With the returning Tim Cahill rested and left on the bench the first half took a bit of time to get going, the likes of Saha, Bilyaletdinov and Fellaini all enjoying a lot of the ball and making it difficult for Blackpool to get out their own half most the time, when they do come at you though, they are entirely fearless. With about 20 minutes gone, Everton went ahead in impressive fashion, Bilyaletdinov, getting a good run of games now, ran purposefully at a couple of Blackpool players in the corner of the bullens rd/park end, ok, ok, it could be said these fellas were not world class defenders, but you can only beat whats put in front of you, and beat him they did, pinpoint ball into an in the mood Saha, 1-0.
A large following from the Lancashire coastal town came to Merseyside, were in full voice and impressively managed to refrain from the increasingly tiresome ''sign on'' repertoire of anti scouse bile from 90% of away fans coming to the old lady these days. One thing you absolutely cannot do against Blackpool is take them lightly and in true Everton comedic fashion, some blues crazily giving Charlie Adam an all manner of bizarre abuse in the corner of Glawdys street as he lined up a corner, probably for not signing for Liverpool in the transfer window or summink?...anyway he fizzed one in low and as the baying Glawddy ninjas were all going ''AAHHHH'' for spooning it, Baptiste somehow managed to get a touch on it, say thanks to his mate Charlie Adam, both of them laugh at a few bile spitting lids and subsequently level things. Beacon cheeks..
With Saha in particular looking as in the mood as he ever has done in his Everton career, he managed to get on the end of and slot a classic Seamus Coleman tenacious, barging run and cut back, to what everybody thought was Everton getting themselves in front again, apart from Mr Friend(no, me neither) that is, who decided to call the game back for the foul on Coleman, oh and not give their player a card for the shirt pulling. Anyway he held his hands up for it at half time and was good enough to apologise to Moyes. ''FWWWIIEEEEEENNND''.
The second half was categorically bonkers. Everton were knocking the ball about with impunity on one of the wettest 90 minutes seen at Goodison ages, getting themselves ahead early on through a brilliant Baines cross to Saha, textbook. With Fellaini again looking embarrassingly brilliant every time he touched the ball, continually swatting Mosquito like Blackpool players away from him, a bit like a lazy, overweight, feckless, Mexican*.
Weirdly though, with us wasting the odd free kick, which Arteta should be banned from forthwith, his success ratio must be getting similar to Alan Stubbs now. Blackpool broke away from the fumbling Distain in their own half, with Blackpools debutant's Puncheon and Beattie combining well with DeeJay Campbell to somehow level things. Eh, Wossallthissthen? Literally two minutes later, Everton were ominously staring down the barrel of another disappointing home defeat, as a jubilant Charlie Adam nodded in from close range, after our hardman(stop laughing) Johnny 'H BOMB' Heitinga shat out of a fifty fifty ball with James 'Great set of Tagues' Beattie. Shite, shit and sugar.
As much of a ballache it is to let 3 goals in at home to Blackpool, you never for one minute thought there wouldn't be more goals in this game. And there was, 3 of the friggers as it happens. Moyes probably panicking at this stage, changing things round a bit and threw on Cahill and Beckford for Rodwell and Bily. It really did the trick too. Everton forced the issue through good possession football and even though they looked vulnerable to the counter attack(who would against these?) never really looked back from there.
Credit where its due, the true enigma that is Louis Saha completed his hat rick and nodded the blues level after more good work from Baines, when the lad fancies it, some of the best defenders in the world cant cope with his ability and technique, that's just it though, its never ever anything other than his terms and yes this was Blackpool but even so, he was brilliant and never stopped all afternoon.
With Saha more than occupying the physical approach employed by Blackpools defenders all afternoon, Baines lofted an inviting ball over the top for Beckford to get on the end of, and did he. After coming on he fluffed a couple of basic passes and touches, to the usual chagrin of some sections of the crowd. You just know with this lad though, as frustrating as he can be and untidy as he can look, he keeps going and is a born goal scorer and will always get you one. Bedlam understandably ensued as Everton again took control in this thriller and a drenched goodison park looked on to a real feast of a football match.
All was left was for Saha to be released exquisitely be Fellaini and bag his fourth and to lap up the adoration from supporters that love him and frustrate them in equal measure. How many Everton players do you know who've scored four in a top flight league game? I don't care how old you are, ''not many'' is probably most Evertonians answer.
Bolton up next. Come on toffeemen, confidence booster before we...*ahem*....knock Chelsea out the FA Cup.
* I wasn't being racist up there, oh no, i was satirically pointing the finger at fatties who drive Mondeos.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2011/feb/05/top-gear-offensive-steve-coogan
No comments:
Post a Comment