FA Cup Betting: Jaded and self-doubting Man Utd can crash out to Everton

The Magic Of The FA Cup / Paul Moon / 17 April 2009 / 3

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Paul Moon predicts a Man Utd side feeling the strain of a long season where fatigue and injuries are taking their toll to struggle against David Moyes' well-marshalled Everton...

Despite Cristiano Ronaldo blasting Manchester United into the last four of the UEFA Champions League with 'the best goal of his life' there are real signs of low energy within the team and this will not be lost on Ferguson.

The fast free flowing football that has characterised the Red Devil's season has temporarily deserted them and the crushing 4-1 defeat to Liverpool followed by a 2-0 loss away to Fulham in the Premiership has highlighted the fact. A gritty display in Portugal and a first clean sheet in six matches did little to convince or dispel anxiety.

In April alone Manchester United will have played eight high-pressure games and even with a big squad this is mentally debilitating. More responsibility is thrust on key young players risking injury, a loss of peak fitness and sharpness that will be crucial in forthcoming matches.

Ferguson's dilemma is that he must now prioritise what competitions his quintuple-chasing team aims for and the harsh reality is that the FA Cup is the most expendable! His team selection for this game will confirm this and send an encouraging signal straight to the opposition dressing room. It is hard to predict what Manchester United side will line up at Wembley but we can be sure he will rest players!

On Sunday Manchester United play Everton in the semi-final of the FA Cup. Semi-finals are like derbies and are about blood, sweat and tears. The only thing that matters is winning.

This game at this time is set up for David Moyes' men and I offer several reasons why they will triumph. It will be a tough, tense and exacting affair. Curiously Betfair odds does not reflect this: Manchester United [1.79] Everton [5.6] Draw [3.65].

Everton have already taken the champions to the wire twice this season, they came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at Goodison in October while a hotly disputed penalty broke spirited defiance at Old Trafford in January so they know how to contain them without fear.

No one understands the gap between the top four sides and the rest of the Premiership better than Moyes. He understands the need to neutralise and for patience. He will do that by insisting that his side assert themselves physically. United will not want a war and the thought of injuries might see them withdraw enough to lose their edge?

David Moyes will spend this week talking about frailties, distractions and tired minds. He will remind his team that several of Manchester United's men are gone at the moment including Evra, Vidic, Berbatov and Van der Sar. Giggs and Scholes are too old and Rooney and Ronaldo took knocks in the Porto game. The substitute bench of Gary Neville, Foster and Evans does not strengthen the team. A 17-year old certainly doesn't.

The 'squeaky bum syndrome' does not apply to Everton as they have nothing to lose - they are not expected to win! All the pressure is on United. Everton are in form, they have just four defeats in 29 games. They have scored 13 goals in the last five games while United have scored nine but conceded 11 in their last six.

High balls will be hoisted into United's box for this game. Vidic, who was having a fine season, has admitted a lack of mental toughness and easing off recently and perhaps that applies more to him than most as the defence have looked inept in the last few weeks. Ferdinand likes to tidy and play the second ball so somebody must take charge of the incoming threat especially at set pieces!

Meanwhile the dangerous Fellaini is beginning to find his feet in the Premiership and now scoring goals. His grisly confrontation with Vidic and Ferdinand may hold the key to the match. He, Cahill and Lescott could seriously damage United in the air, all they need is good delivery. I fully expect one of these to score in this game.

Other side interests in the game include Saha and Phil Neville desperate to put one over their old club and of course the Evertonian crowd are bound to give Rooney a warm welcome. Make no mistake David Moyes will have his side spot on for this fixture, the spirit and determination are in place. All the signs from Goodison are positive and I am sure they will deliver a huge performance and win.

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True Blue Toffeeman | 18 April 2009

I have been a true blue toffeeman for over 40 years although i dont always get to see them , they are the first result i look for.

This is Evertons cup final and i just hope that the blues go out without fear of United and give them what for . I hope they give the red Devils alot of stick and harrasssment and ruffle a few of the players like scholes who could get sent off . If they do this i thin we may have a chance . Unied wont want another hard game and they will need to be at their best , perhaps playing at Wembley might lift some of the players but just hope Everton dont allow them time on the ball .
I'd love to stuff United and and this would be like a smack in the mouth for Fergie , who has always been a very bad loser , he never gives credit where it is deserved unless its his own players .whereas we have a gentleman in David Moyes who is fair and strong .
If everton play up to their best they can get to the final lets just hope the Referee riley dont put on his United shirt again or we have no chance .

Come on you blues , lets give Fergie a bad weekend and shut his big mouth for a change .
toffeefan08 | 18 April 2009

We're gonna beat em'! I am convinced if we get at them early, and cahill and fellaini can win balls in the box we can get a result. I agree with Pablo, if man utd wanna win the league and champions league, maybe the fa cup is not high in there priorities. They'll probably will play a weakened team against us, and with our boys firing, i can see a cheeky 2-1 win.
manutdforever! | 18 April 2009

Harsh, but fair. We've not played at all well recently, but now ferdinand and vidic are back, we look far more solid. We'll always create chances with rooney, tevez and carrick, so as long as we're sorted at the back, we are very dangerous. Squad rotation is key now, so ferguson has got to be very careful who he puts in. I think some of the players have believed the hype with winning everything, and taken their foot off the pedal, sunday could be a crucial day for us, and i'm expecting the win.