Sutton’s FA Cup final & Premier League predictions v Barry Can’t Swim
As you all know, it’s not often I’m wrong about anything but you may remember me saying in a previous predictions article that I thought I held the record for the fastest senior goal at Goodison Park for my effort after 12.94 seconds for Blackburn in 1995 until Abdoulaye Doucoure scored after 10.18 seconds for Everton against Leicester in February.
It turns out the fastest goal before Doucoure was actually by Bournemouth’s Colin Clarke, after 11 seconds in a League Cup tie in 1985, but I still hold the record for the fastest away goal there in a men’s league game and no-one is taking that away from me, because I don’t think Southampton will score at all on Sunday.
Saints will probably be too exhausted from their celebrations after last week’s draw with Manchester City to ruin the party as Everton’s men’s team play their last game at Goodison after 133 years.
I have not got a problem with the Southampton fans celebrating reaching 12 points and avoiding equalling Derby’s record for the worst Premier League points tally because they have had to endure an awful season, but it is absolute amateur hour from their players to react the way they did afterwards.
People will say it was down to emotion but how low is your bar if you see that as an achievement? The team should have thanked the supporters, and cleared off down the tunnel.
Everton got taken apart in the first half by Fulham last time out, but were much better in the second half and went to win 3-1 at Craven Cottage.
It would be typical for them to mess up on their big day, but they won’t. I fancy Beto to get a goal, and the Toffees to sign off with a win.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-0
Barry Can’t Swim’s prediction: One big last send off at Goodison Park, Moyesey in the dugout, the noise will be amazing, the players will be up for it. I hope they give it the send off it deserves. 5-0
Barry Can’t Swim on Everton’s best player this season: It’s hard to say, but I’d probably go with Jordan Pickford. He’s so consistent and reliable and gives the back-line confidence.
Also, while he’s not our player of the season, I think Beto deserves a lot of credit for the impact he’s made since Moyes came in too. He was totally written off but has scored a fair amount of goals.
Who would he sign in the summer? I actually think wing-backs are a priority, and a right winger. Oh, and a forward too.
We’ve got a bit more creativity now in midfield but I’d like to see more attacking full-backs like we used to have under Moyes in the past. It’s going to be a really exciting summer for us.