First post on the forum lads. Promise I didn't handpick this fixture to join up, it's just a coincidence
As usual it's incredibly tough to predict the derby, especially at Goodison. Under Houllier and Rafa we always had a stronger team, that plus me bing younger and more of an optimist meant I always had great confidence of turning them over there. Over the last few years though Everton, to their credit, improved, making this game more of a contest in the process.
In terms of first elevens I think we edge them. We have a better goalkeeper, better centre-backs, a better midfield and, as good as Lukaku is, we have the best strikeforce in the league so we win the attack duel too. Only position I envy them slightly is full-back; I rate Johnson highly but Coleman and Baines as a pair is really good like. We'll probably go in to the derby with Cissokho at left-back, someone I've never been convinced by and who seems an accident waiting to happen (even against Fulham he could easily have conceded a penalty). Mirallas is class on his day too.
I've only seem them for a full match once so far this season; the dullest of dull games against Tottenham three weeks back. Everton looked like a team that wanted to play their way out but Spurs pressed them superbly first-half. Second half Everton were better because they reverted to their more well-known approach of hitting it long. When you've got Lukaku that is a perfectly fine gameplan. Lukaku is obviously class, clinical as fuck and we all saw him bully our defence in his cameos last season. If you put him under pressure though he can wilt it a bit I've noticed. Got a poor first touch and rushes his passing at times. Mirallas is a real threat of theirs, pacy and powerful winger, ripped Wisdom a new one last season at Goodison first-half. My blue mates have been moaning about him playing on the right this season though. But that doesn't mean I'm not slightly concerned by the prospect of him up against Cissokho, with Coleman providing the overlap. Coutinho will have to track back well on Saturday to make that less of an issue for us. Then there's Ross Barkley, been rested their last couple of games and they haven't scored in either; doubt that's a coincidence. He runs with the ball really well so Lucas will need to bring his A-game. Also he'll have extra motivation with it being against us, he can shoot well on both feet so, should he start, we'll need to close him down from 25 yards out or less.
Enough about them though. As the excellent OP suggested we're obviously more familiar with the pass and move game than our neighbours, so if they try playing us at that we should beat them. If BR sticks with the Skrtel-Agger pairing at the back, Martinez should instruct his players to lump it. As much as I like the aforementioned partnership, and it should be more than enough in most games, I'd rather only one featured Saturday. A partnership of Toure-Agger, Skrtel-Sakho or, dare I say it, the two left-footers would be my preference.
Distin's getting on but he's still rapid over a distance. Prone to a lapse of concentration when pressed though, as we saw in the FA Cup semi-final in 2012. Jagielka's weaknesses should be exposed by a fleet-footed pairing like our two up top. He struggled with Germany's pacy, skilful and intelligent attack the other night so I'd like to think SAS' movement has a similar effect. Gerrard will raise his game for this, he always does.
Buzzing for the game. Loss would be disastrous, draw would be okay, win would make me delirious for a week.
I'll take the latter
not stupid enough to predict a result for this though!
