***Offical*** English Football Season 2004/05

[Agent TBY]

Here is my review of Everton's season of 2004-05:

• What kept you going throughout the season? Great (or at least encouraging) results? Hope that things could only get better? Or simply blind loyalty?

Brilliant perfomances all throughout the season,

• What were the best moments of the campaign – for example, the best performance / result?

Beating Liverpool for one,beating ManUre,clinching fourth spot,beating Villa 1-3.

• And what were the worst?

The Arsenal drubbing,why as it against Arsenal??

• Who was your team’s best player of the season?

Marcus Bent by far.Cahill,Stubbs,Weir,Kilbane,Carsley and Ferguson deserve a mention too.

• And the worst?

With such a small squad,there were barely any players who didn't get a decent run out.But I dare say Joseph Yobo has been poor in Midfield.He'll improve,but he was certainly bad this season.

• How did you rate the performance of your manager/coach?

Manager of the year,what else is there to say?

• And the squad? (If you like, give the players marks out of ten, where ten is out of this world and one absolutely awful)

Gelled brilliantly,Bent and Cahill were fantastic additions,the attitude and work rate was fantastic.

• What was your side’s goal of the season?

Bent's last gasp equalizer against Southamption?

• And what was the biggest howler during the campaign (eg a crazy own goal, shocking miss, bizarre team selection, etc)

James Beattie....headbutt....Selling Thomas Gravesen too,but I'm not sure what else they could've done about it.

• Who were the best opponents your team came up against? (Team and individual player)

Arsenal,by far,Bergkamp was god-like that night.

• And the worst?

Haven't been following the League Cup.Performance wise I'd say Villa,they were awful.

• How did the media generally treat your club?

We were the blue-eyed boys of the media who were sick and tired of the big clubs dominating.

• What was the biggest slice of luck that went your way during the season?

Kirklands howler?Maybe it was Bent's goal against the Saints.

• And what was the most outrageous in justice?

Cahill's red card for celebrating.Beattie got what he deserved.

• Looking ahead to next season, who would you most like to see arrive at your club?

We need quality,and we have cash in the bank,So we need to sign quality.Ze Roberto and Robert Kovac sound like great additions,along with maybe Tevez or Cavenaghi?Gravesen to come back would be great,but we'd still short of a quality player or two.

• And which person(s) would you most like to see leave it?

No-one really,but Stubbs and Weir are probably gone.

• Overall, how did the campaign measure up to your pre-season expectations, and how did it compare with other seasons in which you’ve been following them?

It was brilliant,no one expected us to finish this high.

• What are you expecting from next season?

A decent showing in the Champs' League,just don't make fools out of yourselves.Somewhere in the European places would be a good showing.

 

[Pratters]

I believe most of them nowadays are earning on a par with the top earning players at their club.

Thanks for the info

 

[BoyBrumby]

Not strictly English Football, but ouch for Celtic. That's gotta hurt:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/4565659.stm

 

[steds]

The Arsenal drubbing,why as it against Arsenal??

2 drubbings. 4-1 and 7-0

• Who was your team’s best player of the season?

Marcus Bent by far.Cahill,Stubbs,Weir,Kilbane,Carsley and Ferguson deserve a mention too.

Bent?!?! You're having a laugh, surely? He worked hard and held the ball up very well, but you need a striker who scored goals and all, and he missed FAR more than he scored including several glaring misses.

The midfield was outstanding and either Cahill, Osman, Kilbane or Carsley deserves that accolade...I'd say Cahill

• And the worst?

With such a small squad,there were barely any players who didn't get a decent run out.But I dare say Joseph Yobo has been poor in Midfield.He'll improve,but he was certainly bad this season.

a) Yobo is a defender.
b) With Weir and Stubbs he was never likely to get a long run in the side and a chance to settle. However, he posseses great pace and a strong physical presence and is no doubt a quality player in the making.

My vote goes to Beattie, who looked the biggest waste of £6,000,000 for a LOOOOOOOONG time

 

[superkingdave]

was 4-1 at Goodison Sean

 

[steds]

was 4-1 at Goodison Sean

they still scored 4

 

[Agent TBY]

Bent?!?! You're having a laugh, surely? He worked hard and held the ball up very well, but you need a striker who scored goals and all, and he missed FAR more than he scored including several glaring misses.

He did the job he was asked to do very well,which I think atleast puts him in the running.And as a matter of personal preference I chose him.

a) Yobo is a defender.
b) With Weir and Stubbs he was never likely to get a long run in the side and a chance to settle. However, he posseses great pace and a strong physical presence and is no doubt a quality player in the making.

a] I never said he was a midfielder,I only said he played poorly in midfield.And must I add,for a central defender,he was pretty poor at marking attacking midfielders when he was playing that anchor role.
b]I agree,he's quality in the future.

My vote goes to Beattie, who looked the biggest waste of £6,000,000 for a LOOOOOOOONG time

He hasn't had a full season yet,so i guess its fair to wait for another season before deciding.

 

[sledger]

if next season for beattie is any better it will be a minor miracle. He is over weight, and on the bottle, and overated on top of all that.

 

[roseboy64]

Neil Mellor's winner against your mob stands out for mine (please don't hate me), but Edman gets my vote.

On a side note, in CM 03/04 with German side Paderborn, one of my players Michael Lornez scores a goal from 70-odd metres out (an individual effort) yet it doesn't get goal of the month .

The game is so biased of headers or screamers from outside of the box. I mean in one case in one game with Inter, Lucio tackles a player just before the half way line, starts running the ball, and his pace is 19 so most players can't stop him, the keeper comes forward and Lucio is approaching the box, lobs/chips it over the keeper and into the box (this was in the Serie A) yet it didn't get sh*t even though it was Lucio who set up the whole goal for himself, from tackling the player, to out pacing the rest of the opposition to lobbing it over the keeper. I mean Lucio is a centre back, not a striker

You sure those goals were scored in the domestic competitions. If so, then I guess the game doesn't like ya dude.

 

[roseboy64]

I agree with you Sean, Cahill was definitely Everton's best player.

 

[sledger]

yes i would also agree with that, nobody else came close to cahill. He has been a great buy.

 

[roseboy64]

Here is my review of Manchester United's season of 2004-05:

• What kept you going throughout the season? Great (or at least encouraging) results? Hope that things could only get better? Or simply blind loyalty?

I'd say the hope that things could get better.

• What were the best moments of the campaign – for example, the best performance / result?

Giving Arsenal the double in the league.

• And what were the worst?

Not winning a trophy and losing to teams like Norwich and drawing with them too.

• Who was your team’s best player of the season?

The best players were definitely Cristaino Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. They promise a lot for the future and I hope Roinaldo can get signed long term. The defnce also had a good season.

• And the worst?

That's kinda hard to say but I'd pick Louis Saha.

• How did you rate the performance of your manager/coach?

Average at best. i still belive he's got some juice left but he'll be gone soon I expect. I expect an improved performance next season.- 7/10

• And the squad? (If you like, give the players marks out of ten, where ten is out of this world and one absolutely awful)

The squad was fairly good. Could have done a lot better though. - 6/10

• What was your side’s goal of the season?

Most definitely Rooney's goal aganits Newcastle second time around. Also, had some good ones against Middlesbrough.

• And what was the biggest howler during the campaign (eg a crazy own goal, shocking miss, bizarre team selection, etc)

Absolutely certain that's Roy Carroll's let in of Pedro Mendes' shot from the half line. He got away with it though.

• Who were the best opponents your team came up against? (Team and individual player)

AC Milan and Chelsea.

• And the worst?

Given the performances in the league you'd be pressed to say Arrsenal but I have no idea really.

• How did the media generally treat your club?

Same old. Same old. lots of bickering, critiscism and speculation.

• What was the biggest slice of luck that went your way during the season?

Getting away with that Mendes goal and that "penalty" against arsenal.

• And what was the most outrageous in justice?

Not so sure but I'd say some of the dubious penalties s.a O'Shea against West Brom and also, the takeover maybe.

• Looking ahead to next season, who would you most like to see arrive at your club?

I'd say a top class midfielder and if likely a goalkeeper with reputable skills.

• And which person(s) would you most like to see leave it?

I'd say Roy Carroll. Tim Howard was pretty good in his debut season and he's young so that saves him.

• Overall, how did the campaign measure up to your pre-season expectations, and how did it compare with other seasons in which you’ve been following them?

I'd say it was a pretty bad season. Finishing third in the league, reaching the FA Cup Final and making it out of the group stages in the Champions League and reaching the Carling Cup Semifinal would be great for most teams but just doesn't cut it.

• What are you expecting from next season?

I'm expecting at least two trohies next season. Maybe at least the semifinals in the Champions League too. I also expect better goalkeeping and more goals from the strike force which equates to better finishing.

 

[Neil Pickup]

• What kept you going throughout the season? Great (or at least encouraging) results? Hope that things could only get better? Or simply blind loyalty?
Hope that the playoffs were reachable, and maybe - just maybe - next year might see us travelling to Grimsby, Stockport and Boston rather than Nailsworth, Gravesend and Canvey

• What were the best moments of the campaign – for example, the best performance / result?
Both matches against Man Utd - in fact, all the matches in the Cup run. In the league, it would have to be thumping Hereford 4-0 on Boxing Day

• And what were the worst?
All of those dropped points in the dying minutes against teams that we should have beaten - Dagenham hurting the most as it's when my last realistic hopes of the playoffs died, or from games I was at the 1-0 defeat against York when we had 17 shots to 2

• Who was your team’s best player of the season?
Probably Scott "Football Genius" Hiley. Thirty-six years young, and a near-ever-present rock at the right hand side of the defence. So, so many clearances off the goal-line - and of course that nutmeg

• And the worst?
Either Sean Canham for his general inability to do anything right, Les Afful for the no-goals-in-fifty return from the wing, or Ali Chaaban for spending a day at the club in February and then clearing back off to Farnborough

• How did you rate the performance of your manager/coach?
I want his babies. A draw at Old Trafford, and top of the league from the point where he took over in October, having been fifteenth beforehand. I just hope we can hang on to him long enough to win the title next time out!

• And the squad? (If you like, give the players marks out of ten, where ten is out of this world and one absolutely awful)
A pretty damn solid all-round effort - just that extra cutting edge in front of goal plus the ability to hold on to a lead with three minutes to play would come in handy

• What was your side’s goal of the season?
Dean Moxey. Doncaster Rovers. St. James' Park. Forty Yards. In front of the Bank. Ecstasy.

• And what was the biggest howler during the campaign (eg a crazy own goal, shocking miss, bizarre team selection, etc)
Any of the late equalisers, or Jonesy's air-kick at a Taylor back-pass from the halfway line which sent Northwich 3-1 up at St James'

• Who were the best opponents your team came up against? (Team and individual player)
Probably Man Utd, by a whisker from Billericay Town - player wise we had issues containing Lee McEvilly in the league - but Steve Perrin, the Forest Green keeper, is an all time legend in my mind thanks to the banter exchanged between himself and the Bank. All together now, "Are you Rooney in disguise..."

• And the worst?
Leigh RMI by a distance. Woeful is putting it kindly - massive respect to their six travelling fans

• How did the media generally treat your club?
I suppose the worldwide blanket coverage in January was handy - the Express and Echo was thoroughly behind us as ever, to boot.[/i]

• What was the biggest slice of luck that went your way during the season?
Number 23 (Manchester United) ... will play ... Number 64 (cue delirium)

• And what was the most outrageous in justice?
Devine's equaliser being chaulked off against United (okay, he was four or five yards offside, but linesman - where's your sense of romance?) Otherwise, being robbed by York City at the Park

• Looking ahead to next season, who would you most like to see arrive at your club?
Now that we've filled the left-back slot and added Jon Challinor the midfield, a pacy striker and a wideman with a decent final ball would complete the City jigsaw

• And which person(s) would you most like to see leave it?
I'd be quite happy to see any of the current squad in a Grecian jersey in August

• Overall, how did the campaign measure up to your pre-season expectations, and how did it compare with other seasons in which you’ve been following them?
Identically in terms of league position - sixth and a point off the playoffs. I'd hoped we might have made the top five, mind. As for the cup - above and beyond my wildest dreams!

• What are you expecting from next season?
Promotion. Plus, a chance for revenge against United...

 

[Craig]

Credit where it's due, it was a lovely goal. Obviously it depressed the heck outta me at the time, it being last minute & all, but Liverpool probably deserved the win on the balance of play.

IIRC it may've been Mellor's first goal for the 'Pool too. Not a bad 'un to open your account with!

Just out of curiousity Craig, with you being a Serie A fan but an Inter follower I presume you're rooting for The Scousers on Weds?

Damn straight!

*Walks off to learn the words of 'You Will Never Walk Alone'*

 

[Craig]

Not so sure but I'd say some of the dubious penalties s.a O'Shea against West Brom and also, the takeover maybe.

Shouldn't have become a PLC then.

 

[Craig]

Not strictly English Football, but ouch for Celtic. That's gotta hurt:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/4565659.stm

And what's the bet Martin O'Neill won't be at Celtic next season? Pretty good.

 

[chaminda_00]

And what's the bet Martin O'Neill won't be at Celtic next season? Pretty good.

Not English football either, but i hope that Frank Farina picks Scott McDonald for the Confed Cup and NZ, especially if Kewell and Vidulka are out. The guys been in brilliant form for Motherwell.

 

[Craig]

I wonder if Taggart is regretting selling Diego Forlan with the season Forlan is having with Villarreal? It makes me right about him, I have always believed that is he is always playing then he will get you the goals. He isn't as useless as people make him out to be, he has just doubted himself when at United.

 

[chaminda_00]

I wonder if Taggart is regretting selling Diego Forlan with the season Forlan is having with Villarreal? It makes me right about him, I have always believed that is he is always playing then he will get you the goals. He isn't as useless as people make him out to be, he has just doubted himself when at United.

Well the guy is a good player but he is not Man Utd quailty. Also i think you'll find that the style of football they play in Spain is more suited to his game. How many South Americans have had consistent success in England compared to Italy and Spain.

 

[Pratters]

What do you guys think would be the season ending first elevens of the English Premier League teams? (before some of the transfers took place after the last match of the league)