Such A Perfect Day
Tuesday 31st January 2012 probably won't go down as any sort of momentous moment in the Everton history books but for me it was just one of those days when just about everything was spot on, and I'd like to thank all of the people who made it possible.
1. The Whole Team. Thank you for putting on the sort of performance that Evertonians love to watch. Most fans, myself included, would have looked at our line up, compared it to the Mancs, and feared the worst. The match started and once again we showed that with 100% commitment, and no fear of our opponents, Everton are a match for most teams and can beat the league leaders no matter how much their squad cost.
2. David Moyes. Thank you for selecting that team. So many times you've been criticised for selection and tactics this season that it's right and fair to acknowledge when you've got it exactly right. Last night you did. Much as I love Hibbo I feared for him at centre back against Dzeko and Aguero but he was superb and you deserve great credit for putting him in there.
3. The Imposter In The Number 11 Shirt. When we signed Denis I watched all of the Youtube clips and thought we might have a decent player on our hands. Then he appeared on the pitch and that all changed. I thought we'd been conned into buying Diego Maradona's nephew, a bit like Souness when he bought George Weah's cousin only to find he'd never played a match in his life. I realise that sometimes foreign players take time to acclimatize to the pace of the Premiership but I challenge anyone who saw his early games to tell me they knew Denis had a performance like that in him. He showed more commitment in the first five minutes than the dear departed King Louis had shown all season. Then he carried that on until eventually the fourth official took mercy on him and raised the board with his number on so that he could virtually stagger off to a well deserved standing ovation. Superb Stracquarlursi.
4. David Moyes (again) and Bill Kenwright. While other managers and chairmen have been constantly appearing on Sky Sports News or in the papers telling us all who they were going to buy there was silence from Goodison. Despite the moans from certain quarters that we weren't doing anything and we should be getting involved in all of the speculation I'd like to thank Moysie and Blue Bill for doing things the Everton way. Keep all of your dealings discreet until you've actually got the player(s) you want then shout about it from the rooftops. If nothing else at least it stops people like Harry Redknapp jumping in with a bid for every player our scouting system identifies. Without getting carried away I think the transfer window has been good for us, and the Deadline Day acquisitions of Jelavic and Peanuts could be just what we needed. Even without either of them kicking a ball for us yet you can sense a feeling of optimism amongst the fans, and that's been echoed by the tweets of Captain Phil and the rest of our squad. Special thanks to Bill for staying in London last night to make sure the Pienaar deal went through, and having to miss a great Goodison night, (and yes, before you start, I know it's his job but where would you have rather been ?).
5. Match Of The Day. Every week I have to put up with complaints from my mum that "Bastard Lineker" has put us on last again and only shown 1 minute and 50 seconds of our match just before the final credits roll. Unbelievably last night Big Ears and his mates put us on first. Not a great highlight of the season but at least it would stop my mum moaning. At least it did until that "Bastard Hansen" insisted that we were lucky not to have conceded at least 2 stonewall penalties. "Liverpudlian Bastard".
6. My Neighbours. This is a strange and personal one but I'd like to thank each and every one of them for not calling the police last night. Apparently a "slightly" overweight drunken 50 year old man was seen running around my garden, shirt pulled up over his head, doing the Cahill boxing celebration with an apple tree while singing "Manchester Is Full Of Shite". You would think someone of that age would have more respect for his neighbours and would spare them that sort of horror show, after all, it was only a 1 nil win in a league match. In his defence I will say that with so many low points already this season I believe that each and every success should be celebrated to the full. My neighbours are hoping we don't have a good cup run.
Tuesday 31st January 2012 - Thank You For The Day
