Arsenal preview

Everton will welcome Arsenal to Goodison Park on Sunday 14th of November, Kickoff is 14:00 GMT.

The last few games between the two sides has been fairly even.
Last seasons 1-6 defeat at Goodison was not a match that describe the difference in quality between the sides, but was a result of the state the team was in at the time.
The meeting at Emirates later in the season was a close battle, one that Everton might have won.

Arsenal under Wenger is a team that has won a lot of support from other than their own supporters. They play attacking minded football, and its more often than not a thrill to watch them play. Even though, in my opinion, Wengers almost disdainful approach to anything to do with defending has left them unable to compete for titles as often as they might have. This season with the inclusion of new signings Koscielny, and Squillaci to further strengthen their defense, a defense that was already improved by Vermaelen last season, they are looking like a well balanced side.

The fact that they are now less vulnerable to counter attacks due to having a real defensive line, obviously makes the job of their forwarders that much easier. And their forwarders are world class.

Many teams would approach this game thinking; how can we break down this Arsenal team, what is their weaknesses and how can we use those to our advantage?

Everton shouldn't do this of course.

The truth is that unlike sundays opponents, Moyes' Everton is a team that has always been well balanced, with a strong, well structured style of play built to utilize the best of our players abilities. Unlike Arsenal that has just discovered the advantage of actually defending, Everton has always emphasized that all players contribute both when attacking and defending.
The emphasis is not just on either attack or defense, its on both. Because of this we never need to park the bus, we don't need to rely on counter attacks or long throws. And, because of this we don't need to break  records when signing players, our style allows us to outplay any opponent and dominate any game.

I am looking forward to this game knowing two of the best teams in the Premier League is going to face each other, and that this is a game where both teams have to lift their game and play the best football they can in order to win.
As always its down to who wants it more. This time, that should be us.

Discuss in the match thread.

-MF

November preview

October was a nice month for us, and definitely the month in which our luck turned this season. As usual we have been slow starters, but this time it felt as our turnaround arrived early.
We are not really that much better off now than the same time last season though, but the confidence in and around the team is greater now than last season. Then, we recovered from the loss of Lescott and had to reshape our team that had seemed scattered and unfocused. Regaining cohesion and performing great towards the end of the season we found ourselves on top half once more.

Now, we are top half as well, if only 8th, and with no more than 3 points to spare on Wigan at 17th.
At least we are in the right place, at a time when the table is about to set, which puts us in a great position going forward.

Blackpool, led by charismatic Ian Holloway are our first opponents in a very exciting month. Bloomfield road has hardly been a stronghold for the newcomers, and their first victory at their own ground came in the last round when they defeated West Brom, another newly promoted team.
I can't see passed us winning this one. Maybe they will gain some confidence or momentum from finally winning at home, but I don't think it will be enough for them. We should outclass them.

Bolton at Goodison has been a nice match in the last few seasons. It has been some time since the wanderers has scored at our ground, and I think they might have a hard time getting anything passed Howard, and our defense that has been getting better and better lately. A hard opponent, as always, and I expect a close game with few goals. Home win, but with no more than two goals in it.

I already mentioned our start last season, that like seasons before that had been less than happy for us. Arsenal at Goodison was perhaps the rock bottom, that we hit in the very beginning. From then, everything got better because it couldn't get worse. The next time we met the Gunners, at Emirates, we were on top form and could have gotten even more than a draw from that one.
I think, that this time around it will be something in between those performances, hopefully a draw, but at least not a 5 goal defeat.

Sunderland, at stadium of light, is what awaits us the week after Arsenal has visited. Like with Bolton at home, Sunderland away has been good for us lately. An opponent that we rightfully respect, and it is perhaps that respect and focus that brings our superior quality out. Sunderland are good when they are allowed to defend and counter-attack. But we don't usually mind teams that like to sit back and defend, just let them try that approach, and we will grind them down.

West Bromwich Albion has been a success story this far into the season. They still play attacking, good football, but are more experienced this time around. A tough opponent, and one that might be a lot tougher than they are generally given credit for. They belong in the Premier League, because they have seemingly learned to curb their approach, so they are no longer naive, but they have maintained their positivity and focus on quality. I am looking forward to this match, it should contain some great football.

-MF

October review

Starting with the end, Stoke was beaten 1-0 at Goodison. Not the most exciting scoreline, but a very important home win and a long awaited goal by Yakubu.
3 points. - this was the one game I expected a win from.

Spurs was a tough opponent as expected, if they hadn't had a european game ahead of ours they might have had the little extra to tip it their way. We have not gotten much from WHL, so a point and a 1-1 score is something we can live with.
1 point. - one point more than I had expected, easily the hardest match this month.

The derby was as expected a tough one, lots of tackles, pace and effort from both teams. At least until we scored the second and winning goal. The second half was more about relaxing, keeping the lead and not wasting energy.
3 points. - the Birmingham win changed Everton, and we entered this game as the strongest team.

Birmingham had not lost at St' Andrews in some time before we changed that stat. A very strong effort from the Everton team, an a well earned first win of the season. This may really have been the match that changed our season.
3 points. - at best I had hoped we could get a draw against one of the strongest home teams, thankfully I was wrong.

All in all we got 10 out of 12 possible points, and a 6-1 scoreline. A near perfect October is over, and we are now on schedule for top half. We played well in the beginning of the season as well, and always looked like we would turn it around eventually once the first win was secured and confidence returned.

October was beautiful.
Here comes November...

-MF