BACK ON TRACK
By
Mickey Blue Eyes

(For Steve H, 50 on 21st October, even though his birthday invitation claimed it was his 30th.)

These days I can’t be arsed going to any game in the north east because the police there make it the most horrible excursion of the season. Since they make it plain they don’t want any visitors I am more than willing to say they can stay isolated up there with unreliable Odin. Which is a pity. It used to be a visit worth relishing. Sadly, I don’t think the north east fans are aware just how awful their tooled-up, thick-headed Gestapo make it for visiting fans. Hence I deliberately missed the games against The Skunks and The Smoggies that yielded us only one point instead of a hoped for maximum, or four at the least. Of course had we beaten Wigan and Manc. City (as we should) and gained four points from the other matches we would have been either top or second. But the reality is we were seventh after the dust settled. And ifs and buts don’t matter in football or anything else.

Talking of which……………farewell, then, Paul and Anita Gregg after they sold their shareholdings to BCR Sports. The sound of lapping water you hear is from the wake of their yacht as it heads for the horizon. The pungent carcinogenic whiff you detect is the smell of fresh toast. That’s the way raw economic power works whether anyone likes it or not. Amateur Donald Trumps, gossiping old women and clucking hens take note. It’s a pity it didn’t work out but that’s what happens when you misjudge football and its ways, let alone underestimate the opponent you created yourself. Having invited themselves in they should at least have looked around the house and met the people who live there. Had they not started all the nonsense with their counterfeit “promise” of inward dosh from a “blue-blooded Englishman” (who might or might not have been John Grantchester, though even he himself seemed unsure) we wouldn’t have got the necessary retaliatory action of the Fortress Fund saga. And all Paul and Anita had to do on the Kings Dock deal was make two or three adjustments to their “financial proposal” (I use the term loosely – there never was one of real substance from Houston Securities, only a sort of Arfur Daley back-of-envelope ale-house jobby. Paul never did provide the guarantees government agencies rightly asked for) and not leave matters so late they thought everyone would go for it as a fait accompli. Lousy business judgement, made worse by a wretched, ill-advised, vengeful attempt to destabilise the club to their advantage. Still, as they leave bleeding they have enough folding money to mop up the blood. Good luck to them. Time and tide waits for no man or woman. For your present temporary amusement you can watch the old yard hens clucking away as they peck at the few seeds they’ve been thrown. Next.

Pre-match, the question was whether we could get back on track against Sheffield United and their neurotic parrot of a manager, Neil Warnock. As it turned out they were a hapless collection seemingly bound whence they came. This will be sad for their genuine fans since they seem saddled with much more than their fair share of knobheads. In the existential world of footy they were easily the worst team I have seen this season. We played well in the first half and could have been three or four goals to the good, then faded in the second half as the tykes backpeddled into an understandable ten-man siege mentality. Tim and James got subbed after ten minutes of the second half by Leon and Jimmy Mac and Victor Anichebe got on for the last ten minutes in place of Phil Neville. As always, we lacked the necessary midfield oomph. If and when we get that we will be a very good team. Meantime it looks as though we are destined for maybe the top five if we can avoid excessive injuries. If we can’t, then anything between sixth and tenth is likely. But matters have improved hugely on and off the field. The next step will be the most difficult of all, as if realists needed telling.

The initial few minutes were taken up by the usual sparring and feeling each other out. Even during that period you could tell the Sheffield team had little but size and strength to offer. Mind you, we said something similar about Wigan and Man. City and they both took a point with them. This time, though, there was no messing about. Sheffield United were never in it.

We got one after the ten minutes mark when Mikky moved to right centre mid midway in their half and slid it wide right to an onrushing Phil Neville. I was just groaning, “You overhit that one, Mikky,” when Neville beat their defender to it by a whisker and hit over an immaculate cross to a metre or two outside the centre of the goal area. Their defence was onto everyone except Mikky who had sneaked in between the lot of them and got in a downward free header. When they get scored like that everything looks so simple. It never is of course, not with great lumps of players trying to take bites out of your arse.

After that we played neat enough stuff and kept the passing moves commedably tight. Another one always looked imminent but not definitely so. It’s like that when the team jigsaw is incomplete. In the immediate aftermath the nearest we got to a goal was a smart link up down the left and a deadly drag back to Beattie left edge of the penalty area and nobody near him. He did the right thing by smacking it hard but got under it and it sailed over. Apart from that he was clearly in combative mood. He makes a big difference when he’s not sulking or feeling sorry for himself.

As we kept coming forward the opposition weren’t bothered about giving away free kicks to disrupt the flow of play. Every now and then we retaliated in time honoured fashion (the game has always been thus. Even great football-playing teams did it. The great Paddy Vieira was notorious for it in that great Arsenal side of a few years ago) and things got irritable without becoming outright dirty.

So it was no surprise when we got a penalty after half an hour and their very large centre back got red carded for it. Plainly by then the referee had decided he’d had enough of the silliness. Mikky had moved inside again for one of his spasmodic centre mid ventures, and from slightly left centre weighed a gorgeous through ball for AJ to chase. Not for the first time he skinned said centre back and got wrestled to the ground. Penalty, duly despatched with much venom by James Beattie, followed by a bow to the Street End. Why these centre backs do these things mystifies me; he was never going to catch AJ, he was the last man, and we all know what that means. Better let him go on and take your chances than get a certain red. But that’s footy life.

Just on half time deadly Andrew threatened to turn it into a rout when he had a clear chance a metre inside the penalty area. Centre, and nobody in front of him except the ‘keeper, he should have buried it. He did everything right except score. He hit the outside of the ‘keeper’s left post. Another one then and I think the Sheffield team would have been swept away. Alas.

The second half wasn’t up to much. The opposition had even less of a clue than they did with eleven men and quite rightly we weren’t going to repeat the errors against Wigan and Man. City. I suspect our pattern of play will stay much the same until we get midfield reinforcements. There’s no point playing to your weaknesses. The midfield changes didn’t help much except to provide fresh legs. In the end it was an easy win that reinforced much that we already know and gave young Victor Anichebe a run out that he took full advantage of. He nearly scored twice after strong runs down the left and right, but still needs to work on his first touch. If he gets that right he’s going to be some player. Jamie Mac almost scored too with a splendid header, equally well saved.

It was a good win that could and perhaps should have been more.

Next up, Arsenal away and a look at their new stadium. I’m looking forward to it. Our midfield might be in fraught danger against Arsene’s embryo side but there are always compensations. I hope.

Fans Match Report By Jiing Yih

Everton returned to winning ways with a straightforward 2-0 win over Sheffield United, a first victory since the derby success. Though Andrew Johnson did not score for the second match running, Mikel Arteta and James Beattie’s penalty ensured the fans returned home pleased. Arteta’s goal in particular capped a fine performance, where he responded to calls from David Moyes to contribute more in the ‘goals for’ column. James McFadden and Leon Osman then came on later in the second half to continue their recovery, together with another run-out for Victor Anichebe.

For the home side, skipper David Weir came in to partner Joseph Yobo, as Phil Neville took Tony Hibbert’s place on the right, with Joleon Lescott begin played out-of-position at left back. Such is the selection problems that there was not a single senior defender; only Patrick Boyle was named among the substitutes. The match began in a tepid fashion, as Sheffield United sought to impose the physical style of play, with young striker Kazim-Richards, a rather surprise inclusion in their starting eleven ahead of the more experienced Danny Webber, crossed early but missed all of his team mates. Amongst the Everton old boys, only Stuart McCall, who was unfortunately to be sold in the late-eighties, were present at the touchline, as David Unsworth and Craig Short did not even play. As Everton initially struggled to control proceedings in midfield, Lee Carsley was penalised for a foul. Without even blinking an eye, Mikele Leigertwood, one of the ex-Crystal Palace players on show, fired high and wide. Try as they might but could not make inroads down the middle, the team then decided to get down the wings, as a lofted cross on the right was caught by United’s Irish keeper, Paddy Kenny.

On 13 minutes, a great pass found Phil Neville on the right who crossed on the run, Arteta then rose through a crowd of defenders to head the ball past Kenny. 1-0 up and the whole of Goodison Park was sent into raptures. To drop points against Wigan, Man City and Newcastle were heart-wrenching, to lose to Boro was heartbreaking, therefore to see us score is very heart warming indeed. The team carried on with their attacks, keeping Phil Jagielka and Claude Davis on their toes. Though Johnson failed to get onto Arteta’s pass, he was a constant nuisance as he won a throw in, but he was to provide a telling contribution later on.

Minutes later, Beattie had space and time form Arteta’s low cross from the left, but he took this chance too early as he blasted his shot high and wide of the goal. Cahill then volleys over form Phil Neville’s cross at Everton went in search of another goal. One of the most interesting aspects of the first half was the tussles between Johnson and Davis. Davis was to receive his marching orders on 31 minutes as he was alleged to have hauled down Johnson in the box. Dermot Gallagher the referee had no hesitation in sending him off, leaving Neil Warnock furious. Beattie stepped up and slotted home the penalty for his second goal of the season. No one needs a reminder that he has yet to score from open play.

In the meantime, Arteta and Davies had swapped position freely and to great effect, though Warnock has a few tricks up his sleeves, as Chris Morgan was brought on in a tactical reshuffle. Strangely, they began to hold their own, as they were to do for the majority of the second half, as missed chances by Morgan and then Kazim-Richards gave Everton much to ponder. Tim Howard had to make a point-blank save to deny them. In injury time, Johnson had a glorious opportunity to make it three, but his left foot shot struck hard against Kenny’s left hand post.

The players came out of the second half seemingly relaxed, which nearly let in Kazim-Richards again, though he wasted Gillespie’s great pass by pulling his shot wide of the post. Had they been sharper in front of goal they might have consigned Everton to yet another frustrating afternoon. Then came a double substitution, as Osman and McFadden came on for Cahill and Beattie respectively, who looked visibly hurt. Everton, to their credit, did try to goal for goals but first Davies then Anichebe, who had two chances in the last ten minutes, failed to make the breakthrough with their wild shots. United by now had brown increasingly frustrated, as Michael Tonge hauled down Arteta to go into the referee’s book.

Webber then nearly had a clear opportunity to bring the game to Everton, but he saw his shot brilliantly blocked by Howard with his feet. Three minutes from time, McFadden had a great chance to kill of the game, though Kenny was to prove equal to the task as he tipped his header round the post. The final whistle blew after four minutes of stoppages, as the fans looked forward to the following games against Luton and Arsenal. No one was more delighted than Moyes who demanded a win from the start, by the ref got some flak from Neil Warnock for his decisions. Nevertheless, the aim for the next few weeks is to overcome a tricky trip to the Emirates, then hopefully the team gets through the months of November and December unscathed. We’ll see how Everton continues to march up the table, ‘cos we deserve to be up there.

Moyesy says: It was good to get back to winning ways, I am really pleased with that. We had to work hard for it, even when they were down to ten men. This was our most important win of the season after the way the last few games have gone. It has got us right back in it."

Neil Warnock rants: "I don't blame Johnson for going down. I don't think it is anything like a penalty. The referee blew too early. Claude Davis is quick, and got back goal side of the lad, who realised he wasn't going to get a shot on goal and went down." (22/10/06)

What did you think of the match?  Did Moyesy get his team selection and tactics right?  e-mail info@bluekipper.com after the game.

* I thought the game was one of the more exciting ones of this season. Timmy in between the sticks has, yet again, convinced everyone that he is a top class keeper and Mikky is a wonder to watch, 10mil player, easily. (Janice)

* It is very difficult to criticise David Moyes at the moment because I would have given a limb to be in the position we are at present. However he just had to go and do it didn`t he. Captain Bloody Fantastic back in the side against Sheffield United. And just to add insult to injury he also put on that other waste of space James "I`m a striker" McFadden. He couldn`t strike a match ! I do realise there have been glowing reports regarding these two from the Scotland games but my daughter would look good in that side. How can anybody expect James Beattie to get into any sort of form if he is continually left on the bench or subbed ? I don`t think that Beattie and Johnson are really suited as a partnership but without playing them together we will never know. I know I have banged on about Weir and McFadden ad infinitum but they really are not the way forward. Weir is too old and McFadden should be sent back to Scotland where he would look a superstar. Who wouldn`t ? Anichebe, Hughes and Vaughan are where we should be looking. An almost delirious Blue. (John)

* The Linesman ripping the flag from his stick. He continued to grab on to the flag without the stick for dear life, till the fourth official pegged it round to give him a new one.

* Mikky Arteta going arse over tit celebrating Biffa's pen, jumping onto his team mates, missing them like Pepe Reina misses the ball, and landing on his arse

* The Inflatable Chang Elephants in the Park End car park. Someone must have given them a slow puncture, as they were neither up nor down. (22/10/06)

Moyesy headaches are mostly defensive with Hibbo joining Nace on the long term injury list. Skipper Phil Neville will slot into the right back position, and the rest of the back four will have a familiar ring to it, with Joey, Roger and Nuno making up the other numbers.

Home to Sheffield United, and me thinks it will be the right game to give Jimmy Mac a run out up front with Johnno, as in fairness Biffa has not set the world alight this season. Jimmy showed his class recently as the Scots turned over World Cup Finalists France, and Faddy's chance must come soon. If Moyesy does decide on 4-4-2, the midfield should pick itself with Tiny, Ossie, Harry Hill and the Spanish matador making up the eleven.

You have to go back to the 1993 season till the last time the Blues met Sheffield United in the top flight, when Everton with goals from Tony Cottee (3), and John Ebbrell gave the boys a 4-2 victory. The Blues will try and keep their unbeaten home run going against a side who have not scored on their travels. Why did you write that I hear you ask, maybe because, I feel Sheffield will score, but we will score more, and push us back into a Champions League spot, were a club like Everton truly belong.

Moyesy says: "There are a lot of selection problems. When we saw the injury (to Tony) on Saturday we thought it would be a long time out for him but having seen how it has gone in the last week a couple of months may not be right. It could be shorter than that because we have had some hope in the last few days as it does not feel quite so bad. It always disappoints you when players get injured but it is part and parcel of the game. We have 15 or 16 players ready to play and it is an opportunity for players to come in." (20/10/06)

Everton from: Howard, Neville, Lescott, Yobo, Valente, Davies, Arteta, Cahill, Carsley, Osman, Johnson, Beattie, McFadden, Anichebe, Van der Meyde, Wright, Stubbs.

Lavo's Eleven To Start: Howard, Valente, Yobo, Lescott, Neville, Arteta, Carsley, Osman, Cahill, Johnson, McFadden

IF ANY EVERTON FAN WANTS TO WRITE A REPORT OF ANY OF THIS SEASON'S GAMES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO. JUST E-MAIL IT TO info@bluekipper.com AND WE WILL PUT IT ON THE SITE.

Everton welcome back of their Cup Winning hero's from 1995, in the form of David Unsworth. (Click to see Unsey's Exclusive Interview) Unsey remember gave the Moyesy era the perfect start when he netted after 27 seconds against Fulham back in March 2002, I am sure he will get the reception he deserves, as on his days off he can be seen at Goodison supporting the club he loves.

No doubt Unsey will be handed the captaincy for the day, as Neil Warnock goes looking for his first away win of the season, lets hope he does not succeed.

Sheffield United centre-back Claude Davis faces a late fitness test after reporting pain in his troublesome knee. Michael Tonge, Chris Armstrong and Rob Hulse are all nursing knocks, but boss Neil Warnock is confident they and Davis will pull through to feature

Sheff United from: Kenny, Bennett, Bromby, Unsworth, Davis, Morgan, Short, Sommeil, Armstrong, Leigertwood, Kozluk, Jagielka, Ifill, Gillespie, A Quinn, Hulse, Akinbiyi, Nade, Kazim-Richards, Kabba, Webber, Montgomery

No Corresponding Fixture