Fri 24 Feb 06
Maple Lions showdown
My club and Mike Campbell’s club go at it tomorrow afternoon. Lawro is predicting a 1-1 draw. Amazingly, Rogers Sportsnet is showing the match at 12:30PM Eastern.
The Magpies are absolutely rocked with injuries these days - in addition to Shearer and Owen, Titus Bramble and Kieron Dyer were hurt in last week’s FA Cup win over Southampton. Michael Owen, at least, could be back for the FA Cup match against Chelsea next month.
Damian P.
1-1, eh? I could handle that. 10 game undefeated runs are often busted by two week rests.
Everton are improving somewhat on the injury front. I know some fans aren’t hot on Andy van der Meyde, but I thought he was pretty integral to the beginning of Everton’s climb out of the basement. Still, they’ve been winning without him and he remains out.
Keeper woes have been somewhat alleviated by the Toffees signing of former-Red Sander Westerveld. Fingers crossed that he doesn’t trip over any goalmouth signs in warmup or get himself red-carded 10 minutes in. Hey, we’re happy to have him. He’s famous for getting sent off along with an 18 year old Francis Jeffers following a dust up in a Merseyside derby in 1999.
And Big Lunc is still suspended, of course. Some might question his effectiveness, but I find Everton can be a better side when he’s on the pitch; he gets up forward and throws his weight around, and his height can help out in defence.
Some weakness in the back, as Hibbert and Neville (prob Everton’s best player this season) are also out on their 5th yellows.
This will be my first viewing of Lee Carsley since his recent return, so I’m very interested to see how he performs.
I’ve never been able to figure out how to hook up the vcr once I got the digital box, but the cable company is coming today to hook up a DVR. So, hopefully I will be able to figure it out by tomorrow, as I won’t be able the watch the game in the afternoon!
Blimey, not much to say from a Toffee perspective. Emre’s presence on the line was vital, twice. Weir looked his 35 years on that first goal - gawd, I coulda done better.
Hats off, Damian!