Yeah, can't even be made at that. It was amazing defense. Haven't seen a clearance like that in a while.
A day later and I'm still pretty freaking about this game. More goals from strikers this game than in the first 4 months of Premier League play.
Four-goal Saha salvo inspires Toffees Louis Saha PA Photos Louis Saha celebrates scoring for Everton Photo Gallery Torres and Drogba: Together at Chelsea (GettyImages) * Photo Gallery Scoring Summary Everton Blackpool Louis Saha (20') Alex Baptiste (37') Louis Saha (47') Jason Puncheon (62') Louis Saha (76') Charlie Adam (64') Jermaine Beckford (80') Louis Saha (84') Match Stats Everton Blackpool 24(10) Shots (on Goal) 12(4) 12 Fouls 18 9 Corner Kicks 5 2 Offsides 2 56% Time of Possession 45% 0 Yellow Cards 1 0 Red Cards 0 1 Saves 5 876572 Teams Everton Blackpool 24 Tim Howard 1 Paul Rachubka 15 Sylvain Distin 6 Ian Evatt 5 John Heitinga 15 Alex Baptiste 3 Leighton Baines 29 David Carney 18 Phil Neville 5 Neil Eardley 25 Marouane Fellaini 11 David Vaughan 10 Mikel Arteta 26 Charlie Adam 26 Jack Rodwell 39 DJ Campbell 7 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 14 Eliot Grandin 23 Seamus Coleman 44 James Beattie 8 Louis Saha 42 Jason Puncheon Substitutes 6 Phil Jagielka Marlon Harewood 9 17 Tim Cahill Andy Reid 43 21 Leon Osman Keith Southern 4 2 Tony Hibbert Richard Kingson 28 28 Victor Anichebe Luke Varney 16 1 Jan Mucha Matthew Phillips 23 16 Jermaine Beckford Rob Edwards 24 Substitutions Tim Cahill for Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (70) Rob Edwards for Jason Puncheon (74) Jermaine Beckford for Jack Rodwell (70) Keith Southern for DJ Campbell (75) Phil Jagielka for Louis Saha (86) Marlon Harewood for James Beattie (80) Yellow Cards Charlie Adam (50) · Rosters: Everton | Blackpool Louis Saha scored four and Jermaine Beckford was also on target as Everton came from behind to beat Blackpool in an eight-goal thriller. • Saha: I'm feeling good Blackpool had come from 2-1 down to lead 3-2 with just over an hour gone of a frenetic Barclays Premier League clash at Goodison Park. But Saha's third levelled the scores and he completed the scoring with his eighth goal in his last six games after a superb Beckford volley. Saha had opened the scoring after 20 minutes and was angry to have another disallowed before half-time after Blackpool equalised when Alex Baptiste made sure Ian Evatt's effort crossed the line. He put that right early in the second half but Blackpool roared back in characteristic fashion with goals from Jason Puncheon and captain Charlie Adam. However, as has also been their way recently, Blackpool let their opponents back in and are now slipping alarmingly towards the relegation zone. Blackpool boss Ian Holloway rang the changes as he tried to prevent a run of six defeats in seven league outings worsening. Goalkeeper Richard Kingson was the biggest casualty of Wednesday's loss to West Ham as Paul Rachubka came in for his first league start of the season. New signings James Beattie and Puncheon made their full debuts, while Evatt and Elliot Grandin returned. But it was an unchanged Everton, with Tim Cahill available again but on the bench, who made the early running as the rain set in from the start. The hosts won a free-kick in the first minute but the wall blocked Leighton Baines' shot and Mikel Arteta's follow-up attempt. John Heitinga tested Rachubka when he robbed Grandin and tried his luck from distance, but the American saved comfortably. Everton deservedly took the lead after 20 minutes as Diniyar Bilyaletdinov weaved his way into the area and picked out Saha, who confidently swept home from seven yards. It was over half an hour before Blackpool got a serious sight at goal but Adam shot well wide from 30 yards. Adam got another chance after Sylvain Distin was caught out by an awkward bounce and handled on the edge of the area. Adam's free-kick was blocked but the ball ran out for the corner which led to the 37th-minute equaliser. Adam picked out Evatt at the near post and his shot may have crossed the line after striking the woodwork before Baptiste followed up to make certain. Everton thought they had reclaimed the lead two minutes later when Saha touched the ball past Rachubka from a Seamus Coleman pass. However, referee Kevin Friend had already blown his whistle for a foul on Coleman just outside the area. Everton and Saha removed that sense of injustice within two minutes of the restart as the former Manchester United striker finished off a slick move to restore the lead. Jack Rodwell fed Baines down the left and the full-back found Saha with a perfect ball into the area which was turned in at the near post with a first-time shot. Baines almost added another soon after with a low drive from the edge of the area which he just dragged wide. Rodwell looked certain to score after a brilliant touch took him past Baptiste in the area but he flicked his shot across goal. Everton paid for those misses as Blackpool turned the game on its head with two goals in the space of three minutes. The second equaliser came in the 61st minute after Heitinga lost the ball to Grandin 30 yards out, who quickly fed former Everton striker Beattie down the left and he cut inside to cross for the inrushing Puncheon to sidefoot home. Before Everton had time to recover, Blackpool broke from deep to set up DJ Campbell on the edge of the area. Campbell's shot was tipped onto the bar by Howard but Adam followed up to dive forward and head home the rebound. A compelling game almost took another twist when Rodwell caught Rachubka off his line, but Evatt got back to make a brilliant acrobatic clearance. Everton got themselves back level 14 minutes from time when Saha completed his hat-trick from a corner when he headed home from close range after a Distin flick-on. The crowd called out for another and substitute Beckford obliged in the 80th minute when he raced onto another superb Baines cross and hit a fine left-foot volley past Rachubka. Given what had gone before, Everton did not want to take any chances and surged forward to put the game beyond doubt with a fifth. Saha showed some of the determination of old as he beat Adam on a race to goal and slid in his fourth. # Saha: I'm feeling good Everton's four-goal hero Louis Saha deflected praise after his starring role in this afternoon's stunning 5-3 win over Blackpool. The Frenchman said: "It is always a nice feeling when you are scoring goals and winning is the main thing about being a footballer. I am glad today we got the result we deserved. "I feel very good. The confidence in the camp is really good - it helps you when you get lads who are fully confident.'' Saha felt he should have had five but had another disallowed after referee Kevin Friend blew for a foul on Seamus Coleman seconds earlier. Saha said: "The referee, once he blew he couldn't come back. It is a shame because it is a rule where it could be advantage - but the main thing is to get three points.'' Everton manager David Moyes said: "Where do you start with Louis? It was just a top, top performance. Anybody who has played against him, with him or managed him will tell you he has that ability. "That is why he has been involved with France teams and at World Cups. He has that quality. He has probably not shown it as often as he can do but today's performance was right up there with the best.'' Everton's victory was only their third in 15 Premier League games. Moyes added: "If we hadn't won it it would have been completely wrong. We were the better team, had the chances. "You probably always need to score three goals to beat Blackpool and we needed four certainly, and thankfully we got a fifth too.'' Blackpool remain one of the most entertaining teams in the competition but luck appears to have deserted them after a run of just one win in eight outings. Manager Ian Holloway said: "Words fail me really. The character of the lads was outstanding, that was a tough game. We had a bit of luck first half really, we all know that. It should have been a goal for Everton. He blew the whistle far too early. "That lifted us going in at half-time, I must admit. ''I felt quite positive coming out for the second half but, suddenly, 2-1. I thought that would have knocked us like skittles but I think the lads again showed great character. "We got 3-2 up and I tried to do what we did against Liverpool - played five at the back and four across midfield to try to block things up. To let three goals in with that formation at that time of the game is absolutely devastating after what has happened in previous games.''
That sucks as well but we have much better depth in the midfield than Striker so its less worrisome, at least in my opinion. Rodwell has been playing pretty well recently though.
This is worrying. We really needed a result in each of our next 3-4 games and to start out not just losing, but losing like we did this game is not good. We had no chemistry and about the only fire we showed was yelling at their own teamates .
Just watch the final 15 minutes of extra time and the PKs. Did not miss anything else besides Lamps scoring an easy knock.
I saw the "highlights" on FSC, so I guess I don't need to watch.. That Baines goal was a thing of beauty though.
"Everton striker Louis Saha is "lucky to be alive" after a huge smash on a country lane in his £170,000 Ferrari" http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/28022011/58/premier-league-saha-lucky-alive-ferrari-smash.html
Today's Starters: Everton 24 Howard 03 Baines 06 Jagielka 15 Distin 18 Neville 23 Coleman 07 Bilyaletdinov 10 Arteta 21 Osman 26 Rodwell 08 Saha Reading 41 McCarthy 05 Mills 15 Khizanishvili 23 Harte 06 Gunnarsson 07 Tabb 08 Leigertwood 11 McAnuff 14 Kebe 09 Long 10 Hunt Pretty straightforward from Everton... Interesting no Beckford after the 2 against Sunderland and Saha crashes his Ferrari yesterday and plays today
ha they just announced that Beckford did not arrive until 18 minutes into the game due to traffic... otherwise he would've started
Microcosm of our season. Beat the big boys and lose or draw those we should beat the very next time out.
It's match day, bitches. What's everyone's thoughts on our chances of pulling three today and keeping some prayer alive? Still no Cahill or Fellaini and maybe Neville too.
A point is a point and it moves us up since that was the last makeup game. I wish we would leave in Saha and Beckford for a whole game though. The two seem to work well when they play together. Anymore word on Arteta?