Everton in another stalemate despite workings of Leon
Posted by Ian Marshall's Double in Birmingham, Everton | 23 April 2006
Frustration, although quite painful at times, is a very positive and essential part of success. Bo Bennett.
Bo knows Everton.
So a pretty damn irritating day at the office with Everton the better side throughout but unable to get that elusive next goal in our history.
We started pretty brightly with Leon Osman by far the best player on the pitch. Whilst everyone else huffed and puffed the little Wiganer was outstanding, linking up the play and turning, prompting and probing at every opportunity. Birmingham’s meaty defence, including the always gormless and freakish looking Martin Taylor, found him too much to handle. But still we couldn’t get a goal.
It’s too simple to say we miss Arteta, although of course we do, but the balance of the side has been upset with too little creativity in the current line up. This means that McFadden and Beattie have to get involved in the build up play too much and then are not in the box when we need them. For Faddy this just meant him having one of his ‘Scottish Premier League’ days. He blew hot and cold throughout and his day was typified by the fact that seconds after he made his most telling contribution, tricking his way past about 3 players, he got subbed.
Beattie’s creative involvement, which in fairness looked pretty neat at times and miles ahead of what he was doing when he first signed, too often resulted in him being on stuck the wing when crosses were going into the box.
You couldn’t really accuse Everton of not going for it, with Duncan, Beattie and Victor Anichebe all ending the game on Goodison new hallowed yet strangely crop circled (is this the jinx?) turf.
As for Birmingham, well haven’t we all missed the sight of Emile Heskey rolling around on the floor appealing for non-existent fouls. Hopefully it’ll be a bit harder to track down next season because it’ll be on Friday nights on Sky Sports 9. Pennant, identified as a danger man by Real Life Blues on Friday, was utter garbage, conceding one corner spectacularly unnecessarily in front of the Park End, prompting suggestions that it ‘bounced off his tag’. Apparently he was barely fit to play and it showed.
Regular readers will be pleased to read that the fractious corner of the Park End was very quiet with both of last weeks protagonists mysteriously absent. Maybe they're in a 'Rocky IV style Siberian training camp’ readying themselves for some top pugulism at the last home game.
A final mention goes to Birmingham’s half-witted fans, with their telling insight into the employment and crime situation on Merseyside. And, it’s all very well singing ‘your support is fucking shit’, but it’s quite difficult to get excited about playing Birmingham at home when your season is over and you ain’t scored for a few hours. Anywhere, our support isn’t ‘fucking shit’ enough to fail to sell out anywhere when we’re equal 3rd bottom with 3 games to go, never mind just up the M6.
Here’s hoping they don’t have to endure our ‘fucking shit’ support for many years to come. As for Everton, Boro away on Saturday or Sunday next week, does anyone actually know?
Comments
Sounds like the lady doth protest too much as far as the 'your support is fucking shite' chant! how many protestations? let's count them ...
once, twice, three times a ladyyyyy.
Fair enough Amateur, I suppose you have a point.
In response, as Mark Twain said, "better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid (Everton Fans) than to open it and remove all doubt. (Brummie idiots)"
God that was a struggle. It's a lot easier to respond to being called a bell end.
IMD
Ignore him fella, evidently another glory hunter.
