A Rooney reunion? Don't blame me...

Feb 1 2005 By Mark Lawrenson, Daily Post

I'VE been giving Peter Reid a lot of stick for the past few hours. In case you missed it, we were doing the FA Cup draw and I did the good part - Everton at home. Then Reidy had to bring Manchester United out of the bag, and everything changed.

I doubt there is a more emotionally charged fixture for Evertonians than United at home at the moment. Even without the fact they are playing the Cup holders in a game they have every chance of winning, the main reason is Wayne Rooney.

If you cast your mind back to the summer, he didn't exactly leave Goodison Park with the supporters' best wishes ringing in his ears.

Instead he was jeered away from the club, with traitor among the words being bandied about.

Although that was several months ago, I don't think the feelings have subsided.

If he plays, he will be absolutely slaughtered by the Evertonians, just as he was at Anfield.

Against Liverpool, he responded with aggression, but I don't see him being like that at Goodison Park, assuming he plays. Hopefully Sir Alex will have had a word with him to ensure he shows some maturity and respect to his former club. If he doesn't, then he will be making a tense situation even worse.

It is always interesting when a player returns to a former club, because they are determined to show the supporters what they are missing. Quite often that means they try to do everything they can and because of that end up bombing.

The worrying thing for Everton would be if Rooney continues to do what he has been doing for United - cracking in spectacular goals. However if any defence know how to negate the boy wonder's talents, it is Everton's.

Ahead of that, they showed against Sunderland that they are playing positively and with confidence, so I believe Everton do have a great chance of turning United over.

Okay, so their Goodison record against them is not great, but this is a different game with a lot of different players, so all that is forgotten.

One of those different players will be Mikael Arteta, and I have to say I am impressed by the signing. I haven't seen too much of him lately, but when he played for Rangers we used to cover the Old Firm games on the BBC.

In those matches, he was Rangers' most creative player and looked like a really inventive midfielder. To get him for just wages is also a good deal.

Given that he was signed to replace Thomas Gravesen and the system Everton play, I think those qualities will see him do well for David Moyes. Of course, that is provided he is still the same player he was back then.

As I said last week, there is always a risk in signing someone in January as they have very little time to bed in. What type of form is he in? How fit is he? Will he fit in to the dressing room? These are all still largely unknown factors.

Simon Davies would also have been a positive signing, because up until he contracted a viral infection in November, he was a classy attacking midfielder for Tottenham and Wales. He is also capable of getting you goals from wide areas which is also a bonus.

As it stands though, I would say that Everton have had a good transfer window, with the players coming in having plenty to offer. It sets them up for a challenging second half of the season.

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