Cup runs don't come much sweeter than this -- Macclesfield, L/pool (twice), Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Manchester United, with one mighty obstacle remaining, Chelsea.
It may be remembered forever in the annals of Everton history as the most glorious of bluest feats with earnest endeavour and feisty fortitude.
David Moyes fielded a starting eleven with Louis Saha the only eyebrow-raiser. Sir Lex Ferguson, raised more than eyebrows with his team selection. Eight changes from their midweek jaunt to Oporto, all of them, according to Mr.Ferguson, a considered choice.
As a spectacle, the game was somewhat of a Dulux nature -- no pulsating vibrancy on the green canvas grass for the neutral, but pulse-racing for the mass of blue & red in attendance.
In complete honesty, there is nothing to type regarding the first-half.
The second-half had just two goalmouth incidents worthy of mention. Around the hour mark, Tim Cahill eyed a thirty-yarder, and hit a sweet low shot toward the bottom-right corner of understudy goalkeeper Ben Foster's goal. It took a bounce or two before the ball reached Foster, and the reserve keeper made a smart save to push the ball out of harms way.
The real talking point came after 68 minutes. Young reserve striker, Danny Wellbeck, predominantly playing a left-wing role, made a bee-line for the left side of the Everton penalty area, with Phil Jagielka breathing down his neck.
Wellbeck did what all decent strikers do, he cut across Jagielka which resulted in both men colliding. Would referee Mike Riley point to the spot! Every Evertonian thought the worst.
[imga=left]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45679000/jpg/_45679765_jagielka_pa.jpg[/imga]Refreshingly, Mike Riley never rewarded Man.United with a gift, and you can bet your bottom dollar, Sir Lex has crossed Mike Riley's name off his honours list.
The United manager was livid -- David Moyes can view the incident as mission accomplished.
Full time, 0-0.
After extra-time, still 0-0 -- with nothing of note to report except Patrice Evra had replaced on of the red devil twins, Fabio Da Silva (62 minutes). Ji-Sung Park relinquished his shift to Paul Scholes (66 minutes). Jack Rodwell replaced the burnt-out Louis Saha (69 minutes). Dimitar Berbatov came on for the peripheral young striker, Federico Macheda (90 minutes). And finally, James Vaughan replaced Marouane Fellaini (101 minutes).
What remained was the penalty shoot-out -- the place where men are men and nothing else matters.
It was decided that the shoot-out was to be at the Manchester end of Wembley -- six Everton players were about to become living legends.
Tim Cahill was first to the plate. The ball wouldn't sit right on the penalty spot. Aquarius was in Neptune, Evertonian minds were in turmoil.
Tim blasted the ball high over bar and it has just landed in Sydney -- the worst possible start.
United's first-taker was Dimitar Berbatov. Dimi' stepped-up like an East European pimp. He was lanquid, looked in control, but it was all kidology. His resulting spot-kick was probably the worst penalty ever witnessed. He trotted, he stalled, he tap-danced a woeful attempt. Luckily, Tom Howard had lurched the right way and the ball kindly tapped onto the American's shins -- still 0-0.
Next to put his head into the noose was Leighton Baines. He looked confident and buried a sublime left-footer to the left of the despairing Ben Foster, who dived the wrong way, 1-0 to Everton.
[imga=right]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45679000/jpg/_45679859_berbatov_getty.jpg[/imga]It was now the turn of United captain Rio Ferdinand -- could he equalise. He looked confident enough, he hit a decent low right-footer to Howard's right but USA certainly was okay. Howard made a fantastic save, low, near his right hand post, still 1-0 to Everton.
Next it was the turn of Everton captain, Phil Neville. Neville picked the ball up, threw it to referee Mike Riley who, in turn, threw it back to captain courageous. He looked assured, he looked serious. Neville despatched his kick as though he was to the manor born. Foster dived to his left, the Mancunian nestled the ball the other way. Did he celebrate, did he kiss the badge, did he act respectful, was he professionalism personified, 2-0 -- daylight !!
After one rock, you only expect another to show their-self, so it was apt for Nemanja Vidic to show his mettle. Vidic done a Berbatov shuffle and just about scored -- off the base of the inside of Tim Howards' right-hand post (Tim had dived left), 2-1 -- Everton with still one foot in the final door.
Pressure, pressure, everywhere -- who was next to step into hell's kitchen. Arise James Vaughan. James Vaughan had a determined look in his eyes, he took long'ish strides and pummelled a tremendous kick, high, to Ben Foster's left. Foster went the right way but was unable to smell what James Vaughan cooked, 3-1 -- could United recover.
Speaking as an Evertonian, it was becoming unbearable to watch, and it was upto Oliveira Anderson to score -- he had to score or it was goodnight Vienna for United.
Anderson looked capable, Anderson looked cool. He didn't disappoint the nerve-wracked red devils -- he sent Tim Howard the wrong way and slotted a low drive into Howards' right-hand corner of the net, 3-2 -- Everton still ahead.
Now it was Jags time. Phil Jagielka placed the ball purposefully. He eyed the goal, he eyed the ball, and planted a precise-peach of a low strike into Ben Fosters' bottom-left of the net -- the ball hit the net before Foster, who dived the right way, hit the ground, 4-2 -- Everton were victorious and Tim Howard was mobbed like the 4th of July.
Bless 'em all -- bless 'em all -- the Stubbs and the Round and Ray Hall
You'll get pure emotion with Moyes and no rotation
So come-on my lads bless 'em all.
Written by Les D
It may be remembered forever in the annals of Everton history as the most glorious of bluest feats with earnest endeavour and feisty fortitude.
David Moyes fielded a starting eleven with Louis Saha the only eyebrow-raiser. Sir Lex Ferguson, raised more than eyebrows with his team selection. Eight changes from their midweek jaunt to Oporto, all of them, according to Mr.Ferguson, a considered choice.
As a spectacle, the game was somewhat of a Dulux nature -- no pulsating vibrancy on the green canvas grass for the neutral, but pulse-racing for the mass of blue & red in attendance.
In complete honesty, there is nothing to type regarding the first-half.
The second-half had just two goalmouth incidents worthy of mention. Around the hour mark, Tim Cahill eyed a thirty-yarder, and hit a sweet low shot toward the bottom-right corner of understudy goalkeeper Ben Foster's goal. It took a bounce or two before the ball reached Foster, and the reserve keeper made a smart save to push the ball out of harms way.
The real talking point came after 68 minutes. Young reserve striker, Danny Wellbeck, predominantly playing a left-wing role, made a bee-line for the left side of the Everton penalty area, with Phil Jagielka breathing down his neck.
Wellbeck did what all decent strikers do, he cut across Jagielka which resulted in both men colliding. Would referee Mike Riley point to the spot! Every Evertonian thought the worst.
[imga=left]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45679000/jpg/_45679765_jagielka_pa.jpg[/imga]Refreshingly, Mike Riley never rewarded Man.United with a gift, and you can bet your bottom dollar, Sir Lex has crossed Mike Riley's name off his honours list.
The United manager was livid -- David Moyes can view the incident as mission accomplished.
Full time, 0-0.
After extra-time, still 0-0 -- with nothing of note to report except Patrice Evra had replaced on of the red devil twins, Fabio Da Silva (62 minutes). Ji-Sung Park relinquished his shift to Paul Scholes (66 minutes). Jack Rodwell replaced the burnt-out Louis Saha (69 minutes). Dimitar Berbatov came on for the peripheral young striker, Federico Macheda (90 minutes). And finally, James Vaughan replaced Marouane Fellaini (101 minutes).
What remained was the penalty shoot-out -- the place where men are men and nothing else matters.
It was decided that the shoot-out was to be at the Manchester end of Wembley -- six Everton players were about to become living legends.
Tim Cahill was first to the plate. The ball wouldn't sit right on the penalty spot. Aquarius was in Neptune, Evertonian minds were in turmoil.
Tim blasted the ball high over bar and it has just landed in Sydney -- the worst possible start.
United's first-taker was Dimitar Berbatov. Dimi' stepped-up like an East European pimp. He was lanquid, looked in control, but it was all kidology. His resulting spot-kick was probably the worst penalty ever witnessed. He trotted, he stalled, he tap-danced a woeful attempt. Luckily, Tom Howard had lurched the right way and the ball kindly tapped onto the American's shins -- still 0-0.
Next to put his head into the noose was Leighton Baines. He looked confident and buried a sublime left-footer to the left of the despairing Ben Foster, who dived the wrong way, 1-0 to Everton.
[imga=right]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45679000/jpg/_45679859_berbatov_getty.jpg[/imga]It was now the turn of United captain Rio Ferdinand -- could he equalise. He looked confident enough, he hit a decent low right-footer to Howard's right but USA certainly was okay. Howard made a fantastic save, low, near his right hand post, still 1-0 to Everton.
Next it was the turn of Everton captain, Phil Neville. Neville picked the ball up, threw it to referee Mike Riley who, in turn, threw it back to captain courageous. He looked assured, he looked serious. Neville despatched his kick as though he was to the manor born. Foster dived to his left, the Mancunian nestled the ball the other way. Did he celebrate, did he kiss the badge, did he act respectful, was he professionalism personified, 2-0 -- daylight !!
After one rock, you only expect another to show their-self, so it was apt for Nemanja Vidic to show his mettle. Vidic done a Berbatov shuffle and just about scored -- off the base of the inside of Tim Howards' right-hand post (Tim had dived left), 2-1 -- Everton with still one foot in the final door.
Pressure, pressure, everywhere -- who was next to step into hell's kitchen. Arise James Vaughan. James Vaughan had a determined look in his eyes, he took long'ish strides and pummelled a tremendous kick, high, to Ben Foster's left. Foster went the right way but was unable to smell what James Vaughan cooked, 3-1 -- could United recover.
Speaking as an Evertonian, it was becoming unbearable to watch, and it was upto Oliveira Anderson to score -- he had to score or it was goodnight Vienna for United.
Anderson looked capable, Anderson looked cool. He didn't disappoint the nerve-wracked red devils -- he sent Tim Howard the wrong way and slotted a low drive into Howards' right-hand corner of the net, 3-2 -- Everton still ahead.
Now it was Jags time. Phil Jagielka placed the ball purposefully. He eyed the goal, he eyed the ball, and planted a precise-peach of a low strike into Ben Fosters' bottom-left of the net -- the ball hit the net before Foster, who dived the right way, hit the ground, 4-2 -- Everton were victorious and Tim Howard was mobbed like the 4th of July.
Bless 'em all -- bless 'em all -- the Stubbs and the Round and Ray Hall
You'll get pure emotion with Moyes and no rotation
So come-on my lads bless 'em all.
Written by Les D
