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There is a saying in football – ‘You finish where you deserve over a season and the League table doesn’t lie’, and at 5pm tonight, for once this saying applied to Everton. Over the whole season we deserved to be ‘the best of the rest’ by a mile and although Villa’s late surge, and our stuttering end of season form threatened that, it all worked out in the end. However, another way of looking at it was that the Top 3 were well ahead, and the RS’s early season rotation to keep their players fresh for the end of the season was enough to pip us for 4th. We also made the UEFA Cup on merit, not by the back door method of not committing fouls etc or getting players booked – maybe that’s how you hardly win a game since Christmas and lose 8-1 against Boro?

The team news was that they Yak and Big Vic replaced Hibbo and AJ, which looked to give the team better balance. Neville was back to his better position at Right Back, and away from the midfield, and although Hibbo got a lot of praise last week for shackling Walcott, the cross for the goal still came from his side. AJ has worked hard this season, but the goals have been hard to come by, and he has been dogged by injury. Maybe Vic could end the season on a high? Newcastle on the other hand were without the goal threat of Martins and Viduka, and joining the little Welshman up front was Andy Carroll, who reminded me of Kevin Kyle the ex-Sunderland frontman.

In the 1st half, it was all Everton, as you would expect. Some good passing and retention of possession inevitably led to chances, and by Half time the Mags were lucky to only be a goal behind. Yobo missed an open goal, Harper spilled an Anichebe pea roller, and saved well from Osman. However something noticeable was the quality delivery of set pieces and after the first free kick was desperately cleared by Newcastle, Manny’s 2nd found the head of the Yak for the opening goal. The Blues continued to press, and the Yak had a 2nd goal disallowed for a debatable offside against Roger (shades of West Ham). The Blues left the field at Half Time after completely dominating the 1st half, and could have been at least 3 goals up. Newcastle on the other hand had only 1 shot to warm Tim’s finger tips, and appeared to be wearing their flip flops and basking in the sun

The weather changed at half time, and within minutes it looked like it could be a game of two halves (and I don’t mean the weather). Newcastle came out looking more up for it, and NZogbia’s run at our defence resulted in Yobo sticking his knee out and over he went for a penalty. Tim guessed correctly, but Owen’s kick somehow squirmed under his body for the equaliser, and gone was the chance for him to break Big Nev’s record of clean sheets. He has done brilliantly for us this season, but hasn’t had a good record of saving penalties.

Suddenly, the flip flops were off, the mags were rejuvenated, Villa went 2-1 up and our passing and general play became sloppy. Vic had a run and his cross shot just missed the Yak and the back post, and then after being put through superbly by the Yak, Vic had his shot superbly saved by Harper. 2 more quality free kicks from Manny were palmed away by Harper, who then saved from Cars, and it looked like it could be a very nervy end to the game.

However, our 2 top scorers popped up to win the game. Roger superbly ‘passing’ a volley into the net at the back post for his 10th of an outstanding season, (and most of these goals have come as a left back!!!!!!), and the Yak converting our 1st penalty of the season. It was inevitable that we would end the season by getting a penalty after all the talk, and Ossie’s great run at the defence (similar to that of NZogbia earlier) committed Taylor into a fateful lunge.

So it all worked out in the end. After a season of hard work, much praise must go to the players, management, and the fans for such a superb season. A 5th place finish, cup semi final and a run in Europe which was only ended by the penalty heartbreak, is more than most of us could have dreamed about back in August. We won half of our League games, and only lost once in 10 European games, which after our last episode in Europe shows the team and management have come a long way – its just a shame that Rangers and not us, are the team planning to take 80,000 fans to Manchester

2 things stood out for me in this latest victory - the quality of Fernandes’s set pieces, and the Yak also looked much more comfortable with a physical presence alongside him. Since we lost Tim against West Ham, the Yak has had a barren spell, and hasn’t looked the same player alongside AJ. It wasn’t one of Vic’s better games (apart from the superb back heel in the 1st half), but his presence seemed to help the Yak and this is something that the boss may need to consider for the future

I felt we played our best football when we played 4-5-1, and when we lost Cahill, we reverted to 4-4-2 and it didn’t work as well. He could have stuck with 4-5-1 and used Ossie in Tim’s role, but his injury situation probably prevented it. I also think our League Cup hopes went with Peanuts and the Yak going to the African nations at a completely inopportune time, and a trip to Wembley would have been deserved after the way we played in the away wins at Sheff Wed, Luton and West Ham

It looked like the game was Cars’s swansong and he has been a valuable player for us over the last 6 years. Time will tell if Bradley or Sidwell are brought in to replace him. A big decision may be needed on AJ. Nobody will ever forget the 3-0 derby, but if we are going to go to the next level, I am not sure he is the man. Nobody can fault his commitment, but I am a bit concerned at his 1st touch, his lack of goals and his injury situation. If he fancies a move to West Ham, maybe Ashton would be a decent partner for the Yak? Still its all speculation, and we never know – maybe it will be our turn for a major investment in the coming months? Graeme Holmes. (12/05/08)

Moyesy says: "It was a nice way to end the season. It wasn't just about today it was about that they have done from the first game to the last. The performance was excellent. The first half was as good as we've played. It was exciting, it was good entertainment and we passed it well. We pushed really hard to try and finish fourth, we fell short so it was important to finish fifth. It makes me smile that we have got more European nights to come."

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Tony Hibbert joined Mikky Arteta, Tiny and Vaughany on the long term injury list after he damaged knee ligaments at The Arse last week. Moyesy's thread bare Squaaaaad is now stretched to the limit, as we seek the one point that will claim us UEFA Cup football at Goodison again next season. Moyesy will ask his players for one last effort to take us over the line and hopefully pip Aston Villa to fifth spot. Goodison will wave bye bye to Tommy Grav and most likely Manny Fernandes at the end of the ninety minutes, as their loan periods will not be extended.

The back four will thankfully have a familiar look to it with Joey, Roger and The Jag joining Phil Neville in the back four. Moyesy will probably deploy two strikers in AJ and The Yak as midfield is his problem area with only Peanuts, Ossie, Harry Hill of his regulars available for selection. Manny Fernandes will make up the numbers me thinks in the middle.

Fingers crossed for a couple of achievements tomorrow. If Tim Howard keeps a clean sheet he will equal Big Nev's Premiership record of shut outs. If The Yak pops up with a goal he will be the first since Peter Beardsley to bag twenty in a season for the Blues. If both happen we win, simple as that. Come on you Blue Boys !!

Lard's XI To Start: Howard, Yobo, Lescott, Neville, Jagielka, Osman, Carsley, Fernandes, Pienaar, Johnson, Yakubu

Everton from: Howard, Wessels, Lescott, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Gardner, Baines, Valente, Carsley, Osman, Pienaar, Gravesen, Fernandes, Johnson, Yakubu, Anichebe, Rodwell.

Moyesy says: "We aren't looking great. We have a lot of injuries and there are quite a lot of players who we'll fitness test before the game on Sunday. We are going to be tight for numbers, there are three or four doubts. Mikel had the operation. We weren't sure that he was going to need it but hopefully this will get to the bottom of the problem and he will be ready for next season." (10/05/08)

Last Season v The Skunks

IF ANY EVERTON FAN WANTS TO WRITE A REPORT OF ANY OF THIS SEASON'S GAMES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO. JUST E-MAIL IT TO info@bluekipper.com AND WE WILL PUT IT ON THE SITE.

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I'd Love It Kev says: "Everton have good players who have great spirit and in David Moyes a manager who's galvanised them. They've had a fantastic season and you have to take your hats off to them but we have to test ourselves against them and put in a performance. Our travelling army can then come back to Newcastle and say we've had a really good shot at it and not talk about an end-of-season stroll in the sun."

The Skunkls From: Harper, Forster, Beye, Enrique, Taylor, Faye, Edgar, Cacapa, Diatta, Butt, N'Zogbia, Duff, Geremi, Owen, Smith, Martins, Carroll.