Everton 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur

[funster]

This game was rubbish. No two ways about it. It was rubbish. A point apiece is a fair return I'd say, but my God, I hope I don't have to endure such a dismal performance again this season.

OK, so that's a bit exaggerated. It wasn't exactly what you'd call entertaining though. I took the train up from Euston yesterday afternoon - my first trip up the West Coast since my days as a student in Manchester. The trains have changed a lot. Actually quite nice!

Saint met me at my hotel in the city centre and we headed off to a local pub for a few jars before heading over to Goodison. We ended up chatting to a Liverpool fan for part of the time we were there. He made his feelings about the current owners at Anfield quite clear! As he did about his feelings towards Everton!

We jumped in a cab at Lime Street and shared it with three others lads who'd just got out of the station. Strangely enough, students from Manchester. God it brought back memories! Also made me feel rather old.....

Arriving at the stadium with an hour to go we sank another couple of beers then headed to our seats. I said earlier in the week that Goodison is a crap stadium. Even in the years its been since I was last there, there appears to have been little sign of improvement. They've still got wooden seats, the upper tier still hangs way over the lower in the stand we were in, so although the pitch view is unobstructed, when the ball's in the air you've got to have a guess at where it is. Piss poor for a club that sees itself challenging the established Premier League elite, and no wonder they are keen on having a new stadium.

The team news wasn't too much of a surprise. Woodgate starting and pretty much everybody else as expected. Everton with a load of players missing, but let's face it, well organised and always going to be difficult to break down.

Of course, as is customary, the travelling Spurs faithful were in good voice, and had turned up in their numbers. Don't think we'd fully sold out as there were still tickets on sale earlier this week, but a very decent turnout given this was a midweek, two-hundred mile trip for an 8pm kick-off.

Also as we've become accustomed to lately, the home support was rather quiet. Now, I know home supporters are never as fervent in their backing of the team as the ones who travel, but this really is getting silly. Chelsea, Arsenal, ManUre, Everton..... while we're not exactly raucous for all games at the Lane, at least the South Stand gives it a decent stab.

It didn't take long before we wheeled out the chants of "We're gonna to Wembely, we're gonna Wembley, you're not, you're not"! No response. I think Saint quite like the Adebayor chant. I'll leave it to him to post in the recent thread about chants in the Players Lounge.

So, onto the game itself. This is going to be short! Chances in both halves were at a premium. Everton probably marginally the better side but neither they, nor we really threatened. On the balance of it, they probably had the better chances. Unusual statement given how many really good chances we've created in games lately.

Last night was most definitely a case of defences dominating. Really, I don't have a great deal else to say about the game! The viewing position meant we were a bit hamstrung. Six pints before the game probably didn't help either! The biggest positive was undoubtedly Woodgate's performance. He was superb. Read the game well, won balls in the air, got stuck in with tackles. Just generally a really good debut in a position that's been such a problem for us. We can but hope that he and King co-ordinate their trips to the physio's treatment room so they swap on a weekly basis!

A no-score-bore then. Can't believe I've actually been subjected to a nil-nil watching Spurs. I never thought that would happen! A clean sheet is obviously a good thing, but our impotence in attack was not expected. I doubt we'll be quite so toothless on Saturday, but if we have King and Woodgate playing, hopefully we'll also be rather better at the back.

Heading off we decided to walk back into town. I'd forgotten just how far it is! At least I had a hat. The wind was bloody freezing.

So there you have it. I'm sat on the train heading back to London now, looking forward already to Saturday's game with a chance of revenge against ManUre. On the assumption that I haven't scared Saint away, we may even make it to another game or two in the north west this season!

[yidno1]

As always a great report to read, shame the game was such a turkey for you after the un-enviuos trip up there.

I cant beelieve at listening to the the commmentry and seeing the highlights just how toothless in attack we were!

[berby999]

i watched this online, it was as terrible as you said! altough i enjoyed watching woodgate get stuck in. thanks for the good report do.