Due to popular demand a thread for Mondays game. Everton are right in the thick of the battle for Champions League football and trail fourth-placed Tottenham by only three points. David Moyes will know his side must continue to collect points away from home if they are to make that a reality. Everton have lost only three times this season and only once in their past nine games, scoring in all but one of their away fixtures. Everton front man Nikica Jelavic has found the net only six times this season, with Premier League defences seemingly countering his notorious penchant for scoring 'one-touch' goals But Saints are no longer the pushovers we were at the start of the season and this should make for an entertaining game against arguably the most eye-catching side so far this season. Head to head [TABLE="class: generic, width: 640"] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TH="class: center, bgcolor: #EEEEEE, colspan: 3, align: center"]At Southampton (43)[/TH] [TH="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"][/TH] [TH="class: center, bgcolor: #EEEEEE, colspan: 3, align: center"]At Everton (43)[/TH] [/TR] [TR="class: grey, bgcolor: transparent"] [TD="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]Results[/TD] [TD="class: center, bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: center"]Total[/TD] [TD="class: center, bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: center"]%[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"][/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]Results[/TD] [TD="class: center, bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: center"]Total[/TD] [TD="class: center, bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: center"]%[/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Southampton[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]20[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]46.51[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Everton[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]30[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]69.77[/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Everton[/TD] [TD="class: center, bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]12[/TD] [TD="class: center, bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]27.91[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Southampton[/TD] [TD="class: center, bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]5[/TD] [TD="class: center, bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]11.63[/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Draws[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]11[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]25.58[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Draws[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]8[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]18.60[/TD] [/TR] [TR="class: grey, bgcolor: transparent"] [TD="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]Goals[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: center"]Total[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: center"]Av.pg[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"][/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]Goals[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: center"]Total[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: center"]Av.pg[/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Southampton[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]68[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]1.58[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Everton[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]91[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]2.12[/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Everton[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]58[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]1.35[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Southampton[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]29[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]0.67[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] We are in for a tough game and we have to accept that Everton are traditionally our bogey side That said confidence in the squad must be high and we have shown that we can go toe to toe with the top clubs and get something from games. Not many sides will recover from being 2 down to Chelsea! Not sure what side Nigel will start with and the question is will our new defensive signing play any part? At the very least I'm hoping for a pre match introduction to get the crowd going! I'm also hoping Rickie will start! IMO if we can stop Baines and Fellaini we have a real chance in this one so I'm going for a 2-1 home win! COYR!
I think it'll be a draw. 2-2. We'll score 1st and then go 2-1 down in the first 30 minutes. Nige will then bring on Lambert, Ramirez and Puncheon in a triple substitution and we'll get one back. We will all hail his impact subs! Only joking...2-2, but hard fought and comfortable!
They will be so up for this, especially after last night. I hope Nigel starts with the team that finished last night, with the exception of Guly for Chaplow. 8-0 Saints.
Bumped:!!! Southampton v Everton REFEREE Neil Swarbrick LINESMEN S Ledger & M Scholes 4TH OFFICIAL L Probert
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20941938 Interesting but no doubt it will have been sorted by Monday!
When things are going well I like to talk about it, I go very quiet when the mongs are in full critical meltdown, can't compete with misery, not in my nature. As always being a Saints fan I expect us to win this one, but when did the Saints ever do what you expect them to do?
Boruc Clyne Yoshida Hooiveld Shaw Cork Schneiderlin Puncheon Ramirez Rodriguez Lambert Subs: Davis, Richardson, Forren, Davis, Chaplow, De Ridder, Guly. 1-1, with the goal coming from 2 goal (3 goal after he scores ).
Why hope to hold on..? Score two early goals, score a couple of later goals, eh..! What's with the holding on stuff..? If anything in the last two games has shown us, Saints are quite comfortable pushing the ball about. There's no hanging on required, if the goals have been scored. BTW, I noticed one of the interviewers prior to the Chelsea match suggested to Nigel that, come the Everton game there would be a new CB on the pitch. Nigel's answer was... Why, have Everton signed a new defender..? I do like Nigel a lot.
Team: Boruc; Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Shaw; Cork, Schneiderlin; Puncheon, Gaston, Do Prado; Lambert. Subs: K. Davis, Forren, Fox, S. Davis, Chaplow, De Ridder, Rodriguez.
==============Boruc============== =Clyne====Hoovield=====Yoshida====Shaw= ================================ ======Schneiderlin======Cork========== ================================ =============Ramirez============== ===Puncheon==============Rodriguez=== =============Lambert============== Subs: Davis, Forren, Fox, Davis, Chaplow, De Ridder, Guly Lallana still in light training? 1-0 Saints. Rodriguezzz
==============Boruc============== =Clyne====Hoovield=====Yoshida====Shaw= ================================ ======Schneiderlin======Cork========== ================================ =============Ramirez============== ===Puncheon==============Rodriguez=== =============Lambert============== I agree with the team as it is home. I'd say the same bench but can we please have someone else instead of De Ridder. I'd rather have T. Lee.
Be surprised if we play Rodrigues on left side, clearly uncomfortable there, when NA has played him of late he has always played in a central role. Guly a likely starter, as he was at Stoke where he did well and can also compete with their physicality. DeRidder?? after his cameo role at Villa Park I would be surprised if we ever see him play for us again. Everton going to be a tough test, only lost 3 games in last 30 odd PL games. Draw looks probable but heart says Everton are due a loss.
Team pretty much picks itself but what is it with people who want to see JRod shoved out on the left wing....it just won't happen. He proved early season that he isn't very happy or any good out there. It will be Guly out wide who has proved his worth on a number of occasions recently both in defence and going forward. Would have JRod on the bench
This game may be at risk because of our lack of undersoil heating. Could be hazardous if snow is cleared, but small ice patches form as it is a night match. From a purely selfish point of view being faced with a trip to and from the Island, I hope it is moved to a different date, but I know most will want a game played whilst we are on a run.