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Leslie Wee
1 Posted 05/12/2013 at 05:01:29
"There was singing on trains, coaches and cars as we descended on Sky's darlings with loaded Kalashnikovs ready for a proper gunfight. As it turned-out, the homeward journey would be twice as nice and twice as loud."

What an introduction, Ken. Brilliant.

Almost eight hours after the final whistle and I am still scouring the internet, reading every report of the game.

Shout it from the rooftops: like you said, this should be the beginning of something special, not simply the end of something rotten.

Mike Gaynes
2 Posted 05/12/2013 at 05:51:02
The report was as magnificent as the game, Ken. Many thanks.

Never been prouder to be an Evertonian.

David Ellis
3 Posted 05/12/2013 at 05:49:45
I was watching some inane show called Premier League Today or something like that before the game. It was a panel with John Dykes (who I once met in Toys R Us in Hong Kong - no relevance here though) interviewing Ian Dowie, Clive Allen and a journo from the Evning Stnard. Dykes asked the panel for their surprise result of the night. Allen went for Tottehnam to lose to Fulham (wrong). Dowie went for Everton to beat Utd because "Everton had better players". The journo then said
"I disagree with Ian Dowie. Everton will beat Utd, but it won't be a surprise".

If even Sky Tv panellists are getting that we are capable of going toe to toe with their darlings and winning on merit (and not some kind of plucky under dog fashion a la West Brom), then this is a major perception shift that will really help us.

In a not unrelated note they showed an interview of Lukaku who said he might stay at Everton if they qualified for the champions league and that it was a bit weird wtih Chelsea at the moment (they have not spoken to him for months apparently - except through the press, which isa totally bizarre management approach).

Perception is reality, and the perception of us has changed dramatically since Martinez came along. This is going to help us win big games and keep and sign big stars. I think we may have just witnessed a pivotal moment - like that win against Oxford Utd in early '84 or, for me, the Charity Shield match against Liverpool in August 84 when we not only beat Liverpool but really outplayed them.

Matt Traynor
4 Posted 05/12/2013 at 04:52:33
Great report as ever Ken, Was a pulsating match, and yes, some of our final balls were a let down - too often in recent games (Derby for one) have we had men over on breakaways, and failed to capitalise - but as this is part of a new gameplan, I expect this to improve over the next period.

Very disciplined tonight. No bookings - they had 2, and arguably could've had more.

January will likely be another window where the question is can we sign to push for 4th, or do we have to sit tight, and watch it fall away again? Hope RM doesn't follow the "toe-the-line" speak of OFM if he's told there's no funds.

Peter O'Connor
5 Posted 05/12/2013 at 07:32:32
Good times to be an Evertonian, we are playing good football, we are winning games we would have lost or drawn at best, but we are also dropping points against poorer teams such as Norwich, Palace, Cardiff and the redshite.

We are doing well but we are not deluded.
We have hope again.
Hope .... for the first time in a good while.
Hope that ended for me when we capitulated against a redshite side that was there for the beating and at Wembley too. I then realised we would never have true hope with Moyes as our manager even though he had done such a good job for us, dragging us off our knees to a team with hope - which turned out to be false hope on that strange and mournful day. Anyway lets not go down that well beaten track again - but it still hurts.

I don't know one Evertonian that thought we would not do well last night. Thank you Roberto for restoring our hope and thank you for delivering a fabulous win.

These are indeed good times to be an Evertonian, let's hope there are great times ahead.

Focus on Arsenal at the weekend.

Trevor Lynes
6 Posted 05/12/2013 at 07:54:27
Great report and the best comments were at the end. No negative words about Moyes who did a fine job when we were almost down and out. Every manager tries for players he knows and even Roberto took McCarthy, Robles, Alcaraz and Kone away from Wigan so its a very common theme.

If players want away then that's the way the cookie crumbles. I just hope Baines stays with us as strengthening the squad is paramount to sustain the push for the top. We can let Heitinger, Magueye and the like leave as they are not contributing. But at last we have a genuine cover for Baines without disrupting the team by playing men out of position.

At present Roberto has the midas touch and long may it continue, but please do not crow as it demeans the club. We should be expectant rather than surprised !!
Ajay Gopal
7 Posted 05/12/2013 at 05:51:44
Great report, Ken. I can only envy you for being able to attend most matches live. What a great time to be a Blue! Here in India, I was alone in my living room at 3:00 am unable to share my happiness with other Blues. Perhaps one day ….

Great match and fantastic performances from every single player. They should all be proud of their achievement. Just 3 things I want to add to Ken's report:

It was great to see the team spirit after the game - Distin hoisting Oviedo on his shoulders in front of the supporters, all the players congratulating Oviedo - brilliant! (fair play to Fellaini as well for coming over and genuinely seemed happy for our lads)
As Ken mentioned, the referee was fair (except for the yellow card not awarded to Fellaini). He got most of the big decisions right.
As mentioned on another thread, the Sky coverage of the Fellaini high boot on McCarthy was in glaring contrast with the Mirallas boot on Suarez' back leg. The commentator brushed off Fellaini's horror tackle with a "it looks much worse in slow motion than it really was", whereas Mirallas' tackle was repeated ad nauseum on slow mo with "that should have been a straight red" comments. Makes my blood boil !

Dennis Stevens
8 Posted 05/12/2013 at 09:30:10
Excellent report, as ever, Ken.

Peter, you're spot on re Martinez having re-ignited our hope. For me it died away to Sporting Lisbon when it became apparent Moyes would never lead this club to any silverware. Moyes had achieved all he could after about 6 seasons & was remarkably consistent thereafter but showed no signs of further progression. Without wishing to be churlish, as Moyes did much to move the club forward & laid a good foundation, but the limits to what he could achieve were just not good enough for an Everton manager. An Everton managers job is to win things & with a bit of style too! I don't think Moyes ever quite got that, which is a shame as it would have been helpful to him in his new role as well. However, Martinez seems to be grasping what the club & it's supporters are about very quickly indeed. Neither Martinez nor Everton are here just to make up the numbers. Not any more. After all, without hope - what's the point?

Aman Kanji
9 Posted 05/12/2013 at 09:33:19
I was there... what noise from our fans... fantastic.

Sat in the away end right next to our fans... 1st time at OT, fantastic...

Difficult to select MotM — Howard / Barry / Kevin / Martinez...!

Loving this season... WE LOOKED THEM IN THE EYE AND BEAT THEM!!!!!!

Mohammed Horoub
10 Posted 05/12/2013 at 09:59:23
Great report Ken, I'm sure the TV didn't do justice to the Everton support and the feeling when Oviedo slotted home.
We got a 21 year old monkey off our backs yesterday and it all started 6 months ago.
Roberto will lead Everton into a new stage without fear and when I saw Valencia moved into the right back position yesterday it was a sign.
A sign that said those dark days are over where a tactically inept manager ruled with negativity and knives.
Every single player was immense but I have to single out Gareth Barry. He is a giant and a champion and for me signing him in the summer will be key.
Not sure where we will end up this season but one thing is for sure under Roberto's guidance the good days will far outnumber the bad.
Bring on the Arsenal! COYB!
Phil Walling
11 Posted 05/12/2013 at 10:28:42
Brilliant, as ever, Ken. Just wish I could have been there, particularly as I've twice had to witness Manu's piss poor performances this season as part of company hospitality packages.

Even the Roberto doubters like me must now admit that Everton are better off without Moyes whilst Manu are worse with him !

David Hallwood
12 Posted 05/12/2013 at 10:56:52
As ever Ken great report, and matched what I saw on the TV. Get your CV into one of the better papers, you'll be a shoe-in.
David Hallwood
13 Posted 05/12/2013 at 10:56:52
As ever Ken great report, and matched what I saw on the TV. Get your CV into one of the better papers, you'll be a shoe-in.
Thomas Lennon
14 Posted 05/12/2013 at 10:51:03
I know what you mean with the reference to the last time we had a great team. We are 2 points behind that team after 14 games and they had lost more but drawn less (something that a few have mentioned we may be trying to do now). They had just beaten Man U and lost to Arsenal with a rough time ahead in December when I remember thinking we were losing momentum just as everyone had been predicting for months.
They had a fullback then too who had just scored against ManU!

A note of caution - that team won on Boxing Day and then won all but two of the following 18 games until the title was won. That's a big ask! A win on Saturday is all important

James Lauwervine
15 Posted 05/12/2013 at 11:06:49
Great report Ken, you give those of us who can't get to the game a real sense of how it was to be there. I can barely speak this morning after roaring my head off last night. Beating those bastards is sweet enough but rubbing OFM's nose in it after he dissed us and our manager just made it one of the most enjoyable victories since... well, since we last beat them in the semi-final 09 I'd say.
Matthew Roache
16 Posted 05/12/2013 at 11:25:29
Unbelievable scenes when the goal went in, euphoria! Brilliant vibe in our end last night with everyone very positive throughout creating a superb atmosphere! allez allez allez ohhh!
Gareth Fieldstead
17 Posted 05/12/2013 at 11:12:38
It was so strange for me because the nerves I was feeling was optimism rather than pessimism. I actually fancied our chances. Not since the beginning of the 96 97 season have I thought we had the players to take it to Utd at OT. I also think we have a better manager. The difference a positive attitude can have. Obviously signing good players like Barry, McCarthy and Delofeu has helped a little! My only worry is our board. If Martinez can maintain this run and we have a great chance of qualifying for the CL will they genuinely back him in January? He should have around ten million from the Fellaini deal plus anything from the inevitable departures of Heitinga and Jelavic. In my opinion we need another wide left midfielder and striker, possibly another holding midfielder depending on Gibsons injury. It would be a travesty if the board fail Martinez as they so regularly did with Moyes. Great report Ken!
Gregory Kelly
18 Posted 05/12/2013 at 11:16:01
My favourite reporter does it again. I was staying in Manchester so missed the buses and trains, had to trudge home with the miserable Mancs, still hard to beat that warm glow of triumph - WE DID IT!

I thought if we had held on in the derby it would have been the best in 40years, I did not have to wait long, last night was the best, because we have suffered so many defeats and had to put up with their arrogance p for so long. It is Particularly hard in our place, Belfast, where all their supporters are glory hunters - definitely made not born.

I was a Moyes fan but it is nice to see those who deserted us brought low, the years of good service make the sin all the greater. I know it’s a profession for them and a passion for us but if they feign passion they can hardly complain if those of the true faith turn on them when they take their feigned passion elsewhere. I turned to look around me amidst the mayhem of the last few minutes, a few rows back a tall young man stood repeatedly making the sign of the cross and kissing a ring, faith indeed. I hope he comes to Highbury.

Les Newsham
19 Posted 05/12/2013 at 12:32:16
I was lucky enough to be at the match last night. What a great feeling. The only downside for me is that I was sitting amongst United fans (in the posh seats though). The Everton corner were in full song all throughout - brilliant to hear.

I stood up instinctively to celebrate when we scored, but curtailed my celebration when realising I was the only one standing. The silence immediately around me was deafening. It was a great night.

Top class report again Ken, I always seek them after a match. I agree Jagielka was MotM, a masterclass dare I say. Special mention to Oviedo too, not for scoring but because he's equipped himself so well. I thought he would have been rustier after all his bench sitting.

Are we all still smiling?

Jay Harris
20 Posted 05/12/2013 at 14:34:10
Great report as always Ken.

You have a great knack of conveying the moment perfectly.

A truly pivotal game which in the past (Pre Premier league) would not have been such a surprise.

It's early days yet so we shouldn't get carried away but we are currently getting the rub of the green which in the past has deserted us.

Maybe it's true that you make your own luck.

Long may the positivity continue especially with three soft(er) games to come at home following the Emirates.

Steve Burgess
21 Posted 05/12/2013 at 17:27:05
Ken - you put us right there again - fantastic.
Fellaini's thigh breaking lunge on McCarthy and the mark it left summed it all up for me. A player some of us thought was our only Plan B in recent seasons trying to cripple a player who I think will prove to be the best premiership purchase over the course of this season. We pocket £15M in change, they get a player with Paul Scholes tackling ability and not much else and we have the next Paul Scholes. Add to that Barry, Jagielka on fire, Barkley and Lukaku and you have the best spine in the prem. Throw in truly attacking full backs and mercurial wingers and you have a very exciting team.
Dick Fearon
22 Posted 06/12/2013 at 00:14:34
Ken I love all toffeeweb match reports specially after a win and in particular against the Sky four, Being retired and far from the live action and fellow fans with whom to discuss the game I wallow in yours and Pauls and Michael and Lyndons man on the spot scene setting.
My response to your can we do it? is an emphatic YES WE CAN!

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