COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY
From my seat: SK Brann (H)
Comments (6) : After being handed my leaflet advertising flights to the next round tie I realised that 'Flight Options' should mark my pools entry as they had predicted, correctly, the outcome of two matches before a ball had been kicked, the evening got off to an unpredictable and slow start.
The PA system packed up so no Z-Cars or team naming then after no more than five minutes Carsley seemed to bring down their attacker who was through on goal by diving on him but the Russian ref waved his arms to indicate play-on and thousands of Blues breathed a sigh of relief.
For half an hour it was like watching paint dry as Everton played Euro style keep-ball passing that didn't go anywhere except to give a poor Brann side some encouragement to venture forward. It was that exciting that my mind wandered from the game and looking at the away section I mused how many kopites had got in to support Brann, I also was a little perplexed as to why a Welsh flag should be draped amongst their banners.
After the half hour mark my interest was rekindled when Pienaar found Cahill who with the deftest of flicks found the Yak who despatched a beaut into the top corner from 15 yards.
A few minutes later Arteta found AJ in the box, he went inside passed their defender as though he wasn't there and dispatched a low right footer past the keeper and into the corner, game over ? they need FOUR so party time was here.
Second half and the manager rings the changes with Hibbo replacing Carsley and Neville going to the holding role also a straight swop,Manny for Cahill. Within a minute AJ had hit a post and you wondered if we could beat the Sunderland score.
A few minutes later the Yak got his second at the end of an excellent move that needed only three players, Howard throw out to Pienaar who made swift progress up the line and put in a cross to Yak who completely bamboozled their defence by feinting to shoot first time then with the quickest of turns wrongfooted everyone and slotted into the corner.
The next action saw us commit the sin of not fully concentrating no matter the opposition or scoreline, a 25-yard free kick found its way through the massed ranks of Blue shirts and bounced into the corner of the net past a startled keeper ? an inquest will be held I have no doubt.
Forward we kept coming and some ten minutes later Arteta found himself central and 20 yards out, he let fly, it took a wicked deflection: 4-1. <
Another minute passed then Pienaar put in a low cross that somehow bobbled past three defenders right across goal and found the lurking Yak who finished with aplomb: 5-1.
This signalled the end of the Yaks work and he was afforded a standing ovation as he was replaced by Big Vic. How a hat-trick can bring forgivness!
It was all Everton now, Pienaar hit a post, Big Vic almost got his customary Euro goal and then at the death AJ smashed in a tremendous 25 yarder that left the keeper helpless and AJ ecstatic, it was his brace and a goal to rekindle his confidence.
At the whistle the scoreboard read 6-1 a good nights work!
Man of the match? Well if you get a hat-trick you will get the honour but also I have to say how I enjoyed the contribution from Jags who seems to be maturing by the game. If he remains consistent then we will have found another good un.
Pienaar although quiet in the first half showed that with another few games under his belt will be well worth signing. Manny though I have to say is looking more like a £3M player rather than the £12M muted, he has a lot to prove before the manager's make-your-mind-up time.
I enjoyed my night out and now look forward to our next tie, fourth in Serie A v fourth in the Prem... who will win? I don't know but I now know a firm that will!!
Still City on Monday and it will be a whole different ball game, can we get all of the points at a difficult venue? Of course we can! UP THE BLUES
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Good summary Ken, shoulda give Johnson more of a shout out to, I thought he was fantastic, workrate, goals good attitude & looked threatening. Good foil for the Yak.
Only if we can get a good result in Italy shall I begin to believe Everton are really on their way back to the top!
Also liverpool fans were handing out banners to the brann fans saying your just a small club in kirkby
Not a perfect performance by any means, but its amazing to notch a 6-1 win in europe, and leave me thinking... "that flatters Brann"!
I was gutted Pienaar didn’ t get the goal his performance merited, but delighted to see AJ’s brace, he has got a good share of our recent goals, but is still called "out of form". He works hard, and by and large, finishes when he should. He might have had a hat trick to himself if not for the post.
As for Yak, his name is justifiably amongst that of Ball and Gray, not since the good old days I’m too young to have known have we had such a natural finisher.
Fiorentina will be the toughest match yet, as befits the stage of the competition, on paper at least. Hopefully PK is playing! I wouldn’t want to face Yak and AJ at the moment.
For me, the league is still the most important. I would rather finish 4th, than get any further in the UEFA cup, but I think I’d rather die than lose out on Champions league because ’pool had fluked their way to yet another euro title. I’m touching wood, sacrificing goats and cheering the blues.
COYB
He made a fine catch from a difficult corner on half an hour and minutes later was in the right place to block another tough ball, this time on the line with his left knee, after Jags had uncharacteristically dozed off at the back post on a free kick. But what had me really goin? was the manner in which his quick thinking set up the prettiest goal of the night. We don?t score many goals like the Yak?s second, and that work of art had a lot to do with Howard.
And then...
Oh, well....fuck it; onward and upward!
Who gives a shit that the opposition was poor, it was in the Uefa Cup after Christmas and it was magnificent to watch.
Nice to see the manager loosen his sphincter a little at the end there and crack a smile.
nil satis nisi optimum?..........oh yes!!!!!!!
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1 Posted 22/02/2008 at 15:05:03
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I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. The key to Everton is Pienaar. It’s like Alan Ball has come back. Manny at times played like he had lead in his boots.
Andrew Johnson should get a real honourable mention for his running and hard work. Yak’s goal was classic as Johnson’s run completely split the defence, leaving Yak to fire home with aplomb.
The scoreline probably flattered us, but you can’t say no to 24 goals from 8 games.
City watch out!!!