It’s shambolic, isn’t it? Just a week and a bit of dreadful football filled with initial hope and subsequent spite after England do exactly what everyone besides the English thought they’d do and be absolutely bang average. Nothing to really get excited about regarding Everton either, so it seemed to drag that little bit more than usual.
Back to Everton, and it’s a short trip to the Etihad up next. After both teams enjoying great starts, cracks have started to appear for the ex-Barcelona men’s respective sides, with Everton falling to 2 defeats in a week and then slumping to a draw against Palace, and City enduring a thrashing by Spurs who seem to be edging ever closer to them in the league.
Still, it’s two very good teams up against each other in what will prove to be a tough test.
So, let’s look at who might turn out tomorrow…
Maarten Stekelenburg
He’s back in the Netherlands team now and that’s no small part down to sensational form in the Premier League. Let’s hope he keeps it up, he’ll need it this Saturday.
Leighton Baines
We’ve missed him so dearly over the last week or so, with Oviedo putting in a good shift, granted, but he’s no Leighton Baines.
Phil Jagielka
Had to pull out of the England squad through injury, but Koeman has assured us that he’s fit for tomorrow’s game.
Ashley Williams
In fine form for his country once again and he will look to carry that on to the Everton side he’s found himself fully settled in now.
Séamus Coleman
With his first international goal coming over this break, and a sharp return to the Right Back position that Mason Holgate had occupied so well, Coleman will look to lead by example as he does for his country again at the Etihad.
Idrissa Gueye
In a game where Mo Besic was so crucial last year in muting Yaya Touré and running the show, Idrissa Gueye will occupy the same sort of role this time around as the hurrying, hassling midfielder.
Granted, no Yaya this time.
Gareth Barry (Key Man)
It’s hard to overstate Gareth Barry’s importance to any side, and it’s fitting that all of his fanfare for his 600 appearance milestone is taking place as he faces his former club this weekend.
He runs the midfield, coordinates the attack and shore up the defence.
Kevin Mirallas
Described this week as part of Everton’s ‘Fantastic Four’ by Phil Jagielka, it’s time for Super Kev to show just why he’s so revered and adored.
He has been good this season, but we know he can be great.
Ross Barkley
In a parallel to Kevin Mirallas, Ross needs to tone everything back and start from scratch.
After 3 woeful games, we might soon see Ross Barkley dropped entirely from the Everton team as he seems lost in an attack he should be spearheading.
Where are you, Ross? Come on.
Yannick Bolasie
It’s been a patchy start to his Everton career so far, but it’s games like these where he can show what he truly can do.
Romelu Lukaku
Where Barry directs the attack, Rom is the direction. He’s the one the balls always seem to find and the one who can be the pivot for his attacking compatriots to run off of.