Season 2012-13 
Everton News
Blues screwed out of two valid goals
Everton 2 - 2 Newcastle United
With two mascots, a girl in an Everton strip with 9 and a boy in the red of Liverpool qith 6 on their shirts, and a sensible tribute to of applause over (thankfully not You'll Never Walk Alone!)
Mirallas played a brilliant ball iin after Fellaini had won possession, and the Belgian fired firast time, forecing a brllliant parry from Harper, but Jelavice was there to slid in and scoore... but smacked his knee on the post... and it was all for nothing as he was ruled offside: No Goal!
Neville went in a little too hard and picked up a stupid yellow card inside 6 minutes as the game struggled to get going with one stoppage after another, Fellaini pushing the ball behind for a goal-kick.
Some better possession play by Everton ended abruptly with a poor pass by Osman and when they did regain possession, Jelavic managed to pass it behind Mirallas and out of play. Baines did well to cut back from the byeline but the shot from Osman/Pienaar was terrible. But Everton were pressing repeatedly, although not getting any penetration into the Newcastle area.
Some wonderful controlled build-up play, and at least 20 passes ended up with Baines cutting into the are and lashing the ball with his right foot across Harper and into the net — a very well constructed first goal.
[Bugger... lost my internet connection and lost the rest of my 1st-half report!]
Everton target Demba Ba was brought on by Pardew to try and raising the Toon's attacking game.
Osman, easily dispossessed by Cabaye in midfield, ball forward to Ba, scuffed shot, poor attempt at a save from Howard, goal... far too easy.
Jagielka tried his version of the giveaway with some ridiculous stuff in midfield and Hibbert had to get his back as Everton struggled to get going again. Osman had a great chance to make amends and horribly screwed his volley of a Baines. All the Everton swagger and confidence of that first half was gone, though, as Newcastle kept surging forward.
Baines did get one good cross in that was too high for Fellaini to reach, as Neville rather dangerously fouled his man.
Everton swept through with some crisp passing setting up Fellaini to score but it was wrongly ruled offside. At the other end, Cisse got behind the thin blue line and almost scored with a lob.
Anichebe went for a poor backpass and almost caught Harper, who had to explain to the keeper there was no intent, and Vic had gone for the ball.
It was back and forth, and rather scrappy, with Everton lacking form and structure as the ball pinged around.
Another great setup from the byline for Osman, who sidefooted wide. Fellaini was tripped and hurt his shoulder as he fell.
Everton were denied a clear goal when Anichebe haeaded in off the bar after coming back in from Jagielka, but it was booted out by ........ Replays showed the ball was complelety over the line, but it was not given. Pienaar brought down somenon in the aftermath and went into the useless referee's book.
Fellaini released Anichebe but his touch and control was abysmal, and the chance was gone. Naismith then came on, astoundingly for Mirallas, Everton's main live wire. Fellaini then got booked for a clumsy clash with Williamson.
Newcastle then looked to wrap it up Cisse beating Hibbert but Howard made himself large and saved the day.
But at the other end, finally a good ball to Anichebe, a great turn and a lashed shot driven hard along the ground with Harper lost.
But seconds later a long ball forward, the ball chested briliantly to Ba who somehow scuffed the ball into the Everton net despite a desparing lunge from Distin. 2 - 2 on 90 mins.
So, an unbelievable game almost defying description. Everton scored five goals, only one correctly ruled out: two should have stood. 4 - 2?
Everton: Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Mirallas, Neville, Osman, Pienaar; Fellaini; Jelavic.
Subs: Mucha, Heitinga, Naismith, Gueye, Coleman, Anichebe, Duffy.
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If only he could find a man in a blue shirt when he passes.
Good choice of song as well...
Nice.
Mirallas looking the business again as well.
Would love to hear what Osman's defenders have to say about his performance tonight. So shit.
COCK AND BALLS COCK AND BALLS COCK AND BALLS COCK AND BALLS COCK AND BALLS COCK AND BALLS COCK AND BALLS COCK AND BALLS COCK AND BALLS COCK AND BALLS COCK AND BALLS COCK AND BALLS
Nevertheless, why oh why can`t we hold on at 2-1.......
Just feel empty
It's hard to take though, would any of the Sky 6 had those goals wiped out? — NO!!!
Feels like a defeat but still proud of the performance, shoul've sealed it in the 1st half.
Baines was amazing and Mirallas looks stylish. We lost our shape when he moved up top...
Two dodgy ref decisions... but to be fair the speed of play during those two passages of play was frenetic.. refs need help, and thank goodness they're getting it.
But they were well better second half.
No comment re Osman, apart from utter utter shit.
No one talks when the going get tough
At least Johnny will bring that to the team. Id even have him playing CDM after that performance and I never thought id say that.
The Ref and that Linesman though.........jesus wept
He even flicked it around a player at one stage, put in plenty of good crosses and defended with his usual precision. Astounding.
We twatted them for the most part , despite having Osman/Nevvile in the middle. Short of bringing Fellaini back there isn't really any other option with Gibson out.
Great effort and lots to be positive about, but what lucky fuckers, and what the fuck was that linesman about. Unreal.
All-in-all I thought the ref was not good enough for this level and blew every time we challenged for the ball, he also let a few of their players off with definite yellows.....
3/10
Yeah, tough decisions with offside and ball over the line but that happens. At 2-1, the game was won and as ever they bottle it. Poor management from Moyes but what do you expect from this Muppet? Pathetic.
Yet again we sit back and let the opposition take control. Howard yet again useless, Jags nowhere, and so it goes...
Two points squandered, still early days though, time to sort things out.
No offence Geordies but that's a very cheeky point tonight!
Officials were an absolute joke & linesman so out of shape to be judging a multi million pound business! As for the ref.. Cunt.. Whole game!
Only failing for DM is insisting on Pip even playing? Baines has captain written allover him & imagine a team without Neville who can make a difference... Fuck it, I'm fumin!!
Fellaini is such a great player with size, skill and awareness. Noticed that Sir Alex was there and I can only guess that it is to finally find a replacement for Scholes. I think Fellaini (sad to say) is the only player that could replace Scholes. He'd be perfect for Man Utd. Let's hope that we don't allow that to happen.
I think it is time for Neville to show his leadership on the sidelines. The game is too quick and too intense for him now. Also, when is goal technology going to finally be used? Hate seeing Pardew happy after a seemingly 4-2 loss.
Until Gibson is back again I will warn you fellow Evertonians to not expect much. Gibson is our lucky charm... our glue, it seems.
I hope Moyes pulls something out of the bag with a free agent soon.
Should have won 4-2 tonight but it feels like we got beat. Terrible performance by the officials.
Ba scored two tonight and he either miss hit them both or they were fantastic finishes. Completely baffling Howard twice.
Johnny wouldn't have made any difference tonight. The only trouble our centre backs had were from huge lumps up field to Ba and Cisse and both Jags and Distin are better headers of the ball then Johnny.
Tony Twist #340 - did Pardew also plan to not know what had fucking hit him for the vast majority of that game? If he, or Pulis, managed our club I'd walk.
Is a long time since I've felt as mugged by a result as that in a long time. FFS!!!
Outrageous tonight, that Bullen's side linesman... I can't say it... A panel to give us our legitimate goals back please, your honor or Jimmy Hill, if you're still alive,
Neville was terrible even in the first half when everyone else was playing well.
Never mind how painfully past it Neville is, how fucking dozy Osman is or how bad the moobed linesman's decisions were, Howard's absolutely disgraceful attempts at stopping them goals has angered me more than anything. I don't care how shit Mucha is, Howard needs dropping and a word in his ear.
Three goals of the five conceded this year have been his fault. Them two tonight looked like a keeper who's been paid to throw the game.
Anyway, all said and done it all still looks promising for us this year. Like the look of Mirallas too - looks a cracker.
Wise words from the great football master...
Phil Neville plays the 90 against an athletic, fresh Newcastle midfield IN A POSITION HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN POOR IN!
And guess what???
He makes a number of poor passes that are cut out.
Well now Moyes, you'd best get on the blower to Sheffield Wednesday because it appears that Phil Neville needs time to develop!
For once we have more attacking talent than we've ever possessed under Moyes and all of a sudden his watertight defence has fallen apart. When will he learn that Jagielka and Distin cannot play together, their clean sheet record is terrible, probably because both of their weaker feet are in the middle of the pitch.
Heitinga needs to play, everyone saw the improvement when he was in the team last year, yet Moyes dropped him for the derby and we lost three-nil; he dropped him for the Norwich game which we drew despite being ahead twice...
These two clowns can't be paired together; both are made to look good by quality partners, just as Lescott made Jagielka look good and Heitinga made Distin look good. Cocked-up against Lisbon, cocked-up against the RS, and cocked-up now... get Distin out the team.
He is our main man right now, when he plays we win - simple really.
Howard didn't exactly cover himself in glory either.
Agree that I think Heitinga should be back in the team but to call Distin and Jags a "pair of clowns" is fucking daft. Get a grip.
How did he do that, I remember him nearly getting an assist for Newcastle with a piss poor header then spent the rest of the game trying to get sent off.
Tim Howard is now turning into a Joke keeper of Dia Davies proportions.
Leon Osman — another full 90 minutes of dross. WHY?
Phil Neville yet again being asked at 35 to do a young man's job in the middle of the park and he's a right back.
Too many errors from players and Manager added to a defeat inspired by inept officals... Fucking gutted to draw that as Newcastle are a very ordinary side. Keeper needs dropping, so does Osman and Pip...
On the plus side, Mirrallas looks a great asset and Hibbert had a decent game... I feel sorry for Vic as well.
Some of his best appearances in a United shirt came in centre mid as a man-marker but he hasn't got the legs, nouse or ability to play there regularly.
I think Felliani should have dropped deep tonight coz the only outlet Newcastle had was the long ball and Neville and Osman were never going to stop that. We should have won that tonight, but as Moyes says, gotta take the positives.
If Moyes can't get a replacement for Gibson, in fact even when hes fit, Fellaini should still drop back.
Neville is a floater, one that Moyes has no intention of ever flushing away.
Distin is fast resembling a comedy figure, everyone keeps banging on about Neville and Hibbert, take a look at the pensioner in our backline who knocked us out of Europe and threw away an FA Cup Semi-Final, as well as three points today. If he was English or an academy graduate, he'd be getting flayed for this; as always though we're so quick to forgive as long as they're not one of our own.
The truth is though there is no greater 'Moyes favourite' than Distin, never dropped regardless of how bad his performances are when there is clearly vastly superior options available on the bench. What is Heitinga thinking watching that amateur hour at the end? He's probably thinking that he'll move off in January to a club that treats their Player of the Season the way they're supposed to be treated.
We played tremendous football for long periods of the game and no-one was at fault for the 2nd goal as Ameobi chested the ball onto Ba and Ba did the rest.
Anichebe did more or less the same at the other end for us and no-one could be blamed for good forward play. The first goal stemmed from an Osman error but in general the team played really well and will not come across a pair of strikers like Newcastle had very often. They are both really strong and fast and as good a pairing as any we will face this season.
I just hope that we get no injuries because our squad is still too small for the full season. Let's just hope that Ovieda lives up to his billing. If Oviedo does the business, Neville can be benched.
The problem we have is that one or two of our smaller players struggle against physical opponents. Ossie was good in the first half but faded in the second, maybe he should have been subbed by Heitinga after about 60 minutes.
Naismith does not have the ability of Mirallas. I was impressed by Mirallas and we have a really good signing in him. But overall we played some great football and it was disappointing that Vics 'goal' did not stand. If his goal had of been allowed Pienaar would not have been booked for his foul on Ben Arfa as Newcastle would not have had the breakaway.
Once Gibson is back and Oviedo arrives, it might just turn draws into victories.
Classy tribute from the club as well.
I don't yet see that as a problem, i'm happy we have a player that backs his own ability and is determined to score, even from distance. Jelavic is the same, he wouldn't pass if a shot was on even if someone else was in a better position. Being greedy is what gets them goals.
I thought Miralles was our best player along with baines.
I can't believe anyone can defend him tonight. Abysmal.
Mucha is no pressure
Poor when crosses come into the box and uncertain off his line. Please take a look at how slow he was attempting to stop their first goal.
Can someone provide a defence for that performance tonight ?
Even in their woeful 1st half, they could have been 2 ahead, but later on, when they were running Osman and Neville ragged in midfield, Moyes couldn't see the amount of work the CH's were having to do. He only made a sub in the 83rd minute, and that was to swap like for like on the right wing.
I just wish he'd go up in the stands, like Allardyce used to do and Pardew had to do, and look at the pattern of play, and adjust accordingly. I'm afraid he get's too involved like a fan to make rational judgements and his useless sidekick is no help either.
Also, I just hope that linesman hasn't got a driving license, because you have to be able to read a small number plate at 20 metres; yet he couldn't see a white football from 30 metres, even though he was looking right at it!!! If he is allowed to officiate at this level again, then how can we call the PL the best in the world?
Mucha is no pressure
1. Howard / Ł15m replacement or decent competition.
2. Ł10m
3. Baines.
4. Jags, Distin.
5. Heitinga.
6. Gibson.
7. Fellaini.
8. Mirallas.
9. Jelavic.
10. Ł30m
11. Pienaar.
Subs, Osman, Naismith, Anichebe, Hibbert Etc...
Maybe even Ovideo ?
I await the stick, its just a suggestion of where 'im my opinion' we are at..
Every 50/50 went the way of NUFC... terrible! And have to say Neville was the worst player on the pitch for either side by a mile... made to look even worse in the 1st half by the quality of his team mates..
Slick passing, movement, attacking football all of which we have been crying out for. It was great to watch.
We should of won tonight and would of gone 3rd.
Two legitimate goals dissallowed, although Big Vic got his reward with a good turn and shot.
Looking good for us this season, Mirallas what a player.
We need to start winning games like this though, Osman and Neville gave the ball away a lot which highlights the problems with strength and quality in depth.
A serious push for 4th is on the cards this season.
COYBs
I think Tim Howard is an okay goalie but no player can be at his best when he knows he will never be dropped. I would gave Mucha a run in the side; only that will show if he is up to it,not what he does in training or a cameo cup appearance. Regular first team football certainly brought out the best in John Ruddy yet he was unable to show enough in training to get a chance.
Mark Riding, with a little luck we would be top four tonight but sadly we just don't seem to get it.
We played well tonight, and deserved the 3 points, but the money I mentioned in my post, would have won the game. That's where we are at... we all really know it as well. If Felaini wants out, we are even further behind... If Jelavic is injured, we are mid-table.
Moyes is doing his best I reckon (dons helmet) but we are not too far off being a very decent side.
We're potent upfront and shaky defensively right now, we need to get a better balance back. Unfortunately that won't happen until Gibson is back.
Anichebe looked like he was on a mission tonight. No moping around and being useless. He was chasing everything and chipped in with a great goal. Then he went on to celebrate that goal with passion instead of moping back to the half-way line. I could stand to see that Big Vic in the squad.
Mirallas could be the solution to our right side problems. Hopefully Coleman will prove to be the future at right back and form a partnership that rival Baines and Pienaar.
Fellaini wasn't as dominant as he was against Man U but he looked much improved over the WBA match.
We scored 4 times. They scored 2. It was just that 2 of ours didn't count. We did everything necessary to win the game. We beat Newcastle, lost to the officials.
If our season has to rely on Gibson's fitness, then we're screwed. He always had issues at Utd... he always will, it's just how it is with him. It's the Plan B that's the worry, and if that's Neville or even, god help me, Heitinga in midfield, then I dread to think what Plan C would be?!?
So, Tony (301) please give me one, just one, fucking example of Neville's vital leadership skills as he ran round the pitch like the proverbial headless chicken in the 2nd half: gormless, aimless, hopeless, doing exactly what?
Leadership my shapely muscly ass. This is another one of the sung adages that those that bleat em rarely question: Osman, Moyes and subs, Neville and leadership, scripture, set in stone, Neville is the Churchill or MacCarthur of The Old Lady and, fuck me, that was so on show, stone the crows, silly me, slap to face, Christian Brothers flagellation, for not spotting it.
He is A FUCKING LIABILITY and even if Captain Pish was a half-decent leader it does not even begin to make up for yet another disgraceful but to be expected display in centre-mid where he needs to know that he passes to people in blue, one touch please, sometimes two (okay), but why do you always take three, and to score we need to pass the ball towards the goal that is not occupied by Timmy Howard, who we so desperately have to get a serious stand-in for.
And Mike Allison (334) no fucking way: Anichebe is a useless pile of shit, a shameful embarrassment who I watch wallow across the park, moan in his have position ass on the ground hands in the air, and see him being caught out for pace again and again tonight. Ship the piece of shit to Stoke where his lack of speed and bulky shape belong.
Before all these pundits and so called experts start blathering on about technology taking over our beloved game, let them judge those incidents and many others, like the Spurs goal at OT, and then tell us if we need technology, or PROPERLY trained officials, instead of Mr Hughes, Collina, Clattenburg etc.
Never been a big fan and it'll take more than one game to change my opinion but played as the main striker instead of right mid he's a different player. Always has been. The lad can finish.
As for the rest of the performance? Johnny H must of ran over Moyes's cat not to get in that defence. Neville? it's happening too often.
Bad decisions or whatever the thing that pisses me off more than anything else is conceding a goal so soon after going in front. Talk about being at your most vulnerable when you've just scored. Jags didn't challenge, Tim was, well, doing an impression of Leo Sayer and Buzz could of ran the extra yard instead of sliding so early and he would cleared it.
Hindsight is a wonderful gift but we were the better team; bad decisions happen, it just wasn't meant to be tonight. (By the way this is my new philisophical approach to posting, really, I want to kill that linesman.)
Just seen the Sky news, oh dear, Fella looks on side, Big Vic (is he so big? Looks to have lost a load of weight) does seem to have put the whole of the ball over the whole of the line.
So, including Jellies, we had three goas not allowed. Without predjucing Ken, it started well, we were poor at the back, lack of mobility and height being exposed by the NUFC forwards who are a real handful, and a midfield that can be best described as lightweight and slow. The NUFC work and harrying in the second half was superb, I thought they were really good. You all know Fella is my fave player, he should have gone for the challenge/lunge on their guy.
Positives tonight, well a load of them. The pre match tribute and the response of all including the Geordies (a lot less of them Than usual, appreciating it was a Monday night and on Sky) was a credit to our club and all involved. Baines is fantastic, Fella is great, Mirra, is superb, really impressed even though he needs to know when to pass it. Jelly is also a joy. And the chips and curry sauce from the Blue Dragon were perfect.
Sorry to ramble but to finish, the "Winslow" what is going on? I ordered diet coke for my son, we have none, Blackcurrent for my other son, sorry we have none. It was almost empty except for the Geordies, only salvation was the karoake, now that is progress.
Thanks for reading
Though we absolutely crushed them in the first half, they still were in it and thusly, as poor as they were, only one change was needed to bring them back to life.
It wasn't Howard's finest performance but I agree that he isn't being pushed. (Perhaps when / if Friedel gets run out of the Spurs team in the coming weeks we should go after him in the next window?) He did make a fine save which would have given the Magpies a 2-1. The two he did let in were poor. The first was because he was lazy and allowed himself to become wrong-footed and had no length on his dive. The second was a result of coming off his feet when there had not been contact with the ball yet - it was like moving slightly before a penalty - when the taker could see that and calmly slot the opposite way. Poor. I still don't think Howard is a bad keeper. He is still one of the best and set a record tonight for most consecutive apps with the same club - which just means either he is good or we don't have quality insurance.
Still doesn't give us the 2 points back ... or erase that image of that twat Pardew punching the air that will burn all night in my head!!
P.S. Could we have beaten Spain in the first half or am I way off?
Forget about the players chosen or left out of the team, they all work extremely hard every time they pull on those Royal Blue shirts. The supporters many of whom work damn hard to earn their money are short-changed season after season, by very rarely if ever getting the benefit of the doubt in 50-50 or even 99-1 decisions.
It evens out over a season they argue , well if we miss out on Europe by 2 points or worse were relegated due to those inexplicable decisions, I for one would find it difficult to accept.
I stopped paying to watch the blues recently, not because I don't care about the club, but because it is blatantly obvious that the game is carefully weighted against those without the power or finance to argue against the Authorities running the game. So it seems to me pointless travelling to and from the match and 'wasting' time and energy pushing water uphill.
Even if BK was to sell to another person/group how much would really change? Would Everton have enough clout to challenge those in authority would they have the right sponsors to enable them to get a fair crack of the whip?
Back to the playing side tonight, there were many reasons to be cheerful and just as many to be concerned about.
We cannot afford to drop Howard, Neville, Osman and Distin all at the same time and it would be foolish to do so.
However, Coleman and Duffy could be used more and Coleman unless injured must wonder what he has to do to get into the side. Putting Duffy alongside either Jags or Distin would for me bring out the best in either of the senior players.
Naismith is to me another Neville full of heart and hard work but lacking in real footballing pedigree.
Mirallas has the makings of an outstanding talent but has to learn that it is a team game.
Despite our limitations and our lack of luck regarding officials I would still rather watch this current team as opposed to what we witnessed up until January of last season.
Who knows... the anger at tonight's officials may prove to be a catalyst to an extremely good season. Here's hoping! COYB
Any news on Jelavic's injury?
Is that as opposed to the "old man's football" being played by Osman and Neville?
No we couldn't have beaten Spain in the first half.
NU played one up top and sat back and let us do whatever we wanted. It was shockingly poor tactics by Pardew.
My over 40 7 a side team coulda bossed that first half the way NU set up.
Anywho...
We got ass-robbed of a full 3 points. The officiating was just absolute shit. Next time we'll just bend over and grab our ankles at kickoff. Will save us 90 minutes of our lives.
Disgusting.
It would be easy to say that NU got the tactics right 2nd half and EFC didn't respond well but that would be very much an over-simplification of a complex game where don't forget there are 2 sides. We can get better but last night again shows that we have a weak squad and that a top 4 position is probably not realistic for us.
The independent view everywhere is that it was a good game in which we played well and should have won. Demba Ba's goals were sublime.
Anichebe played like a 'man short' even though he 'scored' two goals, he is not the answer to any question. Neville should only ever be on the pitch as a RB and then only if we are desperate. Howard 'could have' and 'should have' saved BOTH goals, his attempt on the last one was like watching a pantomime clown, he needs some time on the bench.
Distin certainly needs resting, we are well endowed with defenders after all Heitinga to name but one. But Jagielka needs to calm down. Osman is 'powder puff' and always will be 'powder puff' him and him and Neville in the same midfield is a recipe for disaster.
Mirallas looks good, hopefully he gets played in his correct preferred position to maximise this. I hope Jelavic is not seriously injured.
Osman played great in that first half but in the second half he was shocking, him and Neville were petrified of Ben Arfa, there was no leadership and if they are going to bottle it when a half decent team steps it up then any talk of challenging the top group is pie in the sky, we needed someone to grow some balls, but no one did.
We also need to maybe get Hetinga back in and our keeper is becoming more and more of a liability, Hibbert gave him a bollocking a few time sfor not opening his mouth when Hibbert was under pressure.
Lastly, Anichebe, I am sorry lads and everyone arouind me in The Park End seemed to agree, if that was a mission then I give up, yes fair play he scored, but so does Veluios when he comes on, the lad was woeful, I cringed when he got put through and controlled the ball like a beach ball on a windy day, he is a very well paid professional and he struggles to do that, is movement and hold up play was shocking and this put pressure on the rest of the team, that is why he was thrown out wide, even the manager saw that he was not doing it, so yes Paul he is even more that lad I wanted Wigan to grab off us, I am waiting and waiting, he is no kid anymore and well paid and he is never going to do it, everyone to their own opinion and I respect yours too, but when he scored everyone was laughing around me, because the same people were crying for him to be dragged off, his goal proved people wrong,but his lack of quality had also been big part in us playing poor in the first 25 mins of the second half.
But...when will Moyes learn that Phil Neville is the worst midfielder in the Premier League?
He was awful, his control and passing were terrible and gave the ball away countless times. Our fluid passing and movement was slowed down or broken up when he got the ball.
It's not a personal vendetta against the guy, he makes an ok right back, but he is completely sub standard as a midfielder and should be about sixth choice to play there. Moyes' loyalty is hindering the team and young players chances.
On a side note, if you'd have offered me two wins, a draw and a loss at the start of the season I'd have probably taken it, but seeing how we have played so far I feel a bit short changed.
It's a human game, played by humans, officiated by humans. Football is still the most pure sport on the world stage, and people should be proud of that.
Kevin Mirallas is top quality, and as soon as he gets on the same wave length as the other forwards we will have a very dangerous front line.
Baines and Felli were immense and Peanuts showed flashes of brilliance. Whilst he was on, Jelly was equally dangerous and I think it was his substitution - as opposed to Ba's arrival - which changed the game. We lost his work rate, off the ball movement and hold up play. Big Vic simply allowed himself to be marked out and never used an ounce of his brain to find space. That said he took his goal really well.
On the negatives, Jags is no longer a Prem Centre Half in my book. He has neither Distin's physique or pace, nor Heitinga's positional sense or ball playing abilities. What he did have was concentration and determination and last night he lost concentration too many times. If he plays, it should either be in a back three or with a Carsley style holding midfield player sitting infront of him to provide a shield.
I think Jags frailities transmitted itself to the rest of the back 4 - as against West Brom, Distin did not know whether he should be holding the line or covering because he was unsure if Jags could win his duels. Howard did well on Ben Arfa's one-on-one which made up for Ba's goal, but he looked jittery and nervous. I thought Hibbo tried his best but with Jags often caught positionally was occassionally exposed.
The Neville-Osman midfield combo was a collossal failure. Both players made mistakes, but in the first half acquitted themselves reasonably well when playing against a midfield 5.
Once the oppo equalised, I think Moyes should have changed our midfield around. Neville and Ossie can't cope if our back line is pushed deep, and with Big Vic not holding the ball we totally lost our link up play. Our options were severely limited but I would have taken Ossie off, brought Naismith on, pushed him behind Vic and dropped Felli infront of the back 2.
All said and done, its hard to be too harsh on the team. We had 2 valid goals chalked off and the ref generally had a shocker. All round a very frustrating night.
of Pip. I’ve witnessed many outstanding performances by him, mainly at right-back and normally in ‘away’ fixtures. He’s been a great captain and a
fantastic representative for the club. Unfortunately he may now need to assume more club captain responsibilities
and be involved less in playing.
After the four Premiership performances this season I/we need a re-think. I’m convinced he can still cut-it for the remainder of this season as
right-back cover for Hibbert but this perchance for playing him in midfield simply has to stop. Against Newcastle he made many mistakes mainly around
poor control, positional sense and passing. I know that if Gibbo was fit he would not be playing in central midfield but there has to be another option.
I do not want him to leave EFC nor do I want a witch-hunt but I do want an adult discussion about how he should drift away from playing during the course of this season
and become more of a backroom contributor. I would start by playing the Big Fella deeper in midfield, including Naismith in the team on the right and allowing Mirellas to play-off a fit Jelly.
Got home (rural Worcestershire) from Goodison at about 1am and couldn't sleep.
Had no problem with Jelli's disallowed "goal" but was in a good position to see Felli and Vic "win" the game for us.
Bollocks to who played well and who didn't, to whether Moysie plays favourites or
not or whether BK is for us or against us, that Assistant Referee should have his flag shoved right up his arse!
The midfield... when is this manager ever going to listen to his own fans? Neville is a truly awful footballer. In the first 10 mins, his first four passes found a Newcastle shirt; he got booked and then later contrived to give them their only chance of the half with a terrible header to Cisse.
His partner Osman fared no better: okay in the 1st half... in the 2nd abysmal – cost us the 1st goal with some terrible sloppy play and almost cost us another a bit later. Too lightweight to play there and cannot take a ball played at him with any pace in his stride...
Absolutely criminal for a player playing at this level. Osman does not impose himself at all, and is carried game after game by Fellaini and Pienaar, who – along with Baines and possibly Mirallas – were the best players on show.
For all I've called Fellaini lately, he never (along with Pienaar) stopped wanting the ball. Some lovely work when surrounded by 4 players nearly all night. Don't expect Moyes to change it though at Swansea on Saturday – it's not his way. We all know how stubborn he is and thinks we know nothing.
Having said all that, what can you do when you're playing against 14 men? That bastard (I wouldn't call him a ref) gave us nothing. If that would have happened at Old Trafford, Ferguson would have seen to it that he would never get another Premier League game again. So why didn't Moyes come out on tele later and castigate him instead of being all diplomatic?!? All-in-all... frustrated!!!
Don't read to much into my comments over Vic mate, tongue in cheek. Doesn't really come across in the text though. In my defence I was slaughtered when I posted it.
But back to the topic at hand: he's one of Moyes's favourites, as is Pip, (as too was Tim), and I fear we'll be stuck with him (them) for the forseeable future. What Davey boy sees from the dug out god only knows, his persistence and faith in shite under-performing players borders on insanity.
Neville in the middle has to stop, NOW. I'd have Vellios up there any day before Vic, fuck me I'd bring back Bret Angell if he is still playing.
Get Johnny back in defence. It's that fucking simple (Davey). But we all know they'll be in the team next week... Prove me wrong, Moyes, please prove me wrong.
We played some great football last night but the defending was woeful and the ref and linesman were twats. Moyes got it spot on again, it was that fucking linesman's fault, the cheat. If we had won, you would not be moaning about Moyes and we should've but, as soon as a decision goes against us, it's Moyes's fault – unbelievable!
As for the game last night, it is many a long time since I have seen a more outstanding attacking display from a full-back than Baines in the first half; or to be continually amazed at Osman's and Pienaar's woeful inability to confidently and threateningly hit a shot properly – what in the name of heaven do these players DO during the week?
But, leaving aside the debates about individual performances, it is the officials who yet again dominate the headlines and who are continuing to take the enjoyment out of the game because they drain the confidence out of supporters that the rules of the game will be expertly applied. The standards are appalling – especially in the case of the ludicrous "assistant referees" who continue to miss the blindingly obvious or make the most incredulously daft judgements.
So much so that in the face of this decline in standards from officials I am tempted to long for for the complete abolition of the offside rule – then there would be one less crucial aspect of the game for them to get wrong. That would just leave the rather less important one of making sure that when a goal IS scored it is actually given.
Collectively, officialdom, like so much in the modern game is simply "unfit for purpose".
The right side is weak and will be exploited by better sides so get used to it while Hibbo, Ossie and Pip are in the side. Sorry but no room for all three although they are perfect cover. Just is we don't have the depth.
Mirallas needs to be more constructive and get in some decent crosses, otherwise just play Coleman, the other headless chook. Moyes needs to get this shit sorted out, it's just not good enough.
Good call to give Mucha a run of games, he can't be any fucking worse or inconsistent than Howard. Why was he so far of his line? there was no power in the Ba shot, it would not have got past him on his line and Jags was bearing down on him. Terrible keeping.
I really don't think we are good enough, too many passengers and pensioners in the team now. At 35 you have think they have seen better days and the use by is well expired.
Onto Swansea and I hope our luck changes. Nice goal for Vic, will do his confidence and hopefully he gets a start for a full game. Time for Fellaini to resume midfileld control and Naismith to start his quiet but effective game and get on the score sheet for us.
To be honest, the comments around our central midfield are fair. It concerned me at half-time, despite us playing so well.
In Gibson's absence, I think Fellaini has to drop to centre instead of Neville, pushing Naismith wide right and bringing Mirallas behind Jelavic. However, would I or indeed any of us be even suggesting about tinkering with a side that should have deservedly battered Newcastle?
We are certainly good enough to win our next two games which would leave us looking pretty in the table. We all remember the Clattenburg injustice firing us up to a long unbeaten run, I reckon the same will apply this time.
Credit Moyes for staying calm in his post match interview and keeping the class the club showed before kick-off. Proud of the club, proud of the team.
Fellaini should be playing where Neville is playing. Neville should never have been near the centre mid position for us ever. He can't pass, he's got no pace, and he tackles recklessly. He is a liability and a waste of space in midfield.
Baines got clouted several times and nothing was done about it, especially just before half time and Cisse shouldn't have been on the field, should have walked in the first half.
Shithouse ref gave everything to them, haven't seen the highlights and I was in the Gwladys Street, was it a penalty for Osman? What about the fella all over Fellaini's back and the hand ball?
What about the ball over the line? What about the onside Fellaini goal? What about the shithouse referee trying to weigh up wether to send off Anichebe when he clearly didn't touch the goalie?
Fecking useless ref Marriner, should be booted down to the Championship. Always been biased against us when at Goodison....or just probably not up for it.
Should have been 2-0 at half time if Pienaar hadn't tried to go for the show stopper stop.
Yeah, great tactics from Pardew, twat it up field at far as you can and see what happens.
Always had an issue with Jags with goals like that, can't seem to read the flight properly and his ten bob head doesn't help either......must have lent it from Pip.
Andddddd breathe......
The plan was working just fine, it's just that a manager and players can't take into consideration ineptitude by officials or perhaps just downright cheating.
I understand it's hard for the manager to drop one of Distin or Jags, but fucking hell wasn't Heitenga player of the season last year?
You can say it should have been 4-2, or you could say with a better set up we still could have suffered those poor decisions and finished with 3 points.
Neville's contribution was abysmal, not only did his atrocious ball control put us under pressure, his passing was terrible, his tackles were mistimed, he nearly gave away a goal with a defensive header that was so bad it was untrue, and when Newcastle actually decided to turn up in the second half he provided our back 4 with no protection whatsoever (the job he is in the side to do apparently).
Osman was not much better. He gave away a goal with a bad touch followed by a piss weak tackle and was lucky not to repeat the dose late on.
Forget last night's terrible officiating, the bigger picture is that we will achieve nothing if those two play in midfield. Neville in particular needs to move upstairs and quickly.
As it turned out Neville was terrible even by his low standards so how he played the whole game i'll never know. Once Newcastle changed their team around and started creating chances I don't think there was a single person in the ground that didn't want to see Neville taken off and have Fellaini drop back. It does worry me that Moyes can't see the obvious or more likely is if he did change it, it would be admitting he's made a mistake and he's too stubborn to do that.
The last time Neville found a blue shirt with a pass, he was still playing for United!!!!!!!!!!!
Neville should be out of the team for 2 years now, it is very wrong he is still here and playing in the starting 11.
Osman, on the other hand... one day he plays good and the other he plays total shit. Not good enough for starting 11.
Howard made a crucial save but overall I think he is falling rather quickly. We need another keeper not only for Howard to feel the push, but someone to take his place in the starting 11.
I am glad for Mirallas, I know the player very well because I am Greek, the good thing is that now I am happy to see the qualities he has (many more to come from him...) because being a PAOK fan and him playing for Olympiakos was just horrible. He is very talented. I am dissapointed by the outcome but not from the team.
And for last my opinion, about Anichebe, it is what the majority says: not good enough. Scoring goals is crucial for a striker, but the boy is just not good enough.
We can achieve something this year, let us hope we are near the top 5 till January. With the right moves in the market, we will push them hard, I really believe this.
The shithouse ref was Jones, not Marriner.
It was a yellow card all day long... he went straight through him.
I got home at 2am still as angry as when I left the ground. I know we were robbed but 2-0 would still have been an adequate reflection. If JH doesn't start games soon in place of Neville then it would be no surprise if he leaves in January. He's a fucking international for God's sake — he needs starts.
It was never a pen on Osman also. I would watch the highlights if you get the chance — you may find the ref wasn't as bad as you think.
Nevilles WAS a yellow, but so were the fouls by Ba, Cisse, Cabaye and Taylor. In fact, Cisse should have been booked for, if nothing else, persistent fouling, which is a yellow card in itself, even if no individual foul warrants that caution.
Jelavic's injury was, I think, caused by a tackle made on him as he attempted to clear the ball from our box, following a passage of play that STARTED with a foul ON Jelavic which the referee deigned to give. Again, that was a foul "all day long".
Had the referee played the game fairly, and not as someone desperate to avoid being labelled a "homer", he would have blown for the foul and Jelavic may well have lasted the 90 mins. Maybe if you have access to the highlights you can check it out, I seem to think it may have been when Osman almost scored an og and Baines cleared off the line.
Remember, there were thousands of pissed off Evertonians there and we can't all be wrong all the time...
If you want to know why the linesman didn't give Vic's goal... simple, the corner flag was in the way, just watch the replay! He was standing right behind it, and I mean it obscured his view.
So, what's the answer, shorter corner flags? No, Tecnology of course. Geoff Hurst's controversial World Cup goal was 46 years ago FFS, and Fifa still haven't got a system to tell us when the ball is over the line.
The reason we lost two points last night is that we just can't put teams to bed; plenty of chances, bad finishing. End of!
End of.
I too thought Jags, Ossie & Neville looked poor but we should have and would have won had it not been for the badly fit git with the flag. I have some sympathy with him for the offside as it happened so fast as Gary Neville showed afterwards. 1 sec he was level the next there was like a 2 yards between them.
But to be standing on the end line and NOT see that goal cross the line was just ridiculous. Maybe if it had of been a younger fitter man/woman they wouldn't have been so tired not to see it.
Can you imagine at the end of the season if the Geordies or the red shite get into Europe and we don't because of that decision.
Our main concern is lack of squad members who are able to adequately replace players who are injured or off form. We now have both Gibson and possibly Jelavic injured and we look short of numbers already. Counting Oviedo we have 19 squad members plus a bunch of kids who tend to be loaned out anyway.
We are stuck with Neville, Howard and Osman because we really have no alternatives. Whatever fans may think of Gary Neville I believe his match reports are great and I always tend to agree with his comments.
All the cries of bringing Heitinga back and dropping Distin or Jags is absolute rubbish. Both Anichebe's and Ba's second goal was the result of fine forward play which was virtually undefendable.
If we had won 4-2 (which we should have) then all the moans and tears would have dried up. Unfortunately Neville is almost at the end of his career and we don't have viable alternatives for Osman who I thought played OK until he tired in the 2nd half.
Perhaps he should have been subbed by Heitinga after an hour but looking at the positives I am pleased by the signings of Pienaar, Jelavic and Mirallas. I just hope that Oviedo is the goods and when Gibson returns Nev will be benched.
I'd add a couple of points:
There was no tactical masterstroke by Pardew - his team of cloggers basically kicked lumps out of us because they couldn't get near the ball at all in the first half and we got no protection at all from the "referee". Jelavic was pretty much kicked off the pitch. One thing that is not that apparent watching on TV, having since watched the highlights, is that his off the ball movment was absolutely superb which created all sorts of opportunities for the players behind, notably Mirallas who faded after he went off. Probably a lack of Premier League fitness also.
I glanced up at the screens in the ground in the first half and the stats it showed at one point was 77%/23% EFC/NUFC in terms of possession followed by a corresponding 10-4 foul count. Apart from the fact I don't think I've seen such a difference in possession it just doesn't make sense to me that a foul count like that should go with the possession stats. You'd expect the team without the ball to make more fouls trying to get it back if there was any consistency.
Shocking refereeing with every 50-50 given to Newcastle and some really bad tackles left unpunished.
Absolutely inept, even without the terrible disallowed decisions.
We need a goal keeper now.
Other than the officials being human the scoreline would have reflected it.
The improvement continues.
I also didn't think the Osman "pen" was a pen either, in real time.
However, you have inadvertently highlighted one of the examples of poor refereeing, viz:
Osman goes down in the box (I think he just fell over and nobody really called for anything). However, the ref gives a free kick. Why?? If he gives a free kick for a dive then he has to give a yellow card but he doesn't. if it's not a dive then it's not a free kick. If he thought it was obstruction then it's an indirect but he gave a direct free kick.
Either he just plays on or he gives a free kick and a yellow card. He did neither.
Like I said, a very very poor referee.
The answer to my Anichebe question seems clear. One poster even claims that he was responsible for the entire team's performance level dropping at the start of the second half.
R.M. Hare discussed the concept of a 'blik' by which he meant a pre-conceived world view. He said that we don't ever really make a rational decision by weighing up evidence, we've already made our minds up and then we interpret the evidence in a way that suits our that pre-conceived world view. Looks like Anichebe is just shit no matter how many times he comes on as a sub and scores (twice last night), no matter whether he runs 50 yards at a time to close down three opposition players, and no matter how many times his competing for the ball results in his team picking up the second ball and being able to mount an attack. If you already think he's shit, your mind will brush those things aside and focus on a bad touch, ignoring the fact that he recovered from it nicely and found a teammate in a promising attacking position.
Deliberate Handball is also a mandatory yellow card.
The point still stands.
Your absolutely right, everyone has pre-conceived views on most players. If Baines has a poor game I would right it off and forget about it. If Neville or Anichebe have a good game then I would play it down.
The point is players earn their pre-conceived views. Baines has earned to have his odd bad performances forgotten by playing to a very high standard week in, week out.
Anichebe and Neville on the other hand have put in years worth of poor/average performances so its no wonder people don't give them credit if they play well because of all the shite they've had to put up with in the past and they know they'll be back to playing shite the next week.
Duffy was at fault for the U21 goal so why does he deserve to be in the team?
I like Duffy and think he'll be our future captain but he isn't ready yet.
As for their breakaway, if the ball over the line is given as a goal the breakaway never happens, because we are celebrating while they are getting ready to restart from the centre spot !
In the second half Ossie was abysmal, as was Jagielka, and there was far too much hoofball, it was like the bad old days !!
Need Saturday to come around very quickly to get this out of our system!
We also need somebody who is either going to take Howard's place or at least make him pick his game up and start preforming, Fellaini needs to be dropped back so that we don't have to suffer another game with Neville and Osman together in midfield.
Deliberate Handball is also a mandatory yellow card.
The point still stands.
Sorry I have taken so long to respond. After the decisions made last night I felt almost as pissed off as after the Battenberg Derby and avoided reading about the events of the evening.
I am no great fan of Phil Neville, but I think I understand what the manager is trying to do. Whether we like it or not, the manager wants Neville because he is his mouthpiece on the pitch. He is (or was) a winner. The other players look up to him and listen. He is respected as an experienced professional. He is constantly trying to organise things and look at the bigger picture.
Now if only he could play …
People are using the "fact" that we really won 4-2 to say that we really couldn't have been that bad. In actuality, it would probably have been 4-1, and only because Newcastle absolute cack for most of the game.
Yes, we played well but only because they gave us all the room we wanted. As soon as they started moving we weren't very good at all.
Nev and Ossie are shit in midfield, and other players havr copped much worse for less shite performances. And it was no coincidence last year we started defending better with Jags out and Johnny in. For the umpteenth time, what's the definition of insanity?
It's a no-win situation with your logic... when we play well its cos the opponents are shite... doubtless when we're shite we will be 100% to blame?
I'm not depriving anyone of a right to an opinion but it has to be justified. I think we've made an excellent start and I'm very confident of a great season. On yesterday's game we were worthy winners but let down by an official...
Enough said!
Perhaps you should consider 'justifying' why you think a lot of the criticisms are unfair. Rather than just declaring them to be so.
Maybe then we'll know what we're up against.
ps: Length of service does not protect ANYONE from criticism.
Read your impassioned comments.
To be fair to the ref,or more to the point your paragraph 5 I wonder what your thoughts are on reflection.
Whether Vic touched the goalie or not is irrelevant, the ref took time to consider the situation, and to be very clear, IMHO the keeper saved him making a big decision. The right to go for the ball is balanced by what is seen as dangerous play. Pip could easily have gone, and as I said on another thread, Fella was real lucky when he got booked.
Looking at your last two paragraphs together, if you were Pardew, what would you have done differently please?
I think we played exceptionally well, but we were aided by the fact that Newcastle were standing still for most of the first half. We took advantage of the situation quite well - something we haven't done in a while - and upped our ante, only to have very little to show for it.
Obviously exceptions to the team playing well were Nev, Ossie and the centre halves. Feels like the exact opposite of 12 months ago.
For those that are sick of us whining about the same old things, why not ask yourself why we're still whining about the same blatant shortcomings we have been for years? They keep happening. Wrong partnerships from the start of the season, midfielders who can't play midfield, Hibbo. The list goes on.
Oh and by the way Phil Quilliam @ 643, sorry for expressing my views on here...but I thought that was what a forum was for!!! Bye
Yes Brian, he did get a knock when he collided with the post but he appeared to have recovered and was running OK. However, when he was tackled as he cleared the ball from our area he took another bang which seemed to affect him and he had to go off shortly afterwards.
Firstly, I need to keep reminding myself how it felt to be an Evertonian 12 months ago. This is certainly much better.
Promising new signings, goalscorers in the side, goals being scored, perhaps the best football I've seen from an Everton side (I'm 26), playing teams off the park, the list goes on...
All in all, I think this is a very happy time to be blue. Sure, we'll have our ups and downs ie. WBA or our desperately unfortunate times, like against the Skunks. That's football.
One thing I do know is, had you told me we'd finish 7th at this time last year I'd have bitten your hand off (I was beginning to have some relegation worries).
This year, we're sat in 7th already, playing great football, with a handful of winnable fixtures coming and we can still look forward to our post Christmas blitz.
I'm still expecting very good things this year.
Oh, and one more thing.. How the fuck did that not finish 4-2, 5-2, 5-1, 6-2?! Fuckin' dopey shit of a linesman! (and missed chances).
FFS...analyse the actual match, not your own pre-programming.
Running the rule over his two January signings Ian - Baines and Felliani- Thats what.
No way should there have been any consideration of Anichibe being carded.
Frankly, if I was Victor I'd have much rather gone in full blooded as he did than have risked the wrath of an Everton crowd that would have bayed for his blood if he hadn't!
I'm waiting for Apple to produce the phone equivalent of those big calculators with the massive square numbers. For some reason they ignore my email requests!
Ferguson was watching Newcastle, seeing as Utd play them on 26th September. Why would he be looking at Baines anyway? They've just signed Buttner who was Man Of The Match on his debut.
What's the binman doing for a crust?
To help I have copied an extract of Law 12 of the LOAF
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
• kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
• trips or attempts to trip an opponent
• jumps at an opponent
• charges an opponent
• strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• pushes an opponent
• tackles an opponent
Just clarify what it was YOU think Vic did. You see, I thought Vic chased after a through ball and attempted to hit it past the keeper, who had come of his line in an attempt to stop him. Now, I can't see what he did wrong. He didn't jump AT the keeper nor did he attempt to kick, trip or strike him. And, being Vic, he didn't use excessive force because, being Vic, he doesn't know HOW to use excessive force, despite being built like like a small, brick outhouse dating from the Victorian era and used in the distant past for taking a dump in.
And in no way could it be regarded as dangerous play. Maybe if the keeper had stayed on his line and Vic had challenged him you'd have a point. Fair play to Harper for getting on with the game, it's a pity that so many outfield players are unable to stand as much as a slight nudge without collapsing in a heap and holding their face. Presumably to conceal the embarrassed look on it after something that wouldn't fell the average infant. Cabaye, Suarez, Ronaldo et al, take note
Falling on the ground and clutching at the ball doesn't really amount to trying to gain an unfair advantage. Happens a lot (professional footballers don't tend to play to the whistle when a big show of appealing often seems to get results) and it is something I consign to the 'annoying but inevitable' group along with the appealing for a throw / corner when they've obviously played it last, the 'what me?' face when they've missed the ball by about a foot and sent the player flying, the only player playing the attacker onside (and knowing it) joining in the appeal for offside, and shepherding the ball out not being obstruction even though both players can be 3 ft away from the ball when contact is made,
You don't have to have contact for a free kick to be awarded. Having to take evasive action sufficient to cause a total or partial loss of balance is sufficient. The big problem is that referee's seem to be really bad at judging intent; clumsy / accidental shouldn't get the same level of punishment as reckless / malicious. Unfortunately the fouled player is normally the best one to judge intent but most will get the punishment ramped up rather than play the incident down.
"referee's seem to be really bad at judging intent; " Too true!<"but most will get the punishment ramped up rather than play the incident down"br /> I sometimes think our players should try that! I read an article by Moyes in which he stated that we don't want that sort of thing at Everton which, although a laudable sentiment from Moyes is something that is sadly lacking in just about every team we play.
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300 Posted 17/09/2012 at 19:20:37
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I'll happily eat my words.