West Ham 1 v 3 Everton

 

Always on the way to matches I reminisce about the old days! For me that means the 70`s and 80`s some great days and some nearly days. I remember the 1980 semi final against the Hammers at Villa Park. If and it’s a big if, my memory serves me right, we were one nil up, Brian Kidd being sent off then its 1-1. The far more memorable replay at Leeds had the incredible Latchford equaliser, the Everton fans going mad, Latchford standing on the fence, then unbelievable the Lampard winner.

 

 

Like many scousers I was living in London then in the “glory” of the Thatcher years. Travelling home with the West Ham fans was not easy in those days, you had to be careful. Say nothing!

 

I remember going to West Ham in the 80`s and having a group of Hammers fans sing Deutschland über alles and giving each other nazi salutes. Not fun!

 

Better memories of the quarter final last year. Night match the smells the lights and fanatical support 2-1 and the Yak, just fantastic. However I quite like West Ham, a real team, real support unlike the top four with their pretend fans who have always supported them!

 

The game

Team had Rodwell in, interested to watch him, heard lots of positive comments about him. We are playing a 4-4-2 formation thought the papers said 4-5-1. Game on, early chance for Saha but then West Ham take control. They seem to pour through the midfield, and be in total control.  Bellamy Sears and Parker seemed to run through Everton`s midfield, Ossie looked good, Rodwell out of his depth with Cahill lost and Arteta anonymous. Bellamy was nicely baited on several occasions. Interesting to watch his reaction, kept his eyes on the West Ham crowd never looked at us. Other footballers could learn from his example (Rooney)

 

Crowd is quiet apart from 30 West Ham fans to our left who sing the normal songs about scousers. West Ham keep the pressure up and I look for half time. Moyes will change it and get us back into it. At this time there is only one side in it. Howard makes one brilliant save and couple of good stops. It appears to me only Ossie, Howard and Pip are playing well. This look like a 1-0 game and it won’t be us winning it. Our midfield looks lost (bring back Carsley!!!!)

 

Half time comes thank the gods! Now Moyes can change the set up and get Rodwell off. Not his day today.

 

Kick off and no changes for Everton, atmosphere is very flat then suddenly both team appear to realise that the game is there for the taking. Atmosphere is buzzing and Everton start putting pressure on West Ham. Suddenly there is a break after a call for an Everton penalty. Beautiful back heel and Collison scores. 1-0 and I`m thinking can we come back from this? Pip is screaming at players and Vaughn comes on for Rodwell. 25 minutes to go 6 more chances I reckon, can we do it?

 

Lots of play and corners but no real chances for us. Worried that West Ham are going to break away and score! End of game then.

 

Ball knocked away by West Ham, lazy slow pass to Saha and then a lovely cross to Lescott and the net bulges and absolute pandemonium breaks out  in the Everton end (even now the hairs on the back of my neck are up) 1-1 yes! The Everton fans are singing and jumping around. Suddenly Saha gets the ball on the edge of the box he shoots and the ball seems to roll ever so slowly into the back of the net. The Everton players run straight in front of us. Vaughn`s face and Pip`s face are etched in my memory, they are feet away from me and its seems to mean as much to them as it does to us. They are screaming with joy, ecstasy, and happiness!

 

The passion and commitment from them seems incredible. Vaughn seems on fire, the team press. This is unbelievable the crowd are rocking this is better than the quarter final victory. (that night I knew we were going to win not today) The crowd are singing I've got tears in my eyes and my son is jumping up and down.

 

Saha has the ball on the edge of the area and hits it again and I can`t believe it, its in the back of the net. The crowd explode again! The crowd is so alive. It must be Christmas!

 

The whistle goes the stewards wave away the Everton players but we don`t care, this is heaven surely. We have just robbed West Ham, for 80 minutes we were crap then we exploded. I look around the ground is empty apart from the Everton fans. We’re still singing all the way out of the ground. On the way out my son sees a t-shirt with the Everton slogan on “Evertonians are born not manufactured, we do not choose; we are chosen, those who understand need no explanation, those who don't; don't matter”. It sums us all up, with Evertonians it’s everything.