Season 2008-09 Diary
ToffeeWeb's comprehensive news archive
|
If it happened and it was Everton-related, it's right here in the comprehensive Season Diary. Items are in reverse chronological order (more recent first).
Navigate to previous months and seasons using the calendar (right):
|
News Headlines & Features Everton set to sign CastilloEcuadorian to undergo medical, Obinna to follow on loan? 27 Aug - Everton have announced that they hope to sign Ecuadorian midfielder Segundo Castillo after an apparent loan deal was agreed with Red Star Belgrade. A work permit application has been filed with the Home Office for the 26 year-old who is a regular international for the South Americans and he is set to arrive at Finch Farm for a medical in the next 24 hours. Castillo operates mainly as a defensive midfielder but has scored 18 times for Red Star in 72 appearances since arriving from El Nacional in 2006. Gravesen architect of own demise MadDog retires with handsome payoff 27 Aug - For students of our past players, this scathing analysis in The Herald attempts to describe "Celtic's disastrous association with Thomas Gravesen, a traumatic two-year relationship that ended yesterday with [Celtic CEO] Peter Lawwell signing a cheque for £1.2m to rid the club of the unfathomable Dane." Rumours in Denmark suggest that he will now retire from the game owing to a persistent knee injury and, more curiously, a long-suspected — but foggily diagnosed — psychological issue... Lars Jacobsen arrives on a free One down, six to go! 25 Aug - Everton have confirmed that Lars Jacobsen has agreed to sign for Everton after reports broke on Onside.dk around 3pm today. The Danish right back flew to Merseyside for talks today and has signed a one-year contract subject to a medical tomorrow morning. His agent claims that David Moyes has been following his client for over a year and his arrival will add competition to the right back slot at Goodison. Blues Secure Morale-Boosting Win West Bromwich Albion 1 - 2 Everton 23 Aug - Crisis may have been the watchword before this potentially tricky encounter but Everton's makeshift XI, with Jose Baxter making history as the youngest player to start a league game for the Club, punished newly-promoted Albion for failing to press home their dominance. Jack Rodwell had a goal harshly disallowed before Leon Osman slotted home superbly and with 14 minutes left, Yakubu's opportunism made it two. A late penalty for handball by Phil Neville took a little shine off a great result but it's three points that, despite a poor display overall, should lessen the feeling of impending doom. Walk for Rhys this Sunday Commemoration of young Blue's untimely death 22 Aug - Today marks the first anniversary of the death of Everton fan Rhys Jones who died aged just 11 after being shot while riding home after a kick-about in Liverpool. The Walk For Rhys to commemorate his untimely passing takes place at 12:00pm on Sunday 24th August from St. George's plateau in Liverpool city centre to Goodison Park. Fans wanting to attend are asked to sign up at freewebs.com/walkforrhys and to arrive at the starting point between 11:00 - 11:30am. Nigeria into Olympic Final Anichebe sets up second goal 19 Aug - Nigeria powered their way past Belgium in the semi-final of the Olympic football in Beijing, beating them 4-1, with Victor Anichebe setting up the second for Obasi before the Everton player missed a glorious chance to wrap up the game. They now will play Argentina on Saturday. Date set for Destination Kirkby 18 November 2008 18 Aug - So... more mis-information: the call-in that was set to delay the DK project by at least a couple of years will go to public hearing in just three months time! KMBC: "The council has formally accepted the date and we’re pleased the inquiry will be heard so swiftly. The people of Kirkby deserve a final decision on the regeneration of their town and holding the inquiry before the end of the year will bring clarity on the future of this development." No indication, though on how long it is expected to take... Moyes still stalling on contract 17 Aug - David Moyes seems to have become expert in saying a lot but actually telling us nothing, as evidenced by this bizarre speech on the Official Website, which concludes with: "Nothing has changed with the contract situation. I'm a little bit closer than I was at the end of last season, I'm just waiting to see how things go. We have one or two things to sort out, then I'll have a look at it. I wouldn't say my contract hinges on new players coming in. Obviously I want to see what happens in the next few weeks, but I wouldn't go as black and white as that." Everton 2 - 3 Blackburn Rovers Two great goals not enough 16 Aug - Everton looked pretty dreadful for large periods of the first half, when Blackburn threatened repeatedly and scored off a searing Dunn shot after 22 mins. But the magical Mikel Arteta turned the inevitable half-time boos into ecstatic cheers with a fantastic strike from a very narrow angle. In a sweeping move, Yakubu headed home Arteta's brilliant cross but seconds later Lescott was caught sleeping and Santa Cruz fired home easily. Jose Baxter came on for another record-book debut (youngest ever) and almost scored the winner but that honour went to Blackburn's Ooijer in the very last minute with a tap- in after Nelson's header hit the post. Disastrous for Everton, but not wholly undeserved. Match report by Lyndon Lloyd Vaughan in the frame? No suspension for Red Card 14 Aug - According to the increasingly unreliable local papers, James Vaughan will not be suspended because the FA did not receive any report form the US Soccer Ferderation regarding his sending off at Chicago Fire. That means he should be free to play against Blackburn in the season opener on Saturday... except for yet another injury that he picked up in training!!! Pienaar out for up to six weeks Could it get any worse? 11 Aug - As if David Moyes didn't have a big enough selection problem in midfield already, it now appears as though Steven Pienaar could miss the first six weeks of the new season with a foot injury. It is believed that the South African international, before this week one of just three fit senior midfielders, sustained a Is it safe to speak up now? New-found scepticism of Kirkby in the local press 11 Aug - With Destination Kirkby under threat, the volume of Kirkby scepticism has increased in the local press in the past week and the Daily Post's Chris Beesley — one of the few local journalists to offer support for KEIOC's efforts in promoting a Plan B last year — touches on many of the "No" voters' concerns about leaving the City. "What would happen to Everton ... in another 20 or 50 years if they were out of sight and out of mind from the football-mad youngsters living in the city?," he asks. It's a shame the local papers weren't more apt to challenge Keith Wyness' line around the time of the vote. Everton 1 - 1 PSV Eindhoven Late Blues penalty ties the game 9 Aug - The threadbare Everton squad, further depleted by last week's transfer of Andy Johnson to Fulham, ended their travels back home at Goodison Park for the final friendly before they kick the season off in earnest next weekend. For the sparse home crowd who had braved the summer rain, it was a chance to savour the skills of Dan Gosling, making his first home appearance after 8 months at the club. Amarant shocked the Blues on the half-hour with a very well-taken goal to put the visitors ahead. After lots of second-half subs that included Jutkiewicz, Baxter and the virtually unknown midfielder James Wallace, Everton had Yobo to thank near the end for winning a penalty that Mikel Arteta put away in style. Roll on the New Season! Kenwright's White Flag Slap in the face for loyal Bues 9 Aug - Unfettered by the pathetic obsequiousness of many local journalists from the Post and Echo who never seem to get their stories straight, Brian Reade in The Mirror today lays into the small-time thinking and acceptance of "also-ran status" that has been a hallmark of Bill Kenwright's nine-year rule at Goodison Park. At times it reads like a digest of the frustrations that have increasingly concerned Evertonians writing in to this website about exactly where the white-haired impresario has been directing us to... Destination Kirkby, where "any dream will do". Bradley and Kenwright to meet Keep Everton In Our City? 8 Aug - Councillor Warren Bradley will meet with Bill Kenwright next week (a tacit indication that the "Exclusivity Agreement" with Tesco no longer applies) for a hard-nosed discussion about alternative sites within the Liverpool city boundaries that could be promoted — with help from LCC — for a new Everton stadium. This is likely one option the club should be considering, while they decide whether to continue pursuit of Destination Krikby... |
Snippets & Rumours Rumour: Rennes reject second M'Bia offer28 Aug - Rennes have reaffirmed their desire to keep Stephane M'Bia after it was reported that have rejected an improved, "attractive" bid by from Everton for the Cameroon international, believed to be as high as £9m. French media suggest that the Ligue 1 side will now put together a boosted salary package that will satisfy the midfielder's demands. M'Bia was apparently being offered €1.5m a year by Everton but he said that he would be happy to stay with Rennes if they matched that wage proposal.
Ian Wright, Shaun's faither, said on TalkSport this afternoon, however, that he's never even heard of Wayne Lindsey, so the plot thickens. Wright, the former Arsenal striker, said that there are four clubs involved, that "it's up to Shaun" and hinted the decision has already been made but did not divulge the all-important details. The latest report from Skysports.com is that they "understand" that SWP will undergo a medical at Manchester City tomorrow.
La Gazetta dello Sport are carrying the story but there has been no official confirmation from either club so far.
Even though Young Boys' president denied that a bid for the 23 year-old Guinean defender had been made, Roger Boli says, “He is going to sign with Everton,” Boli told setantasports.com. “I can tell you the deal is a permanent one; we are not speaking about a loan. “He visited the club’s facilities and was impressed.”
According to Spanish site Sport.es, Espanyol have accepted what appears from the translation to be an offer of €8m, considerably less than the £12m that Everton were reported to have offered. The deal will be announced within the "next few hours" subject to the remaining conditions, perhaps appearance-based add-ons, being ironed out. It looked as though Everton had got their man when the notoriously unreliable Mirror reported that David Moyes would break the Blues' transfer record and land the Spanish winger, who had a largely unsuccessful spell with Manchester City before returning to Spain. But when it emerged that Riera had his heart set on joining Liverpool, the only question was whether Espanyol would accept their bid.
The latest is Jonathan de Guzmán, the highly-rated Canadian-born midfielder currently playing for Feyenoord. Reports on a number of Dutch websites suggest that the Blues are preparing a bid for the player whom Feyenoord have apparently registered a willingness to sell at the right price. De Guzmán, 21 next month, has just returned from Beijing with the Netherlands squad who drew against Victor Anichebe's Nigeria in their opening game. Update: The Echo report that Everton have denied the speculation linking them with De Guzman while reports elsewhere in the media suggest that Arsenal are preparing a £12m bid.
They believe that with Wright-Phillips surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, he is almost certainly on his way but it is not clear at this point where to. City would appear to have the edge at this point, not least because they have reportedly offered £10m cash as opposed to Everton's initial loan proposal. Wright-Phillips, though, is apparently reluctant to leave London even though City would represent a return "home" for the player. Rumours that Wright-Phillips was at Finch Farm today are believed to be suspect... as most of them are in this silly season! With thanks to Andy Fredson
Another, more exciting prospect, of course, would have been long-time target Stephen Appiah. It now appears, according to Alan Nixon at The Mirror, as though the player in question, Kamil Zayatte, is Guinean not Ghanaian and is only at Finch Farm on trial. He's a 23 year-old defender who currently plies his trade at BSC Young Boys after a brief spell with Lens in League 1.
Recurrent knee Injuries have plagued him in recent seasons and restricted him to just six appearances for the Spanish side last season. Just what Everton need then...!
The plot thickened after Chelsea's 1-0 win over Wigan this afternoon when boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, quizzed specifically on the Wright-Philips stories, refused to deny or confirm the speculation. He said he may sit down tomorrow (Monday) and discuss who's coming and who's staying at Stamford Bridge. "My director said something about this," he is quoted by Eurosport.com. "Tomorrow I will discuss it.
"Maybe tomorrow, yes, I will discuss this or that, who comes and who goes, which team wants which player... but today I want to come back to London, and tomorrow I'll start the new week."
Andiarena Angel Castell said: "Both of them have put in an offer and although he would prefer to go to Liverpool, Everton have put in a better bid so you cannot tell yet where he will go. "Everton said they are looking for a good player in his position and he is one of the best in Europe at attacking. "Reira is desperate to leave Espanyol — absolutely desperate. "He wants to play in the Premier League and to play against bigger clubs." The Mail on Sunday quotes "a source at Goodison Park" as saying that David Moyes tabled a €10m bid but also confirmed that the player is swaying towards Liverpool:
"Everton can try their best but he really wants to move to Liverpool."
Those giants of English football, Bristol City, apparently pulled out of a £1.5m deal to sign the Egyptian last month but this report suggests David Moyes is looking to the 25 year-old to replace Andy Johnson.
Balague also opines on the Albert Riera situation, saying that Liverpool are expected to up their initial bid — Antonin Veronin + €5m — by another €2m in the next couple of days. Anfield is, apparently, the Spaniard's preferred destination.
[Thanks to Ric Wallace]
Nevertheless, rumours on a couple of other Internet sites say that a massive £12m bid has been made for a winger and The Mirror is running a story in today's edition that the Blues will break their transfer record for Riera. The 26 year-old had a brief and unspectacular spell at Manchester City a couple of years ago and they passed on what would then have been a £3m deal.
Backtracking on his earlier statement that he wanted to leave the French side for the Premier League, the Cameroon midfielder says, "I never said I didn’t want to stay at Rennes. If they give me the wages I want there’s no problem. “If Rennes give me what I want, I don’t see why I would join another club." Chalk him off the list, then...
The Swiss international is, apparently, being chased by Newcastle and Arsenal.
In a boon to lovers of passing football everywhere — we won't resort to route-one, Duncan Ferguson-era football if we sign him, honest — David Moyes is apparently battling Paul Ince for the loan capture of the 6' 7" giant forward after Valencia indicated he didn't feature in their long-term plans.
A report in Correio dello Sport quotes the Portuguese as saying that he won't to go to Everton which would heap further frustration on David Moyes's transfer plans as the clock ticks on towards 1st September. The 27 year-old midfielder apparently favours a move to Athletico Madrid over the sunny climes of Merseyside or Tyneside.
|
In your opinion, what should be Everton's next course of action with regard to the stadium issue?
| Team | Pld | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Aston Villa | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 8 | Manchester City | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 | Bolton Wanderers | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | Everton | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 12 | Sunderland | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | Fulham | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Full table | ||||
