The Mail Bag
Semi-Final's Man Of The Match
Comments (38)
With the dust starting to settle, and the hangovers wearing off from Sunday's match, I was thinking about Everton's Man of the Match. Despite it being a relatively poor game, there were some very good performances for different reasons.
Tim Howard is a very good candidate for his penalty saves. Phil Neville for his outstanding leadership and excellent penalty kick. Jagielka for his nerves of steel to take the winning penalty after his Fiorentina miss. Despite his miss, Cahill's all-round game and his determination and drive will make him a very good captain if Neville is ever unavailable. Baines's non-stop runs up the left-wing. Pienaar's tireless running or even Lescott's commanding defensive display. Even James Vaughan being five months out to come back on such a big stage and with his enthusiasm and quality penalty.
However, I say none of the above. Instead I'm going for someone who didn't even kick a ball. Someone who won Everton the game with his comments about the Referee earlier in the week. The person who decided that Everton are going back to Wembley is David Moyes.
Moyes admitted that this was probably the biggest game of his career, which was probably correct. Could Moyes stand up against the best manager of this generation and arguably ever? Could Moyes really do a real-life David vs Goliath and come out the winner? Could Moyes shake off his defensive team label and actually go out an attack the official best team in the world and beat them?
Not only did Moyes do all of the above, but he passed his test with distinction and flying colours. He beat the mind master at his own game and with it put Everton into the final. Moyes has learnt a lot this season, he's learnt not to dither on his own contract or in the transfer market. He's learnt to play Mikel Arteta in the centre of pitch and play quality football and not hoofball, even without our playmaker, Arteta. Most important of all, Moyes has learnt how to win.
Roll on Wembley and bring on next season when we can really challenge for even more honours.
Matthew Lovekin, Posted 21/04/2009 at 07:15:53
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"He set us up to attack Manchester United, not be fearful but to be positive. He instilled belief."
He went on to admit (as we all saw) that this might not have been totally transferred into action.
Moyes has been accused by some contributors of having an inferiority complex against the Sky 4, of always opting to be defensive against them and on a personal level of being gutless and a coward.
Neville's comments put this to bed. Sure we can debate tactics, question the purchase, selection and coaching of players, blame players for not putting plans into action, bemoan the lack of investment but please lets no longer doubt Moyes's desire and belief that we can compete on an equal footing.
No overpaid superstars with ego's to match, just a fabulous work ethic for the good of the team. He came in for a lot of critisism at one stage but never shirked his responsibilities once. Being played out of position didn't help but he just got his head down and did his best for the team.
For me I would look no further than him for Player of the Season, the man has class. Just look at the way he conducted himself after scoring that pen. None of this badge kissing shit you get from the likes of Rooney et al. He handled himself with dignity and respect.
As I said, for me he has been player of the season. Take a bow, son!
And as for the ?usual suspects?, I presume you mean great Evertonians like Hibbert and Osman. Both played well and it?s about time they got more credit AND they cost us nothing. I?d sooner have them in my team anyday than some mercenary.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11671_5215847,00.html
I watched the game at home and for those who did you?ll know what I?m saying but as the two teams were waiting in the tunnel to come out the camera held in close up on Neville and the sheer concentration and focus written over his face made me (at home) believe we are going into this to win.
So I for one want to see that guy lift that trophy. He?s been a great ambassador for this club and I didn't rate him that highly either, but can never doubt his effort. The Sandy Brown of our era, I wonder????
And thanks again for those who gave that support there too. That opening 20mins of the 2nd half in particular were incredible.
I have seen the press conference in question several times and Moyes does nothing of the sort.
He is simply asked, by a journalist, something like: "What do you say to allegations that Riley is a Man Utd supporter and not a good choice for the final?"
Moyes, looking visibly surprised, says something like: "Well if you, as a journalist, are saying he is a Man Utd supporter, that?s something for the FA to look it."
In other words, he says "This isn?t something for me to comment on. You raised it, you should tell the FA about it if you think there?s a problem."
He wasn?t playing mind games ? he just responded sensibly to a deliberately provocative question, designed to get him in trouble.
Bally used to bawl him out continually, please don't compare him to Neville. Our captain has a lot of faults; ie, distribution and ball control, but never can be faulted for effort, professionalism and heart... We have definitely got where we are today by endeavour and heart mainly.
We still lack the real class of the top four but we are just one or two top players short of being a top side. We still need some extra squad members plus the two top players to push us forwards next season... We also need to get VDM and a few others off the payroll so that we can use their wages to attract decent players.
Thta’s why it pisses me off when old purple nose suggests that Moyes filled Riley’s head with nonsense, it was a journo trying to get a response to a loaded question.
http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/Football/2009/04/21/FA-CupPrem-Pienaar-exclusive/gnid-49455/
I also think the questionable team selection by Ferguson helped us out. It made us think harder, and to also play a more measured (ok, less attacking) game. No-one wanted to lose to the new ’Fergie kids’ versus going for broke against the world champions and a star studded team.
It wasn’t pretty...but (living in Australia) I’m contemplating a 28th May flight for the final - keep telling the missus it’s only once every 14 years!
Football in its current format in my opinion is inherently corrupt and is producing a worse product for the public year on year. The gap between the top four clubs and the rest widens every year as a result of the closed circus that is the Champions League.
The early rounds of the Champions League are laughable. It is virtually unthinkable for the top four English clubs not to progress. The television and prize money revenues generated, allied to the marketing and media exposure they get, guarantees they will have almost double the resources the other Premier League clubs have. It is not within Everton?s power to break this monopoly ? or rather, oligopoly. It seems to me it is only within the top four team's power to give it up by financially or managerially imploding.
I think of Arsenal and the strikers at their disposal: which one of Adebayor, Bendtner, Eduardo, Arshavin, Van Persie or Walcott would we not have in our team? We are by comparison dwarfed by their resources on the playing side.
Man United had two strikers on the pitch at the conclusion of the semi-final that conceivably have a combined value greater than that of the total Everton XI (excluding Cahill who is of course priceless).
Moyes's achievements ? especially this year when we started the season with only 10 fit senior professionals ? are extraordinary. Last year we achieved our highest ever points total in the Premier League, way more than when we actually qualified for the Champions League.
Sadly the ever decreasing resources of the other Premier League teams meant that we were nowhere near Champions League qualification. It will be worse again next year when Birmingham and Wolves come up (of all their players I would only have McFadden!!).
Moyes achievements are all the greater when you take into account the state of our natural rivals Villa, Spurs and Newcastle. Many of our fans complain about the style of football we play. I say I would rate us as a much better passing side than Villa, far better organised than Tottenham, who have turned conceding soft late goals into an art form (Woodgate - hopeless) and Newcastle deserve to go down - WBA play better football than them.
I am sad at the state of modern football but am proud of my team Everton, just about the hardest working team in the league. Who knows with the FA Cup exposure it might just persuade someone to give us the added funds neccessary to make that break into the Champions League cartel.
I would also like to say that, although I agree with Michael that we didn?t play well on Sunday, generally the standard of football on offer at Goodison has improved year on year to the point where we have drawn considerable praise from the likes of Wenger and SAF.
What is more his conduct on the pitch, most noticeably for example, in his proactive and responsible involvement in Fellaini?s regular "discussions" with referees is an example of a professional captain?s responsibilities at its best, a fact that is never highlighted by the vacuous pundits who are supposed to be advancing the public?s understanding and appreciation of the game.
He has been one of Mr Moyes?s most astute signings in having in his team a man of undoubted personal and professional integrity and experience upon whom he can depend when out on the pitch. As I say, he may not be a great technical player by any means, but that being said I would be surprised if anybody who followed his career with United and England could not say that his game has actually improved since he arrived at Everton, especially of late where his passing ability and effective movement has come on impressively.
As Mr Lynch also points out, not for him the hysterical celebration in front of his "ex-fans" when he converted the penalty but the outwardly calm reaction of a man who did not shirk this very onerous task given the occasion and returning to the centre of the pitch with the personal satisfaction of a job very well done.
It is something that can be said of his performances throughout the season but especially of late and I for one would have no qualms about him being granted "Everton Player of the Year" award ? although Phil Jagielka would have great claims for making it a joint award!
I have to agree with MK about Kevin Gillens piece, brilliant mate. Coupled with the behaviour & class of our fans at Wembley, it has been said before but there really is no club like this in the world and the phrase Nil Satis Nisi Optimum truly applies to our fans.
Have you seen the brilliant article in "The Independent" last Saturday by the great James Lawton, Sports Journalist of the Year? It is entitled "Three cheers for Everton ? a team that makes you proud to be English" (p7 of the Sports section). It is a wonderful piece and coming as it does from one of the truly great national journalists it affirms what many of us with a more "parochial" view have felt for a long time.
Just a sample from the article: "Ultimately Everton may not be able to compete with the three or four top clubs, but in both their first team squad and their academy they are providing outlets to young English talent simply not available in better heeled neighbourhoods ? and least of all across the park at the foreign legion parade ground of Liverpool."
It should be compulsory reading for all Evertonians and pinned on the bedroom walls of every young Evertonian who can read. It might help with the development of a more healthy perspective and the preservation of some more sane values. Search for it if you have not read it ? it is worth the effort!
He?s passionate, committed and clearly cares about the team he plays for. There are plenty of players about who are far better technically than Pip, but few with these qualities. Look at Berbatov on Sunday.
Can't wait to see you lift that trophy, Phil.
Jags has rightly got most of the plaudits at the back this season because he has been fantastic for 18 months now but after a bit of a ropey start this season, Joleon is starting to turn in even better performances than he did in the past 2 seasons.
As a partnership, himself and Jags are second only to Vidic and Ferdinand in England and maybe even Europe.
It’s a little unfortunate for Yobo to be left out because he hasn’t done much wrong but simply put, he isn’t as good as Jags and Lescott.
But we are really lucky to have the 3 central defenders that we have.
And then of course there is Leighton Baines on the left. With Evra and Cole not playing particularly well of late and Clichy injured, he has a claim to be the best left back in England right now.
It’s not beyond the realms of possibilty that Fabio Capello could field 3 of our defenders in a starting line up soon, and he could do so without losing any sleep.
Field the kids next week(!).
Pip?s penalty ? same thing. Expected in the stand; actual Buried in the corner and a "now you match it" attitude.
Pip and Sandy ? same mould!
Moyes is on a learning curve and is only slowly changing his ethos from hoofball, defensively minded tactics to smooth, flowing football. Look at our recent displays. When we have it on the floor, we look dangerous and when we hoof we are in danger! This has changed as confidence has increased. Typical of this is Tony Hibbert, before he got injured he was playing some of the best football of his life, always providing an attacking option and for once banging in a decent cross. Unfortunately he has reverted back to type in his last few games because he isn?t fully fit and lacks that confidence.
The nucleus is there, the promise of attacking football is there, it just takes time to get the right personnel in the right places. Onwards and upwards but expect it to continue slowly but successfully.
I suspect that the Mike Riley question was a plant to a friendly journalist from Moyes of someone else at the club. Moyes cannot question the allegiance of an official before [or after] a match, but if somone else does it and Moyes is involved on the frindges, well that’s a very different matter. It’s the sort of thing old red nose has been doing for years. For Mike Riley to give a penalty to Man U on Sunday there would hav had to be a criminal offence commited. I’ve been an Evertonian for twenty odd years, and I’d have given a penalty for the Jags/Welbeck challenge.
I do very much remember Sandy Brown as I probably saw his entire Everton career first hand. Where I drew the link was that both never sought the limelight, knew their limitations, let others take all the glory yet never never gave less than 110% to the cause...and yet always had people on thier backs.
In my comment about the steely stare of Neville’s prior to bringing the team out onto the pitch, I WAS stating that real leadership mentality being shown by him from the very first moment which carried onto the last.
Post your comments with the media - it would be very interesting to hear waht non-Evertonians outwith the Sky4 think........excellent comments and, I’m sure, very true to most outsiders thoughts
Now there's having respect for your former employers and there's showing gratitude to your current employer and not only that there's sharing a heartfelt win with your team-mates.
It seems pretty obvious where his heart is, that's OK with me but he needs to reign in the sound bites in future. There's professionalism in your job and there's talking bollocks, he said his kids are being brought up Evertonians, not sure about that myself.
I like the feller but how about a smile Phil, we're in the cup final for fucks sake.
I agree that we played terribly on Sunday and have to play a lot better. But there have been many games when we have played some great attacking football, you always make out that we are always defensive and play nothing but hoofball. Sometimes we do, but a lot of the time we don’t. Now and again it happens. You don’t have to be happy with it, but just live with it. Any yes, you do love a good moan!
For god’s sake chill out! We’re in the final. Who cares how we got there? Come on you blues and thank you for the best day of my recent life!!!! For all you doom and gloom merchants out there who over-analyse football, start enjoying it! We didn’t deserve to beat Oxford in 1985 and were playing shite up until that point. But that game turned our season, fortunes and history around. That’s sport, that’s football. Its unpredictable and thats what keeps us interested. Enjoy the ups & downs and keep the faith...like the amazing Evertonians last week.
There are still a few points I?d just like to make. I know some of you are not going to agree, but let?s be realistic.... Phil is a great leader, but looked totally out of dept with no attacking ability whatsoever (every ball that was passed to him, he back passed). Please relook at the game and you?ll noticed, if Phil just had a bit a class he would have spotted the gaps opening. Instead he always ops to backpass.
Osman is great the first 15 minutes, but couldn?t stand up to Manure?s young guns. Howard was brilliant and really made up for some doggy game that costed us points during the season. Again, our back four deserves praise for their effort. (I can?t see Yobo taking back his place.) Baines has really impress defensively yesterday, but really lack attacking flair.
Arteta is really missed in our midefield, and it?s obvious that we don?t have a player to step up to game. (that?s why Cahill and Pienaar could never get into the game.)
Guys, I know some o you love certain players, but it?s really time to let go... that?s the only way we?re going forward. If we going to play against Chelsea like this, we?re can expect a hiding: Rodwell needs to start; Vaughan must come in.
Screw the league, Moyes have more than enough time to give some of the squad players game time and put a decent team come the final.
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I was shocked by how poorly we played. It had me wondering after the game if perhaps it was Moyes's intention to take the game to penalties rather than try to beat them on the field. After all, the main thing he relies on is fielding a team that can defend. Ferguson's team selection arguably made that easier; other than that, there was very little quality football from Everton in this game. There was, however, plenty of hoofball, with Fellaini the target man.
I sincerely hope we play a lot better now that we have got the initial Wembley nerves out of the way. But as one who still has minimal faith in Moyes, I fear that we could see the same gameplan being employed again, for an equally boring Cup Final.
But who cares, eh ? as long as we win!