Huddersfield Town don’t have long to lick their wounds after a 5-0 spanking from Arsenal in midweek. They travel to Goodison Park to take on Everton in Big Sam’s first game in charge of the Toffees.
Here’s a scouting report for Town fans to read up on our opposition on Saturday.
Everton’s season so far
Many of the preseason preview articles tipped Everton to be dark horses to break into the Champions League places this season. That seems a long time ago now, and Everton fans are currently more worried about keeping out of the bottom three than getting into the top four.
Some bad results and equally poor performances early in the season meant Ronald Koeman was sacked in October. Caretaker manager David “Rhino” Unsworth couldn’t arrest Everton’s poor form and didn’t make a convincing case to become full-time head coach. They’ve now appointed Sam Allardyce as manager, who’s vast experience of the Premier League should steady the ship even if it doesn’t deliver exciting-to-watch football.
High point: Everton registered their biggest win of the season on Wednesday this week, beating West Ham 4-0. Wayne Rooney scored a hatrick, showing that he’s not a spent force just yet.
Low point: Getting beaten 5-1 by Atalanta in the Europa League in front of a half-empty stadium.
Likely starting XI
Toffeeweb‘s preview of the game predicts the following lineup for Everton against Town:
Pickford, Kenny, Holgate, Williams, Martina, Gueye, Davies, Rooney, Lennon, Sigurdsson, Niasse
I’m a bit surprised they’ve suggested Niasse start up front in favour of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, I’d expect the youngster to be preferred but they know more about their team than I do.
You can read more from an Everton point of view in Toffeeweb’s excellent preview of the game.
Man to watch: Wayne Rooney
While Rooney isn’t as quick these days as he once was, he still has a fantastic touch and an eye for goal. He’s always had a tendency to score goals in gluts too, with barren spells punctuated by periods of high-scoring. The hat-trick against West Ham will have renewed his thirst for goals and Town’s defenders will have to keep a careful eye on him.
The manager: Sam Allardyce
Everton searched long and hard for their next manager, including putting feelers out for David Wagner if rumours are to be believed. So the arrival of Big Sam on Merseyside may be somewhat anticlimactic given the top names being bandied around for the role.
Obviously, Sam Allardyce has achieved a lot and comes with a wealth of experience in the Premier League. But he’s also a pragmatist, who values results over style, and won’t be scared of getting his team to lump it upfield if the situation calls for it.
Everton fan’s view of the game
I had a look through the pre-match thread on the “Grand Old Team” Everton fans forum and I was impressed to see some well-informed opinions about Town in there. Some rightly point out our recent spankings away from home at Bournemouth and Arsenal, but others saw us push Man City close last weekend and think we’ll provide stiff opposition. I hope they’re right!
Huddersfield Town v Everton history
Town have played Everton 59 times in their history, winning 21, losing 24 and drawing 14. Everton have the edge historically, which counts for very little towards the outcome of Saturday’s game.
The first meeting of the two clubs came in October 1920 with Everton winning 1-0.
The most recent match was in August 2010 in the league cup and Everton won that game too, 5-1.