Season 2009-10 Diary
ToffeeWeb's comprehensive news archive
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If it happened and it was Everton-related, it's right here in the comprehensive Season Diary. Most recent items are in reverse chronological order (more recent first).
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News Headlines & FeaturesDonovan loan spell is over US Star returns to MLS 14 Mar - Everton have confirmed Landon Donovan's loan spell has officially ended and he is returning to Los Angeles Galaxy. In recognition of a great relationship he developed with Everton's fans, he said, "I'm 28 years old now and I've played over 100 times for my country, I've also played a lot of league games in different parts of the world, but I've never met a fan base like this, either playing for them or as an away player. Forget about football for a moment, this is a experience I'll never forget." Donovan loan officially ends 14 Mar - Everton have confirmed that Landon Donovan has returned to California with his 10-week loan spell officially having ended this week. "The send-off from the fans after the Hull City game was one of the most incredible experiences of my life," Donovan told evertonTV. "You feel proud but it was also a sad moment, because when you're accepted that way and you feel that love, it's hard to leave." Everton let Birmingham off the hook Birmingham City 2 - 2 Everton 13 Mar - Tim Cahill returned to the starting line-up for today's game at St Andrews, with Everton once again failing to improve significantly on their away form in the rinal run-in of 10 league games. After a quiet start, Everton felt out their hosts and started to apply some pressure around 20 mins. Arteta played in Anichebe who scored a superb goal, soon followed by a beautiful chipped cross from Pienaar that Yakubu nodded home. 2-0! But Jerome soon pulled one back with a soft finish and then after the break, the Birmingham equalised when Gardner latched into Jersome's flick to fire from 18 yards. And that was pretty much it as Everton, for the most part, sank back into their shell. Donovan appeared for a farewell cameo but it was not enough to win all the points. Full report Birmingham City vs Everton Match Preview 13 Mar - 10 games left of the season and Everton turn down the final straight with repeat European qualification in their sights and Birmingham City, their immediate rivals in the chase for what may yet turn out to be three Europa League-qualifying spots, next up. Tim Cahill and Louis Saha may play some part but are unlikely to start, but Leon Osman is ruled out through injury. KO is 3pm. Kenwright still searching "24/7" 11 Mar - This article in the local press confirms that nothing seems to have changed Bill Kenwright's fruitless multi-year "24/7" search for a billionaire to invest in Everton. “The truth is Everton do need a billionaire” he says. “Of course that’s a stock phrase, but we do need major investment. One of the difficulties of being a chairman who has had to use money as wisely as he possibly knows how, is that it’s hard when you get bombarded, as I have been in the last three AGMs, with questions like “Why can’t we have what Newcastle have? West Ham? Portsmouth?” Solution: No more AGMs! Battle to Keep Donovan is Over US Star wants one more month... 9 Mar - Everton faced an uphill battle to persuade the MLS and Los Angeles Galaxy to lengthen Landon Donovan's loan spell, although the player made it clear he wanted to remain on Merseyside for another month. Under the terms of the 10-week agreement signed in January, Donovan is due to report for training in California on Monday 15 March but David Moyes and the player have made clear their desire for the American international to extend his stay to 15 April. However, Bruce Arena has reaffirmed his position and Donovan will leave after the Birmingham game this weekend. Rampant Blues slaughter Hull Everton 5 - 1 Hull City 7 Mar - Mikel Arteta really came into his own in this game, with Donovan oddly left on the bench. The Best Little Spaniard opened the scoring in the first half. This should have been added to with a penalty that was dispatched woefully by Yakubu and saved easily by Myhill. After that, of course, Hull equalized before Arteta's lovely second goal as Everton's superior class finally shone through. The third goal came in the second half and it looked like Arteta's hattrick off a tricky lob from the byelinebut it went in off Garcia for an own-goal. Landon Donovan came on for a final 20-minute home cameo and rounded it off in perfect fashion with an excellent finish for the fourth goal — a splendid leaving present. With Hull reeling, Donovan set up Jack Rodwell for the coup de grace that made this a real Big Win for the Blues... long, long overdue. Everton vs Hull City Match Preview 6 Mar - Everton hope to get their European challenge back on track when Hull City, winless on the road in 12 months, visit Goodison Park tomorrow. Phil Jagielka, Louis Saha, Leon Osman, James Vaughan and Philippe Senderos could all miss out with minor knocks and strains but Tim Cahill may return from a calf injury. KO is 4pm. Could Donovan yet stay at Goodison? Moyes keen but LA Galaxy stand firm 5 Mar - Hopes that Landon Donovan could remain an Everton player after the initially agreed loan term expires this month were raised today after David Moyes hinted in his pre-match press conference that he hasn't ruled out keeping the USA international forward: "It looks like all parties are keen. There's no guarantee yet, and I won't know that for a little while longer but there is a chance. But if we can make it happen, we would and if Landon wants to stay, which I think he does, we'd be really keen to keep him." Galaxy coach, Bruce Arena, says, however, "We're not interested. Landon will be back here March 15." Positive reviews of Baines debut 4 Mar - Leighton Baines passed arguably his biggest test in England colours by garnering good reviews from the infamously merciless domestic press, though he had to shake off an early case of nerves before playing a crucial role in England's second goal. Most of the national dailies were positive regarding the Everton left-back's debut, with The Telegraph saying he "nailed his national audition", The Express saying he didn't look out of place at all, and The Guardian remarking that his was a "neat and efficient" performance. Michael Foot Dies Famous 1935 Ode to Everton 3 Mar - One of the 20th century's famous politicians, Michael Foot, ill-fated leader of the Labour party during the Thatcher era died today at the age of 96. A Plymouth Argyle fan he developed a soft spot for Everton after he arrived in Liverpool in 1934, for his first job as a shipping clerk. Impressed with Goodison, and the football that came straight from the School of Science, he wrote a poem on the Blues for the Daily Post in 1935, capturing his disappointment at Everton's defeat to Bolton in the FA Cup that year, and underlining the less impressive footballing fare available across the park... Stadium talks 'fruitful'... Cold water poured on Football Quarter idea 2 Mar - At high level talks with Everton CEO Robert Elstone and city council officials at Liverpool University yesterday, the Liverpool CEO made it clear LFC is committed to building a new £400m stadium in Stanley Park, despite its problems raising finance. The football quarter concept, as suggested by Keeping Everton in Our City (Keioc), was dismissed on the grounds that the £700m-plus price tag is unaffordable. But Liverpool Council leader Warren Bradley said the meeting was fruitful in helping draw up plans for a sports strategy for the city. Everton 3 - 1 Hull City [75'] Arteta on song Mar - Mikel Arteta really came into his own in this game, with Donovan oddly left on the Bench. The Best Little Spaniard opened the scoring in the first half. This should have been added to with a penalty that was dispatched woefully by Yakubu and saved easily by Myhill. After that, of course, Hull equalized before Arteta's second lovely second goal As Everton's superior class shone through. The third goal finally came in the second half and it looked like Arteta's hattrick but it went in off Garcia for an own-goal White Hart Lane hangover Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Everton 28 Feb - Despite a stirring second-half performance, Everton could not fully recover from a poor first half that looked like a continuation of the defeat in Lisbon. A strange team selection saw Donovan and Bilyaletdinov dropped to the bench, Saha absent (injured), as Heitinga and Distin replaced the poor Yobo and Senderos in the back. But it didn't really work as a sloppy Everton slumped to two goals in the first half when it could easily have been four. Osman was pulled off for the second half, Jagilelka on in central defence, and Heitinga moved to midfield and Everton did get one back when Yakubu stabbed home a Rodwell header from a corner after the break. They should then have gone on to win, with Pienaar producing a poor shot when one-on-one with Gomes, and Donovan missing the open goal of the season. Clearly, it was not to be. Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton Match Preview 27 Feb - Everton travel to Tottenham for a match with significant ramifications for European qualification hoping to extend their Premier League winning sequence at White Hart Lane and atone for both their meek Carling Cup defeat last autumn and their disastrous performance in Lisbon on Thursday. Johnny Heitinga and Sylvain Distin are available again after missing the match against Sporting but Tim Cahill is still sidelined with a calf injury. KO is 1pm. [No full preview this week due to the site issues we're experiencing] |
Snippets & RumoursVaughan joins Leicester on loan 11 Mar - Everton have confirmed that James Vaughan has joined Leicester City on loan, initially for one month. With David Moyes apparently favouring Yakubu, Saha and Anichebe, the 21 year-old should have a better chance of some good first-team football with the promotion-chasing Championship side. Ruddy delighted with his stats 11 Mar - John Ruddy is enjoying a stellar season on loan at Motherwell and wasn’t slow to point out that his clean sheet against St Mirren on Tuesday was his 15th of the season. “I do like to keep track of my clean sheets... Ratio-wise, I think I had a better spell at Stockport when it was eight in 13 games. But this is up there and it also means more to me because it’s over a longer period.” Rumour: Vaughan set to join Leicester 10 Mar - James Vaughan will apparently sign for Leicester City this week — presumably on loan-cum-permanent move? — much to the chagrin of Derby County who lost the striker's services earlier this season when a loan spell was cut short by injury. MirrorFootball report that David Moyes wants to cash in on the 21 year-old and will allow him to join the Rams' Midlands and promotion-chasing rivals, Leicester.
Knut-Olav Rindaroey had a trial at Goodison Park a few weeks back but returned home without being signed before the transfer deadline and winger Magne Simonsen and centre-half Vegard Forren are also interesting King.
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