Hurting

Chelsea 6 - 0 Everton

Early morning optimism. I believed we could get something. Good lord, how that ended up them doing an Everton on us.

Into London and got there a bit earlier than I expected as the trains were unusually running okay compared to lately. I arrived at Parsons Green and made my way to the White Horse. Mark joined me and we had a few before heading off towards the ground.

We found another place although I have no idea what it was called. It was very close to the stadium, so with my experience of Stamford Bridge, I was unsure if we would get in. But the doormen were polite and just let us enter. Mark and I must have innocent faces!! Packed with Chelsea supporters.

We found a small enclave of Evertonians in a corner. Chris and Les. Joined by a father and son who were from Portugal. They were Porto supporters. Nice people although I did try to get the youngster to take off his souvenir Chelsea scarf. He smiled and we shook hands before he and his father headed off for their day out. Great to meet you all.

I started the kit and sock debate. I’m a Blue, White, Blue person, but some came up with Blue, White, Amber as per the iconic Alan Ball picture. I like that. Our away kit should be Amber in my opinion. Not that monstrosity we wore last night.

Then onto 69-70 versus 84-85 discussion. Apparently, 69-70 gets the vote. I can’t comment only go off tales from relatives and the likes of the wise men I was sat with yesterday. Apparently, half of the 84-85 team wouldn’t have got into that team. Surely Kevin Sheedy would have?

I met with my brother’s mate and we headed into the stadium. He’s not from Liverpool but has adopted Everton. I feel guilty for taking him to that. My apologies, Des. You don’t deserve that.

The supporters were there in numbers as always and in loud voices to start with.… But then…

Well, that is possibly the worst Everton match-going memory I can remember since the Ian Rush 5-0 derby. It really hurt and numbed me. Worse than 10 May 1986. I struggled on the way home and to sleep, having flashbacks. It is going to take a few days to get over that.

Beto could have put us ahead early doors and it could have been a different game. He fluffed his lines. Was that offside when he did find the net? I can’t watch it back as it is too painful.

Once again wide open in midfield. They ripped us apart, controlled the game and hit the flanks with ease. That Palmer looks a great player.

Pickford had a mare. At fault for at least two. Can you just stop punting it and giving it back to the opposition, sometimes direct to their keeper? Maybe that is the instruction he’s been given?

He actually made a very good save prior to their 6th (yes 6th). But once again his parrying back into the danger zone gave them the opportunity. And when he literally passed it to a Chelsea player, that led to a goal. He had a poor game but then so did most of the players, so I shouldn’t be too harsh on him.

Our usually reliable defenders, Tarkowski and Branthwaite, were showing signs of fatigue after countless games of having too much pressure put on them through little or no protection in front of them. Despite my earlier comments, I’ll be less harsh on Jordan, because he is also put under a lot of pressure for the same reasons. The thin blue line.

One of the poorest Everton performances I’ve seen in many years and it wasn’t a pleasant journey home surrounded by Chelsea supporters belting out the classics. “Sign On” and “We pay your benefits”. It wasn’t pleasant.

It’s done. It happened. We are numb. The next matches are more important. No point dwelling. We have to pick ourselves up. Those players have to pick themselves up. The supporters will. We care too much.

There are very few positives to take from that, if any at all. All I would say, is that when he came on, Gomes is a very good footballer. One of the very few we have who is comfortable on the ball. I don’t think he has 90 minutes in him, but why didn’t he start? He didn’t have a lot of options in front of him and we missed Idrissa.

Nice to catch Neil at the end… and we stayed to the end.

Mykolenko as always, first over to a baying frustrated crowd. He doesn’t shy away. Most of the rest gingerly stayed central with some token claps. Seamus came over and got a decent reception, but we were a hurting crowd and letting it be known.

This will take a day or two to get over.

It wasn’t as bad for me as for those travelling back to Merseyside and further, but I still didn’t get home until midnight. But hands up, I stood on the wrong platform and went the wrong way before correcting myself!

Keep going, Blues. It is all we can do… and will do.

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