This article may have been recategorised and is therefore no longer available at this URL.

You can try to find the updated link in the article archive.

Share article:

Reader Comments (21)

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


Andy McNabb
1 Posted 06/04/2014 at 23:00:16
Would have loved to be there, ken. Sounds fantastic.
On hol away from home so desperately trying to find highlights.
COYB!!
Mike Gaynes
2 Posted 06/04/2014 at 23:20:44
"Naismith calmly caressed the ball..."

"...Belgians showed they not only do they have wonderful chocolate-making abilities but also goal-making abilities..."

"...leader, orchestrator, director, hole filler and captain with no armband."

Ken, you are always the Grantland Rice of TW... but today, when our boys in blue created pure art for you to describe, you hit the heights.

What a wondrous day it must have been at Goodison. Thanks for sharing it with the faraway TV supporters.

Dick Fearon
3 Posted 06/04/2014 at 23:50:45
Ten years of pent up frustration went into that Goodison roar.
Peter Creer
4 Posted 07/04/2014 at 00:31:16
Woke up early, headed out to play some footy and then head home to be ready for the kick off here in Canada. Ken, it is great to end the day with your report and to get the emotion of the day which was apparent in every word. However, today it was so obvious with Goodison rocking and the 5409 km between my home and the ground virtually nonexistent.

At the end of the game the only word that came to mind was 'comprehensive'! The largest win in 25 years and the pressure is now on the gooners and our boys are flying high. The game plan was executed to perfection and Arsenal had nothing to offer in response.

Ken's MOTM was Barry and I couldn't argue with that selection, however, the team was truly together and there was no player who did not play their part. For me, it was the constant pressure and incisive attack that was so pleasing to see. The game plan to attack the channels between the full backs and the centre backs on both sides was brilliant. Lukaku and Naismith were incredibly active and clinical in their runs. The support from Mirallas and Barkley provided vision and energy and Barry and McCarthy covered with aplomb. Stones had some early moments of jitters but he grew in the game with Distin the solid rock. That only leaves Baines and Coleman and the ever present Tim Howard. These three frequently take the accolades but today did what they do best; get the ball forward quickly and provide the necessary cover when it was required.

There is still lots of work ahead but the boys did it today......and it was good! I am so far away, however, I have never been closer.

COYB

Tim Greeley
5 Posted 07/04/2014 at 03:56:22
Loved all of it. Thanks Ken you always paint a vivid picture of the matchday experience. I can only imagine what today was like for those in attendance.
I have a rather hugely important budget hearing tomorrow and yet I find myself still up watching this masterclass again past 11pm as it was/is that awesome. Its probably my own fault that im still drinking as well but there is always Advil and coffee!!
On sixth replay - I say that should give that goal to Mirallas. Damnit.
Jason Lam
6 Posted 07/04/2014 at 06:57:03
Shortly after we went 3-0 up, even the sun came over Goodison. Brilliant.
Kevin O'Regan
7 Posted 07/04/2014 at 07:44:13
Sometimes I get the feeling it doesn't really matter where the lads play, positional wise – they all have the ability to change and adapt and swap around and mix it up and it confuses the hell out of the opposition. It's great and wonderful and we're doing it all without 25 penalties per match....

I'm getting addicted to this; the wife is going mad, my two boys are loving it and even granny is being informed by a 5-year-old about who scored the own goal... :)

Breathing for first time in a long long time. Freedom & Joy. Wonderful.

Ray Williams
8 Posted 07/04/2014 at 10:20:17
Great report. Great game.

As an expat scouser living in Finsbury Park (deep in Arsenal territory), yesterday was always gonna be an interesting day for me. Seeing the sad faces flow out of the boozer down the road was poetry.

Seeing the Irish Cafu juggling the ball for 30 yards, and then later skinning their left back like Cruyff was the icing for me, that lad is just getting better and better.

Chase-Smith now turning into more than his name (admittedly a name only I call him!) and putting in some brilliantly intelligent performances whether from the start or as an impact sub.

And Rom running straight to RM was a show of togetherness that was touching and promising given the gossip about the big lad recently.

Great day for the club, with two winnable games coming up, we could have a good grip on 4th before the return of 'The dozing one' on Easter Sunday, which I can see as a bigger statement game than this one.

Great times, great team and a spirit that has always been there, but now it has shifted to a 'We KNOW we can win this' from the previous 'We Might be able to not lose this'.

Times like this are very distant and young memories for me as I was 6 in 87, so to have a team playing like this near the top of the league is awesome, long may it continue.

Rahman Talib
9 Posted 07/04/2014 at 11:07:11
I never thought Arteta will be scoring for us again!
Tony Waring
10 Posted 07/04/2014 at 12:20:03
Rumour has it that the OED is amending it's definition of "superlative". The new description is Everton!

Seriously this is surely the best team since 1985 ?

Jon Bentley
11 Posted 07/04/2014 at 13:30:14
Very proud of the lads yesterday. Would be very Everton to go and mess up at Sunderland now but let's hope they keep the bit between their teeth and continue to work hard.

My MotM would have to be Distin, all were great but he continually laid down a marker by letting the Arse front men know he was around.

COYB

Chris Jones [Burton]
12 Posted 07/04/2014 at 18:36:51
Cheers Ken, always a great read an honest appraisal.

This one was a bit special, maybe a watershed moment for us. I certainly shouted louder and more aggressively than ever as our goals went in. Yes, this one WAS special.

Onwards and upwards!

Ken Finch
13 Posted 07/04/2014 at 19:39:48
Excellent day; excellent result; excellent report as always an spot on.
Kevin Tully
14 Posted 07/04/2014 at 19:58:57
It wasn't the result or the fact we beat Arsenal, we out-footballed them (is that a word?) in a big game. We didn't have to bully them,play dirty, hope for a set piece, or hang on for dear life, and that is what really struck me about yesterday.

I head a little snippet from the TalkSport commentary driving home tonight and the summariser said 'we've just witnessed an Everton side who have played Arsenal off the park" - hope nobody noticed me grinning like a big eejit whilst stuck in traffic!

Guy Hastings
15 Posted 07/04/2014 at 19:52:45
A word or three about Tim Howard. The guy gets no small amount of criticism on TW but I think he's immense. Two great saves, the first from the shot dug out of the ground and the fingertip effort that kept a clean sheet when Oxlade-C came on - would you rather have 3-0 or 3-1? He bailed out Mirallas and Stones when they tried to overelaborate and it was his clearance from Stones' potential fuck-up that lead to the first goal. Regular TWebbers may cite examples of his perceived errors but all keepers make them. Playing from the back isn't just about the back line; it's Howard's awareness that gives them the confidence to do it. I can't think of a keeper in the top flight that I'd rather have than Tim.
Martin Handley
16 Posted 07/04/2014 at 22:10:44
There are times in your life when you just smile puff out your chest and say to the world in a loud voice I'm an Evertonian ! Today is one of those . Gracias Roberto!
Peter Mills
17 Posted 07/04/2014 at 22:24:04
Ken, you have an excellent way with words, and a great feel for the mood of the moment. I always appreciate reading your reports of matches I have not attended, but I think I actually prefer getting your take on those I have been to. You have captured yesterday very, very well - the occasion deserved it.
Dave Kelly
18 Posted 08/04/2014 at 12:28:28
I've just got to give Steven Naismith a special mention. Over the last few months, he has come on a ton! (Erm... and looking like he's lost a ton in actual weight!)

It's great to hear the buzz from the crowd when he makes a forward run, not those predictable groans we heard not that long ago. His whole body language has changed – now he looks confident, hungry and eager... and he's beginning to thrive on the new-found adulation. Long may it continue!

Ryan Holroyd
19 Posted 08/04/2014 at 13:56:55
Agree Guy. Howard has been immense all season. He's a very consistant goalkeeper.
Dave Kelly
20 Posted 08/04/2014 at 17:44:43
Spot on Guy. Timmy is steadier than he's ever been. He seems more authoritative and decisive these days too. Best keeper in the Premier League along with Cech.
Tony Rice
21 Posted 08/04/2014 at 19:26:45
He may have not been MotM...but well done to Bainesy for standing up for Barkley and getting into Arteta's face. Great team spirit!

Hopefully we can take that fight and attitude on the road to Sunderland this weekend... two massive matches this week! COYB!


Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

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.


About these ads


, placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' });