Royal Blue Mersey - Everton at Manchester United: Premier League Matchday 30It's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2016-04-05T13:30:37+01:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/111163492016-04-05T13:30:37+01:002016-04-05T13:30:37+01:00Baines: Everton have no chemistry
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<figcaption>Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The England left-back commented on yet another disappointing Toffees performance</p> <p><span>Leighton Baines</span> has never been one to mince words in the press, especially when things are not going so well. After Everton dropped to their third consecutive Premier League defeat losing at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> on Sunday, the England left back was not reserved with his assessment of the Toffees' current form.</p>
<p>He spoke to the<a href="http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leighton-baines-worried-everton-players-11135217"> Liverpool Echo</a> about <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton's</a> current slump:</p>
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<p>"I just don't feel as though the chemistry is quite there with the team on the pitch at the moment, and it hasn't been for a while.</p>
<p>"We are maybe leaning too heavily on individuals to come up with something.</p>
<p>"We're in games; we were in the game on Sunday and had a couple of chances, but we're not performing as a team to the level we know we can or we should be.</p>
<p>"Results have an impact on that because chemistry and confidence go hand in hand. Look at the teams who are having success this year and you'd say they have chemistry.</p>
<p>"If I had to say one thing, I just don't know if it's there with us at the moment, for whatever reason."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>With the upcoming FA Cup semi-final just about the only thing left to play for this season, Baines urged his teammates to put the past behind them and suggested they owed the fans:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It's another game where we have come away without a win and we're not where we should be.</p>
<p>"We haven't won enough games to make excuses. You get judged at the end of the season and we're getting towards the end of the season, and we're not near a position we should be in given what we've got.</p>
<p>"We're all accountable. We try and put it right but we've not been able to. That's the third loss on the bounce in the league which is disappointing to us all.</p>
<p>"We want to win every time we go out to play and we'd like to go into that cup game with a few wins behind us. That's our season in some respects now, it certainly is from the fans' point of view and we've let them down a lot, it's our only way of making it up to them.</p>
<p>"To go on and have success in the Cup now. You had the travelling fans there again on Sunday and they are amazing, they follow us wherever we go and generally they have seen us win a few games this season but unfortunately we weren't able to give them the result or performance we wanted to."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>He insisted that no one should take their place in the side for granted:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"You are only really secure as individuals when you are winning games but even then we will make changes from time to time with what is required tactically.</p>
<p>"I don't think there is anyone expecting to have their name pencilled in for that game (FA Cup semi-final).</p>
<p>"But the motivation should be getting your name there."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It is increasingly looking like <span>Roberto Martinez</span> has lost the dressing room, and one can only hope that the senior players like Baines and captain <span>Phil Jagielka</span> can get the team unified with one purpose again ahead of the Cup game at Wembley.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/4/5/11368354/baines-says-that-everton-have-no-chemistry-right-nowCalvin2016-04-04T18:55:35+01:002016-04-04T18:55:35+01:00Analysis: Martinez's Poor Lineup Costs Everton
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<figcaption>Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Roberto Martinez sent out Everton with a lineup and gameplan that simply didn't make any sense -- predictably, the Toffees couldn't overcome the handicap handed out by their manager.</p> <p>When <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton's</a> lineup for Sunday's match against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> was released, I was excited, as I suspect many Evertonians were as well.</p>
<p>The lineup sheet read: <span>Joel Robles</span>, <span>Leighton Baines</span>, <span>Phil Jagielka</span>, <span>John Stones</span>, <span>Seamus Coleman</span>, <span>Tom Cleverley</span>, <span>James McCarthy</span>, <span>Ross Barkley</span>, Gerard Deulofeu, <span>Aaron Lennon</span>, and <span>Romelu Lukaku</span>.</p>
<p>It seemed, finally, Roberto Martinez planned to give Lennon a shot at left midfield, with Deulofeu on the right. Two-winger lineups have been rare for Everton this year, which is defensible to an extent given the poor play of <span>Kevin Mirallas</span> and the youth of Gerard Deulofeu.</p>
<p>But, in a match that ultimately didn't mean much and against a team with wingers unlikely to contribute much defensively (Anthony Martial and <span>Juan Mata</span>), Sunday's match seemed to be the perfect time to give it a shot. With Gareth Barry suspended, Tom Cleverley even kept his spot in the lineup, deservedly so given the positive overall play of the Englishman in an unnatural left wing position for much of the season.</p>
<p>Such a setup would have looked something like the following.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://lineupbuilder.com/350x500/?p=11&a=1&t=&c=0700db&1=GK_Joel__388_174&2=DL_Baines__317_64&3=DCL_Jagielka__327_138&4=DCR_Stones__327_211&5=DR_Coleman__317_284&6=MC_Cleverley__222_138&7=FC_Barkley__111_137&8=MCR_McCarthy__222_211&9=MRAA_Deulofeu__186_284&10=ML_Lennon__185_58&11=FC_Lukaku__82_195&c2=ffffff&c3=ffffff&output=embed" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" height="500" width="350"></iframe></p>
<p>Imagine my feelings then (ranging from depression to rage to existential dread), when Martinez sent these players out in this formation.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://lineupbuilder.com/350x500/?p=11&a=1&t=&c=0700db&1=GK_Joel__388_174&2=DL_Baines__317_64&3=DCL_Jagielka__327_138&4=DCR_Stones__327_211&5=DR_Coleman__317_284&6=MLAA_Cleverley__186_64&7=MCL_Barkley__222_138&8=MCR_McCarthy__222_211&9=MRAA_Deulofeu__186_284&10=AC_Lennon__128_162&11=FC_Lukaku__82_195&c2=ffffff&c3=ffffff&output=embed" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" height="500" width="350"></iframe></p>
<p>In a move that perhaps only Jurgen Klinsmann managing the US National Team would consider reasonable, Lennon, Cleverley, and Barkley traded positions from what seemed to be the most reasonable setup.</p>
<p>In essence, a winger played as the No. 10, because the No. 10 played as a traditional central midfielder, because a traditional central midfielder played as a winger.</p>
<p>Dizzy yet?</p>
<p>In truth, Lennon operated more as a second striker than a traditional, play-making No. 10, playing closer to Lukaku than we usually see Ross Barkley. I can vaguely see what Martinez was thinking with this setup, so allow me to briefly explain his madness before angrily lighting my computer on fire.</p>
<p>Throwing Lennon up top behind Lukaku gave the Toffees more pace than usual on the front line, in theory allowing the team to strike more quickly on the counter. With two committed blocks of four defending at the back, the team had enough defensive strength to repel most United attacks comfortably, then throw the ball forward to the wingers, then up top, where the strength of Lukaku and the speed of Lennon could create chances.</p>
<p>At least, that's how the theory went.</p>
<p>Early in the match, this plan had at least moderate results. Deulofeu was a major headache for United full-back Marcos Rojo, and the Spaniard created a few early chances for Everton by taking Rojo on 1-v-1 and by whipping early crosses in toward Lukaku before the United back-four could get set. None of the crosses connected, but the chances were there for the taking, briefly.</p>
<p>United quickly wised up though, and started to focus their defensive pressure on Everton's right side. After about 25 minutes, service to Deulofeu was completely cut off, as shown in his passes received map (courtesy of FourFourTwo.com).</p>
<p>The first graphic depicts all of his received passes from the entire match, while the second displays only those received after the 25th minute.</p>
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<p>A grand total of four successful passes came Deulofeu's way down the right wing after the first 25 minutes of the match.</p>
<p>With that outlet closed, the Toffees had two options: try to play through Cleverley down the left, or just boot the ball forward toward Lukaku and Lennon, hoping something good happened. Neither plan was successful.</p>
<p>Cleverley's heatmap and passing map (courtesy of EvertonFC.com) from before Everton's introduction of Kevin Mirallas, and subsequent change of shape, clearly show what happened when the ball came to Cleverley on the left wing.</p>
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<p>Cleverley saw plenty of the ball in the middle third, but failed to consistently get it forward. The English midfielder lacks the pace or guile to beat defenders 1-v-1, so most of his possessions ended with backwards or sideways passes, because he had nothing else he could do.</p>
<p>When Cleverley didn't work out either, Everton simply started playing hopeful long balls. A lot of hopeful long balls, in fact. A great deal, plethora, bulk, bundle, or any other synonym you can think of, of long balls.</p>
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<p>54 long balls before the introduction of Mirallas, to be precise. As you can see, the majority of these long balls came from midfielders or defenders toward Everton's two attackers and very rarely found their target.</p>
<p>This strategy completely marginalized Everton's arguably three most important attacking players: Romelu Lukaku, Aaron Lennon, and Ross Barkley.</p>
<p>As you can see below, most passes Lukaku received were long balls, almost none of which came into dangerous areas.</p>
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<p>If these are the passes your team plays to its striker, you better either have Lionel Messi or be playing against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/">Aston Villa's</a> backups if you want to score.</p>
<p>Lennon was so isolated in the space between the midfielders and the big, long-ball chasing Belgian that he probably would have been happy to have traded places with Lukaku.</p>
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<p>Aaron Lennon, one of the hottest attackers in the Premier League, received 12 passes in the first 63 minutes of a match against Manchester United while playing blatantly out of position. I tried for a long time to summarize this in a catchy or humorous way, but there just isn't one. It simply reflects a plainly broken gameplan.</p>
<p>Ross Barkley, on the other hand, at least was able to get on the ball, but in no position to make an impact on the match, as his heatmap indicates.</p>
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<p>Barkley is good, but he isn't good enough to pick out a double-covered striker from 55 yards from goal.</p>
<p>After 63 painful minutes, Martinez finally made a change, but removed Deulofeu, easily Everton's best attacker of the match, for the the ever-unpredictable Kevin Mirallas.</p>
<p>Thankfully, the change at least saw the Toffees switch back to a 4-2-3-1 with Mirallas, Barkley, and Lennon as the attacking midfield trio, but the move was not good enough and came too late. Mirallas failed to make any significant impact on the game, Lennon still looked lost after his forays in the middle of the pitch, and United was more than happy to keep players behind the ball against a hapless Everton attack.</p>
<p>For the majority of this season, I have been most critical of <span>Roberto Martinez's</span> ability to instill confidence, game management, and defensive steel into his players, rather than his tactics. He certainly has been far from infallible, but more often than not, the Spaniard has been at least on the right path.</p>
<p>But Sunday, Martinez gave his players no real chance to succeed. The team's best scoring chances fell to Phil Jagielka on corner kicks, with no other chances of note for the entire 90 minutes. The Toffees are in need of investment at multiple attacking positions, yes, but there is still too much offensive firepower on this team to go a full match with so little attacking impetus.</p>
<p>Two weeks ago, I wrote that Martinez needed to quickly improve the direction the team was heading in if he wanted to secure his job for next season. After this ugly loss to Manchester United, Roberto Martinez has left himself even more to do in the final weeks of the season.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/4/4/11358290/everton-manchester-united-tactical-analysis-roberto-martinez-romelu-lukakuAdam.Braun2016-04-03T20:07:46+01:002016-04-03T20:07:46+01:00Martinez says players as unhappy as the fans
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<figcaption>Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Post-match quotes from the manager after Everton's 1-0 loss at Manchester United</p> <p>Everton didn't play badly on the day, but certainly didn't play well either and would have been lucky to have left Old Trafford with a draw. However, Lady Luck is anywhere but on the Blues' side lately and were almost unfortunate to lose to a ponderous <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> side that huffed and puffed and then scored off a defensive miscue that has been a motif of this season's Toffees.</p>
<p>After the game, <span>Roberto Martinez</span> acknowledged the frustration of the fans -</p>
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<p>"We all are. You could hear our boos in the dressing room. It's exactly the same, we're a football club that over the last three years there has been a bit of a change of generation.</p>
<p>"A lot of players that have come into the scene, we have given them big roles. I believe that they have got incredible talent, and incredible young talent needs know-how, lessons and it needs to develop.</p>
<p>"The disappointment and the frustration that we all have is that we can see the quality that we have in our squad and we can gain some sort of momentum.</p>
<p>"It's 1984 since the last time we got into two semi-finals of domestic cups so I think this generation can make us very, very successful."</p>
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<p>Despite this being <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton's</a> third loss in the last four Premier League games, Martinez stubbornly insisted that his side were not performing poorly -</p>
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<p>"I wouldn't agree with that. Our performance against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/">Aston Villa</a> was very good; our performance against West Ham, where with 10 men we were the better side for 78 minutes then in 12 minutes we lost the game. Then we had an outstanding performance against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>, a team who are undefeated in the league under their new manager and got into the semi-finals of the FA Cup. We had a really poor performance against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> and I don't think we coped with not having <span>Gareth Barry</span> around.</p>
<p>"We're a team that probably needed direction with outstanding footballers and outstanding young talent, but we need that guidance and that experienced head.</p>
<p>"Today was different. I think we finished the game in a very different manner. We came with a strong mentality, the only criticism I have is that we're a lot better in the things we didn't do well today."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Martinez once defended the players' mentality, saying that they were still motivated to finish the season on a high note -</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"What we want to do is in the next two months make sure we're still involved in two competitions.</p>
<p>"We got to the semi-final of the League Cup and were very unfortunate not to get to the final and now we're in the semi-final of the FA Cup and going to Wembley. That shows you the mentality of the group is growing all the time and we're starting to know how to progress in those big moments.</p>
<p>"In my league my only criticism is the results at home. The results away have been consistent, we've been very strong and have played eye to eye with everyone. What we need to correct is finding enjoyment of playing in front of our fans with the talent that we have."</p>
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<p>The optimistic-to-a-fault Catalan finished off with yet another dose of sunshine, saying did not deserve to lose today -</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"There were two games within a game. Up until the goal, we were the team with a better tempo and we always looked a threat.</p>
<p>"The goal was a very soft action, it's not up to our standards. The performances were very, very level and we shouldn't have lost the game.</p>
<p>"It's that sort of game that came down to small margins - the ball hitting the crossbar is the difference between us getting something out of the game.</p>
<p>"We are a young group with great potential, but our home form hasn't been anywhere near good enough."</p>
</blockquote>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/4/3/11355646/everton-manager-roberto-martinez-says-players-as-unhappy-as-the-fansCalvin2016-04-03T18:45:00+01:002016-04-03T18:45:00+01:00Everton 0-1 Manchester United: Instant Reaction
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<figcaption>Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Poor attack, a defensive lapse, Everton loss. Rather, rinse, repeat.</p> <p>It was a performance that we have come to expect from Everton in the 2015-16 season. They had flashes of brilliance, but ultimately proved to be disappointing, losing 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.</p>
<p>Gerard Deulofeu provided some much needed energy for the Toffees and looked to be a handful for the United defense throughout the first half. But he started to fade as the game went on and was eventually subbed off with a half hour remaining in favor of <span>Kevin Mirallas</span>.</p>
<p>There can't be too much to complain about with the centerback pairing of <span>John Stones</span> and Phil Jagielka. Stones made a goal-saving tackle on Anthony Martial in the penalty area and continued to be impressive with the ball at his feet. Jagielka had two of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton's</a> best chances, one hitting the crossbar and the other right at goalkeeper <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/david-de-gea-transfer-rumours-news">David De Gea</a>.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">STONES. <a href="https://t.co/pOmv8aDc4o">https://t.co/pOmv8aDc4o</a></p>
— English League BR (@EnglishLeagueBR) <a href="https://twitter.com/EnglishLeagueBR/status/716652404389888001">April 3, 2016</a>
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<p>The real problem today was the attack. As mentioned, Deulofeu provided a spark early on, but there was little apart from that. <span>Aaron Lennon</span> seemed to be given free reign to roam the pitch, but had almost no impact. <span>Tom Cleverley</span> was positioned out on the left wing, pushing <span>Ross Barkley</span> to a deep midfield role, which just did not work for him, It was a strange set-up.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United's</a> goal came off the boot of Martial, but it was a ball <span>Seamus Coleman</span> should have dealt with much better. He had a good angle on the delivery, but just flat out missed it. That is one that Coleman will look back on and feel single-handedly responsible for.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-video">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Anthony Martial delivers once again for <a href="https://twitter.com/ManUtd">@ManUtd</a>, scoring the opener vs. Everton. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BPLonNBC?src=hash">#BPLonNBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ManUtd?src=hash">#ManUtd</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Everton?src=hash">#Everton</a> <a href="https://t.co/SZqfmy6R4X">https://t.co/SZqfmy6R4X</a></p>
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/716661629073629185">April 3, 2016</a>
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<p>What else can really be said? <span>Romelu Lukaku</span> didn't have much of an impact, but his service was poor for nearly the entire game. On one specific corner, Jagielka gave him an earful for not being where he was supposed to be. On the replay, it looked as though Rom didn't even really make an effort to be near the ball. I mean, yeah Lukaku makes a lot of money and should be giving his all for a full 90 minutes, but he was hardly the reason Everton lost.</p>
<p>One final thing that was problematic was the performance of Oumar Niasse. He was the big-money January transfer, but obviously hasn't done enough in practice to earn a start despite the poor overall team performance. So, instead he comes on as a last-ditch substitute. But even in that capacity he has struggled, looking weaker, slower and less-skilled than his competitors. Another nail in <span>Roberto Martinez</span>' managerial coffin? Perhaps.</p>
<p>Everton will be back in action on Saturday as they travel to Vicarage Road to take on Watford, a team just below them in the table. And then they are on the road again to Selhurst Park for a game with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/crystal-palace">Crystal Palace</a>. on April 13. Both are opportunities to improve on the Toffees poor league form, but that probably won't happen because #Evertoning.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/4/3/11355458/everton-manchester-united-martial-lukaku-review_TyYoung2016-04-02T20:27:49+01:002016-04-02T20:27:49+01:00Everton at Manchester United: Gamethread
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<figcaption>Clive Brunskill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Toffees stink this year, but it's a game against Manchester United at Old Trafford, so this is still a big one.</p> <p>It's been more than two weeks since we last saw <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Everton</a> take the field and, surprising or not, a lot has happened. <span>Romelu Lukaku</span> and his father have ignited rumors of his summer departure. And the continued poor performances from the club have increased the regularity of talk that the likes of <span>John Stones</span> and <span>Ross Barkley</span> may join Lukaku in heading for the exit. It's time for actual football and no more talk.</p>
<p>It's a match-up of managers on the hot seat at Old Trafford. Some have reported that <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Manchester United's</a> Louis Van Gaal may make way for Jose Mourinho following the season. And just about every Toffee supporter has lost their patience with <span>Roberto Martinez</span> at the helm of their club. Three points here could prove crucial to either head man. United must win to stay in contention for the top four. Everton could stand to prove that they are able to compete with the big clubs in the regular season.</p>
<p>Despite how inconsistent the performances have been for the Blues, Martinez has repeatedly stuck with a very similar starting XI. With the FA Cup as the real prize left to win this season, it would be nice to see the manager mix things up a bit here. Maybe give Gerard Deulofeu another run in the squad. Finally have Oumar Niasse start a match perhaps? Anything to break up the stale-ness of EFC's football lately.</p>
<h3>Match Details</h3>
<p><b>Date and Time:</b> Sunday, April 3rd at 16:00 BST / 11:00 a.m. EST</p>
<p><b>Stadium:</b> Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England</p>
<p><b>Capacity:</b> 75,635</p>
<h3>How to Watch</h3>
<p><b>Match Forecast:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bbc.com/weather/2643123">14° C/57° F, cloudy, winds south at 10 MPH</a></p>
<p><b>TV:</b> USA Network, Telemundo - United States</p>
<p><b>Radio:</b> Westwood One Sports, SiriusXM FC, Everton Match Centre</p>
<p><b>Live Stream: </b><a href="http://plstream10.nbcsports.com" target="_blank">NBC Sports Live Extra</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1614167/manchester-united-vs-everton/">Info from Livesoccertv</a></p>
<h3><b>Lineups</b></h3>
<h4><b>Manchester United:</b></h4>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="de" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mufc?src=hash">#mufc</a> XI: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rashford. <a href="https://t.co/WNwV2has2a">pic.twitter.com/WNwV2has2a</a></p>— Manchester United (@ManUtd) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/716626337772015616">April 3, 2016</a>
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<h4>Everton:</h4>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">TEAM NEWS: Here is how the Blues line up against <a href="https://twitter.com/ManUtd">@ManUtd</a> this afternoon (4pm k/o). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUFCvEFC?src=hash">#MUFCvEFC</a> <a href="https://t.co/bWKoIO1yOP">pic.twitter.com/bWKoIO1yOP</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/716626291995320320">April 3, 2016</a>
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<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/4/2/11352868/manchester-united-everton-gamethread-premier-league_TyYoung2016-04-02T19:00:02+01:002016-04-02T19:00:02+01:00Everton at Man United: Match Preview
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<figcaption>Ian MacNicol/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Everton will attempt to salvage their Premier League season as they travel to Old Trafford and face Louis Van Gaal's Manchester United</p> <p>The slow march to the end of what appears to be another disappointing Premier League season for Everton continues this weekend against <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Manchester United</a>. While <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Everton's</a> FA Cup run has been a delight for supporters, their league form has been inconsistent at best and dreadful at worst. The Toffees currently sit in 12<sup>th</sup> place behind West Brom and just above the recently promoted likes of Watford and Bournemouth.</p>
<p>Everton have had two weeks to rest and prepare for this weekend's match, and will not see much rest for the next few weeks. Ahead of them lies a brutal month ending with a Merseyside Derby and the FA Cup semi-final. There will be very little time for rest in between those matches, so it is imperative that <span>Roberto Martinez</span> properly manage his squad for the rough road ahead.</p>
<p>Adding on to the already tough month ahead, there have been the comments from <span>Romelu Lukaku</span> regarding his departure this summer and the imminent rumors that followed. While his comments may have been either inappropriate or poorly timed, Lukaku will need to be at his best for Everton if they wish to finish strong and climb the table.</p>
<h3>The Opposition</h3>
<p>Everton will be facing the equally besieged Manchester United and their under-fire manager Louis Van Gaal. Van Gaal and United have faced a rough up and down season that has seen them go form near league leaders to being in danger of missing out on European football. They currently sit in 6<sup>th</sup> but are tied with West Ham on points.</p>
<p>While United have defensively stout during large portions of the season, they have suffered numerous injuries that have hampered Van Gaal's ability to put his best squad out on the field. However, these injuries have allowed for the emergence of a number of talented youngsters, namely Marcus Rashford and <span>Jesse Lingard</span>, who have come up big for United.</p>
<h3>Team News</h3>
<p>Everton's injury woes seemed to have dissipated, at least for the time being. The only players listed on the injury report on the team's website are <span>Tony Hibbert</span> and Tyias Browning, both of whom are not expected to play for the remainder of the year.</p>
<p><span>Gareth Barry</span> will again miss this week's game due to suspension, but will be available for selection the following week against Watford.</p>
<p>Manchester United on the other hand are still inundated with injuries as <span>Bastian Schweinsteiger</span>, <span>Wayne Rooney</span> and possibly <span>Ander Herrera</span> will miss this week's match. Even with these injuries Everton still face a tough test and will surely be looking for revenge after their 3-0 defeat to United earlier in the season.</p>
<h3>The Final Word</h3>
<p>Making predictions is always tough, and it's even more difficult given Everton's inconsistent nature this season.</p>
<p>This Manchester Untied squad is missing enough key players that on paper, Everton should be able to take advantage and come away with all three points.</p>
<p>Hopefully the Everton squad that we have seen in the FA Cup comes to play this weekend.</p>
<p><b>Predicted Starting XI:</b> Robles, Baines, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Coleman, Besic, McCarthy, Cleverley, Barkley, Deulofeu, Lukaku</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/4/2/11351126/everton-at-manchester-united-match-previewmralbaugh2016-04-02T16:00:03+01:002016-04-02T16:00:03+01:00Roberto unconcerned by Lukaku speculation
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<figcaption>Chris Brunskill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It wouldn't be an international break without transfer speculation to respond to...</p> <p><b>After a two-week break to lick their wounds following the defeat to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> now face a tough trip to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Man United</a> - their potential opponents in the FA Cup semi-final. To preview the clash, <span>Roberto Martinez</span> sat down with the assembled media at Finch Farm for his pre-match press conference but it was the speculation surrounding the future of star striker <span>Romelu Lukaku</span> that took centre stage.</b></p>
<p>In response to questioning of the Belgian's future, the Spaniard said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>"What we shouldn't be afraid about is losing payers because we are in a position where financially we can compete against anyone in world football at this time.</span></p>
<p>"Things have changed radically in that respect but at the moment it's the wrong time; it's pointless to talk about individual situations because we have two months left to finish the season strongly.</p>
<p>"You need to understand that at this point all that matters are the remaining games. In the summer we will have time to speak about individual situations.</p>
<p>"We're not in a position where we should be fearful of losing anyone because financially we can compete with anyone."</p>
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<p>The gaffer continued by declaring:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"At this present time it doesn't bother me what the individual situations will be in the summer. At the end of the season we will reassess how the season has gone. At the end of the season these individual cases will be approached and we can speak about that then.</p>
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<p>"But this is the start of a new financial era at Everton. We are very very strong and have our own ambitions.</p>
<p>"We want to be a winning team and every window we will do that in order to become as good as we can. We made a huge investment in him and now you can see why. He has grown into the player we expected him to."</p>
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<p>In regards to Lukaku's comments about playing in the Champions League, his manager described the player's ambitions as matching the club's own.</p>
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<p>"It's not unsettling because that should be the aspirations of everyone. Being the best you can.</p>
<p>"That's our aspiration - to be in the Champions League. I've said it openly for a long time. We want to be competing to win titles.</p>
<p>"We've just been in the semi-final of the League cup and marginally knocked out by eventual winners.</p>
<p>"Now we're in the semi-final of the FA Cup. The players need to be part of that and we need ambitious players who can carry the expectations of our football club."</p>
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<p>But the gaffer did seem to have some ill-feeling towards international breaks and the comments that surface during them:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"every time we lose the payers for internationals it seems to attract what the players have to say, family member and people affiliated to them.</p>
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<p>"Nothing can upset our concentration on the next two months of our season.</p>
<p>"Rom is having a really good season - he needs to make it an outstanding season with the two months we have left. It's only the talking he does on the pitch that I'm looking at.</p>
<p>"Speculation is always because he's doing well on the pitch."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Away from Lukaku and his future, Martinez did manage to squeeze in some time to talk about another player who has been widely sought after:</p>
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<p>"<span>John Stones</span> is 21 and is still developing. He is well ahead of where he should be at his age."</p>
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<p>...and even a line about Sunday's opponents!</p>
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<p>"Manchester United are still a team in transition. They won their derby and they could finish the season very strongly."</p>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/4/2/11350644/everton-at-manchester-united-roberto-martinez-pre-match-quotesseanferguson2016-04-02T12:28:47+01:002016-04-02T12:28:47+01:00Injury report for Everton vs Man United
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<figcaption>Julian Finney/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Stones and Oviedo ruled as fully fit and Mirallas returns from ban</p> <p><b>After a dismal defeat at home to <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arsenal</a>, an international break might have just been what the doctor ordered for the Toffees as their Premier League season has begun to peter out.</b></p>
<p>However a trip to Old Trafford, a place they've won only twice since the Premier League's inception, may not quite be what the doctor ordered.</p>
<p>The international break has given <span>Bryan Oviedo</span> time to recover from his bronchitis and return to the squad. <span>John Stones</span> suffered a knock in England's defeat hosting the Netherlands but manager <span>Roberto Martinez</span> has said the centre half has shaken off the injury. <span>Kevin Mirallas</span> returns from his suspension following his red card against <a href="https://bracethehammer.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">West Ham United</a> but <span>Gareth Barry</span> is serving the last match of his suspension from the two bookings he received against <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea</a>.</p>
<p>As for the hosts, <span>Ashley Young</span> and <span>Ander Herrera</span> are doubts with groin injuries and will both face fitness tests. <span>Bastian Schweinsteiger</span> suffered a knee injury on international duty that will rule him out for the remainder of the season. Wayne Rooney's knee injury will keep him out of playing against his boyhood club as he won't return to training for another week. <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">The Red Devils</a> are also without <span>Phil Jones</span>, <span>Luke Shaw</span> and <span>Will Keane</span>.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/4/2/11350388/everton-at-manchester-united-injury-reportseanferguson