Sunday, November 30, 2008

TOTTENHAM (0) vs (1) EVERTON - FULL TIME

Pienaar is back, giving Everton a bit more width. Yak is the only fit striker available but within 5 minutes, Yak is out of the game as he landed akwardly.

On the break, Fellaini had two bites of the cherry. One was an opening outside the penalty area. The opposing goalkeeper could only perry the ball. A layoff from Ossie saw the ball reached Fellaini once again but was cleared away by the Tottenham defender. 38th minute.

In the 43rd minute, Timmy provided a cross from the left and Saha rose to meet the ball. But it was save albeit unconvincingly by the Tottenham goalkeeper.

What a nonsensical goal! Tottenham was complaining about the freekick given Everton's way. As they spoke, the ball was passed to Pienaar on the left and he struck the ball towards goal. A deflection and the ball went pass the Tottenham goalkeeper in the 50th minute. Tottenham 0-1 Everton.

More pressure in the 6oth minute as Pienaar strikes the ball towards goal, parried by the opposing goalkeeper. Another striker out. Saha just fell to the ground in the 70th minute. Anichebe comes in for Saha.

Great stretch by Howard to push the ball out in the 72nd minute. Final change by Everton on 88th minute. Bainsey on for Ossie. Good pass from Fellaini after using his body strength to win the ball. Fellaini then passed the ball to Anichebe who stuck the ball well, though just wide off the post.

There was further 6 minutes of extra time, and Everton just held on to the solitary-goal lead. Anichebe even had the chance to trouble the opposing goalkeeper just before the final whistle. Solid play by Pienaar and Jag at the back.

Score: Tottenham 0-1 Everton
Scorer: Pienaar
Assist: Arteta
Subs: Saha, Anichebe, Bainsey

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Actim Players Ranking: 251108

Everton players in the Top 100.

Arteta: 17th (188) - Fourth best midfielder (16/9) - Best position: 12th
Lescott: 65th (147) - Best position: 49th
Neville: 68th (146) - Best position: 57th
Howard: 72nd (144) - Best position: 6oth
Ossie: 76th (142) - Best position: 56th
Yakubu: 86th (133) - Fifth best striker (23/9) - Best position: 9th
Jag: 88th (132) - Best position: 75th


Previous Top 100.
Yobo: 92nd (122) - Best position: 76th
Fellaini: 96th (104) - Best position: 96th
Baines: 82nd (25) - Best position: 82nd

WIGAN (1) vs (0) EVERTON - FULL TIME

This might be the first time that Everton is using their third jersey - luminous green. With its cheery colour, I hope that it will bring the the Toffees some joy. Pienaar is out injured so I do hope that the midfield can hold the ball.

Everton has the early pressure with deep throw-ins by Neville and deliciously curling corners by Arteta. But Wigan still looked dangerous when they counter-attack. After the 10th minutes, Everton is starting to yield to Wigan. Both teams have now tested the keepers. Timmy has had two headers but both off target.

Everton seemed to have froze in the last couple minutes of the first half and it Howard and his heorics to keep Everton on level terms.

So early in the start of the 2nd half and Everton is now behind. Wigan 1-0 Everton. The Toffees never seemed like they were interested in this match, even with a goal down. Everton needs to ring in some change and two persons I'd remove would be Fellaini, who has not contributed much to midfield, and Yak, who has not only not score, but his passes never reaches his colleagues.

Moyes don't have many seasoned substitutes. One of his young campaigner, Anichebe comes in for Saha. Other than that, I'm not too sure who Everton will throw into the mix. Bainsey is in for Neville. We need attackers but we changed a defender.

What has happened to all the Everton players?

Score: Wigan 1-0 Everton
Scorer: Nobody
Assist: Wished it was somebody
Subs: Anichebe, Bainsey

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Actim Players Ranking: 181108

Everton players in the Top 100.

Arteta: 19th (182) - Fourth best midfielder (16/9); Seventh (26/8), (23/9), (07/10), (3/11), (11/11), (18/11); Nineth (28/10); Tenth (19/8), (2/9); - Best position: 12th
Lescott: 53rd (143) - Best position: 49th
Neville: 57th (142) - Best position: 57th
Howard: 64th (139) - Seventh best goalkeeper (3/11); Best position: 6oth
Ossie: 68th (138) - Best position: 56th
Yakubu: 77th (133) - Fifth best striker (23/9); Ninth (26/8), (16/9), (29/9) - Best position: 9th
Jag: 85th (128) - Best position: 75th
Yobo: 92nd (122) - Best position: 76th

Previous Top 100.
Fellaini: 96th (104) - Best position: 96th
Baines: 82nd (25) - Best position: 82nd

Sunday, November 16, 2008

EVERTON (1) vs (1) BORO - FULL TIME

This was one game that Everton lost their lead early in the game and was forced to chase the game throughout.

As hard as Everton pressed, Boro's defence was no push-over and they continued to soak the pressure while keeping Everton frustrated.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Actim Players Ranking: 111108

Everton players in the Top 100.

Arteta: 19th (161) - Fourth best midfielder (16/9); Seventh (26/8), (23/9), (07/10), (3/11); Nineth (28/10); Tenth (19/8), (2/9); - Best position: 12th
Lescott: 49th (137) - Best position: 49th
Ossie: 59th (133) - Best position: 56th
Howard: 60th (132) - Seventh best goalkeeper (3/11); Best position: 6oth
Neville: 61st (132) - Best position: 57th
Jag: 75th (125) - Best position: 75th
Yobo: 86th (119) - Best position: 76th

Previous Top 100.
Yakubu: 81st (110) - Fifth best striker (23/9); Ninth (26/8), (16/9), (29/9) - Best position: 9th
Fellaini: 96th (104) - Best position: 96th
Baines: 82nd (25) - Best position: 82nd

Saturday, November 08, 2008

WEST HAM (1) vs (3) EVERTON - FULL TIME

Sometimes you wonder whether Everton comes into the game with any enthusiasm. Yes, they do not have Yak, who in the first place, has not been a revelation in recent time. Fellaini's also out with suspension.

Other than that, the team has not been deprived of any other important players. But their play was terrible. The midfield with Ossie, Arteta, Rodwell and Timmy do not look convincing at all. The 1st half play brings to the Toffee fans tears of sorrow. West Ham looks to be a more dangerous side, hitting the bar, and threatening to score. While Everton? Not Everton a single shot on target. You really hope for such a spark but it is not happening.

The 2nd half continued to bring no joy for Everton. Are they really interested in playing? West Ham controlled the entire park and rightfully, scored the first goal. Everton was totally in shambles! West Ham 1-0 Everton. Moyes threw Vaughny in for Rodwell to give Everton hopefully more bite.

Then by a sudden coming of senses, West Ham seemed to take their foor off the pedals and Everton started coming to life. Picking up the ball on the right, Saha way given way too much space to put in a cross which Lescott headed it in with much aplomb! West Ham 1-1 Everton. Once again, Everton left it really late again - 82nd minute.

That was just a beginning. Moyes was about to substitute Anichebe with Bainesy, but Anichebe made his final contribution with a low cross into the penalty area that saw Saha putting in a lovely first touch curler into the net. Total striker's goal. West Ham 1-2 Everton.

To further banish the ghost of his injury, Saha put in a lovely long distance curler into the right side of the net with a pass from Timmy. Wonderful, wonderful goal! West Ham 1-3 Everton.

The result was totally undeserving, but if the other teams are willing to offer us the points, we are definitely winning to receive it with open arms.

Score: West Ham 1-3 Everton
Scorer: Lescott, Saha (2)
Assists: Saha, Anichebe, Timmy
Subs: Vaughny, Bainsey, Hibbo

Friday, November 07, 2008

Actim Players Ranking: 031108

Everton players in the Top 100.

Arteta: 27th (147) - Fourth best midfielder (16/9); Seventh (26/8), (23/9), (07/10), (3/11); Nineth (28/10); Tenth (19/8), (2/9); - Best position: 12th
Ossie: 56th (119) - Best position: 56th
Neville: 61st (118) - Best position: 57th
Howard: 63rd (117) - Seventh best goalkeeper (3/11); Best position: 63rd
Yakubu: 81st (110) - Fifth best striker (23/9); Ninth (26/8), (16/9), (29/9) - Best position: 9th
Jag: 88th (107) - Best position: 88th
Fellaini: 96th (104) - Best position: 96th
Lescott: 99th (102) - Best position: 60th

Previous Top 100.
Yobo: 97th (59) - Best position: 76th
Baines: 82nd (25) - Best position: 82nd

Saturday, November 01, 2008

EVERTON (1) vs (0) FULHAM - FULL TIME

Everton has been off colour for the first few matches of the season and has dropped many points. Not much have changed. They are still off-colour. But the only thing going for them is that they are now picking up points.

This game is really a tale of former players - AJ and Davis formerly from Everton, and Saha formerly from Fulham. The Toffees started with a 4-5-1 formation which Moyes favoured in the last few seasons.

The game saw Felliani threatening a couple of times, one of his strike even hit the post. But it was not all one way street as AJ made a nuisance of himself. Though everything seemed to play on monotone as the entire play really lack lustre and half time did not come quick enough.

Second half talks did not lift the spirits of the players and the crowd was really getting frustrated. Things got worrying for Everton as Fulham continued to peck at Everton, twice they hit the goal post. It was not like doomsday at the Emirates when Tottenham struck fear in Arsenal, but it felt like a graveyard at Goodison. Yak didn't look any where near scoring form, and Timmy was heading his ball everywhere except into the goal.

It was only in the 86th minutes that Ossie managed to put a lovely ball into the box for Saha to score his first goal with a bullet-like header. So so fortunate! Everton sees their second clean sheet and their first win at home.

Score: Everton 1-0 Fulham
Scorer: Saha
Assist: Ossie
Subs: Saha, Anichebe, Vaughny