30/09/06: Everton 1 City 1Updated: October 3rd, 2007
Nothing pretty about this game, but after the 1-0 defeat at Goodison last season this is an important point gained.
Pearce’s post-match comments about “stickability” earned him an instant place in the Urban Dictionary, but you wonder how long it will be before “Doing a Barton” makes an appearance.
I doubt many outside the media were shocked or even bothered by Barton’s flash. What is shocking is that, according to the latest Actim ratings, Barton is now ranked the fourth best midfielder and the 14th best player in the Premiership.
Sky’s match stats can be found here, while possibly the best insight of the game came from Toffeeweb.com:
“The fact was that, with every substitution Pearce made, the better City got while, with the possible exception of Anichebe, Moyes’s changes had the opposite effect”.
Is it just me, or is the way Pearce now talks about Beanie getting a tad creepy? I’m not too sure what to make of the whole Beanie thing at the moment. While it still has the potential to take on cult status, I suspect the novelty will soon wear thin.
Plus I keep thinking of the ‘cheeky monkey’ sketch on I’m Alan Partridge and imagining Pearce throttling the poor stuffed horse after the first defeat shouting: “Cheeky Beanie’s made me lose three points boys and girls.”
~ News that City will hold a press conference on Tuesday has caused a buzz on the talkboards. My own idle speculation can be found at the bottom of the page.
Match reports
Everton 1 Manchester City 1 (MEN)
The aftermath may overshadow a result which was tough luck on Everton, who had enjoyed most of the decent chances in game which erupted into life after a miserable start, with Johnson denied a second by Richard Dunne’s superb goalline clearance.
Richards rescues a point for City (Sky)
For all City’s effort, they seemed destined for defeat, but Corradi’s flick-on in the box fell perfectly to Richards on his right foot and he rifled a volley off the bar and down over the line to make it 1-1 in the very last second of the match.
Barton in hot water again (Sunday Times)
The City midfielder, Joey Barton, a former Everton schoolboy who was barracked throughout the game by a section of the crowd, carried the celebrations too far when he bared his backside to the home fans before being dragged away by a teammate. The police are involved again in City’s affairs.
Barton’s blue moon lowers the tone of City celebrations (Independent)
The result was surely of greater significance to City, who avoided slipping to a fifth consecutive away defeat - and 12th in their last 13. It was more than they deserved, because Everton’s positive approach should have been rewarded by three points on balance of play, but City at least represented resilient opposition.
Draw snatched from the jaws of victory (ToffeeWeb)
The fact was that, with every substitution Pearce made, the better City got while, with the possible exception of Anichebe, Moyes’s changes had the opposite effect.
Everton 1-1 Man City (BBC)
“We didn’t get the ball high enough up the pitch to service our one forward, Georgios Samaras,” Pearce said. “When Georgios hit the post we thought our opportunity may have gone, but we got the goal and I thought we deserved something from the game.”
Barton’s gesture overshadows late City rescue act (Guardian)
The match ought to have been well beyond City’s reach… with Johnson, Tim Cahill, Joleon Lescott and Leon Osman all squandering presentable openings to extend the lead Everton pilfered on the stroke of half time.
Everton 1 Man City 1 (Sunday Mirror)
Last month Richards angrily threw his short at the manager when he was replaced at Reading. Yesterday the 18-year-old was kissing the badge, Pearce declaring: “Micah is so big he could jump to the moon if he wanted and I’m pleased for him. But I’m also pleased that they gave me some stickability out there. That is what we have been lacking.”
Player ratings
The usual uneven mix of ratings. The Sunday Mirror reporter completely went off on one, giving Corradi and Samaras a 3 and Barton a 4, while The Sunday Times described Miller as “ineffective” then gave him a 7. This week I’ve included the ratings of Arjan Van Schotte from mancityfans.net for the simple reason that a typical City fan seems to be a better judge of player performances than a typical journalist.
The ratings come from (in order): the Evening News, Sunday Times, Arjan Van Schotte, Sunday Mirror, Sky and Sky Your Rating
Weaver: 8, 7, 9, 7, 9, 9.4 (av:8.2)
Made two or three vital stops but luck wasn’t on his side when Distin deflected Johnson’s shot for the vital first goal (MEN)
Made a string of fine saves (Sky)
Didn’t do much wrong and made a couple of good saves (AVS)
Richards: 7, 8, 8, 5, 7, 7.9 (av: 7.2)
Magnificent volley earned Blues a point though after his attacking instincts had been kept in check (MEN)
Great goal (Sky)
Best header of a ball we have. Sometimes get caught out of position but did reasonably well. Great finish (AVS)
Dunne: 9, 6, 8, 8, 7, 8.2 (av: 7.7)
Produced one of the great goal-line clearances to prevent Johnson scoring a second. Was a colossus all afternoon (MEN)
Caught the eye with a series of thunderous clearances (MEN)
Great stop on the line (Sky)
Fought off pretty much everything thrown at him (AVS)
Distin: 7, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7.2 (av: 6.5)
Not far behind the skipper. He and Dunne have makings of one of best pairings in the Premiership (MEN)
Fairly solid (Sky)
Ball watching for the goal. Other than that did OK. (AVS)
Jordan: 6, 6, 5, 5, 6, 6.4 (av: 5.7)
Not unduly worried by Everton’s narrow approach but not much going forward through a packed midfield (MEN)
Safe display (Sky)
Not good enough. Too slow and his positioning was poor. (AVS)
Sinclair: 6, 5, 6, 4, 5, 5.7 (av: 5.3)
Got through his usual quota of hard work but not able to augment the one-man attack like Pearce might have hoped (MEN)
Anonymous in attack (Sky)
Quiet (AVS)
Barton: 6, 6, 7, 4, 7, 7.8 (6.3)
One of his less effective games both in terms of influencing the play and in his delivery of free kicks and corners (MEN)
Looked fortunate to pick up a booking for a two-footed lunge (Sky)
Determined display (Sky)
Standard Barton stuff. Simple and generally effective (AVS)
Hamann (Reyna 77): 5, 5, 7, 5, 6, 5.8 (av: 5.6)
One free kick that narrowly missed the target but he still looks like he is settling in to new surroundings and teammates (MEN)
Off the pace (Sky)
Rarely gave the ball away (AVS)
Ireland (Corradi 57): 6, 5, 7, 5, 5, 5.7 (av: 5.5)
Looked the part both in terms of his passing and his willingness to run for the cause. Unlucky to be taken off (MEN)
Disappointing (Sky)
Bright and eager. Was impressed by his defensive stuff (AVS)
Miller (Beasley 66): 5, 7, 6, 4, 6, 6.5 (av: 5.8)
Not his day as he forgot the lessons taught about tracking back. Didn’t punch his weight as he had done against West Ham (MEN)
Did well (Sky)
Ineffective (Sunday Times)
One good run, little else (AVS)
Samaras: 5, 6, 6, 3, 7, 7.3 (av: 5.7)
Hit post and missed glorious second half chance to level. Looked uncomfortable being asked to lead the line on his own (MEN)
Ever-threatening (Sky)
Not much opportunity to shine. Fluffed our best chance of the game but hit the post later with a good shot (AVS)
Subs:
Corradi (Ireland 57): 6, 7, 6, 3, 6, 6.4 (av: 5.7)
Gave help where it was needed namely with flick on for goal (MEN)
Wasted City’s best chance of the match late on (Sky)
Helped the revival (Sky)
Caused them a few problems, great flicks, too slow (AVS)
Beasley (Miller 66): 6, 6, 5, 5, 6, 6.9 (av: 5.8)
Showed some decent pace and might have had a second half penalty (MEN)
Added to the attack (Sky)
Simply too lightweight and ineffective (AVS)
Reyna (Hamann 77): 5, 6, 6, 5, 7, 8.0 (av: 6.2)
Not able to make a difference in time allowed (MEN)
Made a difference (Sky)
No time (AVS)
Subs not used: Hart and Dickov