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I'm thinking they do better when I don't give a shit and have something better to do with my time... Today it was the 170,000-capacity (empty!) Las Vegas racetrack and driving 600-HP NASCARs round them stupid yankee ovals...
And you know what? It was a total fucking blast!!! 30 laps in three sessions (first is a 'mare!), 8-10-12... in the last session, it's brilliant and you can't get enough, can't go fast enough (by yourself, tailing an instructor car). Top speed: 142 mph (which is pretty fast for Yankeeland driving... Whoopee!
But a big well done to the Boys in Blue. That was a massive, massive game for Moyes... which only confirms he will be around for a long, long time yet. So let's finally see a stop to the few Moyes Out calls we are still seeing... it ain't gonna happen ? he's here for the duration.
I'd praise him but, without having seen the game, I have no basis, other than the result itself, which was all that mattered of course.
Now... whether we achieved that because of him or in spite of him...??? Well... I'm not going there!!! Let's hope this really is the doorway to a sustained period of successful European football!
Michael Kenrick, Posted 05/10/2007 at 02:23:04
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Lyndon Lloyd
Editorial Team
2 Posted 05/10/2007 at 02:38:26
Editorial Team
2 Posted 05/10/2007 at 02:38:26
"I?d praise him but, without having seen the game, I have no basis, other than the result itself, which was all that mattered of course."
Let?s just say, my high-octane colleague, that based on the radio commentary, the evertonTV highlights and various supporter accounts, had they played the second half in the manner in which they played the first, we would be out of the competition and there would have been a chorus of "Moyes Out" calls... not that they?d have been all that useful as I think it would have taken a couple more cup early exits and a spectacular collapse in League form for Kenwright to even entertain the notion of offloading him.
As someone said elsewhere, Moyes may have got out of jail to some degree tonight and the real tests are to come in the group phase. BUT... this will be another learning experience for him and his team and I believe that the more comfortable they become playing against these different styles and in hostile stadia, the better they?ll do.
Really looking forward to the next stage now to see how we fare...
Let?s just say, my high-octane colleague, that based on the radio commentary, the evertonTV highlights and various supporter accounts, had they played the second half in the manner in which they played the first, we would be out of the competition and there would have been a chorus of "Moyes Out" calls... not that they?d have been all that useful as I think it would have taken a couple more cup early exits and a spectacular collapse in League form for Kenwright to even entertain the notion of offloading him.
As someone said elsewhere, Moyes may have got out of jail to some degree tonight and the real tests are to come in the group phase. BUT... this will be another learning experience for him and his team and I believe that the more comfortable they become playing against these different styles and in hostile stadia, the better they?ll do.
Really looking forward to the next stage now to see how we fare...
Brian Wolf
3 Posted 05/10/2007 at 03:11:12
3 Posted 05/10/2007 at 03:11:12
The first half was awful. I’m glad they upped the tempo in the second but even that was scary after we scored and then defensively fell to pieces again.
Thank God for Victor!!!
Thank God for Victor!!!
Mike Dolan
4 Posted 05/10/2007 at 03:45:45
4 Posted 05/10/2007 at 03:45:45
Jeez Michael, You have convinced me that the only way to take in Blackpool on- steroids is in a racing car. I loath and fear Las Vegas. Before the game one of the players said it was going to be a counter attack game that rattled me because it seemed to give away the tactics that we were going to employ. If I am Metalist manager I play for Nil Nil at home. Instead they attacked us ’daft bastards’. Counterattacking means scoring against the run of play or am I missing something.
Kevin Sparke
5 Posted 05/10/2007 at 05:54:26
5 Posted 05/10/2007 at 05:54:26
First half, Everton were dire, too many speculative hoofs out of defence, no holding midfield player (again!) in defence we were wide open to quick one twos around the box as the link between defence and midfield was stretched by very neat passing by the Metalist boys.
I t was not pleasing to watch, in fact it was torture.
However, Jimmy Mac, when he had the ball (which was hardly ever) was a constant thorn in their sides and his goal was sublime. Big Vic when he came on gave the Yak a master class in centre forward play harrying, challenging and nudging the Metalist defense and generally making life hard for them. Yak looks like a waste of 11 million at the moment.
It was a fantastic win - but the football Everton played was total shit and don’t let anyone kid themselves it wasn’t.
Who do I blame?
Moyes: for a first half tactical plan based upon hoofball bump and grind football, fucking grim, mind numbing in its repetativeness - easy to play against
The Board: For not securring the signiture of a strong midfield player who can hold a ball and pass it to feet... Everton feet
Lady Luck: for depriving us of Graveson a player who might (I stress might) be able to do that holding/passing job because Jag isn’t going to do it as long as I’ve got a hole in my arse.
It was shit - it was fantastic... It was Everton.
I t was not pleasing to watch, in fact it was torture.
However, Jimmy Mac, when he had the ball (which was hardly ever) was a constant thorn in their sides and his goal was sublime. Big Vic when he came on gave the Yak a master class in centre forward play harrying, challenging and nudging the Metalist defense and generally making life hard for them. Yak looks like a waste of 11 million at the moment.
It was a fantastic win - but the football Everton played was total shit and don’t let anyone kid themselves it wasn’t.
Who do I blame?
Moyes: for a first half tactical plan based upon hoofball bump and grind football, fucking grim, mind numbing in its repetativeness - easy to play against
The Board: For not securring the signiture of a strong midfield player who can hold a ball and pass it to feet... Everton feet
Lady Luck: for depriving us of Graveson a player who might (I stress might) be able to do that holding/passing job because Jag isn’t going to do it as long as I’ve got a hole in my arse.
It was shit - it was fantastic... It was Everton.
Lyndon
Editorial Team
6 Posted 05/10/2007 at 06:22:09
Editorial Team
6 Posted 05/10/2007 at 06:22:09
Superb summation, Kevin (even if you did spell Gravesen incorrectly!) and a delightful closing line. Should’a submitted it for your column...
Neil Pearse
7 Posted 05/10/2007 at 06:20:43
7 Posted 05/10/2007 at 06:20:43
Well, you couldn’t have made either of those ties up! Back in Europe the Everton Way - an absolute rollercoaster. With fantastic relief that we’ve got through.
But what is left is the complete tactical naivety of Moyes. He couldn’t play his usual percentage / defensive Premiership game in games he had to win, so we got what? 4-3-3 and utter confusion in game one. And a new formation - 4-BIG GAP-4-2 in the second (no one sitting in front of the defence, which is what the defence is used to).
Gravesen and Cahill will no doubt help this side, but don’t be fooled. We need at least TWO new players in January - a quality holding midfielder (we now know that the ageing Carsley is the only one we’ve got), and of course a strong creative midfielder. Well at least we can use the money from selling Yakubu, who is never going to fit into a Moyes team.
But what is left is the complete tactical naivety of Moyes. He couldn’t play his usual percentage / defensive Premiership game in games he had to win, so we got what? 4-3-3 and utter confusion in game one. And a new formation - 4-BIG GAP-4-2 in the second (no one sitting in front of the defence, which is what the defence is used to).
Gravesen and Cahill will no doubt help this side, but don’t be fooled. We need at least TWO new players in January - a quality holding midfielder (we now know that the ageing Carsley is the only one we’ve got), and of course a strong creative midfielder. Well at least we can use the money from selling Yakubu, who is never going to fit into a Moyes team.
ROBERT CARNEY
8 Posted 05/10/2007 at 10:38:28
8 Posted 05/10/2007 at 10:38:28
If we do not improve on that showing last night we will become the easy pickings / laughing stock of europe.
OK we got the result but only after they decided 2-1 was enough.
At 2-2 their heads were down and we only just got the defence together. Victor was always going to get a chance as they were then chasing the game not us.
I hope this was the night our luck changed, otherwise it will be a long cold winter ahead.
It has become more obvious than the last three seasons how we need the midfield strengthening.
Lets hope to christ the scouts are doing the buisness worldwide and the odd couple come up with the dosh.
One other musing, I genuinely beleive if we pay first class rates for the players required, Moyes needs help. All his high spending individuals look dodgy. Yakuba needs a bomb up his arse, he makes Heskey and Beattie look world class.
Aj is looking a shadow of his former self.
Lets hope this does not rub off to potential class midfielders.
OK we got the result but only after they decided 2-1 was enough.
At 2-2 their heads were down and we only just got the defence together. Victor was always going to get a chance as they were then chasing the game not us.
I hope this was the night our luck changed, otherwise it will be a long cold winter ahead.
It has become more obvious than the last three seasons how we need the midfield strengthening.
Lets hope to christ the scouts are doing the buisness worldwide and the odd couple come up with the dosh.
One other musing, I genuinely beleive if we pay first class rates for the players required, Moyes needs help. All his high spending individuals look dodgy. Yakuba needs a bomb up his arse, he makes Heskey and Beattie look world class.
Aj is looking a shadow of his former self.
Lets hope this does not rub off to potential class midfielders.
glen strachan
9 Posted 05/10/2007 at 18:15:17
9 Posted 05/10/2007 at 18:15:17
Has the man who once called me an idiot (OK , I accepted your apology later) really turned to NASCAR in his old age.
Oh Michael.............how could you....bloody hell !
Moyes will , at the very least see out the 20 months or so that remain on his present contract.
His safety of tenure has nothing to do with the opinions....good or bad..........voiced by EFC fans.
The board chooses the manager and your near-namesake has appointed Moyes.
Last night ? there is a rumour about that during a dreadful first half the Evertonians were chanting for the return of the great Walter Smith..................so far unconfirmed - the rumour or the return !
Oh Michael.............how could you....bloody hell !
Moyes will , at the very least see out the 20 months or so that remain on his present contract.
His safety of tenure has nothing to do with the opinions....good or bad..........voiced by EFC fans.
The board chooses the manager and your near-namesake has appointed Moyes.
Last night ? there is a rumour about that during a dreadful first half the Evertonians were chanting for the return of the great Walter Smith..................so far unconfirmed - the rumour or the return !
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1 Posted 05/10/2007 at 02:39:06
Those race classes are a blast aren’t they. If you’re interested, check out Frank Hawleys Drag Racing School in Pamona. You get to take runs down the quarter mile in a hot rod, getting past 100 MPH in just a couple seconds. The ultimate adrenaline rush. I can’t stand Nascar, most boring thing in the world, even more than baseball, but if you’re driving one it is such a rush. As for the game tonight, we didn’t play well, especially in the first half, but we turned it on as the second half went on.