Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
Royston to the Rescue
By Luke O'Farrell :: 18/12/2011
3 Comments (ğLast)
Norwich had clearly identified Baines as Everton's biggest threat. Grant Holt and Kyle Naughton fouled the England full back within the first three minutes. Magaye Gueye, a surprise starter, enjoyed a bright start and linked up well with Baines on the left. The visitors were on the back foot from the start, although their forwards managed to get early shots off. Steve Morison fired over from range and Grant Holt mishit a shot straight at Tim Howard.A full 198 minutes after Vellios' goal at Bolton, Everton had their next shot on target. A cross by Baines was nicely played by Cahill into the path of Fellaini. The Belgian drew a low save from former Everton stopper John Ruddy. Leon Osman almost gave Everton the lead, curling a Saha lay-off towards the far post. Norwich centre back Russell Martin was on hand to head the ball clear; although the shot appeared to be going just wide.
Everton forced several corners which resulted in Gueye firing a volley wide. With 15 minutes gone, Everton had enjoyed 62% possession but were lacking spark and invention in the final third. The next 10 minutes consisted of Everton pressing and Norwich standing firm.
Norwich took the lead with their first shot on target. Morison headed a free kick into the six yard box and Holt scored with a neat turn and finish. Heitinga's positioning for the goal was poor but Howard, Hibbert and Baines may also feel they should have done better.
Everton have played 11 home games this season; they have conceded first in 10 of them. Everton's eight Premier League home games, this season, have yielded just 8 points. The Toffees' failure to make early pressure pay, combined with an inability to keep clean sheets, is costing them. Everton have lost four league games, at Goodison, this season. In contrast, Everton lost just five home league games from August 2009 - May 2011.
Saha had an effort blocked, and fired another inches wide, as the Toffees tried to get back on level terms. Everton started to run out of ideas as the interval approached and Steve Morison planted a header wide to remind the home side of the visitor?s threat. Baines worked tirelessly down the left side, although Gueye had began to fade after a promising start.
Marouane Fellaini and Phil Neville failed to stamp any real authority on the game in the first half. The goal aside, the back four were comfortable although Jagielka and Howard were poor in possession. Leon Osman's constant urge to move inside was proving a hindrance to Everton down the right and undermined his good work.
Everton produced some neat football at the start of the second period. Link-up between Gueye and Saha created a chance for Osman, inside the area, who forced a save from Ruddy. Norwich provided a reminder of their threat, on the hour mark, as Holt evaded Hibbert and Jagielka to head Naughton's cross just wide of the far post.
An out of sorts Cahill made way for Denis Stracqualursi with 30 minutes remaining. The burly Argentine had an immediate impact with his flick on leading to a Ruddy save from Saha's sliding effort. As the match entered the last 20 minutes, Saha saw two headers drift harmlessly off target and Royston Drenthe came on for Gueye.
Drenthe raced past two Norwich defenders with his first contribution; a sign of things to come. The Dutch winger assisted Everton's equaliser as he cut inside and Osman nicked his shot past Ruddy into the corner. Drenthe fired a long-range effort at Ruddy and his second drive from distance almost gave Everton the lead as Ruddy barely managed to keep it out. Tony Hibbert had a tame effort as the clock ran down.
Conor McAleny replaced Saha with 2 minutes remaining. The Frenchman was more involved than last week but he was wasteful in front of goal; a trait Everton can't afford. McAleny screwed an effort wide and scuffed another whilst Drenthe fired over in injury time as Norwich hung on for a point.
Everton created enough chances to win the game, only poor finishing, bizarre tactics and some resolute defending prevented them from doing so. The home side were shorn of Jack Rodwell and Seamus Coleman through injury. David Moyes failed to justify his decision to omit Vellios, as he gave replacement McAleny just two minutes action.
Fellaini failed to fully impose himself on the game and played most of the game too deep to have a real influence. The use of Neville alongside him appeared to hinder his performance as the Belgian seemed unsure of his role. Moyes's decision to use Neville as a midfielder for 90 minutes, at home, was a poor one. The manager's tactics and substitutions have been lacking of late and he seems to be stuck in a tactical rut.
Drenthe's introduction lifted the team and the fans, as he can create and produce moments of magic. Stracqualursi did well and pushed his claims for more than just cameo appearances. The big front man won headers and held the ball up well. It is all too clear that, in order to progress, Everton need additions in January. The transfer window, and Landon Donovan, can?t come soon enough.
Swansea will pose a different test on Wednesday. The Welsh side are defensively sound and will look to monopolise possession. The whole club is in need of a lift at the moment; hopefully the manager can offer that with a more positive approach in games.
One thing is certain, Everton have to stop conceding soft goals, as Fortress Goodison is no stronger than your average sandcastle.
Ratings:
Howard 5; Hibbert 6; Jagielka 5; Heitinga 6; Baines 7; Osman 6; Fellaini 6; Neville 5; Gueye 6; Cahill 4; Saha 6.
Subs: Drenthe 8. Stracqualursi 7; McAleny N/A.
Reader Comments (3)
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2 Posted 18/12/2011 at 20:50:19
3 Posted 25/12/2011 at 13:52:48
The thing I find strange is the way Moyes seems to stumble around in finding the best first eleven players. It is not only in the attack or midfield but also in defense.
Every fan that has watched Everton this season can say that we have had two youngsters coming in and doing quite good, even better then the older ones.
I am talking about Vellios and Barkley, they both seem to have something the first team needs.
Drenthe has been a major plus also, but all three players have got limited playing time, despite of the fact we look more dangerous when they are playing.
Moyes has been switching things around a bit also because of injuries, but looking at the Arsenal and Norwich games David Moyes chose to play Mcaleny instead of Vellios, when Vellios has proved to be a better alternative coming off the bench, as he has scored 3 goals in that role.
It is a strange one, since we need more goals he decides to dump Vellios of all players. The same can be said of Barkley, he should be coming off the bench as well, but he has not been used at all lately. Drenthe has been injured for 3 games but was deemed fit, and was only used as a late sub.
It is very painful to watch Moyes struggle like this, but he needs to look at who has been the better performers in terms of goals scored and chances created.
He does the opposite of what I and every other normal football person would do. He sticks by players such as Neville,Cahill and Saha even though they have been poor and is showing nothing in terms of form, chances created and goals.
David Moyes has a reputation of being hard-headed and quite stubborn, but I think even the most hard headed of people must see when certain players are not performing at all. That is the BIG downfall of Moyes, he takes light years to make a change where change is needed, and when he does it, he chooses the wrong players.
Is David Moyes lost right now? My answer would be yes, he has painted himself into a corner by selling Arteta and Yakubu, when in truth he really should not have done so. Beckford was at least good money, but Yakubu was not. Arteta should be forced to stay until we could line up some replacement for him.
He took a huge gamble with the clubs well being in selling these two, who in truth has been among the best players brought to this club. I would sooner sell Bilyaletdinov, Heitinga or even Jagielka before selling Arteta, evn though he asked for the transfer.
A manager MUST put the best for the club before anything, and the best for the club would have been to keep both Arteta and Yakubu, by any means necessary.
Instead we are now struggling like never before with Moyes, and we have only brought a 10 game loan player, a mascot of sorts to try and get us out of trouble. I think it stinks desperate, and Moyes must take the full blame as he himself is in charge of who stays or goes.
The fans seem to walk away from Goodison, only 31.000 were at the Norwich game, I fear it will only get worse, unless replacements for Arteta and Yakubu are brought in.
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1 Posted 18/12/2011 at 07:34:08
I knew it was bad, but now I know it really is bad. A game that should have been won, Everton nearly got nothing. A team that doesn't look like scoring or keeping a clean sheet, a side that will lose or draw regularly.
The team is one-paced, lacks any craft, and over relies on Baines for any semblance of an attack. Cahill has gone I am afraid on what I saw yesterday. Committed, legend, absolutely. However, he needs to either be an impact sub or moved on. In a poor side, it was difficult to see what he adds.
Saha can be put in the same category. The team just doesn't get going with him in the side. Yes, he has a sweet left foot, but the team cries out for something more than him looking totally disgusted that he put a chance just wide. Saha, you aren't as good as you think you are and you need to change the attitude. Even you are going to miss chances, so accept it and start pushing a shift in. If you are going to save yourself by not applying yourself, you can check out..
Osman at least had a go. I am not an Osman fan as I think that he is an average Premier League player, and that if we had a little bit more cash over the years, he would have been moved on to a Wigan or Blackburn.
So that's the summary. The side is in transition/decline. Hibbo and Osman are average players, Neville, Saha and Cahill look finished in my eyes. Baines is the one shining light. Jags lacks confidence with poor players around him. Heitinga isnt the answer at centre half. Drenthe made a real difference but can he do it over 90 mins?
I'm pleased that Donovan is coming, not pleased its for 2 months. In the absence of a real signing in 2 years after the departure of millions and millions in transfer fees and wages, we are now consigned with getting excited over a loan player for 20% of the season ? Happy Christmas.