Everton travel to DW Stadium to face a struggling Wigan Athletic. Wigan are bottom of the league table, and have lost their last 5 matches. Not surprisingly, the bookies have Everton as favorites. Though they feel the most likely result is a 1-1 draw. My prediction: Wigan 1-3 Everton
I really have no clue. My guess is that both will play, but neither will start. On the other hand, the bookies make Jelavic co-favorite with Anichebe and Cahill to score the first goal, so maybe those in the know envision us in a 4-4-2 with Anichebe and Jelavic both starting
Everton (v Wigan): Howard, Hibbert, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Fellaini, Pienaar, Donovan, Gibson, Cahill, Denis. Subs: Mucha, Jelavic, Drenthe, Neville, Gueye, Anichebe, Duffy. So, Pienaar starts, Jelavic on the bench - with the Stracq starting up top - I think he's earned it, then, most likely we'll see Jelavic somewhere around the 60th minute...
Wigan: Al Habsi, McCarthy, Caldwell, Di Santo, Moses, Gomez, McArthur, Boyce, Beausejour, Stam, Figueroa. Subs: Pollitt, Alcaraz, Crusat, Watson, Jones, Rodallega, Diame. --------------------- Drenthe needs to control himself more if he wants to get starts
I'm a bit surprised Pienaar is starting the match considering he was getting very little playing time with Spurs. I checked out Steven's stats while at Tottenham, and in the one calendar year he was there, he only played in 5 league matches and did not start in any of them. Steven started one FA cup match and came off the bench in another. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=26356
That weather looks absolutely miserable. According to Weather Underground, its 32 degrees in Wigan, with light rain/snow. Ick.
Gibson's mad at himself for the missed chance in 40th minute - and he should be...Wigan was charging at him, but he had the ball just inside the 18 and didn't even put it on frame. (Of course, I'm perfect and would never miss such an oppty, maybe that's why I'm a ref.)
Gibson certainly has played a lousy 1st half, with that misfired shot and a handful of bad passes. I'd like to see Moyes sub him out early in the 2nd half and put in Jelavic.
Disappointing substitution in my mind. I'd much prefer to have seen one of our defensive midfielders substituted out for Jelavic.
seriously snoozy at times... I think moyes should have gone with the same team as Tuesday. they were fired up! Pnev being given OG it really did just spin so much tha ton the bounce it deflected 90 degrees. Howard had it until it bounced spinning oh well. that's life 1-1 is better than losing