Tottenham - Everton

Spurs are currently fifth on the table with three points less than Man.City. They’re struggling on the road, but showing much better performances at White Hart Lane. At home, most problems they have had against defensively oriented teams like Hull (0-0), Wolves (0-1) and Stoke (0-1). At Friday, came news from Spurs’ camp they’re hit by a virus and 18 players and stuff are infected. But, it seems it was only Redknapp’s psychological warming-up for Everton. True is Palacios and Corluka are having some problems with a stomach bug and their appearance is doubtful. Real problem for “Arry” is the condition of Defoe and Crouch. Both will face a late fitness test and I expected one of them (Defoe more likely) to start the game alongside excellent Pavlyuchenko.

David Moyes crew was knocked from the Europe in Lisbon on a kind of humiliating way. Problem for him for today’s game is all players looked jaded after that game. Good thing for them is Everton turned the corner in Premier and overcame results crisis caused by large number of injuries. The Toffees have noticed just a single defeat (Liverpool away, 0-1) in last twelve games and in last two games at Goodison defeated giants (Chelsea 2-1 and Man.Utd. 3-1). They also won at last three league visits to White Hart Lane. So, despite European exit they definitely don’t lack with self confidence for today’s game. Beside fatigue, main problem for Moyes is missing of some very important players. Skipper Cahill, Fellaini and defenders Hibbert and Senderos. Good thing is Distin and Heitinga are available again and Jagielka already made his return. Everton have managed to keep only one clean sheet in their last nine league matches away from home and they have scored in 11 of their last 12 league games.

This is very important game for both sides. Spurs have huge attacking potential, but in last few games were showing some vulnerabilities in back line and just thankfully to Gomes and luck weren’t punished. Everton like to play against Spurs and I think Moyes won’t practice defensively 4-5-1. Despite the fact none of the last eight league games between these sides have been won by the home team I give an advantage to Spurs, but see goals at decent odds as a better option. Over.

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Hull City - Everton

Home side is in the run of four games at home without a defeat. Two wins (Wigan and Stoke) and two draws (Portsmouth and West Ham). Midfield playmaker, Jimmy Bullard, recovered from the injury (returned against Stoke), team improved the attacking potential, moved from relegation zone and manager Phil Brown still keeps his job. The problem is, their defense line is the worst in Premier (only Wigan conceded more, but thankfully to London’s disaster). That defense will miss regular right-back, Bernard Mendy who will serve a one-game ban after his sending-off against West Ham, while goalie, Boaz Myhill, will face a late fitness tests. The same situation, as with Myhill, is with midfielder Seyi Olofinjana. The Tigers will fight for all three points, although their last win against Everton was at old stadium Boothferry Park back in December 1952.

Everton play a season much under all expectations. David Moyes has had a lots of injury players since the league started. They have only one win (West Ham 2-1, away) in last nine competitive games. Defense line hasn’t been performing well, since the departure of Joleon Lescott. Two other defenders who Moyes imagined to be key in back line, Jagielka and Neville, are long-term injured. However, they have plenty of players who make a goal scoring threat and I think (hope Moyes too) Everton will have more chances if attack and try to play for a goal more, than to defend. Yakubu and Saha should cause a lots of problems for Hull’s shaky defense. Fellaini and Bilyaletdinov are suspended, while Steven Pienaar is finally set to return, but could appear only against Liverpool on Sunday.

This is their second meeting at KC Stadium this season. In League Cup, Everton made a convincing 4-0 win and that’s probably the reason for such low odds for away win. It seems both teams have much more potential in attacks than in back lines. I expect another open game and goals on both sides. Betfair offer 2.14, Pinnacle 2.12. Over.

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Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Real Madrid are putting together a £100m package to sign Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo. (News of the World) 
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has cast doubt on his future with the Gunners by refusing to rule out a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid. (News of the World) 
The Gunners are reportedly ready to let Fabregas leave as there is growing belief within the club that the Spaniard has started to think he is more important than the club. (Sunday Express) 
Meanwhile, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has made Everton defender Joleon Lescott his number one transfer target. (News of the World) 
Arsenal, along with Everton, Sunderland and Fulham, are watching Genk's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko. (Sunday Express) 
Liverpool will try again to sign Aston Villa's Gareth Barry, and are hoping to seal an £8m deal for the midfielder this summer. (News of the World) 
Middlesbrough will let Stewart Downing leave if they are relegated from the Premier League - with Tottenham and Liverpool waiting to make a £15m bid for him. (News of the World) 
Manchester City look to have missed out on Roma goalkeeper Doni after the Brazilian insisted he has no intention of leaving. (The Observer) 
Newcastle believe they will be able to sign Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone for £6m - if they stay in the Premier League. (News of the World) 
Everton's Marouane Fellaini wants the club to sign his former Standard Liege team-mate Milan Jovanovic. (News of the World) 
Meanwhile, Everton look set to hold on to midfielder Joseph Yobo, despite interest in him from Arsenal and Chelsea. (the Observer) 
Aston Villa, Tottenham and Everton are watching Real Murcia's 18-year-old forward Daniel Aquino. (News of the World) 
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is battling his former club Bolton to sign Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davis. (News of the World) 
Newcastle and West Brom are fighting it out for the signature of £1m-rated Swindon striker Simon Cox. (News of the World) 
Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is ready to demand a transfer if he fails to regain his number one spot from Marton Fulop. (News of the World) 
Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is ready to let goalkeeper Joe Hart go out on loan next season. (News of the World) 
Arsenal youngster Mark Randall has hinted he is ready to leave the club rather than spend another year in the reserves. (News of the World) 
Aston Villa are determined to outbid Marseille to capture Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour. (News of the World) 
Scotland keeper Craig Gordon is ready to quit Sunderland if he does not regain his first team slot. (News of the World) 

OTHER GOSSIP 

Hull midfielder Jimmy Bullard is set to confound doctors and play again in September - three months ahead of schedule after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery. (News of the World) 
Joe Kinnear will be offered a senior 'upstairs' role at Newcastle if he turns down the club's offer of a two-year contract to remain as manager. (News of the World) 
Meanwhile, Newcastle are facing the biggest battle in their financial history, with the value of club set to be halved from £200m to £100m if they are relegated. (Sunday Express) 
Liverpool are pursuing a record sponsorship deal with Carlsberg which could net them £60m. (News of the World) 
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed he regrets not leaving the Stamford Bridge club sooner, claiming it is his biggest mistake as a coach. (News of the World) 
Scottish Football Association president George Peat has hit out at the SPL saying the quality of product on offer is sub-standard. (Sunday Herald) 
Meanwhile, Peat has said the Home Nations will not be making a decision on a British national team for the 2012 Olympics in London by the 31 May deadline set by the world's governing body. (News of the World) 
George Burley has blasted French referee Laurent Duhamel after his performance in Scotland's 3-0 defeat against the Netherlands in Amsterdam. (Sunday Mail) 
Iceland coach Olafur Johannesson says his entire nation is banking on a win against Scotland at Hampden on Wednesday night to help them through their economic crisis. (Sunday Mail) 
Portsmouth defender Hermann Hreidarsson says Scotland's Darren Fletcher will not get the opportunity to spoil Iceland's World Cup dream when the nations meet midweek. (Sunday Mail) 
Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc has come under fire for his dreadful performance against Northern Ireland for Poland in their World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park. (News of the World) 
The Scottish Cup semi-final between Dunfermline and Falkirk will be played at Hampden, even if the stadium is half-full. (News of the World) 

AND FINALLY 

Manchester United stars have created their own lookalike hall of fame to cheer themselves up after recent defeats. Rio Ferdinand's 'twin' is Star Wars character Jar Jar Binx, Wayne Rooney's is Shrek and Carlos Tevez is compared to The Hulk. (News of the World)
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Toffees back at Wembley

Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha booked Everton’s place in the Semi-Finals of The FA Cup after coming from a goal down to see off Middlesbrough at Goodison Park.
 The win means Everton will return to Wembley for the first time since 1995 when they beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the Trophy.
 After a scrappy opening to the game, Middlesbrough’s Jeremie Aliadiere squandered a glorious chance after Matthew Bates pulled the ball back into his path, but the Frenchman sliced his shot over the bar on 12 minutes.
Everton defender Joseph Yobo then starred at both ends. On 17 minutes the defender had a free header, but he directed it straight at Boro’s Brad Jones.
Then, on the half hour mark, the centre-back made a crucial block from Aliadiere’s shot – which Everton keeper Tim Howard would have struggled to save.
But in the final minute of the first half, Middlesbrough took the lead through David Wheater.
Aliadiere sent in a cross from the right and Wheater climbed highest to head home despite the best efforts of Howard on the line to keep the ball out.
Everton manager David Moyes introduced Saha at half time and the Frenchman played a key role in the Merseysiders reaching Wembley.
Just five minutes after the re-start, Everton were level. Australian midfielder Tim Cahill's cross and Fellaini’s looping header caught Jones off his line and levelled the scores.
In the 56th minute, Everton were ahead. Steven Pienaar's pin-point cross from the left was met by a bullet header from Saha and Jones had little chance.
Everton had the opportunity to extend their lead but Leighton Baines saw his free kick come crashing off the bar and later Saha could have scored a second at the death.But the Blues held on to book their place in an FA Cup Semi-Final for the first time in 14 years.

By James Andrew. Sunday, 08 March 2009