the tyniest of margins
Posted by Ian Marshall's Double in Everton | 26 February 2006
Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small. Donald Rumsfeld
So the bitter taste of defeat for the first time in the league in 2006.
It's hard to be too critical, Everton did enough to win, but last ditch defending and bad luck prevented that critical first goal when we were on top. Winning games 1-0 is great, but is it becoming a self fulfilling prophecy, so if we do concede first, that's it. Could this prey on the players minds?
The most surprising aspect was just how bad the normally imperious Yobo looked. Granted he was playing out of position but his passing was about as attractive as Jodie Marsh. Ironically, loads worse than Hibbert’s. Defensively poor as well, Yobo got skinned for their best 2 chances. Selection wise, Moyesy had no choice but that should be his last ever game at full back. Time on the ball seems to make him panic, strange.
The remarkably stern faced Westerveld, he really seems to be desperate to look nails, had a decent game and now becomes the 4th keeper who’s a more reassuring presence than the hapless Richard Wright. Ready to call him Sander yet? After all, it took months to feel comfortable in addressing Neville Neville's son as 'Phil'. Anyway, Sander's distribution was excellent and miles better than the otherwise flawless Martyn.
Graham Poll wasn't too irritating either, although his habit of smiling should be a hanging offence for refs. This is reminiscent of George Courtney (Spennymoor) who from memory beamed all the way through the 1989 semi against Norwich. How we long for those halcyon days, when you could tell everyone where the ref came from without worrying about Chelsea fans issuing a fatwa.
A pleasing thing from last night was more inventiveness at free-kicks. We've scored twice with quick free kicks this season, Beattie (Blackburn) and Cahill (Charlton), and last night’s was clever - piling the centre halves in and then going for the shot. Cute that. Obviously with Stubbsy's return we could have resorted to the 'kick it at the wall as hard as possible' routine.
Frustratingly, Blackburn are now 5th, and having turned them over twice this season, we know they are not exactly the 1953 Hungarians. That said, most clubs probably thought that about Everton last season.
Last thought on yesterday, their second goal was brilliant so hats off to Solano, the man for whom Duncan Ferguson once tried to buy a llama.
In the coming week we will look forward to a visit to Upton Park (or is it the Boleyn Ground) to play the Irons (or is it the Hammers), the last club side to win the World Cup apparently. We will also be looking at the annoying habit of opposing managers praising each other prior to games. Expect to see quotes like 'I'd trust Steve McLaren with my money' and 'Fergie's got that midfield well sussed out'.
Comments
Well, if I take my Toon hat off for a minute I guess a draw may have been a fair result. There's no doubting that Emre was as much a match winner for his clearances as Solano was for his goals. But we certainly didn't play too badly and definitely shaded the second half much as you did the first.
Nice blog, BTW. Come pay us a visit.
