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...

England League Championship.

Home Away
P GD Pt Res Res
1 Burnley 34 +26 65
2 Hull City 33 +29 64 W1-0 L0-3
3 Middlesbrough 33 +26 64 19.04 L0-1
4 Brighton and Hove A 34 +15 63 D1-1 02.04
5 Derby County 34 +15 57 W4-1 D0-0
6 Sheffield Wednesday 34 +15 55 W3-1 D1-1
7 Cardiff City 34 +7 52 05.04 D2-2
8 Birmingham City 33 +7 51 D2-2 16.04
9 Ipswich Town 33 +1 51 D0-0 L0-2
10 Preston North End 34 +1 48 L0-2 23.04
11 Queens Park Rangers 34 +1 44 30.04 D0-0
12 Reading 33 +2 43 L1-2 D0-0
13 Wolverhampton Wndrs 34 -5 43 19.03 D0-0
14 Brentford 34 -6 43 W1-0 W3-1
15 Nottingham Forest 33 +2 42 W1-0 D1-1
16 Blackburn Rovers 33 +2 40 05.03 W1-0
17 Huddersfield Town 34 -2 39 W2-1 12.03
18 Leeds United 33 -9 38 09.04 D1-1
19 Bristol City 34 -22 37 W4-0 W2-1
20 Fulham 34 -5 36 W3-1 08.03
21 Milton Keynes Dons 34 -20 32 W2-1 W5-0
22 Rotherham United 34 -21 29 W2-0 W2-1
23 Bolton Wanderers 34 -24 25 W2-0 W2-1
24 Charlton Athletic 34 -35 25 W4-0 07.05

Burnley still top after 6 days, as a very generous club I expect we will give way later today and or on Friday.. just to keep things interesting.

.. Make that 7 days now.

Good result for you last night Stan, how Hull failed to score I don't know. Plus the wrong call by the ref on the penalty, he had a clear view as well.
2517

Sure was George, expected to be 3rd by this time.. surely Boro won't drop more points tonight against lowly Wolves will they?

I would have thought not, although you would hope so.

A sorry end to an era at Villa Park

By Paul Traill 02/03/2016 24 Comments [Jump to last]


Aston Villa 1 - 3 Everton

It's been apparent for some time now that Aston Villa will be relegated this season and as those of you who have been to Villa Park will testify, it's a belter of a stadium which combines the perfect mix of traditional values with enough modernisation to still stand as one of the top stadiums in the country. I was therefore made up to get a ticket for this one, our last trip to Villa Park in who knows how long? "The most played fixture in top flight football" said Gary as we purchased our matchday programmes from the vendor, "and after tonight it's all over".

It was just as well we went out with a bang then on a good away trip. I got out of work at about 4pm and made straight for Bromborough to pick up Gary and Sue. With the game kicking off at 7.45pm and with M6 rush hour to encounter, I anticipated arriving at about 7pm at the earliest, and so couldn't believe what a clear run we had as we parked up near the ground at about 6pm. We went straight into the second pub we saw, the Aston Tavern, and I was overjoyed when I enquired about if they sell food and was told that you get a free pork baguette on entry! It was no lame pork baguette either, complete with trimmings of stuffing and apple sauce. It was nice to sit back and wash it down with a beer or two before heading on to the Doug Ellis Stand.

On-route I picked up a flyer off a gentleman. "Support us, let's get our club back" he was yelling. Reading the flyer, it was apparant that a 74th minute walk-out was planned from the Aston Villa fans. The 74th minute representing their formation in 1874 in case you were wondering.

Into Villa Park then and Kevin Mirallas replaced Tom Cleverley in the only change form our win at Bournemouth. Niasse started from the substitutes bench. The Aston Villa team, though far from littered with talent, had Guzan, Clarke, Lescott, Hutton, Westwood, Ayew and Agbonlahor in their ranks. Surely enough experience in their to help them at least fight for their safety with more pride than they are doing. A sparse crowd of 29,755 shows how little faith their support now have also. "It's so empty how will we even know when they walk-out" quipped the on-form Gary.

On to proceedings on the pitch and we looked smart in white attacking the Holte End. We began brightly and were ahead in no time at all when an early corner from Kevin Mirallas was headed in by Funes Mori for his third league goal of the season. The marking was so neglected it was an easy header from our Argentine centre back who made no mistake.

Aston Villa rallied somewhat and Joel Robles had to be alert to make a couple of saves from distance, and just as they were beginning to get plucky, we put a dagger through their hearts with a breakaway goal. When Ross Barkley played the ball to Mirallas I thought there was too much on the pass, though the Belgian did well to take the ball on and cut it back for Aaron Lennon who finished well. Thirty minutes played and Everton 2-0 ahead. Aston Villa just going through the motions. "We're fucking rich" was sung by the travelling support. Nobody even bothered to sing "going down", far too desperate their situation is.

At 2-0 ahead Everton seemed content in sitting back and conserving their energy as Aston Villa had nothing to give. Romalu Lukaku, who looked more menacing than he has done for some time, came close with a header from an Aaron Lennon centre which Brad Guzan did well to save. You sensed a goal wasn't far away for Lukaku and it arrived moments later when ultimately from the resulting corner, Funes Mori put the ball back across the box for Lukaku to stab home from close range. 3-0 and it was a joy to see Lukaku pound the Everton badge on his chest as he celebrated in front of us.

With half an hour remaining the Aston Villa fans then found their voice and the team finally had a go. On 74 minutes several thousand did indeed walk out in protest against Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner. They missed a goal for their team in doing so when substitute Gestede out-jumped the lackadaisical substitute John Stones to grab a consolation for Aston Villa.

The hosts rallied from here and Phil Jagielka in particular remained resolute at the back whilst many of his team mates were sloppy with possession. Thankfully we withstood Villa's late efforts and in the end got over the line fairly comfortably...Niasse even afforded a few minutes on the pitch late on.

It took a little while to get away from the ground after the game, but once away, the M6 was plain-sailing and we got back home hassle free.

So hardly a vintage Everton performance though I'm pretty sure we took our foot off the gas at 2-0. I felt that if we really went for it we might have scored a few more but the three points are what matters, and it'll be interesting to see where we are in the league if we can overcome another team in claret and blue this coming Saturday.

Aston Villa a sorry sight though. I'll be sad to see them go.

Player ratings

Robles: Pretty helpless with the goal and saved what he had to. Suspect at crosses though in my opinion. He doesn't come for much at all. 6


Oviedo: Battled well. His ability isn't really in question but he's always prone to an injury, and it cost us when he went down injured and Villa scored whilst he was on the sideline getting treatment...with a cross from our left. Leighton Baines is far more consistent both in performance and availability. 6


Funes Mori: My man of the match. Did his job defensively and contributed in attack with a goal and an assist. 8


Jagielka: Kept them out and was particularly important as we dealt with some late, unexpected, pressure. 8


Coleman: Had a decent game getting forward until he was rested on 73 minutes. 7
Barry: Typically excellent against his former club. Perhaps his last performance at Villa Park. 8


McCarthy: Got about the pitch well. 7


Mirallas: Contributed well with two assists and also dug in with his defensive work. Has he done enough to stay in the team. 7


Lennon: Also contributed with great industry and another goal. Will surely remain in the team for the weekend. 7


Barkley: Had quite a positive game but when Ross switches off mentally...he REALLY switches off mentally. The last 10 minutes he was a total disaster. Luckily it didn't effect the outcome. 6


Lukaku: Looked the most up for it he has been for ages and he's now our record Premier League goalscorer in one season, and it's only just March. With six goals already against West Ham United in his Everton career, you wouldn't bet against him adding to that tally again this weekend. 7

Substitutes:
Stones (for Coleman): At fault for the goal but hopefully some minutes on the pitch will do him some good. 5
Baines (for Oviedo): Looked a little rusty. 5
Niasse (for Mirallas): Got involved. 6





Reader Comments (24)


I love Villa Park, partly because its been the scene of some of our most memorable games over the years, particularly FA and League Cup semis. But also because, as Paul says, of the great architectural mix. The external view of the Holte End is for my money one of the greatest sights in British football. Majestic and imposing. The red brick make up of the stadium reminds me much of GP before the ugly, now rusting, metal cladding was introduced to cover the original brick work (presumably to save a few bob on repointing).
How long it will be before Villa get back to the PL is anyone's guess. On Tuesday they looked more like a League 1 team than a Championship one.



Had a bad visit to Villa Park for the 1969 FA Cup semi-final, but after that, especially in the 80s, we experienced some of the great days in our Club's history.
It's a shame to see how they are now. They are proper club, I hope they get back soon.


Fine report Paul. Sad time for Villa fans. Hard to imagine them in the Championship but that's where they're heading and they'll do well to make the playoffs.
Agree with your Funes Mori and Lennon ratings but feel you've been very generous with the rest.

Baines looked far from rusty to me. Not seen him look so strong and sharp for quite some time. As for Barkley. You're dead right. His mind was elsewhere


The Villa story is such a sad one and it may take them some time to make it back to the top flight. However, they have experienced the lower leagues during my lifetime and came back to the top table.
Robles has been watching Howard too much, he does not come for any crosses and unless he rectifies this he is not the long term answer.


Tim Sherwood has to take a lot of the blame, Lerner gave him the money and wow, did he blow it.

Going for Burnley.....I bet to win...will probably lose....

RF puts money on Burnley Oh christ.. kiss of death I tell ya!

LOL!! Please don't bet on EFC RF, they have enough problems!

Too late guys.....I'm praying I'm not going to jinx it....

RF the reformed gambler.. I salute you -):

Burnley 1 Blackburn 0.

1 Burnley 35 19 11 5 54 27 13 3 2 34 12 6 8 3 20 15 +27 68
2 Middlesbrough 34 20 7 7 47 20 12 3 2 26 6 8 4 5 21 14 +27 67
3 Hull City 34 19 7 8 48 20 11 4 1 30 6 8 3 7 18 14 +28 64
4 Brighton aHA 35 17 13 5 49 34 12 2 3 27 15 5 11 2 22 19 +15 64
5 Derby County 35 16 12 7 47 30 9 6 3 27 13 7 6 4 20 17 +17 60
6 Sheffield Wsday 35 14 13 8 50 36 10 6 2 33 15 4 7 6 17 21 +14 55

How did your lot get on George?

Cant belıeve whats happenıng thıs season. Two wıns on Merseysıde.

Stan, very well thanks, cracking game. Results going your way atm.

A Wet Spam supporter eh CD?

Words fail me! West Ham have not beaten Everton at home for nine years.

Mirrallas stupid boy.

With 10 men Everton were brilliant. Lennon to use our esteemed Managers favourite word was PHENOMINAL!!

2-0 up with 12 minutes to go. Lukaku misses a penalty, should be fined for that!!!

You have to be some kind of genius to work out Roberto's logic. The one player who with his drive and enthusiasm was keeping West Ham's defence on their toes and literally stopping them from going forward LENNON was subbed. Unbelievable!!! for a second unproven centre forward posing as a mannequin out of Lewis's Niasse (who)?

Even Billic was having an orgasm applauding Lennon off the pitch! The rest is history. If I was our new 49% shareholder, I'd be thinking what the Fxxk have I done, give us a refund quick! Lose to Chelsea in the Cup next Saturday, first job put the Toffee Lady in charge of the team! Enough is enough. Nice guy Roberto, but he couldn't manage a hair salon! Phenomenal he is most definitely not!

Everton v West Ham game of the day on Sky. I don't know whether to laugh or cry :0) :0(

Season so far has exceeded anythıng I expected. Normally just make up the numbers.

An open letter to Roberto

Dear Roberto,

I am writing this on a crowded train, on my long, weary way home from Goodison Park, where I have just watched Everton lose yet again on their own turf, this time 3-2 to West Ham. Like so many of Everton’s games this season, it was a cracker for the neutrals. But I’m not a neutral.

It will take me three hours to get home. But that’s nothing compared with the two Blues I shared a cab with on the way to the ground from Lime Street. They had come from Norway. And even that is a hop compared with the lad whose taxi I shared on the way back to Lime Street. He had travelled all the way from New York City, just for two days, just for the game.

Of course, that’s the gamble one takes as a football fan. I understand that. And I don’t doubt that you and the players are hurting after squandering yet another commanding lead. But I do hope you might spare a thought for all those who make such a huge investment of time and money to come and see you, week after week. And whose pay-off is a string of painful home defeats.

Now, having said all that, let me add that I like the cut of your jib, Roberto. I think you’re a decent, honourable man, and you understand what it means to follow Everton. Everyone thinks their club is unique, but only Evertonians know that theirs really is. You seem to get that. Moreover, you have added flair to the solidity David Moyes brought. You do get your teams playing entertaining football. I appreciate that.

But I think now is the time to look into your soul, to discover whether you are a man of humility. Because if you are, you will surely accept that defeats such as today’s are down to nobody but you. It was disingenuous of you, perhaps even cowardly, to say that big Rom’s missed penalty – ghastly as it was – was the main reason we lost this afternoon. Players do miss pens. It happens.

However, what I can’t remember happening in my 45 years as a diehard Everton fan is seeing a team so repeatedly and catastrophically incapable of protecting a lead. And that has to be your fault. I watched today’s game, and then discussed it afterwards, in the company of several distinguished ex-pros. I won’t name them because I wouldn’t want to embarrass them. But like me, they were flabbergasted when you replaced Lennon with Niasse.

Like me, and I should think virtually everyone in the stadium, they could see that if Lennon had to come off at all (arguable, given how well he was playing, and how hard he works) then the situation – 2-0 up but a player down – screamed for someone with the experience and defensive instincts to guard our advantage. Barry, in other words. Or even Osman. Not a striker new to the Premier League (who, by the way, looked thoroughly out of his depth from the moment he came on).

I imagine you’d counter that attack is the best form of defence, that Niasse’s job was to hold the ball up, that closing a game down smacks of negativity (which you hate). And you have other arguments in your locker. You can point to your extensive coaching qualifications, to your FA Cup winner’s medal with lowly Wigan, to the fact that you see the players every day in training, and we don’t.

But don’t let any of that blind you to what is glaringly obvious to everyone who loves Everton perhaps even more than you do. There is no shame in protecting a lead. It is just as much of a footballing art as establishing a lead. But, manifestly, you don’t know how to do it, how to re-organise your personnel, how to make match-saving substitutions. So please, be humble. Find someone who can teach you, and do it soon, for your own benefit as much as the club’s.

Otherwise you will never be the success in management that you plainly aspire to be, unless of course you become the manager of a convenience store. You’ll be great at that, because you never shut up shop. Joking aside, though, you might find that as new investors lead Everton towards a brave new world, you’re not part of the advance.

With best wishes,

Brian

Comments :-
I think I know the guys you refer to Brian - distinguished indeed they are!

I have just got home after a 270 mile drive ( reading your fine book about the side of the 70s on the coach) and echo your views. We played really well until the substitution after which they had far too much time on the ball. Niasse ,contrary to what he said when he arrived at Goodison, didn’t work at all let alone work hard! One midfielder down already we were swamped and the defence which had looked decent up till then capitulated.
Guys who have supported Roberto are on the turn now and when you look at our home record over the last two seasons you can see why. A day at the match costs a lot in terms of cash, time and brownie points with the wife and for the regulars who have seen only 4 wins but a dreadful seven losses this season we are reaching a point where something has to give. My day at the match took up 16 hours so I can imagine the disappointment of the guys to whom you have referred- they came an awful long way at a heavy cost to watch something which promised much and then fell desperately flat.

Does Roberto realise that this has to stop or is he the stubborn individual who so many ToffeeWebbers believe is too intransigent to change. The problem is of course that Lukaku will not hang around a mid table side and we need him to stay. I suspect Chelsea next week is the crucial moment- win and we can smell the silverware. Lose and the season will be seen as a disaster .



Brian there comes a point where the kind of courtesy you have displayed here starts displaying the core features of Neville Chamberlain's appeasment policies. Sorry but Martinez has now, other than with an extremely small number of individuals, campletely lost the fanbase. It is only going to get a lot nastier and vicious from this moment on and the sooner this guy vanishes the better. All talk from supporters from this point on should be aimed at getting the Everton management to stand up and recognise the obvious. Everybody without exception I talked to on the way back from this catastrophic exhibition seemed to to understand that he turning point has been reached.

Nice piece, Brian. I agree with Ron; we have to show some of the ruthlessness that the unmentionables over the road show in these situations, indeed would have shown a long while ago.
We are always soft but if we do not act now to relieve RM of his duties then we will rue it. Waiting till the season ends is pointless because he will not change, not ever. Winning the FA Cup - highly improbable in my view - should make no difference either. This decent man (as far as I can tell) is not competent in his job. It is no kindness to anyone to prolong the inevitable.

Brian. I hope you put a first class stamp on that letter and post it to RM. I doubt he'll be logging on to ToffeeWeb this evening. Top marks to all EFC fans who travel so far to watch the games. You all deserve so much better.
Ron - I agree with you. The line has been crossed. There is real anger brewing. As I said on another thread, winning the cup will not change my views about RM. He has to go. Tottenham and Leicester are no better than us man for man. What they have got is good management. It's not rocket science to figure that one out.

Down to 10 men , winning position , I have NEVER seen a manager bring another attacking player on . The situation screams for a wise defensive minded player who can organise the team . It's so simple Lukaku " Sorry lad but that was an awful pen, early bath for you " , "Gareth get on and sort it out ".
Words cannot express how I feel and how it's ruined my day , silly really but non the less true.
Bobby you haven't got a clue , nice bloke but please do one.


There have been a few open letters to Roberto this season and they always lead me to wonder, if they were actually sent, how would he respond? I've now decided: probably via a recorded message complete with Mission Impossible style warning saying 'this tape will randomly self destruct at some stage during the second half'.
Brian, I feel your frustration and this season has long since become another arduous slog. Our home form has been nothing short of a disgrace and the hard luck stories should no longer wash with anyone.

Martınez- I thought wıth better players than he had at Wıgan. He would ımprove defensıvely.