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It was cold on the morning of 6th February. Word had just got out that there was to be a major fracas near Stanley Park. As the morning ended, forty thousand spectators crammed themselves into a stadium waiting for their fighters to emerge.
They did. And for ninety minutes - plus a fifteen minute medical break - two teams of men - one team in red, the other in blue - kicked, punched and made rude faces at each other. Some were distracted by the appearance of a plastic spherical object and when they were unable to assail their opponents with sundry acts of violence, vented their frustration on the spherical object, kicking and headbutting it to and fro. This was a distraction, but only intermittently, as the main thrust of the encounter was a series of kicks, pushes, and elbows followed by rolling on the ground and pointing at anyone who was wearing a different shirt.
Oddly enough the spherical object - called a ball - was in fact part of the exposition, and much rapture ensued after a man in red pushed the ball into a net with his head. However, things returned to normal quite quickly, with mayhem and ultraviolence aplenty.

Thankfully the transfer window closed in a fan fair of Sky Sports News "breaking news", Big Ben and plenty of advertising revenue, all on the assumption that clubs must spend to provide entertainment.

As David Moyes said only last week we're probably seeing the end of the recent years of crazy money in football, except for the certain exceptions of clubs with billionaire "investors". Quite what return these billionaires actually want for all the money spent is another matter entirely...

What we did see today is probably a view of what will happen going forward, clubs run as going concerns, balancing the books and not spending money - the club - doesn't have, on players with limited shelf lives, and risks like bad tackles which can wipe out any investment in seconds. Intelligent buys - about what other people and managers cannot see. Just look at a fully fit Marouane Fellaini, with some development at Finch Farm with this in mind. Or more recently a certain young Seamus Coleman learning his trade. These are better for Everton, and don't play with the club's financial future.

The Sunderland game allowed the blues to get up and come back fighting after a disappointing 45 minute showing in the FA Cup. What we got was a reverse with the second half seeing Everton lower their workrate too much, giving away possession cheaply. The blues need to remember and act on the fact - great teams put 90 minute performances in, regardless of fatigue or confidence and its time the blues showed what they can do consistently.

Despite the scruffy performance in the second half and the last 20 minutes in particular, Landon Donovan showed his quality throughout and going one better than the Manchester City game.

Over the past several weeks the question has been asked of Landon Donovan's ability to play in the English Premier League. The dismissive attitude of some towards MLS "soccer" is a wrong one, particularly for someone like Landon Donovan who's certainly been well above the grade for several years, and is his country's record goal scorer. He's performed in international competition and earned the right to see what he could do in Europe. At Everton he's amongst elite players and at a club with a 131 year history. No doubt Donovan's been getting to see just what an institution in English football Everton FC actually are.

Donovan in choosing Everton has come to the right club. Everton Football Club have an extensive network in the US, with several partnerships with clubs like USL-2 team The Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Everton's summer trip to play the MLS all-stars and with Everton's networking in the US. Fory for example Tony Farrell who's supposedly been in the US this week (Everton FC head of international football, and coordinator for 9-12 year olds).

Its no coincidence Everton have spent a good deal of time in America in pre-season the past few years, as it appears the club have staked a strategic interest in cultivating talent in the US. Everton took on two young American's in the summer in Anton Peterlin and Cody Arnoux, further bringing along the mutual beneficial investment across the atlantic. Landon Donovan's just the latest part of this. So for Everton, far from the club being accused of cherry picking - Everton have cultivated their share of talent already and will do so long term. Everton have a extensive outreach programme in Liverpool and its good that newer clubs in America are benefiting from the club with 131 years of history, in the country that gave football to the world.

Having watched Donovan play up close up and even moving around in his warm up its immediately obvious that the boy's got quick tidy feet, and has what we'd term a good motor on him. The pace of him combined with his control immediately put him in a good position. He's often played in a central striker position in MLS but looking at him physically, and having seen him pull out of a header - I doubt Donovan will play as an out and out striker in the English Premier League.

On January 15th, the local Manc rag (Manchester Evening News) published an article accusing David Moyes of making pot shots at Manchester City.

Throughout the article. It appeared as the writer were desperate to make a point of anything and anything. For instance David Moyes, as a Scotsman isn't in his rights taking about Viera's move stiffling English (domestic) players? Last time I checked, Scotsmen have had a huge impact in the English game particuarly in management and developing players. Theres nothing to be concerned about when a Scot talks about young talent, particuarly one with a track record like Moyes has.

Then the conspiracy theorists move by implication to the Lescott-saga. The clueless journo then decides to say that this was a "clumsy attempt at mind games" ,as well as implying that Manchester City acted properly and that Everton haven't in the past. This is done without any illustrations, just the implication.

The Manc rag continues:

The FA Cup was a welcome change to the league campaign that allows us to reminisce about Wembley - twice - in 2009 and the aim to go one better this time out.
With our injury concerns, its been a tough time for bluenoses everywhere the past several months. The spine of the team out, the club's been tested beyond all limits. We seem to be on the way back though, the return of Phil Neville was beyond words against Burnley. Composure. Confidence. Determination. A win was inevitable as we tried to turn the screw.

Then we welcomed Carlisle FC to the grand old lady - Goodison Park. As you expect the usual cries as the Cumbrians enjoyed their day out, rang out in the cup allocation in Bullens Road. Fair play to Everton, for reducing ticket prices for the game at what is a tight time of year for everyone.
A welcome win thanks again to the lad Seamus Coleman, who proved he's no flash in the pan. Exuding the qualities we want he got forward and was determined to get into the box. From the resulting play Cahill got the tap in and from there it was game over for Carlisle. Seamus Coleman shows what's possible if you have a good manager who can through his scouting network, locate and sign talent at excellent value. We have to thank Sligo Rovers for such an exciting prospect coming to us.

Now some immediate observations of why Everton weren't performing as we know they can....

THE 'dead rubber' is something of a novel concept at Goodison, which unfortunately is just an indication of how little European football we've played for a club of our stature.

Still, tonight's final group game against BATE promises to be a muted experience, especially as it's combined with that other European quirk, the alcohol ban.

The whole evening promises to be a throwback to the heady days of the Simod, Full Members and Zenith Data System Cups, with the tiny crowd only kept awake by the voices of the players on the pitch.

Ian Snodin - the Everton legend, believes that if Everton had all their players fit - we'd give anyone a game on our day. He said the same to Ian St John on local Merseyside radio's well-known phone in "Terrace-Talk".

Snod's is not wrong. We're still missing the following due back in training early January if all goes well:

A VISIT to Stamford Bridge at the moment is about as welcome as an argument with Tony Pulis, and it feels as if Everton are going to go there on Saturday, take their medicine and then prepare themselves for the crucial games over the Christmas period.

The best moment we've enjoyed at Chelsea in recent years was Tim Cahill's last- minute overhead equaliser, and even he's absent for this trip following the yellow card he picked up against Tottenham on Sunday.

Again though, with games coming up against teams like Birmingham and Burnley, David Moyes probably won't be too disappointed that his acting captain is getting his rest out of the way now.

Ok, so this is a late post given the videos are from the derby game (but im actually on holiday now, so I should get away with the lateness)!

Despite the result, I believe there are a lot of positives to take from the game. Much-improved performances from a number of our players, most notably Fellaini and Cahill.
Well so what, we still got beat.... Well, yes, but no, but yes, but no...

If we continue to put in those performances im confident we can turn things around. Starting with the european game tomorrow. But there's no escaping the fact that we are in a difficult position right now - an away game in europe, followed by in-form Tottenham and away to Chelsea.
What do you think? Are we doomed already? Talk of limited January-transfer-funds doesnt ease the frustrations either. Anyway, have a look at the vids and tell us what you think...

Part 1

Part 2

Unfortunately im away in Vegas for the Spurs game, so its unlikely there will be any videos from that game. So please leave feedback, thoughts and opinions on the derby.