Everton will host Blackpool in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup on Saturday with their confidence boosted after outplaying Chelsea's millionaires in a Premiership fixture last weekend. Rumours continue to swirl around Goodison regarding the future of manager David Moyes, but that has been a constant at the club the last couple of years. At stake this weekend for the Toffees is a spot in the quarter finals, representing the sole opportunity for some silverware this season.

This will not be a cakewalk for the home side as the Championship-contending Tangerines remain unbeaten in 2012 and come off a 3-0 hiding of Sheffield Wednesday in the Fourth Round replay. Last season in the Premiership Blackpool proved to be one of the more entertaining squads with their open, attacking style and manager Ian Holloway has maintained that 4-3-3 formation this year. A repeat of last season's 5-3 Everton win could be likely if Moyes decides to be brave and venture to a more attack-minded gameplan.

Continue reading this post »

Everton lost some of their momentum after beating Manchester City with a draw at Wigan, but tomorrow have a chance to make it their first two-wins-in-a-row at home since May. Visitors Chelsea will be looking for their first Premiership win at Merseyside since 2008. Ironically enough, the last time the Toffees won two consecutive home games was against the same two opponents. Read the Q&A RBM's own Brian Goodison conducted with Graham MacAree from the excellent Chelsea blog We Ain't Got No History regarding tomorrow's fixture right here.

Their visitors will be wary of what happened to City, with coach Andre Villas-Boas already stating that he would not be underestimating Everton despite the difference in league positions. Everton have always played Chelsea tough, but have struggled to dominate or score, especially in the Premiership. In the away leg of this fixture, Everton ceded over 2/3rds of the possession to Chelsea, and Spaniard Juan Mata reveled in his role and tore the Toffees apart in a 3-1 romp.

Continue reading this post »

With Saturday's match against Chelsea looming large, we got a chance to talk to SB Nation's fantastic Chelsea blog, We Ain't Got No History. We spoke with one of their editor's Graham, and he was kind enough to provide us with some insight into Chelsea's season, and what he is looking for in this weekends match. After you are done reading, head on over to their site if you want to learn some more about all things Chelsea.

Continue reading this post »

Everton will be holding their heads high for this Premiership fixture away at Wigan after the fantastic result beating Manchester City and what appears to a very favorable transfer window. In the corresponding earlier in the season at Goodison, Everton had come from behind to win 3-1, one of only two times that the Toffees have scored three times in one game this season.

Meanwhile, opponents Wigan are three points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League table, lurching deeper into misery with no wins in the last nine games they have played at the DW Stadium. Embattled manager Roberto Martinez wasn't able to gain much from the transfer period, adding Jean Beausejour but managed to hang on to striker Hugo Rodallega.

Continue reading this post »

After an encouraging performance against Fulham in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday, Toffee fans will be looking forward to tomorrow's Premier League fixture against Manchester City with more hope than they would have felt previous to that game. Meanwhile, City boss Roberto Mancini will be looking to put behind their League Cup exit at the hands of the red half of Merseyside behind them and consolidate their three-point lead at the top of the Premiership.

With the transfer deadline tomorrow as well, all eyes are on David Moyes to see what kind of talent he will be able to bring to Goodison Park under the financial constraints he has had placed upon him. Strikers Nikica Jelavic (Rangers, SPL), Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton, EPL), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas, TSL) and wingers Nathan Redmond (Birmingham, ELC), Junior Hoilett (Blackburn, EPL) have all been linked with Everton but there's nothing concrete as yet. In the meantime, the players already at the club need to keep their focus on the game tomorrow and let management get on with their work.

Continue reading this post »

Everton have a home tie against Fulham in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in a rare Friday fixture. While the match is being billed here in the USA as Landon Donovan vs. Clint Dempsey, it could be overshadowed by an in-ground protest being planned by the Blue Union who have been very vocal (and it must be said, unruly too) in their protests against chairman Bill Kenwright.

It's not like Toffees manager David Moyes doesn't have much on his plate as it is. The team has swung between woeful and mediocre in the past few weeks, and while injuries can be blamed to a certain extent, a lot of it has to do with the apparent lack of talent and cohesion within the squad. More after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

In the finest traditions of A Question of Sport (for those that are unfamiliar it's a novelty Sports Quiz on BBC) the contestants on one particular round are asked a question either on their own sport ("Home") or a random one ("Away"). Home Questions - worth one point - are supposed to be easier... name the last time Everton beat anyone by two goals* - whereas Away Questions ("when did Everton last play well?") are much harder & are worth two points.

Now I've not gone off topic quite yet. We are facing a rather critical three month period for the remainder of the season & the next few weeks are littered with challenges on the Home Front. Not only are we seemingly shrinking on the playing staff front - the departure of Billy seems inevitable & the arrival of anyone with the prospect of heading Leighton Baines as top scorer (so far) a critical requirement that may or may not be met - but a number of upcoming games will be at Goodison

Continue reading this post »

Everton travel to London on Wednesday to face a resurgent Spurs before meeting a middling Aston Villa on Saturday. The season has now passed the half-way point & Moyes' band of diminishing soldiers face some tough questions in the final four months of the season if they are to salvage anything positive from this shipwreck of a season.

The first two challenges must be to put out a competitive side for these tough fixtures.

Continue reading this post »