COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY
From My Seat: Fiorentina (H)
Comments (13) : Another home win and clean sheet yet we lose the tie to the lottery that is penalties.
On a night in front of the most vociferous four sides of the ground wall of sound I have heard in years the mighty Blues battered Fiorentina and but for their keeper producing some excellent reflex saves and some chunks of luck not to mention a couple of poor finishes from Yak and AJ we would have done it in the 90 minutes.
The first half opened quickly and all thoughts of cagey,patient Euro style play was out of the window and good old cup tie footy was in.
Fiorentina weathered the early onslaught and reminded our defence they were looking for one on the break.
Then on the quarter hour mark Pienaar was fed by Lescott on the left,he turned his man and delivered a superb cross that somehow eluded both Yak and the keeper and was bundled in by AJ. The roof came off,we were on our way.
Their keeper saved Arteta's free kick,AJ went down in the box,penalty we yelled,the ref. didn't agree,the Yak twisted and turned his way in the box and with goal on my lips he drove it left footed to close to the keeper.
Right on half time though he had the ball in the net only for Arteta to be ruled offside.
The second half started where the first had left off and within minutes Arteta had his corner kick kicked off the line.
The crowd was roaring,we were putting in ball after ball and gaining set piece chances that were somehow being scrambled clear,so much so that many a voice could be heard muttering that it may not be our night.
Then passed the hour mark we ceased the frenetic stuff long enough for Yak to put his foot on the ball and look for options,he picked out Arteta striding into space,he took it on and from some 25yards rifled a shot grass high passed the keeper and in off the post.
Noise deafening and everyone believed.
We continued throwing everything at them and this produced two superb reflex saves to deny Yak then Yobo.
We got a scare a little later but the underworked Howard produced a save of Sunderland proportions to deny a headed attempt.
The final whistle sounded with us on the attack and surely we could strike in the extra time period.
It wasn't to be and in truth although we had the lions share of it I thought the 30minutes were played out between two very tired teams.
So to the dreaded penalties,this must have been thought about before the game as a possibility as AJ was subbed for Graveson right on the death and so it was Tommy who strode up to make his only contribution to the game by taking a perfect penalty.
Sadly neither Yak or Jags could follow suit while the Italians scored all theirs as if on the training ground.
It was over we were out but the crowd stayed to give a tremendous standing ovation to the lads.
Overall I thought we did great and Arteta looked more comfortable than he has for weeks,Lescott as imperious as ever,Jags defended for his life but at times was more agricultural than cultural
Every player played as though they wanted it and after the performance in Italy showed great character and how cruel football can be at times for we did not lose a football match over two legs we were sent packing only in a penalty shootout competition.
On leaving the ground although the streets were full there was an eerie silence as most fans seemed to be reflecting on what might have been also knowing you have just seen your team win 2-0 and yet left with nothing to celebrate.
Still onward and upward as we must try to make sure we are back in Europe next season in either CL or another crack at this competition.
I am sure this journey will have given the manager a great insight into what he and the club need to do in the summer transfer market to augment this present squad.
No time to dwell in the doldrums as its Fulham next and three points to keep alive the fourth place finish,now that is important.
UP THE BLUES
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We should all be proud.
P.S Did any1 hear the idiot on radiocity terrace talk ring in and say how poor we played? If he wasn’t a kopite, he must have been extremely thick!
Anyway, better to have agricultural in our defence then some of the horticultural offerings we had there in past seasons!
I can see The Jaguar repeating it at some point in the next decade!
I remember him hitting it over the roof of the Bullens Road once in the mid nineties. My mate ran out to get the match ball.
The best side lost on the night, thats us and not the Italians, and if we could have overcome the penalty shoot out then i feel we would of had a realistic chance of reaching the final. I also turned out that Tottenham suffered a similar fate on the same evening so other supporters will be feeling what we are if thats any consolation at all.
Doesn't anybody seem to notice that when it came to the crunch we collapsed.
Penalties are not a lottery over which we have no control - they are an integral part of the modern game - and we were clearly not prepared for them.
http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/spend-the-day-with-an-everton-legend.html
Totaly spot on mate. I’ve been screaming the same thing for years about penalties. They are not a lottery. A penalty shootout is about mental strength, belief, and practice, practice, practice. Not just a couple of days before the big game but every day in training. So when the moment arrives a player steps up and its as natural as taking a throw in. The Germans and unfortunately the other lot have proved it time after time. They have complete confidence in their ability and know they are going to win. While other teams, usually ourselves and England, are just hoping they can win. The pressure is the same for both sides so what is the difference? Preparation.
Like John I was 100% sure we’d lose when it went to pens. Despite battering them all night, as soon as the final whistle went they grew in stature and we suddenly looked worried and nervous.
It was heartbreaking to not be able to finish the job, but until people stop saying "its just a lottery" and the attitude changes, the same thing will just keep on happening over and over.
Three years on, Wednesday night was my first home game. Ste was saying I won't beleive the noise if we get the 2 goals back... we did, and it was the most amazing feeling of my life! It is true; no-one outside the Everton family will ever no what its like to be an Evertonian. I'm proud to call myself a blue... Onward Everton!!!
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1 Posted 14/03/2008 at 16:38:57
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I have supported EFC for over 30 years and can recall numerous great games, home and away, where the support and passion has been awesome and many times, emotional. Wednesday night was one of them. I am not embarrassed to admit I had a lump in my throat several times, "We shall not be moved" etc after Arteta’s goal.....40,000 in single voice. Does football get any better?
Even 2 days later, it still does not feel we have lost that much. Yes a place in next round of course but we also gained even more respect, self belief and clear evidence that we are progressing towards becoming an awesome football team capable of winning BIG things in the next 12/18 months. 2 good additions in the summer (hopefully attracted by CL football) in central midfield and right back, will take us to that crucial next level and real contenders for serious glory next year.
A great report Ken. A great team performance and for me, another great evening in our history.