FAN ARTICLES
A Hammering for the Irons
Comments (79) : David Moyes made three changes from the team that put Spurs to the sword. Leon Osman, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Tony Hibbert came in to the starting XI, replacing Phil Neville, Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar, with Osman as captain.
The South African limped out of Wednesday's win over Spurs with an ankle knock and won't feature at Glanford Park.
Neville and Arteta are on the bench though, while ex-Iron frontman Jermaine Beckford and Louis Saha continue their burgeoning strike partnership.
Also among the substitutes are Magaye Gueye, Victor Anichebe, Yakubu, Jan Mucha and Jack Rodwell.
A good cross from Coleman resulted in Everton getting an early corner that came to naught. Some good interpassing saw Fellaini set up Saha who produced a mirror image of his 3rd-minute Spurs goal, powering his shot home along the ground with his right left foot this time to open the scoring.
Dagnall came close for the home side and should have done far better with a far post header in response. Beckford then had a good chance to score but failed to get his shot away.
Heitinga was perhaps a little lucky not to got an early red card for an awful challenge, planting is studs into Dagnall's chest with a ridiculous high-footed challenge. Yellow only. More good passing saw Osman get forward and pull it back inside well but Beckford was heavily marked.
It all went a bit flat until Scunthorpe theyy won a corner in the 18th minute and O'Connor got in their first shot that Howard grasped comfortably. Beckford then somehow got free momentarily in front of goal but was rapidly dispossessed. Coleman did really well to cut a lovely ball back in but neither Saha nor Beckford were up in the penalty area to profit from it.
A nice move should have been finished off by Fellaini but he was leaning back and sccoped his shot too high over the bar. Osman then had a shot blocked. Beckford was then played in with all the time in the world but he put his shot in at a nice height for the keeper to palm it away when he really should have done anything else and scored. Very poor decison-making.
Another great passing move involved Osman, Baines & Bily, Osman's goalbound shot deflected wide, and nothing coming off the corner. Hibbert delivered a shocking free-kick straight to the feet of a defender, as Everton occasionally seemed to be playing as if this was a training ground runabout.
Bily whipped in a good cross that won yet another corner, and more attacking play. Everton surged forward but the pass forward hit Beckford on the heel and came back. Beckford again looked poor when chesting down and losing a simple ball scooped direct to him out of defence. This game really should have been more at his level, but that was not the impression he was giving. But finally a really nice cross in from Osman after a good run down the left and Beckford glanced in an excellent header for the second goal on 33 mins.
With the goalkeeper stranded, Fellaini looked to score from the centre-circle but Jones blocked the path of his shot. A shocking giveway by Osman in midfield could have been punished but wasn't by a poor home side who should have been 5 or 6 goals down at the half-time whistle. Saha lazily glanced a good Baines free-kick straight at the keeper to underline the chances missed.
Straight from the kick-off, Collins for Scunthorpe showed Everton and Beckford how it should be done on a nicely delivered Route One ball, over the top from Josh Wright that eat Distin for a first-time strike powered well past Howard and the Irons were back in it after just 16 seconds. That put life back into the locals and the game!
Everton steadied and a free-kick from the right was played back by Fellaini to Bily but he got his shot wrong and it drifted wide. A breakaway by Fellaini should have finished better when Beckford played a good cross back to him, but Scunthope were quickly back up the field and pressing the Blues defence as this game seemed a lot more like a classic cup-tie.
Coleman won another Everton corner that Baines got a little behind Saha, and from the goal-kick, Scunthorpe again attacked with new-found zest. Coleman with space to run showed his raw side when he tried to communicate his intentions and lost he ball in the process.
Beckford produced some good hold-up play down the right and then, with the help of Bily, he crossed superbly for Coleman to plant an excellent header beyond Murphy and into the corner to reassert Everton's superiority... and he got a ridiculous yellow card for daring to celebrate with the fans!
Coleman tried an acorbatic shot from edge of the area that flow wide after Anichebe came on in place of Saha... and Everton took the sting out of the game to consolidate their lead when a left-foot shot from Felliani evaded Murphy and snuk inside the post for the fourth goal. The Belgian then went off, substituted by Rodwell. With 12 mins left, it was time for Gueye to appear... with first name Magaye on his shirt.
Anichebe powered through to shoot and win a corner that Gueye took, a little too high. But a good ball in to Baines from Gueye, running to the byeline, saw the left back score a beauty, lofting his shot over the keepr and into the far top corner to make it five for the Blues.
Mirfin forced a save from Howard, tipping the ball over, then from the corner, Rodwell cleared the ball off the line and Anichebe broke down the right channel but could not get his shot on goal. Everton wound up the game with a comfortable win, the defenders outscoring the strikers in another vignette of this strange season for the Blues' front runners.
Reader Comments (79)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
2 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:07:26
Will Moyes go with both Becks and Saha next week though
he should but.......
3 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:13:48
4 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:15:26
Ooops... seems I do too! Thanks for the correction, Brian.
5 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:21:11
6 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:19:36
Editorial Team
7 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:27:24
Trevor... it's H E I T I N G A
Why is that so hard?!?!?!?!
8 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:26:34
9 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:29:37
Still think the same line up that beat Spurs should play Liverpool however.
10 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:32:35
11 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:32:15
12 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:29:17
13 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:44:41
14 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:30:17
I think it was a rather easy game, Scunthorpe were terrible.
Bily was quiet, but when he did have the ball he used it quite effectively (passed it forward). H he is definately stranded when playing as a winger, but I think he deserves a chance in the middle next to Fellaini.
Guaye did ok when he game on. Was energetic and eager to do something. He should definately be an option to come from the bench in the games when it's just not working (west ham anyone?).
Fellaini is pure class, and if Moyes even thinks of playing him as an attacking mid/forward again I will cry.
Beckford has everything we currently need, he just can't finish for jack. His movement and pace really opens up the play for us (admittedly playing in 2 open games) but he can't finish when he has to think, when it's all instinct then great, but give him 2-3 seconds to think and he'll mess it up. shame. but he should still play until we got a better alternative.
I still think Heitinga is better than jags, and he can pass.
15 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:38:19
It's time we let him sit it out for a while until his composure returns.
For all his faults Heitinga at least plays the ball out of defence on the ground and to one of our players. One thing we dont need next week is hoofing it to the shite only for them to keep on attacking us.
I thought he had a fairly good game against the Spurs and with more game time will only improve our clean sheet count.
Something we have failed to do in past games with Jags.
16 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:44:31
Coleman and HeitinGA will be ok next week.
The rules are:
5 yellows before 31st dec = 1 match ban
5 yellows after 31st dec = warning to future conduct
10 yellows before 2nd Sunday of April = 2 match ban
10 yellows after 2nd Sunday of April = severe warning
17 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:36:23
Neither Heitinga nor Coleman will miss the derby next Sunday, as an amnesty for players receiving a fifth yellow card kicked in at the end of December.
So, fingers crossed, Moyes will have a near enough full-strength squad to pick from next week. Who he picks, and the formation he employs, however, is anybody's guess !
18 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:56:30
My point is that you could just as easily have put a positive fact alongside it as a negative one.
19 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:00:19
20 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:04:24
Felli looks even better in this formation, if a 4 man midfield is to prosper his presence will be vital.
21 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:05:03
22 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:02:39
23 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:11:00
We should sell Jags and put Heitinga in at CB - his true positon.
The tackle was atrocious and shoulda been a red IMO. But the guy plays hard and most importantly plays it out of the back on the deck.
Arsenal are completely over-valuing Jags and we should cash in.
If that doesn't happen, then cash in on Heitinga to the highest bidder and keep Jags. But I like it the other way around.
To say Heitinga is the worst Dutch international ever is silly. He a very good CB - he's an absolutely shitty CDM in the Carsley role...
24 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:13:48
25 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:21:07
26 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:33:36
Where's the bloody clean sheet!
MOYES OUT!
27 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:53:29
Forgot to mention - take £1-2 Million of the £12 million supposedly there for jags and buy cover.
Understand if you want JH to go. One of them needs to.
Jags is overvalued and a good sell
JH has an attitude - but I argue if he'd of been playing CB where he SHOULD have the attitude would be non-existent. But if he left I'd cry no tears.
BTW - I hear your arguement but Nev can play there, Hibbo (yeah, yeah), and wtf about Duffy? If you bought a servicable CB with the Jags spoils there's plenty of cover at CB.
28 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:57:09
We kinda need money....
29 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:53:35
Thought it was a very professional performance and the team in the past two games have looked more balanced than it has for months.
However IMO thats as much to do with having the ball played out of defence from Distin/Heitinga as much as having two forwards.
30 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:53:06
I have to agree with Liam Appleby and Mike Allison - the instinctive negativity in some parts is unbelievable. You'd think we were a Bolton and had just scraped through.
5-1 away from home is just fine by me, thanks. If someone had offered beforehand that Everton would win by 4 and both strikers would be on the scoresheet I would have snatched their hands off.
But oh no, it's only Moyes 5th big win in 9 years. Get him out, eh?
Honestly, talk about glass half empty.
31 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:00:35
Hasn't Seamus Coleman been playing at right wing most of this season? Or have I missed something?
32 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:09:05
Great atmosphere today, some nice renditions of a few 80s classics and a few great tunes for Felli and Phil Nevilla. A balanced and at times exciting performance with some really lovely goals. I thought everyone performed well although I still have concerns over Johnny H, don't think he's the most solid defender in the world.
Really enjoyed it though - it made a difference not having players in the team who slow the game down and take five touches when one will do - namely Pienaar, Arteta and Cahill. Love them all but we were slicker and more clinical without them. That said, it wasn't Brazil we were playing - bring on King fuckin Kenny and the Red Shite.
33 Posted 08/01/2011 at 18:50:46
I have read numerous irate posts over the past two weeks regarding DM not picking any strikers to play up front and I agree it has been unbelievable... until you see how bad Saha and Beckford really are.
Saha cannot pass or knock down a ball to save his life. Today he really took the biscuit every touch, pass by him was to the opposition. He cannot tackle or put himself about, he looking up in the sky pouting when he makes a bad touch.. which is a lot of the time.
Beckford is even worse, he has no touch whatsoever, he's not a footballer, period. It's unbelievable he is in the Premier League, he would be a very poor part-time pub player.
I think Victor can play a bit, but only up front likewise with Yak. I cannot understand what is going on with Vaughany and Moyes.. He may not have played much (injuries) but he is way ahead of Saha and Beckford with the effort he puts in. I mean did you see the defensive clearence near the end by Beckford... he must have have thought there was an opponent's goal nearby, the cowardly way he poked the ball, I mean it's unbelievable.
Steve Round saying how good a finisher he is.. (after the match) how good his performance was... uh???
34 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:21:44
..."Giving David Moyes 'only' his 5th big win in 9 seasons at Everton."
Moyes Out....
(jesus wept)
indeed, a truly pointless fact.
35 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:25:12
Let's just be happy with what we got today, eh?
36 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:30:25
Unbelievable comment - in fact one of the worst I've ever read on TW. They are strikers and they both scored. They linked play well, moved well, worked hard, used their pace, touch and guile intelligently. Beckford's cross for Seamus was quality.
Moyes and the strikers have deserved some stick this season, but not today - your comments are a joke. If he puts faith in those two they will get the results - they've played together twice and we won both games.
37 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:20:52
When he loses the ball in the centre of midfield, it puts the team under a lot of pressure as he tends to lay there with his hands clutching his head and even when he gets right up, he is too slow and ? like a lot of others in the side ? can only tackle a hot lunch.
38 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:43:36
And judging by the incident after the Stevenage match more trouble for Newcastle than just losing
39 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:44:06
Still it's good to have an attacking player with a bit of pace and movement.
40 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:52:30
41 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:50:33
42 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:00:04
Will try and post a link if I can....
http://yfrog.com/n27jxz
43 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:59:45
44 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:02:04
45 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:53:56
Reckon JH is a top CB and hope he stays but doubt it, plus if we got offered £8-10M then I'd take the cash to strengthen. Let's face it, we are only going to buy if we sell
An enjoyable day all round to be fair and really enjoyed the forum today.... ToffeeWeb Live Matchday Forum is a bit like being at the game, very positive when thrashin someone, edgy when it's close and very sarcy when we are shite.
Any fan who doesn't understand that sarcasm/realism is part of being a blue needs a slap.
Agree/Disagree we all say it as we see it and THAT boys/girls is what this site IS ALL about.
46 Posted 08/01/2011 at 19:55:44
47 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:09:00
Fuckin Hell... even the missus had to see that one
His own fan???????
Wonder if he'd been sleepin with his wife/lost him a bet/sold him a dodgy car???
Very nice!
48 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:12:52
49 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:12:33
50 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:11:41
Did i just read that you rate Anichebe over Beckford and Saha? How much you been drinkin?
I have to agree with others, your comments are other-worldly.
You're slaggin of Beckford is just shameful. The kid ran and opened up acres of space, scored one, and his cross to Seamus was just beautiful.
I'd rather watch that kid run around for 90 minutes than Anichebe the tank fall over when the breeze pops up then throw his arms out wondering why the ref didn't call a foul - nevermind the Yak put in a 35% effort for his 12 million pounds or whatever the fuck it was.
51 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:22:44
52 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:24:24
Read it again Jamie..nuff said
53 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:27:26
As already mentioned above, prefer the JH and Distin partnership as JH can actually pass the ball. Also last year when he got a run at CB he was quality. If Arsenal are really offering that much for Jags, take it and by a cover CB for less - or recall Yobo from loan, if that is possible.
Roll on the next game and hope Moyes keeps to the 2 recognised forwards as well as the surprisingly positive attitude - is he finally beginning to see the light? Time will tell. The RS are crap at the moment, just hope the new manager/dalglish effect does not kick in just yet. Really could have done with Hodgson still being in charge for that one:-)...
54 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:24:27
55 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:39:12
Great win today; I'm backing the Beckford and Saha brigade!
56 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:39:28
is he finally beginning to see the light? A better question would be; Does he read Toffeeweb in the bath with his laptop?
57 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:45:23
DM seeing the benefit of playing positively as well as with 2 recognised forwards and being a bit more flexible in formation, does not have anything to do with TW.
58 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:56:31
59 Posted 08/01/2011 at 20:58:21
Also, how do you know Moyes doesn't read TW? If I was a manager, I would want my finger on the fans' pulse.
60 Posted 08/01/2011 at 21:01:05
Yes, but you've got a very long line behind you!!
Editorial Team
61 Posted 08/01/2011 at 21:03:40
For many years, I have consistently highlighted any big win with a reference to our Big Wins page. But I guess I should not be surprised that such a reference to the full historic record of Everton's Big Wins would get the backs up of our resident Moyes apologists ? for the simple reason that his record in this department pales in comparison to any other era in Everton's history.
62 Posted 08/01/2011 at 21:20:56
Every time Osman is made captain we win!!!
Drop him!!!
Happy now?
63 Posted 08/01/2011 at 21:28:41
I would have been as happy today with a 2-0 as I was with a 5-1. History will say that we were better than them to the tune of a four goal margin ON THE DAY. Thats it. We still lost against Brentford.
For me there were a lot of positives in todays game and the biggest one concerned Mr Moyes. If I'm right then 4-4-2 it will be next week. If i'm wrong it's back to the Dr. David Kelly handbook of "how to get the most out of your life sitting in a wood"
64 Posted 08/01/2011 at 21:31:18
...I'll have a pint of whatever you've been drinking!
65 Posted 08/01/2011 at 23:53:10
I'll also take this opportunity to reiterate that we're definitely going to win the league this year because of the 24 year rule. I've had my doubts but I'm back on board now...
But seriously folks... Michael, you presented a fact in a particular negative way, unnecessarily, when it could just as easily have been presented in a positive way. Moyes failed to record big wins in his first six years or so, but managed scarcely believable (at the time) amounts of 1-0 wins, including us coming 4th in the league against all odds, with a decidedly limited playing staff. I remember Walter Smith having some huge wins, one of which was a pointless (but fun) end of season blow out, but also lots of 0-0 home draws with five or six defenders on the pitch. I'd rather have five 1-0 wins than one 5-0 win, and that's what Moyes gave us in those 'big win' free years. What's got people's backs up is your selection of the fact in the way you've presented it as an important or pertinent point, when it really isn't.
66 Posted 09/01/2011 at 00:15:43
Shit my cookers going ape shit, Talk to you soon J J C
67 Posted 08/01/2011 at 23:42:27
69 Posted 09/01/2011 at 00:43:11
Home fan = WTF = Ban him
Away Fan = WTF = Ban him.
If idenified = life long ban = get this cobblers out of football.
70 Posted 09/01/2011 at 01:24:13
A POSITIVE way of looking at this is like this:
Scunthorpe - 1-0,2-0, 2-1, 3-1,4-1,5-1
Huddersfield - 1-0,2-0, 2-1, 3-1,4-1,5-1
Hull - 1-0,1-1,2-1, 3-1,4-1,5-1
SK Brann - 1-0,2-0,3-0,3-1,4-1,5-1,6-1
Sunderland - 1-0,2-0,3-0,3-1,4-1,5-1,6-1,7-1
Point - We started well in all these games, then dropped off, then picked up again and went on with the job.
This however is missing in a lot of our games over the last few seasons.
On Osman, look at the goal he scored in the 7-1 rout of Sunderland. This is when I wrote him off, and I think it sums up his real attitude. He also did something similar against City a few weeks ago when he had 2 players to pass to, and he went himself and fucked it up.
71 Posted 09/01/2011 at 04:39:27
72 Posted 09/01/2011 at 15:33:29
Everyone is aware of your views on Moyes. You use the site to portray that. Fair enough, you put the effort into the site so its your prerogative and I'd do the same under the circumstances.
Please dont insult my or anypone elses inteligence by referring to Moyes supporters as 'apologists'. You will have worked out that despite your own limitations in seeing the bigger picture and taking a balanced view, there is a logic to this position. It's based around examining our achievments relative to other non 'Sky Four' teams within the context of a lop sided modern game, which makes his task very difficult. That doesn't mean I or any other supporters don't see his faults, but I see them relative to others bigger problems and poorer returns over the years.
You continue to deny, despite the glaringly obvious evidence (take the blinkers off and read it) that Everton's (and other teams) lack of resources is a significant factor in our failure to win trophies and be successful. Unfortunately your vendetta against Moyes appears all consuming so you ignore these facts... it is why the same teams are winning everything... geddit!?
73 Posted 09/01/2011 at 19:12:16
Are you sure you have not been drinking?????
74 Posted 09/01/2011 at 22:30:22
Take a bow son.
(extra points for spelling name wrong and saying sorry)
75 Posted 10/01/2011 at 06:34:23
With a more positive determined manager, we should have gone on to win the 2009 FA Cup FInal, with the resources we had. We lost that final because Moyes bottled it.
We should have finished last season in a much better position with the resources we had that produced some great form in the second half of the season.
We should be in a much better position this season with the resources we have but we are not primarily as a result of Moyes's incompetence.
And along the way, it would have been nice to have had a lot more big wins to savour.
76 Posted 10/01/2011 at 08:07:44
77 Posted 10/01/2011 at 11:03:05
I don't think it's objectivity that causes him to A. highlight how few 'big wins' we've had or B. refer to a large section of posters as Apologists (TW is not negative remember, it's a myth... yawn...). I also disagree that money/resources play no part in how the team perform. In fact his continued insistence that it has no bearing is kind of surreal.
That said, even though I'm forever grateful to Moyes I do sympathise with Michael's frustrations. I remember watching Everton in the 2009 cup final wondering when we were going to step up a gear - we never did. I watch us batter big teams on a semi-regular basis and then play like a shower against mediocre teams. Thing is, my take on it is Moyes thrives on being the underdog, and that's when his team generally perform best. That's the mindset we have to break out of if our gratitude for Moyes is not to sour as we watch an extremely talented squad tread water again and again against premier league teams who are set up to defend.
78 Posted 10/01/2011 at 11:40:29
The so called 'Sky Four' only existed because other teams let them. Play attactive football and see the money pour in. And on that, if this is the only reason why we haven't won any trophies, why the fuck do Portsmouth have an FA Cup in the last two years?
79 Posted 10/01/2011 at 14:16:35
Sorry but 'should' is a strong word isnt it Michael?
Cech
Cole
Alex
Terry
Boswinga
Lampard
Mikel
Essien
Malouda
Drogba
Anelka
I went to the cup final in 'hope' that we could triumph. Before and after the game i never thought we 'should' win or have won that game. I was dissapointed with Moyes for starting with Hibbert, they tortured him first half....but having said that... considering we had the spine of our team removed we were always going to be up against it.
80 Posted 10/01/2011 at 13:55:19
It seems anybody who disagrees with the mandate is automatically branded an 'apologist.' everybody is entitled to an opinion but if it differs from the party line then you are an imbecile..
Personally, I thought we lost the FA cup because we came up against a good team of very expensively assembled players. While we had a threadbare squad missing Jagielka (when he was on top of his game) and Arteta (who was the best playing the best football of his life, before his injury). Subs used,Vaughan, Jacobsson and Gosling, enough said really.
They brought on Ballack because Essien wasn't having his best game..
It was the haves against the have nots, Moyes is far from blameless for things that have happened at the club but dont blame him for injuries and our failure to assemble a squad of very highly paid international stars.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
Top of the Page
1 Posted 08/01/2011 at 17:04:00
..."Giving David Moyes 'only' his 5th big win in 9 seasons at Everton."
Moyes Out....
(jesus wept)