Everton It Is Then

If I was to assume that Arsenal were going to beat Hull, there would have been plenty of positives about any of the teams we could have been drawn against. We knocked Arsenal out of the Cup with a 4-0 victory last season and I’d fancy us to beat them again. Whilst Chelsea are on the up, it would have been nice to have a go at proving our superiority over them once more. But Everton is a great draw for a number of reasons.

Firstly, on paper, they are the easiest team we could have been drawn (again assuming Arsenal beat Hull). Secondly, we get to play against former reds in Neville, Saha and Howard. Thirdly, the Rooney-Everton feud gets to be re-ignited. I love all the badge-kissing and winding up Rooney dishes out to that bitter lot, it’s pure entertainment.

The last time the team met in the Cup, Everton fans were lobbing coins and a mobile phone on the pitch at our players, whilst over 30 arrests were made, with five police officers being injured. It was Rooney’s first match at Goodison since he left them for us and they were not too happy about it. Close to five years later and the intense hatred seems to have grown. “Die, die, Rooney, Rooney die!” they sing, whilst Rooney effortlessly proves how much he still means to them, with them spitting blood every time he kisses our badge. Priceless.

Rooney has scored against them twice since then and as always, will be up for scoring against them again. There’s nothing like a bit of history to get people worked up for a football match.

So, bring them on!