It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

Solskjaer has already asked Tan to return to blue next season Joe

I heard it's so apparently next years colour, darling!

Well it wasn't last years colour or even this years for us honey !

Diouf on his way to Cardiff from Hannover apparently and Burnley have bought some rubbish from Brighton.

Blimey! Reunion at Cardiff City.

Only seen clips of Eusebio, most show him being kicked by Nobby Stiles - at least he's safe for a bit.

Cheers,
KidA

From My Seat: Norwich (H)
By Ken Buckley :: 11/01/2014
Comments (3) jump to end
Back to the room of nonsense in quick time after our cup win last week. The chat ranged around the transfer of Jelavic to Hull and who would be the signing in. Some thought it might have been best to keep hold of Jelavic such is the form of Lukaku at the moment yet others thought that along with the reported fee then it was good business providing we would spend to prosper. My take was that we have a Chairman and board plus CEO and manager to guide the club and whatever my preferences may be we get what they give us and then I gauge my judgement of their efforts by the enjoyment of my match day by what transpires on the pitch.

Today I thought the efforts of the club to promote Kids Day deserved praise and the free Kids programme handed out had ‘Goal King Coleman’ on the front of an ‘Action Packed Issue’ with among other great things Leighton Baines as the centre fold. We also had a child announcer of subs today. The walk up was of reserved fashion but once Goodison Road was reached the mass of bodies that were either queuing for food, tickets or souvenirs got the nervous pre match tension and expectation roaring.

Into the ground and an announcement that an important event would take place pre-kick off.
And so it came to pass that one Aiden McGeady was paraded and the announcer laboured the point that he had become an Everton player today rather than any sort of pre-contract stuff. The chat around me was of ‘Does anyone know much about him’ which I found rather odd for footy mad fans. He got a good reception from the faithful yet not euphoric.

Mr Friend got the game underway and we attacked the Park End. We were 5pts and one place better off than this stage last season. Could we build on it? Well we started well enough. Coleman had a dig then Lukaku missed connecting with a tempting cross from Mirallas. We forced a couple of corners and were looking far superior to the Canaries but you just never can tell and from virtually Norwich’s first attack a long ball put Hooper in one on one but Howard somehow smothered. Hard to know if it was a bad miss or a good save.

After that scare it was all Everton again as we forced corners that were almost but not quite converted, shots from distance that flew anywhere but into the net. Lukaku seemed at odds with his self-proclaimed billing yet every now and again he looked interested and none more than the 20min mark when he controlled well, used his strength to hold off his man and lay the ball off to the excellent Barry who took the ball forward with purpose and then hit a left foot screamer that left the keeper helpless and Everton 1-0 up. It really was worth watching the three replays on the big screen.

The game then took a familiar fashion that seems prevalent in all games, the side going behind puts the leaders under pressure and causes mistakes and uncertainty that had not been there before. From such a situation the Norwich striker hit one that Howard did really well to turn around the post whilst at full stretch. This scenario happens in most matches. I wonder why?

We regained our composure and continued pressing forward. Barry was instrumental in anything good and another superb ball saw the ball deflected for a corner. We really should have been out of sight now but just one ahead always gives the opposition food for thought and purely due to overconfidence we gave the visitors some hope when Stones who was making light of his youth and inexperience got booked for over exuberance which in turn put him under the collar for the remainder of the game as well as taking a chance when Howard spilled the free kick at the feet of an attacker to tackle and clear. We remained on top though and ended the half 1-0 up.

The half time chat centred on the outgoing and incoming transfers with most of our gang still convinced we need a striker as Lukaku seriously needs competition. My view remains we get what we get and we can’t do anything about it except hope all concerned get it right.

The second half was mostly one way traffic with the ‘Martinez Way’ being applauded loudly as the Blues sprayed passes about stretching the visitors but without really testing Ruddy. Our possession ensured domination but our finishing within the box was almost non-existent and their keeper was much less worked than he should have been which in turn led to the visitors sensing our frailty and deciding to have forward forays themselves. They didn’t come too much in truth but you just knew one mistake and hey-hoe here we go again. The stuff we were now playing was direct from joined up footy heaven and gaining applause from all sides of the ground but as the hour mark approached the faithful were muttering that a second would be helpful!

It duly came but not before Norwich gave us a scare as the striker strode on to a long ball but could not get necessary control. In clearing the ball we somehow after a passage of quick passes found Baines marauding forward only to be brought down some 25yds out. The ball was eventually set up as the ref was satisfied the wall was the requisite distance away. Baines and Mirallas were over it, both paced out their preferred yards. Who would it be? Baines shaped but Mirallas strode and sent a beaut just inside the post with keeper unable to reach anywhere near it. Bedlam and relief in equal measure and oohs and aahs accompanied the re-run on the big screen.

They say 2-0 is a dangerous lead yet I would sooner have one than not but me and my mate Keith really wanted another as we had 3-0 at 18/1 and boy did we think we hit pay dust as Lukaku got onto a long ball and slotted only for the lino to have his flag raised. It must have been close.

Martinez made some subs, Heitinga for Osman and shortly after Naismith for Pienaar. Now it was a case of spot the formation and that was not easy. The best I came up with was 3-5-1-1 which quickly morphed into 5-2-3-1 and at any given time anything you like. It sort of worked but it did allow Norwich to have their best spell of the game so maybe that scenario needs to go back to Finch farm and be progressed as we saw Snodgrass hit a post plus allowing opposition players the chance to shoot from distance which they quickly took on board. It was a right helter skelter last ten when we went from Barca like to Bacup like but in true grit fashion we held on and we all celebrated a very necessary three points.

M.o.t.M: Barry but not just for his great goal but for showing all in attendance the quality needed all over the park if we are ever going to get a look-in with all media outlets. We may be fourth tonight yet all the headline news excludes us.

Still I enjoyed the game and the football played did l at times resembled the flow of the ‘Royal Blue Mersey’ However with that free flowing dominance it must concern the manager as much as me that we don’t score more goals from such joined up play.

West Brom next. Will McGeady play, who will be fit, who will be injured that we didn’t know about? Well best get down there to find out. If we play the football we played today the three points should surely be ours but only IF we convert the chances we work so hard to create.

See you there!

UP THE BLUES

Reader Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Patrick Murphy
436 Posted 11/01/2014 at 22:10:45 That still remains our main problem Ken, finishing off those flowing moves more often - I don't know how many shots we had today but we never tested Ruddy often enough and in truth we don't force most keepers to make as many saves as we should given the number of opportunities and corners we have. But a win is a win and it was a decent performance to boot, I'll take another dozen of those in the league between now and the end of the season.
Bill Gall
467 Posted 11/01/2014 at 23:06:07 Another good report , do not know what Everton have to do to make the media realise we are team that have the ability to make the top 4.
The game today at times was not that great but the pleasing thing is with all the changes made over the last few games the overall standards are being maintained.

Dennis Ng
471 Posted 11/01/2014 at 23:21:56 Bill, not us. They have to get rid of all the MU/rs pundits.

Well done the Baggies, well deserved point. You may be shite, but Everton were worse tonight. I had to keep pinching myself, thought I was asleep and having a nightmare seing David Moyes on the touchline instead of Martinez. Worse performance of the season. Instead of taking them to Tenerife to train should have taken them up to Aberdeen beach, the north east wind chill might have woken the lazy bastards up.

Uck me even we beat West Brom !

Might be bottom , next game away to Man U so nothing expected but Feb is our make or break month. Expect a minimum of 7 points from 4 games but 9 or 12 is on the cards so don't write us off yet.

Meanwhile the gypo's down the road , 3 points in front of us but a much tougher set of fixtures from here on in seem to be having some problems ..... gutted :-)

From dailymail.co.uk

"Police were called to Swansea City’s training ground after defender Chico Flores allegedly picked up a brick in a furious row with team-mate Garry Monk.
The incident happened on Friday when an altercation on the pitch between the two players escalated dramatically.
A member of the public — believed to be the mother of a youth-team player — phoned police after claiming to have spotted a screaming Flores brandishing the brick.

Officers took no action against the volatile Spaniard, leaving the matter in the club’s hands.
A statement from South Wales Police confirmed: ‘Police were called to the training ground at around 1.30pm on Friday 17 January. Club officials were spoken to and no police action was required.’
A Swansea spokesperson said: ‘Chico Flores and Garry Monk had an exchange of words, which is not uncommon between players in training grounds across the country, but no threats or altercations took place between the players in question.
‘It’s understood a member of the public phoned the police, who felt no action was required. The matter has been dealt with and is concluded.’

It followed another incident earlier in the week when Flores is understood to have stormed out of a team meeting.
The 26-year-old centre back was still included in Michael Laudrup’s line-up at home to Tottenham on Sunday and scored an own goal in Swansea’s 3-1 defeat, a result that left them without a win in eight Barclays Premier League games and three points off the relegation zone.
Monk, 34, has made only one appearance for the club this season, in the Capital One Cup.

Concerns have been growing about the attitude of Swansea’s squad towards their eight Spanish players, with an ‘us and them’ culture developing.
The British players feel Flores, once a popular figure, has become egotistical and they are growing tired of his histrionics.
Flores quickly became known as a flamboyant character after moving to the Liberty Stadium from Genoa in a £2million deal in July 2012 following a spell on loan with Laudrup at Mallorca.

Flores is known to have a short fuse and his team-mates sometimes enjoy trying to provoke a reaction.
In recent weeks, Swansea have been running a crossbar competition with the worst-performing player forced to drive around in a pink Suzuki Vitara.
Under the rules of the competition, the car — labelled the Pink Ferrari — must be parked in the space designated for Flores’s red Ferrari at the Liberty Stadium. "

Dil - 21 Jan 2014 01:54 - 2485 of 2485

"Might be bottom"


Might? Theres no might about it sunbeam you are definetley in the basement with the door firmly locked

And if your still in any doubt have a look on your website for confirmation http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/league-table/ Your the team in the red... in more ways then one -):

lol ... sod off :-)

I hope Moyes gave his players a bollocking after that performance last night, they should be made to practise taking penalties until they can hit the target blindfolded.

Wayne Rooney has been told he will not be allowed to leave to join any of United's main rivals which currently rules out Cardiff , West Ham and Norwich.

Why would Real Madrid want to sign him, as rumoured, when they already have Ronaldo, Bale, & Benzema scoring goals - unless they would use him in midfield, rather than as a striker?

Heard a cat crying outside so opened the door and saw 4 guys in Man United shirts playing football with it. Was just about to ring the RSPCA when the cat went 1-0 up !

"Wayne Rooney has been told he will not be allowed to leave to join any of United's main rivals which currently rules out Cardiff , West Ham and Norwich."

Don't take the p*ss! Delia has already said that anything west of Leeds/Sheffield doesn't rate a mention in her recipe books, so she's hardly likely to consider a footballer! ;o)

Martinez: We're not going to Anfield feeling inferior

by Lyndon Lloyd | 26/01/2014
Comments (39) jump to end


Roberto Martinez is in confident mood as he prepares to take Everton to Anfield for the first time in Tuesday's Merseyside derby.
Matching his bullish demeanour ahead of the games against Manchester United and Arsenal, from which the Blues took four points out of six, the manager acknowledges that his team's performance will need to be perfect but insists the points are more important than local bragging rights.

"A derby [win] can bring an incredible positive feeling that is going to help you for the next six games and that could mean a lot of points," the Spaniard says. "In the same way a defeat could affect you the next two, three games. That's what these derbies can do.

“Beating United at Old Trafford was a big result for us, ... [b]ut, for me, facing Arsenal eye-to-eye at the Emirates and dominating possession the way we did said just as much."

“I think we are capable of going anywhere and beating any team. What we will need on Tuesday night is a combination of those two games. We need to be absolutely perfect."

Martinez admits that Liverpool have been formidable at home this season but says, “we're not going to go to Anfield feeling inferior. We are not going there looking for a damage-limitation performance.”

Tuesday's game obviously has huge connotations for the race for the Champions League, one that increasingly looks as though it will be a battle between four teams for fourth place, but Martinez doesn't want to use Everton's financial disadvantage as an excuse for not realising his and his team's dreams.

“No excuses," he continues. "It doesn't matter that you don't have the finances and resources or not. If you haven't got those then you have to find the patience and the creativity to put a squad together that is strong as the others.”

Quotes or other material sourced from The Telegraph


Reader Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer



Paul Kernot
801 Posted 26/01/2014 at 00:37:58

We will go to Anfield under strength. Of course we will, & minus Lucas & Johnson their squad looks good but if we get at them like we did last time, we know their defence is a bit suss & we have an opportunity to make a massive difference in our season if we can win it.
Certainly, reading the above, Rob will have the boys in the right frame of mind & that's a great start. COYB.



Noel Early
805 Posted 26/01/2014 at 00:47:20

Pity Deulofeu won't be back in time. Imagine the damage he would cause Cissoko. Hearing twitter rumours Barkley will be back, fingers crossed.



James Martin
806 Posted 26/01/2014 at 00:49:20

If we had a full team we'd destroy them. As it is even with half s team we'll dominate them but I suspect they'll score early via a set piece and we'll go down to ten. Happens most times.



Andrew James
808 Posted 26/01/2014 at 00:50:39

We should have won at Goodison.
I suspect we will hold them defensively so it will depend on what we do up front. Lukaku is due a big game, hope this is it. Coleman and Barkley out are major misses, I suspect a draw.



Eric Myles
811 Posted 26/01/2014 at 00:56:19

If the ref is fair and isn't conned by Surez, Gerrard and Sturridge diving and stops Skrtel wrestling then we have a great chance.
Otherwise it's a big ask.



Chris James
813 Posted 26/01/2014 at 00:51:44

Would like to see this starting line-up, assuming Peanuts and Coleman can be patched up to start.
Howard
Coleman - Jags - Distin - Baines
Pienaar - Barry - McCarthy - McGeady
Mirallas
Lukaku

Subs: Robles, Stones, Hibbert, Barkley, Osman, Naismith




Andy Meighan
814 Posted 26/01/2014 at 01:03:32

Great to hear a manager of ours talking so positively. We'd never have got that under miserable arse. That's why I'm not as nervous as I usually am going there... Still, having said that, as I've said before, if Barkley doesn't feature, I just don't fancy us.
I know they are desperate for him to be out so imagine how their players must be feeling. Because I know when Duncan Ferguson used to miss derbies Carragher and Co would be rubbing their hands together knowing they weren't going to get fucked. This is why I believe Ross is so vital to us.

If he does play and we get beat, I'll hold my hands up... but somehow, if he does play, I just can't see it because I think he ll run the show.

Why is it we've always got big players missing when these games come around? IUt doesn't happen to them. But I'm feeling quite confident — if you knew me it is really unusual for me going into this game.

On another note, my heart goes out tonight to poor Bryan, who's been brilliant since he forced his way in. An absolute sickener.



Chris James
815 Posted 26/01/2014 at 01:15:04

Is Coleman definitely out, I thought he was an outside chance for the Stevenage game?



Kevin Rowlands
817 Posted 26/01/2014 at 01:28:31

Rumor is Delboy and Barkley will be fit for Tuesday, oh I hope so, I've decided to try to go positive, were gonna muller them! btw get well soon Bryan!



Tony J Williams
824 Posted 26/01/2014 at 01:52:59

Martinez needs to mention Skertels WWF tactics in the press conference to try and get us some fair treatment

Henchoz had handball, Skrtel has wrestling...and drinking blood.

Good news for Everton, Manchester United, and my fantasy team; Baines is staying at Everton.

Cheers,
KidA

Fabio and Zaha are on their way to Cardiff from United and we've swapped Peter Obemwingie for Kenwynne Jones with Stoke.

We desperately need a centre half now as Ramis from Wigan appears to have failed the medical.

Good luck to Fabio - he was supposed to be the better of the twins. :(

Liverpool supporters write to Arsenal to argue for lower ticket price than £93 for FA Cup tie

Fans of Liverpool concerned about being priced out of attending fifth round match at Emirates Stadium, with tickets expected to cost almost £100.

Daily Telegraph

Don't blame em, keep the Kopite Gobshites Out! :O)