EPL Talk » wembley

The FA Cup: Everton Can Win

Ethan Armstrong — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:01:44 +0000

I was completely seduced by last year’s FA Cup.

Barnsley and Cardiff City charged toward the final in a gripping giant-killing warpath. They toppled Liverpool, Chelsea and Middlesbrough in their wake. (Boro were still a mid-table Premier League side, so their undoing was still a feat.) While only Cardiff made it to the end before going down to Pompey, it was still the ultimate thrill ride. There’s nothing like seeing all those Championship supporters screaming from the stands, willing their side into the horizon of the unlikely. Every move forward was a miracle. Every minute still alive held the tension of watching a drunk diffuse a nuclear bomb on a high-wire.

So in the shadow of that campaign, I didn’t tune into this year’s cup run nearly as closely.

But Everton did knock Manchester United out of it. Even on PKs, that was an impressive feat. It’s time for me to tune in.

Now, Everton go up against Chelsea. Despite the Blues’ problems, their roster still looks like somebody’s dream team from the back page of FourFourTwo. If money’s no object and you can have anyone in the world, Mr Abramovich, who would you pick…

Anyway,

David Moyes has a formidable enough side considering the net he’s spent on players is only 1m more than what Chelsea spent on Didier Drogba. His star striker Yakubu cost 11m. His star playmaker Arteta cost 2m. He has nothing close to the resources of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal, yet he manages to stay on their heels. Once again, he’s delivered Everton to a fifth place finish in the league, and in the fall, he’ll kick off his third consecutive European campaign.

Since he won’t be winning the Premier League any time soon, it would be nice to see Moyes collect the world’s oldest Football trophy to honor all he’s done with Everton.

Unfortunately, he’s facing a big side who has nothing else to play for and everything to prove.

At the beginning of the Premier League campaign, Chelsea looked absolutely invincible. They didn’t record their first loss until the end of October when Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso ended their 86-match unbeaten Premier League home streak with the only goal of the match. Chelsea only had two league draws before that. Later, they’d slump a little and manager Luis Filipe Scolari would be on his way. All big sides can hit a rut.

But David Moyes must have been really cringing when Andres Iniesta fired the ball past Petr Cech at Stamford Bridge. With the Premier League title already out of reach for Chelsea, Moyes knew Barcelona had just funneled all of Chelsea’s ambitions and frustrations to one end point: Wembley. Abramovich’s Dream Team will focus all their gunpowder on tomorrow’s live or die 90 minutes. Guus Hiddink wants something to show for his spell in charge of the London bohemoths.

But Everton can do this. The strength of the big clubs lies in their ability to play well over the long stretch of any given campaign. Chelsea’s depth makes for a top four side who can compete in multiple competitions, but on the day, anyone can take the prize. If Everton can come out and stand their ground as they did against Liverpool and United, they can win.

Chelsea are the sure favorites. But David Moyes’s bargain-bin side can unseat Abramovich’s billion pound club. That’s the beauty of those Wembley nights… Everton may not be a minnow like Barnsley, but a win tomorrow would still be a giant-killing in light of transfer spending.

The romantic in me would like to see them pull it off.

The “Power Of Scotland”

Ross Gallacher — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:16:41 +0000

A very happy Moyes

Reaching the FA Cup final was a long overdue reward for Everton manager David Moyes. As the Premierships’ third longest serving manager, Moyes has brought consistent performances for a low budget club. It is worth considering that at Everton he has been subject to budgetary constraints that perhaps much of his fellow managers at clubs of such stature do not have to endure. He has been lucky if given more than £20m in one season in much of his seven years to date at Everton.

The 2009 FA cup final will be an occasion as it may be the chance for a great, and potentially one day legendary manager to gain his first major trophy. In getting to the FA cup final maybe he has already achieved greatness. In that he has beaten what you could say was his target, what he is aiming for. What do you mean I ask?

Well Scottish managers have been a major force in the EPL, this victory for Moyes albeit it against a reservist Utd could be a metaphor. That the greatest Scottish manager of all time has been beaten by his successor in the line of great Scottish leaders; passing the torch onto the next generation. Sure it was an absolute dirge of a match, but it was perhaps symbolic in this way.

Maybe too much a big thing of this is being made? Well no I don’t think so, as if you really look at it some of the greatest English League managers of all time are Scots. Fergie is in fine company alongside the likes of; George Graham, Jock Stein (briefly managing Leeds but deserving an honourable mention for making Celtic a European force), Sir Matt Busby and Bill Shankly.

Why is it that this small nation produces so many great managers? Well there could be many reasons but there is one thing to be sure of; Moyes is going the right way about getting into this privileged company; he has what you might call the “power of Scotland” within him. So what specifically is it that has put Moyes on this road?

Well, to analyse this maybe it may be best to look at the start of Moyes’ reign at Everton. He didn’t walk in to a guaranteed top 6 team, experiencing hard times at Everton with relegation battles in his two of his first three seasons; arguably his toughest so far, certainly a considerable challenge and arguably vital experience. However these initial yo-yo seasons came to an end and the Everton Board, showing patience and likely realising the potential of this young Scot, wisely stuck by his charge.

Like Alex Ferguson and other management greats, Moyes has been given time and patience to stabilise and create Everton into a great force. He seems to carry the right traits for a club in Everton’s comparatively meagre financial position that is almost required in the modern day for success in the English Premier League. It may also be argued that without superstars, certainly the signing of world class stars (he has developed or will develop some); Moyes has created a brilliant squad based on a key principle: Hard Work.

This principle is perhaps best shown by David Unsworth describing the stabilising force Moyes brought to Everton in his first season: “He has come in and turned the club around. He’s brought in players like Richard Wright and Joseph Yobo to add quality and works us very hard in training. We train as we play. We pass the ball and the atmosphere is fantastic.” Alongside hard work, the initial signings of Richard Wright and Joseph Yobo to his latest acquisition; the shrewd loan of Jo, display another of Moyes’ qualities: his ability in the transfer market.

Under the tight budget of Everton he has found real gems, take Joseph Yobo . At £4m Yobo being a continual stalwart in the Moyes era, alongside other great findings who have more than repaid their transfer fees and their managers’ faith. Amongst these, Tim Cahill; who, purchased from Championship club Millwall for £1.5m, would now be seen as a steal at £15m and arguably a world class midfielder. Although it is questionable given the problems Mark Hughes has Man City, it is very fair to ask how good would Moyes be at a “super” club? You can’t really be sure but one thing is that he does deserve a go someday. The most likely being Man Utd, perhaps as Fergie’s successor. Very ironic given recent news that he applied to be Sir Alex’s assistant, but was completely overlooked. Will he be disregarded by them again? Could they make the same mistake twice?

In the David Unsworth quote from 2002 he refers to the atmosphere at Everton being “fantastic”. This is something that hasn’t changed since, with Everton and like Stein, Shankly, Busby and Fergie before him, he has built a brotherhood of team spirit at Everton. This is perhaps why he has this “power of Scotland” as the great Scottish managers’ teams in the English League have always been ones that contain great team spirit.

This was proven true very much recently with the Everton striker crisis. In the situation of an Everton without a recognised striker the team mucked in and still won matches, without team spirit how many clubs would have been able to cope with this? Would a team with “world class” players who refuse to play out of position for the good of the team have coped as well? The number would be minimal, Everton have shown they are a club that can cope with the bare essentials at all times.

This is another key strength behind Moyes. A man of realism completely, you have never seen him get carried away, never overconfident but never too pessimistic; a realist. This is very evident in the testament from his chairman (Bill Kenwright) ahead of his match against Ferguson showing that the former Celtic man never panicked: “They will tell you there was a day when Fergie was nearly gone and they tell you here there was a time when David Moyes was struggling. I bet Fergie didn’t feel that way and honestly I never did. If you’re doing the job right, you know in the end you’ll get there.”

The torch has been passed even if Fergie is not done yet, because it seems his place in the game might be now the level for Moyes. Something Fergie would maybe agree with, as there is evidentially a mutual respect there. Look at how easily Moyes has brought across Saha, Howard and Phil Neville.

Who knows, five years down the line in a Premiership without Ferguson; he might still be at Everton, maybe with an increase in money, perhaps Goodison Park will once again return its glory days. In this Moyes may even be overtaking Fergie in one aspect made much of in the media: great assistants.

Fergies’ apprentices; brilliant managers like Strachan, Bruce and Hughes. Well Moyes has one of his very own who might come to attention next season. His former assistant manager at Everton, Alan Irvine took reigns at Preston North End in 2007. With the Lancashire club in the hunt for the play-off spots, Moyes could be facing off against his former right hand man come August. This would be yet another compliment to a brilliant manager who arguably deserves more.

So for a saturday in May, alongside many other neutrals I expect, I will be cheering on Everton against Chelsea. For this great manager whose appearance in a final is certainly long overdue, here’s hoping it starts his road to true greatness. Who knows, maybe one day we can look at the greatest managers ever and instead of including just four great Scots: Stein, Shankly, Ferguson and Busby, we will be able to add another, David William Moyes of Bearsden, Dumbartonshire.

As an interesting aside much is made of 1990 FA cup win by Ferguson. One which many believe saved his Old Trafford career, and started his path to greatness. Well it could happen again though this time to Moyes, although he doesn’t need saved it could kick him off on a trophy run.

If Moyes doesn’t live up to expectations, then this may prove for fans of great football and Everton F.C, a tough toffee to chew on, considering the potential on display.
There is one thing that we can all be sure of; In May, a blue team will lift the FA Cup and, Chelsea fans (and the odd Liverpool fan, although many wouldn’t begrudge their neighbours having some success, considering who would be in the final otherwise and their admirable support of the Hillsborough campaign) aside; let’s hope it’s the one up north.

Man United Wins Community Shield 3-1 On Penalties: Your Thoughts

The Gaffer — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:34:06 +0000

So, Manchester United has picked up another piece of silverware after beating Portsmouth 3-1 on penalties in the annual curtain raiser to the new season.

The game, which ended 0-0 in regular time, was a bit of a sleeper at times with Man United controlling large portions of the match but unable to score. A main reason for that was Portsmouth’s goalkeeper David James who was stellar between the goalposts for Pompey making several crucial saves. In comparison, Edwin van der Sar was rarely challenged.

Carlos Tevez deservedly was awarded the man of the match award after producing a spirited display on the pitch at Wembley. He was quite the troublemaker in attack for United having one shot brilliantly saved by James, being pulled down in the box — which should have been a penalty, and battling and winning many balls in midfield.

Portsmouth showed glimmers of skill now and again especially in midfield and in defense, but they rarely were able to get the ball to Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch. Pompey’s attack seemed very one dimensional with balls floated in to Crouch, but rarely did the ball reach Crouch and instead was defended well by United’s back four.

The difference between United and Pompey rang true during the penalty kicks. United was calm, cool and collected as they knocked in each of their penalty kicks. In contrast, Portsmouth’s Lassana Diarra, Arnold Mvuemba and Glen Johnson missed all of theirs. If Pompey wants to compete against the big boys, they’ve got a lot of work to do.

What are your thoughts regarding the final? Do you think that United looks beatable this season? Will Manchester United be able to play as well as they did last season without Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Owen Hargreaves for the early part of the season. Share your feedback below by clicking the comments link.

England v U.S.: Why Brits Hate U.S. Soccer Fans

The Gaffer — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:01:36 +0000

Earlier this morning, in the build-up to today’s England against United States friendly at Wembley (live on ESPN Classic beginning at 3pm ET), I wrote about why Americans hate English soccer supporters. To be fair, there are a lot reasons why Brits hate U.S. soccer supporters as well, which are revealed below:

Soccer fans in the USA continuously brag how U.S. soccer has improved both on the national and club levels, but when the United States faces tough opposition, the national squad and club teams fail to live up to expectations. Recent examples include the 2006 World Cup, 2007 Copa America and SuperLiga.The last time the U.S. soccer team impressed people and pundits internationally was during the 2002 World Cup when the side beat Portugal and unfairly lost to Germany 1-0 in the quarterfinals. But that was six long years ago!
When U.S. soccer fans call Brits and Anglophiles “Euro Snobs,” those same U.S. soccer fans are in fact being snobbish themselves.
George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Enough said.
Alexi Lalas — because of the stupid things he says.
Americans who insist on getting into preposterous debates about how Major League Soccer teams would rank in England and how some of the teams would do well in the Premier League. It’s preposterous because it’s all guesswork. Judging how a MLS team does in a friendly against English opposition and then equating that to how the American side would compete in England is ridiculous. Wake me up when a game between an American club side and an English side means something, when both teams are playing for a win or a trophy. Otherwise, it’s a waste of time.

While this afternoon’s friendly between the United States and England has little meaning on the international level, a lot of pride is at stake. If England loses, their fans will chalk it up to a meaningless friendly. If England wins, their fans will drag the U.S. supporters through the mud and laugh about how they still reign supreme. Most importantly for the U.S. is that they give a good performance at Wembley where they can earn the accolades of the watching press, media and the public at large. It’s more important than ever for the U.S. to put in a performance that’ll make their supporters proud.

England vs USA: Why Americans Hate English Football Supporters

The Gaffer — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:53:55 +0000

Later this evening, the United States will play England at Wembley (8pm BST/BBC1) in a friendly match between two countries who have a love-hate relationship with each other. But in this war, the battle is waged off the pitch rather than on it.

On the pitch, the competition between the two sides is waged fairly. The American players who play in the Premier League will have more of a desire to win the match so they can rub it into the faces of their English compatriots. The English players will have a lot to prove to new manager Fabio Capello, so overall the match should be entertaining to watch as long as it remains competitive. Most importantly, it’ll be played in a clean manner.

Off the pitch, it’s a different story. Being an American who lived in Britain for 14 years, I’ve experienced the complicated love-hate relationship between both countries. There are so many Anglophiles who live in the United States and love the English way of life (the football, the beer, the fish and chips, music, TV shows, movies and royalty). And there are many Brits who love the American way of life (the TV shows, movies, rap artists, fashion, fast food and gadgets such as Apple’s iPod).

But right in the middle of all of this is also a relationship of hate, which isn’t felt by everyone but definitely exists. It’s part politics and part football. And, without a doubt, it’s more fierce off the pitch than on it.

Politically speaking, George Bush’s shock and awe policy in Iraq has generated a lot of negativity among people around the world which is aimed at the United States. Of course, Britain was America’s biggest ally in the war against Saddam Hussein, so it shouldn’t feel exonerated. But the war has created a bitter taste in the mouths of so many people worldwide.

Part of that anti-Americanism has spilled over into football and specifically the Internet — whether it’s message boards, blog comments or articles by renowned journalists (Martin Samuel from The Times has been a prime target for U.S. fans because Samuel often harshly criticises U.S. football; It’s this feeling of general press bias that upsets many Americans). Some of the friction between football fans in the U.S. and U.K. has been downright venomous.

The battle off the pitch between U.S. and English football fans comes down to pride. English journalists, pundits and soccer fans have, for too long, looked down their noses at U.S. football whether it’s been the national squad or Major League Soccer. It’s an easy target for the Brits who make jokes about the “Mickey Mouse League” and tease Americans for inventing the word soccer to label the sport we love, when most of us intelligent people know that the term originated from England not the United States.

A lot of friction from Americans is because they’re sick and tired of their national team and clubs being made a joke. They feel that their country and its football teams should be respected more than they currently are, and that many of their football supporters are very well educated about the sport and not all of them fall into the trap of being stereotypical American males who are macho, dumb and eat and breathe the mindnumbingly boring NFL.

Many Americans feel that Brits are jealous of them and their way of life, that Brits are ignorant about the level of football in America and that Brits perceive themselves to be superior to Americans.

Of course, most of this is true. Whether Brits choose to admit it or not, the fact is that most people in the UK consume an American culture. Whether it’s the American TV shows on British television, the fast food culture of pizza and hamburgers, the American music you listen to on Radio 1 or and the American-influenced fashion that you wear, the British culture is morphing into the United States of England every day.

This hypocrisy is what infuriates many Americans. Brits consume American culture and respect it, but Brits don’t give football played by Americans the respect it deserves.

Thus sets the stage for the England against USA friendly scheduled for this evening. If you see the Americans playing with a style of zest and verve that is uncommon in friendly matches, now you know why. And if the U.S. can pull off a shock and beat England, expect to see a tirade of “I told you so” from Americans across the Internet in the days and weeks to come. This is something that American players and fans would love more than anything: To earn and receive the respect that they deserve.