A few pre-Everton thoughts...

After a crazy weekend of traveling all across the southern and Midwestern United States I am happily back at home and looking forward to a normal work week, and also of course looking forward to the FA Cup clash against Everton tomorrow afternoon. It was a great team performance against QPR last Saturday and I'm expectant that the team will be ready for the replay against Everton. Here are a few of my thoughts from the QPR match and some looking forward Everton...

• Colback was fantastic against QPR. He really has been wonderful this year, and if more people were paying attention to the football in the Northeast he'd be mentioned as a player competing for young player of the year. His performance in midfield was most noticed when he moved to LB, because we sorely missed his presence in the middle.
• With O'Shea playing RB it was clear that our central defense isn't as strong. With O'Shea picking up an injury and being out for the Everton match it will take a cleaner performance by our back 4 to keep Everton from the score sheet.
• I really liked the way Gardner played on the right wing and also at right back. He mirrors McClean's direct play and looked very comfortable out wide. I'm still not sure where he fits best on the field, but he's a good headache for the manager to have.
• I thought McClean was back at his best again against QPR, and we'll need him to be strong against Everton. 
• Everton's 5 man midfield gave us problems 10 days ago, and I wonder if O'Neill will adjust any to counter act their tactics. Will he play 3 in the middle and only 1 striker? If he does that who sits? Lots of tactical questions to be asked and answered, and it will be interesting to see how we lineup tomorrow afternoon.
• Here is my expected lineup, in a 4-4-1-1. Mignolet, Bardsley, the Greek, Turner, Bridge, McLean, Cattermole, Vaughan, Larsson, Sessegnon, Bendtner

It should be a great match tomorrow. I expect both teams to throw all they have at this game. Both sides will be coming in with a bit of confidence and I expect a goal less first half and the match to be decided in the last 30 minutes. I'm backing a 1-0 Sunderland win. Bendtner to get the game winner.

Ha'way the Lads!