No spain, no gain
Posted by Ian Marshall's Double in Everton | 28 March 2006
We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. Kenji Miyazawa
So, our worst fears realised, in a way more agonizing than was ever imaginable.
Cruel fate has mocked us once again, but maybe we shouldn’t be too despondent. In all honesty, although it matters more, the derby was probably 1 of 2 remaining games we could have reasonably expected to lose. We were up against a team firmly ensconced in the top 3, and even if Chelsea had Lampard (or maybe Terry) sent off, or United had Rooney sent off, it would still be a tall order to win there. We had Arsenal down to 10 men on the opening day in 2003/4 and still managed to lose. Another game we started well.
When the annual Steven Gerrard 2-footed lunge actually arrived and was punished accordingly, I’m sure every Evertonian turned to someone and said ‘We’re shit against 10 men’. Maybe every other clubs fans say that, but we really do seem to be.
A few observations from Saturday and then we move on;
- Hamilton, Handson, Neville, luck really seems to desert us against them
- Despite having played our best football in a long time in recent weeks, Everton are still capable of reverting to type. Arteta being out was a massive blow, even though Kilbane didn’t do too badly. Our sultry Spaniard helps us hold onto the ball and commits defenders, 2 elements sadly lacking for most of Saturday.
- Scratch beneath the surface and there’s still concerns about the squad. Naysmith was cruely exposed for the 2nd goal. Wright even more so, once again rushing and making the forward’s mind up. It’s not a sublime chip, it’s bad goalkeeping, reminiscent of another howler when Zenden scored for Boro.
- We are good enough to play 4-4-2 against most teams in the league. Against the better ones, this becomes less viable. Beattie and Faddy have looked great in recent times, they were largely anonymous on Saturday.
- And that’s it really. We have got players with the right attitude and the desire we need, Stubbs and Cahill spring to mind, but we’ve got a way to go before we can realistically compete.
On the subject of Stubbsy, he made some interesting comments about diving. Now Real Life Blues doesn’t have a sexist bone (leave it) in its body, but Sue Mott’s response was shabby. Many of the female footy journos are sound, she always seems to spout drivel.
Anyway, all this diving chat is worthy of consideration. The next blog will have a quick look at the issue, and a longer look, before we get our picnic rug out on the high moral ground, at Everton divers of the past 20 years.
TTFN
Comments
To be fair, the Telegraph's response was not in connection with the diving comments... it referred to Stubbs ludicrous suggestion that trying to get players sent off was "a foreign thing".
Desire and attitude the boy may have, but nary a pair of neurones to rub together.
Fair point Zeno. Stubbsy is not the brightest although I think your average foreign player is probably more likely to dive than a british player. No doubt within a few years the distinction won't exist.
As for Sue Mott, she does my head in (think it stems from that Saturday morning Channel 4 show which used to be on with Derek McGovern on it) so I was probably looking for an excuse to pick on her.
Cheers for your (extremely valid) comment.
