Column It's a Grand Old Team... Santosh Benjamin 24/11/2007 9comments | Jump to last I have been an Everton fan for 20 years now and have never experienced anything like today... my wife and me were screaming as goal after goal went in.. but credit to the Black Cats who always looked threatening till the last few goals we knocked in. We had defensive lapses..which I would like to sort out as soon as possible as we will be meeting some top quality sides over the next month. I'm not expecting us to break into the top 4 or win the Uefa Cup, but I am happy with the way we are playing and the team spirit that we continue to display... which was so very evident when the double goal scorers for us were both subbed without a chance of a hat-trick.. but showed no dissent but instead greeted the on-coming players. The passing was tremendous at times and I have to say it's way better than hoofball! I may never again see a rout like this (hope I'm wrong!) but this will stay in my memory forever! This is what i thought of the team: Moyes: 100th win in charge... great one too.. hope he continues in this positive vein.. needs a good #2 though. Howard: Did well when he was called on to make saves... flapped at a couple of crosses but otherwide was solid... loved the way he charged out barking at the back 4 after each Sunderland effort. Valente: Surprised me with his fitness... his assist for the Pienaar goal was great too. Lescott: Don't even think he was as bad as people make out midweek against the Croats... did well today. Yobo: Was solid for the most part today... hope to see more of the same from him. Neville: Yes i am saying it..Phil had a good game... overlapped well esp for the Cahill goal and generally was good today...keep him on at RB Moyesy. Pienaar: Growing in confidence with each game..good goal and good work-rate too... BUY HIM NOW! Osman: Little Ossie stepped it up a notch today... was unlucky not to get more than his one goal (which was a gem!)... Carsley: Often forgotten when all the fancy passing and goals grab the limelight... got back to help out and broke down many Sunderland moves... priceless player. Arteta: Move to Spain? Not unless they make him the KING!... great flair... unlucky to not score from free kick. Cahill: Tiny Tim... with the huge heart and the amazing passion (not to forget, skill on that first goal!) Yakubu: Starting to convince me of his abilities... shoulda scored more... but passing and hold-up play was good today... just needs to be fed on a regulr basis..and he will score. Johnson: Great to see him back and running... an more importantly..scoring...want to see more goals now, Andy Anichebe: Sad that he didnt get a goal today but just the sight of him and the Yak (and their Anelka-esque celebration!) was great to see. I cant end this article without saying a prayer for Dave Hickson... in all the celebration, let's not forget him... get well soon, Dave! Wish i was at Goodison to savor the atmosphere that i saw on TV...thanks to all you fans who braved the cold,rainy weather to cheer our lads on. Lets take this momentum into our next game and take each game at a time...not think too far..COYB Reader Comments Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Tony Williams 1 Posted 24/11/2007 at 21:55:49 Report abuse Good post Santosh, I agree with your observations on the players.I thought at 3-1 we were still nervous but once Tim got the 4th we went nuts and that must have been picked up on by the team.Carsley was my man of the match, understated but a fantstic defensive midfielder. He does his job but is overlooked when the goals go in.Great day and best wishes to Mr Hickson, I know you said you would die for us, but not just yet, not just yet. Jimmy Jazz 2 Posted 24/11/2007 at 22:22:44 Report abuse all prayers with dave tonight. a true gent im glad to say ive met a few times, and adored by so many elder family members. Alan Wilks 3 Posted 24/11/2007 at 23:36:11 Report abuse Santosh , Why not win the Uefa Cup? Moyes has assembled a good squad (Leighton couldn't even get on the bench today ) Peter Laing 4 Posted 25/11/2007 at 00:39:45 Report abuse Sorry Santosh, but I was there today and all I can say is follow, follow,follow, Everton is the team to follow - because today demonstrated with a fully fit squad to choose from then the moon can be reached for - enjoy it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bruce Walker 5 Posted 25/11/2007 at 09:35:09 Report abuse Why all this criticism of ?hoofball?? Three of our goals were scored by the route one method and when you have central defenders as abysmal as Sunderland?s it?s legit to play on their weaknesses. You get goals by any means you can so I do hope the long ball will continue to be used when appropriate and we don?t get carried away trying to play pretty-pretty stuff at all times. Gez Cooney 6 Posted 25/11/2007 at 11:42:43 Report abuse Just two words on the prefotmanceFucking Brilliant! COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! John Andrews 7 Posted 25/11/2007 at 13:20:33 Report abuse BREAKING NEWS ! There was an outbreak of football at Goodison Park yesterday. Most of those present had never seen anything like it !Sorry for the sarcasm but I have to wonder why, Sunderland apart, we can’t manage to produce this type of football more often. Ajamu Mutumwa 8 Posted 25/11/2007 at 16:10:40 Report abuse John Andrew"Why Sunderland apart, we can produce this type of football more often"I suspect that we will. I think we can do this because1. We are in the "zone", or more to the point, the players know that they can do it and are getting more confident with every game.2. Competiton for places, if Baines doesn’t even make the bench because of Valente a player I thought would rarely, if ever, play for Everton again - you can see that to stay in the side you need to perform well week in, week out. 3. Arteta is our architect, but I think the introduction to the team of Pienaar has lifted the skill quotient, taken some of the pressure off Arteta, and helped Osman to produce the goods more often.We’ve got a full squad back just before Christmas which can only bode well for us as a team. If only Moyes can keep Neville at right back. So long as we take each game at a time, never think that any game is easy, and play to our strengths, we’ll do fine over the Christmas period - including handing a defeat to Manure. The School of Science is back - for good. stu jonno 9 Posted 25/11/2007 at 16:54:25 Report abuse Turned off - Anti-TW content - MK Thankyou santoshWell said m8 i thought we were great yesterday lets hope it carrys on.And lets hope toffeeweb STOP allowing the doom merchants to post their shite threads on here. George Stewart 10 Posted 25/11/2007 at 17:32:11 Report abuse What a game yesterday! That's the type of football we have to keep playing, was a joy to watch © ToffeeWeb