[Jonny "Kid" Pilko]

Originally posted by Powlay:
I always think EVerton is a game that could go either way.

Id be very happy with a draw should i be offered a choice now.
I can see it being close, 2-1....yak being booked and subbed early in the second half. Wheater and Mido for the Boro with Tuncay dropping deep and playing like a true hero.

Prolly wont happen like but thats what i think COULD!

Smogs to get tw*tted here. 3-0. Yakubu 2, and Osman

[Zaitsev]

Originally posted by ATW:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Andrew JOHNSON has not scored for either club or country since a late winner against Arsenal on 18 March; that's a run of 16 games without a goal (12 for Everton, three for England).

Johnson better not start ahead of Faddy! Not even Moyes can do that can he? </BLOCKQUOTE>

He's supposedly struggling with a thigh strain. It would provide a convienient excuse, but you never know with Moyes.

[BoroPhil]

ok, maybe it won't be tuncay's game. dong-gook set to play, my optimism reduced by 95%

Mido set to return for Boro but Tuncay sidelined
Sep 29 2007 by Eric Paylor, Evening Gazette

BORO will welcome back inspirational striker Mido for tomorrow’s trip to Everton but the televised fixture looks to have come too soon for Tuncay.

The Egyptian international is back training and is poised to make a welcome return to the first team after missing Wednesday night’s Carling Cup defeat at Spurs due to a tight hamstring. Dong-Gook Lee is poised to retain is place up front and link up with Mido.

Outlining his options in terms of personnel ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Goodison Park, Gareth Southgate said: “We’ve got Jonathan Woodgate back in training and Mido back into training, obviously Gary O’Neil was cup-tied for the Spurs game so he’s now available that’s three first teamers that come back into contention for the team - their return gives us a huge lift.

Asked about Tuncay’s chances, he added: “He’s back running but this weekend might come a bit too soon for him. We don’t know whether he’ll make it yet but it’s not too serious and if he doesn’t make it here this weekend, he’ll certainly be fit for Manchester City.”

Southgate insists it’s crucial his players approach tomorrow’s game in the right frame of mind and they must dismiss thoughts of Wednesday’s cup defeat at Spurs.

He said: “We have to put Spurs behind us because the priority has to be getting a result at Everton.

“If we beat them we go ahead of them so. We’re doing a lot of things right at the moment and we just need to sharpen up on a few bits and pieces and the results will follow.

“We’re showing terrific commitment, we’re playing good football at times, we’re creating chances and just need to find a ruthless streak now to turn those performances into wins.”

[Powlay]

What does Paylor know? The guys a big time fud.

If there is no Tuncay, i think a 5 man midfield will be used. (i hope anyway)

[BoroPhil]

Yak's views:

YAKUBU has lit the blue touch-paper for his old pals’ Goodison visit by telling Boro chairman Steve Gibson to grow up.

The Nigerian striker finally got his dream move from Middlesbrough when Everton paid a club record £11.25million in August.

Riverside chairman Gibson wasted no time in delivering a parting shot, insisting they were glad to see him go as he had switched off for the final few months of his stay.





Yakubu, whose 16 goals last term all came before the end of February, insisted: “It’s unfair when people say things like that. I was there for two years and scored a lot of goals.

“They have to grow up. In the summer, they were saying they did not want to sell me and were happy with me.

“But at the end of the transfer window they decided to sell me and I wanted to leave anyway.

“I was not happy and wanted a new challenge.

“I made the right decision to come to Everton. I’m happy and the ambition here is higher than Middlesbrough. I always said I want to play at a club in Europe and I don’t think Boro will get into Europe.

“Everton want to play in the UEFA Cup and want to play in the Champions League.”

If Yakubu is on target against his old club, do not expect a muted celebration.

He insisted: “If I score, believe me I will celebrate.

“What is done is done and we have to move on.”

He got off to a flier at Everton with a debut goal.

Right:

scored a lot of goals? a few before xmas in both seasons maybe, a lot of penalties maybe, but not a lot.

he wants to play in europe? his team got to a final a couple of seasons ago and he only made the bench.

such an over-rated opinion of himself, if he put the effort in he might actually get somewhere near the level he already thinks he is at.

[BoroPhil]

despite what I said about him, I think i;d rather play 4-4-2 with dong than go 4-5-1. we have to give him a mini-run at least, if only to confirm what we all suspect, ie he is ***** (in this league at least).

saying that, I wouldn't be unhappy with a 4-5-1

[Powlay]

Phil, Phil, Phil...Yak was fantastic for us, he was an out and out goal scorer, something we no longer have at the club. HE earned a fair few of the pens he converted. He banged goals in for fun and then well...lost his touch and lost his spark and a move was the best thing for all parties.

I dont believe he is over rating himself, he is fb. HE scored goals for fun at Pompy, he scored a bucketful for us and will do for everton. Imagine him and Mido up front would be fantastic.

But he has proven over time he likes to spit out his dummy and move along to bigger ponds everynow and again.
Good luck to the lad, i hope he has a stinker against us, but when Everton come to our place i wont be one of the thousands boo'ing him like they all did Viduka.

They were good players for our club and in a way were better players than i thought we could attract at the time.

[Razzler]

Cant see past an Everton win and cant see Boro scoring either tbh

[saved_by_barry_horne]

Originally posted by Razzler:
Cant see past an Everton win and cant see Boro scoring either tbh

sounds good to me

[Zaitsev]

Spoilsports, changing the title .