MATCH THREAD: “ EVERTON v CARDIFF CITY “ MATCH THREAD

EVERTON v CARDIFF CITY
Saturday 24th November, 3pm
Premier League
Goodison Park



City: Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Cunningham; Arter, Gunnarsson, Ralls; Camarasa, Harris, Paterson.
Subs: Smithies, Peltier, Bennett, Ward, Murphy, Decordova-Reid, Hoilett.






Over 100 Tickets still left for Cardiff fans


Team news 24/11/18

Kenneth Zohore is still out injured.

Everton have been handed a double boost as Marco Silva confirmed that Gylfi Sigurdsson and Andre Gomes are both available for selection this weekend.

Sigurdsson did not travel with Iceland for their matches against Belgium and Qatar having suffered an ankle injury in the Toffees' 0-0 draw with Chelsea earlier this month while Gomes was sent home from Portugal duty due to concerns over his fitness.

But the pair are both in contention to start against Cardiff on Saturday.

Centre-back Kurt Zouma is available again having been ineligible to feature against parent club Chelsea last time out.

As for the Bluebirds, they will be without Kenneth Zohore for the trip to the North West of England.

The striker has been struggling with a calf problem and has been ruled out of the clash with Everton.




Nathaniel Mendez-Laing will also miss the clash with the Toffees, despite stepping up his recovery from injury by scoring for the Under-23s on Monday night. The game will also come a little too soon for Jazz Richards.

However, Gary Madine could be included in the matchday squad have trained well in midweek as well as joining Mendez-Laing in getting on the schoresheet for the Under-23s.

Energetic midfielder Harry Arter is available again having served a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards.











" INJURY UPDATE 22/11/18 "


With current striker Kenneth Zohore still struggling with a calf injury, Warnock revealed the other injury news ahead of the trip to Everton.


NEIL WARNOCK:

"Nathaniel Mendez-Laing made a comeback on Monday night, scoring for Cardiff Under-23s, but Warnock ruled the winger - as well as Zohore - out of this week's Goodison Park encoutner."

"Ken Zohore has not responded really, we’re disappointed with that," he said. "It seems to be taking an eternity to get right."

"Jazz Richards has had a good week, I asked him to have an intense week and he’s had that and come back alright. He needed a full week’s training."

"We’ve got to be a bit careful with (Mendez-Laing) at the minute especially with this busy period of fixtures."


Everton Team News

22/11/18

Silva has no new injury concerns to contend with and faces a selection headache with a number of players returning. Having featured against ​Chelsea, duo Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes are set to feature this weekend.





Everton team news

21/11/18

Jonjoe Kenny is tagged as having a knock with a four-day timescale, but Ademola Lookman (knock), Andre Gomes (bruised leg) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (ankle injury) are given no dates for a possible return.

The latter two did remain at Finch Farm over the international break for treatment on knocks they picked up against Chelsea – in the case of Gomes he did travel but was sent back – so there is hope they remain in Silva’s plans having had time to rest.





Kenneth Zohore 19/11/18

Kenneth Zohore is set to hand Cardiff City a boost by returning to fitness after the international break.
Danish forward Zohore has missed the last two games against Leicester and Brighton & Hove Albion with a calf problem.
However, Zohore is now making good progress with his recovery and is hopeful of being available again for next week's trip to Everton.

98D04C60-D9E3-425A-A0BD-98C239AC48FA.jpeg

About Everton

Everton Football Club is a football club in Liverpool, England, that competes in the Premier League, the top flight of English football. The club have competed in the top division for a record 116 seasons, missing the top division only four times (1930–31 and three consecutive seasons starting with 1951–52) since The Football League was created in 1888. Everton have won 15 major trophies: the League Championship nine times (fourth most as of 2017–18), the FA Cup five times (ninth most) and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup once.

Formed in 1878, Everton were founding members of The Football League in 1888 and won their first League Championship two seasons later. Following four League Championship and two FA Cup wins, Everton experienced a lull in the immediate post World War Two period, until a revival in the 1960s, which saw the club win two League Championships and an FA Cup. The mid-1980s represented their most recent period of sustained success, with two League Championships, an FA Cup, and the 1985 European Cup Winners' Cup. The club's most recent major trophy was the 1995 FA Cup.

The club's supporters are known as Evertonians. Everton have a rivalry with neighbours Liverpool, and the two sides contest the Merseyside derby. The club has been based at Goodison Park in Walton, Liverpool, since 1892, after moving from Anfield following a row over its rent. The club's home colours are royal blue shirts with white shorts and socks.

Previous Meeting

The last time we played Everton was in a Premier League fixture in March 2014. We lost 2-1 at Goodison Park, when Juan Cala had equalised for us at one point. Gerard Deulofeu had opened the scoring for Everton, before Seamus Coleman got a late winner.

Team News - Predicted Line-Ups

Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne, Gomes, Gueye, Walcott, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Richarlison

Cardiff City: Etheridge, Manga, Bamba, Morrison, Cunningham, Gunnarsson, Camarasa, Ralls, Murphy, Harris, Paterson

Form - Last Three Games

Chelsea 0-0 Everton
Everton 3-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester United 2-1 Everton

Cardiff City 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Cardiff City 0-1 Leicester City
Liverpool 4-1 Cardiff City

Match Odds

Everton - 2/5
Cardiff City - 13/2
Draw - 18/5

Predictions

Post your predictions below

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Some tickets still left for Cardiff fans

Cardiff City go into their next Premier League fixture against Everton on the back of a morale-boosting win over Brighton.

Despite beating the Seagulls, Neil Warnock's men remain in the relegation zone over the international break, although they are just one point behind 14th placed Newcastle ahead of the clash with Marco Silva's side.

Warnock will continue to work with those who are not away on international duty at the club's Vale Resort training base over the next 10 days or so ahead of the trip to Merseyside.

And there'll be plenty for the Cardiff faithful to ponder while we take a break from league action.







Can Aron Gunnarsson return to South Wales unscathed?

After missing more than two months of the campaign through injury, Gunnarsson has once again shown his class since returning to the first team fold.

It's no coincidence that their only two wins of the season so far against Fulham and Brighton have come when the 29-year-old has been in the side and at his best.

But Warnock will once again be keeping his fingers crossed as Gunnarsson links up with Iceland over the international break.

The Euro 2016 quarter-finalists take on Belgium in the Nations League on Thursday before facing Qatar four days later.

And given Gunnarsson's struggles with injury during Warnock's tenure at Cardiff, you could forgive the Bluebirds' boss for wanting to wrap up the central midfielder in cotton wool.

Warnock didn't appear to have the best of relationships with Iceland's former boss Heimir Hallgrímsson, but he will hope to strike the right chord with their current manager Erik Hamren this week and in the future, with Gunnarsson again available for his country.

"I’ve told Gunnar how important Everton is, he doesn’t train with us everyday anyway," said Warnock before the Brighton game.

Here's hoping Gunnarsson can be fit and firing for when the Bluebirds take on the Toffees.

Neil Warnock's internationals


Before the Everton away game next Saturday

Aron Gunnarsson playing for Iceland and Calum Paterson playing for Scotland.

Neil Warnock will also be without Bruno Manga, Harry Arter, Junior Hoilett and Neil Etheridge over the international break.

Hoilett's Canada take on St. Kitts and Nevis, Manga's Gabon are at home to Mali, Arter's Republic of Ireland are up against Northern Ireland and Denmark while Etheridge's Philippines side take on Singapore, Timor-Leste and Thailand.

Jazz Richards has not been included in the Wales squad for the matches against Denmark and Albania.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

This will be my first visit to Goodison, looking forward to it.

In truth, can’t see us getting a result - Everton are very strong going forward, especially.

3-1 Everton is my prediction.

Kenneth Zohore is set to hand Cardiff City a boost by returning to fitness after the international break.


Danish forward Zohore has missed the last two games against Leicester and Brighton & Hove Albion with a calf problem.

However, Zohore is now making good progress with his recovery and is hopeful of being available again for next week's trip to Everton.

Still tickets left for Cardiff City fans

MENDEZ-LAING / GARY MADINE / DAMOUR / MURPHY ALL START FOR CARDIFF CITY

All playing for Cardiff City's under 23's tonight

Cardiff have 2,800 tickets for West Ham away, only need to have been to 3 away matches, going on general sale to season ticket holders soon and members etc



Everton away 2,450 tickets for Cardiff fans this Saturday 3pm, still tickets available to Season ticket holders/members etc

FOUR EVERTON INJURY DOUBTS AHEAD OF CARDIFF


Everton news

21/11/18

With the November international break soon to be at an end, it’s almost time for Everton eyes to turn to this Saturday’s Premier League clash with Cardiff City.

We welcome Neil Warnock’s promotion-winning battlers to Goodison Park for the game, and recent form is on our side, as is top-flight league placing. Manager Marco Silva’s side are sat in ninth place in the division, whilst Cardiff are down in 18th and the top relegation spot.

They will come into the match with renewed confidence though as they went into the international lull having picked up their second victory of the year against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Preparations for Silva shouldn’t be too complicated as he welcomes people back as our internationals appear to have come through unscathed so far, but physioroom’s table does list four potential doubts for the game.

Jonjoe Kenny is tagged as having a knock with a four-day timescale, but Ademola Lookman (knock), Andre Gomes (bruised leg) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (ankle injury) are given no dates for a possible return.

The latter two did remain at Finch Farm over the international break for treatment on knocks they picked up against Chelsea – in the case of Gomes he did travel but was sent back – so there is hope they remain in Silva’s plans having had time to rest.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

" INJURY UPDATE 22/11/18 "


With current striker Kenneth Zohore still struggling with a calf injury, Warnock revealed the other injury news ahead of the trip to Everton.


NEIL WARNOCK:

"Nathaniel Mendez-Laing made a comeback on Monday night, scoring for Cardiff Under-23s, but Warnock ruled the winger - as well as Zohore - out of this week's Goodison Park encoutner."

"Ken Zohore has not responded really, we’re disappointed with that," he said. "It seems to be taking an eternity to get right."

"Jazz Richards has had a good week, I asked him to have an intense week and he’s had that and come back alright. He needed a full week’s training."

"We’ve got to be a bit careful with (Mendez-Laing) at the minute especially with this busy period of fixtures."

Team News


Silva has no new injury concerns to contend with and faces a selection headache with a number of players returning. Having featured against ​Chelsea, duo Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes are set to feature this weekend.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

WARNOCK CLAIMS RICHARLISON WORTH DOUBLE WHAT EVERTON PAID


Everton News

Thursday 22nd November 2018


Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has claimed that Everton star Richarlison has doubled in value since Everton signed him, according to the Liverpool Echo.

The veteran manager told reporters ahead of the Bluebird’s clash with Everton this weekend that the Brazilian is worth a lot more than the £45 million that the Toffees paid for him this Summer.





Warnock also praised the hard-working nature of the Everton side, praising the Toffees work ethic and ability.

You look at stats and they’re the hardest working side in the Premier League at the moment.

Look at Richarlison up front he’s probably worth double that £45million.

Sigurdsson has had two week’s holiday whereas Aron [Gunnarsson, who was selected for international duty with Iceland last week while Gylfi was injured] has been all over the world.

Warnock also said that Everton captain Phil Jagielka speaks highly about the club, with the former England centre back playing under Warnock at Sheffield United.

Jagielka speaks very highly of the whole club so there’s no reason why they can’t push into the top five over the next few years.

Everton will be looking to continue their good form at the weekend against struggling Cardiff.

Richarlison will return from the international break after netting for Brazil against Cameroon in Milton Keynes.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

The unique Everton v Cardiff City rivalry that went from Reykjavik to the World Cup

By Dominic Booth


Friday 23rd November 2018


Together they flew the Icelandic flag in South Wales, but the connection between Aron Gunnarsson and Gylfi Sigurdsson goes back a lot further than that.

'When Gunnar met Gylfi' sounds like the title of a cheesy film, but the Cardiff City midfield enforcer first came across Everton's mercurial playmaker more than 12 years ago in rather more ordinary surroundings... an Iceland Under-17s match against Denmark.

Sigurdsson was a rangy attacking star, Gunnarsson a battling box-to-boxer. Not much has changed.

"I'm from the north of Iceland and it was the first time I met the boys who were playing in Reykjavik," remembers Gunnarsson.

"He was good on the ball like he is now, but he was taller than us. He's grown into a great player."

The pair are used to swapping compliments like all mates do. But like any friendship there's also that banter - something Gunnarsson insists will stay the same on the Goodison Park turf, where the pair clash on Saturday.

As Cardiff's defensive midfield general, Gunnarsson will be tasked with keeping Sigurdsson quiet - that's if the latter has recovered from an ankle injury sustained against Chelsea a fortnight ago.

Gunnarsson wants his old pal to play. He admitted he couldn't help but wince when Jorginho dived in with a reckless challenge on Sigurdsson at Stamford Bridge, sparking injury concerns.

"It wasn't nice. It wasn't good to see, obviously being someone who is close to me," he said.

"It was reckless and it didn't look nice in slow motion."


Jorginho and Sigurdsson battle during the Chelsea v Everton game (Image: 2018 Getty Images)
The indications are that Sigurdsson will most likely pull through, setting up a tantalising duel on Merseyside this weekend.

Because off the field, the two are inseparable.

They're just five months apart in age, they speak every day on the phone - Sigurdsson even attended Gunnarsson's stag-do in New York last year.

Even on the field, they have done tremendous things for the Icelandic national team, taking down England en route to the Euro 2016 quarter finals and securing an historic place at the 2018 World Cup.

But the best of friends will become enemies for 90 minutes this weekend, with Gunnarsson typically playing the role of the underdog.

Quite right for someone playing in the engine room of a Neil Warnock team against someone who embodies the flair of Marco Silva's Toffees side.

"They’re a free flowing team who have been doing well this season and we need to be careful of them," warned Gunnarsson.

"You can see the impact Silva has had on this Everton team.

"Gylfi has done ever so well, you know what he's about, he’s playing in his favourite position now, in the No.10 and he’s probably the hardest-working player, as well as the flair he’s got.

"I know how important he's been for Iceland and he's doing the same thing now for Everton, creating assists and scoring. It's going to be a hard task to stop him (but) I’m looking forward to going up against Gylfi again.

"I know his strengths, I know his weakness - there are not many of them but there are a few.

"If he's playing on Saturday I'll probably be coming against him as a sitting midfielder. It'll be a tough task but I'm ready for it."

They've faced each other just once before.

"He was at Tottenham last time we were in the Premier League, I remember coming up against him," revealed Gunnarsson.

"(Playing against a friend) is difficult but when the game starts it's all business, a matter of getting three points. I enjoy playing against a fellow national team member. It gives something extra to look forward to after the game."

But while Gunnarsson is hoping to come across his mate at Goodison Park, his boss would rather avoid him.

The former Swansea City star has five goals and two assists already this season and - as Gunnarsson said - has been integral for Silva's side. He's also enjoyed a break from international duty, while Gunnarsson faced Eden Hazard's Belgium before flying to Qatar.

"Sigurdsson has had two week’s holiday whereas Aron has been all over the world," joked Warnock.

Whether Sigurdsson features or not this weekend, in Gunnarsson's eyes he is one of Iceland's all-time greats - alongside another well-known Premier League stalwart.

"He's up there, we've obviously had some greats. (Eidur) Gudjohnsen, who was magnificent for Chelsea and the national team, always turned up with a smile on his face even though things weren't going well for Icelandic football.

"Gylfi will be up there especially with the results going to the Euros and the World Cup."


Gunnarsson believes Sigurdsson can still improve at the age of 29, knowing his mate's incredible work rate and hunger for success.

"He is one of those players, he works ever so hard. After every training session he's the last one on the pitch.

"There's been a few times our bus has been at our training ground waiting for him to get on.

"It shows how much work he's willing to put him. Knowing him he wants more, more for the team and more for himself.

It bodes well for Gunnarsson's beloved Iceland, perhaps not so well for Cardiff City at Everton this weekend.

Either way, the two will embrace after the game knowing little can come between their unique friendship.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Can't see anything other than an Everton win. I think home advantage will tell in this one, and while I think we will be competitive, I have a feeling Everton will be at least two goals better than us. Would feel more confident if this was a home fixture.

Can't see anything other than an Everton win. I think home advantage will tell in this one, and while I think we will be competitive, I have a feeling Everton will be at least two goals better than us. Would feel more confident if this was a home fixture.

Agree but it could be worse than just 2-0.

Wolves at home then a real difficult game.

Away "win" for us got a feeling on this one,a harder game next friday wolves.

Any away pubs for this?

Team news 24/11/18

Kenneth Zohore is still out injured.

Everton have been handed a double boost as Marco Silva confirmed that Gylfi Sigurdsson and Andre Gomes are both available for selection this weekend.

Sigurdsson did not travel with Iceland for their matches against Belgium and Qatar having suffered an ankle injury in the Toffees' 0-0 draw with Chelsea earlier this month while Gomes was sent home from Portugal duty due to concerns over his fitness.

But the pair are both in contention to start against Cardiff on Saturday.

Centre-back Kurt Zouma is available again having been ineligible to feature against parent club Chelsea last time out.

As for the Bluebirds, they will be without Kenneth Zohore for the trip to the North West of England.

The striker has been struggling with a calf problem and has been ruled out of the clash with Everton.




Nathaniel Mendez-Laing will also miss the clash with the Toffees, despite stepping up his recovery from injury by scoring for the Under-23s on Monday night. The game will also come a little too soon for Jazz Richards.

However, Gary Madine could be included in the matchday squad have trained well in midweek as well as joining Mendez-Laing in getting on the schoresheet for the Under-23s.

Energetic midfielder Harry Arter is available again having served a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Any away pubs for this?

You can drink opposite Godison Park

EVERTTON V CARDIFF CITY


Match facts



Everton are unbeaten in their last eight top-flight home games against Cardiff (W6 D2), winning the last three by an aggregate score of 15-5.



Cardiff haven’t beaten Everton in a league game since December 1956, drawing four and losing three since.




Cardiff have taken just two points from 48 available against the six ever-present Premier League sides (W0 D2 L14), losing all nine such games away from home.



Since losing against Crystal Palace in April 2014, Everton are unbeaten in their last 13 home Premier League games against promoted sides (W11 D2), winning each of the last nine in a row.



Everton have lost just one of their last nine Premier League home games (W5 D3), winning the last three in a row.



Cardiff have scored fewer away goals than any other side in English league football this season (2).



Cardiff are looking to secure consecutive top-flight victories for the first time since April 1962.

Who is the referee?

Paul Tierney will take charge of proceedings at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The Lancashire official has not officiated a Cardiff match since the Bluebirds beat Severnside rivals Bristol City 1-0 in February.

What are the latest odds?

(Odds courtesy of Sky Bet, correct at time of publishing)

Everton win 2/5

Draw 7/2

Cardiff City win 7/1

Any away pubs for this?

You can drink opposite Godison Park

Any names for the pub

Any away pubs for this?

You can drink opposite Godison Park

Any names for the pub

I honestly can't rem, but there are two big ones opposite and we all drank there last time we played up there

Everton injury boosts

The Toffees have had a major boost on the injury front this week, with Marco Silva confirming that Gylfi Sigurdsson, Ademola Lookman and Andre Gomes are all fit to start against the Bluebirds.

Harry Arter available again after suspension, with Sean Morrison fit to play despite a broken nose

City: Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Cunningham; Arter, Gunnarsson, Ralls; Camarasa, Harris, Paterson.
Subs: Smithies, Peltier, Bennett, Ward, Murphy, Decordova-Reid, Hoilett.

Everton start on the front foot and dominate possession early on.

Gylfi Sigurdsson is on the receiving end of a few chants from the away fans

Pass

Idrissa Gueye threads a through ball forward to Walcott, but it’s too far for the winger.

Everton have started brightly, but no chances of note yet.