It was a tight win that could have been so different if Everton had been more disciplined. The chances were there for Everton to romp home. That did not happen. Everton won by a one-goal margin. Fortunate. Still, it meant that Everton is safe from the drop.
Everton seaw the return of Timmy and Neville. Both are war-hardened warriors that would add bite to the Toffees. We may even get a chance to see young Magaye play on the left wing some time during the match.
AJ is back in the fold for Fulham. He had served Everton well.
It is all Everton for the first 10 minutes. Crosses were coming in from both flanks but none have been on target. Everton nearly scored through Saha in the 27th minute through a header. Only to be cleared off the line by a Fulham defender.
Everton needed to turn their supremacy into goals and it happened in the 35th minute.The play was concentrated on the left. Ossie bamboozled two defenders before crossing the ball. The entire Fulham defence remained static and all Coleman had to do was to head into an empty net. Everton 1-0 Fulham. Assist: Ossie.
The rest of the 1st half was pretty much a bore. Still it was good for Everton to have gone into the half leading the game.
Right from the start, Everton pressed Fulham and once again, they were rewarded. Rodwell was bundled over and the referee gave Everton a freekick in a pretty dangerous position. Bainesy and Saha stood over the ball. Saha took the shot and it crept pass the wall and into goal. Everton 2-0 Fulham. Straight off the training ground.
Fulham constantly invited Everton to shoot. It was like a garden tea party. But as quickly as I had made that statement, Fulham scored in the 61st minute. Everton 2-1 Fulham. Suddenly the substitute that Fulham's manager made seemed to be a masterstroke. Suddenly Everton seemed to be all over the place.
In the 68th minute, Moyes replaced Timmy with Heitinga. That will not change the game. You need to bring on Becks to add more pressure rather than soak them in. If you let Fulham play, they would surely play. Moyes, make that change!!! Fulham is getting even more threatening.
Bily replaced Rodwell in the 77th minute? Why?
From a corner in the 81st minute, Jag planted a header towards goal. It was going in only for the Fulham defender to clear it off the line.
Still, Everton looked totally unrecognisable. They are jittery. Saha looked distraught and might have injured himself once again. His full weight was on his right ankle when he landed after a jump.
Finally, we get to see Becks who came in as a replacement for Saha in the 87th minute.
It started like peach but nearly ended as a pear. Very negative play for the last 30 minutes. Everton was made to sweat!
Score: Everton 2-1 Fulham
Scorers: Coleman, Saha
Assist: Ossie
Subs: Heitinga, Bily, Becks
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Everton's Creeping up the League Table
Moyes played a more adventurous 4-4-2 and that drew dividends They only can try to get as far up the table as possible. It is really now or never.
Neville has been pushed up to central midfield while Arteta was asked to operate on the left wing.
The pressure was all even until Arteta came in from the left in the 16th minute. The defenders looked tentative and that encouraged Arteta to shoot. The goalkeeper could only palmed the ball away.
But it was Newcastle who got on the scoresheet. It was a poorly defended ball that Howard could only palmed as far as the opposing striker who headed it into the empty net. Newcastle 1-0 Everton.
Everton defence looked in shambles. Rodwell and Neville are not holding on well. Then the tide changed. In the 31st minute, Ossie covered a whole lot of ground through the centre. He passed the ball to Arteta on the left. The Spaniard had his head up and saw Ossie open. He then sliced the ball into the path of Ossie who had no problems slotting the ball home. Newcastle 1-1 Everton. Assist: Arteta.
Newcastle was caught with their pants down again! in the 36th minute. Bainesy curled in a delicious free kick and the final touch was by Jags! Welcome back! Newcastle 1-2 Everton. Assist: Bainesy.
Everton played well for the next 5 minutes and continued to pile the pressure. However, Newcastle nearly snatched a draw at half time. Just wide of the post. Half time could not come earlier for Everton.
In the 2nd half, Everton lost its captain Neville seemingly from a pulled hamstring. Heitinga came in for the former England national.
Everton attacked with a vengance. In the 53nd minuteArteta instrumental in midfield craved open Newcastle once again. Becks ran into the penalty area and even had a go. Palmed away by the goalkeeper. Becks gave it a go in the 60th minute and that stung the hands of the goalkeeper but the ball did not go past the custodian.
Everton made their second change in the 68th minute which saw 'crybaby' Anichebe coming in for Becks. The young striker has to stop rolling on the floor so much and really try to intentionally win those balls. In the midst of all these, Bainesy saved Everton with a last-minute tackle in the 71st minute.
Everton really let Newcastle off the hook. Arteta ran himself into the penalty area in the 73rd minute but Saha was a tad bit late as he slid in but missed the ball.
Newcastles's Kevin Nolan managed to irritate Anichebe once again with a intentional tap on the striker's ankle. Mr "Short fuse" exploded and both players then earned themselves yellow cards.
Everton placed themselves in a precarious position when Bainesy took a Newcastle player down so near to the penalty area in the 82nd minute. The subsequent free kick went through the wall and so nearly scored only for Everton's defenders to clear at the end.
The Toffees made their final change in the 84th minute - Coleman in for Ossie.
Everton caught Newcastle wide open in the 88th minute. Anichebe jinxed his way into the far left before putting a low cross. The entire Newcastle defence was like a million of miles away when Coleman picked up the ball. The defender turned midfielder gave all he got but was saved by the goalkeeper.
Everton had all the final chances but not scored any more goals. It did not matter this time as Everton took all three points. Just another five points from the last 10 matches and Everton will be safe.
Score: Newcastle 1-2 Everton
Scorer: Ossie, Jags
Assists: Arteta, Bainesy
Subs: Heitinga, Anichebe, Coleman
Neville has been pushed up to central midfield while Arteta was asked to operate on the left wing.
The pressure was all even until Arteta came in from the left in the 16th minute. The defenders looked tentative and that encouraged Arteta to shoot. The goalkeeper could only palmed the ball away.
But it was Newcastle who got on the scoresheet. It was a poorly defended ball that Howard could only palmed as far as the opposing striker who headed it into the empty net. Newcastle 1-0 Everton.
Everton defence looked in shambles. Rodwell and Neville are not holding on well. Then the tide changed. In the 31st minute, Ossie covered a whole lot of ground through the centre. He passed the ball to Arteta on the left. The Spaniard had his head up and saw Ossie open. He then sliced the ball into the path of Ossie who had no problems slotting the ball home. Newcastle 1-1 Everton. Assist: Arteta.
Newcastle was caught with their pants down again! in the 36th minute. Bainesy curled in a delicious free kick and the final touch was by Jags! Welcome back! Newcastle 1-2 Everton. Assist: Bainesy.
Everton played well for the next 5 minutes and continued to pile the pressure. However, Newcastle nearly snatched a draw at half time. Just wide of the post. Half time could not come earlier for Everton.
In the 2nd half, Everton lost its captain Neville seemingly from a pulled hamstring. Heitinga came in for the former England national.
Everton attacked with a vengance. In the 53nd minuteArteta instrumental in midfield craved open Newcastle once again. Becks ran into the penalty area and even had a go. Palmed away by the goalkeeper. Becks gave it a go in the 60th minute and that stung the hands of the goalkeeper but the ball did not go past the custodian.
Everton made their second change in the 68th minute which saw 'crybaby' Anichebe coming in for Becks. The young striker has to stop rolling on the floor so much and really try to intentionally win those balls. In the midst of all these, Bainesy saved Everton with a last-minute tackle in the 71st minute.
Everton really let Newcastle off the hook. Arteta ran himself into the penalty area in the 73rd minute but Saha was a tad bit late as he slid in but missed the ball.
Newcastles's Kevin Nolan managed to irritate Anichebe once again with a intentional tap on the striker's ankle. Mr "Short fuse" exploded and both players then earned themselves yellow cards.
Everton placed themselves in a precarious position when Bainesy took a Newcastle player down so near to the penalty area in the 82nd minute. The subsequent free kick went through the wall and so nearly scored only for Everton's defenders to clear at the end.
The Toffees made their final change in the 84th minute - Coleman in for Ossie.
Everton caught Newcastle wide open in the 88th minute. Anichebe jinxed his way into the far left before putting a low cross. The entire Newcastle defence was like a million of miles away when Coleman picked up the ball. The defender turned midfielder gave all he got but was saved by the goalkeeper.
Everton had all the final chances but not scored any more goals. It did not matter this time as Everton took all three points. Just another five points from the last 10 matches and Everton will be safe.
Score: Newcastle 1-2 Everton
Scorer: Ossie, Jags
Assists: Arteta, Bainesy
Subs: Heitinga, Anichebe, Coleman
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Everton Out of the FA Cup
Poor game by Everton. This time, they could not pull the rabbit out of the bag when they went a goal behind.
Moyes has placed the most experience team out to win the match even when this was just an FA Cup. The manager knows that this is one ticket to Europe as the league front has dried up. Two changes made - Bily and Rodwell in for Felli and Becks.
Everton had full control of the match in the first 20 minutes with Coleman coming closest with a downward header that saw the bal skimmed past the post. 25th minute - With their very first foray into Everton's half, Reading scored. It came straight from a corner that was improperly cleared. Everton 0-1 Reading.
Suddenly the pressure was on Everton. A back-paddling Distin in the 28th minute was caught short. The ball was taken off him and Howard was forced to make an important save.
Everton was thought a lesson of making it count when you have the possession. Also, a 4-5-1 formation at home is not too attacking minded, isn't it? Close to the end of the first half, Ossie headed the ball just wide.
Half time whistle brought to a close a rather embarassing half for Everton and was led by a chorus of boos.
Moyes ringed in two changes to prove his discontent. Becks and Anichebe came in for the ineffective Bily and Coleman.
30 minutes in and Everton has nothing to show for. Everton needed to press harder as that allows the visitors lesser space.
Good chance in the 78th minute. Saha moved the ball around in the left wing. He puts in a lovely cross for the incoming Ossie. A sweet first time shot but the ball was palmed away by the opposing goalkeeper. So, so close.
Final change in the 87th minute, Baxter for Neville.
Overall, it was a horrible match that the players an fans should forget about it. Anichebe did not provide many good touches. Bad, bad game that Everton did not deserve to win
Score: Everton 0-1 Reading
Scorer: Nil
Assist: Nil
Subs: Becks, Anichebe, Baxter
Moyes has placed the most experience team out to win the match even when this was just an FA Cup. The manager knows that this is one ticket to Europe as the league front has dried up. Two changes made - Bily and Rodwell in for Felli and Becks.
Everton had full control of the match in the first 20 minutes with Coleman coming closest with a downward header that saw the bal skimmed past the post. 25th minute - With their very first foray into Everton's half, Reading scored. It came straight from a corner that was improperly cleared. Everton 0-1 Reading.
Suddenly the pressure was on Everton. A back-paddling Distin in the 28th minute was caught short. The ball was taken off him and Howard was forced to make an important save.
Everton was thought a lesson of making it count when you have the possession. Also, a 4-5-1 formation at home is not too attacking minded, isn't it? Close to the end of the first half, Ossie headed the ball just wide.
Half time whistle brought to a close a rather embarassing half for Everton and was led by a chorus of boos.
Moyes ringed in two changes to prove his discontent. Becks and Anichebe came in for the ineffective Bily and Coleman.
30 minutes in and Everton has nothing to show for. Everton needed to press harder as that allows the visitors lesser space.
Good chance in the 78th minute. Saha moved the ball around in the left wing. He puts in a lovely cross for the incoming Ossie. A sweet first time shot but the ball was palmed away by the opposing goalkeeper. So, so close.
Final change in the 87th minute, Baxter for Neville.
Overall, it was a horrible match that the players an fans should forget about it. Anichebe did not provide many good touches. Bad, bad game that Everton did not deserve to win
Score: Everton 0-1 Reading
Scorer: Nil
Assist: Nil
Subs: Becks, Anichebe, Baxter
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