So with Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar missing Everton’s next two Premier League games, Moyes will have to change his team around. This article today will give my opinion on who should play.
Everton vs Stoke City:
Stoke City are a horrible, horrible football team, to be honest, they’re not even a football team, BUT, the suspension of Fellaini could be a blessing in disguise. With Fellaini gone we might not play HOOFBALL and ultimately play right into their hands, instead we might actually play football, which we are very capable of. However, Steven Pienaar will be a big miss for this game as he is seen as one of our ‘Flair Players’ which no emphasises the need for Kevin Mirallas to be on his game.
Right so onto who I think should replace them, well for me it’s obvious, Nikica Jelavic should come in for Fellaini and Bryan Oviedo should come in for Pienaar.
Victor Anichebe was absolutely awesome this past Saturday against Manchester City and really doesn’t deserve to be dropped, however, Nikica Jelavic FINALLY SCORED so he should be full of confidence, so I say, play both. With Gibson and Osman in midfield we really shouldn’t get overrun so I think we can afford to play two strikers at home against Stoke. Victor can most certainly bully them and hopefully Jelavic can finish the chances. Makes sense.
We haven’t seen much of Bryan Oviedo this year, but if you refer back to my article I wrote about him I said I want him to get more game time, this is the perfect chance. Bryan would inject pace into our side which will cause any side problems, but will definitely cause Stoke problems. It’s a no brainer for me.
Tottenham Hotspurs vs Everton:
Really BIG game for Everton this, could very well be bigger than the Manchester City game in terms that if we can get something at White Hart Lane we are very well in the hunt for some European Football next season.
This is most definitely a game where I wouldn’t play 4-4-2, this game we will most definitely play 4-2-3-1 which we have come accustomed to over the course of the last year or so.
Right so who I think should replace Fellaini and Pienaar. Well I think Oviedo should retain his place for this game as Spurs are a VERY pacey side so we need pace ourselves to counteract theirs. The big one will be who replaces Fellaini, a lot will call for Barkley, but for me, its Steven Naismith, just as long as its behind Jelavic/Anichebe and not right midfield. Away from home you need players who will put a shift in, Steven Naismith will do this, you may be sitting there thinking NO, but let’s be honest, Spurs aren’t a bad side, if we were away to someone like Aston Villa or Reading then I’d play Barkley, but this game is HUGE for us.
So, Steven Naismith and Bryan Oviedo are my choices to replace Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar for this game.
Here are the two teams in full…
Everton vs Stoke City:
Tottenham Hotspurs vs Everton:
Leave your opinion on who should replace Fellaini and Pienaar in the comments below!!
But Pienaar will be back against Spurs as his was only 2 yellow cards, not a straight red. So Oviedo would only get one game surely? I think maybe time to give Barkley a go as well? Surely he is chomping at the bit to try.
Pienaar is banned for two games, because it his second sending off this season.
I fear we’ll go Naismith for Pienaar, although I’d rather see Hitzlesperger in the middle and maybe push Ossie wider. Jelavic has to come in – maybe with Ossie wide we’ll get better service to Jelavic and he’ll have an even better chance of scoring again. I think that when Fellaini plays it compromises Jelavic.
Pienaar is not back for the Spurs game.
Also, Ossie cannot play out wide.
Naismith in behind Jelavic is the best call….anyone who says no to Naismith is basing their opinion on having watched him play out on the right and not in his favoured position…….
and the fact he can’t trap a bag of sand…..wherever he plays 🙂
why not bring phil neville in at right back and play coleman at right mid jelovic and big vic up front
I would play stones at right back (we paid 3m for him lets have a look at what we are getting) coleman right midfield. Mirallas replacing pienaar. Big vic to retain his place if he plays like he did against man city, jelavic to replace felli. Id also like duffy to get a run out at heitingas expense.
Agree with you there Dave, but only for the Stoke game! The above team for Spurs looks our best line-up! Moyes may not drop Heitinger for the Stoke match which would be a shame for Duffy! Bring him on if 3 up v Stoke.
I think for the stoke game instead of pienaar put osman on the left and put Hitzlsperger in at CM and play Big Vic and Jela as our strikers.
Agree that Jelavic, Oviedo or naysmith.
Personally, I would like to see McAleny on the bench at least, he has been great at the youth team, has had first team experience. I dont think hitzlesperger offers that much.
Jelavic up top v stoke with vic just behind.Vic is better with back to goal and needs to drop deeper as stoke play three central midfielders.
Would bring in Oviedo to replace Pienaar as he’s shown he can create and track-back well.
We have looked a less predictable attacking force when the front players rotate and interchange positions/wings,making them harder to man-mark.