Saturday sees the next match in our rock hard start to the season with the visit of Tottenham Hotspur to Goodison.
Spurs are seen by Ronald Koeman as the blueprint for Everton’s transformation into title challengers. Indeed, for a while Spurs and Everton often were fighting around the edge of the Champions league positions less than 5 years ago. It seems like a long time ago when Spurs were churning through managers Chelsea style but Pochettino is now entering his 4th season and has provided stability to the lilywhites.
The Argentine schemer has brought a strength and organization to Tottenham that had previously been missing under Andre Villas Boas. This is being challenged by having to play their home matches at the cavernous Wembley stadium whilst their new home is being built. It’s easy to see why Spurs are seen as an example for Everton as they are well run on and off the pitch.
In terms of team news, Spurs will be missing Victor Wanyama this weekend. The Kenyan enforcer will be a big miss for Spurs. Erik Lamela will also be missing as will the gravity challenged Danny Rose. They do have reinforcements at the full back position with Kieran Trippier and new new signing Serge Aurier availabe for selection.
Everton welcome back Morgan Schneiderlin whilst new signing Nikola Vlasic is in line to make his debut, possibly from the bench. Schneiderlin was a big loss against Chelsea and with Gareth Barry now at West Brom, provides stability in what will be a physical encounter.
With Pickford fit after the scare which cost him a possible debut for England, Everton have options to choose from. With Pochettino preferring an athletic midfield, it is possible that Tom Davies gets a run out ahead of Davy Klaassen this weekend.
The dutch schemer has shown glimpses of the intelligence that made Everton spend 24 million this summer. Klaassen and Sandro Ramirez are both players of undoubted quality, but are still finding their feet in the premier league. With the arrival of Gylfi Sigurddsson, Koeman is likely to rotate between his midfielders as he balances the demands of European football.
Further forward, Wayne Rooney is likely to start with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Sandro Ramirez fighting for the number 9 role. Rooney made his first team debut against Tottenham in a 2-2 draw 15 years ago and will be looking to add to his tally of 11 goals against Spurs.
In recent times, Spurs and Everton have been kryptonite to each other at Goodison over the last 5 or 6 years. Our last win against them came in December 2012, a 2-1 win. 2 injury time goals from Pienaar and Jelavic sparked bedlam in the Street End. A similar result will do nicely this weekend.
How do you think we will get on against Spurs? Leave your prediction in the comments below.
Everton's latest late escape, (let's not call it a great escape, there's nothing to be…
Everton have to rebound or reboot after last season's relegation battle. The Street End looks…
UTFT It took Rafa Benitez to become Everton manager to bring me out of semi-retirement.…
Football's not a matter of life and death. It is far less important than that.
Everton FC's shocking performance and lack of character at Anfield has led to fierce criticism…
With Marco Silva odds on to become the latest casualty of the Goodison Park transfer…