Villa 1 - Us 3

OMG I think i must be living some parallel dimension - but boy is it good :-) i don't know what Davey boy has done different this pre-season but its certainly worked as our usual slow start looks like not being a problem this year. maybe its the rest that not going the Java cup gave us or the early signing of some decent, attacking players who knows?

as per the last game we were immense and produced another dominant display against a poor Villa side. Props have to go to the dynamic duo in  midfield of Gibson and Fellaini. When you wonder why we are playing so well in recent memory it has to go back to these two - we always seem to play well and win when they're on the pitch. I think Gibson in particular is a lucky charm who seems to have a winning habit that rubs off on everyone around him. I bet Ol' Red Nose is regretting letting him go now!

We were very lively up front too with Naismith looking good (although a bit rusty) and Pienaar showing why we brought him back home from his London nightmare. His opener was special and you could see by his celebration what it meant. A lovely move ended up with him curling it in from the edge of the area beautifully. The second was a great cross from Jags that Big Mau Mau rose to nod home - although Given should have done better really. The third scorer you can prob guess - who normally scores for us if hes playing?! Yes thats right Big Jello and it was a really nice, one toucher that he steered home after a good move.

All in all a great performance & win - well done boys :-)

help i'm stuck

Get in there!!!

what a result yesterday for the boys :-) i have to say i wasn't too convinced we would do much as was expecting the customary slow start to the season from us. but they certainly showed me how wrong i was and that they have the appetite for the new season that is very promising.

You can't talk about the game without mentioning the majestic Mau Mau Fellaini who ran the show for us and was immense. Scoring the winner didn't do him any harm too :-) i really loved that goal cos i don't think we scored enough from set pieces last year. I thought Jags did really well too as his Cahill-esque run and block off took men away and freed up space for our big haired Belgian

that header was mine mau mau!!

All in all the whole team played really well even Ossie who can go missing on these big game occasions. They all put a real shift in but more importantly showed real skill also and were well worth the victory. On to the next one now - is so exciting now we're back in season :-) 

Start of new Season - 12/13

hello all

Just like the Premier League players I am back from my summer break and raring to go. only difference is i went to a caravan in skegness where they no doubt had a few weeks in St Tropez. As we know the season actually kicked off at the weekend with some surprising (and in Liverpools case) amusing results but the real kick off for us is tonight.

Before I get onto that I think its best to summarise the summers news & dealings:

1. Selling Rodwell for £12 million - IMO a good bit of business as the lad would not have been first choice for us in the middle and when he did play last year wasn't actually that good. don't get me wrong he looked good in a style over substance way but most of the time passed backwards or sideways to no real effect. He is also majorly injury prone and so would have probably spent most of his time in the treatment room so better to get the dough for him now.

2. Buying Naismith - again a good bit of business i think mainly cos Jelly obviously likes playing with him and so it should mean he's more likely to score more and stay at the club. I know hes had a couple of bad injuries and so we might not get a full season out of him but i think he will help us pick up a few extra points

3. Liverpool failing to buy anyone good - i know a lot of Evertonians think we should concentrate on us and not bother with those lot but i just find it amusing ha ha

The match tonight i can relax about as the result doesn't really matter especially as we are no doubt gonna have our by now famous slow start to the season. Will take more notice of where we are after 10 games or so and worry then if in trouble ha ha. Having said that the opening few weeks always throws up some surprising results as even the big boys are a bit rusty so you never know.

paying the price?

after the defeat to Arsenal last night (which i can't be @rsed to post about) does everyone think Moyes fucked it up bigtime with his decision to rest players in the derby game and break up the rhythm of a winning team? to be honest i am fearing he has and the effect could derail what could have been a storming run in to the end of the season. Think of the optimism after the Tottenham game and how it would have surged through us all if he had just stuck with the same team and beat Liverpool next game?!! God only knows what Jelavic thought - probably same as Velios, 'i've just scored and played well but the boss has dropped me like a hot potato?!'

sometimes the game is made overly complicated by managers & coaches - if the team is winning and people are playing well don't bloody meddle with it!!

I would never have made those changes either - i bet King Kenny was pissing himself

perspective

one funny thing i've noticed over the last few days is the amount of fans moaning about Davey Moyes when we didn't win on Saturday in the cup. hes getting all sorts of stick for being negative and not thrashing them 8  - nil or something. even funnier is the amount of fans comparing him to Martin O'Neill unfavourably and wishing we had O'Neill as he is some sort of tactical genius?!!

just to remind everyone who is moaning like this - O'Neill is far far more negative than Moyes , how many shots on goal did they have on Sat for example or how many chances did they create?!! not one apart from the goal off a dodgy free kick - we penned them in all game after that and we're the negative ones?!

so to the point of the post - its all about perspective , some ppl just have it in for moyes i think!

Everton 1 - Sunderland 1

This was a well fought , pretty even game but i think we dominated enough (particularly in the second half) to feel we deserved to edge it. Apart from the goal they never threatened Tim H's goal and the only thing he had to do all afternoon was pick the ball out of the net. We on the other hand created a few chances - no golden clear cut ones but the Jelavic header didn't miss by much and the double save at the end was unlucky on us.

I don't like to moan about refs but that twat Marriner had a shocker today i thought. what has this guy got against us as he never gives us a fair crack of the whip when hes in charge of our games. Every time one of their lot dived over without any touch from one of the boys he was giving free kicks and yellow cards but never gave us a thing even when we had been genuinely fouled! I have to say as well that I though that McLean for them was a right diver all afternoon - reminded of Ronaldo in that he runs at ppl but when they have the audacity to tackle him he goes over as though noone should be allowed too!

so back to the SOL and lets see what we do there!!

come on boys!!!

just a quick message to say come on boys for tonight - lets give the red shite a stuffing and show them whos best. how good would it be to be above them in the table this time tomorrow!!!

Everton 1 - Tottenham 0

Oh yeah baby - what a win this was!! pretty unexpected if i'm honest but that seems to sum up our season this year - win against the big boys but then slip up against the smaller teams?! is always good to win against Redknapp too - theres something about him i can't take too so is good to put one over on him.

As for the match it was a game of two halves - we bossed the first and scored through the new lad Jelavic. What a finish it was too - with a touch like that we have got a good player there i think. was beautiful how he let it come across him and then just guided it in. Special mention for Leon Osman too in the build up - great turn away from his man and a lovely cut back to Jelly to set him up. Ossie actually played very well all match specially in the first half and showed the craft & guile he brings to the team we have been missing recently.

You have to say they did dominate the second half and we did well to defend the lead and hang on. V funny that Saha hit the post - thats payback for being such a waste of space for the last year he was with us! But please Redknapp stop moaning like a little bitch about being the better team in the second half. Yeah you were and prob deserved a goal but we were better all first half but you don't seem to want to mention that?!

Is Howard any good?

A hot topic of debate of late amongst the fans I knock around with relates to our Yankee goalie, Tim Howard. A lot of the boys aren't too happy with the goals he's conceding and think he could do a lot better with them. Of special concern seems to be any crosses or balls into the box and the way he seems rooted to his line and won't come out for them unless he has too.

I agree he is maybe not top class but i think he is very good and there aren't many better around who we could afford to replace him with. Yeah he may make the odd clanger but show me a keeper that doesn't

QPR 1 - Everton 1

bit gutted with this result cos was fully expecting a win given our recent form. we started like we would too - tiger tim crashing one off the bar and us generally on the front foot. all the good work was rewarded after the half hour mark with a great move and finish from Royston - it was a really mint shot from about 25 yards that went hard & low into the corner. great goal!!

but from then on we went downhill and let them back into it far too easily. Royston turned hero to villain by giving away the free kick that led to their equaliser - Zamora netting for them with Howard stranded. although some of the boys thought he could have made more of an effort to get off his line and close the chance down a bit.

the game petered out a bit from then on specially in the second half and we were a bit lucky not too lose in truth with them missing one golden chance when they had an open goal but managed to not score?!!

so a point away from home in London ain't bad all in all considering we didn't play very well - onto the next one when we can hopefully drop bombs on it

Jelavic to start at wkd?

News coming out of the club is that our new lad Jelavic has come through training unscathed this week and should hopefully be fit for this weekends match against QPR. This obviously is great news for all - I think all the fans are champing at the bit to see him step out for Everton in the Premier League and see him bang a few goals in against the rest specially Chelsea, Liverpool and the rest of the big boys. I reckon he is a good signing and will do well for us - only question mark is over Moyes and if he can fit him into the team / system effectively without upsetting things

Big Nev has a book out

hot breaking news is that Big Neville Southall is bringing out an autobiography asap on his life & times. A major part of course will be his time with us and all the stories & gossip from his years here under various managers.

Reckon it will be well worth a read - Big Nev is a rare breed in the media world of someone who talks with honesty and candour with no regard for massing ego's or making friends. I'm not saying he is deliberately an arse but he is just straight talking and honest about things if asked. Really looking  forward to what he says about life under Kendall in that mint 80's team and all the things they got up too - bet it was wild specially in the dressing room

Make mine a large one

Louis Saha - Tottenham first game

all i will say is i want my flaming money back Saha - how can you be so lazy and dis-interested for us all season and most of last and then play so well for Tottenham?!!!!

is all v well him saying nice things when he left the club but what about returning some of those mega wages for being MIA before he left? the way he was finishing and everything was unbelievable considering he couldn't hit a barn door for us before he went

another shithouse just like the Yak - turn it on when theres something in it for them!

Luis Suarez - you are a disgrace

the title of this says it all really doesn't it?!!!! i know i will prob get stick for writing about one of their lot on an Everton blog but i think it needs commenting on what a horrible, diving, cheating, cowardly twat Suarez is. We all knew from the last derby anyway from the way he dived around and got Hot Rod sent off but it seems the world has caught on now at last. Am hoping this is the end of him and he is gone from the PL soon as he has no place here and he winds me up so much just looking at him.

Another amusing and beneficial side effect of the whole situation with him is how it shows up the scum for the horrible lot they are as a whole club and specifically Dogleish who still (even now!) refuses to criticise him or show any sort of decency in relation to the affair. Again it just shows the whole world what we always knew!

Everton 2 - Chelsea 0

oh yes and the usual mint second half of the season revival kicks in big time. after the last goodison home game against City we carried on that impressive form in this match.

To be honest I thought we played even better in this one than against the Mancs which is even more impressive - i think the return of Pienaar is a masterstroke as we just play better football with him in the team. And so it proved from the start as Peanuts strode through to make the most of a lucky break and smash the ball past Cech. Great finish and a perfect return to the Old Lady for him. They did carve out a couple of good openings after that but wasted them. Particularly amusing was the way Big Fat Frank put his well wide ha ha!

The second half continued in the same vein with us playing well and dominating the game. Thought Gibbo and Big Felli in midfield were a superb partnership again - they look such a good mix together and Felli has played so much better with Gibbo in there with him. I think that bit of business in the transfer window was v v good from Moyes too. And guess who popped up with the second - the new fans fave 'El Traca'!! He had played well again and put in a right shift so was well pleased for Big Den. Special mention in the build up to our second for Fizzer - what a brilliant crunching tackle on that ponce Cashly Cole to set us off on the attack :-)

All in all a mint day and one the boys can be well proud of :-)

So excited about winning he stubbed his toe

Rodwell back

word from Goodison is that Jacky is gonna be backy! hopefully should be soonish which will be nice as has been a shame for the lad picking up that injury. just when he was getting a good run in the team too. although not sure if there is a place for him anymore in the team with picking up Gibson, Pienaar and Donovan in the transfer window.

nice dilemma for Moyes although it is proven that he doesn't do choice ha ha!

Wigan 1 - Everton 1

i can't really be bothered to say too much about this game as was pretty dire from both teams. after the heroics of the city win this was a real let down in all honesty. we didn't show the same fight or desire although to be fair the pitch & conditions were terrible all match.

which would explain that bizarro own goal by Fizzer - although Tim didn't cover himself in glory either but again the pitch had a big part to play in it all. nice equaliser from Big Vic though - great cross & header to pull us back in it.

i tell you what is a concern - all of our strikers only look like scoring after coming off the bench?!! whats all that about? start them and they're rubbish ffs!!!!

The new Carsley?

IMO we have never really replaced Super Lee Carsley since he left. The man was the dictionary definition of 'unsung' but he was so important for us in protecting our back four and making us solid. He also was vital in giving the other players peace of mind and freedom to play as they knew Super Lee was behind them to mop things up if needed and give it back to them again. In short he was like a football Dirty Harry cos he did all the shit work noone else liked doing but was necessary.

But in Darron Gibson I think we might have found a replacement. He loves a tackle, passes well and is happy to do the dirty work that goes unnoticed while others get forward and enjoy themselves. The best clue to this is how you are already hearing supporters question what he does and how you never notice him in games much. This is because he keeps it simple and does his job that well you never have cause to notice him - it doesn't make him any less vital though

Everton 1 - Man City 0

Oh yes boys - what a win!!! still celebrating now - how quickly the mood can change with victories like this. We seem to be Citys bogey team of late and thankfully that continued here on another famous night at Goodison.

And how we deserved this one - the spirit and fight shown by the lads as well as the skill and drive was first class. It was eptomised by Big Strac up front - this lad is rapidly becoming a fans favourite due to his all action style and the way he puts himself about. I can imagine Big Dunc in the dugout laughing to himself while he watches cos they have a very similar style which is what the fans love. I can see Strac being a big success and evertonians really taking him to our hearts. He wa superb again and gave the City backline hell all night long. Oh Joleon I bet you wish you hadn't gone after tonight!!

Although the whole team were great I really want to point out Big Felli for a mention too - as per my other post he was mint too and ran the show for us in midfield. The lad was everywhere - tackling back, breaking play up, getting us going and then getting to their box to cause havoc there too. On this form he is seriously good.

Great goal to win it too - brilliant tackle from Big Felli to stop their attack and he then fed it to Royston who danced round one of their men and toward their box. Nice cross from Baines and Landon knocked it back to Gibbo who lashed it in. Really great passing , team goal and as Rooney said on twitter 'love u gibbo lad' :-)

how good was Big Felli last night?

the title says it all really - the big man was immense last night and ran the show in midfield. i really feel he has stepped his game up this season especially his tackling and tracking back. was really good to see the number of tackles he put in last night and how he was always there to shield the back four. looks like his engine is coming on too as despite doing all that defensive work in our half , he was always on hand when we got forward too. he is turning into a proper box to box player now i feel - just hope we can hang onto him in the summer!

that was more like it :-)

as the old song goes 'thats the way a ha a ha i like it' :-) that was more like a transfer window should be like - such a nice change to spend some money and get some players in to give us all a lift.

As was widely know the main one was Jelavic from Rangers so no surprises there but is a good one still. I think losing Saha and gaining him is a winner all day long. But the deal of the day for us (and maybe the whole window) was getting Stevie P back in to the fold. Welcome home lad - you know now you should never have gone but you're still mint and will slot straight back in. Just think we'll have the old Baines / Pienaar combo on the left now - how mint is that. Plus, and I don't like to harp on, but we offloaded Saha to Spurs in return ha ha ha ha! Moyes has done a right number on Redkanpp there - proper mugged him off ha ha!

harry redknapp are you mental?!!!

 

OMG latest deadline day news is that Louis Saha really is wanted by Spurs and set to switch anytime soon with Pienaar coming the other way. this is the deal of the century if it comes off and still can't believe Harry would do this. he must be off his rocker cos he must know as well as us toffees that Saha is basically finished and has been rubbish all season

this has got to be the worst transfer decision of all time if Harry does it - that court case is really taking its toll i think?!!!

Jan transfer madness!

oh yes its everyones favourite time of year again - silly season in the transfer market! to be honest i actually like it cos i think deadline day is very exciting as you sit glued to the tv/web to see who might be coming  / going.

main one in for us seems to be Jelavic from Rangers still - looking like a done deal from what i hear and will be a good buy for us that one. if you consider we have already got Gibson and Donovan in its looking like a good transfer window for us this year. there is also talk of a young greek defender, Kostas Manolas, joining for half a mil from AEK Athens. Don't know much about him but he is young and meant to be good so you can;t argue for that price. all of a sudden the squad won;t be looking so threadbare!

on the going front the major major surprise i've heard about is the possibility of Louis Saha to Spurs?!!! its not shocking because i don't think we should sell more that I can't believe we can find anyone to pay money for him ha ha! whatever they are offering bite their hand off cos he is finished and we need to get rid fast. heard that maybe Pienaar will come back the other way which would be mint

so keep your fingers crossed and lets see what happens :-)

Jelavic maybe?

word on the transfer grapevine is that Moyesy has put in a official bid for Jelavic from Rangers. Not sure how much for but sounds good to me cos we really need a striker who knows where the net is. This boy has scored for fun lately so seems to fit the bill and would be a welcome addition i think for us. Only thing i would say is that there have been lots of players who looked good in Scottish football , only to be not that good in the PL (one James McFadden anyone?!) Hopefully this won't be the case if we get him and he will be a goal machine to fire us up the table

hey good looking what you got cooking

Everton 2 - Fulham 1 (FA Cup)

we won , we won, we won :-) oh yeah and did i mention - we won :-)

after a depressing few weeks what a tonic this victory is. and we actually scored more than once and looked to carry an attacking threat for once this season. Moyes rang a few changes from the start with Big Denis coming in and Maggie Gueye on the left of the 5 man midfield. With Donovan on the right and a middle 3 of Felli, Tiger Tim and Gibbo that looked pretty good to me.

Although , being Everton, we did it the hard way but going behind first. Handball by Johnny H in the box to give a pen away which that ex red twat Murphy put away. However, far from going under as has been the case this season, the boys got their heads up and fought back into it. We had a good period of possession which ultimately resulted in Landon crossing in for Big Denis to nod in. Great to be back in it and really pleased for Den as its his first one for us.

After that the game ebbed and flowed but we did well specially in midfield where Gibbo was always involved , snapping away at their players. Landon looked good as usual as did Maggie in flashes - things certainly looked a lot more dangerous from us going forward than lately. And all this paid off cos Big Felli got on the end of a cross in the area and managed to put it away to put us 2 - 1 up :-) Well done big man - well in :-)

So on we march and is it me or does this have a ring of 1995 to it? doing badly in the league with a team not particulary well thought of or high in flair or creativity but on a great cup run to make us feel better. Could be our year.....just saying..... :-)

players or manager?

right,  first off let me apologise for another slightly depressing post but i'm afraid theres not much positivity to go round as an Everton fan at the min. Everyone who has been to see the team play this year or caught them on tv knows we have more or less been pretty bad most of the season. Turgid & lifeless displays, players seemingly disinterested & not up for the fight, dull & predictable tactics - its not good for some reason this year. and it doesn't look like picking up any time soon - maybe even the spectre of a relegation battle looms if we're not careful?!

so where does the buck for all this stop? players or manager? its an issue that splits the majority of fans I've spoken to. Personally, I think as usual in life its a mix between the two. Moyes has made mistakes this season and been shown up as short in some areas. His bizarre and late use of substitutions when the match is long over, the reliance on out of form 'favourite' players at the expense of hungry young ones, the tactical staleness & inflexibility - it all doesn;t help us to win games and play with the freedom we expect.

But..........do we really think Ol Davey sends out the boys with instructions to make mistakes, give goals away and generally play rubbish? Of course not and this is where the players must shoulder some of the blame. Once they go over that white line its up to them to turn it on and motivate themselves to fight and play to the standard that is expected of them. Attitudes don't look good out there to me at the min and that is a personal thing down to each player

Bily off?

the hot news on the street and the media at the min is that Bily is off to Spartak Moscow any day. Reckon this is a good deal really - as much as i like him as a player i can't ever see him settling with us and being a success. i think its best for all that he goes elsewhere to kickstart his career - good luck to the lad though i say :-)

and hopefully it will make us some dough and allow us to sign a striker !!!!

Everton 1 - Blackburn 1

not even a much needed and celebrated Tim Cahill goal could lift the spirits after this one - yet another insipid performance against a team we should have easily been good enough to beat playing at Goodison. it seems the morale, confidence and overall performance level of the team is not there still as it hasn't been at some point for most of this season. the reasons why are different for every person you speak too - some blame Moysey for his defeatist demeanour and dour negative tactics. others blame the players for simply not being good enough or putting the required effort in for the shirt. others still just think we're doing ok and just not getting the rub of the green and putting our chances away to win games.

one thing is for certain - we need to rediscover the winning formula and fast cos we do not want to be looking over our shoulders come the end of the season. on the plus side i had a very good bottle of rioja tonight which was very convivial

Cahill to QPR?

Word reaches me via a mate who has a source inside Goodison is that QPR are gonna be putting a bid in for Tiger Tim within the next 24 hours. So that raises the question: to sell or not to sell?

As with everything you could argue it either way depending on your point of view. If we take the 'To sell' argument first. I think most Evertonians would agree Tim has been off form this season really bar a couple of games and not up to his best. Is he getting too old to be effective in his role or have injuries / fatigue caught up with him? Also should we take some good money for him while its on offer to avoid risking losing out on a good deal like turning down a good few million for Saha and the Yak last year/

On the flip side you could argue that, despite his poor form, he is still an important player for us due to his skill, determination and will to win. i believe his enthusiasm and effort rubs off on those round him on the pitch. Also remember the old saying - form is temporary , class is permanent. He's such a legend for us too that it would be disrespectful to dump him just like that cos it suits us all of sudden.

my opinion on it - i say Tim is a true legend and we should keep him till he retires and then get him a role within the club to keep him with us after that

Aston Villa 1 - Everton 1

Big Vic to the rescue once more!! I've not always been the biggest fan of the guy but he seems to have come back from his last injury with a new hunger & attitude for the game. is always nice to see him start up front as he is a striker by trade and we need goals at the mo'. what a finish it was too - great ball through from Landon and great skill & confidence from Vic to get onto it and stroke it home.

the boys who went had generally positive things to say about the performance & team for this game. Moyes actually played ppl in their correct positions specially in midfield which helped us out no end. there seemed to be a new attacking intent to our play which was good to see. as a result we passed it round well and looked good. seems like we still needed an extra cutting edge in the final third but hopefully that will come - hopefully if we get a new striker in soon.

special mentions for the new Gibson and Landon. both fitted right into our midfield and looked good. Gibson got stuck in well and always showed for the ball and passed it round well. Landon was his usual self - quick, direct and put some great balls in. From one Saha should have scored - he looked like he was pulled back but for the boys didn;t show enough desire to really get there & bury it. would Big Dunc have let it stop him?! i think not!

Gibson?????

just heard that we have completed the signing of Darron Gibson from Utd - first of all let me say welcome to the lad. i think he is a good player and will be a fine player for us specially with all the injuries we have at the min. heres hoping to a long and successful career for the boy

however , surely a striker was first priority?!!!! of course one might be on its way so nots let jump the gun as moyes might have it all in hand :-)

Tottenham 2 - Everton 0

can't even be arsed to write about this cos i hate losing and being so depressing and rubbish. wake up boys and remember what an honour it is to play for the blues and put some commitment & effort into things. you all look half asleep ffs!!!

the weekly tactics meeting between moyes and round got a bit out of hand

Everton 2 - Tamworth 0

have to admit i was fearing the worst here after our recent poor run. the saving grace was being at Goodison - i think had it been away we could have really been in trouble.

so all in all was pleased with this one as we played alright and scored a couple. nice first one to settle the nerves early on - great corner from Landon and Johnny boy rose above everyone to nod in. great start to the game and nice to score first for once. after that we really got into them - Big Vic had a shot well saved and Faddy put one wide too as we looked like we would add another soon.

but it was not to be - they grew in confidence a bit and one of their boys went on a run which ended in him shootly narrowly wide. we finally managed to add one towards the end to ease all our worries - looked a bit of a dodgy decision but we'll take them anyway. you knew Bainesy would score and he did - does this man ever miss from the spot?!

so on we march to the next round - could this be the year we finally win a trophy and emulate the Dogs of War woof woof?!

Everton 1 - Bolton 2

what a dire game and dire performance from the boys - i love them to bits but this is really one to forget. bit worrying that we seem to be in a bit of a rut right now - thought that Landon would lift us now hes here but we seem so short on confidence that thats not even helped. and don't even talk about stirkers and goals!

what do you mean i'm up front next game boss?!

West Brom 0 - Everton 1

oh the chance to put one over on Woy Hodgson - not to be sniffed at and for once we didn't mess it up. i always used to like Woy but ever since he managed that shower over the park i would welcome any chance to do a number on him.

not a classic school of science performance by any means but the more the season progresses i think its gonna be one where we need to win anyway we can. i guess when you have to sell your best and most creative players to raise money thats what happens. but on a more positive note we won so thats another three points on the bag. and good to see Big Vic back and playing specially with our lack of strikers at present. he got a really good winner here showing real desire and poachers instinct to get to the loose ball and bury it.

just what la doctor ordered thanks boys :-)

Sunderland 1 - Everton 1

aaahhhhh and as usual things are never simple in everton land. why couldn't god have waited a few weeks to appoint o'neill as manager of sunderland so we could have played them when they down & out?! instead we travel to the SOL facing a side suddenly high on confidence and keen to impress the new gaffer. which would explain why what had looked an entirely winnable game was actually a lot more difficult.

as usual for this season we decided to be nice and let the opposition have the first goal - poor defending again to let Coulbeck net for them. things looked to be petering out for a loss when for once we benefited from all the dodgy refereeing decisions goin round. it never looked a pen but we've had a fair few go against us so nice to get one in our favour. as usual Bainesy put it away to rescue a point. go on leighton :-)

Everton 1 - Swansea 0

another game , another goal for our little midget gem Leon Osman! well done Ossie - you have often come in for undeserved stick from the fans but always come up trumps when it matters. it was a great header from the little man from an equally fine corner from Drenthe. it was funny cos his corners had been pretty bad till then so all the lads were hoping he wasn;t gonna take it at the time. bloody glad he did though ha ha! isn't it weird as well how so many smaller guys get the headers in when theres taller defenders round to clear it?!

great win although it has to be said a not exactly inspiring display again - please Moyes can we have some attacking flair and creativity soon to keep us awake?!!!

Everton 1 - Norwich 1

what a turn up for the books this was - i know they play good football under Lambert but i fully expected us to win this one. maybe the teams coming up have closed the gap and are better than before but we seem to have trouble with them all this season.

the major thing about this game for me was the way we conceded - how the hell did we let Holt turn and slide the shot in when there was apparently no danger at all. v v poor and symptamatic of our poor season so far. for the rest of the game we huffed and puffed to no real affect which is not good enough at home to anyone really.

and then the scouse maradona Leon Osman popped up with a goal to spare our blushes. although the real work was done by royston to go on a run and fire a shot in. it was heading wide and then little Leon shimmied in and snuck it home past Ruddy.

all in all a point wasn't really good enough specially at home and the performance & desire wasn't really there either #worrying