Thursday 23 April 2009

CHELSEA 0 EVERTON 0

Match Report
Everton stymied Chelsea's much-vaunted attack for the second time this season as they held the Champions League semi-finalists and their opponents in next month's FA Cup Final to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge. After frustrating the Londoners at Goodison Park in December in a game that also finished 0-0, the Blues put a sizeable dent in Chelsea's title hopes this evening by blanking them again and though they survived a late scare when Didier Drogba was denied by the woodwork, David Moyes's side will probably be kicking themselves for not winning this one.

As expected, David Moyes made changes in each of the outfield areas of the pitch, resting the injured Marouane Fellaini entirely and dropping Phil Jagielka, Tony Hibbert and Louis Saha to the bench after the odyssey against Manchester United at Wembley. Joseph Yobo and Lars Jacobsen came into the defence, Jô returned to spearhead the attack and Segundo Castillo was perhaps a surprise inclusion alongside Phil Neville in central midfield.

While they struggled to put anything meaningful together during 120 minutes of football on Sunday, the Blues showed they were in purposeful mood early on, Jô heading the first chance of the game into Petr Cech's arms from Steven Pienaar's third-minute cross.

Then, at the end of a terrific Everton move in which Tim Cahill collected Neville's pass and threaded a perfectly-weighted ball ahead of the Brazilian's run, Jô was foiled by Cech as he tried to beat him with a low drive. A chance reminiscent of his recent goal against Wigan, but this time he couldn't sneak the ball under the advancing 'keeper's body and what turned out to be the Blues's best chance of the match went begging.

Chelsea were looking below par and were being restricted to long-range efforts and free kicks in their attempts to make a breakthrough at the other end. Michael Ballack headed one set-piece wide and curled another safely over, while Frank Lampard showed that his sights were off by despatching a drifting shot from 30 yards into the stands behind Tim Howard's goal.

The main threat continued to come from Everton and they had a decent penalty shout turned down when Alex tripped the excellent Leighton Baines as he tried to cut past him. A minute later, Cahill finished a nice counter-attack by collecting Jô's square ball, turning in one movement and firing goalwards but Cech parried his shot and collected at the second attempt.

And the Blues weren't done there. Just before the break, Jô found himself in another excellent position but he became the latest victim of an oil-slick surface when he slipped just as he was pulling the trigger and his shot sliced away from goal.

Everton picked up after half-time where they'd left off going into the interval and Cahill again tested the goalkeeper with a close-range header and Pienaar's cheeky shot following a short corner had Cech scampering across goal to cover as the ball whistled not far away from the angle of crossbar and post.

So far so good for Moyes's boys who had matched their hosts for possession by this stage and created all the best opportunities. Yobo had shrugged off his early jitters to form an almost impregnable partnership with Joleon Lescott in central defence, Baines was playing out of his skin at left back and Castillo, after resembling a headless chicken for the opening 20 minutes, suddenly found his feet and spent the rest of the match doing his best Claude Makalele impression.

As the second period progressed, though, the game opened up a bit more from Chelsea's pespective and they finally started exerting some of the pressure that Moyes must have been expecting.

John Terry prompted Howard into a sprawling save with a stirring effort from 30 yards, substitute Salomon Kalou headed Florent Malouda's cross narrowly over and saw another great chance deflect over off Lescott's head, while the home faithful screamed for a penalty on three separate occasions for accidental handballs that referee Mark Halsey rightly waved away.

Meanwhile, with Guus Hiddink's side meeting a solid white wall of resistance, Everton continued to threaten to spring a surprise away victory. Jô blazed over from 18 yards under pressure from Alex and, after Lescott's shot ricocheted across goal to Cahill, the Australian rattled a shot into the side-netting.

And with 5 minutes remaining of normal time, the Blues raced downfield on the counter and Cahill laid it off invitingly for Pienaar but although he set himself confidently enough, he flashed a left-footed shot the wrong side of the post when he should have done better.

Moyes made a couple of late changes when Jacobsen and Jô came out of separate challenges limping heavily. Jagielka and Saha came on for the last few minutes and Jack Rodwell also came on for Leon Osman in injury time.

Chelsea had been ratcheting up the pressure in the closing stages but Everton were throwing bodies and legs in front of everything they threw their way. It wasn't until two minutes into stoppage time that a clear-cut chance fell the home team's way and it was almost decisive. Drogba expertly turned Lescott to get a clear sight of goal but, thankfully, lashed a right-footed shot off the face of the crossbar and out to the far side and safety from Everton's point of view.

Overall, a decent performance by Everton and one that, with better finishing, might have yielded all three points and a first win over Chelsea this century — guess we'll have to wait until Wembley next month for that!

Yes, there was perhaps a case for putting Saha or James Vaughan on for the last 10 minutes to inject a bit more sharpness and fresher legs into the attack but a point and a clean sheet from Stamford Bridge is not to be sniffed at.

The result sets the Blues up nicely for the final five games where they will attempt to edge Aston Villa out of fifth place, and on this evidence few would bet against them.

Player Ratings: Howard 7, Jacobsen 7, Yobo 8, Lescott 8, Baines 9, Neville 7, Castillo 8, Osman 6, Pienaar 7, Cahill 7, Jo 7

Wednesday 22 April 2009

Chelsea v everton match preview

Just days after the climactic events at Wembley Stadium where they booked a place in the FA Cup Final, Everton have to quickly come down from Cloud 9 and prepare for a particularly tricky away game at Stamford Bridge against their opponents at Wembley next month, Chelsea.

The Blues stayed in London after Sunday's triumph over Manchester United in the semi-final and they will hopefully be in relaxed but focused mood for a match that promises to be one of their toughest yet.

Guus Hiddink's rejuvenated charges are still in the running for three trophies and are themselves riding a wave of confidence having disposed of Liverpool in the Champions League last week and Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday. They will have taken heart from the 4-4 draw between those two teams in the Premier League last night as they look to put more pressure on United at the summit.

So David Moyes can expect little let up in intensity from the Londoners while he will be concerned with the state of his small squad and the effects on it from 120 gruelling minutes on an energy-sapping pitch at the weekend.

He will welcome Jô back who was cup-tied for the semi-final and had to watch from the stands and will be pleased that James Vaughan came through extra-time with no ill-effects after returning from a long injury lay-off. Add Louis Saha, who will be a few more days further on from the stomach virus that disrupted his cup preparations last week, and the manager finally has options in attack. Expect the Brazilian to start, with the other two kept as weapons for the second half.

With one eye on the visit of Manchester City to Goodison Park on Saturday and the other on Arsenal who, after that draw at Anfield, could be kept in the Blues' sights at 7 points with an Everton victory this evening, Moyes may be conflicted over whether or not to rest a couple of players.


Stephen Pienaar: tired visibly at Wembley
Joseph Yobo is fit and could come into central defence to give either Phil Jagielka or Joleon Lescott a break while in midfield he may also want to make changes, with Steven Pienaar flagging visibly in the extra half-hour at Wembley. Knowing Moyes, it wouldn't be all that surprising if he fielded his strongest XI to start with and perhaps looked to introduce players like Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling in the second half, but he must be mindful of the fatigue levels of his players.

Chelsea will be without Joe Cole, Paolo Ferreira, Jose Boswinga and Deco but they have enough strength even without that quartet that Hiddink won't be fazed.

Moyes would no doubt be happy with a repeat of last year's result, a 1-1 draw secured by Tim Cahill's spectacular overhead kick in the dying minutes and that would be enough to elevate his team above Aston Villa and into 5th place on goal difference. Seeing as this a dress rehearsal of sorts for the Final next month, though, he'd love to get one over the Pensioners and beat them for the first time in his tenure as Everton boss.

Kenwright delight

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has again heaped huge praise on manager David Moyes.

Kenwright is full of praise for his boss, who he feels has turned the club back into a top-six side.

The Toffees supremo was talking just over 24 hours after Moyes guided Everton into the FA Cup final after a penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester United at Wembley.

"When David arrived I never looked at the first game of the season, I looked at the last to see who we had to beat to avoid the 'r' word (relegation)," said Kenwright.

"We've had Wayne Rooney leaving and no money every season - but now we're up there and I think you can truly say now we are a top-six club again."

"I've been in situations when I've thought I can't go on and he's said 'don't leave, the players and I will miss you. Come on, we'll do this together'.

"I think he is the greatest manager in the world bar none but he's my best friend in football and I'd do anything for him.

"When you see him looking up (into a stand) with that clenched fist he's looking at me saying 'look where we've got to'."

Monday 13 April 2009

villa steal a point

Everton: Howard, Baines, Lescott, Jagielka, Hibbert, Osman, Neville, Pienaar, Fellaini, Cahill, Jo

Bench: Nash, Gosling, Rodwell, Jacobsen (Hibbert), Saha (Jo), Castillo, Van der Meyde

Referee: Howard's Way

With a face full of chocolate it was off to Villa in the sun for some further revenge following the last second robbery at Goodison. Last week Moyesy mentioned that he wanted the lads to put right the wrongs of the Wigan away performance and they did in style, dishing out a 4 nil tonking, this week it was more of the same please.

It was no surprise to see the same team and it was also no surprise how the game panned out, you know the phrase, 'The Toffeemen NEVER let you down' well today it was certainly the case. Whatever the reason, the boys in blue took us on an Easter roller coaster ride. A win would take us above Villa into 5th, we also had the small matter of the FA Cup semi next Sunday so we did not want any injuries or suspensions, however I don't think anyone in the ground expected what was to follow. Although Lavo's Best Bet could have given us a clue. The man in the middle was Sir Cliff, firm but fair and a Sue Barker fan, so we knew what to expect, or did we? The game kicked off in the spring sunshiiiiiiiine and gave us no idea what we were in for. The first 15 mins did not see a shot at either end, it was mainly Villa taking the game to us, there was a worry though as Tim had flapped at a couple of crosses in true Wavy Davy style and it looked as though Moyesy had misheard Basil when he said 'thigh' injury, looked more like an eye injury which was worrying. Anyway, our first shot on target was a goal! Hayley burst down the left and put right his dodgy start to the game, whipping in a cross for Screech to tap in, cue the Toffeemen going berserk, one up and dancing in the sunshiiiine! It was to get even better.

After an iffy start we were now taking the game to Villa and carrying on where we left off against Wigan, it wasn't long before we were two up. From a corner on the left, Peanuts fired over a good one, there was mayhem in the box, all sorts of pushing and shoving but Sir Cliff was happy. Up popped Timmy springing highest of them all only to see his header crash against the bar but he was first to react and nodded in the rebound. Two up against a dodgy Villa, it looked like revenge was on the cards we duly celebrated.

Now a couple of things, Villa had not won for nine games, we have not won away since last December and they reckon you are at your most vulnerable straight after a goal, well we weren't disappointed. Tim did the hokey cokey putting himself in and then going back as again he missed a Villa cross, it landed at Barry's feet and he mis controlled but sent it across the box, two Villa's got in each others way as the ball popped up nicely for Carew who duly smashed it in past Tim and a brave Jags effort on the line. If only we could have held on to the lead, the Villa fans at two down were shell shocked but having pulled on back they were now up for it shouting 'handball' at every opportunity, the Toffeemen took the piss shouting 'Handball' in Ole-style as the blues passed the ball around.

Villa were on top now but we held out until the break and went in happy but knowing that something needed to change as we were under the cosh.

HALF TIME 1-2

We were hoping for a Moyesy bollocking or a tinkering at least to put things right. Hibbo, the white Kafu, had his hands full with Ashley Young and had been booked, another yellow and he was in danger of missing the semi, too many players were below par, Tim, Ossy, Hayley, Roger, even Captain Nev yet we were still in front and that revenge was on the cards.

Whatever Moyesy said certainly made no difference initially, it was onto the back foot and backs to the wall as Aston Villa went for the equaliser. However, relief and the return of the two goal lead was just around the corner and it came from a most unlikely source. No-one can fault the workrate of Peanuts, he drives you mad though with every other pass going astray, one thing is for sure is that he does not score enough goals (ever looked him up on You Tube and see the belters he scored for Ajax?) today he pulled out a scorcher. From a mazey run across the edge of the box he let fly and it fizzed past the ex-redshite to put us 3-1 ahead. Happy days.

So what do we then do? We allow them to score even quicker this time, less than a minute after they kicked off but courtesy of a favour from Sir Cliff. Future redshite Barry cried to Sir Cliff that he had been fouled by Timmy 20 yards out and he go the free kick. Milner duly blasted it past Tim who was rooted to his line. They were back in it now and smelling blood.It was one way traffic.

'Alright der Lars?' came on for the white Kafu so we could save the Scouser for next Sunday but it did not ave much effect on the pattern of play. With the crowd now appealling for everything it was no surprise when Sir Cliff awarded them a penalty when at the most it should have been an indirect free kick! Roger tried an overhead kick to clear the danger as Petrov advanced into the box, he nearly took his head off and a penalty was awarded. Tim dived out of the way as Barry smashed it straight down the middle. 3 all, oh shit.

To be honest from this point it was about survival, we brought on King Louis for Jo but it made little difference as Villa went for the winner. Tim redeemed himself with a late save and we held on for the point which we probably would have taken before the game but to be two in front twice in the game left a bit of a hollow feeling. On the plus side for Wembley it was another three goals, we can score for fun, on the bad side was the defending and also, unusually, Tim's wobbles. Moyesy has some work to do this week.

We went home in the sunshiiiiine thinking of what might have been, the Toffeemen NEVER let you down. Bluekipper Star Man was narrowed down to just a few, Screech did well, as did Peanuts and Hibbo, the defence were all over the place so my shout goes for Timmy Cahill, non-stop effort, always a threat from set pieces and a great goal. COYB FTRS

Full Time 3-3

Friday 3 April 2009

Blues To Make Football History


Everton have always led the way in English Football, and once again in 2009, they will lead the way this time with a goal line experiment in our home match against West Ham on May 16th.

Goal line technology has long been advocated, and at a meeting at FA Headquarters on Tuesday it was decided that the Blue match v De Hammers, and Pompey's match with Sunderland goal line camera's will get their first outing in top flight English football.

Sensors will be placed inside the posts, and a signal will show with the fourth official as to whether any shot has crossed the line or not. Sky TV have backed the plans, and their technology will be integral to the whole experiment.

The FA have the blessing of UEFA and FIFA, who will be watching the experiment closely. Once again the eyes of the football world will be on Goodison Park.

Jeff Ahctog FA Spokesman says: "The FA is willing to use any goal-line technology that would improve decision-making while not disrupting the game. I think it's has been inevitable because the rewards for success and the penalties for failure are so massive." (01/04/09)

Semi Tickets Go On Sale

Tickets for this month’s semi final against Manchester United will go on sale to non season ticket holders from 8am on Monday, April 6. In the first instance any supporter who has attended four or more home games from the current season will be eligible to purchase a single ticket with criteria set to change dependant on tickets remaining.

All league and cup fixtures that have taken place at Goodison Park during 2008/09 are included in the eligibility criteria and for the avoidance of doubt these include:

All Barclays home Premier League games up to the Wigan Athletic fixture on April 5.
All home FA Cup games including the replay v Liverpool
The Uefa Cup game v Standard Liege.

Supporters should note, that in order to be eligible to purchase a semi final ticket, details of any tickets purchased for the above home matches MUST be recorded against an individual customer number. Any supporters who have purchased tickets on more than one customer number should note that it will not be possible to merge records in order to reach the required sales criteria.

Supporters can view their sales history online by logging onto evertonfc.com/eticketing and selecting ‘Purchase History’. Details of how to log on and view the purchase history are displayed on this page. Tickets are priced £24.50 and available from the Park End Box Office or by calling 0871 663 1878. Please note tickets are strictly limited to one ticket per supporter.

Any remaining tickets thereafter will go on sale to supporters who have attended 3 or more of the above home games, from Tuesday 7th April. Further announcements will be made if necessary in due course via evertonfc.com.