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Everton's Cahill, Saha and Fellaini celebrate reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup - Source: Getty Images -
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FA Cup: Everton v Chelsea preview
What: FA Cup final
Who: Everton v Chelsea
Where: Wembley Stadium, London
When: 31st May 2.00am kick off (NZT)
Everton:
If there was one thing that Barcelona did wrong this season, it was beating Chelsea to the Champions League final making the FA Cup the Blues only hope of silverware in 2009.
David Moyes' Everton know they will be up against it when they take on Chelsea this weekend, but no one can deny the strength in conviction of the Merseysiders - something that has been key in getting Everton to their first FA Cup final in 14-years and a fifth place Premier League finish - despite having a less-than-impressive bank balance, and an injury plagued squad for much of the season.
After having a tough route to the final, which included seeing off; Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Manchester United (in a thrilling semi-final penalty shoot-out after 90-minutes of dullness), Everton - often living in shadow of their 'bigger' and redder national counterparts - have done more than enough to be worthy of a final place against Chelsea.
But while the Blue half of Liverpool believe that Moyes' Everton have enough strength in depth to shake-off their underdog status, it is obvious that the problem for the Toffees will come from having a lack of attacking options to match the likes of Drogba and Golden Boot winner Nicolas Anelka.
With Mikel Arteta, Yakubu, Anichebe and most unfortunately, their semi-final penalty hero Phil Jagielka, all out injured, and on-loan striker Jo ineligible, Moyes' Everton will be expected to struggle.
Due to their lack of attacking options, Moyes now has a tough decision to make and is expected to choose between former Manchester United hit-man (but not completely match-fit) Louis Saha, or teenage tearaway, Jack Rodwell, who has been impressive for Everton in midfield.
One player Moyes dose have in his favour though is the ever impressive Tim Cahill. Cahill, often playing as a makeshift striker for much of the season, has been instrumental, and influential in Everton's continuing success.
Predicted Everton lineup (probable,
4-4-1-1):
Howard; Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines; Osman, Neville, Cahill,
Pienaar; Fellaini; Saha (or Rodwell)
Chelsea:
After an up and down season, Chelsea will be hoping to give interim manager 'Golden' Guus Hiddink a glorious FA Cup winning send-off, befitting of a manager, who in just four-months, has succeeded in turning Chelsea's season around.
After stuttering under Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari, Russia manager Hiddink came into the Chelsea fold to transform the Blues fortunes, leading them to a third place Premier League finish, a Champions League semi and of course, the FA Cup final.
Unlike Everton, Chelsea had a fairly easy route to the final.
On the road to Wembley, they Blues encountered such teams as, Southend United, Ipswitch Town, Watford and Coventry City, with the only real test coming for the Londoners against Arsenal in the semi-final, which, after a solid defensive display and goals from Malouda and Drogba, actually proved to be no contest at all.
With a fully fit squad, boasting the likes of Drogba and Anelka, and an impregnable defence capable of holding the 'best team' in the world (Barcelona, during their Champions League semi-final) Chelsea head into this final as firm-favourites, with Hiddink arguing that Chelsea's big-match, high pressure experience will be key for the Londoners FA Cup success over the Toffees'.
After playing Champions League football and over ten FA Cup finals since Everton last lifted the Cup, there is no doubt that cashed-up Chelsea hold this envious advantage over the Toffees.
Another obvious advantage is the strength of their squad.
You only have to look at both teams penpix for examples of this, because while David Moyes has to choose between an aging former goalscoring hit-man, a makeshift striker and an 18-year-old baby faced assassin, Hiddink has the choice of Terry, Cole and Bosingwa in defence, Essien, Lampard, Ballack and Malouda in midfield and as mentioned Drogba and Anelka in attack - all of whom have experienced some of the biggest games on the biggest football stages in the world.
Predicted Chelsea lineup (probable,
4-3-3):
Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, A Cole; Essien, Mikel, Lampard;
Malouda, Drogba, Anelka.
Preview:
With their lack of forwards this season, Everton have been forced to become defensive grafters, grinding out wins in often unspectacular fashion - but it is perhaps testament to Manager of the Year Moyes' managerial nouns (shown to full effect during his pre semi-final accusations aimed at Mike Riley before their clash with Man United) that has shown Everton's ability to lift themselves above the rest when the chips are down.
Chelsea meanwhile have flourished under Hiddink, who has once again made Drogba a goalscoring force to be reckoned with, and while Hiddink may feel Chelsea's FA Cup final will be won due to their big match experience, I am not expecting this to be an easy contest for the Londoners.
As shown in their two previous goalless encounters, there is not an expectation that this will be a free-flowing, 'sexy' game of football- especially on Wembley's disastrous pitch.
And while Everton may struggle to contain Chelsea, they do have an aggressive midfielder in Marouane Fellaini, with the Belgium's height and strength more than a match for some of Chelsea's most physical defenders.
Another card up Moyes' sleeve is of course, Australian midfielder Cahill, who is known for his ability to get in between some of the toughest defenders in the Premier League to net a crucial goal when it is most needed.
An FA Cup win for Chelsea may be the perfect send-off for Hiddink, who during his short time at Chelsea has gained the respect of not only the Chelsea players, but football fans across the globe, but a win for Everton would mean so much more for the manager, the players and the fans of the self-proclaimed 'Peoples Club.'
And while this may not prove to be an exciting or even memorable FA Cup final, there is something to be said for a team, like Moyes' Everton, on a limited budget, with a limited squad, getting past some of the toughest Premier League competition to reach the final of England's oldest football competition.
This is what dreams are made of for the Toffees, and even though Chelsea are the clear favourites going into this final - I'm sure there will be a lot of football fans out there praying for an Everton win at Wembley.
In order to do this, Everton must hold their nerve, and something that Moyes will have to be wary of in this encounter will be the temper of some of Everton's players against a Chelsea side who are not unknown for their canny ability to antagonise and anger their opponents when things are not going to plan.
While lacking in squad strength, Everton do have the likes of Osman, Baines, Pienaar and Lescott to call on, and an experienced keeper in American Tim Howard.
I believe this encounter will be won by the team with the most defensive structure, unless Cahill can push forward enough to become dangerous around the box, I believe Everton will struggle to score enough goals to win this clash.
After a less-than-impressive season, Chelsea will be hungry to win this trophy, and have shown how their attack can destroy teams in one fell swoop, but if Everton can hold Chelsea (and perhaps more crucially their temper) in defence, even enough to take this thing to penalties, then I believe Everton will hold the advantage, because we all know how bad the Londoners are at those!
TVNZ brings you the FA Cup final between Everton and
Chelsea LIVE and exclusive. ONE Sport and tvnz.co.nz will have LIVE
coverage of the match from 2am on Sunday morning. ONE Sport will
also have highlights the following day and the full match and
highlights will be available on tvnz.co.nz.
What are your FA Cup final predictions? Have your say on
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentdavidmmac said on 2009-05-29 @ 19:44 NZDT: Report abusive post
Hope Everton will win! (Arsenal fan speaking here). Does anyone know if the final will be broadcast in HD?
Laurie Reid said on 2009-05-29 @ 17:28 NZDT: Report abusive post
Chelsea should be too good. Count on Cahill to get one but Chelsea will prevail 2-1.