Everton FC: Blackpool's Visit Sees Rooney's Return and Donovan's Latest Farewell

Everton's cup form continued as they ousted a promotion-chasing Blackpool from the last 16 of the FA Cup on Saturday. David Moyes' side were good value for their 2-0 win in an entertaining encounter littered with goal-mouth incidents.

Two early strikes from a pair of last-minute summer loan acquisitions, Royston Drenthe and Denis Stracqualursi, proved sufficient enough to overcome Ian Holloway's plucky side, who can now focus solely on their league form.

In truth, the Toffees should have won by a greater margin, with Marouane Fellaini particularly guilty of wasting some glorious openings. Blackpool could not make him to pay, although had Kevin Phillips not fluffed a late penalty, Everton would have been forced to endure a nervy finale to the game despite their overall dominance.

Not to be for the Seasiders, David Moyes will now lead his side in a quarterfinal tie over Sunderland, as the Toffees bid to return to Wembley for the first time since 2009.

Here are five talking points to emerge from Saturday's encounter.

Who Said the Magic of the FA Cup Is Dead?

Sure, for the top four clubs who see lucrative European ties clotting up their fixture list, an early-round FA Cup clash may be seen as a lower priority. Even for those sides on the fringes of the Champions League and still fostering faint ambitions of qualification, an additional clash against lower league sides may appear beneath elements of their support.

That may have even been the case for some Evertonians a few years back who, under David Moyes, have generally seen their side vying for European spots, occasionally on the cusp of the top four—of course where they finished in 2005.

However, with little investment, priorities seemingly adjust. Yesterday, Goodison Park was at its raucous, rasping best, with a sold-out stadium almost teetering with the noise.

Buoyed by the prospect of being just two wins from Wembley, fans flocked to the game to share the experience, resulting in an all-too-rare post-recession sellout for the Toffees at home against a Championship club.

After the game, David Moyes echoed the sentiments of the supporters, saying how the FA Cup was now his side's No. 1 priority this season.

Wayne Rooney Back at Goodison Park

One member of the capacity crowd was former academy graduate, Wayne Rooney, who made his first appearance back at Goodison Park since his well-documented switch to Manchester United in 2004. 

Rooney, from a family of passionate Evertonians, has never made a secret of his continued feelings for the Toffees, kitting out his young son in Everton colours and often tweeting complimentary remarks about the club. He was also seen attending the 2009 FA Cup final in the Everton end.

Saturday's appearance was met with a mixed reaction from the crowd. Some still clearly harbour a grudge over the handling of his protracted transfer and a couple of subsequent on-field gestures, whilst some welcomed the fact he maintains his support for the club.

Overall, it does seem that—ever so slowly—increasing sections of the Everton public are beginning to stomach his move away a little easier as time passes.

Who knows, when he eventually enters the twilight of his career, perhaps there could even be a final swansong in an Everton jersey. Certainly a scenario few could have imagined being vaguely plausible a few years back.

Stracqualursi Continues to Inspire and Prove David Moyes Right to Let Saha Go

Since Everton allowed Louis Saha to depart just hours before the end of the January transfer window, there were a lot of questions raised about how much firepower this left Everton with up front. 

Nikica Jelavic, Apostolos Vellios, Victor Anichebe and Denis Stracqualursi have hardly got a wealth of Premier League experience between them. In fact, just 43 Premier League starts.

However, given Stracqualursi's recent form, there are certainly far less people querying that decision, even with the Frenchman's own impressive double on debut for Spurs.

Despite his undisputed superior scoring record and acclaimed Premier League pedigree, Everton were becoming far less likely to win with Saha up front. Now out of the picture, it is far easier to realise how his increasingly limited all-round game was hampering the Toffees, even diminishing their own identity.

For much of David Moyes' tenure, Everton have enjoyed their best results with an energetic forward hurling himself about after defenders. Marcus Bent in 2005, when Everton qualified for the Champions League, and Andy Johnson a few years later are prime examples of forwards who excelled with the Toffees under this system. Tim Cahill has also always relentlessly pursued defenders, a quality that endears him to fans.

So long as the ball sticks when hit forward, a goal ratio is not as imperative to these players, as an energetic performance will capture the crowd and rouse the team. It is amazing how much a motionless forward can cause a side to appear clueless going forward and discourage fans. 

Nearing 34, Saha is not at a stage in his career to be someone’s workhorse, as David Moyes and Everton needed him to be and Evertonians demanded. He will do much better at a team that only really requires his quality in the box. Such is the creative talent on display at Tottenham. He can focus all his energies there, where he will probably perform well.

His move was a mutual divorce, sensible for both parties. Everton as whole—the fans and the team—are clearly getting a massive lift out of once again having a striker relentlessly sprint around as if possessed, as Stracqualursi has been doing.

Unfashionable on the eye and occasionally awkward on the ball, Stracqualursi's passion has revived the atmosphere at Everton in recent weeks. He spearheaded the side in wins over Manchester City and Chelsea, and has now contributed three goals in four games.

FA Cup May Determine Royston Drenthe's Everton Future

Watch a full 90 minutes of Royston Drenthe strut his stuff, and you will go through a range of emotions.

There will be times when you admire a piece of scintillating skill before despairing at a comical error. Generally, his highlight reel will feature the game's best and worst moments and thankfully for Everton, yesterday, he was at his inspirational best and a pleasure to watch.

Terrorising the Blackpool fullbacks with searing pace and some spellbinding skill, he looked the Toffees' most likely avenue of success all afternoon. His early goal was exquisitely put away, and he was unlucky not to add another after a ferocious drive was diverted narrowly wide.

With Steven Pienaar recently taking his starting role in the Premier League and David Moyes reluctant to use his unpredictable game away from home, this competition is Drenthe's route back into the first team. Pienar is cup-tied, and yesterday's showings would have done the Dutchman's immediate first team prospects no harm at all.

Although he is generally highly thought of by the majority of fans, several rumours of a frosty relationship with Moyes have caused a growing perception that it will just be the solitary season Drenthe spends on Merseyside.

If that transpires, it would be a shame for both parties. Drenthe's game suits the English league like no other, and after a challenging, unsuccessful spell at Real Madrid, the close-knit environment at Everton could be exactly what he needs.

Should he continue on from his electric display yesterday and even lead the Toffees to Wembley, who is to say David Moyes would not be swayed to compete for Drenthe's signature in the summer, a move most fans would encourage?

Thanks and Goodbye, Landon Donovan

Robbed of the chance to say his proper goodbyes on the pitch, laid low with a bout of flu, Landon Donovan emerged after the final whistle to bid farewell to an appreciative Goodison Park.

Whilst his stay was brief, the Toffees have once again been resurgent with the American in the side, climbing the Premier League table and progressing in the cup. Donovan has been a goal-making machine since his arrival and was rightly voted the club's best player for January.

His swift running and intelligent game have added an extra dimension for Everton going forward, whilst David Moyes can almost be seen purring at the way he continually tracks back, tightening the Toffees defensive unit.

With two years to run on his LA Galaxy contract and various image rights attaching him to the MLS, sadly for Evertonians, he seems destined to remain in America for the next couple of years.

Although David Moyes has ruled out a permanent move for the popular forward, there should not be too many overly surprised football fans were Donovan to once again line up in an Everton shirt at some point in the near future.

If you liked this article, follow me on Twitter for more EFC chat.

Follow @Matt_Cheetham