bluekipper.com - West Ham v Everton - Match Report - 2006/2007

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Arteta

, Neville, Carsley, Osman, Johnson , Beattie.

Bench: McFadden for Johnson (7m), Fernandes for Neville (65m), Wright, Naysmith, Anderson.

An apprehensive Upton Park awaited the Blues, as West Ham fans gave us the impression that they were already down. This obviously did not transmit to their players who came out of the blocks as if their lives depended on it, and put Everton on the back foot from the off. Our cause was not helped by team selection and the loss of AJ after five minutes to an innocuous looking challenge, and Moyesy’s insistence on playing Biffa when other options were available. I won’t be too harsh on the lad, but his confidence is shot, he won’t be at Goodison next season, so why play him. Faddy must have been chomping at the bit to start, but in fairness he came on after five minutes for AJ and was pretty ineffectual for most of the match. My choice would have been to throw Manny in from the off, five across the middle, AJ up front on his own, and we may have seen a better performance. Anyhow all the ifs and buts were thrown out of the window when AJ was stretchered off early on, and you knew in your heart of hearts it was going top be one of those frustrating days down in old London town.

It took only a few minutes after the departure of AJ for the Hammers to open their account, with a superb strike from one time Everton target Bobby Zamora. After good link up play Tevez, the West Ham striker let loose a shot from twenty five yards that left Tim Howard rooted to the spot, one nil and in fairness it was a true reflection of the opening salvo’s. Biffa had Everton’s best chances but twice his rustiness in front of goal let him down. He was not the only blue under performing though, as Ossie and Faddy were frustrating to say the least. Our back four as always stood strong to everything that was thrown at them, but creativity further up the park was non-existent.

Half time loomed and you sensed that Everton’s defensive set up, with Harry Hill and Phil Neville both in the middle had to give if we were going to get anything out of our trip down South.

Half Time: West Ham 1 EVERTON 0

Moyesy stuck with the eleven that finished the first period, but Everton at least came out of the traps quicker in the second period. You could start to feel the uneasiness in the West Ham fans as Everton pressed. Mistakes were the order of the day, as the play was not flowing freely. Moyesy left it till just after the hour mark when he brought on Manny for Phil Neville. Creativity at last, and the lad had a go, running at the scared witless by now West Ham defence. It wasn’t long after Manny’s introduction that Everton’s best chance of the game came, and really it should have brought us level. Hibbo fired a deep cross in from the right, which Roger did well to head back across the goal. Mikky ran onto it, and our usually reliable Spaniard fired high over the bar from eight yards out.

West Ham fought back though when money grabber Lucas Neill and Reo Coker both went close. Everton were handed a lifeline by referee Mark Battenburg Cake, when he mysteriously added six minutes on the clock, much to the annoyance of the home fans. There was however going to be no extra time winners this week, as the minutes ticked by, and so did our share of the spoils.

Yes it was a poor performance, but thankfully we stay fifth thanks to Bolton’s mess up at home to Reading. The pack has drawn a bit closer, but we still head it with three games to go. In reflection we are without Tiny, AJ, and Manny played only half an hour for us. That is our first away defeat since Man City back in January, so lets keep the faith and believe we can do it. Manure at home next week, so does anyone know Duncan’s number, I know he will be up for it. Starman goes to Roger, once again who along with Hibbo and Stubbsey, was a giant at the back. Praise must go to the travelling fans, who once again were absolutely superb.

Full Time: West Ham 1 EVERTON 0

Sausage Reports From Upton Park

Today's
Blue Kipper
Star Man

Star Man

Stats

Goals

Bad Boys

Prem Table

Solid

Injured

Awful

Quotes After The Game

Moyesy says: “I was disappointed with periods of the first-half but not with our overall performance. But that’s our first defeat in eight games and anybody who watched us today will say we were unfortunate not to get something from the game. Had we won today and gone into 5th position in the table we would have all been jumping about – so maybe we should be! We’re in a good situation and we want to make sure we finish 5th, 6th or 7th and qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Andy going off never gave us a chance to get into the game. We didn’t start particularly brightly and we ultimately paid the price for a poor start. We’ve had a problem with Victor and James so we are limited in that area. We wouldn’t want to lose Andy for a while because he stretches teams and we couldn’t do that today, especially in the first-half. We couldn’t get behind West Ham. We had a couple of chances in the first-half and more in the second. We kept trying to change things to make something happen but we didn’t have the clinical edge to our forward play.

Moyesy On Biffa: "I thought James played well today. He had a couple of chances and he worked very hard, winning some important headers for us.”

What The Fans Thought

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

* If moyes would have played manny from the start then we would of won. Did you see how effective he was when he came on? MC

* A disappointing display at Upton Park, and with the injury to AJ adds to the Blues striking problem. but my main concern was the failure of Fernandes to find a place in the starting line up, we rely to much on the craft of Arteta, and surely Moyes will include the Portuguese international against United next saturday, as for up front lets hope Vaughan can make a miraculous recovery otherwise without him and AJ we will struggle to net. Norman Merrill

Off The Ball

Prematch Views

Scores On The Doors

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.

* Everton to win 3-0 of course. Goals from Johnson Anichebe, and Beattie (Yes Beattie ). Sean Whelan

* Everton to win 7-0 with Lescott getting all 7. But in the real world, I reckon we'll go a goal down then pinch it 2-1. Fish

* 2-1 to us, Arteta and AJ to get back on score sheet. Barrie Abbott

* The west ham boys are fighting for their premiership lives, so a very hard fought 0-1 victory for us with AJ getting it mid second half. COYB!!!!! Ryan

Everton Team News

With the exception of Tiny Tim, Big Vic and Vaughany, Moyesy is getting his squad back to full strength at the business end of the season. Manny and Nuno are included for the trip to West Ham, as Everton seek the points that will keep them on track for European football. Stubbsey and Mikky are carrying slight knocks but should be ok to start the game. I can't see Moyesy even with the return of Nuno messing with a back four that has served him so well over the last few months. Expect Manny to slip into a five man midfield, as AJ will be ploughing the proverbial lone furrow up front. Me thinks Faddy will start from the bench along with Biffa, as Moyesy will be expecting a battle against a team who desperately need the points.

Moyesy was a keen viewer as he watched Chelski put four past tomorrows opponents, but he concedes that the score flattered the visitors, and the Blues will have their work cut out at Upton Park.

Moyesy says: "I thought the result flattered Chelsea a bit. I watched the game and I thought West Ham played well.This game will be different from the Chelsea game for the West Ham players. They were underdogs in that game whereas in this one they may be expected to get a result. But for different reasons we know we have got to get the three points to keep the likes of Bolton and Tottenham at bay."

Alan Irvine says: "It looks like Mikel and Alan, who both came off last week, will both be fit. Manuel Fernandes has been training as well so that is a bonus too."

Everton from: Howard, Wright, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Stubbs, Naysmith, Valente, Neville, Osman, Carsley, Arteta, Fernandes, vd Meyde, Johnson, Beattie, McFadden, de Silva.

Lard's Eleven To Start: Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Yobo, Stubbs, Fernandes, Osman, Carsley, Arteta, Neville, Johnson

Up Front or Sub?

Could Start

Clean Sheet

Porky Parry

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Get Your Shirt On...

Lavo's Bet: With the return of Manny to the fold, expect him to play just behind AJ. Get on him for a scoring return, and bag the 3/1 for him to score at anytime in the match. England for the World Cup, not footy, not cricket, but no one at least can beat us at gurning. Cumbrian Tommy Mattinson is at even money to retain his title at the next World Championship later this year, don't miss out !!

About The Opposition

Relegation doomed West Ham go for one last hurrah against the Blues tomorrow. The Hammers have lost more games in the top flight this season (21), and are second only to Watford in the scoring stakes. But mathematically there is still hope for the East End boys, and lets hope Everton extinguish any faint hopes they may have of survival.

Anyhow Calum Davenport (foot), Matthew Upson (calf) and Danny Gabbidon (groin) are all struggling, Ferdinand is not. Don't care, c'mon you Blue Boys.

Alan Curbishley says: "Everton play here on Saturday and now we've got to the point where we've just get on with it out there on the pitch and try to give our supporters something to hold onto, once again. We fight on!"

De Hammers from: Green, Neill, Collins, Ferdinand, McCartney, Bowyer, Reo-Coker, Noble, Etherington, Harewood, Tevez, Carroll, Walker, Benayoun, Konchesky, Dailly, Cole, Spector, Mullins, Zamora, Boa Morte, Sheringham.

Last Season De Hammers 2 Everton 2

Match Reports 2006/2007 This Season's Stats Premiership Table Star Man

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