FAN ARTICLES
From my seat: WBA (H)
Comments (21) : The visitors started brightly against a team that at first glance seemed to have been thrown together, with Hibbert and Cahill back from suspension and Pienaar and Fellaini back from injury trying to gel in the absence of Arteta and Rodwell... plus Lescott on the bench due to avoiding another yellow card or a whim of the manager to give Yobo a game (Neville was risked).
For the first 20 minutes it was WBA causing the problems with Fortune having a shot fielded by Howard and one passing the far post, as well as quite a few set pieces that came to nought.
Fellaini made a cats in midfield and allowed a shot on goal that Howard saved and after the twenty minute mark things got worse for the Blues when Hibbert was taken off with what was deemed to be a thigh strain. Cue Osman to midfield and Neville to right back.
WBA still pressed and Howard had to parry a forward run and shot for a corner; and from the resultant corner a shot found the side netting.
Just when we were thinking, "Could this be a game to far for an injury ridden team without adequate resources?", Pienaar was fouled, Baines delivered a cross of Arteta proportions, and Cahill powered home.
We looked a bit livelier after the fillip of a goal and Pienaar, after a great one-two with Jo, unfortunately scuffed his shot when better was expected. Half-time and the chat centred mainly on the deficiencies of adequate squad numbers and the relience of senior pro's to play when not really fit.
Second half and the visitors continued to play football that had us defending and causing disquiet among the faithful as shots went skidding just wide. They gained a corner that was headed goalwards and, after someone cleared from the line, Howard grabbed the ball, much to the relief of all assembled.
Just before this action Fellaini had picked up his regulation yellow card for a clumsy barge, this in a way was a blessing in disguise as, with about half hour to go, the manager swapped him for Saha who at first flattered to decieve.
The visitors sent on Moore and he caused a few flutters with some enthusiastic efforts. Then, with 20 mins to go, Saha benefitted from a Pienaar trademark flick that for once came off, he brought it down and in one movement turned and found the bottom corner... Oh! if only we could keep this guy fit.
You just knew it was all over and the manager took off the ineffectual Jo for the added insurance of Castillo but fair play to Albion, they plugged away and, with us willing to soak up, allowed Moore to fire against the bar plus a few shots wide as they tried to salvage something.
We saw it out but no-one seemed to be leaving the ground with anything other than a good three points from an injury-ravaged squad and how the manager might reorganise for the cup-tie next Sunday that means so much to all Blues fans. Overall, I thought it was a most strange situation when one injury, although to a top and influential player, can have disrupted the whole outlook of both players and manager. For the run-in and the cup competition, I feel we must put the Arteta thing to bed and use who is fit and available to best use.
On today's performance, I have to say that when the chips are down both Jo and Fellaini leave something to be desired. A sign of the times might also be determined when I counted FIVE different midfield combinations in the space of one match, which means to me the manager and his staff have a job and a half to do to steer us through not only next week's cup game but the remainder of the season.
This is the now, and manager and players must respond, but I wonder if the club can cope financially to rectify the shortage of squad that seems to blight us at the business end of not only this but recent seasons.
Still a win today and as always I like to look for my man of the match, well anyone across the back four would get a shout as would Pienaar for his industry and Cahill, well, for being Cahill a true competitor but today I am going for Saha who gave me my highlight of the day with his quite exquisite finish and a warm glow of 'what if' he could stay fit.
The cup next ? we always beat Boro at home... Don't we? See you there. UP THE BLUES!
Reader Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
I’d have gone for Jagielka for MOTM as his imperious display gave us the edge in defence... and he should be up for PL player of the year award me thinks.
Solid display, and Jo looks potentially great but do we play to his strengths?
Ken, pretty straight down the line as usual and never far from the mark. Thanks.
PS - I think Boro will be a tough one considering they are hitting some form. Please, no more injuries!!
To me he appears clumsy, look at today's performance , when confronted with an opponent his first reaction is to play the man not the ball thus gifting free kicks. Todays referee, Steve Bennet I feel deserves praise for the manner in which he let the game be playedbut even with his level headed approach a card for Fellaini was justified. Get him some dancing lessons, it would at least improve his timing.
Jo looked lost, is it that he is not receiving the service or did his debut flatter to deceive?
There were some stalwart performances today, Tim Howard looking safe as well as the defence, with Leighton Baines crossing with accuracy. Cahill is the buy of the decade but my man of the match goes to Phil Neville, a real captain's performance and showed his adaptability when Hibbert went off.
Anyway 3 points and roll on Wednesday
I agree with John Callan that Jo looked awful. his close control wasn’t there. I was screeming at the TV hoping DM could hear me "take him off, he’s having a lousy game" from about the 20th minute.
I agree 100% with your comment about Saha "Oh, if only we could keep this guy fit". The goal was brilliant.
COYB
Jags was immense today and I thought Baines and Pienaar gelled together nicely.
After we’ve seen-off Blackburn we’ll have the Cup in which we have to face a team that has today vanquished the Red Shite, but then again, everyone beats them these days, except Real Madrid (who are they?).
COYBB
We recently had another flowery piece from JJ re Manny. I know there were wheels within wheels and the stars just didn’t align etc etc cue minder song...BUT If we would have had Fellaini’s cash then, much the better value for money.
Got to agree, thought Piennar had a poor game, perhaps due to injury?
Thought Jags, Yobo and Neville had good games... Jags my man of the match overall.
Pretty much as I saw it - job done. Worry is we will probably have to do this for the remainder of the season. Apparently Neville wouldn’t have been risked had Rodwell passed a fitness test in the morning.
Terrific energy and stamina, ready to take on players and beat them.
Woeful decisions in or near the box. If there’s a wrong pass he finds it. What a contrast with Arteta, who finds a wrong pass maybe once a match.
Oh well, he won’t make any more passes this season/
We were much better when he went off. No way can we move Timmy back, he has got to stay as our attacking midfielder behind the one up front. Only option is Ossie in place of Arteta or even Gosling, with he,s forward runs and also has shots on goal from out side the box.
As for the game yesterday, i was dissapointed. If Everton truly have the desire for european football then they can’t allow teams like west brom to controll the game for 20 minutes at a time and have numerous shots at our goal. I was worried, but what we have in Saha is a goalscorer and if moyesey keeps him fit, he can help us pick up points towards the end of the season, and hopefully an FA cup final at Wembley.
COYB
Well after yesterday I’m worried that we will have some enormous battles coming us this week with what looks like a rejuvenated Blackburn (2-0 nil at half time vs Hull as a write) and also a rejuvenated Middlesborough - (as a side we always seem to catch teams just after they have come out of their bad spells , or is it just me ?).
Fellaini - who I have supported all season is struggling big time at the moment - clumsy bookings, true lack of pace and poor first touch. I truly believe that Moyes wants him to sit in the middle , just in front of the back 4 - but there is no way he can at the moment due to his poor tackling, we’d be giving away free kicks every minute.
Pinnear and Ossie haven’t got the physical strength to play in the middle as the playmaker.
Who’s left - god knows but it looks as though Rodwell might be called on to do a senior pro’s job when he is only 17 - can he do it?
Finally , Jo looked well off pace, I was hoping for more.
Finally again - why didn’t Moyes put Jacobsen on for Hibbert injury instead of changing the midfield shape again.
Piennar worked hard, but lacked match sharpness. Neville without Arteta next to him looks half the midfielder, but he was excellent at right back after Hibbert went off.
We need Hibbert back for the weekend, as Downing is the key to all Boro’s good play at the moment. Hibbert has the ability to keep him quiet for the whole game. I would not risk him at Blackburn if there is any chance it could affect his chances of making the Cup game.
I’ve said before that I feel Osman has the type of game to take on the Arteta role. He may not be as good a passer, but he is committed and has an ability to turn and find space. Castillo was rubbish again and Fellaini continues to frustrate me - I just don’t see the £15million potential!
As it was, a half-fit Ossie got some much-needed footy in his best position. He may not've set the world alight but I expect him to get better and take a centre stage with Neville sitting behind him for the rest of the season. I take the point that he doesn?t have great presence but he did produce his best form for Everton leading up to Xmas 2007 with Carsley behind him and Cahill in front. That formation saw us beat Sunderland 7-1 and no one questioned Ossie's ability then. In fact, he was prefered there to Arteta such was his form.
If Neville can do the enforcing job that Cars done I don't see any reason why it can?t work again. We have the added bonus of Rodwell to come in when needed. Screech for me will only play when we are short upfront. He looks woefully off-pace in the middle and his aerial threat is negated.
Lastly for those criticising Pienaar, I think you need to imagine our team without him yesterday. Without Arteta, he is our most gifted technician. If a few passes went astray, it was because 1) he wanted and got the ball more than other blue shirt; 2) he was the one player trying to make things happen; and 3) he was returning from an injury lay off. To critisise him, especially taking his workrate into account, suggests a lack of knowledge imo.
Top of the Page
1 Posted 28/02/2009 at 23:56:41
Report abuse
Then it IS the cup!