McBain
Player Valuation: £80m
Everton 3
(Barry, Coleman, Lukaku)
Middlesbrough 1
(Stekelenberg OG)
Goodison Park : 1730 KO
The halfway point of the mythical 10 game judgement mark saw newly promoted Middlesbrough travel to Goodison Park for what would be veteran Gareth Barry's 600th game of football in his 20th competitive Premier League season. Only Ryan Giggs and Frank Lampard have played more games in the League according to every other report in the history of reports on this particular game.
That all the action would be confined to the first half would buck the current trend of a half time Hairdryer and subsequent turnaround from the Blues and make a dull review as it's really early here and I need some sleep mate.
It was an unchanged line-up after the weeks chatter regarding the Barkley sub from the Sunderland game. Confidence placed in young Ross it seems to turn it around and proving Koeman's wise counsel in motivation and the general use of common sense not seen in seasons gone.
'Boro started on the front foot, looking sprightly early, and the familiar slow start took Everton a while to foray in the visitors half. Boro would capitalise 20 minutes in with a seemingly innocuous cross, a Negredo bit of snide, and a Stek own goal. He was fouled surely, but a stony faced Lee Mason saw no such infringement and awarded the visitors first blood.
It sparked the match and the crowd into a frenzy and after a dangerous corner only minutes later up popped who but the one and only Barry at the back post to stroke in the equaliser for the 52nd of his illustrious career and his 2nd of the campaign. 1-1 and Everton looked in the ascendancy. There was some lovely inter passing and enterprise in defence, it was shaping up to be a good match. It wasn't until the 41st minute that Bolasies deft lay off found the surging Coleman who sprung into the box, beat Ayala all ends up and slot low and firm past Valdes with a left foot. Magic from the Irishman who repaid Koeman's faith after a short lay-off in style.
Four minutes later and Bolasie got into good position again, checking back to send a left footer to the back post which must have shaved the onside Lukaku's boot laces to leave Valdes stranded for the second time in the half. It's almost exactly the opposite of last season.
3-1 at the break and that's how it would stay, with neither side troubling each others goal meaningfully. Everton sat back, seemingly allowing Boro into the game but the excellent Gana Gueye again would break up play superbly. Barkely had a couple of sniffs to add to his much better showing, and Lukaku wouldn't see out the match, suffering a knock early on in the half and introducing on-loan Ecuadorian Enner Valencia for his first taste of Goodison. Deulofeu came on for the fairly ineffective Mirallas and Cleverly had a 90 second cameo to allow the departure of Barry, who was warmly applauded by the crowd.
There it would finish, and that makes it 4 wins and draw for the new Manager. Could you have asked for a better start after a slightly stuttered Pre Season? Not since done '78/79 apparently. We move into 2nd on the table after only 5 games and confidence in what we can do has be given the perfect shot in the arm. Lots more football to be played, and it's great to hear the Goodison crowd again in fine voice.
I might get to hear myself properly one day.
COYB
(Barry, Coleman, Lukaku)
Middlesbrough 1
(Stekelenberg OG)
Goodison Park : 1730 KO
The halfway point of the mythical 10 game judgement mark saw newly promoted Middlesbrough travel to Goodison Park for what would be veteran Gareth Barry's 600th game of football in his 20th competitive Premier League season. Only Ryan Giggs and Frank Lampard have played more games in the League according to every other report in the history of reports on this particular game.
That all the action would be confined to the first half would buck the current trend of a half time Hairdryer and subsequent turnaround from the Blues and make a dull review as it's really early here and I need some sleep mate.
It was an unchanged line-up after the weeks chatter regarding the Barkley sub from the Sunderland game. Confidence placed in young Ross it seems to turn it around and proving Koeman's wise counsel in motivation and the general use of common sense not seen in seasons gone.
'Boro started on the front foot, looking sprightly early, and the familiar slow start took Everton a while to foray in the visitors half. Boro would capitalise 20 minutes in with a seemingly innocuous cross, a Negredo bit of snide, and a Stek own goal. He was fouled surely, but a stony faced Lee Mason saw no such infringement and awarded the visitors first blood.
It sparked the match and the crowd into a frenzy and after a dangerous corner only minutes later up popped who but the one and only Barry at the back post to stroke in the equaliser for the 52nd of his illustrious career and his 2nd of the campaign. 1-1 and Everton looked in the ascendancy. There was some lovely inter passing and enterprise in defence, it was shaping up to be a good match. It wasn't until the 41st minute that Bolasies deft lay off found the surging Coleman who sprung into the box, beat Ayala all ends up and slot low and firm past Valdes with a left foot. Magic from the Irishman who repaid Koeman's faith after a short lay-off in style.
Four minutes later and Bolasie got into good position again, checking back to send a left footer to the back post which must have shaved the onside Lukaku's boot laces to leave Valdes stranded for the second time in the half. It's almost exactly the opposite of last season.
3-1 at the break and that's how it would stay, with neither side troubling each others goal meaningfully. Everton sat back, seemingly allowing Boro into the game but the excellent Gana Gueye again would break up play superbly. Barkely had a couple of sniffs to add to his much better showing, and Lukaku wouldn't see out the match, suffering a knock early on in the half and introducing on-loan Ecuadorian Enner Valencia for his first taste of Goodison. Deulofeu came on for the fairly ineffective Mirallas and Cleverly had a 90 second cameo to allow the departure of Barry, who was warmly applauded by the crowd.
There it would finish, and that makes it 4 wins and draw for the new Manager. Could you have asked for a better start after a slightly stuttered Pre Season? Not since done '78/79 apparently. We move into 2nd on the table after only 5 games and confidence in what we can do has be given the perfect shot in the arm. Lots more football to be played, and it's great to hear the Goodison crowd again in fine voice.
I might get to hear myself properly one day.
COYB
