If I was writing this exactly a month ago, I’d be looking at
an up-coming Carling Cup tie against Premier League Everton with optimism and
positive feeling. An opening day win against Wolves, combining with a
performance full of effort, desire and a little bit of quality ensured that I
was looking at the upcoming season with belief that maybe, just maybe, Neil
Warnock’s new-look Leeds could produce something special. What a difference a
month makes.
On Tuesday, we recorded our first home defeat of the season
against Hull, a lack-lustre and ragged performance doing little to raise the
spirits of the attendees. Coming a week before the visit of Everton, this was
hardly the greatest preparation and with Nottingham Forest on their way this
Saturday, we could quite possibly be taking on an established Premier League
side on the back of three defeats. I’m usually over harsh on my team, but the
growing injury list seems to be the root cause for this down-turn in form.
Midfield battlers Paul Green and David Norris have been out
for some weeks and will both miss the Everton game. They aren’t perhaps the
key, exciting names that will win games alone but their work-rate is faultless
and this is something that will be missed against a side who are far superior
in terms of quality. Talisman Ross McCormack is also set for a lengthy spell on
the side-lines after injuring his ankle in the 2-1 reverse against Cardiff
City. These are the names that we need in order to match a side of Everton’s
calibre, without them, we’re missing key figures in terms of both quality and
work-rate.
I would expect Neil Warnock to play a fairly strong team.
The growing injury list ensures this may be his only option; at this rate the
team will soon be picking itself. Despite the figures missing however, no Leeds
United team will ever roll over and die and so Everton should expect a tough
game. Our record on Tuesday nights is appalling but our recent record against
Premier League opposition is surprisingly good. With the backing of a packed
Elland Road, it could be a potentially tricky tie for the Toffees.
With a few key players out injured, our hopes rest
potentially in three players. Centre-half Jason Pearce has been one of the
stand-outs of the season so far, consistently out-performing his fellow
defensive partners. Our defence is notorious for conceding soft goals however
and the aerial prowess of stars such as Fellaini could give Pearce a stern
test. It won’t be easy for the ex-Portsmouth captain but he does have the
ability to cope at this level, even if he is missing the extra five inches that
Fellaini’s hair gives him! Another man for Everton to watch is Jamaican Rodolph
Austin, a long-term transfer target of Warnock’s. The dogged central midfielder
is as hard as they come and will hopefully relish the task of coming up against
such coveted opposition. Despite his continued best efforts, he is yet to
completely dominate a game but hopefully his hard-tackling and wide passing
range can gain us a valuable advantage in one of the most important areas of
the pitch.
The controversial forward was one of the surprise signings
of the season; having been branded as “worse than a sewer rat” by Warnock
during Diouf’s time at Blackburn. Diouf certainly had a lot to do to win over
the Elland Road faithful, but he impressed quickly and has rapidly turned into
a fan favourite. At times this season he has been our only bright spark going forward
and particularly with the loss of Ross McCormack, we could be counting on Diouf
and potentially Luciano Becchio to provide that much needed attacking
fire-power. His ability isn’t all you need to watch out for with Diouf; he is
exactly the kind of player that could score twice before elbowing Phil Neville
and spitting on Moyes on his way to an early bath.
If our opening day success was a good one, then Everton’s
was an excellent one. So excellent that it was celebrated in Leeds. Beating
Manchester United is an achievement for many in world football, but to look in
control for the majority of the game is something that Everton were correctly
praised for. I remember watching the game and being incredibly impressed with
not only Man of the Match Fellaini, but with the centre-half pairing of
Jagielka and Distin. I also watched them on Monday against Newcastle and was
impressed; the final score-line of 2-2 being somewhat a travesty after a fine
display from the home side.
The Toffees have always had quality and are led by one of
the finest managers in English football; for this reason they have and will
always be dangerous opposition. They’ve always looked extremely organised to me
but in the last few years have perhaps missed an out and out goal-scorer. From
what I’ve seen this season and last, they may have found one. Nikica Jelavic.
It’s impossible to tell how strong a side Moyes will pick
but if Jelavic plays, he’ll cause us major problems. His height and his
strength poses a threat for any defence, particularly one as famously poor as
ours. He reminds me slightly of a smaller Nikola Zigic; for the effect that
Zigic had at Elland Road last year, you just have to ask Simon Grayson, who
lost his job after a 4-1 defeat. If height causes us a problem, pace causes us
chaos. The likes of Osman and Pienaar will be relishing the opportunity to
impress and will surely have a fairly simple evening as they torment the likes
of the abysmal Luke Varney down the wings. Regardless of who Moyes selects, I
think we face a tie of great difficulty.
The night promises to be an interesting one and I’m sure the
game will be as exciting as people are hoping. It will be nice to welcome back
Premier League opposition to Elland Road and hopefully we’ll see an atmosphere
that fits with the historically all-Premier League fixture. Leeds and Everton
are two of the “big clubs” in the history of English football and despite our
spectacular fall from grace, I think both sets of fans would agree that this is
the type of fixture that both clubs should be playing week-in, week-out. I’d
rather visit Goodison Park than London Road and I’m sure Everton fans would
rather visit Elland Road than the DW Stadium.
We also share one more thing in common; something that will
create a truly blessed feeling. Both clubs were touched by the late, great Gary
Speed and it is fitting that this tie comes just months after his tragic death.
Regardless of the game and the score, for a few minutes the whole of Elland
Road will be united by united affection for one man and, similarly to the joint
efforts of Merseyside through the JFT96 campaign, it will be a truly special
thing to take part in.
Prediction: Leeds United 0-2 Everton
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