Everton disaster

Another tough game for the lads. When you line up with Nev and Cars centrally, you know that there is not a lot of attacking intent. The Yak was out of sorts and overall we got dominated in the first half. Gerrard, Lucas and Babel should have put them up 3-0 easy in the first half. As Arteta slipped inside, better possession occurred in the second half, but really we never threatened the penalty areas except an Osman header just wide. If Gerrard had played like this for England, they would be amazing.

I am pretty upset that we showed not enough drive and had no subs to use. Baines did well when he came on, but Hibbert is nicht so gut! He has to be on the bench. I know we need to build a squad, but I would rather have Lescott right and Baines or Valente on the left to give us better balance. Everton needs a couple good results against the Brummies and Derby to lock in a fourth spot and Euro football next year. I just don't know how we can accomplish this without a second striker. Get better soon AJ!

Anxious for Everton

So scared right now. I have that feeling like before the SuperBowl this year. A little confident, but more than a little scared. This derby, while I don't think will define our season is key. Although we are firmly established as a top 6 team, there is a pressing need to get into top 4 and challenge Europe. Portsmouth is doing well and making a late run at it while Villa and Blackburn have really fallen off. I still feel we are not going to have the legs to do that this year but a good result tomorrow against the Pool is key. The loss of Tim Cahill is key because noone in the Premier League plays that late running midfielder as well as he does. Tomorrow's lineup should look like this:
Howard- Lescott, Yobo, Jags, Neville- Carsley, Ossie, Fernandes, Arteta, Pienaar- Yak. looks good to me, but I see this being a very tight game throughout the match and hopefully AJ comes in late to shake it up for us. The only wrinkle is that if Pienaar can't go that Victor starts up high with Yak and we really push from the get go. GO BLUES!

Premier League Title Race

We were treated to two amazing games on Sunday. In the first, typical Liverpool showing no attacking invention except two shots by Alonso and Gerrard. Rooney was a force in this game and skinned Caragher repeatedly. Rooney should have had a penalty and really if not for a couple key (bizarre) saves by Reina, this game could have been done before the red card. Mascherano and these other players know that is a ref says enough, it is the same in any language. On the replay, the card looks harsh, but who knows what was said to ref Bennett before that moment. He could have already been on his last warning. I am the last person who wants referees to get away without criticism, but imagine being surrounded at your job, berated and sworn at until you had to do something to relieve the tension. As mentioned in a previous post, I felt Cole should have been sent off last week and he continues this week with his shenanigans. The refs need to be FOR the players, but the players need to understand they get assessed as well. if this is not working, then we need more past players to pick up the whistle and help. ManU then tore a strip off of Liverpool which was very enjoyable to watch as a whole, but will fire up the Reds for our big Derby next weekend.

In the big Chelsea win, Drogba was amazing after a lackluster first half and the introduction of Anelka and Belletti changed the game. Essien is a totally different player in the middle and I think the Lampard was the worst player for Chelsea on the pitch while Terry and Drogba were immense. Essien, Ballack, Cole and SWP or Malouda would allow for Anelka and Drogba to pair up, which could be a very scary combination with pace and power. Applause for the The Grinch (Grant) who pulls off a big win. It looks like Chelsea should now hold onto second with Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton rounding out the top 5.

Everton Player Breakdown

Always wanted to run through Everton's lineup and have my say on the season and upcoming and what they should do with players.

Stars
Arteta- So glad they resigned him. The creativity on the right and ability to draw FK is amazing. Has not scored near enough this year and would like to see him more forward and less defending.
Lescott- What a player, scores, defends, gets forward, how is he not past Ashley Cole on the England depth Chart, see next blog.
Cahill- Adds another dimension to the team, passion and has amazing springs. If we continue 4-4-1-1 that is his spot and hopefully we will convert Vaughan to a winger for playing time.
Yak-I add him here because of what he could be and that is a devastating striker. He has great control, good 1v1 and is an above average passer of the ball. He has a great partnership with Pienaar especially and brings all players into the game. His shooting is subpar for a top striker, but he finishes breakaways and in the box. I feel like AJ could play there, but not if we are playing to feet, then he becomes waste. With more consistency, he can be even better, but he is still a stud.
When any of these four players are out, plus Carsley, we struggle.

Top Players
Yobo- So solid, only remember two big mistakes this year.
Howard- breakthrough year for him, been very consistent and except for the Arsenal thrashing he has been great and made timely saves. No more lobs like last year.
AJ-Can perform at this level as he showed last year. A full year with Yak would be good and with these four strikers we can have impact in all competitions.
Jagielka- Solid defender and could see him being a backup for England. His timing has been superd through the second half of the year.

Going to break through
Anichebe/ Vaughan- Love both these players and could be a combo for the future but I am sure one will get raided by a big club and then break down ala Frannie Jeffers.
Leighton Baines- He is a strong player defending and above average going forward, he was in the England Squad.

Squad
Pienaar- Great one touch player but does a lot of careless thing such as tackle backwards. Worth signing for $3.5 million.
Carsley- Seem to lose our shape without him. This has been his best year, but he is still prone to some gaffes. He has gotten much better on the ball this year, probably a good run in the squad has done him well.
Neville-Long had I hated him, but he is a top pro (read average player that says the right things and trains hard) plays hard for the squad and I think should be starting right back.
Hibbert- I guess we need a third choice right back, but I would feel better without him, love to see a big signing there.
Valente- Good backup leftback, get forward well.
Ossie-Love his guile and creativity, fits in well with this squad, but not a star midfielder iun this league.
Fernandes- Gotta keep him for depth. I think from what I have seen he can make a mark.
Wessels- Seems like a god quality backup and squad keeper. Be interesting to see when the young lads come up.

?
Rodwell- No idea yet.
Anthony Gardner- squad defender
Young players- I have not seen anything of the lads this year and hope we have some quality coming through in the midfield.

Need to add: Right back, Class CM, LW- unless these players are coming through the ranks. Lets give them a run.

Need to go
Gravesen- I like him as a player, but we need someone else
Vandermeyde- Time to get $500,000 for him in Spain

Aston Villa v Everton

New Interesting Soccer blog
http://www.caughtoffside.com/tags/premier-league/everton

Sigma Chi Capital Campaigns

Searching through some capital campaigns I found a great deal of excellent material. While we have decided to not go with a company, Tony and I will be running the campaign. We are very excited and I think the brothers are happier seeing some money go to people who are very committed to the cause. Here are a couple of great Sig sites. I found tonnes more, but this was our starting block:

http://www.stanfordsigs.com/CapitalCampaign.htm
http://www.bradleysig.org/publications/campaign/Campaign%20Brochure.pdf

If you know of any great ones from any chapter or other organization pass them on as we are looking for great material to use for the chapter. Overall, if we can pay off short term debt, the mortgage and do $80,000 worth of repairs to the house, I would be ecstatic. Even better would be to build a renewable scholarship fund, leadership training funds, reduce the cost of living in the house as a recruitment tool and create future capital funds, that would be amazing.

The Fraternity does so much for so many people these days with friendships, learning, networking, business, job searches, community involvement and leadership development, it is a shame to lose good people who have not seen that side of the chapter. Also, it is key that older alumni get a sense of what they had when they were in school and get back to the chapter. It is amazing how it revitalizes you and brings back the spirit of youth. Here's to Great Success!

Everton in tough for fourth

A week without watching my Blues was tough. Recorded and watched a bit of the Sunderland match where we looked clever at times, but other times not so hot. Lucky break for the AJ goal to count. In the end we would take that result with our injuries. The loss to Fiorentina sounded heartbreaking and again finishing and 1-2 small mistakes could end up costing us fourth and a later trip in UEFA and other cup competitions this year. Yak missing a pen is not surprising but I figured Jags would power one in. Oh well, another lesson learned.

The Fulham game is inexcusable. Moyes will say we were tired and praise the team, but I want to see Rodwell get some time and maybe our young strikers coming up could do a job. Maybe even a VanderMeyde return- just kidding. We must have more class coming through to supplement the lads when we are injured. Yes, it is tough losing bodies and playing through three games in just over a week, but the top clubs are there. Everton can't be there until we get a new stadium and new investment. Thank God for Kenwright, but we also need more money to supplement our great squad. Where is that extra touch of class that helps us polish off Fulham. With a full squad there is plenty of invention, but we need a couple more bodies especially in the midfield.

We need to push hard these last few games and lock down 4th/ 5th and get Liverpool out of where they don't belong. With all that cash, they should lock down fourth easily, so looking forward to the Derby!

So much Vegas

Here are the highlights:

Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. This was amazing. Had one big meal out in Vegas and LOVED it. Had the Mahi Mahi, shared the banana/creme/ gelato dessert and a pulled pork quaesadilla with avocado. I can't describe how good it was, but it was up there with my favorite meals of all time from: Bish, Hamachi House, DeMarizios and other fine establishments that ruled. Richard was a great server.

http://www.harrahs.com/casinos/caesars-palace/restaurants-dining/mesa-grill-detail.html

Golf with Tony at the Wild Horse.

Learning how to play craps at Sunset Station. I actually enjoyed this game as much as roulette and it could take over. http://www.sunsetstation.com/hotel/. The staff were amazing and a lot of fun. They spent time learning us the game so we could have a blast. I broke even at Sunset and lost at the Golden Nugget and Excalibur. Damn you Shad!

Golden Nugget- upgraded us to a huge suite.. So awesome! Check this blog on it. http://www.vegas4visitors.com/hotels/detail/goldennugget.htm. Definitely the best hotel on Fremont St.

Spending quality time with the wife walking around and just hanging out in Vegas.

Hoover Dam and Red Rocks Canyon were great. If you go on one day trip, hit these two places up. http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/

Lillies at the Nugget
MGM Grand to walk around
Little restaurant in back of Mandalay Bay

IHOP in Henderson and our super waitress, Michelle. You rock!

Didn't enjoy- Most arcades on Fremont St not including the Nugget.
Stay away from the Paradise Buffet at Sam Boyd's - gross
Crazy people selling time shares on the street

Vegas

More details to follow but great first few days here. Upgraded to a huge suite at the golden nugget and really enjoyed the shark tank, swim, sushi and great customer service. I am sure there are some great blogs out there on this, but don't have time to swing it now.

Have a great house in Henderson, 15 mins to strip, fun housemates and enjoyed a great meal at the Memphis BBQ- thanks to Jen's mom for that free Vegas book. Then this morning it was back to the strip, Nugget for some gambling, everyone lost, ate at the Main street buffet. Great amount of food for $12 but everyone has been visiting the bathroom non-stop since then. Great day!

Sorry for missing church today, but I am sure the drinking and gambling made up for it.

Everton Loss

First game I have not been able to watch in a while. Followed it on soccernet and it read like we got slaughtered and weren't able to do anything. By all accounts Fiorentina is a class team, but we should be able to hang with the mid-range teams. It was unfortunate and while I like the fact moyes went for the away goal, it might have been better earlier to try and swing the game at half or not at all and try for the win at home. I think that second goal is going to bite us in the ass.

Not one to doubt Moyes but if I had a class team I would go at Osman/Hibbert all day. Hibbert is decent against English players who he can body off, but we can't attack down his side at all. Would have loved to seen some invention with Nev at right back or moving Lescott over to stem the tide and starting Baines. Sounds like Howard stood on his head! Anyway, all out attack next week so would expect Hibbo on the bench, Arteta to start and 2 up front.. who knows.. maybe a 4-3-3 would work if we want to start Anichebe or Vaughan as well.. But probably put Nev in the back, midfield of Cars/Ossie/Arteta/ Pienaar/Cahill and Yak up top for the first half and hope for a goal.. Good luck, let's rebound with a 3-0 win over Sunderland..

Everton Win

What a great win for the Blues. After starting hot with Yakubu, Everton showed that they can match passing with some of the top teams with great buildup including Pienaar, Osman, Yak and Cahill. The African connection has been great together and they really showed an ability to open up one of the leagues better defences. Pienaar is a must to resign for next year as he has developed into a very solid left winger. His defensive ability is weak for Premier League standards as was seen on the goal by Pompey, but with Lescott or Baines behind him, they should be able to take up the slack. Everton always look a better squad with 2 strikers to stretch the backlines. We look very comfortable in the 4-5-1 but against Liverpool and Fiorentina coming up there is going to be a need to play with 2 I think to make that relatively weak backline work on the day. Skrtel has been a good addition for the Reds but I think Yak on his day will do well.

The addition of AJ into the mix proved the decisive coaching move of the day. http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/pompey-reaction.html Andrew Johnson has always scared defenders by running at them with pace and causes the lines to backoff Yakubu opening space for him and Cahill. Cahill's goal was class starting with the ball in from AJ to Yak, then Yak to Pienaar who made the space and clipped a beauty to Cahill who gave some props to his brother who just got put in jail. How can you play that well after that??

As usual, the backline was great. Hibbert continues to surprise even though going forward he is weak, but in the last two games has shutdown Elano and Krancjar effectively. Yobo.Jags has been immense and Lescott can play anywhere across that backline, he was solid again. Neville and Carsley have been solid all year and been a consistent base to build upon. I get worried that there is not a lot of depth centrally even with Fernandes and feel that unless we bring another player through the ranks, the Blues will have to splurge for a central player. I hope that we continue to "chivy" other teams but keep trying to play attractive football, this has been my favorite season of Everton in ages. Keep it going Blues.. 4th place and UEFA Semis as the goal!