Everton (H): Pre-match thoughts, team news & predicted line ups

The Boxing Day collapse at Man Utd was so frustrating, with us well and truly shooting ourselves in the food to gift them the win, but that game is gone. It’s all about how we react against Everton back on home soil.

I’d argue that any overreaction to the performance or Bruce’s team selection was uncalled for. We’ve been over performing of late and needed to rotate with 4 games in 14 days, so a result like that had been coming.

Were the mistakes unacceptable? Yes, but all will soon be forgotten if we end 2019 on a high with a win over Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton.

Predicted XI

After being totally rested at Old Trafford, it seems almost certain that Jonjo Shelvey, Andy Carroll and Isaac Hayden return to the side.

At full-back, Manquillo sounds like he may be rested after coming away from Manchester with a slight calf complaint. Yedlin and Krafth are fit and waiting in the wings, so it feels likely that the former comes in to replace the in-form Spaniard. Let’s hope he steps up considering how solid has been in recent weeks.

Almiron was taken off at the hour-mark so he should start again, but it feels like Gayle has well and truly blown his chance to stay in Bruce’s starting 11, missing another big opportunity in front of goal.

With that in mind, it seems likely that we’ll see Carroll up top alongside Joelinton (who showed glimpses and bagged an assist at Old Trafford) with Almiron in the free role behind them once again.

Lejeune could be one to watch. We’re likely to be without Dummett and Clark again (and Lascelles is still out), but can he play twice in 48 hours after 8 months out?

Preferred NUFC XI – (5-2-1-2) – Dubravka – Yedlin, Schar, Fernandez, Lejeune, Willems – Hayden, Shelvey – Almiron – Joelinton, Carroll.

The Opposition

Here’s ‘ones to watch’ in Carlo Ancelotti’s side:

Richarlison – The Brazilian is the blues star man in attack. He’s been involved in 9 goals this season and is a real handful, being tricky but surprisingly good physically for a winger; hence his switch into central areas recently. He and Calvert-Lewin could be a tough physical test for our three centre-backs.

Lucas Digne – Leighton Baines’ long-term replacement and a left-back with a brilliant left food. His deliveries from open play and free-kicks will be on the keep an eye on.

Jordan Pickford – He needs no introduction after his horror show at St James’ Park in our 3-2 win over Everton last time they travelled up to Tyneside. He can pull off brilliant saves and his kicking can be impressive, but he’s error prone and often lets in shots he should save. Hopefully the Mackem gets rattled by the home crowd once again here.

Yeri Mina – Everton’s giant centre-back who’ll give Andy Carroll a run for his money in the air. Surprisingly good on the ball for a player of his size (thank Barcelona for that) and a huge threat from set pieces.

Predicted Everton XI – (4-3-3): Pickford – Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne – Walcott, Davies, Delph, Bernard – Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Team news

Javier Manquillo could miss out with a slight calf issue, while Paul Dummett and Ciaran Clark look likely to miss out again.

Ki is still suffering with illness and the game will come too soon for Saint-Maximin, Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Ritchie.

Shelvey, Carroll and Hayden are all expected to return, with Yedlin also eyeing a recall.

Carlo Ancelotti has hinted he’ll make several in a bid to protect his players just 48 hours on from their 1-0 win over Burnley.

Theo Walcott, Michael Keane, Tom Davies and Leighton Baines have all been tipped to feature, but Alex Iwobi remains out with a hamstring strain.

Prediction

I really fancied us to sign off 2019 with another big 3 points at home when looking ahead to this fixture a few weeks ago, but Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival is likely to gee up a previously soft and toothless Toffees side.

That said, he hasn’t had much time to work with them, so we might yet be playing them at the perfect time despite his shock arrival.

I don’t see us winning, but we’ve not lost at St James’ Park since the opening day of the season and I back that run to continue here.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Everton

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

37 thoughts on “Everton (H): Pre-match thoughts, team news & predicted line ups

  1. I don’t know if anybody on here read what I have been saying about Chancer Stewart Donald but every bit of it that I said from day 1 has come true. Now, finally the Mackems see him for what he has always been – a conman looking for a quick buck. He is even trying to tell them that he is sticking with it and could have sold out for 30 million in the summer. Absolute rubbish. You don’t mortgage the club for 10 million when you cam sell it for 30. Nobody else would lend them a penny so he had no choice but to accept the onerous terms of the Yank Hedgefunders, otherwise they would have been months from folding because he does not have the money to fund day to day operations.

    https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-falling-apart-been-happening-17479338

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  2. Now tell me how this maroon and blue will be noticed by anybody except the boycotters? There has always been a smattering of that retro shirt in SJP. The organizer of the Toon fans in Chicago has worn that top for years. And if you are boycotting the game then how will Sky see the boycott scarves?

    I know that they want the fans who attend to show solidarity with the boycotters by wearing maroon and blue. Not sure if anybody outside the protesters will get what they are doing.

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  3. I mean, why don’t you just print some ASHLEY OUT scarves and stop confusing people by usurping a retro kit. A simple message is usually best and easiest to understand.

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  4. I get their stupid reasoning. That if you spend 20 quid on the scarf and Ashley does leave then you can still wear it because it is retro kit. But Ashley is only leaving on his terms.

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  5. I think Atsu will start instead of Joelinton who may come on as a sub or be saved for New Year. Bruce will probably ask Lejeune if he can start and Florian will say yes.They will hope to have Dummett and Manquillo fit for New Year so they can rotate the defense a bit.

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  6. Not fussed if Yedlin plays as don’t really rate him defensively at all. I do like Manquillo though.
    Will he give Gayle another start, he’s had two poor misses in his last two appearances .

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  7. Kimtoon, I think Bruce will go back to the 1 up front system and that will be Carroll. Any changes will be like for like which will mean no room for Gayle. THe swaps will be for rotation AND injury. So my guess is:

    Carroll for Gayle
    Atsu for JoeLinton
    Shelvey for Longstaff
    Hayden for Longstaff
    Yedlin for Maquillo

    So that’s 5 changes which sounds about right when there are 2 games in 2 days.

    I would also be ready to pull Lejeune at 60 mins but I am not sure who would replace him.

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  8. Not sure if Ancelotti will know what happened last year but Ferguson will and will probably have a word with Pickford. Not sure if it will help as by most accounts he is an arrogant idiot.

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  9. Just to finish up on the Mackems before concentrating on us. The Chancer says they will bring people in in January suggesting there will be money. There is no money. The 10 million loan was to keep the club running day to day. He is lying again, or being economical with the truth if you want to be kind. And nobody will lend Sunderland money when Donald has put up ALL of the clubs assets as collateral for the Yank loan. Any incomings will be loan players. If you were a club would you want to send your player to such a toxic atmosphere?

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  10. Olly gets the team right. I thought we’d rest Joelinton, but he is young and strong so hopefully he can give us 60 mins.

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  11. Hard to call. They had a good 15 mins but we have been the better team. A bit of role reversal with them being ahead and us playing better.

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  12. Well normal service resumed…. what a shocking ref. Shouldn’t have been a corner and definitely no foul by Miggy, if anything it should’ve gone the other way but fu.ckhead Mason is giving us nothing at all. ???

    We really need to turn this around and win it…

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  13. we had the majority of the chances but just cannot finish
    Must get a quality striker next month, sale Gayle and a couple of others and get it sorted .

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  14. We knew the luck couldn’t last. Pity, it was a much more entertaining game than some we have won.

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