3-1 (3 cheers and 1 final hurrah)

It's a great relief to know that we have held onto 5th place and got a direct pass into the 1st round of next year's Uefa Cup (and not via the Intertoto/Fair Play).

The starting line-up chose itself as Hibbo and AJ were injured and Lescott was deemed fit to play. The "important" games being shown on TV here in India meant that I had to follow the live scores on the internet which is not much fun at all. We seemed to have more of the possession early on and had many more shots on goal too but couldn't make it count. The Villa vs West Ham game started well for us with Solano scoring in the first 10 mins... Villa then equalised with Young. Back to our game... A great free kick from around 40 yards by Manny was headed into the left bottom corner by a diving Yakubu...1-0 to us.

The second half was barely under way before Yobo committed a foul to hand Newcastle a penalty which of course was taken by the ex-red, Owen and although Howard guessed the direction right, he couldn't keep it out... News from the Villa game got bad as Villa took the lead. All we neeeded was a Newcastle goal now to ruin our great season...

Then the saviour stepped up and made it count... Joleon Lescott, our Player of the Season without a doubt, scored to send me into a frenzy. I was feeling a little less nervous as time went on and then it happened ? time actually stood still as we were awarded a penalty (yes, folks ? a penalty!!!) that the Yak converted to send us through safely to the 1st round of next year's Uefa Cup. No player assessment as I didn't actually watch the game.

My assessment for the season is as follows:

  • Player of the Season: Lescott
  • Buy of the season: Pienaar
  • Loan of the season: Pienaar
  • Win of the season: 6-1 win against Brann
  • Loss of the season: 0-2 loss to Fiorentina
I really hope that Moyes will sign a long-term contract coz I know he is the man to keep us on track for bigger and better things. I also hope that we can strengthen the weak areas and get rid of some of the less effective players.

I am not sure how I will spend my weekends over the next 3 months... maybe I will watch a bit of the Euro Championships... Maybe I will get a bit more of my pending work done. All I know is that I will miss the ups and downs of the Everton life... maybe the silly season will keep me distracted too.

I'd like to thank all those at Toffeeweb for publishing so many of my views, and for those who commented on them. I've learnt a lot from all of you; take care of yourselves... see you all in Europe next year!!!! COYB

Reader Comments

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Jay Harris
1   Posted 11/05/2008 at 23:26:17

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Nice post Santos
Although I disagree with the loan of the season. It has to be Manny for me. He has hauled us over the line these last 5 or 6 games and was on the end of most of what was creative today. He is a must-sign player and if Billy Liar wasn't telling another one of his porkies last August we should still have the £12 million to buy him (with a bit of interest).
Eric Holland
2   Posted 11/05/2008 at 23:53:21

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Jay, I think you are spot on Manny just oozes class and today his crossing passing and chasing back was just brilliant, sign him now.
"We're all going on a European tour, a European tour"

ps: Pissing myself laughing at the Keegan song to the Monkeys tune Sleepy Jean.
Dan Parker
3   Posted 12/05/2008 at 00:55:50

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It was rather funny. I think it’s because they used to sing that to Peter Reid when he was manager of Sunderland. I hope Peter was in a box smiling at the Geordies today.
Simon Joseph
4   Posted 12/05/2008 at 03:51:14

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We have really enjoyed the ?catchy? titles of your articles. It's great to see the comments too & realise how many fans actually take the time to read & write in. We look forward to the next season now...
Steve Carter
5   Posted 12/05/2008 at 05:13:11

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Still can’t agree with those of you, Santosh, that talk up Pienaar to the extent that you do. At what we got him for, sure he’s okay and probably better than many alternatives at or somewhat above the price. But he is small and easily bullied off the ball, I think that’s been noticed and I think that we can’t expect to continue to go onwards and upwards having even two out of Arteta, Osman and him in the side week in week out, let alone all three of them. (Plus I’ve not forgiven him for his effort against MU at OT...)
Jay Campbell
6   Posted 12/05/2008 at 07:16:48

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Player of the season: Lescott
Best Midfielder at the club but some morons think Lee Carsly is better: Fernandes
Must get lashed in the summer or we?ll never win a thing: Hibbert, VDM, Carsley, Johnson, Kenwright and Wyness.
Biggest gobshites of the season: Kenwright & Wyness (no conest)
Highlight of the season: Them fuckfaced bastards gettin knocked out in the semi against Chelsea.
Goal of the season: Riise V Chelsea (cracker)
Funniest moments of th season: Benitez saying with a straight face to the press "Crouch is worth 15 million" and Phil Thompson?s face when Barnsley hit the winner in the KOP. Priceless fuckn twat.
Christine Foster
7   Posted 12/05/2008 at 08:33:12

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Good to see the season end on a positive note on the field, just who will go from the squad next year is a debateable point as Moyes is likely to hold on to some players past their sell by date (Stubbs etc) I suspect Hibbert, Neville and even Carsley may still be there at the start next season, but hopefully not in starting line ups. VDM uep.. you know I don't think Johnson?s possie is safe with the club after this season, not just because he hasn?t played well but the way Moyes tactically uses him is not to his strengths.
Off the field I think someone should put BK and KW on the transfer list. KW definately on a free. Someone should buy BK out of his contract.

It may be a long off season break, I am sure a few more things will raise their heads to keep us on the boil.
titus mccready
8   Posted 12/05/2008 at 09:13:21

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Jay Campbell, you really are a sad bitter little specimen. EFC have their best season for years and all you can do is bang on about Liverpool. What are you exactly? An Everton supporter or someone who just has a foul-mouthed hatred of Liverpool to the exclusion of anything else. It is posts like yours that make me despair of football fans in general. If all you want to do is rant on and on about Liverpool why don?t you fuck off and do it somewhere else. Celebrate Everton?s achievemnets why not.
Christine Foster
9   Posted 12/05/2008 at 09:28:31

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Titus, sorry but its black humour that is purely scouse. After being on the end of fans taunts all season (Kirby, one city.etc.. one cannot put laugh at mess ups our beloved reds make, tickles me pink to think of them getting a dose of reality too. Seems like there is a god afterall.

Its not a rant against Liverpool, its purely someone thanking god for handing out a little balance to the universe :-)
Jay Campbell
10   Posted 12/05/2008 at 09:48:30

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Mr McCready your first name says it all.
titus mccready
11   Posted 12/05/2008 at 09:51:37

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Christine, surely the "famous scouse wit" can rise higher than "fuckfaced bastards"? There is comedy and then there is just mindless abuse and enjoying someone else?s (imagined) failures for the sake of it. Coming 4th and semi-finals of the CL is hardly a fuck up. I?m sure EFC fans would be more than happy with that. I don?t want to seem po-faced about it all but the endless redshite this and redshite that on this site makes me wonder what being an Everton fan is supposed to be all about. You may say that none of this abuse is meant seriously but you only have to look at the faces of fans on the terraces sometimes to realise that there is more than just a bit of friendly rivalry going on. There is enough hatred in the world as it is without us joining in. Spread the love and all that.
titus mccready
12   Posted 12/05/2008 at 10:03:04

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Jay Campbell, you get lovelier by the minute.
Anthony Jaras
13   Posted 12/05/2008 at 09:58:31

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Player of the season: Lescott
Best Midfielder at the club but some morons think Lee Carsly is better: Based on the full season's performance, Carsley

Must get lashed in the summer or we?ll never win a thing: Hibbert (Demoted from first pick right back to squad player, AVDM, Gardener |(It?s clear he will never play for us), Johnson?? Depends on who we are talking about signing to replace him and how much we can get for him. Kenwright? Depends on how much cash he makes available.
Biggest gobshites of the season: Liverpool for even suggesting they could win the title. (no conest)
Highlight of the season: Finishing just one place outside the ?big 4?.
Goal of the season: Cahill at Chelsea, perfect overhead kick last minute against a top european side. (cracker)
Funniest moments of the season: My gobshite red mate saying to me that Lescott was shite.

Come on mate, let?s focus on the blues, it?s been a top season, better than the shite have had been as they are genuine title contenders as usual.
peter bourke
14   Posted 12/05/2008 at 10:25:51

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Have to agree whole heartedly with Titus. Sorry jay even though i can see your sense of humor, i thinki Titus has summed you up pretty well.
Jay Campbell
15   Posted 12/05/2008 at 10:20:33

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Titus listen mate I?ll make no bones about it, I hate them with a passion and never ever will I be or think any different towards them.

After a lifetime of seeing them rob and plunder so many major honours in the jammiest ov circumstances and have the likes ov Joey Jones, beans on toast face Tommy Smith, Phil Neal, Biscan etc pick up the same winners medals as the likes ov Marco Van Basten and Zidane you better believe it i?m bitter.

Can?t stand them and Riise made my year!!!
Seamus Murphy
16   Posted 12/05/2008 at 10:32:33

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Player of the Season - Lescott
Loan of the Season - Pienaar (Have to agree with Santosh on this-his contribution in the first half of the season was much more than Fernandes - who we should also sign though!)
Buy of the season - Yakubu
Win of the season - 7-1 v Sunderland

titus mccready
17   Posted 12/05/2008 at 10:37:10

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Jay, OK, fair enough if that?s the way you feel there is little I can do about it. I have been an Everton supporter all my life, but, and here is my dirty little secret, until a couple of years ago Liverpool were always my second team. They always seemed to sum up all that was best about football, the way they played, the way they were managed, the way they behaved etc, and whatever you think about them being jammy they were the best team in this country for many many years. In recent years this has changed and Sky?s money has turned them into just another money grabbing business machine without a soul. So on the whole I am pretty cheerful about seeing them lose (on the still fairly rare occasions when they do). Everton have now taken up their mantle as "the peoples club" and in Kenwright and Moyes we have two of the most honest and decent people in what is admittedly the cess-pool that is modern football. However I am proud of the fact that the Mersey derby is still one of the very few matches where fans mingle happily together on the terraces and I would like to see it kept that way. I think there is an increasing tendency towards an unhealthy rivalry between Everton and Liverpool fans and I think that is a great shame. We should be an example to the rest of the footballing world, not join them in their squalid hatreds.
jayharris
18   Posted 12/05/2008 at 10:45:59

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I think Jay Campbell?s entitled to feel that way but I would not have put it in such eloquent scouse myself.

It is enjoyable to see the smugness wiped of the face of the arrogant and be able to enjoy our own team?s success at the same time.

If Calttenburg hadnt been playing for them and a few other wrong decisions had gone our way we?d have put a much better challenge in for 4th.
Jay Campbell
19   Posted 12/05/2008 at 11:31:20

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Titus no sweat mate.
ian g
20   Posted 12/05/2008 at 11:50:49

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i was in the top balcony and when were all singing that keegan song everyone directed the words "shit football team" at the geordie contingent it was priceless!!
Gareth Humphreys
21   Posted 12/05/2008 at 11:59:12

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Titus - your second team was Liverpool ????

Dear oh dear.
titus mccready
22   Posted 12/05/2008 at 12:37:06

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Gareth - I know, I know, but "was" is very much the operative word here...
Rafa Beithez
23   Posted 12/05/2008 at 12:46:13

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How flipping disrepectful to my team, I mean Crouchy is worth 15 million, Turkish Lira - just I’ll admit. Anyway Titus, Clatts, Stevie G and Gags would like to invite you a " special party" for boys only, it would appear that you would fit in with my boys very easily. XXXX
Adam Wightman
24   Posted 12/05/2008 at 14:05:58

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Roger has been great for us this year, although I’d like to give Howard great credit also. He has made some world class saves and I love the way he marshalls the defence. Well played to all the blue boys though.


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