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Clarence Yurcan
1 Posted 13/04/2014 at 01:09:52
Great report, as usual. Not to sound myopic, but I like to think my maiden voyage to Goodison this season has imbued us with some magic...

Anyway, in the pub I was at here in the US we deliriously belted out this classic number after the goal:

"Oh, oh oh, he's magic,
You Know,
Gerard Deu-lo-fe-u"

Peter Creer
2 Posted 13/04/2014 at 02:27:29
Thank you Ken for another great report. Watching the game live here in Canada was a very different experience from last weeks thrashing of Arsenal, however, at the end of the day we ended up with the win and that is brilliant.

I know that Deulofeu ended up making the goal but when the game started and the first half progressed I was struggling with his lack of motivation to track back or make any attempt to put any pressure on the defenders, especially when he had lost the ball. Even Seamus started to get on his back and that may have got him moving. When he came on against Arsenal he was putting on the pressure, albeit at a very late time in the game, but as a sub he seems to get in their faces a bit more.

Stones continues to impress and when Jagielka returns I would have to say that I would be dropping Distin (as good as he has been). He prevented the goal which would have made it into a very different game. Stones would have to be Moyes’ going away present!

Seven games in a row. Nothing more to say......other than bring on bring on Palace at Goodison and COYB!

Derek Thomas
3 Posted 13/04/2014 at 02:35:17
Pretty much as I saw it from 12,000miles away Ken.

As always seems to be the case, when you're at the bottom nothing seems to go your way and when you're up near the top you get the breaks.

I might still be getting post Moyes flashbacks or maybe I just can't believe our luck, whatever, but I suspect a few of the last 7 games would not 've been won under the old regime, maybe not lost, but not won.

It could be that the old Arnold Palmer adage applies... people call me lucky, but it seems the harder I practice, the luckier I get.

Brian Sephton
4 Posted 13/04/2014 at 05:00:56
Great report but I think a bit kind to Gerard. I will stick my neck out and say he is not ready for the Premier League and is a bit of a prima donna.

Great result for the boys; for me, Barry was MotM just from the wonderful to watch John Stones. Yes, he makes the odd mistake, but I get such a happy warm feeling inside when he is on the ball, the feeling has only happened a few times in 63 years. So he is in great company already for me.

Long way to go yet but we couldn’t do any more than win.

COYB

Matt Traynor
5 Posted 13/04/2014 at 06:00:19
Good report Ken, although I wouldn't describe that 2nd Naismith miss as a "sitter" - albeit like you with the form he's in and his general ability, I expected better.

It was a tough game - there were some meaty tackles going in from Sunderland, and Probert - who I can't decide if I don't mind or detest - was letting a lot go.

The definition of scraping a win, but that's the mark of a good side.

Brian Hill
6 Posted 13/04/2014 at 06:53:57
Coleman struggled today, offering little going forward and looking flustered defensively at times, eventually receiving a justified yellow card. As others have observed, he seemed to become somewhat frustrated with Deulofeu and his refusal to pass.

I feel that we shall need Coleman at his marauding best against Palace as they will be very difficult to break down, as all Pulis sides are.

BTW, Derek@679, I don't follow golf much, but do live in South Africa. I'm sure it was Gary Player who made the practice/lucky comment.

Brian Hill
7 Posted 13/04/2014 at 07:10:08
Just watched the highlights on some early TV show here in SA. Despite Coleman's frustration, he was the first to celebrate with Gerard after the winner. A further demonstration of our wonderful team spirit. Ain't no stopping us now!!
Michael Penley
8 Posted 13/04/2014 at 07:15:05
Brian, I remember an interview with Gerard where he said he and Coleman connected immediately and they get along great. Stuff like that might be the difference when it comes to loan players wanting to stay (or I like to think so!).
Jim Potter
9 Posted 13/04/2014 at 07:51:26
A scrappy win after last week's classy victory. This is exactly what top teams do.

Derek - wasn't that a Gary Player quote?

Derek Thomas
10 Posted 13/04/2014 at 08:19:38
Brian and Jim; not that I need to use google, he replied modestly, but if I ever did and put in Arnold Palmer quote luck, strangely enough up it pops, though I think they both maybe mis-quoting Blackadder's Elizabethan Puritan Auntie....Luck, sounds a lot like F...I'll settle for jammy, but deserved
Brian Hill
11 Posted 13/04/2014 at 08:27:29
Derek,

What is "Blackadder's Elizabethan Puritan Auntie"?

Seems there is some dispute re Player/Palmer.

Where will it end?

Peter Bell
12 Posted 13/04/2014 at 08:48:21
I think the criticism of Delafeou is a bit OTT. Lost count the number of times he has knocked the ball across the 6 yard box for someone to just roll in, but no one is making the run. Could easily have a further 5 or 6 assists this season.
Craig Fletcher
13 Posted 13/04/2014 at 08:52:09
Agreed Peter. As frustrating as Deulofeu is sometimes, he's also often our likeliest source of a goal in a tight game such as yesterday's. And so it proved. Frustrating and exciting to watch in equal portions.
Shaun Lyon
14 Posted 13/04/2014 at 08:41:59
Marvellous report as ever Ken. Deulofeu is a wonderful talent but frustrating at times. In youth football I'm sure we're all familiar with the kid who, rather than playing a simple ball to an unmarked teammate standing in front of a gaping goal prefers to take on six of the opposition, beating about four of them before being dispossessed or running the ball out of play. You never want to stifle individualism of course and it was Gerry who got us the goal yesterday. But taking easier options might have led to a couple more. Still, what a raw talent.
Sam Fitzsimmons
16 Posted 13/04/2014 at 10:49:32
I think Coleman struggled a bit because he didn't get the support or cover he needed from Delafeou. I'd be pretty certain he'll be with us next season because there is no way the lad is anywhere near getting into Barcelona's first team squad.
Vinny Garstrokes
17 Posted 13/04/2014 at 12:49:05
Gerard frustrates and mesmerises me many times in the same match. As his footballing skills develop, I also think he has the ability to develop an ego of Ronaldo or Ibrahimovic proportions, so getting told to 'wind his neck in' by Messrs Barry, Jagielka et al from time to time will do him the world of good.
Harold Matthews
18 Posted 13/04/2014 at 12:54:30
As we have asked many times on TW. How long will it take Lukaku, Naismith and Martinez to realise that Delboy whips the ball low across the goalmouth. As the commentator noted. Someone should take a gamble on the lad belting the ball across, even if it doesn't look likely.
Dick Fearon
19 Posted 13/04/2014 at 16:05:17
Harold M @764, precisely what I say, a player running at the near post needs only the slightest touch.
Paul Ferry
20 Posted 14/04/2014 at 04:51:08
Spot-on, Harold, mate (#764) – and I'm sorry, Brian (#687) – you couldn't be more wrong about GD, there is even an argument to be made – pace HM #764 – that he might be a little more inventive and 'ahead' of some of the rest of the lads when he does put that ball across.

It would be an utter joy to have GD at The Old Lady next season.

Trevor Lynes
21 Posted 14/04/2014 at 08:40:48
I like Deulofeu but Sterling at the same age is improving much better and has an end product. Deulofeu needs to get his head up and see where his team mates are. When he had one of his shots, both Lukaku and Naismith were unmarked and calling for the ball. Roberto needs to teach him the basics a bit more and not just rely on his ability to beat defenders.

Mirallas suffers from the same malady but he does make assists on occasion and has scored a few. I would love to see a player with the ability to pick a pass in that frontline.

Strangely enough, even though Baines did not shine, he made the best pass of the game through to Naismith when he missed his best chance. Naismith's turn to beat Brown deserved a goal!

Phil Walling
22 Posted 14/04/2014 at 12:37:02
So 4th place is ours to lose now. Always said we could do it!

PS to all those shouting liar, I never let the truth get in the way of a good story!!!!

Paul Ferry
23 Posted 14/04/2014 at 19:18:29
Credit where credit is due to Phil (Walling)! Shame, though, I will now have to retire PW from my seat/lounge after just two episodes.

Erm Trevor - 63 - no mate! If you were perhaps to put it like this; what do you prefer, owning Sterling or loaning Del, then I might also plump for Sterling. But on a wish-list and purely comparative basis, it would be Del all day long.

They both share the same sort of 'youthful' indiscretions, - running at defenders perhaps once too often, not releasing the ball, not tracking back enough - and they also share the flair abilities to do the spectacular every now and then, and here Del might be the better of the two.

I would also throw the little I know about respective character into the mix. Yep, Brenda has done some couch sitting with him but Sterling always strikes me like an accident waiting to happen or a bomb that might go off - temperament (not good/volatile), attitude (can stink), two brushes with the law.

Nope GD for me mate.


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