NORWICH MATCH REPORT

For probably the fourth time this season and were not even half way yet, Everton failed to take all 3 points against a side you have to be taking maximum points off if you have aspirations of a top half finish, never mind European football. Although we managed to impose ourselves against Norwich throughout and clearly look the better side, our stark impotence up top is continuing to hinder the team in its most winnable fixtures. Until a late late show of old fashioned centre forwarding from Denis Straqulursi and an injection of pace, purpose and power from recently benched Royston Drenthe, Norwich didnt look the slightest bit arsed.

 Zack Whitbread, look in the dictionary under ''Hank'' etc etc

In truth, ex Everton keeper John Ruddy, who looks quite a prospect these days, he's no Jan Mucha like, had a very good day and the players can be excused in the main for what can in the most part be deemed a slight improvement on previous home performances. The Norwich goal came from Grant Holt criminally being allowed to swivel in front of John Heitinga and slot nonchalantly at the back post.



Osman certainly looked a lot brighter than he has recently, his tireless probing and link play was a lot more like what we've come to expect from him. Phil Neville and Tony Hibbert both put a terrific shifts in also. It was two other of 'Moyes favourites' that left you more concerned. Tim Cahill in particular had another painfully laborious afternoon and his substitution with around half an hour to go had a very un-Moyes watershed feel about it. I couldn't see from the park end but it is said that he stormed down the tunnel and wasnt happy about this at all.



You do feel he just needs a goal, but the timing with just 60 minutes on the clock and the fact that Straqualursi, a player almost openly laughed at by some dickheads, probably the same ones who implore Tony Hibbert to ''SHOOOOOT'' when in his own half, came on and made a big difference in getting our equaliser, this may see an upturn or downturn in his performances. You would fully expect Cahill to bounce back somehow and if he did throw a hissy fit, to approach Moyes professionally and apologise, that's the type of player he is, either way though he is currently better out of the side than in it. Which is just as bad for Everton as it is for himself.



Now onto Louis Saha. The lad (and the manager) cant help him being the single most gifted centre forward at the club and having to start most weeks. But having to rely on this steam souled gallic shrug puller to get you through a striking crisis is akin to going into a fight to the death Light Sabre duel versus Darth Vader clutching single strand of raw Linguine. The lazy apthetic fart. God speed January and the arrival of our Landon.



Royston Drenthe came on with 19 minutes to go and within that time he not only pulled the team out the shite, but he managed to do what the entire team hasnt managed to do before the kick off for almost 200 minutes. Have a fucking go. You can see he's a bit of a ''charecter'' and possibly even a bit of a wacky tit at times. But fuck me if David Moyes and his press gang release any more statements about his work rate or even leave him on the bench for fear of him ''not doing his defensive duties'' they can basically just fuck off for good. The equaliser coming from a deft Osman tap in from one of the dutchmans run and shots was a huge relief and a clear indication of everything that this team lacks. His carbon copy a few minutes later that John Ruddy and his forearms knew almost fuck all as it wobbled in the air after being categorically ''webbed'' was not only very unlucky not to go in, but served as a clear slap in the face to people who have doubted him so far.

Unfortunately the winner wasnt to come, but you couldnt fault most of the players effort for trying to find one and there were some positives to take from the game, in the main that we were distinctly more dangerous with two centre forwards on the pitch at home and that that little dutch lad is a bit handy. How long will/can this be ignored?

Swansea up next midweek, who concede fuck all at home, but are known to ship in all kinds in when away.

Yikes! Up the Toffees.