May the Fourth Be With Us

Moyesy says: "Tonight three points was really important. I think that 50 points at this stage of the season is great, but we need to push on and build on it. We have some very big games coming up, with one coming up against Portsmouth, but it was a great performance. It’s great that we’re in that position, but as I’ve said we must wait until the end of season and if we’re still in this position that that is what is important. I thought it was a great performance because after Man City’s win against their rivals Man Utd a few weeks ago. We thought they would be high on confidence. Also there was a big crowd behind City, so for us to take six points (from the two games) was really good." (25/02/08)

* It looked like a gang of Blues in Corporate Hospitality were told to get inside and stop celebrating after our goals flew in. The stewards had their hands full keeping the City fans at bay.

The bandwagon just keeps rolling in and long may it do so………………………………

The weekend for me was spent watching footy in Italy, receiving the bad news by text that 1st the RS had won, then Villa had won, and then Tottenham had taken another UEFA place by winning the Carling Cup. My mate who was with me supports Bristol Rovers, and he reminded me that they were only 2 games away from a possible UEFA Cup place if they get the right draw, so I arrived at Eastlands wondering if it wasn’t going to be our weekend, and when I saw Rob Styles warming up, I feared the worst.

Personally, I have never really been concerned about City as potential challengers to us – made up of a team of International players, many of which I had never heard of before this season, they won 9 home games against the bottom sides, which is still impressive, but didn’t look up to much in games against the better sides. Any team that beats Utd home and away deserves respect, but they were poor at Goodison and hadn’t looked great since Christmas, so I was confident we could get something, despite it not being 1 of our best venues for results

The team saw Hibbo come in for Valente – probably based on the fact that he played so well against Petrov just a few weeks earlier, Yobo in for the injured Arteta, and Ossie back in for AJ to strengthen the midfield.

The tactics were spot on and we played really well in the 1st half. Rob Styles only took 4 minutes to make a howler, failing to see Micah Richards making what turned out to be the best save of the night. We continued to knock the ball around well, and Pienaar hit the bar, and Yakubu brought a save from Hart as we dominated the 1st period. Carsley was excellent in midfield and Osman showed some nice touches on the right. City offered little and it was no surprise when the Yak turned in a cross expertly to put us ahead. When Big Joleon scored his 8th of the season just after, we were well on the way to another away win.

In the 2nd half we sat back a little and let them knock it around, but they wouldn’t have scored had they played all night. We had another couple of half chances on the break, another couple of penalty appeals waved away, and my only real criticism was that we didn’t score more goals, such was our domination, as goal difference may come into it at the end of the season

The officials were poor again – in one incident, Yakubu was pulled up for a shoulder to shoulder with Dunne, and minutes after, Johnson was clean through and was barged off the ball by Richards, but Styles waved play on. Carsley’s quickly taken free kick was unlucky, but what price Styles disallowing it if it had gone in? One thing we did find out last night though was Richards could be a rival for David James, the amount of times he handled the ball.

So all in all another vital 3 points, another clean sheet and another good performance – the games come thick and fast now in March, and lets hope we can keep it going.

The whole team played well last night, but my MOM was Phil Jagielka (or Dajelka as Ratcliffe calls him) – absolutely immense at the back, and a real rival with Lescott for player of the season. I think we have gathered he is not a midfielder or a right back, but a more than capable centre half, who on this form could be playing with Big Jo in the England defence in the future. Graeme Holmes

* 2-1 to everton, the Yak and Peanuts to elevate us back to fourth. cheers. PC

* Don't care what the score is, just as long we win and go back above the Shite. So, 1-0 to us. Peanuts with a late winner! Ryan, Bournemouth

The Blues make their first trip to Eastlands this evening, and like the song says, lets hope we are off there again come May. First and foremost though it is Premiership action tonight, and the battle for fourth place. Its a big week for the Blues, tonight facing Man City, and on Sunday we welcome Pompey to Goodison, both sides with ideas of European football next season like ourselves.

Moyesy has selection headaches, but the headaches Managers are paid to make. He has a full squad to choose from, and there will be some disappointed players come kick off time tonight. Does he go 4-5-1, or 4-4-2. Does he drop AJ who scored twice against Brann last week so he can accommodate his five man midfield. I hope with the players confidence sky high, he goes with the attacking formation that pushed aside Brann in the UEFA Cup, but if that is the case, who does he rest in the middle. Peanuts was superb against Brann on his return last week, and I doubt if Moyesy will leave him out, Ossie sat the match out, so he may be the unlucky player in the middle, with Tiny and Mikky surely definite starters. With the midfield area sorted, Phil Neville will drop into defence with the returning Joey, The Jag and Roger making up the quartet.

It seems an eternity since the Blues last played in the Premiership, when they dispatched Reading 1-0 at Goodison. Our last away match at Blackburn ended up goalless, but only down to the poor refereeing on show that day. The Blues last win on the road in the league was against Wigan a month or so ago, but a draw will be good enough to give us the much sought after fourth spot back. A win would be nicer though.

Moyesy says: "I would see them (the shite) in that position more than Manchester City or any other side. I have said that it has helped us. Having a stronger squad this year, and more bodies, I have been able to say, 'you boys will need to play', so in a way it has helped us. We have got seven games in March coming up and who knows what may come up in April. It is going to test us all and maybe we might find it gets too much. But at this moment, I feel as if we are flying. We are still going strong. I don't see anybody feeling jaded - we are full of life and showing a lot of confidence. What I would say is when we did take over it was to try and get ourselves up the league and try and make a European competition if possible," he recalled. We have had a chance to build, and now we are in a situation where we have made Europe and we are doing quite well in the league. Now the next bit is for me to say, can we win something? I think we have achieved something in terms of getting away from relegation, now we want to be in Europe regularly and now, especially this season, I would love to win a trophy."

Ernie's XI To Start: Howard, Lescott, Yobo, Jagielka, Neville, Arteta, Pienaar, Carsley, Cahill, Yakubu, Johnson

Everton from: Howard, Hibbert, Neville, Jagielka, Yobo, Lescott, Valente, Baines, Arteta, Carsley, Osman, Cahill, Fernandes, Pienaar, Johnson, Yakubu, Anichebe, Vaughan, Wessels.

Last Season v Shitteeehh

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.

* Thank you The Yak for the opener against Brann. I am now the owner of a new luxury tent (pictured right) as a result of his first goal against Brann. No more nights on park benches, as Yazz says the only way is up from now on, this gambling lark is like shelling peas.

I am staying with our free scoring striker to come up trumps again, and he is 2/1 to score at any point of the match against City. If he does the trick, I can wave ta ta to the canvas, and set my sights on a log cabin, or something with a real wood effect, and a Council Tax Bill.

It is City's first match since their fantastic win against manure at Old Trafford over a fortnight ago now. Midfielder Elano and defender Vedran Corluka are available again after being suspended for that win at United. Midfielder Michael Johnson is also in contention to feature after two months out of action with an abdominal injury.

Sexy Sven says: "To change a team that wins at Manchester United, I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. They are good decisions to have for everyone at the club, even the players as there should be competition. Many times in the year that has not been the case."

City from: Hart, Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Vassell, Ireland, Hamann, Jihai, Elano, Corluka, Fernandes, Petrov, Garrido, Benjani, Caicedo, Geovanni, Johnson, Mpenza, Sturridge, Etuhu, Isaksson.