Rafa benitez and other bitter managers

I am getting tired of Rafa's comments. All we hear is how teams play negatively. Everton's roster was put together for about $26 million pounds, much less than Liverpool who paid around that much for Torres, 7 plus for Riera, 6 for Pennant and it goes on. We are having to rely on our academy and buys from lower levels which means technically less skilled players with more heart than their hired guns. To players like Torres, kissing a club badge is like kissing a stack of cash, because that is all he cares about.

Rafa, it is your job to outcoach Moyes and the team's job to outwork them. If you can't figure out a way to get through the Blue wall, then maybe it is time to go. Same for you Arsene if you start whining (which he didn't). You won't hear Ferguson crying about it because he understands that the lower teams have to scrap for their points. Instead we build a team on honest players and get the most out of them. So stop your crying and get back to the drawing board. God that bugs me. You would never hear an NFL coach whine about stuff like that.

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.