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Terrific, Tremendous, Tiny Tim

Santosh Benjamin 11/11/2007 26comments  |  Jump to last
I am still buzzing from the Tim Cahill overhead kick goal but the game was certainly much more than just him. I was disappointed when i saw the line-up with Neville in midfield and Hibbert at right back.. add to that Valente at left back.... and NO ARTETA!

We certainly were guilty of giving the ball away at every given chance but were also good at crowding the Chelsea players when needed. Here is my view of the personnel:

MOYES: Bad starting line-up but showed tremendous grit in sending Super Vic and Faddy on at half-time

HOWARD: No words would be enough to describe his performance... but outstanding is the least I can say!

HIBBERT: Had a decent game I think today but certainly would rather have him on the bench!

YOBO: Good game... what I've come to expect of him.

LESCOTT: Superb performance... I'm sure the ginger-haired man in the crowd took note.... hope he doesn't get him injured though.

VALENTE: Was ok... looks like he has put on some weight though...

OSMAN: Was missing for much of the game...

CARSLEY: Had a good game except for the Chelsea goal where i think he could have done better in dealing with Drogba.

NEVILLE: Shocker of a game.. best thing about him was that he was subbed at half-time. Gave the ball away at every chance and gave up silly fouls... please rest him for a few games...

PIENAAR: Was good but was not as effective witouht his mate... Mikey Arteta

CAHILL: Gutsy performance as always by my favourite Toffee and amazing skill with the goal too... goal of the week/month??? Not sure but I'm sure that he certainly made my weekend...

YAKUBU: Was a bit slow on the ball but to be fair didnt get much service of quality!

McFADDEN: Was actually quite lively with some moves... good as a sub I think.

ANICHEBE: Super-sub didnt score a goal this time around but made his presence felt with great strength....

GRAVESEN: Was nice to see Mad Dog back again even if for a short while...

All-in-all this performance by us has really made my week and we can go to the international break with our heads held high... I hope we can cap off an unbeaten month against Sunderland in 2 weeks time... COYB

Reader Comments

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Rob Heaton
1   Posted 11/11/2007 at 16:45:26

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I?d agree with most of this but for me (and granted I had to listen to EvertonTV so don?t know how accurate) Osman sounded like he had a reasonable game. Lost the ball a few times but made a few dangerous chances and even helped out at the back
Lol McNally
2   Posted 11/11/2007 at 17:32:52

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Still give the ball away too easily, Tim Howard was brilliant and what a goal from Tiny Tim!!! Hibbert not really good enough, but the blues keep rolling on!!! COYB
Joe Jennings
3   Posted 11/11/2007 at 17:52:37

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Timmy dont you just love him!!

Link for that great goal

http://www.d1g.com/video/show/1522403


Enjoy!
Rob Vera
4   Posted 11/11/2007 at 18:01:14

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One of those draws that feels like a win for sure. I thought Valente was better than you’ve given him credit for. He showed some skill and made a few key plays at key times. His conditioning is hard to criticize when he’s played as sparingly as he’s had this season.
Ger Theobold
5   Posted 11/11/2007 at 18:13:06

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Well done lads. Watched the game on www.myp2p.eu - some Thai channel. Great work ethic by all. COYB
Steve Taylor
6   Posted 11/11/2007 at 18:13:10

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I thought Valente had a good game, Lescott was MOM - great all round display. Hibbert (who’s come in for some well deserved stick) had an excellent 2nd half.

Ossie was anonymous & looked very tired IMO.

But Neville stank the place out 1st half - was looking a cert for a 2nd yellow & thankfully Moyes gave him the elbow at HT. He’s gash in CM - how many more time does Moyes need to see him give the ball away & concede brainless free kicks before he admits he’s a Full back????

I sincerely hope we get an offer for him in Jan - he’s awful IMO & getting worse by the week.

Anyway, Tiny Tim’s goal was a beaut - worthy of a point on it’s own & despite being under the cosh for long periods - we deserved a point after last seasons muggings at the hands of the Chavs.
Greg Murphy
7   Posted 11/11/2007 at 18:23:50

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Cheers for that link Joe Jennings. Love the isolated Blue that you can see on the third replay who stands-up to celebrate without giving a toss!
Dave Roberts
8   Posted 11/11/2007 at 18:16:31

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Joe

I have followed a lot of these sort of links that appear on TW but they never seem to work for me. What are you searching on?
Jimmy Hoffa
9   Posted 11/11/2007 at 18:25:33

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Agree about Phil Neville, but does noone see that he plays this bad every game he plays midfield. He is a determined player but could?nt pass the ball to save his life., has no creativity and has not got a clue what to do with the ball when in a forward position. Honestly I think he is nothing more than a decent right full back who?s major asset to the team is long throws.. Just ?cos he gets booked every game does not mean he?s Evertons hard man.

Ona separate note, think McFadden and Anichebe are exactely what we need on the bench, great attack minded impact subs who will always create chances. Hopefully Anichebe will develop into more than that though.
ope
10   Posted 11/11/2007 at 19:05:00

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.....but Drogba was’ not CARSLEYs job, LESCOTT must take the run when Drogba moves forwards. Carsley have the first post, and Drogba behind.
rich williams
11   Posted 11/11/2007 at 19:14:49

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Ope - agreed, it was Lescott’s fault for the goal, he was marking Drogba, Carsley didn’t know he was coming. Lescott was outstanding today but reminding me of early Yobo at the moment with concentration lapses......
John Paculabo
12   Posted 11/11/2007 at 19:13:59

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Well I watched the game live in Brazil..........I don?t know who the idiot is who wrote this article, but he wasn?t watching the game I was.We were playing Chelsea......they?re a pretty decent side by the way!, and yes we gave the ball away a few times, but which team doesn?t.......this article is an absolute disgrace and the writer needs to be barred from ever writing another article as he clearly has some issues with many of the players and the manager.
I am totally fed up with visiting theis site which I think in many ways is excellent, but is let down big time by the anti-everton drivel coming from some of it?s supporters.
Phil Neville wasn?t great, but he was nowhere near as poor as you suggest.
Stupid write up!

To which he was e.mailed:

> Your comment was removed for the above text. If you want tto contribute to > ToffeeWeb, we ask that you show some respect for the views of others who, > like you, are all keen Evertonians. > > Thanks

And he replied with this gem:

Michael you don't seem to have a problem bashing our team our manager, seems anyone with a view that suits yours gets an airing, well I am sick and tired of seeing my team and my manager beaten up........many fans you included have absolutely no realistic understanding of football today as you wouldn't allow the crap tou do to be printed.......the guy that wrote this article did not watch the game, he could not have.......or he's a red posturing as a blue, as some of his comments were simply garbage. As daft as it seems many clearly can't understand how it works and what makes teams big.....you're just hanging on to the past well it aint coming around again without a massive investor........oh yes and that scoundrel Kenwright who resued us from that Red Johnson, probably should be strung up from a lampost, cos he's also a prat........... You've turned what could be a great site into an anti-Moyes anti-anyone you don't like piece of tat. From what I read from others comments, a majority of site visitors feel the same way.......such a sad waste of space, and my guess is that you put your heart and sould and most of your spare time into this pac

Paul Johnson
13   Posted 11/11/2007 at 18:55:12

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Joe, many thanks for the link. Being stuck out here in the North Sea is frustrating enough without having to wait till midnight to see the goal. Saved me a few hours kip that did. Fantastic result and another late show which is very encouraging - not sure many teams would want to play Everton at the moment.
Dave Roberts
14   Posted 11/11/2007 at 19:34:01

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Joe,

Thanks for the link. Eventually found it via Bloglines. What a stupendous goal! I bet there were a few ’sick as a pig’ Chelsea supporters on their way home today!
Brian Law
15   Posted 11/11/2007 at 19:43:30

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john pac - you?re a little OTT there mate. I think you?ve been spending too much time in the sun.

I watched the game and I agree with the article with the exception that it was Lescotts fault for the goal.

Neville is not a midfielder and should never play there again.
Ajamu Mutumwa
16   Posted 11/11/2007 at 19:38:01

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In general I agree with the comments. I think the authour though should have realised that Arteta was injured, and I am not convinced that Gravedigger has the legs for 90 mins, or he would have been in from the start.

Alright we could have started with Faddy instead of Neville I suppose. As for HIbbert who saved a certain goal on the line, he played well, and if you looked, many of his passes did go to one of our own.

Neville needed to be subbed for his own sake.

Finally, it would have been really nice to have praised the team more, we reallly raised our game and tried to keep the ball on the ground. The move where Pienaar missed the "sitter" was a on the ground passing from a free kick where normally we would have simply fling it into the box.

Well done Everton, we are finally showing signs of playing like a decent team.
Paul Johnson (in Oxton)
17   Posted 11/11/2007 at 19:35:38

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We watched the game live on the telly in Upton. Great performance from the lads and a well deserved away point against Chelski.

COYB!!!
Ean Palese
18   Posted 11/11/2007 at 20:12:46

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Thanks Joe for the goal link (how did you find that thing on the arab channel)? you working for al qiada? hahaha kidding - fair play to ye
Patrick Einsman
19   Posted 11/11/2007 at 20:52:21

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So glad to have Timmy back!

Let’s never play Neville or Jags in midfield again. Both are defenders, full stop.

If we’d have had Mikey in the team today we would have won.

Give Valente some credit, still a big part of our team.
Paul Quinn
20   Posted 11/11/2007 at 21:05:23

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One of the best moments in 35 years of following the blues when Timmy equalised - I was in the West Stand Upper and could not contain myself - I jumped up and down yelling my head off in front of thousands of Chelsea supporters (to be fair they were very good about it).

Great performances by Howard, Lescott and Yobo - I also thought Nuno had a very good game. Great substitutions at half time - Neville was a red card waiting to happen - he?s not a midfielder but at least he broke up the Chelsea play throughout the first half silly free kicks not withstanding. Mc Fadden and Victor stretched play beautifully in the second half giving us the opportunity which Timmy finally took!!!!

First time in so many years I have felt we are approaching parity with the likes of Chelsea - fantastic result, speaks volumes for our progress and future prospects.

Every team in the Ppremier League will now know how difficult a team we have become.

COYBB!!!!!!!
Jersey Rich
21   Posted 11/11/2007 at 21:26:55

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Devastated - missed the Cahill goal - had to leave 10mins early to catch a flight home!
The bastards got through in UEFA cup so match was moved after I’d booked flights.

Every report I read seems to be written with such superlatives that it’s pissing me off more and more by the minute!

For some of us this was a draw that felt like a loss :-(

Peter Ferns
22   Posted 11/11/2007 at 21:45:02

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Lescott was immense. I watched from the Matthew Harding stand and the Chelsea fans were on and on about how well he played particularly as Drogba is nothing less than brilliant. Agree 100% that Neville and Jags should never play in midfield. Credit to Hibbert - 2nd half performance was terrific. COYB
Jarrod Prosser
23   Posted 11/11/2007 at 22:10:36

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Glad i’m not the only one that thought Valente looked a touch portly.

Still, he played quite a good game against a guy that should be able to run him ragged.
Brian Reidy
24   Posted 11/11/2007 at 22:36:03

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Joe thanks again for the link - and I swear I was jumping out of my seat watching it - just like your man in the white top on the far side in amongst the Chelsea fans - sweeeeet!

Cahill wants it so badly - could you imagine what other players would be like with his determination - amazing!
Tom Griffiths
25   Posted 12/11/2007 at 04:42:16

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Guys it was definitely Carsley’s fault for the goal ... he’s marking that ZONE. Everton were playing a ZONAL defence (not man marking) for the corner and it was 100% Carsley’s error. He just didn’t attack the ball. Anyway, what a great performance. Howard’s save from Lampard was one of the best you’ll ever see anywhere ... and to knock it over for a corner was all the more impressive.

Again P. Neville embarrassed himself with poor passing and stupid fouls in dangerous places ... how often does he do that?!! Glad to see Hibbert put in a respectable performance .... not great, but not awful like he has been for the past 18 months.

Lescott & Yobo were fantastic - rock solid. It would have been such a shame to lose to a set-piece after defending so well all game. Osman & Pienaar are very light weight (obviously) and were both quite passive I thought.

But our defending as a team was superb. Ball retention could have been better, but you can’t have it all. The lead up to Pienaar’s miss in the 1st half was great play and would have been a fantastic team goal had he done what he should have.

Very proud. I thought Cahill was pretty ordinary until the goal ... but that’s what he does best.
Jimmy Hoffa
26   Posted 12/11/2007 at 06:00:49

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Although hibbert did relativvely well,for the life of me, i do not understand why Phil Jageilka was not deployed. I am very sure Phil is a much better right back and can provide the midfield support badly needed.

Plus, it should have been Osman to be substituted not Carsley. It should?ve been done right from the start of the seccond half.

I think that would?ve made the difference
Neil Styles
27   Posted 12/11/2007 at 13:33:24

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I cant really comment on the evaluation of our boys’ individual performances yesterday because I didnt see the game in full. But what I will say is this, post match, Avram Grant and the chavs voiced a collective feeling that our lads had stolen a point from the Bridge. I would like to point out that roughly this time last winter Chelsea did exactly the same thing at our place-3 shots: three goals. It seems to me that the chavs have a very short memory.


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