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The Everton Soccer Club Organisation vs. Ukranian Mentalists, Channel 5 1930.
Tonight's game of The Everton Soccer Club Organisation (T.E.S.C.O.) vs. Mentalist Kharkiv is a 8pm kick off, and with John Barnes commentating and Andrew Johnson dropped offers a unique opportunity for a fascinating lecture on how James McFadden used to have the pace to drive at defenders but doesn't anymore and therefore slows the whole team down.
Quote:
The weekend defeat to Manchester United — or perhaps the manner of it — has led to some soul searching among Evertonians as they try to measure where the Blues are as the season settles into a groove. Lying 7th after six games in decent enough but the test that many have been waiting for is just beginning; namely, how much David Moyes and his men learned from their last European campaign and how, seeing as injuries have already taken a toll, they'll cope with a glut of games in the coming weeks.
Deficiencies in midfield have become a growing concern and Thomas Gravesen has been highlighted as the most likely solution. His absence through injury on Saturday was a blow but there is no indication thus far of whether he will be fit for the visit of Metalist Kharkiv on Thursday evening. If he is, Moyes has a few options to juggle as he tries to find his most effective starting XI. The Tottenham game aside, Pip Neville has struggled in central midfield and has arguably solidified the impression that his best position is right back. Leon Leon Leon is another who has had trouble finding his form after a decent start and Steven Pienaar is clearly going to take time to adjust to his new surroundings. In many respects, they are in a very similar position. Lee Carsley sat out against United and his tenacity in the middle may have been missed so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him return against Mentalist.
The Ukrainians are obviously an amost entirely unknown quantity but they come from a country with a strong footballing tradition — Andrei Kanchelskis, anyone? — and finished third behind their better known compatriots, Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk. In the same way that Dynamo Bucharest were no pushover (quite the contrary, that dubious honour went to us!), Mentalist will probably be difficult opponents who won't be averse to getting stuck in. But if Everton can rediscover some of that scintillating form with which they destroyed Tottenham and the resilience that helped overcome Bolton, then they should have enough to take a lead to Kharkov for the return leg in a fortnight's time.
Update: Gravesen, Arteta, Pienaar, Howard and Johnson will undergo late fitness tests. In the case of Arteta and Johnson, it's simply an excuse to drop them. Because they've been *****.
Looks likely. Attendance is likely to be a sell-out, which is a pleasant and welcome sight for a UEFA Cup fixture, especially one that is on terrestrial TV. P.S. apparently the Mentalist lads have been in the JJB in town buying Everton kits
09-20-2007, 05:28 PM
The Everton Soccer Club Organisation vs. Ukranian Mentalists, Channel 5 1930. Post #2
Fantastic news tbh. He's been absolutely awful. No doubt affected by the pressure of having Spain's Euro 2008 qualifiaction resting on his shoulders after Tony Grant's horrible recent performances.
09-20-2007, 05:31 PM
The Everton Soccer Club Organisation vs. Ukranian Mentalists, Channel 5 1930. Post #7
Originally posted by Zaitsev:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Crazy_T:
No Mikel /o\
Fantastic news tbh. He's been absolutely awful. No doubt affected by the pressure of having Spain's Euro 2008 qualifiaction resting on his shoulders after Tony Grant's horrible recent performances. </BLOCKQUOTE>
have to agree, his free kicks vs the mancs were terrible
09-20-2007, 05:32 PM
The Everton Soccer Club Organisation vs. Ukranian Mentalists, Channel 5 1930. Post #9
The Everton Soccer Club Organisation vs. Ukranian Mentalists, Channel 5 1930. 
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