From My Seat: Hull City (H)

A 4-0 win that looks on paper a bit of a tanning but it was anything but. Hull gave a good account of themselves for a good 70 minutes but a sending off and a late, late goal-fest did for them

Ken Buckley 18/03/2017 22comments  |  Jump to last
Everton 4 - 0 Hull City

An action packed week had flown by and it was time to get down to Goodison Park. Always a great experience even in the pouring rain. We met as usual and over a pint we chewed over this week’s happenings. Rom’s outburst was the only item and after some deliberation most were agreed that, apart from going public and saying our club lacks ambition which could have negative repercussions in the player recruitment department, he was spot on. Remember Ratner’s Jewellers when the owner said his stuff was crap the public believed him and the business is no more? We could have had players lined up for the summer giving us the swerve after Rom’s remark.

Our manager handled the situation superbly and after the reception our fans gave Rom roaring as one when his name announced over the speakers so let us put this to bed and hope no damage done and get on with the task of breaking glass ceilings along with an announcement regarding our new ground.

The walk up was one of Umbrellas, hoods, caps and coats worn by fans bending forward toward the rain but still in high spirits. Another sell out which ensures brisk business for the fast food outlets and hopefully a good attendance at St Luke’s for a good dig around.

In for Z-Cars and we are attacking the Park end. Both teams made a bright start and looked to be played in open fashion with both teams needing the points albeit for different reasons.

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Barely ten minutes had passed when Barkley played and excellently weighted pass to Davies who had stayed onside and our energetic youngster broke clear down the right and whipped in a low cross that Calvert–Lewin tapped home, much to the vocal delight of those in attendance.

We had visions of putting this game to rest early doors but that was not to be the case as Hull dug in and gave as good as they got. It was all a bit frantic with both teams making errors as they played the ball about in search of an opening but both teams were guilty of misplacing passes at crucial moments as well as calling their ball control into question.

This end to end with no end product went on until half time with just a couple of chances each, for Everton Calvert-Lewin got his head to a cross but it lacked power and from a Barkley whipped in cross both Davies and Calvert-Lewin just failed to connect.

On the half hour Schneiderlin went down and had to come off with a calf problem and replaced by Barry. This was a shame as up to this point the Frenchman had been lively and commanding in the holding roll. The winger on loan from Liverpool raised some derisive cheers when from well in the box he skied his shot into the crown.

Then we had comic cuts between Joel and Williams as the Welshman dithered over a back pass and Clucas got between him and Joel and lifted the ball over Joel and fortunately for us over the bar. After the goal kick Joel and Williams amid much arm waving eventually settled their differences and that was the first half.

H/T 1-0

Hull came out with renewed effort and desire and certainly did most of the attacking. The way they came down both flanks and got crosses in had many of us seeing the equaliser sooner rather than later. After a good few minutes of this pressure we did get the ball down the right channel and Rom was on to it and cutting in onto that howitzer of a left peg and fired one in full of venom but alas the keeper was well positioned to see the ball fly just over the bar.

It was noticeable that Hull had the upper hand thus forcing further back than we would have liked so our manager made a change by bringing off Calvert-Lewin and sending on Funes Mori and change the shape to three at the back with Coleman and Baines as wing backs. Mori was soon in the action as their keeper punched a ball out straight to him but alas he hit it hard across goal and out, was it a cross or a shot only he will know.

We were now gaining momentum ourselves and some good passing movements got us in to good positions but yet again it was breaking down in the final third. Rom lifted spirits when again he got on the ball out right and cut in at speed and hit one with real venom that the keeper got hands to it and put it behind, I bet he felt the force of that. Hull would not lie down and a one goal margin is always difficult each time the opposition get into the heart of our defence especially so when a Hull player had a side foot effort at the far post and ruffled the netting. Much to our relief it was the side netting.

I was now watching the clock in interruptions in play as Hull kept coming but then with about fifteen to go Huddleston launched himself into a head on tackle with Gana which put the Everton man into the air. The ref deemed it dangerous and produced red. Huddleston was roundly booed as he trudged off. Gana limped off after treatment but then came back on.

Against ten men we regained control of the game so our manager made another change and took off the excellent Davies who had covered most blades of grass and sent on Valencia. A good moved as it turned out as within minutes Rom turned provider and fed a delightfully weighted ball into the path of Valencia who had found him with a good pass. Valencia strode on goal drew the keeper and slotted. Relief all around as we sensed that three good points would be ours.

But this game was far from over as the fourth official held his board aloft signalling four minutes added. In the first of those minutes Valencia returned the compliment to Rom by producing a defence splitting pass for the big man to go one on one with the keeper and he slotted with aplomb and if that was not enough of rubbing salt into wounds then in the last of the four mins he did it all over again. The Rom song was aired after each goal and on the whistle he clapped and waved to his admirers so we all set off out of the ground the best of pals.

M.o.t.M. Barkley and or Davies

A 4-0 win that looks on paper a bit of a tanning but it was anything but. Hull gave a good account of themselves for a good 70 minutes but a sending off and a late, late goal-fest did for them. Still another three points toward that top table where we sit sixth at the moment but Arsenal and Man U have a couple of games in hand but we have the points so who knows.

A bit of a break now until we pop across the road to the neighbours for lunch and a kick-about. See you soon.

UP THE BLUES

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Reader Comments (22)

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Peter Anthony
1 Posted 19/03/2017 at 06:37:14
Wonderful Ken, thanks so much. Your superbly written recollections of match day are a Goodison God Send. Manner From Heaven.

Your brief reports from ToffeeWeb Mailbag were good. These longer reflections are really great.

I am also pleased to read you seem to have made peace with Rom after his frank outpourings in the week. Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words, keep the goals coming Rom til the end of the season and the results will speak for themselves.
COYB!

Ajay Gopal
2 Posted 19/03/2017 at 06:46:54
With 9 games remaining, not only Top 6, but Top 4 looks possible at this stage. The next 2 games, obviously will play a huge part in where we end up finishing. With all the fixture congestion that Man Utd are facing, they look the most vulnerable.

Congratulations to the Goodison crowd for making Lukaku feel well loved – that will surely be a factor in his contract decision. If on the other hand, he had been booed (as one were suggesting here), that would have surely made his decision easier.

I have a feeling that Koeman will convince both Rom and Ross to sign on for the 'project'. If we do end up in Europe next year (as is looking possible), then Moshiri will have to spend big in the summer to push on ahead. Interesting times coming up. Onwards and upwards, indeed!

Andy McNabb
3 Posted 19/03/2017 at 07:22:07
'... lunch and a kick about.' If only!

Thanks Ken.

Geoff Williams
4 Posted 19/03/2017 at 08:36:23
Williams really worries me at centre half. I really fail to see what he offers other than uncertainty and the panic he instills in others. He is slow, can't head a ball so why is he first choice?
Andrew Clare
5 Posted 19/03/2017 at 08:54:49
Yesterday's game proved that we are most certainly the best of the rest. We didn't play well for the full 90 minutes, like most games,but we still won with ease in the end.

For me that is the problem. In order to be in the top six or higher on a regular basis we have to play well for the whole game. Any lulls in play will be punished by a top six team, also any mistakes will be punished.

Our defence worries me. Jags has had his day and Williams is not of this level. Top class forwards will take them apart.

Two more windows and we will be much stronger as long as we can keep Barkley and Lukaku. The next two games will be the make or break of our season.

Kunal Desai
7 Posted 19/03/2017 at 08:58:26
Looks like we'll have to cope without Schneiderlin for a few matches. I'd imagine he'll miss three to four games. He's been brilliant in that midfield since his arrival and will ne missed sorely.

McCarthy or Besic may need to step up and fill his void. Barry cannot start the next three games. Do we start the next few games with three at the back and one of Valencia, Mirallas or DCL plays alongside Lukaku?

Dave Abrahams
8 Posted 19/03/2017 at 09:13:47
Ken, I don't think it was 'Comic cuts between Williams and Robles' it was rank bad play by Williams, when the ball went over him he should have headed the ball back on the first bounce of the ball; he hesitated and gave a very weak header back on the second bounce, giving a free shot to the Hull player who thankfully missed.

Williams then tried to blame Robles, no way, it was entirely down to Williams who is having a very poor spell at the moment.

The three centre-backs do not inspire confidence at the moment, Jagielka is possibly the best of the three on current form, sadly that is not a compliment, none of the three of them are comfortable in bringing the ball out of defence. None of them want the ball; this will prove to the detriment of the team when we play teams from the top six in the next few weeks. I would love to be proved wrong over this; time will tell.

Ray Robinson
9 Posted 19/03/2017 at 09:19:36
For me, Gueye was Man of the Match – closely followed by Jagielka. In my mind, Jagielka is still the best defender and proves that he still has plenty to offer at this level.
Christopher Timmins
10 Posted 19/03/2017 at 10:05:03
What went down yesterday will have to be improved upon for the lunchtime kick-about in two weeks time!

Bob Parrington
11 Posted 19/03/2017 at 10:54:39
The RS 0 - 2 Everton
Manure 2 - 2 Everton

The we have a season ahead of us!

COYB

Jon Withey
12 Posted 19/03/2017 at 11:48:38
Thanks, Ken.

Disappointed that Morgan is injured but with Davies, Barkley and Gana still on form there is still a decent midfield there. We need to make sure that Barry isn't in a position to be overrun again though – I hope McCarthy can make it for the next game.

Another positive is Valencia increasingly being a game changer, along with Calvert-Lewin we now have some options around Rom.

Peter Smith
13 Posted 19/03/2017 at 12:53:14
With doubts about the fitness / availability of Schneiderlin, McCarthy and Besic for the upcoming fixtures, maybe the silver lining will be the inclusion of Liam Walsh in a matchday squad. I would love to see him getting stuck into the RedShite on his debut!
Bob McEvoy
14 Posted 19/03/2017 at 13:11:37
Excellent stuff, Ken. Always enjoy your reports. In particular this week the use of the phrase 'ball control' instead of the irritating 'first touch'.
James Hughes
15 Posted 19/03/2017 at 14:40:10
Managed to get to see the match after a (too) long absence and I think Ken sums it up perfectly. A slow game but we got the points in the bag and are only 6 points behind Man City.

I have just watched a very average Manue team beat 'Boro with the final goal a gift from Valdes. Jose went and parked the bus and was playing 4 centre backs for the last 20 minutes. They are there for the taking but we will need to play from the off and Koeman needs his tactics and selection to be right.

We are getting some positive press and the boys om MOTD2 are pointing out how are we are to beat, especially at home and think we will win all our remaining home games. We need to do the business in the next two games and that will make them sit up and take notice. COYB all 6 points please.

Paul Conway
16 Posted 19/03/2017 at 15:29:07
We were a different outfit when Schneiderlin went off, and a slow Barry came on. The game could have been different had Williams's dithering been punished.

There is simply no reason to have Barry and Williams on the pitch together, their football bodies and brains have slowed down and are totally out of sync.

John Daley
17 Posted 19/03/2017 at 16:03:04
"Williams then tried to blame Robles, no way, it was entirely down to Williams."

Not trying to exonerate Williams for his part in the mix up, but Robles really had to come and claim it once he'd started to do so. If a defender spots the keeper moving toward him for the ball, he's surely within his rights to expect him to carry on, not to stop or suddenly be back where he started within the blink of an eye.

Mike Gaynes
18 Posted 19/03/2017 at 16:03:46
Don't know where my previous comment disappeared to, but I also wanted to insert a Gueye nomination for MOTM. He had five more fine tackles yesterday to run his season total to 106, still #1 in the Premrier League.

And he's second in interceptions by midfielders, behind Kante. He's a defensive genius and will be even more important now with Schneiderlin's injury.

Mike Gaynes
19 Posted 19/03/2017 at 16:11:56
Dave #8, agree with John D... both players are responsible in that situation, but the keeper is the more culpable of the two. He must be decisive and Joel wasn't. (I've played years at both positions.)

But you are correct to characterize all three of our center backs as uncomfortable on the ball. As long as they get the job done defensively I don't consider it a major issue, but I'm with the near-universal TW consensus that a ballplaying centre-backwill be high on Koeman's summer shopping list.

Dave Abrahams
20 Posted 19/03/2017 at 16:18:52
John (#17) didn't see it that way John, Robles moved towards the obvious back pass, but Williams cocked it up, didn't head it on the first bounce then gave a weak header back on the second bounce leaving Robles in no man's land and a free shot for the Hull forward.
Russ Quinlan
21 Posted 19/03/2017 at 19:17:14
I know I'm preaching to the converted, but bloody hell MOTD surely can't get more biased against us!

Living up in Scotland I obviously don't get to matches often so rely on TV coverage. I listened to the game live on EFC website, then watched MotD (for what is was worth) and it looked like we didn't touch the ball in the first half despite what I heard on Radio EFC. So I recorded the half hour Match Choice on Sky and bloody hell what a difference, even my missus kept saying 'they didn't show that on BBC!' All the chances and play we had in that half were totally missing from MotD and then all they concentrated on was the Red Card and how unlucky Hull were, FFS!!

To finish off the shite coverage all Linekar was worried about was Rom grabbing the headlines for scoring more than 20 goals so far, because 'HE' scored 30 before the EPL Of course he didn't then go on to say he used our club as a stepping stone and fucked off pretty sharpish after that.

I know I should be used to is after supporting the blues for over 50 years, but I don't, it still pisses me off

Clive Mitchell
22 Posted 19/03/2017 at 19:37:05
'...so we all set off out of the ground the best of pals.'

Just brilliant Ken.

David Ellis
23 Posted 20/03/2017 at 02:08:30
Russ 21 - Actually Lineker did make a passing reference on MotD to the last player Everton had who scored 30 goals leaving them at the end of the season.

But like you I was annoyed this was the sole discussion point re: Everton. I was hoping for them to wax lyrical about the youngsters who carved open the first goal x credit cards, WA Driving Licence, Medical cards, Airport Parking ticket; no money all three of their ages combined is younger than Gareth Barry (ok well almost younger than Gary Lineker).


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