The Premier League

Attempting to predict the result of this match if you are thinking of placing some money on who you think is going to win shouldn’t be too difficult. Everton have not beaten Manchester United at home or away for nearly a decade and the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are in scintillating form while David Moyes’ charges have yet to get their season really up and running will surely mean that this record continues. Everton lost their main playmaker and free kick taker on the last day of the transfer window when Arsenal signed Mikel Arteta for £10 million and because the transfer occurred at the last minute, Moyes had no time to replace him. He now has £10 million burning a hole in his pocket with no chance to invest until January and a gaping hole in the middle of his midfield. (more…)

In Fulham’s match against Everton at Craven Cottage next weekend, it will be fascinating to see which of these two mid-table teams comes out on top. Neither side will be near to qualifying for Europe or getting relegated come the end of this season and so this game will undoubtedly be a close encounter. Since Martin Jol’s arrival at Fulham he has turned them into an organised and creative outfit that can beat anybody on their day. The partnership of Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora up front always promises goals as both players are excellent finishers with decent pace. It is a classic example of the big-man-little-man combination involving Zamora winning aerial battles and Andy Johnson scampering onto his knockdowns. The quality that they possess in midfield, where Danny Murphy pulls the strings, should also stand them in good stead against an Everton side that have yet to recover from the loss of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal on the last day of the summer transfer window. (more…)

Everton play host to Manchester United on Saturday next week and if you are thinking of placing a bet on this game, then I would suggest that you definitely put your money on Manchester United. This is because Everton have not beaten United home or away for nearly a decade so despite the fact that the Merseysiders will be at home, it is quite likely that they will still be on the end of a right thrashing. United have been in imperious form so far this season with Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young and Phil Jones particularly outstanding, while Everton have been struggling since the departure of their playmaker and talisman Mikel Arteta for Arsenal on the last day of the summer transfer window. David Moyes consequently has a huge hole in the centre of his midfield as the fact that the transfer took place at the last minute meant that the Everton manager had no time to invest the £10 million fee in new players. (more…)