PBP: Howard, Donovan: Everton @ Arsenal, 1/9/2010[R]

Landon has been named to the squad, while I'm sure Howard will start as usual.

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/donovan-set-for-debut.html

Everton (from): Howard, Nash, Hibbert, Baines, Heitinga, Bilyaletdinov, Donovan, Vaughan, Cahill, Neville, Pienaar, Osman, Neill, Fellaini, Rodwell, Coleman, Duffy, Agard, Baxter, Akpan, Mustafi

I suspect Donovan to come off the bech, at striker.

No Saha! Lando's bound to get some time.

I think he will start and score!

USA USA UUUSSSAAA!

I'm not too familiar with Everton's roster - who of the 21 named are striker/can play as striker?

I was kind of hoping he'd be slotted in at mid instead of striker.

But beggars can't be choosers, I guess. I'm just happy he made the travel squad.

What's wrong? Only 5 posts??

and of course Donovan..

I think their is a chance Landon starts looking at that squad, unless they play Fellani up top, and have Cahill behind him...

They really shouldn't be pairing Fellani with Neville in the midfield anyway. I'd much rather see Fellani being a lone striker, and Landon coming off the bench as an attacking mid for either Pienaar or Osman.

If I had to guess Everton's lineup would look something like this.

-------------Howard-------------

Hibbert---Neill---Heitinga---Baines

---------Neville---Fellaini---------

Pienaar-----Cahill-----Bilyaletdinov

------------Vaughan------------

I think LD is unlikely to start, but if he does I would expect him ahead of either Bilyaletdinov on the left side or at striker alongside one of Cahill or Vaughan if Moyes goes with a 4-4-2 instead.

I think he'll play. To be honest, it doesn't make any sense to bring a player in for a 10 week loan if you aren't going to play him right away. There's no time to break him in slowly.

Yeah you might as well find out if he can hack it or not.

how long has Neville been back from that injury?

It left him with one hell of a scar above his eye

Well, the question is where to play him. Who do you think comes out of the lineup? Certainly not Pienaar, Cahill or Fellani.

Will this be on TV? I am not seeing it on FSC, ESPN or Setanta, but maybe with all the postponements it will be?

IIRC, it was originally scheduled for Setenta but this week, because of financial difficulties, they have dropped Premiership coverage. FSC is rumored to be picking up their games.

Nonetheless, I'm sure there will be streams out there. I plan on tuning in that's for sure!

The Wigan-Villa game is supposed to be on FSC, but Wigan's undersoil heating failed this evening, so if they can't fix it that game may be called off. That would leave FSC with no game and Arsenal-Everton as the only 10 AM EST kickoff.

It's back on the Setanta website now http://www.setanta.com/us/TV-Listings/

I've not seen an official announcement but it just appeared back up there in the last couple hours.

Donovan could be starting:

http://www.tribalfootball.com/everton-boss-moyes-admits-donovan-could-start-against-arsenal-560791

Here's a match preview from an Everton site. Some LD relevant info is quoted:

"Moyes may have been secretly hoping it would get postponed as he waits on the return of some key players from injury. Louis Saha will undergo a late fitness test on the hamstring injury that's kept him out for three games now but is unlikely to start, leaving the manager with James Vaughan and new arrival, Landon Donovan, as options in attack."

"Donovan can play as a forward, though it's hard to see how he could succeed as the loan striker given his relatively small stature, playing style, and the fact that it'll be his first match in the rough and tumble of English football. Far more enterprising would be to deploy either Cahill or Vaughan up front with him in a 4-4-2 formation given the success of that approach against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Either way, Moyes has indicated that the golden boy of US "soccer" will be making his debut this weekend."

http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/09-10/reports/Arsenal(a).asp

Donovan's chances of succeeding as the loan striker are better than that of him succeeding as the lone striker.

I can't remember the last time I set my alarm for a Saturday morning because I absolutely, positively must not sleep late. It'll be getting set tonight.

I, too, am pretty much siked out of my mind for this match.

Is this match 100% happening?