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Toon Player Ratings Vs Everton (a)
 Match
Date: 27 November 2005
By Paul
Mosley
An in depth look at each individual performance from the 1-0 defeat
to Everton at Goodison Park, rating the players, the manager and the
referee. Also included in our match analysis are ratings for Everton.
Shay Given - 8
Once again our Irish goalkeeper kept us in the game time and time
again. Shay made a couple of vital saves from McFadden, and also two
late stops from Tim Cahill which kept us in with a chance in the closing
minutes. Showed total lack of faith in the defenders in front of him
by continually charging out and dealing with situations properly and
his late header to deny Beattie showed commitment some of his team-mates
can only dream of. Distribution was poor, regularly launching long
balls towards the strikers, but this again showed no confidence in
his defenders to give them it short, a view which most of the fans
seem to share. Comfortably man of the match.
Peter Ramage - 7
Young Ramage continues to go from strength to strength as he made
his 6th consecutive appearance playing out of position at full-back,
again covering for Stephen Carr. He gave a performance which put his
far more expensive and experienced defensive team-mates to shame,
regularly providing important clearances and looking mature beyond
his years. It was unfortunate that it was he who was out-jumped by
Yobo for the only goal of the game, as it put a bit of a dampener
on his good showing.
Titus Bramble - 4
Another poor showing from Titus following on from his nightmare at
Stamford Bridge a week ago. Only 12 months ago I used to wince as
Titus went near the ball, fearing an inevitable mistake, but during
last season he improved significantly. However, since his return this
season he seems to have returned to the Bramble of old. His late back-pass
from wide on the left which almost led to an own goal summed up a
mistake ridden afternoon where he was beaten to just about everything
by Beattie. Has to improve if he wants to nail down a regular starting
place when Taylor returns.
Jean-Alain Boumsong - 5
Boumsong was only marginally better than his partner. Most of the
time he was seen to be marking space, as was shown by the gaping hole
left for Beattie as he squandered a late chance. He once again did
not inspire confidence in challenges and won nothing in the air. One
positive was his run out of defence with the ball in the second half,
we could do with seeing more of that from him. Like Bramble, he certainly
needs to improve if he wants to be starting alongside Taylor when
the Geordie returns.
Celestine Babayaro - 3
After a few improved performances of late, this was absolutely woeful
from the Nigerian. Some United fans have thought him to be a liability
at left-back and on Sunday he gave us several reasons to think exactly
that. Mikel Arteta made Babayaro look like an amateur as he dominated
him for the 51 minutes he played before being rightly subbed. Babayaro
could also have been given his marching orders had the referee seen
his altercation with Cahill properly.
Nobby Solano - 4
It was feared that Solano would go missing in away games, and unfortunately
this has now happened 2 weeks in a row. Where was he? All I can remember
from Nobby is a free kick which he bent just wide of the post. Oh,
and a possible elbow on an Everton player for which he was lucky to
escape punishment., and was understandably subbed almost instantly.
Absolutely invisible.
Scott Parker - 7
Parker was his usual battling self, and was one of few bright sparks
for United. Rarely shirked a challenge, and rarely lost a challenge
aswell. Gave his all for the cause, which saw him take a very nasty
blow to the head from his team-mate Boumsong. Was unfairly cautioned
for a slightly mistimed challenge on Arteta, who added insult to injury
by giving him a blow in the face and going unpunished for doing so!ricting
him at times.
Emre - 4
For Solano read Emre. 2 away games in 8 days, 2 dismal performances
from the man who produced our vital winners against the mackems and
Birmingham. Granted most of the time the ball was whistling over his
head, but when he did get the ball he seemed to concede possession
awfully cheaply, which he hadn’t done in previous games. He can also
be questioned for the Everton goal, for he was holding onto the inside
of the net. Had he not been, his attempt to hack the ball away may
have been successful.
Charles N'Zogbia - 5
N’Zogbia looks due a rest. He’s played a part in just about all of
our games this season, and on occasions has been our one bright spark.
Yesterday that never looked like happening. The ball rarely found
it’s way to him, although when it did he made use of it fairly well.
His late dipping effort showed that he has plenty of confidence in
himself to get forward and at least have a go, something which his
team-mates often seem reluctant to do. Unfortunately for him he was
shafted to left-back when Luque came on.
Shola Ameobi - 4
This guy is on borrowed time. I was a long-time fan of Ameobi, even
defending him in the midst of some strong criticism last season. However,
he turned in yet another awful display at Everton. In a repeat of
the game at West Brom (interestingly with the same referee) he gave
away a ridiculous number of fouls in the 1st half and was lucky to
escape a caution for persistent infringement, and his ball control
is simply awful. At least he had a go when he got into the key areas,
but his shooting was tame and easily dealt with by Martyn. Except
for one occasion, when McFadden’s hand denied him an almost certain
goal.
Alan Shearer - 5
Looked our best hope of a goal on a few occasions. His beautifully
timed run gave him a one-on-one chance with Martyn which he squandered,
and he later had another instinctive effort on the turn which the
keeper kept out. He also cleverly put Luque clean through on goal
late in the second half, but other than this was again beaten in the
air time and again, and was lucky to escape censure for appearing
to deliberately elbow Weir.
Subs
Albert Luque - 4
Replaced Babayaro 6 minutes into the 2nd half. One has to question
why on earth he was involved, for he looked completely unfit. Despite
a few nice touches, he was frequently robbed of possession far too
easily. When he did get into scoring positions, he either fluffed
his lines completely (when put through by Shearer) or was too selfish
to find Shearer in the centre and instead had a go himself from an
impossible angle. Let’s hope when he returns to fitness he shows the
undoubted class he has.
Lee Bowyer - 5
Replaced Solano on the hour. Bowyer at least put himself about, and
worked hard as ever. His through ball to Luque late on was superb,
and a sign of what he can do. Maybe this would have been a perfect
game for Lee Bowyer to start, get about Everton, and keep them under
pressure.
The Boss Man
Graeme Souness - 2
The final grains of sand are surely running through Souness’ Newcastle
egg timer. Yes, Michael Owen was absent, as were Steven Taylor and
Kieron Dyer, and as we know they are proper players. Yes, we should
have been awarded a penalty when James McFadden handled Ameobi’s goal
bound effort. None of those factors can possibly excuse a simply woeful
2nd half performance where we were second best in every department.
His substitutions also left me wondering. Babayaro off was fine, but
to bring Luque on and then move poor Charles N’Zogbia to left back
was a daft move. He then brought on Bowyer in place of Solano which
left us playing a left-midfielder at left-back, and 3 central midfielders
in a 4-4-2. The chief tactic seems to be for Given to launch long
balls in the direction of Ameobi and Shearer, which totally negates
the creative element of Emre, N’Zogbia and Solano in our midfield.
Simply hopeless.
Referee
Howard Webb - 5
Bad day at the office for Mr Webb, after his excellent showing at
West Brom just a month ago. Despite being incredibly lenient and letting
a fair bit go unpunished, he managed to show 6 yellow cards, 5 to
Newcastle! Parker’s certainly wasn’t warranted, and you could argue
the same for some of the others. Arteta was lucky to remain on the
field for his attack on Parker, and the same can be said of Cahill
and Babayaro after their ridiculous handbags. Even Shearer and Solano
can count themselves lucky elbows went unpunished. However, he cannot
be blamed for not seeing the handball by McFadden, who should also
have been dismissed, for he was looking through a wall of players.
The Opposition
Everton
Martyn – 7 – Made some vital 1st half stops to keep Everton level.
Had nothing to do in the 2nd half.
Hibbert – 7 – Defended solidly.
Yobo – 8 – Strong defensively, towered above Ramage to score the only
goal.
Weir – 8 – Marshalled the Everton defence well as skipper, bossed
Shearer easily.
Neville – 5 – Very quiet, and pretty rubbish when in possession.
Arteta – 7 – A constant threat to first Babayaro then N’Zogbia. His
attack on Parker was sad though.
Davies – 6 – Very wasteful in possession.
Cahill – 6 – Didn’t look fully fit, missed some great chances, and
should have been sent off.
Van der Meyde – 6 – Varied between awesome and awful deliveries from
the left wing.
Beattie – 6 – Failed to add to his goal tally and missed a fantastic
chance to seal the game late on.
McFadden – 6 – Was always a threat to Shay’s goal, but shouldn’t have
been on the field after his handball went unpunished.
Subs Osman (for Arteta, 79 mins) Kilbane (for Van der Meyde, 76 mins)
– SMB. Bent (for Beattie, 85 mins) |
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