Everton Player Ratings Vs Southampton (H) 29th Sept

To be honest, as a blue, it was a result we not only wanted, but expected. Any momentum was taken away from us after the poor team selection against Leeds Utd, and it showed as after just 5 mins, Howard went walkabout for a corner and Southampton took the lead.

I was funny to watch a game in which we didn't really get out of 2nd gear. We battle back into the game, and Osman equalised, although if was a yard further out he would have missed - luckily, he wasn't!! From then on for the rest of the 1st half, we took control and it was only a matter of time before we took the lead, and 12 mins later, it was 3-1 thanks to two strikes from Jelavic! The first being a lovely passing move and finish, and his second, a great header after one of a few jinking runs from Coleman.

The 2nd half failed to ignite, we never looked in danger, and to be honest, it felt like a preseason friendly at times. To be fair to Southampton, they had a bit going forward, and Rickie Lambert is definitely comfortable in the premiership, but they are poor at the back, and their young keeper was time wasting far too early, much to the fans annoyance! It took the ref quite a bit of time before he had a word.

7

Felt he was at fault for the goal when he went for a wander! Other than that. he didn't have much to do!

8

MAN OF THE MATCH. It's nice to see Seamus get a run in the side in his position! I expect Moyes will knock his confidence when Hibbo is fit though!! Not frightened to attack, and if he plays regularly with Mirallas, it could be another dream partnership.

8

Steady eddy! Probably the most consistent player in the premiership!!

7

Would get more 8s if he just passed the ball, rather than lumped it! Handled Lambert well.

8

The only defender who can pass a ball 50 yards with either foot! Jags needs to take note! Plus, along with Neville, the only player to go round the fans at the end and clap them!!

8

He will get Man of the Match one day!! Looks like he is already settled, and will only get better! It's nice to be excited when an Everton player gets hold of the ball!!

6

Not a central midfielder, will do a job as a stop gap, but that's it.

6

Barring his goal, I personally had no idea he was playing!!

7

Another fairly quiet game for peanuts, but it doesn't matter, as you know he can pop up with a piece of magic at any moment! Fairly quiet for peanuts, means good for anyone else...lol

8

Simply the best chest controller in football worldwide! Could really become a legend at Everton...if he stays!!

8

Very close to Man of the Match. He has become so important, we struggle up front if he doesn't play. Scored 2, his 2nd being a cracking header. Always hope of a goal when he plays.

SUBS

6

Is he really 2nd now to Jelavic? If he is, we are in trouble.

6

Not enough time to do anything, but glad to see him get his home debut.

No mark, as only one for mins. Nothing against Sylvan, but it was a strange substitution. We weren't hanging on, would have been nice to see Velios, or Duffy get a few mins. A sub to appease a pro footballer maybe!!

Everton Player Ratings Vs LEEDS UTD (a) Capital One Cup

The one competition we have never won, and yet it seems to be the easiest, and yet every year, we have to put up with Moyes telling us how serious he is at winning it, and them seeing him make loads of changes (6 for this one), and then going out to some lower league side!!

The side played with no passion and no desire. Fair play to Leeds Utd, who did play well, but the Blues were poor, which makes my player rating much easier!! Everyone, for their poor and passionless display gets the following mark -

Everton Player Ratings Vs Swansea City (A) 22nd Sept

I have to admit, this was a game I wasn't looking forward too, despite the fact we have played some good football this season, Swansea have impressed me under Laudrup. Well, I had nothing to worry about, this was one of the most complete Everton performances I have seen for years! Infact, I don't think Swansea could have complained if it was 6 or 7-0! We had 31 shots altogether...hello...31 shots, it has taken us 7 or 8 games in previous seasons to amass that tally.

It's the life of a football fan. We know Everton are notorious for starting slow, but now we sit 3rd in the table (and were momentarily 2nd for a day!). Yes, we have only played 5 games, but again, being a fan, it is exactly the same points to game ratio as to when we qualified for the Champions League. Can we qualify for that again, I honestly don't know, but Europe is definitely on the cards, or is that me just being a romantic fan again!!

After just 2 mins, Everton could have been 2 or 3 up, Mirallas was unlucky, and is looking quite a prospect. And as for Fellaini, thank god the transfer window has shut, because on this form, he will have suitors from all over!

Everton eventually took the lead through Big Vic, who converted after knock down from Fellaini! Replays showed the goal to be controversial, but in real time no one noticed, not even the Swansea players. Everton carried on with the pressure, and Mirallas got his 1st prem goal for Everton, after he finished after a fine move from Neville, Fellaini and Peanuts! I am glad Mirallas scored, but also from the rebound, because I couldn't be doing with another did it cross the line or not scenario!

Swansea had a few chances towards the end of the half, and Howard saved well from the quality named Angel Rangel. Howard was then called into action in the 2nd half as Swansea tried to get back into it. Nathan Dyer on as a sub picked up a silly yellow for dissent, and then a few mins later made a rash challenge of Baines, and 12mins after coming on, he was off for an early bath. Everton again went on the offensive, Big Vic missing an opportunity after Mirallas struck the bar, and Fellaini also missed a sitter. Howard then made save of the match diving low to his right to turn a Ki Sung Yeung shot over the bar.

Everton killed the game off, with a header from Fellaini. Shocking really, we were 2 up, dominating, playing against 10 men, and yet I know what it is like to be an Everton fan, so I was still nervous!! Thankfully, we killed the game off, and got to see Bryan Oviedo make his debut, for all of 5 mins!

Onto the ratings!

8

As a keeper, I know you get days like this, the ball ends up being a magnet to you. However, it also gives the defenders confidence knowing they have a quality keeper behind them!

7

Great to see Seamus start in his natural position! Solid game, nothing spectacular, would like to see him get a run there!!

7

I have a feeling all my reports for Jags will be the same. Honest player, solid again, just wish he wouldn't lump the ball so much!! Pass it on the floor Phil!

7

Great to see Johnny back in the team, though I did think it would have been at the expense of Jags, not Sylvan. I like Johnny, no nonsense, keeps it simple, and shows Jags how to pass a ball rather than a hopeful lump.

8

Mr consistent. Howard said on football focus that Bainesy is an 8 every week, he isn't wrong! We can't lose Leighton, it would be a travesty! 

9

So nearly man of the match, put in a quality performance, and finally we might not have to put everything down the left, though not complaining with Baines and Peanuts!!! Looks a real prospect! Not sure how the so called bigger teams in Europe have missed out on him.

7

Nothing spectacular, but solid. Started the move for Mirallas goal. I think Phil will join the backroom team soon, once his chances of 1st team football diminish!

7

Again, like Neville, solid, but not spectacular. The player I would have thought who is most at danger once we have a full fit team. i.e. Gibson back!

9

Everton Man of the Match. Absolutely unplayable at the moment, his chest control is just stunning! Lucky assist with first goal, but thoroughly deserved his goal. He might want to be box to box, but I am happy with him being in one box at the moment!!

7

Put himself about, but also missed a few chances! Some fans are beginning to wax lyrical, but seriously it is 2 in 2, the first time he has ever done it!! 2 games doesn't make him a success, but it is a nice way to start! Can't help thinking how many we would have had if Jelavic was playing though.

SUBS

All 3 receive a 6 as none of them had time to make an impact. It was good to see Maggie get an outing, even if it was for 5 mins, and same for Bryan Oviedo, who made his debut.

Football round up

Well, now footy season has kicked off, and the fact I have my season ticket, it is making it harder to write my blog, as the reason I started it was to fill in time!! I will still always do my player ratings, but everything else is going to be a monthly round up, unless it is important, to which I will address the issue when necessary!

My 5 a side coverage will also turn to monthly football reports.

To be honest, barring my lovely wife, there aren't many people who read this blog, but for those of you who do, thank you for popping in, and if you ever come back, I hope you enjoy what you read!

Everton Player Ratings Vs Newcastle Utd (h)

Well, what can I say?!?! Do I really have to do a match report? I have never been an advocate of technology in football, but have to say, last night's performance of so called referee Mike Jones has proved once and for all, it is now not an option, it is a given! Mike Williamson was nearly in the back of the net when he cleared the ball, and Mike Jones knew it too, as he blew for a free kick seconds later when Newcastle Utd were 3 on 1!! Some Toon fans may argue it was never a free kick in the first place for the so called 'goal' that never was, well, it might not have been, but we got absolutely nothing out of the knob of a referee the rest of the game. Not since Mike Riley cost us a place in Europe against Man Utd on the last day of the season some years back have I been so incensed at a refereeing performance, and that includes when Rodwell got sent off in the derby!

So, anyway, we bossed the first half, and took the lead through a lovely movement down the left culminating in Baines finishing brilliantly. We had a goal disallowed before then too! From then on, it was all Everton, and to be honest, Newcastle Utd were lucky to be in it at half time! Demba Ba came on at half time, and not having scored this season, Leon Osman decided to give him an opportunity, which he duly took, although it all seemed so casual!

That goal gave Newcastle the impetus, and we started to hang on! Why oh why we can't play football in 2 halfs is beyond me, if we have one good half, we all know we won't be the same in the other one! We managed to get ourselves back in the game, and took the lead when again, a lovely move, this time in the centre led Peanuts to feed Fellaini who finished! Oops, no, hang out, he was offside apparently!! I sit in the Gladwys, so I was in front of Fellaini, and even I could tell it wasn't offside, and that's not me being biased, it was just so obvious!

Once again, Newcastle Utd kicked on, but then we got a freekick, it was swung in, after a few headers, it fell to Big Vic, who to be honest should have finished it, but Harper got a touch, and it went behind the line, surely 2-1!! Oops again, how the f*** was it missed, the more I look at the pictures today, the further it goes over the line!!

With 2 mins of the 90 left, the ball was fed into Big Vic, and for once he controlled it, turned on it, and scored a quality goal, Goodison went mental, partly due to going in the lead, but partly because no one could believe it was Vic who hit it!!

I don't care how many chances we had, how many goals were disallowed (well I do to a point), but with 5 mins to go, if you cannot defend a long hopeful balls being pumped, then you don't deserve to win, simple as!! All we needed to do was concentrate, and we couldn't! Demba Ba ran through onto a flick, and I would love to say Howard came out, but not sure what he was doing to be honest! 2-2.

If Mike Jones ever returns to Goodison, it will be too soon!! Anyway, onto the ratings!

6

Did pull off a great save in the final few mins when it was 1-1, but felt he could have done more for the first, and no idea what he was doing for the 2nd, other than selling himself!!

6

Tony has become a cult hero with the younger fans who haven't had to watch him for years! Love him as he is a blue, but he goes wandering in games, stay on the bloody right hand side Tony!!! Your a full back mate!!

5

Sorry Jags, poor for me! Bluekipper gave you an 8, not sure how or why! You can play the ball on the floor if you want, like you did for England!! Stop being so one dimensional and lumping the ball up front!! Time for  Johnny for me!

6

Again, not his best game, pair him up with Johnny again, simple as!!

8

Everton Man of the Match - Unplayable in the first half, and capped it with a well taken goal! Not so effective in the 2nd half, but can't complain, he always gives us everything! Shame old whiskey nose was there to watch it!!

8

Very close to being Man of the Match. Gave his all, has pace, and even showed passion when no one else was chasing the ball down with him! A little greedy at times, but think that was more down to enthusiasm! Very promising.

5

Not a central midfielder, right back at best. Phil is a blue, and is passionate, but I think when push comes to shove, in my starting XI, he would struggle to get in! Mr Moyes loves him though!

5

Another one of Moysie's children, who will need to be injured to be dropped! Squad player at best when everyone is fit in my eyes, but then I am not a manager. Would never have guessed Ossie and Phil were our central midfield last night! Poor!

7

Again, not his best game, but kept going, and showed a few tricks. You always have a chance with him and Baines playing down the same side.

8

Was battered left right and centre by any Newcastle player near him! Worked hard to deal with Jagielka's one dimensional lumping forward of the ball! Cracking goal disallowed!

7

Always a danger, but went off injured just 2mins from half time! After that, we struggled up front.

SUBS

7

Weird game for Vic! Despite his good goal, he is still a poor player, there wasn't one of us happy when he was brought on! He had that 'goal' disallowed, scored one, but then fell over his own feet when through on a one on one! Trouble is that goal keeps him in with a shout! Might as well sell Velios, Moyes obviously doesn't like him!!!

6

No real time to make an impact, he might have done if Moyes was watching the same game and seen how desperate we were for a change!!

England Player Ratngs Vs Ukraine

It has just been a mental week at work, and so my player ratings for this game are a way behind everything else, but hopefully if anyone reads them, they will read it from a fans view, and not a journalists!! To be honest, you won't find many high scoring players here, in fact, none above 7!! For any England fan reading this, we have seen many a poor performance over the years, and this just served to remind us of how far we need to become a good team again! I am never one to really have a go at England, but this was poor! Admittedly, Defoe had a perfectly good goal disallowed, but other than that, it was as I said poor! If you want to know how poor, ask Tom Cleverley!!

7

To be fair, for all the play the Ukraine had, Hart didn't have much to do, and what he did, he was ok with. had no chance for the stunning Ukraine goal.

5

I would love to watch a game from the dugout, because every fan in the world knows Johnson is a much better right winger, than right full back!!

6

Not one of Joleon's best games, gave the ball away for Ukraine's goal. Normally pretty solid, but looked nervous all game.

6

This one is for the commentators, yes he played with Lescott at Everton, but rarely as a centre half pairing as Lescott tended to be left back, until Baines cemented his place. Jags is a safe option, covered well for Johnson, but also looked nervous. Jags and Lescott were at time slow at getting the ball out.

7

I thought he was England's best defender and surprised he was subbed. At times he look exposed, but feel this was more down to Oxlade-Chamberlain's inexperience in dropping back. The only defender who tried to get he ball in quickly to midfield and forwards. Made a cracking clearance early in the 2nd half when Ukraine looked odds on to score.

5

Luckily he was on the pitch in the 87th min, and it was a cracking penalty. However, other than that, I didn't realise he was playing!!

7

To be honest, he never got going, but he kept trying, and worked hard to try and open up the Ukraine defence! Was booked for an elbow, yes he drew blood, but I didn't think it was a yellow. Still, the ref did, so surely it should have been a red?! Still, he got a 2nd yellow to solve that problem!!

Refuse to mark!!

Sorry, I know I don't like Milner, but I simply cannot see what he offers us. One of my mates said "he offers us balance", to which my other mate replied, "yep, but then so does a bad of cement if you stick it on a see saw!!" I think that covers it!!

4

I feel a little guilty giving Tom a 4 as he starts his fledging England career, however, this was the stuff of nightmares. Anything that could go wrong, went wrong! It will get better Tom, but this was a shocker!! And that miss!!!!

5

Like Cleverley, he will have better days. Moldova was easy, Ukraine was a learning curve. No impact, but his time will come with more 1st team experience at Arsenal.

7

Played as a lone forward, which is a thankless job. Scored a beautiful goal, which was wrongly ruled out. Worked hard, but he received no real service, and faded late on.

SUBS

7

For me, England's Man of the Match (and I am hard pushed to find one to be honest!!). I am still unsure if Welbeck is international class, but his introduction rescued us a point. Still, he missed a sitter too!

6

Only had 20mins, and despite looking a little lost when he came on, he did grow into the game, and could be an option for the future, but only if he sorts his attitude out, as every club he goes to, he moans when he isn't playing.

6

 I have nothing against Ryan, and he can claim an assist in the penalty I suppose, but when you're 1-0 down, can anyone explain to me why you change left backs?? Another one for the future! Mind you, the whole subs bench was!!