COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Norwich (H)

By Ken Buckley   ::  17/12/2011 Just 31.000 of us bothered to turn up, which in some ways is about average for the last Saturday before Christmas... unless the Blues were on song and likely to make a splash in the league.

Today they proved they were nowhere near making a splash for anything; despite almost total domination and some 15 attempts on target, and almost the same number off target, we came away almost glad to take a point from a game where the opposition had just 1 on target and made it count. 1-1? It almost sticks in the throat as 2 points are dropped from a game as witnessed should have been a gimme. The manager didn?t help by delaying subs to offset obvious failings.

Magaye Gueye was started down the left and after his display, I wondered whether it was because we had injuries for that position or Moyes pandering to calls from the faithful... but whichever, it didn?t work.

The game progressed in what can best be described as fits and starts with some half-decent contributions by players who quickly returned to anonymity. Baines was first to show with a low cross that Fellaini could not convert over the keeper after a flick from Cahill. Baines then blotted his copybook by making a poor effort at a cross after being put in by Gueye by allowing the first man to block for a corner.

And that was to be the sum of Baines's contributions at getting in a decent cross or pass; he seems to have taken responsibility for the Arteta role by hitting the first man at dead-ball situations, in fact Hibbert on the other flank looked much more likely to create something from a cross than the England Number 2 left back.

Just before the quarter-hour mark, Saha set up Osman to curl one toward the top corner only for a defender to get back and head away. Then, just before the half-hour mark, the ball was fed to Holt in the box. He was Jags' man but he was nowhere and Heitinga came across but he was too easily turned and the big striker hit one past Howard, off the post and in. A sucker punch that was more than preventable but once again we lose a goal and leave us fans almost expecting another 0-1 reverse at home.

We may have been well on top but looking like scoring was non-existent. We continued to have the better of the exchanges without ever looking like scoring and the nearest we came was a Saha effort that beat our ex keeper Ruddy but once again missing the target albeit by no more than a few inches. Half-time loomed, Gueye had come and gone, Baines was nowhere near his best and Hibbert was left exposed on the right and, despite getting in a few good crosses, had no-one showing when he had the ball, which resulted in backward passes allowing Norwich to regroup.

Half-time came and the chat was of a negative nature as most agreed possession was fine but end-product was almost non-existent with shots admittedly on target never getting anyone out of their seat. No changes, so the second half began with little or no change from the first.

We were the better team but came nowhere near proving it in goal scoring terms. Saha although fouled stayed on his feet and fed Osman who forced Ruddy to parry away for a corner. Nothing came of it. Then Osman fired wide when better was expected then Gueye took on the Arteta role and hit the first man from a free kick. Norwich were nowhere but ever looking for a quick break and from one of these Holt pulled on to Hibbert and looped a header goalwards but just beat the far post. Not a great threat but one that reinforced the fact that if we can?t score goals when we are plainly on top then we are susceptible.

The hour mark saw the first change when Cahill got the hook and many a fan wondered why the manager took so long in working out that the man himself was having a mare. I am a Cahill fan but in some ways I was glad to see him rested and hope he will remain rested until some form returns or the inevitable happens and he is overtaken by a younger man. Stracqualursi strode on and within the blink of an eye he was making a difference by flicking on to Saha who was most unlucky to see his effort saved at point blank range by Ruddy.

Then, just after Hibbert did wonders in getting to a ball and feeding Heitinga who had his shot punched out to Saha who cracked it in only to bounce off a defender and away. My first thought was why didn?t he chip it but hell his effort should have been enough for me as he has been short of those of late.

70mins and not before time Gueye was hooked in favour of Drenthe who I am pleased to say was a victim of misinformation and had not upset the manager.

Now Denis and Royston started to buzz. Not with the greatest thought or skill but enough to spook the Norwich defence that had been looking relatively comfortable and surging runs and combative challenges from both raised the volume from the faithful and for the first time in the game became a vocal force where only Norwich voices had been heard.

Ten minutes to go, Drenthe had been denied twice when he again burst through and hammered one in that rippled the net. Pandemonium as we celebrated a goal. The announcer acclaimed Drenthe as the scorer but a replay on the big screen confirmed that Osman had got a vital touch to take it away and past Ruddy. The announcer must have watched the replay for he quickly announced that it was indeed Osman with the goal. Who cared?

We were level and full of running but those last minutes plus 3 extra failed to produce a winner the nearest being a Drenthe blockbuster that no more than hit Ruddy, it wasn?t saved, McAleny on for Saha missed a great chance right on the death when he seemed to panic and screw wide. Final whistle and the trek back to the alehouse was littered with remarks such as we did well to get a point and we should have sewn that one up with ease. Those comments seem to sum our season up so far ? We are a nearly team that can go two ways with what we have got.

MotM. Difficult. For me it was between Hibbert and Osman until the manager threw on Stracqualursi and Drenthe who just lit up the place with good old fashioned ?Go for em? so it?s Denis and Roy for me.

Overall a disappointing day and performance. Cahill seems to need a rest and Jags still seems to have his mind elsewhere at times. All the usual flaws showed up e.g. No or little creativity from midfield, not enough bodies getting in the box when we attack and an ongoing propensity to give a daft goal away. January transfer window can?t address all of the ills so the odd loan here and there may help.

I must say here that I am delighted to see Donovan back. But just 2 months? I am sure it will leave me as non-plussed as last time. How has a club like Everton come to champion a 2-month loan signing when they should be aspiring to sign adequate players on some form of decent full time contract? OK that is another argument but until we get there we will have more days like these
I just hope the manager noted what two subs could achieve by being nothing more than totally committed with a willingness to just have a crack.

Wednesday v Swansea will be interesting in team selection but much more for me will be the mindset and intent of the players to get out there and play for the cause, the club, the fans and forget the finer arts and just go for the jugular. The fancy stuff can come once 40 points is achieved. Forget what you should be and where you should be, look at what is and do something about it.

Three days training and then under the glare of the lights. Don?t let us down, Manager and players. The Christmas Card in the programme today was a nice gesture. Now give us three points as a pressy to put the icing on the mince pies.

See you Wednesday.
UP THE BLUES

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