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Villareal V Everton


rowlo-efc

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During the first leg, the performance of Everton showed the character that got them through the season past. They displayed the sheer determination and grunt that exposed and opened up so many teams in the 04/05 domestic season.

 

Unfortunately, they enter the second leg of this tie with a 2-1 deficit, meaning that the odds are stacked against them and yet again the blue half of Merseyside are seeing themselves as ‘the underdog’. But little expectation suits the blues and they always aim to raise their game to prove all doubters wrong. The first leg desperately showed Everton’s inexperience on the European stage, they struggled to play the free flowing game and as seems to be necessary in the champion’s league; they struggled to play the referee. The game at Goodison saw a bright start from the home team and they looked like an outfit that were going to take the competition by the horns – but it wasn’t to be. A guttering first goal by the visitors, against the run of play, hurt the blue boys. Some time after, the tempo was picked up again as James Beattie scored a very typical ‘British strikers goal’ – when he toe-poked from 6/7 yards out. To their dismay, Everton were immediately pinned back with a superb diving header that kept Villareal out in front. Later in the game, Moyes’ boys simply paid the Spaniards far too much respect and allowed the on-touch passages of play to prevail. Everton, in the second half of that game, really struggled to cope with the swift movement of a good European outfit and rarely had chance on the visitor’s goal.

 

Something tells us that it will be different during the return leg. The first game showed that Everton settled in front of the European referee as Villareal drew four yellow cards to Everton’s one. This match will be officiated by Collina – Italy’s and arguably the World’s best referee (certainly the most famous). The game looks set to be a battle of wits and courage, not skill. This game may well produce the latest in a line of Everton legends – and its there for the taking. The blues have come under heavy criticism recently from various media sources, for being over-rated and nothing more than a side that occasionally ‘gets lucky’.

Even after finishing 4th in the premiership, the doubters still seem to cast a dark cloud over Goodison park and are relentless in their bombardment of negative columns, articles and broadcasts suggesting that the Blues are still surrounded by the ‘bubble of good fortune’ and that it will, one day, burst.

 

The Villareal game will be the toughest challenge that the team has had to face yet, especially when trying to fight the deficit and ‘away’ goal rule. A 2-0 win is a must but is easier said than done. This tournament is a bonus and reward to the players and fans that endured the past season. It is nothing more but should not be wasted by a few lapse moments that lead to two stunning goals. To go out of the competition now would be gut wrenching but the fans and players have to remember that…. it is only a bonus competition for finishing fourth in the domestic league. It is the domestic achievement that the players, staff and fans of Everton have to proud of –finishing fourth is no easy task in what is deemed the hardest league in Europe.

 

Having little playing experience myself, it is difficult to comment upon the ‘way the match may turn out’, or to comment on head to head battles. I simply do not have enough expertise. But I can comment that Villareal (and possibly the rest of Europe) were over-estimated by Everton in the first leg and surely the respect and opinion of the players will die down in preparation of the second game. My opinion is that we will witness a more physical encounter in Spain that will allow for big Dunc’s aerial presence and Cahill’s occasional late midfield challenge. Yobo and Weir will be able to play the British game far more in Spain than they did at Goodison Park – Collina enjoys the physical battles and the scraps for the 50/50 balls. This game has all the hallmarks of a classic – lets hope that it goes in our favour and a few legends are born…

 

All that is left ot say is...COME ON YOU BLUES!

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it's definately another game for Duncan to add under his list of classics that we mean fans will still be talking about him in years to come. Ok, he has never done it week in week out due to injury, but when we have needed him he has been there and showed the forever doubting critics that here stands one of the best british styled centre forwards there has been. If he gets at them in the way in which he did against the mancs last season then it is game on. When he knows he has to do it, he does it. We need an early goal, stay tight at the back and hoepfully get something from a set piece

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Guest HorsinAround

'fraid its ........ bye bye!

 

So long

 

Bienvenue

 

Arrivadeci

 

Au Revior

 

Auf Wiedersehn

 

 

 

it was good while it lasted.......which was a fortnight!

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The Donkey wrote..........."it was good while it lasted.......which was a fortnight".

 

 

WRONG.... what we achieved will last until the end of the season, it says in the record books that Everton finished in 4th place, ahead of their local rivals who only finished 5th.

 

And until the end of season we are still top dogs, and if you dont finish ahead of us this time, we will still be top dogs.

 

Its a lot longer than a fortnight isnt it mate. :lol:

 

 

PS........great post Rowlo.

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Guest HorsinAround

So that's all youve got to look forward to is it.......record books? Statistics??

 

Where's the silverware?

 

tough choice to make....lemme see......finish 4th ahead of Everton or win Champions league again?

 

ummm tricky!!!

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So that's all youve got to look forward to is it.......record books? Statistics??

 

Where's the silverware?

 

tough choice to make....lemme see......finish 4th ahead of Everton or win Champions league again?

 

ummm  tricky!!!

 

WIN champions league? Or Cheat champions league - hmmm..can't quite make my mind up...

 

How come your in it this year?!? Oh - thats right, you didnt qualify through merit, you just cried and sent your dad round to uefa to sort it out.

 

Well...here is your BIG CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DUMMY - YOU CAN PUT IT BACK IN YOUR BIG GOBS AND SHUT THE FCUK UP ABOUT THAT FLUKY NIGHT IN ISTANBUL. YOU WILL NEVER EVER EVER DO IT AGAIN - YOUR SH!T AND YOU ARE GOING DOWN HILL FAST.

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