ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

Kunal Desai
1 Posted 23/01/2008 at 21:44:12

On the evidence of tonight its is clear to see that we are miles and miles away from having a squad with the depth and talent of the top three.

Dave Turner
2 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:07:50

Santosh is the warm up act Bob..

From the radio commentary I was listening to Vaughan and Anichebe were warming up before the goal.

But, Chelsea cancelled out our attack and hit us on the break, don’t take anything away from the team we were up against, as for people saying it was their reserves, it still probably cost many times our first team.

We missed Yakubu up front and Pienaar in midfield, from what I heard I figured we gave it our best shot, on the night, we weren’t good enough, got the UEFA yet, be good to go that one step further. And I personally feel, a trophy will be coming to Goodison soon, and been so long since I have thought that.

Oz Flanagan
3 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:05:44

We are still in a european cup much bigger than the Corporate Cup. Although we were out played I think it was a determined performance from the players and I can’t fault them for effort.

Granted, moneybags Chelsea have a better squad than us but its time to dust ourselves down and get on with th UEFA Cup and retaining that 4th place ahead of the Dark Side.

Andy Ellams
4 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:10:30

We played like frightened schoolgirls. That is 4 home defeats out of 4 against the sky 4 this season. It’s just not good enough.

The back 4 worry me a lot, the midfield was non existent, Cahill really needs a break, and Johnson did a great impression of a headless chicken.

Brett Jonathan
5 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:15:22

It really is a shame tonight. I know everyone is always quick to lay blame on David Moyes in these situations (and there never seem to be a shortage of them), but tonight a case can be made.

We are 4th in the league because of the system we play - because Yakubu wins headers, holds up play and can score goals.

Yakubu is away - so what does Moyes do? Puts Johnson in to replace Yakubu and expects the same results? A direct swap? He didn?t win a header all match and never looked like taking on the defence to even get a shot away.

We have two young strikers on the bench who CAN hold up play, win headers and take on defences, yet Moyes won?t accept that.

One day he may realise that to win games you have to make decisions on the fly - during a match and not the week previous on the training ground.

Everton looked sharp in the first half - Fernandes and Arteta the keys in midfield. But that changed because Avram Grant changed his gameplan to shut them down. You didn?t see either player in the second half. Moyes unfortunately didn?t counter-react Avram?s moves and paid the price. A team shut down by good Chelsea tactics again.

Paul Lenehan
6 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:20:49

In fairness to Johnson the ball was being lumped up to him and he was trying to compete for it with two centre halfs. Disappointed with Ossie and Manny. It's hard to take.

Mike Coates
7 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:15:32

After leaving my mates place (he?s a Chelsea supporter) and driving half hour home (here in Aussieland) I just sat, in silence thinking of what eventuated and what could have been and perhaps decisions that I just didn?t agree with.

First of all, I actually felt sad for Hibbert. He plays so well against teams like Chelsea, Arsenal, etc.. And to see him relegated to the bench in favour of our Captain, really felt wrong for me. And they cut to Hibbert during the game, watching on, looking alone and questioning why.

Other than that. It was the substitutions that then were questionable for me. Anichebe on, I would have preferred Vaughan, although Anichebe?s height was something we needed if all were kept doing was lobbing it up forward, Johnson just can?t bring them down and compete with his head. I actually sensed something might happen when the commentator MENTIONED the word sub, and just before it happened, a goal was scored. Carsley off? Well, he keeps getting yellows and I can see a reason, but I dunno.

Vaughan for Fernandes. I believed Manny should have stayed on. It was obvious that Osman was the less fit, struggling player. And as you watched later on, he wasn?t even running for the ball. Half rate efforts at most.

Finally. Where was Cahill? I saw him for the briefest of moments through out the game, mainly playing touch with Lescott before a corner came in. Which only 3 of them actually looked decent.

My only highlight of the game, was Jagielka. His defence and possible goal (just unlucky Cech closed his legs on it) could have done it for us.

Overall, very disappointing and I hope the Spurs really tear Chelsea apart come the Final.

First, let us tear Tottenham apart next game. :)

Paul Harrington
8 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:19:15

It hurts but we miss our 3 who are away more so than Chelsea who have tremendous replacements and quite simply we don?t have that level of talent. This rebuilding is still an ongoing process and the season still has plenty of promise. I am very optimistic for the remainder of this campaign and next years. COYB.

Brett Jonathan
9 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:24:14

I am not blaming Johnson. What is he supposed to do? Grow 2 feet taller and bulk up during a game?

He is the victim of a system that was built for the guy off in the African nations Cup.

Conor Feeney
10 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:15:32

I’m absolutely gutted like everyone else here. it’s really easy to be wise after the event - I thought when I saw the line up that we had an attacking midfield on, but we just couldn’t get through them.

Mikky was double marked every time he went near the ball. Carvalho is a top class centre back and easily kept us out.

Leon was struggling just back from injury and Manny looked off the pace. in a way, it was crying out for Jimmy mc to beat a man and set something up (when he wasn’t losing the ball).

We have to remember tho, they went out and bought a £15m player between the first and second legs. that says it all about what we were up against, and we just weren’t up to it tonight.

Gutted - but there’ll be more nights from this team.

BTW, Victor was getting ready to come on BEFORE the goal and there endeth the game. I’d say he was about to change it earlier but we had our best period of set-piece pressure at that point.

I thought we were really building up the pressure when we got the sucker punch.

Ah well.

Sorry for rambling on !

COYB.

James Elliott
11 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:29:47

Disappointed... we never let them know we were in a game. In my opinion Johnson is not good enough to do the lone striker role, we should have started with Anichebe. they tried but I can?t help feeling a little let down. We missed a massive opportunity.

Tommy Coleman
12 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:28:36

A good effort from the lads but just not good enough. Carvalho and Alex were solid and when we did break through there was Cech.
The biggest disapointment was the first leg, that was the real opportunity, when, with a bit more belief and daring we should have been defending a 2-1 lead tonight.

Paul Whitehouse
13 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:29:09

Hard to say it but totally outclassed. The best team won.

The biggest thing that upset me watching on Sky tv all game the only fans that could be heard were Chelsea.
What happened to all our support?

Tom Carter
14 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:29:04

Our fans should be ashamed of themselves we were out sung alnight at our own ground, pathetic.

Peter Bourke
15 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:27:52

I think the boys tried their hearts out and Cech saved at least 2 goals.
I do?t know why everyone is singalling Cahill out as he ran himself ragged and was heavily marked by 2 defenders at all set pieces.
I agree Osman should have been subbed instead of Manny as I think both Osman and Carsley had probably their worst game in years.
Everyone else could not be faulted.

Stuart Duncan
16 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:31:10

I just don’t see a game plan with AJ as lone striker, at home, against a team that is 1 up and doesn’t need to all out attack. Away, where the home side has to attack, gives him a chance to use his pace against a defence pushing up. But I don’t see it on a night like tonight.

I would have picked Vic (as a Yak look-alike) and brought AJ on later.

Tony Part
17 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:29:04

Some guy who has just phoned in a radio station hit the nail on the head..We waste Andy Johnson here at Everton and we have done since day one..Yes he works his socks off but why oh why dont we ever give him any decent service where for a change someone else does the running into the channels and gets the ball to AJ to score.The lad is a great finisher,he scored 12 goals last season despite missing games through injury and playing as a loan striker..We waste him..The likes of Neville keep giving him pathetic balls to latch onto that are more in favour of the defender in the fullback berth..It was the same with yak when he first came but once they realised he wouldnt do the running of AJ they changed the service and Yak has since started getting the ball in areas where he can hurt teams,resulting in him having double figures already..I really feel for you AJ mate if your reading this..Your actually a victim of your own work rate and pace..If you are reading this have a good word with our players about where you want the ball and tell them to get someone else to run the channels and also tell them you ave no chance of beating a 6ft 4inch defender in the air and see if it sinks in with them..Especially our defenders..I am very sad Santosh..I am very very fed up at this moment and I am completley sick to death of that so-called big four..sick to very very bollocks of them..Its always the same after we play them..They spoil my day/night something terrible

Brian Waring
18 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:35:01

I can’t understand why, after we put out an attacking formation like we did, did we continue to keep twating the ball up to AJ?

James Elliott
19 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:38:22

And what happened to our fans making up the 12th man? All i heard were the Chelsea fans.

John Andrews
20 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:28:38

I sort of agree with Andy in that, once again, we just did not play as we can. But I most certainly do not blame Johnson.
When are we going to learn that he needs the ball to feet ? He cannot compete with very large defenders, Alex for example, when the ball is in the air.
I believe the game was crying out for Vaughan to come and not Anichebe. Although Anichebe is a big old lump Vaughan would, in my opinion, have been the better choice.
The only thing that I would say about Moyes is that he did not bring the subs on soon enough. Some may say this is hindsight but I think he only brought the first sub on at about 70 minutes ? I think he changed his mind when he saw that we were getting the upper hand albeit briefly.

Guy Hastings
21 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:31:10

At the moment we?ve no-one who can grab the game by the scruff of the neck - and I?ve thought that for a long time, not just after tonight?s result. There are a number of points which I could drone on about - Arteta having to take every dead ball kick, Neville?s crossing etc- but one of my main concerns was the lack of atmosphere coming across. OK, I?m stuck on the south coast watching it in the pub but you?d have thought Chelsea were playing at hone. Maybe the Sky sound man is a Stamford Birdge season ticket holder but Everton-Bayern it certainly wasn?t.

Martin Lucas
22 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:36:59

We played alright tonight - although we didn’t take any of the chances we created from set pieces and that is probably the difference - Chelsea took their chance(s). Cech’s display tonight helped them out too.

Those who are questioning Johnson’s ability as the lone striker seem to have a short memory as he was clearly good enough last year when playing one up front, scored 1 or 2 goals too!

Brian Waring
23 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:38:58

You have got it spot on about AJ Tony. He plays more of a winger’s role for us, When, surely he would be at his most dangerous running onto ball’s that are played through the middle? He get’s a bit of stick, but what the fuck is he supposed to do when the ball is coming to him in the air, and he is up against 6 foot plus defenders?

Tommy Coleman
24 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:43:53

I wouldn’t take much notice of the sound coming across sky TV, yes the Chelsea fans sang all night but when the Everton fans sang it sounded very distant. I would like to hear from someone who went to the game as reporters wrote that there was very good support from the Everton fans.

Stuart Duncan
25 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:45:53

I’m not questioning Johnson’s ability. What I’m saying is that with Yakubu joining and AJ missing some games, we’ve changed our style to suit the Yak. And we can’t seem to switch tactics when we play AJ as lone striker. Either we need to be a lot better at switching our tactics, or Johnson is wasted.

Mick Dempsey
26 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:48:22

Look it is hard to swallow but over the 2 legs we was beat by a better side. They are a top european outfit, we are trying hard to mix it with these top teams, but we just havent got the finacial muscle to compete, Man U, Arse and Chelsea are used to winning semi finals, they are in these situations every year. Chelsea played the perfect game and we needed a bit of luck in front of goal and it never come off. Be realistic and admit to yourself we was beat by a top side who had a game plan, and we couldnt match them.

Eric Holland
27 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:50:37

Lets just be grateful they didn’t have their strongest team out!!
Never mind us evertonians get used to this sort of thing, but we are on the up just need to perform against the sky four.
Why do we shit ourselves every time we play them?
To much respect scared of getting beat instead of just going for a win!!

Chris Winslet
28 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:54:01

Tommy - I put on the other thread that Sky had an effects mic pointed at the Chelsea fans and nothing on our fans except ground mics; that would explain the noise difference. Sky must want to please the ’big 4’ whenever they can; disgraceful.

Pekka Harvilahti
29 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:29:54

It was a good fight against a pretty good opponent with a 2-1 deficit. At times we really were pressing them, the crowd was great, the noise was stunning, even from my pc.
Defence was good except the one lapse, but it was a marvelous (lucky) pass to Cole and he took extremely well. They all wanted to win this one, you could see it when Nuno went to it (he’s gonna have a black eye tomorrow).

The midfield is not yet what it should be and that’s where and why we lost tonight. Osman is STILL too lightweight, Arteta was struggling with no support, Carsley did well, but he only defends. Manny was good, he did shake them a little bit, Cahill dissappeared totally, very quiet game from him. Johnson tried, but they were never going to let him run on a loose ball. I think he should have gone off after the break, let Anichebe batter them good before that. I was dissappointed though how our heads went down after the goal. Any good sho1w , the UEFA Cup is still there!

Tony Burke
30 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:56:30

Moyes was so worried about losing an away goal that he surrendered the initiative. This was not Chelsea’s first team. The chance was there to put them under pressure which we failed to do. We have two good young forwards who might have made a difference. Once again, the cork was so far up Moyes’s arse that he failed to see that waiting for a 1- 0 could just as easily end up being 0-1. Forget the money! We were not sent out to win the game. Familiar story.

Roy Coyne
31 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:41:57

I think it just highlights the difference in class we have to bridge. With Yak and Yobo out we struggle to replace them while Chelsea just pop off and buy a class striker can not fault the players for effort but we lack guile, we do not have a guy who can create other than Arteta making it easier for them to stiffle us. Let's hope that we dont let this set back affect are form in the league. The table shows three teams are better than us and I would settle for fourth.

Kieron Byrne
32 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:46:22

We played some decent football at times,but is it me or did we play too deep at the back,respecting Chelsea a bit to much and creating a huge gap in the midfield.Having said that,we never seemed off to the races tonight,maybe the Wigan game,with the heavy pich took its toll.
Great to see Manny back,give him a few weeks and with the lads back from Africa
we’ll push on towards 4th and Uefa cup.
The only difference tonight was Chelsea with all their millions have a superior bench
and most of their players have played in finals,here or from whatever league they came from.This Everton side are still a work in progress,although it might seem light years away,it is really only a couple more good players ,especially on the flanks.
This Everton team is on the up,and losing
tonight will sting,but we are getting closer
we just have to keep going.There is still lots
to play for and sooner rather than later we’ll get there.

Jim Lloyd
33 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:48:02

Just to respond to some of the valid comments about the seemingly greater noise by the Chelsea fans. Well I was in the lower Gladwys and have lost my voice! I can also say that I’ve not heard Goodison bouncing as much for ages.
They brought about 3000 fans and I looked where they were sited. In the upper Bullens and surrounding the commentary position. No bloody wonder you could only hear the Chelsea fans, our daft organisation puts them in the prime spot in the house.
There were times when we went quiet and thats because Chelsea at times, gave us a football lesson but overall, the support was tremendous. If it comes over on the Telly that Chelsea supporters made more noise than us, then a radical think abot where they site the commentary position, is required. When I’ve had a medicinal whisky and composed meself, I’ll give me views on the blues!

Steve Carter
34 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:46:48

We had our chances, were the ubiquitous "better side except on the scoreboard", and would have won but for Cech and Valente daydreaming and letting Cole get on his blindside. Generally, I am not with those that criticise Moyes, but on this occasion I am with those who say he erred in playing Johnson as the lone ranger: too small, no chance against good centre backs in the air, true his running can draw defenders out of position but, frankly, he is not fast enough and, let’s face it, these days never looks like converting either the long range shot or the half chance. I really only see his future with us as a right-side wide midfielder when Mikel is not available. I would have gone with Vaughan from the start than Anichebe: James has genuine pace and I agree with John Andrews in the sense that I think Vic’s lumpiness can be dealt with by central defenders of the class that Chelsea has. Finally, pruning the tree of all that he has to get across, Moyes has to preach the "every minute Zen" message, because unless and until that sinks in and becomes reality we will never beat Man U, Arsenal or Chelsea: just witness the last times we have played against them - we were in the game for a point away against Man U and were on top of Arsenal and Chelsea at home, before brain explosions (Man U) and momentary fatal concentration lapses against the run of play undid all of the good work.

Matt Willey
35 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:48:23

Dispondant and disappointed obviously, I felt too that the Anichebe substitution could have come ten minutes sooner (for Osman who looked leggy) ... truth is, and it is a bitter pill to swallow, but Chelsea were too good ... and yes, its all down to money !

We could / should have went for the jugular but more than likely this would have let their midfield rip us apart even more than they were doing at the time; to sit tight and try to nick something from a set piece was (imho) a fair enough tactic...

In the end we were done by a cracking ball through the heart of our defence anyway... the same situation as the first goal conceeded against Arsenal a few weeks back when we were still totally in that game too... Class tells I’m affraid... but its not a cheap commodity and while three of our most valuable players are away in Africa we came up a little bit short !

The good news is that none of the sky 4 are in the UEFA cup !

Kiern Moran
36 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:17:06

I was going to start by saying I wanted to say something before the doom mongers closed in, too late. We had a perfectly reasonable goal disallowed. We out played Chelsea for much of the game, basically we were robbed! Good effort, cant fault the lads. We were up for it, just wasn’t our time. It will come. To the doom mongers I say, ’go tell it to the man who lives in hell’.

John Gilfoyle
37 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:14:51

Very dissapointed tonight thought we would of done better!! Think Piennar and Yakubu were missed!! Worried that Cahills role in the team is unbalancing the team!! Not a pop at Cahill he?s a good little player but what is he(Positionally)??? ? he?s not skillful or creative enough to make things happen and takes away an extra strikers role which we needed tonite ? Carvalho and Alex had an easy night!! Feel sorry for Johnson on his own up there chasing nothing balls!! System good against weaker teams but easy for classier teams!!!

Mick Simo
38 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:18:38

Sort the midfield out, some good individuals but not playing as a unit. We was beaten by a better side, who wanted to win as much as we did. Its a harsh reality but we are not good enough against teams who have bags of European experience, to break teams down like Chelsea, you need more than AJ up front on his tod, more skill than Carsley, and a defenders who dont get rid of the ball like hot potoatoes. We need a player like Gerrard or Keane to drive them on, a stiker like Berbatov who can create a goal from fuck all, a winger with pure pace like lennon and a target man who can hold the paly up. The bottom line we are short of quality

Jay Harris
39 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:21:00

Like many of you I really dont know what to feel.
For all the Ifs ands and buts we got to a semifinal for the first time in a long time. If the ref hadnt incorrectly blown for a foul on Cech we would have been 1-0 and who knows?
I was very disappointed with the crowd support on TV. Bayern Munich it definitely wasn't (there again neither were the players) and even if it was loud at times it was not consistent throughout the game whereas the Chelski loons did not stop.
I think nerves in the crowd probably didn't help but I don't blame Moyes If we?d have gone for it earlier we could have ended up with another Arsenal 1-4.Semi finals are about patience and luck Chelsea had that and we did not have sufficient class to overcome that.

Jim Lloyd
40 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:09:08

Well,maybe Moysie got his tactics slightly wrong because Johnson had very little change from two excellent centre backs and their midfield were very quick to impose themselves on Ossie and Mikel. Their passing was excellent; crispand incisive and their defending was generally superb. Their running off the ball stretched us plenty of times .
Having said that, it was no shame on our players, as they gave everything and made some decent chances through the game.
Ossie looked leaden footed for most of the match. Whether the Wigan game took it out of him or not, I don’t know but he looked knackered. Mikel seemed to be subdued and gave the ball away, which led to the goal. Quite often we allowed them the freedom of the middle of the park and they used the space well.
I thought Manny Fernandes had agood game for us, in a very responsible position and I’m glad he’s back (for now!!) Tim Cahill and Andy Johnson had a bloody hard night because we didn’t have the guile to pull Chelsea out of position.
BUT; we were playing a team who are contending for the Premiership and we gave them a game. I’d have loved to see Vaughny and Anichabe on earlier because we needed to unsettle their defence and Johnno wasn’t able to do that.
All in all, it was a bitter lesson, that we still have some way to go, before we can match such teams on equal terms. Nevertherless, we made a couple of chances that, with a bit of luck, at least one would have gone in and it would have been game on. As it was, one lapse of concentration and they’re 1-0 up.
We’re getting there but we ain’t quite there yet. No disgrace.

Kenny Jones
41 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:40:14

Moyes played the team I would have played, so no blame on team selection, We got beat by a team who I thought was excellent, they in my opinion will win the league, just ploding along unoticed, 4 points of Man U, they remind of Grahams Arsenal, solid at the back, hard to break down and can score, they will be on level points with Man U in a few weeks, when all their key players are back.

Brian Egan
42 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:40:28

Oh Davey Moyes, Oh Davey Davey Moyes. I've held my tongue for far too long. Your only tactic is too go 1-0 up and defend. Apart from West Ham in the 1/4 final, when do we ever come from behind to win.... Simply we dont. If you need to win a match 1-0 you have to play two forwards, its not rocket science.

I was at the match and I firmly believe Moyes sent a team out not to get beat rather than win a game. He is far too defensive a manager. Anyway, enough of my rants but if Phil Neville is a footballer then I might get my boots out. He couldn't tackle a crossword.

Tony Williams
43 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:47:34

I just wish the nuggets who weren’t actually at the match stop saying how poor the crowd was. It was fooking deafening in the Lower Gwladys and we could hardly hear a peep out of the Chavs, in fact one point in the second half when we finally heard them we started to applaud them.

So stop falling for the Sky mics tricks and wait until a person who was actually at the game tells you what it was like.

Tony Williams
44 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:56:57

Brian stop typing rubbish mate. What the fook use would it be putting a team out not to lose FFS?, we had to win to progress.

We had our strongest starting XI out there, there was not a man you could change and to say he wasn’t going for the win, Vic was just about to come on when they scored.

Jim Lloyd
45 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:48:32

Right on Dave, we will be doing well if we finish in the top six. If we get any higher and maybe do wellin Europe,then more players will want to come to Everton, so Onward and Upward. COYB

James Newcombe
46 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:47:32

To sum it up (from the telly perspective...) We started brightly, with Fernandes looking pretty good (quick feet, skill - a few mislaid passes but they’ll come better with a few more games).

Valente let us down with his lack of pace going forward a few times. I think with Lescott at LB and maybe Stubbs (or admittably, fantasy football thinking - Ferrari!!!) at centre half we might have made a bit more of an impression. And when we weren’t building up more patient play, we had long balls served up to AJ. I’d take nothing away from him as he tried very hard, but he wont beat anyone in the air, and there was nobody up there with him to give the header down / through pass he needs to succeed as a striker.

Second half we just never seemed to play the final ball in quickly enough, time and again we buit up down the wing, and by the time the FB’s got a cross away it was blocked out. We could’ve done with Vaughan on sooner, but i guess its all too easy in retrospect?

Bright points were the performances of Neville and Jagielka. I’m gutted we didn’t make the final, especially as we’ve never won the League Cup; but the lads need to keep their heads up and carry this good season through to the end. We might even go to City twice.

Den Martell
47 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:01:26

Johnson up front on his tod... King and Dawson will have a field day next wed, Fuck off with the one striker, Moyes.

Bill Goodall
48 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:52:00

We have three key players missing which is a dent in any teams ability to beat one of the big 3. Yes the had players missing to but they are a team which would be rated in the top 10 in the world so depth is there with them. We looked tired against Wigan and against Chelsea also. Cars is dead on his feet but keeps fighting. Ossie is lacking fitness after a lay off. Manny is seriously lacking match fitness. Cahill had his worst game in a long time but that is also because the rest of the midfield could not give him the service. Johnson got the ball a lot but with only Neville Arteta and Valente coming up the flanks he had no chance. The back four looked good and worked well together and were only beaten by a world class pass that would get any defence caught.
Big V looked like he didnt realise he was in a game and Vaughan had no impact except running up and down the wing looking like he was still warming up.
Moyes didnt have a great game but with lack of serious options on the bench he was hamstrung.
We are a top five side but not a top three side. We punch above our weight with money our biggest problem. But we are not the basket case we were a few years back and are making inroads. We are consistent. We will keep improving. Investment is not the key. Finish top 4 make it to the group stage of the CL which brings money and players and the club stays with an Evertonian.

COYB

John Taylor
49 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:16:44

Look it is hard to swallow but over the 2 legs we was beat by a better side. They are a top european outfit, we are trying hard to mix it with these top teams, but we just havent got the finacial muscle to compete, Man U, Arse and Chelsea are used to winning semi finals, they are in these situations every year. Chelsea played the perfect game and we needed a bit of luck in front of goal and it never come off. Be realistic and admit to yourself we was beat by a top side who had a game plan, and we couldnt match them.

Have to agree with you on that Mick Dempsey. Lets just put it down to another part of the learning curve for Moyes an the team, Hope they learn from it an push on from here. It’s still not been a bad season, we just need to be realistic an hope it doesnt affect the players too much coz the last thing we all want is for all the seasons hard work to be undone by this defeat to a team with a far superior recent track record & far more more financial muscle to make the difference

Kevin Batters
50 Posted 23/01/2008 at 23:38:40

Watched the game on my PC here in sunny Hawaii at 10am local time. Yet again we go down to big 4 club. I to would have thought that we would have played with more fire power and passion up front. Its fine talking about wanting to finish 4th for the money and the Champions league games but when players look back on their career’s there is nothing to show for a 4th place finish its the cup medals and glory that people want to remember. This was a chance to play for those things and unlike Tottenham we did not have the balls to go out and take it. Lets hope we can do something special in the Uefa Cup.

Lue Glover
51 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:32:52

I’ve just watched the first 10 mins on the TV and can understand why people think the Blues support was poor but the fact is, the microphones were placed next to the Chelsea fans so that’s pretty much all you could hear. Make no mistalke though, the place was rocking and the support was superb so those of you who watched on telly for whatever reason, before you slag us lot who did go to the game, off just bear in mind that what you heard is not what was happening out there. I’m not going to swear at anyone like I did on my previous post! Santosh, I shouted on your behalf and I did a damn good job, along with every person around me, we didnt stop shouting support for our team. So, give us a break please. We did our best, it just wasnt to be.

Ian Tunny
52 Posted 24/01/2008 at 01:27:30

This contest remided me a lot of Ricky Hatton vs Maywether we fought hard but Chelsea had to much quality and class in the end. One piece of magic and one knock-out blow was all it took. Like Ricky, I wanted Everton to win and believed we could win but deep down knew who would win.