Graeme Sharp - Sheffield Wednesday v Everton
Hillsborough, January 27th 1988
In a week when current striking options seem to diminish by the day; Saha and Anichebe lost to injury, Vaughan out on loan and Yakubu missing believed hungry, it seems appropriate to use another Graeme Sharp effort as reminder of what a consistent Everton goalscorer looks like. This gloriously subtle effort came in the third replay (that’s right kids, in the days before figure congestion was invented) of an FA Cup tie, all three previous ties having finished 1-1, the first two replays also going to extra time. The Blues clearly had got bored of the sight of the Owls and were 5-0 up at half time, winning by the same scoreline. This was goal number three.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
L’Ambassade d’Auvergne
22 rue de Grenier St-Lazare, 3rd Arrondissement, Paris
website
Arriving after a day’s cultural nourishment at the beautifully tranquil Musee Rodin, I had been looking forward, having read reviews, to a hearty meal at this celebration of central French Auvergne cooking in the Le Marais district. First impressions were positive, the interior was cosy with exposed wooden beams and a warm welcome from the maitre d’.
On studying the menu I quickly decided, as did Catherine, to start with the generally recommended warm puy lentils, cooked in goose fat and served with bacon. These came in a large bowl with the emphasis that we should help ourselves.
Although not the most appealing-looking of dishes, it was beautifully executed and very comforting. This comforting, homely theme continued with the main course. Again there was harmony in our selection, both of us choosing the magret de canard served with aligot, cheesy whipped mashed potatoes, which our waiter was able to stretch on a spoon from the pan like mozzarella.
The duck was nicely pink and the creaminess of the potato compensated for the lack of a sauce. Although filling nicely, the reputation of the restaurant’s chocolate mousse encouraged Catherine to order it for dessert, while in the interests of diversity I elected to try the blueberry tart with ice cream.
The tart was delicate, full of flavour and a nice light way to finish a meal. ‘Light’ would be the last word used to describe the mousse which, as with the starter, was left on the table in a huge serving dish, with instruction to Catherine to take as much as she wanted. Rich and moreish, it was the sort of dish that Masterchef’s Greg Wallace would no doubt declare his interest in burying his jowly face into. Overall what the food lacked in elegance it more than made up for in rustic charm. A bit of stodge is sometimes no bad thing…
website
Arriving after a day’s cultural nourishment at the beautifully tranquil Musee Rodin, I had been looking forward, having read reviews, to a hearty meal at this celebration of central French Auvergne cooking in the Le Marais district. First impressions were positive, the interior was cosy with exposed wooden beams and a warm welcome from the maitre d’.
On studying the menu I quickly decided, as did Catherine, to start with the generally recommended warm puy lentils, cooked in goose fat and served with bacon. These came in a large bowl with the emphasis that we should help ourselves.
Although not the most appealing-looking of dishes, it was beautifully executed and very comforting. This comforting, homely theme continued with the main course. Again there was harmony in our selection, both of us choosing the magret de canard served with aligot, cheesy whipped mashed potatoes, which our waiter was able to stretch on a spoon from the pan like mozzarella.
The duck was nicely pink and the creaminess of the potato compensated for the lack of a sauce. Although filling nicely, the reputation of the restaurant’s chocolate mousse encouraged Catherine to order it for dessert, while in the interests of diversity I elected to try the blueberry tart with ice cream.
The tart was delicate, full of flavour and a nice light way to finish a meal. ‘Light’ would be the last word used to describe the mousse which, as with the starter, was left on the table in a huge serving dish, with instruction to Catherine to take as much as she wanted. Rich and moreish, it was the sort of dish that Masterchef’s Greg Wallace would no doubt declare his interest in burying his jowly face into. Overall what the food lacked in elegance it more than made up for in rustic charm. A bit of stodge is sometimes no bad thing…
Saturday, 28 August 2010
Random great Everton goals #3
Andy Johnson - Everton v Arsenal
Goodison, March 18th 2007
There is something intrinsically beautiful about a last minute winner, of snatching two points when you have probably mentally settled for just one. A few spring to mind from Goodison matches of recent years; Tomasz Radzinski's screamer in a 2-1 win against Southampton and a midweek Leon Osman effort against Portsmouth among them. This Andy Johnson goal came on a Sunday afternoon in the midst of a horrendous hailstorm that had started some fifteen minutes earlier, much to the dismay of various gloved Arsenal players who could not wait for the game to end. Leaving the ground the hail stopped and the sun shone. As it always does on the righteous denizens of the Old Lady....
Goodison, March 18th 2007
There is something intrinsically beautiful about a last minute winner, of snatching two points when you have probably mentally settled for just one. A few spring to mind from Goodison matches of recent years; Tomasz Radzinski's screamer in a 2-1 win against Southampton and a midweek Leon Osman effort against Portsmouth among them. This Andy Johnson goal came on a Sunday afternoon in the midst of a horrendous hailstorm that had started some fifteen minutes earlier, much to the dismay of various gloved Arsenal players who could not wait for the game to end. Leaving the ground the hail stopped and the sun shone. As it always does on the righteous denizens of the Old Lady....
Friday, 13 August 2010
Blue Blood - Edward Conlon
A review written for the excellent Everton fansite When Skies are Grey, comfortably the best written and most entertaining site for those of a Goodison-based persuasion.
Random great Everton goals #2
James McFadden - Everton v Charlton Athletic
Goodison, April 15th 2007
Signed from Motherwell as part of a hectic transfer deadline day that also saw Nigel Martyn, Kevin Kilbane and Francis ‘Franny’ Jeffers arrive at the club, James McFadden made an immediate impact with eye catching displays in the League Cup against Stockport and a 4-0 hammering of an awful Leeds sides. However his early promise never materialised into much more than occasional flashes of brilliance, more often than not mixed in with large helpings of frustrating mediocrity. Possibly lacking just the added yard or so of pace that would have given him the burst he needed to get away from defenders, it was no surprise that David Moyes accepted the generous £5m offer made by Birmingham in January 2009. Coming across in media articles as a thoroughly decent individual, the Scot will probably be most fondly remembered for this stunning winning goal, straight after Darren Bent’s equaliser and deep into injury time, which provided a wounding blow to Charlton’s survival hopes and helped Everton toward their final 6th place position.
Goodison, April 15th 2007
Signed from Motherwell as part of a hectic transfer deadline day that also saw Nigel Martyn, Kevin Kilbane and Francis ‘Franny’ Jeffers arrive at the club, James McFadden made an immediate impact with eye catching displays in the League Cup against Stockport and a 4-0 hammering of an awful Leeds sides. However his early promise never materialised into much more than occasional flashes of brilliance, more often than not mixed in with large helpings of frustrating mediocrity. Possibly lacking just the added yard or so of pace that would have given him the burst he needed to get away from defenders, it was no surprise that David Moyes accepted the generous £5m offer made by Birmingham in January 2009. Coming across in media articles as a thoroughly decent individual, the Scot will probably be most fondly remembered for this stunning winning goal, straight after Darren Bent’s equaliser and deep into injury time, which provided a wounding blow to Charlton’s survival hopes and helped Everton toward their final 6th place position.
Monday, 9 August 2010
Random great Everton goals #1
Graeme Sharp – Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
Goodison, January 30th 1982
Although naturally pessimistic and cynical, even I am optimistic looking ahead to the forthcoming season. With a squad containing as many talented individuals as we’ve had for a good few years and boosted by Mikel Arteta’s contract extension, I can’t wait for Saturday’s opener at Ewood Park. When we will no doubt not show up and dip 2-0. In my current good humour then, it’s time for a (probably short) series of great Everton goals from across the ages, that maybe meant little in the grand scheme of the club’s history, but are in their own right little gems
In its own way as good as his far more famous strike at Anfield a couple of years later, this particular effort came in a 1-1 draw. One of the first real indications of Sharp’s talent and promise.
Goodison, January 30th 1982
Although naturally pessimistic and cynical, even I am optimistic looking ahead to the forthcoming season. With a squad containing as many talented individuals as we’ve had for a good few years and boosted by Mikel Arteta’s contract extension, I can’t wait for Saturday’s opener at Ewood Park. When we will no doubt not show up and dip 2-0. In my current good humour then, it’s time for a (probably short) series of great Everton goals from across the ages, that maybe meant little in the grand scheme of the club’s history, but are in their own right little gems
In its own way as good as his far more famous strike at Anfield a couple of years later, this particular effort came in a 1-1 draw. One of the first real indications of Sharp’s talent and promise.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Genius - No4
Growing up in the mid 80’s there were a rich variety of personalities with differing attributes for the aspiring young goalkeeper to study; Peter Shilton, Jean Marie Pfaff, Bruce Grobbelaar, Harold Schumacher, Pat Jennings and the USSR’s unflappably cool Rinat Dasaev among them. For me, as much as my style actually resembled Liverpool’s aforementioned Zimbabwean on a bad day, there was only one true shining light to follow: Neville Southall. Among the many bargains picked up by Howard Kendall while assembling his great squad of 1984-87, the £150,000 paid to Bury for the Welshman’s services in 1981 must rank as one of the great pieces of business in Everton’s history.
Often dishevelled in appearance and (going by the accounts of those who played in front of him) a constant, moaning presence, he was the one player of their own that Evertonians could claim to be, without accusation of bias, a leading contender for the best in his position in the world. Not overwhelmingly physically imposing in the manner of a David James, his reflexes, athleticism and sheer presence more than compensated to drain centre forwards of belief and made the goal seem five-a-side size.
Just as Kevin Brock’s woefully short backpass is seen as the turning point for Kendall’s struggling young side in the 1983-4 season – culminating in FA Cup success – so Southall’s save from a point blank Mark Falco header at White Hart Lane (at around 3m20 on the video), toward the end of a top of the table clash with Spurs which sealed a 2-1 victory, gave the team the final decisive kick for home and a first title in fifteen years. Football Writers Player of the Year at the conclusion of that season, it is a measure of the confidence he instilled amongst Evertonians that an injury sustained on international duty at Landsdowne Road is often seen as the crucial factor in the team ultimately ending the 1985-6 season potless, despite the perfectly adequate job done by replacement Bobby Mimms.
Eventually appearing 751 times for the club, he is rightly held up as a true Everton ‘legend’ at a time when the term is used far too loosely. Indeed it is probably only his notoriously abrasive, perfectionist personality that has stopped him being employed at a high level as a manager or coach. Although it was probably the characteristic that drove him to the top in the first place. Loved by anyone of a Blue persuasion and, due perhaps to Wales’ failure to qualify for a World Cup and the club’s lower media profile, underappreciated in wider circles, he remains my first and dominant footballing idol.
Often dishevelled in appearance and (going by the accounts of those who played in front of him) a constant, moaning presence, he was the one player of their own that Evertonians could claim to be, without accusation of bias, a leading contender for the best in his position in the world. Not overwhelmingly physically imposing in the manner of a David James, his reflexes, athleticism and sheer presence more than compensated to drain centre forwards of belief and made the goal seem five-a-side size.
Just as Kevin Brock’s woefully short backpass is seen as the turning point for Kendall’s struggling young side in the 1983-4 season – culminating in FA Cup success – so Southall’s save from a point blank Mark Falco header at White Hart Lane (at around 3m20 on the video), toward the end of a top of the table clash with Spurs which sealed a 2-1 victory, gave the team the final decisive kick for home and a first title in fifteen years. Football Writers Player of the Year at the conclusion of that season, it is a measure of the confidence he instilled amongst Evertonians that an injury sustained on international duty at Landsdowne Road is often seen as the crucial factor in the team ultimately ending the 1985-6 season potless, despite the perfectly adequate job done by replacement Bobby Mimms.
Eventually appearing 751 times for the club, he is rightly held up as a true Everton ‘legend’ at a time when the term is used far too loosely. Indeed it is probably only his notoriously abrasive, perfectionist personality that has stopped him being employed at a high level as a manager or coach. Although it was probably the characteristic that drove him to the top in the first place. Loved by anyone of a Blue persuasion and, due perhaps to Wales’ failure to qualify for a World Cup and the club’s lower media profile, underappreciated in wider circles, he remains my first and dominant footballing idol.
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