Bossin It
Posted by Ian Marshall's Double in Everton, Rafa Benitez | 28 February 2006
What flatterers say, try to make true. ~German Proverb
As promised a derogatory look at managers being really nice to each other before games. Not really sure if this is a symptom of volume of media space to fill or not. For example, Sky Sports News - the channel which declares the A1 Grand Prix (whatever that is) grid positions as breaking news. Whatever the reasons, managers just can’t stop being so damn complimentary.
First up, Rafa the Gaffer blows hot air Curbishley’s way prior to their match, Benitez’s choice for England manager it seems. Our own Moyesiah is no better, telling us what a brilliant job Paul Jewell has done at Wigan. Are these just mind games or do the managers run out of stuff to say too?
It really comes to something when Wenger and Ferguson, two managers whose patter never starts to amaze, actually have their own ‘love-in’. Wasn’t The Professor supposed to have ‘offered him out’ recently?
Finally in this round is Stuart ‘Psycho’ Pearce. Real Life Blues really likes his candid and honest approach to management but he found himself on the ‘Curbs bandwagon’. Then he performed a hugh volte-face and thought, ‘Hold on a minute, he’s no Herbert Chapman, I quite fancy it myself’. And then City beat Charlton, despite their all-Bent strikeforce (leave it).
Enough. Everton-wise, we are being linked loosely with Bullard and Sidwell again. Suppose it follows that if you play 4-5-1, you need 5 times more midfielders than strikers.
Also, our Phil’s a bit miffed that he’s not in the England squad. Whilst loving his spirit for the blues, if these are the glory days of English football you’d be hard pushed to press his claims. The phrase ‘midfield schemer’ seems to sum him up well.
Else where, the ‘non-news story of the year’ goes to anyone reporting the fact that Everton get nothing for Rooney winning the Carling Cup. Er, yeah, we knew that ta.
Finally Solano has joined Shearer and Mirandinha in hailing a goal against Everton as his best ever for Newcastle. Well the Mirandinha bit isn’t strictly true, but didn’t you think he’d only ever scored once for the Toon, and that was against us? In fact he got 12 goals in 1987/88, how about that?
Saturday’s result still disappoints but begs the question, when did Everton score as good a goal as Newcastle’s second? Arteta’s at Blackburn was OK but not in the same league. So, if anyone out there can recall an Everton goal better than Nolberto’s, please leave a comment.
A look forward to our East End trip will follow soon………………
Comments
Cheers for popping over.
You're spot on about our next manager, of course - Souness was fifth choice and about to get the sack at Blackburn. A panic decision, if ever there was one. Freddy knows he needs to get it right this time. Hopefully...
As for your dilemma - well, I can't think of too many special Everton goals of late. Can't remember Arteta's at Blackburn, but Cahill scored some decent ones last year, didn't he? One that really sticks in the mind was Rooney's beast of a shot against Arsenal, but that's going back a few years now...
Your blog, oi loike it.
How about Marcus Bent's goal v Southampton last season?
Thanks for the comments. Yeah, Rooney's goal was pretty amazing, especially in the last minute against Arsenal (it's hard to remember but they were actually any good at the time).
And thank you James, glad you 'loike it'. Bent's goal was good, another last minute special, but I suspect it was partly the element of surprise (the fact that HE scored, THAT goal) which makes it stand out, still don't think it was as good as Solano.