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...

From My Seat: Chelsea (H)
By Ken Buckley 30/08/2014 Comments (24) jump
More recent articles

Defensive Frailties Leave Martinez Searching for Answers
From My Seat: Chelsea (H)
Dreadful start sees fightback become a whitewash
Memory Lane - Chelsea (H)
The Ghost of David Moyes
Another Draw Snatched From the Jaws of Victory
Back for another tea-time kick-off, wondering: Where did that week go? It was helped along well with the announcement of the signing of Eto’o which took up a fair amount of the time in the Room of Nonsense. Most were for... but some good arguments against too. My view being: Make no judgement until around Christmas time... and by then, barring injury, we will have more idea if he will be Gough and Martyn or Ginola and Gazza. If the former, we will be well in. The teams arrived on mobile screens and Eto’o on the bench; apart from McGeady being in most were happy. I didn’t quite understand the anti-McGeady bit; when you looked at it more closely, with Pienaar injured and Atsu ineligible, who else have we got to go wide?

The walk up was wet but crowded, with all food outlets doing very well, most fans opting for something with chips for their evening meal which ensured overflowing paper bins... but at least fans did try to use them even after they were full. Roberto looked down upon us from his perch on the main stand as we made our way to our turnstile; his Spanish motto, when translated, says something about "no fear" — but it said nothing about the fear felt after shipping two goals in the first three minutes and then witnessing a humdinger of a game that thrills neutrals and fans of the WINNERS yet, at the same time, leaving the losers to still have some optimism after a thrashing to the tune of ‘ship 6 – score 3’.

It was just that sort of game that will provoke anger from both managers at the sloppy defending but eulogising the creation of goals. If you were lucky enough to be in the ground today, I can safely say you won’t see many games like that as fans roared and roared and the whole place was a bear pit as we witnessed comeback goals that were quickly nullified, one after another, until the bitter end. Making sense of it was not straight forward as both teams demonstrated that they both could enjoy success; yet both had the capacity to blow chances.

The game started with Chelsea kicking off and they set up a move that cut through our midfield and defence and netted without one of our players getting a touch of the ball. It seemed so simple as Fabregas SLOTTED a fine ball through to Costa who finished with some aplomb. Our lads appealed for offside but ref and lino said "Goal." A goal down in the first minute is a blow but two down within three minutes is a horror story... but that is what happened as Ramires made a trademark burst, played in the right back Ivanovic, who slotted. Even more howls for offside but officials unmoved: 0-2.

"Could we be on for an embarrassment?" was the worrying thought and, on the 10-minute mark, more madness – this time from Tim Howard who clearly stepped out of his area to gather a ball from Fabregas that had Costa on its tail at speed. But he jumped back into his area at scalded cat pace and brought no retribution from the officials. One lucky man.

We then seemed to get a grip of ourselves and started playing as we should have from the start. We did outplay Chelsea for periods of time and, after good WORK FROM Baines, Mirallas switched play to McGeady who headed at pace for the by-line and forced a corner. Lukaku met it with a solid header and struck the bar, from which the ball bounced down for Distin to bundle home only for the celebrations to die away as the lino’s flag signalled offside.

We continued to have the better of the half and were rewarded just before the break when some excellent head tennis saw Coleman head back and across to Mirallas who deftly glanced home leaving us more than a glimmer of hope for a second half come-back.

The second half started with us kicking off, so no chance of us conceding without touching the ball, but defensively we had learned nothing from the first knockings when Costa broke again; but for an outstretched leg of our keeper, 3-1 it would have been. Chelsea kept breaking on us but we just didn’t seem to learn lessons and this came home to roost after the hour mark.

Apart from a ropy opening, we had been getting the better of Chelsea and confidence was certainly growing in the crowd but then the defence was caught napping again as Hazard was fed near the by-line in front of the Park End and allowed to make ground along the by-line and send a low one across goal that was diverted past Howard and into the corner. What a bummer, playing well and giving that away.

The Chelsea players celebrated and I don’t what Costa did to prompt it but Howard lost it and charged at him and had to be pulled away. Yellow card only – lucky man as, at this point, he could have been sent off twice. The defence must take all the blame for that.

The attack on the other hand had no inclination to throw the towel in and went once more in controlled fashion for a chance to reduce the deficit; within two minutes, Naismith was played in and he made good ground leaving players in his wake and left the Chelsea keeper helpless. Cue the Goodison Roar, bear pit recreated, could we get the draw?

Well, just five minutes later, we got our answer, not likely as Matic shot and netted. Down and out, it seemed... but Eto’o had replaced McGeady on 70 mins and now, on 76 mins, he was heading home a well flighted Baines free kick for a debut goal. 4-3. Could we...???

Well four sides of the ground thought so and roared at deafening levels and this scoring fest was not yet over but, instead of us making it all square at 4-4, no-one seemed to want to close down a Chelsea attack and Ramires was allowed free passage on goal and his shot left Howard helpless. 5-3 down and I got the feeling that fans and players alike just knew that that was it.

The ground started to empty but those of us left did get to see Besic make his debut on 89 mins. It had been suggested that he had been kept on the bench to see and get used to how we play... well, he was a quick learner as he gave away goal number six by, without looking, back-heeling one slowly into the path of Costa who does not look gift horses in the mouth; he went around an Everton defender and the keeper and SLOTTED.

Five mins of added time that meant nothing and then the final whistle. Many of us did stay and clap the team off as at least we had seen them put good effort in and entertain us for long spells with good joined-up stuff. It’s the leaking of goals that does not go down too well.

MotM --- Naismith

Overall, despite the result, a cracking match to watch with some good and poor displays on view. Eto’o made his debut and, from his cameo, I saw enough to suggest he may be an astute acquisition... but time will tell. Coming out of the ground no-one seemed to have a kind word for our centre-backs with Jags getting the lion's share; whilst I acknowledge they were not at their best, I have to say that the way we are playing this season seems to leave them exposed more than they should be. But that is just my view; it’s the job of the manager and his staff to look into the problem... but it must be addressed as shipping ten goals in three matches does not bode well for the season.

A fortnight off now as it's international time again; then West Brom away... then, five days later, our first Europa League game; then three days until Palace at home. It is said every successful team has been built from the back; we seem to have built from the front. I hope it is sorted by the time hostilities recommence.

Still, onward and upward. See you at the Hawthorns. Three goals and a CLEAN sheet for us will work wonders for fans and players alike.

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


Derek Thomas
1 Posted 31/08/2014 at 01:38:20
Well summed up as usual Ken...Where do you begin? well you can't give teams a 2 goal start, especially one of Chelsea's class.

Only 2 of their goals were of the wtf nature the rest were well worked and 9 times out of 10 would've been scored, no matter who the opposition was. There were 'Offside' goals, but so was Naismith last week, there was a goal disallowed for us, there were 3 deflections that could've gone anywhere, but only Coleman's counted, we hit the post twice

They some how contrived not to lose it and We, in our own shoot our selves in the foot trademark way, contrived not to win it

It is easy to blame Jags and Distin and blame them only, but this is a collective guilt and just as the credit always seems to go up the blame should always go down...So come on down Roberto Martinez... but bring the rest of the crew, both playing and none playing with you.

Is this just part of the Everton Roller-coaster. Well we've had plenty of poor starts before. I don't expect an 11hr triple LOANcoup like last season and I'm not sure we have the money or time to replace or shore up the middle 2, even if you allow that they are all of the problem

It's too early ( by two or 3 seasons ) to start with the MOB Mk II, but things need to change for the better. It just struck me, is this just the Martinez equivalent of Moyes finishing 17th

Sort it Roberto and quick...3-6 is a bit too much with the no fear, even if we had ended up with anything from 2-3 to 5-5 we would be consoling our selves with 'Everton in 5,6,7,8,9,10 goal thriller' headlines. This would just be papering over the cracks

As always with Everton, there are more questions than answers. I would look for a cat to kick, but it's not the cat's fault

Jim Harrison
2 Posted 31/08/2014 at 03:42:44 Great report as always Ken. I always appreciate your lack of hyperbole or knee jerk reaction.
What a game! The result sucks, but some parts of that match were utterly breathless.

McGeady played well for me, looking much more comfortable, Naismith again proved he is a very good player who isn't scared to put himself about.

Peter Creer
3 Posted 31/08/2014 at 04:39:10 Thanks Ken for another great tale of the day. Here in Canada it was a midday start and before I had settled in we were two goals down. It was the way the day would play out...over and over....and over. After Mirallas got us back in it before the break we started the second half on the front foot and looked like we were going to get something from the game.
Unfortunately, it wasn't to be as we were sliced open time and time again with Jags and Distin not looking like they knew what they were doing and frequently looking like they were several steps off the pace. Stones may be young but when he plays he is composed on the ball and that is what is needed. 10 goals in three games.....not good enough.

As you said, we have been building from the front in this transfer window.....now lets close the window by getting someone who can help close the door!!!!

A long season ahead and there is much to be won.

The problem I have with British soccer in general is that : when a player gets the ball, that person does not or most of the time does not react very sharply upon reception and turn away not giving any indication of the direction that player is taking....it's all too slow as it is.....afterwards when the player has the ball....afterwards, if he has a few metres space he can slow down.....just look at Gazza, Keegan, Francis, Dalglish, Rush, Best, Law, .....they are very alert to the proximity of opposing players.....this is something trainers should teach the young....this alertness should go on regardless of whether they can see the incoming opposition approaching or not.....the Spanish are way ahead of us in this regard....

STAN STAN STAN..........

Done deal. RT @BurnleyOfficial: CONFIRMED: Burnley is delighted to announce the signing of George Boyd

Balotelli, albeit with some inaccuracy to his shooting and passing skills, seems to have settled into the team quite well.

Rodgers discussed man marking for 'opposition's corners' with the new member of the squad.....

Balotelli: "I don't do man marking at corners."
Rodgers: "You do now."

A bargain? Undoubtedly!

Now settle down and watch Liverpool win the Premier League this season.

Think you'll be walking alone on that one Exec :0)

Man Us Anderson to Burnley is the latest gossip.

60 grand a week wages.

Please please...........Burnley take him.

Louis van Gaal is having a medical at Man U after spending £350k a week on Falcao's wages.

I heard Falcao's wages were going to be £280k per week (Mail) and therefore Van God didn't need a medical.

Metro: £350k per week
Express: £300k per week

Whatever. Sheesh!

When we take the dog for a walk on Wednesdays and Fridays we see about three lots of 15-20 kids, aged between 4 and 14, all doing football training.

We often stop for a while to watch them; the 4 - 6yr olds, that is. Their skills are truly amazing! Most of these little tots can receive a ball and, whilst keeping possession, easily 'do a 360' and turn on the spot with it before passing it on!!!!!

Daft thing about this Falcao weekly wage is that, ROONEY as a clause in his contract (last time he bribed us)that says he has to be the highest earner at the club on a weekly basis.

So were just not paying over the top for Falcao but paying WAY WAY WAY too much money for fatty Rooney.

Georgie must be turning in his grave, whilst drinking a whiskey chaser.

Oi Stan , Keane was coming to us at one point on loan for the season but we wouldn't guarantee him a regular starting place. After seeing him against MK Dons your welcome to him he's crap IMO.

Man U need 2 centre halves and they spend stupid money on positions already we'll covered.

Gaal gone by end of season and Man U to finish lower than Burnley :)

England were sh*te tonight , all those overpaid players to choose from and it takes a penalty to beat Norway at home !

And to make it worse our Mats Daehli got stretchered off in a bloody pointless and uneeded friendly.

Was probably the best player on the pitch up until he was injured.

Good business by Manchester United, including two world class players. Also good to see the papers and twitter resorting to page upon page of BS - back in control re briefings. Wages, make up a figure and print it - a speciality of the journos at the Daily Star, Mail, Mirror, Metro, and ITKs. The MK Dons game was media masturbation at its finest - the jumble of a few first teamers, those about to leave, plus fit and recovering U-21s was the post transfer window first team.

Can see a problem re CBs in a 3 - they seem incapable of bringing the ball out - but not in a 4 - Rafael, Jones/Smalling/Evans, Rojo, Shaw.

LvG seems to be waiting for Strootman; can he come back, then can a deal be done?

Sounds like I didn't miss anything watching Germany v Argentina instead of England.

Cheers,
KidA

Dil is spot on England were shite last night, havent a clue headless chickens as usual.

But come on lets be fair now, did we really expect anything more??, I certainly didnt.

And Rooney, useless, made his peanalty to be out a match winning performance.
Hes over the top, hes gone.

AND Hodgson defending that rubbish SACK him.

The press were right just 2 shots on target.

The only comfourt I got from the night was Di Marios performance against the Germans, trully brilliant and World Class, some doubted his fee, but after that no chance, he played like a genious.

In the mid-70's (when he was a mere school boy, I hasten to add), my husband used to go and watch his local team, Carshalton Athletic, play. Their player manager at the time was a certain Mr Roy Hodgson.

My husband seems to think he was crap then too.

Boring, but nice football managers tend to produce boring, useless football teams. :-)

His defending of the England performance at the after match press conference was pathetic.

His days are numbered.

Poisoned Chalice Dil, who else would want that job.

Give it to Malky :)

Hodgson is being supported with his England management by Gary Neville. I do like to watch and listen to what Gary has to say and think he talks a lot of sense.

IMHO, one of the main problems with players in both the Englan Team and also that of Manchester United, is to do with poor passing. This stuff is utterly basic!

Both teams are full of prima donnas who want to keep their possession in the team by 'showing off their skills and thereby makijng a name for themselves'.

Wrong!

Get the basic skills right.
Keep your positions.
Maintain structured and organised Defence and Attack.
Use and develop 'football know how' - and then
Look carefully for opportunities - but don't carelessly waste them.
Remember you are part of a team - and that you can't lose or win the match on your own. If the team do well - then you do well.
Practice, practice and practice again and again and again.
Practice each and all of any football aspect you can think of. Dead balls, dribbling, passing, penalties, free kicks, swerving the ball, tricks, heading, accuracy, etc, etc.

Hey! It's not easy but at least show us, the spectators, that you are actually good enough to be paid the massive amounts of money you earn each week.

Hell! Let's just take penalties and passing: Most of the players in both teams above are utterly crap!

eg, At least Rooney can take a penalty and a free kick. Can he pass? No he has the eye and the intent but he loses possession of the ball frequently several times during the average game.