The Mail Bag

Everton today.

Bit disappointed with your response today Michael. I see you picked ot a few for your sour tongue to attack. Namely:-

Neville was back to his horrible worst for the most part in midfield, numerous horrendous passes Whilst I agree some of Neville's passing was bad, I thought he linked up down the right quite well with Hibbert and Arteta. I thought he worked hard in midfield breaking up their attacks by closing the Boro midfield down. I thought he had an overall reasonable game.

Yakubu is just so godamn SLOW! Missed what looks like an easy header and had a coulpe of lame shots. And why was he always running back into our half? (Oh I know: TRACKING BACK!!!) Again there is a litle to agree with here but I think he will come on, as the team will when our midfild starts to fire on all cylinders (When is the problem though I hope and not if) Everyone everywhere agrees we lack creativity in midfield and the strikers can only perfom if they are recieving the right service.

Jagielka... was he actually involved at all? When he first came I thought we had a good one in him I thought Moyes had picked up another gem from the Championship. Sadly however the lad seems to be off the pace and a bit low in confidence. But I do see soemthing in him that I hope will develop. He chases down very well and I know he can put decent passes in becaus ehe was doing that at the start of the season. Maybe he will come on.

Baines... seemed to be too easily bypassed; poor overall I thought Baines was ok. Not as good as he has been because I thought he was out of position too much. Maybe he is getting forward too much. But I have to say that the left side looked a lot better with him linking up with Pienaar.

I thought the defence while a bit shaky in the first half got control of the game and Boro never looked as though they would score if they were still playing.

Oh, have to say Hibbert has recieved some criticism from me over the weeks, but I thought he did a good job today. I do however worry about Howard sometimes and his adhesion to the 6-yard box...

Overall a satisfying encounter and after the last few weeks we needed that. Now let's hope we go on some kind of run. Yes, Mikel does make a lot of difference to the team and so do Stubbs and Howard. They all play for Everton believe it or not. So Michael let's have a little positive from you.
Mick  Mac, St. Helens     Posted 30/09/2007 at 21:14:48   Comments

Lescott

It baffles me that Lescott is not being seriously touted for England. What more can you want from a defender? He gets goals and is a solid back line man who can play out of position at left back. I know that playing for England increases his chances of injury and I would rather see him in a blue shirt, but what's your opinion???
James Bernard, Liverpool     Posted 30/09/2007 at 20:10:59   Comments

Attendances

What is it with us Evertonians? About 4,000 at Sheffield Wednesday for a midweek Carling Cup game and less than 32,000 for a home Premier League match. We have amazing away support yet can't fill our own ground. Why?
Ray Robinson, Warrington     Posted 30/09/2007 at 19:57:56   Comments

The Moyesiah's Tactics

A very interesting article in today's Telegraph Sport by one Stewart Robson(presumably some sort of pundit). He praises us for our team spirit but thinks that our chances for greatness are limited by the Moysiah's tactics (i.e. hoofball) and our poor passing.

Where have we heard all this before? It's bad when the national press are pointing out the deficiencies that we all know!!
Phil Sunley, Leyland/Lancs     Posted 30/09/2007 at 19:39:11   Comments

Average game...terrible referee!

I for one am pleased that we got the 3 points and a clean sheet. I was disappointed when I saw the team sheets coz Neville was in midfield and Hibbo was at right back again... but was thrilled to see Arteta and Howard back.

We didn't keep possession well in the 1st half and were lucky to go into the break one goal up. Arteta was back to his good old self and Pienaar was better too. Yakubu shoulda scored with ease but Faddy played pretty well for once... especially his role in the build up for the second goal. Baines was not at his best today and neither was Jags (couple of terrible passes).

But the thing that struck me most about the game was the fact that Mike Riley always seems to have it in for us... I used to think it was only when we played Man Utd or other "big" teams but seems he just hates us. Agreed, he doshed out 4 yellow cards to the Boro players but he didn't really have a choice with those cards... Too many times I saw Arteta, Pienaar and Yakubu fouled and the foul not given, or worse given the other way. It's time the league looked into terrible refs(like that fool, Poll!).

Hope this win gives us the needed boost ahead of our Uefa Cup return leg...
Santosh Benjamin, India     Posted 30/09/2007 at 18:46:44   Comments

Missed chance

2-0 10mins to go surely it would have been an excellant chance to bring Van der Meyde on for a run out? But no, so we get Yobo and Carsley.

Sometimes Moyes's subs are really difficult to understand and its easy to understand how certain players could become very down-hearted.
Terry Downes, Stoke     Posted 30/09/2007 at 18:04:21   Comments

Jags

I know its only half time but isn't Jagielka awful? Talk about off the pace! I had high hopes for him when he signed but he looks to have all the manouverability of Claus Thomsen. Worrying, very worrying...
Gareth Hughes, Liverpool     Posted 30/09/2007 at 16:50:59   Comments

Overtrained?

I see in today`s papers that Andy Johnson thinks he might be over-training and that the consequent loss of weight has affected his effectiveness `in the box`.

I wonder if this over-training is the reason why so many of our players seem to pick up injuries between games and seem so lightweight in comparison to most opponents?
Lowerth  Hughes, Rhyll     Posted 30/09/2007 at 13:43:06   Comments

Stats: do or don't they lie?

Having read previews of today's game the following stats were provided, which make you wonder how much planning is (or is not) involved in preparation for matches.

1. Long ball passing success: The stats relate to last season, only Watford were less successful than ourselves in completing these passes, why then do we continue with this tactic?
2. Mikel Arteta: okay, he has been poor in the last few games he has played, was rated as the second most creative player in the league behind Fabregas, why wasn't more done to address the lack of creativity in the transfer window pre season?
3. Tony Hibbert: suprising how many games he has actually played this season. It appears that he is currently ranked as the 5th worst distributor of the ball in the league; 3 of the 4 players ahead of him play for Fulham.
The article went to say that unless we adopt a more expansive style of football that we could slip into mid-table mediocrity. It cited that one of the reasons we don't is that Moyes is over-cautious and doesn't trust his players to deliver and fears the team being ripped apart if they attempted to do so.

After 5 years in charge, this is very much his team. Are we likely to see any excitement delivered in the near future, given what's been delivered so far this season? I'd say that's highly unlikely.
Jim Feeney, liverpool     Posted 30/09/2007 at 13:05:24   Comments

On the deck

Watching Man City on Saturday, it was good to see how football should be played: simple but effective passing of the ball, and intelligent running off the ball.

So Davey, could we just have a bit of the same today against the Boro, instead of hoofing the ball into the penalty area where we have no-one except a couple of midgets trying to challenge six-foot odd defenders to no avail? Remember what Brian Clough said, "If God had meant football to be played in the air he would have put grass up there."
Joseph Ball, Maidenhead     Posted 30/09/2007 at 12:01:03   Comments

Midfield

Over the last couple of weeks I really feel there has been an over reaction to the lack of creativity. As everyone is aware, we have been missing our most creative player in Mikel Arteta and Thomas Gravesen's one and only appearance against Bolton was impressive. Once we have these two players back fit and playing again we will be fine.

The one thing we lack in the midfield is a reliable out and out winger. I know there aren't many around at the moment but Man City found one in Martin Petrov and I think it should be David Moyes's priority to get that sort of player in the next transfer window — if, and it's a big if, we have money to spend.
John Smith, Ormskirk     Posted 30/09/2007 at 09:32:31   Comments

Online footy

I couldn't access the livefooty.doctor-serv site today for the Utd game (I wanted to watch hoping they'd lose). Has anyone else been having probs with this site? During the Villa game I had probs with Everton radio and complained only to have them cancel my service so I don't want any probs tomorrow for the victory over Boro. Any suggestions as to how I can watch/listen to it reliably?
Kieran Kinsella, Gainesville, FL, USA     Posted 29/09/2007 at 19:38:56   Comments

Unrest in the camp?

It's been alleged that there seems to be a bit of a rift between the players and Moyes. This suggestion was slapped down by quite a few people as bullshit. But reading Beattie's interview, it does make you think... Especially where he says, "There was a certain amount of displeasure with the lad ,at the way the gaffer was treating me." Could it be that the whispers of a rift might be true?
Brian  Waring, Wokingham     Posted 29/09/2007 at 17:39:08   Comments

...but to forgive is divine

I just read the Echo article on Andy van der Meyde and it has made my day to see that, firstly, his daughter appears to be over the worst and, secondly, how he has voiced his love for our club and his desire to stay with us and work for his place.

I mentioned in another post how I am a big fan of David Moyes, he has turned our club from being the next Nottingham Forest to a European outfit. Many of you reading this feel his style of football is less School of Science and more Arsenal circa 1993 but for me, my one and only gripe with the manager is his failure to use of AvdM as effectively as he could.

I know Andy has been injury-plagued and screwed up last month but considering what he has been through and his passion to remain on Merseyside I think he deserves an opportunity-and not just the token substitution 10 mins from time, I think we will only see him return to his former dynamic self if he gets a lengthy run in the first time.

Furthermore, considering the impact made by Steven Pienaar among other in midfield up to now has been nonexistent and calls from Evertonians for more creativity are becoming widespread, surely Mikel and Andy on either flank looks like an excellent proposition?
Neil  Styles, Dublin     Posted 28/09/2007 at 16:40:38   Comments

So, the new stadium will have a Museum!!?

David France Collection (Quote)

Fellow Trustee, Tony Tighe added, "We have worked hard over the past couple of years to raise funds ourselves and our ‘Heritage Week’ staged in March of this year was a notable success, but this is the icing on the cake! We will now be able to conclude our negotiations with Dr France and have the Collection and Everton's own archive all go into the Record Office. We then have to continue with our task. We want to make the Collection accessible from all over the world via a new website we will be introducing. Various parts of the Collection will also be made available over future years to National Museums Liverpool, The National Football Museum, Anfield and indeed at Everton FC's own museum once the new Stadium has been built."
Andy Birch, W Mids     Posted 28/09/2007 at 16:42:21   Comments

A post I could have submitted

The ongoing debate about Tony Hibbert (and the equally important debate about the terminology employed in the criticisms of him) got me thinking about players in the past who were baited by Evertonians to the point of abuse. There are many of them!

I thought it might at least be interesting (and maybe even informative) to see if there is anybody who can guess who I am referring to in this post that I COULD have posted in the sixties if ToffeeWeb had existed then. Some of you will get it straight away, especially if you are as old as I am; others may be able to deduce who I am talking about from the little clues along the way.

I have not just made this up, I have constructed this post (40 years retrospectively!) from the thoughts I remember having myself at the time and from comments I heard on the terraces. Here goes...

'Who is this guy? I can't imagine why Shankly and Revie wanted him. He can't pass to a blue shirt and his response to everything, if he gets the ball, is to lift it over the top for the forwards to chase. I am f**king sick when I think of the money we have wasted on this prick. He is constantly being shouted at by **** and ****** and one day ****** ******** will give him a smack for wasting possession. He is always going on at him. OK, so he may have been the youngest player to appear in a cup final but that doesn't mean he is any f**king use! To think that Jimmy Gabriel had to sit back to allow this waster onto the pitch!

I am f**king sick of this Catterick and those dickheads Moores and Sharp on the Board. Can't they see what is happening at this club? We are finally making progress after winning only the league and the Cup in the past 5 years [slight pause for breath here while I recover from the shock of remembering that!] and we go and sign a dickhead like this. For f**k's sake Everton what is going on? This lad is SHIT... I HATE him!'

This is not a particularly accurate analogy of the Hibbert situation, but it does show how a bad spell (in this case right at the start of an Everton career) can raise the hackles of even the fairest-minded supporters!

In case there is anybody who hasn't worked it out, the player I am referring to is.....

HOWARD KENDALL!

Key:
**** =Ball
****** =Harvey
****** ******** = Johnny Morrissey
Dave Roberts, Runcorn     Posted 28/09/2007 at 15:17:25   Comments

Whats all the worry?

The reason we lost to Aston Villa was simple — a lack of creativity in the midfield. The reason we have no creativity is no ones fault other than bad luck. What would be our best midfield is unable to play due to injuries with Arteta, Cahill and Gravesen with the troubled Van der Meyde seemingly dommed (surley he is worth another chance — he and Arteta could potentially be the best two wingers in the Prem) to the exit door.

Moyes does not deserve criticism for results of late, any team would struggle without their best midfield. This is also coupled with the loss of who I believe is our best forward in James Vaughan. He, with an in-form Johnson in the long run is our best option.

However one thing I would question is sticking with 4-4-2 while this injury crisis is on. Would not a 4-5-1 with Neville at right back, Carsley and Jagielka holding and McFadden, Osman and Pienaar pushing up to support the lone johnson be better? This system worked brilliantly last season and, until we get the players back, I think going back to the tried and trusted method would be best.
James  O'Neill, Liverpool     Posted 28/09/2007 at 13:53:55   Comments

Moyes

Just a thought on a recurring theme wrt flair. Look at the players Moyes brought in and who he has persevered with, and ask yourself the question "is this a manager who does not allow flair?"

Gravesen - yes inherited from Smith, but Moyes did not want him to go, the player pushed through the deal to play for Madrid. What has he done since then?

Arteta - iffy when he replaced Gravesen, but has since been the star performer, and if fit, probably the first name on the teamsheet.

Van der Meyde - lets be serious, would any other club have sat up with him? if he can wrap his mind around the fact that he has to be committed and work hard, we could see something else. If his daughter recoves, imagine the exuberance from this guy.

Pienaar - for all the detractors, bear in mind he played for Ajax, 2nd only to Robben as young player of the year, and has played some of the best midfielders off the park in the champions league. I personally feel that the move to Germany was wrong for him. Watch and see Osman - would he have survived at any other club?

As Stan Lee always says "Nuff said"
Damascene Taylor, Cape Town, South Africa     Posted 28/09/2007 at 14:34:30   Comments

The France Collection

I have just read David Prentice who has said that the David France Collection has been saved for the club. I would like to express my thanks and admiration for those who have gone that extra yard to make sure that this will happen. While I hold out no real optimism for the Kirkby move, this still makes me think that there is a real future for a club which recognises it's pivotal role in football in Britain and the world and is steadily improving over the last five years (not without set backs. admittedly). Congratulations to all concerned.
Peter Jones, Dorking, Surrey     Posted 28/09/2007 at 14:26:35   Comments

Arteta and Gravesen

Whats the story with these two? Usually when players are out we get an update from Baz on the official site telling how they they are, when they're likely to be fit etc. But since they got injured weve had nothing from the club.

Does anyone have any idea when they're likely to be back? I'm getting very worried by the silence from the club. This is a crucial week for the Toffees. We need them back ASAP.
Lee Penswick, Walton     Posted 28/09/2007 at 13:04:34   Comments

Pink Ladies Shirts

I wanted one of these for my wife having seen them advertised all round Goodison last Thursday etc. Here is the official response from the club

Hi The Breast Cancer awareness shirt is a club initiative by Everton because there are a number of staff and staff friends/relatives withbreast cancer. The awareness day is 30/09/07. There were only 40 shirts made - all for Everton staff - as a promotion for the day. We have tried to seek permission to release the shirt in a limited edition form but we have not been successful.

From: Everton FC Shop [mailto:ecommerce@evertonfc.com] Sent: 27 September 2007

A golden opportunity to make some serious money for Cancer research wasted!! To make 40 shirts only must have costed a fortune!!
David  Perrin, Linslade     Posted 28/09/2007 at 12:56:08   Comments

Ticket troubles

Growing up in a part of Ireland full of misguided, ignorant red sympathisers (RS, Man U, Arsenal), I never had anyone to accompany me on a potential trip to Goodison. I have seen my beloved team play in Drogheda, Bray and Villa Park (even cheering when Barmby "scored" a late disallowed equaliser in 97-98, and being lucky to escape the Holte End in one piece) but not been to our home ground. Shameful, I know.

But now, having turned 30, my girlfriend is bringing me over this weekend for the Boro game for my birthday, or so I hope.... We booked tickets through a reputable events company here in Ireland. On Monday we called them to see when the tickets would arrive, and were told that Everton would be posting them on Tuesday. They would then receive the tickets in Dublin on Thursday and post them to us in time for our departure on Saturday (tomorrow).

But, as you might have guessed, when it comes to ticketing policy, Everton are about as effective as a Tony Hibbert pass. The company in Dublin phoned us yesterday to say that Everton had forgotten to post the tickets in time. As a result, Everton have said they will produce duplicates for us to collect at the box office, from "Andy".

As my girlfirend said to me, how can Everton manage to administer a complicated transfer deal if they can't manage to post an envelope on time? I gave a wry smile and didn't need to answer. But it demonstrated how badly the club seems to be run if a simple thing like that can't be dealt with correctly; it's no wonder we contantly embarrass ourselves in the tranfer market, with website test page "errors", and ticketing fiascos. Sort it out guys, and run this club with the respect it deserves as (in my opinion) the foremost club in football. I think Arsenal are a good example of how to run a club in an effective, efficient and classy manner.

Anyway, I'm making my Goodison debut on Sunday and I can't wait — here's to 3 points for the blues and a good weekend away. I should have no problems when I get to the box office should I? Let's hope "Andy" can deliver... COYB!
Errol Stafford, Cavan, Ireland     Posted 28/09/2007 at 12:08:27   Comments

Going going Gone!

Joorabchian, the Iranian agent of Carlos Tevez, is looking to buy a club. On BBC sports he says, 'If the right club with the right investment opportunities comes along I would be interested'.

This could be a dead set chance for Blue Bill to sell his train set and make a decent profit. Unlike some foreigners who suddenly wear the badge of their latest franchise on their heart this bloke Joorabchian is honest about his aims. Buy low, sell high and all for profit is the name of his game. How refreshing it is to hear someone speak the truth and not lie through his back teeth.

If such a deal could go through it would be win, win, win on all fronts. Instead of a liar, we would have an honest chairman who makes no bones about the fact that he is only in it for the money. He would probably use a slash and burn mission to get rid of all those misfits and incompetents we love to hate. Blue Bill and Buster OUT, half of the players OUT, Moyes and Irvine OUT! Oh it's enough to make many a mailbagger drool. Isn't that what so many of us have called for?

I wonder though, what price passion? Does our history have a price? Are we living beings or a mess of pottage to be sold to the highest bidder? Is that really and truly what we want?
Dick  Fearon, W Australia     Posted 28/09/2007 at 09:42:46   Comments

Controversy did for Johnson

As a long-term Crystal Palace supporter, I have always had a soft spot Andrew Johnson and have continued to follow his career since he moved to Goodison. At the time of his transfer I wrote to you to say that you could expect to be frustrated by his tendancy to score in five games on the trot and then go a dozen without finding the net. I also said that Andrew thrived on a service which saw the ball played along the ground about five yards in front of him.

Sadly my first prediction has come true but his cause has not been helped by team tactics which often see high balls aimed at him at a great rate of knots and his increasing tendancy to take up wide positions. However, I am convinced that the major cause of him `losing the knack` is the Wenger-inspired allegations of diving which blew up into a national storm before Keith Hackett`s intervention to disprove them.

I watch all Everton games on Sky re-play (you think your football`s bad, you should see what we endure!) and, since midway through last season, Andrew has displayed a strange reluctance to get in the box but when there has seemed intent on staying up-right rather than `doing what comes naturally`. Now this may be commendable to some but on many occasions he has virtually defied gravity to stay on his feet — as if to prove he`s a totally genuine player, which we all know anyway!

I have no knowledge of the interaction between Andrew and his manager but if I was Moyes I would be screaming at him to get back to his old syle of getting into the box as often as possible and taking on all comers. If he gets clattered — as he so often will — then so be it, it`s up to the ref to decide if the challenge was legal or otherwise and not the player`s responsibility to ride it just to prove `he`s clean`.

From what I know of the man, Johnson is a sensitive soul and a model professional but the time has come for your manager to `get him back to basics`.
Glen  Turner, Croydon     Posted 28/09/2007 at 09:00:12   Comments

McFadden's Time is Now

Wasteful at times, probably; frustrating, definately; but surely it's time for McFadden to get a least a five-game run in the starting side. The lad in form at the moment, he's scoring and creating goals at club and international level at the moment, so he deserves his chance and if not now then what's the point in keeping him? For several bit-part roles as striker or on the left hand side of midfield what the point? I'd rather sell to Celtic or Rangers (in which we would get a decent price for him) and use the money to get another striker who actually has a shot at making the starting eleven or buy another creative midfielder which we desperatly need.

In my opinion the man he must come in for is Johnson. Don't get me wrong I'm a big fan Andy's, but at the moment with Arteta's injury, our slide down the ladder and or all important European game around the corner we need three things: form, creativity and goals, and McFadden on form is the person to do that at the moment. At present I'd rather pull my hair out swearing at the TV in frustration at McFadden's antic's on the field for 85 minutes and for him to create or score a goal, than to admire Johnson's workrate and running for 90 minutes and watch him produce nothing.

I firmly believe Andy will be back to his best sooner rather than later, but Everton I believe are at important stage and our season could go either way, and we don't have the luxury of staying with a player not delivering at the moment, so let's give Faddy a chance.
Kevin Morris, Sydney, Australia     Posted 28/09/2007 at 01:00:51   Comments

Gary Hamilton

I ran into old Middlesborough midfielder Gary Hamilton today. He's coaching one of the MLS' Houston Dynamo's Academy teams. He's a big fan of Moyes, he said they used to travel back and forth to Glasgow when they were playing. Anyway, he seems to think Everton haven't seen the best of Moyes's managing yet.

He also said he could have signed for Everton, but went with 'Boro because they had more Scottish players. It wouldn't be a bad idea for Everton to look into an academy down here in South Texas.
Paul  Conatzer, Harlingen, Texas     Posted 27/09/2007 at 23:40:04   Comments

Kick Off

What time does the Mentalist game kick offs next week. On the website it says 7.45pm but is this Engish or Ukranian time?
Chris Wright, Chester     Posted 27/09/2007 at 16:19:51   Comments

There's always one!

To the Editors:

There's always one player the crows hates and now it's Hibbert. It's like a snowball gathering moss and is making his future as an Everton player pretty much untenable. It's not his fault the manager keeps picking him and what great crime has he committed to deserve to be pilloried in your pages.

Why do you allow e.mails with pages of comments which are no more than long diatribes about How shit such and such is? It currently seems to be Hibbert has formerly been Simon Davies, Beattie, etc.

Reasoned debate as to why P Neville or Jagielka should be full back, ok, but long-winded witch hunts and vendettas are hardly fitting with the term "Everton Supporter".

Its embarrassing and destructive that everytime Hibbert or to a lesser extent Osman gets the ball the murmurs begin. It's even happened to our record sigining in his first home game! Are we supporters or just moaners - Get behind the players and the team (despite how shit they are sometimes) and who knows they might even improve.
Philip  Whitehead, Chester     Posted 27/09/2007 at 15:56:11   Comments

Yakubu's 'work rate'

At £11.25M I'd like to have thought that the scouting network may have pointed out that Yakubu isn't going to run himself into the ground for anyone so I admit I am mystified as to why after a couple of games this seems to have come as a shock to Everton?

Maybe, maybe, during transfer negotiations he was told he'd need to up his workrate but personally I don't want him to. Cantona never did, Viduka never has. We can afford one lazy sod as long as he puts the ball in the net. What's the point in AJ pulling defenders one way, Yak dragging another off and nobody else in the box?

The other thing I've never understood is when you watch the likes of Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea etc all their players seem to be in the right position to receive the ball. Ours aren't. Ever. Now the devil's advocate in me wants to point the finger at coaching and tactics but it's not just Everton fans who can see their own teams frailties here so why does it happen? Surely it's not difficult to say 'keep shape but show for the ball'? and surely footballers can't be that stupid not to see these things for themselves?
Ben Houghton, Reading     Posted 27/09/2007 at 15:27:35   Comments

The End for Tony Hibbert?

I'm not usually one to pinpoint single players for criticism. If the team is playing badly, I try to look for tactical reasons or bad choices by the management rather than nit-pick individual mistakes. After all, even the best players in the world can be caught out of position every so often.

However, I'm going to make an exception with Tony Hibbert. Since he broke into the squad on the coat-tails of one Wayne Rooney, he's done... well, nothing. Absolutely nothing. In fact, I'd question his credentials as not only a Premier League standard footballer, but perhaps even his ability to cope at a few levels below.

Looking at him objectively, as I'm sure everyone has, his passing is, to be blunt, "hit and hope". His tackling ability is mediocre, mis-timing the majority of his attempts. His positioning ability involves around 10 metres of the pitch - and even in that space he looks panicked whenever a ball comes near him. He doesn't get down the flanks, his intelligence on the football pitch is the footballing equivalent of special needs, and he possesses a non-existent cross of the ball in the rare occasion he actually crosses the half way line.

He can't even head a ball, he gets shoved off by his markers from set pieces and he provides absolutely no threat from set pieces. So, an open question for David Moyes. Why is Tony Hibbert still on the pitch? 30,000+ groaning every time he touches the ball can't be wrong can they? Even if Moyes persists with his inexplicable Carsley/Neville partnership in midfield, at least push Jagielka to right back and drop this buffoon.

The perennial defence of Tony Hibbert is "he does his best" and "he's a blue". Well, if you're best isn't good enough, then it simply is not good enough. Please, please let this be the last time I see Tony Hibbert on a football pitch for Everton.
Lee Kidd, Kirkby     Posted 27/09/2007 at 13:01:30   Comments

New Stadium

If I have already sent this piece of news I apologise but just to keep us all "in the loop" so to speak, I recently passed by Porto's stadium built for the 2004 European Championships. The resemblance to "our loop" is striking. It is surrounded by motorways and ordinary roads, is highly developed with xhousing and general commercial premises and I believe the capacity is arounf 55000. If they can do it in Portugal - and remember they constructed about 6 new stadia for this event - why can't we ?
Tony Waring, Frogmore, Devon     Posted 27/09/2007 at 10:21:40   Comments

Kieran Agard

I have been following the stars in the wings for a while and I have to confess I'm dumbfouded —can't anyone see the talent in the ypoung Everton Academy striker Kieran Agard? Dundee United wanted to sign this lad on loan but realised he was too young at 17. The lad has lightening pace, his first touch is excellent and is passing is unique.

I think Everton will strugle to keep Agard; his scoring is superb — he's scored in almost every game pre-season and in the current season. Why is he still playing academy football at his level? I haven't seen any yougster I could compare to Agard. Is it gonna take Arsenal or Man U or Chelsea to come up with an offer before they realise? We have a gem in Agard.
Steve Roberts, Liverpool     Posted 27/09/2007 at 00:05:13   Comments

Phil Neville — The Difference

Phil Neville was the difference tonight at Hillsborough. Everton were poor in the first half, non worse than Hibbert. Brining on Neville in his place was an inspired (lucky?) move, and something we have all been crying out for on these pages for weeks now.

More skill, better passing, better touch. He was heavily involved in the first goal, and hit a perfect cross for the second. He must must must start at right back on Sunday. My man of the match, and he only played a half!
Philip Howden, Sheffield     Posted 26/09/2007 at 22:46:03   Comments

Why this line-up????

What is Moyes doing?

He says he wants a good cup run, then he drops our most in-form player - Baines - and replaces him with Pistine Mark II, Valente. This means that we have no pace at all down the left flank.

Also, if he is going to persist with this 'I have faith in Johnson' thing, then surely tonight of all night he should be playing him up front with Yakubu, hoping that they will get a good run at the 'inferior' defence of Sheffield Wednesday.

I agree with Carsley and Jagielka in midfield tonight considering the circumstances, however, keeping Hibbert at right back and dropping Neville completely is crazy. Can this man not see the most obvious thing at the club - Hibbert is shit!

Baines benched.... yeah great, the only quality left footed player at the club, and he is not even on the pitch. I know where I would be attacking if I were the Owls.
Anthony  Jaras, widnes     Posted 26/09/2007 at 19:16:21   Comments

Sheff Wed - Free Live stream?

Can't get to the game tonight - anyone know of any Web links to the live stream? Have tried http://livefooty.doctor-serv.com/ and http://www.freeviewfootball.com/ but our game is not in the scheduled list.
Steve Callaghan, Liverpool     Posted 26/09/2007 at 13:44:50   Comments

Playground tactics

It seems that it`s not only Everton supporters who get frustrated at their teams tactics. Last night, my local paper carried some comments from the Worcester City manager, John Preece, on his team`s recent performance in a Blue Square Premier game:-

`We got into positions but the options we were taking smacked of the local park. We do so much in training on attacking teams and engaging the last defender before passing to our overlapping players. It`s just unbelievable how professional players just kept putting balls into the box from deep positions when we should be getting round the back of their defenders. These were the tactics of the playground and I won`t have it.`

Now Preece is a part-time manager of a part-time side but he has the nous to recognise the futility of hoof-ball football. I do think he`s being a little hard on his players who probably take home a couple of hundred a week. David Moyes and Everton, who seem to favour these `playground tactics` have no excuse!
Harry Meek, Worcester     Posted 26/09/2007 at 11:10:59   Comments

Note to Moyes / Irvine

Let me start by saying I’m not anti-Moyes and I’m not pro-Moyes, I’m pro-Everton. I want success and if that meant Ian Rush had to manage us I’d consider growing a moustache in tribute to him. But I am getting mighty fucking sick of the crap that comes out of Moyes’s and Irvine’s mouths. They share one collective mind so the names are interchangeable.

Irvine’s comments re Van der Meyde - “We all want to see the player who played for Ajax and went to Inter.” If that was so, then it would be accepted that he can be difficult and has no interest in tracking back but he is capable of doing something magic that will change a game for you. Following on, Irvine said - “Sadly for a number of reasons we haven’t seen that. I’m sure it’s been very difficult for him but he brought it on himself and I’m sure he accepts that.”

The reason we haven’t seen that (aside from his well documented problems) is that he couldn’t be bothered to track back and lump the ball aimlessly forward for our midget forward line to chase. I imagine it has been difficult for him to be asked to play a style that is alien to him and the very antithesis of what he learned at Ajax. He probably does accept that he brought it on himself by joining a club that could be bothered to play actual pass-and-move football.

The same can be said of Yakubu – Moyes dropped a proven goalscorer because he wasn’t working hard enough. Anyone who has seen Yakubu play knows he is as lazy as they come but give him a sniff of goal and he sticks the ball in the back of the net. That’s what he does, it’s his trade. Little note for Moyes and Irvine — defenders defend, forwards (usually) score goals.

I understand and admire the concept of an ‘all for one, one for all’ mindset in the camp. Players who will give everything for their team-mates is fine in theory but you need forwards up front and you need midfielders supplying them. Having ten players in your own half tracking back won’t win games. I’m aware this isn’t rocket science but it appears to have eluded Moyes / Irvine.

Every team has had a frustrating player who does fuck all work but can do something brilliant. Look at how many times Henry pulled something out of nowhere for Arsenal. Gerrard for Liverpool, Lampard for Chelsea, look at Paul Scholes – he doesn’t even know how to tackle but does anyone think SAF would drop him???

My long winded point to Moyes? Just indulge one or two lazy players, particularly when they are match winners…
Declan Critchley, Dublin, Ireland     Posted 26/09/2007 at 11:02:10   Comments

Harvey MBE

A post a while a go called for a petition to be signed online for an MBE to be awarded to Colin Harvey. My inbox had this reply today from 10 Downing Street (my arse).

Thank you for taking the trouble to sign this e-petition.

"Colin Harvey's achievements in football are well known and respected. It is easy to see why so many people want to see his record formally recognised. This is underlined by the hundreds of people who have signed the e-petition on the No 10 website calling for him to be granted an MBE. Your support has been carefully noted."

Fingers crossed...
Nick  Entwistle, London     Posted 26/09/2007 at 10:50:21   Comments

Is there hope for VdM?

According to one of the daily papers: "Everton have lifted the club suspension on Andy van der Meyde to give him one final chance to prove himself in Wednesday's Carling Cup tie at Sheffield Wednesday"

This offers a glimmer of hope surely? An acceptance in the corridors of power that our ugly hoofball,6-2-2 formation cannot cut it and we may have to (shock, horror) play football? Or maybe VDM has been working hard on specialist hoofball training all summer at the request of David Moyes's "Everton Way".

It'd be nice to dream of a midfield of AvdM, Arteta, Gravesen and Carsley though wouldn't it....
Declan Critchley, Dublin, Ireland     Posted 26/09/2007 at 09:06:38   Comments

Moyes v Royle

I agree with most of the posters on here that Tony Hibbert could easily be replaced by a medieval rock-launching catapult when it comes to his passing but he is not the first talentless prematurely balding hard worker to wear and Everton shirt. How can we forget crowd favourite Joe Parkinson? I remember watching the team warm up at Selhurst Park one time and felt humiliated for Joe that he failed to control the ball one single time during a kick around and ultimately was shown up by the ball skills of an obese 39 year old past it Neville Southall.

My question though is this: Why do people attack Moyes for the fact he has a few talentless workhorses and praise Joe Royle when he had an entire team of them? Am I the only one who can look past the flukey cup win and see that Royle left us in worse shape than he found us? Seriously people I challenge you to watch videos of any games in the Smith era and tell me Moyes's team play crap football.

Royle had the team playing well for about 3 months at the start of the 96-97 season with Barmby, Kanchelskis and Speed playing some lovely stuff but it all came to an end with the return of Dunc at the end of the 7-1 mauling of Southampton. Royle quickly turned back to his route-one past and the team we saw play out that season was much much much shittier than anything we have ever seen under Moyes.
Kieran Kinsella, Gainesville, FL, USA     Posted 25/09/2007 at 23:24:41   Comments

Swindon's No 2

What has it come to when Everton are taking Swindon's second-choice goalkeeper on loan? A quick look at Wikipedia shows that he played few games last season, after suffering a bad injury. He's also 27, so hardly young. A bad game at the end of last season appears to have persuaded the manager to go with their new first choice Paul Smith. Furthermore, he's second choice for a 3rd tier side. Last season was Iain Turner not one of the best keepers in the second tier? What the hell do we want with a 27-year-old who is not good enough for Swindon in what was once Division 3? Has Moyes completely lost the plot?

Advice to Turner and Ruddy. I'd pack your bags now lads; looks like you'll never get a fair run in the side.
Stephen Ferns, Liverpool     Posted 25/09/2007 at 23:20:43   Comments

Should I bother?

I'm 17 now and well i've basically given up playing for proper football teams as i'm probably too old to get into a profesional club. I had been scouted when i was 14 by Everton, I met JP Kissock and at the time he seemed like a nice lad, I broke my leg 5 minutes into my trial. I havn't played a proper match in years other than mess-abouts.

Anyway my point is, do you think I should bother trying again, looking at the shite on the pitch like Hibbert and Neville? They give me a genuine belief that I can make it as I have many things they don't — including, pace, passing (accurate), accurate shooting, heading and the will to take a man on. What should I do?
Dave Ashton, Maghull     Posted 25/09/2007 at 21:40:23   Comments

Next penalty taker?

I heard Alan Irvine spouting on before on Radio City that if Johnson wants to take the next penalty, then he will be allowed to do so. I can see how this might "buy" confidence but I wouldn't let him near a penalty until he is scoring freely again in open play — which might be some time, given the neanderthal tactics employed!

I don't see that Beattie scoring two pens last year did much for his confidence. Nor would I put Johnson ahead of Arteta as a penalty taker. The statement by Irvine just seems to highlight the lack of willingness by the EFC management to a) accept that anything is wrong and b) try somthing different.
Ray  Robinson, Warrington     Posted 25/09/2007 at 21:38:17   Comments

Time to experiment

The upcoming Carling Cup-tie gives Moyes the ideal opportunity to try something a little different. I`d like to see him experiment with the use of Baines in left midfield as well as give a start to the Faddy and Yak partnership up front. My line-up would be:- Wessels;
Jagielka, Stubbs, Lescott, Valente;
Pienaar, Carsley, Osman, Baines;
McFadden, Yakubu. Not the strongest possible Everton side but one that might, just might answer a couple of problems.
Ted  Markwick, Helsby     Posted 25/09/2007 at 20:12:48   Comments

Midfield Woes

Osman, Neville, Carsley, Pienaar, Vidarsson, Jagielka. That's the list of midfielders we have to choose from in our squad from tomorrow's games.

Neville is ineffecitve in midfield, so that's 4 from 5 players that are really only squad players. Where is the creativity coming from?

The return of Gravesen, Arteta and Cahill can not come soon enough for me, and let's hope we are not down the league and out of Europe when they return.

Really highlights the blow to the squad missing out on Fernandes or a late deadline signing has made to the team.
Stuart Mitchell, Milton Keynes     Posted 25/09/2007 at 19:08:15   Comments

Expression

We should and will most likely win at Sheffield tomorrow though I'm glad it's Wednesday and not United with Beattie on fire and now scoring for fun. But will that just cover up the many cracks for a while?

The stories are pretty certain that there HAS been a dressing room bust-up. Has Arteta been injured or has he been disciplined for comments to Moyes/Irvine? Is Johnson fed up? And very strong rumours are that the Yak is already sorry he didn't return to Portsmouth. Why all these problems from previously good players (at other clubs)?

Crap tactics, playing out of natural positions, being asked to run about & work like donkeys? Whatever the reasons, something has got to change quick or we could be in the lower league positions very soon, and it may not be as easy to escape as two seasons back if we get down there.

This squad will never be world beaters but are much better than we have seen recently and there has to be games when they are allowed to express their skills be allowed to entertain and play real FOOTBALL. However while the club continue with the present "second rate frighteningly defensive minded" management/coaching team, who appear to be totally berift of any style or pattern of play or indeed even tactics, I doubt if we will see that very often.
James Jones, Chester     Posted 25/09/2007 at 16:48:40   Comments

Pink for Girls

I am sure a lot of us female supporters were quite taken by the pink supporters shirt being worn by Guilia Bould and Amanda Holden. I, for one, really fancied one and went on to the Megastore only to see that the pink limited edition shirt will not be stocked and will not be for sale.

I am sure that a lot of us girls would have bought them and the sales money or 50% of it could have gone to the Breast Cancer Fund. Well done EFC you could have made some more money for a worthy cause. You have missed the boat yet again!
Patty Blue, Carmarthen     Posted 25/09/2007 at 15:43:34   Comments

“He has my word...”

Those Evertonians calling for David Moyes's head are in for a long wait. I have met Chairman Kenwright only once. I was introduced to him after a game at Villa Park two seasons ago when we had just lost our second game in a row 0-4. Much to the embarrassment of our host — a close friend of Blue Bill — I asked how such a bad trot affected the position of his manager. Bill swallowed hard on his egg savory and told me, "I have the highest regard for David Moyes both as a man and as a manager.

"No one in the game works harder. He's unbelievable. He and I are as close as that [as he intertwined his fingers]. We share a dream for Everton, you see. He has my word that regardless of results he will remain our manager as long as I am Chairman."

Our host, whose loyalty to managers was not quite in the same league, smiled ruefully! I think I reported this conversation to you at the time but in the light of recent correspondence, felt it worth revisiting.
David Hall, Taunton     Posted 25/09/2007 at 14:46:51   Comments

Road to Nowhere

I see Yakubu has been told to work harder or he won't get a game so obviously we aren't going to play to his strengths and just expect him to run into corners chasing high balls, what an absolute waste of £11 mill. I sincerely hope he doen't get booed for this as it's not his fault — we may as well just buy a 100m runner.

Does anyone think Anderson Silva de Franca, Bjarni Vidarsson or Lukas Jutkiewicz will get a game tomorrow as there doesn't appear to be any point in having them in the first-team squad otherwise.
Barry Lightfoot, Birkenhead     Posted 25/09/2007 at 14:45:36   Comments

Slight Annoyance

In the wake of our midfield crisis which IS the cause of our recent slump, it does annoy me the fact that Everton are paying wages to Andy Van der Meyde and Anderson de Silva, both would make huge differences in the team, yet don't come close to the team.

Fair enough, Van der Meyde's situation is complicated with his child, but he could have been the man to add that creativity, and Anderson could have been the BIG centre mid that were crying out for — his Barnsley form has highlighted this fact.
Andrew Baxter, Liverpool     Posted 25/09/2007 at 13:34:20   Comments

Looking at the Midfield Through Rose-Tinted Glasses??

Another poor display at Villa on Sunday and I waited with interest to see what Moyes's reaction was going to be.... I quote Moyes: "We were ok between the two boxes, but poor at the back and poor in front of goal." I agree we were poor at the back and poor in front of goal, but correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't 'between the two boxes' refer to the midfield???

Surely Moyes can see (as almost every Everton fan, journalist and football reporter can) that the root of our problems lies in the midfield? Yes AJ could've done better on the one occasion that the poor sod actually managed to get himself in the box; and yes Yobo's headed clearence for the goal was not good.

But what about Phil Neville: constantly giving the ball away and putting the back four under pressure (our back four that is!) then running like a man possesed to regain the ball only to give away a stupid free kick — this happened so often it was untrue!

Osman: Lightweight, at times didn't seem to even realise he in a game. Offered absolutely nothing!

Pienaar: I'll reserve judgement, but so far looks like he has the first touch of Phil Neville with clogs on! Again he offered little.

Jagielka: Never going to give you much in terms of quality. Just another one of those versitle defensive minded players that Moyes loves so much.

So what is Moyes seeing that made us 'ok' in the middle? AJ's confidence is at zero and it stems from months of terrible service. In the Metalist game the Yak, Faddy and AJ played the major percentage of the game in and around the centre circle. It doesn't take a genius to tell you that they're not going to get 20 a season from there.

So what is the answer? Do we go to 5 in the middle and play Carsley in the hole? Move Arteta back into the middle? Do we try and scrape by until Cahill is back? We do also have Tommy Gravesen of course so things will improve in the long term, but for me, the biggest worry is that Moyes is not playing to strength's and his post match comments at the weekend lead me to believe that he is not seeing the biggest problem of all which is glaring everybody else in the face!
Ian Ankers, Chester     Posted 25/09/2007 at 12:34:38   Comments

Please, let me rant this one out!

I'm still angry at last week's Uefa Cup shocker and therefore have spent the last five days attempting to work out what went so wrong.

Firstly, you don't 'over-run' a side by playing three in midfield against their five. And secondly, well, you probably don't play a system that you've never played before.

But, I reckon the main reason behind our failure is down to the players Moyes has brought in. You destroy weak sides like Kharkiv by playing the ball on the deck and allowing your skillful players to 'get at them', which, when you only have one skillful player is a bit of a problem. Even more so if he's injured! Our only other player who we all know is capable of taking control of a game and keeping hold of the ball is Gravesen, so with him out as well, we were always gonna be a bit fucked.

As much as I like the look of Jagielka and Baines in particular, you don't win games with these sort of players. Moyes's priority should have been to bring in three or four creative, attacking players and then worried about the defence next year. Our problems last year were all too clear to see — slow going forward, solid at the back, so why, oh why did he go and spend the summer searching for full backs and then panic buy at the end of the transfer market with Yak? For all Yak's goalscoring pedigree, he won't add what we need in terms of skill, he's more Emily Heskey then Eider Gudjohnson.

My final rant is solely dedicated to the woeful player that is Tony Hibbert. This lad, in my opinion, is the worst player I have ever seen in an Everton shirt. Completely and utterly bereft of any ability whatsoever. I hate him.
Jack Johnson, Knotty Ash     Posted 25/09/2007 at 10:41:36   Comments

Carling Cup

With the next match being a Carling Cup game against Sheffield Wednesday, would now be a good time to blood a few of the fringe players from the first team squad to play alongside the regulars? I'm sure Vidarsson, Jutkiewicz, Kissock, Agard, Boyle and Anderson da Silva would all relish the opportunity to start a match without the pressure of it being a Premier League game. I'm not saying put all them in at once, but surely we will be too strong for the Owls with around 3 or 4 of them starting?
Simon Gemine, Neath Abbey     Posted 25/09/2007 at 09:35:03   Comments

This is football!

So we've lost a few games and played like shite. And sure the Uefa Cup game was extremely disappointing. But the witch-hunt calling for the heads of Moyes, Hibbert, Neville, Johnson etc is nothing short of ridiculous!

This is football! You win some games you should have lost, and you lose some games you should have won. You celebrate the wins, and mourn the losses. But for some reason the mourning has turned into soul-searching and into stinging criticism of certain individuals.

And it's funny how all this critism of Moyes etc can hang on one piece of luck. Johnson's first penalty is allowed... we win... we all go home happy with a deserved win. As a case in point, I personally think we played pretty shite against Bolton for most of the game. And yet everyone was talking us up afterwards, simply because Lescott scored a late one.

My other point related to the Bolton game is that I reckon Tommy Gravesen turned the game, turning hoofball into joined-up football. And he did it by always providing an option to pass to. I think that's what we're lacking at the moment, and it forces players like Tony Hibbert into lobbing it long. So I think with a bit more attacking grunt in the middle of the park, it might make all of our players play better.
Tim Veitch, Australia     Posted 25/09/2007 at 05:54:19   Comments

Moyes/UEFA/Reality

I just wanted to raise a few points that have been on my mind during the last few days. Firstly, do the anti-Moyes brigade realise that Aston Villa have a)spent more money than us and b)have a coach who took Wycombe from the Conference to Division 2? He took Leicester from Division one to the Uefa Cup and took Scottish football from being a laughing stock to the Uefa Cup final, so perhaps Villa may be better placed than us to do well.

Aside from Villa we did beat Spurs who spent a tonne more money and are packed with internationals. Realistically there are about 6 or 7 teams equally well positioned as us to challenge and it is not the fault of Moyes but rather is due to the fact that they have more money and better players. Newcastle for example have Owen, Viduka and Martins any of whom could walk into our starting line-up. Obviously we want to do well but being realistic there is nothing on paper to suggest that we should be better than even Portsmouth for example.

Secondly we were pretty unlucky in the Uefa Cup — I mean what are the odds that we'd miss two penalties? Had they gone in we would have been 3-1 up just as we were under Joe Royle against KR Reykjavik after the home leg. We would have been happy but due to Johnson's mental issues we only drew 1-1. Moyes did a miserable job during our last European excursion but we have had virtually no European experience for the last decade so we are on a learning curve.

I remember that, after the Heysel ban, Man Utd with a team of Euro-veterans like Robson and Hughes won the CWC at the first attempt but what followed? All the English teams were crap for years until first Arsenal and later Utd, Chelsea and finally Liverpool cracked the Euro code again. Do you lot not remember Utd getting their arses whipped by Jesper Blomqvist and Gothenburg? Do you remember Utd going out to Galatasary when Turkish teams were no better than Maltese teams are today? How many times did we see teams like Rotor Volgograd, Vladikavkaz, Brondby, and other crappy teams take care of England's finest in the first or second round of the European competitions?

Liverpool took ten years to get to a final after their ban ended and teams like Newcastle never made much progress at all despite frequent appearances in European competiton. It sucks to probably being going out in the first round again but we'll get there in the end it just requires an awful lot of patience.
Kieran Kinsella, Gainesville, Fl     Posted 24/09/2007 at 23:40:00   Comments

Andy Johnson

On Friday afternoon I had the surreal experience of engaging in a 10 minute telephone conversation with Andy Johnson. Remember, this is less than 24 hours after the Uefa Cup debacle! A work colleague happened to be in a coffee shop in Hale, Cheshire, when AJ and his wife entered the shop and sat on the next table. The aforementioned colleague (City Fan) approached him, mentioned she has an Evertonian colleague (me) and asked if he would speak to me on the phone. He did.

He asked if I was sure I wanted to speak to him after the previous night’s events! He told me he is worried that the fans would now turn against him and he sounded genuinely gutted. We all know he can score goals and we know he loves the club. Come on, let’s sing his name on Saturday and convince him we are behind him — he’ll come good!
Michael Wood, Northwich, Cheshire     Posted 24/09/2007 at 17:33:04   Comments

Win, lose or draw

Is it me or does anyone else feel like you never know if we are going to beat a team? I go into every game sceptical that we will win. I think you can say that most teams, barring say the Sunderland, Derby and Birmingham, feel that they can either, win, lose or draw; whereas I never feel we can win. Even if we play Derby I'm not sure we'll beat them.

I know we have the better team but the way we play is so awful I'm not sure where the goals are going to come from. I won't go into the the way our team plays because it's obvious. But I do not feel confident in wins and when we do win I feel more relieved rather than feel the win was expected.
Trevor Thompson, Croydon     Posted 24/09/2007 at 20:07:01   Comments

Has Moyes lost the Changing Room?

Maybe the saddest thing about Everton today is not the poor recent displays of the team but the level of distrust of the club by its fans.

I am hearing a number of disturbing rumours about problems with several key members of the current playing squad and David Moyes. I do not intend to repeat these here but can anybody re-assure me that the changing room is more in accord with the manager than recent displays have suggested?

The last six games have presented a team that is completely flat... WHY? Can anybody explain?
Glen Strachan, Oaxaca , Mexico     Posted 24/09/2007 at 19:02:36   Comments

What is failure

I would be genuinely interested to know at what point the Moyes boys would lose faith and sack the 'average one'. I hold his managerial abilities in total contempt and would sack him today but realise this is never going to happen with a chairman who would not recognise the right decision if it ran him over.

But if you are a Moyes believer (assuming there are any apart from Dodd left) at what point would you give up the faith? How about a finish outside the top eight and the usual early exits from all of the cups - what/s your bid? (No general bullshit about progess to date etc.. BE SPECIFIC!)
John Doolan, Liverpool     Posted 24/09/2007 at 18:17:22   Comments

A view from the Brum

As an Aston Villa fan I am suprised by how negative you scousers are. You have a good team. Obviously you are mising a few key players like Arteta, Cahill and Vaughan but if we where missing Young, Carew and Barry it would be exactly the same.

Us Brummies could see you had injury prolems but if we were in the same situation we wouldn't be able to put out a team like you did yesterday. I think our starting line-ups are similar but you have more strength in depth than us.

This was my view on the game: You started off the brighter with Johnson looking lively but our goal killed you. I have got to be honest I have been waiting for Big John Carew to put a performance like that in since last season. He dominated two very good, strong, quick centre-halfs in Yobo and Lescott. Hopefully you can get the same from Yakubu who on his day can also be unplayable.

Leighton Baines looked a good steady player who I have always rated. Kept Gabby in his pocket for most of the game despite having an disadvantage in terms of pace. I also liked the look of Steven Pienaar who gradually improved as the game went on. He looked a little lightweight at times against Bouma but looks very skillful and technical footballer. Another good signing once he settles in if you ask me.

All in all it was a dull game where both the Villains and the Toffees created nothing. Yakubu looked your best striker when he came on but I am told to believe he was dropped because of his poor workrate which I can understand. Just another question why is Phil "Lurch" Neville in your starting line up? The sooner you get him out the better. Barry controlled the game and Neville couldn't get near him. Jagielka did alright and to be honest I was wishing we could have signed him as he would have filled our right-back role instead of Mellberg.

Anyway, dont get disheartened Evertonians you have a good team and once you get your key players back I can see you finsihing in the top 8 easily.
John Woods, Solihull, West Midlands     Posted 24/09/2007 at 16:07:38   Comments

The Hard But Obvious Truth

Hibbert, although Everton through and through, one of our better defenders, cannot attack at all, so why do we persist in over-using him and passing to him at every oppourtunity?

Neville is nowhere near a central midfielder and in MANY people's opinions should not be captain of Everton Football Club. After yesterday's defeat he trots over to the Evertonians as if he was sorry; enough is enough — he's not good enough to be a centre-mid, and it's also annoying that Moyes always fits him in his team somewhere. Hibbert will be dropped but you watch: Neville will slot in there, also he only passes side-to-side or backwards.

It does pain me to say this but it looks like we're a one-man team. When Mikel Arteta is either off-form or not playing, we have got no imagination. When Gravesen signed, Moyes said he was a squad player; after the Bolton match we all knew he'd be much more than that. Pienaar looks technically good and worked very hard on Sunday, but he looks the same type of player Osman is — good technique but easily knocked off the ball.

Felt harsh on all the strikers on Sunday, doesn't matter how much money you spend on attackers, if you have Phil Neville trying to thread the killer ball through, you're never going to score.
Andrew Baxter, Liverpool     Posted 24/09/2007 at 15:43:31   Comments

Big-mouth Moyes

Has anyone else noticed David Moyes' new tactic of standing on the touchline for the whole game attempting to direct play like a conductor at the Royal Albert Hall? During the Metalist game the Five TV microphones were right next to our manager and so he could be heard throughout the game telling each player what to do, when to pass, to get back faster etc. I get the feeling that this just puts the players off and prevents them from working on instinct.

On Sunday at Villa he could be heard screaming at Victor Anichebe and while the advice he was giving was correct, it seems a bit overbearing and distracting. I like Moyes and whilst his tactics can at times be a bit suspect, he seems to be a genuine man-manager and always has a super-fit team. However, this new practice of directing play the entire game shows a certain lack of trust in his players.
Danny Beats, London     Posted 24/09/2007 at 13:21:24   Comments

Is it worth being in the Uefa Cup?

I had this discussion with my dad towards the end of last season when I said that I’m not sure it’s a good thing qualifying for the Uefa Cup. Let’s be honest: it is a second-rate European competition…most of the teams that you come up against you have never heard of and there is no money in it. The Champions League it is not! Also you have to play an incredible amount of games if you progress through the competition.

I think it is impossible for a team like Everton with a small squad to play in the Uefa Cup without our league form being affected. How can they possibly play a big game on Thursday evening and then be expected to play again on Sunday and beat a team who have been well rested for a week?

If Everton weren’t in the Uefa Cup this year I think they could finish in the top 5 if not higher in the league. But if they progress in the Uefa Cup I think it could well cause us to drop to 8th or lower. So my question is would people prefer us to have a good season in the league… or forfeit the league for a run in the Uefa Cup… as I don’t believe you can have both!
Matthew Hayhurst, Urmston     Posted 24/09/2007 at 09:32:27   Comments

Get a grip

Fellow Evertonians, get a grip and take a reality check. People calling for the head of David Moyes, what do you propose? Sack Moyes after half a dozen games in?? Come on, who do we bring in? Mourinho??? Think about it; we are all disappointed and angry but sacking the manager — is that the clever thing to do?

We our a small squad and we have got major injuries to our midfield, we haven’t got the quality on the bench to deputize for the likes of Arteta, Cahill and Gravesen. We have two strikers who have never played together before a few weeks ago and people have already made their minds up on Yakubu and Johnston. Come on lads in a few weeks time we should be back up to full strength baring any more injuries and our keeper will be back, loosing a keeper of Howard’s standard and then bringing in a goalie that as never played in the Premier League before.

I am not making excuses for the brand of football we play but to call for the head of the manager is crazy after a few games. I despair for Everton though; we are tearing ourselves apart over the ground move and now people wanting the manager sacked and it's only September... it’s great supporting this club.
Peter  O'Brien, Liverpool     Posted 24/09/2007 at 08:33:45   Comments

Who loves ya baby !

If Everton where the governing political party with Moyes as it's leader, it's unlikely that he would call an early election as a vote of confidence in his leadership; as it is currently mooted Gordon ('tax them til their ears bleed')Brown may shortly do.

Unlucky against Man Utd, but increasingly poor since then, Moyes would be voted out in a flash. Lucky for Moyes then that he has the backing of the Board if not TW contributors at the moment. The News of the Screws carried the story yesterday that DM is to be offered a new 5 year contract worth £3M a year!

Somebody loves him!
Steve  Guy, Harrogate     Posted 24/09/2007 at 07:58:51   Comments

When is broken, so at least try to fix it.

Moyes has been ever reluctant to change a winning team, which doubtless has some merit. What seems plainly daft though is to persist with personnel that clearly are not working effectively.

Of course, much proven drive and flair is unavailable because of injury to Arteta, Cahill and Graveson. However, it seems obvious that Neville is better at right back and so why not put him and us out of our misery and play him in his best position? Cars or Jags and a temporary makeshift more adventurous centre mid partner (e.g. even recall Anderson from loan or play Pienaar or Osman in there) looks at least worth a try. They must offer more going forward, which seems an obvious requirement if we are to score more than the opposition.

We have a strong back line and keeper but it seems to me they will likely continue to leak goals if they have to defend almost non-stop because we cannot support our strikers going forward.

'If it ain't bust don't fix it' is fine when results are being achieved but I'd rather put stock in phrases like 'attack is the best form of defence' or 'luck favours the brave' right now to give our forwards more than scraps to feed off. Since it looks like Moyes is too cautious to try the above, I guess we just have to hope the injured return ASAP. Will they return in time for Wednesday though to help avert yet another early cup exit calamity?
Pete Moore, Singapore     Posted 24/09/2007 at 05:56:52   Comments

No height, no speed, no strength, no width and no craft

I have supported Everton for over a quarter of a decade now. My heart breaks when I see a performance like the one at Villa. No height, no speed, no strength, no width and no craft in this current Everton team. It seems like the team is made of a bunch of flukes. The defense is panicky. The midfield is nonexistent and the strikeforce is lightweight.

With this kind of performance, we should be happy if we are not in a relegation fight come end of the season. Villa made a mockery of us. They were strong in all departments and imposed their authority on the game. We started brightly but things get worse and worse as time went by.

Even if Everton win anything this season, I won’t be convinced because it’ll be a fluke. When will Moyes realize that Neville and Osman are at best classy substitutes? Victor is like McFadden, McFadden is like Osman, Osman is like Neville, Neville is like Carsley, all flukes. This current midfield has destroyed any hope I have. If we do win anything with this midfield, it will be down to fluke and fluke and fluke and fluke…
Sur Jo, Michigan, USA     Posted 24/09/2007 at 03:00:24   Comments

Moyes or a change?

It look's like people are out for hunting DM's head. Well if so, it's been very frustrating to see Everton playing that way since about 92-.93-, or so.

I haven't heard anyone say David Moyes hasn't been good servant to this club in terms of stabilizing and moving the club forward. Well, problem is unfortunately it seems that he can't get our team to play to its full potential. I don't agree that Aston Villa have a better group of players than ours. Also I don't agree that our squad players can't play the passing game, if they can't, they are in wrong squad. I believe it's more about coaching and making a decent gameplan. For that, people are looking at the manager and his coaching staff.

If it's time to say "Goodbye, Mr Moyes," it's extremely important to find the right manager for our situation, when we have a decent team, maybe some money to utilise and so on. We need a manager who can take us to the next level. So, who could be the right man in job???

• Mark Hughes, Blackburn R, Personnally I admire Sparky a lot, but there's a danger that he is too much of a lookalike to Moyes. Has Sparky the tacticial knowledge that's needed?
• Alan Irvine, no way!
• Jose Mourinho, very interesting name, but I'm afraid of his playing style, there's not mutch difference from DM; even in the Champions League it looks that you can go few steps further with that style.
• Sevilla coach, in your dreams...
• Joe Royle, last time at Goodison was similarities todays circumstances, his job was unfinished last time
• Gary Speed. A joker. I've no idea what went wrong at Goodison, but seems that he could be good manager in the future; now, he has no experience
• Adrian Boothroyd, has done a brilliant job in Watford, what about leading a giant like Everton?
• Roy Hodgson, Finland manager, good reputation, too cautious??
• ?????????

When will the hurting stop ?

I have been an Everton fan for 20 years now. We have had lots of lows including a lot of relagation scraps but I have never felt so mush pain as I did today.

In years past, we did the best we could with the limited finances (and hence an aging, average squad!) at our disposal but this year we finally had some finances to go and get some quality to build a squad that could compete domestically and in Europe. It looked like we had made some smart buys although we missed out on a host of players too during the off-season.

The first few games were encouraging with scope for a few minor adjustments. Then the problems began: Tim Howard getting injured while playing a bloody FRIENDLY for the USA against Brazil... Gravesen and Arteta injured... terrible displays in every game by Neville (when in midfield),H ibbert and Osman... Then the Uefa Cup fiasco with a 4-3-3 format...

I digested all this — not easy, but I managed it. The Villa game was supposed to be a show of resilience by our lads after the past week... and then I see the squad; poor choices continue. Then I watch the lads on the pitch, most playing without passion or purpose, and I stopped watching. My eyes filled up and my heart ached... and for the first time ever, I questioned the manager's commitment... and asked myself: "WHEN WILL THE HURTING STOP?"
Santosh Benjamin, India     Posted 23/09/2007 at 18:20:24   Comments

Arteta

Did anybody hear Moyes being interviewed on radio merseyside? When asked did he think we missed Arteta, and when would he back from injury, his reply was "No,we don't miss Mikel" and the injury "No, I don't know when he will be back." That was it.

Now, I might be reading into it to much but, could there be a bit more to it than we think?
Brian  Waring, Wokingham     Posted 23/09/2007 at 17:09:31   Comments

Idealistic?

For me, entertaining football isn’t solely a product of having skilful players on the pitch. Yeah, sure it helps, but for me entertaining football is a by-product of an ethos of a football club. It is a much sought-after value and in this age of Big Fours it is a necessity for clubs who seek to compensate for a lack of potential silverware with entertaining brands of football.

Let's face it, winning ugly is great of it guarantees silverware. Lose the silverware and there’s no point in playing ugly is there? Who wants to lose ugly? If a football club had a manager for five or six seasons and won a couple of trophies but didn’t play attractive football that would be ok wouldn’t it? If a football club had a manager for five or six seasons, didn’t come close to winning a trophy and still played god-awful football that would be unacceptable. Wouldn’t it? In this age? In this world of punter pleasing entertainment?

To jump back to my original point – entertaining football doesn’t just rely on the return of injury of one or two gifted individuals. Entertaining football should be a base demand of every individual who plays for that team — drilled into their mentality and accepted as a standard.
Jon Sellick, Crosby     Posted 23/09/2007 at 16:43:47   Comments

Wrong tactics

How much longer are we going to ask our strikers to run themselves into the ground chasing lost causes?

Johnson is asked to chase around like a greyhound running into blind alleys, chasing innacurate high balls. For this read: Fergusion, Beattie, Anichebe, Vaughan, McFadden etc.Is it too much to ask the players to actually play the ball on the ground. Why has he signed Yakubu because the Yak will not run around aimlessly. He is a finisher through and through who needs service. Where is the service?

I remember the rubbish service Big Dunc used to have to put up with. Am I alone in thinking that he was excellent on the ground and he didn't need to have balls pumped up 20 foot in to the air all of the time. Now we are expecting our diminutive strikers to beat six foot plus defenders to the same high balls. Give AJ through balls to run onto and I guarantee we will have a 20-goal-a-season forward again. Could you imagine Latchy having to run around like a headless chicken? He certainly scored the goals!

We need to utilise a skillful midfield and stop playing Neville out of position — he is a defender and would stop the need to play the inept Hibbert match after match.

Moyes has had six years to come to terms with the Premier League and he is no nearer than he was at the start. He is tactically bankrupt and the only difference now is that we have better quality players doing the same thing. He needs to move on and we need to get a manager who can use guile as well as brute force.

Give me strength!
Russ  Kavanagh, E Port     Posted 23/09/2007 at 15:33:25   Comments

Moyes has totally lost the plot

Moyes has totally lost the plot. Simply, how could this so-called professor leave his best 2 strikers, I mean in-form strikers, on the bench at the start of the Aston Villa game? Give me a break, Moyes deserves what he gets after this selection, he has totally lost the plot!

And in regards to that previous Uefa Cup game, how could you possibly offer a 2nd penalty to any player who missed the first penalty? Anyone would have known his confidence was already shot. Moyesy, Moyesy, Moyesy, you leave me totally bewildered with your moves!
Robert Chanman, Melbpurne     Posted 23/09/2007 at 15:20:51   Comments

TV or not TV

All Everton's league games This season have been live on our TV. One exception is tonight vs Villa. Not to worry though because I recently paid $100 to subscribe to Everton TV. The sole reason I subscribed was to watch those games not available on our TV.

Guess what? Everton TV is not showing the Villa game. Guess something else? That is the last $100 Everton TV will get out of me.
Dick  Fearon, Western Australia     Posted 23/09/2007 at 13:55:06   Comments

Villa Game

What does Neville have to do to be dropped? Just heard the team news:

Wessels, Baines, Lescott, Yobo, Hibbert (!!), Pienaar, Neville, Jagielka, Osman, Anichebe, Johnson.

Subs: Ruddy, Valente, Carsley, McFadden, Yakubu. ,P. He gets his place ahead of Carsley, our most consistent player. FFS whats going on?
Colin  Malone, Wirral     Posted 23/09/2007 at 14:04:08   Comments

Victory Shield Trio

Does anybody know much about the three lads who were called up for the Sky Sports Vvictory Shield games? I know that all three were involved in the Milk Cup last year.

Jose Baxter - or Joe Baker if you listen to the announcer at the Metalist game. He's a forward and English and according to Ray Hall better than Wayne Rooney was at his age.

Adam Davies - never heard of him and have no idea what position he plays.

Lee McArdle - Welsh forward who is Liverpool born and bred.

Does anyone know anything more about these lads?
Mike Keenan, Liverpool     Posted 23/09/2007 at 11:10:01   Comments

Sic transit gloria...

Mundi, or should that be Goodbye Ruby Tuesday after Thursday's debacle... a day that will forever live in infamy... and yes Davie, some of us have got it in for you.

We have had the transition (had it up to here in some cases) and we are grateful for all you have done but it is now time to complete your transit and move on to be an undoubted excellent Number 2 (no pun intended, tho' some might say so, I couldn't possibley comment) for somebody who actually knows what he is doing.

And before anyone asks the question, yes but who?... what ever the question is about a replacement, the answer ISN'T that note passing even duller clone, Irvine!!

Contrary to some, the time to change IS now. The new man can come in, get some sort of idea of what's what, and have the January sales to get in a few loaners if required, if poss. I think all that is really needed is to get the best squad we've had for the last 20 yrs (??) to play a bit of football.

Moyes has to me got 2 options... change/evolve or leave. Will it happen — either option? I doubt it.

If we get lucky on Sunday, we might get a good result, or even a good performance, maybe both. But this shouldn't hide the fact that, for every false dawn we kid ourselves that Moyes has learned the lessons of... (fill in debacle of your choice here), there are many more that he slowly slides back to type until the next tactical meltdown/fuck up.
Derek Thomas, Torbay New Zealand     Posted 23/09/2007 at 06:06:21   Comments

Questions

1) After watching every game this season, Can anyone with inside knowledge help here: Do we have a coaching staff?

I do wonder,I am no football genious but I could teach what is currently being taught, pass to Tony Platini fucking Hibbert, wellie it and feed of scrap's. I say this because even before Moysie's tenure the build up play always seemed to end with our right back making the final pass (hoof) Barrett, Mcdonald anyone. Wenger is a great manager but what makes Arsenal play the way they do and what we all transpire to be is the coaching staff there. Why can they teach the game simply and our's can not. I know if we had their coaches you would see a differnce straight away. Who are these men who coach our players? I might apply, I know fuck all about football I would walk the interview, pass me my boot's... Hoof lads, hoof!

2) Why do shite player's never get injured? Is there a medical man out there who could answer my question? This question may seem shallow but look at the evidence, current player's out, Tommy Gee, can pass ball 10 yards, on ground, it get's better... to a blue shirt... Arteta, Tiny, why the best player's? On the other hand, Carsley, Neville (how did he ever play for United?) Osman, small man you would think always injured but no; available every fucking match! Is there a doctor there? Please help.

3) When Arteta and Cahill return we would expect them to go straight back, but what of Tim Howard? Our new No 2 has been outstanding in my book, has not put a foot wrong, should he be dropped? I for one think this would be very harsh...
Mick Gillian, Old Roan     Posted 23/09/2007 at 03:54:20   Comments

Lost Soul

Just been in to Town to watch the above at the Royal Court. Although extremely funny, the references in the play to how far Kirkby is to the City were numerous and extremely relevant. The guy who wrote it (name escapes me at the mo) is obviously an Evertonian and the title of the play is apt, one can only hope we don't indeed become Lost Souls.
Steve  Lyth, At home with her indoors     Posted 23/09/2007 at 00:18:46   Comments

Midfield Woes!

I just watched Fulham v Man City (an entertaining game by the way) and I took a close look at City. They are a similar side to who we were much better than last season but appear to have made greater strides than us so far this term. Our back 5 is better as a whole and our strikers (despite penalty misses) are also better; however, the midfield isn't even close.

I would go as far as to say that Elano, Hamann, Johnson, Petrov and even Ireland are better (in terms of technical ability and effectiveness) than anything we put out bar Arteta. How did we get in to this state? Our midfield can't pass wind and it is going to cost us big time!
Richard Williams, Danbury     Posted 22/09/2007 at 22:37:00   Comments

Liver-bird

Okay, after all the midweek claptrap, I needed a change. Friday night lights at town with a couple of friends should do the trick. But then I bumped into an ex-classmate from secondary school, and she was with her girlfriends. One of them is a real beauty, and we really hit it off. I asked her out the next day and she accepted.

Like I said, we really hit it off, and during the date, things just fell right in place and I really got a feeling she might be IT. And then, she told me would we like to hit the pub to watch a game. Had no idea she was a fan until she told me she's a Red.

And not just any Red, not like those girls who convert because their boyfriends are, or because their favorite color is red, or because it's the glamorous thing to do, but a real, bonafide, whole family is a Red deal. I couldn't say no, so I spend 2 hours sitting stumped while these crazy-ass Reds around me shouted hoarse for their team. And this beauty can dish those words out! I barely cracked a grin when Birmingham held them 0-0.

The thing about it is she had little problem when I told them I eat toffee for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She even thought it funny. But not me.

So I'm thinking in the city of Liverpool, this might be a common thing. I've heard families being Red and Blue, couples, best friends and such. Maybe the readers here have such experiences. Thing is, I hate Liverpool (of course), but I HATE Liverpool fans (in Singapore, especially) even more. It's been that way since my school days. If I am to be serious with this girl, I have to get along with her family, go over and watch a game, biting my lip throughout. Does this sound trivial? Is my blue blood clogging up my brain? Advice needed and sought!
Mikhail Ridhuan, Singapore     Posted 22/09/2007 at 19:24:59   Comments

Wanted: Match Preview

Lyndon's gone off on his jollies this weekend leaving me to man the fort... Job 1: A match preview for tomorrow's game at Villa Park. And ya know, I really can't be arsed.

So come on you lot, let's see who can write a good match preview. Just submit yours as a Comment to this thread. I'll pick the best one for use as the official ToffeeWeb Match Preview.

Positive, negative, I don't mind. Just make it interesting and a good read.
Michael Kenrick, ToffeeWeb Towers     Posted 22/09/2007 at 19:31:27   Comments

Current Club Motif

Is it just me or does anyone else think that the current club logo is a bit crap? (symptomatic of the people running the club I guess)

I would like the current club logo and font changed to something that looks a bit more distinguished and classy. Doesn't need to be over fussy, just something in royal blue and white colours only, with the sacred tower and a respectable type-face. I noticed that Boro have changed their emblem recently to something that looks more the part. Ours with that stupid band of yellow in it is akin to something you would find on a biscuit tin.
Anthony Newell, Nantwich     Posted 22/09/2007 at 18:29:24   Comments

Do we really have the players?

Do we really have the playerswe need? We do not have yet the midfield to compete with the best! We need to get hold of decent midfielders. Who in our current team are on the shopping list of any succesful club? Not even Arteta. We had Atletico Madrid interested in him and they are hardly close to the pinnacle of footballing glory. Who of our midfielders can expect a place in Arsenal, Liverpool, Man U, Barca, Real, Inter, AC etc. Until we have a creative midfield, one that is not dependant on Nev or Jags, maybe then Moyes can play the attractive football we all crave. Tommy G is a step in the right direction but I am not convinced he is the answer to our prayers.

Yakubu? £11M? A joke. If we had a halfway decent midfielder (Gerrard, Deco, Scholes, Lampard, you get the drift) Beattie would not have been a flop at Everton. Stop spending £11M on a striker like Yakubu and get a goddamn midfielder. BTW I think that Manny would have been too similar to Cahill who is a good attacking midfielder but hardly Scholes.

I think is the crux of the matter. We punched above our weight the last couple of seasons but we are going to come down hard this season.

Just for the record. I am 30 odd year old South African who has been at Goodison twice in my life (in the late 90's with Everton playing shite and losing). I have supported Everton since I can remember in a family who is mostly red (extended family of maybe 30 football supporters split between Man Utd and the other red club) and I always hope and dream of the DAY when we will challenge again but I'm also trying to be realistic.
Morne van der Merwe, Shanghai, China     Posted 22/09/2007 at 13:25:51   Comments

Who's A pretty Boy Then?

Listened to a female Chelsea supporter on Talk Sport Radio this morning claiming Chelsea always have the best looking managers. So the next one needs to come up to scratch.

Apart from Jose Mourhinio, who all the birds fancy, they have had such eye-candy as Hoddle, Vialli, Hullit and the tinker man Claudio Vianerri. Quite a few slices of prime cuts there dont you think? It made me laugh so I started thinking where Everton would stand in the glamourous manager stakes?

Well lets start with The Screaming Skull Gordon Lee, Light Bulb Nose Howard Kendall, Spud Head Joe Royal and Sour Face Davey Moyes. Now none of that lot could pull a muscle never mind a bird. So I reckon we are in the running for the ugliest manager's award.

Having said that there have been plenty of weather beaten kippers knocking about the leagues over the years. Give it a go for a laugh. I could do with cheeering up. Who are the ugliest managers or players you have ever seen?

By the way, was Mike Walker considered a looker back in the 90s with his bleach-blond barnett?
Tony Marsh, Liverpool     Posted 22/09/2007 at 11:16:02   Comments

Moyes learning the lessons?

Lets get one thing straight: this is no knee jerk reaction. My thought is simple. I honestly think David Moyes has not got the tactical nous to take us to the next level. Thursday night was nothing short of a joke and the person to blame again was our manager, not AJ, Hibbert or Neville. He has done a fantastic job and has saved Billy's bacon many a time and in doing so taken us up a level.

It took me a while to get over the Bucharest joke, we all know you score away from home in Europe you shut up shop it's that simple, not us though — and we all know the outcome. Thursday arrives against a poor team crowding their own half to keep the score down, so what does our manager do? Does he stretch them with a bit of width? Oh no he decides to play with a formation that meant six players in midfield and attack were jam-packed in the centre of the pitch, fucking clueless!

This resulted in both our fullbacks being exposed and in poor Hibbert's case fucking slaughtered, as his only option as he looked at the empty space ahead of him was route one to a midget up front whose confidence is shot to pieces, mainly for not turning hoofballs to the corner flags into goals.

Yes we all make mistakes and we hope he learns but this is six years now! Take a look at our cup record — it's a joke for a club like ours... even when we have been shit we always had a cup run.

I am not for one minute saying we should sack him now, but those who run our club should be thinking about making the next step up and who should be offered this task because how long are we prepared to wait for Moyes to learn?

I just pictured that horrible goatee faced waiter on Thursday watching us, laughing his bollocks off. No matter how much I despise him, he is on another level to Moyes when it comes to tactical decisions, but this is the level we should be aiming for now; sadly our manager seems miles away from it in my opinion.
Paul  Gladwell, Wirral     Posted 22/09/2007 at 09:26:20   Comments

All change

You break my heart, you stab my soul. Man it's time to break our painful cycle of sad and sentimental optimism. The one that allows us time for wishful thinking, speculation and then amnesia. We wish for the Everton of our dreams. We speculate on how our latest signing will make it all come true. We forget how long we've been harbouring such dreams and how frequently we've had dashed such hopeful speculations. We need some massive wake up.

We go on about 'Goodison' — I love the place but I also think it and the turgid sentimentality it fosters is all part of the problem. There is something deeply wrong and it's just being left to replicate season after season. Be it a relegation dogfight or a Euro misadventure. The problem remains the same and we just tinker with the symptoms and fail to get to its root.

It's not just the Board etc etc.. we're all playing our parts. There is nothing new about what happened the other night. Be honest — We've been playing hoofball for decades! Goodison has become a graveyard for our strikers. How many have come in and then died a long and drawn out death that pains us all?

That church in the corner is beginning to look ominous. I'm not an especially big fan of the Kirkby plan but I really feel we need some massive shake-up right through the club and if that can be the catalyst, then bring it on.

Anything is better than going on like this. Moyes has been great but he's taken us as far as he can. His persistant selection of Hibbert, Carsley and Neville in midfield are perfect reflections of his approach. Overly cautious, limited in adaptability and vision.

Sounds familiar? It's obvious we need some really major change if we're to move forward, that will never come easy or without struggle and sacrifice. I wonder if we're really open to what it entails? Perhaps we prefer the bitter sweet sleep of collective amnesia.
John  Jones, Kuala Lumpur     Posted 22/09/2007 at 05:31:56   Comments

Everton TV

I subscribe to Everton TV and was looking forward to the Metalist game live. Sorry but you live in the UK or Ireland where the game will not be shown was the reply. Last time I checked I live in Australia. I thought an e-mail would sort it before kick off. Guess what? Two days after game, nothing.

Don't Everton give a fuck about any fans? I constantly read on here about the trouble you guys have with tickets etc. so you don't count either. It's only a small investment but I thought every little bit helps.

Anyway, shit result good comments from some. Only a win v Villa will help with the pain. No blaming Refs,injuries, reds, Uefa, bad karma, if only this, if only that... JUST WIN FOR FUCK'S SAKE.
Andrew Cunningham, Australia     Posted 22/09/2007 at 02:13:43   Comments

Possible site for new ground?

I have been looking all over Liverpool for possible locations for a new ground. I have looked at the suggestions of others, and the named suggestions by Everton FC. I am not sure if I have missed this suggestion before, or maybe the site has been overlooked, but I must have passed by this site hundreds of times going to matches at Goodison over my 35 years as a fan.... WALTON HALL PARK!!

The place is plenty big enough, with good road access, and still within the area which we are playing now. Have I missed it being mentioned before? Or has it been overlooked. It IS big enough, so what would be the problem?
Phil  O'Connell, Runcorn     Posted 22/09/2007 at 01:21:01   Comments

Apologists Corner

Well, I guess it had to happen: even after such an abject disaster, you just knew the apologists would eventually start to come up for air, telling us not to "over-react", "Let's get Real,", and other wonderfully pithy sayings.

Oh, and of course "Get behind the team" — which seems to be the pathetic last and lingering cry of the mediocrity-accepting Moyes Brigade. Well, for you lot, here is a special corner of the website for you to spout off too.

The common theme is to tell the fans how they should be reacting. Now, I prefer to hear how the fans themselves actually react, rather than read someone telling me and them that their reaction is wrong. I just don't get that.

And the worst ones are form people who didn't even watch the game. Yes it's name and shame time. Click the Comments link below if you really want to read this stuff.

By the way, my issue not that they don't have valid excuses, and I don't mind people staying calm themselves or believing confidently in the outcome of the second leg. Have at it.

Just don't go telling other genuine fans that their reaction to what they saw is somehow wrong. That's bullshit, plain and simple.
Michael Kenrick, ToffeeWeb Towers     Posted 21/09/2007 at 22:06:54   Comments

Its not knee-jerk, stupid

The only benefit of last night is that surely now there can only be a small rump of deluded fans who don't see the 'Average One' for what he is.

You can be sure however that in the next few days the deluded brigade will be out in force leading the backlash - the words 'progress', 'Walter Smith', 'not fighting relegation' and 'stability' wil be used frequently.

However, this time there should be no going back - Moyes is without dispute totally incapable of putting out a side which even pretends to play good football. He is the onest of one-trick ponies and the club is simply treading water.

Towards the end of last season I had to listen in disbelief as fellow blues argued that Moyes had turned the corner and things would now change — well they haven't and never will. I will happily go record now in saying that I want Moyes out even if we finish 4th this season as I simply cant take this shite football any more. It's killing the club and it will kill the fan base.

Liverpool sacked Houllier when they finished 4th and went on to better things — why are our standards so much lower? I will for one will never settle for this obscene imitation of the beautiful game.

ps - what are the odds on Moyes exiting all 3 cup competitions at the first attempt? MOYES OUT!
John Doolan, Liverpool     Posted 21/09/2007 at 17:29:32   Comments

Hundreds and Thousands

After waiting for over an hour last night. 20 minutes into the kick off, I was in the same place with thousands behind me. By this time I'd had enough.

Went down the Carisbrook, watched the rest of the first half, then drove home, I was fuming. This morning, the EFC website statement said their were hundreds outside at kick-off time. From what i saw it was not hundreds but thousands.

I've just spoken to someone at Everton box office and they said they sent 5000 tickets out and all never reached their destination, plus the fans who phoned up on the day and agreed to pick their ticket up on the night. So who is telling porkies? Is it porkie himself.
Colin Malone, Wirral     Posted 21/09/2007 at 16:44:45   Comments

2 week countdown

Like most of the other posts today, I am saddened and fuming at last nights display but I don't want to spend the next two weeks in this stupour.

What do other posters realistically think about our chances in the Ukraine? So 2 years ago a confidence weakened Everton stood little chance of scoring 4 clear goals against a reasonably strong Bucharest side and the tie was effectively over at 5-1.

Last nights display aside, surely we have enough quality to get a result, also taking into account they will have two of their first team suspended. We have no other option but to attack and just need the one away goal. Clearly Metalist are no mugs but is this just a case of hangover blues in thinking that we're dead and buried? We're supposed to be a top 6 Prem side.

Any positive opinions?
Alex Spelling, Newcastle     Posted 21/09/2007 at 16:22:53   Comments

Anichebe to start at Villa?

Let's face it, until at least two of Gravesen, Cahill and Arteta are fit our side really lacks passing ability and we will resort to the long ball. So I think Anichebe must start on Sunday at Villa because he is our only fit target man.

I disagree with the threads that discuss Anichebe and Yakubu as like for like, as target men. I don’t think the Yak (he has no aerial ability and a poor leap) is capable of being, and more importantly willing to be a target man…. and AJ and Mcfadden don’t have big enough frames or the aerial ability.

Playing a long ball game without a capable target man makes it nigh on impossible to involve the strikers in the game and gifts possession to the opposition. On Sunday I truly believe that we could get quality supply to Yakubu, McFadden or AJ using Anichebe as a foil. I would be very happy to see Anichebe on the team sheet for Villa, with either Yakubu or McFadden. I don’t think AJ’s form warrants a place.
Ernie Boyce, Cornwall     Posted 21/09/2007 at 15:27:12   Comments

We Deserve Better

I am not talking about the utterly incompetent display of skill and tactical awareness on the field last night.

What I am talking about is far more important; the utterly incompetent display that is happening behind the scenes at Everton Football Club.

Lets take a few examples, all of which have been extensively discussed on this site in recently, but when taken as a whole, display a Club that is in chaos.

a) Outsourcing our retailing to JJB Sports who have no more interest in selling Everton merchandise than that of any other Premier League Club. For God’s sake we don’t even have an Everton Shop in Liverpool city centre.

b) The Box Office / Ticketing Service is in &'melt-down&'. It is no longer a service but has now become an obstacle to fans purchasing tickets.

c) The total chaos outside Goodison Park that required a kick-off delay in front of a National Television audience. Piss-up and brewery come to mind. d) An Everton PR machine which is, at best incompetent, at worst totally contemptuous of Everton fans.

WE, the fans, are Everton Football Club. WE deserve BETTER.

So when our CEO stands up at the AGM (I’m not a shareholder, so I won’t be there), just remember that whatever our financial results are (and I expect them to be poor), they are on the back of a service delivery that has descended into confusion and mismanagement. Just about every aspect of our off-field activity has been reduced to nothing more than an amateur attempt at running a business.

Also remember that this is the CEO we are trusting to lead us, Moses-like, into the Promised Land of Kirkby Town Centre, when all other business ventures are clamouring to become part of what will be a rejuvenated, dynamic and vibrant Liverpool City Centre. What are we doing? Travelling in the opposite direction.

Of course, there’s no Plan B (supposedly), but there bloody well should be one.

WE are Everton Football Club. WE deserve BETTER.
Bob Carlton, West Lancs     Posted 21/09/2007 at 14:41:54   Comments

Remember This Day At The End of The Season

Message to all of us who get really exited/nervous/suicidal.. at the end of the each 'good' season (every 2 years) about whether we can hold on to sixth place or whether, if Man U win the League Cup as well, we could sneek in to europe in 7th. Whats the point?

For the second time in 3 years we have proved to be the laughing stock of the English Premier League and Europe. Our manager tactically is woeful and his team is probably the most wooden, uninspiring side in the whole of Europe. Yes there are worse sides than us but at least their players look comfortable on the ball. We just rely on scoring from set pieces. Football by numbers — no flair, no imagination, no pace.

What's more it's gonna really wind me up when Captain Nev (who talks the talk but sadly is unable to walk the walk) starts spouting off again at Xmas that the early loss in the Uefa Cup dented our confidence and we are only just recovering our form because of it. Mark my words it will happen. Broken records and all that, Phil.
Mike Whittaker, Bristol     Posted 21/09/2007 at 14:20:22   Comments

Andy van der Meyde

I may have missed something here, although I do try to check everything on this site and the official one at least once a day. I figured when the reserves played on Wed, they picked a young team (Only Turner from the seniors played, and then for only 45 mins) that they were keeping everyone available for the Uefa Cup match the next night.

Arteta, Gravesen and even Pienaar were injured, but where is VDM? I understand he's blown more or less every opportunity he's been given, and has an appalling injury and disciplinary record so far, but two simple facts remain:

1 - He is the only senior natural wide man at the club.

2 - The transfer window is shut and even if it wasn't, we cannot afford to buy a talented winger anyway.

This means there's surely no decision — give him a try. Obviously leaving him on the bench or in the reserves isn't motivating him, so let's PLAY him. Few could argue that when he plays, however unfit, he does offer something no-one else in our team can.

This may sound like a controversial opinion, but in the worst-case scenario, he only has to hit one cross, say the one that lets Yakubu score the winner in the derby, or the goal that gets us into the next round of the Uefa Cup, for him to have achieved something. Then he can be sold. Leaving him to rot (not even) in the reserves achieves nothing.

If he's injured, or there's something else going, if someone could point me in the direction of the appropriate article I would very much appreciate it.

Furthermore, can anyone shed any light on the story that he has a seriously ill child in Alder Hey and that (may) be affecting his ability to play for EFC?
Chris Marks, St Albans     Posted 21/09/2007 at 13:57:07   Comments

Moyes' surprise

So David Moyes was surprised by the quality of The Mentalists; well so was I. I sat in a quiet and subdued Goodison thinking just how poor the Ukranian league must be. Nevertheless, we comfortably managed to drag ourselves down to their level.

Repeatedly watching the back four going sideways until Hibbert gave away possession while the others played statues was awe-inspiring. The total lack of ideas from midfield was simply embarrassing. Yakubu looked completely disinterseted and Johnson... well. To see the last penalty land in the upper tier was beyond belief. Still, I was home for 1:30am after a near 300-mile round trip — great.

Surprised by the opposition Mr Moyes? You should be shocked by the ineptitude of your own players. Mentalists were poor at best, we were worse; we got we deserved.

I still believe we can progress but a lot of people need to take along, hard look at themselves; starting at the top. If only all the players had shown young Anichebe's deisre and comittment.
Lee Jones, Rugby     Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:48:54   Comments

Where did things start to go right?

Full of optimism and expectation last night, I sat down to watch the game. Buoyant from Kev and Nev's pre-match spiel and even forcing a smile at Barnes' ridiculous, incessant drivel — I was in good spirits.

The manager's intentions were clear from the start and a very attacking line up was announced. I raised an eyebrow, as I'm fairly sure that that line-up would get totally overrun in the middle against even a mediocre Premier League team, but trusted that he'd done his homework... We proceeded to get completely overrun in the middle of the park, long-ball tactics resumed and it turned into one of the most shambolic games of football I've had the displeasure to view.

I'm not going to break the game down and analyse where it went so horribly wrong — others with a superior football brain are much better at doing that than me — but I wanted to question where it all started to go right!

We've been a big club in steady decline for 15 years or so (barring FA cup success). When David Moyes took over we were perennial relegation fodder and yet somehow we're now competing for European places in the league, taking points from the established Champions League contenders domestically, and now competing on the European stage ourselves. But admittedly playing a dire brand of football.

We hear that Kenwright doesn't have the financial clout to move us onto the next level, it's his train set, blah blah. We hear that Moyes has the tactical nous of Mr Bean, etc.. Yet, somehow this pairing have increased expectation to a level far beyond our wildest dreams in a few years! We've got the backbone of the most talented squad that I can remember, have broken our transfer record twice in two seasons, and have tied our star players down to lengthy contracts. Now that sounds like investment from the Board to me.

The media regularly refer to David Moyes as being one of the best managers in the league. He has the ability to get the most out of his players, picking up Manager of the Season awards along the way. Talented young players and seasoned international seem to want to play for him. This all sounds rosy yet the Board and the manager seem to make glaring mistakes.

I think the displeasure and frustration from the fans comes from the fact that we always feel that we're almost there, and yet we're never sure whether our young, talented, dynamic, direct, hardworking, passing team are going to annihilate the opposition or whether our toothless and headless team are going to revert to hoofball and capitulate.

This is not meant to be a distraction from the shite we saw last night, but I'm genuinely looking for answers from my fellow blues.
Ben Howard, London     Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:24:00   Comments

Tactical Naivety In Europe

First of all I would like to point out that I am a Moyes fan and believe he has done a fantastic job in turning Everton from a bottom 6 side to a top 6 side and people should be more appreciative of this. Maybe we should look at what has happened at Bolton since Sam Allardyce left. Sometimes you don't appreciate what you have got until it has gone.

I do think though that Moyes does show tactical naivety when we play in Europe. Why change from the usual solid 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3? I believe that most games in Europe are won by the odd goal and that keeping a clean sheet is the most important thing and yet whenever we (briefly) appear in Europe we go out all gung-ho — playing as if we are in the last few minutes of an FA Cup final. I think that we should chill out a bit. Keep things tight and play patient football in the belief that a goal or two will come.

Instead we throw men forward desperate to win the home game by two or 3 goals... and then end up leaving gaping holes at the back and conceding silly goals. A 1-0 win would have been good enough yesterday but we ended up letting in the crucial away goal that may see us knocked out.

It was exactly the same last time in Europe... don't get me wrong it is exciting to watch... but it isn't necessary. Everton's strength under Moyes has always been a tight defence yet he seems to completely change this for European games. I just don't think he knows how to play 2 legged games.

I think 1-0 would have been good enough.. .we should have been more than good enough to go over there (wherever it is!!!) and keep a clean sheet. But now we have put pressure on ourselves and we have to win. In the away leg I hope that we can be more composed... there are 90 minutes to get a goal and we don't have to go all out attack from the first kick and leave ourselves open at the back again.

I think when you watch Everton in Europe they look like a team that don't have much European experience... let's hope that they can gain more this time than they did last time!!!
Matthew Hayhurst, Urmston     Posted 21/09/2007 at 11:42:01   Comments

We're not meant for Europe!

Well, what a night! I watched on the appalling Channel 5 (Colin 'Liverpool' Murray kept referring to Merseyside, blatantly refusing to describe us as a Liverpool club), and it was like a car crash from beginning to end.

The ticket debacle could only happen to us, and the overall performance was dreadful. FC Metalist were far better technically than our bunch of cloggers lumping it long to AJ and the Yak at every opportunity, and it is clear that we can only ever cut it as a half-decent side when Arteta plays.

Why did we spend £11.5M on the lump from Boro — his first touch is terrible — the lad traps it further than most players can kick it! Vic and Vaughan are already far better players.

AJ's not even getting chances that he can miss, apart from pens, and why did someone else not have the bottle to grab it off him for the second (third!) one?

Yes, the ref was useless, but we can't really complain at being awarded 2 spot-kicks and the opposition being reduced to 9 men.

I'm facing the harsh reality this morning - apart from one freak season 22 years ago, we're just not cut out to do it in Europe.
Richard Price, Gloucestershire     Posted 21/09/2007 at 10:40:02   Comments

Unacceptable

I wanted to write this as soon as the final whistle went, but now I've had time to sleep it off and I can honestly say that I am still fuming over the performance last night.

The only word for it is unacceptable. For 10 minutes or so, we were playing against 9 men. What happened? Punted balls on to the edge of the area for their big centre backs to pick off with ease. No balls out wide to stretch them, no passes to try to create some space, nothing but Phil Neville lumping it to their defender's heads. Utter shite.

I am a Moyes fan, I think he's done a great job so far, but that was just unbelievably bad. We were technically inferior, they even played the better football in patches after being reduced to 10 men. I understand that we were without Arteta and Gravesen, but still, you can't blame the loss of 2 players on that XI not being able to find a blue shirt with the ball.

AJ shouldn't have taken the 2nd pen, but with the service he had, he can play from now til Christmas and there'll be no goals for him. It's time to ask some serious questions, when Yobo is nigh-on the best attacking player in your line-up.

I have always been of the opinion that Moyes works day-in, day-out with the squad and he knows the best players for each position, but last night really makes me wonder. If that is the best team that we can put out and that is as good as they can play without Arteta, then we may as well give up on the European adventure. If we go to the Ukraine and play like that, it's over; if we get through and play like that againast a half-decent oppostion in the group stage, it'll be Dinamo Bucharest all over again.

It's time for something to change... I can't sit through another 90 like that! (And no, I'm not Tony Marsh under an alias - I'm just pissed off!)
Richard  Parker, Paris, France     Posted 21/09/2007 at 09:32:07   Comments

Awful night for club and fans

You jusy knew things were going to go wrong from when the kick off delay was announced. Waiting for the conclusion of the Man Utd game before sending out the tickets was pure incompetence on the aprt of the club. Hopefully Uefa will impose a fine and lessons are learned.

The team played badly ... but so did the supporters. Instead of getting behind the team the fans decided to moan. The abuse that poured off the terraces when passes went astray and attacks broke down was nothing short of a disgrace. When the team needed our support they were let down.

The team may not be good enough at that level but a certain section of the support aren't either.
Ian Edwards, Liverpool     Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:23:03   Comments

Wierd feeling

I oddly care surprisingly little about tonight's performance. Towards the end of the first half it just turned into one of those games where we were so bad it took on an almost surreal quality. Barring a twenty minute show of interest from Anichebe, and a goalkeeper who did nothing wrong, there was basically nothing redeemable in that performance.

I'm not even sure, given the absence of Arteta, Gravesen and Pienaar through injury, what alternative team I'd have selected. With the exception of Jagielka, who must be sitting on the bench wondering what exactly he's let himself in for when he can't displace Neville from midfield or Hibbert from right back.

We're not a bad team. We don't play nearly as bad football all the time as people suggest (though we revert to it too easily when things aren't going well), and in general I feel reasonably positive about us doing OK this season. But good god we were awful tonight.
Robin Cannon, Manchester, UK     Posted 21/09/2007 at 02:40:21   Comments

Is he worth it?

Whatever made AJ worth 8 mil has long vanished and a total rethink of his role in the team is urgently needed, that is, if he still has a role to play.

In him I see a smallish bloke running around like a hairy (baldy) goat who, after useless attempts to reach even more useless long balls, gives thumbs up to the team mate who kicks them. Others are finally beginning to recognise that AJs strictly limited range and his preparedness to chase anything is a major reason for our over use of brain-numbing long-balls.

I would appreciate enlightenment if there are other attributes that distinguish him as an 8-million-pound man. I would start with, er... er... hang on a minute while I think of something. Colm is one of AJs fans, perhaps he can start the ball rolling.

Meanwhile it would make a nice change to see Moyes urging the players to settle down, knock it around, keep it on the deck etc instead of his, up an at em, faster ever faster urgings.
Dick  Fearon, W.Australia ex Dingle     Posted 21/09/2007 at 00:41:01   Comments

Midfield madness

My my, never have I witnessed such a cacophony amongst the Everton ranks for such a long time. I will refrain from joining the chorus of vitriolic four letter words that have transcended this site in the aftermath of what I can only describe as an appalling display from a midfield totally deficient of any creative imagination.

I can’t blame my fellow blues in venting their anger with such colourful metaphors; what was Moyes thinking when he named that midfield? Or more to the point, with the injuries to Arteta, Graveson and Cahill, could he have put anybody else in? In my opinion, which seems to be shared by many others; is that if Phil Neville can force his way into our first choice midfield, then we have some serious problems. I don’t dislike the man, but Moyes has to see past the totally committed model pro that he undoubtedly is, and either play him at right back or leave him in the stands where he the only pass he has to make is the one at Arteta’s rather tasty wife.

Osman is an enigma, against quality players at Spurs he looked the part, skilful, strong and with a good eye for goal. Tonight, against second rate opposition (Lets face it, they are second rate, so what does that make us?) I can’t even recall him getting involved in anything creative at all, did he actually kick the ball tonight? Carsley did what he always does, he tries to mop up the loose balls and pass back to Yobo or Lescott who must have been under strict instructions to hoof the ball forward at every available chance. Mcfadden! Well what can I say, great goals for Scotland, well done Jimmy now come and play midfield for your club, or just behind the front two, oh whatever just do what you want.

I am so very disappointed at what I saw tonight; sure the game probably made great telly, it's a shame that all that effort in qualifying for Europe last season may have been in vain. If Moyes puts out that midfield against any Premiership opposition then we are in danger of being humiliated. It really isn’t good enough.
Shaun Sparke, Prescot     Posted 21/09/2007 at 00:18:13   Comments

No excuses

I was waiting to see what Moyes' reaction was before I commented — unfortunately I was wasting even more of my time because his response was just as pathetic as the performance of his team. If he had come out and apologized for his team's thoroughly miserable and inept attempt at playing football, I may have cut him some slack. If he had held his hand up and said — you know we were a bit unlucky — but let's face it we weren't good enough. Then I may have managed to get over it. But no, Moyes' comes out and blames the ref! Don't you dare come out and make such pathetic excuses, when you had two penalties, the opposition down to nine men and you're at home for goodness sakes.

For all those who are willing to look forward to the next game, blame everybody (the ref) and everything else (injuries) — don't waste your breath. We just showed the world we aren't up to playing at a decent level and that should be the end of the story.

Once again, Everton flatter to deceive, for all the optimism that most of us are so desperate to embrace — the sad fact is there for all to see — Everton will always break your heart.

I don't care that you are one of the best managers in the country, that your peers think you're great or that you have assembled our best squad in years — stop wasting our time and leave David Moyes, leave now, take your sorry coaching staff with you and don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Greg Dawson, Not in Walton anymore     Posted 20/09/2007 at 23:56:17   Comments

Trouble comes in threes

I knew this wasn’t going to be a good night. I left the relative comfort of the pub to arrive early… ”might as well have a drink in the ground”… ha ha… no alcohol for Uefa games! Don’t remember being told that by the club. Bloody awful boring wait but at last it’s 5 minutes to kick off.

Then we have 30 minute delay because of yet more administrative incompetence. The club blame Royal Mail. OK, good prize offered for anyone who can tell me of another top club that has had to delay a European kick-off because they’ve made a fuck up of the ticketing.

Inevitably the third disaster of the night arrives and we deliver one of the most inept performances I can remember in over 40 years.

Three penalties from Johnson, no goals. Can you imagine the abuse that Beattie would have suffered if he had been the culprit? Sorry, there is no point in strikers who can’t score goals. Anichebe did more in his cameo appearance than his two ‘seniors’ achieved together and if he doesn’t start on Sunday then we have just another example of Moyes’s incompetence and intransigence.

Three players whose qualifications to pull on the blue shirt are very suspect:

• Hibbert... How much longer do we have to put up with this guy? Can’t pass and falls asleep.
• Neville... He is rubbish. Never mind the England thing. He got into ‘the club’ when playing for Man United and perhaps he looked good playing alongside quality players. He is crap. No other word is suitable. Negative and slow in his own game his failure to take command of the penalty number two situation and tell Johnson he wasn’t taking it makes his captaincy a joke.
• Jagielka... Perhaps I’m being harsh here. But, hell, if he can’t displace Hibbert at right back does this sound like good value for £4 million?

What are Everton without Arteta?

Answers on a postcode.

You might accuse me of being overly pessimistic but when I saw Arteta was unavailable the ultra cynical Evertonian in me screamed cup-tied for europe and transfer window. After not heeding his advice and strengthening sufficiently during the summer and his subsequent pretty shocking performances recently I have to wonder out loud is he happy? Certainly getting knocked out of europe again will leave him a little restless.

For a lad who rarely seems to get injured *touches wood quickly* to see him unavailable for the return leg in the Ukraine would surely set alarm bells ringing.

Or maybe I'm just a pessimist.
Steve Hopkins, Ashford, Kent     Posted 20/09/2007 at 23:39:28   Comments

Garbage

This result was garbage. Are we only as good as a 3rd-placed Ukraine team? I have doubts over Yakubu — to be fair i did before he played a game for us. I spent plenty of time on YouTube looking for quality goals but only to find penalties. Neville is an awkward looking player with not much technical ability — I knew that before he signed. Osman is good in bits and lightweight. It defeats me how Hibbert isnt playing in the Championship. McFadden can shoot but his other play is utter shite. Carsley looks a bit fed up — maybe he realises his days are numbered. I am a bit numb, but when you look at it we are a small squad and it showed tonight.
Clive Lewis, Leicester     Posted 20/09/2007 at 23:24:22   Comments

Frustration!

I've just watched the dross, sorry, the European adventure — ha! — and they looked like the over-paid Premiership players and we looked like we did'nt have a clue. No movement, skill, or balance.

Why does he persist on playing Hibbert? He cannot pass. When we needed a bit of quality in the box, up steps Neville with quality straight balls down the throat of the keeper.

Although AJ will get the stick I do feel sorry for him (he never stopped running). Why didn't someone else take the second... I mean the third?

Has Moyes "Can't win a trophy, Won't win a trophy" taken us as far as he can? I see Jose Mourinho's available.
Paul  Hesketh, Liverpool     Posted 20/09/2007 at 23:16:36   Comments

Wessels

I agree that it was a night of few positives but our new keeper was excellent and his fantastic early save prevented us trailing right from the start. Anybody out there think we could have come back from 0-1 ?

Wessels.......somebody mentioned that he was refreshingly adopting a habit of kicking the ball out to well-placed defenders to start 'along the ground football moves' on Saturday. The cynic in me wondered when that would change and that cynic did not have long to wait as he smashed every ball straight up the middle of the field tonight.

Oh, Mr Moyes... we looked like a team without a plan A let alone any contingency thinking for a game against 9 men. Manager and coach should have stepped in to stop Johnson taking the 're-take' but it seems that once again nobody thought about that. How much do we pay Moyes and Irvine?

I know the powers that be on this website did not like my piece called:

WE DON'T DO CUP TIES.

Guys - if you are big enough to admit you were wrong can you print that again... please !

I know that Mr Marsh seems to be roundly detested by many readers of this site but he does have the consolation of being right much more often than he is wrong.
Glen Strachan, Oaxaca , Mexico     Posted 20/09/2007 at 23:10:02   Comments

Moyes's Tactics

It's not been mentioned yet, but the goal we conceded need not have happened. We had everyone up the pitch and they hit us on a counter attack. The defense was everywhere. Now, I know we wanted to get a few goals tonight but I would have been much happier taking a one nil than risking conceding the away goal.

I just don't understand why we were throwing men forward like it was the dying seconds of the second leg and we were losing. For fuck's sake we were 1-0 up and could have played a bit more composed. I am afraid Moyes that you need to look at your tactics in two-legged competitions.
Paul  Coleman, Kettering     Posted 20/09/2007 at 23:16:52   Comments

Beyond belief

For the third home game in a row we have been made to look like a bunch of Route One scufflers. There is however a good reason for this - we are a bunch of route one scufflers.

Everton's ability to give the ball away is simply stagering and there will be no meaningful progress whilst this continues. The Moyes boys can come out with all this bollocks about the best squad in 20 years but the truth is we are simply awful and embarrassing to watch.

Another Moyes cup campaign over before it has started. If by some freak we actually qualified for the CL then it would be pointless as a quality team would simply rip us to shreds. The Kharkiv goal was a kick in the teeth but you had to admire the quality — it was on a different planet to what Moyes produces.

There is an answer to all this shite football but of course that suggestion would be ridiculous - "don't you realise how much progress we have made" - its a funny old game though when progress like tonight turns us yet again into a laughing stock.
John Doolan, Littlehampton     Posted 20/09/2007 at 22:32:38   Comments

Garbage

The headlines will be about Johnson's two penalty misses and he deserves all the stick he will undoubtedly get. But the real issue is that for the whole game, we didn't string two passes together and the forwards had little or no service. It looked to me as though the players were under strict instructions to keep it tight and not lose an away goal. All very well, but just like last Saturday, you make one mistake and you lose a goal.

They looked like an typical East European side - pretty passing on the halfway line, with no conviction in front of goal. At times they looked shit scared of us but we still don't know how to open teams up. Pass, move, blue shirt. Is it really that difficult after six years?
Paul Tran, Kendal     Posted 20/09/2007 at 22:35:47   Comments

Mentalist Kharkiv

I'd like to say that I can take the Kharkiv result in my stride and go about my day as normal, but sadly no and I fear that many others will share my views. It was, as I say, mental.

I knew everything would go wrong when the ref started shepherding the players back to the edge of the box. I thought that I was a pedant, but what kind of sick, anally retentive bastard makes someone retake a penalty if one player puts one foot in the box. I was sickened and the Kharkiv goal made me smash my fist into the nearest wall. (Looks like I'll have to go down to the shops to buy some polyfilla.) Same old story, nothing goes our way.

I'm normally a calm sort of person, but I am reasonably certain that if I ever bump into that ref in the street, I will (if I'm exercising some restraint) punch him (probably in the face).
Samuel Robinson, Hungerford, Berkshire     Posted 20/09/2007 at 22:31:45   Comments

Disgusting, My Apologies

I'm sorry!!!! Sorry for all that times I have posted messages on here passionately defending Phil Neville.

I am also sorry for the times I have slated people for critisising AJ.

I also apologise profusely for bad-mouthing those supporters who have posted messages saying 'We are not good enough', because the truth is..... we arn't.

Tonight I have realised that Phil Neville is a liabilty. That AJ was a flash in the pan, and that Yakubu is a mix of Beattie, Bakayoko, Brett Angell and Mikel Madar all rolled into one £11million mistake.

Am I over-reacting? No.

Tonight, I realised that we are nothing without Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill or Tommy Gravesen. (Gravesen who arrived as a fringe player for fucks sake). Thank the lord we signed Wessels, because if we did not have him we would have lost that game tonight.

Phil Neville gave the ball away more times than Northern Rock have had to write cheques to customers. Tony Hibbert tried to pass the ball to their keeper every time he got it. Yakubu: fat... slow... disinterested... his first touch was heavy, his shooting was light?????

AJ looked like a child in a school match who wants to be the hero, except he also looked like he had never seen a football before and was playing tic with the defenders.

I posted comments the other week about how strong our squad is, I now retract every statement I made. I have even tried not to blame Moyes but the is the one who puts Neville and Hibbert in the side and leaves Jag on the bench. The only shining light was Anichebe who looked like the £11million signing.

I am tired of thinking about this now, I am sick over it.

Good day.
Anthony  Jaras, Widnes     Posted 20/09/2007 at 22:26:11   Comments

What a way to Destroy Confidence

AJ waits an age to take the penalty whilst the referee marks out the penalty area for the other players. He scores a good penalty, thinks he's put Everton 2-0 up against a poor side, only to be told that while 10 Kharkiv players were neck and neck with him when he took the pen, Anichebe had put a foot into the D. The next thing you know he's missed two pens. The mind games going on there definitely made me think he wasn't going to score, I'm surprised he got the first in.

No excuses for the rest of the team. Once again, Baines is the only decent player on the pitch. Hibbert's long passes are abysmal but I can't even blame him because WHERE THE HELL WAS OUR MIDFIELD? We played a 6-4 formation, I can only remember seeing Ossie in any kind of midfield position. The entire team looked anxious yet we defended without a care in the world, with centre-backs and fullbacks bombing on at will. Terrible. Just shows how we miss a controlling midfielder like Arteta who can dictate our pace. That, coupled with a potent finisher like Cahill and hopefully a top draw centre-mid in January and we'll be improving to another level.
Nick Harrison, Liverpool     Posted 20/09/2007 at 22:29:08   Comments

Embarassing

Well what can we say about what we have just witnessed? My headline says it all really. A few points spring to mind too:

• Everton are nothing without Arteta
• Hibbert should never start another game
• Phil Neville, for all his commitment, passion etc, blatantly isn't good enough.

Andrew Johnson, you've just been found out

Seen the text scrolling down my BBC page for half-an-hour now, and I'm seeing goals galore... at White Hart Lane, and tearing my hair out at Goodison... and right now: AJ BLASTS OVER, SECOND PENALTY MISS.

We've got another Biffa in our hands.
Mikhail Ridhuan, Singapore     Posted 20/09/2007 at 22:18:19   Comments

European Tour Ture

Well you wouldn't listen and now once again I am sure you will agree David Moyes and his useless side kick Alan Irvine have no place in European football.

Embarrasing, Shambolic and utterly pathetic is how I see it. The thing is though the referee has given the Moyes minnions the excuse they need when we crash out in the Ukaraine.

To be honest I knew we would struggle in Europe playing the way we do but Karkhiv arent even European minnows. Barely formed Tadpoles more like but
Tony Marsh, Liverpool     Posted 20/09/2007 at 21:57:45   Comments

Conspiracy Theory

I live on the septic tank part of the pond. Not too sure if my compatriots have been tuned into this however Tesco have recently moved into the US grocery market and is looking to make in-roads in a very competative market.

So stay with me on this one:

The way I see it, Tesco offering to build a prem league stadium is a branding strategy with Everton with a view to sell us out to a US high roller.

As you know Top brass here in the US want to buy prem teams because they are relatively cheap and a good investment.

Right now because of Beckham everybody has a hard on for prem football, especially folks with money. The people with money over here see footie as a more sophisticated/culture endeavor in relation to American Football.

Long and short, when the Tesco top brass start hobnobbing at their country clubs with the top brass over here, I’m sure the conversation will be like “Hello my name is Sir Terry Leahy and I own Tesco!”
Septic tank billionaire, “who the fuck are Tesco?"
"Well, we ain't Wall-Mart but we do own a Prem League Stadium called Everton, just outside Liverpool!"
"Oh great, can I buy it?"
"Sure. :)"

Bobs your uncle, Tesco, Kenwright and his fat cats have all just made a few million and sold us down the swanney to a bunch of septic tanks who will be soon enough looking for their pound of blue flesh.

Just a thought but its how these people think and work! Leahy maybe a blue nose, but his first love is with those Tesco shareholders who need to make a buck!
Lee Cooper, Boston, USA     Posted 20/09/2007 at 19:07:12   Comments

Back - ajoko

From the BBC's live text updates: "The game [Larissa 2-0 Blackburn] doesn't deserve a goal that good. Ibrahima Bakayoko escapes a clutch of players and lets fly from 30-odd yards. His thumping left-footed shot dips over Brad Friedel after taking a slight deflection."
Dan Parker, New York, US     Posted 20/09/2007 at 17:10:00   Comments

God is On the Side With the Best Artillery

Unimaginative, generic, boring and uninspiring. This is to be Everton's new home. Forget asking questions regarding stand names and stadium accoustics, the point of any discussion relating to the acceptance of the inevitable ought to be focused on us apparently re-creating a replica of some inconsequental German team's largely and architecturally unscrutinised stadium.

I voted a resounding NO to Kirkby, based on the premise that our new home does not look special, coupled with the disingenuous "There is no Plan B," rhetoric. At its pomp, Goodison Park was a forbidding, raucous and intimidating arena. Remember how the enigmatic Jean-Marie Pfaff coyly waved to the then-massive Gwladys St End prior to the 2nd half of THAT game in'85?

Goodison led the way in stadium technology with it's revolutionary 3 tiers and while I accept that the cash for something truly magnificent may not be immediately forthcoming, a new ground, which I adamantly don't want anyway, should be a thing of aesthetic beauty, something that awes everyone who visits it. And one that reflects both august history and optimistic future aspiration. A statement.
Kevin Hudson, Stoneycroft     Posted 20/09/2007 at 14:40:16   Comments

Blues on TV

TW has a piece on tonight's match being available on the EFC website for a fee. It might be slightly easier (and cheaper) to catch the game on channel 5, even if it means putting up with John Barnes's special brand of 'commentry'.
Simon  Moore, London     Posted 20/09/2007 at 14:40:31   Comments

Fall Out?

Anyone know anything about the alleged fall out between Moysie & Johnno, being reported in the papers this morning?? Or is it a case of the press chuckin' shite around on our big day??
Mark Joseph, EX L 4     Posted 20/09/2007 at 10:42:15   Comments

Mourinho for Everton

OK, the secret is out! Jose Mourinho will be announced as an assistant coach to David Moyes tomorrow at mid-day. Welcome to Goodison, Joey!
Glen Strachan, Oaxaca , Mexico     Posted 20/09/2007 at 00:42:03   Comments

Sheffield Weds Away Tickets

For all those people who don't seem to be able to get tickets for the Sheffield Wednesday game because of the atrocious service offered by our Ticket Office, why not try ringing the Sheffield Wed Box Office?

I'm sure, given the poor start that the Owls have made, that there will be some provision made for "casual" away fans that turn up at Hillsborough on the night without a ticket - i.e. a facility to pay on the door at the away end. After all, the ground is hardly likely to be packed to the rafters, is it?

Same goes for Villa by the way. They normally offer a ticket on the day facility for away fans but beware, this may have changed this year because the away fans' sections has been changed - we're not behind the goal any more, so it's uncertain how many seats we have been allocated.

Just a thought.
Ray Robinson, Warrington     Posted 19/09/2007 at 23:06:02   Comments

Everton's best team

Further to the response made about squad rotation, which is a perfectly valid point, it is worthwhile pointing out that all managers would have their best team in their head if not actually something they would make known, that also goes for formation.

I believe Everton and Moyes with the current players would be looking to play with wingbacks, therefore I believe on that basis we should play a back four of Neville, Yobo, Lescott and Baines; holding midfield: Jagielka; central three of Cahill, Gravesen, Arteta, with Yakubu and Johnson up front.

This gives us a solid line of defence and at least 4 players in midfield and up front who can score. Hibbert, McFadden, Pienaar, Vaughan as subs with Vaughan replacing Johnson when he is fit.

No doubt people will have their opinions on this but believe me this is how Everton will start to line up when all fit. A manager will always know his best 11.
Paul Niklas, Upholland     Posted 19/09/2007 at 18:11:27   Comments

Good boozers near Goodison

Fellow Evertonians, just wondering where the best watering holes near Goodison are? I will be coming up from London to watch the Uefa Cup game and would like to visit as many of the best establishments near Goodison before and after the game. COYB!
Brendan  Fox, London     Posted 19/09/2007 at 18:06:37   Comments

John Paul Kissock

Can anybody who regularly watches the reserve side tell me about this kid? Is he an out-and-out winger? Left or right side preferred?

Is he anywhere close to being given the odd twenty minutes in the Premier League side — just to see how a winger could fit? A possible for the Sheffield Wednesday Cup Tie?
Glen Strachan, Oaxaca , Mexico     Posted 19/09/2007 at 17:55:12   Comments

Injuries

I am fed up to the very BLUE soul of me about injuries, injuries. That's all you get from our very frail squad. What are they, f.......g old age pensioners (no offence, I'm 72)? The money these guys are paid they should be super fit. It's just a joke now, every game somebody's poorly sick. I know, I shouldn't mention his name but Bill Sh......y never spoke to an injured man. We never seem to have a full squad fit! Will we ever go to the match and hear a full team called out? I'm fitter than five or six of the lazy b.........ds.
Edward Draper, North Wales     Posted 19/09/2007 at 17:07:11   Comments

Box Office........ Don't make me laugh !!

Just got off the phone to the box office. I am after 4 tickets for the Sheff Weds game now they are on general sale.

On Monday, I spent 2 hours trying to get through at work but to no avail. Thought I'd better send off an e-mail to order but have still not had a reply. Worried that they didn't get my e-mail I rang again yesterday and eventually got through. After explaining my situation that I needed to know wether I had tickets as I would have to swap shifts, the temp on the end of the line promised me the gentlemen dealing with e-mails would ring me back that afternoon. Guess what? NOTHING!!

So I rang back again today and after another hour waiting to get through a young kopite (He admitted it!!) said that due to demand they were not taking bookings on the phone and to send an e-mail. By now my blood was boiling as the club seem to making it impossible for supporters who live away to get tickets... regardless of the fact that all four of us are season-ticket holders and make the 300 mile round trip to every home game and most away games.

When will fat boy Wyness get off his arse and sort this out? Surely we should be able to book through e-ticketing or a dedicated phone line instead of being made to wait. And as for the lack of info on the Club website... This is making us look a nonsense. WYNESS, SORT IT OUT!!!

Has anyone else got any suggestions??? Just peeling myself off the ceiling!!!
Graham Hackney, Cleethorpes     Posted 19/09/2007 at 12:56:47   Comments

Are we still missing a part of the jigsaw?

During the last weeks of August, many top players were reportedly joining our club, perhaps most noticeably, even after the earlier website debacle, Riquelme. Frustratingly, none of these rumours came to fruition but at the time the tangible prospect of the Manuel Fernandes signing seemed to produce a feelgood factor among the fans.

Manuel Fernandes, a firm favourite with the crowd after last season's loan period, arrived on Merseyside, had his medical and allegedly did some light training at Bellefield prior to being a guest of the club at the Blackburn game on the 25 August. He allegedly disappeared on Sunday morning only to re-appear in Valencia that same evening, by which time Sky Sports News were reporting his imminent signing by that club.

It amazes me that, given the same third-party ownership circumstances, Manchester United obtained their man, Tevez, and Liverpool obtained theirs, Mascherano. It would appear that both of these clubs have the funds available and the commercial staff that can broker deals, both on and off the pitch, for the benefit of the club that they’re employed by; all we’re left with at Everton are excuses why yet another target is missed.

Would a creative Fernandes have made a difference on Saturday against United? Who knows, he certainly did last season. Overall you have to say we contained United better than their previous visit but we’re still missing that vital element in midfield. I felt we were certainly worth a point at least. For me, on the day, one player who stood out head and shoulders above the rest, including the Manchester United stars, was Leighton Baines. A few more signings like this and we may just make the progression we all yearn for.
Colin Fitzpatrick, Cheshire     Posted 19/09/2007 at 12:53:35   Comments

Marketing

Picked up the Visitor Guide to Liverpool 2007 and browing through came to "Your essential guide to 48 hours in Liverpool" and day two you are at 10:00hrs to visit Liverpool FC Museum and Centre. We, Everton, are not mentioned!

Further on in the guide under Sport, there on the first page a picture of the Liverpool squad and their website address, we are mentioned but always after Liverpool. To be fair we do have a picture of Goodison on the next page.

In my opinion it all shows how far behind we are in the marketing of our club and I worry that when we move out of the city boundries we will fall even further behind. My faith in our CEO is non-existent and the Everton Marketing Department reflects the inepitude of his organisation.
George Carroll, Bramhall     Posted 19/09/2007 at 12:08:17   Comments

Overreaction?

Is it me or has there been a lot of overreaction lately on here?

As someone who is probably regarded by many as 'anti-Moyes' (I'm just pro-Everton!), I think he had another good summer in the transfer market. He resisted the temptation to splash out on mediocrity, bought two good players in Jagielka and Baines and an outstanding striker in Yakubu. He also brought in Gravesen, who I believe will be a better player with better colleagues around him.

People seem to forget that below 'the big four', you could throw a blanket over eight sides fighting a Uefa Cup spot. People also forget that title-winning sides like United know how to play badly and nick results. To be honest, how many times have we played badly and nicked a one-nil over the past few years? It happens, live with it!

Same with Johnson, who is clearly on a barren goal run that all strikers get. Look at the work he puts in, look at the way creates space and chances for others. Who had our only decent chance on target on Saturday, cleared off the line? How many other chances did he get?

Yes, it's the best squad at Everton for a number of years. They still have to be coached and persuaded to pass and move, they still need greater flexibility in tactics.

Moyes has done a good job taking us a far as he has, even though its like watching someone complete a jigsaw puzzle one piece per year! Now he has his own expensively assembled squad, the best we've had in years. If he is the manager some people say he is, surely this is the time to stop making excuses, stop talking about Smith and Walker and watch EFC move further forward?

I think this season will provide us with some answers...
Paul Tran, Kendal     Posted 19/09/2007 at 10:27:50   Comments

James Beattie

Here's a thought. Was Beattie as shite as we all made him out to be? He has now bagged 6 goals in 6 games for a shit Sheff Utd side. Could it have been Moyes's tactics that turned him into the player we saw at the club? Is it that Sheff Utd play better football than us (not hoofball like us most of the time) and this now suits Beattie's game more? I know some people will say he has found his level, but I just don't know. He has gone from a player who couldn't buy a goal with us, to a player now banging them in. The reason why I ask this question is, is it just a coincidence that AJ has not found the back of the net since March?
Brian Waring, Wokingham     Posted 19/09/2007 at 09:00:50   Comments

Whiling away time...

My thoughts on a Top Ten table of Everton strikers.

1. Bob Latchford
2. Graham Sharpe
3. Gary Linacre
4. Alex Young
5. Mick Lyons
6. Duncan Ferguson (first spell)
7. Andy Gray
8. Fred Pickering
9. Dave Hickson
10. Andrew Johnson

Cahill

Where will Cahill fit into our starting line-up when he returns? He's not good enough all around as a midfielder to take up one of those four spots, and AJ and Yak are pretty much sealed as our forwards. I always thought his best position was as the attacking mid in a 4-5-1, but with Gravesen, Arteta, Neville, Carsley, and Pienaar already taking up the midfield, where does Cahill fit in?
Jimmy Crack, Phoenix, AZ, USA     Posted 18/09/2007 at 19:43:43   Comments

The passing game

When you sit down and watch us playing, preferably after the match and on the telly because I find I get too agitated at the game itself to be rational about what I see, it becomes oh so clear what our main problem is. Okay, so I'm stating the obvious here but how many of our players can pass the ball? I mean, REALLY pass the ball to another in a Blue shirt? We all know what Neville's skills are (not) in the passing game but, to be fair, can you say, hand on heart, that any of the other guys are really THAT good at it?

Most of them are better than Phil or Hibbo no doubt but passing the ball never seems to be a key feature of our game. Is it lack of confidence or skill or just training methods? Who knows... Arteta of course, can pass but even he will seldom try a cross-field pass to change the direction of play and, more to the point, no-one else seems to want to attempt that type of pass in order to bring Mikkey into it either.

Occasionally we are blessed with that defence-splitting pass (from Piennar to AJ against Bolton for example) that really does make things happen but most of the time it's the square pass across the park that gives defenders time to regroup and organise while AJ ends up chasing balls that never come.

Like I said, stating the obvious perhaps but if we can't string more than two passes together then we're going to struggle to play football, the beautiful game is made all the more stunning to watch when the build-up is graced with imaginative play rather than the one-two's that prevail. Eventually we get caught out and lose posession without having made any real attempt at goal.

I dunno... maybe I just expect too much. Route one hoofball has never been my favourite viewing fodder but I would love to see a bit of the really good stuff now and again. Perhaps they shouldn't wear yellow or green bibs in training - just BLUE ones!

Can't wait for Thursday, can't wait, can't wait. Come on you Blues.
Lue Glover, Buckley     Posted 18/09/2007 at 16:56:19   Comments

On guard!

Evertonians — be on your mettle. Steel yourselves. The boys from Kharkiv are as hard nails. Some of our players are still a bit rusty, but it'll be a rivetting game.

Everton's strength alloyed with their skill should ensure a solid gold outcome in this do ore die competition. As long as our midfield can iron out their differences and we go at it hammer and tongs.

Let's just hope they don't screw us.
Ryan Crest, London     Posted 18/09/2007 at 14:03:04   Comments

Just a runner?

Not having the "gift" of explaing and describing how I see things during and after an Everton game I, like perhaps many supporters, just pass on saying what I feel.

However, I now would like to ask my fellow Blues what is it they see in AJ that I fail to see. I have watched my team for over 50 years and I can not see him as anything more than a "runner". I feel he has very poor technical ability, he cant trap a ball, take it in his stride. His pace is a asset but not a massive one.

His decision making when faced with "should I or shouldn’t I?" always seems I shouldn’t!. He is I feel destined to struggle in the premiership and as for 20 goals..well I like a gamble so if there is anyone out there who fancys a bet, no problem. I see AJ as another signing which will follow the Beattie path, championship player out of his depth in the prem.

I dont blame him for all this as Moysie continues to have me scratching my head with his game plans. Plans which invariably involve by-passing the midfield. If he were 5 mins into the job OK, but hey it’s 5 years! Will this man ever be a risk taker?

Answers on a postcard. I do think however YAK is a gifted striker and will do the biz where ever. He has great feet and upperbody strength and a good brain. I only hope he can become part of an IMPROVED Everton. I welcome any objective dialogue and now await the torrent of abuse!!
Roy Jordan, Liverpool     Posted 18/09/2007 at 12:59:24   Comments

Villa a crucial game

If we lose at Villa, our solid start to the season turns into an average one. Six games played and two defeats. If we lose at villa that's 3 defeats in 7 games and were suddenly hanging around mid-table.

With West Ham pushing on and Man City nicking wins, we need to keep pace, otherwise we are going to be left behind.

Throw in a midweek Euro match and the Villa match now becomes crucial to maintaining our solid start to the season.

COME ON YOU BLUES!!!
Dan Johnson, Newcastle     Posted 18/09/2007 at 11:18:19   Comments

McFadden... err McNowhere

His game will sadly never to prove to be Premier League class. We all know this and can see this with every passing week (either giving the ball away every chance he gets, or on the physio's table or sitting helplessly on the bench with a cool new hairdo).

Is it me or are we missing the boat? Let's cash in on this pony show as soon as the transfer window reopens as his value has never been higher. I like the guy, esp. after the Rhys Jones tribute, but he is a household name in Scotland now and playing in the SPL might be a chance for him to resurrect his career. It seems like it could be a good bit of business.
Christopher Kelly, WV, USA     Posted 18/09/2007 at 01:27:16   Comments

Baines for midfield?

I live in a remote part of Australia and don't get to see any games at all, but the reports of Saturday's game against Man Utd brought to mind a strange idea I've had floating around in my mind for some time - playing Baines in midfield as the stopper instead of Neville. What do you think?
Neil Riddell, Australia     Posted 18/09/2007 at 01:02:25   Comments

Everton Customer Service

Has anyone else experienced problems purchasing tickets for the Carling Cup game?

I'm not a season ticket holder as I live in Leeds. I don't have the opportunity to go directly to the box office. Therefore, as these tickets went on general sale today I thought I would ring the box office.

Many phone calls later including being told I'm 1st in the queue for 40 mins I still have no tickets. In addition, I've sent two emails but no response. Another example of the inept Everton customer service?
Paul Carsley, Leeds     Posted 17/09/2007 at 18:58:30   Comments

Have we missed the boat?

This will probably turn into a ground move post, but I posted a message here a few weeks ago about the economy going tits up and the possibility of a recession looming. I work in the financial services and actually heard weeks ago about a high street bank / building society going to the wall. Now if we look a the bigger picture would this have an effect upon any future investment into Everton FC and also the proposed deal of the century? I know through my job that once there is any sign of a recession, big multi-nationals and companies usually reconsider any future investments. Would Tesco be one of these? I can hear Bill Kenwright shitting his pants from here...
Anthony Murphy, Caymans     Posted 17/09/2007 at 17:27:45   Comments

Ukraine Travel Information

The Foreign Office today issued a warning to Everton Fans travelling to Ukraine for Everton's Uefa Cup 2nd leg match against FC Metalist Kharkiv.

Any visitors to this region are advised not to purchase men's underwear locally. Official Reason: Chernobyl fallout.
Denholm Elliot, Overseas     Posted 17/09/2007 at 16:45:37   Comments

if you stop Arteta....

Something several people have said to me as a criticism of our boys is that if the opposition manages to stop Mikel from playing, they stop Everton from winning. From what I have seen this season, it does appear that opposition managers have made stopping the Spaniard their mission priority when they play us and most notably in the last several games Mikel has been rather quiet and the side has also been sluggish.

I'm starting to suspect that our wonderful result against Spurs and Mikel's performance that nite sent a warning to the rest of the Premier League that, in order to get a result against Everton, Mikel Arteta must be neutralised. Is it just me or is this theory proving to pan out in practice? Is it true that if Mikel plays poorly, we play poorly?
Neil  Styles, Dublin     Posted 17/09/2007 at 15:45:03   Comments

Everton in the Community

Have Everton closed their Community Office they used to send coaches to various schools promoting Everton and operate out of offices in the Park end carpark. I cannot see any reference to Everton in the Community on the official website anymore.
Paul  Okell, Liverpool     Posted 17/09/2007 at 12:13:02   Comments

Sitting with the Enemy

Martin Cutler's Birthday Surprise! post got me thinking.

I realised that at the Spurs game, sitting with the home support never makes for a good evening. I couldn't cheers, jump up, shout encouragement, nothing. We were brilliant, yet all I could do was sit on my hands. I would have honeslty enjoyed it more down the pub.

Away to West Ham we lost and throughout most the game I had to put up with smug Cockney comments.

So do I go to the London games sitting with the home support not enjoying a win or loss, but proud that at least I have made the effort to see my team, or watch on Sky in the pub and enjoy my self?

For £30+ a ticket that goes to their coffers I'm not too sure.

Thank God for Fulham having a neutral area!
Nick Entwistle, London     Posted 17/09/2007 at 10:53:56   Comments

Mexican Wonder Kid for Everton ?

Just saw this article from today's Daily Mirror website:

"EVERTON boss David Moyes is trying to snatch Barcelona's Mexican starlet Efrain Juarez Valdez - the kid hailed as the next Cesc Fabregas.

The 19-year-old midfield schemer is quitting the Nou Camp after a contract dispute - and Spanish sources claim the star of Mexico's under-17 World Cup winning side was on Merseyside last week for talks about a stunning move.

Valdez has been at Barca since he was 13 and was loaned out to a lower league club last season. But he thinks he can do better by moving.

Because of a contractual technicality Valdez is allowed to go for nothing and the Toffees have stepped in first.

However, there may be a work permit problem as Valdez is yet to win his first senior cap, although Everton are trying to find a way round this - and may have to wait until the next transfer window to complete the deal."

Anybody know anything about this kid ? Is he really the next Cesc Fabregas ?

Sounds too good to be true .... (the next Cesc Fabregas, FREE transfer, etc..)
Ajay Gopal, Bangalore, India     Posted 17/09/2007 at 09:22:49   Comments

Birthday Surprise!

Well, still in a state of shock, I'm happy to report that my wife presented me with a shock, surprise birthday present yesterday! My birthday is on Wednesday but last night I was told I'm going back home for a week (Birmingham, England that is) and not only that but a mate of mine in Brum has got tickets for the Villa v Everton game... he supports the Villa I might add. COME ON YOU BLUES... what a game to win that would be!!

I should add that it was kind of amusing (and surprising) to hear that my friend could NOT buy the tickets over the phone when the lady at the Villa ticket office realised I was an Everton supporter and I'd be surrounded by Villa supporters (way too risky apparently)... so my mate purchased the tickets online instead (so much for security!). So when we win hopefully I can keep my mouth shut.... until we get out the ground!! GOOD LUCK EFC!!!!!!!!!
Martin Cutler, Canton, OH, USA     Posted 17/09/2007 at 01:48:57   Comments

How much further can David Moyes take Everton FC

I am no way being hostile towards Moyes and think he has done a decent job under the financial constraints. But have we improved in our style of play?

Someone said on Saturday that if you gave David Moyes a 100 million quid to spend, his brand of football of long balls, bad passing and lacking in any great imagination when it comes to the final third of the pitch would continue. So, if my mate is right, has Moyes taken us as far as he can or is there more to come? Is the glass half-empty or half-full.

Finishing sixth does raise people's expectations for this season but personally I don’t see any great improvement from last season in our play. We will always be a difficult side to beat because we can defend with men behind the ball but this impedes us going forward, that’s why we play the long ball bypassing the midfield.
Mick McCabe, Liverpool     Posted 16/09/2007 at 22:45:42   Comments

Are they serious?

I do sometimes wonder about our Club and its amateurish off-the-field operations.

All summer long, I checked out the Offical Website looking for a way of renewing mine and my daughter's Evertonia cards. For us, it's the best way of getting a ticket for the games before they're all gone as we don't have the luxury of being able to pop down to the Box Office. I would gladly have paid the cash in May, June or July, but nothing was available. Then, at the start of August, 10 days before the season began and with tickets already on general sale, the forms apeared in the post. Nothing had changed from last season so I can't really understand the delay. We sent the forms straight back.

It's now 6 weeks later, three League games gone and still the cards have not arrived. It's already too late to get the extra week for the Boro game so that's 4 out of 19 games gone and no benefit whatsoever to having this card.

Are others out there having the same problem or are we just unlucky? I'd be prepared to accept the latter if it wasn't for all the other cock-ups EFC have served up over the years. Can there be a Club anywhere that makes it so awkward to attend their fixtures and never seems to learn?

They'd better buck their ideas up if they want to find another 15,000 fans to fill up the new Stadium — if they don't manage to cock that up as well...
Karl  Masters, Kent     Posted 16/09/2007 at 16:58:30   Comments

Best home performance

In my opinion, this was the best performance at home this season. We got beat by the better team and held our own against the champions. We where poor against Blackburn and Wigan but yesterday we competed. Man Utd where not lacklustre. That is just an excuse the pundits make when the big teams are matched by the smaller teams. All we needed was that bit of luck and obviously it wasn't to be. We put in a better performance than Man City who where pegged back in their half for the whole game against United yet they got their bit of luck whereas we didn't.

I heard things like Utd had average players from Tony Marsh or Anichebe's a poor man's Marcus Bent from Dutch. What? Get a grip lads. Tony, are Van der sar, Ferdinand, Vidic, Scholes, Tevez and Giggs average players? No they are not and if they are, our team are amateurs. Dutch, what is your problem with kids? First you didn't want Vaughan because he is injured and now Anichebe is a poor man's Marcus Bent. Anichebe is 19 years old and developing all he time as a player. He is not going to be the best player in the world but 6 goals in 10 games is a good record so far. Does he get the blame for playing for 15 minutes.

It was the first time in a long time I was not downhearted about a loss. I was quite pleased with what I saw especially from some of the new players: Baines: The boy looks quality. He has marked three difficult players out the game in Bentley, Diouf and now Ronaldo as well as contributing well going forward. Future England left back in my opinion. Jagielka: Some of his passing was wayward but he looks a lot better than Neville and Carsley. His pace, energy, strength, tackling and aerial ability are going to be very useful until Cahill returns. Yakubu: He has been unfairly critisised. I wasn't sure what to expect when we first signed him but he has proved me wrong. He is a handful and showed some neat footwork. Unfairly treated by the biased referee. Wessels: He didn't have much to do but he looked calm and confident in everything he had to do. Looks an able deputy for Howard who will also push him. Pienaar: He looked a bit rash in the challenge but when he got the ball he actually looked like he was trying to make things happen. As people have said he tried to do too much at times but I would rather have that than him be completely anonymous. He should start ahead of the innefective Osman. The football wasn't even that bad. In parts we played some decent stuff yet the final ball was lacking, as it was for Man ud. Both defenses where tight. Yobo and Lescott where solid as where Vidic and Ferdinand. Whilst they where solid it's not like Yak and AJ where innefective like some people seem to think. A little quote from Alex Ferguson:

"Johnson and Yakubu are a real handful and it is not going to be easy for anyone coming here so it's great for us to get the three points."

That is eactly what I seen. They held there own against two good centre halfs. The critisism levelled at Johnson is unfair. How many chance did he have? I seen one and he was unlucky that Scholes who shouldn't have been on the pitch cleared it of the line. You have to create chances for strikers and we did not do that.

That is the only fault I would say about yesterdays game. The final ball was missing. Hopefully Gravesen can offer us that. The likes of Hibbert get blamed yet Arteta is untouchable. I am not Hibbert's biggest fan by any means but he was solid and used the ball reasonably well whereas Arteta was again anomynous against one of the big four.
Connor  Rohrer, Toxteth, Liverpool     Posted 16/09/2007 at 15:25:24   Comments

Some protest!

After the game yesterday with ~35,000 Evertonians present, there was a demonstration. Between the ebb and flow of the fans leaving the area there was a protest group that reached a high of around 40 people. This number equalled the number of Police and stewards geared up for the showpiece KEIOC demonstration.

At the start of the demonstration it was clearly obvious that there was a core of around 20 people who appeared to be confused over their objective. The only face I could recognise was Ian Macdonald, don't know where the other organisers where...

The confusion which is symptomatic of the KEIOC movement is the fact that their banner said "Wyness Out" and their chants centred around this idea. Once again, this completely alienated them from normal fans who ambled past aghast at the unholy show these people were making of themselves. Was this supposed to be a Keep Everton In Our City" protest or not?

Many I spoke to descried it as pitiful. The organisers of KEIOC have once again shown themselves to have a bitter twisted agenda that simply shares the mandate of keeping Everton in the city with "bring down the Board." Blind to their own behaviour, ignorant of their own self-seeking publicity, these people are proving themselves to be a minority of the minority. They share a twisted belief that they are "the real Evertonians" and the rest of us are just passers by.

Well if there was ever a time to reflect on their effect and achievements, yesterday has given them a real focus. 35,000 people ignored them! If that doesn't tell the KEIOC organisers something then nothing ever will. I suspect Warren Bradley will be wriggling this morning, desperate to distance himself from these people.

Shown yesterday in their true colours, this is about a tiny majority of twisted agendas desperate to impose their will on the rest of us — nothing to do with Kirkby.U nable to positively campaign they once again have shot themselves in both feet.

The question is, KEIOC, when 35,000 turn their backs on you, are you bright enough to get the message?
Colin Laphan, Liverpool     Posted 16/09/2007 at 13:06:00   Comments

Metalist Kharkiv — True Test of Progress?

Despite the Ukranians not ranking amongst the elite of Europe, I believe that Thursday's home leg will be a better measure of progress than the Man Utd game yesterday. We know that, although we can't consistently compete just yet with the "top four", we can certainly give them all a game.

What Moyes hasn't proved yet is that he can play a European tie over two legs. Metalist are probably going to be quick on the break — all Russian / Ukranian teams seem to be strong in that area. However, to win over two legs, you normally have to build up a commanding lead in the home leg and play tight in the away one. No problem on the second count, hopefully, as that is one of Moyes's stronger points. However, when do we win commandingly at home?

I remember playing the Bucharest side at Goodison two years ago, when, admittedly, we were already 5-1 down from the first leg but after a whirlwind battering of high crosses during the first half hour during which we went 1-0 up, we then petered out as the Rumanians sussed our tactics.

Versatility, creativity, and pace is how to beat European teams. Not quite sure that we've got these talents in enough abundance just yet. However, I think we'll get through but not before a few well bitten fingernails no doubt. Here's to a big crowd, a great atmosphere and a 3-0 win on Thursday?
Ray Robinson, Warrington     Posted 16/09/2007 at 12:44:47   Comments

Warning

Just wanted to warn the fans out there. Site called www.watchonthe.net payed my subscription of £6.99 to watch football on my laptop. Turns out to be a rip off of dangerous pop ups from the far east likely to damage your computer. Don't be ripped off like I was.
Anthony  Savage, Cheshire     Posted 16/09/2007 at 10:37:09   Comments

Cheap!!!

I thought we gave the ball away cheeply, Yakubu being the main culprit, Arteta's decision-making was awful, mainly holding on too long when he should have played it... and how many balls were played in straight into Van der Sar's arms?

Arteta and Baines were guilty of this although I felt Baines was man of the match. I also noticed that everytime a loose ball dropped into the centre of midfield there were 2-3 red shirts there and no blue; pains me to say it but that is where Carsley is useful. That said, if Yobo had pulled that ball back instead of trying to be Ganfranco Zola we could have had a share of the spoils and although we were shite lets face it so were they, A FREE HEADER FROM A CORNER FFS.

BTW all the no voters: shame on you, if that was the protest then we're going to Kirkby without a wimper. I for one will no longer talk about it as quite clearly there are not enough of us serious about stopping it.
Rich  Jones, Deeside     Posted 16/09/2007 at 09:46:38   Comments

ToffeeWeb/Everton

What a fantastic site we have here boys n girls, everyone has a chance to air their views, good or bad. I aint cuddling up to no one on the site but its a breath of fresh air.

Thank you Guys, for the Marsh, Gav, Pearse, Dutch, Marsbar, Guy, Stone, Sir Ken of Buckley, Mr Newell,the lad from Warrington, Mr Ray Roche, God bless you all. Fuck Doddy — he aint real. Nighty night my beloved BLUES!
Steve  Lyth, Paradise     Posted 15/09/2007 at 23:44:29   Comments

McFadden

I've said it before and maybe it is the most printed comment on this entire site: James McFadden is inconsistent! OK... now that is out of the way... what has he done this season?

He came back from a serious injury to play 25 minutes at Reading where he had our best shot at goal, smacking the ball off the inside of the post and setting up Andy J two yards out for what should have been an equaliser. That got him a start against Blackburn and with 12 minutes left he scored a goal that nobody else in the side was capable of conjuring up — a goal out of nothing !

Since then he was benched for the whole game at Bolton and when he got on the field for just under five minutes against United, after we conceded yet another daft goal from a set-piece, he had our only shot at goal which produced a great save from Van the Man.

Today we went out for a 0-0 and I suspect David Moyes does not see McFadden as a defender of quality. In Moyes's defence, we nearly got a point which would have been one point more than most neutrals would have believed likely. Refs are only human but today's twerp seemed to make several mistakes and with one theme only: these tended to favour the Champions.

I just don't like the way we set out to play and when we need clean sheets so badly there surely must come a time when Everton's training routines include some drills that teach our defenders to defend set-pieces.

Positive side was Wessels, whom I thought looked fine and that is good news when the club is being silent about just how long Tim Howard will miss due to that hand injury. Moyes is lambasted sometimes for his tactics but really he is no worse than Red Raffa who is coach at one of the biggest, richest sides in the world. Both look a country mile behind Ferguson, Wenger and even Mourinho or Everton old boy Mark Hughes.

I still believe this is the most talented squad we have had in many years but they do need more tactical direction than they seem to be getting at the moment. So, Villa up next and possibly we would do well not to go there with Plan A as 'snatch a 0-0' and plan B giving McFadden a few minutes at the end if we are trailing.

I know this game is all about opinions but mine seems to be a shade different to David Moyes so I must apologise to many readers of these e.mails who seem to take a rather oposite view. Moyes seems to be a decent fellow but his expensive squad must be capable of much more.... surely... yes???
Glen Strachan, Oaxaca , Mexico     Posted 15/09/2007 at 22:07:10   Comments

Decisions, Decisions

The current Everton side flatter to deceive, like a rather attractive car in a showroom which looks the dogs bollocks, but disapoints when you take it for a road test. You know, it just doesn't pull right despite the metallic paintwork and all the extras.

Looking at the teamsheet prior to the game, our side is packed with internationals, yet this new car lacks an engine making all the rest of the parts redundant! We have several excellent players including Arteta, Lescott, Yobo, Baines etc but in key areas we are nothing less than ordinary. In Neville, Osman, Hibbert (and maybe Jagielka) we simply let ourelves down badly.

Moyes must now be brave and admit the signing of Neville was an expensive mistake. His only long-term future at Everton is at right-back where the hapless Hibbert continues to disappoint. Unfortunately, Neville cannot effectively tackle or distribute the ball or make telling passes that put either of our two front men in positions in front of goal, in fact none of the midfield four who played against United held onto the ball long enough to take the pressure off our defence.

I feel Gravesen, when fit, will become a regular in midfield, not because he is a genius with the ball at his feet, simply because he is capable of picking a pass out that his teamates in the same position don't have the capacity to do so.

I felt United, although not at their best, always looked comfortable on the ball, simply because the majority of their players always play to feet, week-in, week-out, and this becomes a habit.

I do wonder sometimes about Everton's scouting system in Europe. I simply cannot accept that in the sum total of the Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Russian, domestic leagues, we can't find two strong ball playing mid-fielders who would be better than our current crop of plodders? January maybe too late to do anything about shaping our season.
Steve Hogan, Chester     Posted 15/09/2007 at 21:20:41   Comments

A Balanced View

It would appear that we are going for the record number of negative posts regards today’s match.

Anthony Newell, you obviously believe Moyes has had enough time and should go that is up to you. I, on the other hand, do not think the same. I look at what has happened and give what in my opinion is a balanced view.

Yes, I was pissed off and with the result today and yes, we had a chance of taking points. But I am not going to scream for Moyes head yet. In fact it will take a lot more than a one-nil loss against Man Utd.

I do not believe I see things through blue-tinted glasses but although at times it is difficult I try to provide a balanced view. Maybe our expectations have risen and some are looking through NSNO-tinted glasses. Those days are long past and five years ago I never thought we would ever get them back. Today, I can see signs they will return — especially now that proper money as started to be spent.

We didn’t make space for the pass during the match and this made it difficult for us to play a passing game. I put the majority of the blame for this on the players. This is a basic skill of a footballer even at the low level I used to play and I do not believe the coaching staff not just Moyes have told them to do otherwise...

Wessels not at fault for the goaland over all had a quiet game but was confident with what he did. Only negative was that on a couple of occasions he did not come out for balls the centre-backs expected him to claim. He appears to be good back-up for Howard. It cannot be easy to not play in the first team and then be thrown in the deep end.

Hibbert: solid not spectacular, as expected; he is an out-and-out defender, nothing more. It would be easy to criticise him for his distribution but today no-one was making space for the pass. In addition, Arteta tended to be drifting in looking for the ball so he had no-one on the right to link up with.

Lescott: solid dependable rarely looked in trouble only negative was he and Yobo dropped back too much despite Moyes shouting for them to push out.

Yobo: as with Lescott, shame he did not put the ball in the net at the end but still a solid game.

Baines: my Man of the Match. Is he this year's Lescott? Confident, good touch, good engine, can defend and attack down the left, was our best player on the pitch by far. Made Ronaldo look ordinary which in itself takes some doing.

Overall the defence was solid and kept United at bay for most of the match this resulted in Ronaldo throwing him to the floor in desperation and receiving a deserved card for this.

Jagielka: to be honest I was disappointed with him today. He played like a younger faster Neville, they got in each-other's way at times and because of this we lacked creativity in midfield. In addition, they failed to close down players in possession allowing them to pick out passes. Neville: you get what you pay for... honest graft, nothing more; I would play him as right back where he's just that bit better than Hibbert.

Osman: tried hard, some decent touches but nothing special. Pienaar replaced him and added nothing to the team. Yes, he looked lively but running around is not enough and end product is needed. They appear to be similar in that they play in bursts. I will not criticise Moyes for starting with Osman as he did make a difference against Bolton in the last match.

Arteta: showed glimpses of what he is capable but only glimpses. One telling moment was when he was shouting at Neville after yet again not being provided the ball when in space. He ended up looking for the ball but when he did receive it he was nearly always closed down by two players.

AJ and Yakubu: is it me or do both look slightly off the pace? Especially Johnson — he does not appear to be as quick as he was; hopefully this will come. Yakubu was provided no protection from the ref — any barging was given as a foul against him even when the defender or in some cases defenders had their hands all over him. Too soon to comment on the partnership as this is only the second game.

McFadden: would have put him on before Pienaar to be honest. He had too little time to make an impression but did make the keeper pull out a good save.

Anichebe: tried to throw himself around but as with Yakubu any 50-50 was given as a foul to Utd.

Overall as I watched it had 0-0 written all over it as the two teams were cancelling themselves out.

Of the Team selection the only one I was surprised with at the start was Hibbert. However, if Jags or Neville had been right back Carsley would have been in midfield so even more defensive.

Other than putting McFadden on earlier, I cannot think of what else could have been done with the players available as all of them were progressive in nature the only unused outfield sub being Carsley.

A disappointing result which for me re-enforces a need for a creative central midfield player. We do have a good defence, we do have a good attack, but we do not have the link in midfield. This is needed if you are to beat teams like Utd who were themselves off the pace today but still had a near first-choice back-line that marshalled the unsupported strikers well.

Best squad in years? Well, we will see... An improvement, yes, but we still need more. Here’s to Thursday when I will watch a match that ends with a better result. COYB

Tony Miller, Liverpool     Posted 15/09/2007 at 21:12:02   Comments

Toffeeweb Poll

Just taking things one step further and on the evidence of today's feedback may I suggest that the wording of the current Toffeeweb Poll be changed to:

"Following the summer transfer business, are the Blues now suitably equipped to compete at home and abroad with Moyes at the helm?"

Or even better, how about a new poll:

"Given that Moyes has an un-erring propensity for dubious team line-ups, ill-thought out tactics, ineffective football and a selection of players who are obviously flawed in the positions they are asked to play in, how much longer are you prepared to tolerate this?"

Options:

a) 1 Week
b) 1 Month
c) 5 Years
d) Already had enough

Oh no, I shouldn't be criticising — I should be applying to be a football manager! (Tools)
Anthony Newell, Nantwich     Posted 15/09/2007 at 18:52:17   Comments

A Few Thoughts.

You could argue that coming back from Internationals had an impact on the players or that the early kick-off had an effect, you could even claim Man Utd were as piss-poor as us but there's no getting away from the fact that was a bad result and an awful performance.

Arteta and the boys made some noise before the game about being ready and up for it but it looks as though they were treating it as a friendly, in fact it was worse then that, a Sunday game in the park performance.

Moyes got things wrong from the start. No Carsley? A player so often credited as Everton's most reliable was dropped to the bench? Was he injured? Was he rested for the upcoming Euro game?

Jimmy McFadden was having a wonderful week, did Moyes even consider him for a starting place? Surely a player in that sort of form would be considered? Especially since Andy "I've forgotten how to score" Johnson clearly needs to be dropped.

Yakubu, Everton's record buy, I had my doubts and voiced them when the links first surfaced. He's a lazy player and looked every bit uninterested today. Are the Yak and AJ going to form this wonderful partnership? One's lazy and the other couldn't score in a drugs den. Very worrying.

With both teams playing badly the game was there for the winning, Moyes makes an attacking substitution, great I thought here comes McFadden, the form he's in it wouldn't surprise me if he hits a winner. But no Moyes decides to throw on Anichebe.

Anichebe is a player in the past I've described as a poor man's Heskey. After the recent England games, I take that back, he's not good enough to be a poor man's Heskey, he's a poor man's Marcus Bent. I was so annoyed McFadden was not introduced earlier. Moyes did finially bring him on but by then the game was lost.

This was a really bad performance; Man Utd were there for the taking but our players were too limp to do it. I really hope Moyes tore them apart in the dressing room after the game.

Next up is the long-awaited Euro game against Metallist. If Everton turn in a similar performance our Euro adventure will be shorter then a couple of years ago.

Sort it out Mr Moyes and quick.
Dutch Schaffaer, London     Posted 15/09/2007 at 16:41:15   Comments

Piss-Poor Football Again

Where do I start after that nonesense today?Please don't tell me we were playing the current Champions either because, without Rooney, Man Utd are very average. The Mancs were there for the taking today [if there is such a thing] and we blew it yet again.

Why change a winning side? Well you tell me. Once again, Phil Neville was absolutely awfull and evey time he got the ball Man Utd looked like scoring. Agent Neville really looked the part for Man U today.

Leon Osman, like I have been saying for years now, is not up to the job at this level. Osman is too small too slow and too ineffective in 4 out of 5 games he plays in to be of any use to Everton. Was he even on the pitch today?

As for David Moyes, when is he going to learn how this game should be played. Once again we are treated to the Moysiahs favourite party trick: Wellyball. It's so embarrasing to watch and must be horrible to try and take out on to the pitch. Surely a manager at a top club in the Premier League should have more strings to his bow than this shite? One way of playing and one way of thinking — that's Moyes for you.

Arteta is starting to become disinterested; Johnson hasn't scored for nearly half a season and Yakubu is getting less service than James Beattie got... and do you want to know why? Moyes and his tactics — that's why. With the quality we have now got in the squad surely the time has come to expand our footballing game.

I will give Moyes credit for bringing in some real good players to the club and Baines looks outstanding. The trouble is knowing what to do with the talent you have at your disposal and Moyes clearly struggles to do this. He can't get the balance right or get the team playing consistently from one game to the next. It doesn't matter who we sign and how much we pay for them, if you put them in a hoofball situation they will struggle.

Roll on Europe! ... that will be fun...
Tony Marsh, Liverpool     Posted 15/09/2007 at 16:07:48   Comments

What should we have realistically achieved against Man U?

There's been a number of threads started this afternoon condemning the Everton's performance against a Manchester United, whose squad was so weak that the game was 'ours for the taking' and which we 'should be beating comfortably'.

Let's look at the teams on paper. Man Utd's squad at Goodison today cost them nearly £110M. That does not take into account the value of Giggs, Scholes, Brown who came through the youth team or Tevez who is on loan and hasn't cost them anything yet Not to mention, the average wage at Utd must be at least £60k/week, some of them on excess of £100k/week.

The average wage of the Everton squad must be £20 - £30k and cost us just over £45M. That's less than Man Utd spent on Rooney and Hargreaves, who weren't even available for today's game. As for players on the pitch it's similar to the combined cost of Ferdinand and Ronaldo. They had two players on the bench who each eclipsed the cost of our record signing (Nani and Saha).

So there you have it. On paper there is no way on this earth that we should be competing even with 'such an average' Man Utd side. Especially, not when our keeper is out injured and we've got some bloke none of us have even heard of in net, and when we're missing arguably two of our best players in Cahill and Vaughan as well as our most experienced player in the form of Stubbsy.

I'm not having a go at the Everton fans who made those comments, nor am I happy with the result; I'm gutted we didn't get anything out of a game in which we matched Man Utd and which was decided by a set-piece. My point is I think it's great that our expectations have become so high and I think it says wonders about what Moyes has achieved on what is a comparatively tight budget.

So it is on that note that I disagree with fans who want Moyes out. I think to an extent he's become the victim of his own high standards. Look at where we are now compared to when he joined and consider how much he's spent compared to team around us. I know we haven't won anything but I honestly think we'd be fighting for promotion to the Prem rather than for Europe if it wasn't for him.

We all think we know better than him but in truth we don't. None of us have any idea how difficult it is to manage a Premier League side. It's easy to say 'he should have done this' and 'he should have done that' but we're playing against some bloody good opposition who will try and counter everyhting we do. It's not like managing a Sunday league side and it's not like playing Championship Manager.

I'm a B-License coach and I coach a semi-professional academy side and trust me it's not easy — he wouldn't be a Pro-License coach if he didn't know what he was doing. In conclusion Moyes knows better than you, he knows better than us who our best players are, and he knows which partnerships and which systems work best against the opposition.

So yeah, it's great that our expectations are so high - but lets not forget that if it wasn't for our outstanding manager (in my opinion), we wouldn't have such high expectations.
Mark Stone, Aigburth     Posted 15/09/2007 at 16:06:33   Comments

Awfull

Let's cut the crap. Today was a total embarassment, one decent shot on goal in 90 mins is appalling.

Tactically we where inept and played right into their hands... Midfield; What midfield? Utd bossed the game from start to finish, never looked in any trouble and cruised through the game.

Before you appologists come on with your lame excuses, watch the game again. Watch their movement and passing, the way they can turn defence into attack very quickly and effectively. All we had to offer was the long ball into channels which they dealt with easily.

This is not good enough, he's had 5 fucking years to get a midfield sorted and we're still watching hoofball and players who can't pass a ball 10 yards to a team member. Shite!!!
Dave Lynch, Merseyside     Posted 15/09/2007 at 15:47:29   Comments

Substitutions

75 minutes gone and Victor comes on for Yakubu, like for like except Vic is still learning. The big strong centre-forward... it hadn't worked to much effect for the first 75 minutes.

Meanwhile left on tne bench: McFadden, generally considered in this mailbag as an impact player. Scored 2 goals in 2 games for Scotland, both crackers, his confidence must be sky high. But he has to wait until the last 5 minutes when we are behind, even then he carves out our best goal attempt.

Come on Moyes, you've got to mix it up a bit, take risks. Skill for muscle with 15/20 minutes to go and the game there for the taking was that too much to ask?

Frustrated in Singapore!
Steve Parry, Singapore     Posted 15/09/2007 at 14:23:27   Comments

Why change a winning side?

I'll keep this brief: why change?

I couldn't believe it when I saw Hibbert's name in the first eleven. I believe he was poor again, who was he marking for the goal? And i didnt even know Osman was playing until he was subbed, Pienaar looked more lively.

In a game that was there for the taking, I believe we would of done better with an unchanged side.
Mark Culbert, Old Swan     Posted 15/09/2007 at 14:08:45   Comments

The `New` Everton?

So that`s it then — the `New` Everton? From what I saw on Fox, they looked pretty much like the Everton of old with a totally ineffectual midfield and strikers who spent the game watching the ball whizz past them. Perhaps they were all `saving themselves` for the BIG game on Thursday - we can only hope that was the case but I fear the very worst. And £20M for Johnson and Yakubu? The pair are totally incompatible, Moyes has blown his gaffer`s bread on these two lummoxes.
Ken Edwards, Leeds     Posted 15/09/2007 at 13:56:32   Comments

Maddening Moyes

I was going to submit this before the game on seeing the starting line-up:

“Hibbert & Osman in. Neville in midfield. Pienaar out. Guess it will take a few further games for Moyes to realise that:

> Hibbert is shite and can't pass a ball > Neville is shite in midfield and can’t pass a ball, just hoofs it > Osman is bloody lightweight for encounters like this and similarly can’t pass a ball

Why does it take so long for the penny to drop with Mr Moyes?”

On watching the game, I wouldn’t retract anything that I have said. Painfully frustrating this to wait for Moyes to catch up when every man and his dog can see the obvious.
Anthony Newell, Nantwich     Posted 15/09/2007 at 13:56:48   Comments

Always look on the bright side

We are at home to United, the excitement level already is rising. As always, United will come out with all guns blazing and provided we do not over use the long ball a great game is in prospect.

A trawl of internet football sites plus other media reveals without exception that all experts plump for an easy United win. Hundreds of column inches and hours of TV gabfest slobber over the high and mighty United.

Except in the context of lambs to the slaughter Everton barely gets a mention. I have just read a long article that eulogises each United player plus possible substitutes and how Sir Alex is a master tactician and a marvellous bloke to boot. Goodison is mentioned as the venue and that is the nearest Everton came to getting a mention. Is it a waste of time for our lads to turn up? Is there an unbridgeable gulf in class?

That we dare to tread the same grass with a good chance of beating these super stars is a tribute to Everton and its supporters. Victory will not come easy, it requires every ounce of craft, graft, concentration and a bit of luck. Above all it takes teamwork and not just among our players. The lads need undivided full blooded support from the fans.

Those pushing the KEIOC barrow may or may not have a case but the timing of their demonstration is a sad diversion at a time when all Evertonians should be speaking with one voice.
Dick  Fearon, W Australia     Posted 15/09/2007 at 09:11:14   Comments

Neville 'bloody' Bartos!

Here's to Tim Cahill! Our own Chopper! He seems to be the forgotten man at the moment, and I for one, can't wait to see him back in action. My brother and Spurs fan reckons we have the best midfield pairing in the league with Arteta and Cahill. We could have done with him against Utd and it would be interesting to see which position he would play in, now we have Gravesen back. Could he play behind Yak and AJ? It's a dilemma alright, but not a bad one to have.
Dave  O'Brien, Southend on Sea     Posted 14/09/2007 at 18:11:34   Comments

Cahill a new signing?

It looks as though Tim Cahill will be amongst the ranks again by end of October. To me this will seem like a new signing, it seems such a long time ago that he played for us. Can't wait to see that energy on the field again and, of course, his goals. We have definitly missed that part of his game. I, for one, will be giving him a very vocal welcome back when he returns.
Chris Keightley, Colchester     Posted 14/09/2007 at 16:12:59   Comments

They haven't been United so far

I just read Sky's pre-match report for the game tommorrow. Glad to see they and the rest of the world seem to think we can't achieve anything but a loss tommorrow. I guess basing things on "current form" only counts for players. Here's to beating MU soundly tommorrow... and a hat trick for AJ!... as ridiculous as that may sound.
Joey Brown, Athens, GA, USA     Posted 14/09/2007 at 15:10:10   Comments

Cars 4 Everton — Graham Sharp

Has anyone else received telephone calls from the above company on 01606 336300? When you ring the number back it is a message from Graham Sharp followed by the Z-Cars theme, I have just spoken to somebody from the company after holding for 10 minutes.

Apparently they are holding a 'Free Prize Draw' during the Man Utd game and are sponsors of Everton. Much as I like supporting fellow Evertonion business men I do like the fact that Everton have given both my home number and mobile number to a third party, probably a genuine company but who knows?

I asked to be removed from their data base, but they said I would continue to get calls unless Everton removed my details from their list of members.
Stan Mullin, Bootle     Posted 14/09/2007 at 10:08:47   Comments

Beyond The Game brochure

This has just dropped through my doormat. I know we need to explore new revenue streams and need something over and above the megastore. However, I didn't see much in the way of Everton branding on the products (surely this could be done very subtely?). Also, I couldn't help laughing at some of the photos — especially Leon Osman with some dolly bird in the background, Phil Jagielka (in what is not far off a condom ad!!!) and Nuno Valente (with lap dancer) towards the end. Is it just me that thinks that Dixie will be turning in his grave? Let's get back to the footy!!!
Mike Hughes, Wirral     Posted 14/09/2007 at 09:14:29   Comments

Everton V Man U live on the internet

You can see Everton V Man U live from 12pm on Saturday (Free): http://myp2p.eu/ I have not yet used this myself but some of the lads in work have. Takes a bit of time to load
George O'Sullivan, Cork City Ireland     Posted 14/09/2007 at 08:10:48   Comments

Manny unhappy

Fernandes has reported to Goal.com that he is unhappy at being left on the bench at Valencia. "I always want to play, I've wanted to play since the first day I arrived. But no player likes to have just the odd two minutes." Would we be willing to snap him up in the next transfer window if he were made available?
Nick  Xenos, Melbourne, Australia     Posted 14/09/2007 at 00:29:40   Comments

Club Sold

I have it on good authority that Bill Kenwright has sold all his shares in Everton Football Club as of last Monday to a Geordie Millionare for £120M pounds.
David Foster, Formby, Lancashire     Posted 13/09/2007 at 22:43:32   Comments

McMania

The Portuguese sporting (football) paper Rekord gives out gold, silver and lead gongs each day for woirthy recipients. The gold today goes to none other than James McFadden — and the lead? Who else but Big Phil Scolari.
Tony Waring, Portugal (for the mo)     Posted 13/09/2007 at 16:45:48   Comments

Cops... Over-reaction?

So we are having to play Man Utd at the ridiculous mid-day kick-off because the police are still smarting over the "Battle of Everton Valley" two years ago.

Last season's game was at a sensible time: no violence. Last season was not Rooney's first return. Last season was not a crucial FA Cup Match.

Isn't this all getting just a little bit ridiculous?
Paul Hardcastle, Hoylake     Posted 13/09/2007 at 15:01:22   Comments

Why I'm not worried about the African Nations' Cup

A lot of people I've talked to are worried about us losing Pienaar, Yobo, Anichebe, and Yakubu to the African Nations Cup in January. I'm not. Here's why.

We have a squad that is finally capable of handling this. Yobo's place can be filled easily by Stubbs, a natural leader who can pair up easily with Lescott. Pienaar, who I don't rate that highly, can be replaced by Osman, who's already scored two this season. Van der Meyde (if he sticks around) can also do a good job in the midfield.

As for Anichebe and Yakubu, they will both be missed as they provide a lot of power (though I haven't seen enough of Yakubu to give my full opinion). However, Vaughan is due to return soon, McFadden has been tearing it up for club and country, and Johnson isn't going anywhere. That is not to mention Lukas Jutkiewicz, who can be brought up from the reserves if a real crisis presents itself. Moyes must rate him pretty highly to bring him in, and I for one have complete faith in the manager.
Jimmy Crack, Phoenix, AZ, USA     Posted 13/09/2007 at 00:52:49   Comments

Sheff Wed Tickets

I am a season ticket holder for the blues but unfortunatly do not get the chance to attend many away games due to work. However, when I seen the draw for the Carling Cup against Sheff Wed, I decided that I will definitely go to this one. So I went up to the ground today to see if the tickets were out.

To my suprise, I was told that they are only on sale to season ticket holders who have 6 away stubs. Whereas tickets for Aston Villa away are on sale to season ticket holders with 2 away stubs. Why is it that you have to have 6 away stubs to go and watch the 3rd round of the Carling Cup? Can anyone clarify this?
John Murphy, Liverpool     Posted 12/09/2007 at 23:05:48   Comments

Finch Farm

I wonder whether anybody could shed light on this: first of all, the Toffees were due to move in to the new Finch Farm training site when the first-team squad reported for pre-season training (early July). Then it was supposed to be "towards the end of August" according to local press reports. Obviously, these dates have now passed and still Bellefield is alive and kicking. Just when are they moving in? I'm not after any blood or anything, just curious.....
John McGrath, Liverpool     Posted 12/09/2007 at 22:19:02   Comments

James McFadden

James McFadden just scored another fantastic goal for Scotland against France and scored over the weekend for them as well, he has had two very good appearances for us, getting a goal in one of them, but seems to be 4th in the pecking order. Do you think it might be a good idea to give him a go with Yakubu against United and maybe give AJ a break, especially with the fixture crunch over the next few weeks? He seems to be in great form, why shouldn't we capitalize on it?

I also am not too worried about Yakubu and Victor leaving for the African Nations Cup later in the season. We'll have AJ, McFadden and Vaughan will be back by then, so we should have plenty of cover when that happens. We can also throw Cahill up to support the strikers, but I think it will be the loss of Yobo that will hurt us the most.
David  Barks, Santa Monica, CA, USA     Posted 12/09/2007 at 21:27:45   Comments

Why Worry? ... Be Happy!

It is the way with all football fans. We don't think the Everton Board of Directors could organise a night out in a Brewery/Brothel. The manager doesn't understand football tactics. And as for at least one player, usually a local product, we don't know why he's breathing never mind playing. All of these barbs can be levelled at my fellow Evertonians... OK, me included. I've often wondered what's going on in Moysies mind.

But forget all the recriminations. We're getting a new ground and the best team since 1995 is slowly taking shape. Nay, dare I say the mid-1980s? We aren't owned by foreigners, with a dubious interest in 'soccer'. We aren't doing a Leeds United. Things are progressing well and slowly.

Ok, there have been blips. But the curve is still in an upwards direction. We've had European football twice and I think this season could well be crowned by the purchase of some Duraglit. Ok, we probably won't win anything, but its a nice image of Bill Kenwright going to Netto with his pennies.

Brothers and Sisters embrace the revolution!
Mike Berry, Otley, West Yorkshire     Posted 12/09/2007 at 18:32:36   Comments

Man U game

As with most people here, I adore this site, truly this is the quintessential place for all things Everton. But I'm getting mixed news on Tommy's injury. Toffeeweb claims he will be out for up to 3 weeks but evertonfc.com are stating the knock he picked up is not nearly as big a concern and that he has yet to be ruled out of the big game at the weekend. I wana belive evertonfc.com in this instance but if anyone has any concrete info please post. Also, the Mancs have been very vocal about Shrek targeting a place on the bench for Saturday but I can't seem to find anything on Ronaldo. Is he available for them or not?

Come on Blues!
Neil  Styles, Dublin     Posted 12/09/2007 at 15:22:10   Comments

7 Games in 22 Days

So, Internationals almost over and we're going to have 7 games in 22 days. What are we all going to be talking about over the next 3 weeks I wonder? The stadium debate will no doubt rumble on until the groundworkers move in and start moveing rubble around, so hopefully with all these games to get our teeth into, we'll all get at least a little respite from the newground thing, which I for one am everso slightly bored of now.

So the fixtures are as follows with my predictions:

Man Utd - Away 2-1 win
Metalist Kharkiv - Home 2-0 win
Aston Villa - Away 1-1 draw
Sheffield Wednesday - Away - 2-1 win
Middlesbrough - Home 1-0 loss
Metalist Kharkiv - Away 1-1 draw
Newcastle - Away 1-0 win

Two weeks later we have Liverpool at home which I reckon we'll win by 2 goals. I for one cannot wait for the next few weeks.
Allan Hobbs, London     Posted 12/09/2007 at 14:31:45   Comments

Goodison Atmosphere

I like many people am disappointed when leaving Goodison and it hasn’t been rocking. There's nothing like the feeling of coming away from the game, ears ringing, and not being able to speak for a couple of days as my voice has gone... Love it!

We’ve now got two very important games coming up where I think we could make a huge difference. We all moan if a player hasn’t put in a shift, so let’s look at ourselves and make Goodison the most intimidating place in football... We've all seen in the past what diffrence it makes to the team when it's rocking (Pompy last year springs to mind).

Get onto your friends and family if they are saying, "I'll watch the Euro game on the box" — this is what we’ve been waiting for... We are the twelfth man, let’s be a world class twelfth man...
Paul Trafford, Liverpool     Posted 12/09/2007 at 13:51:56   Comments

Champions League Revamp

I see both Manchester United and Liverpool have objected to the winners of domestic cups being allowed entry into the Champions League. While I didn’t get to hear their objections I can’t imagine it was that they didn’t want anyone other than the League Champions in the competition…

To me it sounds like two of the big four want to make sure that the present big four stay as the big four. Having some little upstarts like Everton or Spurs getting into the Champs League and sharing in the wealth thereby allowing one or both of us to become one of the big four clearly doesn’t suit them. They have a monopoly on things as they stand and they aren’t going to let that change. Full credit though to Michel Platini as he clearly sees this as an opportunity to break the big four’s monopoly.

I do admit that a lot of the teams outside the top four spots would be unable to compete in the Champions League and the gulf in class would be painfully apparent; however, I feel Spurs have the quality and strength in depth to compete and we’ve been there before (albeit in the qualifying rounds).

So let’s hope that Platini stands firm and ignores the cries of the G14 to redress the balance of wealth and success because it would be coming at just the right time for us. Now all we have to do is win a cup — can’t be too hard right…
Declan Critchley, Dublin, Ireland     Posted 12/09/2007 at 10:30:28   Comments

Wheels within Wheels — Part 4

WwW Parts 1,2 and 3 supporting the concept of a shared stadium was not well received. The Tesco deal has since been touted as our only option. I wonder if a shared stadium might yet be considered as a second and better option?
Dick  Fearon, W Australia ex Dingle     Posted 12/09/2007 at 00:37:11   Comments

Kharkiv or Kharkov

Who cares how they spell it, I only wish the club would get the ticket allocation settled for the away leg! How hard is it for the club to ask for 2,000 tickets from a 30,000-capacity stadium? They get average gates of 12,500 and high gates of 20,000.. what do you reckon Everton will ask for?!

Whilst we're all waiting, we're booking flights/hotels etc, how are you getting there? We are flying from Lpool to Riga to Kiev overnight train to Kharkiv... I know of others who are going via Prague/Kiev as well as the daytrippers direct to Kharkiv. Any other ways of getting there?
Tommy Gibbons, Tesco's trolley park     Posted 12/09/2007 at 03:18:30   Comments

Ticketing AGAIN!!!

"One step forward and two back...."

After all the years of ticketing fiasco's that we have had to endure (remember queing all night for the 95 Cup Final?), I actually thought that the initiative shown by the club — to reduce pricing and create a season-ticket holders 'period of exclusivity' (sorry I couldn't help that...) to buy their Uefa Cup tickets — was a little step towards re-building their long-lost reputation in these matters. A simple, painless process which ultimately looked after the most loyal fanbase.

But that was before today, and the 1½-hour queue to get them. Overwelming rush of people to take this option up??? No, afraid not — 'exclusivity' queue combined with ticketing for all up coming games — result, many pissed off fans who end up losing an afternoon's work....

Yeah, thanks for that; I feel really 'valued' — as Bully put it in the season-ticket renewal. It's a good job we love this club because they can really test us at times ...
John Cotton, Wirral     Posted 11/09/2007 at 21:38:07   Comments

Further Defence of Phil Neville

I'm aware that lately many of us have posted an opinion or three about our Phil. However, what concerns me slightly is the tone..."Phil may not be the best player in the world but..." or "Phil is an honest, hard-working professional who..." - always a caveat. There can only be one best player in the world after all, and if he was in that class his value would be 20 million plus.

Well I'm interested in actually talking about Phil Neville as a player. He is the best right back we have had for a decade or more, has been playing really well this year (and yes I have a season ticket and get to see every game). Those who praise Carsley for vital interceptions and tackles should watch Neville for the whole game. In addition, he makes first-time passes to either overlapping full backs or wide midfielders more often than anyone else in our team. He looks forward, to win, not sideways or backwards.

Most importantly, as the players in the team get better, so does he. He has been brought up playing with really good players and never looks short of pace or fitness — something which can be levelled at several of the team at the moment. Physically he's as tough as they come.

Show me a player who has never made mistakes and I'll show you may arse. It seems that Evertonians have fallen into the trap of looking first for Neville's mistakes rather than what he does well.

Let's see how he does on Saturday; it's about time we beat United with Phil Neville as captain and boy does he know it! COYB!
Mark Manns, Widnes     Posted 11/09/2007 at 20:13:38   Comments

KEIOC

No offence against KEIOC, but it is it just me who thinks their actions are turning Evertonians against one another?

For a start, since this group came into substance I have started doubting the credentials of some Evertonians. With me being a "Yes" voter, obviously the fans I question are the "No" voters.

Now I firmly believe if it wasn't for the KEIOC I would never have been in this position to doubt fellow blues (the best fans in the world). I find the group manipulative, deceiving, disrespectful to people from Kirkby and that they also try and use propaganda to force their veiws on fans. No offence against KEIOC but I believe it is them who are ultimately responsible for the constant bickering between the "Yes" and "No" voters.

News today revealed they are planning a "peaceful" protest on Saturday before the Man Utd game. One question: WHY?

Do they really think the club have not looked at sites within the city "boundaries", that they have just said "fuck off we are going to Kirkby"? Have they fuck!

The sooner that KEIOC diminish and fade away into distant memory the better I say. I really think their planned protest is going to cause more bad than good.
John Nelson, Kirkby     Posted 11/09/2007 at 15:59:05   Comments

A defense of Phil Neville

I read today's Telegraph defending Phil Neville's professionalism, integrity and dignity in the wake of the being booed by England 'fans' on Saturday. In the age of mardy buggers going on strike, manufacturing transfers and nightclub brawls, personally it's great to see any footballer, particularly a bluenose, being lauded in such a reverential manner.
Richard Jones, Hemel Hempstead     Posted 11/09/2007 at 13:23:42   Comments

Berlin Pubs

I am going to Berlin this weekend for a stag do and unfortunately this means I'll miss us beating the Mancs on Saturday. Does anybody know of any pubs in Berlin that will show the game? It isn't on Sky or Setanta here as far as I know but I am hoping the krauts show some of our Premier League games on their channels. Any suggestions on any bars I'll be able to catch the game on would be much appreciated.
Paul Clays, Liverpool     Posted 11/09/2007 at 12:32:34   Comments

Pre-Planning New Stadium

Spotted in Building - the nation's Favourite Building Magazine, dated 7 September 2007 under Business Leads:

Pre-Planning - Liverpool, Merseyside - New Football stadium, conferencing facilities and Tesco superstore. Tentative. Client: Tesco Stores Ltd with contact details.

What's "tentative"? Any anwers?
David  Perrin, Linslade     Posted 11/09/2007 at 11:59:40   Comments

Metalist Game

I see the Metalist game is being shown on Channel 5 in the UK. Does anyone know if there is any other stations showing it as you cant get Channel 5 in Ireland? Or is there any other way of watching it? (internet, dodgy arabic channels etc!)
Seamus Murphy, Dundalk, Ireland     Posted 11/09/2007 at 11:12:37   Comments

AJ to break his duck?

If AJ is to break his duck this season, he needs to take a leaf out of Michael Owen's book. I'm not convinced that Owen's super strike for England last Saturday had anything planned about it. He basically miscontrolled the pass which sat up nicely for him, but then, in true striker's fashion, he reacted to the situation that presented itself and lashed it in.

AJ needs to do likewise. Instead of delaying his shot and thinking too much about the possibilities, he needs to trust his instincts. A belter against United would do for me.
Ray Robinson, Warrington     Posted 10/09/2007 at 23:01:24   Comments

What a farce!

Am I the only numpty having problems getting a ticket for the Uefa Cup game? I've been trying the ticketmaster number since Saturday only to be told that I'm not registered as a season ticket holder — strange that as I have one in my possession, complete with client reference number etc. Having tried to speak to a real person at Everton, I manage to get as far as queue position 1 to be then cut off as all lines are busy, please try later. A real money-making game as it costs about 4p per minute.... I can't buy them online either for some reason.

I've probably spent more than £15 in phone calls so far so that's it, I give in and I'll watch the match on the telly.

This is what really gets to me about this club. I love Everton with every bone in my body but things like this just wind me up so much. They treat the punters with utter contempt. It's impossible to even complain because you can never get through to them. How hard can it be to have an up-to-date list of season ticket holders?

One name, one client ref number — I had to ring three times to get my voting paper because I seemingly don't exist. Strange how they manage to take money from this non existent person though...

Rant over? Probably not; I'll be able to growl about this for the next week or so. God help the ol' fella when he comes in from work, his ears are gonna be stinging..... Oh Everton, why do you let me down just when we were getting on so well? Is it just me that's having this problem?
Lue Glover, buckley     Posted 10/09/2007 at 16:08:56   Comments

Let's get back to talking football

Enough of this endless Kirkby talk... let's get back to talking football! We have a massive game on Saturday a great opportunity to defeat Utd, we have possibly got some injuries with reports that Howard, Yakubu and Anichebe have picked up knocks. One of our players scored a fantastic goal for Scotland, a virtually a unheard of thing happened: two Everton players coming on at the same time as sub for England at Wembley.

Our supporters, though perhaps not as great in number as some clubs, have been put through the mill by many years of mis-management, but the tide has started to turn, investment has been made in quality players at prices that in the past we couldn't afford, the squad is now larger and hopefully in January more is to come. The dross has been weaned out of the squad with I am sure the remaining dross living on borrowed time until another window opens and replacements of superior quality are brought in. Let's talk football!!!
James Elworthy, Liverpool     Posted 10/09/2007 at 15:26:07   Comments

International Toffeeweb

Congratulations to all at TW Towers - you made it into the press here.

A tabloid here (New Paper) is my preferred read on a Sunday over a couple of pints in my local. It's not like your UK Sunday tabloid though - aside from local stories invariably proving the saying "a fool and his money are soon parted", there's a very extensive sports section, especially what is now known here as the BPL, from EPL last year (amazing what the new TV deal does).

Anyway in Club Corner it was the turn of Everton (although the cynic says that's because Sunday is their smallest print run). So aside from a story about Vaughan clarifiying Vic's comments about his injury, and a story about why Yak took 22 (all lifted off the wire by the way) there was the Fans bit — featuring "Toffeeweb.com". They ran the results of a poll, about whether we'd prefer success for the national team or Everton. Think that was from last year right? Then again, with Singapore being a small place and a permanent construction site, christ knows what they'd have made about all the polls on the ground move, and the vote for the fans (I'm not going to start talking about democracy here...)

So that's it. Now you've been advertised to the Asian world, well, the 40-50 people who read that paper here — most of whom are died-in-the-woolyback Liverpool / Man U supporters.

Singapore out.
Matt Traynor, Singapore     Posted 10/09/2007 at 01:34:04   Comments

Relocation from a different perspective

In theory I quite like the prospect of moving. My reasons are admittedly selfish. I like the idea of having a shiny new stadium and being able to watch the whole game without being stuck behind a monstrosity of a view-impairing steel bar, and I personally consider Kirkby to be Liverpool so that aspect doesn't bother me.

In reality, I don't have the insight, nor do I pretend to have the knowledge to hypothesize the important outcomes: will it bring new support and boost attendances, attract investment, increase revenue etc? Or will it will spell the end of Everton Football Club's association with scousers and alienate potential supporters of tomorrow?

An equally selfish reason (and equally understandable) for NOT wanting Everton to move has been expressed by some of those from the Walton area whose main issue is that they like to be able to have a drink in their local before and after the game. I feel for you lads, but to be fair I've never had the luxury!

But a much more important issue stems from this. It's one that, despite not being selfsish and also one which we can all realistically predict, has not been widely discussed on this website. I'm talking about the impact of moving on small businesses. I always liked the Royal Oak, but there's many pubs around Goodison which probably take more money on a match day — solely due to being their location — than they do for the rest of the week combined. The same I'm sure goes for chippies and takeaways and other small businesses who just rely hugely on matchday trade.

It would be interesting, if there are any publicans or small business entrepreneurs who are based around Goodison, to hear how you percieve it would affect you if Everton were to up sticks.
Mark Stone, Aigburth     Posted 09/09/2007 at 13:54:28   Comments

Massive week of football...

When we return to Premier League football next week I feel the three games facing us are massive: Man Utd(h), Kharkiv(h) and Villa(a).

If we can win all three games, and I know it's a big 'if', it will stand us in good stead for the remainder of the season. Man Utd have not had the best of starts and we're more than capable of turning them over; if they play like they did against Sunderland I fully expect this to happen.

Kharkiv will be a tough game regardless of the fact no-one has heard of them and a big win at home is essential because I have a sneaking suspicion that this will be an extremely tough away tie.

Finally the Villa game; they too have European ambitions and what better way to send out a message that we mean business than by beating another one of our rivals on their own turf?

Yes there will be important games ahead of these three but I just feel that if we win these three then the confidence will be there to go into further games knowing that we are more than capable of turning any team over.
Andy McKenzie, Huyton     Posted 09/09/2007 at 13:50:44   Comments

Top 4?

In view of the generally negative press we seem to get, it was good to read Patrick Barclay in the Sunday Telegraph who was commenting on Martin O'Neill and Villa's defeat of Chelsea. He reckons that the only club with a chance of breaking into the top 4 are Everton... "partly because they have an outstanding manager in David Moyes". So we are appreciated after all...
Tony Waring, Frogmore, Devon     Posted 09/09/2007 at 11:44:45   Comments

Poser for Moyes

McFadden scores yet another good goal at international level. Should Moyes now consider the possibility of pairing Yakubu and McFadden up front and playing Johnson on the left flank? I'm not suggesting this should be a permanent line-up but I do think it's worth experimenting with.

Next to Yakubu, I think Mc Fadden is probably our most clinical finisher. Technically he is very good; what he lacks is consistency but that comes with playing games regularly. Surely it's time he was given the opportunity to prove himself with a run of games.

Personally I'd like to see us play Jonson and Arteta out wide against United. The pace of Johnson would certainly give their full-backs something to think about and would nullify the threat posed by Ronaldo.
Gerry Western, London     Posted 09/09/2007 at 11:17:57   Comments

Black Watch?

IF, we ever DO move to whereever,(PLEASE PLEASE Bestway come up with a seriously doable plan) we should follow the The Arsenal example and have a retro kit for the last ever season. From the ToffeeWeb pages we see that the last kit colour worn at Anfield was the Black with Ruby sash and the first kit at Goodison was Blue and white stripes. My preference is for the Black. What think you?
Derek Thomas, Torbay New Zealand     Posted 09/09/2007 at 07:29:16   Comments

No Matter What!

I've had a season ticket for most of my natural.... But sadly not within the qualifying period to qualify for a vote. If I had I would've said yes. So damn me to hell. My dad was a brickie who worked on the new-ish cathedral so I qualify as a fully fledged bluenose, ok?! With me so far, good.....

I spent 22 years in the RAF and followed our beloved blues all round the country and still held a season ticket... Even when I was in Northern Ireland and paid full wack for my flights to the mainland to watch the ONLY TEAM THAT MEANS ANYTHING!!

My point: I love Goodison to bits but I will travel to the ends of the earth for this special football club!! I implore you, my fellow Evertonians, unite, yes or no, Kirkby or otherwise, follow the boys in Blue.... NO MATTER WHAT... sincerely, a Bluenose to the core.
Wayne Jones, Wrexham     Posted 09/09/2007 at 00:59:35   Comments

No to England

After watching the recent England match and listening to them all get more than over-hyped about beating Israel I have to really ask myself: Do I really want Everton players playing for such a bunch of ridiculous half-wits that is the national team? And I'm going to start with the pathetic immature dickheads that watch England and sit there and sing that same old crap `England til I die`. What a bunch of total hypocrites...

Did anyone hear the booing for Phil Neville when he came on the pitch as sub? What the fuck's wrong with these people? Then there's the David Bently booing... For God's sake he pulled out of a U-21 match for the benefit of his own fitness and if he had played and he had been shit then he would have been deemed not good enough or the U-21 manager would have got the stick for picking a player with burn out.

The fans of England stand there singing the national anthems. The same little knobheads who smash everywhere up abroad and cause mayhem. God Save The Queen... They`ve got a cheek! I am ashamed to be English sometimes when I see the state of some of them and the way they behave.

So for me I may get a fair bit of disagreement but I would rather just stick with club football thank you very much and just watch international football as a leisure seeing the best teams of the World play their football and give me some entertainment. Thanks!
Richard Jennions, Merseyside     Posted 08/09/2007 at 20:26:29   Comments

BBC and the anti-Everton bias

A comment made by Mark Lawrenson today had me seething. When AJ and PN came on as subs for England he said "two Everton players, what is the world coming to."

I know there is nothing we can do to stop the bias generally shown to us by the beeb and its gaggle of red commentators, I just needed to vent.
Mike Duncan, Bristol     Posted 08/09/2007 at 20:22:34   Comments

Tony Marsh

Where has he gone? I know he was a whinging bugger but nevertheless he was ours. While you're at it, whatever happend to Vogel as well?
Mike Mac, st. helens     Posted 07/09/2007 at 21:33:11   Comments

Reality Check

Let me start by saying I don’t want to be all doom and gloom but people on here need to take a reality check.

We have one of the best Everton squads in recent memory and we have broken our transfer record in the process of trying to inject quality into the squad. But the best Everton squad in recent memory doesn't necessarily mean we are destined for the Champions League again. We have had one good performance this season against a lethargic Spurs and we followed that up with two stinkers against Reading and Blackburn. As well as our investment, other teams have improved as well so in effect are we that much better suddenly?

This season is going to be a Battle Royale with the likes of Blackburn, Newcastle, Man City and Spurs just to get a European spot. With Euro matches midweek and Prem matches at the weekend, who knows how we are going to cope? Will we be able to maintain our competitive pressing football for a full 90 minutes at 100% following a midweek Euro match? Despite our investment, our squad is still small so if injuries strike we could really struggle.

We have great reason to be optimistic this season but let's take it one match at a time and if we are still in the top 4 after Xmas then let's start dreaming again. But until then, let's not set ourselves up for a fall.
Dan Johnson, Newcastle     Posted 07/09/2007 at 16:58:33   Comments

See how far we've come?

I can't believe the hiding AJ seems to be getting at the moment. Only 12 months ago he was our saviour, nowadays he seems to be the cause of all our ills.

Looking at the big picture however, I am happy that he is copping a hiding. We used to whinge about players of the calibre of Pembridge or Radzinski and more recently Naysmith or Wright. Now we are complaining that we are stuck with a current England international.

These are indeed heady days when we turn down a record bid ($20M) for a player who has no value to our team whatsoever. I would say if having Andy Johnson in our starting 11 is our biggest problem, then we are going to have a bloody great season.
Alisdair Denny, Perth, Australia     Posted 07/09/2007 at 15:12:01   Comments

Pre-match rituals

Have any of you got pre-match rituals that you carry out in order to put you in the right mindset before a game? Mine is that I get my girlfriend who's a Spurs fan to say repeatedly before kick off "C'mon Everton," I make her do it 'til I'm satisfied she's said it enough.

The only time we missed this season was the Reading game when I was in Yarmouth eating candy floss and spending stupid money in the Grab a Bear machines (aren't they fixed?). So if you want, you can all blame my missus for that blip.
Chris Keightley, Harwich     Posted 07/09/2007 at 13:31:11   Comments

Disappointed.... in YOU!

Yes I'm talking to you my fellow Everton fans. I'm disappointed in:

1. Your willingness to refer to Liverpool FC and their fans as 'the murderers' etc on postings on this site. I can only guess that those of you who do this are not from or living in Liverpool or the locality. The majority of my friends, family and work colleagues are reds and just as sound as any blue I've ever met.

   I know its just football talk but you're not at the match here, all you're doing is stirring up hatred, and frankly it's out of order. I enjoy banter with my mates who a Liverpool fans, but I certainly don't hate them or generalise them all as murderers because of the misgivings of a small minority 20 years ago.

2. Your complete lack of trust in the club's board and manager, fuelled by unrealistic expectations. There can be no argument that EFC have improved leaps and bounds under the guidance of Kenwright and Moyes. Having been a team threatened with relegation year in year out for 10 years, and with the financial constraints he's had to contend with, it was always going to be difficult for Moyes to make us a top half team ... never mind a team pushing for Europe.

   One thing that really grinds my gears ... who would you rather have? Who fits the bill ... Proven better premier league manager than Moyes (given the financial constraints of course) and would be interested in taking over at Everton. When people have been moaning about Davie in previous threads I've asked this 6 times and nobody has yet given me an answer.

3. This crap about AJ which has unjustifiably crept onto the message boards today ... '£8 million blown on AJ'. £8million blown my arse! Now I know he's not scored yet this season (it's only the first week in September by the way) but if you'd been watching the games you'd realise that he's been influential, he's set up a couple of goals and he's been working his socks off with very little support. And before you all come back saying 'he's paid to score goals' don't be so narrow minded ... he's also paid to set goals up, to defend from the front, to hold the ball up, to track back and defend etc, etc, etc, etc.
4. Don't even get me started on this Kirkby crap. Someone put a funny pic up of the crest before and I saw him hanging in church street an hour later ... it was a joke! And when you say 'Liverpool fans are loving it' stop moaning about it, be positive about it and they'll have nothing to rip you about will they?

   In conclusion, I take it upon myself to SUPPORT Everton FC and the players, and to back this proven realistically successful board and manager and to respect my friends and family who aged 1 made the decision to support Liverpool. I urge you to follow me. Let the barrage of abuse commence.
   Mark Stone, Aigburth     Posted 06/09/2007 at 21:06:51   Comments

Through-balls

Having watched Arteta develop into a great player over the past two and a half seasons, I have noticed one thing that he does not do: through-balls. I haven't seen him pick out many defense-splitting passes and this is suprising considering his passing range. We have seen it with Gravesen in the past and Fernandes last season but not so much from Mikel.

Maybe it is not his game. It may be because he plays out wide but, looking at Piennar, he seemed to be picking out AJ with a few good passes. I'm actually glad Arteta moved out wide and can't understand why people want him in the middle of the park. He is far too talented to play the central dictating midfield role. He is someone who likes move with the ball and use his dribbling to his advantage.

It is good that we now have Gravesen in the middle because he is someone who will pick out a through-ball and spray passes across the park. If it's a choice between Ossie or Pienaar, I'd go for Pienaar because he is quicker, more skillful and can pick out a pass.

I think we are going to see this season how good Andy Johnson really is. With a settled strike-partner and creative midfielders like Gravesen, Arteta and Pienaar, we will be playing to his strengths. I have critisised him in the past but we have to realise that the service hasn't been great.
Connor Rohrer, Toxteth, Liverpool     Posted 06/09/2007 at 15:30:39   Comments

International Everton

The late call-up of Joleon Lescott to the England squad means that he has every chance of becoming Everton`s twelfth current International. I am reliably informed by a local journalist that this is almost certainly the highest number in Everton`s history and speaks volumns for how far the Club has progressed under David Moyes. Of course, we have always had a smattering of Internationals of other countries but not since the World Cup of 1970 has there been such a representation of Everton players in the England camp.

Whilst there are those who see International matches as an inconvenience in a busy domestic season, it does demonstrate irrevocably that we are now one of the `big players` in the Premiership and a club which attracts the attention of managers on a global scale. Long may it continue.
Richard Dodd, Formby     Posted 06/09/2007 at 13:29:28   Comments

Saturday Afternoon...

Is there anyone out there who is going along to the Casa on Hope Street this coming Saturday? KEIOC are holding a meeting there with representatives from the Bestway group in attendance apparrently. It starts at 12.30pm; some of our fans have not given up hope yet and I am going along to show my support.

Saturday you have got a choice. Watch the Mighty Ingerland side play a a team of semi-pros at the New Wembley or get down to town and listen to what's being said by some of your fellow Evertonians concerning the clubs future. You never know — you might just learn something while you are there.
Tony Marsh, Liverpool     Posted 06/09/2007 at 10:48:31   Comments

No Arguments Please

As most on here will know I am against the move to Kirkby, but I would Like all those who believe it is a good idea to move there, to post their reasons.

All those against the move please do not post, maybe the yes voters can give a reason other than no option that will make me consider my standpoint. Thanks.
Steve Sweeney, Prescot     Posted 06/09/2007 at 10:34:24   Comments

Tim Cahill

I have just read an article on the Daily Mirror Website regarding Tim Cahill being arrested following an alleged "serious sexual assault". I am sure it's a load of bollocks but can anyone shed any light on this?
Steve Lynch, London     Posted 06/09/2007 at 10:33:25   Comments

Is Lescott happy at Everton?

I have heard a few rumours doing the rounds since the Blackburn game, most of them originate from fans. Did Lescott have a fall out with Moyes over being dropped to the bench? His comments about not knowing if his place in the starting 11 is guaranteed... is this having a pop or just being honest?
Anthony Murphy, Liverpool     Posted 06/09/2007 at 10:08:54   Comments

Lineker and the BBC

If I remember rightly gary lineker had one fantastic year with us, one that i can't fault — a brilliant striker.yet since he left i cannot remember him ever saying anything positive about our club on telly. Hansen has more praise for everton what have I missed?
Terry  Hayes, Blackburn     Posted 06/09/2007 at 00:33:47   Comments

Who organises these things?

Stuck where I am, weekends circulate around games on TV. Plans for this week were well in hand, a trip to my son's place, a good supply of the amber liquid, a disgustingly huge screen plus a mouth watering prospect of Everton hammering United followed by Portsmouth thrashing the Shite then Chelski going down to Blackburn. What's this you say! An England game is being played and not even on our TV. Damn, Damn double Damn.
Dick  Fearon, W Australia (ex Dingle)     Posted 06/09/2007 at 00:07:07   Comments

Phil Jagielka

The Sunday People placed rumour about Phil Jagielka being unhappy and wishing to move, possibly back to Sheff Utd. Does anyone think there is anything in this story or just paper trash?
Phil Harris, Bootle     Posted 05/09/2007 at 21:22:15   Comments

New Signing?

I was looking through some unofficial sites and they seem to be reporting that we have signed a Northern Ireland youth international called Eunan O'Kane from Derry-based Maiden City Academy for a fee of around £50,000.

Well anyway he is a fellow Derry boy and played in the Milk Cup. He's apparently had offers from Ajax, Arsenal, Hearts and PSV but decided to sign for us which can only be a good thing - unless he turns out like his namesake, John!
Kevin Tongue, Derry     Posted 05/09/2007 at 20:34:16   Comments

2nd XI

Many people have commented on this being our strongest squad for many a year, whilst some have pointed out the need for a midfielder in the transfer window. I for one am under the opinion that searching for a young centre-half during the transfer window would be more apt. I'm of the belief you can judge the strength of a squad by the quality of the players waiting to take their chance, ie. the 2nd XI.

If we were to to decide upon a 1st and 2nd XI then the glaring absentee from a 2nd XI team would be that of a centre half, especially if Yobo goes to the African nations. If we took a 4-4-2 formation, the body of the 1st XI would probably be taken up by Howard; Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Baines; Cahill, Arteta, Jaglielka, Gravesen; Yakubu, Johnson. (This may not be everyone's starting XI, and positions may be up for debate but you get the picture).

This would leave a 2nd XI of Wessels, Hibbert, Stubbs, ??????, Valente; McFadden, Carsley, Osman, Pienaar; Vaughan, Anichebe. Now this, although some may argue otherwise, is a very good 2nd XI. Four of these played a good role in helping us to 4th a couple of years ago; two are very promising talents; McFadden's still an enigma; and two are new signings who could turn out to be anything (Piernaar's already looked promising on his full debut).

Personally I believe we are one centre-back short of having a squad big enough and with enough depth to seriously challenge for the holy grail of the top 4, and stay there. After all, how many of us could roll any of the so called Big Four's 2nd XI's off without some serious thought?
Kevin Prytherch, Oldham     Posted 05/09/2007 at 18:15:03   Comments

£20M well spent?

Doddy took some flack in the pub last night for saying that AJ and The Yak had the potential to be our best striking parnership since Campbell and Barmby. Given that pair managed only 21 goals between them in 1999-2000, they haven't got much to beat but the general view was that we should be looking for at least 30 goals for an outlay of £20M.

I think the modern record is the 49 League goals netted by Lineker and Sharp in 1985-86 when we finished second but that's far beyond present horizons. I wonder what others would consider a healthy return for our current big money buys?
Ryan Kinsella, Freshfield     Posted 05/09/2007 at 16:32:36   Comments

UEFA Cup FInal

Just wondering whether anybody knew that this years UEFA cup final was at the City of Manchester Stadium. Might be getting ahead of myself but what a day that could be!
Carl  Wright, Liverpool     Posted 05/09/2007 at 15:51:11   Comments

Naming of new stadium

Given that the prospect of a stadium move is a fact of life in today's English Premiership, albeit a painful one, can we at least all agree on a suitable name for the new venue? Maybe something that draws reference to the club's illustrious past and reflects on the notion of a revered institution of excellence. The School of Science, for example.
Michael Greaves, Houston, Texas.     Posted 05/09/2007 at 15:27:10   Comments

New Club Badge

Following the recent vote for Kirkby, here's a suggestion for a new club badge with a more fitting motto for the future club custodians —

Eric Hallwood, Southport     Posted 05/09/2007 at 14:34:52   Comments

Transfer cap

Football has now become a multi-billion-pound global industry, a massive business where greed and power rule and these so-called top four will become bigger and stronger. This in turn will increase their power and thus enable them to dictate policy, the G14 already do.

Now fast forward 5-10 years...

• Where will this leave clubs like Everton FC?
• Will we see the creation of a European breakaway league?
• Will clubs like Everton be pushing themselves to the financial limits to try and get in that European League?

I know Sky brought a lot of money to the table this year but if you consider we turned over £50 million, while the clubs who finished in the top four grossed £150 million plus, if this carries on, and it's not rocket science, winning the title will become near impossible for teams like Everton.
Mick Murphy, Jersey     Posted 05/09/2007 at 13:28:36   Comments

New Stadium wish-list

Before we know it, we are likely to have a new stadium. Now is the time, before the final details are agreed, to put together a fans' wish-list for the club and designers to consider. As a starter for 10, I have included below a few things I'd like to see during my matchday experience:

1. An EFC visitor centre including the David France Collection
2. Dixie Dean's statue at the head of a tree-lined walkway leading to the ground
3. An entrance framed with brick St Domingo Towers
4. EFC sports bars with comfortable seating, carpets, good quality food... and no queues!
5. "Stations of the Cross"-style points around the ground forecourt commemorating glorious EFC events/players/etc.

Gravesen

Can anyone answer, is Tommy G eligible to play for us in Europe this season? This link from the Official Website says he can't wait for the European campaign but I thought he played for Celtic in the CL. Would this not make him ineligible???
Seamus Murphy, Dundalk, Ireland     Posted 05/09/2007 at 10:55:22   Comments

Playing for England

I am glad that Joleon Lescott has been recognised for his outstanding form and included in the England squad. As a fan of Everton and as an Englishman it pleases me to see someone so happy to fulfill a dream many of us shared as kids.

In contrast to Jolen we have Carragher of Liverpool who is throwing a tantrum because basically he isn't quite as good as Terry or Ferdinand. Carragher is 29 and when you consider other defensive stalwarts like Shilton and Pearce played for England until they were about 40 it amazes me that the red bastard is turning his back on his country so soon. Despite his long record of scoring own-goals and conceding penalties for his club in crucial games, Mr Carragher seems to think that either he should be treated as the top dog or he will not play at all. I saw him and Gerrard's little inbread faces peering out of the stand on Saturday dressed up like the likely lads and couldn't help but feel grateful that since we sold Jeffers we no longer have any jumped little tossers in our team.

Good luck to Joleon, Phil and Andy, Evertonians and Englishmen we can all be proud of.
Kieran Kinsella, Gainesville, FL, USA     Posted 05/09/2007 at 00:40:40   Comments

Would we be bothered if we played all foreigners?

The issue of foreign-born players playing in our domestic league has been brewing for a while. I was wondering what ToffeeWeb readers thought about it? If Everton went the way of Arsenal and played eleven foreign-born players, would we think that was acceptable? Does the answer depend on how such a team played - route-one vs masterclass joined-up football? Does the answer depend purely on how successful the team became?
Greg Dawson, Not in Walton anymore     Posted 04/09/2007 at 22:53:51   Comments

The so-called Big Four

Have the media (especially them gormless gobshites at Sky) convinced us that the Big Four are untouchable? Reading a recent post ("Will Everton ever win a trophy in my lifetime?") have the so-called Big Four convinced the media the rest are also rans?

When you hear a manager relating to the Big Four it makes me sick — just put a white flag up and be done. Take that Russian gorp out of Chelsea and they will become what they always was — thing. Basically have we accepted our fate or do we say, "Hold on — this is brain washing, we can gate crash this so called elite party (EFC: 4th in 2005) and we don’t give two shits about what Sky and all the other dead-brain hacks say and write let's have a go." Believe me, that top four can be had, just believe in it.
Anthony Murphy, Liverpool     Posted 04/09/2007 at 21:37:58   Comments

Uefa Cup... on tv?

Does anybody know if the game against Metalist Karkiv is being televised..?
Michael McGuirk, Cricklewood     Posted 04/09/2007 at 19:30:14   Comments

Will we win a trophy in my lifetime?

As a 23-year-old devoted Evertonian, I am aware of the club's achievements and proud of our history but, with the increasing competitive inbalance in the Premier League, and the fact that we were the last team outside the big four to win the FA Cup back in 1995, I am beginning to doubt if we will ever win a trophy in my lifetime? I know this is a pessimistic outlook, but as much as I support Moyes, I cannot recall one decent cup run in the last 5 years, and I would trade a trophy of any sort for a top 6 finish.
Chris Masey, Leeds     Posted 04/09/2007 at 18:19:38   Comments

Man U or Liverpool?

I'd just like to know how you all feel about our matches against Man U and Liverpool. Maybe its the Rooney thing or the fact that I don't live in Liverpool but for me beating the Mancs means slightly more than beating the Reds across the park. Don't get me wrong, I love when we turn over that lot next door but I've come to really hate Man U. What's the general consensus among Evertonians about both these teams?

Also, there hasn't been much said about it but does anyone know how the LFC crowd conducted themselves when Z-Cars was played at Anfield last week? Was there booing etc or did they behave well?
Neil  Styles, Dublin     Posted 04/09/2007 at 15:41:36   Comments

Foreign technical coach

Do Everton need another coach to help out with preparation for European games? I am not just thinking about this season's Uefa Cup, but the future. I sometime think Moyes and Irvine can be a little naïve when it comes to tactics and you wouldn’t exactly say our passing is fluent and crisp. Maybe a continental coach might bring some new ideas...
Mick Murphy, Jersey     Posted 04/09/2007 at 14:51:51   Comments

Tommy boy

Did anyone see Moyesy's comment in the Times re Gravesen?

“Tommy is probably madder than he was when he left [in 2005], which might be hard to believe,” Moyes said. “He gave us a calmness when he came on.”

Madder than before? And then when he came on — no doubt in a mad state of mind — he calmed us down! The next few months are going to be interesting....
Nick  West, londinium     Posted 04/09/2007 at 14:07:31   Comments

Shandy Andy

I see Andy Van Der Meyde is in the team for the reserves game tonight. Does anyone know if he has been given another chance? Or has he been left to rot in the reserves?
Shaka Islam, Newcastle     Posted 04/09/2007 at 13:30:25   Comments

On a pessimistic note

Sorry to bring this up like but, although I am enjoying this particular period in our illustrious history, I am still trying to work out where the money has come from. My only fear is that we have a repeat of the Walter Smith false dawn, when a lot of money was shelled out and promptly recouped through fire sales as we headed towards financial oblivion. Can anyone out there cheer me up by demonstrating what a pessimistic tosser I am. On a more up beat note, will people please get off Johnson's back and give his partnership with Yak a chance, it could blossom into something special, but not if you keep peeing on the roots.
Marcus Dawson, Midlands     Posted 04/09/2007 at 13:23:56   Comments

Johnson a winger?

This may cause a stir and some heated debate but I am seeing Johnson more as a winger than an out and out striker. Two reasons really: he is so quick that given the right ball he could supply Yak as we saw on Saturday; also his lack of goals is worrying. Whether this is to do with carrying the load prior to Yak arriving or confidence I'm not sure but he seems best as a supplier rather than the finisher we bought him for. 11 goals last term was ok in context with what other English strikers scored but he will never get twenty goals in a season because of his unselfishness.
Chris Keightley, harwich     Posted 04/09/2007 at 10:26:18   Comments

Coincidence or Tommy Boy?

I did a posting recently about how this Everton side hardly ever comes from behind to win a match. I mentioned the fact that we have only done this in one Premier game (Fulham at home last season) since Gravesen left.

That season we finished fourth , helped by the six points gained from 'come from behind wins at Crystal Palace and home to Bolton. Gravesen equalised in both games , scoring three goal in all and you have to wonder if Saturday was a mere coincidence.

The Bolton game was slipping away from us when Gravesen was introduced after an hour and Tommy or not , the game turned completely on his arrival and of course his corner won the game for us despite some poor finishing from other chances that he made.

Riquelme would have been a risk... in an ideal world he would play his club football at Boca but they can't pay him the wages on offer in Europe.

Did we want a reluctant JRR or Fernandes who was in such a panic about being sold to Everton that he was willing to go anywhere , eventually signing for Valencia as a fifth choice for the position after three different players had knocked them back in a week - including Riquelme ?

Tommy has always been a moody player but for the remainder of this season at Goodison he is 'singing for his supper' and looking for that permanent move to Everton !

I think he just might be sensational once he gets back to match fitness. Come on my fellow Blues..............lose the traditional negativity and get behind the lad ! Top five in the Premier?... It can be done !
Glen Strachan, Oaxaca , Mexico     Posted 04/09/2007 at 03:42:29   Comments

Manager rater is back

Hi All,

Moyes has an approval rating of 89% according to Soccernet. But with only 40 odd votes, its clear that the majority of us haven't voted. Get into it !!!
Nigel Gregson, Sydney, Australia     Posted 04/09/2007 at 01:40:45   Comments

England representation

With AJ, Neville and Lescott all in the England fold and Jags, Baines and Vaughan all representing either the Under 21's or England B side I think its brilliant that so many Everton players have been called up to the national side. Testament to not only how well we are doing but also Moysies policy of buying English and developing our youth program. Who knows, give it a year or so and we could have 5 players in our national side? Sweeet! Just need a new national coach first...McLaren, what a joke!
Kevin Fowkes, Oxon     Posted 04/09/2007 at 00:32:47   Comments

Optimism

Coming into a season — any season — under Moyes, you feel you can always count on a few clean sheets to steal a result or two. Especially considering we don't always score freely.

At the moment, we're tied for top spot, on course for a 76 point season, and we've done it without a clean sheet (this week would be a great time to break the duck), or even a dominant defensive performance.

Don't get me wrong — we haven't been torn apart at all. But usually, when you speak of Everton, you typically think of 1-0 results.

The encouraging thing here, is that we:

• Reading aside) seem to be able to put the ball away, without AJ being prolific & with no Cahill.
• haven't had our consensus 'best back 4' of Neville, Yobo, Lescott & Baines play together more than about 40 minutes of the season.

Timmy

I was just wondering where Cahill will fit in now that we have Johnson, Vaughan and Yakubu battling for a starting place upfront. Is he disiplined enough to play in a four man midfield? He has lots of energy, agression and a workrate but his passing is limited and his tackling rash.

Will Moyes try and turn him into and all round central midfielder? I think Gravesen is going to be in the starting eleven in a few weeks and he is a lot more creative than Tim. I wouldnt mind seeing then together actually. Lots of energy and agression would be better than Carsley's and Neville's pathetic excuse for a partnership.

It is going to be interesting to see what Moyes does. He has more options than he has ever had and can he use them effectively.
Connor  Rohrer, Toxteth, Liverpool     Posted 03/09/2007 at 22:54:49   Comments

Good time to play Man U?

Does anyone know if Ronaldo is still banned for our encounter with Man U next week? Rooney is likely to be out and I reckon we'll have a decent chance of making up for last season's capitulation.

I know it's early days, but I am really starting to feel confident about the team — emphasised by the fact we now have 3 England internationals in the team! My only worry is CB cover for Yobo during the African's Cup/any further injuries to virtually all positions.

But if we keep up the results and performances we've mostly achieved so far then I can't see any reason why we shouldn't be finishing in a position from 3rd to 6th come the end of the season. Its nice to be able to dream with at least a hint of reality for once!
Andrew Humphrey, London     Posted 03/09/2007 at 21:37:33   Comments

Litigation and all that.

Did I miss something during the summer? Earlier in the year David Moyes was about to take Wayne Rooney's publisher (and by default the 'true blue'himself) to Court over accusations made about Moyes in 'true blue's' book. But I have heard nothing since! Does anybody know if this matter has been settled out of Court or can we expect at some point Davey to be awarded the phenomenal sum of one week of true blue's wages? I do have a tendency to doze off during the summer months especially when all we have to think about is Kirkby! But does anybody what happened?
Dave Roberts, Runcorn     Posted 03/09/2007 at 19:57:46   Comments

Funny Link

Now I'm not overly bothered where we move to, but just in case things don't go too well when/if we move to Kirkby then at least David Moyes can look forward to a second (third?) career in retail...


Allan Hobbs, London     Posted 03/09/2007 at 19:16:24   Comments

Various

I can't believe some people, I honestly can't, we are 3rd in the table, looking solid all round, and the first post I see in the mailbag is about the move!...The second was about Yak's weight...(Beattie anyone?) I am going to take a break from here, its all sounding a little repetetive and quite frankly boring.
Will Bruce, London     Posted 03/09/2007 at 18:50:59   Comments

Liverpool vs Toulouse FC

Hi everybody,

I send you this message to explain that I did during the game LFC vs Toulouse. I brought an Everton scarf and I showed my Everton scarf to all supporters from Anfield, they were all angry or disgusted.

Unfortunately we lost 4-0 but for each of Liverpool's goals I showed my Everton scarf. It was really funny to see the reaction of different supporters. You can see in a picture all Toulouse F.C scarf and in the middle an Everton scarf ;-).

François Neddam, Toulouse (France)     Posted 03/09/2007 at 15:26:30   Comments

Alan bloody Hansen

Just read the 'Alan Hansen column' on BBC Sport and he gave me yet another reminder of why I hate the red shite.

He states that the only team who can trouble the big-4 is Spurs and as they have started so badly, they are effectively out of the running.

I know it's early days, but I don't think he looked at the table recently. Or checked the facts that we were only about 8 points behind the Arse last season. When was the last time Spurs finished in the top 4?

Typical fucking Hansen, once again talking up the dark side as title challengers... heard it all before, time and time again over the last 10 years. Hansen and Lawrenson, bigging up the red's chances of the league. They even did it when Roy Evans was in charge! And then no acknowledgement of Everton's presence on the edge of the big-4, where we have been for 2 of the last 3 seasons.

I'm not saying that we're gonna challenge for the title. I think the Reading game gave anyone getting carried away a serious reality-check. But christ, he talks about Aston Villa's potential to break into the big-4 and not even a mention of the mighty Blues. The gobshite.

Glad I got that off my chest, I can relax for my trip home now.
Richard Parker, Paris, France     Posted 03/09/2007 at 17:01:39   Comments

New Name for Ground?

Just sitting here thinking what the new ground should be called. I read somewhere The Golden Vision stadium, not sure but it does sound good. Any ideas, it would be nice if any new roads could be named after some of our legends, like Kendall way or Dean Avenue... just a thought.
Mick McKenna, Halewood     Posted 03/09/2007 at 13:36:50   Comments

Team Spirit

I've watched the Bolton game 3 times already, and did anyone else notice how excited the players were with the win? Once the whistle blew, Howard went and bear-hugged Lescott and Yobo. The players looked ecstatic. It was similar after the winner was scored.

Moyes has seemed to have built such a close-knit unit; players that are willing to die for each other on the field. Many have said that the Premier League is becoming a much closer competition with all the teams getting significant TV money. Don't underestimate how much this 'team spirit' will help us when the going gets tough this season.

Without talent, team spirit can only get you so far. However, Moyes has now been able to add some talent without affecting the team harmony and the benefits are all to see. Maybe the "Manny-gate" saga is a blessing in disguise. I for one believe so.

No one should take OUR blue shirt for granted...
Nick Veitch, Brisbane, Australia     Posted 03/09/2007 at 13:20:32   Comments

Uefa Cup on TV?

As an exiled bluenose I don't get to many games and therefore have no hope of a ticket to any of the Uefa Cup games. Are they gonna be on TV, has anyone bid for exclusive rights yet? Could it be the wonderful Pat Nevin hosting on Channel Five with that Norn Iron fella?
Daniel Marfany, London     Posted 03/09/2007 at 13:35:59   Comments

A question of girth

I had to smile when I saw Yakubu emerge from the Reebok tunnel. He must be at least a stone over his given weight of 13st 4lb! Reminded me of the state Beattie was in when he arrived. One consolation is that Moyes has no time for lard-arses so he`ll soon run it off him in training. At least then our record signing will be able to do all that running back the manager demands and won't be spending all his time hanging around the penalty spot for AJ to give him tap-ins!
Henck Porter, Rainford     Posted 03/09/2007 at 12:41:38   Comments

Lescott For England

Can anybody tell me why Lescott has not been picked for England, comfortable on the ball, cool, nicks the odd goal and can defend to?

Don't like making comparisons to other players, I am not saying Lescott is world class but if you compare him with the current defenders, he must be ranked up there.
Mick Murphy, Jersey     Posted 03/09/2007 at 11:17:57   Comments

Nearly There

Well the window has slammed firmly shut and yet the usual air of despair that hangs around the club at this time is conspicuously absent.

While I (and I assume most others) would have liked to see a creative midfielder, other than Gravesen, to come in and lift the burden off Arteta I think most of us Blues are pretty happy with the Summer’s business. And looking at the squad I have to admit I’m just a little bit excited.

I feel that we still need the aforementioned centre mid and a centre back to complete the squad but this is, on paper at least, one of the strongest Everton squads in years. Provided that injuries don’t plague us this season we can now firmly establish ourselves as a club that is guaranteed European football every season.

Once that happens, the top four beckons. There’s still some hard miles left but we’re nearly there….
Declan Critchley, Dublin, Ireland     Posted 03/09/2007 at 10:35:17   Comments

Bigger or just better?

I've notived people mentioning how the squad is larger and more able to cope with more games.

I agree it is better but if you look at the numbers we effectively have one extra striker (Lukas) and one extra midfielder (Grav). Thats it. We got rid of 5 (if you include Manny finishing his loan) and 7 came in

Unless you count the youngsters we still have a small squad.

On the otherhand it is a good team and starting to even become a good squad. Hopefully we'll do very well this year.
Rob Heaton, Crewe     Posted 03/09/2007 at 10:12:55   Comments

Jags & Neville

Seems obvious to me after the Blackburn game and now the Bolton game that we are far more effective with Jags instead of Carsley as central "holding" midfielder and Neville in his traditional right-back role.

Cars has been great for us but for me Jags is a younger, quicker, bigger, stronger and more creative version. And Neville in my view has never been comfortable in midfield
John Ballinger, Wirral     Posted 03/09/2007 at 10:05:40   Comments

Useless yet cheerful observation

Useless yet cheerful observation: The only team in the current top half of the table to have won away from home on the weekend was guess who?
Dick  Fearon, W.Australia ex Dingle     Posted 03/09/2007 at 00:11:19   Comments

Size does matter

Calming down on a Sunday night after all the excitement of the weekend, I would make a simple observation which would suggest that the future is indeed bright and indeed blue. Last season we could have fielded the following team, which although not necessarily world beaters, should have done a fair job for us,and we wouldn't have been too apprehensive pre kick-off, namely Turner, Hibbert, Stubbs, Neville (he could play centre back don't forget) Valente, Osman, McFadden, Carsley, AvdM, Vaughan, Vic.

This season we can field (injuries permitting) a team which requires none of the above, and which would be most people's First XI. So just re-enforcing the point that all the additions, (after yesterday TG included) were clearly for the good and the bigger squad WILL serve us well.

On a sort of related point, a post a few days ago said this was the best squad since 85-87. Contentious stuff - but if not, which WAS the best squad since the mid-80s. The cup team of 95?
Rob Gomme, Whitehaven, Cumbria     Posted 02/09/2007 at 21:39:54   Comments

Wessels - Is it just me or ....

Having watched the lad training at half-time during the Blackburn match and again during the pre-match warm-up at Bolton yesterday, I would not trust him with a back-pass! His ball control, particularly on his left foot, looks comical.

I know goalkeepers are not footballers as such, but more and more these days you have to have some rudimentary skills with your feet! Wessels doesn't seem to have any! Anyone else noticed this? Was he the first team goalie at Cologne when he came to the end of his contract?
Ray Robinson, Warrington     Posted 02/09/2007 at 19:28:50   Comments

Banned

Have I been banned from Toffeeweb? I've emailed you guys twice asking ther question but haven't recieved a response so I'm sending you this instead.

If I have been banned for some reason, can you please tell me the reason? None of my posts make it onto the board now and I get a warning about my posts being held in a queue to be reviewed?
Allan Hobbs, London     Posted 02/09/2007 at 15:58:44   Comments

Piennar?

For the first time this season I was unable to watch our game yesterday. I would be interested in thoughts on Piennar's performance and whether he is going to be a useful addition or a peripheral squad player for us?
Richard Williams, Danbury, USA     Posted 02/09/2007 at 15:45:40   Comments

Tommy Gravesen

Totally disagree with Alan Middleton on the Tommy G headless chicken jibe. Although yesterday's perfromance at Bolton left a lot to be desired the G-man shone through in the end.

The first 25 minutes of the second half Everton were awful and it looked to me as if Moyes had ordered a defence of the 1-0 lead which he so often does. We were lucky not to concede at least twice before Graveson came on. Once Tommy arrived on the scene the game completely changed in our favour.

Instead of back-peddling, we started playing 40 yards further up the field and all the chances we created in the last 20 minutes of the game were all coming from TG's good work. Even the winner was crafted from Tommy's blocked shot and resulting corner. I just don't understand the hostlility towards Gravesen coming back. The man's class.

I think it's a bit to early to start knocking Yakubu as well. You can't ask much more from a striker than to score on his debut a couple of days after joining the club, can you? To me Johnson looks as if his confidence in front of goal is shot to pieces. He keeps making the wrong decision at the right time and needs a goal quick from somewhere. Man Utd at Goodison would be nice.

3 points away from home are not to be sniffed at but there were signs yesterday that a lot of work still needs to be done on passing and ball retention. There wasn't as much hoofball going on as usual but it still reared its ugly head from time to time. It has to stop.

It's a pity we threw away the game at Reading and 2 points at home to Blackburn as we would be sitting pretty at the top of the table this morning. Stll I can't complain at the position we are in at the moment. Staying there is the trick, though.

WOW — I am starting to get all positive and stuff! What's happening to me?????? It's scarey...
Tony Marsh, Liverpool     Posted 02/09/2007 at 13:50:35   Comments

It's official, Neville's crap!

Has anyone else seen in the Observer today that Phil Neville is statistically the second worse passer in the Premier League? I'm chuffed to bits about our win yesterday but Moyes should surely see how crap our captain is. Keep Jagielka at right back and play Carsley and Grav in the middle. Drop Neville — I don't think I've forgiven him for his goal for Man Utd last season. Oh and give Yobo the captain's arm band too.
Alan Clarke, Manchester     Posted 02/09/2007 at 11:34:39   Comments

Gravesen — Misunderstood?

Tommy has to be the most misunderstood player I have ever known. He has never, will never be a holding midfield player. I still laugh at the thought (and believe) that Real Madrid scouts were watching Lee Carsley when they were looking for a holding midfield player to replace Makelele.

Consistent and disciplined he is not but for all he lacks in these departments he has a superb engine and a football brain — not to mention a fair bit of class to boot. The likes of Real Madrid and Celtic simply did not understand our Tommy and I am delighted he is back where he belongs.

I watched him at Real Madrid pinging passes around with ease but clearly suppressed as he was told to sit in front of back four and not cross the half-way line and you could see his frustration.

Tommy is as passionate about his game as we are — now we have more quality in our team than he has experienced before — I believe he will shine and again be regarded by the people who DO understand him as an essential component in Everton's midfield — he will simply be too good to leave out of this team... watch this space!
Steve  Callaghan, Liverpool     Posted 02/09/2007 at 10:50:26   Comments

Midfield General?

Watching the Bolton game yesterday I came to the conclusion that playing Neville and Carsley together in the centre just doesn't work. When Gravesen came on late in the game, we took control of the ball a lot more and dictated the pace of the game. This killed off Bolton's charge and allowed us to slow the game back down.

Although he made a difference in the game, does Moyes really see the Gravedigger as our midfield general? He'll be a really decent backup for sure but I've read many comments about how we should have signed a midfield general before the deadline...

But here's a radical thought: WE ALREADY HAVE OUR MIDFIELD GENERAL!

Remember the days when a certain little Mikel Arteta played in the centre of the park and dictated the pace and tempo of each game? I say put him back there and play Osman and Pienaar on the wings. With the added space in central midfield, Arteta will have a lot more freedom and be able to dictate the game a lot more from that position.

He's being shut down by opposition defenders a lot more nowadays as they know he's our key creative influence. Out on the flanks, he has a lot less space to play around with. Play Jagielka with him and move Neville to right back. Osman and Pienaar on the wings and we should see lots of nice inter-play between our midfielders.
Gerald Foo, Singapore     Posted 02/09/2007 at 06:53:44   Comments

Let's do a proper move

So I've just heard that Juan Roman Riquelme was transfered, except that it was to Athletico Madrid. Does any one else think that if we are leaving Goodison for a site outside Liverpool, should we move to Spain, it may be the only way we can sign decesnt players?
John-Paul Foster, Reading     Posted 02/09/2007 at 01:04:14   Comments

Let's all get real!

I cannot believe that so many people are getting carried away by an average performance against a team destined for relegation.

For much of the game, all our old faults were in evidence and if Lescott hadn`t got lucky we would all be bemoaning a poor performance. The truth is that only the result was satisfactory and if we play like that we shall be taken apart by the "big boys".

To me, Yakubu hardly looked £11M better than Anichebe and Johnson continues to shoot AT the goalkeeper rather than at what surrounds him. The return of Gravesen just has to be a piss-take for his performance showed that he is still the headless chicken of long ago.

Granted, Jags and Baines managed to demonstrate what full-back play is all about but, for Christ`s sake, full-backs dont WIN matches.

Where, oh where, was the playmaker even the naive Moyes must know we have been crying out for? Without him we shall be stuffed before Christmas for certain!

So please, can we all get real? Top 10 will be an achievement with this rag-bag of expensive signings, surely?
Alan  Middleton, Parbold     Posted 01/09/2007 at 20:49:26   Comments

What a refreshing change - Part 1!

As I've been one of the first to criticise David Moyes in recent games, today I would like to be one of the first to congratulate him on going for it today. As soon as I saw the line-up it was a dream come to true — real intent about it, going there to win rather than engage in a defensive war of attrition, playing your best line-up from the off. Add to that a real desire in the second half to change things in an attempt to get all three points and I'm nothing but impressed. A recognition of when things aren't working and changing them quickly is dynamism in my book and long may it continue.

Despite some nervy moments and periods when Bolton were in the ascendancy, Everton were there to win today, no doubt about that. I shall put the nervyness and fault for the equaliser down to a lack of cohesion and it will take some time for new players to gel together. They won't gel though unless you play them! There were times when Everton were over-running Bolton in midfield and they simply had no answers.

Everton did not go to the Reebok today to play Bolton at their own game, as they did for most of the time against Reading & Blackburn. Today, Everton & Moyes gave the opposition something to think about or asked the questions, as the cliche goes...

The line-up today had quality written all over it and I've nothing but thanks to David Moyes for putting together a first eleven which is light-years ahead of anything we've seen in the last fifteen. I'm even more grateful that today he used the tools at his disposal.

I am absolutely cock-a-hoop this evening, not just because of the result but also because I think we may have reached a turning point with David Moyes. I had some Red at work tell me yesterday that we would lose today and I said, "No, we should be going there to win tomorrow," and that's what we fucking did! I'm ecstatic. Put the Gravedigger in from the start against Man Utd as I've strong belief we can win that game at home with our new-found philosophy!!!
Anthony Newell, Nantwich     Posted 01/09/2007 at 20:32:34   Comments

'Expert' analysis on Tommy G

Anyone get the impression Charlie Nicholas doesn't like Gravesen too much? On Sky he said TG was a failure at Celtic as he did not stick to a holding midfield position. He also described him as a similar player to Carsley. I'm sorry but he is not an expert with analysis like that.

Firstly: since when was Gravesen known for his defensive capabilities? He can't time a tackle and often finds himself making decisive crosses/passes for others to score from in the opposition's half.

Secondly: how is he anything like Carsley except for the lack of hair!? Carsley cannot beat a man, has no first touch and is not creative at all. When Gravesen came on today, he changed the game around simply by being able to keep hold of the ball and switch the play from time to time. Not to mention slipping AJ in for a chance, which he should have scored.

Welcome back Gravesen; hope you and Jags start in the centre against Man Utd. Come on The Blues!!!
Tony Brant, Anfield     Posted 01/09/2007 at 18:48:14   Comments

Blues pulled out fantastic win

What a fabulous finish to a game that seemed to be going away from us. I was convinced DM had left his subs too late (yet again!).

Sounded like a fantastic breakaway goal for the Yak — can't wait to see that one. I just love to watch us score breakaway goals by playing the ball along the ground...

Arteta was poor again, but Osman and Gravesen made all the difference. The tone of the game changed completely after they came on. And the just reward, though a long time coming, was of course most welcome. Great win, methinks!!!
Paul Hardcastle, Hoylake     Posted 01/09/2007 at 17:13:53   Comments

Disgruntled Fan

I have gone thru many lows over the past 30 years as an Everton fan but the most galling thing to me is to have to listen to the Liverpool game on the Everton website. Why can't the powers that be at Everton get this right???
Ajay Timothy, New York     Posted 01/09/2007 at 15:05:05   Comments

Starting Eleven

My god, our starting line up is awesome today! I am surprised to see Yak start though as you usually have to earn a start. Maybe he has been doing well in training?

Graveson, McFadden, Osman and Anichebe on the bench too! If our team play is as good as our line-up we will get quite a few in the back of the net today I reckon!
Brett Bradshaw, Nortnampton     Posted 01/09/2007 at 14:33:08   Comments

At last

Now the window has closed and the ground debate is over (for now any way), I am looking forward to a vast improvement in postings. Not blues slagging blues but sensible views of how the club, players, manager ect are performing and peoples ideas for improvements all the things that make you think and also the reason this site is the best.
Roy Coyne, Old Swan     Posted 01/09/2007 at 14:04:37   Comments

Carling Cup: Sheff Wed

So we have drawn Sheffield Wednesday... Two former players: Steve Watson who was a solid pro for this club, and the waster Francis Jeffers.

To think what he may have had if the bright lights had not attracted him. I llways wondered if he would make it back up, but obviously not.
Tony Miller, Merseyside     Posted 01/09/2007 at 13:20:02   Comments

Same old mistakes

Although deep down I never really expected anything to come off yesterday, the things that gave me anticipation were the comments from Moyes and Wyness. Moyes is normally very non-committal at his most positive so it was a big surprise to hear him quoted the way he was.

The result of course was the usual non-event. I hope that the club tried really hard, but it was wrong for the hierarchy to raise expectations. Its less than a week since the Fernandes deal fell through and we all know the bold statements that were made about that deal.

Lessons need to be learned quickly by the very naive people that run our club about when it's the right time to say something and when it's better to keep counsel.

At least we can now concentrate on the actual football on the pitch and let's hope that the coaching staff can get a group of talented players to start playing good football.
Lee Gorre, Leeds     Posted 01/09/2007 at 09:16:38   Comments

Smile

Tommy Gravesen...

Not a superstar. Not a Fernandes or some other silky Latin. Not someone Sky etc will get excited about. But he does have something that is in such short supply in the modern game.

He makes me smile.
Ged Simpson, Northwich     Posted 01/09/2007 at 06:28:08   Comments