Sunday, February 19, 2012
FA Cup: Everton Marches into the Next Round
Everton puts in a totally wonderful 1st half to earn themselves a place in the final eight.
This was supposed to be the final match for the talismanic Donovan but the sniffles prevented him from playing in this game. It was great to see Wayne Rooney and Duncan Ferguson in the stand. Even Cahill was there with his entire family. Looked like a wonderful reunion of sorts.
As for the team line-up, Hibbo was brought back into the team together with a new-look midfield of Magaye, Neville, Felli, Gibson and Drenthe. Strac continues to lead from the front.
Everton came off the blocks first. With a sweeping move, Magaye took the ball to the left byline before putting in a lovely cross. Felli was first to the ball in the penalty area but was quickly surrounded by players. He then made a pass out to Drenthe who curled the ball into the net. Everton 1-0 Blackpool. Assist: Felli.
That totally unsettled Blackpool who then went on to concede another goal in the 7th minute. A corner taken by Drenthe saw a reverse header by Magaye. The ball placed the Blackpool defence in sixes and sevens. Strac was quickest to the ball to toe-poke it into the net. Everton 2-0 Blackpool.
Howard came into action very effectively in the 18th minute when Neville failed to track the Blackpool striker and the latter had the opportunity to go one-on-one with Howard. The Everton custodian dived bravely to ensure that the ball went anywhere but into the goal.
Strac is putting in his 110% effort as he ran after everything that moved. On the wings, Drenthe needs to remember to keep his play simple. His passes are too over elaborate and he's not picking out his colleagues when they are open.
Still, Drenthe created space for himself and created space for himself. He cuts it back for Felli whose strike was deflected off a Blackpool player. Corner. The ball was throttled into the danger area once again and Strac tried a looping header but just over the top.
Everton totally dominated the 1st half.
In the 50th minute, the hard running of Strac saw him breaching the offside trap. He brought the ball down through the left channel and placed in a lovely chip. Felli and Gibson both got tangled in the penalty area and the chance was lost.
Moyes made an early change in the 56th minute. Coleman in for Magaye. This means more threat on the wings as Drenthe moved back to his preferred left wing while Coleman takes the right.
Immediately, Drenthe was dominating the left channel and his thunder of a strike was palmed away by Blackpool's goalkeeper.
A good set-up by Everton in the 80th minute. Hibbo with a cross, Strac with a back flick, Felli was at the end of the ball. He smashes in the ball only for it to be cleared off the line.
Moyes made his second and third changes in the 83rd and 87th minute minute respectively. Barkley and Vellios in for Gibson and Strac.
Somehow in the 90th minute, Heitinga was adjudged to have fouled a Blackpool player in the penalty area. Penalty. But the Blackpool striker totally skied the ball! What a let-off!
Score: Everton 2-0 Blackpool
Scorers: Drenthe, Strac
Assists: Felli
Subs: Coleman, Barkley, Vellios
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Everton: Total Destruction of Chelsea
Everton 'killed' Chelsea with their strong team play and full commitment. So seldom that you see Everton score two goals, what's more against a supposed strong Chelsea.
Everton takes on Chelsea at Goodison where Pienaar and Donovan occupy the left and right wings. Heitinga and Distin countinued their defensive partnership. Strac keeps his place in the starting XI for his industrous play in the last two games.
The game had barely settled down when Everton took an early lead. Cahill tried to float in a cross but the ball took a big deflection and Pienaar was the first to anticipate the flight of the ball. He controlled using his chest before thumping it into the goal! Everton 1-0 Chelsea. Pienaar truly made a triumphant return with that sweet, sweet strike. Pienaar's fluidity on the field truly looked like he has never ever left the club.
A big mistake in the 17th minute by the Chelsea goalkeeper saw him passing the ball to Donovan who took his chance from distance. Saved by the Chelsea's goalkeeper.
Everton had another chance in the 33rd minute. Instinctive one-two between Pienaar and Bainesy saw the latter with a good chance. He chose to pass to Cahill who was caught offside. The Toffees chased every ball and made life totally difficult for Chelsea.
Everton continued their tough tackling and full pressure. Chelsea was totally frustrated that ther supposed most expensive goal scorer recklessly hacked at Pienaar from the back.
Neville has been shaky throughout the match but his 71st minute hard tackle on Cole sets up everything. Donovan picked up the ball and he fed it to Strac who took two touches of the ball before smashing it beyond the out-stretched hands of the Chelsea goalkeeper. Everton 2-0 Chelsea. Assist: Donovan.
Neville should score like 9 on the rating for taking out Cole too. With the lead, Moyes brings in Drenthe for Pienaar in the 76th minute to continue their torment on Chelsea.
Howard made an important save in the 80th minute as he stopped the ball from getting in. Not today, at least! Everton is running Chelsea down with their wonderful team effort. Moyes brings on Hibbo in place of Gibson in the 88th minute.
Final substitution in the 92nd minute, Duffy comes in for Strac. Total standing ovation!
Everton wins!
Score: Everton 2-0 Chelsea
Scorers: Pienaar, Strac
Assist: Donovan
Subs: Drenthe, Hibbo
Everton takes on Chelsea at Goodison where Pienaar and Donovan occupy the left and right wings. Heitinga and Distin countinued their defensive partnership. Strac keeps his place in the starting XI for his industrous play in the last two games.
The game had barely settled down when Everton took an early lead. Cahill tried to float in a cross but the ball took a big deflection and Pienaar was the first to anticipate the flight of the ball. He controlled using his chest before thumping it into the goal! Everton 1-0 Chelsea. Pienaar truly made a triumphant return with that sweet, sweet strike. Pienaar's fluidity on the field truly looked like he has never ever left the club.
A big mistake in the 17th minute by the Chelsea goalkeeper saw him passing the ball to Donovan who took his chance from distance. Saved by the Chelsea's goalkeeper.
Everton had another chance in the 33rd minute. Instinctive one-two between Pienaar and Bainesy saw the latter with a good chance. He chose to pass to Cahill who was caught offside. The Toffees chased every ball and made life totally difficult for Chelsea.
Everton continued their tough tackling and full pressure. Chelsea was totally frustrated that ther supposed most expensive goal scorer recklessly hacked at Pienaar from the back.
Neville has been shaky throughout the match but his 71st minute hard tackle on Cole sets up everything. Donovan picked up the ball and he fed it to Strac who took two touches of the ball before smashing it beyond the out-stretched hands of the Chelsea goalkeeper. Everton 2-0 Chelsea. Assist: Donovan.
Neville should score like 9 on the rating for taking out Cole too. With the lead, Moyes brings in Drenthe for Pienaar in the 76th minute to continue their torment on Chelsea.
Howard made an important save in the 80th minute as he stopped the ball from getting in. Not today, at least! Everton is running Chelsea down with their wonderful team effort. Moyes brings on Hibbo in place of Gibson in the 88th minute.
Final substitution in the 92nd minute, Duffy comes in for Strac. Total standing ovation!
Everton wins!
Score: Everton 2-0 Chelsea
Scorers: Pienaar, Strac
Assist: Donovan
Subs: Drenthe, Hibbo
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Everton: Anichebe Earns The Toffee A Point
One point earned by a very negative play by Moyes and sub Anichebe had to come on to save Everton.
This is the first game that Everton is playing after bringing in striker Jelavic and midfielder Pienaar. The club and fans all seem to have that extra spring in their step now. Pienaar goes straight into the first XI while Disitin is brought back into the centre half. Neville drops to the bench while Hibbo gets a start for a very impressive game against Man City.
Wigan has been playing with fire in their bellies. Still, whenever Everton goes on the counter, they looked dangerous.
Strac, as the newpapers suggested, may not be the most complete striker. Still, he's willing to run his heart's out. Within 15 minutes, Strac already had two chances on target. Wigan had their first chance in the 18th minute. Howard made a brilliant low dive to divert the ball away from danger.
The game then became as sloppy as the weather. Wigan looked to have played a better 1st half with frequent raids down Hibbo's channel.
Everton had a great chance when Wigan was caught dilly-dallying on the ball. In the 39th minute, Bainesy stole the ball in defence and came through the entire defence. He cuts back the ball into the running path of Gibson. Those hoping for another thunderbolt was utterly dissappointed. Gibson ball was sliced totally off target.
Looking at the first half, Everton don't deserve a draw, let's not even talk about a win. Moyes will need to see how to unlock Wigan and possibly, Drenthe might hold the key.
Moyes makes his first change right at the start of the second half. Neville in for Cahill.
Strac created a chance from the right channel in the 50th minute. A low cross to Felli, but a heavy touch saw him lose that chance. Moyes makes his second change in the 59th minute - Jelavic for Strac.
Everton conceded a weird goal. A terrible deflection by Neville saw the ball spun towards Howard but somehow the ground corraborated with the ball to con Howard as it took a funny trajectory path. Wigan 0-1 Everton.
Anichebe is brought in for Hibbo in the 80th minute and within a minute, he scored! A cross by Bainesy saw Anichebe heading it into the net. Lovely goal! Wigan 1-1 Everton.
Not one of the best game by Everton's standards.
Score: Wigan 1-1 Everton
Scorer: Anichebe
Assist: Bainesy
Subs: Neville, Jelavic, Anichebe
This is the first game that Everton is playing after bringing in striker Jelavic and midfielder Pienaar. The club and fans all seem to have that extra spring in their step now. Pienaar goes straight into the first XI while Disitin is brought back into the centre half. Neville drops to the bench while Hibbo gets a start for a very impressive game against Man City.
Wigan has been playing with fire in their bellies. Still, whenever Everton goes on the counter, they looked dangerous.
Strac, as the newpapers suggested, may not be the most complete striker. Still, he's willing to run his heart's out. Within 15 minutes, Strac already had two chances on target. Wigan had their first chance in the 18th minute. Howard made a brilliant low dive to divert the ball away from danger.
The game then became as sloppy as the weather. Wigan looked to have played a better 1st half with frequent raids down Hibbo's channel.
Everton had a great chance when Wigan was caught dilly-dallying on the ball. In the 39th minute, Bainesy stole the ball in defence and came through the entire defence. He cuts back the ball into the running path of Gibson. Those hoping for another thunderbolt was utterly dissappointed. Gibson ball was sliced totally off target.
Looking at the first half, Everton don't deserve a draw, let's not even talk about a win. Moyes will need to see how to unlock Wigan and possibly, Drenthe might hold the key.
Moyes makes his first change right at the start of the second half. Neville in for Cahill.
Strac created a chance from the right channel in the 50th minute. A low cross to Felli, but a heavy touch saw him lose that chance. Moyes makes his second change in the 59th minute - Jelavic for Strac.
Everton conceded a weird goal. A terrible deflection by Neville saw the ball spun towards Howard but somehow the ground corraborated with the ball to con Howard as it took a funny trajectory path. Wigan 0-1 Everton.
Anichebe is brought in for Hibbo in the 80th minute and within a minute, he scored! A cross by Bainesy saw Anichebe heading it into the net. Lovely goal! Wigan 1-1 Everton.
Not one of the best game by Everton's standards.
Score: Wigan 1-1 Everton
Scorer: Anichebe
Assist: Bainesy
Subs: Neville, Jelavic, Anichebe
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Everton: Best 3 Points of The Season!
Everton played above themselves to score a wonderful win against Man City!
Crazy time for Everton as it's the last couple of hours before the close of the transfer window. Priorities are still with the game against Manchester City. Moyes brings in Hibbo, Strac and Drenthe into the first XI lineup. The young and energetic Duffy made it to the bench as Hibbo, without real height but lots of guile, was brought in to cover the centre-back position.
Everton knows that they are playing a top side as the tempo's of the game was played at break-neck speed.
Still as early as the 3rd minute, Everton threatened with a Strac header only for ex-Everton player Lescott to clear off the line. Man City had also started to pepper Everton's goal with delicious crosses. Howard has to be on top of his game, catching every high ball that comes his way.
After 25 minutes, the game is still end-to-end with Man City settling down in the game and making exquisite passes and creating space through smart overlaps.
Still, the Toffees are willing to chase every ball to make it hard for Man City. Strac, Cahill, and even Donovan were defending from the front, closing their men, and making sure Man City had a difficult time. The defence is throwing themselves in front of every opportunity that opportunity that Man City could muster against us.
Howard was a tower of strength. And when the defence was breached, the crossbar was there to save Everton.
The game was then marred by a crazy fam who handcuffed himself to the goal-post. Play was stopped for 5 minutes. He's truly making a fool of himself.
Everton goes into the 1st half with a 0-0 scoreline. Resolute defending, good attack play. Everton then took the opportunity to unveil Everton's new striker Jelovic.
The Toffees cotinued with the lively play and do not look like second fiddle to Man City. Donovan may not have the best of games but he's still a willing runner.
In the 60th minute, Felli started the ball rolling by stopping the ball at the half way line, taking the man with it. Fair challenge. Drenthe picked up the ball and a quick shimmer, ran pass the entire defence. He then passed it out left to Bainesy who puts in a lovely cross into the penalty area. Donovan was there to lay the ball off for Gibson, who for the last 60 minutes, was pretty anonymous. Gibson took a quick look and he smashed the ball beyond the entire Man City's defence. Great, set-up, great goal. Everton 1-0 Man City.
Strac is really ready for the game. In the 70th minute, Strac ran at the defence and he created a bit of space for himself to make a cross from the left channel. Gibson, filled with confidence after his first ever goal for Everton, took a pot shot. Just slightly off target.
Neville was lucky that a penalty was not given against him for a handball in the penalty area. In quick succession, Drenthe was lucky that he was not sent off for a high tackle. The latter receiving a yellow card. Very quickly in the 77th minute, Moyes removed Drenthe and brought in Baxter just in case he does more damage to himself and the team.
Strac is being replaced by Vellios with much applause from the fans for his very high work rate!
A brilliant scoreline and a wondeful 3 points for Everton!!!
Score: Everton
Scorer: Gibson
Assist: Donovan
Subs: Baxter, Vellios
Crazy time for Everton as it's the last couple of hours before the close of the transfer window. Priorities are still with the game against Manchester City. Moyes brings in Hibbo, Strac and Drenthe into the first XI lineup. The young and energetic Duffy made it to the bench as Hibbo, without real height but lots of guile, was brought in to cover the centre-back position.
Everton knows that they are playing a top side as the tempo's of the game was played at break-neck speed.
Still as early as the 3rd minute, Everton threatened with a Strac header only for ex-Everton player Lescott to clear off the line. Man City had also started to pepper Everton's goal with delicious crosses. Howard has to be on top of his game, catching every high ball that comes his way.
After 25 minutes, the game is still end-to-end with Man City settling down in the game and making exquisite passes and creating space through smart overlaps.
Still, the Toffees are willing to chase every ball to make it hard for Man City. Strac, Cahill, and even Donovan were defending from the front, closing their men, and making sure Man City had a difficult time. The defence is throwing themselves in front of every opportunity that opportunity that Man City could muster against us.
Howard was a tower of strength. And when the defence was breached, the crossbar was there to save Everton.
The game was then marred by a crazy fam who handcuffed himself to the goal-post. Play was stopped for 5 minutes. He's truly making a fool of himself.
Everton goes into the 1st half with a 0-0 scoreline. Resolute defending, good attack play. Everton then took the opportunity to unveil Everton's new striker Jelovic.
The Toffees cotinued with the lively play and do not look like second fiddle to Man City. Donovan may not have the best of games but he's still a willing runner.
In the 60th minute, Felli started the ball rolling by stopping the ball at the half way line, taking the man with it. Fair challenge. Drenthe picked up the ball and a quick shimmer, ran pass the entire defence. He then passed it out left to Bainesy who puts in a lovely cross into the penalty area. Donovan was there to lay the ball off for Gibson, who for the last 60 minutes, was pretty anonymous. Gibson took a quick look and he smashed the ball beyond the entire Man City's defence. Great, set-up, great goal. Everton 1-0 Man City.
Strac is really ready for the game. In the 70th minute, Strac ran at the defence and he created a bit of space for himself to make a cross from the left channel. Gibson, filled with confidence after his first ever goal for Everton, took a pot shot. Just slightly off target.
Neville was lucky that a penalty was not given against him for a handball in the penalty area. In quick succession, Drenthe was lucky that he was not sent off for a high tackle. The latter receiving a yellow card. Very quickly in the 77th minute, Moyes removed Drenthe and brought in Baxter just in case he does more damage to himself and the team.
Strac is being replaced by Vellios with much applause from the fans for his very high work rate!
A brilliant scoreline and a wondeful 3 points for Everton!!!
Score: Everton
Scorer: Gibson
Assist: Donovan
Subs: Baxter, Vellios
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