The Mail Bag

Waste of money?

I subscribed to Everton TV not to hear juvenile propaganda but to watch or hear live games. What do I get? Lots and lots of juvenile propaganda and barely a skerrick of Live games. Am I wrong in criticising the service or Is my computer at fault. Will another subscriber living in OZ please tell me their experience of it.
Dick Fearon     Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:17:08   Comments (13)

Starting XI v Luton

Have you seen our starting midfield tonight?

Osman, Pienaar, Carsley and Neville!

Why are Cahill and Gravesen, who both surely need games, not playing?

That foursome as a midfield stinks and I don't know what Moyes is thinking about.

Good news that Vaughan is back in squad.

Yet again Moyes's steam selection disappoints!
Bri L     Posted 31/10/2007 at 20:27:31   Comments (34)

Luton on PC

Anyone know if this is on a stream from anywhere?
Mark Joseph     Posted 31/10/2007 at 17:28:58   Comments (7)

Nuremberg fisk

Let me state at the top that ? despite a cynicism borne from the fatigue of having had to deal with Everton FC for the thick end of four decades ? I actually, for once, believe the club?s line that they didn?t refuse an extra allocation for Nuremberg.

Had there been an extra allocation, I?d have been among the next group of fans hoping to qualify. As it stands, it looks like I?m missing Nuremberg and I?m gutted. But, you know, I?ve got no gripe with all the Metallist-trekkers taking precedence. Is right.

Accepting the club?s line, though, I have to ask why it is that they still manage to make the waters muddier when they gamely try to clarify the situation?

The official EFC line dealing with the latest conspiracy, the so-called refusal of extra Nuremberg tickets, demands a little ?fisking? in order to demonstrate my point.

In other words, I think I need to ask why is it that, even when I?m prepared to believe the club, they actually make me even more suspicious that deep-down they?re really hiding something?

Here goes:

Starts fisk of official EFC explanation with my points in brackets:

Everton have strongly (okay, good, you?ve come out fighting, so I?m expecting total clarity) refuted claims the Club turned down the opportunity to receive an additional allocation of tickets for the Uefa Cup encounter with Nurnberg.

Everton's allocation of tickets for Matchday Two of Uefa Cup Group A, which will be played in Germany on Thursday, November 8 (yeah, yeah, we know when it is) sold out last week following incredible demand (no kiddin).

Reports have since emerged on fan sites (you mean like Toffeeweb? [More likely NSNO — Ed]) suggesting Everton were given the opportunity to receive an additional allocation of up to 2,000 tickets (glad to see that you?re talking precise numbers here, not percentages or entities) for the match but that Club officials opted to decline the extra tickets (yep, that was the general gist of the rumour).

Everton officials are mystified by the claims (strong words, so obviously with good reason, then?), particularly as the Club did everything in its power (how? do tell) to secure as many extra tickets as possible from their German hosts.

Mark Rowan, Everton's Head of Communications (so I'm expecting clarity, Mark), confirmed: "The Club met with Nurnberg following the draw for the Group stage (good, would expect no less) and were informed of the maximum allocation available to us (which was what, exactly?).

We received that allocation (which was what, exactly? why can?t you put a figure on it in the same way that you?re prepared to quote a figure up top regarding the 2,000 tickets that were allegedly rejected? start talking numbers, not entities) and despite repeated requests by the Club for extra tickets we were told there were no others available."

The allocation Everton received for the match (which was what, exactly? just why is it so difficult to quantify the exact number? hiding something? no? well tell us what the ?allocation? was, then - it really is that easy you know and it would kill all the mutterings stone dead) was similar in size to that of an away Premier League game in a similar sized stadium (so, we?re talking 3,000-ish are we? or is it more? or slightly less? in fact, why leave it to us to do the maths? why so long-winded?).

UEFA rules state visiting clubs are to receive 5% of the stadium capacity before segregation.  Everton received in the region of 6.7% for this fixture (em>so how many did we get, then? just tell us? a figure hey? not a percentage!).

Ends fisk of official EFC explanation.

See what I mean?
Greg Murphy     Posted 31/10/2007 at 15:58:25   Comments (15)

Right Back

I feel, as an Evertonian, one of our main problems is our right back position. At the moment, we have 3 candidates to fill that role.

Tony Hibbert - A very good defender, but not very good at going forward and sometimes does the odd mistake (e.g the Liverpool penalty)

Phil Neville - Kind of opposite to Tony Hibbert in a way. Great at going forward, but an OK ish defender. Think he's better than Hibbert at right back personally, but I don't really trust him if there is a top class winger trying to dribble past him.

Phil Jagielka - Now, I think he is a mixture of both the above players. He's obviously a good defender, and proved on Sunday, he can go forward and provide some threat.

Now, personally I think Jagielka is our best right back, because he's a better all round right back, compared to the other two. Now, providing this, does anybody think we should replace them with a new right back in January or the Summer, or are the Evertonians happy with the right backs we have?
Ben Jones     Posted 31/10/2007 at 13:07:46   Comments (20)

Everton city stadium sites were offered to Liverpool FC

So Liverpool City Council offered sites to the RS as an alternative to Stanley Park. Right, Everton Football Club approach the Council to develop Stanley Park and are told beat it, the RS approach and are told yes, not a problem. Then they put revised plans in to make it bigger and are then offered three alternative sites just in case the planners refuse stanley park. The club?s advisors dismissed all of Cllr Bradley?s sites as unsuitable for a new Liverpool stadium. What is this all about?
Kevin Murphy     Posted 31/10/2007 at 10:46:43   Comments (0)

Want to have your say?

I'm going to be asking a few questions to Ian Rush and Steve McMahon like:

"Ian, Gordon Lee (The Dome) was scouting you and Graeme Sharp. He could've signed both, but chose Sharpy. Do you think you could've played together, and would it have altered things on Merseyside?"

"Steve, Merseyside Derby, that tackle, John Ebrell. Put you out the game for months. Regrets?"

If you want to ask any questions, post onto this thread, keep it CLEAN, by all means be humerous, leave your name and where you are, and I'll pick the best 10 or so and ask on the night!
Anonymous Toffee     Posted 31/10/2007 at 03:23:28   Comments (9)

Is it true?

Could it really be true that the club have returned approx 2,000 tickets for the Nuremberg game? Could the powers that be do something so callous to deny so many people the opportunity to travel to see their beloved Blues play in Europe? I hope that this is just a rumour because if it's true this is just one kick in the teeth too far. Shame on you whoever is responsible if this is true.
Lue  Glover     Posted 30/10/2007 at 23:19:52   Comments (15)

So what is our best Eleven ?

Three years ago we started the campaign with the smallest squad in the Premier League. Manure had just taken away our Ray of light, Goodison was shrouded in gloom and even the most optimistic of us would have settled for fourth from bottom. We were every pundit's favorites for the drop The Ray of light was replaced by Marcus Bent and we all braced ourselves.

The Gunners had duly battered us in the curtain raiser, Evertonians assembled for each game, not in anticipation of victory, but in a collective fist clenching defiance against, what seemed to others, the inevitable defeat, but slowly we began to recover, a few 1-0 wins got us out of the danger zone, a few more and belief began to grow, The paper thin squad the "experts" claimed would see us sunk had become our biggest asset, every Evertonian could name the squad for every game, baring injury, there were no conflicting opinions because there were no alternatives.we were`nt pretty, but DM enjoyed 100 % support, Evertonians were as one. Collectively we even developed an eternal soft spot for Marcus

Driving back from Derby last week, I was listening to excited Blues phoning the radio stations and announcing things were about to get better, Everton stars were returning from there sick beds, because of injuries it hadnt occurred to me that we now have a much larger and more talented squad than we did three years ago, but are we better off ?

Will we qualify for the CL this time round ? Sure we will do better in the cups — how could we not — but is a squad this size to our benifit or our detriment?

Joll just lost his job because he couldnt decide his best team. Who would bet against The Waiter going the same way? DM will now find that now he has choices, the fans will not be nearly as supportive when he gets it wrong. The demands are greater, not only is winning expected we are now demanding open imanginative flowing football, we`ve paid good money for this squad. so why shouldnt we ?

The Goodison faithful are no longer in total agreement with all the manager's decisions, we cant even agree with each other,with the jury still out on several players I doubt you could find two Evertonians agreeing on the same team

Howard, Jags, Yobo Lescott and Baines, love Stubbsy but ...
Micky, Grav, Carsley, Pienaar... can't believe I left out Tim 'n Ossie but this is hard
Vaughny AJ, but accept genuine claims for Yak and Vic

Is this close ?
Dave Wilson     Posted 30/10/2007 at 20:33:57   Comments (24)

Five Strikers!

What, oh, what is Moyes going to do with 5 strikers, and decent strikers at that?! Something surely has to give, with Anichebe and McFadden doing well, and Yakubu being our record signing.

Johnson is now coming back from injury along with young James Vaughan. I don't think Moyes expected McFadden to do what he did for Scotland (mind you who did expect it?!) and he has been given a big problem ? but a nice one at that.

So... would you sell any of the strikers, or would you keep all 5? What do you think about the general situation with McFadden? Do you think it's wise to keep him or sell him when his value is at its highest?
Gaz Kruger     Posted 30/10/2007 at 19:59:36   Comments (31)

Manny's Stats

Valencia's manager sacked.... Manny Fernandes out injured, and hasn't featured in over a month, made 2 starts and 2 appearances as a sub... total number of shots taken this year....one. Imagine the letters if he was doing that in our blue kit?

Valencia paid $17 million in a dodgy deal for him, and I bet he doesn't get another game until sometime in 2008! I guess we lucked out on that one.... does anybody on this board still want him for that much money?

[Gratuitous criticism of David Moyes removed by Editors]
Al Dugan     Posted 30/10/2007 at 18:03:19   Comments (15)

Clattenburg... Again

I may be alone here but I would love it if we get Clattenburg refereeing another of our games. If the FA arn't going to seriously punish him then maybe we could at least watch him squirm at the constant shower of abuse he would have to suffer on his return to Goodison, could there be a more intimidating punishment (just don't make it a game against the top four).
Eddie Harrison     Posted 30/10/2007 at 16:25:50   Comments (5)

Luton Game

Is Andy van der Meyde injured at the minute? A run out in the cup against a poor Luton side would get him some much-needed match fitness. Jags was SO much better at right back on Sunday, he has to keep his place! Tommy G to start too!!
Allan Barratt     Posted 30/10/2007 at 11:55:43   Comments (13)

Excited about Pienaar

Reading the match report on the BBC site after the game at Derby, I came across this sentence that got me excited: "Pienaar, the South African mid-fielder, was probably Man of the Match for his sensational work-rate".

Since the match was not on TV in India, can somebody confirm: Was he MotM? Was he really as impressive as the BBC reporter made it out? I would love it if he came good with Everton ? another "gem" uncovered by the shrewd DM?
Ajay Gopal     Posted 30/10/2007 at 09:09:42   Comments (32)

Credit Where It's Due

Nice one Lyndon

'Moyes has shown a willingness to rotate his players somewhat so far this season as he seeks to lessen the impact of intermittent fixture congestion that occurs either side of the international breaks.'

The reason why we have fixture congestion is nothing to do with international breaks, it's due to our success in both Europe and the League Cup. Give Moyes a bit of credit for god's sake.

The institutionalised anti-Moyes animosity of the editorial board is beginning to get on my nerves.
Joe Black     Posted 30/10/2007 at 08:49:24   Comments (2)

Winning team

You can be sure that with our now bursting squad that Moyes will rotate for the Carling Cup game at Luton. No doubt Hibbert and Neville will come back in and then Moyes will publicly praise the "tough tackling duo" thus enabling him to change a winning team against Birmingham on Saturday and reinstate them.

The teamwork and play in our last 2 games (Larissa and Derby) has been much improved through midfield and I would hate us to lose that if either of these two play regularly. Neville does a job holding in midfield or at right back but Hibbert is just useless and that is exactly the word I would use. The basic defending he provides is just that, basic and Jags does all that and 500% more.

Please David can we keep young Tony for those special reserve occasions from now on?

ps: Any word on Baines's injury?
Niall Clinton     Posted 29/10/2007 at 21:14:18   Comments (17)

Playing through midfield

Amazing! The last two games Everton didn't bypass the midfield (who must all feel a little lonely not being passed to) and we won. I'm not saying that the last two oppositions were anything to shout about but we scored goals and won matches. Will there be more of this to come or will Moyes revert back to long ball football again?
Trevor Thompson     Posted 29/10/2007 at 21:00:17   Comments (10)

Why did we seek to change him?

About two years ago, I wrote, in common with many Evertonians, that I was sick to death of watching Moyes`s tactic of playing only one up front. Granted then his options were strictly limited but it seemed to us all to be a negative tactic that would never see Everton thrive long term. ince then, he Moyestro has virtually abandoned the idea and played around with all manner of duos up front although no pairing seems to have looked totally convincing.

This season, he manager`s main strength ? his defence ? has leaked like a sieve and, in total frustration, he has reverted to the style he knows best: 4-1-4-1. And, surprise, surprise, it`s caused hardly a murmour! Yes, I know it has happened to allow for the effective re-introduction of Cahill whom we are all delighted to see back in the fray but don`t we all agree that, for the first time in ages, Everton are looking like a real team again?

I now accept that this is the way the man really likes to play it and, given the right personnel, it can be both effective and attractive. The trouble with us Evertonians is that we are too keen to lean on the manager to `do it our way` and when it doesn`t work, it`s his fault! So, from now on, I shall bow to the man`s superior knowledge and if he thinks that`s the way we can get results, so be it!

ps: Or he could sell AJ, buy a playmaker, and make me really happy!
Alan  Whelan     Posted 29/10/2007 at 18:36:37   Comments (13)

It's up to us

Like most, the Derby still rankles.

Like most, I am disgusted more by the events (or lack of them) thereafter.

However, we have to look at the fact that this inactivity also includes our own club.

What have EFC done to keep this on the public agenda? Sometimes you get out what you put in. I sincerely hope Moyes is not now keeping stumm to preserve himself from a fine from the FA. Sometimes, and this is one of them, things are worth fighting for.

I urge all Evertonians to take 5 minutes to email the Premier League and the BBC (MoTD and FF). Keep this public and something will be done.

Up the blues.
James  McPherson     Posted 29/10/2007 at 15:42:45   Comments (19)

The Yak

In your Match Summary, you say 'Yakubu did nothing all day'.

I thought for the first time he looked the part. Led the line intelligently, worked hard, set up the first goal with a wonderful dummy and took his goal well. He was my MOM.

OK the opposition was almost none existent but I thought he started to look something like.
Steve Ashton     Posted 29/10/2007 at 13:57:14   Comments (16)

Potentially Great In Europe

We play hoofball which is just horrible to watch most of the time and we are a strong physical team with a high workrate that Moyes always harps on about.

Commentators and foriegn players always talk about the "English style of play" and the foriegn teams always struggle against them because they don't play against that kind of team very often.

We epitomise the "English" way of playing so I personally think that we could cause some serious upsets in Europe this season.

We struggle against Eastern European teams because they are just as fit and just as strong. if we try to play against people like Bayern they will rip us apart. If we bully them they might crumble. The only team in the Premier League that can out play a European team is Arsenal. What does everybody else think?
Dave  Trudge     Posted 29/10/2007 at 12:59:37   Comments (0)

My Response

This morning a recieved a response for the FA. However i did not idenitfy any of the major incidents during the derby match. I commented on Clattenburgs all round perfomramce.

So judge what you will from this response. However i'm afraid it's annother poor generic response inteneded to fob me off and pass me on to someone else.

Read on......

Dear Mr Brennan

I write in reference to your e-mail concerning the Everton vs Liverpool fixture on Saturday 20 October 2007.

The Football Association receives frequent correspondence on individual refereeing decisions across all levels of football as well as on the performance of referees in general. Every supporter will have an opinion on the game's major talking points and we're always interested to hear them.

Tony Hibbert's red card

Some supporters have suggested that Liverpool's Steven Gerrard influenced the decision to send Everton's Tony Hibbert from the field of play. All decisions on the field of play are made by the referee and regardless of the context it is not for players to influence or advise the referee on a decision.

Select Group referees' performances are assessed by the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) and appointments made accordingly (see below).

Dirk Kuyt's challenge on Phil Neville

As supporters will be aware Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt was booked for the challenge in question. FIFA guidelines aimed at avoiding the "re-refereeing" of matches generally prevent The FA from taking disciplinary action on incidents which are seen and dealt with at the time by the match officials (this includes taking no action). As a general rule, if the match officials see an incident and have jurisdiction to take action, The FA cannot act retrospectively. These guidelines prevent The FA from upgrading/downgrading yellow and red cards based on retrospective advice provided by the match referee.

Everton FC penalty appeals

Whether a penalty is awarded or not is a decision of the referee guided by assistance from the assistant referee. They are required to make a split second decisions based on what they see. This is subsequently analysed repeatedly by slow motion cameras and panels of football experts. Ultimately, football is a tremendously popular and successful game played worldwide under the fundamental principle that 'the referee's decision is final'.

Refereeing has been restructured with the aim of continued improvement of the overall standard of refereeing in the professional game. This sees match officials categorised into two groups with the Select Group officiating in the Premier League.

The Select Group is the responsibility of Keith Hackett, General Manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

There is a system in place for monitoring the performance of referees and referee's assistants. This involves referees assessors and reports from club managers. All assessors come from a footballing background and the majority are fully qualified referees themselves. The performances of referees over a season are then taken into consideration when the leagues appoint their referees for the following season.

Whilst we can understand the frustration that comes with decisions going against your team The FA are confident that the disciplinary procedures off the pitch as well as the referees on the pitch uphold the Laws of the Game without bias to player or club.

We do appreciate all of the feedback we receive from supporters. This feedback is collated and used to build a picture of public opinion and is subsequently fed back internally within the organisation. Please rest assured your comments will form part of this feedback process.

Kind regards,

Alex Howells
Shaun  Brennan     Posted 29/10/2007 at 11:41:23   Comments (6)

Poll on Battenburg

Did anyone else hear Poll on FiveLive on Saturday morning (I think)?

He said battenburg had a shocker last week and that we were denied TWO clear penalties.

Now if even he and Alan Green are on our side, then can anyone explain why the FA have done nothing about it?

In the unlikely event that he ever officiates at Goodison again, I would sugest the following chant all the way through the game.

Mark Clattenburg... Is full of Shit... Mark Clattenburg is full of Shit...

You know the rest.
David Mills     Posted 29/10/2007 at 11:56:35   Comments (1)

Alan Stubbs

I would like to find out everyone's opinion whether or not Stubbsy should be offered a coaching role at the club at the end of the season.

Obviously David Moyes may offer the iron man another one year deal as he still puts in performances that merit it. Maybe he will go elsewhere to continue playing i dont know, but if he retires at the end of the season surely such an influential player would be a great asset to the club in a coaching role be it at youth level or higher.
Michael Newton     Posted 29/10/2007 at 11:39:18   Comments (12)

Riquelme

I've heard all the rumours, i.e., the transfer broke down at the last minute, etc. I reckon if we can get Riquelme, he is just the player to knit the team together. The last piece of the jigsaw. WOW. Not only me and forty odd thousand would elated, also Yakubu and Johnson would have their workload cut down by half. Please bring him on.

P.S. The last attacking center midfielder, who could score goals was Don Hutchison. Was it that long ago??
Colin Malone     Posted 29/10/2007 at 00:13:53   Comments (13)

No coincidence

It is obviously no coincidence that the team managed to go away from home score two, get a clean sheet, three points in the bag WITHOUT Hibbert and Neville.

Now, considering Jags had a good game at right back, it will be no surprise to see him keep his place as Hibbert is woeful and badly low on confidence.

But will the manager have the nouse to keep Neville on the bench (where he belongs)? Don't think so. What are the odds Carsley will make way for Moyes's favourite player?
Andy Codd     Posted 28/10/2007 at 23:13:08   Comments (14)

AJ

Interesting to see rumours of AJ leaving in January for £9 million. To be honest I would bite the hand off West Ham if they offer that for him. I think Vic and Vaughny have come through quite well now and with the likes of Agard and Baxter coming through the ranks, I feel we have sufficient cover up front. The £9 million can be used to bring in a quality £15 million-plus midfielder, to supply the boys up front.
Paul Coleman     Posted 28/10/2007 at 22:34:01   Comments (23)

A lighter topic...

I am sure that I am not the only blue who was somewhat disappointed by the "silver" away kit that the players were wearing last season. It was grey, dull and seemed to be an unattractive option for the loyal consumer when compared with the mighty Royal Blue Home colours. Tut tut to those in market research, I say. This season is a marked improvement, but I must confess to not being so content with the Home kit this year - it seems to be a generic Umbro, fill-in-your-colours attempt; some other clubs also have very similar kits, albeit in different colours. Everton should have attractive, unique kits, that the club knows its fan base approves of, thus boosting sales.

I have a potentially revolutionary suggestion... be prepared...

A few years ago I went to an away game at Southampton, which we won (2-0, I think). I re-discovered the programme yesterday, and noticed an interesting section: a choice of four different designs for the kits, home and away, for the next season. Fantastic — the fans were being utilised by the club to select the jerseys for the next season!

This would be a win-win situation for Everton Football Club. All that is needed is for the club to post a choice option on evertonfc.com, and allow us loyal blues to vote for our favourite choice. Out of 4 or 5 possiblilities, for example. The matchday programme could also include a way to vote for those less internet-inclined. Was there not recently a request on the website for a "Ways to improve the Programme" survey?

The club would save money on both the initial design phases and on market research costs! And the fans would feel as though they had a good input, and would be even more proud to buy and wear the new jersey every season.

I emailed the club about the possibility of this already (yet to get a response...), just wondered what you thought of the idea!
Louis Huglin     Posted 28/10/2007 at 20:08:48   Comments (5)

Hmmm... I might just get used to this

Not so much spending the lost hours doing menial tasks around the house, in the absence of ToffeeWeb and its various editorial demands.... No, I'm talking about watching the Boys in Blue put together sumptuous moves some us knew they were capable of.

I'm talking principally about the brilliant football that led to Osman's superb strike, from the moment it left our area to the moment it smacked the back of the net. If only they had the self-belief and the motivation from Moyes to do more of it. THAT is what some of us have been craving for.

Hopefully it will forever silence the idiotic response that we can't be expected to play like Arsenal/Man Utd/Brazil... well, I seen it wid my own eyes!!! Just as I did early last season with AJ's goal at Spurs ? we CAN do it. Why can't we do it just a bit more often?
Michael Kenrick     Posted 28/10/2007 at 05:49:45   Comments (21)

Relief from the pain!

I followed the Larissa game on the web since I am from India and the game was not televised here. There were some nervous moments when the score was 2-1 and they seemed to have a lot of possession and shots on goal. But as we have seen before, Victor pops up and scores one to help us breathe easy.

Well done, Moyes and the lads, after the weekend injustice. Absolutely vital that Cahill and Gravesen stay fit... hope to Vaughny back soon too. Let's look to build on this win in the league and other cup games... COYB
Santosh Benjamin     Posted 25/10/2007 at 21:59:20   Comments (5)

Everton TV and the Match!!!

After seeing live coverage advertised on the Official Site, I got up early to watch it... only once I logged in it was nowhere to be found. I saw on the Blue Room there was somebody else having problems. Did anybody manage to get the match from the Official Site?
Darren Reeves     Posted 25/10/2007 at 21:47:09   Comments (9)

Everton Big Cheese?

I heard American cheese magnate Robert Kraft say on Sky this morning that he was "looking to buy into a Premiership team." Apparently he owns a soccer team already and "wants to grow the brand."

Most of my work-mates say Everton should reach out to him but I'm not so sure. I think for all his faults, Kenwright is one of us and has done a great job of stabilising the Club. He's also got us a new stadium for next to nothing. I'd feel safer staying British!
Terry  Downey     Posted 25/10/2007 at 10:11:55   Comments (13)

What a difference a week makes

Just noticed on another site that Da Silva is on his way back to Goodison after Barnsley failed to extend his loan spell.

This coupled with the fact that our injury list is getting smaller by the day can only be seen as great news, and perhaps time to be a bit more optimistic for the weeks ahead?

In the space of a few days it looks like Moyes, who decided on a midfield including Neville and Jags in the middle of the park against the RS, will now have at his disposal...

Arteta
Cahill
Gravesen
Pineaar
Osman
Carsley
AvdM
Da Silva

Surely now we will not have to see either Jags or Nev in midfield for a long, LONG time, and rather utilise them in the back 4 if and when needed instead, positions where they are surely much more suited.

Just in time me thinks especially with the UEFA and Carling Cup about to kick off along side the Premiership (sorry, "Premier League" as it must be called now!).
Lee Smith     Posted 25/10/2007 at 10:02:58   Comments (2)

Alan Green

Anyone else hear the Irish kopite criticise Liverpool for the first time in living memory last night? "They got out of jail at Goodison and Everton should have had two penalties," is what Green said! Could it be that the media's love affair with the dark side and, in particular Benitez, is over?
Alan Rodgers     Posted 25/10/2007 at 09:33:02   Comments (0)

Everton and Tesco

This is a short poem I wrote some time ago to a nephew who supports the R/S after some derogatory comments about EFC and Tesco.

Wherever we go wherever we roam
we will always be supported by the boys from home

We dont need cockneys to keep our stadium full
and we certainly dont need the folk from Birmingham

Ok we may need some help from Tesco
to build our ground

But at least they are English
and support the pound

And I would rather have a shirt which has the blue of Tesco
Than the crappy yellow strip that is synonymous with Netto
Pat Whitty     Posted 25/10/2007 at 09:03:31   Comments (0)

UEFA Relief

Our current form in the primer league, maybe on Saturday due to no fault of our own, has essentially crushed the high hopes I had ahead of this season. Granted I had bad feelings since the Fernandes fluke but I won't go there.

On the bright side of things is the Uefa Cup. I hear people complain that the group stages of cup competitions are boring and in most cases pointless but for Everton right now I think it is a great place to find our form.

On paper we should make it our of this group and assuming we do I think it can prove a real boost to the players. And possible the European influence can alter some of the poor play exhibit and throw some emphasis on passing

So let's beat Larissa and kick start this season. Because if we don't I'm going to be pissed off again, and I think I JUST got over the derby. I still refuse to watch the highlights.
Joey Brown     Posted 25/10/2007 at 04:25:46   Comments (0)

Questions unanswered

I know we've all had enough of the Derby fiasco but the Times are running an interesting article.

"'I know the real story,' the Scot said. 'I know what has gone on and I know what the referee?s thoughts were because of his comments to me. If the FA want to know the real comments then they need to speak to me.'"

This really does beg the question as to what has gone on behind the scenes. Moyes is clearly not giving this one up without a fight. Can anyone at ToffeeWeb shed any further light on Moyes comments?
Gerry Western     Posted 24/10/2007 at 23:22:23   Comments (20)

Nurnberg tickets available

I am reliably informed that the official allocation to EFC is in excess of 4,000 but EFC has only taken up 2,000 or so. Apparently, this is to create a sense of desperation and hopefully lead to the club selling more of the highly priced official day trips.

Now I know that we are scraping around for every £ we can get but would it not be better to have 4,000 Blues roaring the team to victory rather than have up to 2000 empty seats at the Everton end? It would also show the watching public that EFC is a well supported club who have well behaved fans — and this might attract more fans to us. So come on, Everton, take up the full allocation and let us, the fans, have them.
Keith Whynot     Posted 24/10/2007 at 21:15:47   Comments (11)

Uefa Cup Possibility

Long shot maybe, but if Liverpool get knocked out of the Champions League, then they drop into the UEFA Cup where Everton will destroy them over two legs in the semi final. Hmmm...
Nola Boy     Posted 24/10/2007 at 20:25:20   Comments (17)

Subsequent ban

When a certain Mr Gerrard attempted to break Gary Naysmith's leg in a derby game some seasons back that went unpunished in the game the FA stepped in and issued the proper red card in light of the offence after the fact.

No such luck this time round with Mr Kuyt then?

Normal service resumed. (And wasn't it the Kopites crying about Gary Neville celebrating a couple of seasons ago? Good to know that the shite players are immune in that sense also..
Boris Berezofski     Posted 24/10/2007 at 17:02:08   Comments (4)

Tim Howard's condition

For the last two years Mikel Arteta has been awarded the Everton Player of the Season. I couldn't agree more but I must say I am surprised by how little Tim Howard has been credited by fans. For me, the big American has been an excellent replacement for Nigel Martyn between the sticks and easily ranks in the top 4/5 keepers in the Premiership. His importance to the team was, of course, no more evident than when Manchester United visited last April.

But one thing has always sparked thought for me concerning Big Tim and that is this: How severe is Tim's Tourrette's disorder? And does it in any way hinder him from instructing his backline? For those of you who are unaware of Tim's condition, he suffers from Gilles de la Tourette syndrome which is a disorder charactarized by vocal and physical ticks that cause the sufferer to often blurt out obsenities. I am just curious to know if anyone has any information on this.
Neil Styles     Posted 24/10/2007 at 15:50:34   Comments (5)

Uefa matches on Channel 5

Does anyone know if Channel 5 will be following EFC through th Uefa Cup? They did it last year with Rovers? Just hoping the away games might be on (as going to the home ones!) COYB!
Amanda Huddleston     Posted 24/10/2007 at 12:23:27   Comments (16)

Larissa match

Does anybody else feel that with the injustice that was dealt out from the derby last Saturday, that we are going to absolutely mash Larissa tomorrow night? The team has to be right of course, but I think DM should pick the team from those who are available for Sunday's game at Derby. Jags at right back, Baines at left back, Carsley, Arteta, Piennar and Osman in midfield with Yakubu and McFadden up front. I think Vic has done quite well recently, but I believe he has done much better coming on as a sub. Also, Yakubu looked more lively than usual on Saturday and looks like he could bang a few in for us. Fingers crossed eh... 4-0 to the Blues!!!
Simon Gemine     Posted 24/10/2007 at 09:33:06   Comments (8)

Moyes never mentioned

Does it strike anyone else how strange it is that the name of David Moyes is never seriously mentioned when it comes to discussing possible targets for the really big jobs?

OK, so a few thought on this site thought (hoped) he might be in for the Rangers job but apart from that I can never recall mention of any big club or national team targeting him for their job. Is this because they see his bond with Blue Bill as truly one `for life` and thereby unbreakable or that too many of them subscribe to the Tony Marsh view that he is a well organised but very limited manager?

In recent weeks we`ve seen much speculation over `big city jobs` at Chelsea and Spurs (OK, so few Evertonians see the latter as superior to our club but one look at their balance sheet will show they are in a different league) and whilst relative newcomers to the job such as Mark Hughes get a mention, Moyes never seems to figure . Just think of some of the names you have seen put forward to succeeed Sir Alex when the time comes or, for that matter, that walking dead man, Steve McClaren! Moyes is never even an outsider.

So is it that `bond` that puts him beyond the speculation or the simple fact that the rest of football recognise `Our Davey` as `the man for a crisis` but destined forever to manage average teams playing dour, unimaginative football?
John  Mair     Posted 24/10/2007 at 09:01:54   Comments (21)

Larissa Tickets: More Virtual Challenges?

When I bought my Larissa tickets on 11 October (by telephone ? I had to chase my new eticket login again yesterday) I was told that I would not get any written confirmation, just that my season card would be activated - in fact exactly as it says on the EFC website:

"Season ticket holders who have purchased their own seat for the game are reminded their season card has been activated to allow entry. The season cards of season ticket holders who have not purchased their normal seat will be inactive for the game."

So I was surprised to find an envelope in this Monday's post containing two tickets for the same seats along with a credit card receipt.

Yesterday, after 33 minutes moving from 10th in the queue, I got through to the ticket office (sorry, "Fan Centre"). The bloke appeared as surprised as I was over the tickets (but was at least able to tell me my new login).

I'm taking both the tickets and the season cards to the game as I'm not sure which will work (I hope at least one or the other will). What worries me is why tickets could be issued against two season cards that supposedly had already been used to take up the seats to which they relate.

What price another 8.30 kick off?
Craig Kersey     Posted 24/10/2007 at 08:08:48   Comments (3)

Some Nuremberg Thoughts

1. Does anyone agree with me that based on the price of the tickets that the £399 day package to Nuremberg is a little bit steep?

2. Does anyone actually know how many tickets Everton received and why Everton don't actually tell us?

3. If by any chance there are tickets on General sale next week do you think the club will actually state the amount or let us guess, queue up for ages only to be told that there were 150 tickets?

The one major problem with our club (that has a fan charter) is the poor communications between them and us, the poor fans.
Adi Perterson     Posted 23/10/2007 at 22:43:03   Comments (9)

Happy Birthday Sheffield FC

I'm sure all Evertonians, indeed football fans everywhere, will join me in wishing happy 150th birthday to Sheffield F.C., the world's oldest (extant) association football club.

Wednesday night sees them host Sepp Blatter and others at a special celebration dinner and then, on November 8th, at Bramall Lane (their original home), they play Inter Milan in a commemorative match.

Happy birthday!
Chris  Jones     Posted 23/10/2007 at 22:31:29   Comments (0)

Communications

I am not a spelling nazi. What you write between yourselves — whether in shorthand SMS or abusive forum speak — is entirely up to you. But please, if you're going to e-mail Keith Hackett or the Premier League to complain, try to communicate at a level beyond that of grade F GCSE English. Your (eminently reasonable) opinions might be taken a little more seriously.
Phil Adams     Posted 23/10/2007 at 22:12:34   Comments (2)

A Blessing in Disguise?

I know the derby was a disaster and the referee was a bit of an idiot (an understatement I know!) But there is one positive...

Hibbert and Neville are suspended!! I know this is odd to celebrate but think about it, they are our two worst form players over the season and now, because these guys are suspended, Jagilelka can play right back and Moyes can finally play Carsley with Cahill/Gravesen.

Now to me that is a much more balanced team instead of the derby team where we play an average right back and a very defensive centre midfield.

Trust me, this could finally change the awful long ball system we've got and turn our season around.
Ben  Jones     Posted 23/10/2007 at 22:19:11   Comments (15)

Double Standards

Compliant in respect of Mr Mark Clattenburg Premier League Referee:

I would like to register my utter disgust and disbelief that a Premier League official whom is considered to be at the top of his profession can be allowed to get away with absolutely shocking decisions (listed below) and bias towards Liverpool Football Club. These decisions have been played out over the last couple of days since the Merseyside Derby (21/10/07) in the national media, however the lack of information that has came from yourselves and the FA is scandalous.

1. Sending off of Tony Hibbert after words from Steven Gerrard, Q is it not against the rules to sway an official?s decision??

2. Penalty Claim(1) Steve Finnan manhandles(bear hugs) Joleon Lescott, no penalty.

3. Tackle by Dirk Kuyt on Phil Neville ? Q ? What is the difference between the tackle made at Old Trafford by Jon Obe Mikel who received a straight red, or was it because Dirk Kuyt said I quote ?I did not mean that?, the player was over 2 ½ feet in the air whilst making that challenge, again this is indirect conflict to your refereeing rules.

4. Penalty claim (2) Jamie Carragher assault on Joleon Lescott ? The referee was no further that 10 feet way and gave no penalty, however he gave the penalty on Tony Hibbert from at least 3 times that distance!!

I refer to the Liverpool vs Chelsea game, Rob Styles gave a penalty against Liverpool that day and was rightly castrated in the media and by his own organisation (Keith Hackett), he was forced to apologise to Liverpool FC. If indeed their is no bias towards the so called ?Big 4? why has no action been taken against Mr Clattenburg or Steven Gerrard. If these incidents had have happened at Anfield and towards the Liverpool team, I and possibly the majority of Everton FC fans and neutral supporters would be in no doubt that action would be swift against the official in charge.

If the EPL is to be transparent and not be classed as the same as the Corrupt Serie A League, then blatant mistakes should be punished, if it happened to the Big 4 this matter would have been dealt with swiftly as per the Liverpool vs Chelsea Game.

All I ask for (and I meaning the entire Everton Supporters) is that you provide answers on why no action has been taken against the referee.

His non-inclusion is nothing to do with the game last weekend but due to a UFEA Game on Thursday 26 Oct 07.

Yours Sincerely,
Tommy Hesketh     Posted 23/10/2007 at 14:58:30   Comments (13)

Everton to join the “Global War”?

What does Nike's acquisition mean for the club? Will we still have kits manufactured by Umbro or will Nike take over?

If Nike do take over we will be part of the 'Global War' between Adidas and Nike as they seem to sponsor a team with most major derby games.

Arsenal (Nike) vs. Chelsea (Adidas)
Barcelona or Atletico Madrid (Nike) vs. Real Madrid (Adidas)
Boca Jrs. (Nike) vs. River Plate (Adidas)
Borussia D. (Nike) vs. Bayern Munich (Adidas)
Brazil (Nike) vs. Argentina (Adidas)
Flamengo (Nike) vs. Fluminense (Adidas)
Inter Milan (Nike) vs AC Milan (Adidas)
Porto Fc (Nike) vs. Benfica (Adidas)
Portugal (Nike) vs. Spain (Adidas)
PSG (Nike) vs. Olympique M. (Adidas)
PSV (Nike) vs. Ajax (Adidas)

Food for thought or will we still be running out to our Football League style kit next season?
Leroy Jenkins     Posted 23/10/2007 at 14:37:54   Comments (17)

Why do we bother?

Its half one this afternoon just got back from Goodison ticketless. I went there at 8.30 this morning with travel documents 8 Kharkiv stubs etc and after 3 hours waiting was told I could not have them as we got these Kharkiv tickets through the Birkenhead supporters branch. So fucking what!

We travelled to Munich, Kiev, Warsaw to get to and from that game. We have the passport stamps to prove it but this is what happens. We were not told this by the club that we had to purchase this way again why should we not be able to get them ourselves ? We were the only fucking 8 who went.

The club already have our 8 passports but wanted them again too ,why? Just over 2000 tickets they got and the fucking balls up is there again and we were not the only ones cheers again to the fuckers who run The Peoples Club.
Paul  Gladwell     Posted 23/10/2007 at 13:27:25   Comments (6)

Larissa game on TV in the U.S.

Indeed, the Fox Soccer Channel will run delayed broadcasts at 4:45 pm on Thursday (Eastern Time) and a another one early Friday morning at 4:00 am.
Sami Fam     Posted 23/10/2007 at 12:30:31   Comments (7)

Bad Referees... good for the game.

Isn't bad refereeing one of the things that makes football what it is though? If you remove the bad refs and sanitise the game then it loses some of its charm doesnt it? I mean look at the 66 World Cup final for instance, without the ball crossing the line incident people would have a lot less to talk about. There are countless incidents of refereers making mistakes, linesmen making the wrong call and without those then football would be far more boring to watch. How often do you go to work on a Monday and debate these issues? How much have we had to talk about over the years due to incompetent referees and linesmen?

If you make them all perfect I think the game loses something valuable ? human error. That's something amazing about sport in general and the reason that people the world over are enthralled week in week out, the humanity of sport and the way that sport is a metaphor for life. We all make mistakes, we all have our moments of triumph ? remove those and you kill the game.

I say we should applaud those who make errors, in sport and in life. Without them we'd all be bored to tears watching TV replays decide who wins and who loses.

Long live rubbish referees who make football interesting!
Allan Hobbs     Posted 23/10/2007 at 12:03:37   Comments (7)

Reds Don't Dive?

I hate to carp on about the derby, cheating, divng etc. It's safe to say that everything thats need to be said, has been said.

I just wondered if anyone had seen this article a week or so ago on ICLiverpool.

It was thinking about this article which really gripped my shit after the derby.

The RS really do live in a dreamworld, apart from Saint Stevie not practicing what he apparently preaches, it seems that Benitez has a touch of 'The Houliers'. When he accused Lescott of divng it reminded me of the time we were informed that Rigobert Song used to pretend to eat the grass in training.

It seems right now that they are lacking any respect for anyone. Exactly what they were accusing Mourinho of a couple of years back.

The only good thing that has come from this game is that it has reminded me how much I cant stand that lot!

Let's pray we get them at home in the cup!
Franny Porter     Posted 23/10/2007 at 09:12:14   Comments (3)

£21 Million bank loan

Did Bill Kenwright go to Barclays Bank and borrow £20 million quid to buy Yakubu and Fernandes? If this is the case how much debt is this club in to the Banks and how much money will be available over the next 3 ? 5 years for transfers? What is the businesses plan and what is the projected intake of the club over the next few years.

These are a few questions we need answering the reason being I just hope that Billy (top business man) Kenwright does not take us down a similar route Leeds went.

I am no financial expert but just going over old FT media I reckon Everton Football club are in debt to the tune of £65 -75 million pound and that is with current low interest rates, imagine if they was to go up by a couple of points. How does this look to potential investors £80 million black hole to be filled before you even look at investing in the team, ground or any other infrastructure of the club.

This Tesco deal looks more and more suspect to me, I wonder how much Kenwright as gambled with the Name of Everton Football Club, what is actually in the small print. Who said this was the ?deal? of the century? In any deal there is always small print and some strings attached. Let us all hope there is a thing called free lunch.
Carl Simpson     Posted 23/10/2007 at 09:02:48   Comments (18)

Luton Tickets

Does anyone know if these have sold out? According to the OS these were supposed to go on general sale yesterday, but they're still not available through my eTicketing account and the box office (HA!) makes no mention of the Luton game, just Derby and Nurnberg. They normally announce on the website if games are a sellout, but no mention of this.

My first action was to call the box office but anyone who's tried this recently will understand..."7th in queue, 5th, 2nd, 1st, goodbye!"
Paul O'Hanlon     Posted 23/10/2007 at 09:03:22   Comments (6)

Clive Thomas

After speaking to my uncle about Saturday's derby, he started to tell me about the 1977 FA Cup Semi Final against Liverpool where Clive Thomas gave what he described as being, 'the worst refereeing decision in football.' As I am only 17, I had never heard of seen this incident, so does anybody know a place were I could get a copy of the incident or even a short clip on an internet site?
Kieran Driscoll     Posted 23/10/2007 at 01:00:49   Comments (24)

MAKE Arteta Captain... KEEP Arteta Captain

With the suspension of Phil Neville (thank God) we need to make sure we make Arteta Captain. He's the catalyst of our team. Look at all big clubs, they have their most important player as captain. I think it's the boost he needs and the fact he needs to really feel wanted. Making him Captain will do this I think and will bring out the best of him, and more importantly Everton. Everyone knows this Phil Neville suspension is a blessing in disguise. If not Arteta, then who would you make captain? Cahill would be my second choice, bif if Arteta wanted it, there's no other choice to me.
Charlie Percival     Posted 22/10/2007 at 23:27:57   Comments (3)

Something strange

In all the fire and the fury of what was and wasn't given on Saturday, I noticed something rather strange: something which I believe deserves noting.

When we went down to ten men (for whatever reason... OK then - the foul was outside the box and Gerrard threw his leg out to get fouled IN the box), for at least 20 minutes, Mr Moyes left two strikers up front! I wasnt dreaming, was I?

What's more, there was at least one corner that the RS had after the Hibbert thing had happened (and it was by now 1-1), when Mr Moyes left the two of them up front. I dont have the best memory in the world, but I am sure last year even against Watford we were bringing all 11 back to defend corners. Never mind the RS... never mind with only 9 outfield players on the pitch.

Sadly, it was from this newfound attacking mentality that we conceded the first penalty ? breakaway when only Hibbert and (I think) Osman were vaguely defending. This is not the cautious Mr Moyes of old, and I think we should applaud him for it. Are we seeing a long-overdue change in approach? Now that is strange....
Tim Kelly     Posted 22/10/2007 at 21:31:01   Comments (43)

Clattenburg

Did anyone else pick up on Graham Poll's comments on 5Live tonight (22/10/07), that Mark Clattenburg has not been dropped or punished for his performance on Saturday. He is actually inelgible to officiate at the weekend because he is refereeing in the Uefa Cup and is also going on a pre-booked family holiday to Spain. Makes you distrust the FA even further when they publish misleading press releases implying that a referee has been punished when in fact he has not.

Oh yeah, and where is Keith Hackett...
Philip Makin     Posted 22/10/2007 at 20:32:55   Comments (10)

Daring to be different

My grateful thanks to the `fellow Evertonian` who rang my employers today to complain about the time I spent on the internet. No doubt had I criticised Moyes and Blue Bill the call would not have been necessary. As it is I am about to suffer the penalty for free speech!
Richard  Dodd     Posted 22/10/2007 at 20:11:50   Comments (16)

Squad rotation

Are we likely to see AvdM or Valente any time soon? With the impending fixtures I see a perfect opportunity to start them. The fact that we are playing two games a week from now on makes squad rotation essential if league form is not to suffer. Any news of the return of Gravesen/Cahill?
Chris Neubauer     Posted 22/10/2007 at 19:12:39   Comments (7)

Clattenburg? Friend or Foe?

Just heard off my mate here at work that our friend (sic) Clattenburg hasn't been given a game this weekend by the FA. Does this mean that its finally been agreed that he was wrong? Obviously this is the only punishment that can be given out retrospectively but why can't some form of video refereeing be implemented during a game?

Someone in the FA now knows he was wrong so why can't the 4th official tell him during the match of his mistakes? Also, does anyone know if there's any truth in the rumour that Clattenburg went to Japan with the RS pre-season? Was he wined and dined by them on sushi? Hmmmmmmm the mind boggles. We can't get the points back now but hopefully this may send a message out the the refs that its now imperative that they get the decisions correct. COYB
Matt  Kay     Posted 22/10/2007 at 15:11:16   Comments (1)

Is it really all the refs fault ?

I agree that Lescott and Ossie were our only performers on the day. The rest were passive, no one attacking the player on the ball, RS had acres of space every time (eg. Voronin to Gerard for first Penalty)... By the way, first thing you learn as a defender is not to foul in the box - Hibbert stayed with Gerard and all he had to do was shadow him, not even tackle ? just stay with him and allow Howard to cover what he couldn't ? he had done the hard bit and stayed with him.... The words stupidity and inexperience come to mind, but no excuse ? Hibbert was poor all round, team was poor all round we did not deserve to win, neither team did... apalling...

ut hey lets move on and get back to basics before we get slaughtered in Europe.... and please stop blaming the ref? yes he was awful, but that should not take away from our dreadful performance. We need to take responsibility. Heads up, no other choice.
Kevin O'Regan     Posted 22/10/2007 at 15:04:52   Comments (17)

Short Memories

As an Irish man I remember England as a nation being up in arms (and righty so may I add) when Ronaldo gestured to the Referee to show Rooney a red card in the World Cup. It was clearly the actions of someone who really didn't grasp what sportmanship is all about -? and that is me being as kind as I can be to the lad.

So why when Steven Gerrard clearly influences Clattenberg to show a red when it was clear for all to see that Hibbert was going to receive a yellow, does nobody (bar us blues) appear to really care?

All I here is pundits laughing and joking about "Super Steve" having a naughty word. I hear plenty of adjectives describe him as being passionate and inspiring, but I don't hear the words that were used to describe Ronaldo after Rooney got the line.

I am angry at the way the entire match was handled and readily accept I am bitter with how the match ended. However this does not in any way affect my utter distain to players trying to get fellow professionals booked or sent off. The salt in the wound is the scathing objections to this type of behaviour appears only to be used in certain circumstances and certainly not when only occurs against little Everton.

What sort of reaction would we have got if Hibbert spoke to the ref leading to the sending off of Steven Gerrard. Very different I would respectfully suggest.
Michael O'Kane     Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:41:04   Comments (1)

Apology for Moyes?

So Clattenburg has not been awarded a game for next weekend (SSN) -?vindication for the most biased piece of refereeing I have ever had the displeasure to witness. Look at his record, he has given more penalties for Liverpool than any other team. And, before anyone says you cannot argue about the pens well the fact that Gerrard played for the first, got contact OUTSIDE the box and for the second there was a clear handball prior to the strike on goal by a RS then I beg to differ.

Quotes from Benitez and Carragher (asked was it a pen he says "no, its a man's game") well these two look like prize wankers ? sorry for the expletive but it has never been more apt. Cruising we were ? would you believe I said to my mate as we were so comfy that the only way they were going to get back into it was with a pen and maybe a sending off?.. yes, I know these bastards very well.

This time, all could see how they had got away with murder ? it is not just us. Really hope they get their just desserts in Turkey and lose and then the chance of millions ebbs away. Oh what fun that would be? by the way what happened to the trophy award on Saturday? I mean, they way fat man Benitez, the RS and scummy fans were celebrating you would think they had won another European Cup on pens?.
Steve Callaghan     Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:54:49   Comments (6)

Derby: Questions and Comments

I was (un)fortunate enough to miss the Derby on Saturday as I was playing cricket. I have not yet seen any footage but obviously heard from various quarters how things went. First I heard was an SMS from my brother in the UK (a neutral) who said that we were robbed of a clear penalty, and this seems to have been confirmed by many on ToffeeWeb and in the English media.

Leaving all the controversy aside, I have some questions and observations (speculation) relating to the game. This hasn?t been expressly dealt with in any of the reports I have read and, as I?ve said, I haven?t seen anything yet.

1. Is Leighton Baines injured? Otherwise, I can?t see any reason why he should be left out. Obviously Lescott is a handy cover, but he should be in the centre of the defence along with Yobo, and Stubbs should be on the bench. I think Alan Stubbs has given us some marvellous service but a side challenging for the top four or five, as we ought to be, needs younger and better than him.

2. I think criticism of Moyes for playing with Neville and Jagielka in the middle of midfield is somewhat harsh given that we have had several injuries (Cahill and Gravesen in particular). Nevertheless, I would have liked to see Arteta in the middle with Carsley and Neville at right back. But having seen us play with six defenders in recent games (shades of Walter Smith) what I want to know is how come we are shopping so many goals? In recent seasons we have had one of the best goals against records in the Premiership, if I remember correctly, and that seems to be going pear-shaped this season.

3. Everyone is talking about Hibbert?s yellow card turning to red, but how come he came to be in a position where he was taking Gerrard out? Was he responsible for an earlier error or did the defence mess up in some other way? There?s been a lot of talk on here recently about Hibbert and I agree with those who think that he is a useful back-up but not a first choice. Limited going forward and rather impetuous at the back at times.

4. What were the circumstances leading up to Neville?s handball? Were the defence or keeper at fault?

One hopes that we can redeem ourselves in the Euro game on Thursday night but I can?t see us doing too well this season with two defenders in the middle of the midfield, although Moyes?s hands are somewhat tied at the moment. Clearly we need a central midfielder or two when the shopping basket comes out again.
Michael Kidd     Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:54:23   Comments (1)

Cracking the top four

Yesterday was a clear example of the difference between finishing in the top 4 and finishing just outside.

I'm not trying to suggest that Everton, Spurs, Blackburn etc are as good as Man Utd, Chelsea etc because it's obvious they have a bit of extra class and more importantly strenth in depth. I am trying to suggest though, that there should be no reason why at least one of the teams just outside the top 4 shouldn't be making it difficult for these teams every year.

But the sad truth is, the real difference between the top 4 and those just outside the top 4 is they always get the key decisions. People will argue that these things balance themselves out over the course of the season ? what a load of wank.
Mark Stone     Posted 22/10/2007 at 11:12:19   Comments (22)

Play the `reserves` in Europe

I suspect there are a lot of Evertonians who, like me, have no time for the ridiculous Uefa Cup. The basis for entry means that far too many inferior clubs get entry and the sooner it reverts to a knock-out competition for Cup Winners the better.

Our esteemed CEO has told us repeatedly that only in its final stages can it be seen as a money maker as trips to the Russian Plains can hardly be expected to cover costs. Be that as it may, my main concern is the effect these daft excursions will have on our Premier League form. We saw two years ago that Europe was a trip too far for a club in our stage of development and all the portents are that history is about to repeat itself.

Let`s face it, no club outside that exclusive `Top Four` can hope to have the playing resources to compete in four competitions ? and which was the last `ordinary` English team to win the bloody thing anyway?

I just hope that Moyes faces up to the truth that the Premier must take priority (isn`t that where the money is?) and henceforth picks a team of fringe players for these unloved ties. McClaren set the scene by turning out his youngsters two years ago and they got to the Final ? perhaps Vidarsson & Co could do the same for us!
Tony  Senter     Posted 22/10/2007 at 10:31:16   Comments (36)

A mainstream with a slant

Following on from the report in The Telegraph, the following is the report from The Guardian:http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,2196382,00.html.

However apart from the obvious slating of the ref, Benitez and Gerrard it also comments on the lack of quality from both sides. In particular the reference to "With Phil Jagielka and Neville continuing their wooden double-act in central midfield" it gives an interesting slant on the tactics employed by DM. This is not the first time this reporter has questioned Moyes and his midfield tactics - mainstream exposure is good, but it begins to raise questions beyond our own parochial debates, and that will make life a little more interesting for all BK's luvvies who don't live 'up north' but may have things to say to him!!!
Jim Hourigan     Posted 22/10/2007 at 09:41:56   Comments (7)

They won the cup?

The Derby defeat taught me several things.

Firstly, and I already suspected this anyway. Gerrard is an out-and-out shithouse. Not only did he dive for their so-called penalty (watch it again and note the splayed legs which betray the fact that the "fall" was intentional and controlled) but he also encouraged the ref to send off Hibbert (which in itself is a bookable offence).

Secondly: Benitez is a bitter man with no class or manners. Past RS managers have showed a certain amount of dercorum after a game like that, but him!!! It just shows how frightened he is about spending all that cash and having no hope of winning the Premiership.

Thirdly: How many times have you heard the RS comment how "you'd think they'd won the effin' league the way they celebrated at the end"...Hmmm watch the Sky coverage again and take a look at THEM celebrating...it seems that we've become THEIR cup final.

Fourthly: Some referees have no bottle when they see a man take to the air and launch himself at an opponent in what can only be described as an "assault". Perhaps we should have played them at their own game by getting Neville to make a big deal of it (which he didn't) or getting the rest of the team to surround the ref in a rage (which they didn't).....

If that game taught me one thing, it's to thank my lucky stars I was born an Evertonian and not one of those shithouses!
Brian Williams     Posted 21/10/2007 at 21:06:18   Comments (26)

you're cheats and you know you are

I've finally come down to below boiling point after yesterday and am ready to face the smug RS in work in the morning but you know what? I'll be holding my head held high because we played as well as we could against 11 RS and a ref that really needs to take a long hard look at his performance. Will he sleep at night? Yes, probably so, a handshake from Stevie rubber legs Gerrard will no doubt ease his passage into the land of nod.

Forget for a moment what we thought of DM's team selection and tactics, I believe that the lads did all that they were able to do against a gaggle of bitching whining, mercanaries (hmmmm, I'm still obviously naffed off). I left the ground singing 'you're cheats and you know you are' and it's been buzzing in my head all day such is my belief that they are simply that... cheats.

I'm not DM's biggest fan nor his worst critic but I would rather a man with integrity at the helm than a slavvering nerd like Benitez. The sight of the man makes me growl with anger. DM has shown that he may not be the best manager in the world (sorry Doddy) but he may well be up there with the most honest. We lost a match, it's a real damn and blasted shit but we Blues have nothing to be ashamed of. Remember, they're cheats and deep down they know they are.
Lue  Glover     Posted 21/10/2007 at 20:25:38   Comments (6)

Derby Disgrace

I also decided to email the Premier League. My letter:

Maybe the premier league would be kind enough to answer a few questions regarding the Merseyside derby on Saturday:

1. Why is it a player (Steven Gerrard) has the power to change a referee's decision?

2. When were the rules changed to allow a penalty to be given for a foul committed outside the penalty area?

3. When were the rules changed to allow a penalty to be given without a challenge being made, by a defender, on an opposing player?

4. When were referees told to be more lenient on career threatening challenges?

5. How can a referee and his linesmen all miss two blatant penalty decisions in the course of a game?

I don't hold out much hope of any of these questions being answered as Everton are not one of the 'big four', but maybe the premier league could take the time to think about something other than their bank balances and provide some real answers.

And finally..... will Mr Clattenburg receive any disciplinary action for the worst refereeing performance I have witnessed since Mr. Graham 3 yellow cards Poll in the World Cup? I doubt it..... but I always hope that justice will be done.

Come on the Blues!!!
Louise Smith     Posted 21/10/2007 at 20:18:49   Comments (9)

Oh to be useless again

Is it just me or wasn't it so much easier when we were actually rubbish? When we knew we had inferior players in the team and had to shop in the next division down for "bargains" like Carl TIler, Mitch Ward, Brett Angel, Paul Holmes etc. Or even when we used to pinch players off West Ham just before they had a career finishing injury like Williamson or Bilic (the latter managing to injure himself despite being suspended continually!) And we've had our share of rough diamonds ? rough being the word ? like future World Cup winners like Materazzi and big league journey men like Dacourt. But, we always knew we weren't that good. Complaints were genuine ? we knew what was wrong, we knew how many players weren't good enough and there wasn't much disagreement.

Then there's now. We've a cracking goalkeeper, potentially a future England left back, an England central defender (or left-back!), the Nigerian captain, one of the best uncapped Spanish players, Australia's best player, an England striker, Scotland's best striker (don't laugh please), another striker with almost as good a record as Henry in the Premier League. Two of the best striking prospects in the league.

OK, aside from Hibbo looking the weak link at the back (as others have improved rather than him being poor) and aside from needing a little more creativity in midfield, what's the solution? We asked Bill to give Davey money to spend, which he has done. I now find it much more difficult though to pinpoint exactly what to complain about!
Mark Pendleton     Posted 21/10/2007 at 16:35:24   Comments (9)

Petition to ban Clattenburg

So here it is everyone, there was bound to be one. Go and sign this petition: http://clattenburg.epetitions.net/

I doubt it will have any effect, he certainly won't be banned for life but if we kick up enough fuss at least they might take some action, and you will feel better for being able to do something!
Carolyn Hayre     Posted 21/10/2007 at 12:46:44   Comments (23)

A blessing for the next three games?

Is anyone else more excited about Everton's next three league games now that Moyes will be forced into playing at least one creative midfeilder as Jags will have to play right back? It means Grav and Cahill will be given a chance or even Mikel in the center and with winnable games coming up we may start to pass the football in the middle of the park.

I like Hibbert's efforts and Neville's commitment but if we had to have two players suspended it may well be those two. it should also see Jags played in defence which is where he needs to play to win over the fans, as he is no centre-midfielder!
Ian Barker     Posted 21/10/2007 at 12:23:00   Comments (12)

Tickets for the Larissa Game

Some of my mates who are also season ticket holders have been told by the Goodison ticket office that instead of receiving a ticket their season tickets have been 'activated'. If this is correct then presumably people in the home cup scheme will not be receiving tickets in the post. I can't get through to the box office to check this. Does anyone have any info?
Sid Logan     Posted 21/10/2007 at 10:12:55   Comments (4)

Carsley frozen out

I see a number of Evertonians are wondering why Lee Carsley was not in the line-up yesterday. Only a fool (and David Moyes)would not have had the little man in the midst of the derby battle. Well, the news in these parts is that he`ll be a Wolves player come the window!

Apparently Moyes was not best pleased that Carsley didn`t take one of the offers for him in the summer and is giving him the `unwanted` treatment to see him on his way. McCarthy has been a long-term fan since their days together with the Republic and will be happy to put the player out of his current misery. Whether it`s good for Everton is another matter all together!
Will  Devlin     Posted 21/10/2007 at 09:02:29   Comments (11)

You takes your choice...

From (qualified) Dumb and Dumber on Moyes' team selection(s). From Crap and Crapper on the ref. From Shite and Shite-er on the RS themselves. From Stupid and Stupider on Benitez. From (un)lucky and (un)Luckier on the the actual result, depending on your colour. All in all a typical Derby, ie, If it wasn't for bad luck we'd have no luck at all!

I got up at 8.00AM Sunday to watch the rugby, now there was defeat with Honour. Took the dog for a run down on the beach, then into Starbucks for Brekkies, It's a tough life but somebody's got to do it.

And so to the game, I am, I confess, paranoid about Hoofball, hate it! but I also know the value of effort and attitude. Joined-up football PLUS effort and attitude has been the hallmark of all sucsessful sides, both at Everton and elsewhere. Now by hoofball I mean, you're 6 yds out from your own penalty box and under no real pressure somebody launches a ball to the same position in the opposition half. After 33 mins we were averaging one every 3 mins, that comes to 10 or 11. Out of those 10 or 11 we won one and had one given to us by a poor defensive header. Not the most effective tactic, or so it would seem.

But then it all changed, for some reason or just blind luck we started pinging it about on the floor, the ensueing pressure lead to the goal... OG! Who cares, we are owed more than a few, going back to Sandy Brown... Karma rules.

In the teams I coach over here, one of the first rules is, don't let it bounce. Your man Hibbert was guilty of that in the first half, though the sun MAY have been a factor. The same in happened in the the second half, he should have bounced him on the halfway line.... 20 / 20 hindsight, don't you just love it!

It was always going to be a pen, with no video ref like in rugby, at real speed it looked a pen and we have seen them given for less, just what is that earpiece for anyway??? Last man, red card, done and done, no matter what Stevie G said or did'nt. What more have we come to expect from the RS, poor losers and even poorer winners. Oh how I hate them!! (as a group, but not of course personally). Roll on Thursday.

Do the red cards count in the Uefa Cup? I really don't know to be pleased or not, what ever the outcome.
Derek  Thomas     Posted 21/10/2007 at 06:32:12   Comments (1)

No Tactical Nous

Team selection crap, Cahill was fit and left out according to Tiny Tim himself. No creativity in central midfield and Arteta did little. Only Osman and Lescott showed any creativity. The result: one shot on target and that from Hyypia...

Moyes has no tactical nous. The only time we played well was after Hibbert's sending off when Davey boy was working out what to do and wasn't shouting instructions, letting the players play their natural game. This shows the banality of Moyes's approach; after the first 15 minutes when we got the runaround he changed his tactics to do what? Attack the RS and try and score goals? You must be joking, tactics changed to stop them playing and shut up shop. Hoofball.

For five or ten minutes after the sending off we attacked them and run them ragged. The side they put out yesterday was there for the taking ? no pace at the back and little or no confidence. Why for fuck's sake didn't Moyes start the match tearing into them?

Clattenberg had a shit game but was it last year that Poll ignored two fouls in the build up to two of the three goals scored and missed two penalties Liverpool should have had? What goes around comes around, you tend to get what you deserve and Moyes doesn't deserve much.
Mark Worthy     Posted 21/10/2007 at 07:12:41   Comments (5)

Is Moyes too Nice?

Still hurting from yesterdays result and it got me asking a few questions about our manager. One of them I will pose to you now: 'Is Moyes too Nice?'

I pose this question in relation to his comments/actions over the years to the governing body and towards refs. I believe he's too nice. Take yesterdays result for example. Mourinho (yes I know he's been assed) Benitez, Ferguson and Wenger would have been sent to the stands through remomstrating over Clattenburg's decisions. They would sacrifice fines and suspension in defence of such refereeing!!

It just seems to me that he needs to make a stronger stand against such shit refereeing, even if it means sacrificing a few bucks. And for those Moyes lovers, I'm not blaming him for the result, I just feel his actions against such injustice could help in the future.
Steve Pendleton     Posted 21/10/2007 at 04:30:46   Comments (3)

In defence of Moyes

After reading the below post's the general feeling is that Moyes and his tactic's were to blame. Now please understand i am not a Moyes supporter, but I cannot understand the critisism.

Let's analyize the match, Liverpool had the first 10 minutes, after that Everton bossed the game, all be it scrappy, ugly and without either keeper having a save to make. Our goal was out of the blue but deserved. half time. Second half we were again on top, wrongly I sat back thinking Liverpool wont score. Liverpool were piss poor today, but credit were credit's due Everton were the better side by far.

We all know because of the ref the game swung, but you have to give Moyes credit surely for still going for it. I know the argument's against this, sit back and hold out for the draw, but as an Evertonian I was happy to still see us take the game to them, it was positive from Moyes where as in the past negativity rules. Liverpool were there for the taking and today I was proud that even when down to 10 men we were still the better side.

If we would have brought Carsley on and defended and got beat Moyes would have been murdered for being negative again, when they were still there for the taking... sometimes you just can't win can ye? There is only one man to blame for that today and it was not Moysie.
Mick Gillian     Posted 21/10/2007 at 03:48:27   Comments (2)

Two bad teams

I think we've got to put a bit of perspective on today's game, before our sense of aggrievement gets in the the way of some clear thinking.

Firstly let's be clear, the ref was crap and at least cost us a draw. Argue on the details, but it looks like we were down at least a goal due to poor refereeing.

The bigger picture relates to how we played. I thought we were pretty ordinary and have the look of a team that through passion and endeavour will win a lot of home games but will struggle away.

Last year Moyes made 3 great signings in AJ, Howard and Lescott. This year we all hoped that 3 more good signings would turn us from promising to the real deal. I hope I'm wrong, but at this stage the signings of Jagielka, Baines and Yakubu look suspect and haven't brought us on to the next level.

The good news about today is how absolutely shite a job Mad Max is doing at Anfield. They are a mess and will win nothing. To me Moyes has a big choice. Go for the 3 cups and hope we can find a pot and a way into Europe that way or concentrate on a league campaign that will probably, at best, leave us between 6th and tenth.

To me the answer is clear, starting Thursday night and the following Wednesday let's make sure we give the cups a go this year. We're good enough to steer clear of danger in the Prem, but after today's events I find it difficult to get enthused about a league that simply wants to keep the status quo. Have no doubt, those decisions would never have gone against the top four at home. Never.
Gerry  Grimes     Posted 21/10/2007 at 02:17:33   Comments (0)

Midfield Trash

I cringe everytime I see the midfield line up of Arteta, Neville, Jagielka and Osman. We are absoloute dire, with this midfield and although I am pro-Moyes, he has failed the club this season by not strengthening this area in the summer.

I don't care who's fault the Fernandes deal was, but that deal falling through has cost us so many points already this season. Neville and Jagielka are defenders (better than useless Hibbert) and Arteta bless him is completely disinterested this season having to play next to dumb and dumber. A quality creative midfielder is priority in January and the sooner we can get Cahill and Gravesen back into central midfield the better. It would be also nice to see Mr Van der Mede make an appearance someday soon!
Paul Coleman     Posted 21/10/2007 at 00:36:17   Comments (5)

Everton Security

Sitting about four rows behind me were three kopites. When Liverpool scored their first goal, the three of them stood up jumping around and cheering as if they were sitting in the Kop. How the three of them didn't get done in I don't know as near enough the whole section stood up hurling abuse and threats. One of the stewards also had to step in to cool people down and tell the kopites to keep quiet.

Now I know that it was always going to happen, Livepool fans sitting in our ends, but when Liverpool fans walk up to the turnstyles in their Liverpool tops, why are they being allowed in? I couldn't see any other team letting their feirce rivals fans sitting in with their fans, do you?
John  Murphy     Posted 20/10/2007 at 22:57:59   Comments (11)

Progress is relative

So we lose a game because yet another referee is in love with The Big Four and our manager and players are all crap? Well,that`s nothing new ? it's the response we get in these columns everytime Everton lose.

So let's just imagine that Everton finish in 10th position this season and every succeeding one for the next five years (the length of the manager`s new contract). Would that be so terrible?

Of course not. Just do the sums to find our average finishing spot for every five years since the time we were Champions and you'll discover how magnificent that would be. Bill and the Board see this ? why can't the fans?
Richard  Dodd     Posted 20/10/2007 at 20:00:54   Comments (22)

Email Match of The Day

Make sure Match of the Day properly analyse the incidents from today?s game. Go to the following link and post your comments:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tv_and_radio/1682694.stm

This is what I wrote:

In tonight's programme, could you please analyse the following points that arose during today's Merseyside derby:

1. Did Hibbert foul Gerrard or did they both have their hands across each other?

2. If Hibbert did foul Gerrard, did this initially happen outside the area?

3. As Gerrard is at no point completely through on goal, did Hibbert deserve to be sent off?

4. Why did the ref change his mind and award Hibbert a red card instead of a yellow?

5. Were Everton unfairly denied two penalties?

6. Should Kuyt have been sent off for his two-footed lunge?

Finally, in respect of what appears to be not only an inept but, also, some would say, biased performance, should the ref be banned in the same way that Rob Styles was after the Liverpool ? Chelsea game? Or does that only happen when a so called 'top four' team have been on the wrong end of poor refereeing?

Thankyou.
Mike Williams     Posted 20/10/2007 at 18:54:43   Comments (11)

Great effort but...

Firstly, that was a great effort. Not one player in blue can be faulted for their affort or attitude.

Secondly, yes the referee was guilty of several dire decisions. Kuyt should be banned retrospectively by the FA (bet he isn't). Gerrard 's 'talk' to the ref to get Hibbo sent off was reprehensible.

However, let's be honest. We were poor. We made few chances and never really looked like capitalising on our lucky goal start. Yakubu is not able to do what Moyes wants him to. He is not a whippet like Marcus Bent was or like Johnson is changing into. He needs to be played in. Take Arteta out of the equation and we have nobody who can do this.

Tactically we were inept yet again. I cannot understand why Moyes put two remarkably similar players up front. Liverpool had a defence that would have struggeld against pace. Victor and the Yak are devoid of this asset.

Why is Tony Hibbert still allowed to be one of our defenders? What was the point of signing Baines? I believe that Moyes's loyalty is admirable but it impairs his judgement.

One last point ? the season for me already looks bleak because that is the fifth side we have played in the top ten and we have now lost five. This does little to support our chances of another European season (unless we win it or a cup and that is unlikely). It seems like after a good season we are going to have the customary bounce down the table.
Russ Kavanagh     Posted 20/10/2007 at 18:32:36   Comments (10)

A glimmer......

At least twice now I have paid homage / tribute to one 'Joleon Lescott' without any reiteration or backup?? Instead I got a load of people trying to disect or argue the toss of my other views? So with no other views on offer.....

Once again I state (even before today's display & the goals )... the best young professional in the country with an excellent attitude. And fortunately for us he's for the blue cause as opposed to his own pocket.

Jump on the band wagon & salute this boy & hope for similar signings.... Daveys going nowhere so lets pick out the positives :) I know it can be hard sometimes. Another game, another ref & we'll maybe start to get the results we deserve? COYB
Wayne McNee     Posted 20/10/2007 at 18:28:07   Comments (1)

Time for the FA and Ref's Association to take action

I'm writing this still fuming from today's events but I hope to put across a focused argument!

We have lost two players for 3 games, I will leave the arguments about whether either of them will be much of a loss to everybody else. However, when one was sent off purely due to two disgraceful actions of the oppositions captain, it's about time for the FA to step in and take action.

Less than 3 days after complaining about Russia's penalty Gerrard does exactly the same thing. I'm not sure how he was denied a goalscoring opportunity after his miss midweek either!! However, to then change the referee's mind from yellow to red is an action that should be dealth with severely by the FA and Premier League.

As for the ref, where do you start? Influenced by Liverpool players over every decision, only giving Kuyt a yellow for a two-footed challenge that is, in the laws of the game a sending off offence, and then bottling a penalty decision that Stevie Wonder could have given.

I hope Mr Clackett, as head of the referees, gets given a copy of the game and takes action. It won't give us the points we more than deserved from the game but it might rid us of yet another cowardly man in black. I did read a comment saying he should end up officiating a woman's match ? not really fair on the ladies that!!!!
Martyn Valentine     Posted 20/10/2007 at 18:20:45   Comments (7)

Contempt for Rafa

Just back from the match. Couldn't argue with the two Liverpool penalties but could dispute the yellow card for Kuyt instead of a red for what looked like an horrendous two-footed tackle. Only saw the Lescott incident from the back of the Park End, so can't make any comment yet.

The one thing that has got my blood boiling is not Clattenberg, who I generally rate as a very good referee, not Moyes who I thought tried to win the game even with 10 men, not the Everton players who gave 100% to try and get something out of the game ? no, it''s the post match comments from Benitez who basically stokes the fires again after his "small team" comments from last season. Make no mistake, his English is not brilliant, but he KNOWS the impact of what he is saying. He well understands the insulting nature of what he is saying says. Lescott is a diver now apparently.

Well fortunately under his management, Liverpool are unlikely to win any further major honours. Despite his many faults, give me Moyes's honesty and integrity any day!
Ray Robinson     Posted 20/10/2007 at 17:07:43   Comments (10)

Another hard luck story

Yes the ref was shit and once again in a derby we never got the decisions we deserved but no one outside Goodison will care or even know and we have now lost half of the league games we have played. It is a big week for Moyes and bad results on Thursday and against Derby will see the season spiral out of control.

The truth is that we now need to be challenging or qualifying for europe every season and if we finish in the bottom half then any pretence about long term progress will be laughable. Moyes should soon have his key players available and there can be no excuses ? it's time to deliver because in life no one really listens to hard luck stories.
John Doolan     Posted 20/10/2007 at 16:27:25   Comments (0)

FUMING!!!

They were there for the taking today. A manager that replaces his most influential player doesn't deserve the substitute to force a great save from Neville. Howard should have given the game a fair result with a save he should really have made. Kuyt bags a brace in a Merseyside derby despite only looking marginally better than a comedic Voronin who singlehandedly kept us in the game.

Could Lescott do any more today to remind us how good he is. Well, he SHOULD have won that penalty, but even he was powerless to stop Clattenburg from making the game his own. I am the first to admit that Everton players consistently tried to con the ref by falling easily under challenges today, but there is no reason for denying one clear penalty and the other poor decision should have him banned from any match of importance for life. When a penalty decision doesn't fall in a convenient moment for the ref, for instance, right after a previous decision to the opposition,that isn't an excuse to wave play on.

Two men decided it today ? Moyes for selecting Hibbert despite his general poor form and Tony Hibbert, not for his challenge and sending off, but for not attacking the ball in the middle of the park when Voronin controlled and played in Gerrard. Up the blues for the way we played with ten men. A credit to the spirit within the team. After the cancelling out of Neville's own goal from last season, I still can't believe we managed to lose.

What was going through Clattenburg's mind when Lescott was goalside of Carragher in the 6-yard box being jumped on by the frantic Liverpool defender. Someone please tell me.
Jerome Esterhazy     Posted 20/10/2007 at 15:31:59   Comments (0)

Revised Nurnberg details

Updated article of same name on the official site has both statements:

"Supporters should be advised a photocopy of passports are required and travel itinerary details for Nurnberg," and, "Fans are urged not to travel to Germany if they have not already purchased a ticket." Now I'm confused, what do I need to show so you will give me a ticket? Which way do you want it, Everton?
Andy Foley     Posted 20/10/2007 at 15:32:40   Comments (0)

Clattenburg the Red

What a fucking disgrace of a refferee Mark Clattenburg is. Fucking red through and through. How he didnt give at least one of the two blatant stone wall penalties is beyond me. Never gave any 50/50 decisions to us, and always gave free kicks to Liverpool when Victor was challenging when he should have had the decision. And changing his mind when questioned by that cunt Gerrard when fouled for their first pen. Unprofessional to the max. Prick. Hope we never get him again. Relegate him to League 2, looks about his level.
Simon Gemine     Posted 20/10/2007 at 14:58:12   Comments (15)

English Football is F**cked

After seeing this "match", I wonder why teams bother to show up against any of the "big four". Atrocious refereeing was never more blatant, more shameful, more saddening.

Want to know why England will never do well llin international tournaments? Just watch the performance of the referee, the behaviour of the RS players, the smugness of their obnoxious coach.

The season is over as far as I am concerned. My whole interest and prayers would be to see that the RS finish outside the top 4 this year.

I hope that the "Big 4" just f**k off and lock themselves and play in their unreal world.
AJay Gopalswamy     Posted 20/10/2007 at 14:44:14   Comments (1)

Painful loss

OK so following on from what you all had to say about England's loss in midweek, I guess this is also "bad luck" "just a game" and "one of those things." I know a lot of you also take up for Gerrard and Carragher whenever I mention them but the former is a diver and the latter a whinge bag. Both are overrated and it pains me to lose to these pricks because they actually suck. Gerrard never used to be a diver but since the Villa game this season it seems that he loves to hit the deck and what was up with Carragher having his head in his hands every five second and crying to the ref?

Also talking of homegrown talents Hibbert (like Rooney in midweek) changed the game with a stupid mistake. How could he expect to run alongside Gerrard without that prick diving? Also ,why the hell didn't Kuyt get sent off for a two-footed kung fu kick that would have got him arrested had it happened anywhere but on the field?

Another thing I noticed is that when wearing a suit Moyes looks like some sort of pop star from 1981 which is weird. Finally we all know Howard is pretty crap so why handball to stop a certain goal when you know it will lead to a certain goal via the penalty and a red card and ban as well?
Kieran Kinsella     Posted 20/10/2007 at 14:41:49   Comments (9)

Everton 1 - 0 Liverpool [40']

Baines on the bench, Hibbert at right back with Stubbs in the middle, Jagielka, Neville and Osman in midfield. Yakubu and Anichebe up front with McFadden, Pienaar, Carsley joining Baines on the bench.

Not an expected line-up to say the least, and after a rough start.. it seems to be working!!! Thank you Sami baby!!!

[Having some technical trouble updating the match report!]
Michael Kenrick     Posted 20/10/2007 at 13:17:29   Comments (47)

Derby Magic

Tomorrow will mark the 45th league derby I have witnessed at Goodison Park. Since hostilities re-commenced in 1962, I'm sure I've only missed one (in 1982 when we lost 1-3!) but although there have been so many magic moments (and a few horror shows) it is still that first in September 1962 that stands out in my mind.

Over 72,000 saw Johnny Morrissey (signed a few weeks before from the Reds in spite of Bill Shankly`s refusal to sanction the deal) score our opening goal in a 2-2 draw to become my lifelong hero.

Over the years the anticipation and enchantment of these matches has waned for me but I know that somewhere in the crowd tomorrow will be a little Evertonian who will feel the way I did all those years ago!
David Hall     Posted 19/10/2007 at 18:00:08   Comments (11)

Robert Earl and his influential connections

I have recently read an article published in the Guardian business pages concerning an English Multi-millionaire businessman named Joe Lewis . He apparently has his fingers in more pies than Little Jack Horner. I stumbled across this link when it as mentioned that when Dylan Thomas recently won the Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe. When the horse was being led in after the race there was an Irish flag and an Everton flag being carried in the procession.

It seems that Mr Lewis was once the mentor of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and a certain Robert Earl. A 21 year-old Robert Earl was told to prove his business acumen by being given £500,000 to invest whereupon he founded the ' Beefeater ' chain of restaurants!

This sparks a few questions: Was there any significance in the Everton flag at Longchamp? Are Magnier and Tabor interested in investing in Everton after their well publicised fall-out with Sir Alex? Or does this just prove that Earl is a very astute businessman with some very good connections who may be useful?
Arthur Jones     Posted 19/10/2007 at 16:38:01   Comments (1)

For Everton (see England)

The following extract was written by a guy named Thayden on football365, and while it is in reference to the Great British capitulation over the last week or so in international football, some of the points had me nodding in agreement when I consider our own team, particularly some of the more maligned players.

I'm proud that we have a good backbone of British players and a British manager but when I compare us to Arsenal I see he has a point:

Rip It Up And Start Again

Eddie Harrison     Posted 19/10/2007 at 14:08:40   Comments (5)

Away Uefa Cup Ties

Does anyone know the score with getting tickets for our away Uefa cup ties?

I have not had the recent fortune to get to any games lately and therefore do not possess ticket stubs etc, but I really want to support my club in Europe.

Do you have to buy tickets direct through Everton FC or can you go through third parties? I can only seem to get tickets for the home end doing this!
Brett Bradshaw     Posted 18/10/2007 at 18:08:31   Comments (2)

Viagogo

Have any season ticket holders managed to sell their tickets on Viagogo yet? Every time you go on to buy it says they are unavailable until a match is sold out. As most matches are not sold out until the last minute it is too late to give your tickets away instead of selling them.
Eddy  Elton     Posted 18/10/2007 at 17:28:01   Comments (12)

Nobody does it better

In the wake of Joleon Lescott`s emergence as an England player, I got to thinking how many `ordinary` players had been developed into household names under the tutelage of David Moyes. Rooney, Lescott and Andy Johnson are now automatic picks by the England manager whilst James McFadden is hailed as `The Pride of Scotland`. Tim Howard and Phil Neville, International outcasts in their latter days with Man Utd, have seen their careers re-invigorated at Everton whilst Mickel Arteta, although so far overlooked by Spain because of the internal politics of that country, is now the most coveted midfielder in Europe. And who had heard of Tim Cahill before Moyes brought him here and transformed him into and International super star just as he did with Joseph Yobo?

Whilst Evertonians can all glow with pride at the achievements of Davey`s pupils we can be assured that the fairy story will continue as we wait to see youngsters Anichebe and Vaughan turned into polished diamonds!
Richard Dodd     Posted 18/10/2007 at 14:26:37   Comments (37)

Battle of the Tinkermen

These days, Merseyside can well claim to have the two most enthusiastic `Tinkermen` in the Prem.

Benitez claims he does it because he needs to rest his `galactico` players and adjusts his formation to negate the opposition`s tactics. With Moyes, I suspect it`s more because he doesn`t know his best team or, more likely, he doesn`t know his own mind! Certainly he`s no tactical genius ? his inventiveness began and ended with 4-5-1 and it will be interesting to see how he sets out his troops on Saturday.

I suspect that if Cahill were available we should see a return to a five-man midfield with McFadden ploughing a lone role up front. As it is, I expect to see more of the nonsence of Neville playing in midfield, probably supported this week by Carsley. Benitez may again `dis` us by leaving out Gerrard and other `stars` and, hopefully will pay the price.

All I can say is that neither of these luminaries seem to know what they are doing half the time so, in that respect this Goodison Derby is a pure lottery!
Brian  Noble     Posted 18/10/2007 at 13:17:55   Comments (5)

Tiny Tim

Any injury updates prior to the derby? We could really do with Cahill back, he's got a good habit of scoring against the RS, but not read anything about his injury. Was he not targeting this as his come-back match??

Good to see our internationals seemed to get through unscathed last night.
Joel Grates     Posted 18/10/2007 at 09:25:03   Comments (4)

Traitors

Thanks to a traitor (Rooney) conceding a penalty and a red shite (Gerard) wasting the easiest chance to score in history, England probably won't qualify for Euro 2008. Why the hell is it then that it is Phil Neville who gets booed all the time by the fans? It's not as if this is the first time Rooney has let down his country and I am sure that if that other red shite Carragher had been playing he would have chipped in with one of his customary own goals to make it 3-1.

I was thinking I could at least follow McFadden and Scotland until true to their history they once again do the hard bit then choke against a joke team. Oh well... I guess I can spend all of the next summer waiting for Moyes to make some intelligent transfer dealings.
Kieran Kinsella     Posted 18/10/2007 at 01:52:02   Comments (51)

Silva lining

I read Barnsley chairman Simon Davey's recent comments on Anderson Silva de Franca with interest: "He has improved us as he brings a Brazilian flair with a European workrate".

Doesn't that sound like exactly what our team is missing at the moment? I'm not suggesting that he's the answer to our long-term problems and is probably not a replacement for Fernandes but I'd really love to see him step out for us sometime soon.

We went to such great lengths to secure his signature a few years back that it seems strange that our Davey doesn't seem to want to give him a go. Either that or he just believes that some game time in the Championship is exactly what he needs to prepare him for the second half of our busy campaign ? I truly hope it's the latter.

Against Werder Bremen I thought he was one of the best players on the pitch. I also saw him play at Crystal Palace in pre-season and he looked solid if not spectacular (although everybody was playing at 75% to be fair).

Let's get the boy back and see what he can do in the Carling Cup game against Luton!

COYB!
Ben Howard     Posted 17/10/2007 at 10:48:26   Comments (12)

Parking...any ideas?

After successfully managing to get hold of two tickets for Saturday, it's suddenly dawned on me that I've not driven to a game for absolutely ages, and as such, I've got absolutely no idea what the score is with parking nowadays. Has the old Stanley Park parking area been shut due to Anfield's imminent move? If so, can anybody suggest some suitable parking areas for me and my wife pretty close to the ground? We're coming in from the South Manchester area and ideally would like to be pretty close to the ground as she's "with child" as it were....

Cheers in advance.
James Dawson     Posted 17/10/2007 at 09:06:42   Comments (22)

ToffeeWeb and Euro Travel

I know you guys are busy with jobs and running this wonderful site but I had an inkling that you may be running a trip to Nuremberg yourselves? Obviously, it seems not.

Not a problem! But as I would say 90% of Evertonians online usually hit this site, perhaps you could afford us the list of those who are running the trips? I'm sure that it isn't just those that we have already found, you guys must know of coaches/minibuses or even cars doing the trip that need to be filled?

Maybe not but can we open it up for those who do know of cars/coaches and minibuses that need filling to post on here.

What nice chaps you are!
Mark Joseph     Posted 16/10/2007 at 23:18:09   Comments (1)

Travel to Germany

Still lots of rooms available and I am flying in to Munich and coming back via Frankfurt (very good train service). What I do find odd that hasn't helped prices of flights into Germany is that Bolton are playing Bayern on the same night. A great UEFA decision, probably done in partnership with all the affiliated airlines.
John Richardson     Posted 16/10/2007 at 18:46:23   Comments (17)

Who`ll be gone in January?

Whilst recent `red top`speculation has focussed on the possible departures of AJ and Arteta, I cannot see any way that Moyes would allow either to depart in January. Much more likely is that we shall be saying farewell to a number of fringe players whose value will quickly diminish after the next window.

Carsley`s name always comes up as likely to go and whilst I still consider him to be the best defensive midfielder on the books, Moyes, in his wisdom, now seems to prefer both Neville and Jagielka in that role. I understand that Championship clubs, Barnsley and Sheffield Wed, will go all out to sign Da Silva and Turner respectively whilst Nuno Valente is likely to return to Portugal.

Of the others, I can see only the ill-fated Van der Meyde as likely to be dispensible although it may well be thought that youngsters such as Boyle, Vidarsson and Kearney have not shown enough progress and should be capitalised on asap. It`s unlikely that all these non first-teamers will go at once but I shall be surprised if the culling doesn`t start soon.
Harry Meek     Posted 16/10/2007 at 14:02:09   Comments (29)

Tickets and the postal strike

Does anybody know what is happening with tickets being sent through the post with the strike going on?

I registered for the cup priority scheme and I'm waiting on my tickets for the Larissa game... I've tried to get through to EFC but no joy as I'm 60th in the queue... and I've got a job to do! It would be nice for the management to have released a statement in the local press but that's EFC for yer!
Paul Henshaw     Posted 16/10/2007 at 12:35:07   Comments (10)

A swarm of locust over blue Everton skies

Speculation is going around, a number of big clubs want Arteta for an estimated £12 million... regardless of the price offered, it's absolutely crucial the club fights tooth and nail to hold on to the best investment they made in a decade. If this team cannot hold on to this player who makes the difference between winning or loosing, they will not only tumble down the ladder dramatically but all that recruiting for years will mean nothing to the team and the fans who have put everything in this club. This would be a total betrayal if it eventuated. I smell rats again, and if speculation is true fancy Valencia being one of those thieves being mentioned to chase Arteta, that faceless club already stole Fernandes from under our wings, now they want the whole cake.

Valencia are simply thieves, spoilt Chelsea are desperate for instant glory, and Real Madrid need someone to sit on the pine and warm it up like they did with Gravesen, I hope Arteta continues to play beautiful football with a club that values him much higher than any of those other clubs mentioned.
Clifford Zammit     Posted 16/10/2007 at 02:00:28   Comments (40)

Da Silva

I'm not surprised that Barnsley want to sign our Brazilian permanently. I was at the Charlton game when he came on with a few minutes to go and made an impression on me despite the fleeting appearance.

What stood out and sticks in my mind even though it was almost six months ago was his coolness and confidence on the ball. I've just got a hunch it would be a mistake if David Moyes allowed him to leave before giving him the chance to show if he could be the central playmaker we desperately need.
Steve Alderson     Posted 15/10/2007 at 20:44:10   Comments (20)

4-5-1 Million Dollar Question

We are not widely known for playing expansive cultured football these days... pity as it was once the currency of a football club who prided itself on playing the beautiful game gracefully. These days the likes of Arsene Wenger and his 3rd-generation football team in the making continue to prove that football is still an art-form and is spectacle designed to entertain and inspire.

Needless to say this particular brand of football is as ever both enterprisingly successful and commercially endearing to the masses, and certainly the antidote to the old fashioned 'boring-boring Arsenal'. In close quarters the two Manager's on Merseyside have began the season with the somewhat perrenial problem of the Blues over-reliance on hoofball, lack of retention, and a defence that has leaked like a sieve. Benitez's archilles heel remains his inability to play a consistent team, chopping and changing week to week and donning an almost Ranieri persona to squad rotation.

The million-dollar question on our current form is how do we approach the weekend's derby and how do we beat them? I would suggest that we rekindle an old formula that has served us well in the past, the old 4-5-1 chesnut, obviously depending on available personnel. The key to this strategy will the availability of Cahill and Gravesen, and the pertinent question of who play's the target man up front. My hunch would be to play Anichebe up front, Carlsey, Gravesen, Cahill, Arteta and McFadden in Midfield. Tactics as ever will win the game, beautiful football excepted, let's avoid the hoofball.
Peter Laing     Posted 15/10/2007 at 15:55:58   Comments (14)

Derby Day Optimism

I was in a local bar on friday nght where they were playing LiverpoolFCTV (I didn't even know they had one). Anyway, they happened to be showing the merseyside derby from what i believe was the 00/01 season.

I began watching and found myself bearting the players as if it was happening live infront of me. I sat there with a mate of mine and we both shouted obscenities at evrey player that was present in the Everton team.

As we approach the forthcoming derby I really do think contrary to what some fans think, that Everton have come a long way. On display that day were players like Mark Pembridge, Alex Nyarko, Abel Xavier, Paul Gerrard and Idan Tal to name but a few. Our team was a bag of shite. Looking at the shite's team you could see that they weren't much better with Christian Ziege, Emile Heskey and the turncoat Nick Barmby.

It's seven years since that derby and we fortunately only have one player left in our current Everton side who was in the starting XI that day. That person being the mad dog Tommy Gravesen. The days of Paul Gascoigne have long gone and Everton are definitely improving.

On Saturday we will have a much younger team on display than we did back then and a team that is full of potential. Gone are the days when merely fight relegation. Let's embrace the fact that we now have two players on the pitch playing for England at the same time and the fact that we are now plying our trade in Europe.

As for this Saturday. Hopefully we can get a better result than we did seven years ago. Am confident that without the hapless Paul Gerrard and the atrocious Idan Tal on the pitch we can give the the shite a good hammering!
Luke  Brook     Posted 15/10/2007 at 15:37:38   Comments (7)

Inconsistency and midtable mediocrity

There are a number of factors that are becoming increasingly frustrating this season, and I am beginning to feel a huge sense of underperformance and inconsistency flooding from Goodison. Here are a few points to discuss:

• One clean sheet ? what a difference from our impeccable defence last season
• We are dropping points in games which we were winning or drawing last year (Newcastle, Blackburn, Reading, Villa)
• We are stuck in mid-table closer to the bottom three than we are to the top four.
• We are nearing the dreaded Christmas period where we always struggle for form, so the next month is crucial
• Most of our major signings are not adding anything to the team (Baines excluded).
• None of the strikers are scoring on a consistent basis, and Moyes is not prepared to give anyone a proper run in the team to build some confidence. (This time last year, AJ had 7 in 7 or something like that)

These factors only add to the importance of Saturday?s game and, win or lose, this game may shape the season. I can?t help but think, with the new faces in the squad, and Moyes's well-known achievement patterns over the last five years, we may be destined for mid-table mediocrity once more.
Chris  Masey     Posted 15/10/2007 at 13:17:55   Comments (15)

Derby Line-up

Unless Tommy G can somehow find his legs (Gordon Strachan is on record as saying they disappeared half-way through last season) I suspect our midfield on Saturday will be Arteta, Neville, Carsley and Osman.

The defence picks itself - Howard, Yobo, Stubbs and Lescott whilst up front we can expect to see McFadden and Anichebe.

Now whilst this is not the line-up I or, indeed, most Evertonians would have us start with, it does have the merit of containing a large number of players who know what these derbies are all about and who, in true Moyes mould, will give their all.

I think most of us would want to include Baines, Yakubu and possibly Van der Mede but Moysey will undoubtedly play it safe. What do others think?
Michael  Copson     Posted 15/10/2007 at 10:34:07   Comments (37)

We all love our team

Just been listening to our cup final song of '95 and hearing the commentary of the semi-final goals against Spurs brought wonderful memories flying back. Also, I know that every single one of us has the hairs at back of neck stand up whenever we hear Z-Cars. I like this site and I love my Everton, and debate is very good, after all we are all entitled to an opinion. But it is SO wrong on match day to hear fans moaning whenever certain players get the ball. After all, at home matches, the crowd are supposed to be an extra man. I urge each and every one of you fortunare enough to go on Saturday, to totally get behind the team, not to shout abuse because McFadden loses possession, not to groan whenever Hibbo gets the ball, but to actually SUPPORT every player that is priveleged to wear that blue shirt.

Far too often I've been at Goodison lately and seen fans turn on the team and especially certain players. Reserve the right for criticism to these forums.

I have no idea whether Moyes can improve our fortunes further, but I do say a huge thank you to him for transforming us from a regular relegation-battle side to one that actually competes with the top half. Yes, I want better. Yes, I want more and yes the standard of football is awful. But sacking Moyes could be a disaster for the club ? remember how happy we all were when Mike Walker got the job?

I don't know where we're going, and I'm still unsure about Kirkby, but i do know that I love Everton Football Club, always will. They are my life. And I know that 99% of contributors to this site feel the same. So please, I beg you all, just get behind the team. I genuinely believe we are getting there, but when injuries and squad rotation happen, we do need to get behind EVERY player, whether its Arteta, Cahill, McFadden, Hibbert, AJ or McFadden. These guys cannot perform with the crowd against them.

3 points on Saturday, please God! Nil Satis
David Pilling     Posted 15/10/2007 at 01:19:11   Comments (11)

Nigeria vs Mexico

Nigeria played Mexico today, and not one of the three Nigerians at Everton (Yakubu, Anichebe, Yobo) was in the squad... and Yobo's usually captain! What happened here? Anyone know? I'm not complaining I'm just curious.
Jimmy Crack     Posted 14/10/2007 at 22:11:46   Comments (4)

Young Guns

I have just read a report that Citeh are making a £3 mil bid for John Paul Kissock. I really hope this isn't true because I really rate this lad. I can see the attraction of accepting £3 million for a young player not proven on the big stage but if you look at the fact we have just forked out £4 mil for Jags and a possible £6 mil for Barton we should really be thinking twice about this potential midfield general.
Mike Mac     Posted 14/10/2007 at 20:11:07   Comments (8)

Lescott, James... or Cole's bad luck?

Whilst watching the second half of the England game yesterday, I was very proud to see Joleon Lescott make his debut for England. I hope he continues to do well for Everton and force his way into the national team.

What did worry me was the Ashley Cole injury and I still can not work out what happened. On the one hand, I can see that Joleon SHOULD have cleared the ball before it bounced; however, in the replays, Joleon can clearly be seen to signal to David James ? whether that was for him to stay or what, I don't know. In that same moment, David James SHOULD have come for the ball and I wonder if Lescott was used to Howard coming out to get those balls?

Then there is Ashley Cole himself. Earlier in the game Cole hurt his ankle yet continued. Then in this challenge he landed awkwardly after rushing in.

Here's the question: Was the injury caused by Lescott not going for the ball, James not coming out, or simply down to a weakness in Cole's ankle? May be it was all three?
Tony Hawkins     Posted 14/10/2007 at 18:08:05   Comments (49)

Faddy's stats

This season in all competitions he's had 9 starts, 4 games as a sub and 7 goals. It's looking like our best combination may be Faddy and Vaughan (total cost £1.75M). Shame we spent £20M on two players who might have to warm the bench!
Ed MacDonald     Posted 14/10/2007 at 16:45:04   Comments (12)

The People

Reading todays People, and I come across a few articles about Everton players. Apparently, West Ham are to make a £12 million bid for AJ in January and a whole host of teams around Europe including Chelsea, Real Madrid, Valencia, Villarreal, Newcaslte and Tottenham are all keen on signing our ' £12 million rated' Mikel Arteta.

First of all, who do Tottenham and especially Newcaslte think they are? Do they really believe that if he wanted to leave Everton he would go to them? Second of all, do they really believe that Everton will sell their best player for £12 million? And finally, Man City are checking out John Paul Kissock but it will take at least 3 million for Everton to consider...
John Murphy     Posted 14/10/2007 at 13:46:25   Comments (5)

Lordy Dicks

If you took Liverpool's television money and Chumps League cash off them and give it to a.n. other — Newcastle, Man City, Spurs, us — then would they be a big club any more? Probably not. One of the, ahem, big 4 could seriously crash and burn over the next few season with the influx of cash into the teams below and they are the ones it seems to me most likely to do a Leeds. (Or is it just wishful thinking?)

What I'm rambling towards is do we want Everton to be in this kind of financial situation if we are taken over, which is maybe why Bill has vetoed all these rumoured take overs.
Barry Lightfoot     Posted 14/10/2007 at 10:41:23   Comments (0)

Da Silva or Jags?

After reading the many posts on this site concerning our general on-field antics this season, one thing has become patently obvious to all. On too many occasions the centre of our midfield seem to be unable to pass the ball to anybody in a blue shirt. As the season (though young) has worn on, the main culprits seem to be Neville and Jagielka.

Now while Neville does by his effort ? tough tackling, experience and leadership qualities ? deserve a place in the team, Jagielka does not. Bar one ball played to Steven Pienar at Bolton, I can't recall him managing to find a blue shirt from further than 3 yards. And especially during the Metalist game. he had no idea of how a holding midfielder should play; his positional sense was totally non-existent.

I think we should bring back Da Silva from his loan deal; he has (on the few occasions I've seen him play) seemed able to do the job he is paid for: win the ball and pass it to somebody else in a blue shirt, generally further upfield than himself. No fuss, no mess. He can break play up and has vision and confidence in his abilty to pass the ball (on the floor).

Jagielka just can't seem to do this; he would be far better employed at right back or centre back ? that's where he played most of his games for Sheffield Utd. Why try and turn a centre back into a midfielder when you have one available that took 18 months to sign?

I probably fall into the "pro-Moyes" catergory and generally try to have a positive look at things, if possible! But the continued use of Jagielka as a central midfielder mystifies me, as the guy clearly is unsuited to and uncomfortable in this role.
Terry Maddock     Posted 14/10/2007 at 09:57:44   Comments (11)

Mc Fadden and our starting eleven

Just watched Mc Fadden deliver another outstanding performance for Scotland. A superb delivery from a wide area to set up the first goal and a wonderful finish to seal the result. Couldn't help but notice how the fans get behind him and cheer him on - a stark contrast to the boo boys at Goodison who at times it seems can't wait for the lad to make a mistake so they can have a go.

Perhaps if we were get behind him we might just see more of the player who does so well for Scotland. Of course all this assumes he's given a starting birth in the team and receives any kind of support in terms of quality balls from the middle of the park, what a wonderful player he could be.
Gerry Western     Posted 13/10/2007 at 17:16:07   Comments (25)

Lucky Everton?

"Fernando Torres could be a doubt for Liverpool's upcoming derby match against Everton after tearing a muscle while on international duty with Spain. The 23-year-old pulled up in training ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifier versus Denmark and was immediately ruled out of action for eight to 10 days."

Is this a continuation of the good luck being discussed recently on Toffeeweb? COYB.
Eddy Elton     Posted 13/10/2007 at 10:33:26   Comments (9)

No Everton on Sky

Is it just me or does anyone else feel insulted that out of the 15 live matches throughout December we feature in NONE.? A fucking disgrace is my response and if it wasn't for the rest of the family I would cancel Sky without hesitation.
Mike Hayes     Posted 13/10/2007 at 09:20:33   Comments (14)

It's a classic!

Maybe not the forum to throw this up in, but I just wanted to say thanks to Michael, Lyndon, Colm, et al for a brilliant website. Don't know how long it's been up and running, but the last two years I have sought to jump on the web at any opportunity to read people's post.

My dad is technologically inept and doesnt't own a computer and he's constantly asking me to relay what the fans are saying about his beloved club.

I think me Mrs believes I'm checking out porn at every opportunity but I'm to busy reading the articles and Evertonian thoughts on a variety of issues.

That's enough of me kissing ass, I'd better get back to reading if anyone else has posted. Keep up the good work lads!
Steve Pendleton     Posted 13/10/2007 at 02:14:17   Comments (7)

Tickets for Larissa

The naivety and ineptness of the administration at this club just gets worse by the day. The UEFA tickets for the Larissa game:

Having got to the excuse of a box office with its six windows (with microphones not working at some) but eventually getting served, I'm still not happy at the admin for tickets for this game and can see reall chaos ensuing on the night.

Unless we asked we were not even given so much as a receipt for money handed over — just told, "yes, that is fine, your card has been credited." What is preventing any unscrupulous season ticket holder arriving on the night, saying they handed over the money for a ticket but for some reason their card has not registered? Why was it so hard to not give us all proper tickets OR even a receipt unless we asked — god help us if we are drawn against a major team and have 2 other cup runs on and the box office are attempting to sell tickets for all games at once.

Why is it so difficult for the stewards to be able to organise different queues — ie: 1 for fans wanting tickets for more than game, 1 for those paying cash, 1 for credit cards — pitiful, pitiful, pitiful...
Andy Jones     Posted 13/10/2007 at 01:31:24   Comments (12)

Official website

You really do have to wonder about our official club website. I've just logged on and have seen what passes for their official tribute to Bellefield. Bill's response to recent speculation about a possible takeover is also a wonder. A handful of blokes in their spare time can organise this website to a high standard, providing high grade information and scope for discussion, all may I add free of charge. The club gives us this junk from IT guys, probably on huge money, and then expects us to pay subscription fees for any decent info.

I know I should know better at this stage but don't you just love being patronised?
Kieran Fitzgerald     Posted 12/10/2007 at 22:41:49   Comments (8)

Portuguese Evertonian

Born Portuguese, 38 years old, still married, 2 kids, dentist as a job, Vitória Guimarães fan and Everton FC mad.

Why do I support EFC? Simple... 1984. Magic team I will never ever forget. The likes of Southall (the best ever), T Steven, Reid, Sharp, Gray, and so on. But it was not only that, I mean, they really impressed me, the footbal, but on that time, a 15 years kid decide to write to EFC and ask for a souvenir...and surprise they did write me back. And then I learn the history of the blues. it was a love afair. Everton FC is more then a football club. It's passion, devotion, but also style, tradition, being the best. Just the sound of saying Everton FC is awesome.

And back to nowadays. I support the blues since then, 23 years of ups and downs. Myths like Duncan Ferguson. I will never forget the goal of Ferguson, the header, against the rats. The goal of Rideout in the 1995 FA Cup Final. The agony against Wimbledon. yes it's true we had more downs then up's, but we still are arond aren't we? We will be back a force in England... I've been at Goodison twice with my friend Jimmy Burns. Magic, absolutly magic. Now i intend to somowhere in the future go with my kid to watch EFC, still at Goodison. I follow the blues by Internet, first it was the very fun WSAG, then the Evertonian, now the site of EFC. I have home shirts, books, pieces taken from newspapers, tickets, scarfs, videos, CD's, you name it.

I love EFC, I really do, they are part of my life. I hope against the rats I can watch the game on TV. Wearing my blue shirt, scarf and a big big flag of EFC. Love to you all fellow Blues. Portugal.
Vasco Teixeira     Posted 12/10/2007 at 21:28:28   Comments (9)

Lescott/Campbell

I've hard today on the BBC that McLaren is likely to play Campbell instead of Lescott. Although being an Evertonian, I am of course biased towards Lescott, but I really cannot understand how Campbell has been picked above Lescott.

Ok, so Lescott does not have the experience Campbell does but he is in my opinion a far superior defender and at the moment something approaching a prolific goal scorer! There is more than enough experience in the England back line with the likes of Ferdinand and Cole. I think it's time McLaren got some guts and picks the best players for the job. Who's betting he picks Lampard over Barry?
Tris Allerton     Posted 12/10/2007 at 18:46:37   Comments (3)

EFC Travel

I notice everyone has booked for Nuremburg and Alkmaar but there are still no trips organised by the club or it's partner Leisure Path. Have they, as usual, completely goosed everything up, or are they just waiting to see the ticket allocation?

I want to make the trip but I won't go without a ticket, so it's about time Billy and his merry men got there fingers out and got things moving.
Mark Joseph     Posted 12/10/2007 at 18:26:30   Comments (0)

Moyes v Rooney?

Does anyone know what the status of the Moyes v Rooney legal fight regarding those quotes from his book? Did I miss an out-of-court settlement? If not, what's the story?
David Edwards     Posted 12/10/2007 at 16:33:49   Comments (6)

Changing football history/ the other way around!

Big Jock Dodds was an Everton centre-forward in the late 40s-early 50s (not bad either). Hardly any overseas players in those days, it was not allowed anyway, (that was the rules). For a British player to go abroad, that was a no-no as well, according to the old gits who ran football at Lancaster Gate.

Big Jock got an offer to go to Bogata in South America, I'm not sure if it was just him or a team of people who wanted to break the old traditions. He was told "If you go, you don't play again here." Jock said "Fuck you lot" and went. The rest is history.

Just look at Brazil,and all the other South American sides, all shown how by an Evertonain (although I think he went to Grimsby Town for a short period after us). Another amazing tale from Everton folkelore. I wonder if any of you saw Jock play, if you did, please don't say he was crap ? you will spoil my little tale.
Teddy Draper     Posted 12/10/2007 at 09:59:37   Comments (4)

How many Evertonians will be making the Nuremberg trip

I have just booked my trip on the net and the hotels seem to be filling up in Nuremberg and the flights too. Anyone got any idea how many will be travelling? Someone said they reckon about 7,000 ? it is an easy place to get to so maybe more than 7,000 will decide to go.
Paul Simpson     Posted 11/10/2007 at 21:41:05   Comments (37)

Duncan, Duncan Ferguson!

Does anyone out their have any idea what Duncan Ferguson is up to these days?

I know a lot of people don't care too much for the big man, over-rated, injury prone etc, but I grew up idolising Dunc, at a time when heroes where thin on the ground.

I often read football autobiographies (most of them dire) but if one person should write a book it should be him.

I heard a roumour a while ago he may be going to play in Australia but since then nothing.

There is a Duncan MySpace site but I doubt if it really is him (especially as purple aki is listed as one of his friends, how random is that?).

Well, hopefully somebody out their can let us know what he's up to nowadays. Duncan, not Purple Aki.
Franny Porter     Posted 11/10/2007 at 18:59:32   Comments (34)

Can this possibly be true?

I was asked this question recently: Who scored the last penalty in a cup tie at Goodison Park? It has to be a genuine FA Cup tie, including Everton as one of the teams. When I heard the answer i was astonished, and I've been a supporter for 60-odd years. I was even more shocked to find out who scored it! See if anybody comes up with the answer. No doubt you will.
Teddy Draper     Posted 11/10/2007 at 17:56:41   Comments (3)

Another quiz

In Graeme Sharp's auto-biography, he says that Bobby Mimms was in goal for Betar Jerusalem in a friendly against Everton, while still an Everton player. Does anybody know why?
Trevor Thompson     Posted 11/10/2007 at 15:01:48   Comments (6)

Pop Quiz

What player has played for Everton, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd?
Gavin Harris     Posted 11/10/2007 at 14:15:09   Comments (29)

Gary Speed

Gary Speed has been relieved of his duties at Bolton due to an ongoing disagreement with Sammy Lee.

Knowing that David Moyes tried to sign Gary Speed (unfortunately it was too late and the player had agreed terms with Bolton by the time) do you think it's likely he will offer him a coaching position?
Louis Platt     Posted 11/10/2007 at 11:57:30   Comments (27)

Howard Wins!

Recently the US Soccer Association named Landon Donovan US Player of the Year. He beat out Tim Howard, our great Toffee keeper. Across America most people who know the game were bemused as Donovan most likely won based solely on past fame. So last night Fox Soccer Channel's two Brit hosts ran a poll to select Player of the Year.

Much to my delight, Tim Howard won in a landslide, with kind words going towards what he has done for Everton and his national side. Considering that Tim suffers from Tourette's Syndrome, it is amazing that he is a top class world keeper, so kudos to the Everton keeper! And boos to the US Soccer Association for trying to hang on to the past achievements of a once potential great US striker.
Carlos Camacho     Posted 10/10/2007 at 21:21:13   Comments (6)

Derby County (A)

I see the official site is still saying that we are away to Derby on Saturday 27 October even though we are at home to Larissa on Thursday the 25th. This is quite crucial to one of the regulars who is away on the Saturday but could make the Sunday. Are we changing the date or are we really intending to play 2 games in less than 48 hours?
Ray Robinson     Posted 10/10/2007 at 19:52:30   Comments (5)

Sights for sore eyes

Dear EVERTONIANS all,

Reading through these very, very, BLUE articles on the whole of this very EXCELLENT site, I would, just for a change, like to get us ALL to participate in a bit of all our yesterdays (stop the moaning and sniping, please).

Can anyone beat this? In 1966 I saw at the Liverpool show, (at the Mystery?) on the same table the Division One 1 trophy (the RS), the F.A. Cup (Everton), the Rugby League Cup (St Helens), The then Central League Trophy (the RS) and the World Cup!

The only security was a man and a big alsatian. Imagine that now! Oh, happy days when you could go to the match (3pm) Saturdays, knowing you were going to win! (Nearly always)

A life-long BLUE. COYB
Teddy Draper     Posted 10/10/2007 at 16:40:16   Comments (5)

Give Youth a Chance

The obvious pain in most Evertonians arses recently is the constantly dire tactics we are passing off as football. Although we are meant to be in the best position we have been in many years on paper, we are constantly flattering to decieve.

With our more gifted players out, I am somewhat suprised that the manager hasn't had any confidence in any of our youth prospects. He would rather play right backs in midfield than give talents such as Vidarsson and the like a chance.

Surely we would have had a lot more respect for the manager if he had a bit of bottle and tested a few of our younger players even via the substitute bench if neccessary. Surely it would be better for us to see Moyes taking a risk and failing rather than persisting with the same players week-in week-out and failing to deliver anyway?

It hasn't been one or two games we have failed to deliver ? it's been ongoing for over a month. We haven't even got the option to give some of these players a chance once we are ahead to get some experience, against Middlesborough for example... The only chance our youngsters will be ready for the premiership is if they get 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there.

I wonder if Moyes hasn't seen anything from them to have them in contention, but when you read the match reports from the reserves they seem to be playing against players with Premier League experience, and you rarely see in said reports '50 yard hoof ball by the defender'.. Such phrases coined in the most recent report include 'jinking run' and 'lovely play'. Something we are not blessed with seeing on match days.

I wonder if anyone has had chance to see any reserve games to see if any players are close to reaching the first team in terms of quality?
Mike Cowhig     Posted 10/10/2007 at 14:15:33   Comments (16)

A tricky draw

Anyone who thinks we've had an easy draw for the Uefa Cup group stage needs to think again. Yes, we're all glad we've avoided the likes of Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina (not to mention Villarreal), but the actual opponents we will face could prove just as troublesome.

Larissa might appear to be the easiest on paper, but as mentioned previously, knocked out a strong Blackburn side who outplayed us at Goodison earlier this season.

As for the others, Zenit have the highest budget of any club in the Russian league, and an experienced coach in Dick Advocaat (formerly of Rangers and the Dutch national team). They don't have too many big names but Turkish striker Fatih Tekke and nippy Argentine Alejandro Dominguez could spell danger, along with Russian Andrei Arshavin.

AZ are indeed having a poor start to the Dutch season. However, they are staking a claim to make Holland's 'Big Three' and 'Big Four' (and are arguable superior to Feyenoord at the moment). Their star is coach Louis van Gaal, formerly of Barcelona and Ajax, but Belgian midfielder Maarten Martens is a potential star. An up-and-coming side.

FC Nurnberg won the German Cup and have Greek striker Angelos Charisteas to threaten us with. None of these teams will give us an easy ride and we will have to work hard to progress (and then probably draw a Champions League dropout team and get stuffed).

Enjoy the rollercoaster!
Chris Marks     Posted 10/10/2007 at 13:51:09   Comments (14)

Reserves

A glance at the reserve team against Man City reveals only two players that I can recall making the first team squad - Vidaarson and Ruddy. Where's VDM ,Da Silva and others who don't get a game? Why aren't these types of players given a run out?

It used to be that players returning from injury had a run out in the reserves, plus fringe players and a few young lads. Fans could go along to Goodison on weekday nights and for a fiver enjoy a decent game against Man Utd or Blackburn reserves and some of the first-teamers might turn up amongst a 5,000 crowd packed together in the main stand. I think they used to call it the Central League. It was a pretty useful exercise all round, instead of the complete waste of time the reserve set-up has become.
Alan Rodgers     Posted 10/10/2007 at 12:24:22   Comments (5)

AJ to return harder, better, faster, stronger?

According to Mick Rathbone AJ's not only been suffering with a groin strain the past 3 weeks, but has also had an ankle problem which has built up "over a period of years"! Could this then mean we've never seen the best of Andy Johnson?

Besides the lack of goals, I haven't felt Johnson has been as sharp this season, maybe this explains why? Let's hope when he returns from this Op and a months rest he's fitter and sharper than ever. We need him!
Paul O'Hanlon     Posted 10/10/2007 at 11:49:26   Comments (6)

Subject to change?

I see the OS is still saying that the Uefa fixture dates are still subject to change (and presumably TW is pragmatically taking its steer from that?). But are they still subject to change? Or is it more the case that the bods at the OS have simply forgotten to now omit the cautious "things may change" rider that they posted immediately after the second phase of yesterday's draw?

I tried to contact the club this morning (you know the rest). So I wondered if any TW regulars would know a bit more? I just want to know when the fixtures are fixed (so to speak).

I can't see that they can still be subject to change for that much longer, especially with the Larissa game due on the 25th, and loads of fans trying to sort out planes, trains, automobiles and days off work. Also, I can't see how there's that much room for change anyway: the Uefa Cup gets played on a Thursday and a Thursday only, doesn't it? Am I missing something? Anyone heard any updates?
Greg Murphy     Posted 10/10/2007 at 10:38:24   Comments (3)

Bluenose and Kopite

I've heard in the past that some people used to watch Everton one week and then go and watch Liverpool the next. This struck me as a bit strange. LIke most of you, I can't for life of me imagine supporting the evil ones from across the park. Does this still go on today? Could any of our older fans [Mr. Marsh for example] enlighten me?

Only kidding Tony!
Paul Cook     Posted 10/10/2007 at 08:18:39   Comments (14)

School of Science

I have been a season ticket holder at our beloved blues for over 20 years; I was there in the 80s to watch the last Everton side who played true football the way it should be played.

We all adhere and dream that our side could play like Arsenal do now, and have done for the last 10 years... some may say it is impossible to achieve, but look at Man City, many people's outside tip for the drop this season. I know they have spent but with the right coaches there they have been superb and also play great football as well.

Now correct me if I am wrong but as a season ticket holder we love grit, heart and battle at Everton... but enough is enough, we have overdosed on this now. Everton fan's will be happy as long as a player give's 110%, how many times have you heard that over the year's?... What shite, how the fan's standard's have dropped if this is the case.

If City can do it, so can we, but under the current coaching regime i know it won't happen....bring back the flair, bring back the ball on the floor, bring back the football. I write in vague hope and total despair...
Mick Gillian     Posted 10/10/2007 at 04:04:49   Comments (7)

Pop Quiz

Please someone tell me:

Which Premiership Manager in the last 5 seasons has consistently out-performed David Moyes both in terms of finishing league position and providing 'entertaining football' on an equivalent or smaller budget?

If anyone can provide names that prove Moyes is consistently underperforming his peers then I suggest we return our season tickets in protest, send a polite note to BK, pointing out the obvious, and wait for the new appointment.

Over to you...
Robert Miller     Posted 09/10/2007 at 23:02:06   Comments (34)

Central midfield problems

We are clearly missing the quality of Cahill and Gravesen in centre midfield. I live in Sheffield and Blades fans warned me repeatedly that Jags is not a midfielder. After seeing his performances against Man Utd, Sheff Wed and Metallist I now see what they mean.

He's a centre back who can play right back so why not play him there instead of Hibbert who's having a terrible time of it? Phil Neville is also not a central midfielder and contributes much more from right back. When fit Lee Carsley has been one of our most consistent players so why does Moyes prefer Jags to him in centre midfield?

Lastly, as a big Gravsesen fan I can find no news about his injury or expected return other than a 'knee injury'. Does anyone know what is actually wrong with Tommy and when he might be available to us again? Or is the news so bad i.e. medial/cruciate ligament that he is unlikely to feature for us anytime soon?
Peter Herbert     Posted 09/10/2007 at 21:04:44   Comments (12)

Who do we blame now?

It's already pretty clear that our hopes of Everton making progress into the top four this year were built on sand. Similarly, we ain't going to make much impression on Europe because we just haven't got the squad to cope with two hard games in a week.

So who is to blame? There has to be a scapegoat! Not Moyes, obviously, because so many of us feel he is beyond reproach. Just look at the progress we've made since he replaced Walter Smith!

Not Kenwright and the Board. Haven't they invested record sums in the likes of Beattie, Johnson and Yakubu?

Not the players, surely? Look how they came back from the dead in Europe and almost held the mighty Newcastle to a draw!

No, it's all our fault for having the bloody temerity to think Everton had turned the corner .To raise our aspirations so high that some of us even said we had "our best squad for 20 years."

So before you go slagging off manager, board and players just look at yourselves. You used to be happy if we avoided relegation?now it`s a different story. So start to believe the man who said "Tenth is good" and just enjoy how far we've come!

That's what they tell us, anyway!
Trevor Manton     Posted 09/10/2007 at 20:07:58   Comments (25)

Bakayoko comes home!

I am sure somebody said Yakubu is the worst striker we have had since Bakayoko, well now we get to compare and contrast because Ibrahima is coming home ? with Larissa! (He must be about 40 now? proper age)!
Rich Williams     Posted 09/10/2007 at 16:01:07   Comments (6)

Nurnberg

I am a student in Warrington who has previously spent four weeks in Lauf (5 min from Nurnberg) on a German exchange. It's a fantsatic city, with great bars and a public transport system that makes ours look shocking. The stadium is easy to find and accessible, and it's just generally a great city to go to. It's not that large and is cheap (beer and food especially) and im well happy with this draw.
Dan Formby     Posted 09/10/2007 at 15:46:12   Comments (6)

EasyCash

Anyone else notice the commercial practices of the Easyjet Robbery Squad earlier today? Having noticed it with other teams / competitions in the past, I decided to be sad this morning and monitor our potential destinations for rip-off tactics. I looked at the potential opponents in far flung outposts such as Panionios, Bergen, Leverkusen, Belgrade, Elfsborg, Boleslav and matching, as best as my geography lets me, the equivalent destinations served by the budget lines like EYZ, Ryanair and FlyBe.

When Alkmaar came out, I knew it was about 30 miles north of the Dam and thought here comes an interesting contrast. Pre-draw flights from John Lennon to Dam I had already priced (for football purposes only, obviously!). Outbound flights on the Wednesday are not too bad with the prices only up about £20. The good flights out on the Thurdsay only went up, much to my surprise, by about £40. It was the price of the return flights after the draw compared to pre 11am prices where the sting came.

Friday's three best return flights went up by between £100 - £130 each!!!

Way of the world, supply and demand and all that it might well be but just another example of commercial opportunism at our expense. £150 price rise on the same flights within 5 minutes!!!

Good job we love our club. Another two Amstel's please there barman!

ps: Glad we aren't playing Larissa away cos the 'International Airport of Central Greece' at Volos isn't an easy place to get too. Yaamas.
Steve Green     Posted 09/10/2007 at 15:14:09   Comments (9)

Excellent and Jammy!

Last week i wrote about our luck changing and proof of that came today with that 'soft' UEFA Cup draw. It is not exactly a dawdle but if we can't qualify out of that section we have no right to be there!

Are we turning into Liverpool ?.............is our luck changing ?.............it's about time frankly !

The two furthest away sides in the group must come to us while we face very short trips to two really nice places ahead of away games on the Sundays at Chelsea and Man U where most logical thinkers would expect us to lose anyway.

Larissa at home is followed by the 'easiest ' away trip we have in the Premier for the rest of 2007 - Derby and the Zenit game at Goodison is followed by Fulham at home - a game we have always won since they came back to the Premier.

All we need to complete this picture of better luck is a really crappy winner next Saturday. Things are getting better !
Glen Strachan     Posted 09/10/2007 at 14:53:09   Comments (17)

Moyes's bad buys

With Man City injecting millions in a team supported by a loyal fan base and a great stadium, West Ham spending free and fast, Blackburn being well organised and hard to beat, Portsmouth although inconsistent on the rise, Aston Villa showing good form under O?Neil and Newcastle slowly turning the corner with Allardyce, where do we stand in line with the other Premier League pretenders hoping for a top 6 finish?.

We have invested heavily this year (Baines, Wessels, Yakubu, Jagielka with Pienaar/Gravesen on loan) ? Is it money well spent? Only Wessels and Baines look like being good acquisitions. Couple that with Cahill's injury and Arteta blowing hot and cold and its plain to see we haven?t really kicked on so far this season.

Moyes's signings have been quite frankly poor. Sure the new lads need more time but then again look at all the players Man City have signed and they look the business right off the bat with no Prem experience. The likes of Yak and Jagielka should be doing better, no excuses, and Pienaar is simply not good enough, he?s a South African Leon Osman: good ball skills but so little physical presence a stiff fart will blow him over.

Our defence looks very very fragile which for me is very strange as Everton's trademark under Moyes's management has always been first and foremost Be Hard to Beat!

So far my gut says we haven?t progressed this season; Moyes's signings for one reason or another haven?t gelled and other teams like Villa, City, Blackburn and probably even West Ham and Newcastle now have the edge on us. With a Tottenham comeback on the cards, if we lose the Merseyside derby a season of mid-table struggle could well be ahead.
Dan Johnson     Posted 09/10/2007 at 14:21:41   Comments (12)

e-Ticketing Fiasco

Has anyone else received an email outlining the new and "improved" e-ticketing website?

I tried to purchase a ticket for the derby and being an Evertonia member this should have been possible. However, even though it recognises me as a member when I come to pay it says I'm not. Any one else having the same problem?

Another fine example of EFC doing their best for the customer. How many times to we have to put up with this?

And before anyone suggests phoning the box office ? I'm not even going down the route of being told I'm at position one in the queue for nearly an hour!
Paul Carsley     Posted 09/10/2007 at 14:07:35   Comments (6)

Uefa Cup Draw

My impression was a good start to the draw faded away leaving things looking pretty tough (a bit like our season really):

AZ Alkmaar ? look to be the weakest team in Pool 1, but did finish third in Holland last year and second the year before that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AZ_Alkmaar

Zenit St Petersburg ? don?t know a lot about them, but they finished 4th in an improving Russian league and have some good players: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenit_St_Petersburg

Nuremburg ? finished 6th in the Bundesliga last season which suggests they can?t be push-overs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1._FC_N%C3%BCrnberg

Larissa ? should be the whipping boys but stuffed a pretty good Blackburn side.
Richard Watts     Posted 09/10/2007 at 12:07:58   Comments (21)

Uefa Cup

We're about to take part in our first ever draw for the group stage of a European tournament (11 am BST). In spite of everything (and we haven't been playing well lately) this represents progress for me. There are five Greek teams in the draw so we have to get one of them, hopefully at home. There are also four German teams, none of which are in our pot, so a good chance of getting one of those.
Phil Guyers     Posted 09/10/2007 at 10:22:43   Comments (5)

Johnson's Goal Celebration

Just wondering if anybody knows who Andy Johnson ran over to after scoring against Newcastle? I thought it interesting that this hasn't really been mentioned so far.

I can only assume that this was Moyes, but the MotD highlights didn't show it clearly. After all the crap spoken in the papers about Moyes falling out with him and one or two suggestions that he had been dropped, I think (if it was Moyes), it is a good sign that Johnson singled him out.
Philip Howden     Posted 09/10/2007 at 09:01:24   Comments (4)

Why this season is so important

This season is crucial for not only David Moyes but also the club. We have made such enormous strides over the past four or five years, if we embarrass ourselves in Europe, the cups, and don't finish in at least the top 7, we face the possibility of losing Arteta, Cahill, Lescott, and our other ambitious quality players to bigger teams who consistently play in Europe. These guys not only want to play in Europe but deserve to.

Hopefully Moyes can pick up some talent in the transfer window (Fernandes on loan?) and we can fix this impending train wreck of a season. 10th place is not good enough, no matter what stage of the season we're in.
Jimmy Crack     Posted 09/10/2007 at 02:37:30   Comments (12)

Separation

I never thought it would happen to me. Everton are the longest relationship I've ever had apart from my parents but I just can't take this Moyes-infected Everton anymore. He's an imposter and has turned us into a reflection of himself... a below average hoofball defender that has little regard for technical ability and attacking, joined up football.

I know many will say not a true supporter, good riddance, etc because I've thought that of others who quit before. I've followed Everton home and away, had season tickets and even though I've been 5,000 miles away for 11 years still spend more money on them than most. I'm in my 40's now and just cant take the utter shite that Moyes's Everton serves up.

I'll not stray to another of course, I'll always love Everton but until they are free and clean of this depressing influence I have to distance myself. Of course, it's easier because of my geography but believe me its still painful.

I wish the best for you and will take an interest from afar but I just can't enable this relationship for another second... and I wonder how many more there are out there that are getting closer to there own breaking points?
Mike Price     Posted 08/10/2007 at 19:44:29   Comments (73)

The Complaints Are the Proof We Are Moving Forward!

We've all said it:

Our midfield is poor, we hoof the long ball, we strangle the life out of games to get a result... All that and more is arguably true, but what I cannot understand is all the people calling for Moyes' head!?!

We are currently lying 9th in the league, our lowest position since August? We have just got through to the group stage of the UEFA cup and we will all be enjoying our first decent crack at European football since the days of Howard's blue and white army.

We have a decent albeit limited squad (limited in numbers) which we are consistently adding to slowly, but surely each year. We are holding on to players of quality such as Arteta, Cahill, Lescott and what's more we have them tied to long contracts. No longer are we a selling club and no longer are all of our decent players clambering at the exits for pastures new. Relegation is a nightmare of the past and even the most pessemistic Evertonian will have to admit that this is no longer a worry for us.

We all have the right to criticise and some criticism even of Moyes is very well founded at times. The truth is, however, on the whole we are looking in good shape. We have suffered injuries to major key players. Cahill, Gravesen, vaughan at a time when we needed them badly. The good news is, they are now almost back to full fitness and it doesn't take a genius to see that massive improvement should follow. All things considering, we've made a pretty ok start to the season.

Yes, it's been rough to watch, but sometimes you have to get by the best you can when certain players are missing. Even a squad the size of Liverpool struggle when they lose Gerrard (their key player).

We missed out on Fernandes for whatever the real reason and that was a blow, but someone else will come along sooner rather than later to fill his boots and to further add to our flourishing team.

I have posted many a time in the mailbag about how poor our midfield has been, how I'm sick of the long ball etc... but at the end of the day I can still see the bigger picture, I can see just how much good Moyes has done and i'm looking forward to the next five years hopefully with him at the helm. Success (and by success I mean Chelsea, Man U type success) isn't going to come overnight unless you've got the Abramovich millions. We haven't and I firmly believe that to take Everton from where we were under Walter to the point of being title contenders realistically should be much much more than a five year process. I believe Moyes is currently half way there and I am more than willing to give him a few more years yet. there may be blips along the way, but we will still be pointing in the right direction!

The mere fact that Evertonians are now complaining that we 'only scraped through to the European group stage' and that, God forbid 'we could be in the bottom half of the table after the next fixture' only goes to strengthen my point that we have improved immensely under DM.

Not too many years ago I remember praising Walter Smith for getting us to the 40 point safety place with a game to spare! Now people are moaning at Moyes because UEFA qualification and a top half placing in the league isn't good enough. This just goes to prove how far he's brought us.
Ian Ankers     Posted 08/10/2007 at 18:49:00   Comments (28)

Joseph Yobo

I wonder if anybody else is seeing the same games as me (ie, Oz ? nearly every game). Joey Yobo is a liability. He plays well most of the time then cost us goals in games that cost us dearly. When on song, he's a world beater. Nothing gets past him on the ground or in the air but he goes off in cuckoo land with shit clearances, watching play, awful headers and so on.

I've waited year after year saying he will mature, but surely there comes a time when we realise he is just not good enough. This may be harsh but a veteran like Stubbs reads the game... lacks pace, yes, but talks good. If Yobo had these qualities, he'd be a great player but in the mean time we suffer with his inconcistencies. Is it time to move him on? Over the season how many crucial games is he costing us?

I'm not comparing him to Stubbs. But maybe Jags, who played at center-half all year for Sheff Utd should be tried at that position (yes, they went down) but give the lads a chance. Now for Victor the Newcastle game I thought was the best game he's played yet no coment in the press I wrote him off as not prem class hold my hands up brilliant now if he can do this on a regular basis great. Now with Vaughany coming back, watch out!
Tony  Cornmell     Posted 08/10/2007 at 14:46:59   Comments (16)

3 Games On The Trot

Some interesting views today from many fans on how, despite being beaten 3-2 at the barcodes yesterday, things were not too bad as we had won 3 on the trot. Well, lets put that in some perspective:

1. Sheffield Wednesday: very poor game. Although they never really looked like scoring and were unable to keep us under pressure, we also struggled badly. Long ball game was in full evidence. Also, they were beaten easily at the weekend by another poor Championship team.
2. Middlesborough: some awful football again and we should have been 3-1 down at half time to a similarly awful team.
3. Metalist Kharkiv: to say we rode our luck is severely understating how awful we were. At half time we had been humiliated. Great result at the end but, like the first leg at home,was our fitness that was the difference.

Judge any manager by his results. We are mid-table currently despite spending more this summer than ever before. The quality of the football (and no, not the results) is no better than in the dark days of Walter. Can it be that difficult for a professional footballer to hold and pass the ball rather than a long punt forwards? Is this due to the players, manager or coaches?
John Waugh     Posted 08/10/2007 at 13:47:06   Comments (26)

View from row 'R'

Well I couldn't make out too much from my seat in the clouds but a few things are for sure.

Negatives: 1) We need to win - or at least challenge for the second ball! Although you couldn't do anything about Emre's strike he never should have won the ball there and had so much time - but it happenned time and time and time again and you could see a goal like that coming.

2) We need to be stronger in the tackle - how many weak challenges did they walk through for the first goal? And all over the park throughout the game for that matter.

3) Defending crosses needs to be improved - there is no way Michael Owen should be winning free headers like that in the box - do we blame tired legs after Thursday? Or do we admit that that is simply not good enough

Positives: 1) AJ has taken a bit of critisism on here of late but my word he makes a difference. Forgetting the goal I'd be saying the same thing - he chases everything down, he runs at defenders, he sets up chances, he tracks back and defends. What a player he is. First name on the teamsheet for me. Shame he's out now because he is an absolute legend in my eyes.

2) Despite some unsubstantiated moaning to the contrary, Everton ARE creating chances and ARE scoring goals. If we can keep scoring 2/3 a game like we have the last few games but tighten up defensively we'll be world beaters!!!

3) Everton fans are amazing. Best supporters on the planet and some of the funniest people I've ever met in my life. 'One fit steward, there's only 1 fit steward - ONE FIT STEWARD'. Timeless classic.
Mark Stone     Posted 08/10/2007 at 13:30:27   Comments (2)

Missing Men

Something to do this lunchtime amid reading yesterday's match reports etc, SKY Sports' "Missing Men" features Everton's 2-0 win over Liverpool in 1997.
Alan Humphreys     Posted 08/10/2007 at 13:24:10   Comments (0)

How many times.......

How many times am I gunna come away from the game saying the SAME FUCKIN? THING? No midfield ? Carsley and Neville don?t cut it; Hibbert is shite and can?t defend; Yobo is an empty-head and couldn?t mark a lottery ticket; Arteta should be in central midfield as he is the only on who can pass the fuckin? ball and doesn?t get involved enough down the right or left; McFadden is skilful and tries, but just isn?t good enough.

I am sick and tired of the same crap, week in week out.

Now we need to examine who is to blame for this recent lack of defensive prowess and attacking vigour; personally I think it is a combination of players playing out of position, inability and managerial mistakes that are costing us. We all know this, as it isn?t rocket science and the subject has been discussed at considerable length. I hope to fuck that it improves when Tiny and Mad-dog return otherwise we are fucked?

Moyes did change it after Thursday's miracle, but only to a point and not enough by any means. But the Skunks weren?t any better than us yesterday ? even though the BBC did their best to make it look like they twatted us; it wasn?t like that at all.

Keep the faith and let's all go away somewhere for a UEFA Cup game and get totally wasted for a few nights?.!!!! COYB?
Andy Callan     Posted 08/10/2007 at 12:29:39   Comments (4)

Defensive incapabilities

I stuck a post on here a couple of months ago pointing out the strength in depth in our squad, and the one glaring weakness... Centre back. All we have for cover is a 36 year old whose legs have never been that quick anyway.

All the talk at the time, and indeed now, is for an attacking centre midfielder, of which we currently have our two specialist ones out injured. Now it's unfortunate we can't field a decent central midfield partnership, however injuries happen and in the meantime we have to make do.What's going to happen though if Yobo continues his misplaced form, or when Yobo goes to the African Nations? We can't be expected to compete in all competitions with only 3 centre backs, one of which is on his last legs.

Almost everyone missed this glaring oversight during the summer when they were harping on about a midfielder. It's no wonder Yobo's form's dipped, all he's got to compete against is an ageing Stubbs. No disrespect to Stubbs but when compared to an athlete as good as Yobo, especially at an advancing age, he doesn't stand that much of a chance. Therefore, where's the motivation for Yobo to perform if all he has to do is perform at a level which is no where near his best?

This problem should have been identified last season or during the summer, not when the defence finally starts slipping up.
Kev Prytherch     Posted 08/10/2007 at 11:46:57   Comments (4)

The little matter of the Derby

Never have I felt such a lack of confidence heading into a Merseyside derby. Having watched the team week-in, week-out, scrape by with dire football and astonishing Moyes tactics, I have been putting to the back of my mind the impending Game of Games. Now, having been a proud Evertonian for almost all of my 30 years, I am well aware that we may raise our game, play the ball on the deck, score through scintillating pass-and-move football and revert to type the next game.

On the whole I cannot see us beating them this year. I am an optimist at heart, an old romantic if you will, but where will the goals come from? How will we not be over run in midfield? Can we repel their onslaught and effectively counter-attack? Our past seasons have all been given a kick-start by a great result in the derby; if Moyes wants to keep those wavering fans onside, he needs to pull off a result that I fear many don't expect.

It has been stated on this site ad finitum that Moyes is tactically niave and cannot get the best out of his players. I do not believe this, as this was exactly what he was capable of doing in his early seasons at Everton. Our team seem to be a confidence team, and a very brittle one at that.

The loss of our first-choice midfield is hampering what should have been our season to show everyone how far we have come, but now we are facing a leaking defence and a goal-shy attack. Moyes and his team must now prove their stock and rally the remaining troops into a galvinised hard-to-beat team. We did it before with lesser players; for the sake of our season and more immediatly our local pride, Moyes must prove he is the man deserving of the leadership of Everton FC. COYB.
Chris Lawlor     Posted 08/10/2007 at 10:00:58   Comments (2)

How hard can it be?

Some fans have a right go if you dare question Moyes' tactical ability as a coach. But I was thinking that after 5 yrs Moyes has us playing some of the shittest football in the prem, and not just this season, but for the last few as well. The usual suspects blame the lack of cash Moyes has to spend, the injuries.

My point is that I was talking to my other half last night (she's a Man Utd fan) about the type of football we play, and we got onto Man City and how well they are doing. That got me thinking, Erickson has been at Man City for 5 minutes, bought some players who no-one had ever heard of and has got them playing some of the best football in the prem this year.

My question is, how can Erickson get a team playing great football in a matter of months, but Moyes can't do it after 5 years? A goldfish for the first person to mention the money side.
Brian Waring     Posted 08/10/2007 at 09:46:10   Comments (11)

The Euro Effect.

I think this season's UEFA Cup campaign is going to have a knock-on effect to Everton's league form.

In the past teams like West Ham have proven that qualifying for a Euro competition plays havoc on your league form resulting in a poor season (or even relegation if your Ipswich). So its undeniable that Everton's prolonged run in the UEFA Cup is distracting the players while all that travelling is tiring them.

On the plus side Everton's league form at the moment is still acceptable. Yes its been up and down but so far the boys have managed to stay in the Top 10. If Everton manage to mount a serious Uefa Cup campaign, I'm sure most of us would accept dropping a couple of places in the Premiership. After all we spent the summer demanding exactly that.

If Moyes manages to maintain the Top 10 position and keep Everton in the Uefa Cup (with maybe an FA or League Cup run) then he's doing a pretty fine job. Don't be too hard on the boys if they lose games like Newcastle away after a Euro fixture. For most of them this is their first Euro adventure and it's going to take time for them to adjust.
Dutch Schaffaer     Posted 08/10/2007 at 08:17:51   Comments (9)

So what IS wrong?

Looking through the recent mails and their repsonses one thing is apparent ? there is a LOT of anxiety and frustration around Everton just now. We all have our favourite objects of blame... you know the list. However each one voiced illicits an avalanche of counter argument and renders the discussion meaningless.

Meanwhile our underlying common concerns remain. Our league placing continues to have more to do with other teams performances rather than our own. We seem utterly incapable of turning, killing or control matches. Something is wrong ? is there any consensus on what IT is?
John Jones     Posted 08/10/2007 at 07:11:19   Comments (3)

Travelling Fans

Just a few words about the Metalist game now that I've come off cloud nine and sobered up! We must be one of the best supported clubs away from home in the world. I would like to thank Everton Travel for their first class service and all the fans that joined me.

The support from us was equalled by a very friendly Metalist crowd and the atmosphere in the city and both in and out of the ground was electric. I thought Spurs away was going to be hard to top... but well done boys, maybe we helped the mighty blues edge past a very tricky Ukranian side. Skint but very proud... COYB
Dominic Eaton     Posted 08/10/2007 at 00:36:57   Comments (1)

Everton takeover

Just read an interesting story in The People about a possible takeover of Everton

According to the report Phillip Green the billionaire is involved in the discussions and Bill is considering the approach. Would love Green to get more involved.
Gavin Harris     Posted 07/10/2007 at 20:55:15   Comments (1)

The end for Moyes

If West Ham win their game in hand then Everton will be in the bottom half of the table after 9 games. After all the time he has been given, all the money he has spent and all the embarrassing performances we have witnessed, surely this is the end for Moyes. Bottom half is not good enough and it certainly isn't progress. Because of the investment financially most Evertonians would say we have our best team on paper for many years. But this is because of the investment and not Moyes. His signings have been a mixture of success and failure but if you keep spending money the squad is bound to improve.

We currently have strikers who can't score, midfielders who can't pass and now a defence which has kept 2 clean sheets in 12 games. We have centre backs playing at full back, centre backs playing centre midfield and if Lescott keeps scoring well probably have a centre back up front. It was obvious during close season that we needed quality central midfielders and Moyes failed to address this. A couple of injuries and were left with Neville and Carsley in the middle. So after all this time and money were right back where it all started, fighting relegation.
Tom Sullivan     Posted 07/10/2007 at 18:51:09   Comments (62)

Barcode Defeat

Are Everton going to lose every Premiership game directly after a Euro fixture? Newcastle scored their winning goals late on so I'm assuming that Everton legs/minds were tired after Thursday's ordeal.

At least AJ got the off the mark. Surprised Moyes dropped Stubbs ? he played well helping to keep our only two clean sheets this season;, Yobo was awful against Metalist.
John Cottee     Posted 07/10/2007 at 16:49:28   Comments (26)

Is it ?tosh??

Couldn?t help but pick up on the lingo Big Brown?s latest decision has evoked, but I am not on about whether we?ll be asked to wrap up then trudge down to the local church hall, I am talking about the latest takeover rumour by a mysterious South African as mentioned in The People:

Agreed, not a highly reputable provider of cast iron information, but I can?t help but wish it was all true and I am sure I?m not the only one. So, is it tosh?
Mick Gainey     Posted 07/10/2007 at 14:09:21   Comments (0)

Crazy 'soccer' coach

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55S10D1aFyw Take a look at this.Some guy teaching american kids soccer.I dont think he should be let anywhere near kids. He has all these kids singing Everton songs.Good you may think. But he then has them all singing "SG the baby's not yours". Then they start chanting 'D.n.a.'! These kids are only about 10 years old... Madness
Lee  Penswick     Posted 07/10/2007 at 13:23:56   Comments (6)

Striker retirement home

I'm not a cynic but there does seem to be a pattern emerging at Goodison and it's something that will eventually put off any decent 'scorer' wanting to sign up.

Beattie, AJ, Yakubu... all proven goal scorers with excellent C.V.'s and then they come here and struggle. Let's be honest, there hasn't been a legendary striker at the club who could be relied on since well before the Moyes reign but the current up-fronters aren't being helped at all by our tactics and tinkering in the midfield. Vic and Vaughan will probably get away with it as that's all they know and have no comparison but imagine being top boy at another club and then coming to Goodison? Total confusion!

So, to the powers that be: if youre going to splash out on decent strikers at least provide the service required. Stop putting diesel in a petrol engine (sorry, everyone has their little analogy) or just field a team of utility players and not bother wasting it on strikers which I feel would be the preferred option were it not for fan pressure.

Jags would've been a fair straight swap ££ wise for Naysmith, I hope Tim comes back the same player, and should we really be waiting with bated breath for Gravs return? Not really, but he'll give us something... He's not Manny though.

Hopefully the win in Europe will give us a bit of much needed confidence and we'll play the attractive, positive game we're capable of at St James's onwards. This could be a great season, other clubs still don't relish the thought of playing us and we do have that 'team spirit' but it'll only take us so far.

And if I could take this opportunity to pay tribute to Joleon Lescott... with or without the goals.. best young professional in the country, brilliant attitude and work ethic. Please pass on your awareness in the box to the boys up front.

We're having a reasonably good start to the season & it can certainly get better.

The usual suspects vying to break through into the top tier, namely Bolton and Tottenham are having a shocker and I actually believe a lot of it is psychological and will hopefully stick... we on the other hand should be much more positive!Regardless of our gripes with the board, manager, toffee girls etc...

It could be us and City stepping into someones shoes up there this season? Ya never know?
Wayne McNee     Posted 06/10/2007 at 12:29:19   Comments (12)

Look at the Luck

After Thursday?s game it was firstly suggested on TV that we were somewhat lucky to get away with a win, this was then picked up by the telext reports, and then copied by the tabloids the following morning. More astonishingly every other letter on this site seems to agree with this hasty assessment that Everton were lucky to go through.

Whilst I agree totally that the quality of football that we played on the night was second rate at best, I can?t for the life of me subscribe to the view that we were lucky. We had a perfectly good penalty disallowed at Goodison, if that had been allowed then I am sure Johnson would have confidently slotted home the second one, then the whole complexion of the second leg would have been changed.

Did anybody else notice that when Kharkov unluckily hit the post, the ball bounced at an unbelievable angle straight to the only other Kharkov player in the box bypassing the 4 Everton players who were also in the box. Would any of you class this as luck? I suppose we were lucky that Vaughan, Cahill and Johnson were all injured, and we were lucky that Neville was fully fit! (sorry Phil but you are supposed to pass to players in the same colour shirts)

We played poorly, Kharkov passed the ball better than us and looked to be a fairly decent side, but where we lucky to beat them? No, of course not.
Shaun Sparke     Posted 06/10/2007 at 12:04:17   Comments (11)

Moyes best ever?

Can it be true? David Moyes is just one game away from being our most successful manager since the Premier League began? Joe Royle managed to get Everton through to the second round of the old European Cup Winners Cup before his side bombed out against Feyenoord but the big man's League record hardly bears comparison with that of the long-serving Moyes and the football his teams produced was hardly much better.

True, our local hero managed to claim success in winning the FA Cup and Charity Shield but these hardly count for much in today's game where thre Premier and Europe are where it's at. I don't subscibe to the Moyesiah creed of Dodd & Co but I do believe that we should give credit where it's due. So, if Moyes can manage to pull off that second consecutive victory in the group stage of the UEFA, I reckon he should be crowned as our No.1 Top manager.
Keiran  Fuller     Posted 06/10/2007 at 09:08:47   Comments (19)

Why the surprise?

We were told by his ex-supporters that Jagielka is a Centreback, if pushed, a Rightback, but NOT a midfielder. If we can find someone ( Neville? ) to play the wingbacks role with Baines, we can go with a back 3 of Jag. Yobo and Lescott. With the 2 Wingbacks operating further up the field as quasi Midfielders, this will do away with the footballing equivalent of the West Lothian conundrum, the 'Hibbert question' In a back 4 with no proper R Mid. and / or Arteta ( or who ever )gone walkabout, how to properly deal with the space left infront of him. There is no finer one for one winger marker, but the rest of it... dire.

So that's..1 Keeper; 3 Centrebacks; 2 Wingbacks; 3 Centre-mids (1 with extra holding) and 2 Forwards. Supersize the School of Science and hold the Hoofball.

I'm lovin it!!
Derek  Thomas     Posted 06/10/2007 at 04:59:11   Comments (6)

Lee McArdle's Welsh exploits

I have just sat through the Wales vs Scotland under 16 game on Sky. Two of our own are involved. Welsh keeper Connor Roberts recently signed from Tranmere and Gareth Bale lookalike Lee McArdle the centre back.

Lee McArdle took a free kick in the dying minutes of the second half from forty yards out, and belted it right into the bottom right corner of the goal.

He pulled something better out of his hat last week on Thursday too, only from sixty yards out and into the top corner.

Does anyone know if this lad has the potential to make it all the way? Most of the hypen has been on Rodwell. He hasn't featured for the u18s much but saying that he is only 15.

Wales won 1-0.
David Matthews     Posted 06/10/2007 at 02:13:43   Comments (13)

Anichebe or Vaughan?

After many arguments with my mate about who is better out of Vaughan and Anichebe, I decided to ask people on here to see who they think. I think Vaughan, he thinks Anichebe.
John Murphy     Posted 05/10/2007 at 22:28:51   Comments (12)

Jammy, but who cares?

Could it be ? Could it really be ?

Has the luck that has followed our Redshite neighbours around for so long slipped across the park and taken residence at Goodison ?

Forget our lack of any style over the three hours , the only purpose of these cup matches is to qualify for the next round.

WE DID IT.

Now bring on Milan and Stuttgart and Lyon !

So long as our stunning Scotsman McFadden can get himself picked for Everton , the world is our oyster.

Three points on Sunday would be nice and as for next Saturday...take care Blue Boys, ugly rumour suggests that Finnan and Gerrard plan to drive to that one.

Watch out as you cross the roads around Goodison , Blue Boys !

Hoofball...dotcha just love it ?

Certainly worked a treat on Thursday. Better to be lucky than good.

THE LUCK IS OURS... GO BLUES !
Glen Strachan     Posted 05/10/2007 at 21:27:30   Comments (0)

Moyes on the Official Site Today

This quote is attributed to a certain D Moyes on the official site today:

"I expect David Moyes to have winning teams in Europe and good footballing teams. If you want to be a great leader you need big expectations and I want to be a great leader of a great football club that we are trying to bring back to success."

Was he watching the same UEFA Cup game that I watched?

Discuss!
Glen Anderson     Posted 05/10/2007 at 20:24:00   Comments (17)

Self-interest or team ethic?

What would you say about a player who puts himself before the team, and is only interested in protecting his reputation? You wouldn't be too happy if an individual had a reasonable game, was intent on protecting his own image yet the team lost ? and you would be right to slag that player off.

What about a manager who refuses to change things when 20 minutes into a game it's clear to everyone that the team selection was wrong, certain players just aren't cutting the mustard, or that tactics are simply ineffectual ? Wouldn't you expect that manager to bite the bullet and change things around for the good of the team, rather than refuse to make a switch as it would prove that he had got things wrong in the first place? What would you think if he just continued down the original path, causing the team to concede?

Let's get to the point ? it was clear to absolutely everyone watching that Phil Jagielka struggles at centre midfield, he can't get close enough to tackle, take too long on the ball and the game simply passes him by. He may be a good squad player, a fine full back, a great centre half, who knows ? but he's not a central midfielder (just like Neville isn't).

We all know this, and it happened against Middlesborough, so why didn't Moyes admit he made a mistake and substitute him early last night, or move the lad out of the firing line for the good of the team ? because he didn't want to admit to his mistake and he put self interest above the team ethic !

That could have cost us the game last night ? we ended up with Osman, Pienaar and Arteta as a midfield three for the last 20 minutes ? why wasn't Carsley brought on in the first 20?

This self-protection makes me sick ? as a leader you have to be able to admit your mistakes and make the required changes when needed ? OK, we could have moaned about Moyes, but we would have had a more comfortable win had he swallowed his pride at the right time ? I bet we were all screaming for Carsley to come on to provide some solidity.

This is one important lesson Moyes has to learn about the European game ? sometimes you come up against a style of play you haven't anticipated and you have to change things swiftly.
Steve  Jones     Posted 05/10/2007 at 19:19:51   Comments (0)

Our best summer aquisition?

Having just trawled through a bunch of comments about last night, and specifically the comments about how terrible our new signings are:

1. Everyone came down like a ton of bricks on anyone slating Baines. Quite right, the lads class.
2. Jag this... Yak that... (mainly bad), no one mentions Pienaar!

I know he is a loan player and not a complete signing, but correct me if Im wrong but don't we have this lad till next season? For me he looks like our best summer 'signing' of the lot, and not just coz the rest are playing badly. He first played for Ajax, then bought as Rosicy's replacement (bad spelling, sorry), and to me he looks like a great workaholic that will fit into a Moyes team perfectly. Good at tracking back, commited talker for a winger and very proffesional.

Secondly, two games in a row now, he has read Mikel's intentions, popped into space in the box and created two class goals for us. His understanding with Arteta looks like it's forming well and he is a good creative forward thinking mid who can do his work both out wide and down the middle. Real class in my eyes, and a great find by Moyes.
Viv Sharma     Posted 05/10/2007 at 17:43:15   Comments (2)

Disappearing star?

I think Arteta is the best thing to happen to Everton for many a year - but did he turn up last night? Quite rightly, a few players were singled out for poor performances but nobody has mentioned Arteta who was completely anonymous. As someone who watches many away matches, this is not entirely a one off!

Second point, we were 18 minutes away from ignominy last night and I'd have been considering calling for Moyes's head. Instead, I'm ecstatic but the result cannot mask the poor performance. Even leaving aside the poor passing, the tactics, the omission of Baines etc, can someone explain to me why we went through seemingly 4 or 5 formations before eventually stumbling over the finishing line?
Ray Robinson     Posted 05/10/2007 at 17:28:00   Comments (2)

Holding nerve

I must admit that I never watched the Metatarsals game. I was late driving back home and put the radio on just as the Metalheads went one up. I just thought 'Oh No - here we go again'. I got home and watched some tripe on TV and then at 10pm I switched to teletext expecting to see the same old story.

Well, Ye of little faith, take note - there has been improvement under Moyes. There is a better squad and there is a greater expectation. I lost faith for a few hours but after the last twenty years who wouldn't?

This squad expects to finish in a top six position. Most likely the bottom end of the top six but relegation battles are a thing of the past. It's time to hold the nerve and believe that last minute winners are coming our way not to the opposition.

I've been lucky enough to see 3 great Everton teams - early sixties with Young, Vernon, Labone etc - 5 years later with Ball, Kendall, Harvey - then in the 80's. The one thing they all had in common was a fight to the end spirit because they always knew they could get a winner. That's been lost since the start of the Premiership - once an Everton team goes a goal down they don't expct to come back and we don't expect it either.

This is a squad good enough to get wins in a long sequence - the true sign of challenging for honours.

My only reservation is that we don't punish teams. How long is it since we saw an Everton team pour all over the opposition and pull them apart? That's the ingredient the Manager has failed to find. If he can get it going we may yet have a manager who can get the silver polish out.

The fans need to hold their nerve and the manager needs to let the midfield cut loose a bit more.
Pat Mustard     Posted 05/10/2007 at 17:13:06   Comments (0)

Cahill's position

Ok. Let's here it. Where does Cahill fit into the mix here?. An immense talent given the right situation, I am struggling with where and how he he fits. I don't follow the Aussies. What is his primary position with the Aussie squad?

Perhaps it is because the direction of the squad seems to be in such flux. When we ran 4-5-1, there was no doubt of his role. But now that we are a 4-4-2 squad the midfield is in such disarray that DM can't seem to decide on any direction. The headache bleeds into his decisions at right and left back.

The lack of continuity makes me nervous. With Cahill hopefully getting back this month, do you suppose that DM will be able to settle his mind on a midfield? Quit tinkering so much? Will DM kick the P. Nev. at midfield habit? Please tell me I can at least believe in that.
Scott McKinney     Posted 05/10/2007 at 16:57:08   Comments (3)

A step in the right direction?

Having witnessed possibly the worst Everton performance this season on television last night ( I was almost tempted to change the channel looking for football as I thought I was watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show), I still wonder are we, as a club, heading in the right direction? Last night was not pretty by any stretch, but we got the desired result (a stroke of tactical genius by Moyes in lulling Metalist into a false sense of security perhaps?) and are now through to a major European stage, precisely where Everton should be.

I hope this is something we can now build our season on, as it's going to be a long hard slog now at least until December. Here's hoping for a good group draw. Helsingborg please UEFA dignataries!
Peter Roberts     Posted 05/10/2007 at 16:46:55   Comments (3)

Channel bloody 5 comedy commentary.

Well as much as last night's performace made me choke on my tea, my God it was fecking hilarious watching/listening to the channel 5 commentary of Everton vs the part time metal workers.

The studio looks like a gust of wind may blow it down and makes Prisoner cell block H seem like a real feckin lock up.

Pat Nevin looked like he was going to gouge that Colin (red shite) Radio 1 reject's eyes out after all his witty sarcastic comments.

Plus, did you see Joe Royle constantly giving him the "don't feckin make a joke at me kid, or I'll cut ya bollocks off" look.

Then we had Kevin Ratcliffe's commentary. Considerting he supports Everton you would think he supported the reds, he was so bloody scathing. Come back, John Barnes, ya cocky fat red shite, all is forgiven.

He also didn't seem to know who was who ,who the feck is, Yakaba, An-chovy and Michael Arteta??? Plus what team were me playing, Metallurgy, Mechalist, Melalust he certainly didnt fecking know.

Then top top it off you had our performance on the pitch which was so bad I was hiding behind the couch, and I was fearing for Moyes's —health his eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head he was so feckin annoyed.

All in all it was football slapstick of the highest order, and I'm looking forward to the next intsallment of the comedy football network. God help us, Thursday night will never be the same again.
Daniel Johnson     Posted 05/10/2007 at 15:52:48   Comments (2)

The Yak

"Feed the Yak and he will score."

That's the chant that has winged its way up from Portsmouth via Middlesborough. With a scoring record just shy of one in two, we know he can certainly score goals.

So why is he so bad for Everton?

Look back to the chant. Feed him. The balls we are playing to him are mostly for him to hold the ball up and bring others into play. Generally, this is with his back to goal.

Something we've been far too guilty of in the past few games is just hoofing the ball upfield. It doesn't matter how good the attacker is, if he is not that type of player, it simply won't work - just look at how the shite are slowly ruining Torres.

Yak is clearly not happy with having to play like this. Yes, he's strong and can hold defenders off, so in theory he should be able to perform that role and in theory should be able to provide a target man foil for a player like Johnson. I might be wrong but I've rarely seen him deployed as such as he simply isn't that type of player.

He is a goalscorer, not a forward. The chant is as it is for a reason. If you give Yakubu a chance, he'll more often than not bury it. You only have to see with how he finished against Wednesday for proof. That is the type of goal Yakubu will score for fun, and those are the type of balls we have to play to him; along the ground for him to run on to or at the very least with him able to have a clear strike at goal. With Arteta back, we should be seeing more of that.

Yak is looking unfit at the moment, and my 'Boro mates say he didn't have a pre-season to speak of. They also speak of him as being lightning fast when he wants to be, which, by the way he lugs around the pitch seems to suggest he's simply not fit to play. But the only way to get sharpness back is being on the pitch.

Even when he's fit, he may lug about, but if he lugs about, pops up in the area and slams the ball in the back of the net, I doubt many will be complaining.

So, to summarise, give the Yak matches, give him service, and he will score. Players don't become crap overnight.

Keep the faith.
Mike Dillon     Posted 05/10/2007 at 14:51:58   Comments (5)

Metalist V Everton Arm Chair Report!

Took me ages but I finally found Channel 5 on the box, the reception wasn?t great but who cares, dinner on the table, Guinness chilling in the fridge and 90 minutes of quality European ahead involving Everton FC! Shame the quality came from the opposition and not Everton!

Right from the off I thought to myself don?t Everton play in Blue? what the hell is going on then!? Were being played off the park, mama! Metalist right up until they scored their first goal were simply brilliant and completely toying with their supposedly superior Premiership opposition! 1-0 ahead on the night and 2-1 overall the tie was still wide open though they way the game was going I was thinking of another nightmare night just like the last time we played in Europe! Thankfully not!

Metalist's attacking mindset seemed to go a bit luke warm after scoring, though they were still far superior with their passing and the ?hoof the ball? tactics employed from Moyes was clearly an embarring sight to behold, I still felt we had the professions to overcome what in truth are a European side that should have given us no more than a couple of warm up games for the UEFA Cup Proper!

Simply put though, if you don?t retain the ball the opposition does and apart from glimpses of Areta and Victor Anichebe we looked very amateurish! The game played out very well though and we got through I believe because Metalist were incapable of finishing us off! Had the opposition being Barcelona I think we as Evertonians would be more understanding but come on Moyes, football is an art, any monkey can kick a ball up in the air and hope for the best but surely when your at the level of a club like Everton the demand, need, and absolute necessity of having a passing game is so well documented that if you cannot employ it that your not the man for the job anymore!

And ELEVEN million pounds would have being better saved to help Everton get the redevelopment of Goodison or another alternative to Kirby instead of funding other premiership clubs!! The Yak attack if full of lack and slaps of cack! All in all we got were we wanted to go but im tired of this mismanagement!
Anto Doran     Posted 05/10/2007 at 14:20:58   Comments (0)

Nerves

Everyone post Metalist is talking about Moyes tactics, poor side selection, poor individual performances, hoofball over possession football (all of which are very relevant and on my mind) but no one has discussed the players' nerves.

The players hadn?t forgotten the disappointment of 2 years ago, more than ever they were desparate to get a result for both the fans and themselves, and they were extremely nervous. They knew how important it was for the club to reach the group stages.

Have you ever been nervous? When I?m nervous I lose concentration and find it hard to stay composed and think straight. I believe that is exactly what most of the players felt last night?they were overawed by the sheer importance of the occasion. I reckon Moyes did ask them to keep possession and a good shape, but the nerves got the better of the players and they resorted to hoofball.

I guess some of you would say?.?but they?re suppose to be professionals? ? yes that?s a point, but not many of them have experience of big games, hositle foreign stadiums etc. None of them are yet to regularly grace the elite competions of football. Yes Howard, Yobo, McFadden, Yakubu and Piennar are internationals but as part of largely unsuccesful sides when it comes to World and European competions.

Now that we?ve reached the group stages, I feel that the players will be far more relaxed and we?ll enjoy some much improved performances.

I see we?re in pot 3 with arguably better teams than pot 2 i.e. Galatasary, Foirentina, Athletico Madrid. I can?t wait for the draw on Tuesday and the group stages, with more relaxed players, a healthiier squad (Cahill, Gravesen, Vaughan) and our fantastic team spirit I really believe that we can go a long way, maybe all the way??we compete with Arsenal, Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea, Spurs and Bolton week in week out in the prem, so if they can reach European semis, finals etc we can certainly do that in the UEFA cup. COYB fans have some faith.
Ernie Boyce     Posted 05/10/2007 at 12:51:51   Comments (0)

Team selection and tactics

Is there anybody who saw the 'Boro game who would have even contemplated playing Jags in centre midfield? He was absolutely appaling, so Moyes decides to leave him there for one of our most crucial games. I spent yesterday praying Moyes wouldn't play him there fearing we would be exposed in the middle a la Bucharest.

There really was no justification or reason for Jags to play there unless Moyes has fallen out with Carsley (Couldn't believe he didn't even come on at 2-2). Look back at Moyes's time in charge and more often than not when we lose Carsley hasn't played. He's by far our best holding midfielder & in fact the only one is is geniunely a midfielder.

In terms of Yakubu we must play to his strengths, we cannot keep buying strikers make them work hard & chase all day long at the expense of what they do best. We destroyed Beattie both his style of play and his confidence, Johnson is going the same way & now the same with Yakubu. That's £25m worth of strikers whose scoring records decrease when they join us and will probaly increase greatly again when we they leave.

In terms of style of play we still play (In all games) to avoid defeat, hoof ball. Try & nick a goal from a set piece or on the break. My misses has never watched a game with me & has no interest in football however she watched the game last night and even she said why do they keep booting it in the air and why is there so much space for the opposition to run at Everton's goal.

It's time for us to step up, play the ball on the ground which will create more chances (Attack is the best form of defence) & suit Ossie, Arteta, Pinear, Faddy, The Yak and so on. Our style of play at the moment invites pressure, we hoof it out lose possesion then hoof out again. Italso means the strikers are left scrapping over high balls they'll never win.

We can all see this so why can't Moyes?
Steve Jones     Posted 05/10/2007 at 12:26:22   Comments (0)

They had read the scipt

?Wow! You couldn?t have scripted that game!? a Manchester City supporting friend texted last night.

Dreadful passing, zero patience or composure in possession, poor technique, bad decision making? Alas, there?s so much that could easily have been scripted.

The bright spots for me were McFadden?s goal (obviously), as well as some hilarious commentary from Channel Five. The pick of the comments came in the first half: ?A second goal now would be a disaster for Everton ? in footballing terms.? As opposed to what other terms, exactly? Political? Metaphysical? Also, was it me, or did Kevin Ratcliffe on more than one occasion refer to ?Metalarsis?? He seemed unable to decide what the opposition were called. Otherwise, I really enjoyed his ?partisan-yet-critical? approach. Throughout, he sounded genuinely concerned at our performance, whereas John Barnes (and who can blame him?) seemed barely able to contain his glee during the match at Goodison.

Consensus among the pundits seemed to be, ?Everton need to learn from this experience.? The result, at least, means we?ll now get the chance to. I?d settle for a team who, perhaps just once-in-a-while, exercised a little patience, and kept hold of the football ? if only for a few passes at a time.

Best wishes to all blues and good luck to David Moyes and the team,
Steve Rooney     Posted 05/10/2007 at 11:37:32   Comments (12)

£20 Million wasted

Last night showed me three things about Everton.1,The manager hasn`t a clue about tactics for Europe.2 Anichebe and McFadden are gems that need to be polished and 3.Moyes wasted the whole of £20M on the purchase of Yakubu,Jagielka and Baines.

Now the first two named are just a waste of space.Yakubu is idleness personified-he can`t even move his massive arse around the penalty area whilst Jagielka is, at best,a stand-in defender the likes of which are ten-a-penny.

Baines is a major disappointment.Not strong enough to merit a place in Moyes`preferred starting line-up, he is impetuous and certainly no improvement on Valente.Indeed,I will go as far as to say he reminds me so much of Naysmith who,at least understood the way we play.

I doubt very much if progress in Europe will net the club £20Million so perhaps the balance of what Moyes gets for these no-marks in January or the end of the season can be deducted from his not inconsiderable wage packet!

Moyesiah? Messer more like!
Ken  Whiting     Posted 05/10/2007 at 11:12:47   Comments (49)

The Everton Way of technical development.

Had a chuckle while reading the official site today. Apparently we have formed another partnership in America. Which apparently will be promote the 'everton way' of football and technical development.

I know these are more about marketing than any kind of footballing mission, but in light of yesterdays first half performance the notion that we are in any position to educate is ludicrous.

Maybe we should be setting up a partnership with an average Ukrainian side where by they can help us develop to the next level, or just even teach us to play football period.
Eddie Harrison     Posted 05/10/2007 at 11:10:13   Comments (9)

Stubbs ruins our play

It seems to me that whenever Alan Stubbs is selected, the team's overall play suffers.

The defence is forced to sit deep because his complete lack of pace which has one of two knock on effects: (1) there is too much space between defence and midfield so opposition attackers get too much time and space and routinely cut us to ribbons, as happened last night; or (2) the midfield drops deep, our forwards are isolated and we cant keep possession and we have a 90 minute backs to the wall effort.

Either way our more attacking players suffer. I dont think the Yak would be getting so much stick from the fans if he was playing in a team that was able to keep possession in the opponents half build pressure and create chances. We cant expect Arteta to dominate a game single handedly when he's being overun and doesnt have any options around him. There seems no point in playing Osman at all in such circumstances as he offers nothing to a team thats having to defend.

Although Stubbs plays with his heart every game I dont think he should be such a regular in the team. I think that he appears to have good games because he is a decent defender who puts his body on the line - the problem is that when he plays he has to do this all the time because the team is invariably playing on the back foot and spending most of the time defending not attacking.
Simon Reason     Posted 05/10/2007 at 10:16:11   Comments (24)

Two Cup Wins in a Week!

Great to win two cup ties in a week.

Hats off to the team for coming from behind twice, while not playing well and to Moyes for taking off his £11m striker. And to McFadden for producing - still needs to do it consistently for me, but he's playing well at the moment.

The game showed that we have a good spirit and that we desperately need to calm down and pass the ball to feet.

If we spend £11m on a striker known for being more of a poacher than a runner, we need to alter our tactics to suit. Naiively, I assumed Moyes had thought of this before splashing out, now I'm not sure. If 'legendary' managers like Redknapp and McLaren could get Yakubu to score goals in average teams, what's going on Davey?

The main thing is that we're in the hat and that the players dug out a good win. Anyone know a good coach who can get players to pass and move? Tell him to give Davey a call, please....
Paul Tran     Posted 05/10/2007 at 10:23:40   Comments (1)

Yak vs Super kev

Just a thought on the Yak. Having watched the way Moyes lines Everton up at the moment, I have a strong feeling that he is hoping (trying to convert?) that the Yak will play like Kevin Cambell used to ? holds up play, spreads the play wide / to onrushing midfielder or through to his strike partner. I'm not convinced that this is the Yak's best asset.

He has a similar stature to Cambell, but I honestly don't think he is very happy with his back to the goal 30 / 40 / 50 yards out trying to link play. At Boro' they had Viduka for that. His record is more consistently prolific than Kev Cambells ever was (no disresect to Kev), but that is because they have different styles. I hope Moyes has realised this and isn't trying to put square pegs in round holes again....
Andy Morden     Posted 05/10/2007 at 09:08:15   Comments (4)

Great result, Poor performance, Dyslexic former player

Great result (in the end), bring on the group stages.

Last night's performance was poor, though. Jagielka, Yakubu and Yobo were awful last night and again Moyes was a little slow to ring the changes but, hey, we won.

What really did annoy me though was Kevin Ratcliffe constantly pronouncing our players' (and manager's) names incorrectly. Did this man ever play for Everton? Does he show any interest in the club normally? Last night Moyes became Moyles, Jagielka became JuJelka (is he a hybrid player of the young guy on the bench and Jagielka?) and poor old Victor became Anchoby. Channel 5, get someone else in next time.
Matt Bone     Posted 05/10/2007 at 08:55:46   Comments (2)

UEFA Cup Thoughts

I reckon three goals away from home in any European tie, other than against obvious minnows, is no mean feat. Metalist are no mugs, having finished third in Ukraine behind two teams - Kiev and Shaktor - who have good ECL pedigrees.

I accept the performance wasn't great, but isn't there an old adage about good teams getting results when they are not at their best ?

Strikes me it was a result showing guts and character and those qualities could take us a long way. Agreed it would be nice to have some style as well though!

But maybe there's an omen to come out of it - 23 years ago I recall Howard Kendall's team struggled to beat a real minnow, University College Dublin, 1-0 on aggregate in the old Cup Winners Cup before going on to win the thing.

It's a learning curve for Everton in Europe and now we are guaranteed a run of group games, the learning can begin in earnest.

On Yakubu, I agree with those who are disappointed with him so far. But here's a theory - by his standards - maybe he's trying too hard. Those old enough to remember Malcolm McDonald will recall a player who scored goals for fun. But the truth is he did nothing else.

I watched him play for Newcastle against Man City once and he literally did nothing for 90 minutes, apart that is from turning on a sixpence on the 18 yard line and banging in the winner. Maybe Yakubu is that type of player. I suspect if Moyes wants him to become a workhorse, he's backed the wrong nag. But if he's allowed to maraud up front instead of chasing back and starts scoring regularly, would anyone be complaining then?
Richard Ewart     Posted 05/10/2007 at 07:14:39   Comments (21)

Today/Tonights Result

I haven't seen the game (probably catching the goals on You Tube is the best I can hope for). Unless of course we win the thing and then I suppose there will be DVD I can buy. What I would be interested to read would be some unbiased (you know who I mean} but constructively critical reviews of the game.
Andy Crosen     Posted 05/10/2007 at 03:35:32   Comments (4)

Hit the gas!

I'm thinking they do better when I don't give a shit and have something better to do with my time... Today it was the 170,000-capacity (empty!) Las Vegas racetrack and driving 600-HP NASCARs round them stupid yankee ovals...

And you know what? It was a total fucking blast!!! 30 laps in three sessions (first is a 'mare!), 8-10-12... in the last session, it's brilliant and you can't get enough, can't go fast enough (by yourself, tailing an instructor car). Top speed: 142 mph (which is pretty fast for Yankeeland driving... Whoopee!

But a big well done to the Boys in Blue. That was a massive, massive game for Moyes... which only confirms he will be around for a long, long time yet. So let's finally see a stop to the few Moyes Out calls we are still seeing... it ain't gonna happen ? he's here for the duration.

I'd praise him but, without having seen the game, I have no basis, other than the result itself, which was all that mattered of course.

Now... whether we achieved that because of him or in spite of him...??? Well... I'm not going there!!! Let's hope this really is the doorway to a sustained period of successful European football!
Michael Kenrick     Posted 05/10/2007 at 02:23:04   Comments (9)

11 million down the pan

Once again Yakubu showed tonight just how awful he is. His lazy, lethargic "I can´t be arsed" attitude was in direct contrast to the exuberance and business of Anichebe once he came on. Also, Faddy showed how he is turning into the most clinical finisher we have at the club, and, as result, must surely retain his place in the starting line up and be given a decent run.

We all know he´s a confidence player. For me, Yakubu would be fourth or fifth choice striker on current showings. Johnson to start with Macfadden with both Victor and Vaughny far preferable options to the disinterested Yak.
Ron Martin     Posted 04/10/2007 at 23:07:14   Comments (32)

How ?

How in God's name did we win that? The first half was torrid and we should have been dead and buried by then. The 2nd half was not much better, mind.

I think they just tired and left themselves open for the counter. Just heard Moyes state that he 's "pleased for himself" that we are through, can't think why, have you seen the other teams we may have to face? The rollercoaster that is Everton rolls on. I'm still in a state of shock.
Dave Lynch     Posted 04/10/2007 at 22:12:22   Comments (18)

I should sue for stress-related illness

I don't believe it - at half time i was incredulous with rage...

The missus told me off for shouting and screaming too much - said i should just turn it off, I very nearly did but...

Who'd have thunk it?

Lescott, McFadden and Anichebe proved where the talent and heart is in the side, Yakubu and Jagielka proved thier laziness and inexperience respectively - let's hope some lessons were learnt...

As the saying goes - you're in my heart and in my soul - but Everton should pay for ulcer treatment after this...

But at the end of the night...

FUCKING GET IN EVERTON! YEEEAAAASS!
Dan Monroe     Posted 04/10/2007 at 22:11:35   Comments (6)

Supporting Everton ain't good for your health!

Supporting Everton can not be good for your health. I am only 23 and my heart is going nuts after that game. To make matters worse, as soon as the mentalists scored I was getting texts from gobshites and others saying we were shite.

In the first half I admit we were crap, the whole team looked like they didn't know what to do. The second began, we scored and I thought this was it... but, no, a few minutes later and the defence messed up again, my heart sank and the texts followed with abuse.

Then Faddy came up and scored. Then Anichebe with a great bit of hoofball by Stubbs (was it?) to set up the goal.

With regards to the Yak, yeah he looked lazy tonight but I don't think it helps with the way we play. Given time I reckon he will come good.

Anyways after that we are through to the group stages. Let's hope we can improve and do well in this tournament. Maybe lady luck is with us this year (you never know!) COME ON EVERTON!
Danny Lizars     Posted 04/10/2007 at 21:47:53   Comments (4)

PHEW!

I am so relieved we are through, but boy did we play shite football. That first half was the worst display of hoofball from us I had seen in yonks, we should have been 2 goals down. In the second we improved but after we scored we decided to go to sleep. I will go through the pro's and con's of todays game

Positives: Joleon Lescott, he as great today he couldn't do anything wrong

Jimmy McFadden: His work rate was superb and his goal was absolutely reward for effort

Negatives: Moyes's tactics: why did he make our best player Baines go on the bench although Lescott played well our centre defence didn't.

Yobo and Stubbs: made too many errors and we always looked shaky

But who cares? COYB!
David Moore     Posted 04/10/2007 at 21:47:24   Comments (2)

Through the ringer... but worth it!

So much for the boys not giving us heart failure on a regular basis for the last 90 minutes!!

Just wanted to congratulate the team for a great fighting effort, it wasnt pretty it was a battle, it wasnt flowing football but it was effective.

I'm sure we'll hear and read lots of comments about being lucky etc etc from plenty on here as well as the red shite but who cares, we're in the group stages and who says we werent due some luck when it matters!?!?

I suppose DM will also be in for some criticism as well but give him credit he changed it when he had to!! Let's remember we're not regulars in europe.......yet. This is a learning curve for everybody so let's enjoy the ride and see where it takes us!!

Liverpool in the quarters would be nice!
Martyn Valentine     Posted 04/10/2007 at 21:40:35   Comments (3)

The PE teacher lives to see another day

"For the last 15 minutes Everton haven?t put two passes together"
?Everton have done quite well to keep it to one goal to be honest? (First Half)
"Everton playing deep, struggling to get out of their own half"
"Everton stuck on the edge of the 18 yard box inviting pressure on themselves"
"Everton have got to start posing a threat"
?Everton are looking very naïve?
?Everton need to find some creativity from somewhere?

None of these my words but facts, not opinions, which the more observant amongst us will have become all too accustomed with.

A clueless, shambolic and impotent first half. Midfield completely non-existent AGAIN, forwards rendered useless AGAIN

The turning point for Moyes? ? let's fucking hope so as we'll need a lot more guile to progress further in this competition.
Anthony Newell     Posted 04/10/2007 at 21:25:53   Comments (8)

What the f@ck was that?

I can't believe what I'm watching and had to post this. I can't keep this anger in. It's half time at the moment and this is possibly the worst half of football i have ever seen, ever.

The tactical genius Moyes has done it again; we've got a right back playing centre midfield, a little winger there too, then a centre back playing left back. What's wrong with man of the season,not to mention 6 million pounds worth Baines? Moyes what are you doing? Also, I've given Yakubu time, he makes Bakayoko look like the greatest striker that's ever lived. He's a fat shocker. Hopefully we'll come out all guns blazing and win, but I just can't see it. Give me stick if we do...
Mark Culbert     Posted 04/10/2007 at 20:33:02   Comments (4)

A disgrace

Disgraceful performance. I cant even watch the second-half. Moyes needs to go ? he has taken us as far as he possibly can.

I've never seen such a poor performance, and we need to get rid of some players in January.

Gutted.

[Written at half time, we assume? ? Ed]
Jeremy Benson     Posted 04/10/2007 at 20:21:02   Comments (7)

Mentalists

Don't worry, lads, we win 3-0, I dreamt it last night, Yak scores 2, 1 of them is a bit like Kitson's for Reading the other day! I also dreamt I was in bed with Lucy Lui, that will probably happen after the match!
Ben  Followill     Posted 04/10/2007 at 16:59:12   Comments (1)

Tommy G

Can anyone shed any light on Tommy's injury? Theres no real concrete information on the website and as I don't live in the merseyside area, I don't hear much in the way of media etc.

Come on lads don't let us down tonight!
Matt Kay     Posted 04/10/2007 at 16:36:53   Comments (4)

Favourite Fantasy Squad Ever?

Just a bit more fun really with this one. I appreciate the fact it may have been done before but who cares!

From keeper to striker, who would you choose in your fave Everton side since the first game you went?

You can only select players you have seen play for Everton live. For those few who have never been to a game, you can only select players you who have played from the first televised game you saw.

You can select any formation, also, your fave manager.

The selections do not have to be based on talent, just your personal favourites, and please give you reasons for you decision.

If you want to (which I am sure you will) you can also select 5 substitutes).

Add to this your fave home and away strips if you like.

Here is my matchday squad:

1. Neville Southall
(Aside from his obvious abilities as one of the worlds finest goalkeepers, he was such a character. Brave and honest, he always gave 100%, his looks still make me laugh. 'Dragged through a hedge backwards' and 'Just got out of bed' were his fave matchday styles. The best!

2. Matt Jackson
Solid and dependable, helped us score the winner in the '95 final, and ran with a very camp hand posture.

3. Andy Hinchcliffe
Simply because his corners onto the heads of the RAF (Rideout & Ferguson) prompted the birth of the "Ooh it's a corner" song. Priceless.

4. Joe Parkinson
I admit, I loved him. His passion was unmatched, he even tackled Barry Horne in the FA Semi '95. Vastly underrated, still a top bloke.

5. Dave Watson
No explanation needed for Mr Everton. Total legend to me and always will be.

6. Joleon Lescott
Although very early in his career, I know he will become great, and his goal are keeping us from crying at the moment.

7. Andrei Kanchelskis
Unbelievable winger who scored 16 goals from the wing, as well as creating many too. Awesome!

8. Mikel Arteta
Obvious. One of the most talented players around. Can bamboozle the opposition with ease. Often produces the end result too. Superstar.

9. Duncan Ferguson
Icon, hero, thug, passionate, battering ram, giver of hope in a dark time. He reignited our passion. Thank you!

10. Tony Cottee
Diminutive striker who I felt was underrated by many. Could alway grab a goal and he was the star of the RS 4-4 draw.

11. Anders Limpar
Exciting winger who I loved, although I admit he was inconsistant, him and Andrei on opposite wings, class!

Subs

Nigel Martyn - Tru Pro
Peter Beagrie - Backflips
Graham Stuart - Saviour
Wayne Rooney - Genius Kid
Tim Cahill - Midfield predator

Manager - Joe Royle
Gave us our first and last trophy of the modern era - Already a legend.

Home strip 94/95 (White band around the arms, small everton creat on the v-neck)
Away Strip 02/03 (Black one)

So, what are your choices?

Anthony  Jaras     Posted 04/10/2007 at 15:07:12   Comments (3)

Metalist or Bill Bailey?

Dang! Booked tickets to see Bill Bailey a long time ago. Only it's tonight and despite looking forward to both today, I only just realsed the error! I've also been bailed on so would be going it alone. So, watch the match and blow the £40, or go the gig in Hammersmith with my mind on the game?
Nick Entwistle     Posted 04/10/2007 at 14:27:25   Comments (2)

One For The Ladies

Never one to back any form of social exclusion, I thought I'd make mention of this for the ladies of ToffeeWeb, and no less, the ladies in all our lives.

The pink Everton shirts are going on sale in the New Year, the Premier league have relented and EFC have said they will be selling them.

This link on the OS will tell ya'll all you need to know.

Why not sell them for Christmas though? Hmm...
Allan Hobbs     Posted 04/10/2007 at 14:08:20   Comments (0)

Obvious but true

Tonight's match is essentially the biggest of the season; if we win and qualify for the group stages, look at the players we've then got to come back in Gravesen, Cahill, Vaughan, Valente,V an der Meyde, Silva, which gives us a more healthy squad which should be able to handle the games played; lose and I fear we'll self destruct again like last time.

Rumour has it that if we're knocked out tonight two of our recent big contract renewals (MA+TC) have clauses in them which will allow them to leave in January...
Matthew Jones     Posted 04/10/2007 at 13:52:43   Comments (5)

I won't forgive him for this

Some people say that one result alone should not decide a mangager's fate but as we await the game in Kharkiv tonight with huge anxiety, I beg to differ. Because if Everton are bundled out tonight I will say without hesitation that Moyes' time is up and he should be replaced. I will never forgive him if our European dream is destroyed due to his shocking tactical incompetence in the first leg.

Obviously, to people like Dodd this sort of talk is heresy, but he is clearly a bogus Evertonian anyway, whose ridiculous 'look at me' posts constantly undermine this website's credibility. The 1,500 Evertonians who have travelled to the Ukraine will be let down more than anyone if we fail tonight.

Talking of forgiveness, if Yakubu strolls around tonight as per usual, it will be the unforgiveable to those aforementioned fans. And who decided to waste 11 million big ones on Yakubu, when we were crying out for a midfield general and pacy wide player? Hang on, it will come to me in a minute...
Gareth Hughes     Posted 04/10/2007 at 12:47:23   Comments (14)

Kharkiv Webcams

Here's links to a couple of webcams in Kharkiv to spot our boys on tour...if you've nothing better to do.

http://www.ukrtelecom.ua/
http://www.eaglepro.net/kharkov
J Fazak     Posted 04/10/2007 at 12:21:42   Comments (0)

Talking up a good game

After the first leg debacle Lescott is reported as saying we were over-confident and did not show proper respect for Metalist. On the OS what do I find? Half the squad and a bunch of ex-players predicting victory over Metallist. I wish they would shut their gobs and let their football do the talking.
Dick  Fearon     Posted 04/10/2007 at 11:25:36   Comments (1)

No better than Sheff Wed

Your money's got to be on Everton to win tonight. They were no better than Sheff Wed whom we beat 3-0 away and we should have hit four past Kharkiv at home. They were very lucky to get off last time. I'll be very disappointed if we come away without a win tonight, you'd have to ask big questions of any premiership side who couldn't beat a team of their quality.
Martin Cornforth     Posted 04/10/2007 at 08:43:39   Comments (0)

Bitter

After the first leg at Goodison my rednose acquaintances were full of glee, but tried to hide it, coming out with patronising comments like "It takes time to aclimatise to European games; Moyes is still learning" and, of course, they wanted us to get through. Now tonight I have got emails off three of them stating their desire to see us hammered in the return leg, the only possible reason is they got beat tonight. I never believed any different but how bitter that as soon as their game was over the first thought was wanting us to fail. To be fair, I enjoyed their defeat but when we lose I'm too gutted to think about anyone else for a few hours at least...
Roy Coyne     Posted 04/10/2007 at 01:00:12   Comments (28)

Nice one, Simon

Another player given far too many chances like Beattie

From The Evening Echo (Cork):

"Fulham midfielder Simon Davies believes his career is back on track after a difficult spell at Everton.

"Davies has been one of Fulham?s most consistent performers this season but the former Tottenham midfielder was pleased to get away from Goodison Park where his career stalled. Davies admitted: 'I didn?t enjoy it at Everton and I was delighted to get back down to Fulham. Just playing every week gives you confidence.'"
Peter Pridgeon     Posted 03/10/2007 at 19:48:32   Comments (20)

Pass the dagga, man

I'm rather worried about tomorrow evening's game. I don't think the lads are taking it seriously. Is it me or is Stephen Pienaar smoking a joint as he gets off the plane?

Ben Howard     Posted 03/10/2007 at 17:35:44   Comments (17)

Memorable Blue Moments

What are your most memorable moments from your time as an Evertonian? It could be a goal, a game, even a full season? Or, like me, it could be something that happened on the way to or from a game, or even at half time.

A lot of the time, being a blue means that some of the best times you will have will be during the travel to and from games, as let's face it, the special moments on the pitch have been few and far between.

The obvious ones being the 'Ferguson' derby in Joe Royle's first game, the 'Amokachi' semi-final in '95 and indeed the final itself. Also, let's not forget the great escape featuring Big Bazza with his wowser!

Aside from these, here is one of mine from my time as a Bluenose:

Leeds Away

Leeds 0
Everton 1 (Rooney)

The game was great as we had not won at Elland Road for so long, and Leeds had the worst side they have fielded for years.

However, it was the coach trip on the way there that I will always remember most. We all brought the usual bags of ale, and a few of us put bags on the arms of the seats for rubbish. One big fat horrible smelly lad sat behind me kept coughing, and, what I thought at the time, looking into a green carrier bag. After about ten mins, he asked me to put one of his empty can into the rubbish.

Being a polite lad, I did. Then I realised my hand was moist, I looked down...to my horror, my hand was covered in snot. The dirty get had been spitting all his plegm into the bag. I thew up immediately into my new Everton bobhat. My mate literally pissed himself laughing. If you are reading this Digger, cheers mate.

We then christened the fat dirtbag as 'The Snot Monster' for the rest of the season. On reaching Wakefield, we were ushered into a closed pub for many drinks, songs, chips and 'raw' sausage butties. Top atmosphere, top game, top day, the best!

So, what are your most memorable moments? I say memorable, as the 'Snot Monster' was and I have almost vomited 3 times whilst writing this piece. I will post some more as part of any thread that builds based on this topic.

I look forward to reading your posts.
Anthony  Jaras     Posted 03/10/2007 at 16:44:48   Comments (39)

David Weir and ?Those Who Must Not Be Mentioned?

As we head into the Ukraine to try to sort out the self-inflicted damage that we did on our Uefa Cup hopes at Goodison, maybe a word of congratulation can be offered to our old club captain David Weir.

Freed by Everton earlier this year, Weir did not retire as many expected in the Summer of 2007 and last night he played a big roll in Rangers 3-0 victory over French champions Lyon in France.

Weir's previous European Champions League game came on the week when we played Metallist. On that occasion he featured in a come-from-behind home win over the current German Champions Stuttgart. Well done, Davie !

And who is his manager at 'cut price' Rangers ? ah that would be Walter Smith ? our highly vilified ex-manager.Many seem to forget (and Tony Marsh must be highly commended for his reminder to the ignorant among us last week) that Smith had a very different managerial experience at Everton to the affluence of the David Moyes era.

£20 million to buy a couple of strikers? That would have been fantasy football for Smith ? the man who was told simply to sell anybody who could be sold, replace them with old pros available for nowt and to do his best to keep us in the Premier while we tried to keep away from the threatening creditors and a bank that had taken cold feet.

Is it too much to ask that we remember him a little more fondly and, if not, can we think about this? Moyes and Smith: Neither won anything at Everton. Both were managers when we sold our then best players to keep the bank sweet. Smith has won many glittering prizes at other places. David Moyes has never won a trophy nor indeed a promotion thoughout his entire managerial career.

This is not to knock Moyes ? many other managers today are in the same boat ? but for goodness sake let's hear a little bit more realism when the 'Walter Smith era' at Goodison is discussed.

Is it a thought for all of our Toffees who are so quick to scoff at Scottish football that Alex Ferguson won more trophies at home and in Europe with lowly Scottish side Aberdeen than Everton has managed post second world war ?

If you want to compare Moyes with any Scottish manager of the time , let it be Ferguson ? always assuming you are old enough to remember the mess Man Utd was in when he got there ? maybe Ferguson's first five years at Old Trafford would be an interesting comparison as we head for the Ukraine.

Rooney last night in the Champions League? Could have been, should have been, IN BLUE...just sad! Metalist can be beaten but that will depend on which of our expensive players plays in which tactical set up. Over to you David Moyes and our hopes go with you !

Oh, and, ref, another couple of penalties would be fine for Arteta and take them down to nine men again if you will. Yakubu, he'll be fine. Just let him be the 'Latchford clone' that is his natural game. The Yak is not a winger! Interesting times eh ?
Glen Strachan     Posted 03/10/2007 at 14:57:56   Comments (11)

UEFA Cup Away Games

Played 5
Won 1
Drawn 0
Lost 4

Don't want to worry you or anything.

PS What happened to my long explanation of how to watch games live on t'Internet??
Allan Hobbs     Posted 03/10/2007 at 14:20:18   Comments (6)

Makes you think

After reading this article by David Conn in The Guardian I can't help think about our proposed move to Kir(k)by. Some have described it as "the deal of the century" (KW) but don't say who for...
Graham  Nolan     Posted 03/10/2007 at 13:39:15   Comments (4)

Gravesen?

As nobody seemed to know about Arteta's return at the weekend until his name was announced, does anyone have any idea what the score is with 'Mad Dog'? As usual no info from Everton.
Franny Porter     Posted 03/10/2007 at 13:33:04   Comments (3)

Don`t blame Moyes....

As someone who long ago gave up the `thrill` of attending matches live ? advancing years and motorway driving did for me ?I hope I will not be considered an interloper if I contribute to your columns.

In common with many other `lapsed` Evertonians, I make my contribution to the game via Sky and Sentanta subscriptions and can only say I get full value for my money by taking in anything up to a dozen live games a week plus all the recorded highlights. Most of my viewing is with `sound off` as I have come to detest the ignorant and often sycophantic drivel of the so called experts. After sixty years as a player and spectator,I can make my own mind up if `that was nearly a great pass`.

But to focus on Everton, I have to say that I have found some of the opinions about Moyes in your Mailbag almost as annoying as the ridiculous comments of those TV gurus because I do not believe for one moment that Manager Moyes sends his teams out to replicate the style of `The Awful Ws`? Bassetts`s Wimbledon and Taylor`s Watford.

The simple truth is that he has too many British reared players. It is no co-incidence at all that the only midfield artistry on view anywhere in the Prem stems from `the foreigners`. `In the world of the one eyed man`.....Arteta is a genius. Fernandes in his all too brief dalience with Everton looked of the same mould. Even the pedestrian Gravesen in his cameo second debut was markedly influential.

And it`s just not a problem with Everton. England`s midfield has been woeful for years with the total inability of the `super stars` Gerrard and Lampard to adjust their club roles to work for the common good.

So by the time we get down to `shufflers`like Carsley, Neville and Jagielka is it any wonder they come up short? British players just lack technique and unless and until our coaches do something about it most of our managers will have little option but to favour `route one`.

That`s unless you have the insight of Wenger and, dare I say it, Sven Goran Ericson. and shop abroad. And the money of Abramovitch would help of course! So don`t blame Moyes.... not too much, anyway!
Malcolm  Smith     Posted 03/10/2007 at 09:54:29   Comments (12)

All for Nothing

Say what you like, but if we don't get through this qualifying leg in Kharkiv it will be embarrassing for the Everton Football Club and a bad reflection on the Premier League.

Moyes apologists will have no credence as his style of play would have to come into serious question if we were to be arsed!! The Richard Dodd's of this world would have to extract there heads from out of their arse and see our style of play for what it is!!!!

I was numb after waking up in the morning and seeing the result of the first leg. I proceeded to give my old man a call and told him it was child abuse for making me support a team that promises so much at times and fails to deliver when I need it most (bit like my wife!!!) I just pray that we get a result on Thursday so I can get back on speaking terms with me old man!!!!
Steve Pendleton     Posted 03/10/2007 at 01:43:30   Comments (6)

Selection policy

This has been my most frustrating feeling about Moyes ever since he joined us. I still think he is a great manager for us and has taken Everton into another level. But how many people are frustrated by Moyes's team selection at times? Here are a few examples.

Phil Neville ? plays centre mid instead of right back, which is wrong because he tries to dictate play too much and gives the ball away too much, whilst at right back he's a completely player. I mean Moyes praised him for one substitute appearance at right back.. what the hell's happening there? Moyes must know it's his best position.

Andy van der Meyde ? maybe not play him first team at the moment, but give him a chance off the bench for god sakes! He has undoubted talent and is our only proper winger.

Tim Cahill ? I know he hasn't played yet, but where's he gonna fit into the team, with Gravesen here as well? That's gonna be interesting... definitely play him, but I don't know where in midfield exactly or with who?

Now, on Thursday, play Neville right back (Hibbert played decent on Saturday, but we need to score therefore need a more attacking right back) and play Lee Carsley in the middle. Otherwise, keep on the same team. But it'll be annoying if Neville plays against the Mentalists at his worst position.. AGAIN!! Maybe expect more long ball football guys!
Ben Jones     Posted 02/10/2007 at 22:27:07   Comments (6)

Duncan Ferguson

Why is he not listed in the Everton Legends section on this site?! Surely he deserves to be on there? I've not been to a game since he quit where there hasn't been the iconic 'Duncan, Duncan Ferguson...' chant.
Brian Taylor     Posted 02/10/2007 at 19:35:59   Comments (34)

Jose Baxter

I have been watching this kid progress over six months or so and have found myself getting quite excited. He seems to have won a few honours for Everton and England and talk on various ZEverton sites is that he has already signed a contract with Nike and Rooney's agent. Even his coach at Everton has said he is better than Rooney was at his age. Shall we be getting exited?
Gavin Harris     Posted 02/10/2007 at 18:36:21   Comments (16)

Yakubu ? A Moyes Buy?

Is the purchase of Yakubu a buy proposed by others but ultimately endorsed by Moyes or is Yakubu a Moyes choice?

An analysis of the historical transfer deals involving Moyes indicates to me that the Yakubu deal is a strange one. The key characteristics of all of Moyes buys to-date are hard-work and a team ethic. Look at Baines, Jagielka, Neville, Lescott, Johnson and many others before them.

Yakubu is such an individual he stands-out like a sore thumb. Have you noticed how Moyes has already relegated Yakubu to the sub?s bench and how he is substituted after 60 minutes in each fixture? Clearly Moyes is not happy and yet we are expected to believe that Yakubu is a Moyes buy and someone he has been chasing for some time and someone who Moyes was happy to pay £11.25m.

Now I do not normally see snipers on the grassy knoll but this deal seems suspicious to me. I would not be surprised if Yakubu lasts less than 18 months at Goodison. Am I alone?
John Sheron     Posted 02/10/2007 at 11:30:29   Comments (31)

Hard decisions

Got asked two questions by one of my LFC mates the other night which I found very difficult to answer:

1) Would you rather be going to Wembley for the League Cup Final in Feburary or still be in the Uefa Cup?

I actually made my mind up instantly about this and chose the League Cup Final.

2) Who do you love more, Mikel Arteta or Duncan Ferguson?

Ouch! I didnt have a clue. I went over so many arguments in my head for and against both that let's just say it took me more than a few hours drinking time before I made my mind up. I'm sorry Dunc, but I prefer the San Sebastian touch over the Glasgow Kiss!
James O'Neill     Posted 02/10/2007 at 10:25:02   Comments (14)

Trip to Ukraine

I would like to wish all the fans travelling to the Ukraine to watch the lads on Thursday the very best of luck, and hope they have a safe journey. From what I hear, they are travelling from all points north to really a unknown area for British fans. My cousin is travelling down to Heathrow, flying to Prague, then by train to the Russian border, then 7-hr coach trip to the venue. Let's hope that the result, gets them in the right frame of mind for that return journey. COYB.
Norman Merrill     Posted 02/10/2007 at 08:41:37   Comments (5)

Central midfield

Flicking through the analysis of the Boro match it was obvious that most people were disappointed again with the pitiful performance of our central midfielders. Personally I didn't think Neville was THAT bad but I take the point given that he has been in other weeks and Jagielka was certainly not on his game.

It left me wondering though whether these players are truly unsuited to midfield positions or simply the kind of midfield positions they're being asked to play? When Gravesen and Cahill are fit to take on attacking duties can Jags, Neville and Carsley fill in defensive midfield roles and look better quality players?

Carsley certainly excelled in the past when limited to a defensive role and simply asked to give a short pass to more creative forces when in possession. I think the problem is we're looking at Jags and Neville as utility players rather than specialists.

They may be utility defenders, but in midfield I'd argue they have one position and that's the anchorman. It's what's being asked of them that's making them seem bad players, think Lampard and Gerrard playing together for England (two attacking midfielders asked to share defensive duties and failing badly). To a certain extent they may be victims of circumstance and I'd be wary of writing them off before giving them a chance in their true role.

ps: Neville's still a way better full-back though.
John Holmes     Posted 02/10/2007 at 08:11:31   Comments (5)

Uefa Cup

Arteta is obviously a welcome return in view of the game against those Metalists from Ukraine this Thursday but the lack of goals and form from our strikers is a worry. EFC NEED to progress to the group stages as I am sure they have spent money on the likes of Yakubu on the assumption we will make money from the group stages. I wonder what sort of position we will be in if we fail to win away on Thursday?
Matt  Bone     Posted 01/10/2007 at 22:13:27   Comments (8)

Season Start

On the debate on how well we have started the season the answer is clear from a playing perspective: mediocre at best with some individual strong performances, Arteta, Lescott, Yobo.

Considering all that and the fact that we have Cahill, Vaughan, Gravesen to come back then we have done ok and in my opinion on every front can only improve.

Take into consideration that on average 16 points plus from every 9 games will put you in the top 6 based on previous seasons in the Premiership, 17 plus is Champions League performance which we are capable of achieving with a full complement of players available.

My point, we have had a good start and one that we are capable of improving upon; on top of that we have the players to be more expansive and entertaining, let's take that as a bonus as long as we attain the points.

Congratulations on this site by the way, very well thought out and extremely well managed.
Paul Niklas     Posted 01/10/2007 at 20:38:04   Comments (17)

Who'd have thought?

Just a quick post this one with two questions:

1. Who'd have thought at the start of the season that James McFadden would be the first forwards name on the teamsheet?
2. Joleon Lescott - the new Derek Mountfield?

Mark Pendleton     Posted 01/10/2007 at 20:27:30   Comments (7)

Arteta a genius?

Great to see Everton back to winning ways yesterday, but it stands out like a sore thumb how absolutely reliant we are on Mikel Arteta for the team to produce any decent football whatsoever.

Mikel was out injured for 3 games and Everton struggled badly. We were abysmal in all of them. Surprise, surprise: he comes back into the team against Boro and we get back to winning ways. My question is this, just how good is Arteta? For me he must be one of the best if not the best midfielder in the Premier League. He has great vision, two excellent feet, is fantastic from the dead-ball situation, has a great engine, rarely gives the ball away and chips in with goals. He also possesses that bit of trickery which all the greats have.

If he keeps playing like this he´s soon going to be very hot property indeed and Everton will have their work cut out in order to keep hold of him. In a couple of years if he keeps improving at the rate he is doing he´ll be in the Zidane / Maradona bracket if you ask me. Maybe he lacks a bit of pace and the goal-scoring instinct but he´s certainly the most talented player to pull on a Blue shirt I´ve seen in a very long time.
Robert Prince     Posted 01/10/2007 at 20:14:32   Comments (16)

Reality or Misery?

I love this website, I think it's a great place where Evertonians can post their individual opinions about all things Blue. What I don't love is being called 'miserable' just because I'm not satisfied with the performance against Boro or the ultra-defensive substitutions in the same match. If you thought we were the next best thing to Brazil on Sunday then we'll agree to disagree, but respect the right of other posters to have a different opinion to yours.

Michael himself has come in for some criticism lately for being 'negative' when he's just calling it as he sees it. Me? I want to see us play like we did away to Spurs in August. To be honest, I'll be delighted if we beat Metallist on Thursday night and for once I really won't care how we do it, just so long as we get through to the group stages. But at home to weaker teams in the Premiership? I don't think there's any excuse for the hopeless long ball game or playing with 7 defenders.
Robin Byrne     Posted 01/10/2007 at 18:23:15   Comments (10)

Totally Baffled

Phil Neville at r/full back, good most of the time, sometimes exellent, occasionally brilliant. Phil Neville in midfield, (the role he playes a lot) unbelievable shite! Mr Moyes must pysically see him playing this Jeckle/Hyde role, so if we all can see this, why can't the management? Phil must know where his best place is, and as a pro must be embarrassed when giveaway balls lead to goals to the opposition. Funny enough he rarely gives a ball away at full back, I hate criticising any blue player, I am blue through my very being, but management should have a good hard look at this one.
Edward Draper     Posted 01/10/2007 at 14:46:15   Comments (10)

How many defenders to change a lightbulb?

I know we are all very aware of David Moyes' priorities in terms of defence, but finishing a home match against Boro with 7 defenders (counting Neville and Jagielka) and 1 defensive midfielder on the pitch was a disgrace in my view. Ok, so Moyes was aiming for our first clean sheet in the league to build a bit of confidence maybe, but would the team not have more confidence if we'd won 4-1 than 2-0?

When we got the 2nd goal I really thought Boro were there for the taking if we'd really wanted it. Anichebe for Vic was an ok sub with one eye on Thursday night, but the other two substitutions were conservative in the extreme. The style of football was slightly better than some of our games recently, but I feel we missed a chance to really fill our boots in terms of goals yesterday. Moyes made a comment recently about us not being ruthless enough and finishing off teams - how the fuck can we do that when he brings defenders on for attackers?!?
Robin Byrne     Posted 01/10/2007 at 14:24:30   Comments (10)

How did you become a blue?

This question is for the out-of-town supporters really. I was speaking with my other half last night coming back from the match and she mentioned how many blues there were on the motorway, heading down south, coming back from the game (I'm originally from Liverpool, but now live in Wokingham). She reckons that if you are not from Liverpool, to support Everton you must have some connection with the city (she reckons it can't be because of our success, because we haven't had any for years ? she's a big Man U fan by the way).

It just got me thinking how you became a blue (the out-of-town supporters I mean). I know with Man U and Liverpool, it is just fans jumping on the band wagon. But with choosing to support the blues, it has got to be something deeper?
Brian Waring     Posted 01/10/2007 at 13:47:55   Comments (28)

Leighton Baines

Does anyone else feel that he is quite vulnerable at left back? He seems to get dragged out of position a lot. This is due to him liking to get forward a lot, which is great, but i just think it leaves us short at the back.

I think he would work a lot better in a 5-3-2 (3-5-2) formation. Or even left mid in a 4-4-2. I think he could be a great out-an-out winger with some good coaching. He has all the attributes ? passing, pace, crossing and he can also beat a man.

I honestly believe Moyes should give him a go there. Lescott or Valente are more than capable at left back.
Lee Penswick     Posted 01/10/2007 at 13:40:17   Comments (13)

The AJ & Big Dunk Link

I appreciate Big Dunc's status with the Everton fans, though for me while in a relegation fight his presence would be useful, I always felt when higher up the league balls played long to him was the easy way out of having to play joined up football. This negated the need for any passing play which hampered our prograssion.

Fast forward a number of seasons and the 'punt up field for AJ to run down' tactic has now, during his injury spell, led to a more passing game in the last few fixtures. Is this coincidence???
Nick Entwistle     Posted 01/10/2007 at 12:51:34   Comments (4)

Why this season has been a great start

Now lets all just take a step back and and take a calm look at the start we have made, because most of you are talking like it's been a shit one. In fact lets just compare it to the starts of our two most successful campaigns in modern times 04-05 and 05-06. In both those campaigns we made brilliant starts by playing the best football we played in those seasons at the begining with fully fit squads and building a good points total. This allowed us to have stutters in each campaign when injuries hit hard.

Now let's compare it to this campaign because I think for these reasons this start has been better than both. We have already been hit with an injury crises (the only one of our key players not yet to miss a game through injury is Lescott) and yet we sit 5th in the league with 13 points from 8 games. We're currently sitting above all the teams, apart from Man City, who will be competing with us for the Uefa Cup places come the end of the season. And you no how many points we had after last season when we were playing great football and went unbeaten for 7 games ? 13 points. In fact we only had 16 points from the first 8 the season we finished 4th. And yet everybody is moaning about the start we've made saying the football is poor and calling Moyes because he hasn't got a big enough squad with strength in depth.

Yet is the fact that we currently sit with the same points as we did last year with a much more serious injury crises than last year, and having admittedly played less catching football on the eye because he has had to use squad players, show that Moyes has improved just that, the strength of the squad. It only poses well for when we eventually get Cahill and Vaughan back and an in-form Andy Johnson. Therefore I am much more pleased with this start than any other in previous years because we are doing what good teams do. Gain points at the start of the season before hitting peak form. That is something Everton definitely haven't done in my life time, which I think shows how far Moyes has bought us.
James O'Neill     Posted 01/10/2007 at 10:40:41   Comments (1)

In defence of Hibbert and Jags

I'd just like to respond to the comments I've been hearing on the radio, in the pub and on a few sites.

It's nice to see Hibbo get some positive feedback regarding the Boro game. We all know about his limited distribution skills, but recently, his ability as a right back has been called into question.

In Arteta's absence we have had the likes of Osman in front of him and even nobody at all. Teams would easily be able to double-up against him because Osman would rarely track back, often caught drifting infield to get the ball. (In my opinion, Ossie is best deployed in the centre anyway.) This would leave Hibbo exposed and made to look like he was chasing shadows as the attackers would outnumber and overwhelm him as he tried to defend against two or three players.

With Arteta's return, the Spanish wizard was more than happy to come back and help Hibbert out, so Hibbo could easily put Downing in his back pocket while Arteta mopped up and took the ball from any other players that tried to be involved.

In Jagielka's case, I have heard him described as "useless" and "anonymous". I have to agree with that, but I insist there is every reason he was and it was through no fault of his own. He was made to look anonymous against Boro for a few reasons. Firstly, I believe that he is primarily a defender and seems to clearly feel more at home around our own area (with the occasional dart forward into the opposing box, that is!). That area is usually where Phil Neville likes to stomp around. This means the two players' positions clash, and with Neville being more imposing on the game (running around, barking orders and passing to the opposition), Jagielka doesn't seem to know what to do with himself and seems to wander around aimlessly, often looking fairly surprised when the ball is near him.

I can back this up by the difference shown in Jagielka's play when he is central midfield and Neville is at right back, with Jags' midfield performance being nothing short of dominant as he was allowed to express himself properly.

We are currently quite stretched for central midfielders and I say that because Carsley, Neville and Jagielka are all similar types of player and it is shown time and time again in football that two similar players playing next to each other (Lampard and Gerrard for England is an obvious example) simply does not work. With those two players shoehorned together, we will always look inneffective and unbalanced. The sooner the Cahills and the Gravesens of the world are back, the better, and with one of those playing next to Jagielka, we'll see what the boy can properly do.
Mike Dillon     Posted 01/10/2007 at 07:29:06   Comments (3)

What a difference a win makes

Must admit that this time last week I was all doom and gloom. After today's win we are in 5th and still in Europe and, by God, we must be looking at the quarters for the League Cup. I myself wouldn't mind winning the League Cup. Seems to be one of those mystical Holy Grails that has eluded EFC for some reason. The Uefa Cup seems a bit like too much hard work. Is it Group stages next? I think it would be better for this Cup to be a 2-leg knockout thing. Although I wouldn't mind winning it.
Chris Cummings     Posted 01/10/2007 at 04:29:56   Comments (0)