I don?t like losing at anytime but, against Utd away, you do get the chance to see how far off a league title our team may be and I have to say at the moment we are well short. This is not the best Utd squad by any means but the big difference for me is that they have two adequate players for each position where we have just the one adequate player for some positions and ?do the best you can? players for other positions. They don?t need versatile players where we do and that is one big difference.
We had somewhat of a subdued start to the game and in truth it took 25 mins for it to start. We did have the first shot on target after some 6 mins but Osman?s shot was weak. Jags then sat off Rooney, who was roundly booed for the first 15mins, and then the faithful got fed up with that; luckily that came to nought. Then Coleman switched off and left his man to run and make things difficult for Hibbert but he did well to divert the ball for a corner and then point out the error of Coleman?s aberration with some force. Luckily nothing came of the corner.
The Blues then entered a ragged period that saw Bilyaletdinov and Beckford exposed cruelly. Utd put on the pressure and Howard made a great save from Hernandez after a great through ball from Anderson. Rooney supplied Hernandez and again Howard saved, Hibbert took up some intelligent positions and headed away many a threatening ball. Beckford went down in the box in a rare foray foreword but it was a touch embarrassing.
Just before half-time, Valencia out-muscled and outstripped Baines and crossed only for Nani to hit his own man and the ball deflect behind for a goal kick. Utd were now cutting through us as we came up to the whistle and, but for the excellent Hibbert seeing off Nani yet again, we may have gone in one down.
The half-time chat centred on how we could have been a couple down and the non-contribution of Bilyaletdinov and Beckford who were both just not in the zone. In Bilyaletdinov?s case, he seemed in a world of his own that was far removed from the requirements of the EPL... and in Beckford?s case it had nothing to with service but had everything to do with him just not being up to the standard required when playing top sides. The manager seemed to agree as both were left behind and replaced by Cahill and Anichebe respectively.
The half started with the Blues looking the livelier, Jags took a smart free-kick to the feet of Osman who shimmied and found Coleman only for the Irishman to fire left footed very, very, wide. In truth, we were, if we were honest, hoping we could hang on for a draw. Utd pressed and pressed, Jags made a great tackle on Rooney, Hibbert looked the coolest under pressure no-matter who came down his side; Big Vic runs into the box and goes down under a tackle from Ferdinand. "Penalty!!!" we yell, and I have seen them given... but he did collapse a little bit on the easy side; in a light hearted moment just shortly after, the Ref Mr Walton showed him how to fall with no-one in attendance.
Near the 70-minute mark, we had our chance of the match after a spell of joined-up stuff directed by Neville and Osman which forced our first corner. The ball found its way to Rodwell on the edge, he took a couple of paces forward and put in a daisy cutter that brought a super body-stretching save from the keeper; he might be 40 but s one class keeper.
The clock ticks down, Owen comes on for them, Gueye for Coleman for us. Utd hit our post ? phew! Cahill little more than a passenger as we almost pray for a ?backs against the wall? point.... Hernandez gets in a good header which brought a great save from Howard who would shortly be booked for time wasting.
Ferdinand brings Big Vic down and we get a free kick which came to nought but Utd broke from it; we mopped up yet again via the redoubtable Hibbert and the ball went to Distin who seemed not to see Valencia rapidly closing him down. In panic he wellied clear but only to a red shirt who fed Valencia who again eluded Baines and put in a cross that found both our centre-backs missing and Hernandez rose above the covering Hibbert and headed home. 6 mins to go for an unlikely point and we throw it away.
Gutted sums up the collective feeling of Blues assembled. We had 5mins of injury time to add but we just knew we didn?t have the firepower available to score 2 in injury time ? as we had at Goodison earlier in the season. Final whistle, disappointed but realistic enough to know it could have been worse.
MotM ? Hibbert; followed very closely by Jags and Howard. Distin may well have featured but for that crucial lapse of concentration.
This is a game I always look forward to. Away against a team who are going for a record number of league titles and are always there or thereabouts season on season. Many may not like them for various reasons but for me they are always a benchmark regarding our own progress. Today showed we have some way to go but not that far if the club could one way or another allow the manager to sign players for positions that cry out each time we encounter real contenders ? namely striker, right and left wide men, and one in midfield who can get a game by the throat and drive it forward, i.e. make a difference.
Getting two adequate players for each position may be well away but, if the four I suggest could materialise, then, with the core we already have, maybe going to Old Trafford may mean more than hanging on.
I thought the manager had a difficult job on today considering who we were playing away from home and our paper-thin squad available but I would have thought he would have sussed Bilyaletdinov and Beckford by now and given chances to Gueye and Vellios from the start, all things considered. Cahill looked little more than a passenger today and his introduction only highlighted our paucity of numbers of adequate players at the club.
Still, Wigan next... and I am sure that we will put out a team that will ensure we have an evenly matched game and hope that by the end we will secure three points and hanging on will be redundant. As they say "Thank god you only play the Champions away once a season."
See you there for a pie and a pint and three points from super joined-up stuff (allow me to dream). UP THE BLUES
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Due allowance perhaps being given for my blue coloured specs, but I'd beg differ on the penalty not given incident involving Beckford in the first half. It should have been given. That was the view of the commentators too. Likewise in the second half with Anichebe: he was in front of and past Ferdinand for pace and there was deliberate leg and arm contact by Rio.
Our problem with United is that we have to play every minute no mistakes Zen. One lapse of concentration by Distin (who had been excellent all day) lost us the game. We just haven't learnt our lesson: the same thing happened a couple of years back when we were at 1-1 (thanks to a superb Cahill header) and Pienaar has a rush of blood and trips Giggs in the box with the latter hardly threatening anything.
I thought the whole back four and Howard were great today, and I think that posters to other reports of this match were very harsh on Rodwell. We are talking about a 19-year-old playing central midfield, and I thought he played fine. But for a blatantly home side favouring ref on the penalties (Moyes must complain to the FA and require the ref to go over the tapes and explain why he did not award penalties on both occasions) and Distin's lapse, whilst they were dominant, we would have at least drawn and possibly won.
Finally, as Anichebe ran out, I expressed to my essentially disinterested rugby playing son, 'Oh no, why? Not Anichebe: he is the shittest player ever'. However, I would have given him a 6: ordinary, but nonetheless the best effort I have ever seen him put in.
Our defenders were heroic but we lack ability and guile throughout the midfield and anyone who can really hurt up front. I think that we are lucky to be safe with the squad we have and I also reckon that some teams below us have far better strikers.
I just hope that we can pick up a few GOOD buys when the transfer window opens and unload some of the deadwood. Our defenders are as good as any in the division.
Last of all, Bily boy: I'm sorry to say that this lad has had more chances than anyone should be given to come out of himself and show us he can be the player we all want him to be. Sadly, I think it's time he hung up his Everton shirt. Too lightweight, hesitant, clumsy, seems lost in tactics and has all the effect of us having a player sent off. The exit door beckons in the summer and he should be replaced now. Give him a central role and not wide v Wigan to rubber stamp what we all know to be true.
Jags and the rest of the defence were great, especially the out-and-out defenders in the team, eg: Jags, Hibbo, Neville, Howard and Distin.... the rest unfortunately could not compete against Man Utd.Strangely enough Anichebe did cause some problems with his physique and strength.... Beckford caused nothing like as much trouble.
Just take a considered look at all the teams both above and below us and check their strikers and wide players against ours... there are many good strikers who would occupy and trouble most defences playing for so called lesser teams than us. We are getting through due to the excellence of our DEFENDERS and sporadic decent displays from Osman.
We have the weakest bench in the league apart from maybe Blackpool. If that is not apparent then I give up!!!
I'm really glad that we are not in Europe because our squad has trouble just playing our regular fixtures.
Regarding our two shouts for a penalty, after multiple replays from all angles, the studio panel of ex-PL players were even more convinced that they should have been given. They also were unanimous of the view that, had the situation been reversed, it was a nailed-on certainty that United would have got the ref's nod.
One of the panel went on to say, "It's hard enough to face a United in full flow but it becomes impossible when the referee wears a red shirt"... end of quote. I don't normally agree with TV pundits yet this time they were on the money.
I have rarely seen a players limitations so fully exposed as were Beckford's. As for Bily, he is a disgusting, lazy arsed, dare I say, Russian bastard.
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* Everton deducted 8 pts; †Forest deducted 4 pts for PSR breachView full table
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