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Derby memories long gone by

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This week's draw and upcoming league fixture took me back many years ago to 1970-71 when we were reigning league champions and drew Liverpool in the FA Cup semi final at Old Trafford.

We had finished with a total of 66 points the season before, I think 9 points clear of second placed Leeds and we all wondered if it was the start of a new era with us competing in the European Cup for the first time in awhile with the "holy trinity" leading us to further honors.

Our league form was indifferent and we finished 14th that year but we were going well in the cup. We crushed Colchester 5-0 who had dumped Leeds out of the cup and were feeling good about silverware that season. So onto Anfield for the league game. We went up 2-0 with Alan Whittle scoring a beauty. Alan Ball was doing his party tricks as the Goodison faithful started celebrating. Well Liverpool had luck on their side even then and wound up winning 3-2.

A few days later we played them in the cup semi-final and Alan Ball had us up 1-0 at half time. Unfortunately Brian Labone went off injured and the whole complexion of the game changed and we lost 2-1. Justice was served when Arsenal won the double by beating them.

I just know that things will turn out differently this time with Cahill getting the winner in both games.
Ajay Timothy, New York, NY, USA     Posted 05/01/2009 at 17:43:56

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Nick Entwistle
1   Posted 06/01/2009 at 01:18:24

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It all comes down to how the players perceive the game, Ajay. If they see it as an opportunity, and Moyes does likewise with tactics, then we?ll be fine. If they fear it, a rearguard action it will be... and Gerrard will spoon in a winner that shouldn?t be allowed for some reason but the ref didn?t see it... blah blah...
Derek Thomas
2   Posted 06/01/2009 at 05:07:22

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I remember that game at City. It was the start of our, versus the RS, "if it wasn?t for bad luck we wouldn?t have any luck at all" era.

Sometime just prior to that was when they sold their Red Shankly Souls to the Devil, there must?ve been a sale on coz I well remember the same weekend watching Henry Cooper come out on the wrong end of one of the worst boxing stitch-ups ever v Joe Bugner, at Widnes RU Club as it happens (don?t ask).

Anyhow, we were all over them and Labone went off injured (Achilles and more or less hardly played again). Sandy Brown took his place, great guy but not in Labby?s class. Whittle went off chasing a good ball and was fouled on the edge of their box by Smith... NOT GIVEN! (No change there then ). They went up the other end and scored... fast forward 36 yrs and here we are, always getting shit upon by the shite.

Curse you, you Devil dealers (but have a little sympathy for the devil, woo woo, woo woo.)
Norman Merrill
3   Posted 06/01/2009 at 08:25:10

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Ajay, you have brought back memories, some good some bad.

I travelled back from our stint in Athens gutted, after going out to the great Puskas?s side, on away goals, in the then European cup. We arrived back late on Friday, before making our way to Old Trafford.

As you say, Bally put us ahead, and with the injury to Labby, the rest is history. Let's hope this time history repeats itself, as it happened in 1991 when we played the shite at Anfield, drew 0-0 and 4-4 at Goodison and with a Dave Watson goal, saw them off after a replay, again at Goodison.

Liam Reilly
4   Posted 06/01/2009 at 08:34:55

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We can talk about luck all we want, but if we employ our usual Sky 4 tactics of ?park the bus and hope for a goal from a set piece?, then we won?t deserve a result in either match.

Unfortunately, I fear these will be exactly the tactics that we employ in the League game and if we don?t get thrashed, then we?ll do the same in the Cup.

Now I know that they have a huge advantage in the size and value of their squad and I?d even stretch to saying that we should be defensive minded in the League, but what would it hurt to really go at them in the Cup? Now that's something I?d like to see.

Wishful thinking, I fear.
Mick Wrende
5   Posted 06/01/2009 at 10:38:14

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Dream on Ajay.
Dave Wilson
6   Posted 06/01/2009 at 11:11:43

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Since the draw, it seems every positive post is followed by half a dozen miserable twat negative posts.

What is it you want you want? Is this not why we follow Everton, to play in the biggest games against the biggest rivals generating the most excitement?

All hell would break loose if the team adopted the "can't win don't try" attitude that seems rife amongst some of the people on here.

There?ll be a massive scramble for the 7,000 tickets, let's hope not one of the white flag wavers get their hands on one.
Anthony Dyer
7   Posted 06/01/2009 at 11:45:36

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On the subject of the Derby, when was the last time Everton were awarded a penalty in one? My memory banks are failing me as I can?t recall seeing one. I know we got one in the 62-63 season in the first Derby on their return to the top flight.
Andy Ellams
8   Posted 06/01/2009 at 12:13:28

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One lasting bad memory, Clive Thomas, Brian Hamilton need I say more.

Some things never change do they...
Richard Murray
9   Posted 06/01/2009 at 12:22:35

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Anthony,

Goodison derby in 2003, as far as I can remember. We also got one in 2001. I think Unsworth banged in both of them.

Did he only ever miss one pen? When he crippled the bar against Sheff Wed?
Mike Iddon
10   Posted 06/01/2009 at 12:35:04

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That 1971 game has real significance for me in lot?s of ways. My first derby game, the start of 10+ years of bitter disappointments against the RS, usual taunting from their supporters etc, etc. I can still see Bally side-footing the opener at the Stretford End and Brian Hall (who?) hooking in the winner. A nightmare for a young Evertonian, I cried all the way home and learned to detest all things red throughout the 70s.

That game was the beginning of the end for that great team, the Holy Trinity broke up and not until Howie?s great 80s side did we have something to really crow about, although Big Bob?s time was not bad. Can?t say as I?m looking forward to this one but wouldn?t it be sweet if we turned them over?

Steve Ashton
11   Posted 06/01/2009 at 13:16:14

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The Semi was at Old Trafford ? it was part of the worst week of my life, we went out of the European Cup on away goals to Panathinaikos on the Wednesday.

If I remember correctly, we also lost to Notts Forest, Newcastle and West Ham that March thus destroying our entire season in a couple of weeks. Don?t think Catterick ever really recovered.
Brian Waring
12   Posted 06/01/2009 at 13:26:12

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Dave Wilson, boy are you fucking full of it! Why don?t you just post something fucking constructive for a change? Just because some fans don?t say what you want to hear, you are on here, with your bullshit again.
Tom McGrath
13   Posted 06/01/2009 at 13:31:39

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Let's hope lady luck finally comes our way. Hamilton: dissallowd goal, '77; Hansen: handball, '84; Nevin: penalty, '91; Hutchinson goal that never was 2001; and Carragher's rugby tackle last year.
James Marshall
14   Posted 06/01/2009 at 13:55:47

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Steady Brian.

I reckon we?ll lose the league game, draw the cup one at Scumfield then beat them back at (ahem!) ?Fortress Goodison?

My only hope for this season outside of us making the top 6 (which I think we will) is that anyone other than the RS wins the league. Beyond that, I don't care what happens.

Oh and they don't win the CL of course... but then Barca are gonna win that anyway.
Chris Yandell
15   Posted 06/01/2009 at 13:52:41

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My money is on it being the best couple of weeks of my life..... we will nick it 1-0 in the league and grab a draw in the cup, take them back to Goodison and win that one 2-1.

Let's all get behind the boys create a belief and help make it happen!
Kevin Fowkes
16   Posted 06/01/2009 at 14:14:16

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Ever the optimist, I think we will lose twice and Neville will get sent off in both games.
Andre Helleur
17   Posted 06/01/2009 at 14:28:27

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I remember that 5-0 at Goodison against Colchester. I travelled up from Cornwall overnight in my mate?s Vauxhall Viva van with no heater working. We were bloody frostbitten, but I was warmed through as I watched the match. My mate was not so happy though. That same day the shite were at home also to Spurs (0-0).

On the trip home after scraping ice from inside the van on waking up, the van blew the "core plug" and we ended up in a petrol station with no attendant, needing to put out a fire in the garage when the drive belts on the air compressor caught fire.

Can't make it to Goodison for the next round this year. Now living in "frost free" Malta.

Paul Daly
18   Posted 07/01/2009 at 13:42:14

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There was a Sandy Brown own-goal..... it was this semi that had the amazing header in our net, right??? I remember it as this game..... and definitely I remember the Smith foul (quelle surprize).....

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