July 2000

1999-2k

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2001-02

July 31:  Everton's preparations for the new season suddenly improved with a thumping 5-0 win over Preston North End at Deepdale.

July 30:  The unseemly brawl precipitated by Gravesen's aggressive tackling at Blackburn came just days after the FA announced tough new sanctions designed to severely punish such stupidity.  His red card is surely unlikely to be revoked.

July 30:  Walter Smith wants more time to assess Idan Tal before committing to a move, but the Israeli midfielder is not allowed to play or train in England without a work permit. 

July 29:  Everton Reserves were also in action on Saturday, defeating Rhyl by 2-0.
Full Report

July 29:   Thomas Gravesen lived up to his reputation, getting his marching orders at Ewood Park after Everton went two behind to Blackburn Rovers.  Danny Cadamarteri pulled a goal back for a 1-2 final score.

July 28:  Everton have opened discussions with Liverpool City Council about building a new combined training facility and youth academy.

July 27:  Young defender Adam Farley, who was released by Everton in May after playing just one senior match, has been rejected by Port Vale after a trial.

July 26:  Tommy Myhre is convinced he has to leave Everton, but Abel Xavier says he wants to stay.

July 25:  Everton's preparations for the new season got off to a mixed start as Walter Smith gave a run out to 17 players in a testimonial for Maurice Malpas at Dundee United.

July 24:  The transfer of Danish midfield hardcase Thomas Gravesen from SV Hamburg to Everton was completed today for £2.5M.

July 23:  Walter Smith returns to wrestle with a difficult decision born of Bill Kenwright's rampant theatrical movement: Blue Romanticism.  Should he or shouldn't he welcome back Duncan Ferguson to the Everton fold?

July 22:  Walter Smith's latest acquisition, Danish midfield hardcase, Thomas Gravesen, has jetted in for a medical and is expected to complete his transfer on Monday.  

July 21:  The new squad numbers have been announced, and the changes to all but four of the players reflect Walter Smith's rebuilding over the close season.

July 20:  After weeks of informed speculation, Bill Kenwright has confirmed that redevelopment of Goodison Park faces insurmountable obstacles.  There is only one real option: move to a new location.

July 20:  Alex Nyarko has been granted a work permit in record time by the Department of Employment of Education.

July 20:  Everton 6-a-side stars from yesteryear could only beat Man City, losing to Man Utd and Liverpool, the eventual winners in Manchester last night.

July 19:  Israeli international Idan Tal has been brought in to Everton's Italian training camp on trial from Spanish 2nd Division side Merida. 
19-year-old French Algerian Malek Cherrard is also on trial from Nice.

July 18:  Niclas Alexandersson has completed his £2.5M transfer from Sheffield Wednesday.  He should provide added width to Everton's transformed midfield.

July 18:  Under the cover of rampant Gazza-fever, Liverpool have completed the signing of one-time badge-kissing Everton favourite, Nick Barmby, for £6M.

July 18:  Niclas Alexandersson is expected to complete his £2.5M transfer from Sheffield Wednesday either today or tomorrow.

July 17:  Michael Ball managed to strain his hamstring in training, and misses out on the Italian training camp... or stays behind to negotiate his move to Man Utd, if you believe the scuttlebutt!

July 17:  Walter Smith has signed his troubled friend and ex-Rangers star pupil Paul Gascoigne!  There was no transfer fee for Middlesbrough and Gazza has reportedly taken a massive pay cut, down from £28k a week to £12k for a 2-yr deal.

July 16:  Yes, its Sunday again, and the names in the hat this week are: Noberto Solano(!); Paul Gascoigne(!!); Duncan Ferguson(!!!)!

July 15:  The Everton squad travelling to Il Ciocco in Tuscany for a pre-season training camp does not include Thomas Myhre, Abel Xavier, Peter Clarke, or Jamie Milligan...  

July 14:  Everton and Liverpool have finally agreed a transfer package of up to £6M for the despised figure of Nick Barmby, who is expected to complete his traitorous defection to Anfield on Monday.

July 14:  Alex Nyarko completed his £4.5M transfer to Everton after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms today.  Everton will now apply for his work permit...

July 14:  Don Hutchison is expected to complete his high profile dream move to Inter... er, Sunderland.  The fee? £2.5M.  Bye bye, Don!

July 13:  Alex Nyarko arrived at Goodison Park today to begin contract negotiations with Everton, and a possible £4.5M transfer.

July 13:  Everton and Fulham finally agreed on an "undisclosed" fee for John Collins – which means Everton  accepted somewhat less than £3M.  His move will be completed tomorrow following a medical. 

July 12:  Mitch Ward has apparently agreed terms with Barnsley and will join the Yorkshire club for the princely sum of £200k.

July 12:  Paul Rideout, scorer of Everton's winning goal in the 1995 FA Cup Final, is reportedly returning from the USA (or China!?) to join Tranmere Rovers.

July 12:  Another name to add to the list of prospective new Everton employees is Thomas Gravesen, Danish defender – £2.5M from Hamburg.  

July 11:  England U-16 captain, Everton's Steve Schumacher scored the third goal from the spot in a 3-0 victory over Thailand - the opening match of a three-cornered tournament with Brazil.

July 11:  Everton are holding talks this week with Ghanaian defensive midfielder, Alex Nyarko, about a possible £4.5M transfer.

July 11:  Walter Smith is reportedly close to securing the signature of Sheffield Wednesday's Niclas Alexandersson for £2.5M.

Meanwhile a second offer from Fulham of just under £2M for John Collins has been rebuffed.

July 10:  The transfer merry-go-round enters fever pitch this week; the only firm news so far is that a bid of £2.5M from Charlton has been accepted for Don Hutchison.  Coventry City have matched this amount, so Don has some deciding to do.

July 9:  An article in French magazine L'Equipe apparently states Everton will sign the FC Lens defensive midfielder Alex Nyarko for £4.5M.  Looks more like a struggle with Man City, West Ham and Fulham...

July 8:  Still no sign of Niclas Alexandersson, while Everton are now being linked with Celtic's Swedish International Striker  Henrick Larsson (£10M) and Leicester's Neil Lennon (£4M plus The Don!!!)

July 7:  One of Everton's favourite ex-players, Daniel Amokachi, is being considered by Joe Royle at Man City; he is available on a Bosman from Turkish club Beshiktas.

July 7:  The Daily Post are reporting that Everton's ambitious plans to revamp Goodison Park will not be granted planning permission by Liverpool City Council.

July 7:  Don Hutchison could well end up staying at Goodison. So far he has been linked with: Coventry, Middlesbrough, Celtic Newcastle, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Charlton, Sunderland, and now Barnsley.  But he is likely to have talks with Walter Smith next week.

July 7:  Walter Smith has reportedly fought off competition from Aston Villa, Derby and Coventry to secure the signature of Sheffield Wednesday's Niclas Alexandersson for £2.5M.

July 6:  Everton have decided to appeal against Abel Xavier's incredible nine-month ban from all UEFA competitions.  The club is worried that this will impact his value on the transfer market!

July 6:  David Hopkin of Leeds is thankfully going to Bradford in a £2.5M move.  The sight of this man in the royal blue shirt would have been painful indeed...

July 6:  Everton have rejected Fulham's derisory £1M offer for the services of John Collins, telling Mohammed Al-Fayed the price is £3M.

July 6:  Tranmere have secured the services of Stuart Barlow from Wigan. The 32-year-old former Everton scored 53 goals in 93 appearances, and helped the Lancashire side to the Wembley play-offs last May before crashing to Gillingham.

July 6:  Richard Gough has been appointed Everton Team Captain for next season, with Dave Watson retaining the title of Club Captain.

July 5:  Kevin Campbell is reportedly recovering well from his knee surgery and could be back playing again in mid-September.

July 5:  Walter Smith's friend at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson has stirred the Barmby pot, raising the possibility of an exchange for Nicky Butt.

July 4:  Everton duly completed the signing of Steve Watson from under the noses of Middlesbrough and their rather over-rated manager Bryan Robson.  The £2.5M deal brings the Villa defender to Goodison on a 5-year contract – and he's already talking of an England recall!  NO!!!

July 2:  Abel Xavier has been handed an incredible nine-month ban from all UEFA competitions for his part in the fracas at the end of last week's 2-1 defeat in semi-finals of Euro 2000.  The Everton defender was adjudged to have handled Sylvain Wiltord's shot four minutes before the end of the match against France in Brussels - a decision which sparked furious scenes among the Portuguese camp. 

In the above Sky story, Xavier states how this will make any move to a top European club impossible!!!  Another wantaway?

July 1:  Everton officially launch their new Puma playing strip, which goes on sale today in the newly revamped Everton Megastore.  Old shirts bearing "No 8: Barmby" may be available for ceremonial burning...