Seasons  »  2015-16  »  Everton News

Man United confirmed as semi-final opponents

13/04/2016  34 Comments  [Jump to last]
Everton finally know whom they will play in the last four of the FA Cup after Manchester United triumphed over West Ham at Upton Park this evening.

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini put the Red Devils into a 2-0 lead and although the Hammers pulled a goal back and had a late goal chalked off for offside, they couldn't take the tie into extra time.

The Blues will face Louis van Gaal's at Wembley in a 5.15pm kick-off on Saturday 23rd April.  

Reader Comments (34)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Laura Round
1 Posted 13/04/2016 at 22:27:07
After seeing West Ham vs Arsenal Saturday this is what I was hoping for! I see Man Utd as the biggest challenge left so bring that on then cruise the final! COYB
Patrick Carty
4 Posted 13/04/2016 at 22:39:18
Bring on Man Utd, I will take that draw because I was beginning to have nightmares about facing Andy Carroll in the semi-finals.
Tony Hill
5 Posted 13/04/2016 at 22:42:30
I fancy us against United, current form etc notwithstanding. West Ham I did not want; still have horrible memories of old Frank Lampard's goal.
Ste Traverse
6 Posted 13/04/2016 at 22:46:06
I think it was destined to be United given over the last 32 years whenever we get to Wembley we usually face them or Liverpool.

This one will make it in the last 15 games we've played at the national stadium since 1984 (excluding the ZDS cup) 11 of them have been against the Mancs or the redshite, the two teams we like to beat the most.

I know some Blues said they wanted United, but getting past De Gea will be a serious problem for us. He was in great form tonight and has had a great season for them.

Colin Glassar
7 Posted 13/04/2016 at 22:48:02
Not bothered by the Mancs as I think the cockneys were a bigger threat. We owe the Mancs one as, in both games against them, we've been beyond pathetic.
Ian Jones
10 Posted 13/04/2016 at 23:10:25
Colin. Just posted elsewhere about the games vs Man Utd this season. Goodison's game was just after the announcement of the death of Howard Kendall. I would like to think that distracted the players. I personally had no real interest in that match.
James Stewart
11 Posted 13/04/2016 at 23:14:36
No chance – a very average Man Utd swatted us aside recently; we will be there to make up the numbers and the same will happen again. Maybe then the people in power might wake up to the fact we are an awful side at present.
Colin Glassar
12 Posted 13/04/2016 at 23:15:45
I saw your post Ian and I agree, we can't be that bad again, can we? The second game was a lot closer as both teams were very poor and unimaginative.
Patrick Murphy
13 Posted 13/04/2016 at 23:19:27
If we don't play well enough we'll miss out on the FA Cup final, but our players, every single one, of them owe the fans big time and if they can't raise themselves against Man Utd at Wembley they shouldn't be playing for Everton. It won't be easy but we can do it.
Damian Wilde
14 Posted 13/04/2016 at 23:46:00
I would have preferred West Ham Utd. They're more open, we'd get more chances. At Old Trafford, Man Utd bored us to death. They'll do the same and nick a win again.

Plus De Gea is amazing in nets, the amount he saved towards the end of the game tonight, he was terrific.

Mark Andersson
15 Posted 14/04/2016 at 04:34:19
Good post Patrick Murphy: After tonight's performance against Palace I think most of the players have no confidence at all. It was a very poor performance by all except Barry.

Lennon was hard working, but the team is not playing well at all. Big Rom has done nothing since the Chelsea game, so let's hope he can raise his game and not just his hands.

Mirallas should play on Saturday as Kone was quite bad. Besic looked really unfit and slow. Why is it that Barry at 35 looks fitter than all the younger players?

Martinez, for all his failings, is being backed by his manager and board. They are the ones we should be putting pressure on. Sad... and bad times are only going to get worse, the longer Martinez stays.

Darren Hind
16 Posted 14/04/2016 at 06:40:43
Ian/Colin

Agreed. Not just a cup final place at stake here, there's a score to be settled.

Patrick

Agree with you too, the players don't just have a score to settle with Man Utd, they have a debt to settle. As you say, they owe us "big time".

Jim Bennings
17 Posted 14/04/2016 at 07:28:25
The way we are playing at present, we have zero hope of beating Manchester United, we would struggle beating Rotherham United right now!

My biggest worry is will the players even bother turning up and actually for once look arsed?

If Lukaku plays well and looks up for it then we have a chance but outside of him we have next to no goal threat at all. The only one you can guarantee will give his all is Lennon.

Jim Bennings
18 Posted 14/04/2016 at 07:49:51
To the tune of Seamus Coleman's song..

40 points 40 points Man United...
40 points 40 points I say..
40 points 40 points Man United...
And we will belt you down Wembley Way!!!


Somehow, I can't see them being very scared, can you?

Sam Hoare
19 Posted 14/04/2016 at 08:00:27
Think we will see a much better performance in the cup. Martinez is the opposite of Moyes most ways and his teams shine in the cups rather than in the league.
Phil Walling
20 Posted 14/04/2016 at 08:09:18
Bang on there, Sam. Martinez could well pull off the unusual feat of winning the FA Cup with two different clubs. If he does so – and can manage a '12th-ish' finish in the Premier League – his future at Everton is secured even to the extent of an improved/lengthened contract.

No, I don't want the latter to happen, but, knowing Blue Bill.........

Joe O'Brien
21 Posted 14/04/2016 at 09:32:16
Happy that Man Utd went through. West Ham are a lot more dangerous, and I couldn't stand their loud chairmen, Gold and O'Sullivan, always spouting off to the papers, getting one over us again. I'm really starting to dislike that team.

Anyway, we'll take Man Utd, I reckon; hopefully we'll raise our game. I really don't think RM has a chance of being here next season, even if we win the cup. Bill I feel is just a figurehead, the new owner is defo calling the shots. Again that's Imo, I hope I'm right.

Mike Keating
22 Posted 14/04/2016 at 10:16:02
Both managers need the win to stand a chance of retaining their jobs. The loser will certainly get the bullet; so I suppose it's a matter of how much the players want to play for the manager. Last night, Rashford and De Gea were the difference and I guess the same will be true in 10 days time.

I suppose Lukaku may see it as a shop window for a global audience and a ticket to the Champions League but my feeling is that the ManUre players have more to play for as Van Gaal is their future at Old Trafford whereas we have young players like Stones and Lukaku who want away and older ones coming to the end of their careers anyway.

But, at the end of the day, this is all psycho bollocks; we went into a semi final 21 years ago as the underdogs of war and gave Spurs a footballing lesson.

A plea for the cessation of hostilities over the next two games and a return to the thunderous support which saw off Chelsea (no banners at Anfield FFS). Maybe the players might just want to win it for the fans.

ToffeeWebbers of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains; you have a Cup to win.

Patrick Murphy
23 Posted 14/04/2016 at 10:38:38
Roberto Martinez has told his players to write their names in history - and get some revenge - when the Blues travel to Wembley to face Everton.

OK, that's a typo from the Echo, but surely only actually winning the trophy will get the players names written in history, winning semi-finals doesn't or at least it never used to be the case at Everton.

Perhaps the Freudian slip by the Echo is indeed accurate in that the Blues' biggest opponent at Wembley will be Everton?

Jim Lloyd
24 Posted 14/04/2016 at 10:58:08
I remember about Jimmy Gabriel telling a mate of mine, what the players decided to do in the 66 final. At half-time the older players decided they would just go out and play, not listen to Catterick's instructions. They knew that this was the last chance for most of them to win the FA Cup.

Well, I know it's the Semi, but this is the best chance a lot of our players will have of getting a sniff at the Cup. Some because of their age and others because they may be seeking fame and fortune at other clubs.

I hope they can just play for the day and not be constrained by goings on in the league. In fact, what Mike Keating has just posted sounds dead right to me.

I also wish Martinez would have kept what he said to the players within the four walls of the dressing room.

Philip Abbott
25 Posted 14/04/2016 at 11:06:44
So its Man Utd in the semi-final... I can't believe the FA have already given the referee's job to a guy from Manchester – just hope he's a city fan but knowing our luck...
Shane Corcoran
26 Posted 14/04/2016 at 11:44:23
I think the odds are stacked against us.

Confidence is low and if, as I expect, we get a beating at Anfield on the Wednesday, I forecast us going out of the competition with a whimper.

Peter Cummings
27 Posted 14/04/2016 at 13:01:48
It was inevitable that we would get the Mancs as they have put together several wins and looking stronger than we are at present and must be favourites to win the semi given that we will be missing Jags, and with a possible/probable further injury list after the derby the signs are not good.

We will have to rise to the occasion in a really big way on the day to stop our recent decline becoming a total disaster of a season and another kick in the teeth for our amazing fans.

Ian Burns
28 Posted 14/04/2016 at 14:33:03
Man Utd is not where the problem lies, it lies with EFC and what we do on the day. We need a win to lift the confidence of the players because right now they probably feel they can't buy one, not that they are busting their cojones to get one.

In some ways the game at Anfield could be a blessing in disguise – it is a game where they simply have to lift themselves and if they can walk away with as much as a point, it might be the lift they need.

A win on Saturday would be nice of course but somehow the lethargy has set in and the derby might be the incentive needed to give them an injection of energy.

Dave Ganley
29 Posted 14/04/2016 at 16:24:01
Totally agree with Patrick (#13). Manchester United are very beatable and the players owe the fans big time. If they can't do it for a semi-final at Wembley, then yeah, as Patrick said, we don't want you at EFC.

I will be travelling down in expectation and don't expect to be disappointed.... more fool me, I suppose... but you have to believe!

Graham Mockford
30 Posted 14/04/2016 at 16:33:31
From a footballing perspective I don't think there is much between the two teams. Either side would have been favourite at this stage.

From a personal perspective, as I live in Manchester, my train down on Saturday is going to be chocca full of Mancs as will the train back the next day.

Ged Simpson
31 Posted 14/04/2016 at 16:36:47
This is ours... West Ham worried me more.
Iain Latchford
32 Posted 14/04/2016 at 16:52:12
From BBC website...

Virgin Trains warn that - due to planned work on the line - there will be no trains from London to Liverpool and Manchester after FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, 23 April between Everton and Manchester United.

That's helpful, eh...

Brian Harrison
33 Posted 14/04/2016 at 17:06:47
Like many more, I will be travelling to Wembley more in hope than expectation. I don't think there will be anything that day but the supporters 100% behind whichever team Martinez puts out. I have to say I was impressed with Man Utd last night, their front 3 ran West Ham ragged.

Despite all the stick that LVG has had, he still had the guts to play Rashford and Lingard even though Rooney was fit to play.

Confidence is low at present for both players and supporters, let's hope they can get a win under their belt before they get to Wembley.

Colin Glassar
34 Posted 14/04/2016 at 17:07:41
Like the game against Chelsea I will be working that day so, like the Chelsea game I will record it and watch it when I get home (like The Likely Lads) without knowing the result. Like the Chelsea game, I hope I will be pleasantly surprised.
Rob Halligan
35 Posted 14/04/2016 at 19:29:54
There are a few on this thread who think we will lose this semi-final. Can I therefore ask anyone who does think we will lose, and they have a ticket, can I buy it off you and give it to a mate of mine who hasn't got one, as clearly you will be wasting your time going to Wembley.

Thanks in advance.

Andy Meighan
36 Posted 14/04/2016 at 19:49:24
I don't know if anyone's noticed. But the goals have dried up with Southampton and them to come before the semi. I just can't see us beating anyone at the minute and I certainly don't get how anyone can be confident of us against Man Utd.
Mike Keating
38 Posted 14/04/2016 at 20:50:11
Sorry Colin but the outcome of that game was a postponement and nobody wants that.
Joe O'Brien
39 Posted 14/04/2016 at 21:00:23
Can't help you with a ticket, Rob, but I don't think we'll lose. When we beat Man Utd in 95, we were shocking in the league. I think we'll win the cup, if we show up and Rom is up for it, we'll take them. Hope you'll sort out that ticket, mate.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads

© ToffeeWeb