Went to the match, got back a while ago but have been watching Strictly! My thoughts...

Thankfully had tickets in front of the massive posts running all the way down the stand so had a decent view. Was actually in with the friends/family of the Nodge players - tickets were sorted out through a family friend who is player liaison at Everton and asked Ruddy to get them for us. Does Grant Holt have a brother? There was a guy 2 rows in front who was the spitting image of him! Plenty of mums, dads and WAGs there too. A woman that also looked like Hoss (who I guessed was his mum) sang WFLGH at every opportunity!!

Enjoyed the match despite it seeming like we were hanging on for most of it. You guys no doubt had a much better view from watching the streams - may not have been like that in reality. At one point in the first half when they had about 6 corners in a row I can't believe we didn't concede from one of them! Everton's game was very predictable, get the ball in the box at every opportunity from out wide and set pieces. A lot went through Baines down the left - I thought Naughton plated him well given he got booked after 3 mins.

Didn't have an excellent view of the horse's goal but have watched it a few times on the link in one of the posts below and it was as good as I thought. Absolutely superb. He rises to every challenge thrown at him - a very clever footballer and I really do f*cking love him!

Although Everton had lots of possession and pressure, Ruddy didn't have too many difficult shots to stop. I really thought we were going to hold on but then along came Drenthe.

We didn't deal with him well at all. He is very left footed and playing on the right wing. Every time he got the ball you knew he would be looking to cut inside and every time we just let him do just that! First rule of playing full-back... SHOW THEM DOWN THE LINE! Obviously that's easier said than done but it's something that really annoys me as a former left-back myself (not Premier League standard though obviously!).

All-in-all a good point earned and would definitely have taken that before the match. Top performances from Holt (getting better and better), Wes (worked ridiculously hard, especially second half when we were ahead, not surprised Lambo took him off as would've been knackered!) and Whitbread (classy defender, has got everything needed to be really top drawer).

I'm really loving being a Nodge fan at the moment. What a team/club/manager. Ruddy bloody brilliant.

Talking of Ruddy, had a text off the mother-in-law after the game and her mate's husband mentioned above (Everton player liaison) got Ruddy to sign his shirt and give it to him for me after the match. Will be my best Christmas present by far!

OTBC! IFLGH!

Posted By: JD3, Dec 17, 22:57:42