|
News Headlines & Features
So Where Does the
Blame Lie?
30 Nov - In our latest
poll we asked our readers where they thought the majority of the blame
lies for our terrible start to the season, and the results show a fairly
even split between the manager, the players and plain old bad luck. Lyndon
Lloyd casts his eye over the first third of the season and offers a lengthy
analysis on each of the options presented. In the context of the
much-improved display against Newcastle, it might seem overly harsh but then
we've had a coupled of false dawns already this season...
Yobo seals vibrant
Blues win
27 Nov - A very lively first half from both sides indicated this was
a far better perfomance from Everton, but niether team could score in a
pulsating first half, despite numerous glorious chances for both Everton and
Newcastle, with the visitors perhaps shading it. Just after the break, it
was Joseph Yobo who scored easily from a corner to set Everton on their
way. The pace rarely let up, but Everton just could not make this game
safe, as Beattie blazed over a glorious chance from 7 yds. More chances
right to the end for both sides but a precious and vital win for the Blues
was finally secured.
2005
Shareholders AGM
25 Nov - Long-time ToffeeWeb correspondent Guy McEvoy provides an
independent account of last night's AGM, an event that these days usually
promises fireworks from shareholders disillusioned with the current
administration but the format of the evening means the hierarchy always
comes out relatively unscathed. The highlight of the evening was the address
by David Moyes who spoke frankly about his team-building efforts, the urgent
need for srtriking reinforcements in January, Per Krøldrup's fitness, and
his desire to stay on as Goodison boss.
Smoke and Mirrors
24 Nov - Tonight, the Annual General Meeting of Everton Football Club
Company Limited takes place at Goodison Park. Shareholders (or their
proxies) may attend to listen to reports of company progress and vote on
such important matters as the re-appointment of accountants Deloitte and
Touche. It is also an opportunity for ordinary shareholders to ask questions
and provide feedback to the current custodians — something made more complex
by the presence of not one but two bodies now claiming to represent the
minority shareholders.
You know you're in
trouble when...
23 Nov - Colm Kavanagh makes a bemused comparison between the
disastrous game against West Brom at the weekend, and the performance put in
under David Moyes by his Royal Blue charges three years ago to the day —
also against West Brom. Different team, different times, different outcome.
Financial Results
2005 – An Independent Assessment
20 Nov - According to the Echo and Everton FC's Annual Report,
we should all be celebrating the best financial results in 127 years. The
Everton Shareholders Association (the real, democratically elected
one!) asked Joe Beardwood to give an independent assessment of the 2005
accounts and, once again, the shareholders who attended his presentation
were amazed at the difference between his analysis and the report published
in the press by the club. The bottom line is, contrary to the club's
positive spin, the results are a cause for great concern. The forecast for
this year of a £17M loss is a long way from the Chief Executive’s assurance
of £2M profit. Joe's opinion is highly valued but it should be noted that he
is not privy to 100% of the information available to the club itself. Study
the slides and commentary and judge for yourself! [1.1MB download; PDF
format]
An absolute disgrace
19 Nov - Everton came looking for a third successive victory but left
utterly shamed by an ordinary but organised West Bromwich Albion. Bent
started up front alongside the ponderous Beattie but the former's running
aside, there was no real threat as the Blues lapsed into a mind-numbing
pattern of aimless balls up front and abysmal distribution. On the stroke of
half time, Hibbert's clumsy challenge outside the box sent Ellington
sprawling inside the area and referee Gallagher awarded a penalty which the
striker converted to make it 1-0. Early in the second half, Clement beat
Beattie at the back post to steer a corner past Martyn. Ellington deepened
the embarrassment with a fine finish from the edge of the area and, at the
death, substitute Earnshaw raced onto Kilbane's awful back-pass to complete
the humiliation. A result and performance that really begs the question
where this team is going under Moyes.
Report from Paul Traill.
Tiny Tim is going to Germany 2006
16 Nov - A great day for the Socceroos, who beat Uruguay 4-2 on
penalities in the crucial second leg of their World Cup Quailfier playoff
tie in Sydney today. Tim Cahill played the full 90 minutes, during which
Australia scored the vital goal they needed to level the tie on aggregate
but they could not get a second. Tiny Tim played through extra time and was
on the field for the penalty shoot-out, but was not one of the takers.
It's only a game, son
15 Nov - With a little more time between Everton games and running
his Tayto import/export business, Colm Kavanagh provides excellent and
highly pertinent commentary on a revealing article in FourFourTwo
magazine regarding the true State of The Game. Point by point, he gives a
Blue perspective on the list of recommendations the article provides for
saving our national passion from its own ultimate self-destruction. And he
provides a gem of a quote describing the true state of the Prem...
The Old Guard returns
14 Nov - A group of Evertonians have broken away from the original
Everton Shareholders Association to set up a new group calling themselves
Everton Shareholders 2005. In the main, these are key players in the
Association who were voted out of power back in 2002, and have decided that
setting up a parallel "more supportive" entity is the way forward. ES2005
held its first meeting last Thursday.
Reasons to be
cheerful
11 Nov - With the overall mood improving as Everton start to put
together a run of better results, James Matthews reinforces the view that
things are not really as bad as some might think. James presents a balanced
and well-reasoned assessment of the indications in both the upper-level
management of the Club, and in the person of David Moyes himself, which give
him reason for optimism as we approach a hectic holiday season fixture list.
Pop Quiz
10 Nov - It's a quiet weekend with no club footie, and Bob Roberts
has come up with this template for a pop quiz dealing with a few of our,
ahem... favourite Everton topics:
- Wayne Rooney
- Everton Team of the 80s
- David Moyes
- Bill Kenwright
- Style over substance
But selecting A or B from the complex and convoluted alternatives is not a
straight-forward choice... Or is there more to this than meets the eye?
Answers on a postcard, please...
Ellis reveals Beattie pact
9 Nov - Aston Villa Chairman Doug Ellis has revealed that a pact was
devised between him and his great friend, Bill Kenwright, over the destiny
of James Beattie's transfer from Southampton last January. Since the player
was offered by his father to both Aston Villa and Everton, the two Chairmen
agreed to offer him identical wage and benefits packages, and allow him to
make his own choice.
Injury Round-up
8 Nov - David Moyes still has five of his first-team squad recovering
from injury (Valente, Ferrari, Naysmith, Carsley & Pistone), which is an
improvement over the peak number of 7 players out that coincided with the
team's horrific recent run of poor form and a position at the bottom of the
table. At least three left-backs are in the group, and it seems unlikely
that any will be fit for Everton's next match at West Brom. But that does
not stop the ever optimistic Dominic King from salivating in the Echo
over a pleasing Christmas outlook and the rosy prospect of Lee Carlsey
returning in all of four to six weeks time...
Resilient
Everton eke out an other win
6 Nov - A solitary first-half goal by James Beattie helped Everton to
a second-successive 1-0 victory, their first at Goodison Park in the
Premiership this season. Middlesbrough started strongly by the Blues slowly
got a handle on the game and when Andy van der Meyde whipped in an
inch-perfect cross, Beattie connected to head home after 16 minutes. It took
a determined defensive stand in the last quarter of the game to keep 'Boro
at bay, though and both Frank Queudrue and Beattie hit the bar late on as
the game threatened to swing either way. But Everton held firm and lifted
themselves out of the bottom three with another crucial three points.
Reports: Lyndon Lloyd |
Paul Traill
Boardroom Battle re-engaged
4 Nov - In the Daily Post, Alan Kelly exclusively confirms a
five-month old rumour that Bill Kenwright tried hard to buy out Paul Gregg's
interest in Everton when the club were riding high last season. Kenwright
offered a £7M package, but the estranged former partner who provided
Kenwright with the money to originally wrest control of Everton from Peter
Johnson via True Blue Holdings, wanted some return on his investment, and
was looking for around £10M. The Post claims Bill wants to try again
now that Everton isn't worth as much (how does that tally with the wonderful
financial figures revealed yesterday?) but can no longer pull the deal
together.
Everton announce financial results
3 Nov - Everton have announced via the exuberant Dominic King in the
Liverpool Echo that the operating company's financial results for the
last season show substantial improvements in both turnover (up from from
£44.7M to £60M) and income from player transfers (up from a previous loss of
£15.4M to a staggering £23.5M profit — thanks in the main to the sale of the
best prospect ever developed though the Everton Academy, a certain Wayne
Rooney. However, the operating profit before player transfers is just
£100k!!! CEO Keith Wyness is looking forward to the upcoming AGM on 24
November.
Stand [and deliver??],
by Rob Fox
1 Nov - The gist of Rob Fox's latest contribution seems to focus on
the issue of confidence among the Everton players, and how this can affect
the way they play. Rob cites the imoportance of the recent bonding exercise
in the Lakes.... which really does beg the question: if true, why wasn't
something like that done earlier in the season? To which Rob claims there
never was the time available for them to get to know each other (!?!).
That's not the only thing I found puzzling while working through my
editorial review of his piece...
Response from Rob Fox.
|
|
Snippets & Rumours
Cahill faces
disciplinary charge
30 Nov - Though many will view it as one rule for an ex-England
captain and one rule for others, the fact remains that under current Fifa
rules the door remains ajar for the FA to put the boot in. They are duly
obliging and Tim Cahill now looks likely to find some extra time for
Christmas shopping after he and Celestine Babayaro were charged with violent
conduct for reacting to their clash on Sunday.
Faddy to bring home the bacon
30 Nov - We thought it must have been just a joke but apparently
Jamie McFadden is deadly serious when he claims that he can fill the
striking void that constitutes Everton's toothless goalscoring prowess.
Okay, lad: Do it!
Shearer charge given the elbow
29 Nov - Newcastle United striker (in more ways than one!), Alan
Shearer, will not face any charges from the FA after his challenge (sic) on
David Weir went unpunished. Mr Shearer should therefore be available for the
forthcoming trip to Anfield. "Three nearer to Milburn from Shearer" would be
a nice headline in the Echo!
Premature Speculation?
29 Nov - Mark Lawrenson paints over last week's 4-0 hammering at the
Hawthorns, insisting that Everton have turned the corner despite only a
narrow victory over Newcastle.
Loyalty —
weakness or strength?
29 Nov - Jim Hourigan asks the question... and provides his own
answer in terms of David Moyes's propensity for not changing a winning team.
Ground plans in limbo
29 Nov - Identical stories in The Guardian and
The Independent based on what Keith Wyness revealed at last week's
AGM underline the lack of progress on a new stadium for Everton, with the
club's plans stymied until something breaks loose on Liverpool's plans to
take their slice of Stanley Park.
Dunc took a
sickie
28 Nov - Duncan Ferguson missed Sunday's game through illness,
according to the official Everton website.
Moyes salutes Yobo
28 Nov - David Moyes appreciates the improved performances being put
in by Josepeh Yobo, and was pleased with his goal yesterday.
Moyes gets the desired response
28 Nov - David Moyes celebrates the response provided by his team
yesterday in turning around the West Brom embarrassment.
Charity auction time
28 Nov - A fabulous never-to-be-repeated chance to bid on a very rare
Everton away No 24 shirt as worn by David Ginola (hardly used), signed by
Gazza and the boys. This strip is being auctioned for a local kids charity
with all proceeds going to the charity.
Swings and Roundabouts
27 Nov - Daid Moyes, pleased with the spirited performance of his
players today, contrasted the lings and arrows of outrageous fortune that
swing on the decision of the referee.
Rob 'Titanic'
Fox
27 Nov - Rob Hamilton responds with a gruesome analogy to Rob Fox's
optimistic outlook.
Der
ball ist Rund
26 Nov - Everton in Europe: 1962 - 2005 is the subtitle and
subject matter of this new book by Mike Owen. Mike will be at Goodison Park
on Sunday, selling copies for the princely sum of £7.99. Look for him on
the corner of Gwladys St and Goodison Rd, by the church.
Looking for a reaction
26 Nov - As Phil Neville lamely lays blame for last week's reverse on
the break for internationals, David Moyes is hoping to see a reaction
against Newcastle on Sunday.
Unthinking the
'unsinkable'
25 Nov - Kevin Sprake reasserts his waivering faith and trust in
David Moyes, despite last weekend's horrifying reversal.
Finch Farm 18 months away
25 Nov - The good news: Everton have finally started work on their
new training facility and Academy complex at Finch Farm. But it will be
another 18 months before it is ready for use.
Full Circle, by Rob Fox
25 Nov - I'm gonna try this précis lark: Moyes is having a tough time
for whatever reason, but it would probably be a mistake to change managers
at this time. There; less than 25 words! Or you can have the full
enchillada: all 4,074 words... just click here:
Team Talk Two
24 Nov - More words of wisdom from David Moyes at the AGM, on the
need for a striker, the formations he has played, and lots lots more...
Team Talk
24 Nov - At the AGM, David Moyes speaks directly to issues concerning
the current Everton team: Krøldrup — man of mystery; defence performing
Okay; need to look for a new goalie...
Going Schizo
24 Nov - Duncan Lennard provides a brilliant description of the
dichotomy that is Everton. After reading this, is it any wonder we all seem
to be going bipolar?
Voice of Reason
24 Nov - Meanwhile in the Liverpool Echo, David Prentice
offers up a much more meaningful list of issues that are of real concern to
shareholders who represent the avearge match-going Evertonian at tonight's
AGM.
Lewis reveals some concerns
24 Nov - Richard Lewis, self-appointed mouthpiece of Everton
Shareholders 2005 via the Daily Post, reveals some valid concerns
about the wonderful financial results and the future of Goodison Park ahead
of tonight's AGM.
Crisis, What Crisis?
24 Nov - Even the usually perceptive Mihir Bose in today's
Telegraph falls right in step with the corporate spin, despite all the
evidence that last year's financial results were "just a blip" bourne on the
Rooney money and finishing 4th. What's this season going to look like?
Don't say you weren't
warned
24 Nov - Adopting the combined role of ranting sage and angry
soothsayer, Tony Marsh has been berating anyone on our mailbag who continues
to support David Moyes — despite the overwhelming evidence that he still
commands the faith of a majority of the fans and, more crucially, that of
the club Chairman, Bill Kenwright.
Screwged
24 Nov - With the festiive season approaching, Gary Willock takes a
twist on Dickens and his Christmas Carol.
Valente tonic for ailing Blues
22 Nov - Nuno Valente has given Everton a boost ahead of Sunday's
match-up against Newcastle after suffering no reaction in his hamstring when
returning to full training yesterday. Phil Neville has been deputising at
left back as all four players better suited to that position have been
injured.
Reserves overcome Blackburn
22 Nov - Despite playing in thick fog in Morecombe, Everton's
reserves came from behind to beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 thanks to goals by
Bjarni Vidarsson and Paul Hopkins.
Bent: ''No Excuses''
21 Nov - This time around it's Marcus Bent's turn to provide feedback
from the players on just what went wrong against West Brom. We can all be
reassured that they will be working on putting things right.
Lost battles?
20 Nov - Lost bottle more like! David Moyes bemoans a pathetic
performance at The Hawthorns: "They won too many battles and we didn't win
enough. I can't accept the performance today and I won't accept it." Does
that mean you're off, Davey?
PotM Results: October
18 Nov - It was a familiar story for this month's PotM with a certain
Basque midfielder dominating the voting once more.
View the results.
Mountfield
confident ...
18 Nov - "It is not going to be a relegation battle for us because we
are going to be safe, but I think the Baggies may be sucked in there for the
season." A bold statement from former player Derek Mountfield who now
reckons Everton will become upwardly mobile in the Premiership over the
coming weeks.
Youth Cup draw
17 Nov - Everton have been drawn to play Reading away in the third
round of the FA Youth Cup.
Eager Steve can't wait!
17 Nov - Ex-player, Steve Watson is relishing the prospect of facing
his old club this weekend. "We're just as good as they are." Read into that
whatever way you like. "We know this Sunday's game is one we need to win."
Oh, Stevie...the game is on Saturday, not Sunday!
Li makes most of
internationals
17 Nov - Chinese international, Li Tie, has availed of the
opportunity to gain vital match fitness with two recent appearances for his
country and could soon return to the first team squad at Goodison: "That is
the first time I have played two matches in the one week so its big
challenge for me physically and technically."
Wolff in Blue
training rags?
16 Nov - USA striker Josh Wolff is training with Everton but this
"clarification" on the official website carefully avoids any suggestion that
he will be joining the club in January.
Shame
and embarrassment
16 Nov - The sad story of Mark Ward, told to The Independent
from prison, where he is serving an 8-year sentence for his involvement in
drug-dealing.
There are none
so blind...
16 Nov - Kevin Sprake wraps up a discussion that has been developing
on our Mailbag, restating his faith in David Moyes under an onslaught of
cynical derision from fellow Evertonian Tony Marsh. Enough!
Reserves
draw with City
15 Nov - Everton Reserves came back from 2-0 down in the final 10
minutes against Manchester City reserves at Haig Avenue with goals from
Victor Anichebe and Icelandic under-21 International Bjarni Vidarsson.
Moyes is going nowhere
15 Nov - Everton have been quick to pour plenty of cold water over
the nonsense written by Alan Nixon in today's Mirror.
Good enough for
China
14 Nov - Li Tie played a full 90 minutes of International football at
the weekend as China went down 2-0 to Serbia and Montenegro, prompting David
Moyes to provide a lengthy explanation as to why he is still out of
contention at Everton.
Ian
Burns, fraudster...
13 Nov - Today's Independent carries a story about how Romario
and at least seven other investors were defrauded in a $10M scam.
Apparently an ex-Everton player by the name of Ian Burns was heavily
involved... only we can find no record of a first-team player by the name of
Burns [possibly he never got out of the Reserves].
Cahill rested as
Roos loose
12 Nov - After all the blather, Tim Cahill was rested for this
critical game for Australia, who suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Ururguay in
the first-leg of a World Cup playoff qualifier.
Collina explains disallowed goal
12 Nov - No surprises from Pierluigui Collina as he provides a
specific description of why he disallowed Duncan Ferguson's crucial goal
against Villarreal that would have equalled the aggregate scores in
Everton's ill-fated dalliance with this season's Champions League
qualifiers.
Faddy miffed with Wally
12 Nov - James McFadden is not happy that Walter Smith dropped him to
the bench for today's friendly against the USA. Jamie came on in the second
half but failed to change the 1-1 scoreline.
Krøldrup's waiting game
11 Nov - Per Krøldrup reveals his frustration at being kept out of
the side by the improved form of Messers Yobo and Weir but explains that,
despite reaching full fitness, he understands that he must be patient for
his chance to arrive.
Cahill to
be rested
11 Nov - This strange piece in The Times takes the whole
Cahill rest saga to a new levels, providing a schedule of upcoming games
from which the off-form Aussie will be rested by David Moyes...
''We have never doubted him''
10 Nov - David Weir talks up the team's abiding faith in James
Beattie, claiming that "Beats" proved himself to his teammates by running
himself ragged from the off. [Such a pity William Gallas just happened to be
in his way at the time...]
Loan deal for young 'keepers
9 Nov - Reserves goalkeepers Iain Turner and John Ruddy have secured
month-long loans to Nationwide League clubs. Turner has gone to Wycombe
Wanderers while Ruddy joins Rushden and Diamonds, both until 10th December.
Per's time will come
9 Nov - David Moyes talks about the transition process that will
eventually see Per Krøldrup get his long-awaited Everton debut.
20-goal target for Beattie
9 Nov - James Beattie's target is to score 20 goals this season and
get himself back into contention for an England place.
Charity Auction by RAF Shawbury
9 Nov - RAF Shawbury are running an auction to raise money for BBC
Children in Need, and the Everton item is a beautiful signed team
photograph. Do your bit to make sure this item goes to a appropriate home,
and raise some money for a worthwhile appeal in the process.
Player of the Month:
October
9 Nov - Slightly belated because of a database problem, voting for
PotM for October is now open. Vote now for the player you thought was the
pick of the Blues last month.
Reserves trump
West Brom
8 Nov - Per Kroldrup, Leon Osman and Paul Hopkins were on the mark as
a relatively inexperienced Reserves side beat West Bromwich Albion
yesterday.
Davies out of ''meaingless friendly''
7 Nov - Davie Moyes has got his groove back, asking what is the
purpose of a meaningless friendly between Wales and Cyprus next Wednesday?
Simon Davies won't be making the trip: he has a hamstring injury.
Moyes: I'd re-sign Gravesen
7 Nov - David Moyes has indicated that he would exercise Everton's
first option and take Thomas Gravesen back from Real Madrid if the Spaniards
try to get rid of him in January. Trouble is, Mad Dog's no spring chicken...
Moyes may rest Van der Meyde
7 Nov - While praising Andy Van der Meyde for the bit of quality that
turned the game for Everton, David Moyes hinted that he may need to still
give him a break now and then as he builds his fitness back to peak levels
over the next few weeks.
Everton have turned the corner
6 Nov - David Moyes believes Everton have finally turned the corner
and are moving away from the dreadful period of form that saw them sit at
the bottom of the Premiership for a month.
Neville looking to maintain trend
5 Nov - Phil Neville is looking to build on Everton's fledgling
unbeaten run in the Premiership with another battling perfomance against
Middlesbrough: "We have let ourselves down in a few games and we need to get
back to having teams being afraid of coming here."
'I feel free' — Andy van der Meyde
5 Nov - [Link Fixed] Andy van der Meyde talks freely to
The Guardian: "I spoke to Middlesbrough and Bolton but I just felt
Everton. I spoke to the trainer and his story was good. I like it here, it's
like Ajax, the rhythm. It's not like Inter. I'm free now, you know, I feel
free."
Where
are they now? Billy Kenny
5 Nov - Biilly Kenny's fall from grace at Goodison some years ago was
equally as drammatic as his rise to prominence. Now he plays for Sunday
League club Allerton and will face Harrington Portland in the FA Sunday Cup.
No Silva in January
4 Nov - Anderson Silva, apparently an Everton player with a five-year
contract(!), will remain on loan at Malaga for the rest of the season as he
is unlikely to get a work permit for the UK before March or April.
Behind the numbers
4 Nov - We'd like to bring you more detail underlying the
much-vaunted financial numbers for Everton FC Co Ltd presented triumphantly
in last night's Echo, but this brief summary will have to suffice for
the time-being.
Back to talking the talk
3 Nov - Looking back over Everton's last three performances Phil
Neville believes the corner has been well and truly turned, supporting
Dominic King's claim that "We're on the way back to our best".
Looking for more from Davies
2 Nov - Simon Davies has shown some improvement, getting over the
shin-splint problem that challenged his early-season from at Goodison. David
Moyes is now looking for the Welshman to raise his game and contribute even
more...
Vaughan back in
training
2 Nov - James Vaughan is back in full training after recovering from
knee surgery six weeks ago. But it may be some time before Moyes decides he
is ready for the senior squad.
Andy needs time
2 Nov - Alan Irvine has appealed for Everton fans to give Andy van
der Meyde time to settle and adjust to the Premiership, in view of his lack
of football for a number months.
Everton
Res 0 - 2 Aston Villa Res
1 Nov - A very young Everton Reserves side featuring no players who
are even likely to be considered for senior involvement anytime soon lost
out to Aston Villa.
Bent suffers squad rotation
1 Nov - David Moyes has confirmed that Marcus Bent was left out of
his 16-man squad, with other options becoming available.
The Game's Gone Mad!
1 Nov - Some timely words of deliberative wisdom from the ageing sage
himself (38?!?).... Colm Kavanagh! |
Top of the Page