Random great Everton goals #10

Anders Limpar - Leicester v Everton
Filbert Street, March 4, 1995

At the conclusion of a wildly schizophrenic season that saw about as many points picked up against the top six as bottom six, and which culminated in a well earned win against the always repellent Chelsea, there are a few things I’d rather not see at Goodison next season. John Heitinga and Phil Neville together in midfield. Kevin Nolan being made to look like Socrates. ‘Rossy la’ on the mic. Lee Mason refereeing. Or Peter Walton for that matter.

There are certain things it would however be nice to see. With the inevitable departure of messrs Yakubu and Vaughan, a centre forward ready for first team action with a decent record of scoring goals and avoiding the treatment table. Cover at left back that isn’t Phil Neville or Tony Hibbert. And most importantly for me, a winger with pace. Central to our problems over the first half of the season was an inability to use width to break down sides coming to L4 seeking only a point. And with alluring continental free agents with dubious appearance records (Vicente) joining their mundane British equivalents (the all too plausible, given our spending power, Kieron Dyer) on David Moyes’ supposed watch list to solve this problem, it all begs the question: what would we now give for Andrei Kanchelskis in his prime?

With a deftness of touch that even the Fernando Torres of Sunday afternoon would regard as heavy and unsubtle, I hamfistedly venture we would also benefit from the presence of the scorer of today’s random goal: Anders Limpar. Limpar’s relatively brief Everton career was bookended with disappointment; indifferent early displays headlined by THAT handball against Wimbledon and disappearing almost unnoticed out of the door after a period in the cold to Birmingham in 1997. For the majority of his time in a blue shirt however he was a personal favourite of mine, particularly as the artisan in the otherwise wonderfully industrial 1994-5 side.

His treatment at the hands of Joe Royle was curious. Having been part of that cup winning side and lauded by his manager for resembling Platini at times, he seemed to link up well with Kanchelskis after the Ukranian’s arrival in the summer of 1995, the glorious highlight of which was the pair’s combination for the second goal at the Tin Mine as Uncle Roy’s side exposed its oft-present glass jaw in big games. As things started to go wrong the following season and Kanchelskis departed amid myriad rumour, the increasing criticism appeared to entrench Royle into a more negative and paranoid attitude and Limpar seemed to become a luxury he felt the side (now featuring Claus Thomsen) could no longer afford, leading to his departure. Or maybe the Swede had only himself to blame; his career post 1997 certainly suggested someone with a waning interest in competing at the highest level. Whatever the truth, his Everton career ultimately flickered rather than shone, but when it was good it was ace.

This goal came toward the end of the 1995 season when Royle felt secure enough in the club’s continued status in the league to give future hatchet man of Spanish football Vinny Samways a run out at Filbert Street. Charity Shield hero Samways duly notched, but the highlight of the 2-2 draw was Anders’ effort from distance.

A May Playlist - The Rise and Fall of Alain Perrin

No overarching theme to the title, the picture or running through the selection, just a collection of records that seem to sound great in the sunshine. Enjoy. Or don't. It's up to you...

Tracklisting:
Beach Boys - Our Prayer
Strawberry Alarm Clock - They Saw The Fat Man Coming
Allen Clapp - Whenever We're Together
Shaun Harris - Colour of Your Eyes
Aluminum Group - Chocolates
Stephen Fretwell - Bumper Cars
Nicole Crosille - We Got a Thing
La's - Was it Something I Said
Tyrone Davis - Can I Change My Mind
Alzo Fronte - That's Alright (I Don't Mind It)
Del Shannon - Runaway (1967 version)
Cosmic Rough Riders - Move Along
Cranebuilders - Just Idleness
Great Northwestern Hoboes - Upon my Shelf
American Spring - Fallin' in Love
Faces - You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything (Even Take the Dog for a Walk, Mend a Fuse, Fold Away the Ironing Board, or Any Other Domestic Shortcomings)
Emitt Rhodes - Really Wanted You
Isley Brothers - My Love is Your Love
Jimmie Spheeris - I am the Mercury
John Grant - Fireflies
Mark Eric - Build Your Own Dream
Martha Wainwright - When The Day is Short
Air - Californie

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The Rise and Fall of Alain Perrin by Davespowart on Mixcloud