Goodison Park welcomed back James Beattie, who had been drafted in to the Blackpool team over the January transfer window, but his team arrived on a poor run of eight consecutive defeats. Everton were unchanged despite the return of leading scorer Tim Cahill after missing six Everton games at a crucial stage of the season due to the ridiculously timed Asian Cup that his Socceroos ultimately failed to win.
It was a very bright start for Everton, creating numerous chances in the early stages, with Heitinga, Rodwell, Distin and Fellaini all going close. A superb move down the left and a brilliant shimmy by Bily allowed him to pick out Louis Saha near the penalty spot and it was a glorious chance the Frenchman could not miss, a clinical finish to set the Blues hopefully on their way after 20 mins.
Rodwelll looked to benefit from an awful Blackpool throw-in, skipping into the Blackpool area and flicking the ball up stylishly over a defender for a shot but then completley miss-kicking as the goal gaped. A sweeping move let Coleman release Saha who returned the favour down the right as Everton looked to attack the nervy Blackpool defence, but it only won a corner.
Billy played a lovely littled chipped ball forward to Saha but the Frenchman could not control it and was crowded out. A bad bounce at the other end rolled off Distin's arm and was deemed handball but the wall did enough to block Adam's kick; however, from the corner, Abbot clipped the ball onto the post, from where it ran behind Howard along the line to Baines on the far post, who had a simple task to clear but clipped the ball at the incoming Baptiste and it rebounded into the net. Nothing is ever simple with Everton!
But Everton deservedly went ahead through Saha moments later when Coleman fought his way past Carney and pushed the ball into Saha who clipped it beautifully just inside the post but Referee Kevin Friend had decided Carney's attentions on Coleman merited a free-kick to Everton, calling the game back and criminally not playing a clear advantage after Carney had grappled Coleman, much to the huge frustration of crowd, players... everyone. Baines put the free-kick woefully high to add insult to injury.
Another beautifully crafted piece of football involving Baines and Bily down the left was well worthy of a goal but there was no-one on the far post to benefit from Bily's exquisite chip. Half-time and massive jeers for another useless referee.
Some simple beautiful football after the break, an incisive pass from deep by the excellent Rodwell to release Baines, who's cross was perfectly weighted for Saha to walk the ball into the Gwladys Street net for an excellent second goal, that should have been his hat-trick. Bily should have done better a few minutes later when a lovely touch on by Saha set him up but he could not lift it past Rachubka. Baines then shot wide.
Blackpool had a spell of free-kicks and corners as they attacked and tried to get Beattie in for the equalizer, with Puncheon running in dangerously from the right, but the Blues defence held firm and Saha won a free-kick that was taken quickly and got Rodwell in a superb position but his deft clip bobbled the wrong side of the post.
A dreadful piece of play from Everton eventually allowed Blackpool back into it. Coleman at fault for playing the ball back slopppily; Heitinga at fault for a feeble challenge, and from there it was Keystone Cops stuff that saw Beattie's cross converted on the far side by Puncheon. At the other end, a great Fellaini shot was cleared off the line. With a third of the game left, this surely could not end as another draw? No, said, Blackpool, who broke at speed and tore through the Everton 'defence', Puncheon smashing his shot off the bar and there was Adam to head the rebound into the empty net. Everton 2 - 3 Blackpool!!!
Another beautiful Everton move looked to be finished with Fellaini scoring but Baines had overun it and gotten himself offside.
An amazing moment when Rachubka tried to dribble out of his area, Rodwell got the ball and lobbed a perfect shot over the stranded goalkeeper that was all but in the back of the net until Evatt made an absolutely incredible recovery to scoop the ball away off the line for a corner as he ended up a crumpled heap in the corner of the Blackpool net.
Everton had played some of their absolutey most absorbing football in ages, yet were behind, and the all-too frequently dithering Moyes acted decisively for once, make some crucial changes: Cahill and Beckford on for Bily and Rodwell ? two of the players who had played key contributions to Everton's excellent display, but who arguably tend to fade. A huge gamble by Moyes in any event... Holloway swapped out Puncheon for Keith Edwards, a former member of the Everton Youth Academy.
Everton piled on the pressure, and a sequence of corners saw Louis Saha finally get his hat-trick, in lots of space at the far post, benefitting from the presence of Beckford causing havoc in fornt of him. 3-3 and everything to play for... a tremendous atmosphere and a tremendous game of football at Goodison Park.
Arteta overplayed a throughball that should have put Fellaini in on goal, but the go-ahead goal did come, and what a fantastic, fantastic finish to a brilliant ball from Baines it was, a beautifully deft touch By Beckford beating defender and goalkeeper to direct it past Rabchka, to the sheer dellierium of the Goodison faithful. 4-3, and an Everton game for once truly worthy of the adjectives "incredilble, unbelievable".
Blackpool pushed back, but Fellaini released Saha and the star man had a determined and pacey run-in on goal and a brilliant finish with the outside of his foot to make it five. Fantastic stuff. Four goals for Saha was enough for David Moyes, who pulled him off to tremendous adulation. Everton played out only their fourth home win of the season, a truly incredible, unbelievable game!!!
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The strikers rescued what was a bad defensive performance. Still it's nice to win for a change. Wonder what the hype over Suarez would have been like if he'd had even one of those finishes the other night, never mind his near open goal miss, would never have heard the end of it.
While Saha is going to get all the headlines deservedly, but my impression is that Beckford was crucial to our win. He is a great prospect, always dangerous and always under pressure to produce. He came from the third division and he should be given a chance to show his ability. Moyes's treatment could have ruined his confidence, but he is still producing excellent performances every time he enters the pitch. He needs trust from his Manager and he will be a great player.
Just a couple of negatives from an otherwise vital win, and a good effort from most of the team.
Fellaini, great as usual, Arteta better than he has been. Saha gives us all hope for Chelsea away.Distin was poor, but had been steady all season. But Heitinga...... I feel a fool because I thought he was a good player but now realise he is poor and a coward. Jags for me should be playing.
Any who, Bily is playing like he always should have done, and Saha's the man. Lovely.
Still, it was an exiting game and some really excellent performances today. Fellaini was magnificent, Saha too. (He gave a great centre forward's display today.) Jack Rodwell played really well, some excellent searching balls from midfield and Seamus Coleman was again full of running and enthusiasm. A great finish to an exiting match and I hope nobody underrates the effect that Beckford had on the outcome. A good day for all Evertonians.
But don't get carried away. "One Swallow" and all that. If we carry on frightening teams to death, then we might be getting somewhere... let's wait and see.
As it is, I'm worried that this game allows that bloody charlatan Kenwright to get on the box with his Cheshire Cat grin and claim some sort of credit for today's display.IMHO if he doesn't sell this club, we are well and truly fecked.Good report though! :@)
Defensively, we still look as solid as a 76-year-old's erection and Heitinga, despite his distribution and fake fist-pumping passion for the cause, is never going to be the type to truly put his body on the line. I for one will never forget his embarrassing shit me kecks, jump out the way and feign injury cover-up in the first home game of this season v Wolves. Despite his patchy form this season, I'd much rather rely on Jagielka when our backs are against the wall.
Anyway, I'm pished, delighted with the win and the only thing to put a dampener on the occasion was that some deluded fat lass took a shine to me on the train home, started stroking my leg like she was a stunningly seductive temptress irresistible to any man, and shouted at the top of her voice that I was a "gay Everton twat" when I told her I didn't like big birds!
You think Moyes is the best manager in the league? I hope it isn't true, but you sound as if you live a bit of a dreary life.
He is totally frustrating though with selection, formation and substitution but I'd fear where we'd go if he left. The chances of finding a manager who could do better with no resources is small and I don't believe in miracles. The likelihood would be descent into oblivion which would be a very real risk.
If we had more money, there would be a chance of finding a manager who could do well but until then it would be absolute lunacy to change Moyes.
I'm not sure why some of us believe that a team in our financial position should be doing a lot better than we are doing or how that would be possible. Do we just quote the club motto that has become a millstone around our necks?
When David Moyes eventually goes to Celtic, we will see just how he copes with the most pressurised environment in British football. Yesterday was magnificent; however, the fact that we look upon it as great shows how we have fallen. We conceded three goals against a side who will struggle to get another point this season.
In answer to your earlier comments, many names have been put forward as alternatives to David Moyes. He's been here too long. Hoddle, Poyet, Bilic. Maybe any one of those can do better than 13th.
My point is after reading pretty much what was reported by the Echo amongst others recently, there have been 6 comments on the article all singing from the rooftops that, in the words of one poster "long live the Moyesiah"
Are they all blind or are these fans watching the Everton of Chile? (I've not checked there recent form or league placing before you advise they are worse than us.)
Firstly that word 'Moyesiah'; never liked it ? even when I did like him (beauts). Secondly, the man we call our manager needs replacing, albeit I'd say come the end of the season as no point now... and please can he take Round and BK (once his 24/7 search has finally come to fruition) with him.
The fans on Bluekipper gave me a giggle if nothing else, but in reality seem to have been living on a different planet to most, and seem to have only posted after another dodgy defensive display, the only difference being our strikers converted the chances presented to them.
I don't need to go into what our manager has done wrong or lacks, as it has been covered already and I would be here all day, but please don't let one decent result put a gloss on a shite season. I hope come the start of next season that he has been replaced with a manager with fresh and new ideas and a board that is willing to stump up more than £1.75 for fresh faces, because another season like this just is not good enough!!
Thanks Louis for your efforts yesterday... long overdue, but better late than never. I woke up this morning with a smile on my face, I had forgotten how good it felt to take 3 points from an average side, so long may it continue. Let's get this season finished and re-group hopefully without the "Moyesiah".
The tactics he employed at Old Trafford were utterly utterly shameful.
I come from a belief system that "anything less than the Premier League is a failure". Sorry to have higher standards than those that think the sun shines out of Moyes's arse, but 9 years with nothing shiny... Fuck that!
But sadly all we could manage in the three subsequent games after he came out with that rubbish were ? guess what ? fucking draws!!! Three more incredible, unbelievable DRAWS! That bit was not of my making, Ben. But sadly it summed up only too well the dreadful season he has overseen to date. Which is why I made reference to it. That brings us to Saturday and the indisputable fact that this WAS, for once, a game truly worthy of those maligned descriptors. This was a truly incredible, unbelievable game ? the like of which we have very rarely seen on his watch. Perhaps that provides mitigating circumstances for him misusing such terms to describe an all too consistent failure to beat our arch rivals at their gaff... but I don't think so really. Feel free to carp; let us know when we can look forward to some meaningful contribution from you.
Holloway over Moyes? Lost more in the last 10 games than we have all season, but he plays great football dont he? .... Does he? 2-3 up after 2 very lucky goals and he takes off his best attacking players and brings on 2 defenders.... result?
Di Matteo....P45, deserved? His record suggests justified ? too many defeats.
Ask any supporter in the prem who they would realistically have as manager if their manager was sacked in the morning. But let's sack him for the sake of change eh...
Onwards and downwards.
I can understand people being miserable when we lose, at a stretch, I can even understand people being really unhappy when we only managed a draw against the current Champions, but when we've just been royally entertained, got three points, and you're still fucken moaning...
Seriously guys, I wanna know, why put yourselves through it?
I am not drenched in misery; believe it or not I want the same as you, David Booth and Ian Tunstead. I just see the way there differently.
I'd like a change, in fact, I think a change is vital for the future of the club. However, it doesn't mean that I don't respect the job Mr Moyes has done.
And why is post 150 ? a very obvious attempt to insult the people who had posted after being at the game ? considered ok? No opinion was expressed, just a direct attack, one which is often repeated and designed to somehow deter people who want to support the Everton manager.Michael/ Eugene: Do you consider calling a fellow blue 'fickle' a greater insult than calling him an 'apologist'?
Why do you have to do it? Karl, Dave, Tony ? just look at this discussion; you are all setting your selves up as "proper" fans and denigrating the responses of other fans ? responses that I believe and maintain they as Everton fans are perfectly entitled to make. Furthermore, I am protective of these fans expressing their opinions, [almost] no matter how wacky ? see recent defences of one Richard Dodd to some of the more abusive stuff. The problem is a simple one: we all think we are right and we are not inclined to change our views when someone challenges them. Well, I'm challenging your pretentious tendencies to denigrate other fans using this site.
Just think about that for a minute, please.
If they express their opinion about something regarding Everton, why not address the issue and show how there is an alternate view, rather than castigating the person for having that view?
And sadly, Karl, your posts are for me perfect examples of such unwarranted castigation ? starting with the first one: "something some of the less tolerant on here people ought to remember" ? Why? Who the fuck do you think you are telling other people what they ought to be thinking? ? And ending with this 'woe is me' bollocks. Again, you decide some fans should be happier than they are... WTF?!?! Who has given you the right to make such determinations?
Why can't you just accept that the wide diversity of fans we have on here are going to exhibit a wide diversity of opinions? Instead of attacking them directly, as you do persistently...
As you might be able to tell by now, that attitude drives me mad!
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