The Mail Bag
That defining moment
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Every great side in the making has its defining moment. A moment or turning point that sets everything that is good about a football team in motion and leaves all that is bad in the past.
Has Everton had one of those defining moments or a turning of the tide? I think it has. But what moment in this season has been that moment?
As Lawro suggests, was it Phil Neville's crunching tackle on Ronaldo against Manchester United or Felliani's unlikely equalising goal in the same game? Or as David Moyes thinks, was it losing at home to Aston Villa that gave us our wake-up call, or kick up the proverbial ass? Everybody will have a different opinion on which was the most important and defining moment of the season.
Coming out on top in the 3 merseyside derbies could also be the springboard to inspire the team to greater heights. It broke Moyes's Liverpool hoodoo, that's for sure, as well as giving us our first win over the Sky 4 for some time.
My own defining moment was when young Dan Gosling scored his wonder goal against Liverpool. That for me put all the doubts we had about ourselves well and truely to bed. Nothing is impossible now, we just may need at bit more time for that league title. But this year a top 4 spot is definitely on the cards, especially with the departure of Scolari and Arsenal's lack of form.
Brian Baker, Posted 10/02/2009 at 06:02:11
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The defining moment when the shackles came off, was last season v Spurs at home when we got beat in the last minute by that Jenas goal.
I think were all looking at the fixture list and our recent form, and believing we can have another crack at the top 4.
And why not, however unlike previous campaigns we are for a change coming from behind which will be a massive factor. If the season were to start now I would definately fancy our chances.
For me Villa & Arsenal are still the two we are most likely to catch, but given our current deficit we must win every league game until the Villa fixture. They have some tough games in between then inc, Chelsea, Spurs, Man City and I think still Man U, so if we could turn that into a 6 pointer we would have a chance.
Only problem being realistically we have 13 games to play will probably need to win 11, allowing for 2 slip ups and no draws we would get another 33 points putting us on 73, will that be enough? and can we do that?
And why not, however unlike previous campaigns we are for a change coming from behind which will be a massive factor. If the season were to start now I would definately fancy our chances.
For me Villa & Arsenal are still the two we are most likely to catch, but given our current deficit we must win every league game until the Villa fixture. They have some tough games in between then inc, Chelsea, Spurs, Man City and I think still Man U, so if we could turn that into a 6 pointer we would have a chance.
Only problem being realistically we have 13 games to play will probably need to win 11, allowing for 2 slip ups and no draws we would get another 33 points putting us on 73, will that be enough? and can we do that?
I still think we’ll finish 5th or 6th - the teams above us are all capable of playing as well or better than we are, and we’re quite a way behind them. I think the top 4 is out of reach but see no reason why we can’t make 5th.
I hope I’m wrong but looking at daves post makes it hard to believe we’ll do it.
I hope I’m wrong but looking at daves post makes it hard to believe we’ll do it.
Just going to go with the flow at the moment Brian, and enjoy it.
For me, in the last 7 years, every season we have a ?defining moment? and think we have turned the corner, and nothing comes of it.
For me, in the last 7 years, every season we have a ?defining moment? and think we have turned the corner, and nothing comes of it.
Dave Whitwell, surely 73 points would be enough for a CL spot, whether we can amass that total is another matter. I?d settle for winning the FA Cup and finishing 6th.
Jay Campbell, are you for real?
Yakubu is anything but shite, he?s probably the best goalscorer we?ve had for over 20 years.
If you?re being sarcastic then I apologise but if your not being sarcastic then your a dipstick mate.
As for the tuning point this season, I like the romance of the idea that it was Pip Nev?s crunching but perfectly legal challenge on Ronaldo. The ladyboys play acting was sickening but not as much as seeing so called ?model pro?s? like Giggs (a long time team-mate of pips) and Rio Ferdinand running 30 yards to remonstrate wiith the ref and demand he be sent off for having the audacity to go in hard on their pet showpony.
That gave the whole stadium a lift and the team reacted positively, a result against the Euopean champs definitely bread confidence.
Bing on the Villans.
COYB
Yakubu is anything but shite, he?s probably the best goalscorer we?ve had for over 20 years.
If you?re being sarcastic then I apologise but if your not being sarcastic then your a dipstick mate.
As for the tuning point this season, I like the romance of the idea that it was Pip Nev?s crunching but perfectly legal challenge on Ronaldo. The ladyboys play acting was sickening but not as much as seeing so called ?model pro?s? like Giggs (a long time team-mate of pips) and Rio Ferdinand running 30 yards to remonstrate wiith the ref and demand he be sent off for having the audacity to go in hard on their pet showpony.
That gave the whole stadium a lift and the team reacted positively, a result against the Euopean champs definitely bread confidence.
Bing on the Villans.
COYB
David I suspect Jay was being neither serious nor sarcastic, but ironic... something that seems lost on you.
You can?t mention turning points in Everton history without going back to 1984.
I?m a firm believer that Heath?s goal at the old Manor Ground after a Kevin Brock back pass was the prelude to the wonderful spell of what followed. I always wonder what may have happened if Heath and not scored his chance and Oxford had progressed that night.
I always remember after the Clattenburg derby there was a definite improvement, unless it?s another fixture I?m thinking of. The third consecutive win at Spurs did wonders for me, who would of thought that, amazing after 21 years of non-victories at White Hart Lane and now ? three in a row?!
Nobody knows how the rest of the season will pan out, I will put faith in the manager and the players we have, and I think we will just let everything fall as it may. Surely we have a realistic chance of doing something significant this season.
I?m a firm believer that Heath?s goal at the old Manor Ground after a Kevin Brock back pass was the prelude to the wonderful spell of what followed. I always wonder what may have happened if Heath and not scored his chance and Oxford had progressed that night.
I always remember after the Clattenburg derby there was a definite improvement, unless it?s another fixture I?m thinking of. The third consecutive win at Spurs did wonders for me, who would of thought that, amazing after 21 years of non-victories at White Hart Lane and now ? three in a row?!
Nobody knows how the rest of the season will pan out, I will put faith in the manager and the players we have, and I think we will just let everything fall as it may. Surely we have a realistic chance of doing something significant this season.
John Platania,, Are you sure Spurs beat us last season?
As far as I'm concerned, we haven?t had a turning point until we actually win something. As one writer said, we?ve had this defining moment every season and it?s come to nothing. Hopefully beating The Shite will have been our turning point but I have my doubts and history says Everton will probably make a right hash of it. Maybe if we beat Villa then it might convince me that maybe this is our year but untill then I'm sadly convinced that beating The Shite will be our highlight. But let's hope im wrong.
COYB FTRS
COYB FTRS
I agree that the Phil Neville reducer on Ronaldo was a turning point.
It put fight into the crowd and that in turn lifted the players. The team were unshackled from the defensive mindset that they had been in and subsequently got the draw.
Moyes has no longer seemed afraid of the sky 4 and has started to make adventurous substitutions early enough for them to influence the outcome of games.
It put fight into the crowd and that in turn lifted the players. The team were unshackled from the defensive mindset that they had been in and subsequently got the draw.
Moyes has no longer seemed afraid of the sky 4 and has started to make adventurous substitutions early enough for them to influence the outcome of games.
Brian, while we murdered a very poor team on Saturday, don't you think you are getting carried away slightly? You can say we are a GREAT side in the making when we are top of the league, not sixth.
I take it you didn?t witness our abject display at Old Trafford two weeks ago. As for the turning point being the Spurs game last year, has everybody forgotten how shit we were after the Fiorentina game and during the first half of this season.
It’s been a great last few weeks, but let’s not get giddy now.
It wasn’t the Neville tackle, whilst that gave us a boost in the game it didn’t improve our performances. We looked awful in the next few games despite nicking a few wins, the balance was all wrong a the majority of the players weren?t performing.
The turning point for me was the Wigan game, it was fucking awful and it gave everyone a kick up the backside, the players and David Moyes. Moyes reverted back to the favoured 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 and moved Arteta centrally, the rest is history. We played some decent stuff at Spurs and kicked on from there.
We may have lost the next game to Aston Villa but we still dominated the game, passed the ball well and played them off the park. That was the turning point for me.
The turning point for me was the Wigan game, it was fucking awful and it gave everyone a kick up the backside, the players and David Moyes. Moyes reverted back to the favoured 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 and moved Arteta centrally, the rest is history. We played some decent stuff at Spurs and kicked on from there.
We may have lost the next game to Aston Villa but we still dominated the game, passed the ball well and played them off the park. That was the turning point for me.
Spurs did not beat us last season ? it was the year before. Last year we beat them 3-1 at the 3 points lane and drew 0-0 at Goodison. I proper hate Spurs, my bro supports them and everyone in the media it seems. I?m so hoping they go down, we must beat thme at Goodison!!!
For me, it was when we suffered our striker crisis and instead of throwing the towel in, the lads stood up & played for the shirt. Now how much of that is down to/or in spite of, Moyes, I don?t know but I?ve certainly enjoyed the last few weeks!
I’m with Connor on this one, the decision to move Arteta into the centre has not only improved our results but also our style of play.
Anyone wanting to predict our finishing position can go to the BBC website and fill the predictor games in. You can update the league table based on your predictions.
Oh... we finish 4th above Arsenal and then Villa!!
Oh... we finish 4th above Arsenal and then Villa!!
While not hoping to diminish the current "romantic" period in our season..
I wish people would stop looking for another "Kevin Brock" moment... that was history and a different time to now..
While we all would love to get back to those glory days of the mid-eighties.. Lets get things in perspective... we are in seriously good form to beat Villa on Sunday and theres a lot of confidence in the team right now...
We must maintain this momentum, cement 6th place in the EPL, cant see us getting any higher.. and hopefully get a good draw in the next round.. Then who knows.. we havent won anything yet.. lets keep it going !!!
COYB...
I wish people would stop looking for another "Kevin Brock" moment... that was history and a different time to now..
While we all would love to get back to those glory days of the mid-eighties.. Lets get things in perspective... we are in seriously good form to beat Villa on Sunday and theres a lot of confidence in the team right now...
We must maintain this momentum, cement 6th place in the EPL, cant see us getting any higher.. and hopefully get a good draw in the next round.. Then who knows.. we havent won anything yet.. lets keep it going !!!
COYB...
Defining moments usually alter the course of things, but we’ve been top six for several years now, still are
The improvement shown by Everton this year has been attributed to Pips tackle on Ronaldo, but surely the credit should go to the groundsman - who’s name escapes me - He’ a long time servant of the club and word has it that he slaughtered the players for their lack of fire as they came off the pitch after a submissive first half display against the Mancs.
Would Pip have ever made that tackle if he didnt still have the groundsmans bollocking still ringing inhis ears
The improvement shown by Everton this year has been attributed to Pips tackle on Ronaldo, but surely the credit should go to the groundsman - who’s name escapes me - He’ a long time servant of the club and word has it that he slaughtered the players for their lack of fire as they came off the pitch after a submissive first half display against the Mancs.
Would Pip have ever made that tackle if he didnt still have the groundsmans bollocking still ringing inhis ears
I have to take the crunch tackle by Pip on "Fannybaas" Ronaldo!
But due to working overseas I have still not seen the tackle and I can’t find it anywhere.
Can someone please provide a link to the tackle so I can relish the actual footage.
Taa!
But due to working overseas I have still not seen the tackle and I can’t find it anywhere.
Can someone please provide a link to the tackle so I can relish the actual footage.
Taa!
Ped, you’re clearly not filling the predictor in right. We come 2nd with the RS in 6th if you put in the correct results.
Moyes finally playing Arteta in centre midfield for me.
One word: SILVERWARE ? that?s all. Talk is cheap, trophies are everything. We are going the right way in terms of performance but it can easily be derailed. I just hope and pray the moon is in Jupiter (as them gobshite astrologers say) for us and we get our time in the sun. It would make up for any heartache we have all endured.
ps: Must apologise about the Solar System analogies there.
Romantically "Pips Tackle" on Ronnie the diver, Realisticaly Arteta moving to the centre with Hibbert comeing back and allowing Pip to play alongside Arteta
Re Ped Pearl:
I had us coming 5th on the predictor 1 point behind Villa. I only gave villa a 2-2 draw against the barcodes on the last day as the barcodes needed to avoid relegation. If they got a win we would have come fourth. It would be awesome if it came down to the last game at Fulham where we are surely due a win
I had us coming 5th on the predictor 1 point behind Villa. I only gave villa a 2-2 draw against the barcodes on the last day as the barcodes needed to avoid relegation. If they got a win we would have come fourth. It would be awesome if it came down to the last game at Fulham where we are surely due a win
Wasn’t there a point last season after we’d smashed that Norweigen team where everyone thought we were going on to great things? We all know how our season fizzled out.
I’m enjoying this feeling at the moment but I’m still worried that tiredness will set in due to our tiny squad later in the season. There may well be a few more "Brock" moments to come.
I’m enjoying this feeling at the moment but I’m still worried that tiredness will set in due to our tiny squad later in the season. There may well be a few more "Brock" moments to come.
Lets just hope we are still thinking about this come Sunday evening.
Knowing us, then this could easily be yet another false dawn on the blue horizon.
It’d would be absolutely typical to get turned over by Villa.
Now having said that, we are going come 4th and win the cup!
COYB
Knowing us, then this could easily be yet another false dawn on the blue horizon.
It’d would be absolutely typical to get turned over by Villa.
Now having said that, we are going come 4th and win the cup!
COYB
I would just like to say for the first time in a long while, I'm actually starting to think Everton are close to being a member of the big four again. I just feel like something special is happening at Everton and we will get investment in the summer (with or without Kirkby). Once that happens, we will knock Chelsea out of the big four and hold back Man City as we already have a much better and more spirited team than them.
I think after more than 20 years waiting the glory days will be back soon. Is this a might bit optimistic or does anyone else have the same feeling as me?
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1 Posted 10/02/2009 at 15:08:32
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