The Mail Bag
We can get to the final... can't we?
Comments (33)
I can remember watching the semi-final against Manchester United two years ago thinking, "We are not going to do this." When Cahill missed, the only thing I could think was defeat. But the day was won by Baines, Neville, Vaughan and Jagielka.
The game on the weekend was Baines's and Neville's game. And the game will always belong to them.
When Everton got the draw against Chelsea in the first game, I just thought Everton let us down. How good you can play but get a replay at Stamford Bridge.
I'm just 15, so I don't go to many Everton matches. My Sky box was broken so I had to listen to my radio. I thought it was going to be a repeat of the first game, but saw I was wrong. When Fellaini scored in added time and was disallowed everything started to go negative.
Extra-time came. I went to the loo for just a split second, and when I came back Lampard had scored, so I just turned my radio off and went outside to play football, pretending to be the Everton team turning the score around. When I came back inside, I asked my Dad if it was still 1-0 and he said, "Yes."
So I went back to my room and put the radio back on and heard there was just 2 minutes left. I knew Chelsea where going to win.
Then we had the free-kick. When I heard both Baines and Arteta were standing behind the ball I thought, "Not you Mikel, this is Baines's territory". And when the ball hit the back of the net, the window in my room was covered with steam. I was just so happy. But still we had the penalty shootout.
When Lampard scored, Baines missed, and then Drogba scored, I had my face in my hands. Jagielka scored and I thought, "2-1 ? we can still win this." And then Howard saved Anelka's penalty, we had a very good chance and we took it when Arteta scored. Essien scored, Heitinga scored and then up came Cole, I thought to myself, "He'll probably miss this..." and he did.
And then came up Phil Neville, I thought "He's going to miss this too. But no, he didn't, because I found myself running around my village in happiness.
The question is, "Because we've beaten Chelsea, will we get to the final?"
Morgan Rhys, Posted 22/02/2011 at 23:42:33
Comments
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
Yes we can get to the final and this time win it. Though I think SAF will have learnt from his mistake and will be less likely to put out a weakened team.
We can win it mate. We did it in 95 with a worse team (though I loved them).
You know that feeling you got when we won and you ran around your village with happiness, well, that will stay with you all your life and hopefully it will happen to you many many more times in the future.
Well written piece Morgan and i hope you can tell us how many laps of your village you did when we win the final.
Yes we can. But I think the odds are against us.
The fact that we had to rely on a set piece from a full back in the final minutes of extra time on Saturday sum up our predicament. We have no teeth up front. So in every tie we will struggle and my guess is sooner or later we'll get caught short.
However. In my experience the two major things you need to acheive your goals are effort and desire so on that front I think we've got every chance.
We've also got experience having got to the final two years ago and a golden chance to get to the 6th Round against either of two teams we know we can beat. To be honest the only teams we should be afraid of in all of this now are Man Utd and Arsenal and we know one of them will not make it past the 6th Round.
We have a good chance Morgan, but we will have to grasp that chance and ride our luck for it to happen.
Come May though my wish is you are running around your village hailing us as FA Cup winners.
Come On You Blues!
Cheers
Mike
On a side note, wish I was young enough to pop out the house for a kick around.
I don't know why but I just have a crazy feeling in my gut that this will be our year. And wouldn't that be typical of Everton under Moyes? To stick two fingers up to the nay-sayers. COYB
But we have a game against Reading at home to WIN, then if we do we have the little effort of going to either City or Villa and getting the result.
I am sure on our day we can beat anyone, but lets take one game at a time, and right now its a huge game against a very talented side in
Reading.
But we can dream, and lets hope its more than that?
I'm always popping outside for a kick around!
Get breeding lad!
Morgan ? great stuff, lad... of course we will win it ? dont stop believing!
The year was 1966, the game was the FA Cup semi-final, the opposition was Man Utd. They boasted a galaxy of international stars. According to the pundits, we had no chance.of beating a United that included the likes of Law, Styles and Charlton... but beat them we did.
The only goal was a bit of a fluke by Colin Harvey but it was enough to send us to Wembley where we beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 to win the FA Cup. Something in my old bones tells me it's our time again.
Next time I travel through Pershore to Evesham I will salute the sign to Cropthorne knowing missionary work is being preached in a goodly manner, well written young man.
If we reach the semis then two of Birmingham, Bolton, Stoke and West Ham will be there. Wouldn't we fancy ourselves against any of these sides? But also, of course, one of Man Utd and Arsenal will be semi-finalists too.
However, usually lots of luck helps teams win cup games and we were so lucky last Saturday. It may well indeed be our year despite the problems with our strike force.
We just need the defence to keep up the good work.
Of course we can win it, but don't underestimate Reading.
We have to start well and give them nothing. If we start badly and go missing for 20 minutes, they are just the side to nick a goal and work like crazy to defend it.
I am actually more nervous about this one than Chelsea away which I suppose speaks volumes for how our season has gone.
3 kids... YOU my friend need to breed more.
5 sons - Americans who would give a nut to play for Everton some day. Hence all the money and soccer tournaments around the sunny state of Florida...
Get to 5, then tell a man to breed! :0)
ps: the back yard has a lined pitch with full goals, "18-yard" boxes, the whole thing. Mini-Goodison right out the back door! If you're gonna kick around, might as well play a game with the boys and the neighborhood kids....
Actually Its Mark@16 and YOU my friend need to READ more ;o)
3 boys as it stands but who says I've stopped?
(Actually I have but if I had a back yard big enough to hold a football pitch like yours I would be tempted to add to my team!)
Good luck!
With having friends who support Reading, they text me as soon as the draw was made, giving me a warning. I mentioned in my comment 15, that they are a talented side, so we will have to be really up for it, and I am sure we will be.
I'm looking forward to a good cup match.
He's at his level there I think.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment to the MailBag, 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 MailBag submissions across the site.
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 23/02/2011 at 06:55:42
Report abuse