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...

Agree db footballer my arxe.

Well yes I agree doodles, Barton isnt a fantastic footballer but just like you me and chris he as the option in a democratic country like ours to express an opinion and by the way Linekar, Shearer and Owen werent world class players , so that argument doesnt carry any clout.

The last truly world class player (definition .......player who would be in an historical world 22 squad at any one time)England had was Paul Gascoigne.

This use of the word world class gets used too often and out of context.

To give you an example of British players in the last 20 years who have been called world class just name one who moved abroad and lit up the World.................answer...........perhaphs just 2 Rush and Brady and then again thats debatable.

If your looking at truly British World class players look at Banks, Wilson, Moore, Charlton, Best, Jennings, Law, Daglish, Gascoigne, and maybe Giggs and Keane and Cleverly in their pomp, the rest are a myth.

Strictly my opinion but all you have to do today (or anytime) is compare the number of British footballers playing abroad at top clubs or any clubs compared to the lads from abroad playing here.

Off topic I love football history, loads of tapes and DVDs on football. Football historian.
Up for a debate.

Not a level playing field though is it GF, impossible.. to judge who or which players are as you describe 'world class'. Money rules. Gareth Bale (in his position) arguably is world class. The only rule of thumb is as you have stated above the squads picked for the World Cup by the respective British managers in their opinion. The Best Of British?

Chris................. Gareth Bale Id put him in the maybe sector at the moment .........true hes a fantastic player but he as to prove hes not a 1 year wonder.

Thought youd have picked up on Cleverly, then again my warped mind LOL.

Go on then Chris say who you think should be added to the world class list and how would you define it??????

WORLD CLASS LIST AS SPECIFIED AT THE MOMENT...........(subject to your personal view)

If your looking at truly British World class players look at Banks, Wilson, Moore, Charlton, Best, Jennings, Law, Daglish, Gascoigne, and maybe Giggs and Keane

BANKS
BEST
CHARLTON
MOORE
LAW
DAGLISH
WILSON
GASCOIGNE
JENNINGS
KEANE
GIGGS

England goals in competitive matches



27 - Wayne Rooney
26 - Michael Owen
22 - Gary Lineker
21 - Alan Shearer
19 - Frank Lampard
15 - Steven Gerrard
14 - Bobby Charlton
14 - Bryan Robson
13 - Geoff Hurst
13 - Kevin Keegan
13 - David Beckham
13 - Jermain Defoe
.

Daily Mail October 2013.

In the UK add for really world class ; Keegan, Francis, Robson, Waddle, Bremner, Lineker, Shilton, Greaves, Rush, Owen, Barnes, Wright, Gerrard and...and Beckham (shavings ads et all) ....that's just about it...for world class...it has to be strict...if you made a Brazilian list : it would be twice as long...

Different eras had different stars. 60's English first division were littered with legends in their own right. Alex Young, Roger Hunt, Ian Callaghan, Tony Hately, Kendall, Ball, Harvey etc. Spot the foreign coach. Birth Of Premier League, sky sports over the last 20 odd years Brits stand no chance because Europe lead the way re coaching and the emergence of foreign managers. Money dictates, many fans don't give a toss about the National Team, sad but true.

GF i didn't bite re Cleverley being a legend because I guessed you were well pissed to make that assumption :O)

Adding to the list : Malcolm Macdonald and Alan Shearer and of course Trevor Brooking....and David Platt...can't think of any more but world class is the tops .....if there was an International class list then the numbers would be into a hundred plus !....we are lacking midfielders with class....my favourite was Joe Cole of late....the FA and such need to concentrate on the midfield...forwards and defenders/goalkeepers are a plenty in this country but midfielders are what makes a team tick...that is where there should be a great effort into turning youngsters into Bryan Robson's of the future !...

I always remember Jimmy Hill praising the "West Ham" style as a teenager....lovely counter-attacking style...that's the way England should play with superb quick neat interpassing between players coupled with solid defending...Rooney who's not yet in the list (but might be later) can thrive on a game like that...

Quiz question, no googling......

name the 3 British footballers who have won both a World cup winners medal and also a European cup winners medal.??????

Hurst, Moore, Peters with England and West Ham...1965 and 1966...

Norwich sacked Chris Hughton with 5 games to go! I think we are starting to panic!

No RF European Cup as in champions league.

Clue think Man U and another.

Superb Romelu Lukaku strike helps rampant Everton close gap on Arsenal
• Pictures: all the best images from the game
Share 61


inShare
0
Email
Guardian report
Min-by-min
Match facts
Everton 3 Arsenal 0

Premier League

Everton
Steven Naismith 14, Romelu Lukaku 34, Mikel Arteta 61 o.g.
Arsenal
Andy Hunter at Goodison Park
The Guardian, Sunday 6 April 2014 15.50 BST
Jump to comments (919)
Romelu Lukaku
Everton's striker Romelu Lukaku turns to celebrate his superb strike which put his team 2-0 up against Arsenal. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
Arsène Wenger identified confidence as the cause of his latest ordeal on Merseyside, namely that Arsenal's is lost and belief is surging through Everton. It was an exercise in spin. Out-thought, out-classed and at times openly mocked by Roberto Martínez's commanding team, there was far more to Arsenal's sorry performance at Goodison Park than the "lack of charisma" highlighted by their manager. Two months ago their Premier League title credentials were holed at Anfield. Their Champions League residency was placed in jeopardy on the other side of Stanley Park.

Arsenal have the experience of 16 consecutive seasons in the Champions League and an easier run-in than Everton, but the Merseyside club have the momentum, form and appetite in the race for fourth place.

Man-of-the-match candidates abounded in royal blue, the outstanding Steven Naismith and Romelu Lukaku scored in a win that took Everton within a point of Arsenal with a game in hand, but it was Seamus Coleman and Olivier Giroud who encapsulated the difference between these two teams.

In the 63rd minute, with Everton three up and en route to their biggest win in this fixture for 25 years, the Republic of Ireland defender sprinted up the field performing keep-ups for at least 30 yards of the journey. Goodison reverberated to the sound of 'olé'. Moments later a 50-50 ball dropped inside the Everton penalty area. Giroud pulled out of the challenge and left Gareth Barry to it.

That timid moment sparked a furious reaction from travelling supporters who had to endure an Arsenal performance devoid of penetration, urgency and a response to Martínez's tactical superiority.

Injuries have taken a toll on Arsenal, admittedly, but they do not explain the absence of creativity or defensive organisation from the seasoned internationals still available. The similarities with their last visit to Merseyside in February were not confined to the outcome. As with Brendan Rodgers' deployment of Luis Suárez at Anfield, Martínez gave Lukaku the task of exploiting Nacho Monreal's weakness at left-back and shifted the powerful Belgian to the right of a three-pronged Everton attack. "Against Arsenal you need to have a way of turning their possession into your threat," said the Everton manager. "It let Rom turn on to his favoured left foot." And how. Lukaku was irrepressible but Naismith's role in constantly stretching Arsenal with his intelligent running should not be overlooked.

Wenger's team enjoyed plenty of possession. Everton gave them a lesson in what to do with it. A two-goal lead at the interval did not accurately reflect the home side's superiority. Leon Osman almost opened the scoring in stunning style inside two minutes but his dipping shot from 25 yards sailed wide with Wojciech Szczesny beaten. The Everton captain for the day had his afternoon ended prematurely when he fouled Bacary Sagna, receiving a yellow card and a dangerous cut to the eye from the defender's boot as a result. The injury was purely accidental but left Osman needing five stitches above the eye and "seeing a black shadow", according to Martínez.

Arsenal's manager felt Naismith and Leighton Baines should also have been cautioned for fouls on Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla respectively but leniency from the referee, Martin Atkinson, was the least of his worries. Everton were compact and resilient without the ball, devastatingly quick and penetrating with it. Arsenal were the polar opposite. Baines and Kevin Mirallas prospered down the Everton left and it was no surprise when the breakthrough arrived from that source.

Everton's opening goal was very nearly one for Arsenal as John Stones played a loose pass across his own area with Giroud lurking. Tim Howard spared the young defender with a vital challenge that doubled as an excellent pass to Baines, who strode forward before piercing the Arsenal defence with a superb pass into Lukaku. The on-loan striker was denied by a fine Szczesny save but the rebound fell to Naismith, who found the bottom corner.

The Arsenal goalkeeper also saved well from Mirallas and Ross Barkley at his near post, plus a deflected Naismith effort, whereas it took the visitors 40 minutes to force Howard into his first genuine save of note, an athletic tip-over from Lukas Podolski's shot into the ground and up. By then, however, Everton had the deserved cushion of a two-goal lead courtesy of an outstanding goal from Lukaku.

It was the Belgium connection at work. The excellent Mirallas released his compatriot into space on the right and Lukaku's intent was clear the moment he took possession. Gathering a head of steam as he ran from deep inside the Arsenal half, Lukaku rampaged beyond two defenders once he reached the area and sent an emphatic left-foot finish into the far corner. The half got worse for Arsenal when Mathieu Flamini collected his tenth booking of the season and a two-match suspension that includes Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Wigan Athletic. The Championship club and cup holders will fancy their chances on this evidence.

Mirallas and Naismith were involved again as Everton doused any hope Arsenal had of salvaging pride in the second half. The Belgium midfielder dispossessed Sagna on the halfway line and drove at the defence before passing into Naismith's latest intelligent run. Szczesny got there first but for some reason clawed the ball back across his area. Mirallas had continued his sprint and with a final touch from the lunging Arteta, the ball was bundled over the line. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rattled the bar and a fellow substitute, Yaya Sanogo, had a goal disallowed for offside. The gulf between the two sides, however, was glaring.

Man of the match Steven Naismith (Everton)

Hey Gf, that shit player Rooney won MOTD goal of the month. What do the public know eh? such a flukey goal LOL! Have to say Barkley at least should have come second :O)

From my seat: Arsenal (H)
By Ken Buckley 06/04/2014 Comments (3) jump
More recent articles

From my seat: Arsenal (H)
Rampant Blues destroy Arteta's Arsenal
Memory Lane – Match 32
Naismith's Spark Fires Blues to Fifth Straight Victory
From My Seat: Fulham (A)
Super-sub Naismith raises Everton tempo
Memory Lane – Match 31
Resurrecting the Straw Man
Brunch in L4 then on to the Temple of Learning to join the throng in the Room of Nonsense, where almost every possible outcome was debated, yet the nervous conclusion was "It’s on the day." We drank, laughed and hoped that we could take the Arsenal scalp which would be no mean feat considering the history of this game over the years. My take was that, if we could do it at Fulham against the history, well then... why not today?

The tension grew and was almost etched on the faces of match going fans. The walk up was a crowded affair but without any bravado singing or chanting yet as I made my way down Goodison road in the midst of a throng, a steely eyed resolve seemed to be in the eyes of those approaching their turnstile. We had come to win and all that remained was would the players respond. Hell yes would be the answer and an afternoon of some scintillating football from the Blues backed by raucous support throughout backed up with some vintage baiting of the Gooners assembled fans would on final whistle leave to return to our chosen haven with more than a spring in the step.

From the very first bars of Z-Cars the Goodison roar was heard and the welcome we gave would not be lost on the players as the fans wishes were obvious. From the kick off we were at it but did in fact have to see off a couple of Arsenal raids and then Osman worked an opening on our right and sent a fast shot that beat the keeper but also the far post by a whisker. That effort was received with added enthusiasm from the terraces yet just moments later the skipper in his will to win the ball went in late got a cut eye and had to be subbed whilst gaining a yellow card. What a gutting couple of minutes for our Ossie. Barkley was introduced in his stead and with no sign of the injured calf started as he meant to go on by putting himself about aided by some deft footwork as well as the ever present trait of trying that bit too much and giving the ball away, still his rawness and youthful lack of fear would help the team effort throughout the game.

The quarter hour mark was upon us when Baines split the Arsenal defence and put in Big Rom on goal, he proceeded forward, shot with power but the keeper blocked the ball out and the ever alert Naismith calmly caressed the ball with right hand side applied and the ground erupted as the ball nestled in the corner of the net. You would have needed to be in the ground to fully appreciate the out pouring as players frolicked in an unseemly scrum and fans celebrated in magnificent fashion. Just what we needed I thought, one up and heads up.

Arsenal attacked us when they could and did create some promising looking moves but our resolve at the back and our central defensive two thwarted anything that came at us sometimes surrounding an Arsenal player on the ball with four Blue shirts. Mirallas scurried forward and hit a daisy cutter that the keeper did well to get down to.

In many an Arsenal game I have attended over the years at Goodison Park, they have always looked more like the home team but, today, we were the home team and playing like the home team – much to the Gunners' chagrin; frayed nerves were showing from them with in the first half-hour.

It came to pass on the 35 min mark that Belgians showed they not only do they have wonderful chocolate-making abilities but also goal-making abilities when Mirallas won the ball near half way on our left, set off across field and, spotting his countryman wide right, played him an accurate ball. Big Rom controlled and set off across the box, as well as across at least three defenders, and unleashed one that proved unstoppable as it hit the net leaving the faithful to hit the high notes. Those 35 mins and two goals left us feeling either Arsenal would improve some 70 or 80% or we would implode and I just knew that with 36.000 behind them it would not be the latter.

We had 10 minutes plus two added to the break and we saw them out with some ease even though each time Arsenal had a foray forward we were warning players of all impending dangers vociferously, it must be an inbuilt fear for all match goers. Howard did punch one away but then made a great one handed save to tip the ball over but after all it is his job and he did it damned well.

Half-time and two-up ensured positive conversations and, for the first time in a long time, not one player was criticised within my earshot.

Arsenal were sent out early for the second half probably with a Wenger whisper in their shell likes! The Blues entered with a roar that heralded the ‘Entry of the Gladiators’. The half started with us attacking the Gwladys Street end but, in the first period of 15 mins, the play was nearer the Park End as we allowed them possession between centre circle and 18-yard line, took it off them, then did the keep possession thing.

It was in this period that the remarkable 18-year-old centre-back, Stones, made his only major mistake of the game when he refused to lump it and play keep ball which almost had dire consequences. Although Arsenal had more attacking ideas, they could not switch off for a moment as we were quick to break and with some menace that ensured the visitors were not too adventurous.

The songs were coming tumbling down now and our old boy Arteta was getting loads for his apparent lack off class toward us at the Emirates. As the hour mark approached we were looking strong and in good shape in every position as we carried out Roberto’s game plan in a fashion that suggested the players believed in it.

Who would have thought Big Rom right midfield, Naismith up front and Mirallas left midfield would work and gel as it did, not just in patches but throughout. But for that to work then Barry and McCarthy, the back four and keeper had to work in tandem with them and to a man they did and admirably. This paid off just after the hour when Mirallas robbed Arsenals best player Sagna in our half and set off at pace fed the excellent Naismith who shot and forced a good parry from the keeper but Mirallas had followed up his pass in textbook fashion and trundled it passed the keeper.

3-0 Pandemonium, thousands cheering, waving arms, hugging kissing and any attempt at words were at best incoherent and it transpired later that it was an own goal from Arteta which although a blow to Mirallas was a hell of a bonus for many assembled.

Party time as we saw the game out. Our ‘keep ball’ passing brought many loud ‘Ole’s’ as we seemed to keep the ball for minutes on end. We were dosing Arsenal with the very same medicine that they have dished out to many another team and in true Corporal Jones fashion ‘They did not like it up em’

By the 80-min mark you could just see Arsenal had given in to a superior team on the day and this good feeling I had was helped by the fact that Wenger had used all his subs between 60 and 70 mins and had taken off both his strikers, Podolski and Giroud off on the 65min mark.

The clock ticked on. Barkley forced a save from the keeper he also made a couple of powerful runs unto their box but they had funnelled back well. Arsenal hit the top of our bar from a shot from the sub they call the Ox but we saw it out in real party fashion. Who will forget Coleman racing down the right whilst playing ‘keepy uppy’ with the ball and the raucous chorus of ‘Mikel, Mikel – what’s the score?’

Allez Allez Oooh is some sound when all four sides of the ground take it up and as three minutes of added time came to an end. The dream lives on and was well discussed by the multitudes leaving the ground. Six wins on the bounce, five games to go — can we? Tickets for the rollercoaster will be at a premium...

MotM – Today there will be many choices but for me Barry who I thought was leader, orchestrator, director, hole filler and captain with no armband. In short, the man other players really appreciate.

I must also mention John Stones who had another very impressive game. There is something about that lad that suggests star quality to me. At the other end of the age scale Distin just gets better and better and Stones can only learn from him on his dedication and fitness regime .

A good day out that started with optimism and ended in ‘Brown Over Bitter' Bliss. Sunderland next and a different set of circumstances, they are desperate for points so in the words of Roberto "The margins are small. But we have to find a way." You did it today, Lar... same again, please!

Here we go, Here we go, Here we go...
See you there!
UP THE BLUES.

Share this article

Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email
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


Andy McNabb
573 Posted 06/04/2014 at 23:00:16 Would have loved to be there, ken. Sounds fantastic.
On hol away from home so desperately trying to find highlights.
COYB!!
Mike Gaynes
580 Posted 06/04/2014 at 23:20:44 "Naismith calmly caressed the ball..."
"...Belgians showed they not only do they have wonderful chocolate-making abilities but also goal-making abilities..."

"...leader, orchestrator, director, hole filler and captain with no armband."

Ken, you are always the Grantland Rice of TW... but today, when our boys in blue created pure art for you to describe, you hit the heights.

What a wondrous day it must have been at Goodison. Thanks for sharing it with the faraway TV supporters.
Dick Fearon
589 Posted 06/04/2014 at 23:50:45 Ten years of pent up frustration went into that Goodison roar.
Add Your Comments

B. Charlton, Stiles....not sure about the other..

Nearly RF the answer is Ian Callaghan plus your 2 above.

Didnt play in the final but won a World Cup Winners medal (all England squad got one) plus obviously a European cup medal with liverpool.

Was in a mid week paper quiz.

Real teaser....cheers !..Goldfinger...I was thinking about subs...