Also, don’t forget to complain about.....:
1. The pitch!
2. The penalty!
Don’t also forget to mention that Moysie will be accused of treating Chelsea with disrespect, eh?
Well noted Fran

Nice one Fran. I wonder if even some of our own fans who seemed to take some perverse enjoyment about stating us playing Man Utd reserves (Come on down Mr Marsh) will acknowledge this. Additionally I thought that Castillo had a decent game tonight and looked liked the player we thought he might be. Sadly I fear that it is too little too late.

Should probably mention that Chelski also had 1 more full days rest than us following the weekend!

Why do people care about the media coverage? I don’t care how much we get, so long as its fair.
Acheivement is judged on your actions, not on how many people read about it.

Think the coverage of Everton is bad in the UK

TVNZ in New Zealand manged to construct a two minute slot dedicated to Manchester United, the only mention of Everton was when they opened the the article to say Manchester United were beaten today by of all teams Everton from then on it was Red devils this and and Man U second team that ect.. ect..

Today's report was of Chelsea squandering chance after chance to catch Man United a quick flash to "the only chance of the game came when Drogba?s shot against the bar in injury time."

When we win the cup, things will be different, Yeah right....

I'm sick to death of our negative press. When it was Man Utd it was weakened team, bad pitch, excuse after excuse; we field our weakest team of the year and it's bore draw Chelsea tired, from the weekend... WHAT!!

We are in the FA Cup Final, favourites to finish 5th again, had little or no money to spend, and had a limited side all season. IMHO it's got up the media's noses ? long may it continue!!! As for last night, Chelsea were fortunate to get a point!

One of my gakets was definitely in peril of blowing last night!

After the game, the Sky presenter (whose name I can’t think of right now-it’s early) assessed the night as a frustrating one for Chelsea due to Everton’s stubborn rearguard action and which did not augur well for the final! That is fair enough, I’m sure Chelsea were frustrated, but there was no doubt from his demeanour that what he meant was how dare Everton not allow Chelsea to win.

He was soon put right by Speed and Gullit who both said Everton played a clever game and should feel disappointed not to have won it! Sky then showed all Chelsea’s chances in succession and did not show any of our (in my opinion) even better chances until the closing credits, in amongst the usual shots of the managers and Chelsea’s chances again.

Then, to cap it off, when the highlights of the ManU game on, Trevor Francis said they would have to play better than Sunday but then added, ’but that was their reseve team wasn’t it?’ At that point I turned it off and went to bed.

It is easy to begin to sound paranoid but when you consider that immediately after the game, the studio conversation was almost exclusively about the various preferences and priorities of the Sky Four and what trophies they would like to win, it perfectly demonstrated Sky’s unhealthy fascination and obsession with the ’top four’ to the detriment of every other participant in the game.

I am seriously considering cancelling my subscription to this bucket of shite but would like to let them know why.

Nick,

Some of us care about the media coverage because it does not conform to your own criteria...it is not Fair, biased towards the top four and this helps promote and maintain the unhealthy view that it is only the top four who really matter and everybody else is just there to make up the numbers.

Dave, the funniest Sky knob of them all was Paul ’i’ll have a large one’ Merson proclaiming boldy yesterday that we would get thrashed 3 or 4 nil.
Cancelling is the right thing IMO.

In fact the word he used was ’slaughtered’ - TWAT

This is the match report from the BBC, very balanced in my opinion!

Chelsea produced a far from convincing display at Stamford Bridge as they were held to a goalless draw by Everton that all but ends their title challenge.

The hosts enjoyed all the possession, but Everton had the better chances.

Jo twice fluffed when through on goal, while Leighton Baines was denied a penalty when he was fouled by Alex.

At the other end Didier Drogba shot onto the bar, but otherwise the hosts were pretty toothless and they now lie six points behind Manchester United.

The league leaders also have a game in hand over Guus Hiddink?s side, meaning the Blues? hopes of silverware this season must surely now rest on the Champions League and FA Cup.

Their success in the latter, of course, will come down to their final against Everton - and the stalemate at Stamford Bridge will only fuel the Toffees? belief that they can compete with Chelsea on 30 May.

There was some suspicion before kick-off that it would be a good time to play Everton, following the Toffees? FA Cup semi-final exploits at the weekend and with qualification to next season?s Europa League all but guaranteed.

Hiddink admits Chelsea title chase is over

However, for all their possession, it was Chelsea rather than the visitors who appeared to lack verve and spark in the attacking third.

Some cause of that was possibly Guus Hiddink?s decision not to freshen up the side that beat Arsenal at Wembley on Saturday, but credit also to Everton, who got their tactics spot on.

Defending deep and in numbers, David Moyes?s side allowed Chelsea plenty of possession up until 30 yards from their goal, at which point they nullified the Blues? threat and ensured a relatively quiet night for keeper Tim Howard.

Frank Lampard and Michael Essien tried their luck - unsuccessfully - from range in the first half, but it was the other end that saw the clearer chances.

606: DEBATE
Who thinks we still stand a chance? At this rate, we?ll finish 4th behind Arsenal

Drogbas_sniper

Twice Jo was sent clear on goal, first by Tim Cahill and then by Steven Pienaar, but first the Brazilian shot straight at keeper Petr Cech and then he slipped at the vital moment, fluffing his effort wide of goal.

And Everton also had a big penalty shout when Baines went over Alex?s outstretched leg, but referee Mark Halsey was unmoved.

The appeals were strangely muted from Everton, but TV replays suggested the Chelsea defender was lucky to get the decision.

It ensured the Blues entered half-time on level terms, but if they had hoped to use the break to collect themselves, it failed, with Everton picking up where they left off after the interval when Lars Jacobsen set Tim Cahill up to force another Cech save with a diving header.

Moyes pleased with Everton resilience

Chelsea again dominated the ball, with Everton happy to play on the break, but Howard remained little more than a spectator despite the Blues? increasingly desperate forays into the area.

With the hosts looking increasingly impotent up front, it was left to the unlikeliest of sources to force their best effort of the night on the hour, John Terry unleashing a 40-yard piledriver that Howard tipped wide.

And when Chelsea did eventually find room in the box - twice in a minute - first Yobo blocked Lampard?s goalbound effort and then Salomon Kalou headed narrowly over.

The hosts did launch a late rally, with Everton defending desperately at times to keep out the likes of Alex, Drogba and Lampard.

And Drogba went agonisingly close with the hosts? best effort of the night in the 93rd minute when he turned brilliantly in the box and crashed a beauty of a shot onto Howard?s crossbar.

However, Cahill and then Pienaar also had pot-shots at the other end and when the final whistle went it was hard to argue that a draw was the right result.

I don’t know if it was quite a reserve side last night as it still had Howard, Lescott, Baines, Piennar, Cahill, Osman, Jo and Neville in it from our recodgnised first XI. Yobo is certainly not a reserve player either!

I was at Stamford Bridge and I agree with several of the other points here.

Firstly; we were the better side for the entire first hour. It was only the John Terry drive which was parried by Howard that galvanised them and brought them into the match. They did have a longer period of concerted pressure tha us, but we had more chances and better chances. Jo missed two in the first half, the Cahill header and Piennar’s back post miss-hit and a similar one from Cahill at the other side all would’ve gone in on another day.

Secondly; Everton played superbly. Tim Howard was noticably more confident, Baines was outstanding and Jo’s link-up play was exceptional. Man of the match - Segundo Castillo. In one performance he has gone from someone I couldn’t wait to get rid of to someone I think we should sign. He broke up the play brilliantly and it was the closest we have had to a Lee Carsley style performance since the man himself last season.
Well done Cas, couple more of those and it will be a case of "sign him up".

I would also like to ask the perspective of someone who watched the TV last night about the Chelsea fans. I was anticipating a great atmosphere last night, with both teams in the cup final, but I can’t remember one song from them!

Should mention the tanoy man as well, who congratulated Everton for being the only team from Merseyside to reach a cup final this season.

Like it Fran
I was expecting a post like this this morning, but fair play for being so quick off the mark

Just a quick point slightly off topic.
I for one am heartily sick of these Morons up and down the country, singing songs about the slums we live in, or where we "sign on" or the stereos we have stolen. It was so refreshing to see a couple of these obnoxious little twats ejected last night.
If I was Irish, Black, French, or Nigerian or from anywhere else in the world, the abuse we get at every single ground would be against the law, but because I’m from Liverpool these ignorant twats seem to be able to say what they like.
The media are anti Everton, but even Sun readers cant be fooled forever. and we’ll feel even greater satisfaction when we run over the top of the last of the remaining Sky4 fat cats and bring the cup home

Yeah.... mustn?t step on the toes of the Big 4 must we !!! Another point is that in the Sky programme Richard Keyes stressed that we hadn?t beaten any of the Big 4 this season....it would have been far more agreeable to hear him say that apart from losing to Man U 1 - nil by a penalty, they haven?t beaten us neither !!!

Coming up for the game on Saturday.... live in South Wales now although a born and bred Scouser... can someone let me know whether there are still car parking facilities at Stanley Park - have they been made available again as LFC haven?t started building yet ??

Patty,

Yes, the car park is still there. £8!

Hi Dave,

It depends on what importance one gives the media to reflect and value football the same way the average fan does.
It would be better for Sky et al to be balanced but they’re not, and that is one reason why their opinion matters little. The other being that its just people talking. Talking goes on before, during and after the football because that’s something you can put the adverts on inbetween.
Unfortunately though, to the impressionable young, many teams around the country are missing out on core support which is now going into the shirt sales of the top four.

So as long as the coverage we do get is fair, unlike MOTD have been, then I don’t care to be associated with such a piss poor broadcasters. I don’t need Maneesh and Lawro thinking we’re great to massage my ego.

I for 1 have been very critical before but at Chelsea we more than held our own. But I say forget the press, media or whoever else they want us to fail. The fact that they are whinging about Everton means we must be doing something right so let’s keep this up.
COYB

"I don?t know if it was quite a reserve side last night as it still had Howard, Lescott, Baines, Piennar, Cahill, Osman, Jo and Neville in it from our recognised first XI. Yobo is certainly not a reserve player either!"

I think your missing the point Alistair!

Our victory over Utd has been undermined by the press because they had dropped Van der Saar, Rooney and Ronaldo (which apparently equates to fielding a reserve side)

The fact that Foster is potentially (nobody really knows) England?s first choice goalkeeper and that Tevez, Berbatov, Scholes, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic etc all played a part seems to have gone unmentioned.

I agree with Dave Wilson by the way, but I guess it’s banter and they’d say we sing the same stuff about them.

It was very frustrating though, when a bunch of Leeds fans were singing about us being robbing bastard at the match, then that very same night my student house in Headingley got broken into.

I must admit I wasn?t surprised when i read the bias reports of the game on Ceefax and Teletext last night. "Chelsea held by stubborn Everton" was used ? the usual lazy biased journalism they use whenever a SKY4 team has a draw.

Having watched the game, I had to laugh in disbelief at this ? truth is Everton were HELD by Chelsea; with a bit of luck and better finishing, we?d have won 3-0. We were comfortable for all but the final few minutes, and the team played with a confidence in possession that I haven?t witnessed in quite a while. Chelsea had to resort to long balls, and even that didn?t work.

The media perception of Everton has always been disgraceful, and it?s 100 times worse here in Ireland - people simply believe what they read and have no idea of the stature of our magnificent club. The ignorant masses (mostly RS ?fans?) constantly ridicule Everton in a smug, condascending manner but at the end of the day I?m the smug one, as I know I support a club without equal ? a proper club, and I know that our day is coming soon, and then the media will have no choice but change the record and acknowledge us.

Thanks Dave... appreciated

The media are also now completely and ignorantly out of step with other football fans. The ones I talk to - both from the ’Big Four’ and elsewhere - see us an established strong team which is both hard-working and talented.

The pundits you have to remember are the footballers who aren’t smart or strong enough to be managers or coaches. We should pity them. Shearer (please God!) is going to go down with Newcastle because there is no way that this man can be a good football manager. But then he’s not even smart enough to be a pundit.

I agree with Fran and have been doing my best to remind everyone that on Sunday we had a few players coming back from injury as well having unavailable Jo, Yak, Anichebe , Valente, The Great Arteta. AVDM I guess doesn’t count.

Our reserves then should have also beat a full strength Chelsea team.

Let the media fume as we upset their darling clubs.

COYB!

Neil
They become football pundits because they are not smart enough to do anything else. The intelligent footballers retire and are never heard of again. They get on with their gainfull employment or businesses.

It made me laugh when Richard Keys said Chelsea were "frustrated" by Everton. What nonsense, I was incredibly frustrated as we had the better chances. Still fuck ’em. The press will be singing our praises when we toast them in the final.

Maybe they’re playing to the core support.... how many Chelsea fans would be watching compared to Everton? Then again the nutral fans would outway both...

Was at the game last night amidst the hordes of Mitchell Brother/Ray Winstone lookalikes baying for cards and penalties and free-kicks every time Drogba decided to fall on his arse.

Firstly, without the benefit of Sky?s expertise, I?d have to say what a good and even game of football it was. It was fascinating to watch Chelsea?s 4-3-3 against our 4-4-2 and how, once we started to break in a more controlled manner we were able to capitalise on the numerical advantage afforded us out wide by their wingers? reluctance to track back.

If I?d watched this game on Sky I?d have only seen close-ups of Drogba?s strutting, preening, moaning disgrace of a performance. As it was I could really appreciate how Moyes was actually trying to win the game by leaving two up and getting us to break in numbers out wide.

Pienaar?s work-rate was unbelievable, he was still sprinting the length of the pitch in the 94th minute. Osman looked like he was suffering the effects of Sunday but Neville and Castillo did well against the feted trio of Ballack, Essien, Lampard ? restricting them to pot-shots, and the back 4 did brilliantly timing block after interception after aerial challenge brilliantly.

Jacobsen was our obvious weak link, and Malouda embarrassed him several times but fortunately he has no end-product. We fashioned the clearer cut opportunities in the end, and with a more composed marksman would surely have notched a winner from one of 5 clear-cut opportunities.

What really impressed me about this performance is that it showed we really have progressed from the dogged direct-footballing team of the last few years. We passed the ball as well as Chelsea, yes we did. When we broke down their play, we kept the ball and built attacks rather than aiming hopefully for the big man.

Moyes really has changed our philosophy and this is not reflected by the media. If, like me, you only get to a few games a season you would be forgiven for believing what the media report, which is that we are a long-ball side who grind out results on the basis of a solid back 9.

I?m sick of hearing Dixon/Lawrenson/Redknapp et al grudgingly admire our "grit" and "determination", it?s about time we got a bit of credit for our football.

Us v Manure: " Utd field their second string... "
Us v Chelski: " Everton have injected fresh legs... "
Dontcha just luv ’ em !

From what I saw over the internet last night I thought Yobo and Castillo played a lot better than inticipated. It must be something to do with proving themselves to DM and getting a place for the final. It?s amazing what players extra effort players can find when such rewards are beckoning.

For the final we must put away our chances when they come or we could all be hear moaning about Drogba?s last minute winner.

And about the commentary, I think it was Paul Walsh who said that it was only the likes of Man U, Liverpool...and wait for it...Aston Villa who dare to come to Chelsea to win. I nearly fell off my seat.

I have to watch most Everton matches live on Fox Soccer Channel here in the States - I believe that the "expert" ex-player commentator yesterday was Andy Townsend - a totally biased twat and anti-Toffee - you can feel him praying and willing the ball into the net for "Justice for the Sky4"....and then don’t get me started on one of the yanks who keeps calling us EVER-TING !!!!!!

Have to agree about the media bias. Sadly we live in a society that is excessively influenced by the media which results in ’Sky 4’ supporters across the country, rather than people supporting their local team and giving smaller clubs the infrastructure they need.

Compare how many replays and how much time was given to each of the two penalty incidents in our last two games, and consider that Mark Halsey gave United a pen against us for an identical challenge to that on Baines last night.

All I ask is consistency from referees, and more honesty from club representatives. I think Moyes should be commended for his comments re Jagielka’s challenge, whereas Gerrard [and Andy Gray] thinks Arshavin was offside even after the graphic has shown him otherwise. But its OK cos they’re in the big 4........

Thought we were very comfortable last night and gave Chelsea a few scares

I think that credit must go to the two loan players out there last night, Jo and Castillo, both did very well, despite Jo maybe not having the luck, you can see his ball control is excellent, Castillo is always first on his countries team sheet so he must have ability.

Also we must praise our master tactician, Mr Moyes, who have been critised in the past for getting it wrong, but whatever your view, this season he has been getting it right!

"whereas Gerrard [and Andy Gray] thinks Arshavin was offside even after the graphic has shown him otherwise"

Glas someone else picked up on this point, Andy Gray really gets on my tits sometimes, as you state the graphic clearly shows that Arshavin was onside but that dozy bellend starts saying oooohh it’s a close one, it could have been given!!! No it fooking couldn’t, he was onside you daft melt.........and breathe

I thought that Segundo Castillo and Lars Jacobbsen were fantastic last night,

Segundo has been on the bench most of the season and when he got his chance at Anfield and at the Brdige I have been very impressed with him. Not afraid to tackle or stick a foot in and has pace to burn. A little Carsley Esque me thinks.

Jacobbsen has been plagued by injuries and we have seen him twice this season. I thought that the pompey game he did wel also even though we lost.

Well done to the fringe players!!!!

I wish I could remember the exact line, but the one commentator stated something of how the game hadn’t come to life and was poor football, but then only the other top 3 and maybe Villa would play winning football against the likes of Chelsea! I almost fell off my chair at this!

We were murdering them and could have been 3-0 up! I was watching another match to them for sure! We were magnificant for long spells! Cahill outshone Lampard FFS!

Tony Williams, totally agree Andy Gray is losing it, he has now become just another example of Sky TVs love for the Sky four and Villa. He is becoming a kopite by the day ever since the "oh you beauty" comment back in 2006. Arshavin’s first clearly offside but no "that was close," No it wasnt Andy know fuck off! At the start of the coverage last night old hairy arms Richard Keys, says Everton will qualify for Europe if Chelsea win tonight as losing FA cup finalists, WHAT? do you know something we dont Richard? He then backtracked and said "well they could be the winners" What a bunch of wankers!

Slightly at a tangent but still connected to this media thread (well sort of!)

Did anybody notice Baines’ comments after the game when asked if he thought he should have had a penalty?

His reply went something like, ’he did catch me but the ball wasn’t under my control so I can understand why it wasn’t given’ (!!!!!!!)

Two things on that, the lesser first. I think you are wrong Bainesy! A foul is a foul and the last thing the game needs is referees making calculations about whether the ball is under control before blowing up!

But more importantly, even if I think he was wrong, what class...what dignity...what honesty! Perhaps we should learn to dive and whinge and cheat more. Perhaps we should get into the habit of surrounding the referee and abusing him every time a decision doesn’t go our way like others do. Perhaps then we’ll be better thought of!

But on second thoughts, nah, let’s stay like we are shall we. Full of class dignity and honesty.

Nick - your statement says it all....."Unfortunately though, to the impressionable young, many teams around the country are missing out on core support which is now going into the shirt sales of the top four". I think that is why we Evertonians (along with hundreds of other teams) are frustrated by the hype given to the 4 of Sky, and why this website at times becomes angry and frustrated. If any of their "mega-rich teams?" played as we did yesterday at Barcelona or Real Madrid, they would be creaming themselves on the quality of defending, quality of counter-attack and one that to me says it all - the attitude of the thousands of fans that travel everywhere behind their team - with honesty and humour.

I would, however, go one step further to state that it is a worldwide disease now - the ads on TV here in the States between the football commentaries sell the Sky4 and big European teams crap beyond description - there are no other teams deemed worthy of a decent or honest opinion when they "analyse" the matches.

I have never, ever, in 50 years of supporting this team, wanted Everton to succeed so, so much - just to ram all the bullshit and biased crap back down their throats.

Apologies, but I feel better now having stood on my soapbox - I know that this Sky4 strait-jacket will soon be taken off me.

Couldn?t help but notice Patty saying, ?Richard Keyes stressed that we hadn?t beaten any of the Big 4 this season....it would have been far more agreeable to hear him say that apart from losing to Man U 1 - nil by a penalty, they haven?t beaten us neither !!!?
Erm...You do realise that Liverpool got the better of us in the first derby of the season and that Arsenal mauled us in the second half at the Emirates, right? It?s no wonder you think that the media are biased when your own memory is so selective.

I seem to be suffering from memory problems as well, who did we beat in the fourth round of the cup and also are they in the top four I cannot seem to remember