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ToffeeWeb Season Diary
Season 2005-06

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 November 2005


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!

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Premier League Table

  Team Pld GD Pts
13 Bournemouth 32 -10 42
14 Crystal Palace 32 -17 33
15 Brentford 33 -11 32
16 Everton* 32 -16 27
17 Nottingham Forest† 33 -16 26
18 Luton Town 33 -24 25
19 Burnley 33 -35 20

* Everton deducted 8 pts; † Forest deducted 4 pts for PSR breach
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