TFT Issue 483!
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Featured game
Everton vs Manchester United – away win at 9/10.
Today’s featured game is the English Premier League game in Liverpool between Everton and Manchester United.
Everton have been a nightmare for United to face for a couple of seasons now and I don’t expect anything to be different today. Everton are extremely well-organised and will work hard from start to finish. With their rigid 4-5-1 formation, few sides penetrate their defence easily and I expect United to encounter similar difficulties tonight.
However, I still think that United will win this game. I’m not getting carried away into thinking that United will win every game because they’ve signed two world-class players in Kagawa and van Persie because they don’t change the fact that this is a very tough game. However, there is one area of Everton’s team that looks vulnerable today and that’s where United can break through – central midfield.
Pre-season, Everton parted company with long-serving Australian goalscorer Tim Cahill, which was a bit of a blow for Everton. On top of that, though, Darron Gibson is absent for the game against his former club and Marouane Fellaini is a huge doubt. Fellaini has always caused United problems with his movement, tenacity, aerial prowess, and physical strength. Him not featuring in this game would give United a huge boost and the fact that if he does play then he won’t be fit should also be a boost. Everton still have some good battlers to slot into their team but they need their best players available here or they’re going to struggle, especially if the wily Kagawa starts.
Aside from that, United should be able to contain Everton well enough. Vidic is back to deal with the threat of Everton from set pieces. United have to keep an eye on the clinical finishing of Jelavic but shouldn’t face too many other problems.
Fergie says van Persie is able to play in this game. He’s absolutely right but I’d honestly be surprised to see him as anything but a substitute. United have to produce a very calm and composed display to deal with the various threats that Everton offer and for that they need a very stable and familiar squad. Kagawa may start to try to squeeze an under-strength Everton central midfield but aside from that, it should be business as usual for Fergie’s team.
I think we’ll see a low-scoring and rather scrappy game between these two sides. As a United fan, I’m happy to see United facing Everton early in the season as Everton tend to start their seasons slowly. I think there’s value on United getting that key first goal and sitting on it at 9/10 and although I’d not be keen to take it shorter than that, I do fancy a tricky but possible United win.
Verdict: Manchester United to win at 9/10.
Team news
Argentinian Primera Division:
Quilmes – Joel Carli, Wilfredo Oliveira, and Pablo Garnier are doubts.
Union de Santa Fe – Pablo Miguez is absent. Andres Franzoia may debutise.
Arsenal de Sarandi – No absentees.
Argentinos Juniors – Anibal Matellan and Juan Fernandez are absent. Juan Sabia is a doubt.
Newell’s Old Boys – Maxi Rodriguez is a doubt.
San Martin de San Juan – Cristian Grabinski is absent. Guillermo Suarez and Cristian Alvarez are doubts.
Danish Superligaen:
SonderjyskE – F.Hansen returns.
OB Odense – Traore, J.Christiansen, and Johansson are absent.
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
MyPa Anjalankoski – No absentees.
IFK Mariehamn – Ostlind and Wirtanen may debutise.
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Lechia Gdansk – New manager – Kaczmarek. Malkowski and Bieniuk are absent.
Polonia Warsaw – Cotra is a doubt.
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Beira-Mar – No news.
Academica de Coimbra – Marcos Paulo and Saleiro are absent.
Romanian Liga:
Viitorul Constanta – Alibec returns. Neutral venue in Galati.
Gaz Metan Medias – Vitinho, Avram, Muntean, and Trtovac are absent.
Pandurii Targu Jiu – No absentees.
Otelul Galati – Didi, S.Ilie, and Sirghi are absent.
FC Brasov – Buga is absent.
Astra Giurgiu – .No absentees. New manager – Multescu.
Russian Premier League:
Krylya Sovetov Samara – Taranov is absent.
Amkar Perm’ – Kolomeitsov is absent.
Alaniya Vladikavkaz – Cardoso, Da Costa, and Dudiev are absent.
Kuban Krasnodar’ – Tilsov is absent.
Spanish Primera Liga:
Deportivo La Coruna – Ze Castro, Laure, and Salomao are absent.
Osasuna – No absentees.
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid – No absentees.
Granada – Rico, Benitez, Mainz, and Yebda are absent.
Real Zaragoza – Apono is absent.
Real Valladolid – No absentees.
Turkish Super Lig:
Genclerbirligi – No news. Tum, Aydogdu, and Oztekin have left.
Antalyaspor – No news. Diarra, Aissati, and Gungor may debutise.
Galatasaray – Semih, Burak Yilmaz, and Engin Baytan are absent.
Kasimpasa – Buyuk, Yaman, and Aygunes are absent. Campos, Uche, Ernst, and Isaksson may debutise.