Team For Everton & Prattle Of A Pre Match Nature

Good afternoon and welcome.

Arry’s presser this morning will come as a bitter pill for those still intent upon believing he has any intention of staying at The Lane.

He announced that he has been speaking to Levy & Co. every day and that no new contract (“…and I haven’t pushed him to either…” ) or August war chest has been discussed.  

Anyway the whole will she, won’t she saga is too boring to contemplate. If Slur Alex Ferguson has been told by the FA not to discuss the England manager vacancy then it can only be because they wish to hoodwink the public that they are following due process and the appointment isn’t  a foregone conclusion. 

The injuries are piling up nicely. Dawson, Azza, Galvin, Hazzard, Dozzell, Perryman and Crooksy all confirmed as out.

Gomes has obviously been banished by the multilingual motivator Redschnapps and whilst I’m a Friedel fan, he has been letting in goals – whether his fault or his back four’s – like a good ‘un. So taking match form into consideration when picking a side, I’d plump for Carlos between the sticks.

King must be rested,  even if he swears blind he’s as fit as fiddle. The last two outings weren’t up to scratch and he can’t be indulged right now. 

Defoe has completely earned the right to play and so what ever the deal is with Saha, he gets benched. The real problem with the absence of Azza and the ‘automatic’ lack of width it will provoke.  Modric on the wing is a waste, but would vdV have the self control to stay wide? 

Speaking of self control, it’ll be interesting to see what tactics Bale and his agent  opt for. How I would love to see a banner saying, ‘Stay On The Wing!’ in the Away End.

Eye-catcher bets

A 1-2 win  is 17/2,  Anytime Goalscorer Modric is 7/2 and for some general cover insurance take Half Time Draw Full Time Tottenham 5/1.