Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Everton Plays To A Draw

West Ham 1-1 Everton

We hope to see a fresh Everton side since they did not play on Boxing Day due to the bad weather. Everton will need to play their hearts out tonight. The club is facing such a horrendous striker crisis that Timmy has been directed by Moyes to play up front. Not that we lack strikers, it is just that they can't score for nuts!

Everton is starting to pile the pressure as early as the 5th minute - Rodwell winning the corner. Distin of all person was at the end of the ball and what we saw was a defender's clearance rather than a strike on goal.

But West Ham came back strong and in their first try, they scored through a major Hibbo deflection! West Ham 1-0 Everton.

Corner in the 17th minute, and it landed with Distin who fluffed the shot once again. Everton is somehow struggling. They don't seem fast enough getting to the ball and they seemed to have too many midfielders who do not know what to do in the final third. Once again, you must be wondering if they plan to walk the ball into the net.

Great buildup, great goal! In the 43rd minute, Timmy launched a long cross from the left channel. It went pass the entire West Ham defence but not Coleman who sliced the ball into the net. West Ham 1-1 Everton. Can't say that the goal was deserving from the way that Everton had played.

So all is even in the first half.

Everton started well and Pienaar puts in a nice curler in the 51st minute. Off target.

Finally in the 61st minute, Moyes is willing to bring in a striker - Yak for Rodwell. Hope this will be a magical move. Everton, though calling the shots, are susceptible to the quick counter attacks of West Ham. The Toffees had better score to give themselves a cushion.

Good build-up, good strike by Timmy in the 79th minute. Saved by the goalkeeper.

A great corner by Arteta in the 82nd minute, and an even greater header by Felli only to be saved by the goalkeeper. Next came Timmy with a dis-allowed goal. Offside. Sigh!!!

Becks comes in for Pienaar in the 89th minute and Bily is in for Arteta in the 92nd minute.

What a nonsense of a match. Everton could have won the game, but they once again seemed to lack that final kill.

Score: West Ham 1-1 Everton
Scorer: Coleman
Assist: Timmy
Subs: Yak, Becks, Bily

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

10-Men Everton Beats Champions Wannabe Man City

Man City 1-2 Everton

Everton came to Manchester City with two points off the relegation zone. Personnel-wise, Everton is also more than a little short in midfield with Pienaar and Arteta out with injury and suspension respectively. Manchester City do not have this sort of problem with all 11 players stabds for the who and who of football.

Everton had chose not to read the opening script as within 4 minutes, the Blues scored. Bainesy galloped down the left channel and puts in a totally lovely cross. Anichebe tried to cushion the cross but was cleared by Man City defenders. Then shockingly, Man City seemed to stop playing and was hoping that the ball rolls out for a corner. Coleman though did not et the ball rest. Picking the ball up just before it goes dead, he crosses the ball back into the penalty area where Timmy was lurking unmarked and all he had to do was to steer the ball into the net. Man City 0-1 Everton.

The second came in the 18th minute. A nice 1-2 between Bainesy and Timmy saw the former curling the ball into the bottom right of the net. Man City 0-2 Everton.

Everton came out in the 2nd half ready to defend, and that was what they did with large dose. Things were not made easier with Anichebe getting himself two yellow cards in quick succession. That is part of Anichebe's game, brut force but sometimes, not thinking of the consequence/ There was still 30 minutes on the watch.

Heads, bodies, shoulders, Everton threw everything in, including their kitchen sinks. Fearless!

Manchester City made their comeback. A deflected goal in the 72nd minute. Man City 1-2 Everton. Things really looked back when Jag was substituted.

But Everton put up a fortress - absolute defending. Man City mad it a little simpler with one of their players being sent off. At the end, Everton limped away with the three points. Totally wondeful team play.

Score: Man City 1-2 Everton
Scorers: Timmy, Bainesy
Assists: Coleman, Timmy
Subs: Bily, Saha, Hibbo

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Everton's a Sick Duck!

Everton 0-0 Wigan

Another poor game by Everton. Not only are they not going to be in the top six, they might just end up in the bottom three if they are not careful.

The starting lineup for Everton looked reasonably well balanced. When one hears that Pienaar is fit to play, one should be happy. But when his contract has not been ironed out and we are not sure if he will put in his best, then it is a cause for concern. Coleman is brought back in to give the right channel a bit of a tease. Moyes is placing his trust once again on Saha to come up with the goods.

Playing at Goodison Park, Everton really have to give it their all. One win and they will be at mid-table.

Once again, Everton got the game started with Timmy chesting the ball down but not quick enough to put the ball away.

Felli had a great chance in the 10th minute with an open header but the ball just flew beyond the cross bar. This plus a few other chances, Everton are just not scoring. They need to fight for every ball! They have to remember that they are on home soil!

The header by Rodwell was destined for the back of the net but a reflex header by a Wigan defender deflected the ball wide.

Everton needs a crazy man who will run at Wigan's defence. The Toffees are all too meek. Nobody dares to try for goal. Why???

The 1st half ended with both clubs drawing parity. Very frustrating match to watch! I look at the bench and what do I see? More sighs!

Start of 2nd half. Pienaar lets fly in the 47th minute, stinging the palms of the opposing goalkeeper.

Bainesy puts in a good cross in the 48th minute and Jags cleverly taps the ball towards goal. Saved by the Wigan's goalkeeper.

Another lovely move in the 51st minute. Coleman one-two with Timmy, who then pass the ball to Saha who set up the ball for Timmy to strike. Off target.

Saha was through in the 58th minute but a toe-poke was blocked! Timmy header hits the upright straight after that!!! Then Coleman made a jinking run into the penalty area. Shot. Blocked. Pienaar had the ball, blasted it wide!

Becks comes in for Saha in the 59th minute and Anichebe comes in for Pienaar. Seems like an ankle injury. Everton's barely fighting for a win - they now looked lost of idea.

Draw! Two points down the drain!

Score: Everton 0-0 Wigan
Scorer: NA
Assist: NA
Subs: Becks, Anichebe

Saturday, December 04, 2010

Everton Snatches A Point

What a match! Everton going to Stamford Bridge should not have stand a chance in even getting a single point. But we did!

This is as tough a game as Everton can get. Aging players that Chelsea have but still potent. Everton sees the suspension of Arteta though another hot-head returns - Felli.

The Toffees need all the hands that they can get, so please, no more send-offs. Coleman, Neville and Rodwell are the other changes. This is a nervy game for Everton but I really hope that all the players are up for the game. If they need some motivation, they only have to look at the league table - We are 16th for crying out loud.

Straight off the kick-off, Saha grabbed hold of a good pass to strike the ball towards goal only to be palmed away by the goalkeeper.

After that initial scare, Everton were being pegged back for the next 15 minutes. Everton did have one or two forays but they just fell flat coming into the final third. Close close shave in the 27th minute where the final shot came off Howard's post.

Everton looked dangerous with their crosses from either wings, one of which Timmy picked up in the penalty area but was not quick enough to get it away towards goal.

What in the world was Neville thinking???? A blind backpass that was picked up by a Chelsea striker which Howard had no choice but to bring the striker down. Penalty and they scored. Chelsea 1-0 Everton.

Everton was soaking in the pressure well until that happened. Now Chelsea are just playing holding ball. Neville is making news in this game. Earned a yellow card and then earned a penalty for Chelsea!

Chelsea starts the second half. Everton seemed to have stopped any possible gaps as they go in search of the equaliser. Still, they seemed short of idea.

Becks comes in for Saha. What does Moyes see in this lad?

So close for Everton in the 59th minute!!! Cross from Bainesy, header by Rodwell only to be denied by the upright. That is not good enough. Close is still not close enough!

Whattaaaaaa goal!!!!!!!

Bainesy galloped past four defenders to get himself free. His pinpoint cross was met by Timmy who headed the ball back towards goal. Becks was on hand to head the ball into goal. Since he has scored for Everton, I'll forgive him this time. Chelsea 1-1 Everton. Assist: Timmy.

Bily comes in for Pienaar.

What a heart attack! Everton could have won at the end of the game with the pressure they laid on Chelsea but both teams take a point each.

Score: Chelsea 1-1 Everton
Scorer: Becks
Assist: Timmy
Subs: Becks, Bily