and despite Jagielka’s return, Distin seems nailed-on for starts.
Jack Rodwell impressed when played further forward recently, but the return of Tim Cahill has seen him benched again. Leon Osman is back in this weekend’s squad, having also been out through injury. Bilyaletdinov has featured in just two of the last eight games. Landon Donovan’s return to the MLS has seen Victor Anichebe come out of the cold, and although Louis Saha’s recent injury has given Yakubu more game time, the Frenchman is now fit for the weekend match with Bolton.
In summary? It’s wiser to avoid Everton if you’re looking for “differentials”, with few outside the defence and keeper definite starters.
Potential Targets
Leighton Baines
The left back leads Everton’s assists chart with six so far. Arteta’s return may take away some of his set pieces, but Baines’ forages forward time and again in the recent demolition of Hull suggests there should be more on the way.
Predicted Return: 1 clean sheet
Mikel Arteta
Now pretty much fully fit, his performances have been sublime of late. The last four games -his only full league games of the season- have seen him pick up two goals, two assists and six bonus points, as the Spaniard showed just what Everton have been missing this term.
Predicted Return: 1 goal, 2 assists, 1 clean sheet, 3 Bonus Points
Steven Pienaar
Four assists all season, but more significantly, three have came in the last four games, suggesting the return of Arteta brings an extra dimension to Pienaar’s game. The club’s leading Bonus Point scorer, you would reckon that Arteta may take his share of the spoils, but two bonus points in the Hull game suggest the Spaniard’s effect on Pienaar’s performances may only enhance his chances of impressing the judges.
Predicted Return: 1 assist, 1 clean sheet, 2 Bonus Points.
Tim Cahill
Always liable to grab a goal, and whilst there were fears of his fitness following Cahill’s withdrawal against Birmingham last week after 75 minutes, his inclusion in this weekend’s squad has proved it to be purely a precaution. Playing just behind Saha, supplied by a midfield in fantastic form, he must be amongst the favourites to bag a goal this coming gameweek.
Predicted Return: 1 goal, 1 Bonus Point.
Louis Saha/Yakubu
With two goals and an assist in his last three games, Yakubu showed he is just as effective in the lone striker role as Saha, but the Frenchman, with 13 league goals so far, is Moyes’ first-choice forward. Everton might not have so much luck away to Man City, so whoever Moyes gives the nod to for the Bolton game is the one most likely to find the net. This element of doubt may well deter fantasy investment.
Predicted Return: 1 goal.
Previous “Scouting The Doubles”
Aston Villa
Sunderland
Man City
Wolves
Birmingham
Portsmouth
Blackburn Rovers
Chelsea
West Ham
About the Author
Sir Paulos is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season.
sorry to come on here like this, but I’ve got a bench of Diaby/Distin/Olsson (all who I want to play). Does it seem right?
Hart
Ivan Collins Warnock
Fabs Lamps Milner Pienaar
Drogs Bendtner Rooney
That’s a great starting XI right there pal
Denil, I would play Disitin for 1 of the Villa 2.
Oh bugger – I was worried someone would say that! I bought in extra Villa defender this week. It’s so tempting to risk dropping Rooney…
IF Rooney scores I reckon he’ll only get 1
Do that then, Distin for Rooney !
I haven’t got the balls to do that! Everyone else will play Rooney and if he gets a brace + BP’s, I’ll be screwed.
you need some big hairy cahoonas
Rooney’s not even in my team
yeah cmonnnn show us some ballls!!!!
It’s way too early for me showing my balls. Haven’t even had breakfast yet.
HAve we all the got the same teams bar 1 or 2 players ?!?!?!!!
Pretty much
Probably yeah! It’s one of those weeks where teams are divided on whether they have Arteta or Pienaar for example.
Case In point
From JOMT’s post I would say come end of the week Both of us would have had the same starting 8
Only Differences He has Pienaar while I go with Arteta
He has Dunne+Distin while I go Baines+Warnock[which isn't radically different]
^This.
Been wondering the same
Who do i field out of Dann/N’zog/Olsson/Lee? Team is:
Hart (Sorensen)
Dunne/Evra/Collins (Dann/Olsson)
Fab/Lamps/Milner (N’zog/Lee)
Rooney/Bendner/Drog(c)
Not tempted to play Olsson and Dann instead of Evra? I think Utd will concede.
I have been thinking that, even contemplating benching Rooney dare i say it! But being a pool fan i want all the utd players in incase we get caned and ronney scores a hat full – will make me feel better!
Oh Man……….
Just look at my opponents team in the FFS Cup…… It comes down to 4 differentials as we have 7 pair up’s (Friedel, Collins, Ivanovic, Milner, Bendtner, Rooney, Drogba).
The Differentials are -
Ridgewell = Caldwell
Fabs = N’Zogbia
Malouda = Lampard
Pienaar = Arteta
Could go anyway……….
Milner or Drogba as Captain??????
Drogba
Drog all the way!
Oh Man………..
Thanks lads……
Tumbling Drogs it is………
hart(sorensen)
collins clichy shawcross (hangleand)(evra)
fabregas arteta lampard(c) lee etherington
roddelga rooney (fletcher)
any changes?
You still got roddy?, get shot mate
*get shot of* sorry
could swap him -bent(4point hit) but wigan are at home to burnley
roddy out >Bendy in
2nd that, get on the bendy bus
could do fletcher-bedneter(4 point hit) but then id have to bench lee or etherington
Oh Man……
Thanks Dave was leaning towards him………
I’m going with Milner as captain as opposed to Drogba. Someone else reassure me.
Hi first time post as iam really stuck
Team:
GK:Given, Hart
D: Silveste, Figurera, Invanonic, Collins, A Hughes
M: Milner, Young, Lampard, Eagles Pienaar
F: Rooney, Drogba, Bendtner
The league leader has gone for Fab in his team and i think that will earn him lots of points as we also play by weekly too.
I am thinking should i get Fab in or not. I already made one transfer with Torres for Drogba.
Team:
Given
Collins, Invanoic, Figuarea
Milner, Young, Lampard, Piennar
Rooney Drogba C Bendtner
If i get Fab in (12 point hit)
Given
Collins Invaonic Distin (Figuera, Hughes)
Milner, Young Fab, Lamps, Piennar
Drogba Bendtner (Jerome)
Help1111111…thanks
Everyone else is doing it so RMT! …………..
Friedel (Sorensen)
Olsson Caldwell Baines (Johnson R) (Foley)
Fabregas Malouda Milner (C) Arteta (Lee)
Drogba Rooney Bendtner
Much the same as everyone elses I guess?
Not to bad tho?
Looking good.
looks good mate – if Villa and Everton screw up this DGW, we’re all be p*ssed right off.
Cheers guys!
Play R Johnson over Caldwell?
N’zog dilemma – my thinking is that 99% he won’t play
so do I play Distin/Rodwell from my bench for Everton double ??
Distin as Rodwell will only play be used as a sub
Go with Distin – he’s more sure to play than Rodwell.
Abonlahor been passed fit n the AVilla website. Anyone think he is worth captainig. Its either him, Drogs or Lamps and am tryin to differentitate myself from my league leaders who have milner!
link?
just had a look, can’t see anything about agbon being fit
are lee and etherington likelt to get many points this week?
Vermaelen one game vs WH, or Carr two games vs sun and black?
verm
I’d go Verm, don’t fall for the doublers just for the sake of it.
I’m playing fabs and diaby at the expense of ridgewell
The pre-match preamble link doesn’t work. Did anyone manage to see whhether NZog is predicted to start?
He’s predicted to start in two of the three papers I read this morning. I still think we will see Moses though.