COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY
From my seat: Aston Villa (H)
Comments (50) : Villa were then on the up for a good fifteen minutes but then Ossie found Cahill and his point blank shot was parried away by the keeper. This led to Everton dominence for the rest of the half and with a little more luck we could have led at the break 3-1. As it was we had a Fellaini header saved on the stretch and a good penalty shout on Big Vic turned down.
The half hour mark and a Arteta free-kick is headed on by Ossie and the lurking Lescott turned it in for a deserved equaliser. Before half-time Fellaini had a header headed off the line, the same player also got himself yet another yellow card for a poor tackle and gave away a dangerous free kick on the edge which luckily for him went sraight to Howard.
H/T whistle and our chat was keep it going for we were on top. We started the second half well on top and from a corner taken very surprisingly by Ossie rather than Arteta, he put in a beauty that missed out the first man and Fellaini found the bar from no more than three yards.
We were looking comfortable but just 10 mins in, Jags of all people totally lost concentration and in attempting a routine backpass, gave the perfect through ball away from Howard and into the path of Young who despatched with consummate ease, much to the consternation of all assembled, non more-so than Jags himself who lashed the ball back into the net on realising the consequence of his error.
Fair play to the Street End as they chanted 'There's only one Jagielka' in an effort to lift all and sundry. Villa were now less adventurous than ever and slowly the Blues regained composure and pressed the Villa goal. Neville was getting forward well but got himself injured by a last ditch tackle on the by-line which led to our version of Lord Lucan entering the fray on the 80-minute mark. Yes the lesser seen Andy van der Meyde.
A few minutes later Baines for Big Vic, a strange one that even if Vic was injured. However we kept pressing and from an AvdM well taken corner, Yobo headed just wide. The Baines sub now became apparent with Jags at centre forward (Is this the ploy Moyes alluded to?)
Three minutes went up on the board with us on the attack, a minute into that time and a deep cross beyond the far post was headed back into the mix in true centre-forward style from the make-shift man, Cahill heads on and Lescott performs a striker-like scissors kick and we have saved a point much to the delight of every Blue assembled.
But hang on... there is a sting in the tail; right on the whistle, a Howard hurried clearance is miscontrolled by Arteta who then gets in a mix-up with Fellaini which results in the ball being prodded to the dangerous Young who sprints forward turns Lescott and fires past Howard into the net. The silence is deafening, the feeling is of disbelief, dismay and just plain gutted.
Final whistle and the four words I heard most all the way back to my favourite post match watering hole were "I don't believe that!" ... What do you make of a game like that?
It could be argued that, if we play like that for the rest of the season we will win more than we lose... yet on the other hand if we gift teams goals like that we could find ourselves much lower than hoped for. For me, the game threw up a few things, Jags won't need telling that full concentration at this level is vital for his team as well as any international aspirations he may hold. I still think we lack steel and a general in midfield, and no matter Arteta's obvious quality he is not that man.
Fellaini must be worked on to improve his tackling and heading technique or he will end up with more cards than a standard deck and ever lengthening suspensions. If we are to persist with this formation, I think the manager should define the role of Cahill as today he seemed not sure whether to stick or twist. I suppose this all comes down to a midfield weakness as much as a striker shortage and, with the manager assuring us he has no money to spend, any wish list we may have will remain just that.
City then Chelsea to come before Christmas and with a small squad depleted further by injuries... we could be on a rollercoaster ride to Yuletide.
But this is Everton and who knows?
See you there.
UP THE BLUES
Reader Comments
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I think thats a bit harsh. I?m sure in training he doesn?t say ?as soon as you?ve scored a goal take a breather for a minute or two I?m sure the opposition won?t score!?
And if they ever score a winner/ equaliser in the last minute, you can guarantee they would be so calm on the ball you would believe they were robots.
We aren?t like this, and although I?m not sure I?d want us to be, it probably gives a team like Chelsea 8 or 9 more points a season. (This is off the top of my head.)
It?s not the only difference between us and the top four, by no means, but gifting Aston Villa 2-3 goals yesterday (Steve Sidwell had half an hour to fashion his shot, no wonder he hit it so sweetly!) is something you very rarely see a team like Chelsea or Man United do.
Maybe a better summary of that is it's the difference between the top two and the 3rd and 4th place team. We all know Arsenal are probably a better team than Chelsea, but Chelsea to not lose a two-goal lead to their rivals in stoppage time (Arsenal 4 Tottenham 4).
I am now in my head excited by Andy van der Meyde! I?d forgot he even played for us! I figured his contract ran out and he left to some Dutch club on a free.
Has he been injured all this time...???
On the other hand, we did gift three goals to them. Actually, the Jagielka one was less worrying - he’s going to do that once a season at most.
But the other two came directly from Arteta losing the ball in the middle of the park. As Ken says - he is not the holding player we are looking for. Mistakes like these are too costly in that position. Makes you understand a little better why Moyes has been playing him on the wing.
If you play 4-5-1 you just have to have a good reliable holding defensive midfielder. Arteta is not that man, nor oddly is Fellaini (he plays more like an auxiliary striker!). Watch this space - when either of the other RBs are fit, we will see Neville put in front of the defence (since it seems there is something Moyes doesn’t like about Castillo). And it won’t obviously be a bad idea.
At least I won consolation prize with bet on Villa - you know why, home form is pathetic. *crying*
What can I say except: thank god next game is AWAY!!!
How about petition from fans to play all remaining games away from Goodison? :D Our away form is quite good, a prospect against the upcoming RS tie! Up the Blues.
Moyesy should put Lescott up front permanently. He is woeful (just like Arteta) at the back. Give Bainesy a proper run off, not some 2 min. scraps at the end. Drop Arteta, bring on Castillo; he is fantastic player, MUCH, MUCH better than ?our little Spaniard?. Sigh!
Fellaini must remove that stupid haircut. Look lad, Afro is nice in the real life, but on the pitch all that ?stuff? reducing headers power by at least 80%. Maro should've buried this game with his headers before the 60-min mark.
And it was good to see Andy back. I always was big fan of him. We need his magic a bit right now. He at least know how to cross the ball, how to take corners so ball landing in the box at the far post not before first defender, and most important Andy know how to score goals from outside the box (Arteta in general has no clue about that). Please not another injury, please!
And finally few words about Arteta from a mate (Rangers fan): "He was OK at Rangers, but now he is terrible." Enough said; I agree 100%....
COYB time to scalp ManSheikh City on the road! :D
I didn't agree with Moyes?s post match comments on Vic. I felt Dion Dublin?s view that Vic needs to mature a bit more in his position was a more accurate assessment. Moyes was obviously trying to give the lad some confidence.
All in all it was a rollercoaster of emotion and if we can cut out the mistakes we will be well on our way again. Great to see Lescott bag a brace and I have to say I was happy to see AvdM back in the fray.
Osman was absolute rubbish again... he is the midfield weak link. Although I really didn?t want VDM on the pitch again, I?d rather have him on than Osman... and Cahill was improved in his natural role (he was a bit crap for the first part of the match playing the deeper role)..
As for Jags, IMO he?s always capable of the odd blunder, and I?m never completely convinced by him... but he?s been playing well, so I?m not gonna pursue that further.
The boys played well, but Moyes's decisions were still suspect... bring on a left back for a striker while chasing the game ? with strikers on the bench?
And pushing Jags into the forward position? What the fuck???
Good game ? much improved... but ultimately gutted.
His best position may be in the centre - but then he needs a holding player sitting behind him. He CANNOT be the last man in front of the back four. The number one rule for the Makelele / Mascherano holding player is: don’t lose the ball!
Sort it out Moyes!
We are now trying Arteta in the Carsley role because Moyes did not get anyone else. I hate to say it, but if we are going to play 4-5-1, Neville may be our current best bet in front of the defence.
Now my only critisism is why was Howard in such a rush to clear the ball upfield. Moyes was asking why so much time was played and you?ve got his goalkeeper rushing while his emergency forward (Jags) is not back settled into his true roll. OK I wouldn?t be saying this if we had gone upfield and scored the winner but as the manager said a draw would have been a good result. Overall a much better performence and good to see AvdM get a run here?s hoping for him.
Joke
We are always complianing about the percentage hoofball we have had to endure for years. I think we should cut DM a bit of slack, he is trying to change things. None of our defenders are particularly great passers of the ball, so we have to get the more talented players to come and take responsibility, this is the reason Arteta is playing so deep, Yesterday's finale was a real kick in the bollocks, but surely most of us enjoyed the performance? We did last week too.
I like DM to perservere with this formation.
For me it was a harsh result but I think Villa and Everton have the same problem at home ? both play a formation that works great away but not so well at home. If Fellaini could sort himself out defensively you would have a great Midfield engine which would do so much for your team.
Absolutely no way.
It's not if he is so good at "stopping" and "blocking" as Lee Carsley that we can forgive him.
We need someone like Javier Mascherano who can get the ball from the defense and DISTRIBUTE!
I just wonder, for Sidwell?s and the the 2nd Young goal, how direct any of our players would have been. Would they have gone for goal, or would it have been played out wide as per normal, the only style of attack we seem to know?
Even IF we ever did get big investment, Moyes would not be the man to use it to any use. After 7 years in the job, he still can?t fathom formations, and dithers with substitutions. Why does he always leave it so late to make changes? We have some good players, but Anichebe, Osman and Hibbert (yes I know he didn?t play) would not be in any sqaud with ambition. Also just wondering what exactly Cahill is offering these days? Yes we had possesion, but didn?t threaten enough, and why will no one shoot from outside the box?
Villa did what they had to do, take their chances. Ah well.... Watch This Space.
I’m almost of the opinion of off loading Osman, Neville and pay someone to take AVM. Promotion chasing sides or relegation battlers would love the other 2 and replace with a good solid holding midfielder then force us to use these young solid players we have. They will after a few nervy games thrive on it and develop which to me is what a great club is all about, how many off us would really want that, home grown boys lording the park. We will be safe this year so don’t bother with wise cracks and at this rate of playing the older lads we will be very lucky to get 6th anyway. Is it too crazy?
Draw was the absolute fair result yesterday but credit to Villa they played to the death and we relaxed, you simply cannot do that against a Martin O’Neill side, players simply go all out for him.
I just think Shandy would give us another outlet and take the pressure off Pienaar and I think he can get some decent crosses in for Vic, Cahill and Screech to attack. He must be capable of 60 minutes and I?d rather DM was proactive than wait till we go behind before deploying Shandy. Can't see Saha being fit for City and I wouldn't like him rushed back and then be out for the busy crimbo period.
I think Fellaini is developing into a really good player and very rarely gives the ball away. All he needs to do now is get his barnet cut and he?ll be able to get some power in his headers!!!
What a bizarre conclusion... Jags has been consistently crap in any position apart from centre half, yet you somehow think he was the only option for centre forward at that stage?
My word.... What?s wrong with one of the young strikers on the bench? I don?t give me any ?not ready? nonsense, because Jagielka?s hardly bloody ready!
The kids were only on the bench to fulfill the neeed to name seven. And please... no more words of praise for Victor. If he was hurt, I?ll give him a pass, and if he wasn?t hurt he?ll be gone in the summer.
Really glad to see Shandy come on, such a shame about his off-field problems as he was a true quality player.
Jags as a striker... gimme a break!
The match result was horrible and reminded us of what we hoped to put past us - we are not yet of the quality we want, period. Moyes needs to regroup and focus the team. Being in the US, I’ll admit that you guys have ’forgot’ more about football than I know. But I can tell you in two seasons, I have seen 3 such lapses in focus that have cost us quick response goals. Focus is something that can be coached and demanded.
COYB!
Also while jags was up front the unpredictable CB Lescott played Ashley Young onside hence 3-2.
When Baines cam on we should have put lescott up front not Jags. After all we brought on a LB. like for like. Why disturb a solid centre back pairing??? It’s madness.
Lescott if anything would make a better striker as he has an eye for goal. As for Jags he is fantastic as a centre back but my god who thought he could play up top?
Anyway if your gonna go crazy with tactics and you have an attacker on the bench why not give him a go?
Two things cross my mind. Firstly, performance and result do not always go together. Secondly,given that we are probably heading for a mid table position, who the hell would be a manager? (Although for £60k a week, that?s a stupid question...)
In terms of midfield balance we?ve looked better than we have all season. People talk about players like Carsley and Castillo but we?ve been conceding goals for a while, with these players in the side.
The defensive problems started last season with Carsley in the team, we kept one clean sheet in the last 10 games of last season. We conceded a lot of goals with Castillo in the team as well.
Arteta was chasing back, holding his position and he won the ball back a lot. Bar the two mistakes which could happen to any player he put in a very good performance. It was an accomplished performance in the holding role...
Spot on. I said that yesterday straight after Young’s second goal. Unbelievable to go for the winner and hurry when you’ve got to take a point when no-one was expecting it.
I must say that the last 2 games have been a breath of fresh air. Okay, we lost yesterday but we tried to play football and in the end we were hugely unlucky. Fair play to Moyes and the lads for trying to turn it around.
For those slagging off Howard??? We had all the momentum, playing at home and the crowd behind us. Of course he was right to go for the win and get the ball up field as fast as he could. Unfortunately it backfired but you have got to go for it and it was refreshing to see it.
On a separate note, everyone knows that Shandy has messed Moyes and the club about but he looks fit, hungry and he has undoubted class. Let's give him a chance to show what he can do.
Finally Fellaini is called Screech because he looks like him...
The jags move worked?
Don’t talk balls. As for your question, I considered it so daft as to not require an answer...but as your being anal...how about...’THE STRIKER ON THE BLOODY BENCH’...
Arteta was as good as he has been for 18 months both at WHL and on Sunday. Cahill and Osman are not looking confident at the moment. There was a moment in the first half when Osman won the ball on the edge of the box and tried to fire in a cross to a heavily marked Anichebe (a confident Ossie would have hit it). We get those firing again and will have enough attacking midfielders to allow Arteta to sit a little deeper (he played for Barca and PSG in this role and I think he could really become exceptional in this position).
One other thing ? there was a guy three rows behind me in the Upper Bullens who moaned about Arteta being too lightweight about 10 seconds before he got knocked off it for the opener, and then moaned about Jags looking a bit suspect about 1 minute before their second goal. I hope in future you keep your concerns to yourself? Please?!
Anyone remember the performance 3 games ago. Have we improved? Damn right. Who? improved the team? Got to be Moyes as he's the bloody manager. Very positive performance Sunday. A few bad moments of which 3 cost us the game but don?t forget:
# Fellaini still very young and very new to Premier League. Already improved loads and will eventually be very good in some position, not sure which yet.
# Arteta?s had 2 games in that role. Writing him off in that position is ridiculous. The bloke deserves a chance. As for you lot saying he is crap in all positions? FFS. Get your vids out and watch all his games. If you can't be arsed, pbr /># We have our 3 best strikers out! We are not Man Utd and even if we could afford 4 top strikers we wouldn't be able to convince them to sit on the bench. What a great performance considering it was the first game with no Saha, Yak, Vaughan.
Get off the team's back. Get off Moyes's back. Remember the past and see this game in context. FSs get behind the team for the tough games coming.
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1 Posted 07/12/2008 at 20:15:09
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