" Its A Grand Old Team To Play For....."
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" Its A Grand Old Team To Play For....." |
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Premiership
/ Wed 21st Feb 2007 / Kick
Off: 8.00pm
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EVERTON |
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v |
2
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Spurs |
Everton:
Howard, Yobo, Lescott, Stubbs, Neville
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Arteta, Osman, Carsley, Fernandes , Beattie, Anichebe
Bench: Naysmith (Anichebe), Vaughan (Naysmith), Wright, de Silva, Hibbert (Fernandes)
Referee: Uriah Rennie (He Gives Us Indigestion)
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Before I begin, apologies and well played to all who noticed my faux pas in adding Tiny Tim to my team news. A week on the ale has done my brain no good whatsoever, but after last nights showing, how I wish my inclusion of the suspended midfielder was true. A lot of time in football, and rightly so mangers get a raw deal when they pick a side, and the side do not perform. Its not the players who get sacked from their £20k a week positions, its normally the manger who is down the local job centre looking for his next post. Last night however in my view it was the Managers awful tactical know how which cost us victory. Could you imagine Alex Ferguson, Jose the Mouth, and Whining Arsene, bringing on two full backs at various points of the game to try and take the game to the opposition, and in doing so, taking out a centre forward, and in my eyes the best player on the pitch in Manny Fernandes. People can be wise after the event, and we all at times say things with the view of hindsight, but 35,000 fans last night told Moyesy what they thought of his tactics when with eight minutes plus injury time left on the clock, he brought Hibbo on for Manny. At this point we had seven defensive minded players on the pitch in the shape of Roger, Joey, Hibbo, Nace, Phil Neville, Lee Carsley and Stubbsey. To add salt into a very open wound he then brings off Nace for Vaughny, who the crowd had been shouting for, for most of the second half. Moyesy was still urging his players forward, but defensive players, be it defenders or defensive midfielder's are employed to do a job, and that is mostly defend, not get up and score goals. Admittedly with the injuries and suspensions to AJ and Tiny, Moyesy did have selection problems, that he can't be blamed for. As the game panned out though, especially in the second period, Everton were on top. Keep Manny on, he looked as fit enough as the other players on the park, bring Vaughny on, and lets be a bit more adventurous, for Christ sake we were playing at Goodison, not trying to sneak a draw at Chelsea, United or The Arse. Well that's the rant, now to the match. Spurs were full of themselves after taking Fulham to bits on Sunday, Everton were fresh after having ten days off, and a trip to Spain to boot. Ossie had the best chance of the opening period when he brought a top draw save out off Robinson in the Spurs sticks. It was however the same midfielder who lost possession and with Roger in an attacking position, it gave Aaron Lennon the freedom of Goodison Park for Spurs opener. He fed Berbatov in the area, who coolly slotted home the opening goal of the game. Everton's reply came with minutes of the half left. Big Vic was hauled down, and while Spurs argued the decision, Mikky took the ball waited for the ref, and expertly found the corner of the net from thirty yards out. Spurs felt aggrieved, I felt happy, but no half time Changs, as I have given it up for Lent, I had to, the marriage Counsellor said it may help. H-T 1-1 After all the criticism in my report earlier, it was still Everton who for most of the second half who were in the ascendancy. With better finishing Ossie could and should have had a hat trick, as Everton played the pressure game, what we lacked in skill we made up for in endeavor. Moyesy's first major error was to take Big Vic off at half time, and introduce Nace, wide on the left. Biffa was now playing the lone striker role, lots of running form the forward but no real chances to write home about. Spurs countered well, and serial moaner Robbie Keane should have done better when presented with a one on one. The only thing in danger were supporters Row C-M in the Park End, as the Irish striker fired well wide. The crowd were getting restless, and as one we were all shouting for Moyesy to make his move. With minutes left on the clock he did, bizarrely taking Manny off, and bringing Hibbo on. I would have loved to be a fly in the dug out, to try and fathom out Alan Irvine's and Moyesy's thinking on that one. Settling for a draw at home, against a side who are three or four points behind us in the League, when you have a fine young striker on the bench chomping at the bit to get on. The crowd made their feelings known, and in Moyesy's tenure, I have never heard one of his decisions greeted like that. You know the rest, we defend deep, lose possession and Jenas fires in a cracker to give the Londoners all the points right on the death. Goodison empties like I have not seen it empty for many a year, and we lose out on our European impetus. Its not over yet, but if Moyesy seriously wants another attack on Europe, he has to reconsider his negative thinking, or all he will be seeing of Europe is his fortnightly Summer jolly with the family. I have always defended Moyesy's five years in charge. European Champions League qualification two years ago, was just a fantastic achievement, no doubt about it. He has stabilised our club from relegation fodder season in season out to a mid table side, but is this as far as it goes? I more than anyone would love him to create a dynasty at Everton, but he needs to be more adventurous, which on last nights showing he most certainly was not. The crowd most definitely turned on him, and rightly so. Blue Bill come this Summer will be asking us to dig deep to pay for our new Season Tickets. Before he does he needs to get a clear understanding of his manger, of whether we just want to be mid table also ran's, or do we want to have a crack at becoming a Top six club again. To do that you need to score goals, you need to try and win games, not bring defenders on to defend against clubs at Goodison who sit below us in the League. Starman, goes to Manny, he was awesome last night, big mentions also to Mikky and Stubbsey again, well played you three, but the manager could do better. F-T 1-2
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Moyesy says: "I totally understand the frustration. But I didn’t think we had played well when we were 4-4-2 in the first half. I don’t think anybody could say that we didn’t do much better after changing the system. I didn’t want to lose the game and Manuel Fernandes was very tired towards the end so we made a simple change pushing Phil Neville into midfield. A draw wouldn’t have been the worst result. I am paid to make decisions and tonight it didn’t work out as well as I had wanted it to. It certainly is because we had worked hard to get back into the game after finding it difficult to get close to Tottenham in the first half. I thought we did much better in the second half and created some chances but to lose a goal in the last minute was really disappointing. I was delighted to be going in at half-time at one-each because I thought Tottenham had out-played us." (21/02/07) |
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What did you think of the match? Did Moyesy get his team selection and tactics right? e-mail info@bluekipper.com after the game. * It wasn't a great performance in the first half, but Spurs were there for the taking. We played better in the second half. It was a surprise when Naysmith came on as he will never win you a game. If Moyes wanted to go to one upfront, then put Vaughan on the left wing, breaking forward. Bringing off Fernandes was astonishing. He said the lad was tired. He was our best player and there were 5 or 6 players more tired than him. Surely Moyes should think on his feet and reassess the situation. That substitution had the fans moaning, as they could see what was going to happen before it happened. Amazing. The Spurs players were visibly encouraged, while the Everton players went deeper and deeper. With 2 forward thinking players taken off for two full backs on in place what did Moyes expect. Then to bring Vaughan on with seconds to go for Naysmith was just pure circus. At least the lad got in a shot, imagine if Vaughany would have had had 45 minutes to play. He may have got a few more shots in and scored. Moyesy you lost us this game and with it maybe our chance in Europe next season.Dave Webb *
Did he get
his tactics right? What do you think? Yet again the ambitionless ginger
arse that is Moyes passes over the initiative to the opposing team by
taking off one of our more influential players and replacing him with
a defender. Oh yes I almost forgot...with about 5 minutes to go. Remind
anyone of Man City? Poor Vaughan must be wondering when he's going to
get a break. If I had the choice I'd have Vaughan in before Anichebe
any day. He just has more class, that little bit of something else.
That said the performance mirrors the lack of activity by Moyes in the
window, directionless, clueless, bewildering, inept, shite, you could
go on and on! As for Europe. No chance! This match was the test. Failed
miserably. One things for sure we ain't going to achieve it with Gollum. * Sky sports after half time suggested we were the better team and are more likely to score. Then a substitution is made for Hibbert to come on, because Manny was tired and couldn't carry on for the last five minutes. Are you serious? We shouldn't have lost the game. We needed that game more than most games this season if we wanted to push for a higher finish in the league. I'm disappointed and angry and feel that wrong decisions were made. smeefc |
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* The ball was hit into the Upper Bullens for the first time in years. Fans were on their feet laughing and started playing volleyball with it. Such joy. * Pepe Reina flew back from Barcelona to entertain the kids in the Family section, juggling with balls, and blowing up balloons at the half time interval. |
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What Do you think The Score Will be? How Will the game pan out? Who Will Score the goals? e-mail info@bluekipper.com before the match. Keep it short and to the point. * I think it will be very tough tonight! But we will grind out a result, which I think will be 1-0 to the blues! AJ to score!!!!!! Danny * 0 - 0. We will miss Tiny & AJ and will play too deep. Ashbyscouse * 3-2 to the School of Science. AJ, Mikel and Anichebe for us after going down to two from Spurs. Johnny, working in London, Living in Crosby! * 2 - 0 Everton, Lescott to score, and Beattie as well. I think it will be a bad tempered match with one of those cockney idiots sent off ! Adders of The Park End * 2-0 to the blues. Leon and Manny. DaveW. San Fran * 2-0 Toffees, AJ gets us off the mark followed by a special goal from Mikel. Paul & Matty Desai, Ruislip |
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Andy Johnson seems to be Moyesy's big worry ahead of our clash with Spurs. The striker has twisted his knee in training, but Moyesy will wait till the eleventh hour before making a decision on whether AJ will start or not. With Nuno, and Hibbo still injured expect Stubbsey to keep his centre half berth, with Phil Neville and Roger deputising in the full back positions. Ossie is back after suspension and should join Manny, Harry Hill, and Mikky in a four man midfield, as Tiny is out due to suspension. It will be the first home game since Tim Howard signed on for the Blues, so he is sure to be given as always a good reception by the Goodison faithful. Big Vic or Biffa could partner AJ if he is fit, as Moyesy's hands are limited with Shandy struggling as well. After breaking our White Hart Lane hoodoo earlier in the season, the Blues go looking for their first double over the North Londoners since 1985/86 season. If the Blues win this game in hand we will move to within one point of Pompey, and will be serious contenders for that elusive European slot. Moyesy says: "Andy Johnson has got a bit of an injury and he is a doubt, so we will wait until late on and make a fitness decision on him prior to the game. Stubbsy has been tremendous in recent weeks but throughout the season I think he has done very well. I think he gives us that experience and there is good competition there. Joleon Lescott and Joseph Yobo are very good centre halves so Stubbsy is doing great and we need him. He has played a big part, certainly in recent weeks." Ossie says: "I am really looking forward to getting back into action against Tottenham on Wednesday. I set myself the target of getting on the scoresheet in every game I play. I try and score as many goals as I can and see how many I have got at the end of the season. I have scored two official goals and one unofficial goal this season so I am definitely looking to score a few more before the end of the season." (20/02/07) Everton From: Howard, Wright, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Stubbs, Naysmith, Arteta, Osman, Fernandes, Carsley, Beattie, Johnson, Anichebe, Vaughan, De Silva. Lavo's starting Eleven: Howard, Lescott, Yobo, Stubbs, Neville, Fernandes, Carsley, Arteta, Osman, Johnson, Anichebe
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. |
| Lavo's Bet: Manny Fernandes with a bit more luck could have got on the score sheet against Blackburn. Get on the lively midfielder at 7/2 to score at some point in the game. |
| Tottenham have Jermain Defoe and Jermaine Jenas back from suspension having missed the FA Cup win at Fulham on Sunday. Ledley King is a long term absentee, and Danny Murphy is in the squad, and is sure to get a great reception from the Goodison crowd. Spurs are the Premiership's longest current run of 16 matches without a clean sheet, and the England keeper is their keeper, is there something amiss here !! Spurs From: Robinson, Cerny, Chimbonda, Stalteri, Lee, Dawson, Rocha, Gardner, Malbranque, Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Defoe, Mido, Keane, Berbatov, Tainio, Murphy, Ghaly, Huddlestone. Martin Jol says: "We do need to turn our league form around but we have the ability to be able to do that. We have to do better and we know with our strikers that we are capable of scoring goals against any team. This is our game in hand and that is vital. Our results up at Everton over the last couple of seasons have been good and hopefully it'll continue." |
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