Everton put in a miserable shift at the Reebok, drawing scorn from manager David Moyes and casting doubt over the Fantasy interest that will escalate in their squad ahead of a double Gameweek. Foch’s Knee Jerk last night told the tale of Bolton’s 2-0 win but, with the dust settled, here are the Scout Notes on Sunday’s solitary fixture…
Owen Coyle kept the same starting XI that were unfortunate to slip to a narrow 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane. That meant that Johan Elmander once again lined up on the right of midfield, as Daniel Sturridge looked to feed off of Kevin Davies up front. The partnership clicked again and Sturridge duly delivered his third Bolton goal in as many appearances. Elmander’s role is keeping Chung-Yong Lee on the bench – a problem for Coyle who watched as Lee came off the bench to spark the Sturridge goal.
That strike followed a first goal of the season for Gary Cahill who collected a double figure FPL return for the first time this term. Cahill and Bolton have now kept consecutive home clean sheets having shut-out Wolves in Gameweek 25.
Sturridge’s potential is somewhat tempered by the fact that Bolton now face three trips on the road in the next four at Newcastle, United and Birmingham. At just 5.2 in the FPL however, the Chelsea loanee is crying out as a third striker option now that the clamour for double Gameweek strikers has diminished.
Everton lined up without their Blackpool four-goal hero Louis Saha who has been sidelined for two-weeks with hamstring injury. David Moyes recalled Tim Cahill to the starting XI to compensate, the Aussie making his first start since his return from the Asia Cup. Jack Rodwell also missed out – he is sidelined for at least a month with a groin injury. Victory Anichebe also came in to the lead the attack then as Moyes went with a 4-5-1. John Heitinga continued in defence as Phil Jagielka again had to be content with a place on the bench.
David Moyes rated Sunday’s performance as amongst the worst is his reign as manager. An alarming state of affairs given his side’s comeback against Blackbpool at Goodison just over a week ago. Everton missed the quality of Saha up front, but also appeared to lack the appetite for a battle and Bolton outfought them in all areas across the pitch. For Fantasy Managers the nature of the defeat casts doubt over Everton’s assets at a time when their potential looks strong with four home matches in the next five, including their Gameweek 29 double fixture (SUN new&BIR FUL AVL)
Regardless of Everton’s performance and the fact that he missed a gilt-edged opportunity to earn his side a foothold, Tim Cahill will remain a key transfer target. The Aussie alternated with Mikel Arteta in the support role for Anichebe up front for the early part of the game, before Moyes pushed Cahill further forward to chase an equaliser. Cahill’s goalscoring instincts will be expected to come good, particularly with Everton facing a run of consecutive home matches.
Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman were picked out in Foch’s Knee Jerk last night and will also remain at the forefront of our thinking. Defensively however, we shouldn’t expect too much – Everton have kept just a single clean sheet in their last 18 games – that came against Wigan back in Gameweek 17. Baines was the one player to emerge from yesterday’s showing with any credit for Everton – his supply from the left was a threat and he, like Cahill, will be expected to come out of Everton’s run of opponents with some profit. At 7.5 however, Baines looks an expensive option, particularly with Coleman offering promise from his right-wing role for a fee of 5.2.

