Premiership preview, table prediction: 6. Everton

Everton 

Everton Barclays Premier League position preview 2011/12

Manager: David Moyes

Ground: Goodison Park

Nickname: Toffees

Capacity: 40157

Squad:

Goalkeepers 1 Jan Mucha 24 Tim Howard Defenders 2 Tony Hibbert 3 Joseph Yobo 3 Leighton Baines 5 John Heitinga 6 Phil Jagielka 15 Sylvain Distin 23 Seamus Coleman 25 Shane Duffy 30 Shkodran Mustafi 32 Luke Garbutt 41 Jake Bidwell 44 Aristote Nsiala

Midfielders 7 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 10 Mikel Arteta 16 James Wallace 17 Tim Cahill 18 Phil Neville 20 Ross Barkley 21 Leon Osman 25 Marouane Fellaini 26 Jack Rodwell 33 Adam Forshaw 36 Araz Abdullayev Femi Orenuga

Forwards 8 Louis Saha 16 Jermaine Beckford 19 Magaye Gueye 24 Yakubu 27 Apostolos Vellios 28 Victor Anichebe 29 Joao Silva 37 Jose Baxter 40 Conor McAleny

Everton had a season of two half’s and after a good second part of the season they ended in 7^th place last season. Manager David Moyes have been at the club since 2002 and is one of the most experienced premiership managers in the league. It has been little of no media coverage of Everton this summer and Moyes have therefore have good time to rally his troops for a strong season this year. One can say that they haven’t strengthened the team, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The players know how Moyes want to play, and Moyes know better than most managers how to get results in the premiership.  Little action on the transfer marked means that the players are confident and secure about their position in the club which gives the manager good time to focus on the football and structure of it rather than complaining players and media focus. I bet Moyes is happy that he isn’t in Wenger or Redknapps position with Fabregas, Nasri and Modric right before the start of a new season.

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

July 15 vs Bury 4-1 – Yakubu, Gueye (2), Osman

July 20 vs Philadelphia Union 0-1

July 23 vs DC United 3-1 – Anichebe, Bilyaletdinov, Gueye

July 30 vs Birmingham City 2-1 Baines, Saha

August 2 vs Werder Bremen 0-1

August 5th vs Villarreal 0-1

Players in

07/11 Yakubu Ayegbeni FW Leicester City                Back from loan

07/11 Joseph Yobo DF Fenerbahçe                           Back from loan

Players out

06/11 Iain Turner GK Preston North End

Injuries and bans:                           Return date                       situation

Arteta (Mikel)                                20th Aug 2011                 Foot injury

Bilyaletdinov (Diniyar)                    27th Aug 2011                 3 Match Ban

Coleman (Seamus)                         Unknown                         Ankle injury

Most likely starting lineup for Everton next weekend:

24 Tim Howard

3 Leighton Baines      6 Phil Jagielka    15 Sylvain Distin   18 Phil Neville                  

                                              

17 Tim Cahill      26 Jack Rodwell                              

21 Leon Osman                                                                      20 Ross Barkley

8 Louis Saha       19 Magaye Gueye

With the experience of both the manager and then squad, Everton should be looking to qualify for Europe this season. Of course there is still some time left of the transfer window, which could mean that some players may still leave or come in, but at the moment things are looking good for Everton in my opinion. Everton where also “lucky” that the away game to Tottenham was postponed. I say this because it means that on paper they have an “easy” start to the season now. First 4 games are against teams like QPR, Blackburn, Aston Villa and Wigan. These are all games they could win, and should/could give them confidence before going up against Manchester city, Liverpool and Chelsea in the next 3 games. I see Everton finish in a top position this year and my prediction is 6^th place.