Ray Parlour backs Everton to ‘Go all the way’ in FA Cup after 5-4 win v Spurs
Former Arsenal stalwart Ray Parlour has backed Everton to end their 26-year trophy heartbreak and lift the FA Cup this season.
The Blues edged into the quarter-finals after a dramatic 5-4 extra-time victory over Parlour’s old North London foes Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
Everton have not won a major trophy since the 1995 FA Cup but they are only one game away from Wembley and just three from silverware.
In a message on his personal Twitter account after the game Parlour, who made 466 Arsenal appearances, said: “Brilliant game at Goodison Park. Proper cup tie. Got Everton to go all the way”.
For now Carlo Ancelotti will just be delighted to have secured safe passage into the next round after a pulsating game that swung from side to side.
The Blues must have thought a quick-fire treble in the first half was enough to claim the win after Davinson Sanchez’s early goal but Spurs made it 3-3 before Richarlison’s second goal was cancelled out by Harry Kane. Bernard was the Toffees hero as his extra-time strike proved to be the final one of the game.
Opening up…
This certainly represents our best chance for many years of ending the long trophy drought.
There are a couple of big-hitters left in like the Manchester rivals, City and United, but with the likes of Premier League basement boys Sheffield United and Championship side Bournemouth in the last eight this is as good a chance as any to lift the cup hoodoo.
The two Manchester teams, alongside Leicester City, are still involved in European competitions and as such are more likely to rotate and place less emphasis on the FA Cup.
Ancelotti should be making this his priority.
Of course a high league-finish would be more than welcome and offers a good chance of European fixtures at Goodison Park next season but winning the FA Cup would also offer that as well as making it a year that no one will ever forget.
Trophies have to be the aim for this Blues side above everything else and we think an FA Cup triumph is a more than achievable aim this season after knocking out a side containing the world-class talents of Kane and Son.
Parlour might well be proved right.
In other Everton news, see our tactical take on the defensive issues v Spurs.