Everton Post Match Thread

[Shanks]

Unconfirmed reports that Bill Kenwright is on his hands and knees collecting all the coins thrown at Suarez & Bellamy

[Leyton388]

LOL saw that yesterday.

Everton fans throwing money at our players and yet moaning about having none. The irony.

[Daniel 7]

Reina was furious at Carra when he backed off when he should have blocked a shot. It wasn't exactly the first time that happened.

He had big problems until they got the red card. He still don't trust his partner to do the job.

The Saha shot? Reminded me of when the same players backed off and allowed a huge left foot shot from Carroll for the 3-0 against the geordies in the Hodgson face rub game.

[Stanbull]

[SimonNo7]

A shoe is epic

A burger too once, from the Centenary Stand

Perhaps this season ,whether he scores or not, someone could throw either a bottle of Regaine or even a wig

[SimonNo7]

I'm jumping on your bandwagon. Foot on the accelerator, driver!

Good for you, it's the positive bandwagon

[Craig_H]

Why is Fellaini in the Gwladys Street end?

[BJC]

http://thedubiousgoalscommittee.co.u...gated-in-1994/

All the blues I know are moaning about the current state of the game with all the rich owners and cheating players. I'be been reminding them that they shouldn't exist anymore

[rodo]

the "view" from across the park a mixture of and

The sun was out in L4 as shorts and shirtsleeves were the order of the day. Everyone proudly displaying their colours, even those who still had Arteta on the back. The deadline for refunds was Friday as the Everton One manager pointed out to a couple of vexed enquiries on the policy. Calm restored, the weather encouraged a cold drink to ‘take the edge off’ the pre-derby nerves. Positive sounding team news had Saha and Cahill starting with Neville back on the bench. The thunderous Everton chants nearly drowned out Z-Cars but the hairs on the neck were still standing to attention as the game got underway.

The Blues started well with Saha looking lively. An excellent break from a Howard throw saw Cahill spring up, like a homeward bound salmon, to Coleman’s deep cross and head over and across Reina, only for the Spaniard to stretch a finger to it. That came after Suarez had headed into the ground for Howard to gather easily, although Kuyt seemed to push Jags as he attempted to clear, which wasn’t picked up by the ref. And the pattern had started.

Jack Rodwell was impressive with some strong challenges, a particularly satisfying one on Carroll. Jack has blossomed since Arteta has gone. Maybe it’s clearer what role he has in the team, with Arteta previously trying to pull all the strings in midfield. Jack and the Big Fella are complementing each other well in that central spot. The Blues were possibly edging the game when the decisive moment arrived. Rodwell’s challenge looked innocuous at the time. An ordinary, everyday challenge and eyes had moved on to follow the ball when the ref blew his whistle. That horrible Suarez was rolling around which influenced Atkinson to pull out the straight red. The sense of wrong was apparent straight away. Being on live TV meant plenty of people were getting texts flying in telling them it was a harsh decision. This only re-inforced the passion in the stands and meant Atkinson knew about the crowd’s polite concern regarding his credentials and his autoerotic leanings.

The question had been asked - have we got anything against Atkinson – prior to the game. One of those jokey, nervous pre-match natter conversations. Well, we have now. Although it seems Moyes and Steve Round have form with him. Apparently, the last time he reffed us was the 3-3 Man Utd game last season. Moyesy (and Roundy?) each received an eight grand fine for their on-pitch remonstration as he blew seconds early – just as Jags was driving towards their box to pull off an ‘unbelievable Jeff’ win for the Blues. Did anyone think he’d really have scored? Van der Sar got down to the shot, but who knows how much the ref’s whistle affected the outcome? So Atkinson has a history of doing a Graham Poll and maybe Moyes gave him a glare as he shook his hand, or made some sarky comment, when Atkinson visited Finch Farm this week for the referee’s appraisal. (I’ll show you Mr Moyes…)

Rodwell looked distraught when he went off. Probably a mixture of anger / disbelief and realisation that things had just become so much harder for his team mates. As we’ve said, he’d been having a good game, doing diligent defensive work, so much so that Charlie Adam’s first touch was possibly the one he tried to console Jack with as he walked off. Rodwell had been using the ball sensibly too. Unless there’s some successful appeal or Atkinson rescinds it (not a snowball’s chance) then he’s out for both Chelsea games and Fulham away.

The hope was the ref would even it up somewhere along the line…peep…penalty to Liverpool…of course he was going to even it up. The Park End weren’t having that either – looked like a 50 / 50 ball to go for but, on reflection, possibly a bit rash to do so on the edge of the box, especially as Suarez can get a perfect 10 for artistic merit. The facially challenged Kuyt – loves a goal against the Blues as well as slotting penalties at the Park End (hello Clattenburg) - lined up to slot. He always seems to put them expertly in the corner. A brilliant save by Tim Howard pushed it round the post to much jubiliation. The American had a strong game, looking dominant when he had to, including one excellent push round the post from a Carroll header when he would have been unsighted and maybe even with a slight deflection.

It was going to need another monumental defensive performance from the Blues whilst trying to nick one. We weren’t able to hold out last week and so it proved again. Moyes got the subs right: Seamus seems to be lacking confidence, not getting his head down and driving forward like at his best. He did cross for Cahill’s headed effort but he’s been poor the last couple of weeks and Enrique had him in his pocket for most of the match. Drenthe came on and made an impression with some good touches and runs. Leon showed flashes of his skill with some nice touches, however, he was let down by his lack of pace, a vital quality if you’re going to break through in a game like this. Neville coming on didn’t answer the pace issue but stiffened up central midfield and allowed Tim Cahill to look to forage again; Vellios for Hibbo was the final one and the most attacking option left at the time. Hibbo had another solid game, whilst Vellios caused some problems but had limited time.

There were bright spots for the Blues – Fellaini showed touches of class with his close control and distribution. A handful for them and always a good outlet for his team mates. Saha’s unpredictability, not always great in a backs-to-the-walls ten-man effort, is a plus but does he need someone able to play a more willing workhorse role next to him? Tim Cahill is excellent at this but it does take away from his attacking midfielder / support striker role. The Greek Kid – Tolos to his mates apparently – looks like this might be his natural style, with, so far anyway, a hint of class about him. It’s hard when you have a man sent off early in a big game that was always going to be tight. The heat and the extra work no doubt contributed to our downfall but Liverpool used the ball well and took advantage of our ten men. We held on and battled valiantly but Bellamy’s direct running when he came on undid us. We’d defended really well, but as can be their want, Distin and Jags maybe took their eye off their man for a split second and, too late, Carroll scores. We were unable to clear when we should have done, allowing Suarez to knock in the second.

The Goodison crowd was certainly hot and bothered and it looks like there were plenty of bottles of soft drinks in evidence – quite a few made it on the pitch. Apparently, donations to the Everton Former Players’ Benevolent Fund were thrown on too in the vicinity of several Liverpool players. Your correspondent hasn’t seen any media coverage to gauge the reaction, probably disgusted of Anfield Road will be all over it. It’s definitely in the same territory as wrecking the bogs at Old Trafford, Munich chants and spitting at Phil Neville, so it quite rightly deserves to be frowned upon. It’ll be interesting to see if the authorities take a firm stand.

It’s amazing how any Reds you come across have seen a different game than you. Admittedly, this isn’t a scientific appraisal, just those Ian Marshall’s Matters came across in town afterwards. The diplomatic “let’s not talk about the game” doesn’t really work but it was a 40th celebration so goodwill needed to be maintained. They love thinking of themselves as funny, or is it ironic? “Kopite Behaviour” flags – at least the spelling was correct – and “1-0 to the Murderers” chant shows their lack of class really. Yes, we’ve got lots to look at ourselves about: “Murderers” and the Gerrard ‘baby song’. Depressing really that. The Reds profess to being at a higher level when they’re really just beauts who the media go to for a lazy journalist story.

The difficult games keep coming for the Toffees – your West London cockernees next up – Chelsea away followed by Fulham away (both on TV to make our trials and tribulations that bit more public). We don’t want to be plucky losers; we’re not Scotland. That’s the patronising angle Liverpool would like to have of us. We should stand up to these bullies, show them we’re at least as good as them. The passion on display yesterday, on the pitch and the stands, proud to be an Evertonian, is the type of spirit which’ll help us win more games than we lose. The Goodison crowd acknowledged its team at the end of the match. If that bond can be maintained, questions about ownership, albeit massively important, need to be handled so as not to affect the atmosphere at Goodison and therefore the players. Up the Toffees.

[ChesterDave]

The sun was out in L4 as shorts and shirtsleeves were the order of the day. Everyone proudly displaying their colours, even those who still had Arteta on the back. The deadline for refunds was Friday as the Everton One manager pointed out to a couple of vexed enquiries on the policy.

When they opened in the Liverpool 1 complex didnt they call their store Everton Two?

[Craig_H]

It's their second store, so they called it Everton Two. Their first is called Everton One.

[Kenneth]

So yes.

[ChesterDave]

I assumed it was a cheap gag to appear as a scoreline.

[Craig_H]

Yeah, it's that too

[Shanks]

When they opened in the Liverpool 1 complex didnt they call their store Everton Two?

It's their second store, so they called it Everton Two. Their first is called Everton One.

So yes.

Craig take note..

Dave knew the answer but your reply as usual, carries a patronising tone..