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Man United From My View

By Jake Wilson :  11/09/2010 :  Comments (27) :
This is one of my favourite home fixtures of the season, everyone seems to be up for it. Even though it was a 12:45 kick off, which usually lacks atmosphere, there seemed to be something special. I was actually quite glad when I heard Rooney never travelled because he always plays well against us when we are giving him abuse but last year there was minimal booing and he was quiet and hardly had a sniff.

We started with a great tempo, good football and we played with confidence and had a bit of swagger about our play. Pienaar looked like the old him, whether it?s because of fitness or he realises now he?s stuck with us till January, so he wants to impress a new buyer or a new contract at Everton. Cahill looked as menacing as ever and Howard who was Man of the Match by far (forget what Sharpey told you on sky) looked world class.

The opening 20 minutes we were on top we had a few chances but we didn?t take them. Then United came out to play, they showed experience and great football. No doubt about it that our first was against the run of play but I?m not complaining. How often do we see an Everton goal with ?Route One? style about it? You could say Arteta could have done better but Osman showed great composure and vision to spot Pienaar who had an easy tap in. But then we fell asleep and United punished us. Half-time at 1-1, I thought we were a bit unlucky to have conceded a goal after playing so well.

We started slow in the second half and United punished us again, Vidic with a free header. United know how to win games and keep hold of leads. They were now on top and I couldn?t see a way back for us. Berbatov looked on form he was given time and space and, if he?s given that, he will hurt us ? he did with a classy finish.

Johnny Heitinga tried to do a challenge that would get the crowd going but it never had the same effect as ?the Neville tackle? and he was booked and he looked an idiot for it. Yakubu was brought on for Heitinga and there were few claps for the Yak. Then Coleman came on for Hibbert and it was like Coleman was the best player in Everton history compared to Yakubu?s reception.

The Yak played well, he linked the game up well, he looked calm on the ball, and he was composed in the box to set up Osman, who tamely slotted the ball into Van der Sar's arms. I personally thought that was it, especially with only three minutes added time. But the Baines-Pienaar partnership was in full flow and Baines with the first real cross which went to an Everton man all day was converted in a typically powerful header from Cahill.

Goodison now believed that there could be a way back and, within a minute of the second goal, Arteta finished with a powerful shot. Great ball again by Baines which was half cleared by United and Arteta followed up with a great finish. Although I sit in the Lower Gwladys and have a perfect view of the pitch I didn?t see the goal because of the pandemonium that unfolded before my very eyes. I never thought that we would come back from 3-1 in any game but never mind United.

My Man of the Match would have to go to Tim Howard because of his superb saves and he kept us in the game on at least four occasions. The full-time argument is a strange one because, if you go by the rules, we had 30 seconds left because of the 2 goals scored in added time... but the referee blew the whistle and Jagielka didn?t hear it and he missed the chance anyway so we cannot use that as an excuse.

We deserved a draw at least, we were very sloppy defensively and we didn?t finish our chances again. I?m not going to be saying that Yakubu is the answer because of a good 15-minute performance but I would bring him on with about half an hour left against Newcastle. This was a promising performance and we need to build on it.

Reader Comments (27)

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Andy Crooks
1 Posted 12/09/2010 at 16:49:37
If Yakubu is fit he must start. I really don't know what has happened over the summer but he is the best striker at he club. How about a revolutionary 4-4-2 with the Yak and Beckford.
Andy Codling
2 Posted 12/09/2010 at 17:08:32
Yakubu needs to start and drop Distin as he is fucking useless
Martin Mason
3 Posted 12/09/2010 at 17:24:46
I thought that we did very well in what was a great game. Bizarre selection but we have a good team in there if Moyes could just find it. United are a good side and Scholes was great at times. We gave their good players a lot of space at times too. For me a good point for Everton and a good performance. Ferguson was stunned.
Mike Green
4 Posted 12/09/2010 at 17:39:49
Andy Crooks - I'm with you all the way. I'd love to see us play two out and out strikers in front of Arteta, have Fellaini holding midfield with Johnny and Jags behind him and Howard in goal - what a great spine....!

Then Baines and Pienaar on the left and why not Hibbo and Coleman on the right.

This would leave Cahill / Saha once fit as an impact sub for Yak once he's had enough.

Its perverse logic really but I think Rodwells injury will turn out to be a blessing in disguise as it makes life simple in midfield for Moyes.
David Cooper
7 Posted 12/09/2010 at 17:45:07
It's amazing how 3 minutes can change how you feel!!! An unbelievable comeback and showed again why we support Everton....so much promise....the wheels come off...and just like a great story....a happy ending. Do other clubs put their fans through the ringer as much as the Blues? Yes we will all remember the ending...but what about the plot and main characters?
It is clear to all of us and therefore every manger and coach who play us that you only have to continually attack down our left and eventually you will score. The Baines, Distin and Peanuts triangle is just not working...we all have our own thoughts on how to solve the problem...so OK....this is mine and you are welocme to rip it to bits!!!
Distin..good points.....tall, big frame, reasonably fast, left footed, Ok in the air...all the reasons Moyes likes him..bad points...makes too many mistakes, Jag and Distin just don't work, loses players, positional disaster
Bainsey......Amazing going forward, can whip in great crosses, has a great understanding with Peanuts, is this fulcrum of most good things that happen going forward, great left foot
Defensively a disaster, regularly caught out of position, small and weak in the air
Peanuts....our most creative player, works his socks off when he wants to
defensively good but occasionally does not track back....often Baines and Peanuts are AWOL together...
My thoughts on solving this problem...
1) Move Distin to left back and bring in JH to play alongside jags...keeps the height in the team which Moyes so has decide is a "must". When facing a big target man...ie Carroll next week
Distin can take him and Jonny can cover around
2) Push Bainsey forward the left mid which will allow him to do everything he is good at and take away what he is bad at...he will still get up and down the park and give Distin support
3) Push Peanuts more infield to play alongside Arteta and leave space behind ops right back to play in...
4) Left Felli play in front of the back 4 again to win headers
5) Who to leave out.....must be Osman
Howard
Neville, Jags, Jonny, Distin
Felli Bainsey
Mikey Peanuts
Timmy
Yak


Frank McGregor
8 Posted 12/09/2010 at 19:10:37
Andy Crooks, I agree 100% ? Yakubu and Beckford upfront for the Newcastle game.
Dan Walshe
9 Posted 12/09/2010 at 20:07:34
My thoughts:

1 - We didn't put enough pressure on the man on the ball even before the two crosses that Baines stood off.
2 - Distin has to be dropped and Heitinga moved back to centre back.
3 - If we play two defensive midfielders then we must play Coleman right back - every team with two defensive midfielders has attacking full backs.
4 - We struggle to get our midfield players up in support of our lone striker - Arteta, Pienaar and Osman are nice on the ball but they are not athletic enough to get forward in support of the lone striker.
5 - Arteta's movement in the second half was non-existent. Pienaar on the other hand kept going throughout and looks the fitter of the two.
6 - We were terrible after the break which coincided with Fellaini dropping into midfield - he did fine but it just looked like we were trying to shut up shop for a draw even at that early stage.
7 - this should be the turning point of our early season.
Rahman Talib
10 Posted 12/09/2010 at 20:41:27
When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes
Brian Wilson
11 Posted 12/09/2010 at 20:31:51
David Cooper, I'd go with what you suggest but with one variation. Drop Distin (simply awful) keep Bainsey in his role (tho' with flee in ear about his defensive duties) in order to accommodate young Coleman in midfield to pick up on Dan Walshe's point about need for more direct/energetic movement.
Jon Cox
12 Posted 12/09/2010 at 21:09:04
Yesterday when the yak and Coleman came on everything started to get into gear.

I've been babling on for so long about Coleman playing wide right and not as a full back it's starting to pee me off.

Everyone can go on as much as they want but for me can anyone name a better player in our squad, who can play attack right mid, That wont be played out of position, IE Osmond or even Ateta, That could do the job as good until we get a certain American in.

What is it about Davey that he thinks either Osmond or Rodwell will bebefit the team as opposed to Coleman.

Answers on a fuckin postcard....
Robert Daniels
13 Posted 12/09/2010 at 21:56:33
Jon Cox; You're right, it's a no-brainer (unless you're Moyes), there's only a few wide players at are disposal: Coleman, Baxter, and Gueye. He must play one of them at least to give us some balance, Coleman looks like he's best for that position, Anichibe didn't look bad either.

But its not like we have needed a wide right player for long is it? >Sorry, I meant to say, it's about eight years. Apart from the Landon loan.

Fucking pathetic... sort it out, Davey.
Joe Brennan
14 Posted 12/09/2010 at 22:52:45
Jon Cox
Who is this Osmond of whom you speak? Is it Donny or Little Jimmy? I suspect it's actually Leon Osman but agree that he would be better playing for the Mormon Tabernacle choir than EFC! Also think Donny or Little Jimmy would put in a better shift than the aforementioned Leon.
Dennis Stevens
15 Posted 12/09/2010 at 23:45:27
That's just silly Joe, how could anybody consider little Leon a "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool"?!
Chris Fisher
18 Posted 13/09/2010 at 10:13:55
I think you are doing us a little bit of a disservice by saying Tim Howard was Man of the Match because, whenever the goalkeeper gets Man of the Match, it is because that team has been bombarded with attempts on goal by the other team but have failed to score, and that wasn't the case.

I'm not disputing that he did make some awesome saves that really helped but Man of the Match would probably have to be Tim Cahill for the way he played out of position and took the fight to Vidic and Evans and then scored and helped set up the two goals in added on time. Superb crosses by Baines as well, we should use that weapon a bit more!!

Distin was awful again though, I know Moyes likes the balance a right and left footer gives the central defenders but he will cost us dearly at some point so it's time to drop him and play Jags and Heitinga ? either one of them could play on the left-hand side with no problem.

Bob Parrington
19 Posted 13/09/2010 at 11:29:08
Distin was crap in this game. he is the one player I think we need to change first. He look Ok when he receives the ball with time and moves forward or when he pushing a player wide towards the corner flag but he just won't attack the ball with his head i the area. his marking's shit in the same context.

We looked good in midfield but were severely lacking up front. What was in Moyesies mind to leave 2 strikers on the bench for so long.

I like the idea of trying Yak and Beckford up front with Cahlll supporting from just behind. Leave out Ozzie at the start. As said by Dave Cooper (6) move Jonny back to centre D. Start Coleman so that we look ugly attacking on the right as well as the left. We're too predictable otherwise.

COYB

Gary Hegarty
20 Posted 13/09/2010 at 11:48:33
There seem to be a few common themes here and I agree with a majority of what's been said although I'd like to add to the context.
Distin had a shocker. No secret to that one and its been coming despite his recent improved form. Moyes will continue with him though as he is the only left sided central defender at the club and you need balance. However, did Moyes notice Jags imperious performance against Bulgaria where he played as the left sided of a pair - something that would allow the much sought after Jags-Heitinga pairing. Couldn't do any worse than regularly switching off which Distin does.
Regarding Coleman - I agree that he should be given a run on the right of midfield but to say he changed the game on Saturday is overstepping things. In fact I thought he seemed too keen to make a difference and in doing so didn't do anything to challenge the United defence. A run on Saturday should be a must as even as an Osman fan he's not a wide midfielder.
Finally, the Yak seemed sharp and DID make a difference, if only giving the Utd defence someone to think about. The possession and flick to Ossie, then the spin and cross were classic Yak.....he just needs us to believe in him for him to believe in himself!!
It's a game of opinions and that's what this thread will bring. I think Seamus in front of (an improving) Hibbert will provide attack and defence down that flank similar to the left and a proven goalscorer in the middle will allow a focus point for a specialist player in a specialist position.
Stewart Littler
21 Posted 13/09/2010 at 11:52:03
Love the way David Cooper picks up on Distin (and Heitinga, though he opted to miss him out completely) having stinking games (and let's face it, neither have played well at all this season) and then suggests a change in system, and moves all over the pitch to keep both these underperformers in, and guess who he's dropping - oh yeah, Osman and Hibbert! You couldn't make that up!!!
Andrew Ellams
22 Posted 13/09/2010 at 11:59:32
I agree that things definitely improved after Coleman and Yakubu came into the game. But I think the biggest thing was when Fellaini and Arteta swapped roles. They both looked uncomfortable in the first half but when they swapped things clicked and the forward movement was a lot more fluid.
Andrew Ellams
23 Posted 13/09/2010 at 12:37:26
Also, all those people who have been quick to jump on Tim Howard's case. How amazing was he on Saturday. Not sure even Neville Southall ever pulled off a save like the one we made with his leg from the deflected Scholes shot.
Peter Norris
24 Posted 13/09/2010 at 13:03:37
Distin I agree with needs to go as he was targetted by Manx. Can't break Bainsey/Peanuts, but Bainsey needs awake up call about the space he leaves - jags/johnny needs to be given another go. As for the arguments around Osman, nobody is giving him credit for the job he did on Evra who never got forward in the match. Cahil, was immense and scared the sh*t out of Evans all day.
David Price
25 Posted 13/09/2010 at 12:54:51
So sick of hearing how Utd threw it away. Was it an own goal?, a missed offside? a wayward back pass that contributed to two injury time goals?
No, it was pure football that got those goals, passing along the midfield, yes in much maligned Osman came inside with the ball and quietly released Fellaini who pushed on, laying it wide to Baines for a great cross and Tim's header. Then the third, winning possesion from a throw, Arteta to Fellaini to Pienaar to Baines, cross to Tim, Arteta late run, Goal !!!
No hoofball, calm possesion thatgot the end product it deserved.
Funny how Cahill puts a great curling ball to Arteta from 25 yards away, who controls it superbly and is supported by Osman and Pienaar for the first goal. This was highlighted by the media as poor defending from Evra and no cover from the rest of the defence and no credit to the blues.
Meanwhile, Distin misses a 25 yard pass from Scholes for Bebatov to score and it's hailed as superb play from Scholes and cool finishing.
Granted it was, but Everton's play totally matched one of Europes finest and feel we didn't get the credit for a 90 minute display rather than just the 91st minute to the 93rd.
Anyway we know the truth and feel the confidence is back after two games against Utd and 6 goals, can anyone else match that?
Peter Warren
26 Posted 13/09/2010 at 13:35:22
Distin needs to be dropped as too does Hibbert. Heitinga in middle with Coleman at home please.

Slight concern about Arteta as despite quality free kick in first half and good finish in extra time, he's not up to the standards I've come to expect of him. I trust, as they same, form is temporary and class permanent.

*19# David Price - agree to some extent but was more of a pint from Cahill who's not renowned for his long range passing whilst Scholes is a master. Agree that both bad defending mine - Distin - he's awful and i knew he was even before Moyes bought him
Paul Foster
27 Posted 13/09/2010 at 16:30:15
Just a small thing on Rooney - I'd missed the story about him planning to pull on the Everton jersey for Carragher's testimonial. Whatever your views of Rooney, it would've been interesting to see!

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/09/11/david-moyes-wayne-rooney-wanted-to-play-for-everton-in-jamie-carragher-s-liverpool-fc-testimonial-100252-27245541/
Brian Waring
28 Posted 13/09/2010 at 16:31:38
David, if it had been the other way round, we would all be saying the same thing, that we threw it away.The mancs had a few great chances at 3 - 1 to have put the game well and truly to bed, but fucked them up.
Jon Cox
29 Posted 13/09/2010 at 18:55:35
Joe, had to laugh at that one.

But the question still stands. Who in our squad could play rm attack better at this moment, than Coolman.
Thor Sørensen
30 Posted 13/09/2010 at 22:46:29
Why a crowd of only 36,556?!

Surely, this is one of the biggest games of the season.
David Cooper
31 Posted 13/09/2010 at 23:40:51
Maybe I should have qualified my ideas that I think that no matter what happens Moyes will always pick certain players if they are fit even if they continue to have poor games because he believes he has no one better to replace them or does not trust anyone to replace them. Neville will comeback in at right back for his leadership qualities and will add more organization to the defensive make up of the team even if Coleman and Hibbo are better bets.

Distin will always play because he is now physically our biggest defender now that Yobo has gone so where is the best place to play him. Now that Rodwell is out for 3 months JH will also be in Moyes team. Given that these 3 will always play...I was looking at the best way to utilise them by minimising the weaknesses and accentuating the positives.

Certainly made for some lively discussion!!!

Pick a fit Neville over everyone at right back (strangely no one commented on that).

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