Taking Sides: Liverpool vs Everton

http://www.4thegame.com/

liverpool will be there or thereabouts.

Spurs had seven new players (bargain basement Chelsea!) and put in a pretty solid defensive display but had no midfield creativity and rarely looked dangerous going forward, Defoe aside. Who'd have thought it?

Steve Finnan on the wing looks like a patch-up job akin to Tottenham's embryo at left back. Not a huge amount of depth in that Liverpool squad right now, is there?

I like Finnan on the right wing for some reason, I know I shouldn't. I think Liverpool are a winger and a striker (at least) short of being a bet for Champs league status though. A striker being the upmost importance (I can't believe they don't have an Owen replacement contingency - my bet is Beattie)

I'm quite worried about these Man Utd rumours, it must be said.

Sit in the Main Stand at Selhurst Park and grit my teeth (thanks to Tim H for the ticket).

I didn't see yesterday's debacle (I was at work and it took a text message from TH to remind me it was even happening - it was 0-3 by then so no great further pain) but I'm sure Arsenal will do that to a dozen teams this season. I thought Carsley's goal was sweet.

We started 84-85 with a 1-4 home defeat, y'know...

http://elmundodeporte.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2004/08/17/futbol/1092756704.html

That's still half a foot in the dancing streets of Sociedad, though.

I liked it, though they all said nice things about each other all day long.

In footy news, Everton scored more goals than Liverpool, this weekend!

Bent looked like he'd rather be anywhere but SE25 at first, but this was deceptive - he's not a wild, impassionate, get-stuck-in merchant like so many less talented Blues of recent years, but rather more cool and considered. He got better and better and was ultimately running the show with Gravesen. Big Dunc came on and was rubbish as ever - moaning at teammates and unable to direct a single header. Palace were lamb-like after Tommy G's peach on the hour. I loved my afternoon in the Selhurst sun.

So...our Russian benefactor - it's not Boris Zingarevich, but his 'football-mad' son Anton. I need some convincing this is an unambiguously good thing.

Boris Zingarevich graduated from the Technological University for Pulp and Paper Industry in St. Petersburg, Russia and began his professional career as a technician at Kondopoga Pulp and Paper Mill in 1985. Four years later, Mr. Zingarevich was promoted to Production Manger of St. Petersburg Cartonboard Mill. In 1991, he started his own furniture manufacturing business with the support of friends and family. In 1992, when the state was no longer a monopolist for export sales, Mr. Zingarevich founded Ilim Pulp Enterprise as a trading company specializing in export sales of pulp and paper products. During 1994, he began acquiring pulp and paper manufacturers with the goal of establishing a vertically integrated forest products company. He was successful in this effort and Ilim Pulp Enterprise acquired majority ownership of Kotlas Pulp and Paper Mill, Bratsk Forest Industry Complex and St. Petersburg Cartonboard Mill. Mr. Zingarevich currently serves on the Board of Directors for Ilim Pulp Enterprises, which employs 36,000 people with annual sales in excess of $1 billion. The Ilim Group is the 67th largest processor of timber in the world today.

Seems he's not in the Roman 'I'm a scarily evil cunt of a shitbag twathead privatising asset-stripping thief fuckhead of a arsehole' Abramovich league, which i'd say was good for Everton.

Liverpool are back.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N146075040919-1115.htm

Everton will bounce back. It is probably right that Redknapp gets a ban.

Today I found myself thinking of Trevor Steven, and how he never convinced me. I guess I always came at him from the wrong angle.

So far, so 02-03. EFC grinding out victories (though our rampaging first-half performance was for nought last Saturday) and LFC useless away from Anfield.

What differences has Jellybean made to LFC's playing style, if any?

Mike: I fear that JB'n has made LFC less effective.

Its too early to judge Benitez's effect on the team but he couldn't make them much worse than the last couple of Houllier seasons surely?

I can't quite work out how Everton are doing it - they aren't impressing me much, but they are getting results. I'll be surprised if it lasts, and expect them to finish outside the top 6 or so.

('Gerrard')

Cahill has proven a very smart buy indeed and it's good to have Chadwick back in the ranks to provide non-pensionable support to Bent. Outside top 6, yes. But inside top half, I'm increasingly convinced.

hit the woodwork twice though* = only a matter of inches.

(*think the second time was later in the match but...)

One-Nil

There's always an unlikely team up there at this point in the season, but I'm starting to think that barring a major injury crisis, Everton could actually go the distance. Unlike, say, Charlton last year, Everton don't have a Scott Parker who's up there making everything happen* but who's going to be hoovered up by the more powerful clubs during the transfer window, and that's a big, big thing in their favour.

*Maybe Gravesen, but the sort of clubs who'd go for him are Villa, Charlton and Fulham, and why would he want to go to any of them?

The Madrid want Stevie G...

Most people here seem to think it is Urgent and Key to live in London, so Gravesen will probably want to sign for Charlton or Fulham for that reason alone. And it'll be no use any London-residing Everton supporters crying about it, either.

Morientes = good in the short term I think, I still think there may be a very cheeky bid for someone else as well (so long as it's not Kanoute)

Robert? I blooming well hope not.

11-4-3 remains our best start since 1978 when another slightly jammy effort from a midfielder outside the box won us the Goodison derby. That season we faded to a distant 4th - I'd settle for that this time.

I doubt we'll lose anyone significant next month (Gravesen gives the impression of loving it on Merseyside - God knows I didn't, but I didn't cultivate the accent like he has) and Parker is, funnily enough, someone we've been linked to. Beattie too.