What: English Premier League
Who: Everton vs Aston Villa
When: Saturday 10th September 2011, at 15.00 UK Time
Where: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
Life After Arteta
News that Everton owner Bill Kenwright is in talks with three potential buyers will help appease supporters and arrives at the perfect time as a number of fans plan to hold a protest march before their match with Aston Villa. Frustrated by the financial constraints which led to the sale of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal, fans want new ownership at the Toffees.
On the pitch, a team that are historically slow starters have lost one and won one of their two Premier League matches so far. But even David Moyes would admit the Blues were fortuitous in their 1-0 victory at Ewood Park which preceded the international break. Blackburn Rovers missed two penalties before the now departed Arteta secured the win with a last minute penalty.
With the transfer window over Moyes must now do what he does best: Get the best out of the resources he has available and try and make the Toffees a competitive Premier League outfit in the first half of the season.
Solid Villa Looking to Push On
Two 0-0 draws in the first three games of the season indicates that Aston Villa are defensively capable, but are going to struggle to scores goals this season. That is what boss Alex McLeish now needs to address. The former Birmingham City manager will be looking to club record signing Darren Bent to solve the goal problem, although unhelpfully the striker is a doubt for the trip to Goodison Park with a groin strain that ruled him out of England duty.
New signings Jermaine Jenas and Alan Hutton are ready to make their debuts however, with the former excited by the prospect of a season-long loan in the Midlands. “I looked at what they had within the squad, how I would fit into that and what we could achieve and it excited me, so I can’t wait”, said Jenas. The England midfielder will be hoping to make an immediate impact if given the opportunity against Everton.
Recent form
Everton:
Everton 0-1 Queens Park Rangers (20/08; Premier League)
Everton 3-1 Sheffield United (24/08; League Cup)
Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Everton (27/08; Premier League)
Aston Villa:
Aston Villa 3-1 Blackburn Rovers (20/08; Premier League)
Aston Villa 2-0 Hereford United (23/08; League Cup)
Aston Villa 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (27/08; Premier League)
Key absences
Everton: Seamus Coleman (doubt), Leighton Baines (doubt), Magaye Gueyem (doubt)
Aston Villa: Darren Bent (doubt)
Players to watch
Aston Villa – Richard Dunne: The Irish international recently admitted that he probably would have left Villa Park if Gerard Houllier had remained as manager, but with Alex McLeish now at the helm Dunne looks like he has returned to his very best form. The former Manchester City captain will return to Premier League action on the back of what Irish legend Paul McGrath described as “the best defensive performance from an Irish defender I have ever seen” after Dunne and team-mate Shay Given kept Russia at bay in the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 qualifier (0-0) in Moscow.
Everton – Ross Barkley: While the attention at Goodison Park has focused on financial constraints, youth product Barkley has been a shining light. In Everton’s recent home defeat to QPR, Barkley was the player in blue making things happen and with Arteta now plying his trade in North London the pressure will only increase on the 18-year-old midfielder. He must show he can handle it against Villa.
Match Predicition
Fixtures between these sides in recent years have served up plenty of excitement as both clubs battled for Champions League qualification. But now the two outfits have to cut their cloth accordingly and are realistically competing to finish in the top half rather than the top four. Expect both teams to be hard to beat on the day, however with the lack of creativity in either starting eleven another 0-0 draw is on the cards.
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