Sunday, September 18, 2011

Everton: Three Points In The Bag

Great , great three points for Everton! It's the day of the substitutes. Vellios scored his debut goal. Strac helped to set up the last goal. Drenthe scored his debut goal too.

Moyes seemed so happy with the team that played against Villa that he chose not to make any changes facing Wigan.

Everton started where they left off and they controlled the midfield. In the 5th minute, a one-two saw Bily jinked his way into the penalty area only to be repelled by the defence. The ball reached as far as Bainesy who crossed the ball into the centre.Coleman head made connection with the ball. Palmed away by the goalkeeper. The subsequent corner came to nought.

A love three-man move nearly saw Everton score. Ossie reverse pass saw Bainesy running into the penalty box. He then carve out a low cross to Cahill. Crowded out, Cahill still managed a shot. Booted away by the opposing defender.

Cahill had another chance when the last defender clumsily mispass the ball. But Cahill cuts the ball short, too short to reach Ossie.

And now, Everton is behind after all the good work that pressing for the last 31 minutes. This is what happened when you do not take your chances! Everton 0-1 Wigan.

But within a minute, Jags brought Everton back to parity! Everton 1-1 Wigan. Cahill's strike hits the bar and rebounded only as far as Jag who aplombly directed the ball into the net. Good recovery. Everton better learn from this.

Somehow everything that Bily does, it is not coming through. Every cross, every chip. Take him out! I really don't know why Moyes still plays the Russian.

Everton struggled on for 13 minutes before Moyes was contented to put Drenthe in for ineffective Bily in the 58th minute.

Second substitution comes in the 66th minute - Vellios for Coleman.

Vellios brought Everton forward in the 67th minute. Ossie was open on his right but the striker was a little too selfish and he took the shot himself. One more good chance wasted.

Everton do not seem to be too concerned that they are heading for a draw. Stroking the ball from left to right, and back to the defence.

Strac is brought in to give Everton a bit more impetus. Immediately, Everton is on the offensive. Lovely cross by Hibbo for Vellios to put  in a looping header. Debut goal. Great goal. Everton 2-1 Wigan. Hibbo assist.

Wigan tried to came back strong but got super-punched by the Everton boys! In the 97th minute, Strac puts in a back header which eluded everyone except Drenthe who body feint made the goalkeeper commit. He then cleverly slotted the ball beyond the reach of the goalkeeper and Wigan. Another debut goal to cap his wonderful run. Everton 3-1 Wigan. Assist: Strac.

Not the prettiest of win and the result was only clear near the end. Three points for Everton and they truly needed that.

Score: Everton 3-1 Wigan
Scorers: Jags, Vellios, Drenthe
Assists: Hibbo, Strac
Subs: Vellios, Drenthe, Strac

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Everton: So Close To Getting All Three Points

Everton truly played their hearts out and was unlucky to not take all three points at Goodison.

Everton new loanees Strac and Drenthe are both on the bench. This will definitely frustrate the crowd if the Toffees do not score first. The commentator seemed to suggest that Moyes is deploying a 4-4-2 formation with Cahill and Ossie up front.

Within the 1st minute, Everton had their first call for a penalty. Former Evertonian Richard Dunne placed a hard challenge on Ossie in the penalty area. But the referee allowed play to continue.

A great set-up on the left between Bily and Bainesy in the 7th minute which saw the former crossed the ball. Cleared by Villa's defender for a corner. A good cross saw Ossie striking the ball towards goal. Kneed away by the Villa's goalkeeper, cleared by their defender.

So far so good for Everton.

A lovely lovely set up and a wonderful goal! It was at set for an Everton goal with a consistent pressure for the full 19th minute. A sliced ball into the penalty area arrived at the feet of Cahill. He seemed to be dragging the ball away from goal before putting in a reverse pass. Ossie was at the right place at the right spot to slot the ball into the left corner of of the net. Everton 1-0 Villa. Assist: Cahill.

Cahill has been all over the pitch, defending from the front.

Sexy play by Everton once again in the 33rd minutes that involved the giant Felli, Cahill and ended with Ossie shooting on target. Saved by Villa's goalkeeper. Everton is putting pressure on Villa all over the pitch.

Everton has control of the ball and Villa were just encouraging The Toffees to shoot, which Rodwell rifled his shot towards goal. A hefty deflection by a Villan defender saw the ball bounced off the upright for a corner but it came to nought.

Half time whistle goes. Everton looked totally assured with no answers from Villa. A good round of ball possession by Everton.

Everton started their match as they did in the 1st half. Strong call for penalty in the 50th minute when Bainesy was tripped in the penalty area. No penalty? How could it be?

Great defending by Distin who sewed Agbonlahor into his side pocket. A poor clearance by Villa nearly gifted Everton a goal in the 6oth minute. Felli got a header to the ball who saw Jag of all person putting in a stooping header that just flew past the horizontal.

A goal out of nothing from Villa in the 62nd minute. Everton 1-1 Villa. When you don't make your chances count, the opponents will punish you. Moyes needs to do something here!

Penalty!!!! A climb on Ossie after Cahill bullet header was palmed away by the goalkeeper. Bainesy puts Everton in front with the penalty! Everton 2-1 Villa. Let's march on!!! The Everton crowd is now singing.

Everton brings Drenthe on for Bily in the 71st minute. Let's see what can this young boy do. He steals the ball at the left channel and drove himself into Villa's final third. A nice ball to Ossie in the penalty area. The midfielder puts in a good shot only to be blocked by a diving defender.

Barkley comes in for Coleman in the 80th minute. Coleman has really gave Villa alot to think about. Everton got sucker punched again! Everton 2-2 Villa.

Final substitution for Everton Vellios for Cahill in the 84th minute.

Vellios caught out Villa's goalkeeper in the 89th minute but his final opportunistic shot just missed the goal. Barkley was in full run and was covered by three players but still, he managed a pass to Vellios who shot on target but was palmed away by the goalkeeper.

It could have been all three points for Everton but it was just not Everton's day. The positives are that Everton played really well and they truly banished the ghost of Arteta. Youngsters such as Drenthe, Coleman, Barkley and Vellios have shown that they are indeed the future of Everton.

COYB!

Score: Everton 2-2 Villa
Scorers: Ossie, Bainesy
Assist: Cahill
Subs: Drenthe,Vellios, Barkley