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Post by Avinalaff on Nov 22, 2014 17:17:27 GMT
If Evertonians arrived to laud Leon Osman for his longevity and loyalty on a landmark occasion, they departed grateful for his enduring quality. The midfielder joined the elite band of players who have represented the Merseyside club 400 times and marked the occasion in style.
His winner was a reminder that, over 11 years, he has forged a reputation as a goalscoring midfielder and his eye for an opening was apparent again. Having hardly ventured forward as he deputised for the injured Gareth Barry, he materialised in the West Ham box to determine the game with its finest strike. Romelu Lukaku and Mauro Zárate had traded goals which, in their different ways, both required a touch of fortune. Osman’s did not.
This amounted to a clash of styles. West Ham’s more aesthetic reinvention was put on hold as Sam Allardyce reverted to an old-school assortment of centre-backs and other six-footers, playing an unashamedly direct brand of football.
Even if it seemed a rudimentary approach, Andy Carroll’s dominance in the air offered the promise of success and both team selection and tactics amounted to a pragmatic response to injury problems.
The Hammers manager recalibrated his side as he was deprived of five of the six midfielders and forwards from his previous starting lineup and the lone survivor, Mark Noble, limped off in the second half.
But initially Everton were unsettled, especially by Carroll, and lacked an attacking outlet of their own, with Leighton Baines sidelined by a hamstring strain and the less adventurous Tony Hibbert standing in. It was understandable, therefore, when their first notable chance stemmed from the opposite flank. Séamus Coleman reached the byline and cut the ball back for Steven Naismith, who skied his shot.
A more clinical finish came from Everton’s most expensive player. Lukaku chested the ball down and defeated Adrián after Ross Barkley’s shot was deflected into his path as Winston Reid and James Collins slid into block. West Ham could be doubly aggrieved that defiant defending inadvertently led to a goal, as Lukaku was offside.
There was no doubt the Belgian strayed too soon when he next put the ball in the net. Naismith prodded a pass beyond the stretched Hammers defence. Barkley left it for Lukaku, who duly finished. Replays showed both the Belgian and the Englishmen were offside and the goal was duly disallowed.
The referee Mark Clattenburg continued to play a prominent part. He was required to adjudicate after a melee involving virtually every outfield player when James McCarthy clattered into Morgan Amalfitano. It resulted in cautions for the Ireland international and Reid.
Five minutes into the second half, Allardyce abandoned his new-look 5-3-2 formation as he made a double change. It soon paid dividends. Zárate veered infield and, while his rather tame shot seemed headed for Tim Howard, it took a sizeable deflection off Phil Jagielka, leaving the goalkeeper motionless as the Argentinian levelled.
McCarthy came close to restoring Everton’s lead with a curling shot that just cleared the crossbar, but West Ham were the more coherent side after Allardyce’s double change and it was almost reflected in the scoreline. Howard did superbly to push Amalfitano’s shot past the post. The other replacement, Matt Jarvis, fizzed an effort into the side netting.
Instead, an Everton change proved decisive. Roberto Martínez had introduced Samuel Eto’o and the Cameroonian set up the decider. Clattenburg, who had endeared himself to neither side earlier, merits credit for playing the advantage when Collins clattered into Lukaku as the striker released Eto’o. He centred for Osman to slide in his shot.
Howard was required again to deny Collins an equaliser but, despite some nervy moments, Everton recorded just their second home league win of the season. |
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Post by jimmy on Nov 22, 2014 18:44:33 GMT
A pity we didn't keep a clean sheet but the win is important. Howard was fumbling throughout so didn't think we would go the 90 without letting one in but unlucky how it happened. I reckon we just scraped it and deserved the win but a decent game.
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Post by dorf on Nov 23, 2014 11:46:57 GMT
From what I saw, Howard looked dodgy when going for crosses. The time he tried to punch the ball when there were a clutter of players in fron of him was ridiculous. McCarthy should have been off and I didn't like to see Barkley dive. We were probably fortunately but we are due a bit of luck.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2014 16:47:02 GMT
Unfortunately, I missed the match yesterday as I was working, but was delighted to learn that we had won. I don't know how good we were, but look forward to watching the highlights in the 'Match Room' when it is up. Well done Big Rom and Ossie, for all those who wrote him off - I think he proving his worth as an decent player right now.  |
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Post by skyehammer on Nov 25, 2014 9:05:44 GMT
Hi Guys ,
I joined ' Love Everton ' in memory of my best childhood mate , Gwilym Roberts who was a staunch Evertonian .
We both grew up on Anglesey , I went back home recently to visit his Mother , Betty who is 83 now and suffers with her health .
Gwil died of Motor Neurone Disease just over four years ago now - that's why I'm here .
His Uncle Emlyn was a Steward at Everton , and Gwil and I stayed with him and his Wife in 1968 , and he took us to our very first game , Everton v Ipswich in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup .
Our School in Amlwch , Anglesey used to run trips to see Everton while we were pupils there , and I managed to persuade the organiser , our Sports Master that the West Ham fixture would be a good one to see [ I am West Ham ] and he agreed , so off we went on a Monday evening . All I could remember about it was that Brian Labone was playing as was Geoff Hurst , the only game that matches that was played in 1968 also , but I thought it was much later than that , 1971. or '72 .
My last Everton v West Ham game was back in 1999 , when you tonked us 6-0 , I'd taken my young Nephew to Goodison on a trip from Anglesey , the only West Ham win I ever saw at Goodison was the 1-2 when Brooking and Clyde Best were on the score-sheet in 1972 .
I don't get out much these days after an operation on three discs in my lower back failed to cure my problem , so I have to watch the games on ' Match Of The Day ' or BT Sport these days - we've been living on Skye these past 26 years so as you can imagine , just about everywhere is too far to go for a casual visit .
I bought a set of books from a chap on Ebay earlier on this year who happened to be from Merseyside , a lad called John and we got chatting over the net , I told him that my first ever game was Everton v Ipswich in 1968 , and along with the books came the programme from the very same match - he's an Evertonian and was at that match as well - what a lovely man he is !!
I won't give out his full name , but his Grandson received an Award from the Club recently , so you may know him , he's an excellent lad .
Anyway , back to the game on Saturday - from what MOTD would give us , it seemed like a bad tempered match starting off with the tumble/ dive from Barkley , the offside goal by Lukaku , a couple of heavy tackles on Amalfitano and that embarrassing stunt by Tomkins .
Then a game of football broke out !
It didn't seem to me that West Ham created many chances and when they did Everton were well prepared for them , if Carroll had gone to the near post instead of the back , he might have connected with that Jenkinson cross .
Apparently , Zarate played well , but I thought he was very lucky to get the goal , then your 2nd came as a result of naivety from the West Ham defence , Collins tried his best to slow things down with a foul on Lukaku , but he's a strong boy that lad of yours , and we know the rest ! It could have been 3-1 , but Eto'o shot wide from close range .
We'll have to wait for our last home game of the Season before we meet again , the 16th May , hopefully both teams will be sitting in a Champions League spot by then !!
Cheers , lads !
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