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A last game of the season in Hull in weather that was best described as changeable may not be your first choice of venues but I tell you what, for terrace parties it was great.
3 May 2014 was a strange day in the history of Everton Football Club. With a Champions League place to play for and only two games to go, about a quarter of the fanbase wanted us to lose all because, if Manchester City won, Liverpool may not win the title.
"A pretty straight-forward victory that in some ways reminded me of the Ali rope-a-dope fights. We sucked them in, saw them off and hit them hard."
Hopefully that’s not season end and the manager can rouse the players to give us a record points total and see where that leaves us table wise. To fold now would be a disaster after such displays to this point.
A visit to the home of the Mackems is never the best of away trips but, in our present league position, one that engendered both excitement and dread. Could we make it seven wins on the bounce? Could we go 4th? Could Barry survive a 10th yellow card? Well... 'Yes' was the ultimate answer — but not without a rollercoaster of emotions.
We drank, laughed and hoped that we could take the Arsenal scalp which would be no mean feat considering the history of this game over the years. My take was that, if we could do it at Fulham against the history, well then... why not today?
While the performance first half was poor the fighting spirit was not in question so getting the three points satisfied most.
"If you could bottle that performance and bring it out each game, who knows what could be achieved."
"It was a game I expected to see as both teams have big bucks to play for and I expect many a game to season end will be just as fraught."
As always a good day out and whatever is made of the performance a good three points gained. After our game v WHU I said then I thought we would have games very tight until season end and I still stand by that and the fact being the team to get the points no matter the performance will determine the final table.
It would be an understatement to say the performance left us less than pleased.
Overall, a good day out. Not a lot to write home about. We were grateful for the points and hope that this can be the start of points gathering for us...
It should be remembered that playing Chelsea away is no easy task and to play them as we did deserves high praise: at times we looked like the home side. I think today we will feel frustration and hurt not because we lost but for being the better side for a long period and then to get done right on the death just because we just can’t seem to score in these sorts of games.
Although today’s game was less than enthralling — in fact, we were downright poor in long stretches — I read nothing into it as, after years of Blue cup ties, none of them seem to go to form or plan. The important thing is get a win and in the hat.
Ken made it to Goodison, only for the match to be called off
Anyone fancy a guess at why, when we desperately need an out-and-out striker, we have none on the pitch but one on the bench — and don’t use him? The manager will probably have a simple answer for that but chances are he ain’t going to tell us...
We are back in it. It will be great to see how we go about staying in it.
Overall one to forget but you just don’t, do you?
Let’s hope it was a one off. We are still right in the mix for fourth spot but any higher might be a tall order after so many draws.
The football played did l at times resembled the flow of the ‘Royal Blue Mersey’ However, with that free flowing dominance, it must concern the manager that we don’t score more goals from such joined-up play.
"Many were wrestling with the notion of ‘Are we that good’ or is the second team in the championship ‘That bad’?"
It may be the case that we dropped two points but, at that moment Baines's penalty kick hit the net, one felt great and from the celebrations you thought it could have been the winner.
A good day out and a game that was played in good spirit in the main between two footballing teams
We assembled in our Room of Nonsense and the pre-match chat centred on many things — none of which anticipated a loss.
A road trip for the faithful eyewitness who calls it like it was...
Ken was in the stand to see it all unfold at Goodison Park.
There was singing on trains, coaches and cars as we descended on Sky’s darlings with loaded Kalashnikovs ready for a proper gunfight. As it turned-out, the homeward journey would be twice as nice and twice as loud.
A 4-0 win that saw a goal apiece by loan players and a goal apiece by our full backs, nothing like variety eh.
Eye-witness report from the man who was there...
Eyewitness report from Goodison Park.
The man on the spot relays a great day out for the travelling Blues
A man amongst the many, Ken Buckley provides his unique eye-witness assessment of Everton's performance.
Eye-witness report from the Etihad: "I don't like to criticise referees, but..."
Impressions from a game that was a good deal closer at the end than a dominant first-half display suggested it would be
Ken Buckley's eyewitness match report from Upton Park: "I thought we played those 7 minutes of added time better than I have seen us do in many a year..."
"A very enjoyable game that has gone a long way to settling down both players and fans."
Ken reports on the goalless draw at Cardiff City Stadium as Everton continue to frustrate
"I do believe the shenanigans with Man United played a part in today’s showing as no matter how anyone may care to spin it was in truth a dismal spectacle."
Ken reports from the Blues' first game of the season, one that saw the Blues come back from a goal down to lead, only to be pegged back again by the Canaries
Match Report from the final pre-season friendly which the Blues won despite a below-par showing
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