Sunday afternoon at Goodison
Park. Hardly the proper time for football but
nonetheless. Tense game with some
expansive and beautiful Everton play.
Pompey’s very own Diddy man evades his markers to grab an equalizer for
the visitors and the home side is discombobulated for a while. Normal service resumes and Tiny Tim gets
Everton’s second whilst the Yak scores the third of the game and his eighteenth
of the season.
A convoluted trip limits the
number of away fans although the home fans turn up in decent numbers for what
is a European six pointer. The weather
and pitch are fine and the Panto Dame predicts a bore draw. Hardly serious football journalism from Lawro
when both sides have only managed two (home/away) draws from league play this
season. The stakes are high and at both
teams are unbeaten in three so something has to give.
Moyes is starting to encounter
the problems of having a full and functioning squad coupled with the need to
drop or change players. Difficult but a
nice problem to have.
Howard keeps goal, Hibbert occupies
the right back berth after a solid performance against Petrov, Yobo and
Jagielka continue their strong partnership in the centre and Lescott stays at
left back. Carsley and Neville sit deep
with Pienaar Osman and Cahill getting licenses to attack with Yakubu as the
main forward. This is very firmly an
attacking 4 5 1.
"IT'S OK LADS! MOST OF THEM ARE ONLY THIS TALL!"
DAVID JAMES ON THE MIDGET GEMS!
Redknapp has plenty to chose from
and opts for a large 4 5 1. James
continues his long streak in goal the back four has the energy at the flanks in
John son and Hreidarsson and solidity in the middle with Campbell and Distin. Strung across the middle are Bouba Diop,
Diarra, Muntari and Krancjar with Defoe and Kanu up front as a little and large
partnership.
"IS THE BIG GUY ENGLISH?"
CAPELLO, HOT OF THE HELICOPTER FROM BOLTON.
PLENTY OF ENGLISH TALENT ON SHOW!
Before Capello has even taken his
seat (the Italian is hot off the helicopter after watching Bolton
lose) Yakubu has duly scored the opener.
A brisk Everton attack and a clumsy challenge see Pienaar deliver a
nothing ball into the area. Distin is
too slow, John son just watches and the rest of the defence barely moves as
Yobo flicks the ball on for his countryman to stoop and head beyond James. Clocked at fifty seconds.
"FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE!"
JOHN SON AND JAMES CAN DO NOTHING TO STOP NUMBER SEVENTEEN
Before it’s even begun the game
has turned into a major challenge for Portsmouth. One which in the first half they barely rise to.
Huge swathes of the first half
see some delightful Everton passing and movement which bamboozles and befuddles
Pompey.
My highlight is Pienaar and Cahill
passing to each other as they advance down the left ignorant (seemingly) of the
Pompey defenders they leave for dead.
Nothing comes of all the fancy footwork but a few good saves and
clearances from a stout Pompey back line or a wayward strike from Phil
Neville.
Osman and Cahill have chances and
James gets away with one of his trademark Calamity’s ™.
The Everton player with the
hottest boots is Irish; Carsley has a free kick and two more chances, none of which
find the target.
"EVERYBODY WAS KUNG FU FIGHTING
THOSE GUYS ARE FAST AS LIGHTENING
SOMETIMES IT'S A WAS LITTLE BIT FRIGHTENING
EVERYBODY IS KUNG FU FUGHTING
LA LA LA LAAH!"
THE KUNG FU OF KUYT IS PRACTISED AGAIN AT GOODISON PARK.
John son skinned Pienaar early on
but produced a poor cross and Kranjcar briefly sputtered into life in a half
that until the thirty eighth minutes the visitors looked practically dead and
buried as they foundered on a calmly wonderful Everton back six.
The ground goes into that stunned
away goal silence when from out of the blue John son lays in a lovely ball
which Howard should be rushing off his line to claim. The big yank doesn’t and the little Englishman
slips between two vastly bigger but static defenders to graze the ball with the
faintest of touches beyond a flailing Howard for the equalizer.
Who picked up Defoe’s run and why
didn’t Howard move. For a normally solid
defence that was shocking.
"SILENCE IS GOLDEN"
UNLESS IT'S THAT GHASTLY SILENCE THAT FOLLOWS AN AWAY GOAL
POMPEY'S VERY OWN MIDGET GEM GETS AN UNEXPECTED EQUALIZER.
Everton still press in the last
five but some of the conviction has slipped from their play.
Moyes keeps things the same and
Harry must have given some sort of fire-breathing-barnstorming-Churchillean
monologue to inspire his players.
The visitors emerged from the
tunnel with their proverbial tails up, Defoe and Yakubu were swapping goal
celebrations and everyone was happy.
Ten minutes into the half and
Everton had barely gotten into second gear.
The champagne had gone flat and it took a determined team effort to haul
their sorry arses back into the game, they were just getting going and starting
to move forward with some purpose when the key managerial input came.
Moyes switched to a 4 4 2 and
brought off Hibbert for John son, Neville slotted in to the right back role and
John son caused immediate mayhem.
A rapid and ball hungry outlet
pulled the Pompey defence all over the park.
The interplay between the front
two was nice to see and effective, Pompey retreated back into their shell and
even the addition of Utaka’s pace and skill made little difference to the
Blues’ dominance.
Things were still tense though as
without a goal Pompey could sneak one or the game could end drawn.
Tensions eased and the noise
level rose after some neat play on the left produced a classic Cahill headed
goal.
SOMEWHERE IN TIM CAHILL'S LINEAGE IS A WALLABY!
THE EXCELLENT OZZIE LEAPS TO GET HIS TENTH OF THE SEASON
The Australian played a ball out
to the left from deep, Yakubu got on the end of it and played in Pienaar, the
South African whose crosses the ball into the six yard box, Cahill has
continued his run and not been picked up and rose magnificently to bury one,
his tenth of the year.
John son scored but the goal was
called back for a tight offside and James had another Calamity ™ yet got way
with it.
The icing on the cake (albeit not
a clean sheet) was Yakubu’s second goal.
Portsmouth lost the ball in the Everton
half and John son picked up the clearance, his crossfield ball flew fourty
yards and caught Campbell in an indecisive mood,
the ex-Gunner let the ball go behind him and the Yak took the gift, turned Campbell inside around and
hammered the ball beyond a stunned James.
FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE!
NUMBER EIGTHEEN IS ABOUT TO BEAT JAMES AFTER YAKUBU BAMBOOZLES CAMPBELL.
Everton finished
professionally.
Everton played well; they dug
themselves a hole, blundered around in it for a while before pulling themselves
out of it and playing even better.
Happy with the goals, unhappy
with equalizer and the twenty minutes of mental lethargy.
Happiest with the mental
toughness that turned the game around in the second half.
Loved the changed from 4 5 1 to 4
4 2.
EXHIBIT B - HOW BEING A FOOTBALL MANAGER WILL SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR COMPLEXION!
The first half was an intimate
exercise; football in microsm; play well but don’t score and you leave yourself
vulnerable.
2008 is becoming a good year for
Everton in the Premier League.
Seems the defeats in the two domestic
cups were forgotten in the cold of Norway and the team was celebrated
in the six-one European Night.
Thursday will be the toughest
test for the team of the season so far.
Fiorentina are good, hungry, and unfamiliar. To repeat the efforts and enjoy the
performances of the 1984/85 season the team needs to play very well against one
of Italy’s
best sides. Tough but eminently
dooable. COYB
Pompey weren’t in the game for
long periods but could have gotten three points.
"OIY LADS! QUICK! OVER 'ERE - LOOKS LIKE HARRY"S GOING FOR THE HIGH NOTE!" MR REDKNAPP's URGING HIS TEAM ON WITH SONG!
On small things games turn, for
example Defoe. On another day Pompey
score a second and kill the game. Today
they weren’t good enough to do that but good enough to frustrate and get at
Everton without causing Howard too many worries.
Mariner. Pretty good game lah!
Note to Andre: check the video of
the game, notice that Distin had his arms all over Lescott whilst holding him
down, and notice the pushes John son applied at crucial moments to Lescott and
Yakubu. All three offences happened in
the penalty area. Penalties, maybe I’m
not an expert, I’m just mentioning them in case you didn’t see them.
JJB Stadium; a football game in a rugby town, a football game on a
rugby pitch. Perhaps that’s why the
stadium is rarely filled for football?
Both Moyes and Bruce keep improving their sides. Today though Everton were an example of a
team not playing particularly well but taking all three points. Wigan had more ball but couldn’t really use
it, Bramble has his usual howler and the pitch more than played a part in an
away win.
...and it was only after I'd finished burying him that I realized his coffin was upside down..!
Almost a local derby; but not
quite; plenty of fans made the trip to the JJB Stadium from the City Of Culture. Expectations were high from both sides. Moyes’ side continues to do well in the
Premier League and Bruce’s squad seem too good to go down. The pitch was heavy and was cutting up during
pre match practice. Kept on the heavy
side for the rugby games; it’s not a great surface to play on, for either
side.
Bruce selected a bit of pace and
guile wide but more grit and grind in the middle, height and crosses looked to
be the order of the day. Pretty orthodox
4 4 2 for the ex United defender, Kirkland
keeps goal behind a back line of Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble and Kilbane
(himself an ex Blue). The middle had new
signing Palacios on the right with Brown and Landzaat inside him and Valencia
on the left. Bent and Heskey provide
brawn up front.
Moyes goes with his familiar 4 4
1 1. Howard keeps goal, Hibbert,
Lescott, Jagielka and Valente provide the defence. Carsley sits in front of the back four
alongside Neville, Osman; returning after injury and Arteta. Cahill operates behind Johnson in attack. Johnson and Osman returning to fitness is a
boost as is the form of Jagielka. This
team provides a limited type of attack but plenty of options from
midfield.
Palacios looks bright and show
some strength on the ball but poor finishing in the early going and for the
visitors Arteta shows a good first touch and a heavy second in the Wigan area.
The opening play is patchy;
neither team is helped by the heavy pitch which makes passes harder to pick out
and saps the strength of the runners.
Wigan
is playing some neat football on the left with Palacios showing well and in the
middle they are overpowering the visitors.
Their second half chance comes on the left with Valencia
cutting inside and laying the ball into Melchiot, the ex-Chelsea player misreads
the ball and Everton clear.
Arteta picks up a stupid yellow
card, he gets a second chance to deliver a better ball in from another free
kick in a similar position and Bramble does well to hurry Carsley whose volley
sails over the bar.
It takes Everton a little over
fifteen minutes to create their first good passing move, Johnson win the ball
in the middle and plays it to Neville, the return ball finds Johnson in space
and he is able to cross under pressure from Melchiot, Arteta has time to pick
his spot but only fires straight at Kirkland who is agile enough to parry the
ball away.
Wigan
get their first corner kick a little after twenty minutes, poor Everton marking
by Neville allows Bent a free header, Howard is alert enough to palm the ball
onto the bar before it is cleared.
Everton are disjointed and
struggling, which is as much down to Wigan’s harrying
physical play than as Everton’s incohesiveness and the heavy pitch.
Wigan
is having plenty of the ball, their approach work is good but the final ball in
or the finishing touch isn’t good enough.
Everton are sitting and defending and Heskey is losing the physical
battle with Lescott.
On thirty eight minutes Wigan
come undone, Everton continue with their dogged defending and Arteta plays a
speculative ball up the right flank, Johnson chases; as he has all game;
Bramble is perfectly positioned to cut across Johnson and play the ball back to
his keeper, the defender’s touch is terrible and Johnson nips in front to pick
up the soft back pass. one-on-one with Kirkland the striker
calmly slots the ball between the keeper’s legs for the opener.
Try not to do it against Chelsea!
Wigan’s
mistake prone defender shows some mettle with a few good challenges and
clearances in the moments after the goal.
Everton; rejuvenated by the goal;
come at Wigan and force a corner, Bent’s aerial prowess clears the first ball
behind but the second corner is horribly defended, a momentary lapse of
defensive skills for Wigan as the ball bounces around in the six yard box before
Osman hooks it to the back post, Lescott scores with a smash of a volley to net
his seventh of the season.
Melchiot and Valencia combine on the right to put in a good
cross but no Wigan player is alive to the
delivery.
Neither manager makes half time changes.
Wigan
start the second half in second gear as Everton look for a third, the home side
has to be alert to clear a well delivered Arteta free kick.
Two substitutions change the
complexion of the game. Bruce brings off
Heskey and Landzaat and brings on Sibierski and Koumas. The midfielder’s first touch is priceless, a
sweetly delivered ball to the back post which Howard comes for but doesn’t
reach, an unfortunate Jagielka is unable to move aside as the ball hits him and
caroms into the net. Really poor
goalkeeping.
The goal invigorates Wigan but their best moments all come from Koumas free
kicks which Everton aren’t inclined to be generous with.
Plenty of Wigan play in front of
the visitors but a lack o####ood final ball or a final ball which isn’t picked
up is a feature of Wigan’s play.
Vaughn’s introduction for Neville
gives Wigan some defensive problems and the game opens up a touch, but poor
passing deprives Wigan of their one sniff off
goal as they break quickly and leave Everton vulnerable.
The home side keeps plugging away
but can’t prise open he obdurate Everton defence.
Everton didn’t play well today, Wigan we’re able to frustrate them for most of the game,
defensively though the visitors looked calm and collected. What surprised me most were the
substitutions. The heavy pitch will have
taken its toll and Wigan weren’t exactly
peppering Howard’s goal so earlier and more substitutions would have made
sense. Let Anichebe, Vaughn and
Fernandes come on and give, Johnson, Cahill and Osman a rest. A good away win though when not at our best. Osman’s form was bright, with some good
passing, tackling and he almost bagged a sweet goal.
..Andy, it feels so smooth!
Bruce shows what he can do
without a huge investment in the team. Wigan played well for long stretches of the game with Palacios
bright throughout. They might feel they
deserved something from the game for their efforts but the contest is about
goals and they rarely tested Howard and rarely found balls to test the Everton
defence. The substitution’s had an
immediate impact and Koumas’ free kicks were Wigan’s
main threat.
Another game where they played
well but didn’t win. That form should
stand them in good stead when playing the sides further down the table.
Probert wasn’t very good. Inconsistent.
Lenient. Authoritarian. He didn’t get anything major wrong but got a
lot of the basics wrong. I’d love to get
a read of his match report to see why he booked Arteta. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a yellow card
given in that situation before. Cahill should have got a yellow.
Goodison Park, top six clash, Everton hosting Manchester City.
Certainly the biggest game of the day.
The two sides have aspirations and a first meeting between the two teams
will ascertain whether those aspirations will be met.
Certainly a game of two halves, Everton dominated the first and scored,
City dominated the second but Howard’s first save came in extra time. The second half was a consummate display of
defending.
Buzzing and vibrant on Liverpool,
the short trip down the East Lancs road meant
plenty of away support as a counterpoint to the expectant and vociferous home
crowd. The atmosphere was loud and pure
football.
Moyes; bereft of three key
players to the African Cup of Nations goes with a 4 4 1 1. Howard keeps goals with Hibbert works the
right with Lescott and Jagielka in the centre back Valente gets the nod on the
left. Carsley sits in front of the back
four with Neville, McFadden and Arteta providing a fair amount of class and
bite. Anichebe gets the nod up front
whilst Cahill operates behind him
COYB!
The less orthodox 4 3 3 is the
choice of England’s
ex-Swede. Eriksson keeps faith with the
youngster Hart in goal, behind a back four with the pace of Onuoha and Richards
and two ex Blues Dunne and Ball.
Corluka, Hamman and Elano form a midfield trio with Vassell and Petrov
wide and Castillo through the middle, certainly no lack of skill but not the
tallest front line. .
SWEDISH SIGN LANGUAGE
Even and bright; as befits two
teams with barely any points between them.
The early going sees half chances for Anichebe and McFadden whilst
Vassell gets a sniff for City.
The early going is tight for both
teams with chances at a premium, Everton edge the play and possession with some
neat passing.
The battles on the pitch are
developing nicely, Richards and Anichebe, Petrov and Hibbert with Carsley
taking on everybody.
YOUNG GUNS! WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!
The first chance comes to the
home side and Cahill blazes over from close range when a cool tap in would have
been a much better choice, Hibbert and Anichebe showed well to set up the
opportunity and Hart and Richards did well to stop the first two chances from
being taken.
Everton are using the whole width
of Goodison, Arteta is key with his ability to hold up the ball and find
teammates.
The dead ball delivery of the
Spaniard provides the breakthrough, a good corner is cleared out to Neville who
plays it intelligently back to Arteta, the ball is fizzed into the six yard box
and Lescott holds his position to stab the ball past Hart, the defence was poor
but the score is one – nil.
TWO DEFENDERS A 'KEEPER AND THE WINNING GOAL
Howard gets his first sniff of a
save when an Elano free kick takes a deflection of the wall and loops onto the
top netting.
Everton are content to let City
play in front of them and always look the most likely to score, although an
effort from Neville is an easy save for Hart.
Manchester City
builds some pressure before the break, the effort from Corluka flies well wide
and high.
Neither manager makes half time
changes. Eriksson’s team talk certainly
lights a fire under the collective arses of the visitors.
City come out strong in the
second half, Everton can barely keep possession and the bulk of the play is in
their own defensive third. For fifteen
minutes questions are asked of the home side with City playing with much more
fire and vim. Howard is still largely a
spectator. Carsley is everywhere;
seemingly.
Eriksson tries a double
substitution to break Everton down, Castillo; largely ineffective; and Hamman;
tiring; are brought off for The zip of Fernandes and the attacking intent of
Bianchi. Nothing much changes, Everton
are pressured but comfortable.
Howard remains largely a
spectator.
The introduction of Vaughn for
McFadden around the hour mark shows another aspect of the Everton defensive
strategy; hassle the opponents defensive unit.
The game is still largely City but Everton get more and more into it and things
kind of even themselves out for the last twenty.
Cahill gets a chance but heads
wide of a corner kick as Everton get back into the game.
Vaughn is a terrier, chasing
everything and not allowing the City back four time to play anything of quality
forward.
Anichebe and Petrov try some
handbags.
BULGARIA V NIGERIA - HANDBAGS AT THE READY LADIES!
Cahill has another chance but
heads wide.
Hibbert blocks Petrov,
again.
The pressure builds as City
frantically look for something from the game.
Petrov gets free in the area but his shot is well held by Howard. The American is just as secure when a last
ditch Bianchi header loops into his arms.
Everton had to make do with their
team selection today, injuries and ACoN absentees gave chances to squad
players. The entire team responded
magnificently. The entire back four was
outstanding; keeping the pressure off Howard for more than ninety minutes. As a team they held up well under incessant Manchester City pressure. Going forward they were a tad lightweight but
always looked more likely to score and forced saves from Hart. It certainly wasn’t the prettiest but a
brilliant performance nonetheless, more so when you look at what Manchester City’s new imports have been able to do
to other teams. The trip up the East Lancs road towards the end of the season is a much
anticipated game.
Eriksson showed his managerial
skill with and incisive half time team talk but his players couldn’t
deliver. Although they defended well
they couldn’t break down a resolute Everton back four. He will be worried that the first save Howard
made was in extra time. Castillo looked
lost but showed a few brief touches of his Copa form and the inability of Elano
and Petrov to cause damage was a testament to the home defence.
Halsey had an inconsistent
game. His advantages weren’t great and
he let Carsley get away with a horrible one on Corluka. I just wonder if referees feel they shouldn’t
make a decision that the crowd howls for.
OWH! C'MON REF, I HARDLY TOUCHED HIM!
Gordon McQueen is a tough
sell. The Scottish inspired team and the
wonderful defensive display earned his grudging respect as the final whistle
blew.
A draw at the Riverside
but who dropped three points? Bright and
energetic but mistake prone ‘Boro get punished by one lapse by the brilliance
of Torres. RIP League Championship
number nineteen for this season.
Big crowd at the Riverside,
Steve Gibson, an excellent backer for his club spearheaded the expectation of
the home fans, Liverpool had failed to score
at this ground for five years. Eighteen
points and ten places split the teams and the traveling fans provided a tense
yet vocal aside to the home fans noise.
Southgate had to mix and match experience
with inexperience for his starting eleven.
Schwarzer provided the goalkeeping prowess with a back four of Huth and
Wheater in the centre; both strong in the air and less so when being ran
at. Young occupied the right with
Grounds getting a debut on the left.
Downing, Rochemback, Boateng, and O’Neil providing mostly solid play
with some wide options to feed the two pacy strikers, Aliadiere and Tuncay.
Benitez decides that 4 4 2 is the
way to play and without Couch traveling to Middlesbrough
he went with Voronin and Torres up front.
Mascherano and Gerrard occupied the middle with Benayoun and Riise wide
of them. A back four of Arbeloa, Hyypia,
Carragher and Finnan protected Reina.
Liverpool
started brighter, spending the first five minutes camped in the ‘Boro
half. Nothing came of their attacking
though and the home side’s confidence grew.
This game was all about
confidence. ‘Boro have played some
decent football this season with little to show for it, their inability to
score their main achilles heel.
Liverpool
has shown everything from the sublime to the ridiculous this season, and this
game seemed to be considered their last chance at the title.
As Liverpool
failed to find the net; they came closest when a short Gerrard corner saw the
captain cut inside and unleash a fierce drive which tested the big Australian
to the full; and ‘Boro mounted more attacks the confidence tilted inexorably
towards the home side.
Neither side could string
together too many passes, the game being littered with errors. Boateng applied himself diligently in
midfield and started the move he was to finish.
He mopped up the loose play and played a beautiful ball out wide to
Downing. The England International put
the cross into the back post where O’Neil was able to head it back across goal,
a scrambling Reina was unable to beat Aliadiere to the ball and the neat header
down into the six yard box was firmly met by Boateng ahead of the lethargic
Hyypia. Poor defending and dogged play
from ‘Boro gave the home side the first goal.
OH YES!
Confidence was visibly ebbing
away from Liverpool. Despite a brief flurry near the half time
whistle the away side were shaky in possession, error prone and perhaps worst
of all bereft of ideas. Middlesbrough, on the other hand, started to exude
assurance and have plenty of options; they did lack the quality to cap their
excellent first half with a second goal.
Babel came on for the ineffective Arbeloa and
Riise dropped into the back four. The Dutchman
would be able to test Young, something which the tortuously narrow Liverpool play had done in the first half.
Voronin typified the visitors
today, trying to get onto a lovely dink into the area from Torres he lacked the
guile or strength to hold off Huth, then soon after a great, strong and
bursting run from Torres enabled to the Spaniard to find the Ukrainian who
promptly lost the ball. That Voronin
stayed on for as long as he did should raise questions.
Liverpool couldn’t sustain any
real pressure on ‘Boro in the second half, the home side had adopted more of a
counter attacking mentality and seemed to be able to keep the narrow Liverpool play easily in front of them. It had almost reached the hour mark before Babel’s pace on the
flanks caused Young problems. Then when
the Dutch winger evades the poor Young challenge and has acres of space in
which to work with time to look up he plays a truly godawful cross behind his
two teammates in the area.
The visitors almost see
themselves two behind when a shoddy Liverpool clearance comes back off the
referee, Tuncay receives the loose ball and despite overrunning it manages to
cut it back for Downing, the strike is goalbound but for a fine fingertip save
from Reina, O’Neil is quickest to the rebound and with time to take aim and
keep the ball low he blazes it over. You
can just imagine what Gibson and Southgate
thought about that, particularly as to what happened soon after.
Back to confidence, the near miss
really didn’t change the balance much, but the little was enough.
Boateng and Rochemback purposely
focused on breaking up play and spreading it forward or wide, are negligent as
Babel finds Torres in the middle of the park, time and space is gold for the
Spaniard and he rights himself after a slip, takes aim and unleashes a screamer
past Schwarzer. A sublimely good strike
and one which certainly saves the manager’s blushes.
I'M JUST SO GOOD! PETER WHO?
Confidence, Liverpool
got some from the equalizer but that of ‘Boro’s didn’t dip significantly. The game opened up as both teams looked to
take away three points. Gerrard and
Hyypia came closest for the visitors.
Three strikes for the captain saw two fly wide and one pushed over the
bar by Schwarzer. The Australian did
well to get down to the only one of the three headers that the big Finn made
off a corner that actually was on target.
One point apiece is not a good
result for either manager.
Southgate will be gutted to see the extra two
points slip from his grasp and Benitez will be hugely relieved to not be
embarrassed by a loss. ‘Boro played with
plenty of heart and fight and despite lacking too much in the way of pure
quality they looked the better side throughout most of the game. Liverpool
looked to be a side under pressure and under the microscope. A moment of pure class from Torres gave them
a lifeline but for almost the entirety of the other eighty nine minutes they
looked poor. Failing to put pressure on
a twenty year old debutant is pretty dire.
David Fairlcough, the game
commentator and holder of twelve pieces of Liverpool silverware; summed it up
when he didn’t even consider any Liverpool
player for Man of the Match. He actually
gave it to Boateng.
The referee did well, his moment
of the game was allowing play to continue with Huth manhandling Torres then
handing the defender a yellow at a later break in play. Great use of the advantage rule.
West Ham fluffed three good chances and conceded a late goal in the first
half. A lack of quality and a dodgy
substitution doesn’t help their cause in the second. The Hammers lose at home to the Blues twice
in four days.
Chilly Upton Park; gloves
required. That Easterly is blowing all
the way in from Russia. It’s tough to play the same opponent in quick
succession and the muted crowd at Upton Park seemed to sense this. This win was more important to both teams
than a League Cup result; you need your bread and butter before you can enjoy
the jam.
Curbishly makes two changes from
the side that lost a tight one to the Blues on Wednesday in the League
Cup. Green in goal with Neill, Collins;
in for the injured Gabbidon; Upson and McCartney across the back. Solano; back in the side after missing out in
midweek through ineligibility; Parker, Mullins and Ljungberg across the middle
with Ashton and Cole up front.
Moyes starts the same eleven;
from Wednesday’s game; in an attacking 4 4 1 1 formation. Howard in goal, Neville, Yobo Jagielka and
Lescott at the back. Arteta, Carsley,
Osman and Pienaar across midfield and Cahill; slightly deeper; with Yakubu up
front.
Everton start brightly, looking
to pass but the first incident is Parker tackling Neville, the ex-Manc gets a
taste of what he normally dishes out.
AN UGLY SISTER GETS A TASTE OF HER OWN MEDICINE
A West Ham corner is tipped out
by Howard and Yobo release Yakubu on the left, Pienaar receives the ball and
cuts it inside to Osman but the shot goes behind for a goal kick. Then Osman shoots wide after a lovely spell
of Everton possession, plenty of passing and movement from the visitors. Green has to be alert to claim a Cahill cross
and Jagielka comes across to cut out Ljungberg.
Cole gets the ball in midfield
and lays it wide to Solano his cross is telling and Ljunberg gets his head to
the ball but sees it go wide. A half
chance.
Collins and Yakubu commence their
altercation which continues throughout the game.
Solano and Parker combine well to
pierce Everton’s defence but they eventually hoof it clear as West Ham start to
assert themselves. Solano provides
creativity and Parker drive. West Ham makes
the most of a sloppy Yakubu pass with Cole crossing a looping ball into the
area which Ashton meets well but can’t keep on target. First decent chance.
Howard pushes a ball sloppily
wide and then makes a far better save at the feet of some West Ham players in a
crowded box. That’s how you do it
Paul! Everton appear clumsy and a tad
lethargic at the back and Solano takes the opportunity to spread the ball
around neatly, the ball breaks to Ljunberg off an Everton deflection, from a
few yards out the Swede’s shot can’t beat Howard.
Second really good chance.
Everton start to battle a bit
more and win a free kick which Arteta delivers nicely only for the home side to
clear. The pressure from West Ham is
good but the final ball is either poor or cleared.
Upson; who has an up and down
game; clears well from Yakubu after Osman’s through ball beats the offside,
then the diminutive midfielder is shaping to shoot when Ljungberg’s tackle puts
him off. The Swede is putting on a
thoroughly excellent display. Ditto
Parker and Solano.
It’s not all West Ham, Pienaar
intercepts a sloppy midfield pass and attacks the cross is decent enough but
Ljungberg’s clearance is better. West
Ham tries to break but Yobo is easily a match for Cole and shrugs him off the
ball.
Parker breaks up Everton play
with a brave (or foolish) header, the ball comes to Solano whose cross is put
over by Ashton.
Carsley gets an unlucky bounce
and gives away a corner but he’s first to Solano’s delivery.
Arteta hasn’t shown yet but when
Everton do get the ball Pienaar, Cahill and Yakubu are playing well. The South African drifts offside in a poor
end to some nice Everton possession, then Lescott; covering at left fullback; gets
a chance to cross with a nice run but with men in the box only finds a West Ham
defender, poor delivery.
CAKE AT THE YAK'S PLACE IF YOU SCORE!
Ashton gets possession in a
decent forward area but his turn is clumsy and shot is wide.
Ashton gets onto a deep ball but
Jagielka and Lescott clear up, the ball comes back to West Ham and they get a
free kick, Upson’s delivery finds a wide open Collins but the defender doesn’t
make much use of his header and it flies way wide.
Yakubu gets some possession on
the Everton left, his first cross is poor but his second run is delightful, he
beats Collins twice with some neat footwork but his final ball in is neither a
cross nor a shot and Green gratefully collects, at the second attempt.
Ljungberg gets forward on the
left with McCartney, the initial cross is poor but Ljungberg gets a second
chance, he nutmegs Neville and evades Yobo before stumbling on the byline,
Everton clear thankfully.
Solano shows his dead ball skill
with a well delivered free kick, Ashton flick the ball on but Lescott is
covering the back post and heads clear, another Peruvian dead ball delivery is
flicked on and finds and unmarked Collins, the defender has time and space to
bring the ball down and try a shot but just shanks it. Third really decent chance.
Green clears a ball long and it
comes to Parker via Solano, the midfielder tries a header but can only find the
side netting from a difficult chance. Osman;
not in the form he was in Wednesday; blazes over after Arteta tries a quick
free kick.
The half is coming to an end but
West Ham continues to see more of the ball.
West Ham huff and puff as they
pressure the visitors but a promising move is halted by a silly handball in the
Everton area. Howard clears the ball,
Mullins and Yobo each have touches before it comes to Lescott who plays it
forward to Yakubu, the Nigerian finds the South African who holds it up neatly
and plays in Arteta, the Spaniard finds Yakubu but Collins half clears, the
ball is loose and Pienaar is first to it, he plays in Osman who finds Arteta,
the Spaniard plays his ball of the game with a great looping ball to the back
post area, Cahill 5’ 10, outjumps Upson 6’ 1” to head the ball back across
goal, Yakubu is playing the goal scorer role supremely at the moment is in the
right place at the right time and picks his spot wide of the flailing
Green. The goal; just before half time;
is perfectly timed for maximum impact.
YAKITY YAK! DON'T LOOK BACK - FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE!
Curbishly brings on Camara for
Cole due to injury at the half. Moyes is
more than happy enough to leave the lads to get on with it.
Everton come forward early and
McCartney does well to shepherd Arteta away from the ball. , the ball upfield is poor and it allows
Pienaar to get some more possession, he waits for the run of Lescott and plays
in the defender, whose cross is that of a centre back and not that good.
Arteta is lucky not to get carded
for a trip in Parker; Tanner decides a talking to is enough. The free kick is quickly taken but Camara’s
control is woeful and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
Neville’s throw ins cause West
Ham some problems but they manage to clear.
Parker is having a blinder, all
over the park, attacking and defending, shame some of his team mates don’t have
his energy or touch. That means you
Dean.
Solano gripes when he’s muscled
off the ball by Lescott and Everton sustain some pressure, neat one and two
touch passing cuts through West Ham and Mullins decides to stop it with a free
kick (this happen last week against Fulham!).
Osman wins a throw in from the quickly taken foul and Lescott’s throw in
is good but a foul on Neill relives the pressure.
Parker is all over the shop; his
through ball bisects the Everton defence but doesn’t manage to pick out
Ljungberg, only finding a relieved Howard.
Ashton loses the ball; again, he
looks like he needs to come off. His
passing isn’t great and his insistence on keeping his feet and playing argy bargy
with the strong Nigerian hasn’t worked at all so far, he isn’t 100% fit
though.
Everton have the better attacks
and Green needs to be sharp to clear a good free kick delivery from Arteta, it
comes out to Carsley and his volley is headed in the right direction, Upson
clears with a timely header. The Everton
pressure breaks down then the Blues get the ball back from Mullins’ mistake, he
redeems himself with a good tackle and West Ham come forward, Solano’s first
touch allows Jagielka to come across and clear.
Noble comes on for Solano, the
Peruvian isn’t quite as effective in the second half but he is causing Everton
problems when he gets the ball. The
formation shifts slightly into what could almost be a 4 3 3.
EVERYBODY SAMBA!
Howard clears long and Green does
likewise, Ashton, Camara and Ljungberg combine in quick succession but Everton
get men back quickly and clear the danger.
They have moved to a 4 5 1 leaving Yakubu upfield alone. His hold up play has been effective today
though.
Noble gets the ball and runs directly
at Everton, he manages to find Mullins and the midfielder has a go from inside
the area but gets a deflection and wins the corner.
The game is drifting away from a
tiring and long ball prone West Ham, Parker is still gunning for the Blues and
his wide right run is finished with a great back post cross. No West Ham players have made the move into
the space and the delivery is wasted.
West Ham players are nothing if
not pluggers and they keep at Everton, Howard claims the ball in front of
Ljungberg. Everton still look the more
dangerous and a through ball leaves the Hammers defence for dead, Green and
Yakubu race for the ball and the ‘keeper gets to it first, Yakubu recovers
enough to put the ball into the box but the West Ham defence gets itself
together and clears, Parker is at the heart of all things good West Ham
today.
Collins has a moment of apoplexy
and just stops, Osman doesn’t and no flag is raised but the dink over the
advancing Green goes out off the crossbar.
The pear shaped moment continues for Collins as he hacks a clearance aimlessly
at Yakubu, the Nigerian is on the ball in a flash and Curbishly is greatly
relived to see the flag go up for offside.
West Ham seem to have slipped into neutral, they are sloppy in
possession and aimless in their passing.
Arteta wins a free kick from
Mullins who demonstrates what he thinks of the Spaniard, no words needed
there.
Neill gets forward in a
disorganized and dispirited West Ham thrust and volleys high and wide. Everton haven’t shut up shop but are solid at
the back, rebuffing any and all Hammer attacks.
The last twenty minutes isn’t
really pretty for West Ham, apart from Parker.
His run and pass is well met by Camara with a low, driven, near post
cross, Yobo’s clearance flashes past Howard’s post for a corner.
Pienaar, having plenty of the
ball tonight, gets forward wide and puts in a good ball, Yakubu heads from
distance with enough power to trouble Green, when the ball comes out Carsley is
waiting and his screamer is tipped behind by Green. Pienaar is in the thick of things moments
later and starts a move which Osman tries finish, no shooting boots on the
Englishman’s feet today, the ball flashes high and wide.
Parker; unable to rouse his team
mates but happy to take more than his share of the load; tracks back in
midfield and robs Osman with a great challenge, Ljunberg bursts upfield but the
move ends with Parker’s shot only getting a corner kick.
West Ham throw everything forward
in the final few minutes but some good last ditch headers, hooks clear and poor
crosses keep the scoreline for the visitors.
West Ham are in long ball heaven but Everton just stand firm and clear,
one clearance comes to Upson who tries to head back to Green, he is about
twenty yards short and Johnson is lightening, he gets a good bounce and drives
forward, he takes a quick look and lobs Green for the second Everton goal of
the afternoon.
Game over.
THAT'S NOT THE HEIMLICH!
Everton didn’t play particularly
well in the first half but finished much better than West Ham, the goal all but
killed off the Hammers and Everton played themselves through the second half in
a professional if unspectacular manner, the Johnson goal was a Brucey Bonus. In patches they still managed to play some
neat, attractive passing football, this is nice but the clean sheet may chuff
Moyes more.
Curbishly’s side had three really
nice chances in the first half, failed to put any of them away and lost the
game. Solano was a constant trouble to
Everton and his substitution was terrible, West Ham was never as effective with
Noble on the park.
WEST HAM'S BEST PLAYER DOES HIS DEFENSIVE DUTY WITH GUSTO
Parker was a giant,
striding around Upton Park attacking and defending with skill and heart,
totally the opposite of Ashton who looked dull and leaden footed and totally
unable to cope with the attentions of Yobo.
Where will the Ashton for England crowd be now? Ljunberg played well in spurts but the class
of players around him isn’t what he is used to.
For all their huff and puff West
Ham were the second best team on the day and got beat.
Tanner did well; most other
Premier league referees would have booked Arteta.
Houston down Kansas City
in a turgid MLS Cup Western Conference Final.
Some awful football on display, from both sides, in a poor advert for
the MLS Cup Final next weekend.
Robertson Stadium was a sea of orange,
interspersed with some Kansas City
shirts. The support was overwhelmingly Houston
in the Conference USA stadium, the pitch wasn’t in the best of shape and despite
a dry spell was a slick playing surface, not ideal for football.
Basic 4 4 2 for Kinnear, he has
Onstad in goal with a back four of Waibel, Cochrane, Robinson and Barrett. The midfield has Mullan and Davis out wide with De Rosario the creator
and Mulrooney the holder. Jaqua gets a
start up front alongside Ching.
Onolfo opts for the same 4 4
2. Hartman keeps goal with a back four
of Jewsbury, the experienced Conrad, Garcia and Harrington. Arnaud provides experience on the right with
Zavagnin and Morsink inside him and Victorino on the left. Johnson and Sealy make the front pairing
quite pacy.
The midfield is a muddle, neither
side being able to play with any rhythm.
Conrad is the first to show some
skill with an excellent covering tackle.
De Rosario wins a corner kick but
Houston finds
Hartman capable in the goalmouth.
Mullan puts a poor ball in.
The midfield build up is guileless
and Jaqua shows his lack of vision when he shoots aimlesslessly instead of
knocking the ball wide to better placed teammate.
Victorine shows some quality with
a good crossfield ball but Johnson can only display pace and no finishing
skills. Johnson displays the same lack
of a finishing touch from a well delivered Arnaud free kick.
Hartman pulls one out to save his
defenders’ blushes then De Rosario skies one wildly. Conrad displays his grit when he beats two Houston players to
shepherd the ball out for a goal kick.
Jaqua shows his wayward
finishing.
Arnaud displays some skill with a
good flanking run and cross but again Johnson can’t finish.
Mullan delivers another poor
cross.
Hartman keeps a clean sheet; thus
far; and saves his defenders’ blushes a second time.
Ching fluffs a good chance
without troubling Hartman. Mulrooney’s
free kick is awful and wasted.
The midfield continues to be
muddled and unproductive for the most part.
Houston
step up and put Kansas City
under some pressure, they are unable to pull the trigger or trouble Hartman,
Ching has the shot to end the move and it isn’t a good one.
Mullan puts another poor ball
in.
The midfield returns to it’s
muddled status quo.
De Rosario has a go from thirty
five yards, a daisy cutter which gives Hartman ample time to fling himself at
and turn around the post. So obviously
not a ‘world class shot’. The corner
kick is a decent one but terrible ‘keeping and woeful defending allow Houston’s tallest player a free header from close range,
even Jaqua can’t miss this one and Houston
take the lead.
Sealy isn’t that good but he’s
fast.
Jewsbury slips on the slick
surface and Davis
can’t make the most of the opportunity to beat Hartman and clumsily skies his
shot.
Johnson is playing very deep in
order to try to get some possession; it’s not a tactic that is working for
him.
Jaqua shows his MMA skills with a
fierce forearm which connects with the throat of Jewsbury. The flaccid referee bottles it and merely
hands the lanky striker a yellow. It’s
very obvious that Jewsbury isn’t play acting.
Arnaud shows a flash of skill
with a good run that ends with the wide player running into trouble and having
no support, of course Johnson is playing too deep and Sealy isn’t very
good.
Mullan is called offside when he
had the chance to beat the Kansas City
defence.
Skip to touchline and we get a
lovely shot of Kinnear spitting, a lot.
Onolfo puts Marinelli on for
Zavagnin in the hopes of turning around the one goal deficit. He wants more from his side. Kinnear keeps
his side the same. He’s happy with the
way the game sits.
Jewsbury, still breathing after
his brush with Jaqua, fires wide.
Kansas City shows a complete lack of
understanding the basics of defending a corner but manage to get away with
it.
Another beautiful shot of Kinnear
spitting, rapidly, again.
Johnson’s first touch is poor and
another move breaks down because of it. Sealy
is still not very good.
Mullan senses the feebleness of
the referee and takes out Harrington with a wreckless and dangerous
challenge. Happy to oblige the home fans
the referee waves play on.
Sealy and Johnson combine to look
aimless and confused with their roles.
Arnaud fluffs it this time with a
poor cross.
Harrington passes on a chance to
play a good ball in.
Jaqua crosses well and De Rosario
is beaten to the back post ball by the smart tackle from Victorine.
More candid shots of the Kinnear
phlegm machine on the Houston
bench.
Harrington finds himself with
plenty of space and time out wide and shows a lack of calm with a very poor
cross.
Davis
skins Garcia to win a ball the Kansas
City defenders should have made his own then sees an
alert Hartman claim his cross.
Sealy’s first touch is poor but
he gets to the ball quickly. Great
impression of a headless chicken all night.
Ngwenya leaves the ball for De
Rosario, who finds himself up against Conrad; the Kansas City defender wins the ball but gives away
corner kick.
Cochrane tackles Arnaud well to
stop the wide player in his tracks.
After 80 minutes Mullan finally
gets the idea and puts a decent ball into the Kansas City area.
Garcia’s poor defending allows De
Rosario to show his ample skills and get the goal that kills off Kansas City. Hartman is actually meant to stop those
opportunities.
Another scintillating shot of
Kinnear spitting, yet again.
Johnson’s opportunity goes astray
with a poor ball to the well positioned Arnaud.
The youngster finally has another chance to test Onstad and fires it
high and wide.
A final shot of Kinnear, he isn’t
spitting, oh there he goes twice in quick succession.
Kinnear must be wondering how his
team actually won. They do say that good
teams win even when they play badly, Houston
proved that point tonight.
Onolfo will wonder at whether he
can actually turn Kansas City
into a winning Franchise. Maybe they
just laid themselves out with the win against Chivas and had nothing left in
the tank for this game.
Awful refereeing performance for
such an important game. He made two very
bad decisions and numerous bad ones. His
control of the game was suspect and he lacked any sort of spine in the
atmosphere generated by the vocal Houston
supporters. One moment a tackle was
worthy of a yellow card the same tackle fifty yards away was let go. His bias was terrible and overall he isn’t
really competent to handle a professional game.
