Toffee's face a tough trip to the Madjeski as the League starts to get serious...
After labouring to a much needed win against Sunderland at Goodison last week, in which the towering, tank-like performance of Marouane Fellaini again got us out of the deep end, Everton face a tough-trip to new-boys Reading, along with a chance to get some momentum going again.
After four draws in a row - all of which we could, and should, have won, it was important to get three points against The Black Cats, despite not playing the free-flowing attacking football we have come to expect from the Toffees this season. We were poor, up until the last 20 minutes, but we still dominated the game both in possession and chances. We were due a win, and Nikica Jelavić who, by coincidence, was due a goal, was in the right place at the right time to cooly slot home the winner.
Now, onto Reading. The last time we visited the Capital we tore Fulham a new one for the majority of the second half, only to somehow snatch a draw from the jaws of victory, and even though Reading is strictly speaking not in the Capital, it's close enough.
As for Reading themselves, they're struggling. Much like their former Championship rivals Southampton, their squad have found it difficult to adapt to and cope with the strains of top-flight football. The prime example of this was a few weeks ago, against Arsenal in the Capital One Cup (I know, not the Premier League), but a Premier League team shouldn't lose a four-goal advantage, at home, and then concede a further three in extra-time.
Their squad isn't particularly big, but does have a few players of genuine quality - Progrenybak is a very good forward, while Danny Guthrie is a steady-eddy midfielder. Adam Le Fondre is also a good option off the bench, and doesn't look particularly out of place in the Premiership - so far at least. A few year's ago, when they deservedly beat us in the 5th round of the cup at Goodison, young keeper Alex McCarthy was on superb-form; it'll be him or the Aussie Federici in goal. Reading's defence is fragile though, much like Southampton's, and can be got at. It's just a shame that (Super) Kevin Mirallas is injured - it's pretty safe to say Shorey wouldn't have stood a chance.
Steadfast midfielder Darron Gibson is again missing for The Blues, but apart from him and Kev it seems as so we have a fully fit squad; although, a squad that will start looking very thin again if anybody key gets injured tomorrow, especially after David Moyes stated that he doubted that they're will be much January business at L4 - although i'm pretty sure they'll be a loan or two. Fingers crossed, ey, on both accounts.
Without Mirallas, it'll most likely be Derby-Day hero Steven Naismith on the right, with Neville, England star Osman (who had a great game in mid-week for the Three Lions) and Pienaar on the left, with Fellaini again filling the attacking midfield role - most likely to perfection, once again. Jelavić will start up top. The defence pretty much picks itself; Coleman - Jags - Heitinga - Baines; Timmy H in goal.
It won't be easy, and it'll most likely rain - it always seems to, in Reading - but we should be trouncing this team - even with two key men missing. No Evertonian is taking this brilliant start for granted, and long may it continue (they all said to see where we were after 10 games -- well we're fourth after 11). Unfortunately, something tells me that we may perform like last week; dominating possession, but to little effect, and unless we can get going again, and get Gibson and Mirallas back soon, we may start to see signs of the pre-Christmas Everton of recent years. No cause for concern - yet. Wonder what the odds are on Reading to score first...
COYB
