Just got back (thanks Screach) from Merseyside. What a day. Everyone standing up, seeing nowt, a roar, someone falls one top of you and you think "F*ck me, we've scored". The omens weren't good. A sandwich board man had shouted "The Toon will let you doon: Jesus won't" at us just before we got into the away end. Being fair, Everton had the greater number of chances and our watery midfield showed itself up badly in the first half, but the defence itself was relatively solid and Given was magnificent. Andy O'Brien had an ace game and got his own song to tune of "Any old iron". Dabs made his customary cock up which almost resulted in a goal but Shay was at hand. Our goal came from nowhere really and was largely the result of a Gerrard cock up. If I'd have been Bellamy, I'd have wiggled my arse and waved at the Toon fans while walking the ball into the net: even he couldn't miss. Craig, Craig Bellamy, Tra la la la (to tune of Brown Girl in the Ring). It was pretty much Everton pressure til half time. Half time was awful: there is no space in the concourses and I'm amazed they get a safety licence. Second half starts and we are relatively bright initially, scoring early on. It's pretty much Everton pressure thereafter, though, and the marking when Weir scored was non-existent. It was nailbiting for a good spell after that, as Everton launched wave after wave of attack and we played far too deep. The CHs and Shay were fantastic and we had a fair amount of spawn with some shit finishing. When Big Dunc came on (as well as Gazza), I was worried, but he actually did almost nothing and wasn't the threat that Campbell had been. Our third came slightly against the run of play and you'd think we'd won the league title from the celebrations in the Toon End. After that, we were looking for our usual fourth but it sadly didn't come. All in all, a good day's work and a cracking day out. I'm covered in bruises from people literally falling on top of me but I don't care. Negatives: Our midfield was very poor. Acuna scored but that hides a poor display. Speed was more solid than of late but really hides at times. Solano and Robert had crap games. Robert did bits and pices and Solano scored but we really need more sustained efforts from them both. Shearer was an Everton battering ram, which is a shame, because he put in a superb cross that showed that he shouldn't really be just someone who makes spaces for others. Elliott was the poorest player on the pitch and the lads around me were baying for his blood. Surely time to give Bernard a chance? Shay's distribution. Header Positives: our pace actually makes us a credible counter-attacking side. Craig Bellamy. Andy O'Brien (He wants to play in the World Cup and deserves to on this performance). Shay who basically won the game for us. I'm not sure whether Hughes was strictly a positive (someone (Min??) thought he was a revelation and I think the concensus was that he was better than we've seen at right back this season. For me, his ball skills are better than Barton and Griff and he is probably pacier but he seems to have had his confidence shaken. Not a bad game, anyway. Other: The referee's a Smoggy. We can see you stealing cars. The Liverpool Echo: "Blues robbed by Magpies" and its Moan of the Match: Alan Shearer's whingeing. Anyway, a great great day out, thanks to Screach, Min and Grant and 11 lovely lads on the pitch.

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2001

Answers

Stu?

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2001

Nice report Dougal, pretty similar picture to what was painted by the radio commentators, although I didn't hear about Elliott, just assumed he didn't get the ball much.

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2001

Dugal,
The radio commentary said Elliott was often left exposed by Robert's unwillingess to help him out on that flank.

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2001

Clarky - that may be the case some of the time. But you've seen RE enough this season to understand what his distribution has been like. Today, especially the first half, was no better.

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2001

Dougal - great match report. Atmosphere sounded great, always is away from home though isn't it? We never hear these songs sung at SJP.

Worrying about Robert. He needs to dig in every game if he's to avoid the slaggings Ginola got for opting out of matches.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

Clarky, I think our fullbacks are made to look more vulnerable by Solano's and Robert's aptitude to disappear. The number of times I saw Robbie and Aaron looking for support was unbelievable. Having said that, Shay didn't help. Hughesie headed a ball to Shay and Shay, without thought, passed the ball back to Hughes, who now had about 3 Everton shirts waiting to pounce. No sign of Solano and the midfield and CHs are nowhere to be seen so Hughes has to punt the ball wherever he can, making him look like the donkey.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

Lynda, I love away days: best days of the season for me. Everyone well-lubricated, singing along happily and, even if you get beaten, you've had an ace day out.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

Great report Dougal. Opportunity knocks for Bernard perhaps?

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

I'd hope that Bernard would get a chance. In truth, if Lolo isn't performing, I'd put Bernard on instead of him but I am increasingly worried that Lolo is being deliberately starved of the ball. I really hope not.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

PS. I forgot to mention that Pistone looked quite tidy....which reminds me of the chant, "You're just a team full of rejects".

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

Nice one Dougal - three points, a cracking day out, dodgy fish and chips and 'ey, ey - the jeermans bombed ar chippy...'

I've finally surfaced after another one of those days that just makes you go 'ahhh, away days' and then you go all kind of misty-eyed.

Thanks to Screach [extra ta for the lift to the station], Peach, Dougal and Grant - I'll leave it to Grant to file his standard top report on the fun and games on the train on the way back but just to add, that song in full [a classic]:

Liam O'Brien, Andy O'Brien Any any any O'Brien Who puts the ball in the Mackems net? Any any any O'Brien..

hee-hee

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

Interesting thought that Robert is being starved of the ball. Could this be anything to do with the rumoured "attitude problem" on the training ground? Time for YBR to sort it all out if either of those is true.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

Brilliant song. Lets hope it gets aired at SJP to liven the bloody place up.

BTW Dougal, do you think the players have got the hump with Robert? In view of his fisty cuffs with Griffin, this may be an issue. If it's true, which I hope it isn't, is BR up to sorting it out???

Mind you, after we scored the players seemed happy enough with each other, so hopefully there's nowt in it.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

Thinking same thing as me then Screacher. Just thinking that maybe Robert has been too outspoken in his web pieces. Didn't he recently have a go at some players? The players can't be that snide can they? Mind you - we know that they can be!

Oh well, hope it all blows over.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001