It wasn't exactly a good week for Everton last week.
They went out of the Europa League and then lost at Tottenham, but it was a heavy week and I think everything caught up with them. They don't have the biggest squad, they always have to work very hard to win games and I think things took their toll after their wins against Chelsea and Manchester United.
Everton: can they bounce back?
Flying to Portugal and then going to somewhere like White Hart Lane is never easy and I'm sure they'll be grateful to have had a week off and then to have a game in front of their home fans.
People will say they haven't got much to play for but there'll be more than 30,000 fans at Goodison Park on Sunday and if that doesn't motivate you then you might as well pack up football. David Moyes gets his players up every week and bar the last couple of games they've had a good run. I expect Everton to be on top of their game again.
It's important that Hull don't get beaten too heavily. I think if they can get a draw on Sunday they'll be doing cartwheels all the way back to the KC Stadium.
Paul Merson
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Everton v Hull City
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They might have got a draw at Spurs if Landon Donovan had scored an open goal. I think he was celebrating before he hit it, but it shouldn't detract from a very good loan spell.
He works his socks off and he knows exactly what he has to do in that position. He tracks back when they lose the ball and they'll miss him when he goes back to America. That signing was a Moyes masterstroke and when the MLS season stops next year I'm sure there'll be a lot more Premier League teams after him.
He has been part of a midfield that protects its back four very well. Everton's defence gets a lot of credit, but people forget how hard the rest of the team works in front of them. Good defenders can be made to look very ordinary if they don't get protection.
People have been looking closely at Leighton Baines this week and it was no surprise to see him looking a little bit nervous on his debut at Wembley. He did some things well, he did his job and I don't think he did anything wrong.
I hope he plays again before the squad is picked because these lads need a chance to prove themselves before the big tournaments. He certainly did nothing wrong.
Difficult
This is a big match for Hull City. There's not a full fixture list this week and the games are ticking by quickly for Phil Brown.
They'll be looking at this and thinking Everton have lost their last two games and have had some players away on international duty. There are reasons to look forward to it.
But at the same time I can't think of a worse place to go. I've played there a million times and it's such a difficult place to play. There's a good crowd right on top of you and the Everton players close you down very quickly.
Remember, it was only two weeks ago that Everton were ripping Man United apart. I know they scored at good times in that game, but overall I felt they were the better team.
Plus we're getting to the stage of the season now where the teams down the bottom have got to start watching their goal difference. It's very tight down there and I wouldn't be surprised if a team went down by one goal.
So it's important that Hull don't get beaten too heavily. I think if they can get a draw on Sunday they'll be doing cartwheels all the way back to the KC Stadium.
PAUL'S PREDICTION
Home win - I can only see an Everton win. They're good at home and they'll bounce back after a very hard week last week. I think you can excuse them a couple of defeats because they've got a small, young squad and they had a lot of travelling to do. Hull will have a go but I'm going for 3-0 to Everton.
MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Mikel Arteta - He's just coming back to fitness and I think this will be a nice game for him. He's got a few games under his belt to get his fitness back and I think we're going to start seeing the best of him. That will be good to see because he could play for any of the supposed "Big Four".
Comments (11)
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Francis Heavey (Everton fan) says...
great call mystic merse.everton to win strongly and arteta the man to watch....exactly how things happened.as much as i loved the everton performance though,cant help thinking hull are one of the most pathetic teams ever to come to goodison.phil brown was never a prem league manager and hes showing his true colours now
Posted 16:45 8th March 2010
Rob Williams (Manchester United fan) says...
Good win this weekend Everton well deserved. I do like the way Everton go about their business but watching them sometimes I do feel that they let down Moyes and the Everton fans far to much. Sometimes the players have the hit and hope approach on the field and from what I have seen of them in the last 5 years they are a much better side than that. Their European games show this form up every season but if they worked the ball a little more they would win a lot more games.
Posted 08:25 8th March 2010
Adam Whitehead (Hull City fan) says...
A lot of Everton fans are quite over confident. Remember boys the tigers were 3-0 up at half time at the kc and were all over you. I think you prob will win but a bit of humility would be nice, I hope your disrespect comes back to haunt you.
Posted 21:05 6th March 2010
James Deane (Everton fan) says...
Paul, I think Hull will give Everton a hard game this Sunday and they will be tough to break down. Saying that two second half goals will seal it. 2-0 EVERTON !
Posted 21:55 5th March 2010
Joe Murphy (Everton fan) says...
I hope you're right Merse, The loss of Felli and Tiny seems to have taken it's toll over the last few games, although that said, we beat Chelsea and United without either.... By no means do we are Merseyside EXPECT to win this game, but it's one you look at on the calendar and think we've got a good chance at all three points here if we play to our full potential.... Hull will battle, they always do
Posted 14:22 5th March 2010
Jack Hilton (Everton fan) says...
i think we'll hammer these 5-0, and give a thumping out that we have been intending to do for a while!, hull r rubbish COYB !
Posted 13:39 5th March 2010
Mark Benareedez (Everton fan) says...
Theres nobody better than Mikel Arteta he's the best little spaniard we no.
Posted 13:36 5th March 2010
Jez Hartley (Hull City fan) says...
Although I think we'll probably lose, the imminent return of Bullard should give us a lift. Also, if we try not to have a man sent off, it should help!! Maybe we'll sneak a draw with a favourable wind.
Posted 12:49 5th March 2010
Rich Stephenson (Hull City fan) says...
I agree Scot, we've pulled out some great results this against the so -called 'tougher' sides (Chelsea, Spurs and Man City being the highlights) even without the talismanic Bullard, but there's always the fear we'll play as badly as we did against West Ham (which I had the mis-fortune of attending). As Paul says, goal difference is the key at this point. So, if we play it tight and organised, who knows? We could be 'cartwheeling back to the KC'.
Posted 12:42 5th March 2010
Anon Ymous (Everton fan) says...
"That will be good to see because he could play for any of the supposed "Big Four"." Let the illegal tapping up begin!
Posted 10:38 5th March 2010
Scott Mclaughlin (Hull City fan) says...
hello paul i am big hull city, i went to the match when we played manchester city and we played outstanding. i dont understand why we carnt keep playing like that.
Posted 10:12 5th March 2010
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