ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Great Day At The Office

Revenge is sweet, a great result, although I found myself wishing for another goal just to shut those people up who go on about how good Villa are and what a great manager O'Neill is, whilst ignoring what Everton have done without the benifit of a rich foreign benefactor.

A result i never doubted, but what was the icing on the cake was Big Vic's contribution, a real old fashioned kick up the arse still works, not to mention Rodwell's goal and he and Gosling looking the part. Excellent... then the draw, Excellent again. All in all, a good day at the office.
Iain Love, Warrington Posted 15/02/2009 at 17:14:42

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Nick Entwistle
1 Posted 15/02/2009 at 20:45:13

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Given the sorry state of affairs that the media in this country are in, TV, print, online, I couldn’t care less if we get mentioned or not.
Achievment is to be measured in the achivement itself, not how many people who talk about it after...
Good that we set the record straight today though...

Tony Williams
2 Posted 15/02/2009 at 20:56:39

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Just listened to O?Neill?s interview after the game, he was surely watching a repeat of another game, as he apparantly thought they did enough to get into the draw for the next round.

I was obviously watching another game at Goodison.

Ian Kearney
3 Posted 15/02/2009 at 21:00:42

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According to O’neil, Petrov was the best player on the pitch, I could of sworn he just got played off the park by Arteta

Neil Pearse
4 Posted 15/02/2009 at 21:01:51

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Perhaps O’Neill is trying to get on the list for Rafa’s job when he’s sacked? Blind, graceless, lucky... he’d fit the RS perfectly.

Ralph Wetzels
5 Posted 15/02/2009 at 21:12:04

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O’Neill is a fuckin’ clown. He’s just as unsportive as Wenger after losing a match. Only thing is, Wenger is a far better manager.

Dave Charles
6 Posted 15/02/2009 at 21:11:04

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O’Neill is a bitter loser. If it wasn’t for luck, he’d be odds on for the sack.

This man is a wierdo. Petrov, man of the match...............OK Mart, the doctors will be here soon.

Billy Dean
7 Posted 15/02/2009 at 21:10:00

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Have to disagree with you Ian, I thought Petrov was by far Villa?s best player and I was thinking how good it?d be to have him in our midfield alongside Mikky, Rodders or Fella ? he was excellent today.

Don?t mean to be negative here but was anyone else worried about the amount of hoofing we did in the first 15-20 mins of the second half? It turned into a game of head-tennis for a while. It coincided with us reverting to 442.

On a more positive note, delighted with the win and thought we just about deserved it. And a great draw for the next round! COYB!

Ian Kearney
8 Posted 15/02/2009 at 21:18:56

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Petrov is a really good deep lying midfielder Billy, it's just that today and in general, Arteta is better.

Matthew Lovekin
9 Posted 15/02/2009 at 21:22:56

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Great result and performance. Rodwell deserved special praise, not just for his goal but his all-round performance and recent performances since getting back into the team.

Arteta was outstanding and easily MOM, Baines again excellent, along with Jags, Howard, Lescott and Cahill.

Extra special praise though goes to Anichebe. Looked as though could be on his way out of Goodison, not just for his bust up with Moyes but general poor recent performances when given the chance. Stood up more than usually falling over and direct with his running and held the ball up well. All Big Vic’s game missed was a goal, but otherwise, much better. Needs to carry that on now which may be needed due to Cahill’s suspension.

Roger Osborne
10 Posted 15/02/2009 at 21:21:46

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I was in the bath during the first half, and most of the water ended up on the floor as the game went on.

Not bad, I mused at a 2-1 home advantage as I got dressed, and as it turned out, even better by full time. Rodwell once again, a fine display from the kid, and with our defence you always have a chance of keeping teams out. Only penalties have been put past Howard of late, and the team recently has really been playing for each other, Moyes is eyeing up his first trophy as Everton manager. The 6th round draw does not offer any real problems, but let’s keep our feet on the ground. One game at a time.

PS Tom Hanks, Nigel Kennedy, Prince William can you hear me. Your boys took one hell of a beating.

Paul Thompson
11 Posted 15/02/2009 at 21:47:48

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O’Neill is a good manager who was only defending his team, which you’d expect. Before the game (BBC website) he had nothing but praise for Everton. And he has built a good side, albeit with more money than available to Moyes. That’s what makes today’s win even sweeter. We beat a team that’s just won 7 away games on the trot. And, despite what O’Neill said, we deserved it. Yes, they did have some good half chances, but we generally bossed the game. Arteta was superb, but when he faded a little Rodwell really came into it. You just can’t teach that kind of awareness on the ball. Terrifc, all round display from the boys.

Micky Norman
12 Posted 15/02/2009 at 21:57:53

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Would anyone really expect O’Neill to say anything else. He has to do his job. Fact is his "man of the match" was well and truly eclipsed by a lad who wouldn’t be old enough to buy him a pint. And he’s ours.

Gary Francis
13 Posted 15/02/2009 at 22:00:00

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Petrov was MotM; the man should have been sent off but I agree with Billy Dean, there was a 20-minute spell when Villa were on top and we lost our shape and we started hoofing it, which pissed me off... but then Timmy scored and we showed our composure once again. Great win, lads!

Alan Kirwin
14 Posted 15/02/2009 at 22:11:43

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I’ve always thought O’Neill was a reasonable guy & a good manager. But I’ve heard so much utter drivel from the man this season that I have to turn the sound off when he appears.

He has lost touch with reality and, if truth be known, with a sense of courtesy. There is just a vague hint of magnanimity following every lucky win they’ve had (loads), but what can only be described as 100% myopic bollocks when they lose, or draw.

I wonder if this game might just spell disaster for them in more ways than he thinks. They have many tough games coming up. Confidence can run away as quickly as it came on the back of numerous jammy wins. It is definitely not all over yet.

Will Leaf
15 Posted 15/02/2009 at 23:15:15

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Post match comments are designed to maintain morale in the team, so you’re bound to get some irrational comments from managers.

I agree with the above that Villa have a pretty brutal run in, and are still battling in the UEFA cup. They are doubly lucky (lucky being synonymous with Aston Villa these days) that Petrov did not get his marching orders as they can ill afford to be without him for 3 odd games with Laursen out (the fouls Laursen gets away with could occupy a new thread).

Any road, a top four finish for us is not entirely inconceivable. They have Chelsea (H), Citeh (A), Spurs (H), Liverpool (A), ManUtd (A), before we meet them, so plenty of opportunity for them to start shedding points.

Have to keep hoping.

Jay Harris
16 Posted 15/02/2009 at 23:50:21

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Petrov shouldn't have even been on the pitch, let alone MOM. I can't understand how playing advantage releases a card which should have been red. If a player commits a foul on the pitch and advantage is played the player is then booked afterward.

John Pickles
17 Posted 16/02/2009 at 00:03:41

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From Virgin Media: "Bizarre fact: Milner became the first visiting player to score an FA Cup penalty at Goodison since 1946, when Bill Shankly ? then at Preston ? found the net."

Bernie Ashe
18 Posted 16/02/2009 at 00:28:44

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Looks like we’ll win the cup, and stil be in CL. let villa and arse make do with eufa.

Alan Kirwin
19 Posted 16/02/2009 at 00:15:50

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The rules regarding such offences are black & white.

Had, for example, Agbonlahur been through with only Howard to beat and was fouled from behind in the area, but the ball ran loose to Young who then scored, the referee could allow the advantage & the goal, but 10 times out of 10 the player fouling Agbonlahur would walk.

Had he not, I cannot imagine for one second that O?Neill would be suggesting that playing advantage negates the need for a sending off.

He should have walked, the referee screwed up.

On the other point, it will be interesting (understatement) to observe how many points seperate Everton & Villa (and maybe even Chelsea) by the time we visit Villa Park on April 11th.

Between now & then Villa have:
Chelsea, Stoke, Man City, Spurs, RS, ManU and a Uefa Cup trip to Moscow.

We have:
Newcastle, West Brom, Blackburn, Stoke, Portsmouth & Wigan.

We are 11 points adrift (a travesty) with 18 available until we meet.

I won?t be so stupid as to tempt fate. Just to say that, should our incredible form continue then could be an amazing 3 months to end of season. And we have Fellaini, Pienaar, Saha, Jo, Osman, Vaughan coming back into contention.

In the last 7 games we have played against the top 5 we have W2 D4 L1. The one we lost was to a soft penalty against the current English, European & World champions (a). 2 of the 4 we drew (Chelsea & Arsenal at home) we easily deserved to win. Given the big gaps in our team and size of squad, this is bordering on the incredible. We need not fear anybody.

Jason Lam
20 Posted 16/02/2009 at 01:32:29

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I believe Petrov was allowed to stay on the pitch was due to:

a) we scored

b) the game would have ended as a ’spectacle’ before 10 mins was up

c) the referee was inclined to uphold point b)

Paul Walsh
21 Posted 16/02/2009 at 00:46:23

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Just back from the game. Haven?t seen any of these interviews but what a great day. Very good performance apart from the aforementioned flat period early in the second half.

This team still needs to keep the ball better. We invite pressure by giving it away too cheaply. Mercifully it?s the same two or three players who are failing here. The excellence of the others is highlighting their limitations.

However, this is not the time to be critical. So impressed with the mature contributions of Gosling and Rodwell. Anichebe? What can one say? Has proven he?s equipped with everything you?d want from a striker in terms of strength, pace and vision. However, we?ve all been dismayed at times by his poor workrate, lack of desire and stomach for the fight. Particularly, these past few months. After his spat with Moyes Vic had a lot to prove today. I thought he done very well. More of the same please Victor!

Jagielka, Howard, Lescott, Baines and Arteta were all very good. Cahill unbelievable after the week?s work he?s had. That leaves Cap?n Pip and Hibbo. I thought Neville was excellent in an understated, unsung way. I am pleased he?s our captain. He understands the places we want to go. His experience is vital right now. Hibbo? He did well apart from the mistake that led to their pen. Tony deserves his place right now but he?s got to keep working at his game

The draw is good. Much to hope for indeed. Happy happy days... Come On You Blues!

Bernie Ashe
22 Posted 16/02/2009 at 03:22:45

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I rescind any previous comments I have ever made regarding Vic.
Very sorry!!!

David Ellis
23 Posted 16/02/2009 at 03:41:14

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Petrov was my man of the match. He was probably the best ?keeper of the 3 on the pitch in the first half ? and managed to play in midfield as well. Even Cahill can?t play two positions at the same time!

Patty Beesley
24 Posted 16/02/2009 at 09:02:50

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Perhaps with our win yesterday, the rub of the green which Villa have enjoyed for a lot of games, has now deserted them. 11 points is a lot to catch up on them but here?s hoping.

Tom Bowers
25 Posted 16/02/2009 at 14:29:09

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I generally agree with most comments here but we have to remember it?s easy to sit on the high horse when things are going well. After the first Villa game we were highly critical of DM and he got a lot of flack because up to that point the season was crap and especially the home games where most of the fans attend. Lescott was having a poor season at left back. The injuries forced changes and coupled with some long overdue good luck, results started to turn around.

Lescott returning to centre, Timmie showing his experience as a centre forward and Mikel showing his leadership in midfield again has really paid dividends. Anichebe is learning albeit slowly and the future looks good. Sure, there will be the occasional setback but very few teams will find Everton an easy mark for a long time to come.