Hello everyone and welcome to Goodison Park.
It’s back to Premier League action this afternoon after our Carabao Cup tie at Queens Park Rangers in midweek.
There is no hiding from the fact we were all absolutely gutted to bow out of the competition on Tuesday night.
I genuinely thought that when Andros levelled at the start of the second half we would go on and win the game, but QPR were resolute and we just couldn’t finish them off.
Penalty shootouts are a lottery and I would never criticise any player who misses his kick – it happens at every
level of the game.
It was just so galling for the supporters who made their way to west London for a midweek match.
The level of support was incredible and that’s not a throw-away line to try to lift spirits. It was a fantastic turnout and you deserved a better outcome.
But that’s gone now, and we can’t afford to dwell too long on it. We can pick the bones out of it and have a look at where things went wrong but in football there’s always another challenge just around the corner and
ours is Norwich City today.
They haven’t had the return to the Premier League they wanted so far but if you look at their early fixture list, you’d have to say it hasn’t been kind. They’ve already played Manchester City, Leicester City, Liverpool and
Arsenal and that run of games would test any team.
I will not be involved this afternoon due to injury. As I have said many times before, I am not the best patient. I hate missing games and at times it can be difficult to listen to the experts and take their advice.
Thankfully, we’ve got top-drawer medical people at the Football Club and so anyone who picks up an injury knows they are in safe hands.
I’d like to end this afternoon’s notes with a word about Mike Cheeseman. Mike was a familiar and friendly face at the gates of the training ground and I was deeply saddened when I learned of his passing.
I would like to pass on the sympathy of all the lads at USM Finch Farm to Mike’s family and friends.
Keep behind the players, get Goodison rocking today and enjoy the game.
All the best,
Seamus
