Comment: Capital losses for Everton

Last updated : 16 November 2004 By Austin Rathe
After such a great start to the season, Everton's past two matches have
ended in defeat both Of which came in London ,no surprise there I hear
you cry!

The weekend match with Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side was a much
tougher and closer match than I or most other folk would have predicted
only losing 1-0 to a great goal from Dutch star Arjen Robben in a match
where Everton did more than hold their own against the big names Of
Chelsea.

This was the Toffee's first away defeat and Chelsea knew that
they would have to work hard to earn the win against a well organised
Everton side but unfortunately for David Moyes they did and we left
Stamford Bridge empty handed but with compliments ringing in our ears,
from the impressed Mourinho, who not only praised the Everton team but
also gave Mention to the 2000 or so Everton supporters who backed their
team throughout saying that The home support should be more like the
Toffee's support,nice thing to say. He also mentioned that this Was the hardest game that they have played all season, Robben said the same,which must mean
Everton are doing something right!

Everton stayed in the capital for their Carling Cup clash with Arsenal (reserves!) and welcomed back Richard Wright in goals against his old club.At first I thought we had signed Neil Sullivan for the match...well according to the Evening Times in Scotland we had! The story Went as follows,"plans to rest Nigel Martyn have hit a snag. Replacement keeper Neil Sullivan's back injury
could rule him out against his former club. Did Neil sneak on the bus
when someone Was not looking or maybe through Keith Wyness' transfer
window in his office?
I know we all make mistake's....I should know I have made one or two in my time!

Back to the Carling Cup match with Arsenal reserves, I took a tip from Robbie Williams and listened to the match on the radio, well Catherine's hi-fi to be honest and it sounded like A really good match apart from the score line (Ah, the minor details... - Ed).
Arsenal could send this second string out and give most of the Premiership a beating but that does not help Everton's cause in their quest For a trophy or a route in to Europe, now we will just have to win the Premiership... I mean FA Cup,it's all these early morning alarm calls you know!

I was a bit upset by the result and was really down about going out of the Cup but then Andy texted me saying cancel to hotel in Cardiff and that brought a smile to my face...just! Arsenal have some really talented youngsters
and the boy's and the guy's who scored the goals Owusu-Abeyie and Lupoli are names that may be big stars in the future. Who said you can't win things with kids? I know of two Arsenal fans that will be looking for me this morning!
Next up for Everton was a trip to play my old mate Eric Black's team Birmingham City.

The Blues were looking to give Steve Bruce a Merseyside double after beating Liverpool 1-0 last Week, but Everton dug in and got a 1-0 win that they just about deserved thanks to a Thomas Gravesen penalty, give this man a new deal now!

Speaking of new deals, how delighted were we all to see that the gaffer, our main man David Moyes was has signed a new deal till 2009,given time and the money that he deserves he will turn Everton into a top six side and maybe one day a European club again, fingers crossed!

Before all that we have another hard match this Saturday with the visit of our old friend Tommy Radzinski and his Fulham team come calling to Goodison for what should be another very hard match. Before I go I would like to pay
my respects to two men who are Legends and have passed away recently. First of all the Captain of our rivals who led them to various honours In his time with the club,that man is Emlyn Hughes.

Emlyn played with such passion and Determination in his time with Liverpool and England and was such an inspiration to his team Mates and those around him and even though he took the mickey out of the Scots it did not make mim a bad person! Emlyn was a credit to his profession and he will be sadly missed be all.

Another man who was a credit to his profession was our caterer Tommy Jones, he was a great man Who loved his football(Glasgow Rangers) and loved to look after all the crews all over the land, with generous helpings will be missed. He was a warm person who had a love of people and he will be greatly missed!

God Bless