ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS

I’ve defended our right to have a moan in this blog before, particularly after David Moyes had a go at the home support some weeks ago.
Sometimes you watch a display of such ineptitude and carelessness from certain players that if you’re inclined to boo, I’m not going to argue with you.
But the groundswell of negativity that has greeted recent games is becoming depressing.
Phil Neville cops the majority of it, and hands up again I’ve had moments this season when I’ve lost it in an apoplexy of swearing at his misplaced passes.
But that’s when Neville has been asked to play in centre midfield against sides like Chelsea who will expose any vulnerability.
Back at right-back on Sunday he performed inspirationally, took his goal very cooly and generally played like it all meant something to him (when certain other, more popular, colleagues were giving Gareth Barry all the time in the world to set up the second equaliser).

Equally the embarrassing ‘Moyes Out’ brigade seem to be forever demanding the Scot makes a silk purse from a sow’s ear with his substitutions when squad-size and injuries have often left him without any decent options.
That’s not to mention the fella by us who clearly caught Lee Carsley in bed with his missus because otherwise his constant barracking of the dependable and effective Midlander is, like most of this constant vitriol in the ground; cruel, unhelpful and pointless.
I don’t think Joey Yobo’s ear-cupping celebration was a dig at the fans, but you do wonder what the players make of Goodison’s more contrary moments sometimes.
On a positive note, the atmosphere was generally excellent and far removed from the sinister pin-drop patches which have haunted the Chelsea and Derby games.
Likewise the players seemed to have rediscovered a bit of that early verve and played nicer football than Villa (not that they hand out points for nice football).
I thought we’d get the points we needed against Villa but that draw hasn’t dented my growing confidence that we can still clinch fifth, even against the growing odds in Villa’s favour.
Pienaar and Osman look liken they’re clicking back into gear and the Yak (apart from his persistent refusal to challenge for headers) looked motivated and dangerous.
If there’s one thing we did learn from Villa though, it’s that David doesn’t always beat Goliath. Sometimes he takes him the distance but then they get a split decision.
Eventually their Grock division did for us just when we looked like having done enough.
Martin O’Neill may well be a tactical mastermind but populating his team with big, strong players is not rocket science.
It is effective though and if Anichebe is ever going to be half a player he should add a John Carew video to his Didier Drogba compilation.

Oh, and the award for most random but justified opposition hate figure the Bullens has seen for a while goes to the cringeworthy....

Nob.