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.
Oop the East Lancs Road
for a jaunt to the Eastlands Stadium.
Cra ppy weather in Manchester (no change
there then really), and some pretty cra ppy football from Manchester City. Everton played very well and ran out fairly
comfortable two goal winners. Howard
gets tested late, Hibbo stifles Petrov, Elano is cr ap, Benjani is AWOL in the
second half and we have a red for the petulant Bulgarian. Stiles, well some quite good and some pretty
awful.
Short trip North East ensures a
good away turnout in Manchester. The weather didn’t douse the fans’ enthusiasm
or voices. Spark is added to the match
with Everton old boys Dunne and Ball playing for City and the stadium is a
regular haven for managers and ex managers.
Taking a pew are Big Sam, Peter Reid, Roy Keane, Steve Bruce and Fabio
Capello. On the pitch it’s a European
six pointer.
Moyes changes the side that
thrashed SK Brann and opts for a familiar 4 4 1 1. Howard keeps goal, Hibbert slots in at right
back, Yobo, Jagielka and Lescott operate to his left. Carsley and Neville sit deep with Pienaar
Osman and Cahill getting licenses to attack with Yakubu as the main forward. Some might call this 4 2 3 1 or 4 5 1 or 4 2
2 1, really just ignore them.
A SCOT AND A SWEDE WATCH THE BLUE ACTION AT EASTLANDS!
Hard to change a winning team so
Sven doesn’t. The Swede selects the same
eleven that beat Manchester United. Hart
keeps goal with a back four of Onuoha, Richards, Dunne and Ball, the five man
midfield is Petrov, Ireland, Fernandes, Hamman, Vassel
with Benjani up front on his own. A
pretty standard 4 5 1, although perhaps best suited to the away side.
City starts off on the front foot
and gets nowhere. All half they had
plenty of possession and did nothing with it, Howard had to come and punch or
claim a few balls but didn’t have to save.
Everton defended thirty yards out and a narrow City just kept mindlessly
bashing up against a blue wall.
City’s best cross came just
before the interval when Fernandes whipped a ball between Howard and the
defenders, Benjani spent too much time wondering what it was and the chance
went.
The visitors threatened Hart all
the first half, crisply bringing the ball out of defence or from a ball won in
midfield and going straight at City with pace and bags of ideas.
Richards probably didn’t give
Everton it’s first penalty of the Premier League season as Stiles was blind or
just unsighted.
Hart saves well from Yakubu at
the near post.
Pienaar hits the bar.
Finally the traveling fans get
their goal. Feed the Yak and he Will
Score!
A deep throw in down the right
comes infield to Yakubu, Cahill’s running off Hamman finds the diminutive Ozzie
in space, he beats the first man and whips a cross through the legs of the
second, Yakubu had continued his run and finishes with clarity and clamness
over Hart. Great move, super finish and
a well earned 0-1.
FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE - THAT'S SIXTEEN FOR THE SEASON SO FAR!
City’s response, Petrov; stifled
all night by Hibbert; blast one wide from twenty five yards.
Carsley is feeling up for the
game and starts an attack from his own half, he is fouled by Hamman on the edge
of the area and Stiles is just poor.
Everton keep cutting through the
City midfield and back line and win a corner, it goes way too long and the
Irishman is a willing runner. Carsley
looks up and lobs a ball to wards the back post, Dunne and Hart are ball
watching as Lescott adds to his excellent tally for the season with a neatly
finished looping header back over Hart and into the far corner. Sloppy defending seals the game.
GOAL SCORER AND GOAL PROVIDER CELEBRATE THE FORMER WOLVES DEFENDER'S EIGHGTH OF THE SEASON!
Eriksson removes Hamman; well
played by Cahill; and opts for the more fluid attacking verve of the Brazilian,
Elano. Moyes keeps his side the same,
just asks them to sit a little and take the pace out of the game.
Ball’s challenge prevents Cahill
from giving Everton and early 0-3 lead after good work with Yakubu off a throw
in.
City mount some pressure but
continue to be easy to defend, they lack width, Elano and Petrov aren’t
delivering good balls into the area, Benjani is barely a threat and the
substitutions don’t really change much.
It’s only in the final ten minutes when City start to try playground
football that Howard actually has some saves to make.
Mexican Castillo gets onto a
loose ball and fires through a crowd, Howard gets down well and Jagielka
clears.
Petrov fires one straight at
Howard, meat and drink.
A cross sees Howard punch the
ball against Benjani, Jagielka clears the loose ball.
Other than one Dunne chance; off
a dodgy free kick decision that Petrov delivered well; City were pretty dire
really.
Everton continued to threaten and
defend extremely well, Jagielka being outstanding alongside Yobo.
Pienaar is replaced by Fernandes
who is in turn replaced by JJohn son, perhaps worrying Moyes in terms of
upcoming games with Carsley suspended after a fifth Yellow.
JJohn son and the Yak had half
chances but Everton’s best second half chance fell to Carsley, the midfielder
took advantage of Stiles’ play on call and walloped the ball goalwards before
City had even organized a wall, Hart was equal to the shot and parried it
over.
Petrov’s petulance lands him in
hot water at the end of the match, an odd whistle from Stiles; although play
still goes on; see Yakubu run away from the Bulgarian who aims a kick at the
Nigerian. Nothing is given for that one. Almost at the end of the game Petrov looses
out to Osman and tries to play some footsie with the back of Osman’s calf.
Stiles thinks, “EH! I CAN GET IN THE HEADLINES TOMORROW LETS GIVE HIM A
STRAIGHT RED!” and dishes out an automatic three match ban. Even I thought it a bit harsh and I support
Everton.
PETROV TAKES AN EARLY BATH!
Everton outplayed and out thought
City in every department tonight. Bloody
brilliant performance from a team full of beans (‘swagger’ as Tim Sherwood
describes it). Threatening goals all
game and solid at the back, it could have been three or four nil instead of just
two nil. Many this season have talked
about how the team is pretty ‘workmanlike’ without Arteta. No Arteta tonight and hardly workmanlike!
Beating Manchester United was a
bit flukey and it showed. City tried
exactly the same stuff that didn’t work at Goodison and got beat. Substitutions didn’t work and moving from a 4
5 1 through to something resembling a 1 1 8 in the final minutes they still
barely troubled the visitors. Pretty
poor in all areas of the pitch. What can
be done to stop this malaise at home?
Stiles, headline grabbing
arse! He can play a good advantage
sometimes! How can the man who has given
more penalties than any other Premier League referee not point to the spot at
least once tonight? Burley slaughtered
him and I pretty much agree with most of what the Scot said. Still at the end of the day even cra ppy
refereeing couldn’t deny a thoroughly enjoyable win.
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.
Fulham put in a good first half whilst Everton were poor in parts. The Blues turn it around in the second and
Yakubu gets a hat-trick; another home win and now the Toffees are unbeaten in
ten.
Goodison Park
in filthy conditions presented a real English football experience. December in Liverpool
was wet, cold and windy, perfect for a game of football.
The conditions made the pitch
greasy and some of the players had a hard time adjusting. Plenty of fans traveled up from London but the ground was
quiet in the first half. Second half was
much better for both the home side and home fans. The managers have met previously with Preston not suffering a defeat to Wycombe in three
outings. The Moyes revolution began with
a home win against a Fulham side that shares no personnel with the side brought
to Liverpool by Sanchez today; with the
obvious exception of Mohammed Al Fayed.
PALE AND UNSMILING - JUST ONE COFFIN PLEASE!
Moyes; pale and unsmiling; went
with an attacking 4 4 1 1 formation.
Howard in goal, Yobo and Lescott in tandem in the back with Baines and
Neville as fullbacks. Carsley sat back
in the middle with Osman, Arteta, Pienaar providing the attacking options and
helping Cahill; acting as a withdrawn striker; and Yakubu up front.
Sanchez puts it on the line with
an attacking 4 4 2 formation away from home.
Niemi helped by a back four of Omozusi, Hughes, Stefanovic and Konchesky. A midfield quartet of ex-Blue Davies, Davis,
ex-Red Murphy and Kamara ; dropping back into midfield; supported a front two
of target man Kuqi and the more nimble and skilful Dempsey.
Fulham get up and at the home
side early on with some quick and smart play, they win a corner kick and Kamara
gets to the near post; a problem for Everton this season; before his marker,
his flick is wide of the far post. Yobo
gets in the right place to clear from Davies and Howard punches clear from
Dempsey. Fulham are bringing it to
Everton and the home side is rattled.
Carsley steps up to break the next Fulham attack and the home side break
quickly with a ball out to Arteta, a brilliant corner kick delivery and
Lescott; up for the set piece; gets in at the near post and forces a sharp save
from Niemi, the ball comes out to Pienaar who forces another corner, Arteta’s
dead ball delivery masterclass continues but Fulham clear, the ball bounces
around somewhat before it comes to Carsley who is shaping to shoot when Fulham
forward Kuqi steals the ball from him with a lovely piece of back
tackling.
Both teams have the right foot on
the pedal and the game is free flowing and end to end, this belies the greasy
pitch and the atrocious weather.
Pienaar shows good touch with a
flick for the overlapping run of Baines, the cross is driven in low and it
takes two to prevent Osman getting in a shot.
Kamara and Dempsey combine on the
left and get corner kick, it’s taken short and Pienaar forces the tricky Kamara
back and concedes a corner, the ball is delivered in the middle and Howard
claims well.
Kamara goes into the book for
foolishly encroaching on the Everton free kick, Arteta’s delivery is good but
Niemi is equal to this one.
You have to hand it to the commentators for this match – one of them really,
really, really doesn’t know anything about football – who in their right mind
would compare Phil Neville to Kevin Ratcliffe and Brian Labone the other ####
didn’t tell him he was totally wrong either – Setanta should stop filling the
Green Room with hallucinogens or just hire some proper commentators.
A GREAT FOOTBALLER...
ANOTHER GREAT FOOTBALLER... ...AND PHIL NEVILLE
Murphy hauls down Osman and
Arteta’s free kick takes a deflection of the wall and dips goalwards, Niemi is
sharp in turning it over his own crossbar.
Arteta delivers another peachy ball and a wide open Cahill at the near
post heads so wide it’s a throw in. A
glaring chance spurned.
THIS ONE WENT FOR A THROW IN!
Fulham comes out with a good,
quick break, Davies puts a nice crossfield ball into Konchesky and the willing
fullback’s touch lets him down and Yobo mops up.
Everton are playing a passing
game despite the conditions, their build up is patient and measured and full of
inventive running, Fulham are more direct but any ball that gets through to Kuqi
seems to cause the home side some consternation.
Konchesky plays in Dempsey on the
left, the American fluffs it and it goes for a goal kick.
Pienaar flicks a ball on for an
overlapping Baines run, again, the lively fullback races into the space and
then pulls up clutching his hamstring.
That’s not good, especially with no left fullback on the bench.
Baines comes off, Jagielka come
on, Neville goes to left back and Jagielka slots in at right back.
The change goes badly for
Everton, for the rest of the half they look slow, staid and bereft of ideas in
attack and flustered if still secure in defence. Surely a change in personnel cannot be that
demoralizing for the home team?
Fulham take advantage with some
fine and incisive play. But lack a final
ball to take advantage of the Everton malaise.
Their first attack flounders at
Dempsey’s feet, then they get a close offside decision go their way when
Everton fall back to a “hoof it long to the big front man” philosophy.
Davis’s free kick is woefully over
everyone.
Kuqi and Dempsey get their wires
crossed in a promising position. This
really ticks Murphy off, his ball in was pretty neat and ultimately
wasted.
Fulham break from an Everton
corner kick, Davis
is shaping to shoot when Osman comes back to force a corner with a good display
of tackling back.
Everton look shaky on the corner
but Murphy’s shot from outside the area goes wide.
Everton make a tactical switch
with Lescott going out to the left, Jagielka coming inside and Phil going back
to his right back spot.
This doesn’t change Everton’s
poor first half form much though.
Arteta fires one in which is easy
for Niemi.
A Davies free kick is wide, then
he is let down on the break with a poor pass for his defence splitting run, he
has to break his run and Everton have time to regroup.
Lescott gets up a gallop on the
left but the pace of Omozusi allows the Fulham fullback to clear ahead of the
Everton fullback.
Howard claims a Konchesky cross
to finish a half in which Fulham dominated after Baines went off but didn’t
have the final ball or pass to cut through the Everton defence and be bale to
beat Howard.
The Moyes half time team talk was
definitely on a par with that of Advocaat in midweek. The Everton players took the field in the
second half looking like a different team from the sorry looking figures that
trudged off after the first forty-five.
Sanchez’s bluster about winning and Wimbledon
obviously didn’t stick in the minds of the Fulham players.
Everton pressure from the whistle,
an Arteta free kick is well delivered but Lescott can only head it behind.
Yakubu is sloppy in his first
touch.
Lescott sees an effort blocked
and Fulham break then break down, Everton come out and a Yakubu ball in is met
by Cahill in the area but the Australian slips under a Stefanovic
challenge. Eventually Fulham clear but
only for a throw in, Neville shows his long one and Yobo is tugged in the
area. Fulham scramble the ball clear
only as far as Lescott, when the ball comes back in Cahill is offside but no
flag is shown, Everton don’t stop play and Pienaar lofts a beautiful ball
behind the mass of defenders on the edge of the area, Cahill volleys goalwards
and Niemi saves with his legs but Yakubu is in the right place at the right
time and finishes the scrappy; if effective; move with a tap in.
ONE WITH HIS RIGHT!
The goal elevates the crowd and
the home team but Fulham respond as well as they can. They stifle both Yakubu and Arteta on the
edge of the area and break with the ball, Kamara has his shot blocked and
Neville’s header out is poor, it comes to Murphy who from twenty yards lets rip
a lovely volley which Howard does well to get his hands to.
Everton are finding a rhythm and
Neville gets forward down the right and plays in a nice cross, Omozusi; without
a call from his ‘keeper and Pienaar lurking; heads behind. Arteta’s “How to take corner kicks – 101”
continues and Niemi does well to palm the delivery away, Yakubu puts the ball
back in and Fulham scramble the ball away.
Fulham’s more direct strategy still troubles Everton but Kuqi isn’t as
difficult to beat as he was in the first half.
Hughes does well in tackling
Arteta and in the heart of the Everton defence Yobo is displaying the art of
winning the ball without conceding a foul.
Slack marking in the middle
allows Kamara to cut in from the left and run at Everton. His neat lay off to Dempsey allows the American
to turn and fire a swirling volley at Howard, his USMNT compatriot palms the
ball down and to the side, Lescott emulates his Nigerian partner and robs the
ball from Kuqi in the area without giving away a needless penalty. Quality defending. The ex-Wolves man calmly hoofs the ball downfield
when he gets clear.
Fulham are nothing if not game
and come straight back at Everton only to be rebuffed again.
Arteta gets on the ball wide
right and cuts inside, he eschews the shot and dinks a cross to the back post
with his left, Omozusi half clears and Osman has a shot. Niemi’s save is decent but his block of
Pienaar’s follow up is brave and better.
Cahill, Arteta and Yakubu work together
down the left but Omozusi’s pace enables him to get to the ball and clear.
Arteta’s delivery is perfectly
met at the near post by Jagielka and an unmarked Yakubu leaps daintily to head
in his second.
ONE WITH HIS HEAD!
Fulham keep on plugging away but
after Kamara and Konchesky combine well on the left and force Jagielka into
clearing for a throw. When taken the
throw is a foul one, Everton have regained possession with a soft mistake.
Lescott shows his desire to join
in the Everton attack with a run along the touchline of seventy yards before he
wins a corner kick. Arteta finds Jagielka
at the near post again but the flick on goes behind.
Dempsey comes of for Sanchez’s
impact player, Healy.
Around the sixty fifth minute
Everton put on a cheeky display of possession, it takes a little over twenty
passes; all well cheered and olayed by the home fans; before Omozusi breaks it
up with a foul.
The possession is wasted and
Fulham come forward again, Neville needed to be sharp to clear Davies’s ball
in.
Pienaar; really starting to find
his feet, on both sides of the ball; plays a lovely ball across the pitch for
Arteta to run onto, the Spaniard looks favourite but the pace of the young Omozusi
wins that race.
Arteta tries a lobbed corner kick
which has Fulham scrambling to clear but isn’t really as effective as one of
his whipped in, flat, perfectly flighted balls he’s been delivering into the
teeth of some awful, North West weather all afternoon.
Yakubu gets clear on the right
and cuts inside, he doesn’t shoot and plays in ball for Arteta, the Spaniard is
grateful for the offside flag as his fluff of the easy tap in was
terrible,
Yobo clears from Davies, then
Kamara out leaps Howard to the return ball in, it falls to Everton who coolly
clear the ball out of the area.
Healy puts a cross behind as
Fulham; despite their lack of really talented players; still come at
Everton.
Seol comes on for Murphy and
Fulham seem to go to a 4 3 3.
Yakubu gets forward looking for
his third; he shoots wildly due to the lack of quick support. He gets into space on the other side moments
later but without support a corner is his only option. This is cleared and Fulham come forward,
Pienaar tracks back and wins the ball in his own half, a powerful run across
the park; right to left; pulls Fulham wide open and he cuts inside to play the
ball perfectly into Yakubu, the big Nigerian feints left as goes right and
passes into the far corner past a well beaten Niemi for his hat-trick.
THAT'S THREE!
Fulham still have the legs but
not the heart or the skill to penetrate a strong and buoyant Everton, whose
defence is occasionally a little soft but has held firm.
Johnson and McFadden come on for
Yakubu and Cahill and occupy much the same roles.
Pienaar plays in Arteta who
crosses for McFadden; the Scot goes for the near post forcing Niemi to push the
ball behind.
Healy gets into a good forward
position after some neat Fulham build up, he cuts inside and when the space
opens up chips one goalwards, Howard is off his line but fast enough over the
sodden ground to cover his goal. Pienaar
makes a run down the left and cuts the ball inside to Osman, the Englishman
find the Scot and McFadden cuts inside and tries to place one past Niemi, the
Finn is match for the shot. Johnson gets
open but his back post cross is a touch to pacy to enable McFadden to get a
touch and probably a goal.
Healy; bright and full of running
since he came on; gets a neat chip turned behind by Howard.
Everton started well then went
all pear shaped when Baines went off and they changed their players
around. They were tough enough at the
back with some superb defending from Yobo and Lescott to resist Fulham and
Howard had a good game in difficult conditions.
They got a break on the first goal, took full advantage of the bodged
call and never looked back. Wonderful
defending and slick attacking play saw them outplay the visitors. The three points are valuable as they now
have four away games on the bounce. Mikel
Arteta’s dead ball delivery was wonderful, time after time he put the ball into
a dangerous area which in the conditions was nothing short of brilliant,
Pienaar’s play is making the choice as to whether or not to make his loan
permanent easier, mostly. Lescott will
still get better.
Sanchez was good enough not to
moan too much about Cahill’s offside but his team wasn’t that good despite
plenty of possession. In a first half
where they had the ball and the attack they could do nothing with it. Then they just couldn’t match the home side
in the second half. They were at their
most dangerous from set pieces.
Bennett did well in the foul conditions
and kept his cards to a minimum, he got no help on the Cahill offside from his
assistant. Very good refereeing
performance.
Sunderland made to look woeful as Everton hammer seven goals past them
at Goodison Park.
Windy Goodison
Park on a November
Saturday saw a stunning and hugely one sided match.
The International break gave the
managers plenty of time to prepare; despite the absence of key players; tactics
were worked out and injuries allowed time to heal.
The Goodison faithful enjoyed the
Z Cars theme and roared their players on.
Sunderland’s traveling support was more
hopeful; given their away form this season; but vocal none the less.
THE SCINTILLATING SPANIARD SHOWS OFF HIS SILKY BALL SKILLS
Moyes went with a strong 4 4 1 1,
attacking formation. Howard keeps
goal. Yobo and Lescott continue in the
middle of defence with Valente rewarded with another starting spot and Neville
dropping to right back ahead of Hibbert.
Carsley is the midfield battler;
ball winner and doer of destruction, around him are three attacking midfielders
in Arteta, Pienaar and Osman. Yakubu is
the main centre forward and is supported by Cahill.
Keane goes with a 4 4 2, fairly
attack minded with two out and out strikers.
The expensive Scot; Gordon; keeps goal.
A back four is Whitehead, McShane, Higginbotham and ex Leeds
dead ball specialist, Harte. The middle
four is Edwards, Etuhu, Yorke, and Leadbitter.
Chopra and the tantalizing talent of Jones played up front.
Sunderland
attack but Everton defend well. Carsley
fouls to break up another Sunderland attack
and hands Harte a chance to test Howard.
His shot slams straight into the wall.
The middle of the park is
understandably tight with Carsley at the heart of things showing the Dogs of
War ethic is not entirely dead, the Irishman is a vital cog in the Everton
machine.
Valente shows why he’s starting
with some smart defending to avoid a corner kick and clear the ball.
Everton win possession through
Carsley and Pienaar cuts in from the left but his shot is well wide, the finish
doesn’t do justice to a neat Everton move.
Lescott and Valente combine to
break up a Sunderland attack.
McShane blocks Cahill’s shot
after some dazzlement from Arteta to bamboozle Harte, then Neville uses a more utilitarian
method to find Cahill from the right but the diminutive Australian can’t get
over the ball.
Chopra shows Sunderland’s
intent with neat play to beat Neville on the left, his ball inside is well read
and doesn’t find Yorke. Everton come
away with the ball and play some nice possession before Valente cuts inside and
still manages to test Gordon on his weaker foot.
Lescott disdainfully brushes
aside Jones in the area and shepherds the ball into touch. Howard’s clear long and McShane swings and
misses with Yakubu close by, the Nigerian accepts the invitation and drives
forward, he has the strength to out muscle Higginbotham and the skill and luck
to beat Gordon with a scuffed shot that loops over the Scot. McShane was found seriously wanting on that
one.
YAKITY YAK, DON'T LOOK BACK!
Yorke is judged harshly for a
non-existent handball but Everton’s free kick is cleared by Sunderland.
The Black Cats let another one in
though, not through sloppy defending but through scintillating Spanish
flair. Neville starts a move down the
right and finds Yakubu who plays it forward to Arteta, the Spaniard holds up
the ball and keeps Harte at bay whilst he waits for the late run of Neville, the
ex Manchester United player is deliciously slipped the ball and dinks a sweet
ball into the danger area, Cahill controls the ball and turns and shoots to
continue his run of excellent goals.
Stunning well crafted goal involving slick passing and one Englishman.
TINY TIM GETS HIS FIRST!
Everton still need to be aware as
Sunderland’s lone threat finds space from twenty five yards out and fires one
narrowly wide of Howard’s upright, maybe the ‘keeper had it covered, maybe
not.
Osman, Pienaar, Neville and
Yakubu combine in another flowing attacking display but the move doesn’t quite
come off, then McShane; making some amends for his early mess; blocks Yakubu
twice, the first stop is good and he has the presence and attitude to get up
and block the second shot. Gordon was well
beaten on the first but regained his position for the second shot.
Everton show why they struggle to
get clean sheets, a good cross from the right from Edwards is tipped into
danger by Howard, Leadbitter is woeful as he steers his free header into the
side netting instead of the open goal from a wide but hardly difficult
angle.
Arteta hits a free kick at the
wall but gets a second chance when he’s brought down, his second finds Osman at
the near post and the Englishman’s glanced header flashes past a stricken
Gordon but also past the post for a goal kick.
Arteta; drifting into the middle;
shows his ball skills and then displays his skills at winning free kicks,
Valente takes this one and Gordon punches well clear.
Carsley breaks up play from the
ever willing Black Cats and gives away a corner. Harte’s first delivery is well met by the
Irishman and his second is better but Yobo heads behind in front of Jones, the
third sees McShane evade Lescott as he darts to the near post, Carsley is
static (as he was for Drogba’s goal at Stamford Bridge) but the defender’s
header flashes behind.
Carsley is all over the middle of
the park and breaks up another Sunderland
attack, Valente clears ahead of Chopra, Carsley combines (inadvertently) with
Lescott to clear then Howard gets a chance and punches the ball in wide.
Sunderland
run out of ideas and Everton come out, the run of Osman allows him a shot but
Gordon is equal to the test.
Everton; full of ideas and craft
going forward; get a third just before the break, Pienaar in the left channel
finds Valente out wide, the Portuguese left back’s ball back is perfect in
every way and Pienaar duly obliges with a stunning goal.
The two left sided players cut
through Sunderland and we didn’t see any
explosions from the away bench.
Sunderland
under Keane is nothing if not hard working and right at the death they get a
lifeline. Howard does well to get down
to a vicious shot from Leadbitter, Edwards was quickest to react but the big
American ‘keepers uses the post to keep the second shot out, Jones is well
positioned to play the ball back into the path of a late arriving Yorke who
shows his finishing prowess with a late goal.
Poor and blunderous defending with Sunderland
being first to the ball twice ahead of the Everton defenders.
Keane swaps things around in the
second half; Yorke and Etuhu are sacrificed with Collins and Wallace being
introduced.
Whitehead will move into midfield
and Collins will fill in at left back.
Sunderland
have had the best of the half time oranges and come out strong, giving a hard
time to the home side without really threatening Howard’s goal.
Osman easily clears a poor
Wallace free kick, a second free kick from Whitehead is better but Lescott
heads away and Osman clears. Sunderland are applying pressure and Everton are pushed
back into a more defensive 4 5 1.
Everton always looked strong and
from their forward play saw Arteta’s free kick hit the side netting, Cahill
come close twice; ensuring plenty of practice for Gordon; and Yakubu fired
wide.
The pressure is broken when
Everton get another break due to some more poor defending from Sunderland.
McShane is again guilty of another howler, this time off a long ball
forward from Yobo, Cahill; full of confidence; brings the ball under control
then fires a low shot past Gordon, four one.
Sunderland are to be commended on
the fight and spirit but not their finishing, Chopra is gloriously woeful in
front of an open goal after Howard is pulled out of position. Everton were almost asleep to let the Black
Cats have such a chance.
Not all Everton’s goals are
stunning shots following some slick passing, Yakubu gets on the scoresheet
after Gordon saves from Osman, Arteta takes a short one and the ball is played
into the danger area, Yakubu is the finisher and gets his second and Everton’s
fourth.
Cahill and Yakubu come off for
Anichebe and Johnson.
Sunderland
will not quit and Harte forces a good clearance from Osman.
Johnson gets happily back into
scoring form as his pace allows him to get to a long ball from Neville, a
square and flat footed Sunderland back line has no chance once the ex Palace
striker has the ball at his feet, he shows his skill with a neat chip to beat
Gordon for Everton’s sixth.
JOHNSON BACK TO GOAL SCORING WAYS WATCHES WITH CRAIG GORDON WELL BEATEN
Neville does his defensive duties
well with a block from his old team mate Cole, and then Jagielka clears a
Leadbitter corner.
Osman rounds off the day amongst
some testing shots for Gordon and the posts and bar doing their defensive
jobs. He showed a clean pair of heels to
a number of clumsy lunges; seriously, you can’t call them tackles; from the
tired and bewildered Sunderland players before
passing the ball into the net. The
Englishman had traveled half the length of the pitch to score.
OSMAN DRIBBLES AND RUNS HALF THE LENGTH OF THE PITCH BEFORE PASSING THE BALL INTO THE NET FOR EVERTON'S STUNNING SEVENTH
Cole brings a block from Lescott
The home side had a stunner and
scored freely and easily, some of the goals were pure defensive mistakes that
Everton capitalized on but others were crafted and classy goals. Sunderland
showed spirit and fight but lacked the skill to compete with Everton who
dominated the midfield for most of the game and defended pretty well.
Moyes will be ecstatic, rarely
have an Everton team of his played so well.
This is progress, albeit against poor opposition. It could be argued that this isn’t actually
his strongest team. Tough games coming
up in the League, The League Cup and the UEFA Cup look a little more like
manageable targets after this resounding win that sees the Blues climb the
table and go seven unbeaten in all competitions.
NO HARD FEELINGS MATE! EVEN AFTER A MAULING, KEANE'S ANGER MANAGEMENT COUNSELLING PAYS DIVIDENDS.
Keane must be congratulated for
fielding a side with the fight his Black Cats displayed today they never gave
up despite being hammered on the road.
This is atypical o####ood Championship side in the Premier League. The ex Manchester United midfield general may
yet avoid the drop but his team needs to erase their atrocious defensive
errors; they cost Sunderland maybe four of the
goals today; and help out the ever effervescent Jones.
IT'S BEEN THAT SORT OF DAY FOR THE RECORD BREAKING SCOTTISH 'KEEPER.
