EDITORS BLOG
At Last!
Everton have been playing some great football in the last few games, and today at Blackburn was no different. But the vulnerability to a well taken goal was still there to make this one a nail-biter until the end.
The quality of the passing was at times scintillating... all the more reason to find the final misplaced ball so frustrating. We were so much better than them, we should have been out of sight yet again — how many times have we said that this season.
I'd vowed not to get myself too enthused after far too many disappointments this season but two really excellent away performances this week literally had me salivating. Perhaps it's the fact that these were both for once tremendous games of football that makes the difference. And that's the irony: it's those defensive failings that make for a lot of the great atmosphere and exciting drama that is the Premier League at its best.
Seems it was after Anichebe came on for Bily that things really started happening. I was very impressed with Big Vic's performance today. It's a pity in a way that he replaced Bily, whose skills, vision and trickery are on a slow upward trend toward the heights of that other Russian (Ukranian), one Andrei Kanchelskis. I particularly like his fast flat-trajectory crosses.... pity no-one seems to have done the prep for them in training! He could — and hopefully will — become absolutely brilliant for us.
All setting up nicely, I hope, for a real and sustained attack on the status quo next season. Just when I thought I'd pretty much had enough of this malarkey...
Michael Kenrick Posted 17/04/2010 at
Reader Comments
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2 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:08:49
And Victor very pleasantly surprised me today. Well worth keeping.
But how about Yak's turn in the box to set up Timmy? Wonderful. I'm fairly sure he will be with us next season, so much more of that please.
And a silky smooth midfield — the conductor (and that means driver in Spanish, so it works both ways) is back, and can't you tell. So, one of the best footballing midfields in the PL operated without Heitinga, Rodwell and — tread carefully here on TW — Osman. Not to mention The Big Fella. And, dare I say, even the addition of Cap'n Pip to it didn't seem to be a problem?
And, God bless him, Hibbo must have just rolled the ball to Mikel today more times than he has in many a season. That's what I call progress.
3 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:22:16
Inteesting to see what happens to Utd should Rooney leave to Madrid... big if of course.
Either way, we're playing well, though if it was a 2-2 draw the post bag would have been full of vitriol, but today was beautiful in places.
4 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:25:11
Magic turn by the Yak
5 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:34:20
6 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:36:53
7 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:46:47
8 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:40:48
Thinking about his game, it almost looks like a period out with injury has done him good. Looking at how we play rather than being involved in it. Perhaps a bit more sit, think and talk with the coaches? He looked a better player today, adding a bit more to where he has always been at his best - keeping the buggers out.
9 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:51:12
Didn't watch the game (was being a 'bad Toffee' and enjoying this rare commodity called sunshine...) , but pleased to hear we played well and very pleased with the result. Glad to see that the Yak is slowly but surely seemingly inching his way back. Gash game on Weds, but from what I can gather was incisive as a sub. Looking forward to Match of the Day...
10 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:58:33
11 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:59:37
That would be the 0-0 against Wolves
12 Posted 17/04/2010 at 19:13:15
I'm looking forward to the highlights (20 minutes of them) on EFCTV tomorrow. Hand on heart, I'm not on commission, but it is the best - and by far the most convenient - way I know of seeing these things. And, of course, its archived, so there is a vast amount available, very easily.
But honestly, they were purringly good for long periods.
13 Posted 17/04/2010 at 20:09:13
14 Posted 17/04/2010 at 20:55:23
I still think we need to look at Distin, Howard and Jags in that order to get some balance and calm back into our defence.
On today's performance, I wouuld just bring Heitinga back for Distin or Jags and leave Big Vic on for Bily who, despite all the plaudits from many, has yet to convince me.
15 Posted 17/04/2010 at 21:08:18
The technique is there with Billy, so I hope we give him a chance after a full pre season, and maybe its just that Salgado is very slow, but I thought Billy looked a bit quicker today.
16 Posted 17/04/2010 at 22:11:59
17 Posted 17/04/2010 at 23:36:39
18 Posted 18/04/2010 at 00:22:18
19 Posted 18/04/2010 at 00:13:02
20 Posted 18/04/2010 at 00:22:55
21 Posted 18/04/2010 at 00:42:02
Distin for me is a quality player, he just needs a settled back four to play with. :)
22 Posted 18/04/2010 at 02:10:00
BBC people regularly comment on how good our away support is and you do us proud time after time (the past again, but like in Rotterdam). Our hearts are always with you.
And yes, the two goals they scored would, 9/10 have hit the the adverts, but that's footie for you. Made our lovely Timmy's goal that bit sweeter though, didn't it?
ps: Notice when they started to 'win the ball' by trying to maim late and from behind who started to give them stick? Hapless ref warned him, and he said 'its my first foul, you can't book me for that' — in pure Oz.
pps: Mikel was a bit upset at what hit him, and it seemed to me to be intended to hurt and injure (nothing to do with the ball). TV coverage showed his reaction, but as the ref carded him on the field (ie saw it and took appropriate action) it would be very unusual if the sweet FA took any further action — I hope.
23 Posted 18/04/2010 at 03:56:58
Sorry, but that bloke more than flatters to deceive — why people think he's any more than the Russian version of McFadden escapes me: slow as a wet week, tricky flits and flirts that end up nowhere, no stamina, goes missing for half the game, small and weak, and can't head.
Get this: you don't get faster, and Bily is not and will never be fast enough or have enough stamina for the PL. Why do you think that Tim Cahill actually pops up from nowhere to get his head on it or to poke his foot onto it?
24 Posted 18/04/2010 at 06:53:36
25 Posted 18/04/2010 at 08:32:17
26 Posted 18/04/2010 at 09:10:27
One of the criticisms I and may others on these pages have thrown at Moyes is our inability to maintain our own high standards of passing the ball rather than reverting to hoofball. Playing against a horrible Allardyce outfit who kick us and play long balls yet we didn't sink to their level. Same against Villa who play a long ball. We were the passing team who controlled the midfield.
If Howard can start making more effort with long shots or we get a keeper who can I'm really looking forward to next season.
27 Posted 18/04/2010 at 09:36:58
Also, you wouldn't think Blackburn would have the quality of players to score such quality goals. It's just our luck that they would score their two best goals of the season against us.
I can't believe that people on here in the past have criticised Moyes's substitutions; yet again, his positive attacking substitute made an instant impact and scored within seconds of coming on. Off the top of my head, Vaughan scored with his first touch against Birmingham; Gosling against Man U; Rodwell agaisnt Man U; Coleman set up a goal within minutes I think against Birmingham.
28 Posted 18/04/2010 at 09:53:06
I worry about our inability to defend crosses, we had conceded 4 from crosses in two games going into yesterday's game — could easily have been six — yet once again we were all at sea every time one came in.
Howard flaps, Distin disappears, Jags isn't getting off the deck and Baines doesn't know how to stop them coming in.
I'm resonably happy at the moment but, if we are to break through the glass ceiling, Moyes needs to get to work on this...
29 Posted 18/04/2010 at 10:31:42
What I can't get my head around, is the amount of wonder goals we concede. It can't just be unlucky, but it does seem that way.
30 Posted 18/04/2010 at 10:40:10
31 Posted 18/04/2010 at 11:07:12
32 Posted 18/04/2010 at 12:21:14
Credit today to Phil Neville and Hibbert who had a magnificent game with a couple of the best sliding tackles you could wish to see. I'm not sure I'm being 100% fair but it could be that Tim Howard has been found out and we can't protect him. Teams attack him now with crosses, long throws, long shots and punts ahead. Tactics which a good defence can easily deal with but has Tim absolutely flapping. I don't want to slag him because he has been good for us but I don't think he has it for the highest level.
Congratulations to Tim Cahill too, as bad as he was early in the season, he is devastating again now. Never a top midfielder but he's unplayable in that attacking role.
Pienaar looks like he may be going but I desperately hope that we can keep him and what a selection headache now. How good can we be with Fellaini fit again and in-form and the RHS problem solved? How can we keep Arteta is my worry, he would walk into nearly any top European club side now. What a player.
33 Posted 18/04/2010 at 19:42:10
34 Posted 19/04/2010 at 01:29:18
I now refer to him as "Flapper Howard", he truly detests anybody standing near him and it affects him tremendously, to the point of losing his concentration on the incoming ball — the Kuyt goal at Anfield is a prime example!
Has he finally been caught out? Who knows, but I hope this new keeper we have coming in the summer, is not "Mucha do about nothing" & he will actually be giving Tim a run for his money!
You would think Chris Woods in training would be pointing out the very obvious, surely it can't be just the fans that are seeing Howard getting increasingly more nervous (In the set piece situations), as the games come thick & fast... not to mention the clean sheets are somewhat seldom these days. (Although that can be attributed to the defensive players changing in front of him & the fact that there is no more Lescott either.)
I much prefer a keeper who will attempt to control his box & come for crosses, a bit like Van der Sar, Schwarzer, Reina, Cech et al, or dare I say it......... a Southall, or a Martyn!!
2010-11 season will probably be a make-or-break season for Tim H, not unlike the team itself, will we eventually become a top 4 side at last? If we actually do make that transition, we will need our #1 to be... well exactly that, number one!
35 Posted 19/04/2010 at 07:30:39
36 Posted 19/04/2010 at 11:45:13
1. Pienaar - missing out on Europe altogether looks like swinging the balance. The signs are simply not good.
2. Putting the ball in the net - as Pip quite rightly pointed out, our strikers seem to have gone on strike of late. That said, I've always had faith in Yak and, unlke with Pienaar, those signs are definitely good.
3. Defensive frailty. Dear me, last season it was news if we shipped ONE goal in a match. These days we seem to need 3 to have a chance of winning. This is usually Moyes' trump card. What's happened?
If we could keep Pienaar them utterly regardless of what anyone else does, I could see us top 4 next season, and possibly nearer 1st than 4th. That would take 4 things in particular:
1. Return of Fellaini.
2. A big, strong, mobile goal scorer.
3. Arteta, Pienaar (!), Fellaini free of injuries.
In all honesty we should be 6th, or even 5th as we beat City twice. But definitely in Europe. We have drawn a shed full of games this season (not like us at all) and almost all of those we should have won. Bit pissed off.
So here's wishing for a good and professionally organised pre-season against good opposition.
Here's hoping for teh return of Fellaini ASAP.
Here's hoping for a rarity, a storming start to the season to give us something to protect and build on after Xmas.
Here's hoping Pienaar stays.
And here's hoping for a good goal scorer to join the ranks.
We'll probably be 66-1 or 100-1 for the title. Worth a punt at 1/4 odds for top 4.
This season ends bitter-sweet, best football for years but 8th place. Next season maybe, just maybe...
37 Posted 19/04/2010 at 13:50:17
Our problem is we don't have backup of sufficient quality to cater for injuries/loss of form. `If only' we can have a normal season for injuries, retain the current squad AND somehow grab 2 quality additions... yes, I know..."Get Real!"
38 Posted 19/04/2010 at 18:11:39
And thank you for endorsing what I've said a hundred times. We DO NOT need a billionaire. Arteta cost £2m, so did Pienaar. Their combined worth now is perhaps £40m.
Bit worried that, in opening up the offensive side of our game, we have also opened up our defensive solidity. Our passing & movement in recent weeks has been positively Catalan, rather than Matalan. If Pienaar goes (as I think he will) then that will hit us hard in the creativity department.
If he stays, next season could be very interesting. Everton are currently 250-1 for the league next year. I'm hoping our familiarity will breed contempt for others.
39 Posted 19/04/2010 at 18:52:25
I`m definitely having that.
40 Posted 19/04/2010 at 18:58:21
41 Posted 19/04/2010 at 22:54:50
Skybet's 250-1 is win only. I'm hoping that someone is offering 100-1 with the each way option. Have you seen anything similar to this anywhere?
In any event, I'll be having some sort of bet about us winning the League. For me it's all about keeping hold of our best players, getting everyone fit and making a good start.
42 Posted 19/04/2010 at 23:31:59
Use the guardian chalkboards and have a look.
Jags made 24 passes — 1 of which was unsuccessful.
43 Posted 20/04/2010 at 05:31:06
I never saw a successful one
44 Posted 21/04/2010 at 22:05:08
Toffees will win last three to finish on 63 points... My head is spinning trying towork out what Villa Shity and Spurs will do so lets look at the RS.... Currently on 59 ...come home at weekend knackered and bloodied only to be robbed by a desperate Burnley .... Chelsea handed a win (rather than give Manure the title) means that their best will be 62 points.... Only one thing better than a dream ...a dream with stats and maths included.... More pills Nurse and leave the bottle.
45 Posted 22/04/2010 at 02:58:13
- Undoubtedly improved the team,
- Will definitely fit in with the squad,
- Will boost moral amongst the players and fans,
- Won't be a gamble,
- Loves everything that is Everton,
- Will help develop an Everton fan base in america,
- May attract american investment and sponsorship,
- Make Everton first thought for any up and coming american soccer star wishing to ply his trade in Europe,
I could go on a while here.
Howard
Coleman, Jags, Heitinga, Baines,
Donovan, Arteta, Fellaini, Peanuts,
Saha Yakubu
With Coleman gaining experience at Blackpool and with a good pre-season, I can see this team challenging for a top 3 spot next season.
As for the bench...
Hibbo, Distin, Yobo, Neville
Osman, Rodwell, Gosling, Billy
Anichebe, Vaughn, Baxter
Cant wait for 2010-11 season. I really hope we get Donovan, missing piece of the jigsaw if you ask me. And next season has got to be the season Coleman clicks. Got to make sure we keep hold of Pienaar too, we need all the pieces of this jigsaw.
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1 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:08:32