COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Man City (A)

By Ken Buckley   ::  24/09/2011

The day we saw money talking

Everton's great record against City came to an end as our policy of prudence, denying our manager any leeway in the transfer market, was exposed by a squad of players assembled for vast sums of money. Where we were looking at youngsters and free transfers or loans to provide an attack, City had about £60M worth of them on their bench.

Our game plan was soon evident ? ?Park the bus? and look for something on a break or more likely a set piece in or around the box.

Rodwell was doing a man-marking job on their instigator in chief Silva and Coleman and Neville put in a great shift of closing down in midfield. It worked well for an hour but that was frustrating to watch as it was plain that we lacked someone in midfield who could run at their backline with the ball and someone to make the forward runs to create space.

Yet we did start on the front foot and for some six or so minutes we were on top but yet again we did well until that final third when a combination of not enough bodies busting a gut to get in and the man on the ball dallying because nothing was showing in front of him led to no more than hopeful stuff which generally petered out.

The half then settled into attack v defence and it was evident that much work had been done on defending as we frustrated the mega rich outfit to very few if any chances until 35mins when Howard had to turn away Aguero?s on target shot with Dzeko in close attendance. He then saved a Gareth Barry shot before the Blues ended the half as they had begun it, on top, but without that clinical killer instinct.

Half-time and, amongst all the singing in the concourse area, most thought we were doing as well as we could in the circumstances.

The second half started with City on top and from a cross right at the start Distin headed the ball out of Howard?s hands for a corner which came to nought. The half then rumbled on as in the first session, pretty turgid stuff with the hosts unable to penetrate a resolute defence in which Distin was excelling.

It was a bit galling to see such good defensive work which required a great deal of concentration against such attacking players that City possess having no out-ball once they had it under control which meant the ?Hoof? upfield and then the ball straight back and start again.

70 mins was looming and I thought, if we can frustrate them for another 10, maybe we can get some fresh lags on and hope they get desperate and we can nick one as I had just seen Cahill send a header just over after good work down the right from Hibbert and Coleman. I wish I hadn?t had such thoughts as at that moment City who had sent on Balotelli on the hour mark struck.

We were just sorting ourselves out after Cahill had to go off after a tackle with Kompany which, by the touchline reaction, Kompany was reckless, but the ref gave the free kick to City and booked Cahill, when Aguero came into the box from the right and rolled it to Balotelli who despatched it into the corner with some aplomb only for the big screen replay to show it deflected off Jags. After all that great defending, a deflection does for us. But, the more you let them in the more chances they will have.

Saha was on for Cahill and Rodwell stopped dogging Silva?s steps as we tried to fashion something. Silva hit a post enjoying his first moments of freedom. The manager sent on Drenthe for Neville then a last throw of the dice when Vellios replaced Coleman who had run himself to a standstill. City were now well on top as we opened the game up and Silva had the ball in the net only to be flagged offside.

Howard made a great save from Balotelli and Distin was doing the work of three men. You suspected a second goal for them would come but when it did it was all our own work. Drenthe dwelt on the ball as if not knowing what to do, he eventually tried to pick out Baines with a cross field pass but instead gave it to that man Silva who raced between Jags and Distin and laid on a superb through ball for Milner to finish.

In injury time the willing Vellios robbed Clichy on the by-line and fed Fellaini but his shot was cleared from the line. Final whistle and the travelling noisy faithful gave the lads a good send off. MotM ? Distin.

Overall I thought, considering the gulf in spending power and therefore the quality available to the hosts, we did very well in a tactical defensive sense and every player put in a great shift. Both their goals were a result of our own misfortune and poor play rather than super stuff. It?s just the last third that thwarts us, everyone knows what we need but, until such time as money is available from somewhere, this will have to be our forte.

Today I saw probably our best performance of the season in terms of graft, unity and concentration the players rally tried to make it work. I also thought that, for the short time the teenager Vellios was on, he looked to me as he just might turn out to be our best option up top, there was just something about him and his cameo that resonated with me. We can?t rely on Saha as one glimpse of his playing record will reveal...

Not all gloom and doom for me as for all the money lavished on City they didn?t look that great today and that says a lot for our players and management in these austere times.

I don?t like to criticise refs as I think most do a difficult job (In real time) very well but today our World Cup ref Mr Webb gave a strange performance, rightly booking a few of our players but not doing so to City players who committed very similar fouls. It was noticeable to many of us ? I just hope the assessor in the stand earns his corn.

Just a little matter of a clash with the neighbours next ? Of course we can do them ? can?t we?
UP THE BLUES
 

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