Taking Sides: Liverpool vs Everton

Everton 1-0 Udinese
Simon Davies scored Everton's winner against Udinese but the Merseysiders produced a less than convincing show.
Davies stabbed home a knock down from Duncan Ferguson as the Toffees prepared for their Champions League qualifier against Villarreal on Tuesday.

Villarreal assistant coach Ruben Cousillas was at the game as Everton's lack of firepower seemed to be exposed.

Everton only scored after reverting to the high ball game and have just three goals in five pre-season friendlies.

If these are the tactics that Everton are to employ thins season, then I'll be liking them very much indeed. Football as it should be played. They have their beliefs.

Above, I also said absession when I should have said obsession. This was not an effect of my obsession, but simply a typographical error.

Peter Crouch has hurt his leg and his mum says he's not allowed to play with the rough boys for three weeks. Everton want to buy Philip Neville, but I worry that the Neville boys will be sad if they are split up.

It is a shame about Crouch, the fucking beanpole.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/4744383.stm

I refer the casual reader to the 9-0 mauling of crack Austrian transgendered electro-outfit Terre Thaemlitz, described earlier in this thread.

Neville is a bit of a bolt from the blue. I didn't expect it at all. A strange consolation prize if we fail to land Baros.

I once scored two goals against the Cubs when I was about 16.

I think they can still make it through though.

Their talents are a little bypassed when Big Dunc comes on.

Oh well, we were frequently better away from home last season - a performance like the one at Villa Park in March would see us through.

Will you make my wife your Flickr friend, please? She is trying to see the Ava pix, but is being rebuffed.

Thank you, Michael.

(I think we have ITV3 on more than any other channel).

I find it had to imagine Midsomer Murders being any longer than it seems on ITV3.

(Only a flurry of CSKA goals will break this thread digression).

Everton hard up against it. They were unfortunate that Villareal scored with 2 half chances, although V could also have had a pen. E are going to have to score at least 2 over there, a tall order, V impressed me defensively and it looks like they can create goals out of nothing. Some of their passing didn't impress me as much as it did the commentary team, they seemed to get nervous when aggressively closed down, but they may be better at home. Everton will need a large slice of luck, I think, to progress.

I like the fact they went on a Beatles tour on Tuesday. Or is it really normal for visiting European sides to do this when they're playing in Merseyside?

It would be great to see Everton progress. I was talking to my wine about this last night. I think it's only Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, Newcastle and Blackburn who have played Champions League football. Aside from wishing all Engliush teams well, it's nice to see new blood in the competition.

I wonder how this compares with Italy / Spain etc in terms of the hegemony of previous entrants. I can't be bothered to work it out.

I still laugh at the 7m quid they played for Seth Johnson.

Not a typo. Girlfriend was out. Summer work party! It was pizza, wine and football for me, lazing on the couch in my undies.

Are you making it up?

http://www.soccerbase.com/cup2.sd?competitionid=66

Harry Kewell was in that squad, therefore it's almost on topic.

Note, the holy grail resides there. I don't mean Leeds (obviously).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/4154498.stm