Tottenham vs Everton

Nice play by Kaboul as he brought the ball forward with poise, going past 3 players, passing the ball to Malbranque but he fails to get the ball to Berbatov.

 

 

Bent is presented with a fair chance but his cross shot, is beaten away by Howard and the Everton defence almost presents Berbatov with a goal

 

 

Malbranque gets a yellow card for a very stupid tackle from behind on Arteta.

 

 

Great cut back by Johnson to Anichebe brought out a decent save from Robinson.

 

 

The 2 of them almost combine for a second goal but a great tackle by Zakora saves Tottenham from going 2 goals down.

 

 

Unfortunately the promising kaboul has had to succumb to injury and has been replaced by Ricardo Rocha.

 

 

Great play by Keane as he flicks the ball over the head of Carsley but Berabtov skews his shot over.

 

 

Gardner has just equalized  from a corner kick by Jenas to make it 1-1.

It has been all Tottenham for a little while now, but they seem a little too slow in releasing the ball to each other and that has allowed Everton to defend most of their attacks.

 

 

Everton are trying to play on the counter attack with Johnson making most of the running.

 

 

Osman has just made it 2-1, he latches onto a magnificent saving header from Rocha, after Arteta had again stood up a fine cross to the far post.

 

 

So totally against the run of play, its Tottenham 1 Everton 2

 

For the first time in the match, Everton are enjoying a decent amount of possession and are attacking  Spurs a little better than they have in the whole match.

 

 

And they have just made it 3-1 with Alan Stubb’s slightly deflected free kick. Paul Robinson, in all honesty, should have done so much better.

 

 

Half-time

 

 

Tottenham 1 Everton 3

 

 

Keane jus started the second half with a decent strike at goal in the first 30 seconds of the second half.

 

 

Great cross from Chimbonda met extremely well by Berabatov but it came off the post and Bent was unlucky to score from rebound.

 

 

Everton went up the other end and Arteta almost made it 4-1 as his shot took a deflection off a defender to go out for a corner kick.

 

Jenas has just collected a yellow card for pulling back Arteta.

 

 

Jermaine Defoe comes on for Bent in the 61^st minute.

 

 

Mikel Arteta has just won his side a free kick with some brilliant keep ball play.

 

 

He floats in a beautiful free kick which Stubbs was too slow to get to.

 

 

Defoe’s first involvement is to take on Hibbert but his cross/shot is easily saved by Howard.

 

 

Wayne Routledge has just come on for Staltieri in the 67^th minute.

 

 

Good shot by Johnson, saved comfortably by Robinson.

 

 

Great cross again by Chimbonda, met brilliantly by Defoe and blocked beautifully by Howard.

 

 

 

Overview

 

 

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Everton as they were the better side in almost every department.

 

 

They did not play any attacking football but it was controlled and organized. Spurs had absolutely no answer to it, at all.

 

 

Everton were good in defense as they snuffed out most of the danger from Spurs. They were resilient in midfield and Johnson with his strike partner, Anichebe, were full of running in attack.

 

 

Tottenham’s biggest problem is that they were too slow and very predictable going forward. They do not have a player that is quick to see an early pass to make the attack less predictable. Too many times, their players were hesitant in passing the ball and that allowed Everton, time and space to recover.

 

 

They have some work to do in the creative department as they were very poor in the second half. They do look okay on the right hand side but awful on the left.

 

 

Ratings

 

Robinson 5

 

He was at fault for the first and second goal, though he made some saves in the end, it was still a bad game from his point of view.

 

Chimbonda 6

 

He played well as he put some very good crosses but he is one of the players very guilty of not playing the right ball at the right time or passing the ball quicker.

 

Gardner 6.5

 

He played well as he not only scored Spurs’ goal but he was good at the back as well. His only mistake was losing Lescott for the opening goal.

 

Kaboul 6

 

He started very well and it was a pity he went off injured

 

Rocha 6

 

He played well when he came on for Kaboul and did not really put a foot wrong all night.

 

 

Staltieri 5

 

He was poor going forward as he offered absolutely nothing. He was not that brilliant at the back either.

 

 

Zokora 6

 

He was his usual industrious self but does not offer anything creatively. He was asked to play left back which in my view was an awful decision by Martin Jol.

 

 

Malbranque 4

 

He was just awful and he contributed nothing all night. How he played the whole 90 minutes is completely baffling.

 

 

Jenas 5

 

Another player that has a habit of playing the wrong pass or too slow to release the ball. He is always full of energy but not inspiration.

 

 

Keane 5.5

 

He started well and was involved in everything that was good about spurs but he faded in the second half

 

 

Berbatov 4.5

 

It was a very bad night for him as he did very little.

 

 

Bent 5

 

He started well but then faded

 

Defoe 5

 

He was not given much time to shine.

 

Everton

 

Howard 6

 

He made some good saves and was commanding in his area

 

Lescott 7

 

He is just an impressive player who always seems to put in good displays all the time.

 

Yobo 6.5

Did not allow Berbatov and space to breathe throughout

 

 

Stubbs 6

 

Was troubled earlier on by Bent’s pace but then became more comfortable once he was covered by Yobo

 

 

Hibbert 5.5

 

 

Carsley 7

 

He acted as  a big buffer between attack and defense. and was close to being man of the match.

 

 

Neville 6.

 

He played very well .

 

 

Arteta 7

 

The only skilful player in this Everton’s side and he was again magnificent

 

 

Osman 7.5

 

His industry and work rate was exemplary and he was the man of the match. He took his goal very well.

 

 

Johnson 6.5

 

His unselfish running continually troubled Spur’s defense

 

 

Anichebe 6