We were dismal in the 1st half, but fairly well dominated the 2nd. Leighton Baines cleared off the line our two good chances to win today’s game, one from Tylor and one from Zogbia.

If there were some of our player that looking good today, a special credits are given to N’ Zogbia and Guthrie in particular, while Bassong again did a good job when he replaced Enrique who had been awful (again).

Playing as right-back again, Taylor had some dodgy moments defensively, but he then provided the inspiration for the fightback, and took his goal superbly from Geremi’s cross.

Everton get the first goal of the game today when Nicky Butt scythed down Leighton Baines in the box. Arteta take the 17th-minute penalty and stroked it into the bottom right-hand corner.

They doubled the lead in the 35th minute after another dreadful performance by Collocini who went to sleep and was failed to keep the ball in his possession to allowing Marouane Fellaini flicked the ball into the net.

Taylor’s superbly header giving us a hope in the injury-time after Geremi swung in a superb right-wing cross to the far post.

United’s completed the unpredictable comeback early in the second-half. This time it was Taylor who races on the right and provide a neat crossing the ball back to Duff, who beat Howard from eight yards.

A terrific point in the circumstances that hopefully provides a platform for the upcoming home games. And in an interview after the game, quoted from the official site, JK said he was happy to take a point given we were two goals down.

“I want to leave this club in a really good way whenever that is and make sure they are in a better state.” Joe added, “This is a team who had lost five out of seven and morale was rock bottom. It would have been wonderful to get a win today but it’s great that we showed so much desire.”

EVERTON
Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines; Arteta, Osman, Fellaini, Pienaar (Vaughan, 84); Saha (Anichebe, 72), Yakubu.
Subs not used: Nash, Yobo, Castillo, Valente, Rodwell.

NEWCASTLE UNITED
Given, Taylor, Coloccini, Cacapa, Enrique (Bassong, 39); Geremi (Ameobi, 75), Butt, Guthrie, N’Zogbia; Duff, Owen.
Subs not used: Harper, Edgar, Doninger, Donaldson, Xisco.

Referee: Howard Webb (Sheffield)

The post Newcastle fought back to stuns Everton at Goodison Park appeared first on Magpieszone.

Toon Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Goodison Park saw the difference between a team with something to fight for against Newcastle team with nothing to lose and just play to complete the season off. To have lost Martins, Viduka, Geremi and Barton in the squad makes it even worst as we don’t have enough back-up.

Being out-played and fell behind in the 29th minute, we looked out of inspiration without supplies from Geremi and no Martins to break the Everton defence. Carroll is still far away from being decent Premier League striker although he looks promising for the future.

Michael Owen is being push as the target men once again but couple of times to have misunderstanding with his striking partner Carroll to make it easy for Toffees defenders to keep him quiet most of the game. In midfield, we are one player less with Alan Smith playing as he always be, useless.

“Everton are an inspiration to everyone.” KK said after the game, “They haven’t got a massive squad but they made good investment in the summer with players such as Yakubu, Lescott and Jagielka.”

“They have a got a good squad and a great togetherness and a lot of very good professionals. But if they can do it then why can’t we?” Toon gaffer added more.

True, we have to create the new Newcastle team next season, a team with togetherness and feel responsible in every match. Keegan said we will offload Carr, Ramage and Troisi next season, but what about Smith, Duff and…. N’Zogbia?

About Peter Ramage, I don’t have bad feeling for him, for me he’s such a player as he is but since Keegan have a little too many in our defence, I can understand why Keegan decide to give Ramage the chance for him to look for more opportunities to play more often somewhere with other team.

The same thing with Troisi. Although for some games he looks decent player, but I don’t think he can win first team squad in near future, so it may good for him to look elsewhere. Carr, well…what can I say about him?

Smith and Duff defenitely off, they have finished long before and they should go too. Zoggy, hard to decide. He’s one of the Toon player who is lively yesterday and he also create the one and only goal for us from a penalty spot. I hope Keegan has the plan for him and can keep him next season. Charles still worth to keep in Black-and-White, as I think Duff will packing and leave next season.

The post If They Can Do It, We Also Should Do the Same appeared first on Magpieszone.

This game also become the first senior appearance for Toon January signing Ben Tozer on the bench. Peter Ramage, Cacapa and Kazenga Lua-Lua also name among the substitutes with Andy Carroll starts in front.

It’s clear enough that we are definetely can’t do much in the early minutes of the first half, with the Evertonians keep attacking us. Yakubu gets past the challenge of Butt in the first 10 minutes with Duff come to covering but only loses out to the Nigerian, poor defending from Newcastle.

Another comedy in our defence happens in 20 minutes of play when Fernandes delivers a whipped free-kick with Harper tries to fist clear, the ball rushing into the path of Osman who turns the ball with his back off the target. You wouldn’t believe how we defending his effort. Faye felt to the ground after a collision with Harper! Luckily, Osman’ hooked effort bounces wide off the target.

It was a matter of time before Toffees finally breaking through and scores. In the half an hour mark, Pienaar deliver his free-kick into United penalty area and it’s the same scenario happening again like the Chelsea match where this time it’s the unmarked Yakubu who climbs highest to head beyond Harper. Oh dear…

In this first period, only N’Zogbia who looks decent and have couple of teasing cross where none of Toon target men was even near to accept the invitations. We also have a bit of luck not to get two goals behid after an offside decision canceling Yakubu seconds.

In the second half, we have another lucky gift when Peter Walton gave us a penalty two minutes from the restart and Owen convert it well under Tim Howard.

But, it was just that. The home side taking the command back soon after that. It takes a combination of Harper, Carroll and Butt to clear the danger that coming from Portugal midfielder Manuel Fernandes free-kick. We have not much chance but have to park the bus once again.

I can hardly believe how poor we are today and keep conceding from set pieces. Their second goal coming from another Toffee’s free-kick, and it’s Fernandes delivering to the far post where Taylor wasn’t able to get enough of it to leave Joleon Lescott turns home for his 10th of the season. Oh dear…OH DEAR…

To make it quick as I’m not really in the good mod today to make a long match report, we are flattened by their third goal 8 minutes from final whistle from a penalty spot. Yakubu nets his second this time. Triple OH DEAR…

So that’s it, the end of our 2007-2008 season which is another season to forget…forever.

TEAMS

Everton FC:
Tim Howard, Joseph Yobo, Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville (c), Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman, Yakubu, Manuel Fernandes, Lee Carsley, Victor Anichebe
Subs: Leighton Baines, Thomas Gravesen, Daniel Gosling, Stefan Wessels, Jack Rodwell

Newcastle United FC:
Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Steve Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye, Nicky Butt, Charles N’Zogbia, Damien Duff, Alan Smith, Michael Owen (c), Alan Smith, Andy Carroll
Subs: Fraser Forster, Claudio Cacapa, Peter Ramage, Ben Tozer, Kazenga LuaLua

Referee: Peter Walton

The post Everton 3 vs Newcastle United 1 – Match Report appeared first on Magpieszone.

Without Mark Viduka (Achilles), Joey Barton (bail conditions), James Milner (foot) and Emre, we will have short options in midfield and one target man up front. I prefer we start with Carrol and Martins rather than let Smith making trouble from the start.

This last fixture of the season could be the last chance for N’Zogbia to proven he’s still worth to be include in Keegan next season rebuilding plans. If we want this such ‘talent’ to stay, I think we better let him start the game, so he can feel still needed by his gaffer and useful for the team.

For the home side, Mikael Arteta (stomach), Tim Cahill (foot) and James Vaughan (knee) are all still missing. But to be honest, they have wonderful home record against us in the last three seasons under the previous managers. We have losts there three times in 2004/05 lost 2-0, 2005/06 lost 1-0 and in 2006/07 lost 3-0.

Our last win there was back in 2001/02 season with goals from Bellamy, Solano and Clarence Acuna. Keegan’s record there while managing United were also not too impressive. Our first 2-0 win there in premierships years was in season 1993/94 thanks to goals from Andy Cole and Peter Beardsley.

Referee for this match is Peter Walton who also incharge in our two away defeats at Derby County and Liverpool, could this will be our third under his command? I hope not!

Below is our complete Premierships record at Goodison Park:
2006/07: 0-3
2005/06: 0-1
2004/05: 0-2
2003/04: 2-2 Shearer 2 (2 pens)
2002/03: 1-2 Robert
2001/02: 3-1 Bellamy, Solano, Acuna
2000/01: 1-1 Unsworth og
1999/00: 2-0 Hughes, Dyer
1998/99: 0-1
1997/98: 0-0
1997/98: 1-0 Rush (FA Cup)
1996/97: 0-2
1995/96: 3-1 Ferdinand, Lee, Kitson
1994/95: 0-1 (FA Cup)
1994/95: 0-2
1993/94: 2-0 Cole, Beardsley

The post Newcastle Hope to End the Season In Style and Beat Toffees appeared first on Magpieszone.

The only similarity between Keegan and Kendall is that both have come to their club as a player before later become their manager.

Howard Kendall who is also a Geordie lad, born 22 May 1946 in Ryton, Tyne and Wear, has an uncle Harry Taylor who played for Newcastle United and Fulham in the 1950s. He made his name to famous with Everton, signed for them in a £80,000 transfer fees in March 1967. Originally played as defender he was moved into midfield with Alan Ball and Colin Harvey.

In May 1981 Kendall returned to Everton as player-manager, played four games before finally retiring as a player. As a manger, he is struggled and was on the verge of being sacked in January 1984. He left Everton in 1987 to manage Athletic Bilbao in Spain.

He turned down an offer to manage Newcastle United in 1989 to remain in Spain just to get sacked in November 1989. The following month he returned to England as manager of Manchester City, before returning to Everton in November 1990.

He was less successful the second time around, resigning in December 1993 after a row about money for signings. After another journey as the manager of other club like Greek club Xanthi, Sheffield United and Notts County, he made the third return to Everton August 1997, but resigned at the end of the season having only managed to avoid relegation on the final day of the season.

As you noticed, Howard second return to Everton was innitially have no back-up plan from the Everton boards. King Kev return as the manager of Newcastle United is because he was chosen by the United boards and owner. King Kev will have all the back-up of money to signed any players he like.

I also don’t think that Kendall has the closer relationships between him and the Everton fans despite his “Holy Trinity” with Ball and Harvey. Keegan was having the soul connection with the Toon Army, to get the ranks of the Messiah was a genuine prove of what Keegan’s means for the Toon Army.

I know it’s very early to say that Keegan will be more successful on his second attempt as the manager of Newcastle, but with the significant back-up from Mike Ashley and with the help of luck, he will make it this time. He has an “Unfinished business” at Newcastle, and that is to bring the silverwares for Newcastle United.

The post The Difference Between King Kev and Howard Kendall appeared first on Magpieszone.