Barry Horne: Unwelcome 'break' for Everton's weary travellers
AS I was driving to the Stoke v Middlesbrough game fearing the worst of entertainment value in the Potteries I was able to listen to the first half hour of Everton's game at Portsmouth on the radio.
The impression could not have been clearer that the visitors were in complete control of the game, but I watched the last two thirds of the action at the Britannia Stadium and from getting out of the car and getting into the ground it appeared I had been listening to a completely different game than the one I then witnessed on the television.
Looking back, our phenomenal run had to end some time and it's just such a shame that it happened after going 1-0 up and taking control of the match, losing to two entirely predictable headers from Peter Crouch and failing to capitalise on Aston Villa's continuing slump.
Not to worry, though. We are still having a terrific season as only two defeats away from home in 20 games can testify, we have a very comfortable grip on sixth place in the table and with an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to, it represents a healthy position to be in this stage of the season.
It's one that everyone else, with the exception of those clubs for whom Champions League qualification is an absolute minimum requirement every year, would love to occupy and has been reached by a Goodison Park side that has been ravaged by injuries for most of the campaign.
You would think that manager David Moyes would have welcomed the international break as an opportunity to rest the small squad who have carried the load since August and one player who will definitely benefit is Louis Saha.
The near fortnight-long of training without the pressure of a match comes at an ideal time for the Frenchman and on the back of it he will hopefully be strong enough to put together a run of appearances as we head towards the end of the season.
There are downsides, however. Tim Cahill has every right to be as weary as anyone after his stupendous efforts this season, yet he has had to drag himself halfway round the world where he will undoubtedly be asked to risk aggravating the calf strain that kept him out of Saturday's match.
The fact that Joleon Lescott, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka probably won't be expecting to start England's World Cup match on Wednesday does not mean that their time away will be any less tiring.
They are the new boys in the squad and they will be trying so hard to prove themselves that every training session that comes along promises to be an energy and adrenaline-sapping experience.
They will return to Finch Farm not as physically tired as if they had played a game, but physically and mentally drained from trying to be at their best in every session.
Everton's next opponents in the Premier League are Wigan Athletic, who have far fewer players away on international duty. Bearing in mind Everton's defeat at Portsmouth and Wigan's victory over Hull, the April 5 clash at Goodison Park promises to be another very tough game.
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Couldnt agree more, if our players weren't going to have a break due to being on duty, then im sure moyes would much rather see them at finch farm and iron out some of the lapses that caused us to drop, what looked like a certain 3 points at pompey
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