A Strange Day: Mis-firing Blues Picked off by the Villains

I decided to head into Euston early, as I had the dog with me. I got there and, lo and behold, all trains going north of Milton Keynes were cancelled. There had been a fatality on the track. There wasn't a lot I or anyone else could do, other than wait a few hours, so I went for a sit down and a coffee. 

The first train to Lime Street came up as departing Euston at 13:46. I did my maths and figured out I had time to check in to the hotel, settle the hound, and get to Goodison Park. To my surprise, they announced an earlier one at 12:43. I had 6 minutes to get down the platform. So much for "don't run on the platform". It was each person for themself as the stampede ensued. 

We got on okay and she was as good as gold all the way to Lime Street. I made her a bed in the Adelphi and stayed with her for a few hours to settle her in.  

Time to head to Goodison. The usually busy taxi rank at Lime Street was empty with just over an hour until kick-off. Strange. It was also eerily quiet on County Road. Strange again. It wasn't until I got to Goodison Road that I realised there was going to be a crowd. It still seemed a bit subdued though. 

I got into a debate close to the Holy Trinity statue. Now, most of the Moyes discussion was pretty reasonable. Three lads, about my son's age, were having such a discussion, clearly pleased to see Moyes back. I had no issue with that. But then one piped up with "All of these moaners should go and find another club".

Well, maybe I should have acted my age, but that lit a red flare for me. I butted in and asked him to repeat himself. And advised me not to go and support another club, pointing to the club crest on the side of the Goodison Road Stand, telling him I've been supporting this club all my life and will do for the rest of it.

"So you've enjoyed to last 12 years then?", he came back with. “Not really,” I replied, "but I didn't enjoy the several before that." I explained that I had followed since the 1970s. "So you saw good times? You know who said that don't you?" At this point, I left it. Not worth it. 

As planned, I waited on the concourse until the formalities were done, like I said I would. They tricked me. I heard the siren, Z-Cars, and assumed it was all done. No. As I took my seat, they announced him and he walked onto the pitch. I just sat down quietly and those around me who chose to, clapped him, welcoming him back. 

The match itself. Forgetting Peterborough, it was the same team, but I did notice a few differences in the play. We did try to play higher and pressed well off the ball, albeit, it was a bit huff and puff. On the ball, we still look slow in the build-up and some players remain afraid of the football. Calvert-Lewin was getting more support than he's used to but still can't score.

Going through the team, I was surprised to see Young start — what has Dixon got to do to be involved in some capacity?

Despite Tarkowski's rallying call in an interview, he had a poor match and Branthwaite wasn't much better.

Mykolenko, I thought, had one of his better games. He got forward a few times and put a couple of decent crosses in.

Doucoure looked a bit better. Ndiaye his usual industrious self. 

Mangala was steady. Harrison wasn't great, but for goodness sake, play him on the left if we're going to play him. I don't really think the subs impacted the game or were able to. 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin. I was waking up seeing that sitter end up in the lower Gwladys Street. It's probably still there. How he missed that is beyond me. 

On Villa, I didn't think they looked great themselves, but had enough. Good midfield running which made them look dangerous, but it didn't feel like they threatened Pickford too much until the goal. We pick the bones with Pickford and whoever but, for me, that was clever running from Watkins, to peel off, making space and ending with a nice finish.  

Back to the Adelphi. She was patiently waiting and hadn't ripped up the carpet. Bonus. She got a treat and a debrief on Everton and the match. She looked at me loyally. I think she could sense I was upset. 

Up early for a walk around the back of St George's Hall. As I walked back, I couldn't help notice the 'Welcome to Liverpool' display on the front of St John's. We have an image crisis in our own city. A small representation of Everton with the new Prince Rupert's Tower seen on some of the away and training kits. Overshadowed and sat underneath a much larger red liver bird. 

Back up tomorrow for a family gathering and then back to Goodison on Sunday. At some point, we're going to get a result. Why not Sunday? Two in up-coming fixtures can change the landscape quite quickly and give us some momentum. 

A couple of final points. The atmosphere was better than it has been of late, but can we vary it a bit? Always singing "Everton, Everton, Everton" gets repetitive and we risk being labelled as only having one song!! We've got a few different ones often sung at the away games. Sorry, just an observation. 

I watched Moyes's post-match interview Thursday morning. He may have been stating the obvious, but I had to agree with his comment about lacking quality. And that he wants to bring in a set-piece coach. Well, if we do, maybe he can stop the deep corners to the far post all of the time. And if we're playing against Land of the Giants, mix it up a bit instead of pumping it into them. Mings and his centre-back partner could have played with cigars! 

We go on Sunday and we can get a result if we believe it. See some of you there. 

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