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January 2009
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News Headlines & Features United do enough to end Blues' runManchester United 1 - 0 Everton 31 Jan - Everton tasted defeat for the first time in nine games as Manchester United did enough to win at Old Trafford by a single goal. Tim Howard had to be at his best to palm Ji-Sung Park's cross-cum-shot away, divert a Carlos Tevez shot over with his leg, push a Cristiano Ronaldo effort over the bar, and then watch while the Portuguese rolled a shot off the post and across the face of goal before Mikel Arteta dangled a leg back as Michael Carrick surged through to concede the decisive penalty two minutes before half time. Ronaldo drove the spot kick down the middle to give United a lead they never looked like losing. The Blues barely tested Edwin van der Sar despite some decent possession, frequently letting themselves down with the final ball, and United's superiority was never in question. Manchester United vs Everton Match Preview 31 Jan - Everton go into what is, on paper at least, their toughest assignment so far this season, with injury worries over Marouane Fellaini and most-valuable-player Tim Cahill. Both are rated doubtful for the trip to Manchester United this weekend after picking up knocks against Arsenal and David Moyes appears reluctant to risk either player. There are no other problems to report, though, and there is an outside chance that David Moyes could name an unchanged team. KO is 5:30pm with live coverage on Setanta. Everton pay late price again Everton 1 - 1 Arsenal 28 Jan - Everton were a minute away from a rare and priceless victory over Arsenal but paid the price for not keeping the ball in injury time when Robin van Persie hammered home Arsenal's equaliser. The Blues had gone ahead through one of precious few chances when Tim Cahill headed home his 100th career goal just past the hour mark and they looked to be holding out for three deserved points when yet another long punt forward by the Gunners' defence found Van Persie and he rifled home from a tight angle. Cahill had limped off by that stage, evoking memories and concerns of his metatarsal troubles. The question of what happens if Talisman Tim gets injured and there are no additions this transfer window may now need to be answered... Everton vs Arsenal Team News 28 Jan - Everton have been boosted by the return of Mikel Arteta for the visit of fellow Champions League-chasers, Arsenal. The Spaniard was rated as 50-50 yesterday but starts in midfield alongside Marouane Fellaini. Segundo Castillo and Victoe Anichebe make way. Everton vs Arsenal Match Preview 27 Jan - Everton play the middle fixture of five consecutive games against "Sky Four" opposition when Arsenal come to town for a midweek encounter at Goodison Park. Mikel Arteta has a 50% chance of being passed fit enough to play but Marouane Fellaini returns after serving a two-match ban; Louis Saha, the only striker on the books apart from Victor Anichebe near fitness is still two weeks away from resuming full training. Kick off is 8pm. Mersey rivals get to do it all again Liverpool 1 - 1 Everton 25 Jan - An Arteta-less Everton stymied their bitter rivals for the second time in a week to force a replay at Goodison Park in 10 days' time. The Blues broke Liverpool's initial domination of proceedings after 25 minutes when, incredibly, Tim Cahill was allowed to roam the six-yard box unmarked and his header off Steven Pienaar's corner was helped in by Joleon Lescott. Their attempts to dig in and hold out for a precious win were ruined, though, by a rare clanger by Tim Howard who somehow allowed Steven Gerrard's low drive from the angle to slide clean under his body. The Reds controlled the remainder of the tussle but couldn't break through a resolute Everton defence, their best chance beaten away in a terrific save by Howard. The winners of the replay will face a home tie against Doncaster Rovers or Aston Villa. Full report Liverpool vs Everton FA Cup 4th Round Preview 24 Jan - Everton return to Anfield for part two of the derby double-header against Liverpool with rumours circulating that David Moyes's hopes of fielding an unchanged line-up from six days ago could be scuppered by a rib injury to Mikel Arteta. Segundo Castillo is the suggested replacement, though there is no confirmation of the story. Joseph Yobo is apparently fit this time but is not expected to break up the Jagielka-Lescott partnership in central defence. KO is 4pm. Arteta is going nowhere Interest from Arsenal and Man City dismissed 24 Jan - For seemingly the umpteenth time, Mikel Arteta has insisted to journalists that he is staying at Everton: "I have three years of a really good contract left here and I'm really happy with how things are run at the club. The club has shown me lots of faith and I'll be happy to repay them." He affirmed he had no interest whatsoever in rumoured offers from or links to Arsenal or Manchester City. Elstone confirmed as Everton CEO 23 Jan - Everton have confirmed the appointment of Robert Elstone as Everton's Chief Executive Officer. The 44 year-old, who prior to joining the Club as Keith Wyness' Deputy in 2005, worked for Rugby League, BSkyB and Deloittes. After Wyness suddenly resigned last July, Elstone was named Acting CEO but he is delighted to have earned the role outright: "This is a great honour for me. I enjoy a tremendous working relationship with the chairman and the Board of directors and I thank them for placing their trust in me," he said. All for just £6m extra a year Inquiry decision will take months 21 Jan - "Everton continue to hitch their future to the Kirkby move which, for £6m a year extra, has substantial hurdles still to overcome. The... Planning Inspector is expected to take around three months to report. Even then, the government... is not duty-bound to follow her recommendations. Everton, with no Sheikh Mansour on the horizon, do in reality have a Plan B, which they may yet need. It is to stay at Goodison Park, and continue to make the best of it." The Guardian's David Conn reports on the inquiry into Destination Kirkby. Cahill the Hero Once Again Liverpool 1 - 1 Everton 19 Jan - Talisman Tim Cahill once again came to Everton's rescue when he glanced home an 87th-minute equaliser to rob Liverpool of three points and send the Blues home happy from part one of the derby double-header. Having diligently stood their ground and frustrated the Dark Side for 68 minutes, one lapse by Everton allowed Steven Gerrard the space he needed to drill home from 25 yards. But with time ticking down, Mikel Arteta delivered again with a free kick and Cahill expertly evaded any markers before nodding the Spaniard's whipped ball into the net from close range. Liverpool vs Everton Match Preview 17 Jan - It's almost 10 years since a Kevin Campbell goal secured Everton's last victory at Anfield but they go into a double-header against the Dark Side in terrific form, even if they remain chronically short on strikers. Marouane Fellaini is, of course, banned but Joseph Yobo is available again as David Moyes plots the Reds' downfall. KO is 8pm on Monday evening and Setanta Sports will be screening it live to the nation. More Public Inquiry nonsense LCC says Kirkby Stadium plan is 'Too Big' 15 Jan - The battle over Destination Kirkby continues to throw up the most bizarre assertions: take this one from Liverpool City Council's development consultant, Mark McVicar, who claimed that Everton did not need to build a new 60,000-capacity stadium — despite increased capacity being the prime reason cited by the club for the project! "If the stadium was only for 50,000 seats, the scale of the [retail] cross-subsidy would be far smaller." — which drew the challenge: "Are you telling us that you’re a football stadium expert and you have more expertise on these matters than Robert Elstone (Everton Chief Executive)?”. The Inquiry continues... Fellaini grabs all the headlines Everton 2 - 0 Hull City 10 Jan - Everton consolidated their position in sixth with a comfortable victory over Hull City in an ill-tempered affair at Goodison. David Moyes took the risk of playing Marouane Fellaini, and watched him score on 17 minutes after Baines whipped in an excellent cross that Fellaini, clearly offside, glanced sweetly into the net with his beehive barnet. But after Arteta smashed home another brilliant free-kick just before the break, Moyes eschewed the chance to protect the Belgian by talking him off for the second half... and it only took 90 seconds after the restart for the big Fella to draw that inevitable 10th yellow card that means he will miss both upcoming games against Liverpool. Everton vs Hull City Match Preview 9 Jan - Everton look to register back-to-back home wins for the first time this season as faltering Hull City, until a month ago riding high in the top six, come to Goodison Park. The Marouane Fellaini dilemma — the Belgian is one booking away from a two-match suspension which would eliminate him from both derby matches later this month — is probably David Moyes's only pause for thought as he considers naming the same team that started against Sunderland a fortnight ago. KO is 3pm. Astounding DK transport threat Kirkby Stadium capacity could be slashed to 40,000 8 Jan - The resumed Public Inquiry into the Kirkby retail and regeneration project that will include a new stadium for Everton FC continues to throw up the most astounding revelations. The latest regards transport objectives that involve cutting car usage by Everton fans from 78% to 45%. “If Everton doesn’t abide by requirements of its travel plan or get more people to use public transport, the capacity of the stadium will be reduced to 40,000.” Astounding, considering the avowed primary purpose of this increasingly unpopular project is supposedly to increase revenue from increased stadium capacity! Everton Technically Insolvent Equifax gives 18-point credit score 7 Jan - After barely breaking even last season, Everton are listed in among the 50% of Premier League clubs that are "technically insolvent", according to credit rating agency, Equifax. Everton get 18 out of 100 as a credit rating, and come 11th in the this Equifax league table. The determination is based on an assessment of each club's ability to pay off their creditors, in the admittedly unlikely event that they might turn off the tap of debt financing that sustains most clubs, and ask for the debts to be repaid within a short timeframe. [Link fixed] The luck of the draw! FA Cup 4th Round Anfield derby 4 Jan - Everton have been drawn away to Liverpool, the first two teams out of the hat in the draw for the FA Cup 4th Round. Games will be played less than a week after the Anfield derby in the Premier League, giving David Moyes ample opportunity to figure out how to beat our local rivals on their turf for the first time in his seven-year tenure. Osman fires Blues onward Macclesfield Town 0 - 1 Everton 3 Jan - Everton are into the Fourth Round for the first time in three seasons after doing just enough to side-step the banana skin posed by League Two Macclesfield Town. The Toffees started brightly enough but were often guilty of trying to walk it into the box and the home side wasted two good, early chances before Leon Osman smashed an excellent half-volley into the top corner just before the break. Everton controlled the second half comfortably despite the expected late rally from the home side, and a final shot on goal from Yeo that Howard pushed away at full stretch just before the whistle blew. Full report Macclesfield Town v Everton Match Preview 3 Jan - The romance of the FA Cup Third Round and a tie at the tiny League 2 ground of Moss Rose home of Macclesfield Town. It's hard not to think of banana-skins and potential acts of giant-killing but hopefully Everton can show their class and move through this tricky encounter, despite the continuing lack of recognized strikers, who are mostly out injured. Will Jutkiewicz and Gosling start? KO at 3pm; Shown live for shareholders at Goodsion Park and on Setanta in some overseas markets. Saha out for another five weeks New scan shows more problems 2 Jan - When Louis Saha was named as an Everton player back in September, there was one chorus of concern, and that was his injury record. So it should come as no surprise that the striker who has started less than a third of the games in the first half of the league season and scored 3 goals should be ruled out for a further five weeks with hamstring trouble. But it serves to intensify concerns about the challenge of bringing in any new players when the club seemingly has no money and must either sell or look for loan deals. |
Snippets & Rumours Goodison redevelopment presentation4 Jan - A presentation regarding the possibiity of redeveloping Goodison Park, developed by KEIOC especially for use in the public inquiry into the proposed relocation of the Everton football stadium to Kirkby, is now available for public view. The Last Domingan 30 Jan - The Everton FC Shareholders Association will be holding a forum to honour the life of Will Cuff, who was the last link between St Domingo and Everton, on 6th February 2009 in the People's Lounge at Goodison Park, with doors opening at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. The forum is free to enter but you must be on the guest list beforehand. Click for details Cahill and Fellaini major doubts 30 Jan - David Moyes says he will take no chances with Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini for this weekend's trip to Old Trafford after both picked up knocks in the midweek draw with Arsenal. Cahill hobbled off with severe bruising to his foot and Fellaini suffered a shin injury and both are rated as doubtful. Just a kick on the foot 29 Jan - Tim Cahill will thankfully be fit to face Man Utd at Old Trafford on Saturday. That is the feeling after taking a closer look at the damage that caused him to limp off before the end of last night's dramatic Arsenal game at Goodison Park. Clattenburg Sacked 29 Jan - Mark Clattenburg has at long last been sacked as a Premier League referee. Not for his seemingly blatant pro-Liverpool bias and apparent cheating in a Merseyside derby, but for financial irregularities from his previous employment. Kissock and Ruddy go out on loan 29 Jan - Everton Academy/Reserves player John Paul Kissock has gone out on loan again for a month, this time to Accrington Stanley of League Two. Goalkeeper John Ruddy, meanwhile, has joined Crewe Alexandra, also on a month-long loan. Moyes concedes defeat in loan quest 28 Jan - David Moyes says he is prepared to finish the season with his current threadbare squad after the door closed on the two loan prospects he has been chasing recently. "Neither of them are going to come off," the manager says, though it's not clear if a long-term injury to Tim Cahill, described by Moyes as "not too bad" after he hobbled off against Arsenal, would prompt a re-think. Pompey (A) moved for Sky coverage 27 Jan - Everton's away match at Portsmouth on 21st March has been moved forward to 12:45pm to accommodate live screening by Sky Sports. The trip to Blackburn will also be shown live at the originally scheduled time of 8pm on 4th March. Mad Dog hangs up his leash 27 Jan - Thomas Gravesen, the eccentric Danish midfielder who became something of a cult hero at Everton before leaving for Real Madrid four years ago, has retired from football at the age of 32. He was signed by Walter Smith in 2000 but returned to Goodison Park for an ill-advised and predictably injury-ravaged loan spell from Celtic last season. Screech or Borat? 27 Jan - Marouane Fellaini is the subject matter in the Guardian's Photoshop Gallery, with some inventive spoof material courtesy of the original Screech and Borat. Moyes masters defensive art 26 Jan - The BBC's chief football writer, Phil McNulty, offers David Moyes the plaudits he and his team deserve for the way in which they approached Sunday's FA Cup derby and earned a replay at Goodison next week. United clash moved to Saturday 26 Jan - Everton's FA Cup 4th Round replay with Liverpool next week has forced the Blues' clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford to be brought forward to Saturday. Kick off will be 5:30pm and the game will be televised live on Setanta Sports. For £7.50, though, you could always watch a live screening of the game in the Alex Young Suite at Goodison Park. Phil Jagielka interview 24 Jan - If you an get past the usual Sky 4 bull at the beginning of this BBC interview, enjoy Jag's embryonic mohawk hairstyle along with his feelings about how Everton are playing now after that horrible early-season form. Football Fanzine Awards 2009 23 Jan - The Football Fans Census, powered by The New Football Pools, are taking nominations for the second annual Football Fanzine Awards. You can put ToffeeWeb's name forward in the Best Premier League (Online), Best Editor and Best Writer categories before the February 6th deadline. Wembley... 23 years ago 23 Jan - This BBC feature may sicken some who won't wish to recall how Everton let the chance of double glory slip to rivals Liverpool in the 1986 FA Cup Final. This Then & Now feature updates the status of the players from both teams that day. Everton vs Arsenal tickets on sale 23 Jan - Tickets for Everton vs Arsenal on Wednesday are now on general sale — Adults from £29.00, Juniors from £14.00 — and can be purchased online here. Progress despite adversity 23 Jan - Over at ESPN Soccernet, Norman Hubbard pens a nice piece about David Moyes: "Clubs in the Champions League... often only hire managers with a pedigree in Europe. Which leaves the league's third-longest serving manager at Goodison Park, quietly providing an example to the whingers and whiners of his profession with no strikers and no excuses." Destination Kirkby's impact on Skem 22 Jan - Michelle Taylor, regional director for St Modwen, the developers behind the proposed Skelmersdale Vision regeneration programme, has said that given the massive scale of Destination Kirkby, a green light for that project would force her to "terminate" her firm's own plans in Skelmersdale. Bellefield plan rejected 21 Jan - Everton stand to lose £10m in potential income from the sale of their old Bellefield training ground after a government inspector rejected a residential plan for 74 homes on the site. Robert Elstone has attacked LCC over the decision. Baines draws plaudits for terrific display 20 Jan - David Prentice in the Echo is effusive in his praise for Leighton Baines after his superb display at Anfield last night, one perhaps matched only by the equally impressive Phil Jagielka. Cahill dedicates derby goal to the fans 20 Jan - Tim Cahill has dedicated his late equalising goal in last night's derby against Liverpool to Everton's passionate and long-suffering fans, 3,000 of whom made the short journey across the Park for the first of two games in six days against the Dark Side. Jacobsen finally gets Reserve run-out 20 Jan - Lars Jacobsen played 77 minutes for Everton Reserves, his first meaningful action for the club since joining on a free transfer from Nuremberg, as they lost 1-0 at home to Hull City. The Dane dislocated his shoulder just days after signing for the Blues and had to wait to get some match practice under his belt after the previous Reserves fixture was postponed because of frost. Spencer to undergo Scunthorpe trial 20 Jan - Everton have agreed to allow Reserves striker Scott Spencer to go on trial at Scunthorpe United. The 21 year-old was signed from Oldham with a fair amount of fanfare four years ago but he has yet to get near the first team at Goodison Park. The poisoning of the “friendly derby” 19 Jan - Oliver Kay in The Times laments the souring of the atmosphere at the Merseyside derby in recent seasons but sees it as a "microcosm of what's going on elsewhere." Enjoying life at Goodison 19 Jan - Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta engage in a bit of banter in this transcript of a chat with The Times where they speak glowingly of David Moyes's evolution as a manager, the team spirit at the club and their own passion for the game. Moyes criticises clubs' spending habits 18 Jan - David Moyes has cited the boom-and-bust wage policies of Portsmouth and West Ham in particular for driving up salaries in the Premier League market and making it harder for Everton to attract players in recent seasons. Similarities to 18 years ago 18 Jan - Things might be somewhat tumultuous over the Park at the moment with Rafael Benitez's ongoing wrangle with the Anfield board but it probably doesn't compare with the chaos that surrounded the Dark Side the last time Everton and Liverpool met in the FA Cup 18 years ago. This article in The Scotsman is heavily weighted to the Red perspective of that 4-4 game that led to Kenny Dalglish's resignation but it's an interesting retrospective nonetheless. Lescott ready for Anfield test 18 Jan - Joleon Lescott gets a nice write-up in the Sunday Times today as he prepares for tomorrow's derby showdown at Anfield. The former Wolves man extolls the virtues of the team's strong spirit in an article that charts his path to Everton where he has become the Premier League's top-scoring centre half. Arteta takes centre stage 18 Jan - "Few clubs cherish illustrious names from their past as much as Everton," begins Paul Wilson in The Observer today as he acknowledges Mikel Arteta's recent renaissance in central midfield for the Blues in the build-up to tomorrow's Premier League derby. Moyes: Nothing to fear 17 Jan - David Moyes is in relaxed mood ahead of the first of two derbies against local rivals, Liverpool, saying that he sees, "how well the players are doing, how well they are performing. If they can go and show their potential, they have certainly nothing to fear." Police warn over “criminal chants” 15 Jan - Merseyside Police have issued a warning that they will attempt to crack down on chants that are deemed offensive at the two forthcoming derby matches. Rising Blue stars in Times list 13 Jan - [Link amended] Dan Gosling (No 33) and Jose Baxter (No 31) make The Times' list of the world's top 50 rising football stars. Jack Rodwell, who was named ahead of Baxter in the same paper's Top 50 British Footballers list last month did not make the cut this time around. Meanwhile, in the Mail's "greatest hard men" list, 1980s stalwart Pat van den Hauwe clocks in at No 21. and Duncan Ferguson is only ranked at No. 14. Slow but steady progress for Yakubu 13 Jan - David Moyes has provided an update on Yakubu's progress as the striker recovers from surgery on a ruptured Achilles. The Nigerian won't be able to start rehabilitation work for a while yet as his leg is still in plaster and needing to be kept elevated while the wound heals. As such, the initial nine-month target for recovery remains the expected timeframe for his return. Howard Webb gets first derby 12 Jan - Howard Webb, who seems to be the FA's go-to guy for the big games now that everyone seems to believe that Mike Riley is utterly incompetent and inconsistent, has been handed the responsibility of refereeing Monday's Premier League Merseyside derby. Arteta tired of transfer talk 12 Jan - In-form Mikel Arteta says he is weary of the rumours that crop up every transfer window linking him with a move away from Everton, saying he is "very proud to represent this club and am happy here." He also says that while he could be eligible to play for England in a year or two, his heart is set on representing Spain. Fellaini misses both derbies 10 Jan - Fellaini will miss both forthcoming derby games against Liverpool after drawing his 10th yellow card in the 2-0 win over Hull City. "We thought about taking him off at half-time because of the possible problem of him being suspended. I made the decision, and if we could have got through 15 minutes or so we would have taken him off," said Moyes. Mailbag Discussion Fellaini misses both derbies 10 Jan - Fellaini will miss both forthcoming derby games against Liverpool after drawing his 10th yellow card in the 2-0 win over Hull City. "We thought about taking him off at half-time because of the possible problem of him being suspended. I made the decision, and if we could have got through 15 minutes or so we would have taken him off," said Moyes. Mailbag Discussion Carsley: Leaving was tough 8 Jan - Lee Carsley has been talking about how tough it was to leave Everton at the end of last season, but that the decision was the right one. Hull City tickets 5 Jan - The two tickets to this weekend's clash with Hull City were won by David Thompson who was randomly selected as the winner. Tickets for the game are still available. Log onto www.evertonfc.com/eticketing or telephone 0871 663 1878 or simply visit the Goodison Park Box Office. Newcastle game switched for TV 7 Jan - Everton's trip to St James Park, originally scheduled for 21st February, has been moved back a day to a 4pm kick off on Sunday the 22nd to accommodate live television coverage on Sky Sports. Yobo back before month's end 7 Jan - David Moyes expects Joseph Yobo to be back in action around the end of the month after missing the last couple of weeks with a hamstring strain. He also hopes to be able to call on James Vaughan, who is recovering from his latest knee surgery, before the end of the season. Top 20 Rich List 7 Jan - Everton have some representatives in Football's Rich List Top 20, as compiled by FourFourTwo magazine, Lord Grantchester and the Moores Family coming in at 8th equal with £1.2 billion. Strange listing, as the Moores family sold their interest in Everton to Peter Johnson back in 1992, and Grantchester resigned from the Board of Directors in 2004, although he does still have perhaps 3,000 shares in EFC. Jacobsen return delayed by frost 6 Jan - Everton Reserves game against Manchester City was called off this evening due to frost on Hyde United's Ewen Fields pitch. Lars Jacobsen was scheduled for his first run-out since dislocating his shoulder playing for Denmark in September but will now have to wait for an opportunity to build some match fitness. Cup derby to be screened live 6 Jan - Everton's FA Cup Fourth Round tie with Liverpool at Anfield has been set for 4pm on Sunday, 25th January and will be screened live by Setanta Sports. The League derby is also being carried by Setanta six days earlier on the 19th. FA Youth Cup Tie moved 5 Jan - The FA Youth Cup 4th Round tie against Burnley will take place at Accrington's Fraser Eagle Stadium on Wednesday, January 14, at 7pm. Burnley's FA Cup third-round replay at home to QPR on January 13 meant that Turf Moor is unavailable to host the Youth Cup tie. Jovanovic snubs Blues move 4 Jan - Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic claims he has rejected a January transfer move to Everton. The Serbian international was not interested in a move to Goodison Park, claiming Everton are not a 'big club'. Pienaar bid rejected 2 Jan - Everton have supposedly rejected a £4.5M offer from Russia's Rubin Kazan for midfielder Stephen Pienaar. Sources in Russia say the bid was turned down by Everton chairman Bill Kenwright. Moyes talks down expectations 2 Jan - In this video interview, David Moyes is realistic about his poor record in the FA Cup ahead of Saturday's game at Macclesfield, and he flatly denies that Everton will be buying any new players in the transfer window — but maybe a loan or two. Molyneux makes St Mary's switch 1 Jan - Everton Academy graduate Lee Molyneux has sealed a New Year's Day switch to Southampton. Although he didn't make his senior bow at Goodison, the defender has represented England at U-16 and U-18 level. |
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