COLUMNIST PAUL TRAILL

Haven't had that feeling for a while

By Paul Traill : 25/10/2008 :

Comments (29) :

Match Report Everton vs Manchester United ? 25 October 2008 Haven?t had that feeling for a while I woke up mega early today and as I was crawling the web just for something to do, I made the decision to go the game.

I phoned the Box Office and with tickets still available I drove down and was actually there before it opened. A Brazilian and a Chilean were waiting outside also, quizzing me about Everton, and getting tickets for the game. The Chilean actually supports Colo-Colo, the team the Chilean version of Everton beat to win their respective league. Nice fellas.

The shutters came open and I got a seat in the Lower Gwladys. Surprisingly there were tickets available which weren?t obstructed view.

A couple of hours later I met Gary, his mate Colin (a Man Utd fan) and Ste in The Spellow for a few early jars before the game. I certainly wasn?t confident of any sort of result at all, though the others rather hopefully predicted a draw, except for Gary that is who bafflingly stated ?we?ll either win 1-0 or lose 5-0?.

We walked down in time for kick off and my seat was actually a bit better than I thought it would be, row D near the corner flag. I was very surprised I could get a seat like that on the morning of a Man Utd match. We?d heard the team news in the pub and it was good to see we?d gone 4-4-2 with Yakubu and Saha up front.

Man Utd looked threatening from the outset with Rooney, Berbatov, Ronaldo, Giggs, Ferdinand, Vidic, etc, etc. Clearly we had our work cut out today. I couldn?t believe it when I heard the referee was Alan Wiley. I don?t rate him anyway but I can?t understand how he?s now officiated this exact same fixture for the last three seasons. It makes me think something?s going on here and I feel a bit backed up by that on his performance today. We attacked the Park End in the first half.

Everton settled into the game pretty well in the initial stages ? matching Man Utd for application and generally using the ball quite well. As the half grew, so too did Man Utd, who had Everton on the back foot for a good five minutes before they scored. This was aided however by countless decisions given in their favour by Wiley.

Whilst Man Utd were certainly outdoing us with class it became more and more difficult for Everton to clear their lines as we kept getting decisions given against us, seemingly in every possible opportunity for Whiley. The goal came when Darren Fletcher slotted home coolly after being played in by Giggs. He ran over to the corner flag straight ahead of me and celebrated. Rooney ran over to join in the celebrations but thankfully resisted the urge to rub our noses in it.

For the rest of the half we struggled badly with Man Utd really pressing home their advantage in class, though Everton, thankfully, managed to keep them out. In the five minutes proceeding half time we got a bit more into our stride, led more so than anyone by Fellaini and Neville. Despite the way the half had gone, and even though I was happy to accept being 0-1 down at half time given Man Utd?s dominance, these last five minutes of the half gave me hope. The whistle went for half time with the ball both out of play and in an attacking area for us ? two mistakes in one by Whiley. I really don?t think he knows the rules.

I went to see Ste at half time and he felt the only way we could get something here would be with a dodgy penalty or something like that. I told him we wouldn?t get a dodgy penalty from this referee and the only way we?d get anything from this game would be with a different referee. As it turned out, the way we got something from this game was from a fantastic, battling second half Everton performance. I couldn?t believe my eyes.

With no changes at half time we got into Man Utd a bit more and attacked much better. We had a lot more possession and showed a lot more positive intent. The equaliser came when I didn?t really expect it, with Fellaini climbing high and nodding in a Neville cross. I haven?t had that good feeling for some time now, and it's one I?ve certainly missed. I think we all have.

Man Utd were visibly rattled after that and Yakubu really should have put us ahead when Ferdinand missed the ball, allowing the Nigerian to dart through. He opened up his body and tried to place it past Van der Sar, only for the big Dutchman to make a smart save as he tipped it onto the post? just!

We continued to battle well after that albeit without testing Van der Sar too much, though Man Utd seemed unable to offer much down the other end themselves due to some excellent rearguard action by Everton. Rooney got himself booked for a challenge I think on Arteta. As the inevitable ?fat little knobhead? songs emerged Rooney pointed to his Man Utd badge before gesticulating to the Park End. Sir Alex Ferguson had a word and then hauled him off. Will the lad never learn?

We had a few openings and with a bit more composure in and around the box or maybe a less biased referee we might have nicked this one. For me Wiley?s bias was encapsulated when Brown brought down Saha whom would have been through on goal? only to get a yellow card. Vaughan came on late on for a clearly knackered Yakubu. His enthusiasm was useful and made you wonder if he should have been on earlier.

Wiley, although thankfully I must admit, blew his full time whistle instead of giving Manchester United a corner, again ignoring the ball having to be in play and not in an attacking position rule. Perhaps he didn?t want to see the consequences of a late Man Utd winner and so didn?t take the risk.

I was delighted with Everton in that second half. They were absolutely fantastic. Hopefully that can be the catalyst we need to climb that table.

Just a different ref next season please!

Player Ratings:

Howard: Pretty helpless with the goal and dealt with crosses / backpasses etc competently. 7
Lescott: He looked very short of confidence in the first half and though nowhere near his best in the second, showed a few signs of the Joleon we know. 6
Jagielka: One potentially hazardous lack of communication aside in the first half when he and Yobo both went for the same ball, he did very well at the back. Now looking very settled. 8
Yobo: Looked a little nervy but grew into the game as it went on. 6
Neville: Had a fantastic game. Of course set up the goal but put in some superb tackles on Ronaldo. 9
Arteta: Not really in the game in the first half but caused a few problems in the second. His decision making was not always great but he certainly had the Man Utd defence worried. 7
Fellaini: Took his goal brilliantly and had a fantastic second half. I think he?ll progress nicely this season before storming on next term. Certainly his best performance so far. Well done. 8
Osman: Not one of his better days though he worked hard. I thought he struggled a bit in the middle. 6
Pienaar: Not everything worked for him but he certainly put the work in today. 7
Yakubu: He got himself into some good positions, often pulling out wide to receive the ball but then would sometimes appear to go off the boil a bit. A little unlucky with that chance I guess though I reckon a confident Yakubu would score that all day long. 6
Saha: Looked different class to me at times and if he can stay fit will only get better. My man of the match. 9
Vaughan (for Yakubu): Put himself about and should have been put on earlier I reckon. 7
Anichabe (for Saha): Not on long enough. Can?t judge.

Reader Comments

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Jimmy Changa
1 Posted 25/10/2008 at 17:59:26

I don?t know how you?ve picked Saha as MOM. Was between Jags and Fellaini for me today. The latter was all over the pitch, real box-to-box work, very impressed.

Lescott... dear oh dear. Methinks he could do with a few months off to have a think and a rest and hopefully rediscover some of the confidence that had him skinning wingers this time last year. Worried for him.

Had Vaughan done something terrible to Moyes that he doesn?t get a decent crack of the whip? I thought he would have come in between 60-70mins when Saha looked to be tiring. 7 mins is not long enough for him to make an impact.

Mark Hill
2 Posted 25/10/2008 at 18:44:55

Forgive my cynicism just because I cannot believe it.... Neville... a 9??? Are you serious?? Was he actually good today? He put the cross in from what I heard, but.... roll on MotD... Do you think we will be last on tonight????
A point's a point eh guys..... hopefully we can kick on from here, I bet most people thought i draw today for us highly improbable...??

John McFarlane [Senior]
3 Posted 25/10/2008 at 18:34:07

Paul, unless law 7, [duration of play] has been altered, the referee does not have to extend play to allow a corner-kick to be taken. The only time play must be extended [at the end of normal time] is for the taking of a penalty kick, and if the kick is saved by the keeper the game ends immediately.

Paul Niklas
4 Posted 25/10/2008 at 18:51:21

Great second half display, Piennar was my Man of the Match and the worst player was Saha, he was not involved most of the time, not sure what you were looking at with the Man of the Match accolade.

Brian Sumner
5 Posted 25/10/2008 at 19:03:55

An excellent effort all round I thought, especially 2nd half, where Utd were clearly rattled for 30 mins. Individual criticism today, for once, would be churlish in the extreme.

Let's hope we take it onto the next 4/5 games, where points are up for grabs.

Trevor Lynes
6 Posted 25/10/2008 at 19:33:57

Great spirit and some passing ability too..hoofball was absent and we looked a decent side in the second half...credit where credit is due..Pienar and Arteta had much better game and we had some guile and creativity...I think we must stick with the two up front and attack is always the best form of defence..keep it up boys and we will be winning very soon..

Richard Murray
7 Posted 25/10/2008 at 19:42:43

Mark, Nev was great today. Saha MotM? Strange choice.

Dan Moorhead
8 Posted 25/10/2008 at 19:44:38

Fellaini man of the match for me today, actually seen him sprint around the pitch and run on to headers rather than getting caught underneath them and not getting of the floor. It often takes players a while to get used to the EPL and I think this lad is going to be a top player. I think Lescott and Arteta, two we?ve come to think of as our top players, are letting us down at the moment.

Steve Grimshaw
9 Posted 25/10/2008 at 19:49:30

When Rooney left for Man Utd a lot of people claimed he would have better guidance under Ferguson than at Everton. Well now we have a situation where Ferguson is blaming the crowd for getting Rooney booked!!?? Now if I was mentoring a child (which Rooney still clearly is) I would be advising him to do nothing to antagonise the Everton fans and just go out there and play your game. All week all we have heard is how Rooney really wants to score against us (100th goal) and then he kisses his Man Utd badge in front of us. Now I don?t know who the bigger fool is here, Ferguson supposedly the wise old sage for condoning this behaviour. Or Rooney for still behaving like a spoilt brat. What I do know there was a distinct lack of guidance coming from Ferguson this week!!!

David Barks
10 Posted 25/10/2008 at 20:07:17

Neville was that good today, and it?s no surprise that it came with him playing at right back and not in the midfield. And Fellaini is improving every match now. The team is finally starting to gel now, I could see a big result coming against Bolton. Despite all the panic coming from many Evertonians, it?s still only October. We have the entire season to play yet, and although I?m not happy about going out of the two Cups, one bright side of it is that we will have a lot more rest than some of our competition down the stretch. Cahill back for the next match, but I wouldn?t change a thing about our formation. That line up will win games and really could have won it today if not for Yakubu?s shot being tipped to the post. A very good display, something to be proud of again.

Ralph Wetzels
11 Posted 25/10/2008 at 20:14:09

Well said, Steve.

Ajay Gopal
12 Posted 25/10/2008 at 20:13:46

Mark Hill, I absolutely agree with Paul Traill?s rating of Phil Neville. He was magnificient. I think the turning point of the game was the clattering challenge that Phil put on that whiner Ronaldo! It lifted the team and the crowd and Everton started playing with much more belief after that. Well played, Phil.

Rob Burns
13 Posted 25/10/2008 at 20:17:49

Pienaar pulled his tripe out for 90 minutes, my man of the match, closely followed by Fellaini, with a good all round performance. Lescott again looked very jaded and indecisive but I can?t fault the lad for effort, whereas Arteta was lazy and just not prepared to take any responsibility when he had the ball, again wasting crossing opportunities and his passing first half was shocking. I thought Saha showed some nice touches and given more starts can only get better.

Even everyone's favourite scapegoat, Phil Neville, had a decent game, showing some real commitment, and got stuck right in to his former teamates and there was none of his usual terrible passing, he linked well with Pienaar and got forward whenever he could. Yakubu still didn't show enough commitment to the cause for me today, he was livelier than he has been, but still not showing what we know he is capable of. Leon Osman tried to hassle and harry in midfield but didnt have the legs or strength and I think should?ve been replaced by Rodwell for the last 20 minutes.

Overall we looked a more balanced side and wasn?t it good to go 4-4-2 and have a go at home, I think I?ll watch Match of the Day tonight, be the first time for weeks. Let's see how we do at the home of hoofball midweek before we get carried away!

Rich Williams
14 Posted 25/10/2008 at 20:37:10

Agreed Neville?s best game for Everton, definitely the turning point when he clattered Ronaldo got everybody up for it and great cross for the header. MOM (and I think Neville is shit but credit where credit is due).

Michael Kenrick
15 Posted 25/10/2008 at 21:28:55

What the hell is the matter with you guys today? I?m sick of reading rubbish like this claiming fans are gutted when we get a result because they won?t be able to slag the team/manager for a week. It is absolute garbage and you know it. It is perfectly reasonable for fans to criticise manager and players when they are not performing, and praise them when they are. Either you show respect to the principles of post-match analysis or you don't participate.

Dan Moorhead
16 Posted 25/10/2008 at 22:49:55

Yeah I?m new to the site and have been impressed with the articles written, some really excellent. But couldn?t believe some of the stick the players were getting in the last week especially aimed at a lad who has only been here five minuets and has obvious ability. It's been seen in seasoned professionals that it takes six months to a year to get used to the EPL. This lad's only twenty and in my view has shown improvement each week. Anyway two very winnable games coming up this week and a good chance to move quickly up the table.
Up the Blues!!

Stephen Graham
17 Posted 25/10/2008 at 23:34:12

There is no rule regarding whether the referee can blow for the end of the period only if the ball is in play or no attack underway.

However, there is a rule that says Wiley MUST have booked Rooney a second time, and thus sent him off:

The rule states:

A player must be cautioned when:
? in the opinion of the referee, he makes gestures which are provocative,
derisory or inflammatory

But he didn’t, and SAF did the wise thing for Manure.

Can you imagine if, instead of scoring his 100th goal, he were sent off? Close, so close, that joy!

Andy Crooks
18 Posted 26/10/2008 at 00:07:00

Michael K, thanks for the comment you made. I?ve criticised David Moyes quite a bit recently and our crap form certainly didn?t make me 100% right. Today's result doesn?t make Moyes critics 100% wrong either.

Brilliant result today, but we could have been buried by half time. Of course we might have sneaked it as well.I think we got a point today because the players gave it everything in the second half, and for that credit to David Moyes.

However, I think that the second-half performance today raises the question as to what the fuck has been happening all season??? No Evertonian, including the much maligned Tony Marsh, revels in defeat. To question the tactics of the manager and to express that vehemently is not being disloyal. We care.

Colin Smith
19 Posted 26/10/2008 at 01:30:59

I agree with Paul Niklas, Pienaar would be my Man of the Match. Jagielka, Neville & Fellaini also played really well. Nobody played badly & the way Everton played today proves that good players do not become bad ones over night.

I think Lescott still looks way short of confidence, but he improved, especially in the 2nd half & I also wish Arteta would shoot when he has a chance, instead of trying to produce the perfect pass. I can understand Moyes?s reluctance to bring on subs as the team was playing very well as a unit & why fix something that isn?t broken? Fresh legs, Vaughan for one of the forwards & Castillio for the clearly knackered Fellaini might have produced a win, but might also have lost us a game.

The one person who must be feeling a bit sick is Baines, will he ever get a run of games at left back or will he continually be left out when the opposition has a right winger who is taller than him?

Andy McNabb
20 Posted 26/10/2008 at 02:32:43

Good post, Paul. Not sure about your assessment of Saha but I really like to hear about people?s pre match activities ? makes me feel as if I?m still there. I think that should be a compulsory part of any match report!

Isn?t it strange how a clattering challenge can change the course of a game? Would have loved Vaughan to come on as soon as we equalised ? hit them when they?re down and give them something else to worry about. We were screaming at the TV for Davey to do that but in fairness he probably couldn?t hear us from 12,000 miles away.

Having read all the posts it brings to mind the old saying about it being more important how you finish. If we had got into them in the first half but been overrun in the second, these posts would have been quite different. Maybe one day we will actually perform for 90 minutes.

Sean Condon
21 Posted 26/10/2008 at 04:08:11

For me, Fellaini, Neville and Pienaar were terrific today and clearly the reason we came back into the match. Howard?s save from the Vidic header was a critical moment. Saha looks like he?s getting in shape, but why doesn?t he bother challenging for headers? I don?t think he jumped for one all day. Oh, let?s pray that he persists with 4-4-2 for at least a while.

Arthur Jones
22 Posted 26/10/2008 at 06:40:05

A great game, I thought it had everything: good football from both sides. The 2nd half atmosphere was fantastic when we realised the lads were actually ?up for it? with some performances that confirmed we are on our way back.

I agree with the assessment of Phil Neville, I never thought he had a performance like this still in him; and their strikeforce of Rooney and Berbatov, who only a few days ago were being built up to the rafters, were well marshalled by Jags in particular ? who is proving to be as good a centre-back as any. The much-maligned Tim Howard had a very good game... confidence back?

Now all we need is a first half like against Arsenal & Newcastle and a 2nd half like yesterday and a run of results.... By the way, there?s one player who?s barely been mentioned after yesterday... not saying his name but he looks like Harry Hill and plays for Birmingam!

Blair Johnson
23 Posted 26/10/2008 at 09:14:25

Fellaini, then Neville, Howard and Jagielka impressed me the most. Pienaar and Saha tend to get knocked off the ball a bit... can?t afford to have Pienaar and Baines on the left together as they weigh about 12 stone between them. With Timmy in for Saha we?ll beat Bolton.

Garry Martin
24 Posted 26/10/2008 at 09:28:04

On the Rooney escapade, as the chant goes - "HE?S JUST A FAT LITTLE NOB HEAD" ? enough said.

Paul Gladwell
25 Posted 26/10/2008 at 10:10:37

Our captain has had some ruthless stick on here, some deserved some not, so how about a bit of praise for once? His two strong tackles changed the whole game, it got the crowd going, our players going and wound them arrogant fuckers up to the point they lost concentration... and lastly his delivery for our goal was top drawer.

Also Tony you mention you would have Joey Barton over Pienaar every day, well the little fella ran his socks off yesterday whist that prick was at it again.

Michael Kenrick
26 Posted 26/10/2008 at 18:06:11

Paul Gladwell, you submitted this (above) as a Letter for the Mailbag but it seems you must have missed this thread, where Paul Traill gives Captain Marvel a 9 rating, and his contribution to the game is well noted in numerous other posts.

Mike Carney
27 Posted 26/10/2008 at 21:04:09

Saha! You're havin a laugh arent yer!?! Did the drinking affect your views on the game? He was well off the pace and I would have been glad for him to be taken off at half time for Vaughan who would have put the Man Utd defenders under a lot more pressure than he did.

Alan Ross
28 Posted 27/10/2008 at 16:45:08

At last. Something to cheer about and a bit of team work for a change. Given the circumstances of who they were playing (european champions) I thought it was a brilliant result. The only down side is the site of Rooney kissing the Manure badge. What a tosser. Is he literate enough to have understood what he had on a T-shirt a few seasons back or his he just the selfish turncoat we expected from his ghost written fairy tale. Not that I’ve read any of it but judgeing by reports the guys got a fucking big chip on his shoulder. Usually a sign of someone who doesn’t understand his place in the scheme of things.

Jay Harris
29 Posted 27/10/2008 at 19:08:45

I thought it was interesting that Neville had his best game in a long while, especially against his former club, with Pienaar playing most of the game on the right wing whereas Lescott had one of his edgiest games playing on the left mostly with Arteta in front of him.

Overall though a good team performance in the second half with Saha?s performance the only negative.

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