Everton vs AEK Athens
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Howard, Gosling, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Pienaar, Fellaini, Rodwell, Cahill, Bilyaletdinov, Jo.
Subs: Nash, Saha, Yakubu, Wallace, Baxter, Mustafi, Osman.
Stuart Mitchell,
Bangkok Posted 17/09/2009 at 16:38:18
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Michael Kenrick
My god... are we sure Bily is ready for a debut? Has he been adequately bedded in? What a terrible risk to take....
Matchday thread below... COYB!!!!
So we have a brand new Everton right flank tonight, come on Billy and Dan, come on toffees lift the roof!!!
Yeah looks like he is signed up, having a long chat with Moyes.
Great... I follow the club all summer and we barely sign fuck all. I come off the web for one day and we sign Lucas Neill.
LMAO!
They said a one year contract, can't be that bad!! Prefer him than Hibbert at RB.
It could be Gosling and Pienaar on the right and Baines, Bily on the left; have to see how the team starts the game...
Baines as captain... is he confident enough?
Goodluck to the lad.
Okay, Michael, let's not risk Bily and put Ossie in. After all there will be no "risk" with Ossie as we know exactly the crap he will serve up...
Good thing Moyesy signed Cahill’s bezzie today, otherwise he might’ve been a little narked at not being made captain tonight.
Moyes has dropped Osman, well done. I’m not saying I’m done with Osman. But he has been poor and needed to be dropped. Hopefully this will inspire the guy and he will be useful for us. But that will need to be in the center of the park and not on the wing, being played out of position hasn’t helped him. Lets see some good football tonight by Everton, but at least get a win.
Yobo is actually the captain tonight.
Just watching the start, and the line-ups; I never realised Leighton Baines was only 4"3"?
Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
Posted 17/09/2009 at 20:02:40
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Yobo capn...
Surely it actually makes a lot of sense these days for the captain to wear the No 1 shirt... a la AEK
Sincerely hope that the signing of Neill is on a one-year deal. I know we’re low on able bodies at the moment, but I saw rumours of a four-year deal floated today, and had visions of Neill sliding into the furrow on the bench carved by AvdM’s butt-cheeks.
Nope definitely Baines as captain - according to the pa announcer!
In all honesty, I just hope the team provides a performance that can provide some momentum. We have an inexperienced player at RB but there’s enough quality on that pitch to put in a good performance. Interested to see how Fellaini does back in the starting lineup and hopefully playing alongside Rodwell.
Early days i know.. but nice passing and the team looks really balanced.. heres hoping..
COYB
Was just thinking the same David, a good balance to the team for a change!
A very good, confident start.
Captain Yobo with the goal!
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 20:15:46
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1-0 to the Blues!
Get in! Hes the new lescott!
If we keep this up i’m going for 5-0!
nice ball billy.... right side looks so so much more effective..
Good ball in from Bily.
Just heard Moyes saying Gosling isn’t a right back... is he sure? He’s definitely a better one than Hibbert...
Billy has that architypal Eastern Bloc technique. The Big Hair is showing us what he can do also... nice.
Get in! The other new lescott!
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 20:16:43
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2-0 to the Blues!
Corner kick, Lescott who... Nah we have Distin!
Sod who’s scoring (ok, great news so far, but:
WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN TAKE A DECENT CORNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love you Billy!
heady days. Feels SO good to be able to post something positive!
Rodwell is having a good game as well....Great passing range and down both flanks which makes a change for us
Ok so 20mins gone and admitedly athens appear awful BUT, no Neville, Osman and Hibbert. What a relief, we look far more attacking and rodwell is a gem
’Seven years in charge by David Moyes. His reputation seems to grow with every passing season’.
Yeah, take that Moyes haters, we’ve got Five on our side!
Almost 3-0, Billy is looking great from the dead balls
Billy looks bloody dangerous from set pieces!
The king is down with cruciate knee problems long live the king.
Not just set pieces, he’s a good technical footballer... we don’t have many!
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 20:31:16
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Pienaar looking great on the right.
Billys delivery is brilliant!
To right Simon - no Neville, Hibbert or Osman and we look transformed.
Bilyyaletdinov and Rodwell need to start every week.
Cannot see Osman on the wing again anytime soon! Pienaar and Billy looking good!
So now we have Heitinga’s Dutch footballing ability to look forward to as well. Putting aside our frustration of this summer, it does appear that Moyes has found one hell of a player in the Russian.
begs the question why the fuck did billy not start on sunday!?!?!
Was thinking the same thing myself Barry..
Osman back in for Blackburn, Billy on the bench.
I can see it now...
I’m not saying he shouldn’t have been used on Sunday, but there is a hell of a lot of difference between this AEK side and the premier league. But agreed, how couldn’t he have been used at some point on Sunday.
We do look very different to Sunday - confidence, invention, flair etc. This is what we pay our money to see. But this absolutely must be replicated in the Premier League - to do it against a tin-pot European side is a step in the right direction but there is a long way to go
Who would the Dutch guy come in for at the weekend? The Big Hair is doing great!
maybe he wasn’t ready on Sunday
i’m liking this trying to up the tempo and passing but we’ve gone a bit ragged last 5 mins, someone just needs to put a foot on the ball, take the 2-0 to half time, early goal 2nd half. game over.
My error - Yobo the captain... nice!
Get in Rodwell, lost the ball, then pounced like a lion!
Heitinga at RB. Gosling is doing okay tonight but again, there will be a big difference in the style of play and pressure this weekend than what is being dealt with right now. That’s where I hope he plays at least.
i concur heitinga at rb for a more physical blackburn and maybe swap jo depending how performs in the rest of this game.
thhhhhhrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 20:35:13
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3-0 to the Blues!
Let’s not forget we have Lucas Neill... all of a sudden...
Yes! Pienaar.
...all of a sudden we have a good squad!
what do i know ha ha? play it quiet til half time, just twat it, get in!
He must have a foot like a traction engine!!
Baines having best game of his season!!!
Fuck ME!!!
Go Pienaar you Peanut! RW is where he belongs!
But if we can just continue to develop this style of play we may not need to worry about defending!!! This is what we need to see in the league. Great response after the weekend, and great job by Moyes of getting this team ready to play and doing the right thing and finally dropping Osman. This is Everton football, lets hope the players don’t suddenly forget that when the weekend comes.
AEK are as Sunday League as their kit suggests...I think I was a little negative with my 5-0 prediction.
The game is set up for a Yak 30 minute cameo. He will score two...
Get the fuck in. We need to push for an even bigger margin now - 6 or 7 is plausible - to send a message to the rest of the group. Dont take your foot off the pedal lads!
It won’t surprise me if Neill makes right-back his own and perhaps one of Cahill/Fellaini drop to the bench for Heitinga. Neill is a leader on the pitch and although not boasting the most lethal pace he’s very very experienced.
Looking at tonight, gosling will find it hard to get into the team.
Anybody else feel fellaini is lacking inciseivness and tempo which would make him a great player? His control is good and his vision but when he goes to make that killer pass, he overcooks it or gives it away. Just feel a little nurturing could send him a long,long way
very good half from billy there nice touches, put’s in a great ball, and he’s not up to full match fitness i reckon either, just a shame he’s not got lightning pace, the teams got a nice balance to it but still lacks real pace, which we’ll need against better teams.
True Simon but the guy is 21
That pass from Billy didn’t make it... he’s rubbish I tell you!
Does anyone know what the hell Bargain Booze is? Shop? Website? Sounds like hell to me. Full of Jeremy Kyle fans and street dwellers...
Just who is that masked team?
Bargain Booze is a chain of shops that sells booze... at bargain prices. During Walter Smith’s tenure I found myself a regular customer.
Amazing how passing the ball on the deck and spraying it around can be effective. Good half lads
A funny thought, but it seems like this season Everton have turned into that other team across the park. We’ve underperformed in the league but can’t lose in Europe.
is that the tidy blonde bird off of ’the apprentice’ on live from channel 5? which looks the worst show ever, worse than the one show!
Just watching the highlights.. the first corner for the goal was actually spot on..would have been very difficult for any side to defend...
great crosser... nice to see the youtube video didn’t lie!
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 20:58:47
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Me too Neil..
I agree Trevor. Width, speed and the confidence to build play on the deck has produced the best football for us all season.
I saw 10 seconds of that programe Barry, sounded like two birds nattering in the pub with a bloke piping up cos he was drunk... the facile has become important, as they were talking about something shite I can;t even remember.
Rodwell, please make a horrendous error, so bigger boys don’t take you away from us.
Benfica are 2-0 up at HT vs BATE Borisov in the other Group I game tonight.
nick ha ha yeah the fella that camps it up a bit and trys to get into the birds conversation, i’m just talking with the ladies, i’m a gent, not a threat or am i ......... ????
well obviously DM read Tony Marsh’s post and has reacted accordingly
Steven Sturm, this is one of those situations where you earn spades of respect for NOT knowing. You’ll be happier if you never know. Anyway...
How many teams go through in the group? Two or just one?
i’m sure mr marsh will sleep well tonight ,dreaming of kittens, or at the very least saving his poison pen for sunday night.
Yeah Barry, we all know those guys, and of course we’ve all done it ourselves. Essentially the programme is bar chat........... shit Osman is on! 2-3
noooooooooooooooo Osman is on
They said on 5 that Billy was coming off for Osman, I was fuming!
Cahill makes more sense though...
cahill off to protect him?
Hope Ossie in the middle
Moyes not-so secret lover enters the fray.
Ossie CM. Much better there IMO. dont fuck up now mate, prove me right
ha ha ha ha billy off? god bless them channel 5. the entire armchair everton population has just spat their brew all over the telly and shouted WHAT THE FUCK!!!!
Osman on for Cahill...Everyones thoughts?
He said Ossie on for Jo.. but just saw him? ..who’s off? Billy?
It’s good to get Osman on. Playing in the middle is his position, he is an Everton player and it can only help to get him some confidence in this game and hopefully make him a productive player for us again.
Looks like ossie on the right and peanuts thru the middle?
C’mon now Ossie la, prove a lot of us wrong by showing us what you can do in the middle
Osman should be playing in the middle if we really must bring him on!
Was enjoying our football, gutted now!
ok Cahill.... yeah.. now we can see Fella next to Rodders with Osman more forward... Cahill was back with Rodders in the first half...
wait is it cahill or billy off??
phew.. billy is still on lol
Cahill off. And Bilya is injured and will be coming off. F-ing great!!!
No, Moyes has to be testing Pienaar in the middle where he excelled for South Africa at Confed Cup. I will be very interested to see how he goes. Great when you’re far enough ahead to be able to test small changes like this.
why put ossie out wide??? tut tut davey......oh yeah just remembered we’re not supposed to enjoy watching Everton play. disgusted
Moyes pulled Cahill off and and then came on Ossie...
Yak looks like hes getting ready! feed the yak!
Lets clear this up. Osman came on for Cahill and is playing in the middle, not the wing. Cahill picked up a card and has been nursing a bit of a foot injury, so good sub. Okay?
But Dinyar just appeared to injure his groin and will be coming off now with yakubu coming on.
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 21:10:45
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Yak for Billy
Rob, I agree Ossie is rubish out wide, but a chance to Pienaar in the middle is much appreciated!
Damn, Billy’s ruptured his Cockski
I’m getting a serious man-crush on Bilyaltedinov. He looks class. Pienaar, Arteta and Billy are going to become a great trio!
Would like to see Baxter on for Pienaar maybe for 20 minutes...
Ozzie looks like hes on the wing to me..
Lets hope billy is gonna be ok.
Feed the yak and he will score.
damn, it looks like Bily might have picked up a knock. Hopefully he’ll be alright...he was involved in all 3 goals!
So now Osman will be forced to play out wide. But before the people start slating Moyes for putting Osman back on the wing, this was down to an injury occurring after the sub was made. Gutted for Bilya and gutted for Osman not being given a run in the center of the park. But now we will not be seeing Bilya at the weekend, that much is for sure.
4-4-2 now ossie on rw pienaar on lw
as Mike Bassett said...’ I will be playing 4 4 fucking 2’
Jason make that:
Billy, Arteta, Rodders, Fella , Pienaar
all kids apart from Arteta and Pienaar... who are no pensioners...
What potential!
Distin takes one in the chestnuts!
Either that’s an over reaction or his nuts are inside out
nice piece of refereeing there.
don’t say that often
The thing I like about Rodwell is that he always seems to make the right decisions...
Yeah but how many times do we see his arms outstretched because no ones giving him options... £20 plus add ons to Man Utd
yeah rodwell is an ocean of calm in that midfield
Nick,
What the hell are you talking about?
My mind has gone to pot since watching Ian Write and the two bints
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 21:26:02
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Jo and Yak linking up well
He’ll have more options when he’s playing alongside Arteta, Billy, Pienaar and errr...Osman.
Oh, let’s face it, he’s never gonna drop him!
I think Pienaar is over the moon to have the Yak back! They team up excellently... seem good mates too.
Ahhh, even though Athens have been very average this is what Everton fans needed at the moment.
To see our side go out with a balanced and attacking line up that plays real football. I nice way to wake up down here in Australia.
Even Jo looks good. Love Bily
missing Billy at’corners!!!
I so hope The Big Hair is growing a beard.
the athens back line looks about as comfortable as a pair of russell brands trousers
How good is it to see the big Yak running at defenders!! We’ve certainly missed it - usually we have our backs to them with midfielders overlapping. A good change!
Delivery has been poor since Bily’s retraction.
Also every good team needs a "water carrier". Rodwell does this job incredibly well.
4 -3 - 3
This is heaven lol
Three strikers as opposed to none on Sunday
4-3-3 formation!!!! Moyes has been abducted by the body snatchers!!
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 21:30:37
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4-3-3! Unbelievable!
well two and Jo technically
Am I deaming or do we have 3 strikers on the pitch .. AFTER we are 3 up... must be a europe game.. Moyes would never do it in the league
Fuck me is moyes on drugs tonight...... THREE strikers.
What next, keeping one up front when defending corners?
"I so hope The Big Hair is growing a beard"
I simply wouldn’t have the words to express my delight.
he’s a weird fucker moyes, he can be so tactically rigid, and then he plays 3 differerent formations in 1 match!!!!
how was that not a penalty?
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 21:32:50
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Definite pen!
Pienaar with ice on his knee.. hope hes ok..
Call me greedy, but I really really want 4!
the missus is delighted with this, i (may) actually speak to her tonight.
Blimey, Essien is coming on... but yeah, The Big Hair is deffinately bedding in a beard. Do we dare to dream?
4-3-3 - Tony Marsh... keep writing those fucking articles mate!
Fair play to the Greeks, they’ve got an inflatable banana. It’s yellow - like their bulk ordered, one-sized (XL) sponsorless shirts.
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 21:38:08
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Those Athens fans LOVE losing!
Jason broome ..Id say the team picked was by force of hand considering Neville was out.
But we have kept it on the floor and involved the midfield a lot tonight and played some good fucking stuff.
What a difference without it is when you dont play Osman,Hibbert and two holding midfielders and actually go for it.
keep it up moyes.
If we’re dreaming of facial hair for Fellaini then i’m torn between the thin tashe/pointy beard ’swashbuckler’ and an exact replica of his afro on the front of his face...
Mood has changed since Pienaar off... seem subdued all of a sudden...
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 21:41:56
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"How did he miss that"!
he won’t miss from there very often... glad its at 3-0
One big face ’fro for me please
Reality check.
Yes it’s been great tonight with 2 wingers and 2 attacking central midfielders, but week in, week out I feel Heitinga must play alongside Rodwell centrally.
Then 2 of Bily, Pienaar, Arteta and Osman.
Then 1 of Cahill or Felliaini.
Leaving DM to pick between Yak, Jo and Saha upfront.
wonder what peeps are thinking? i know he’s not perfect but i think fellaini is worth a run in centre mid, i’m pretty sure he’ll improve with a bit of confidence and concecutive games, him and rodders have looked good tonight, i suppose the tes will be sunday when allardyces dirty bastrards are snarling round them.
Take Billy and Pienaar off and the football is less impressive.
Obvious, really.
Hope they’re both ok for the weekend...
YES!!!
GREAT WORK YAK....
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 21:44:38
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4-0 to the Blues!
Thoroughly deserved goal.
Well done Jo.
yeah Barry .. them and the tater are the way forward for us in the middle
He may still have room for improvement but I really like Jo. Always happy, interesting life story.
If we could get him on the cheap next summer I’d be happy
Dave - I disagree - I think Rodwell and Arteta playing behind Cahill or Fellaini would work splendidly.
Pienaar will be fine for the weekend, but Bilya will probably be out for a week or so unfortunately. But an excellent debut for the Russian. And good for Jo to get a goal. All in all this should be a good match to get the team back on track. But Blackburn will be extremely physically and a completely different type of opponent at the weekend. Not saying we shouldn’t win, but it will be a totally different game.
When our Brazilian scores I think we should call it a ’Joal’
time for yak to score....come on
it’s been good for us having three strikers on for a decent period... given the entire team a sense of attacking... just what we need at the moment.
Ditto Barry Blackmore - Fellaini’s having a good game
Graham, my concern is we are adding a lot of pressure on Rodwell, so having Heitinga alongside him will help ease this.
the thing we’ve learnt about jo is he needs at least another striker up with him, looked much better in 442, 433
Jo has always said he is not a lone striker, he plays off of a lead striker. So yes, no surprise to see him look better with someone up front with him.
Heitinga or Neville to come in when Rodwell’s form drops.
Play your best players in their best positions.
That’s how I’d play it anyway...
I agree with you Graham..
Juan Fraun has been trying to get someone sent off all game!! Fucker.
cheating wanker, went down like he had been shot
silly boy, you can’t raise your hands, total overreaction like.
Saha didn’t fancy the trip to FC BATE methinks!!
Hes out for 3 games now isnt he?
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 21:57:33
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That’ll do. Pity about Louis - hopefully we’ll appeal it.
Can we appeal? I know he raised his hand but the red card looked harsh.. he fell like he was shot..
No not 3 games, he’ll only be out for 1.
I’d like to think Saha won’t get a ban at all and Juanfran will get two games. Pretty sure that’s what would happen if Messi had done what Saha’s just done. We’re only Everton though so we’ll see.
Moyes gets tactics right? How are we gonna slag him off now?
Actually, Osman was pretty shite playing on the right...
David, Brendan. He raised his hands, and did catch him in the face, even though it was only a tap, the intent was there, so he wouldn’t have a chance of winning a appeal. If you look at their red, the lad flicks out a boot and catches Distin, I think Distin made a bit of a meal of it, but it’s still a straight red for the intent.
Well UEFA decided Eduardo didn’t dive... so anything is possible
Did he catch him in the face? I thought it was only chest height before he dropped to the ground..
Yeah looking at it again David he catches him on the chin.
Waiting to see a reply on setanta ireland.. i listening to brian kerr waffle on..
oh yeah see it now.. on the chin alright..
You’re right rob.. BATE next. Basle are in with fulham arent they!
Nice to be able to post positive things for once! : )
My thoughts after watching that are:
*Rodwell is born to play central midfield! He would be wasted in defense! He reminds me of Xavi/Iniesta.
* Without the 3 Muppets, Neville/Osman/Hibbert, we are actually a good side! Osman sadly made it onto the field and, surprise surprise, was crap!
* I wish Saha had taken a more Big Dunc approach and floored that guy!
Brendan O'Doherty
Posted 17/09/2009 at 22:27:48
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Well Brian according to Kevin Gallacher on R5 it was ’a shocking decision and the player should be embarrassed with himself’. Admittedly the replay doesn’t look good but you never know.
David I was watching it on Setanta as well and Brian Kerr didn’t seem too sure did he?
Also what is the point of having an ’extra assistant referee’ if he can’t spot a blatant penalty (on Bainsey) under his nose? Luckily it didn’t matter.
I try to tune the setanta commentry out to be honset brendan, fat dolan and the rest do my head in!
The extra assistant was bit of a joke.. it was like he was waiting for the ref to give it and the ref was waiting for the assistant to give it.. and neither did.. could be controversial and get messy.. not sure i like it. doesnt seem how many officals there is we never get penos!
Great win for the blues, but I have to say athens were very poor, hopefully it gives the confidence a lift. I would just like to say a few points.
1st half cornors from Billy - excellent
2nd half cornors from Ozzie - Dreadfull
Really really impressed with Billy, he was involved with the 3 first half goals.
Dan did a great job at right back, he is able to pass and move, I would prefer him to tony anyday.
Great to see Distin get his first goal, himself and Yobo seen to have a good understanding.
Nice to see Peanuts score, he needs more goals.
Felli had a good game winning back possion a few times, with some neat passing.
Yak looks he is back & ready for action.
Jo looks good with someone playing beside him.
So all in all a good night for the blues, onwards & upwards. COYB
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Matchday thread below... COYB!!!!