September 18 1899. The Liverpool Mercury EVERTON REVIEW
Everton v Aston Villa
To be defeat in their first trio of League games is an unusual experience for the Everton club, and one which furnishes food for reflection on the curiosities of football, and Everton have or are at least supposed to possess a superior team to that which did duty last year, but if judged by results, a vastly different state of affairs is witnessed. Each of the three teams that has taken full points from Goodison Park eleven this season, failed to extract more than one the previous year, for the cup holders were beaten, a draw was record in the Villa match, and this was likewise the result of the visit to Newcastle. A better style of play has been witnessed but the result have been worse than was ever anticipated and not a point yet grace Everton’s name in the League table, where from the same source last season four were secured. To a certain extent however the spectators must have been satisfied with the display of the Evertonians, for, if not producing the much needed points, the play all round has been of a higher level, and productive of the amount of healthy interest, in which the average spectators delights. Had the points followed likewise, the satisfaction would have been of course more pronounced, but these are bound to come if the team maintain the same standard as that exhibited against the Villa. By again selecting the same team to do duty against the champions as that which was defeated in the two previous games, the selection committee deserve commendation, for it is only right that the men should have a fair chances o showing what they are really capable of accomplishing in concert. Injuries to Muir and Settle at Newcastle compelled the substitution of Kitchen and Proudfoot respectively whilst on the Villa side Evans resumed in place of Aston. The game itself was much better contested in the first half than in the second, both sides appearing to tire after the interval. The Everton forwards were seen to
considerable advantage in the initial moiety working the ball down in capital style, and exhibiting more combined effort than in any previous games this season. here however, their skill vanished. And instead of crowning their attempts with a rousing shot at goal they failed completely either being dispossessed when attempting an extra pass where a shot would have been more effective, or shooting anywhere except in the vicinity of George and on two district occasions was a practically open goal place before them, only to find the ball sent yards wide. Had the Everton forwards shown any degree of accuracy in front of the posts they must have been credited with three goals at the interval instead of one. It was a district disappointment to the majority of the spectators to find clever work in midfield nullified by utter feebleness in front of goal. The Villa front rank did not exhibit their usual smartness they failed into the method of over passing, and though their cleverness in this respect often elicited admiration, there was not the same advantage gained by these manceurves as is seen when the midlanders are in a happy mood. They often had the ball taken from them, and with a more efficient halfbacks division in opposition would have often been in sore straits. For a long time Athersmith could do nothing with Molyneux, but given half a chance, the right winger made the most of his opportunity. In contring judiciously, so as to give his inside men the best possible opening for a goal. Athersmith has no superior, and the manner in which he placed the ball straight to the cranium of Wheldon, who put on the first goal, was really fine. He also led up to the second point, though here feeble defence on the part of Taylor and Molyneux lent considerable assistance to the final accomplishment. Smith rarely got a chance in the first half owing to the indefatigable attentions of Wolstenholmes, but in the second he obliged with some sprinting and extremely clever centres. The outside wingers were the pick of the Villa forward line. As a body they were inferior to the Everton van, but in this important respect they were vastly ahead, namely in provoking danger when near goal. The Everton halves were not satisfactory, for though little fault could be found with Wolstenholmes who had the felicity of contributing the finest shot of the day-one which deserved to score-Boyle and Taylor might easily have afforded their front rank more assistance, their passes being ill judged, and occasioning too much difficulty in pouncing upon them top those in front. Here the Villa held a district advantage Crabtree, Cowan and Bowman rendering excellent service though the former, in the first half particularly had his hands full with young Sharp. Further behind, Balmer and Molyneux shaped well, the latter tackling in splendid style the greater part of the game, and it was unfortunate that he failed to check Garrity from butting in the shot which won the match. Otherwise little fault could be found with either of the backs whilst Kitchen was a success between the upright the manner in which he stopped one shot from Devey in the second half being really fine. Everton are indeed fortunate in possessing two such reliable custodians as Muir and Kitchen. The Villa defence was likewise sound, Spencer overshadowing his pa tackling and returning most cleverly. George had practically nothing to do in goal beyond stopping a couple of shots possessing little sting and appeared only too glad to get a touch of the ball by running out to prevent it from going behind the line. A draw game would have been a fitter representation of the run of the play, and Everton deserve some little commiseration for their hard luck. They like their rivals at Anfield cannot yet boast a point, but wily nilly, one or other will be compelled next weekend to change the elegant cypher which graces their name to something more substantial.