Newcastle 0-3 Everton e-Football Review

Article by e-Everton Correspondent Kenneth Jarvis

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It's the hope that kills you, but it's hope we have. After unconvincing victories against Swansea and Cardiff, a home a trip to Newcastle seemed like it was going to be a very tough game where a lot would have been content with a point, a fantastic victory came in the way of a 3-0 win that give rise to more belief from the Everton faithful.

Of course things may have been different, Newcastle were on the front foot early on, and if it wasn't for a wonderful block from McCarthy, Newcastle could have found themselves 1-0 ahead. Everton recovered from their shaky start and eventually grew into the match. It is easy to forget that Everton were playing a team with a lot of good players in an away match that we have not found easy in the past. Everton's goal did come from Newcastle pressure as it was bourne out from a corner for the home side, but that isn't exactly what I want to talk about in regards to the first goal . . .

Everton's young players have been criticised for their decision making at times over the course of this season, it is of course only natural for a young player to have this negative against their game at such an early stage. When Ross Barkley got the ball he was constantly looking for the pass. Lukaku occupied some great space and took the defenders away from Barkley, who often in the past has made a wrong pass to end the attack. This time however, Barkley took advantage of his space to rifle home a left foot shot. So many things impressed about the goal however again it highlighted Barkley's natural ability on both feet. Barkley's confidence is a concern, as it seems to be a little too fragile at the moment, however over the last few weeks it seems to have built up and if he has complete faith in his talent, we can expect to see many more special things on the football field from him.

After the Swansea match, I was nervous at 1-0, as without Jagielka, Everton's back 4 seems to be a lot more nervous during an opposition attack. The run in the team of the brave John Stones can only help his career development but it will be a joy to see Jagielka back in the line up for the run-in.

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Deulofeu was a menace, and another whose decision making can be questioned at times. In this match though he was magic. The pressure that Newcastle put on Everton at times seemed to help the likes of Lukaku, Deulofeu and Barkley as they were able to exploit the extra space. The hypothetical question of “would you pay £20m for Lukaku” has been doing the round between Everton fans, but despite the lack of link up play and overall game from him at the moment, he provides goals. At the moment in the league he is providing them at more than a goal every two games, which for an Everton striker is almost unheard of. £20m for a striker who gets you more than a goal every two games at the age of 20? That's pretty much a no-brainer for me. If he was to score five goals in his last eight matches, it would be the most by any Everton player in the league since 1986.

The impressive thing about Lukaku in this match wasn't just the goal, he was directly involved in the two other goals. As mentioned, Barkley doesn't score that goal without his movement, and provided the assist for Osman. Osman's selection gets criticised before Every match and 95% of the time is justified, however, in those 5% of matches you are left wondering why can't we see this player every week! It has always been the way with Osman and will never change, for a handful of games each season he can turn it on, and boy did he turn it on here. His goal was deserved and very well taken.

Forget about Manchester United and forget about Tottenham, we need to talk about Arsenal. The race for 4th is well and truly open. From my previous articles I have written about Arsenal's fixture list and the possibility of us being able to close the gap, well the possibility has now become a reality. The focus for Everton though has to to be the next game, not any fixture in the future. We have an atrocious record at Fulham away which may not count for much, but if we want 4th place, it's as close to a must win as it gets.

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