FAN SCENE: Increased options pay off for David Moyes

Oct 26 2007 by Mark O'Brien, Liverpool Daily Post

ALL’S well that ends well.

Everton are now sitting pretty at the top of their UEFA Cup group thanks to last night’s 3-1 win over Ibrahima Bakayoko’s Larissa but, and this is an infuriatingly familiar statement, they don’t half make things hard for themselves.

Once again David Moyes seemed to pick one of his European ‘special teams’, in almost NFL fashion, this time packing the side with diminutive but skilful midfielders.

He did something similar away in Kharkiv and almost came unstuck, but fortunately the Greeks were nowhere near as good as Metalist.

Everton had the game sewn up at 2-0, only for a certain amount of arrogance to creep into their play. Tim Howard and Joleon Lescott were both culpable for Larissa’s goal, and Moyes must have been as furious as the home fans as their ludicrous errors turned what promised to be a leisurely final period of the match turned into frantic, end-to-end stuff.

Before injury depleted certain areas of the squad though, the manager said that what he has more of this season is options. The return of Tim Cahill, doing what he does best and throwing himself in where it hurts for the opening goal and leading the charge for the second, has certainly come as a timely boost.

Thomas Gravesen’s comeback could prove crucial too; he showed more assured touches than maybe you would expect of someone who has played as little competitive football as he has in the past year.

As for Victor Anichebe, he just seems to get better with every appearance. Last season he looked a big awkward lad, adept at backing into defenders and winning free-kicks. His clinching goal last night – his second in as many European ties – was absolutely top-drawer. The way he held off the two defenders, kept his balance and finished so coolly was worthy of Thierry Henry or Didier Drogba.