Moyes introduces Anichebe for Yakubu and the young ####ian shows there
pace, strength and skill to win a penalty and score a beauty to give Everton
all three points.
A fantastic European night in the
Frankenstadion. Almost a packed house is
superbly vocal and clad in red, the home support is constant but the two and
half thousand or so Everton fans who made the trip to Germany keep
themselves warm with some vocals of their own.
The atmosphere is stunning, vibrant and not surprising considering the
lowly league position of the home side and the relatively decent one of the visitors. This is European football showing some of its
best.
Unable to discern the difference
between a rose and cauliflower, Meyer, a reluctant gardener made the move back
into football management. His side is
cosmopolitan but is missing four Internationals who would normally start.
Petr Cech’s number two, Blazek
keeps goal. Glauber and Wolf are the
centrebacks with Schmidt and Reinhardt on the flanks. Mintal, Kluge, Mnari, Galasek occupy the
midfield with Misimovic and Saenko up front.
Kluge operates further forward and Misimovic and Saenko take turns as
point man or dropping deep it what is a 4 5 1.
Moyes played his strongest
available side; despite the game against Chelsea
at the weekend. Howard keeps goal with
Valente at leftback, Neville at rightback and Yobo and Lescott in the
centre. Arteta plays wide right with
Carsley and Osman inside him and Pienaar on the left. Cahill plays from deep or off Yakubu who
plows a lone furrow up front. This is an
attacking 4 5 1
Everton almost score with less
than a minute gone, attacking from the kick off the visitors are denied twice
by the acrobatics of Blazek. Carsley
prompts the move with Arteta playing a neat one two with Osman, the shot from
the edge of the area is saved by the Czech ‘keeper but the ball falls to Cahill
in the six yard box, the slide propels the ball goalwards but Blazek regain his
composure to touch the ball onto the post whence Nurnberg clear.
The midfield is cautious but hard
working for the home team and surprisingly attack minded by the visitors. A Yakubu cross from the left is only half
cleared and then the ####ian and Pienaar both have shots blocked. Nurnberg do get a corner and Lescott needs to
be sharp to deal with an attack by Reinhardt on the right flank and Valente
needs a second go to find a good clearance, Nurnberg are playing their way into
the game which is tight with neither side willing to give up ground in
midfield.
Neville loses the ball on an
upfield foray allowing Saenko to run at Everton, his shot from distance lacks
composure and fizzes wide, then the striker gets another chance with a loose
Lescott crossfield pass, this time Howard is quick enough to claim the ball.
The game is cautious and
edgy. Everton’s midfield is struggling
to come to terms with Yakubu and Nurnberg lack
any real cutting edge up front, their greatest threats coming from the runs of
Reinhardt and Kluge’s movement.
Mintal fires a loose ball wide
from thirty yards out and Howard admonishes his defenders then an incorrect
throw in decision allows Reinhardt to get another shot in from distance. Perhaps the confidence from the score is
allowing Nurnberg to play themselves into this
tight game?
A mistake by Schmidt lets in
Yakubu and the big ####ian is almost through but for a great covering tackle
from his marker, Wolf. The corner kick
is cleared by Wolf out to Osman who loses the ball under pressure, Valente
steps up to regain Everton possession and play in Arteta, the Spaniard finds
Osman whose cross skates through the six yard box, Cahill is about a foot from
a simple back post tap in.
Carsley; busy in midfield; gets
back to clear behind from Misimovic and then gets forward only to see his cross
cleared by Wolf.
Nurnberg’s best move’s have been
down the right and Kluge gets onto the end of a nice pattern of play only to
fire wide from inside the area.
Valente’s delivery into the back
post is claimed well by Blazek then Pienaar’s fluff of a clearance allows
Reinhardt to attack the area and shoot forcing a smart save from Howard.
Lescott clears a Misimovic free
kick then Yobo clears from Kluge and Mintal.
Arteta’s delivery on corners and free kicks is poor tonight with two
more dead ball deliveries being easy meat for Nurnberg. The Spaniard does better in open play; when
the cross isn’t open he dinks the ball into Cahill who chests down a return,
this allows Arteta the shot that flies narrowly wide of a beaten Blazek’s post.
Everton look much better than
Nurnberg when they play the ball on the ground and pass it about a bit but they
seemed unable to do that much through the hard working Nurnberg
midfield. The tempo wasn’t frantic but
the game was pretty non-stop.
Yakubu wins a cleaver free kick
in midfield with his hold up play and allows Everton to attack. Blazek flails at the corner but a crowded box
doesn’t allow Yakubu more than a tame poke at the ball which is easy for the
‘keeper to recover. Arteta and Valente
combine on the right and the Portuguese Champions League winner fires in a
cross just too high. Kluge wins a
fraudulent corner kick which Everton clear.
Arteta and Cahill combine on the left but Yakubu is beaten to the cross
at the near post by Wolf.
Neither manager makes any changes,
tactically or personnel wise, at the half.
Everton apply pressure down the
right from the whistle but then sloppy defending on the edge of their own area
allows Mintal a shot from inside the area.
Howard’s positioning was spot on and the ball is parried up and safely
claimed by the American ‘keeper.
The pace of the game has picked
up. Nothing lightening fast but the play
opens up a little as Nurnberg sense they can
#### a win.
Yakubu gets onto a long ball down
the right from Neville, his lay off finds Pienaar who can only cross behind
Arteta and Cahill in the area.
The play is flowing across the
midfield area. Everton still look more
dangerous in attack but have shown nerves at the back which allows the home
side some opportunities they shouldn’t be getting.
Misimovic can’t find Kluge with a
through ball. Mintal, Reinhardt and
Kluge can only combine for a goal kick.
Arteta gets a chance from 28
yards out and fires a fierce shot into the wall, from the corner kick Pienaar
can’t deliver a good cross and Nurnberg come out with the ball.
Yakubu looses the ball in
midfield; as he was dropping deeper to gain possession; the ball is played out
left to Mintal but the cross is too high for an unmarked Kluge at the back
post.
Arteta keeps possession for
Everton on the right and cuts inside to deliver a left footed shot on target,
the ‘keeper bobbles the parry but with no Everton player running on the ‘keeper
can gather his own fumble. Tiredness
from Yakubu is creeping into the game.
Osman wins a corner kick from an
Arteta, near post free kick, the delivery in finds Lescott but the big defender
can’t find the net and Glauber clears.
Everton break with Cahill from a Nurnberg
corner, Yakubu picks up the ball and heads upfield, he maintains possession and
through Osman and Pienaar the ball comes to Neville but the Ugly Sister can
only deliver a tepid ball in to the area.
Galasek finds Reinhardt whose
cross finds Kluge with the goal at his feet, seven yards out, the German can’t
control the ball and it slips out for a goal kick.
Nurnberg
pressure the visitors but can’t get any danger into their final balls and the
Everton defence stands firm. Yakubu and
Arteta start a move which finds Carsley unable to add to his tally of two goals
this week. A Misimovic free kick sails
over Glauber at the back post.
Moyes brings on Anichebe for the
tiring but hard working Yakubu.
Meyer responds with the
introduction of Australian Kennedy for Schmidt.
Mnari feeds Kennedy who maintains
possession well but can’t find a way through a packed Everton defence; perhaps
a point is good enough for Moyes?
Galasek’s ball in merely floats
to a waiting Howard. Arteta delivers
another poor free kick but Wolf merely hoofs the ball upfield.
Mnari shows good skills on the
touchline and gets the ball to Saenko, the striker, absent for long periods,
runs at Everton but finds a resolute Carsley blocking his through ball to an
expectant Kennedy.
Everton push forward but their
pressure is scrappy and ineffective until Arteta outs his foot on the ball uses
his head and plays a great ball through to Anichebe, the youngster has the
strength to outmuscle Glauber so the defender hauls him down for a penalty
kick.
Arteta calmly buries the spot
kick for a one nil Everton lead.
Pagenburg comes on for Saenko as
Meyer looks for a point.
Glauber and Anichebe renew their acquaintance
and the ####ian ends up on the ground again.
Arteta beats the wall with his free kick but can’t find the net or
trouble the ‘keeper.
Meyer’s last roll of the
substitution die is to bring on Benko for Glauber; he’ll throw it all at
Everton now.
Lescott clears a Galasek free kick;
fortunately the ball comes out to Wolf who skies one from twenty five yards
out.
Howard clears well to Pienaar on the
right who finds Anichebe, pace and skill take him into the area and he
outmuscles Mnari, then calmly slots the ball through the legs of Blazek into
the far corner for Everton’s game winner.
He gently chides the Czech with a taunt of “nutmeg” as he wheels away in
celebration.
Howard is equal to a late Mnari
effort, Neville clears a Kennedy flick on and Reinhardt’s shot is well
wide.
Playing with plenty of
determination and some skill earned the Blues three valuable away points and
almost ensures qualification. All the
Everton players worked hard tonight, graft and commitment were slightly more important
than skill but on another night Everton might has converted more chances. This 4 5 1 or 4 4 1 1 suits Everton’s current
personnel but you can’t help but see the disconnect between Yakubu and the
midfield. Pienaar is coming into his
role, Osman is hard working and skilful, Arteta; when his dead ball are poor
can still impact a game and Carsley works tirelessly to protect the
defence. Valente showed a great deal of composure
on the left and Lescott and Yobo looked good, as did Neville, some poor closing
down earned them the wrath of Howard on more than one occasion but the ‘keeper
was equal to anything that got past his defence.
Great team performance with some
nice pieces of skill. The substitution
wasn’t inspired but Anichebe repaid his manager with a stunning man of the
match performance.
Meyer’s side played well above
their relegation standing in the Bundesliga but lost. Had they had their four star Internationals
things may have been different as they played hard and created chances.
The referee was excellent; he was
frugal with his cards and pretty consistent.
He stepped in when necessary, played advantage well a few times and mostly
allowed the game to play out without interruption. His linesman made one woeful corner decision
and he made one wrong throw in call.
Pretty good European refereeing crew really.
FC Nurnberg:-
Blazet
Schmidt (Kennedy 76)
Glauber (Benko 86)
Wolf
Reinhardt
Mintal
Kluge
Mnari
Galasek
Misimovic
Saenko (Pagenburg 85
Bookings:-
Blazek
Glauber
Goals:-
Everton:-
Howard
Neville
Lescott
Yobo
Valente
Arteta
Osman
Carsley
Pienaar (Hibbert 90)
Cahill (Jagielka 90)
Yakubu (Anichebe 75)
Bookings:-
Yobo
Valente
Goals:-
Arteta 83 (P)
Anichebe 88
Attendance:-
43000
Referee:-
Alberto Undiano Mallenco (ESP)
East German Wit:-
"We had to stop training because some players were so
overwhelmed with joy, they started to cry."
After being offered a new deal by a former club.
"In my optimism, which knows no bounds, I expected [FC]
Bayern [München] to offer me a job a day or two after the Berlin wall came down."
On German reunification
"Now we are top; we will stay here."
After a 3-0 win on the opening day of last season left
Nürnberg top of the Bundesliga
"If you are a professional footballer, you live with
that everywhere you go. Try visiting the theatre after losing three matches in
a row – you are the one spoiling everyone else's night."
On dealing with fame
"They are quick to build a monument to you in football,
but they are also quick to urinate on it."
On the fleeting nature of success
"Only fourth placed? I am quite disappointed. I
couldn't sleep the entire night. I have been lying there, asking myself for
hours what the reason might be." After being voted as Germany's
fourth-best coach behind Jürgen Klinsmann, Thomas Doll and Jürgen Klopp
"He once came into our dressing room after a match
wanting to swap jersies. I told him that he couldn't have one because he would
get plenty of them next season. He did not laugh. No sense of humour – he
failed my test."
On why he did not sign midfielder Daniel Felgenhauer
"Well, he certainly looks much more interesting
now."
On a player who broke his nose
Everton manager David Moyes on Anichebe:
"Victor made some impact, what a way to finish that
was.
"He has been struggling with a broken hand and I wasn't
sure whether to put him on, just shows what I know!
"Overall I thought it was a good performance, we did
well enough. They had one or two chances early on as we did, but they are a
good side too."
Domestic and Foreign – a brief case study of La Liga, Serie
A, Bundesliga and Premier League.
Are foreign players good for a national league? A question often asked and with Sepp
Blatter’s; FIFA’s president; comments about an introduction of quotas, a failry
hot topic.
What is the actual picture?
How many foreign players are in the top four European Leagues? Do successful teams have more foreign
players?
Serie A
Team Domestic Foreign UEFA CUP
Final / Domestic Title / CL Final Coppa Italia Final
Inter 5 23 1 2 4
Juventus 15 10 4 2 2
Roma 13 14 1 4
Milan 13 16 2 1
Fiorentina 18 13 3
Torino 20 6 2
Lazio 16 13 1 3
Napoli 17 8
Sampdoria 26 6
Atalanta 17 7 1
Udinese 15 15
Genoa 15 10
Cagliari 21 5
Palermo 19 6
Parma 25 7 1 3
Livorno 17 8
Catania 17 8
Empoli 24 2
Reggina 13 10
Siena 20 12
TOTAL 346 (64 %) 197 (36%)
Premier League
Team Domestic (Eng. only) Foreign UEFA
CUP final / Domestic
Title / CL Final / FA Cup final
Arsenal 6 25 1 3 1 5
Aston
Villa 12 10
Birmingham City 10 17
Blackburn Rovers 5 25
Bolton Wanderers 8 23
Chelsea 8 17 2 3
Derby
County 17 15
Everton 10 17
Fulham 9 23
Liverpool 11 22 1 2 2
Manchester City 8 19
Manchester Utd 14 17 6 1 2
Middlesbrough 18 12 1 1
Newcastle Utd 9 17
Portsmouth 8 15
Reading 15 21
Sunderland 11 23
Tott.
Hotspur 14 17
West Ham Utd 15 13 1
Wigan Athletic 13 15
TOTAL 221 (37 %) 363 (63%)
La Liga
Team Domestic Foreign UEFA CUP final / Domestic Title / CL Final / Copa del Rey
final
Almeria 17 6
Athletic
Bilbao 24 1
Atletico
Madrid 11 13
Barcelona 10 15 1 4 1 2
Real
Betis 13 11 1
Depotivo 17 8 1 1
Espanyol 17 7 2
Getafe 16 9
Levante 11 14
Mallorca 14 10 1
Murcia 16 7
Osasuna 17 7 1
Racing
Sant. 18 7
Real
Madrid 8 17 4 3
Recreativo 14 10 1
Sevilla 5 19 2 1
Valencia 17 7 1 2 2 1
Valladolid 20 5
Villarreal 10 15
Real
Zaragoza 15 8 3
TOTAL 280 (59 %) 196 (41%)
Bundesliga
Team Domestic Foreign UEFA CUP
final / Domestic Title / CL Final / German Cup
final
Germany
–Energie Cottbus – 18th place in Bundesliga
Team with the least foreign players:-
Italy
– Empoli - 18th in Serie A
England
– Middlebrough – 15th in the Premier League
Spain –
Athletic Bilbao
– 17th in La Liga
Germany
– Karlsruher – 2nd place in Bundesliga
Conclusions from the figures:-
The Premier League has the most foreign players with 63%.
Serie A has the most domestic players with 64%
The trend towards recruiting foreign players has been
upwards in the past ten years.
The most successful clubs within their respective domestic
Leagues typically have a high proportion of foreign players.
A high proportion of foreign players at a club are not indicative
of success.
Foreign managers tend to buy more foreign players than there
domestic counterparts. (Although
domestic v foreign managers is another topic unto itself).
Three facts stand out:-
Quality players (regardless of nationality win
trophies).
Foreign players are no guarantee of success.
The influx of foreign players roughly matches the influx of
capital into football.
Sepp Blatter:-
Quotas are ludicrous; Bosman has shown that the highest EU
courts will not allow such barriers to fair and free trade. This move is taking on the shape of an
exercise in power between national interests and club interests.
My final words:-
Football is a global multi billion Dollar/Pound/Euro
industry; its popularity and financial health are better than at any time in
history; for clubs at the top level for sure.
Increasingly the gulf between the top national division and the rest of
the league is widening.
A long term view must be held for the future of football as
we know it to be saved. National
Associations need to ensure that the cash filters down to the foundations of
football in the home country. Youth
development, local leagues the grass roots of football is important to the
game.
The National Associations also need to get the balance of
club v country right; too much either way and something will suffer.
Do you really want a European Super League with the same
clubs competing with little or no chance of the participants changing. Two examples spring to mind of sports tearing
themselves apart for money, darts and boxing.
In other industries the governing bodies or government or
umbrella organizations protect national interest – why should this be different
in football – national interst should be in seeing a healthy and vibrant youth
development system which seeks to find and develop English talent for domestic
and foreign consumption.
I love the foreign invasion, seeing Zola, Di Canio, Petit,
Cantona, Weah, Crespo, Schechenko, Van Basten, Riikjard, Gullit, Solano and all
the imports into Serie A and the Premier League has increased my viewing
pleasure; long may it continue; just apply a bit of common sense.
Appecndix:-
I used Wikipedia, which I know is not perfect, but it
provides a pretty sound resource for gathering the info I have used, ten
percent of clubs were cross referenced with their own web pages and the
differences were negligible.
I’m using my experience of English Football to paint a
broader picture; any insights on particular differences in the way the other
FA’s operate (whether better or worse then the FA) would be welcome.
I’ve been simplistic in making a simple distinction between
foreign and domestic, for individual clubs a note of where the foreign players
are from would add depth but for my study I didn’t think it was necessary.
