How very annoying

I didn't got on Saturday, due a birthday party taking place in Scotland. So I was kept updated whilst in Edinburgh via text. Three texts in all came through:

1. Get in Screech!
2. Arteta. 2-0
3. Screech booked: out of both derbies

Its testimony to how far Fellaini has progressed since his hasty arrival in August, that my reaction to the third text probably mirrors that of many other Evertonians in a fitful outburst consisting of disappointment, frustration and anger, followed (in time) by resignation. It is also I guess symptomatic of the continued perception some have that David Moyes is a manager who struggles to use his substitutes to change a game positively, that he didn't remove Fellaini at half-time, opting to leave things and see how the match went for the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half.

Moyes' reasoning behind his decision to allow Fellaini back on for the second 45 minutes have subsequently been given. He points out (rightly) that Everton looked pretty secure when 2-0 up against Newcastle earlier in the season and his preference was to ensure 3 points rather than risk allowing Hull back into the game. No doubting an element of the logic there. However I would argue that Everton are a much different team from the one who couldn't put the Magpies to bed back in early October. Then we were a side bereft of confidence and struggling to find our form and having just come off the humiliating defeats by Liverpool and Standard Liege. Scroll forward to early January 2009 and we're in sixth spot in the table, possessing a settled line-up and playing with a fair degree of authority. In addition, we haven't conceded a goal in 5 matches, unbeaten since the Villa affair.

Secondly, what message does it send to those players on the bench for Hull? With Anichebe getting back to fitness, Castillo and Rodwell available, there were options to either further secure the midfield or create problems up front. Dan Gosling, who impressed me in his brief appearance against Sunderland, was another who would benefit from 45 minutes experience. Obviously there may be issues with the players on the bench outsiders are not aware of, and it isn't the strongest squad, but for 45 minutes against a team who appear to have already peaked in their first season of top-flight football, Everton surely could have coped? It wasn't Manchester United.

It took me back briefly on reading the match reports to the Arsenal match at the Emirates this season when we'd done well in the first half, ridden our luck and were 1-0 up at the break. Arsenal were not their fluid selves but you knew they'd come out of the blocks with pace and power in the second half. For me, the difference between the very best managers and the rest is their ability to influence a game with substitutes, usually to get to a winning position or back in the match. Ferguson is a master and Mourinho's brave use of subs at Chelsea won them a host of points and that in turn got into the minds of the opposition. Moyes is very much a late reactor to such situations and vastly conservative in his approach. Against Arsenal, throwing on another forward could have changed things for us and it would certainly have registered with Wenger and affected his plans. Instead, Arsenal tore into us, scored quickly and I think we were 3-1 down and out before Moyes belated introduction of Saha.

My final issue with the decision on Saturday is the implied notion that we needed to ensure 3 points in this match because we're not seriously expecting to get anything from the next 3 matches. Whilst acknowledging the club faces a tough run of fixtures, we should be in a position now after a series of strong performances not to be making that assumption.

For me, leaving on a very young player with a record for collecting yellow cards, already warned by the referee and one card away from missing two of the most crucial games Everton will play this season was a poor judgement call. I'm sure Everton can manage without Fellaini for both Anfield trips and even with the Belgian in the side, we may still get beat, but you know what? I'd have preferred to have him out there than watching from the stands.