Player Ratings
Martyn: Pretty solid display, didn't do anything wrong and could
not be faulted for goals 7
Hibbert: Just carried on from last year. Was given a torrid time
by the Crewe left winger in the first half and improved marginally
in the second but is still too slow 5
Pistone: Good display generally, very skilful on the ball and was
the only defender who looked to play the ball on the deck 7
Weir: Never looked comfortable on the ball and played loads of
ale house balls up front to Ferguson 5
Stubbs: See Weir 5
McFadden: Looked skilful enough when running at people but still
looked incapable of making the right decision to pass the ball 6
Watson: Worked very hard and had a few nice touches but he should
be no more than a squad player in that position 6
Carsley: What more can i say about this man.. a complete and
utter yard dog. Should be nowhere near Everton FC 4
Osman: Should be in the squad regularly next season, always
energetic lively and looking for the ball. Okay did not always come
off but has a lot of talent.
Ferguson: As always held the ball up perfectly very rarely giving
it away and looked up for it 8
Chadwick: Tries but is nowhere near Premiership class - first
touch nowhere near good enough 5
Subs:
Clarke: Pretty solid display in the second half if unspectacular.
Looked good enough for the likes of Crewe but whether he is good
enough in the Premier League is dubious.7
Kilbane: Showed a lot more drive and determination on the left
than McFadden, if not having Jimmy's silky touches. In fact almost
injured himself late in the second half when he tried wrapping his
left boot round the ball at the byline and went flying over the
advertisement boards into the stands. 7
Campbell: Well taken goal from Kev evn if it was about 3 yards
offside. Still goes down too easily and is very slow. Glad its his
last season.7
Bent: Started off on the right wing and had some decent moments
including a cross that Campbell should have slid in after beating
Crewes defence. His real position is definitely up front as when he
switched his pace and power was electric. Although Radz is quick I
think Bent will be as quick but with much more power and upper body
strength.8
Ian Quincy
Report
The game tonight was not the main topic of conversation among the
1,520 Everton fans who saw us beaten by a lower league side.
All every one was talking about is what is going on off the field;
we even had a couple of banners saying "Enough is enough"
Not so long ago we used to go on pre-season tour to get the
players fit, score a few goals, get the players bonding, then the
team moral would be good, we would play sides from the lower
leagues, of part time teams in the hills of some European country,
What has happened...?
1' Pistone cross from the left, Chadwick in the box, header over
the bar.
9' In swinging corner again from the right, on the six-yard line
Chadwick heads down, two Crewe players on the line clear the ball.
14' Young Tony Hibbert makes a run down the right, saw Osman in a
bit of space, knocks the ball to his feet, hits it first time, slips
just past the far post.
30' 1 - 0 S Jones: Ball in from midfield, finds S Jones in
a little bit of space, goes at Martin, puts the ball under his body.
39' Carsley with another Everton corner, finds Dunc, he guides
the ball goalwards, only to see it drift past the far post.
41' Our best chance of the half, Osman & Chadwick with some
great link play in the build up, finds Dunc 10 yards out, shot on
target, keeper saves, the ball falls to Chadwick, the keeper makes a
recovery and denies Chadwick a goal.
Half Time: Crewe Alexandra 1 - 0 Everton
45' On: Campbell, Bent, Kilbane. Off: Dunk, Carsley, Chadwick.
47' Alan Stubbs sees his header float over the bar.
49' Bent shows a bit is skill, from the right, finds Campbell
waiting in the area, the Crewe keeper smothers the ball at his feet.
57' On: Peter Clarke (who is only on a week-to-week contract)
Off: Alan Subbs
66' 0 - 2 B Jones Lunt with a free kick from a good 30 yards out,
B Jones beats all the defenders to the ball, from just inside the
box heads home.
76' Steve Watson from 18 yards out sees their keeper of his line
and tries to lob him, his effort not to far off target.
77' 1 - 2 Campbell Long ball from midfield, KC chaced the ball
down, took on the keeper, slammed the ball home.
79' Marcus Bent almost made it 2-2 but the linesman rules it off
side.
81' Steve Watson hits the base of the post, another 18 yard shot,
this time though a pile of players, the Crewe keeper has no chance.
Steve Milne

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