Just got back from the game. £27 (£1 off for a restricted view. I had a post right in front of my nose, but second half I moved to a different seat and had a better view. Anymore doubts why we need to move from Goodison was finally nailed there and then.
Ok the game. Bit disappointed that the side was the same side that completed last season, ok I know Baines was injured and Pienaar was not match fit, but why didn't Jagielka play? Why pay £4million for a player and not play him, seems an expensive squad player to me.
Ok my assessment.
GK - Tim Howard
Did well, disappointed with his kicking though
DF - Tony Hibbert
Solid as always
DF - Joseph Yobo
Looked shaky for some reason, not his usual self.
DF - Alan Stubbs
Man is a machine
DF - Lescott
Marauding Maradona moments, distribution though was straight out of the School of Unsworth though.
MF - Carlsey
Seems to have the knack of getting something in the way to disrupt the play, surely though we would have benefited more from Jagielka.
MF - Neville
Did well first half
MF - Arteta
Magic, disappointed that he never went for goal late on
MF - Osman
Scored a good goal, but for me is always the weakest link
AT - Johnson
Very little understanding of where Anichebe was going to play the ball, but I will get to that soon. Unlucky not to score, but for me doesn't do himself any favours when he goes down far too easily for me. He is not going to get a penalty, so if its a foul or not, try and stay on your feet Andy.
AT - Anichebe
Not sure what it is about this guy, but I don't like his attitude. I think his work rate is laboured, he is not aware of the players around him, he goes down too easily and seems to have this chip on his shoulder. Ok, so he scrambled in a goal, but again his overall play is sadly lacking. What Moyes said last season is still apparent today.
Also when Pienaar showed some energy and looked for the one two, Anichebe seems to lack the skills to perform the one two, and stopped the ball, killing the pace, turning and just running into trouble.
For me, he is 4th place striker behind AJ, Vaughan, Faddy. Unfortunately the other 2 are injured so we are kinda stuck with him unless Moyes signs Yakubu.
Don't say I am being harsh on the lad, but he isn't going to make it unless he ups his workrate and show's some more energy. I for one hope he does, because he does have something, but not really what I expect from a Premiership starter.
Subs
Pienarr
Looked nice and tidy, energetic, skillful and had a hand in the second goal.
One thing though that bugged me, and that was the immense fog of tobacco smoke that greeted me when I exited the stadium into the fresh air. Not nice.
With regards to the result, very happy. But we need signings and quick, because I never saw much improvement on last season, and that worried me.