The Good/Bad/Ugly...
Truly gutted....:( but in my opinion a few things of note where we have to see just how much better we have become.
THE GOOD
Mr Hibbert – take a bow (hate Andy Gray but only thing to say on him). Quite simply superb. As many have echoed since last night... he may be a bag of shite going forward but there were a few tackles in a very close period of time that took my breath away. Show me any player in our squad – and for that matter, most in top four – with better timing than he. Kudos to a much maligned player but I would rather he be our last option in a one-on-one than anyone. Tony, hats off to you, you watch the ball only and a tutorial video in yourself to young men learning the game.
Young Mirallas (First half mainly) – Early days but he does remind me of a young Ronaldo, got the balls to try stuff, doesnt always work, and at times selfish but give him time. (Did anyone else think first half that playing in front of Hibbert, our Tony looked the most comfortable going forward hes ever been.....?)
Leighton Baines – not going in the window. A better, slicker attacking full back I have not seen. He started his career with us nervous and, if I recall, Moyes saw this and gave him time. His goal would have had the gutter press cooing if playing for the Sky 4. Awareness with Pienaar first half just outstanding. (And right under a certain suitors nose...) Up yours, sunshine!
A still committed Screech – Yeah Yeah, Im with the majority... "Keep your mouth shut, son, windows just closed and whilst your words may have been twisted....YOU SAID SOMETHING....!!! However, again your commitment is second to none." How he gets out with the ball from close attention at times is beyond me. Yeah youll go on to chances to win things (and probably not with us as our development is not quick enough for such a short career) but keep this commitment up (along with a hefty while to go on contract and therefore good fee) youll have my blessing. You could have thrown your toys out like many others have done, but you didnt. I wont say "Thank you" but I will say "Commitment noticed..."
Big Vic – I still dont get the histrionics. (He seems very down to earth when interviewed?) However, took his goal well... There is a player at times under there!
THE BAD
Howards bi-polar – for both goals he could have done better. Other peoples fuck-ups admittedly. But first one – close enough to him for his arm (again seemed to dive over it) and second... I dont get the star jump. Surely a crouch and arms wide would have been better option... I still rate him but these things will stop him from being at true top level for me.
Neville (/Moyes) – Awkward one as Moyes plays him; not Neville. I truly rate him as club captain and his ability to keep us together on the pitch is clearly valued by his colleagues. However, how many more times are they going to respond positively to his criticisms/cajoling when he keeps fucking up? I dont think he should have been sent off... but weve seen them given. (Incidentally I may be wrong but was it him booked after 6 minutes? errr... who books someone after 6 minutes?!)
Jelavic (absence) – We seemed to fade when he went....? After watching the post collision, Im thinking its severe bruising that was "flaring" till he went off rather than structural damage. It was his muscle that seemed to collide with post. Regardless, although he had not been immense, the remainder of our attacking options seemed to hesitate more with Vic up there....
THE UGLY
Decisions.....To be honest its very ugly but Ill defend the officials. Terrible luck on our side BUT THEY DO EVEN THEMSELVES UP – BOLTON ANYONE?!
Offside for Fellaini – officials eye-line to me is naturally drawn to him with appearance. The amount of bookings he gets is testament to that and whilst on-side it was tight.
The goal – Anichebes foot and post I think were in linos line of sight. NOT SAYING NOT UNJUST, BUT........
The Crux of the Article – We are some first team outfit now compared to previous. Paper thin admittedly but I was very proud of not only our dignified 96 effort, but also a team that gives so much – and is (ssshhhhhh) looking more than half-decent...
Well done to all and look at the positives!!!
Reader Comments (43)
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2 Posted 19/09/2012 at 06:49:23
For me additionally there was a lack of decisiveness by Moyes. He did swap Anichebe and Mirallas eventually before taking of the packet Belgian a few minutes later, but if Naismith had have come on for Neville who was booked and having a mare either could have gone alongside Big Vic or play them up top with Vic on right and Fellini helping in Neville role.
Moyes let them back in, as much as Howard's half five and gay star jump – he also pulled off that great save where Jags slid in and got ball back to him. As much as Neville teeing up their players with erratic heading, poor passing choices because of his limited distributing ability – he drives us and is a fantastic ambassador. Pienaar's at time sublime play and set up for Baines, but not passing to Osman and that other horrible miss...
Obviously there were bad points all over the place, but Moyes (and Round) must do better because they have even more impact than any single individual on the team.
3 Posted 19/09/2012 at 07:11:41
4 Posted 19/09/2012 at 07:39:48
5 Posted 19/09/2012 at 07:48:51
6 Posted 19/09/2012 at 07:54:13
7 Posted 19/09/2012 at 08:18:38
As for Howard's star jump, most players would try to lob the 'keeper at this point. If he stayed on the ground and was lobbed we'd be on his back. Most strikers would lob, Ba was clever, used his head and preempted this. Schmeichel used to star jump all the time!
8 Posted 19/09/2012 at 09:15:24
9 Posted 19/09/2012 at 09:38:49
Anyone who was there, or who saw the highlights later on, would know that Southall was fouled immediately before the ball crossed the line and if it HAD stood it would be talked about even today, as the goal that should never have been allowed and which sent us into oblivion.
For fucks sake, get the facts right. Whether the ball crossed the line at Bolton or not, it would not have been a correct decision to allow it anyway.
10 Posted 19/09/2012 at 11:35:11
Fecking Bolton, feck off!!
11 Posted 19/09/2012 at 12:51:14
12 Posted 19/09/2012 at 13:02:05
This got me thinking, now I'm no expert, but.... Had Moyes taken off Hibbert (I know he had a good game), and put Neville right back, moved Distin to left back and put in Heitinga centre and pushed Baines left wing with Pienaar left midfield, that could've pushed our line of attack further upfield, nullifying Pardew's tactical change.
Like I say I'm no expert but it was just an idea I had after the game.
13 Posted 19/09/2012 at 13:26:38
That's 2 in 2 seasons and a bit - too many for my liking!
14 Posted 19/09/2012 at 14:11:50
For some reason EFC don't get the rub of the green — especially at home! I can't think why... (Oh, yes I can: Rednose staff at Hotels etc giving the officials plenty before our home games.)
15 Posted 19/09/2012 at 14:20:29
Ironic thing is Anichebe was obviously onside only a yard behind Fellaini and it looks as though he could have gotten onto Pienaar's pass. If he had done and scored, Fellaini probably wouldn't have been flagged because he would be considered to be inactive. Let's hope Anichebe didn't leave it because he got a call from Felli.
I am not a fan of the current offside law anyway. Would rather they went back to the one where there had to be clear daylight between the attacker and last defender, and the attacker was to be given the benefit of the doubt. Mistakes would be made in any circumstances, but I would rather a few extra 'goals' were given rather than good goals were wrongly chalked-off.
16 Posted 19/09/2012 at 15:07:23
Like you say, you're no expert.
17 Posted 19/09/2012 at 15:14:11
18 Posted 19/09/2012 at 15:27:28
THAT linesman (assistant referee?) was giving decisions against us all night and Jones has never done us any favours.
IMO there are too many closet reds (Of both varieties) about.
Nobodies mentioned Ossie's penalty claim which looked on second glance at the video like a legitimate claim.
19 Posted 19/09/2012 at 15:41:08
20 Posted 19/09/2012 at 15:58:52
The bad - The ref
The ugly - Neville
21 Posted 19/09/2012 at 15:55:24
I was purring at our first half display, as in our MU display. Hibbs better than some give credit for – some of those tackles!
Baines and Pienaar: No club could afford to buy them as a pair.
Jelly's movement and workrate and skill.
Mirallas, can't wait for more.
Naismith adds something.
Fella is enormous.
I'm now going into games not hoping we can get a point or three but seriously thinking we are able to.
22 Posted 19/09/2012 at 16:16:26
23 Posted 19/09/2012 at 16:59:03
Neville on the other hand is being asked to play out of position – he is a right back, remember – and at the age of 35 is asked to to a 25-year-old's job.
The ref did rob us but Moyes didn't help either. How can he be helping when he won't drop his Blue-eyed Boys? Howard is shot but he won't drop him either... Can't wait to see how many fuck-ups it takes Howard before Moyes even considers dropping him.
24 Posted 19/09/2012 at 17:15:14
He played well the first half but was knackered the second half and should have been replaced, but Neville was on a yellow so couldn't really be put back into right back and Hibbert sacrificed like a lot of other times.
Mirallas was not going to last the 90 and I am surprised that Victor lasted 45 to be honest.
25 Posted 19/09/2012 at 17:32:55
I'm not just on about Monday night with Osman either. It's every week apart from the odd decent game here and there. Moyes refuses to drop players even when they are totally shot or out of form. Distin is having a horrible start to the season, add that to his Wembley cock-up and I ask you...
Where's Johnny?
Player of the Season last time — can't get agame this....The mind boggles.
26 Posted 19/09/2012 at 17:14:43
But we did play entertaining and watchable footy even with the handicap of Neville who cannot pass the ball but has an influence on the rest of the side. I hope we get a holding player soon but we did create and get two goals.
27 Posted 19/09/2012 at 17:25:23
Bolton? Jesus wept, as already covered, Big Nev fouled in the build up. these things do not even themselves out, more fuck ups happen and it's pot luck if they go for or against you.
Osman does get plenty of stick on here, I wouldn't say he escapes week in week out. I'd say CM is his best position, mich more than on the right.
Since when is CM a 25 year olds job. Pirlo, Xavi, Zidane all excelled at major tournaments into their 30s. Scholes, Lampard still doing it at top clubs. The issue is more that its not Phils best position rather than age.
I get why Howard's star jump looks shite because the ball went under him. Most players would have put their laces through it or gone for the lob, hence his star jump. I agree he could have done better for the first goal but I still rate him as a top keeper.
28 Posted 19/09/2012 at 17:51:23
29 Posted 19/09/2012 at 17:46:48
Ossie played well first half and flagged in the second when Newcastle started closing down quicker.
Howard is still a good keeper and in my opinion wasn't at fault for any of the goals.
30 Posted 19/09/2012 at 18:01:54
I saw the whole game, Brian, and I thought Everton were bossing it until Gibson went off and Neville dropped into his role.
31 Posted 19/09/2012 at 18:24:09
32 Posted 19/09/2012 at 18:24:09
33 Posted 19/09/2012 at 18:11:23
Yes they will, probably, in time, even themselves out; but speaking as somebody who's first game ever was against Oldham (away) - our last game in the old Second Division, I've seen many a good goal disallowed, both to our benefit and against us; but I'm struggling to remember a game where TWO perfectly legitimate goals were chalked off for the same side.
ps For those of you who don't go back that far, the score was Oldham 0 Everton 4. As I recall,if we'd won 6-0 we would have been champions. As it was Leicester pipped us.
34 Posted 19/09/2012 at 22:37:11
Winning 2-1 with little time to go, Hibbert's ONLY responsibility, as the full back on the opposite side of the field from where the initial ball was played, was to keep the play in front of him and to cover the two central defenders. It is not to mark someone wide and up the field. Once the ball cleared the central defenders Hibbert's job was to mop up behind them, not appear on the scene belatedly.
35 Posted 19/09/2012 at 22:53:48
How predictable.
36 Posted 20/09/2012 at 10:32:51
37 Posted 20/09/2012 at 13:12:19
How can you say decisions even themselves out? We never get the rub of the green — how many decisions go against us? So fuck that ref and linesman, they are cheats. We were the best side by a mile besides the officials who gave them everything. It was bad defending and goalkeeping that gave them an undeserved point.
38 Posted 20/09/2012 at 16:29:24
39 Posted 20/09/2012 at 16:34:55
40 Posted 20/09/2012 at 16:54:29
41 Posted 20/09/2012 at 17:00:05
42 Posted 21/09/2012 at 02:25:26
43 Posted 21/09/2012 at 03:24:54
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1 Posted 19/09/2012 at 04:44:27
That was a bit too long ago for the footballing Gods to punish us for that one now though surely!
Absolutely gutted we didn't get the three points especially considering the two legitimate goals, however if either one of the Fellaini or Anichebe goals stand, there's a good chance at 2-1 that we would have sat back and way too deep for the rest of the game and still drawn 2-2 anyway. That's often the way we roll.