EFC vs MCFC Sunday 23rd August 2015: Preview

When I saw the fixtures come in for our early run of games the match against Manchester City was not one I was feeling positive about. Especially as it came after an away game against Europa League qualifiers Southampton. What a difference a game can make. Even as I sat in Lanzarote in the sunshine only a few weeks ago the future of the season looked a little bleak as an Evertonian. I do tend to be a positive Blue and did have a heated debate (we will call it) at half time of the Watford game about the abilities of Ross Barkley, but I admit a little part of me was thinking 'here we go again'. Thankfully Mr Barkley proved me right in the first two games of the season. And now I am very much looking forward to our home game against Manchester City tomorrow. 

Looking at the stats as I do, I think there are plenty of positives there as well. Everton have only been defeated twice in the last 17 home games against Manchester City. I am not sure many outside of Goodison would believe that with Manchester City's league success in the last few years. Our last win against them at home was a fantastic game to be at, back in March 2013 when goals from Osman and Jelavic saw the mighty Blues win 2-0. After a dry spell in front of goal from Jelavic the emotions ran high when he scored in added time, I recall my hubby was more concerned about me going into early labour rather than celebrating the goal that day!

As Roberto said in his press conference this week, the games between the two sides at Goodison Park have always been 'close encounters'. Looking at the last five games they look like this:

2014/15 Everton 1 - 1 Manchester City 

2013/14 Everton 2 - 3 Manchester City

2012/13 Everton 2 - 0 Manchester City

2011/12 Everton 1 - 0 Manchester City

2010/11 Everton 2 - 1 Manchester City

They may be close encounters but looking at those last five games recent results would suggest we are very much the favourites for a win at Goodison Park once again. The concern would be about Manchester City's current place in the league with two 3-0 wins under their belts and a very strong squad. But saying that a 3-0 win under Everton's belt should be considered just as significant. The goalscorers in that match, interestingly, were the same goalscorers in the 2013/14 game against City, albeit in a defeat. But if we can get those two players attacking on the break again then Everton will be potentially unstoppable, especially with a vocal Goodison crowd behind them. 

First home game of the season August 2015

With the first game of our 24th season in the Premier League looming ever so close it got me to thinking, what do we reckon the likely result might be. As always, being a statto, I had to have a look at the facts and figures to give me an idea! 

So as I posted yesterday on Facebook (Everton Page 1878) the last time we played Watford at Goodison, which happened to also be our first home game of the season, we beat them 2-1 with Andy Johnson scoring on his debut. Can we make it another win over the Southerners on the first game of the season?  Since that game back in 2006 it has been a pretty mixed bag of results for the Blues on the opening home game, from a 6-1 thrashing from Arsenal in 2009 to a very enjoyable win against Manchester United in 2012 beating the Red Devils 1-0. 

Last season and the season prior to that saw draws for the Toffees against Arsenal and West Brom respectively. Although I will say the 2-2 draw against Arsenal felt a bit like bad luck in a month where we went in front twice drawing both games 2-2! But that's the positive Evertonian in me. The most recent first home game defeat came in 2011 against QPR when the newly promoted side won 1-0. This is a statistic, along with our draw against Leicester last season after their promotion, that concerns me. These teams come up and want to prove they can play with the big boys. Getting a side like Everton as their first game in the Prem will make them want it even more. When teams that have more passion than EFC turn up at Goodison Park it tends to be when we falter. 

It seems looking at Roberto's first home game of the season statistics that this also rears its head for him as well, with a 4-0 defeat by newly promoted Blackpool beating Wigan Athletic in August 2010. Interestingly the month he signed Cleverley on loan from Manchester United. Whilst with Wigan Roberto never won any of the four first home games as manager with defeats from Chelsea (2-0, 2012), aforementioned Blackpool (4-0, 2010), Wolves (1-0, 2009) and a draw with Norwich (1-1, 2011). The same was true with his record at Swansea, with a draw with Notts Forest (0-0, 2007) and a defeat by the same team the following term (3-1, 2008). 

Spanish Bob's record next to Everton's doesn't make for much positivity for Saturday's upcoming game, however as my close Evertonian friends will know I like to be positive and I think we will be walking away from Goodison with at least a point. Albeit there have been a few defeats versus draws and wins they are few and far between for us Blues. I am hopeful we will take the full 3 points but with the prospect of a newly promoted team and the potential lack of our star striker, we could be in for a tough 90 minutes. 

Big Dunc 2nd August 2015

The day finally came that so many Blues fans had eagerly anticipated, the day that Mr Duncan Ferguson would grace the green grass of Goodison once more. Not as the coach that he has become, but wearing the badge once again on his chest as a player. As a result of his testimonial, the guys at the Everton Page 1878 and I got to thinking it would be a good opportunity to find out some of the fans views on the mighty Scot. I asked 20 fans five questions about Big Dunc and here is what they had to say. 

So the first question I asked was one that had recently been asked on the Facebook page, which Big Dunc game is the fan favourite? There was a mixed response but a resounding choice was famous games against both Manchester United and, not surprisingly, Liverpool. The United games were both the 1995 and 2005 clashes where Blues fans were treated to headed goals from Dunc at the Gwladys Street end on both occasions. The Derby games of choice came in the shape of his first and Joe Royle's as Everton manager back in 1994 when Gary from Ellesmere Port believes "he became an overnight hero". In the mix included a hat trick against Bolton in 1997, Leeds from September 2003 when Everton won 4-0, Newcastle on the first day of the 1996/97 season, and last but not least his final game against West Brom in 2006 with his last minute goal following a missed penalty. 

The second of the five questions was in relation to Big Dunc fitting into the current Everton side under Roberto. The feeling from the fans was mostly positive, one fan saying he would fit in "like he did when he played, when he was up for it (he was the) best striker around". Simon from Liverpool thought he "would suit Martinez's style of play". Margaret from Liverpool was also positive saying "he still has the skills to play with the young players". One fans view was that the current team could be positive for Big Dunc, "we'd bring out more of the quality Dunc has in his feet than in the sides he has played in over the years". Some of the negative views came in the form of, "would be more of a squad player than a first team", "average" and "not too good with the service Rom has been getting". I wonder now people have seen Dunc back playing again on the pitch whether the views would change on how they have answered this one! 

The midway question of the five asked was a little bit of provocative one, do people think big Dunc is a legend? It has been said by more than one fan that he maybe isn't quite a Kevin Ratcliffe or a Dixie Dean, so I was interested to hear what people had to say. The voting went with 13 fans saying 'yes', 6 saying 'no' and one 'almost'. Steve from Netherley, who was the almost, said "if he had helped us win a league then deffo". Of those that were positive about whether Big Dunc is considered a legend included Ian, who compared the Scot to Bob Latchford - "the only good things in their respective teams". Finally one fan said he understood the argument about the lack of medals however, "For blues of a certain age, like me, he was a beacon of hope in difficult times". Point very well made. 

Another slightly provocative question with number four was about whether people thought Dunc would be a future Everton manager one day. The sides were divided again on this one with 10 saying 'yes', 6 saying 'no' and 6 with either a 'possibly' or 'hopefully'. Robbie from Liverpool made an interesting comment which really resonated when he said: "I wouldn't want him to take the abuse from fans and media if we were struggling". I think in this day and age and with such passionate fans it is a real risk that he would be taking as Robbie so rightly points out. I think as Newcastle saw with John Carver sometimes it isn't the best thing to allow someone so close to the club to manage the actual team. David thought that "with experience from another team" he could do the job. 

The last of the five questions was 'of any striker in Everton's history who would the fans pair Big Dunc up with?'. A mixed bag on this one with the lead taken by Dixie Dean with five votes, next was both Cottee and Lineker with four, followed by Sharpy with three, Andy Gray with two, and Rooney and Alex Young both with one. A couple of people chose more than one however such as Kyle from Liverpool who said: "Dixie Dean or a smaller man like Andy Gray". Also Peter Beardsley got a mention but only as a maybe. One lucky fan in the form of Ste from Liverpool hopefully got to see his choice of strike duo on Sunday - Dunc and Wayne! 

So there it is, the fans views of the Everton great that is Duncan Ferguson. It was an outstanding turn out for him on Sunday, as was to be expected. A man that will always be in the hearts of Evertonians. 

Thank you to the 20 people who answered questions that contributed to the blog, I am sorry you cannot all be named. Look out for future surveys during the course of the new season for another opportunity to have your say. 

Footymadgirl